Improvements in Book Binding.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Book Binding.
I, SAMUEL HENRY CROCKER, Engineer, of 31, Furnival Street, London, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to bind books in such a manner that the leaves
of the book when open will lie in a much more even plane than when bound in
accordance with the present method and my invention is intended more especially
for use in letter copying books where the defects of the present system of bind-
ing causes considerable difficulties when letters are being copied in them. My
invention is however applicable to the binding of all books.
In accordance with the present method of binding a letter copying book the
a short distance back from
edges of the mill boards or stiff covers are placed
the back of the copying leaves. In this position the outer paper cover of the
copying leaves is pasted or secured to the inside of these stiff mill-board covers
and a leather or cloth binding piece connects the two boards together for the
length of the binding of the book and this binding piece is generally provided
with a stiffened portion or "back" in the middle, leaving a longitudinal portion
on each side that is flexible to allow the book to open.
A book constructed in
this manner will not open flat but the leaves when opened have an undulating
appearance which is a great defect.
"
In order to obviate this defect and to carry out my invention I place the
edges of the mill-boards or stiff outer covers flush, or thereabouts, with the
back of the stitched book and secure the book to the inside of these stiff covers
in the usual way. I now take a strip of leather, cloth or the like to form the
outer binding and to connect together the stiff covers of the book. This binding
as in the ordinary method
piece is provided preferably with a stiff part or "back
of binding and the other parts of the binding piece are glued or secured to the
outside of the outer stiff covers excepting about or of an inch (or thereabouts
in accordance with the size of the book) of these stiff covers for which distance
along the whole length of the binding there is no connection between the binding
piece and the stiff outer covers. This allows a flexible part to act as a hinge
which permits the book to open and a book constructed on this principle will
open flat and the leaves will not have that undulating appearance before referred
to.
In order that my invention may be very easily carried out and to avoid the
possibility of the binding piece being accidentally glued to the outer covers
to their extréme edge, I first connect the stiff outer covers together upon their
This piece of fabric is doubled back
outside by a 'continuous piece of fabric.
on each side for its full length to the distance required viz. about to ¾ of an
inch as before referred to, and the outer face of each of these doubled back parts
The leather or other cloth
are glued to the outside of the stiff outer covers.
binding can now be pasted or glued entirely over the required distance of the

page_text: stiff covers and also to the fabric without any fear of interfering with the flexible
part of the back necessary for the proper opening of the book.
Dated this 5th day of April 1899.
F
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Book Binding.
I, SAMUEL HENRY CROCKER, Engineer, of 31, Furnival Street, London, 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.
The object of my invention is to bind books in such a manner that the leaves
of the book when open will lie in a much more even plane than when bound in
accordance with the present method and my invention is intended. more especially
for use in letter copying books where the defects of the present system of bind-
ing cause considerable difficulties when letters are being copied in them. My
invention is however applicable to the binding of all books.
In accordance with the present method of binding a letter copying book the
edges of the mill boards or stiff covers are placed a short distance back from
the back of the copying leaves. In this position the outer paper cover of the
copying leaves is pasted or secured to the inside of these stiff mill-board covers
and a leather or cloth binding piece connects the two boards together for the
length of the binding of the book and this binding piece is generally provided
with a stiffened portion or "back" in the middle, leaving a flexible longitudinal
portion on each side to allow the book to open. A book constructed in this
manner will not open flat but the leaves when opened have an undulating
appearance which is a great defect.
I obviate this defect by forming the covers in such a manner that the stiff
portion or back is secured to them a short distance from their edges and at the
outside so that these project about a quarter or three, eights of an inch within
the back, the part of the back connected to the covers being flexible so that a
hinge is formed in the usual manner. On opening a book bound in this way
the central portion is forced slightly up so that the leaves lie perfectly flat one
upon the other.
The accompanying drawings show the method of carrying out my invention,'
Fig. 1. being a general view of a book shown in open position, Fig. 2 an' end view
of a closed book and Fig. 3 a similar view of the covers complete without the
book.
"
As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the covers A, of any ordinary stiff material,
are connected together by the strip of fabric B which acts as a strengthening
piece. This strip is fixed to the edges of the covers at the outer side and the
stiff back C, having the flexible side parts c which are secured to the covers, also
at the outside, forms a hinge allowing the book to open.
The inner edges a of the covers extend as shown some distance within the stiff
back C so that when the book is opened they project inwardly as shown in Figs. 1
and 3 and the leaves at the centre are consequently forced up so that those at
each side lie flat upon the covers and do not rise in the customary manner: ".
The book D when inserted between the covers, is secured to them in the usual
manner by strips fixed to the inside of the covers, but is also glued at the Back
to the strengthening piece B.
The book binding is completed in the usual manner.
.
*bai
257-47

page_text: 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 book binding having the back secured to the covers a short distance
from their edges so that the edges of the covers are free and project within the
back, substantially as described.
(2) In a binding for books having stiff covers, a binding piece, formed with
a stiff curved back and flexible side pieces secured to the outer sides of the covers
a short distance from their edges so that the edges are free and project within
the stiff back, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(3) The improved binding for books, constructed substantially as described
and shown in the accompanying drawings and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 5th day of February 1900.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.