Improvements in Bound Books.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th June, 1890-Accepted, 26th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bound Books.
I, ADDISON CALVIN FLETCHER a Physician of New York City, County of New
York, United States of America do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to the construction of bound books in such a manner as to
facilitate the turning of the successive leaves, and to render the volume capable of
remaining open at any page.
In order to facilitate the turning of the leaves, I cut their upper edges, where the
finger is applied, at an angle less than a right angle to the side edges. Or, when the
upper edges are as usual at right angles to the sides, I cut the upper face of the volume
to a slope so that the upper edge of each leaf projects slightly above that of the next.
Both these expedients may be employed together, that is to say each upper edge at
the right hand corner may form an angle less than a right angle with the side edge, and
the whole of the upper edges may be also made to slope so as to be lower at the back
than at the front of the book. Sometimes it is convenient in manuscript, memorandum
or account books, to write only on the right. hand pages leaving the left hand pages
blank, and, inverting the book, to fill these which then become the right hand pages.
Sometimes also it is convenient to. write first on only the upper half of the depth of
each page, the blank lower half giving a rest for the hand, and then to invert the
volume and write on the blank spaces. In such cases the oblique cutting or sloping
should be applied not only to the upper but also to the lower edges, which become the
upper on inversion. In order to render the volume capable of remaining open, I
apply between the back of the leaves and the arched spring backing two bent plates
of elastic sheet metal, the one plate having its one edge firmly attached to the back
edge of the sheets at the beginning of the book and the other plate having its one
edge similarly attached at the end of the book, and the free edges of both overlapping
each other at the middle of the back. When the book is opened these plates act as springs
pushing upwards the middle of the back, so that when the book is laid down open, the
arched backing and the side edges of the boards resting on a table or elsewhere, there
is no tendency of the leaves to close together when they are opened apart.
Dated this 29th day of April 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bound Books.
I, ADDISON CALVIN FLETCHER a Physician of New York City, County of New
York, 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 :-
My invention relates to the construction of bound volumes of books of various kinds,
whether the same contain printed matter or are compiled in blank for use as account
books, diaries, ledgers, or other purposes.
It is one purpose of my invention to provide a simple and wholly inexpensive
construction, whereby the person reading, consulting, or making entries in a book of
any character, whether the same be a blank book or a printed publication, shall be
enabled to separate and turn the pages with ease and accuracy and without turning
up the corners of the leaves. This feature of my invention also contemplates a
construction whereby the leaves may be turned in opposite directions by simply
Price Sd.l

page_text: reversing the book, the entries being carried consecutively from the upper half of one
page, to the similar portion of the ensuing page and so on throughout the volume, the
latter being then turned end for end to bring the blank or unused lower portions of
the several pages into a position for receiving entries, while the series of half pages
upon which entries have been previously made in consecutive order are inverted or
turned upside down, in which position they form a base of support for the hand and
wrist of the writer or book-keeper, who fills the consecutive halves of the pages with
his entries, using the lower blank halves as a base of support for the hand and wrist.
It is a further purpose of my invention to provide a blank-book having a novel
tabulation or arrangement of the page lining, the same being divided transversely of
said pages in such manner as to constitute either one single book or, if desired, a
volume divided at any suitable point by a transverse blank space with or without a
lining centrally arranged in said space, thereby dividing the said pages by spaces,
whereby the tabulation upon one side of said space may be used as one book and that
upon the other side either as another book or as a continuation of the first volume,
the pages being numbered upon one side of said space in one direction, and upon the
other side in the opposite direction.
It is also one purpose of my present invention to provide and combine with a book
of any description simple means whereby the book when opened at any point shall
remain open without the imposition of weights or any other like devices.
This feature of my invention comprises, also, a novel and simple construction and
combination of parts whereby the backing shall be supported and arched upward upon
opening the book, the elastic supporting devices be lapped to slide or move transversely
one upon the other as the book opens and closes and exerting a spring-pressure upon
the backing whereby the latter is raised as the book opens and sustained in its raised
position and the leaves are allowed to lie naturally upon the outspread covers.
To enable others skilled in the art to practice my said invention I will describe the
same in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure is a plan view of a blank-book suitable for accounts or other entries
represented as opened to illustrate the tabular arrangement or paging. Fig. 2 is an
edge elevation of the book represented as closed, illustrating the method or form of
trimming the top edges of the leaves. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a book partly open,
showing a modified system of tabulation. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a modified
method or form of trimming the top edges. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a
modification for trimming the end edges. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a book closed,
showing the manner of indicating the direction in which the book is to be opened,
Fig. 7 is an end elevation of a volume showing the manner of attaching the elastic
sustaining devices. Fig. 8 is an end elevation showing the book opened and illustrating
the action of the sustaining devices. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective of the elastic
sustaining devices detached, each being a duplicate or counterpart of the other.
Fig. 10 is a plan view of the blank-book showing the division of the pages by a
transverse space.
In the said drawings the reference-numeral denotes any form of book, whether
the same be bound up in-print, in blank form, or as a ruled ledger or account book.
My invention contemplates both forms of compilation, and is adapted to either one in
many of its features.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the reference numeral 1 designates the body of
the book or other bound volume, composed of separate consecutive sheets, each
containing two pages. In accordance with my invention I provide each one of these
consecutive pages at or near the middle or central portion with any suitable indication
of division such as a transverse blank space-of suitable width either with or without
a central transverse lining or ruling, whereby I form two substantially similar sections
or divisions upon each of the pages. I number these sections or divisions consecutively
as to the upper half portions or divisions, the numerical designations running in regular
order from the beginning to the end of the book.
By examining Fig. 1 it will be seen that in making entries upon the upper halves
of the pages, as, for example, upon those portions numbered as pages or balf pages 44

page_text: and 45, the similar lower portions of said pages form a broad base of support for the
wrist and hand of the user or the book-keeper. When these portions have been filled
in the natural order in which they are numbered-that is to say, proceeding from the
beginning toward the end of the book, as is usual in paging other books-the book is
reversed or turned end for end to constitute the rear end the beginning, and the lower
page-sections are filled consecutively from the rear to the beginning.
After having made whatever entries are required to fill the space inclosed by the
series of half pages whereof the numerals 44 and 45 form a part, as an illustration,
and having proceeded upon the first series of half pages from the beginning of the
volume to the end, the volume is simply turned end for end whereby the paging-
divisions shown in Fig. 1 at the bottom of said figure and numbered thereon as the
two hundred and seventeenth and two hundred and eighteenth half-pages are brought
into position to receive the entries of the operator in the same consecutive order as in
the other series of half-pages, save that under my invention the second series of half-
pages read from the rear of the volume towards the front, while the first series read
from the front toward the rearward portion of the volume.
To facilitate turning the leaves adopt the construction shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4
and 5, in which I show the edge of the book trimmed obliquely or in a plane forming
an angle of less than ninety degrees with the leaves, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,
whereby the super-imposed sheets are readily separated from those upon which they
are laid. The thinner the paper may be of which the leaves are formed the more
acute will be the angle, or, in other words, the greater will be the obliquity of the
plane upon which the "overhang" is formed. This rule also pervades the several
forms shown and described, inasmuch as the angularity of the converging ends shown
in Fig. 4 increases in proportion to the increased thinness of the paper, while the
angle of the overhang shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 becomes more acute as the leaves
grow thinner.
As a modification of this construction, I may bevel off the angles 2
of the book, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby I secure the same result, and, whereby also,
the separation of the leaves is facilitated, inasmuch as the overhang of the super-
imposed leaves is located at the end angle or corner and entirely at that point instead
of being distributed over the entire end of the book. These bevels of both
descriptions are made at reverse angles or in substantial parallelism with each other,
as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5, to permit the reversal of the book end for end,
whereby the second series of half sheets or half pages are rendered accessible. Í
may, however, turn the edges of the leaves in the manner shown in Fig. 4 by simply
forming an angle of less than ninety degrees at the points 3, which are the usual
points of contact of the fingers in turning the leaves, or, in other words, converging
the end edges of the leaves toward the point where they unite with the backing, the
angle of convergence being comparatively small.
Referring now to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the numeral 4 denotes a plate formed of suitable
sheet metal, preferably of spring metal, provided with hooks, catches, or other suitable
levices 5, whereby said plate during the process of manufacture of the book is
attached or connected therewith by rigidly connecting the series of teeth 5, projecting
from one edge of said plate, with the backing 6 of the book before the cover or
backing is attached, the arrangement being such that the free edge of said plate shall
Le closely against the said backing 6, while a second and similar plate 7 is attached
in like manner to the opposite edge of the backing 6, and the free margin of this
second plate overlaps and slides freely upon the margin of the other plate, both
having an elastic lifting and sustaining action upon said backing when the book is
opened, whereby the backing is raised, as shown in Fig. 8, and the leaves are parted
and caused to lie open at any point, preserving the binding, promoting the
durability of the book, and adding greatly to the convenience of the person using
the book.
It should be noted that the divided pages are numbered consecutively in opposite
directions, the first series, as denoted by pages 44 and 45 in Fig. 1 being initiated and
continued in the direction indicated by the hand on the outside cover in Fig. 6, which
denotes the direction in which the leaves are naturally turned with reference to the

page_text: overhang in Figs. 2 and 5. This overhang, whether it be formed at the end, as in
Fig. 2, or at angles in Fig. 5, has precisely the same function, inasmuch as it gives a
favorable position to the superimposed leaves to enable the operator to lift and
separate them, and as the separation proceeds from the higher or more projecting
angle of the overhang, down to the less prominent angles or edges, the numbering or
paging will follow in the same direction.
It should be noted that I may employ the overhang 8, or the modified overhang
shewn in Fig. 5, either separately or conjointly, and I may unite with the same the
divergent trimming shown in Fig. 4. I may also use any one or more of these
features of construction separately or in combination with any one or more of the
· others mentioned.
Heretofore and prior to my invention a copy-book has been used in which the pages
have been divided in such manner that the upper portions thereof may be used
consecutively from the beginning to the end, while the other portions below the
dividing line are used in the opposite direction, the book being reversed for such
purpose.
In this instance, however, there is no dividing transverse space forming a marginal
separation between the upper and the lower halves of the book.
It does not, therefore, make a practical separation between the two portions of the
pages, whereby the book can serve, practically, as two books-as, for example, a day
book and ledger, or other similar purposes. This blank margin is indispensible in
all cases where the book is adapted to the uses proposed in this specification. It
will readily be seen that in footing the columns, and for other purposes its presence is
essential, for without it the reversely-paged duplex tabulation is worthless.
In the drawings I have shown the blank book divided by a transverse blank
space and a lining centrally arranged in said space in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive;
and in Fig. 10 I have shown the blank-book divided by a transverse blank space
without a central lining.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
-
1. A bound volume in which the leaves are trimmed or arranged with their end
edges lying in a plane forming an angle with the plane of the leaves of less than
ninety degrees substantially as described.
2. A bound volume having its pages marked to form equal upper and lower
divisions, said leaves being so formed and arranged as to present their ends in two
parallel planes which form angles of less than ninety degrees with the plane of the
said leaves, substantially as described.
3. The combination, with a bound volume, of independent elastic sustaining devices
interposed between the backing and the Linding and adapted to aid in opening the
volume and to support the binder when the volume is opened, substantially as
described.
4. The combination, with a bound volume, of elastic plates interposed between
the backing and the binding and adapted to be placed under tension by opening
the book, the edges of the said plates overlapping each other, substantially as
- described.
5. The combination, with a bound volume, of elastic sustaining-plates having
attachment at their edges to the backing, and having their free edges overlapping and
exerting an elastic and constant tension upon the middle portion of the backing,
substantially as described.
6. A bound volume having its edges or the ends of its leaves trimmed off at angles
. less than ninety degrees with the plane of the leaves, said angles being reversed at
the opposite ends substantially as described.
7. A bound volume having a reverse bevel upon opposite edges of the leaves,
whereby a double reverse overhang is formed to facilitate the separation of the
leaves, substantially as described.

page_text: 8. In a blank-book, a series of pages divided by a transverse blank space, from the
beginning to the end of the volume, the pages upon opposite sides of said space being
numbered in opposite directions and the ends of the leaves being beveled or cat in.
parallel planes and at angles less than ninety degrees with the plane of the leaves,.
substantially as described.
9. A book having its pages divided by a blank space running transversely to said
pages, said space being divided centrally by a ruling, also transverse to the pages,.
the leaves upon one side of said space being numbered in one direction and upon the
opposite side of said transverse space in the opposite direction and the ends of the
leaves being trimmed in parallel planes forming less than an angle of ninety degrees.
with the plane of said pages, substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of June 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.