AN IMPROVED CASE OR HOLDER FOR SHEET MUSIC, PERIODICALS AND OTHER PAPERS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, RICHARD WHEATLEY, of 6, Branston Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire,
Manufacturer of Fancy Leather Goods, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for "AN IMPROVED CASE OR HOLDER FOR SHEET MUSIC, PERIODICALS
AND OTHER PAPERS" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of an improved case or holder chiefly designed for use for
holding and carrying sheet music, but it is applicable also for temporarily binding
and filing periodicals and other papers.
An ordinary case or holder for sheet music consists of two stiff rectangular parts
of leather, cardboard or other suitable material or combination of materials con-
nected together centrally by a flexible part. of similar material like the sides and
back of a book so that when it is bent or folded at its flexible part the said flexible
part forms the back and the stiff parts the sides of the case or holder. To one of
the edges of the said case or holder parallel with the flexible part is formed or
attached a flap which, when the case is folded at its flexible part and closed, folds
over the edge of the opposite side and, being secured by a suitable snap or
fastening provided on the said opposite side maintains the case or holder closed.
A suitable handle is provided attached to some part of the case or holder, preferably
to the flap, for the purpose of carrying it.
One object of my Invention is to provide means whereby the flexible part of an
ordinary case or holder as above described shall be rendered rigid when opened out
flat and shall be maintained of a rounded form when the case or holder is closed.
In carrying this part of my said Invention into practice I provide the said flexible
part with suitable flat steel springs placed at right angles thereto and secured to
one or both of the said stiff parts so as to maintain the case or holder in a flat and
approximately rigid state when it is opened. The said springs will serve also to
maintain the rounded form of the flexible or folded part when the case or holder is
closed so that the music or other contents may be folded without forming a crease
and on opening will readily assume their normal flat condition.

page_text: A further object of my said Invention is to provide means whereby periodicals
or other papers as well as sheets of music may be maintained in order and
temporarily bound or filed and prevented from falling out of the case or holder.
This I effect as follows:-At or near one of the edges of the case or holder parallel
with the said flexible part, and preferably the same edge as that to which the flap
is attached, I provide parallel thereto any convenient number of elastic or other
cords or strings stretched and secured at their ends to opposite edges of the case or
holder. When the case or holder is in use the said elastic or other cords or strings
pass between the leaves at the folded part of the piece of music, periodical or
other paper and so maintain them in order in the case or holder. I sometimes
provide inside at the top and bottom of the flexible part of the case or holder one
or more flaps turned inwards towards each other so as to keep the contents in
position.
As the case or holder for sheet music, periodicals and other papers as above
described can be folded as above described without creasing the contents, and as
when opened out it will assume a flat and rigid state, then, when it is placed in a
vertical position, for instance on a pianoforte, it will form a support for the
contents which can be read without being withdrawn and which cannot fall out as
they are held by the elastic or other cords or strings as above described.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Case or Holder for Sheet Music, Periodicals, and
other Papers.
I, RICHARD WHEATLEY, of 6, Branston Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire,
Manufacturer of Fancy Leather Goods, 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 reference being hind
to the accompanying drawing and to the letters and Figures marked thereon, that
is to say:
My Invention consists of an improved case or holder chiefly designed for use for
holding and carrying sheet music, but it is applicable also for temporarily binding
and filing periodicals and other papers.
An ordinary case or holder for sheet music consists of two stiff rectangular parts
of leather, cardboard or other suitable material or combination of materials con-
nected together centrally by a flexible part of similar material like the sides and
back of a book so that when it is bent or folded at its flexible part the said flexible
part forms the back and the stiff parts the sides of the case or holder. To one of
the edges of the said case or holder parallel with the flexible part is formed or
attached a flap which, when the case is folded at its flexible part and closed, folds
over the edge of the opposite side, and, being secured by a suitable snap or
fastening provided on the said opposite side maintains the case or holder closed.
A suitable handle is provided attached to some part of the case or holder, preferably
to the flap, for the purpose of carrying it.
One object of my Invention is to provide means whereby the flexible part of an
ordinary case or holder as above described shall be rendered rigid when opened out
flat and shall be maintained of a rounded form when the case or holder is closed.
In carrying this part of my said Invention into practice I provide the said flexible
part with suitable flat steel springs placed at right angles thereto and secured to
one or both of the said stiff parts so as to maintain the case or holder in a flat and
approximately rigid state when it is opened. The said springs will serve also to
maintain the rounded form of the flexible or folded part when the case or holder is
closed so that the music or other contents may be folded without forming a crease
and on opening will readily assume their normal flat condition.
A further object of my said Invention is to provide means whereby periodicals
or other papers as well as sheets of music inay be maintained in order and
temporarily bound of filed and prevented from falling out of the case or holder.
This I effect as follows:-At or near one of the edges of the case or holder parallel
with the said flexible part, and preferably the same edge as that to which the flap
is attached, I provide parallel thereto any convenient number of elastic or other
cords or strings stretched and secured at their ends to opposite edges of the case or
holder. When the case or holder is in use the said elastic or other cords or strings
pass between the leaves at the folded part of the piece of music, periodical or
other paper and so maintain them in order in the case or holder. I sometimes
provide inside at the top and bottom of the flexible part of the case or holder one

page_text: or more flaps turned inwards towards each other so as to keep the contents in
position.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing represents in elevation an opened out caso
or holder for sheet music, periodicals and other papers constructed according to my
Invention Fig. 2 represents a plan of the same; Fig. 3 is a cross section on
line A. A. of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective part sectional view of part
of the case or holder shewing one of the springs at the back thereof; Fig. 5
illustrates how the case or holder is applied for holding sheet music or other
papers and Fig. 6 represents the case or holder illustrated by Fig. 1 closed for
carrying.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
B, B¹ are the two stiff rectangular parts of the case or holder made of leather,
cardboard or other suitable material or combination of materials connected together
centrally by the flexible part C of similar material. D is the flap attached to or
formed with the part B and having an ordinary snap or fastening d¹ by which it
can be secured closed (see Fig. 6). D¹ is a handle by which the case or holder can
be carried. E, E, are two thin flat springs preferably of steel placed across the
central part C their ends e¹, e, being inserted between the material of which the
stiff side parts B, B', are composed. The ends e¹, c², of the springs E, E, may
respectively be secured to the stiff parts B, BI, but I prefer to fix one of each of
their ends only (see Figs. 1 and 4 where the ends e, e, of the springs E, E, are
fixed to the stiff part B by the fastener e³ passing through them and the ends e², e²,
are free) so that the other or free ends can slide when the case or holder is being
closed or opened. The springs E, E, will maintain the case or holder in a flat or
approximately rigid state when it is opened (see Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5) and will also
serve to maintain the rounded form of the central or folded part C when the case
or holder is closed (see Fig. 6) so that the music or other contents may be folded
without forming a crease and on opening will readily assume their normal tat
condition. I have found the two springs E, E, as shewn in Fig. 1 to be generally
sufficient but a single central spring or more than two springs may be employed.
At or near one of the edges b of the case or holder parallel with the flexible
part C, and preferably the same edge as that to which the flap D is attached
I provide parallel thereto any convenient number of elastic or other cords or
strings F stretched and secured at their ends to opposite edges of the case or
holder in any convenient manner. I prefer to attach the cords or strings F to the
edges 61 by means of tabs G which are attached to or formed with the stiff part B
and provided with eyeletted holes y through which the cords or strings F are
threaded and secured. When the case or holder is in use (see Fig. 5) the said
cords or strings F pass between the leaves at the folded part of the piece of
music H, H, periodical or other paper and so maintain them in order in the case or
holder. I, I are two flaps turned inwards towards each other and secured to the
flexible part C under which flaps the edges of the leaves of the contents of the case
or holder can be slipped and so kept in position (see Fig. 5).
As the case or holder for sheet music, periodicals and other papers as above
described can by reason of the springs E, E, be folded as above described without
creasing the contents (see Fig. 6), and as when opened out the said springs will
cause it to assume a flat and rigid state (see Figs. 1, 2 and 5), then, when it is
placed in a vertical position, (see Fig. 5) for instance on a pianoforte, it will form a
support for the contents which can be read without being withdrawn and which
cannot fall out as they are held by the elastic or other cords or strings F and by
the flaps I, I, as above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The new or improved case or holder for sheet music, periodicals and other
papers herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, that

page_text: is to say, the combination with the two stiff parts B, B¹, connected together by a
flexible part C of a spring or springs E, for keeping the parts B, B, and C in a flat
state when opened out and for giving a rounded form to the flexible part C when
closed and a cord or cords F at or near one of the outer edges thereof for holding
the contents for the purposes and as described and illustrated.
2. In a case or holder for sheet music, periodicals and other papers consisting
essentially of two stiff parts B, B', and a flexible part C connecting the parts B
and B' together, the application and use of a spring or springs for keeping the said
parts B, B, and C in a flat state when opened out and for giving a rounded form
to the flexible part C when closed as described and illustrated.
3. In a case or holder for sheet music, periodicals and other papers consisting
essentially of two stiff parts B, B¹, and a flexible part C connecting the parts B, B',
together the application and use of an elastic or other cord or cords at or near one
of the longer edges thereof for bolding the contents as described and illustrated.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1885
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
128, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Agent for the Applicant..