Improvements connected with Fixing and Renewing Endless and other Elastic Bands for Encircling Pocket-books, and for other such uses.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 20th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Fixing and Renewing Endless and
other Elastic Bands for Encircling Pocket-books, and for other
such uses.
I, ROBERT MIDDLETON, of Sheepscar Foundry, Leeds, in the County of
York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a special clip which when once affixed, for example to
a pocket book, will allow the fitting and renewal of the encircling band as often as
required.
The usual mode of securing elastic bands to pocket-books is very unsatisfactory,
in as much as most bands give way, or wear out, before the book is done. A common
plan when this happens is to resort to a loose elastic band, but this sooner or latter
results in annoyance by reason of the said band getting mislaid at a critical
moment.
I avoid this inconvenience by my invention which may be termed an anchor-
clip. This is specially designed for fixing either to new or old pocket-books, and so
in turn securing the bands thereto.
Although I am taking a pocket-book for an example it must be clearly under-
stood that my invention applies equally to any two things which may require
encircling by an elastic or other such band, and to which my anchor-clip may be
affixed, so as to hold the band in readiness for its work.
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I carry out my invention as follows: My anchor having two duties to perform
may be said to consist of two parts, one for anchoring itself, and the other for
gripping the elastic band. The clips that secure the anchor have to be pushed
through the back of the book and then turned over after the manner of a paper-
fastener." They may form a part of the anchor, or may be separate. The mouths
of the jaws for securing the band are C shaped and lie flat on the book the ends
of the jaws may approach one another but they must not be entirely closed.
Between these jaws the band is inserted by being first stretched so as to reduce
its thickness to a minimum. After insertion the tension is relaxed, whereupon the
band will be found to be fixed in the jaws.
The jaws may be single or multiple, that is to say, there may be one, two, or
more jaws alongside one another, and the elastic band may be introduced in and
between these. Where multiple jaws are used their mouths may be arranged in
opposite directions. The jaws may also be given an extra gripping power by being
serrated, curved, waved, &c.
To the case of bands whose ends have to be joined together, multiple jaws are
more suited than single ones, as they adapt themselves better to making adjust-
ments for length. My anchor-clip may be made in one piece, provided the metal,
whilst sufficiently rigid in the jaws to stand its ground, permits itself to be formed
into pointed clips for bending over on the other side of the book-back. Otherwise
separate clips of a more pliable metal must be resorted to.
Dated this 28th day of June 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Fixing and Renewing Endless and
other Elastic Bands for Encircling Pocket-books, and for other
such uses.
I, ROBERT MIDDLETON, of Sheepscar Foundry, Leeds, in the County of
York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a special clip which when once affixed, for example to
a pocket-book, will allow the fitting and renewal of the encircling band as often as
required.
The usual mode of securing elastic bands to pocket-books is very unsatisfactory,
in as much as most bands give way, or wear out, before the book is done. A
common plan when this happens is to resort to a loose elastic band, but this
sooner or later results in annoyance by reason of the said band getting mislaid at a
critical monent.
I avoid this inconvenience by my invention which may be termed an anchor-
clip. This is specially designed for fixing either to new or old pocket-books, and
so in turn securing the bands thereto.
Although I am taking a pocket-book for an example it must be clearly under-
stood that my invention applies equally to any two things which may require
encircling by an elastic or other such band, and to which my anchor-clip may be
affixed, so as to hold the band in readiness for its work.
I carry out my invention as follows:-
-
My anchor having two duties to perform may be said to consist of two parts,
one for anchoring itself, and the other for gripping the elastic band.
The clips
that secure the anchor have to be pushed through the back of the book and then
turned over after the manner of a "paper fastener." They may form a part of
the anchor or may be separate. The mouths of the jaws for securing the
band lie flat on the book; the ends of the jaws may approach one another but
they must not be entirely closed. Between these jaws the band is inserted by being
first stretched so as to reduce its thickness to a minimum. After insertion the
tension is relaxed, whereupon the band will be found to be fixed in the jaws.
The jaws may be single or multiple, that is to say, there may be one, two, or
more, jaws alongside one another, and the elastic band may be introduced in and
between these. Where multiple jaws are used their mouths may be arranged in
opposite directions. The jaws may also be given an extra gripping power by
being serrated, curved, waved, &c.
To the case of bands whose ends have to be joined together, multiple jaws are
more suited than single ones, as they adapt themselves better to making adjust-
ments for length. My anchor-clip may be made in one piece, provided the metal,
whilst sufficiently rigid in the jaws to stand its ground, permits itself to be formed
into pointed clips for bending over on the other side of the book-back. Otherwise
separate clips of a more pliable metal must be resorted to.
The best modes of arranging my anchor-clips or fasteners are illustrated in the
accompanying drawing in which Figs. 1, 5, 8, 13, 15, 18, 19 and 20 are plan views;
Figs. 2, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17 and 21 side elevations (some in section) and Figs. 3, 4, 6,
911 and 16 end views (some in section). Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section of a
special form of india-rubber band.
The same letters refer to the same parts or their equivalents in all the figs.
A represents the base of the anchor-clip or fastener, and B a portion of the
article (in dotted lines) to which it is affixed or about to be affixed, whilst C C are
the clips or teeth for anchoring the jaw or tube D flat down on B. The mouth or
slit in the jaw or tube through which the band E is introduced is shown at F.

page_text: The teeth are shown for the sake of clearness standing straight out in certain
places, i.e., not turned back over B as finally required for anchoring purposes.
When an endless band has to be inserted in position it is stretched (by hand)
until thin enough to pass through the mouth or opening F. When released it will
fit tightly in the jaw or tube if the proportions between the band and the former
have been so arranged. When inserting a doubled-over length of band, so shown
in Fig. 13, the same stretch is given to the doubled end, and when released it
should be tightly grasped in the jaws or tubes.
The mode of anchoring the fastener is preferably by teeth C as shown
in Figs. 2, 3, etc. which are pushed through holes in the article B used as the
foundation, and then bent over. Nevertheless they may be fastened by rivets or
by stitching as shown in Figs. 19, 20 and 21, as the flat position taken up by the
base A of the fastener lends itself to various modes of fixing to suit different
foundations. Secondary clips may thus be used for anchoring purposes.
In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, which are views of the same fastener, the slit or mouth F is
in a prominent place on the front of the tube; whilst in Fig. 4 a slight modification
in the slit F is shown, and in Figs. 5 and 6 the sides of the jaws or tubes are shown
lapping over one another.
In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 the slit F is kept out of sight: the positions of the anchoring
teeth C, in plan, are shown by the heavy dotted lines. In this arrangement the
side pull on the band should be away from the slit F. Figs. 10 and 11 show a
modification in which lips A' are turned up from the base to guard the exit.
Figs. 12 and 13 show the same fastener with a central gap in the tube arranged
(in multiple jaw style) to admit of a straight length of band being doubled back for
the purpose of adjustment for length. To prevent the stretched band being pulled
through the tubes, small solid cylinders (say of wood) are inserted at E¹ between
the folds of the band: this arrangement allows the band to be tightened or adjusted
as often as required. Indentations in the tubes or jaws as at D' may also be
introduced for friction's sake. An india-rubber band with thickened end portions
(one or more) for the sake of adjustments, may also be used as shown in Fig. 14
instead of doubling back a straight length.
In Figs. 15, 16, and 17 an ornamental fastener is shown suited for sacred books ;.
whilst Fig. 18 shows the flat sheet out of which the whole is to be bent. The
teeth C, in this, and in other cases, may be got by leaving ends (shown dotted) on
the solid plate, or they may be stamped out of the central part of the base A after
the manner shown.
Figs. 19, 20 and 21 show prolongations C of the base A for the purpose of receiving
rivets, stitches, &c., for anchoring the fastener down as before mentioned.
Although pocket and other books, purses, portfolios and the like, may appear to
be the most suitable things to which to apply my fastener, there are innumerable
others to which it is suited; for instance, boxes or their lids may be fitted with an
anchored band, or both box and lid may be relatively joined by the encircling band
being pushed through two of my fasteners, one being anchored on each, so as to
prevent separation when opened; such fastenings may be fixed in the place of
hinges and so do away with the necessity for these latter when doubly anchored
bands are used as here described.
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) A fastening device, consisting of a base plate, anchoring devices attached
thereto, one or more continuations of the base plate folded over so as to form a jaw
or tube with the base plate, and an india-rubber band held in the said jaw or tube,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
2) A fastening device, consisting of an elastic band, a sheet metal cover folded
over so as to fit the said band, and having a mouth or slit therein through which

page_text: the band can be inserted, and anchoring devices for holding the said band covering
firmly to the article to be fastened, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3) In a fastener for holding an elastic band the combination of a base, means
attached to that base for anchoring the same, a tube attached to the said base and
having a slit therein, or other equivalent jaws, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
4) A fastener for holding an elastic band formed from one piece of sheet metal,
consisting of a base plate, anchoring teeth branching therefrom, and one or more
continuations of the base plate folded back so as to form a tube (or jaw) fitting the
band, substantially as described.
5) The combination of the base plate A, tube or jaw D, having a longitudinal
mouth or slit F.through which an elastic band can be inserted, and an anchoring
device C, substantially as and for the purposes described.
6) The combination of a fastener with an india-rubber band with thickened end
portions as shown in Fig. 14 substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 27th day of March 1893.
WM.
SNOWDON,
.9, Old Bank Chambers, Leeds, Yorks., Agent for the Applicant.