IMPROVEMENTS IN POCKET BOOKS, PURSES, WALLETS, AND BILL CASES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Johnson, of the Firm of Johnson and Rowe,
of Warwick Square, in the City of London, Manufacturers, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN POCKET BOOKS, PURSES, WALLETS, AND BILL
CASES."
Sealed the 18th September 1868, and dated the 26th March 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th March 1863.
I, WILLIAM JOHNSON, of the Firm of Johnson and Rowe, of Warwick
5 Square, in the City of London, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN POCKET BOOKS, PURSES, WALLETS,
AND BILL CASES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in constructing pocket books, purses, wallets, and
bill cases, in such manner that the mouth or entrance into the compartments
therein shall be kept closed until drawn open by the hand whereby the contents
of such compartments are prevented from falling out.
The manner in which I carry my Invention into effect is to attach one or
more metal clip springs at the base with arms rising up the sides of the com-
partment the mouth of which is to be kept closed as aforesaid.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th September 1863..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JOHNSON, of the Firm of Johnson and Rowe, of Warwick.Square, in the City
of London, Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Johnson, Her special licence that I, the said William
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN POCKET BOOKS, PURSES, WALLETS, AND BILL CASES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Johnson, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say :-
My Invention consists in constructing pocket books, purses, wallets, and
bill cases, in such manner that the mouth or entrance into the compartments
therein shall be kept closed until drawn open by the hand, whereby the con-
tents of such compartments are prevented from falling out.
The manner in which I carry my Invention into effect is to attach one or
more metal clip springs at the base with arms rising up the sides of the com-
partment, the mouth of which is to be kept closed as aforesaid.

page_text: Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings, is a view of a pocket book open
with a metal clip spring A attached to the compartment B as before described,
the spring A keeps the compartment closed except when drawn open by hand.
Figure 2 is an exterior view of the pocket book with part of the cover re-
moved to shew the spring. Figure 3 represents a bill case fitted with three
metal clip springs A. Figuro 4 shows one of the springs detached. Although
the arms of the spring are shewn extending to the top of the sides of the
compartments they need not in all cases be carried so high.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed I declare that I claim, manufacturing
pocket books, purses, wallets, and bill cases, with one or more metal clip
springs fitted thereto, substantially in manner and for the purpose herein-before
described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-three.
WILLIAM JOHNSON. (L.S.