Improvements in Paper Racks or Holders.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Paper Racks or Holders.
I JOHN FRANCIS BULLOCK of St. John N.B. Canada Merchant do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in telephone paper racks for holding paper
on which to write messages etc. where the paper is unrolled in a continuous strip
and cut off or not as desired and has a paper cutter with a pin to hold the paper
in position. I attain this object by a machine, having clamps and side rods for
attaching the rack to a telephone desk. The rack is formed by the side rods
passing through clamps and fixed in position by thumbnuts. A bracket for the
cutter and tension arm so as to keep the rack in place. Also a metal hanger to
receive the roll of paper. By holding a portion of the paper across the pin and
cutter, a slight pull will detach the same from the roll.
JOHN FRANCIS BULLOCK,
By his Attorney, John Johnson,
64 High Street, Camden Town, N.W.
I, JOHN FRANCIS BULLOCK of the City of Saint John in the City and County
of Saint John, Province of New Brunswick Canada Engineer 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in racks for holding paper on which to
write messages memorandums &c. at a telephone; and on which, generally, to write
orders, memorandums &c. -where the paper is unrolled in a continuous strip as
it is desired to be used, and the piece written upon cut off or not as desired.
The objects of my invention are to provide a telephone paper rack, which can be
attached to the shelf or desk of the battery box of the telephone which may be
easily set in position cheaply constructed, and readily adjusted to shelves of varying
sizes. Secondly the combination of a telephone paper rack with a paper cutter
provided with a pin so that the paper when torn or cut off will not slip back or
become loose as in racks now in use.
I attain these objects by means of the machine shown in the drawing in which
similar letters refer to similar parts.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.
Figure 3 is a view of the clamp to be made when the desk shelf or top of the
battery box to which the rack is to be attached has its sides flush with the edges of
the shelf or top, and the corners of the box are rounded. The rack is formed by
Price Rd:

page_text: the side rods a passing through the clamps b and the cutter c resting on the
bracket d of the clamps 6 and fastened to the side clamps b through lugs, and the
hanger suspended from the clamps b¹ and bearing a spool or roller e to carry
the roll of paper g.
Fig. 4 side elevation of a modified form of clamp.
The side rods a have the heads, a', to keep them from slipping through the
clamps when in position. They are threaded at the end passing through the
clamps for about one third of their length as indicated in the drawing so as to
make them easily adjustable to telephone desks of varying sizes.
The thumb nuts h fix the rods in position and press the clamps 61 and draw the
clamps b against the desk or shelf so as to give the apparatus rigidity. To avoid
defacing the woodwork of the telephone a rubber or felt buffer should be placed
between the clamps and such woodwork especially when the clamp 2 is used. The
rods a pass through the lugs of the cutter c and the heads a¹ hold the lugs fast to
The
clamps b.
The clamps 6 may be of the shape indicated in Figure 2.
brackets d form a rest for the paper cutter c and arms k pressing against the under
edge of the shelf or desk keep the rack from slipping out of place. The pins or
arms extend over the paper and help to keep it in position and guide it as it is
drawn through the rack. They may be screwed into sockets as shown in the drawing
or preferably may be cast with the clamps. The pins or arms are preferable
to a rod extending all the way across from the one clamp to the other, because the
paper if it should slip back from under them can be more easily put back into its
place again.
The cutter c is attached to the clamps 6 by lugs as above described, its lower
edge is toothed like a saw, and its upper edge slightly curved under so as to make
a smooth way for the paper over it. It is provided with the pin or short sharp
protrusion o whose purpose is to prevent the paper slipping back from under the
arms when a piece of it is cut or torn off. The cutter is intended to be stamped
into shape by dies. The pin and lugs may be struck up from the cutter when it is
stamped. I make the cutter c droop somewhat that it may be easier to seize the
end of the roll of paper when a piece as been torn off. The toothed edge is bent
up at such an angle as that the paper may be easily cut off, say at an angle of
ninety degrees. The hanger fis made of wire and is suspended from the notched
openings p in the clasps & it may be of the shape indicated in Figure 1, or in
other convenient shape; it holds the roller e by short arms extending into the
central opening therein, and furnishing an axis therefor. The side arms of the
hanger should have sufficient spring to press them against the ends of the roller
and the roll of paper so as to hold them steadly and evenly and so that the paper
may not unroll too easily. When the desk of the telephone forms an inclined
plane as is usually the case, I prevent the roll of paper from coming in contact
with the back board of the telephone by means of the lugs. The side arms of
the hanger are held in the lugs by means of the headed wire pin or p bolt r
passing through holes for the purpose in said lugs. In some cases it may be found
desirable to cut grooves in the clamps 6' in which to hold the sides of the hanger
and dispense with the lugs x, and if necessary by bending the lower part of the
hanger as is indicated by the dotted lines Figure 3. If the desk extends far
enough over the battery box for the roll to be brought under the desk it will be
advisable for the purpose of saving space to reverse the hanger so that the lower
or bent part of it will be nearer the box and not as indicated by dotted lines
Figure 3. The lugs serve also to keep the hanger steady in one position. If the
telephone desk is unusually narrow I place a thin board on it, of the length and
width required to hold the rack and then clamp the rack to such board and the
battery box. The rack is preferably constructed of metal, and the cutter should
be made of steel or other metal that can be stamped into shape by dies.
in
The rack may be used either attached to the desk of a telephone or to any shel
or bracket as may be found convenient.
To work the invention, place the rack on the desk or shelf so that the cutter

page_text: and clamp shall be on the end of the desk opposite your right hand and the
clamps at the opposite end of the desk-then by the nuts h screw the clamps
tightly against the desk; place the roller, with the roll of paper on it, on the
pivotal arms of the hanger, then draw the ends of the paper across the desk and
under the arms l.
To cut off any part of the paper draw it through the rack and cut on the toothed
edge of the cutter the pin o will prevent the paper on the desk from slipping
back.
My invention will be found convenient in that it can be attached to the desk of
a telephone, does not need, although it may be used with a seperate shelf or
bracket; it thus takes up but little room, and is in a convenient place for use; it
is very light and compact; it can with great ease be attached to and detached from
any desk or shelf without defacing them, and may be readily adjusted in the
manner indicated; and it can be cheaply made.
If it is desired to duplicate the writing made on the paper, place carbon paper
on the desk, fixing it to the back of the telephone and the front or edge of the
box and using a double roll of paper let one strip of the paper pass under and the
other strip over the carbon paper.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In combination with a telephone, a paper rack consisting of side rods a having
heads & threaded as described the clamps 6 having the brackets d and arms k and
the clamp & having the lugs, and the notched openings p; the cutter c attached
to the clamps 6 by lugs, as described, and having the pin o; the hanger f; the
roller e and the nuts substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In combination with a telephone desk, a rack consisting of side rods a,
clamps b having brackets d and arms k and clambs b having lugs ; cutter c;
hanger f; roller e; and nuts h; substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. In combination with a bracket; shelf, a rack consisting of side rods a;
clamps 6 having brackets d and arms k & 1; clamps 6 having lugs ; cutter c;
hanger f; roller e and nuts / substantially as and for the purposes described.
4. In a rack for holding paper to be used in connection with a telephone the
rods a; in combination with the clamps 6 & 6₁ the cutter c; the hanger f; the
roller e; and the nuts h, substantially as and for the purposes described.
5. In a telephone paper rack the cutter c having the pin o substantially as and
for the purposes described.
6. In combination of the rods a; clamps b having brackets d and arms k and 1;
clamps having lugs ; cutter c; having pin o; hanger f; roller e; nuts h;
substantially as and for the purposes described.
7. In combination with a bracket shelf, a rack consisting of side rods a;
clamps 6 having brackets d and arms k and I clamps b' having lugs a cutter ¿ and
hanger, roller e; and nuts ; substantially as and for the purposes described.
8 The combination of the rods a; clamps 6 having brackets d and arms k & 1;
clamps 6' having lugs ; cutter c; having pin o; hanger f; roller e; nuts ; sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 17th day of November 1896.
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.