Improvements in Writing Pad Attachments.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1897-Accepted, 21st Aug., 1897
Improvements in Writing Pad Attachments.
I, EDITH FERGUSON BLACK, residing at San Antonio Avenue, & 24th Streets, San
Antonio, in the County of San Bernardino and State of California, United States of
America, Authoress, 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 attachments for writing pads, and particularly to devices
of this class which are adapted to be used by the blind or those suffering with bad
eye sight, and also by those who have diseased or afflicted eyes and who are
necessarily confined for a portion of the time at least in darkened rooms.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which :-
Fig. 1, is a plau view of my improved writing pad attachment and a pad on which
it is placed; and,
Fig. 2, a section on the line 2, 2, thereof.
In the drawing forming part of this specification, the separate parts of my
improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the views,
and in said drawing, I have shown at 5, an ordinary writing pad, and in the practice
of my invention, I provide an attachment which comprises an oblong plate 6,
adjacent to one edge of which are formed transverse slots 7, which are preferably
about a quarter of an inch long, but which may be of any desired length, and on the
bottom of the plate 6, and at the opposite side thereof, is secured a plate or strip 8,
with which are connected fine expansive spiral springs 9, and mounted beneath the
side of the plate 6, opposite the strip or plate 8, is a transversely movable plate 11,
with which the springs 9, are connected, and the plate 11, is connected with the
plate 6, by headed pins 12, which pass through the slots 7.
The strip or plate 8, is held at a distance from the edge of the plate 6, with which
it is connected so as to slightly raise said edge above the opposite edge, or said strip
or plate 8, may be made thick enough to accomplish this result and the plate 11,
and the strip or plate 8, may be so formed as to give the springs 9, a chance to
operate without pressing upon the writing pad.
The ends of the plate 6, are bent downwardly as shown at 13, to form end flanges
in order to hold said plate in proper position on the pad, and to insure regularity of
spacing, and the plate 6, constitutes a hand rest, and the operation will be readily
understood from the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the
accompanying drawing and the following statement thereof.
In the normal position of the parts, the plate 11, is projected as shown in Fig. 1,
in the drawing, and said plate is adapted to be moved backwardly beneath the plate 6,
and the extent of the movement of the plate 11, is preferably from a quarter to a
half an inch.
In writing, the attachment is placed upon the upper end of the pad, and the
plate 11, serves to guide the pencil or pen in the formation of the letters and
whenever it is necessary to make a letter which is projected below the line sufficient
pressure is applied to the pencil or pen to move the plate 11, backwardly beneath

page_text: the hand rest, and in this operation, the lower portion of the letter is formed
and the plate immediately moves forward to the line on which said letter is
formed.
As line after line is written the attachment is moved down over the pad as will be
readily understood, and this device may be held in one hand and the pad and the
attachment may be held in the left hand while the writing is done with the
right hand, and my improved pad may be thus used without a table or other
support.
My improved attachment for writing pads is simple in construction and operation,
and it will be apparent that changes in, and modifications of the constructions herein
described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or
sacrificing its advantages.
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. An attachment for writing pads consisting of an oblong plate, and a transversely
movable spring operated plate mounted beneath one side thereof, and adapted to be
projected therefrom, substantially as shown and described.
2. An attachment for writing pads consisting of a main oblong plate in one side of
which are formed short transverse slots or openings, a transversely movable plate
mounted thereunder, and connected therewith by pins which pass through said slots
or openings and springs connected with the bottom of said oblong plate by which
said movable plate is projected, substantially as shown and described.
3. An attachment for writing pads consisting of a main oblong plate in one side
of which are formed short transverse slots or openings, a transversely movable plate
mounted thereunder, and connected therewith by pins which pass through said slots
or openings and springs connected with the bottom of said oblong plate by
which said movable plate is projected, said oblong plate being also provided at
each end with downwardly directed flanges, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 19th day of July 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.