IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HOLDING LETTERS, BILLS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS, WHICH APPARATUS COMPRISES STAPLE-DRIVING MECHANISM FOR BINDING SUCH DOCUMENTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lako, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HOLDING LETTERS, BILLS, AND OTHER
DOCUMENTS, WHICH APPARATUS COMPRISES STAPLE-DRIVING MECHANISM FOR
BINDING SUCH DOCUMENTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES." A communication
from abroad by Isaac W. Heysinger, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United
States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lako at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th April 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HOLDING
LETTERS, BILLS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS, WHICH APPARATUS COMPRISES STAPLE-
DRIVING MECHANISM FOR BINDING SUCH DOCUMENTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
[A communication from abroad by Isaac W. Heysinger, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to an improved file or apparatus for receiving letters,
invoices, or other papers, and holding them compactly and conveniently as they
accumulate, and in such a manner that when a sufficient number are in place, the
whole of the papers may be permanently and firmly bound together without
removing the same, or using cords or other devices previously placed beneath the
papers, the bound sheets then being removed and laid away and the apparatus
being ready for a new supply, the said apparatus comprising an improved staple
driver for driving and securing the staples in binding the papers, which staple
driver is also applicable for driving staples for other purposes.
The said apparatus consists of two portions, one being the clip or base part which
may be attached singly or in pairs to a base board, the other being the staplo
driver part, which (its noso being inserted into a slot prepared for the purpose)
admits of the driving of a staple through the mass of papers, and bending up the

page_text: ends thereof upon a prepared block beneath, thus firmly binding the whole
together.
The base part consists of a base (preferably metallic), so cast or formed as to
admit of the reception of a clamping arm from boneath, pins upon opposite sides of
said clamping arm engaging in sockets which act as journal boxes, said clamping
bar or arm being held up to its place by a flat spring which is afterwards slipped
into its seat, the ends being supported by a shoulder, and the centre free to sink
beneath a heel on the clamping arm as the thumb lever of tho said arm is
depressed; a more expensive drilled mounting may be used, but the form above
described perfectly answers the purpose, and is very economical to manufacture, as
the simple castings if well made fit together without requiring the touch of a file or
other tool. The aforesaid spring is clipped from a sheet of light tempered steel and
is a simple flat bar, the cost of which beyond the price of the steel is inconsiderable.
It consists of
The clamping arm is also cast in the simplest and cheapest manner.
a thumb piece, a clamp, and a heel, the whole supported when in position by the 1
pins. At its forward end the clamp bar is slotted. This slot is for the reception
of the nose of the driver, and is of such form as to readily admit the same without
much lateral play, and yet not retain the same rigidly, but to allow ready removal
or insertion of said driver. I prefer making it somewhat funnel shaped towards
the top for this purpose. In front of this slot is an opening; the object of this is
to embrace the sides of a pin and force the papers which may be placed between
the clamping jaws down upon the same, so that they may be held from slipping
while others are being placed upon them until a sufficient quantity may have
accumulated for binding. This pin may be attached to the base or may be set into
the base-board, and pass up through a hole reserved for the same.
It may for
special purposes also be dispensed with entirely sometimes. Beneath a slot in the
clamp when in place there is a raised part of the base forming a block upon which
the slotted portion of the clamping arm rests, and which together with it forms the
jaws whereby the papers are firmly held together. In this elevated portion is a
depression which I prefer to form in the casting by the use of what is technically
known as a chill, whereby an excessively hard surface is secured at this particular
point without additional expense and without weakoning the body of the casting,
the part being raised above the general surface for that purpose. I also sometimes
cut this depression by a milling wheel or by other means well known to mechanics,
some accuracy being requisite to cause the apparatus to work properly when put
together. Ears are provided designed to give the base steadiness, and also to form
lugs for attaching the same to the base-board.
I usually employ two of these clips upon one base-board, attaching them about
four inches apart, the board extending sufficiently far beyond to form a support for
the letters or papers, and a hole being made in the upper portion of the board
between the two clips for suspending the same when so desired. I also sometimes
dispense with the base-board, using the clips either mounted upon a small wooden
block or unmounted, and I also largely use the driver alone for miscellaneous
purposes, for which it may be adapted. The clamping arms are so constructed that
when the thumb lever is depressed the heel will pass sufficiently far beneath the
bearing to hold the slotted portion raised from the base until the open end is
pressed upon, when it will close with a snap and drive the papers down upon the
pin. In using two of these clips they are set open and stand thus until the paper
is laid in place, when they are successively closed; or the thumb pieces may be
connected by a cross-bar, so that both will be actuated simultaneously.
An opening may be provided for suspending the clip when using the same singly
and without the base board.
The staple driver is likewise formed as economically as possible to give accurate
work, and is made with perfect accuracy of fit in the following manner :-
A properly shaped blank is struck out of hard sheet metal in a die, the edges of
the same being then formed up so as to leave an open groove down the front,

page_text: and an enlargement in the upper middle portion of the same for the reception of
stop motion. In this grooved case fits accurately a longitudinally moving bar,
which may be of tempered steel. This also is struck from the sheet and corrugated
with a gradually decreasing depth of corrugation until at its lower part it becomes
a flat bar. This corrugated portion plays in the open groove of the outer case, and
gives the greatest stiffness with the least weight of metal and cost of manufacture.
There are two raised points or detents upon the sliding bar which engage against
the top of the enlarged portion of the groove of the outer case, and arrest the
motion of the sliding bar so as to prevent its escape from the said case.
The sliding bar may be automatically extended by means of a coiled spring, but
this is not used in ordinary cases, as no difficulty is experienced practically in
extending the bar mechanically, while compactness and economy of manufacture are
secured by dispensing with a spring.
The head (cast or otherwise) is attached to the bar. This head may be of any
suitable material, what I ordinarily use in the smaller sized devices being a some-
what hard white metal, this portion of the apparatus receiving the blow of the hand
whereby the staple is driven through the pile of papers. Upon the back part of
the outer case is a short graduated rule for the purpose of gauging the distance
from the edge of the papers at which it is desired to drive the staples and for other
purposes.
I also make the staple driver with a lateral hollow handle containing a bar and
coiled spring, so that a line of staples being placed in the hollow handle upon the
bar they will be fed beneath the driving bar upon each retraction of the same until
the staples are exhausted, when they may be reinoved or inserted singly at the open
end of the staple driver. I also sometimes mount this self feeding staple driver
upon a swinging arm with platform, so as to enable it to be used upon desks or
the like conveniently. 1 also make them of large sizes so as to admit their employ-
ment for driving the staples used in putting up barbed or other wire fences, whereby
much more work with less labor can be done than by driving the staples in the
ordinary manner. I also make them of suitable sizes for use with the carpet staples
now commonly used, so that carpets may be put down much more easily and rapidly
than otherwise, and I make them for use for many other purposes, the Invention
being substantially the same for all the above named purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
tho said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
October 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HOLDING
LETTERS, BILLS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS, WHICH APPARATUS COMPRISES STAPLE-
DRIVING MECHANISM FOR BINDING SUCH DOCUMENTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
A communication from abroad by Isaac W. Heysinger, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to produce an improved apparatus or device to
serve as a file for letters, invoices, or other documents or papers, which apparatus
will hold a pile of loose sheets, gradually accumulating therein as in an ordinary
paper or letter clip in such a manner that they may be permanently and firmly
bound together without removing the same or using cords or other devices previously
placed beneath thom, the bound sheets being then removed, and the said apparatus
being ready for a new series.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which,―
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the said devico mounted upon a
board.
Figure 2 includes a front view of the staple driver and various transverse sections
thereof.
Figure 3 is a rear view of the same,
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the spring of the clip part of the said device.
Figure 5 is a like view of the base of the clip.
Figure 6 is a view of the vibrating, clamping, and guide arm of the same.
Figure 7 is a plan or top view of the base plate.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation shewing the staple driver supplied with a self
feeding tube whereby the staples are automatically fed to the said driver.
Figure 9 shows a modification of Figure 6.
Figure 10 shows a modification of Figure 7.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
The said apparatus or device consists of two portions, namely, the clip or base
part, which, as shewn in Figure 1, may be attached singly or in pairs to a baso
board, and the staple driver part, which has its nose inserted in a slot prepared for
the purpose and allows the driving of a staple through the mass of papers, and the
bending up of the ends thereof upon a prepared block beneath, thus firmly binding
the whole together.
The base part is shewn in section in Figure 1, and the different pieces composing
the same may be seen in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7. It consists of a base preferably of
metal, see Figure 5, so cast or formed as to allow of the reception of the clamping
arm, Figure 6, from beneath; the pins N upon opposite sides of the said clamping
arm engage in the sockets P, P (Figures 1 and 5) which act as journal boxes, the
said clamping bar or arm being held up to its place by the flat spring E (Figures 1
and 4) which is afterwards slipped into its seat, as shown in Figure 1, the ends
being supported by the shoulders K, K, (Figures 1, 5, and 7), and the centre being
free to sink beneath the heel O of the clamping arm (Figures 1 and 6) as the
thumb lever D is depressed. A drilled mounting may be used, but the form above
described effectually serves the purpose, and is very economical to manufacture, as
the simple castings if well made fit together without the touch of a file or other
tool. The spring E (Figures 1 and 4) is cut from a sheet of light tempered steel,
and is a simple flat bar, the cost of which, beyond the price of the steel, is
inconsiderable. The clamping. arm (Figure 6) is also cast in the simplest and
cheapest manner. It consists of a thumb piece D, clamp portion L, and heel O,

page_text: the whole supported when in position by the journals N. At its clamp or forward
portion L the clamp bar is slotted, as shewn in Figures 1 and 6. This slot is for
the reception of the nose A* of the driver A³ (Figures 1, 2, and 3), and is of such
form as to readily admit the same without much lateral play, and yet without
retaining the saine rigidly and allowing the ready removal or insertion of the said
driver. I prefer making it somewhat funnel shaped towards the top for this purpose.
In front of this slot is a bifurcation M, or a slot or round hole arranged to embrace
the sides of the pin F (Figure 1) and force the papers, which may be placed between
the clip or clamping jaws, down upon the same, so that they may be held and kept
from slipping while others are being placed upon them until a sufficient quantity
may have accumulated for binding. This pin may be attached to the base at I
(Figures 5 and 7), or may, as in Figure 1, be set into the base board and pass up
through the hole I reserved for the same, or it may for special purposes be dispensed
with. Beneath the slot, when in place as in Figure 1, is a raised part of the base J
(Figures 1, 5, and 7), forming a block upon which the slotted portion L of the
clamping arm rests, and which together with the same forms the clip or jaws
whereby the papers are firmly held together. In this elevated portion J is a
depression which I prefer to form in the casting by the use of what is technically
known as a chill, whereby an excessively hard surface is secured at this particular
point without additional expense, and without weakening the body of the casting,
the part to be chilled being raised above the general surface for this purpose. I
also sometimes cut this depression by a milling wheel or by other suitable means,
some accuracy being requisite to cause the apparatus to work properly when its
parts are put together. The ears H, H, (Figures 1, 5, and 7), are designed to give
the base steadiness, and also to form lugs for attaching the same to the base
board C.
I usually employ two of these clips upon one base board, attaching them, as
shewn in Figure 1, the board extending sufficiently far beyond to form a support
for the letters or papers, and a hole being made in the upper portion of the board
between the two clips for suspending the same when desired. I also sometimes
dispense with the said base board, using the clips either mounted upon a small
wooden block or unmounted, and I also use the driver alono for various purposes
for which it may be adapted. The clamping arm (Figure 6) is so constructed that
when the thumb lever is depressed the heel O will pass sufficiently far beneath the
bearing N to hold the slotted portion L raised from the base J until the end M is
pressed upon, when it will close with a snap and drive the papers down upon the
pin F (Figure 1). In using two of these clips they are set open, and stand thus
until the paper is laid in place, when they are successively closed; or the thumb
pieces D, D, may be connected by a cross bar, so that both will be actuated simul-
taneously. The opening G (Figures 1, 5, and 7) is for suspending the clip when
using the same singly and without the base board.
The staple-driver A, Figure 1, which is also shewn in Figures 2 and 3, is
constructed with the greatest practicable economy consistent with its proper
working, and is made with perfect accuracy of fit in the following manner, that is
to say:-
I form a case A³ from a properly shaped blank struck out of hard sheet metal
in a die, the edges a' of the saine being then formed, as shewn in the sectional
view A, A, A, accompanying Figure 2, so as to leave a groove between them
down the front, and an enlargement in the upper middle portion of the same for
the reception of the stops a³ of the sliding or longitudinally moving bar A2, which
may be of tempered steel. This bar is also struck from the sheet, and formed as
shewn in the sectional views A2 accompanying Figure 2, that is to say, it is
corrugated with a gradually decreasing depth of corrugation until at its lower
part it is fat. This corrugated portion plays in the open groove of the outer case,
and gives the greatest stiffness with the least weight of metal and cost of manu-
facture. The said stops a³ are two raised points or detents upon the sliding bar A²;

page_text: they act against the top of the enlarged portion of the groove of the outer case
(Figure 2), and arrest the motion of the sliding bar so as to prevent its escape from
the said case A³.
In Figure 3 the sliding bar is shewn automatically extended by means of a coiled
spring; but this form is not used in ordinary cases, as no difficulty is experienced
practically in extending the bar mechanically, while compactness and economy of
manufacture are secured by dispensing with a spring.
At A is seen the impact head cast or otherwise attached to the bar. This head
may be of any suitablo material. I commonly use in the smaller sized devices or
files a somewhat hard white metal. This portion of the apparatus receives the
blow of the hand whereby the staple is driven through the pile of papers. Upon
the back part as of the outer case A³ (Figure 3) is a short graduated rule or scale
for the purpose of gauging the distance from the edge of the papers at which it is
desired to drive the staples, and for other purposes.
The method of using this apparatus or device is as follows:-The letters or other
papers, as shown in Figure 1, are placed within the jaws of the clip. As soon as
a sufficient number have accumulated the nose of the staple driver is placed in the
slot, a wire staple of suitable size and length having first been inserted in the open
end of the grooved case A³ (Figures 1, 2, and 3); a blow is then struck upon the
head A', and the legs of the staple are driven through the mass of papers. As the
points engage with the sides of the recessed surface of the part J, the points are
turned over and clinched upon the under side of the papers.
same process is
repeated with the opposite clip if two are used, and then the thun levers being
depressed the papers are removed, and the apparatus is again ready for use.
staples are made in various lengths and sizes, commonly of tinned steel wire
flattened during the process of manufacture.
These
I also make the staple driver, as shewn in Figure 8, with a lateral hollow handle
containing a bar and coiled spring, so that a line of staples being placed in the
hollow handle upon the bar they will be fed beneath the driving bar upon each
retraction of the same until the staples are exhausted, when they may be renewed
or inserted singly at the open end of the staple driver. I also sometimes mount
this self feeding staple driver upon a swinging arm with platform so as to enable
it to be conveniently used upon a desk or the like. I also make the same of large
sizes so as to permit of its employment for driving the staples used in putting up
barbed or other wire fences, whereby much more work with less labour can be
performed than by driving the staples in the ordinary manner. I also make these
devices of suitable sizes for use with the carpet staples now commonly used, so that
carpets may be put down much more easily and rapidly than heretofore; and I can
adapt them for use for many other purposes without substantially changing the
construction of the parts above described.
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,
First. In a paper filing or holding device the combination of the clip and
the detachable staple-driver, substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
Second. A staple-driver having the grooved outer case (either with or without
the graduated rule), the corrugated sliding bar, and the impact head, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. A staple-driver having its outer case struck up from a sheet-metal blank,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The combination of the grooved case having the enlarged stop groove
with the corrugated bar having stops, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Fifth. A staple-driver having the corrugated sliding bar struck from a sheet
metal blank, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: Sixth. In combination with the detachable staple-driver the slotted clamping
arm together with the base having the recessed block, the whole constructed to
operate substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Seventh. In combination with the base and spring the clamping arm having the
heel so arranged that the said clamping arm will stand open or closed, substantially
as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Eighth. The paper-clamping device having the journal-boxes open from beneath
in combination with the arm provided with journals, the whole held in place by
the upward pressure of the flat spring without other support, substantially as shewn
and described and for the purpose specified.
Ninth. The paper clip or clips provided with the slotted arm or arms in com-
bination with the base-board, the pin or pins, and staple driver, substantially as
herein set forth and for the purpose specified..
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.