Improvements in the Binding of BOOKS.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in the Binding of BOOKS.
I, CEDRIC CHIVERS, of 10, Bloomsbury Street, London, Book Binder, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In what is known in the trade as "chamber" binding it is customary for the
entire thickness of the side boards to extend back to the groove where they are
joined to the back. In what is known as "ledger" binding the back and hinge
are made of considerable thickness and the groove of considerable width so that
the book may open out almost flat, and this it does usually with a considerable
spring or jump.
According to the present invention it is proposed to secure the advantages of
both the foregoing classes in a single binding and to this end the invention con-
sists in having the inner board or layers carried back to the groove as in chamber
binding while the outer board or layers are cut away so as to produce the effect of
ledger binding and enable the book to be opened fully at any point without the
covers binding on the back and so tearing or breaking away the stitchings or
pasting as the case may be. For public libraries or where books are likely to be
much handled it is also preferred that the corners of the covers should be metal
bound and this may advantageously be done by using rounded metal corners some-
what similar to those occasionally employed in packing books but placed upon and
gripping the boards prior to the cloth or other covering being applied such cover-
ing being cut away at the intermediate corners so that it may be neatly turned
over and inwards.
Dated the 2nd day of November 1897.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Chartered Patent Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment
66
In what is known in the trade as <
chamber" binding it is customary for the
entire thickness of the side boards to extend rearwardly close up to the stitched
back at the point where the cover has a groove or hinge. In what is known as
ledger" binding the back and hinge are made of considerable thickness and there
is a space or groove of considerable width between the cover and the stitched back
so that the cover may turn over clear of the back enabling the book to open out
easily and lie flat.
According to the present invention it is proposed to secure the advantages of
both the foregoing classes in a single binding and to this end the invention con-
sists in having the inner board or layers carried rearward to the back as in chamber
binding while the outer board or layers are shorter or are cut away so as to produce
the effect of ledger binding and enable the book to be opened fully at any point
without the covers pressing on the back and so tearing or breaking away the
stitchings or pasting as the case may be. For public libraries or where books
are likely to be much handled it is also preferred that the corners of the covers
should be metal bound and this may advantageously be done by using rounded
metal corners somewhat similar to those occasionally employed in packing books
but placed upon and gripping the boards prior to the cloth or other covering being
applied such covering being cut away at the corners so that it may be neatly
turned over and inwards.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is an elevation of a book formed according
to my invention with the exterior cloth or like covering partly removed.
Fig. 2 is an end view of a closed book also with the exterior cloth or like cover-
ing partly removed.
Fig. 3 is an end view of part of an open book with the exterior cloth or like
covering partly removed,
Fig. 4 is an enlarged end section to show one of the side boards more clearly.
It will be seen that the side board a is cut away on the upper side at its rear-
ward edge at b so that a considerable distance is left between the edge of same and
the stitched back c. The under side of the board, however projects beyond the
edge 6 of the upper or comparatively close up to the back c. These side boards.
may be secured by the usual pieces of fabric to the back in any suitable way. As
shown the fabric is inserted in the strawboard or the like forming the side
boards (or is laid between the layers composing same) and is glued or otherwise
secured in place. The outer covering e overlays the side boards in the usual way
and by reason of the cut away part b it will be seen that when the cover is opened
as shewn in Fig. 3 there is room for the cover to turn fully over the back while
yet being sufficiently supported thereby, so that the stiffness of the chamber binding
necessary for light books is obtained together with the flexibility of the ledger
binding which is otherwise only adapted for books having as a covering to the
boards a strong leather or like material.
The corner pieces f are preferably of folded metal adapted to be easily squeezed
on to the corners of the boards and they are provided with slightly projecting
rounded stamped up corners g up to which the covering e extends and which are
exposed to view and take the wear on the edges. These enable the cloth or like
covering to be easily applied as there is no unsightly folding in of the corners of
same, the latter being cut off to the angle of the corner to fit neatly up to same.
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 improved binding for books consisting in a combination of the ledger
and chamber systems substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In binding for books a side board having its upper side near the rearward

page_text: edge cut away or shorter than the underside substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. For use in the binding of books a metal corner piece having rounded edges
adapted to project outside of the covering and take the wear and to enable the
edges of the covering to be readily folded over substantially as described.
Dated the 28th dow of I..1.. 1000
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Chartered Patent Agent for the Applicant.