Improvements in Diaries and other Books.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Diaries and other Books.
1, ARTHUR JAMES WELLS of 233 West Onondaga Street, in the City of Syracuse, and
State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 an Improved Index for Diaries and other Books; and has
for its object the production of a simple and effective device whereby I greatly
facilitate the operation of finding memoranda or events recorded on a particular day,
or information properly classificil in said hook; and to this end it consists essentially
in dividing or indexing the pages or leaves of the books into a certain number of
divisions or classes, and then sub-dividing or sub-indexing one or more of said
divisions or classes.
In describing my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing,
forming a part of this Specification, in which, like letters indicate corresponding
parts in all the views.
Figure 1 represents an isometric perspective of my improved book or diary, one
division of the cover thereof being thrown back for the purpose of illustrating the
index, and
Figure 2 represents a perspective of one of the divisions of my diary illustrating
particularly the arrangement of the sub-divisions.
A-represents the book or diary, which may be of any suitable form, size or
construction to suit any desired purpose. The leaves-a-are also of suitable size,
form and construction, and of a desired number. These leaves-a-are by the
index-a-divided into a number of classes or principal divisions--b.
The preferable manner of forming these divisions is to arrange the index
faces in line one below the other so that when the book is in the position
illustrated in Figure 1 all of said divisions will show to the eye. By placing the
finger upon any one of said index surfaces the remaining leaves in front of said leaf
may be quickly turned back. These index surfaces--are shown as formed by
cutting out the edges of the leaves in the form of a triangle, but it will be under-
stood that they might consist of pieces of paper or other material secured to the edge
of said leaves so that when the book is in the position illustrated in Figure 1 the top
face or a portion thereof of each of said pieces of paper or other material will be
exposed to view.
In the illustrated example of my improved index 1 place the name or abbreviation
of the months upon the index points-1. One or more of the main divisions or
classes--are sub-divided or sub-indexed into divisions--as clearly shown
in the drawing. This sub-index-a²-may be formed in precisely the same manner
as the main index-a. Upon the index surfaces-63-of the sub-index-a,
letters or symbols may be used, which designate sub-divisions or classes of the main
divisions or classes of the index-a!..
In the illustrated example I have placed upon these latter index surfaces-63-
letters to represent the days of the month.
By reference to the drawing and the foregoing description it will be understood
that by placing the finger upon the index point of the particular month desired the
same can be readily turned to, and after the month has been obtained by placing the
finger upon the particular day required the memoranda or event recorded upon said
page will be quickly and readily brought to view.
This is a feature of great advantage, since frequently in diaries, memoranda and
account hooks it is desirable to turn to a memorandum or an event recorded upon a
particular day and month. With books provided with an index of my improved con-
struction it will be evident that the desired information is quickly and readily obtained.
[Price 61

page_text: It will also be understood that with but slight additional cost this index may be
readily provided upon any desired form of hook, and by this means an article of
manufacture is produced which possesses features of great advantage.
This index may be formed upon books other than diaries and memorandum books,
and it will be understood that I do not limit myself to sub-dividing or sub-indexing
every one of my divisions of my improved index, but only such ones as are desirable.
Neither do I limit myself in regard to the symbol which shall be placed upon the
index points of my improved index, since it will be evident that these can be varied
to suit the purposes of the book upon which the index is provided. It will also be
understood that I do not limit myself to the arrangement of the figures denoting the
days of the month, since instead of placing the illustrated number of days upon each
leaf one leaf may he used to denote as much as is desired.
The operation of my invention will be readily perceived from the foregoing descrip-
tion and upon reference to the drawing, and it will be understood that the same may
be somewhat varied from the illustrated form and construction.
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 The herein described diary or book, the same being provided with index divisions
having characters thereon for indicating the months of the year and with sub-divisions
formed in the aforesaid index divisions and having thereon characters for indicating
the day of the month, substantially as described.
2-The herein described diary or book, the same being provided with index divisions
at one extremity of its side edge, characters placed on said divisions for indicating
the months of the year, sub-divisions in said index divisions at the other extremity of
said side edge and characters upon said sub-divisions for indicating the day of the
month, substantially as specified.
Dated this 92nd day of June 1800
ARTHUR JAMES WELLS.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.