Improvements in Spring Clips for Binding Loose Papers, Pamphlets, and the like, and Devices to be used in connection therewith.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Clips for Binding Loose Papers, Pamphlets,
and the like, and Devices to be used in connection therewith.
I, HARLAN HOGUE BALLARD, of 50, South Street, Pittsfield, in the County of
Berkshire, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Librarian, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to spring clips for binding and holding loose papers,
pamplets, magazines, and other like articles, including temporary covers on the
same, and differs essentially from the ordinary spring clips used for this purpose in
that it has no handles fixed thereto which handles are greatly in the way when the
clips are in place upon the articles which they serve to hold and bind.
The invention consists of a spring binding clip adapted to receive independent
handles or levers for applying or removing it, as hereinafter described.
The clips are constructed of spring steel or brass and of an approximately
U-shape with their side members inclining towards each other at their mouths, to
firmly and compactly hold within them the pamphlets or other papers, etc. The
clips may either be made singly or in a cluster side by side out of a single spring
metal strip to hold an accumulation of magazines, etc., in which case each requires
to be opened or have their members sprung apart before they can be placed upon
the articles they are designed to hold and preferably also before they can be
removed therefrom.
Instead of constructing said clips with fixed handles or levers projecting backward
therefrom as other binding clips have heretofore been made for the purpose of
opening them, I preferably construct them with holes or openings to provide for the
engagement with them when they are required to be opened of separate handles or
levers that may be removed after the clips have been opened. I thus produce a
spring clip readily adapted by its construction to be opened by independent
mechanical means and that shall present a smooth exterior, that is without fixed
levers, or handles projecting from its back. As in every case somie levers or handles
are required to open the clips said opening devices are in one sense a necessary
accessory and I preferably construct the same in the form of a pair of detachable
engaging levers. The clips may have their engaging holes made in the opposite
marginal sides of their backs, and to open such a clip when it is required to put it
upon the papers or article it is to hold, an opening device is employed of a nippers-
like construction and consisting of a pair of crossed arms or members pivoted
together with or without finger loops at their rear ends and having additional rods
or levers pivoted to them at their forward ends. Said rods or levers are projected
through the holes of the clip with their forward ends resting against the inner face
of the side members of the clip and on closing the rear ends of the arms, the rods or
levers will be forced toward each other at their pivoted ends and their forward
ends which have their fulcrums on the sides of the holes will be forced outward
against the inner face of the side members of the clip, thereby springing said side
members apart and opening the clip to receive the article to be bound within it.
Instead however of the openings being made in the side margins of the back of
the clip they may be made in the actual sides of the clip and preferably of a key-
hole shape and ranging transversely of the sides of the clip, the inner walls of the
clip about said openings being by preference slightly reduced in thickness.
To adapt the opening device for use in connection with the clip thus constructed
the forward ends of its rods or levers are provided with a button on their inner face.
To open the clip, the opening device is placed upon the same so that the buttons
will enter the round portion of the openings and is pushed slightly forward until

page_text: the buttons lock with the side members of the clip whereupon the opening device is
operated in the manner before described, to open or spring the side members of the
clip apart both when applying the clip to the article to be bound as well as in
removing it instead of pulling it off with the fingers. If found desirable the arms
of the opening device in either instance may be held normally open by the inter-
position of a spring.
Another form of opening device consists of two levers or handles each bent outward
and joined at their backs by a hinge or knuckle joint, the forward ends of said levers
being bent inward to form the inwardly-inclined arms. This opening device may
be employed to open either of the forms of clips by inserting its arms in the openings
and pressing the outer ends of the levers together.
The clips may if desired be constructed without openings in their sides or backs
and be applied to the article to be bound, by hand and be removed by hand or by
any preferred independent mechanical means suitable for the purpose."
Dated this 17th day of June 1890.
H. H. BALLARD.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Clips for Binding Loose Papers, Pamphlets,
and the like, and Devices to be used in connection therewith.
I, HARLAN HOGUE BALLARD, of 50, South Street, Pittsfield, in the County of
Berkshire, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Librarian, 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 spring clips for binding and holding loose papers,
pamphlets, magazines, and other like articles including temporary covers on the
same, and differs essentially from the ordinary spring clips used for this purpose in
that it has no handles fixed thereto, which handles are greatly in the way when the
clips are in place upon the articles which they serve to hold and bind.
The invention consists of a spring binding clip adapted to receive independent
handles or levers for applying or removing it, as hereinafter described and
claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the views.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a series of pamphlets or magazines having the
improved clips applied thereto;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the clips detached;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a series of such clips, constructed
of a single piece of metal and adapted to hold a number of pamphlets or
documents;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a clip, having special openings in its sides
instead of in opposite margins of its back as shown in the previous views;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the clip shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, and a
nippers-like opening device applied thereto;
Figure 6 is a similar view of the clip shown in Figure 4, and a modified con-
struction of the opening device applied thereto;
Figure 7 is à plan view of another modified construction of the opening
device; and
Figure 8 is a perspective view of another modified construction of the clip,
having another modified form of opening device applied.

page_text: The binding clips A, shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, are constructed of
spring steel or brass and of an approximately U-shape, with their side members
inclining toward each other at their mouths, to firmly and compactly hold within
them the pamphlets B, or other papers, documents etc., they are slipped upon or
over, as shown in Figure 1.
Said clips, which may either be made singly, (as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4) or
in a cluster, side by side, out of a single spring metal strip, to hold an accumulation
of magazines etc., (as shown in Figure 3) each require to be opened or have their
side members sprung apart before they can be placed upon the articles they are
designed to hold, and preferably also before they can be removed therefrom.
Instead of constructing said clips with fixed handles or levers projecting back-
ward therefrom, as other binding clips have heretofore been made, for the purpose
of opening them, which handles are objectionable as hereinbefore mentioned, I
preferably construct them with holes or openings to provide for the engagement
with them when they are required to be opened, of separate handles or levers that
may be removed after the clips have been opened. I thus produce a spring clip
readily adapted by its construction to be opened by independent mechanical means
and that shall present a smooth exterior, that is, without fixed levers or handles
projecting from its back.
As in every case some levers or handles are required to open the clips, said
opening devices are in one sense a necessary accessory, and I preferably construct
the same in the form of a pair of detachable engaging levers, substantially as shown
in Figures 5 and 6.
the
In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5, each clip has its engaging holes b, made in the opposite
marginal sides of its back. To open such a clip when it is required to put it upon
papers or article it is to hold, the opening device C, shown in Figure 5 may be
employed. Said device is of a nippers-like construction and consists of a pair of
crossed arms or members c, pivoted together at d, with or without finger loops e, at
their rear ends, as may be desired, and having additional rods or levers, pivoted to
them at their forward ends at 7. Said rods or levers are projected through the
holes of the clip with their forward ends resting against the inner face of the side
members of the clip, and on closing the rear ends of the arms e, the rods or levers f
will be forced toward each other at their pivoted ends, and their forward ends,
which have their fulcrums on the sides of the holes b, will be forced outward against
the inner face of the side members of the clip, thereby springing said side members
apart and opening the clip to receive the article to be bound within it, as shown in
dotted lines in Figure 5.
Instead, however, of the openings being made in the side margins of the back
of the clip, they may be made in the actual sides of the clip, as shown in Figures 4
and 6, and preferably of a key-hole shape and ranging transversely of the sides of
the clip, as best shown in Figure 4, the inner walls of the clip about said openings
being by preference slightly reduced in thickness.
To adapt the opening device C for use in connection with the clip thus con-
structed, the forward ends of its rods or levers fare provided with a button h, on
their inner face, as shown in Figure 6. To open the clip, the opening device C is
placed upon the same so that the buttons h will enter the round portion of the
openings and is pushed slightly forward until the buttons lock with the side
members of the clip, as shown in said Figure 6, whereupon the opening device is
operated in the manner before described, to open or spring the side members of the
clip apart, both when applying the clip to the article to be bound as well as in
removing it, instead of pulling it off with the fingers. If found desirable, the
arms of the opening device in either instance may be held normally open by the
interposition of a spring g', as shown.
In Figure 7 of the drawings is shown another form of opening device, consisting
of two levers or handles i, each bent outward and joined at their backs by a hinge
or knuckle joint k, the forward ends of said levers being bent inward as at l, to
form the inwardly-inclined arms m. This opening device may be employed to open

page_text: either of the forms of clips shown by inserting its arms m in the openings and
pressing the outer ends of the levers together."
The clips may, if desired, be constructed without openings in their sides or backs,
and be applied to the article to be bound by hand, and removed by hand or by any
preferred independent mechanical means suitable for the purpose such, for instance,
as that shown in Figure 8, and designated C
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is -
1. A spring binding clip having its side members inclined toward each other at
its mouth, and adapted to receive independent means for opening it, substantially as
shown and described.
2. A spring binding clip, approximately U-shaped in construction, having its
side members inclined toward each other at its mouth, and adapted to receive
independent means for opening it, substantially as shown and described.
3. A spring binding clip, approximately U-shaped in construction, having its
side members inclined toward each other at its mouth, and provided with openings
adapted to receive independent levers for springing its side members apart, substan
tially as shown and described.
4. A spring binding clip opening device, consisting of a pair of removable jointed
levers, adapted to engage the side members of the clip for springing said members
apart, substantially as shown and described.
5. The combination, with a spring binding clip, approximately U-shaped in con-
struction, having its side members inclined toward each other at its mouth, and
provided with openings, as shown, of an independent pincers-like opening device
adapted to enter the openings in the clip for springing its side members apart,
substantially as shown and described.
6. The within described spring-clip opening device C, consisting of the crossed
arms e, pivoted together at d, and extension rods or levers, pivoted at their rear
ends to the forward ends of the arms e, substantially as shown and described.
7. The within described spring-clip opening device C, consisting of the crossed
arms e, pivoted together at d, and extension rods or levers f, pivoted at their rear
ends to the forward ends of the armis c, and provided at their forward ends with the
buttons, substantially as shown and described
Dated this 6th day March 1991.
PRECHEN ULIT LECE
H. H. BALLARD.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.