Improvements in Manifold Salesbooks.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1895-Accepted, 5th Oct.. 1895
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN ROBERT CARTER, of 7 Ashburton Place,
in the City of Boston, State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Manifold Salesbooks.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
The invention relates to manifold salesbooks, and the object is to provide a
book containing a series of main and duplicate bill portions, together with the
black leaf, that will be of uniform thickness without bulges, and to provide means
whereby the leaves will be confined in place and allow them to lie flat when folded
or when the book is closed.
To this end the invention consists in the combination in a manifold sales book
comprising a series of sheets arranged in a pile and adapted to be folded in the
center, a black leaf and means to hold said black leaf, and the series of sheets,
along one-half of the upper edge.
And the invention consists in certain other combinations of parts hereinafter
described and specifically set forth in the claims.
In the drawings hereto annexed and forming a part of this Specification,
Figure 1 shows a plan view of the book complete with the cover and leaves open,
Figure 2 is a top edge view of the same,
Figure 3 is an edge view of the book when closed,
Figure 4 represents a similar salesbook embodying the invention,
Figure 5 shows the book with one of the leaves turned over in condition to be
used by the salesman,
Figure 6 shows the inner side of the paper cover with the salesbook record
table,
Figure 7 is a plan view of a full sized clamp when opened,
Figure 8 is a plan view of a blank from which the upper plate of the clamp is
formed,
Figure 9 is a plan view of the blank from which the lower plate of the clamp is
formed,
Figure 10 is an edge view of one of the springs in the clamp,
Figure 11 is an end view of the clamp when open, and
Figure 12 is a sectional view of the clamp on line ra of Figure 7, but when the
clamp is closed.
Referring specifically to the drawings,
A is a series of sheets which are adapted to be folded substantially centrally.
These sheets, numbered consecutively, are placed in a pile, commonly fifty or a
hundred sheets, and said pile of sheets along one edge and at right angles to the
line in which the sheets will be folded in use, are preferably united or bound
together for substantially half the length of that edge, the binding or uniting means
being preferably wire staples, but any usual stitches or gum would be within the
scope of the invention, or, in some cases, the leaves may not be secured together by
meone but the suring clamn hereinafter referred to. One end of the black
any

page_text: leaf, m, is united to or, placed upon the pile of sheets at the edges thereof, which
are united as specified, so that each sheet when used, may be laid over readily on
the black leaf, the ether half of the sheet to contain the duplicated matter, lying
immediately below the black leaf. The halves of the sheets, which are united as
described, may be provided with a line of perforations, 9, (see Figures 1 and 4)
leaving above said perforations a binding stub, which stub may be numbered to
correspond with the number on the main body of the sheet, so that the sheet, when
detached from the stub, may be easily identified.
The sheets may also be provided with a row, gl, of perforations substantially at
right angles to the row, g, said row, g', being in the line of separation for the main
and duplicate itemized slips, it being understood that the back of one-half of each
sheet will preferably be printed, as indicated substantially in Figure 5 to leave
spaces or lines on which to write indications of articles and prices, and also with
the bill head, j, of the firm to use the sales book, said bill head preferably con-
taining a line for the name and address of the purchaser, together with the date
of sale. The sheets will be the best and most conveniently used in connection with
a suitable back or cover, D, shown in Figure 6, as adapted to be folded to enclose
the folded sheets.
In practice a detachable, permanent cover is usually presented to the merchant.
with the first lot of salesbooks, and to enable the merchant to continue to use
these salesbooks the cover is shown as provided with a clamp as shown in the
drawings.
The paper cover shown in Figure 6 may be attached in any suitable and
well known manner to the leaves and thrown away after being once used. This
When a leather
cover may have unpaid and paid indexes thereon as shown.
or board cover is used it may be provided with these indexes when the paper
cover is not used, or when the latter is not provided with the indexes.
The line of perforations, g', is shown as terminated substantially in the line of
perforations, 7, and from the corner of said lines of perforations the sheets are
shown as slitted to the nearest edge, said slit being designated in Figure 4.
This slit in each sheet enables the main half of the sheet to be more readily
separated, together with the duplicate half, from the binding stub, but it will be
understood that instead of the slit, d', the line of perforations may be extended
to the edge of the sheer.
The slit is, however, of advantage, for when made, the junction of the two
rows, g, and g₁, of perforations constitutes a point on which falls instantly the
strain exerted by the salesman engaging the bottom edge of the main half of
the sheet, such strain being effective instantly to tear or detach the main and
duplicate parts of the sheet from the binding stub without separating the sheet
on the line g¹.
If, instead of the siit, d', the line of perforations, g', extended to the top of
the book, the salesman, to prevent the tearing of the main half of the sheet
from the duplicate half along the line of perforations, g¹, below the line, g,
would have to put his hand at the top of the book and tear down along the
line of perforations to the line, g, and then transfer his hand to the lower edge
of the sheet and pull as before provided for to detach the entire sheet from the
binding stub. The separation of the main portion of the sheet from the duplicate
portion is usually effected by the salesman or cashier, but this separation may be
done by the bundler, for there is further invented and combined with the main and
duplicate portions of each sheet a cashier's voucher marked, f¹, said voucher being
located preferably at the bottom of the bill and being made easily separable
theretrom by or through the line of perforations, g¹¹.
This cashier's voucher may also be numbered to correspond with the bill-like
body of the sheet and with the said stub. The voucher is shown as suitably ruled
or outlined to contain the amount of a cash sale and of the cash received to be sent
to the cashier.
By making the cashier's voucher at the bottom of the bill, the salesman can,

page_text: with the minimum amount of movement and exertion, immediately indicate the
footing of the bill in the proper space of the voucher and tear that off and send
it to the cashier with the cash to thus enable the purchaser to get back immediately
his change, while the main and duplicate portions of the sheet, yet attached
together, have gone to the bundler, this being especially advantageous and
desirable when a cash sale is made for articles to be sent home and for which 'the
purchaser is not expected to wait. When the main and duplicate portions of the
sheet are detached one from the other, time is apt to be wasted or error committed
by reason of losing one part of the sheet or by reason of one part of the sheet
getting onto a purchase of another customer. When the main and duplicate bills
go to the bundler yet attached, no possibility of loss or trouble in matching up or
comparison of bills can arise. The paper cover, as shown in Figure 6, is suitably
outlined to enable the salesman to indicate each cash sale by the number of the
bill, the cash sales space being shown at the side, n, while at the side, n', the
sub-division is suitable to indicate the amount of cred t sale, as well as the name
and address of the purchaser, which will correspond with the name and address on
the bill head. The provision of the side, n', guards against loss of the amount of
sale and name and address of the customer, in case the bill should not get to the
book-keeper.
It will be noticed that the black leaf, m, always lies flat and ready for use in the
particular sheet to be made into a bill, and it is firmly bound to the binding stub,
so that it cannot be bent out of shape, nor can its edge be rubbed, frayed or torn
by carrying the book in the hand or in the pocket. The clamp shown in the
drawings for attaching loose leaves or stub to the permanent cover, consists
essentially of a bottom or stationary plate, a, having a hinged spring controlled top
plate, a', joined by à pintle a³.
This clamp has been devised so that its pintle will lie between the lower and
upper plate, and when the upper or movable member of the clamp is raised, the
binding stub of the sheets may readily enter well under the raised part of the
clamp, and the raised part of the clamp may come down thereafter and lie smooth
and flat upon the binding stub so that when the paper constituting the main portion
of the bill is folded over the black leaf and over the paper forming the duplicate
bill, the said main portion may lie smoothly upon the clamp substantially to the top
end of the book. It will be noticed, that by locating the joint between the two
plates in the manner shown, the greater part of the same is concealed, and there
are no projections to wear the pocket and all the parts are smooth and take up but
little space.
The flat bottom plate, a, has mounted upon or connected with it one
or more springs, aº, and hinge members aº. (see Figures 7 to 12 inclusive). Both
the top and bottom plates are preferably provided with a series of notches or
points a², at one edge and their other edges being bent inward toward each other
and turned over to form hinge members, a³, or bearings for the pintles or pintle, a³,
formed best of wire extending therethrough. The pintle may be divided as shown
in the drawings, or be formed of one straight piece of wire. The upper plate, a',
is provided with one or more ears or tail pieces, a³, to engage the end or ends of
the springs a.
The space left between the upper and lower members of the clamp is sufficient
to receive the binding stub to thus enable the pile of sheets to be firmly held and
the top and bottom parts of the clamp to lie firmly and squarely against and
substantially parallel with the binding stub, the upper member of the clamp when
turned back about its pintle moving quickly away from and fully uncovering the
stub. The lower plate is secured to the cover by rivets a*.
In order that the springs may be strong and effective, I prefer to form them
each of a thin strip of steel, bent over upon itself, the bend being substantially at
the center of the strip. The springs are riveted to the bottom plate near the bend
and the ends stand normally apart, as shown in Figure 10, the lower ends resting
on the bottom plate and the upper ends bearing upon the ears a³. When the clamp
is opened, or, in other words, when the top plate is raised, the ends of the springs

page_text: are formed together and lie flat as shown in Figure 11, which shows the clamp
opened to its greatest extent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A manifold salesbook comprising a series of sheets arranged in a pile and
adapted to be folded substantially in the center, a black leaf, and means to hold
said black leaf and the series of sheets along one-half of its upper edge, as and for
the purpose set forth.
2. A manifold salesbook comprising a series of sheets arranged in a pile, each of
said sheets having a line of perforations, gl, at or near the center, and the line of
perforations, g, extending at right angles from said central line of perforations
intermediate the edges of said sheets to one side of said sheets to form binding
stubs, a black leaf and means to unite said black leaf and the said sheets along the
binding stubs, substantially as described.
3. A manifold salesbook comprising a series of sheets arranged in a pile, each of
said sheets having the line of perforations, gl, at or near the center, the line of
perforations, g, extending at right angles from said central line of perforations
to the edge of said sheets, and the slit, d', extending from the junction of said lines
of perforations to the nearest edge of the sheets, the perforations, g, and the slit d',
forming binding stubs, a black leaf, and means to unite, said black leaf and the
sheets along the binding stubs substantially as described.
4. A manifold salesbook comprising a series of sheets arranged in a pile, each of
said sheets having the line of perforations, g', at or near the center, the line of
perforations, g, extending at right angles from said central line of perforations
to one edge of said sheets, perforations, g, forming binding stubs, and the line of
perforations, g, extending at right angles from said central line of perforations
to the other edge of said sheets to form cashier's vouchers, a black leaf, and means
to unite said black leaf and the unfolded sheets along the binding stubs,
substantially as described.
5. A manifold salesbook comprising a series of sheets arranged in a pile, each of
said sheets having the line of perforations, gl, at or near the center, the line of
perforations, g, extending at right angles from said central line of perforations to
one edge of said sheets, the perforations, g, forming binding stubs, a black leaf,
means to unite said black leaf and the sheets along the binding stubs, and the cover
to which the said pile of sheets is attached, substantially as described.
6. A manifold salesbook comprising a series of sheets arranged in a pile, each of
said sheets having the line of perforations, g', at or near the center, the line of
perforations, g, extending at right angles from said central line of perforations to
the edge of said sheets. the perforations, g, forming binding stubs, a black leaf,
means to unite said black leaf and the said sheets along the binding stubs, the cover,
and a clamp secured to said cover and engaging the binding stubs to said sheets,
substantially as described.
7. The combination in a clamp for holding a pile of sheets of paper, of a thin
flat bottom plate having hinge members on one edge and spaces for springs to
protrude, springs secured to the bottom plate and extending through the openings,
a thin flat top plate having hinge members and ears to engage the said springs,
and a pintle extending through said hinge members, as set forth.
8. The combination in a clamp for holding a pile of sheets of paper, of a thin
flat bottom plate having hinge members on one edge and a pair of spaces for
springs to protrude, a pair of springs formed of thin strips bent at their center upon
themselves, their ends lying normally apart, said springs being secured to the
bottom plate, a thin flat top plate having hinge members, and a pair of ears on the
edge of the top plate between the hinge members engaging the upper ends of
the springs, substantially as described and shown.
9. The combination with the cover of a salesbook, of a clamp secured to one side

page_text: of the cover at one edge thereof, consisting of a thin flat bottom plate having hinge
members on one edge and spaces for springs to protrude, springs secured to the
bottom plate and extending through the openings, a thin flat top plate having
hinge members and a pair of ears to engage the said springs, and a pintle extending
through said hinge members, as set forth.
10. The within described manifold salesbook, comprising the cover, a clamp
constructed of a thin flat bottom plate having hinge members on one edge, and a
pair of spaces for springs to protrude, a pair of springs formed of thin strips bent
at their center upon themselves, their ends lying normally apart, said springs being
secured to the bottom plate, a thin flat top plate having hinge members, and a pair
of ears on the edge of the top plate between the hinge members engaging the upper
ends of the springs, a pile of sheets having one edge engaged by the clamp to
securely hold them in the cover without destroying the compactness of the book
when folded, the top plate of which clamp lies in substantial parallelism with said
sheets, and the black leaf, substantially as described and shown.
11. The within described manifold salesbook, comprising the cover, a clamp
constructed of a thin flat bottom plate having hinge members on one edge and a
pair of spaces for springs to protrude, a pair of springs formed of thin strips bent
at their center upon themselves their ends lying normally apart, said springs being
secured to the bottom plate, a thin flat top plate having hinge members and a pair
of ears on the edge of the top plate between the hinge members engaging the upper
ends of the springs, a pile of sheets having their stub ends united together and
engaged by the clamp to securely bind them in the cover without destroying the
compactness of the book when folded, the top plate of which clamp lies in
substantial parallelism with said sheets, said sheets being also provided with
suitable lines of perforations to aid in the separation of the duplicate and main bills
from the stubs and from each other, and a black leaf, substantially as shown and
described.
12. The combination in a clamp for holding a pile of sheets of paper, of a thin
flat bottom plate having hinge members on one edge and spaces for springs to
protrude, a spring connected with the bottom plate and extending through the
opening, a thin, flat top plate having hinge members and an ear to engage the said
spring, and a pintle extending through said hinge members, as and for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1895
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.