Improved Arm Rest for Book-keepers and others.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 9th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Arm Rest for Book-keepers and others.
I, CHARLES SMITH GILMAN, of 427 Beacon Street, Minneapolis, Hennepin
County, Minnesota, U.S.A., Book-keeper, 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:-
The invention relates to arm rests designed particularly for the use of book-
keepers in making entries in their books, and the object of the invention is to
provide a very simple inexpensive device which can be adjusted for use on books
of different size, and readily adjusted for use on either side of the open book.
The invention consists generally in providing a telescoping tube having a hooked
end to engage the end of the book and provided at its opposite end with a pivoted
plate having a lug or projection to bear upon the surface of the leaf, said plate
being removably attached to said telescoping tube; and further, the invention
consists in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and
particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification;
Fig. 1 is a perspective of an open book with my invention attached thereto.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device, the telescoping tube being shown in section.
Fig. 3 is a detail showing the shoulder arranged to bear against the end of the
book near the pivoted plate.
In the drawing, 2 represents an open ledger or journal, which may be of any
desired size; 3 is a tube of brass or other suitable material which is tapered to a
long point at its outer end, and turned over forming the hook 4, which engages the
farther end of the book, as shown in Fig. 1. As clearly shown in Fig. 2 the hook 4
is bent to form a wedged shaped space so that when placed in position, the edges
of the leaves may be firmly wedged within the space formed upon the hook 4.
The tube 3 is adapted to slide within the outer tube 5 upon which the plate 6 is
pivoted. The end of the tube 3 within the tube 5 is slotted and upset or pressed
outward to bear against the inner surface of the tube 5, so that the tube 3 will not
slide within the tube 5 unless moved by the person using the device. The loop or
band 7 passes around the end of the tube 5 opposite the hook 4, and is secured to
the end of the plate 6 by screws or by any other suitable means. The end of the
tube 5 near the plate 6 is threaded to receive a thumb screw 8 by means of which
the plate 6 is held in position, but may be readily removed at any time for the
purpose of packing the device conpactly when shipping the same.
The tube 5 is also provided at the opposite end of the loop 7 from the thumb
screw 8 with the collar or ring 9 which serves to prevent the plate 6 from sliding
toward the outer end of the tube 5, and also bears against the edges of the leaves
of the book, and tends to hold the device securely in position while in use.
Upon
the inner edge of the plate at a suitable distance from its free end I provide a lug
or staple 10 preferably of wire driven into the edge of the plate, and adapted to
rest upon the surface of the leaf while the arm rest is in use. The plate 6 being
pivoted, may be swung to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, so that
the book-keeper can make entries upon either the right or left hand pages of the
book by simply changing the position of the pivoted plate.
I prefer to use the wire staple in the edge of the plate 6 as I have found the
device cheaper to manufacture when made in this way, and I have also found that
lotting the inner end of the inner tube gave the device a neater and more finished

page_text: appearance than providing a slot in the outer tube, though the latter is as effective
for holding the inner tube in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
1. The general arrangement, construction and combination of parts comprising
my improved arm rest substantially as described, and as illustrated in the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
2. An arm rest, comprising telescoping tubes adapted to rest upon the surface
of the book, means for holding the same in position, a pivoted plate or board
provided on the end of said telescoping tubes, and adapted to be turned to form a
continuation of either the right or left hand page of the book, and said plate being
provided with a lug or projection to rest upon the surface of the leaf, for the
purpose set forth.
3. In a device of the class described, the combination with the outer tube, of
the inner tube or rod having a hooked outer end and slidable within said first
named tube, the plate adapted to form a continuation of the leaf of the book, and
the thumb screw provided upon the outer end of said tube, for the purpose set
forth.
4. The combination, with the outer tube, of the inner tube slidable therein, said
outer tube having a hooked outer end and an enlarged inner end to bear upon the
inner surface of said outer tube, a pivotal plate carried by said outer tube, said
plate being provided with a staple or lug to bear upon the surface of the leaf, and
a ring or collar arranged upon said outer tube near the inner edge of said plate, for
the purpose set forth.
5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a tube, of a second
tube or rod adapted to slide therein, said second tube being tapered at its outer
end and bent to form a wedged shape hook, and a plate or board arranged upon
the outer end of said first named tube, and adapted to form a continuation of the
leaf of the book, substantially as described.
6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a tube, of a second
tube or rod slidable therein, a plate carried by said first named tube, said second
tube being provided with a hook at its outer end and having an enlarged or upset
inner end, for the purpose set forth.
7. The combination, with the outer tube, of the inner tube or rod having a
hooked outer end, the plate carried by said outer tube, and forming a continuation
of the leaf of the book, and the staple provided in the edge of the said plate, for
the purpose set forth.
De L 1
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11000
Dused ship L
Dight
day of April 1800.
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
60 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.