Improvements in and in connection with Book and Music Rests and Music Portfolios.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1892-Accepted, 30th July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Book and Music Rests and
Music Portfolios.
I, HARRY PEARCE CLEMETSON of 22 Hempsted Street, Ashford, in the County
of Kent, Draper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described aud ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide facilities for holding open a book while
being read, or for holding open a piece of music while being played or sung from,
or both, and for turning over the Icaves of same by the use of one hand only, a
desirable acquisition for pianists and all other musicians.
My invention consists-Firstly-of a device to be used as a book or music rest,
or both, and capable of being placed at any useful angle upon a table or other flat
surface when used for holding open a book whilst being read, or suspended or otherwise
placed upon the music rest of a piano, organ or harmonium, or upon an ordinary
music stand when used for holding open the copy of music, and Secondly-of a
method of constructing a music portfolio whereby the same may be employed for
carrying copies of music in the usual way, and capable by a slight and easy move-
ment of being converted into a music rest, and placed upon the piano or music
stand for holding the copy during recital, or for standing at any desired angle upon
a table or other flat surface for use as a book or music rest.
In order that my invention and the several modifications of the construction
thereof may be clearly understood, I have appended hereunto two sheets of
drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a back view, Figs. 2 and 3 are reverse side views, Fig. 4 is an end
view, and Fig. 5 is a front view, of one type of my improved book rest, while
Figs. 6 and 7 are views illustrating its application.
Fig. 8 is a view illustrating an alternative method of constructing and operating
the same.
Figs. 9 and 10 are end views of a further modification, while Figs. 11 and 12
illustrate the manner of using same.
Fig. 13 shews a still further modification of my said book rest.
Fig. 14 is an end view of a music portfolio constructed according to my invention,
with which is combined the principle embodied in the previous views.
Figs. 15 and 16 are views illustrating the manner of using Fig. 14 when employed
as a book or music rest.
Fig. 17 is a detail of the said portfolio to be hereinafter explained.
Similar letters of reference are used throughout the drawings to indicate the
same or like parts.
In carrying my invention into effect in so far as regards the book or music rest
proper and represented by Figs. 1 to 13, 1 construct from any suitable light
material, but preferably, of stout cardboard, and of any desired size, a device
consisting of two, preferably, rectangular boards A. and B, joined or connected in
a similar manner to that of an ordinary book cover, and which may be so finished
or ornamented upon its back C, as to resemble a book, as shewn at Fig. 1. Upon
the outer surface of A, and suitably hinged thereto, I provide a flap or strut D,
which when not in use shuts into a recess a flush with the surface of A, as shewn
at Figs. 3, 4, 9 and 10, and I may in some cases provide a similar hinged flap D'
upon the cover B as shewn at Fig. 9, for extending the length of B, similar to that
shewn by Fig. 15. To the inner surface of A I hinge by any suitable means the
free ends of a preferably brass wire clip E, which passes therefrom through slots b
in B and curls over in the direction of C, and embraces within the said curl a

page_text: projection or shelf a fixed upon or formed integrally with B. The said clip E is
shewn in the drawings as one continuous piece, but I may if desired form the same
in two pieces, dispensing with that portion extending from to parallel with B,
in which case the two pieces after passing through would each terminate in a
similar curl and both embracing c or E may be in one piece connected at its hinges
instead of its curled ends. A spring or springs d, or any suitable equivalent
therefor is provided inside of C connected to A and B, or in any other suitable
position, so long as the tension thereof operates to keep A and B apart as far as
the curl or curls of the clip or clips E will permit.
The apparatus, when intended to be used as a book rest upon a table or other
flat surface is employed as follows. The strut D is opened from A and placed
so as to support the rest at the angle required, and the book F to be read is opened
and laid upon B, and by a slight pressure upon the book, B may be depressed,
which causes the clip or clips E to recede, so that the curl or curls thereof is or
are away clear of c, when the book may be slid down until arrested by which
forms a shelf therefor. The release of the pressure upon F permits B, by the
tension of d, to resume its original position, and the curl or curls of E to rest upon
the open pages of F as shewn at Fig. 6. A similar pressure is used when a leaf
of F has to be turned over, that is to say, when the book F and B is depressed!
and E released as before described, and as shewn at Fig. 7, the leaf may be turned
by the same hand, when the pressure may be removed and the clip or clips
would rest upon the fresh page.
By this means a book of any thickness within reasonable limits may be used
upon the rest, the clip or clips E accommodating itself or themselves thereto by
the tension of d or its equivalent or equivalents and for books of unusual length,
or for sheets or books of music, the flap D' may be raised and used in the manner
shewn by Fig. 15.
I may arrange the apparatus to be capable of use in the reverse position to that
described, such as that shewn by Fig. 8, in which case the clip or clips E would
embrace the upper instead of the lower end of the book, as in the previous method,
and the shelf would be arranged to be adjustable so as to receive books of different
lengths, and I may attain the said adjustment by providing grooves in which c may
slide upon B, and be arrested in any position and there retained by the means of
clips, or buttons, or by any other convenient and suitable means.
may as an alternative method connect A and B at either or both ends, by a
parallel hinge, the connecting rods of which e e¹ may slope in the direction shewn
by Fig. 10, so that the depression of B may operate E as shewn at Fig. 11, or
ee may slope in the opposite direction as at Fig. 9 in which case the clip or
clips E may be a fixture upon A, and the holes & dispensed with, so that the
depression of B would carry the book F away from and clear of E as shewn at
Fig. 12. In both the latter cases B may be caused to resume its normal position,
when the pressure of the hand is removed, by the tension of the same spring or
springs d, or I may in lieu thereof or in addition thereto, employ the use of spiral
or other springs interposed between A and B for attaining or assisting to attain
the same end.
Or as a further modification I may construct the apparatus as at Fig. 13. In
this method I employ the use of two or more plate springs G, the upper ends of
which are fastened by rivets or other suitable means to the upper interior of B,
the lower ends of G standing out from B, extend more or less below the bottom
thereof, and terminate in curls or the like G which act as feet for the support
of B. To the springs G 1 hinge or otherwise connect the lower ends of the clip
or clips E, and provide spiral or other springs G therebetween, or any suitable
equivalent therefor such for instance as that of passing E through holes as in
the previous methods the object being that the curl or curls of E, may, by such or
other means be kept in close contact with B, or the book upon B, until removed
by pressure, for the same purpose as before described. In this method I may
dispense with the spring or springs d, and arrange A hinged to C, so as to form a

page_text: leg or strut in lieu of D, as shewn at Fig. 13. In this modification the pressure
of the hand upon B, would be against the tension offered by G, and the nearer the
lower end of B, is brought in contact with G, the more E would recede from the
book placed upon B. This will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 13 and
the description given in reference to the previous methods. Suitable stays or
tapes may be employed connecting A and B to prevent the undue separation
thereof.
In carrying into effect that part of my invention which pertains to the construction
of an appliance forming the combination of a music portfolio and book or music
rest, I provide from any suitable light material, but preferably, card board or
papier maché, two rectangular covers H and I, connected together by a spring or
springs K, after the manner of such portfolios generally, and which when collapsed
for the purpose of being used as a portfolio, would appear when viewed end wise
as shewn at Fig. 14. Referring to the same figure, upon the inner surface of H,
I provide a hinged flap L, which shuts into a recess y formed in the substance of L,
50 as when closed to be flush therewith. Upon the outer surface of II provide a
similar hinged flap D', which shuts into a recess in I, and a narrower hinged
flap c shutting into a recess i or hand may be dispensed with and D' and c' simply
fold down upon I.
Upon the outer surface of H I mount the clip or clips E, in
the manner shewn by Fig. 17, the curl or curls of which is or are kept in close
contact with H by the means of spiral springs k surrounding the feet of E, and I
may adopt this arrangement of E in connection with the book rests described. The
apparatus thus constructed may be used as a music portfolio in the usual way, but
the special advantages to be derived from this apparatus as compared with such
portfolios hitherto made and used is that when the musician or other musical artist
has arrived with his or her portfolio of music at the place of entertainment, he or
she can instantly convert the apparatus into a rest or stand for holding the music
copy while playing or singing therefrom. To attain this the portfolio is opened
and the copy or copies of music removed therefrom. H and I are then separated,
spread open, and bent back until their edges are brought together in the opposite
direction, the flap c¹ is then raised and the clip or clips E bent back against the
tension of the springs, and the curl or curls thereof placed so as to embrace c',
which prevents H and I from separating, as they desire to do by the strained
tension of the spring or springs K. If intended that the apparatus is to stand upon
a table or other flat surface the strut or flap L is opened, so that the apparatus
may be supported thereby at the angle desired. The flap D is then raised and
the copy placed upon I resting upon c', embraced by the clip or clips E. The
When
position of the apparatus will be fully understood by reference to Fig. 15.
the leaf of the copy is to be turned, pressure from the hand is brought to bear
upon the lower end of the copy F', and the lower part of I, which by depression
releases the copy from the pressure of E, by causing the latter to recede therefrom
as shewn at Fig. 16, when the leaf may be turned by the same hand, as in the
case of the book rest previously described, the removal of the pressure permitting
the return of the curl or curls of E to the fresh page of music in the same
manner.
When the use of the apparatus as a music rest is done with, D¹, c', and L are
closed up, and by the release of E, H and I return to their normal position again,
as shewn at Eig. 14, when the copy or copies of music may be stored therein as
before. It is obvious that the apparatus when arranged as at Fig. 15 may be
employed as a rest for reading books with or without the use of the flap D'.
Suitable means would be provided upon or in connection with either of the
methods of construction herein described and shewn by which the same may be
capable of standing upon the ordinary music rests of pianos, harmoniums, organs
or the like, or upon the upturned fall thereof, and to retain the apparatus in that
position, clips, buttons, tapes or other convenient device inay be attached to
the same for connection to or with the rest upon the instrument, or the apparatus

page_text: by the non use of the struts D or L, either modification may rest upon an ordinary
music stand.
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
1st. For improvements in and in connection with book and music rests and music
portfolios, the construction and use of the herein described appliances, and the several
modifications thereof, made of any suitable material or materials and of any size or
configuration, connected, combined and operating substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In an improved book or music rest, the construction and use of the appliances
shewn by Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 consisting of boards A. B, connected by a
book like or other suitable back C, and kept apart by the tension of a spring or
springs or any suitable equivalent therefor and together by that of a curled clip
or clips E, hinged in any suitable way to the interior of A, and passing therefrom
through holes or their equivalents in B, and embracing a ledge or shelf' e fixed
upon or formed integrally with the outside of B, with flap or strut D, and with or
without an extension flap D', the whole connected, combined and operating
substantially as and for the purposes described and shewn by Figs. 1 to 8 of the
appended drawings.
3rd. In an improved book or music rest the construction and use of the appliance
shewn by Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12, consisting of boards A, and B, with or without
being connected by a back C, and kept apart by the tension of a spring or springs d,
or any suitable equivalent therefor, and together by that of parallel hinges e e
angled as at Fig. 10, with curled clip or clips E hinged to A and passing through
holes in B and embracing ledge c or B, or with parallel hinges e el angled as at
Fig. 9, with fixed clip or clips E, without passing through holes, the whole
connected, combined and operating substantially as herein set forth and shewn by
the said figures in the drawings hereunto appended.
4th. In an improved book and music rest the employment of boards A. and B,
connected by C, with two or more plate springs G connected to B, and having
curled feet or any suitable equivalent therefor, with curl clip or clips E, hinged
or otherwise connected to G, and kept apart therefrom by spiral springs G or by
that of passing E through holes or the like, with shelf or ledge c, and strut
formed by a hinged joint in A, connected to B by cords or tapes or stays f,
substantially as described and shewn by Fig. 13 of the drawings.
5th. The herein described combination of a music portfolio and book and music
rest, consisting of boards H and 1, connected by a spring or springs K, the former
provided with hinged flap or strut L, and carrying a curled clip or clips E, kept in
close contact with H by the means of coiled springs. The extending flap D¹
hinged to I, the hinged ledge or rest c'. The manner of using the apparatus as a
music desk upon pianos, harmoniums and the like or as a music portfolio as
at Fig. 14, or as a music or book rest when arranged as at Figs. 15 and 16, the
whole connected combined and operating substantially as and for the purposes
.stated and shewn by Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 23rd day June 1892.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.