Improvements in Leaf Holders or Clips and Book Markers:
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1897-Accepted, 6th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Leaf Holders or Clips and Book Markers:
I, MARY ELIZABETII SPIELMAN, Student, of Alma, in the County of Wabaunsee,
and State of Kansas, one of the United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to a book holder or clasp for holding the two parts of
a book when opened at any desired page.
It consists in a spring clasp adapted to be adjusted to the thickness of the part
of the book to which it is applied, and the arms of which are adapted to securely
hold the leaves of said part with sufficient clasticity to permit the leaves engaged
by them to be withdrawn for turning them when desired, without danger of
injury to the leaves; and in the combination of two clasps of the character
described, connected by a flexible cord or chain which permits their ready adjust-
ment to the two parts of a book for holding them, as hereinafter described and
claimed..
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the two clasps connected by the chain.
Figure 2 shows one of the clasps in side elevation, and
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a modification in the adjusting devices
connecting the arms of the clasp.
1 and 2 indicate two clasps made substantially alike, each provided with parallel
elastic arms 3, 3 of substantially uniform length and terminating at their shank
ends in angular extensions 4, 5 designed to overlap one upon the other to permit
the relative adjustment of the arms 3, 3, toward and away from each other. In
the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, the arm 4 is provided with a longi-
tudinal slot engaging a pin 7 pendent from the arm 5, the arm + also engaging
guiding parallel lips extending down from said arm 5, between which the arm 4
moves, said lips serving to guide the arm 4 and prevent relative swinging of the
arms 3, 3.
8 indicates a thumb screw passing through the arms 5 and 6 and
engaging the nut 9 on the underside of the arm 4. By the adjustment of the
thumb screw 8, the arms 4 and 5 are adapted to be moved inward one upon
the other, or outward for adjusting the distance between the elastic arms 3 to
conform to the thickness of the portion of the book to which said arms, constituting
the clasp, are applied. The point ends of the arms 3, 3 are bent outward away
from each other or made to diverge in such manner as to facilitate their ready
passage over the portion of the book to which they are to be applied. The arms 3
are made of light clastic material, such as permits them to yield readily for the
slipping of the leaves from underneath the arms engaging them, when desired, and
without liability of injuring the leaves in removing them. These arms are made
preferably of thin strap steel or other elastic metal, such as will adapt them to
yield readily in the manner described. In the clasp in Figure 3 the arm 5 is
shown provided with a sleeve 11 on its inner face and the arm 4 extends within
the sleeve and is adjustable therein and adapted to be clasped and held by the
thumb screw 8, which in this case does not require the nut 9 shown in Figures 1
гл •

page_text: and 2. Other suitable forms of construction for permitting the relative adjustment
of the arms and adapting them to the thickness of the portion of the book to
which they are applied, may be employed in lieu of those described. The clasps 1
and 2 are preferably connected by a light chain 12 which permits their adjustment
towards and away from each other in being applied to the opposite portions of
a book. This chain may be of any suitable material, either silver or gold, and
the clasps themselves may be, like the chain, of any suitable material according
to the fancy of the manufacturer or user, and the chain 12 may be substituted
by a light cord if desired, but the chain is preferred and in the present instance
is shown connected with the eyes of the thumb screws 8 employed in effecting the 1
adjustment of the arms of the clasps 1 and 2.
By the construction described, a light, simple and effective clasp is provided
which is adapted to hold the leaves of a book at any required page, and to hold
the two parts of the book in such manner that the parts can be folded one upon
the other for closing the book and still retain the marked place indicated by the
clasp. The flaring ends of the clasp arms facilitate their application to and
removal from the sides of the book without liability of injuring the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: :-
1. In a book clasp or holder, the parallel elastic arms provided with the shank
extensions arranged at right angles to the elastic arms, in combination with means
for effecting the adjustment of said arms, substantially as described.
2. In a book clasp or holder, the parallel elastic arms provided with diverging
points and with angular shank extensions, in combination with means for adjusting
said extensions one upon the other, substantially as described.
3. In a book holder, the two clasps having each a pair of elastic parallel arms,
in combination with a flexible connection between said clasps, for the purpose and
substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of Sentember 1897.