Improvements in Blotting Pads.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1893
COMPLIE
Improvements in Blotting Pads.
A communication from JOHN H. RUSSELL, of 34, High Street, Melrose, County
of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, Journalist.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of. Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
This invention relates to blotters of that class which are generally known as
hand-blotters, and are specially useful for blotting papers, letters, etc. on the desk
or other suitable positions in which they are written, and it has for its object to
improve and simplify the construction of such devices, and to provide means
whereby the effect of the common hand use of the sheet of blotting paper is
preserved, and to these ends the invention consists in a device having the features
of construction, arrangement and mode of use, substantially as hereinafter more
particularly pointed out.
Referring to the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a blotter embodying this invention, aud
Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the same.
In the ordinary use of blotting paper, which generally comes in the form of
small sheets, the paper is laid upon the fresh ink and the hand of the user is rubbed
over the paper causing it to come in close contact with the written characters, and to
absorb the excess of ink, without danger of spreading the ink on the lines. This
has been found to be the most effectual way of absorbing the excess of ink without
danger of blotting, but it is often inconvenient and undesirable to have single sheets
of blotting paper conveniently at hand, and more than that, the constant rubbing of
them with the fingers soon destroys the paper, and is otherwise objectionable and
a still further objection is that it is difficult to press evenly on all parts of the
surface of the paper, so that the ink will be quickly and evenly absorbed.
It has been common to provide blotting pads or devices consisting essentially of
some body or framework or support to which more or less pieces or sheets of
blotting paper have been secured for convenience of use, and these devices are
generally arranged with curved surfaces so that in applying the device to the sheet
to absorb the ink, the blotter is rocked or rolled over the paper, so that instead
of the blotting paper approaching the lines in a square direct manner, it strikes
the lines at an angle, and rocking or rolling over the lines, tends to a greater
or less extent, to force the ink along the surface of the paper, before it can be
absorbed by the blotter, thus producing irregular lines and defacement of the
writing.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a means which shall avoid
the objections to this class of blotters, and to embody the advantages of having a
pad or blotting device to which the paper or absorbent material is secured, and at
the same time to be enabled to use the blotter in the most effectual manner and
produce a rubbing action similar to that heretofore suggested in connection with
single sheets.
In carrying out the invention a base or body portion A is provided for a blotter
which may be of any suitable material, shape, or size, and which in the present
instance is shown as a rectangular wooden block, having parallel faces, and being of
a substantially uniform thickness throughout, as this has been found to be a con-
venient embodiment of this feature of the device. Connected to the body A is an
elastic body B shown in the present instance as sheet of felt, rubber or similar

page_text: .
material, and this sheet or sheets is attached to the body by any suitable means, s0
that it is free from the under surface of the body but connected to the body as at
the ends.
While various means may be utilized for attaching this elastic material, there
are shown in the present instance grooves or slots a formed in the ends of the body,
into which the ends of the elastic material are inserted and secured as by glue or
otherwise. This forms a sort of cushion for the body A of the pad, and a support.
for the blotting material C.
This absorbing or blotting material is shown in the present instance as composed
of one or more sheets or layers of ordinary blotting paper, and in order to secure
the paper to the pad, the ends are turned up, as at c, by machinery, or otherwise,
and are arranged to fit in the slots a at the end of the block.
In applying the sheets, it is preferable to turn the edges up or fold them by
machinery or otherwise, before the sheets are connected to the pad, and then by
sliding the folded portions c¹ into the slots laterally, the paper may be attached
without danger or injury, and when attached the sheet or sheets will be securely
held against any ordinary tendency to withdraw the same.
Mounted on the body portion A of the pad is a smoother or rubber D which is
arranged to slide between the under surface of the body of the pad and the absorbing
material, or between it and the elastic material, so that pressure may be brought
upon the absorbing material throughout its surface. In the present instance the
rubber is shown as consisting of a simple band of metal loosely embracing the
body A. and arranged to slide freely thereon. The edges of the rubbing portion d
of the rubber may be rounded, chamfered, or inclined, so that it will move freely
over the material, and the rubber is preferably highly finished, by being polished
or nickel-plated so as to slide more freely and give a more perfect and even
bearing.
The use of the device will be clearly understood and it will be seen that the pad
is applied to the surface having the fresh ink thereon, in a direct manner without
danger of blotting the lines, and then by moving the rubber backwards and
forwards, or both, the absorbing material is pressed into close contact with the
lines, by a direct pressure, which does not tend to blur or force the ink sideways
or outside of the lines and the elastic material when used compensates for any
unevenness of the paper there may be so that the whole of the surface can be
subjected to an even and direct pressure which will avoid all danger of blotting,
and the rubbing action of the hand cannot only be simulated but improved upon.
While one preferred and simple embodiment of the invention has been described
and shown it will be evident that the details of construction and arrangement of
parts can be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, the leading
feature of which consists in supplying a blotting pad with a device which is capable
of operating on the absorbing material, and simulate the rubbing action of the hand
in the use of the ordinary-blotting-sheets.-
It will be understood that while the blotter is shown as being provided with an
elastic material interposed between the absorbing material and the body portion,
this may be omitted.
It will further be observed that the body portion is shown as having parallel sides
and while this is preferable, the invention may be used to a greater or less extent
by having the under side a plane surface, so that the absorbing material may be
pressed squarely upon the written surface, without danger of blotting, forcing the
ink outside the proper lines of the marks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A blotting pad comprising a body portion absorbing material secured thereto
and a rubbing device interposed between the body and absorbing material sub- ¿
stantially as described.

page_text: 2. A blotting pad comprising a body portion an elastic material and an absorbing
material secured to the body and a rubber interposed between the body and the
elastic and absorbing materials substantially as described.
3. A blotting pad comprising a body portion an absorbing material covering one
side of the body portion and secured at the ends thereof, and a rubber embracing
the body portion and arranged to slide between said portion and the absorbing
material substantially as described.
4. A blotting pad comprising a rectangular plate or body absorbing material
secured to the ends thereof and a rubber comprising a band embracing the body
portion and extending between the underside thereof and the absorbing material
substantially as described.
5. A blotting pad the body of which has parallel sides or surfaces absorbing
material secured to the body and covering one of the parallel sides and a rubber
for the absorbing material substantially as described.
Dh of 100
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Of London, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.