Improvements in Binders for Papers and Documents.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1899-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1899
Improvements in Binders for Papers and Documents.
We, ROBERT JAMES COPELAND and ALBERT EDWY CHATTERSON, both of 75,
Queen Street West, in the City of Toronto, in the Province of Ontario, Canada,
Manufacturers, 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:→
i
This invention relates to binders and especially to such as are adapted for use
in perpetual ledgers. The invention seeks to provide various improved foaturos,
as will hereinafter more fully appear.
In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,
Fig. 1 is a sectional clevation on the line B, B, of Fig. 2 and showing the pre-
ferred embodiment of the various features constituting the invention,
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line A, A, of Fig. 1, and partly broken
away.
:
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a longitudinal and transverse view of a post.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the binder taken on the line C C of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of a box constituting a seal seat, the lid being turned
back.
Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, but showing a modified lock.
1 and 2 are upper and lower strips, respectively, of the binder and generally
arranged to be moved to and from each other for the purpose of inserting and
removing the sheets 3, held in place between the strips. In the best form of
the binder extensible posts are employed, extending between the strips and which
engage apertures cut in the sheets to receive the posts. The extensible sheet
posts 4 and 5, which are secured to the strips 1 and 2, constitute one of the
features of the invention. These posts are not only extensible so as to engage a
greater or less number of sheets and to permit the binder to be expanded as
desired. but are so constructed that each throughout its length is of uniforme
circumference, so as to be capable of fitting the apertures therefor in the sheets
in such a manner as to prevent looseness of a sheet on its post, whatever part
along the post may engage the sheet. By means of these posts, therefore, the
sheets in the binder may he kept in accurate alignment. The post 4. consists
of the two sections 6 and 7, slidably connected together. The section 6 consists of
a plurality of longitudinal members, arranged around but separated from a
common axis.
The section 7 is similarly constructed and the members of the two
sections dovetail into each other. The two sections have the same circumference
individually and also where one overlaps the other. Each section of the post
constitutes, in fact, one longitudinal half of a post, the several members of one
section of the post being complements of the members of the other section. In
the drawings the post 4 is circular in cross section, but it may he square, triangular
or any other suitable shape. The section 6 is also shown as consisting of three
members 8, 9 and 10, and the section 7 as consisting of the three members 11,
12 and 13. There might however be two, three or more complementary members
ED Q77

page_text: to each section and the members of one section need not necessarily be of the same
number as the complementary members of the other section. For example, the
section 6 might have two members and the section 7 might have three members.
The inner ends of the members 8, 9 and 10 are connected together by an internal
block 13 and the inner ends of the members 11, 12 and 13 are connected' together
by a similar block 14. These blocks serve not only to stiffen the sections 6 and 7
and hold their members together, but also keep the sections from coming apart.
The sections 6 and 7 have similar blocks at their outer ends. The post 5 is con-
structed in the same manner as the post 4.
15 and 16 are two telescoping sections, secured respectively to the strips 1
and 2 and constituting a back for the binder. They are preferably made of
aluminum. 17 and 18 are two telescoping posts connected to the strips 1 and 2,
and serving to add strength to the binder and steadiness in the movement of the
strips 1 and 2, to and from each other. They preferably enclose springs 19
and 20; which serve to automatically separate the strips when released by the
lock. The binder is generally provided with covers 21 hinged to the strips 1
and 2. In the best arrangement the covers are made readily attachably to and
detachable from the strips 1 and 2, and for this purpose the strips 23 and 24
are hinged to the rear ends of the covers and these strips arranged to fit upon the
strips and 2 and be held in place by screws. By this arrangement, when the
covers wear out they may be replaced by new ones, thus prolonging the usefulness
of the rest of the binder. 25, 26, 27 and 28 are rubber corner pieces fitting over
the ends of the strips to which the covers are attached and beneath the leather
or other binding material 29. These corner pieces serve to protect the binding
material from undue wear.
In the construction of the lock, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the posts 30 and 31
are secured to the strip 1 and fastened to these posts in a lock casing 32. 33 is
a pawl pivoted to the casing 32 and having a tooth 34 and a shoulder 35. 36 is
a rotatable piece extending down from the strip 1 and adapted to be engaged by
a key at its upper end. The piece 36 carries a cam 37 adapted to engage the
shoulder 35 of the pawl and move it over. A spring 38 presses the pawl toward
the cam 35. The strip 2 carries a toothed arm 39 arranged to slide in the lock
casing in proximity to the pawl 33, so as to be engaged by its tooth 34. When
the piece 36 is turned, as by a key inserted through the top of the strip and
into engagement with the piece 36, the binder may be unlocked. By a further
rotation of the piece 33 the pawl is permitted to spring back into engagement
with the arm 39.
In order to prevent unauthorized persons from attempting to unlock the
binder, the lock is provided with a seal and a seat therefor, which may be located
in any convenient place and which is so arranged that when the seal is in its
place. and the binder is locked, the seal must necessarily be defaced in unlocking
the binder. The seal preferably used is a small piece of paper suitably marked
to prevent wrongful duplication. If an unauthorized person attempts to unlock
the binder he will deface the seal and thus leave a sure indication of his act which
may then at once be investigated. The seal seat is arranged to be locked and
unlocked when the binder is locked and unlocked, but its lock is preferably
independent of the unlocking of the binder, so that access to the seal seat by the
proper person may be had without necessarily unlocking the binder. The key
for the binder is generally used to operate the lock for the seal sent.
In the preferred arrangement of the seal seat, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 6,
a shallow box 40 is secured to the strip 23; the cardboard filling 41 being cut
away to receive it and so that its top may be even with the binding material, 29.
The box consists of a bottom 42, secured in place by screws or any suitable
means, and a lid 43, having a spring hinge. A key hole 44 permits a key to
pass through the box and into engagement with the rotating piece 36. A hook 45
is secured to the under side of the lid, and when the lid.is closed this hook passes
through an aperture 46 in the bottom and is engaged by a spring wire 47, secured

page_text: on the under side of the bottom 42, and extending close to the key hole so as to
be operated by the key to unfasten the lid. When the key is in the key hole
a partial turn unfastens the lid 43, which then springs open. A further turn.
unlocks the binder. When the key is turned back to lock the binder and is.
withdrawn from the key hole the lid 43 may be locked down by simply closing it.
48 is the paper seal seated in the box. It lies beneath the key hole in the lid 43
and when the key enters the key hole the seal is punctured. A fresh seal always
takes the place of the one that is punctured when the binder is locked again. If
any unauthorized person attempts to unlock the binder he must necessarily
puncture the seal and as the seal has a private mark he will be unable to replace
the defaced seal with a fresh one. Thus he leaves a positive indication of his
wrongful act.
In Figs. 7 and 8 the construction is similar to that shown in the preceding
figures except as to the locking devices. Referring now to these modified lock-
ing devices, 49 is a toothed arm secured to the lower strip 2 and arranged to
slide in the lock casing 50 carried by the strip 1. Pivoted in the lock casing are.
two pawls 51 and 52, pressed against the teeth of the arm 49 by the spring 53.
The pawl 51 is adapted to engage any one of the teeth of the arm 49, but the.
pawl 52 has a broad face and is adapted to engage only the head 54 of the arm 49
to prevent the complete withdrawal of this arm from the lock casing, and there-
fore the complete separation of the strips 1 and 2. 55 is a piece moved down by
the key against the spring 56 and arranged to withdraw the pawl 51 from.
engagement with the arm 49 to unlock the binder. It carries a finger 57 work-
ing in a beveled slot 58 of the pivoted seal latch 59. The spring 56 is connected
to this latch and to the piece 55. The piece 55 carries at its upper end a tubular
shoulder 60, having a beveled upper face. Held in place by the bracket 61,
fixed on the lock casing, is a rotating piece 62, centered in the shoulder 60 and
having a longitudinal slot 63 through which the key passes into engagement
with the bevel of the shoulder 60. When the key turns against this bevel it
forces down the piece 55 and unlocks the binder. At the same time the latch 59.
is disengaged from the hook G4 on the pivoted lid 65 of the seal box 66, which
then is opened by its spring. 67 is a key hole in the seal box.
Various changes in the structural details embodying the features of tlie inven-
tion may be made without of course departing from the scope of the invention..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. An extensible sheet post for a binder comprising two sections slidably con-
nected together and being of uniform circumference throughout its length.
2. An extensible sheet post for a binder comprising two sections slidably
connected together and being of uniform circumference throughout its length,
each section comprising a plurality of longitudinal members arranged to dove-
tail with the members of the other section of the post.
3. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other;
with one or more extensible posts extending between the strips, said post or
posts comprising two members slidably connected together and being of a uniform
circumference throughout the length thereof.
4. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other;
with one or more extensible posts extending between the strips, said post .or
posts comprising two sections slidably connected together and being of uniform
circumference throughout the length thereof, the sections of a post comprising
each a plurality of longitudinal members arranged to dovetail with the members.
of the other section of the post.
5. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other;
with one or more extensible posts extending between the strips, said posts or
posts comprising two members slidably connected together and being of a
.

page_text: uniform circumference throughout the length thereof, and means for looking
the strips together at various points of their separation.
6. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other;
with one
or more extensible posts extending between the strips, said post or
posts comprising two sections slidably connected together and being of a uniform
circumference throughout the length thereof, the sections of a post comprising
each a plurality of longitudinal members arranged to dovetail with the members
of 'the other section of the post, and means for locking the strips together at
various points of their separation.
"
"
:
7. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other;
with one or more extensible sheet posts extending between the strips, said post
or posts' comprising two members slidably connected together and being of a
uniform circumference throughout the length thereof, means for locking the
strips together at various points of their separation, and a pair of extensible posts
connecting the strips together.
8. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other;
with one or more extensible sheet posts extending between the strips, said post
or posts comprising two members slidably connected together and being of a
uniform circumference throughout the length thereof, means for locking the
strips together at various points of their separation, and a pair of extensible
spring posts connecting the strips together.
9: In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other;
with one or more extensible sheet posts extending between the strips, said post or
posts comprising two sections slidably connected together and being of uniform
circumference through the length thereof, the sections of a post comprising each
a plurality of longitudinal members arranged to dovetail with the members of
the other section of the post, means for locking the strips together at various
points of their separation, and a pair of extensible posts connecting the strips
together.
10. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other
and connected together, said strips being adapted and designed to hold sheets
between them; and covers arranged for ready attachment to and detachment
from said strips.
11. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other
and connected together, said strips being provided with sheet posts; and covers
arranged for ready attachment to and detachment from said strips.
12. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other
and connected together, said strips being provided with sheet posts; and covers
having hinged strips at their rear ends arranged for ready attachment to and
detachment from said strips.
13. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other
and connected together, said strips being provided with sheet posts, and covers
having hinged strips at their rear ends arranged for ready attachment to and
detachment from said strips, and means for locking the strips together at various
points of their separation.
14. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other
and adapted to hold sheet between them; a lock for fastening the strips at
various points of their separation, said lock being provided with a seal seat,
whereby when the binder is unlocked a seal in its seal will be defaced.
15. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other
and adapted to hold sheets between them; a key-operated lock for fastening the
strips at various points of their separation, said lock being provided beneath its
key hole with a seal seat, whereby when the key is inserted to unlock the binder
a seal in its seat will be defaced.
16. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other
and adapted to hold sheets between them; a lock for fastening the strips at
various points of their separation, said lock being provided with a seal seat,

page_text: wheroby when the binder is unlocked a scal in its seat will be defaced, said seal
seat being arranged to be locked and unlocked when the binder is locked and
unlocked.
17. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other
and adapted to hold sheets between them; a key operated lock for fastening the
strip at various points of their soparation, said lock being provided beneath its
key hole with a seal seat, whereby when the key is inserted to unlock the binder,
a seal in its seat will be defaced, said seal being arranged to be locked and un-
locked when the binder is locked and unlocked.
18. In a binder the combination of two strips movable to and from each other
and adapted to hold sheets between them; a lock for fastening the strips at
various points of their separation, said lock being provided with a seal seat,
whereby when the binder is unlocked a seal in its seat will be defaced, said seal
seat having a cover provided with a lock arranged for operation independently
of the unlocking of the binder.
19. In a binder, the combination of two strips novable to and from each other
and adapted to hold sheets between them; a key-operated lock for fastening the
strips at various points of their separation, said lock being provided beneath its
key hole with a seal seat, whereby when the key is inserted to unlock the binder
a seal in its seat will be defaced, said seal seat having a cover provided with a
lock arranged for operation independent of the unlocking of the binder lock.
20. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other
and adapted to hold sheets between them; a key-operated lock for fastening the
strips at various points of their separation, said lock being provided beneath its
key hole with a seal seat, whereby when the key is inserted to unlock the binder
a seal in its seat will be defaced, said seal seat having a cover provided with a
lock arranged for operation independent of the unlocking of the binder lock
and by means of the key of said binder lock.
21. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other
and designed to hold sheets between them; a toothed arm carried by one of said
strips; and a lock carried by the other strip, said lock comprising a pawl to
engage the toothed arm and a rotatable piece adapted to be engaged by a key
inserted in the key-hole of the lock and arranged to operate the pawl.
22. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other
and designed to hold sheets between them; a toothed arm carried by one of
said strips; and a lock carried by the other strip, said lock comprising a pawl to
engage the toothed arm and a rotatable piece adapted to be engaged by a key
inserted in the key hole of the lock and arranged to operate the pawl; a seal
chamber located on the upper side of the strip which carries the lock and having
therein the key hole for said lock, said seal chamber having a cover provided
with a lock.
23. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other
and designed to hold sheets between them; a toothed arm carried by one of said
stripa; and a lock carried by the other strip, said lock comprising a pawl to
engage the toothed arm and a rotatable piece adapted to be engaged by a key
inserted in the key-hole of the lock and arranged to operate the pawl; a scal
chamber located on the upper side of the strip which carries the lock and having
therein the key-hole for said lock, said seal chamber having a cover provided
with a lock arranged to be operated by the key for the binder lock but indepen-
dent of the unlocking of the binder lock.
24. In a binder, the combination of two metal strips designed to hold sheets
between them; covers jinged to said strips; and rubber pieces fitting over the
ends of said strips beneath the leather or other binding material therefor to
protect said leather or other binding material from wear.
25. A binder constructed to hold removable sheets and provided with a lock-
ing device to lock the sheets in place, said device having a scal so arranged that
it must be defaced in unlocking the binder.

page_text: 26. An extensible sheet post for a binder comprising two sections slidably
connected together and being of uniform circumference throughout its length,
and removable sheets having apertures engaged by said posts.
27. In a binder, the combination of two strips movable to and from each other
and connected together, said strips being provided with sheet posts; and covers
having hinged strips at their rear ends arranged for ready attachment to and
detachment from said strips, and removable sheets secured in place between said
strips.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.