IMPROVEMENTS IN THE BINDING OF Books.
Year: 1878

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltino, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE BINDING OF Books.' A communication from abroad
by Edward Stanley Boynton, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States of
America.
Sealed the 14th February 1879, and dated the 19th December 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th December 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE BINDING OF Books."
A communication from abroad by Edward Stanley Boynton, of Bridgeport, Con-
necticut, United States of America.
This Invention relates to means for securing the leaves of each signature together,
and the signatures themselves to each other, and to the transverse binding cords,
and consists in the combination of parts herein-after described, by which these
objects are most perfectly accomplished, and a reliable and properly elastic binding
is secured.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a book constructed according to this Invention,
no stiff covers being shown.
Figure 2 is a plan thereof when opened in the fold of one of the signatures.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the book on the line x, x, of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a view of the back of a portion of the book, showing the manner of

page_text: A represents the body or leaves of the book; B, B, are cords or twines, one of
which is located inside of and against the fold of each signature, extending the
entire length of the page, and its ends d, d, being drawn through the fold of the
signature, so as to lie upon the back thereof; C, C, are the binding cords which
secure the signatures to each other, and the back of the book to the covers; the
cords C, C, being sewn through the saw cuts in the back of the book, and looped or
turned around the cords B, B, and tightly drawn up, so as to hold the latter firmly
in place and the signatures together; the work of sewing in these cords B and C
may be performed either by hand or by machine, or partly by each, and the order
and mode of operation may be, and probably will be, somewhat varied, to accord
with the means adapted for executing the work.
When the work is done entirely by hand the cords B, B, may be first laid in
place on the inside of and against the fold of each signature, as shown in Figure 2,
and the cords C, C, sewn through the saw cuts and entirely around the cords B, B,
with a needle suitable for that purpose; but when the work is done either wholly
or in part by machine, the cords C, C, may be partially sewn into a signature, so as
to form loops for the cord B, and the latter inserted in those loops either by means
of a long needle adapted to the purpose and worked by hand, or by a shuttle
operated by machinery, the latter obviously being the most expeditious mode of
doing the work.
A machine with a proper shuttle for carrying the cords B, B, through the loops
of the cords C, C, and laying them in place, and appropriate mechanism to operate
such shuttle, would be very efficient for the rapid performance of the work.
In case the cords B, B, are sewn in one continuous cord extending through the
entire book, such continuous cord must then be cut at the end of the pages, so as to
make the cord B for each signature a separate and independent cord, having no
connection at the end of the page with the corresponding cord in the next
signature.
The cord C, C, having been sewn through the saw cuts and around the cords B, B,
as described, I then by pulling upon the two cords C, C, which are nearest the ends
of the book, draw the ends d, d, of the cords B, B, through the saw cuts, so as to
bring them out upon the back of the book, as indicated in Figure 4, and discarding
those cords C, C, by which the ends d, d, have been drawn through, I secure these
ends d, d, firmly to the back of the book with glue or by some other reliable mode
of fastening, and preferably in the position indicated in Figure 4. The binding of
the book is then completed in the usual manner, the ends of the remaining cords C, C,
being secured to the cover as ordinarily practised.
This mode of binding secures great strength, permanence, and flexibility, effec-
tually preventing the loosening of the leaves of the book by handling. It also has
these advantages, namely, that the longitudinal cords B, B, being flexible, give a
moro satisfactory binding for use, and not being metallic are not liable to rust or
corrode from dampness or other cause, and soil the pages of the book.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim, the combination with the signature of a book of the longitudinal cords
and the binding cords, the ends of the said longitudinal cords being drawn through
the fold and secured at the back of the book, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight,