Improvements in and connected with Paper Weights, Letter Clips, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Paper Weights, Letter Clips,
and the like.
HARRY JAMES MILWARD Malthouse Astwood Bank Redditch Foreman do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
This invention consists of a spiral spring which I may make conical or any other
shape suitable. The said spring I intend to affix to a metal Base at right angles
and the said Base, I may load with Lead or any other suitable material if required.
Said spring to be used as a receptacle for letters, memorandums and the like. And
the said Base to be used as a paper weight and the like.
I claim the right to make the above with any metal and in any shape or design.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1896.
HARRY JAMES MILWARD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Paper Weights, Letter Clips,
and the like.
I, HARRY JAMES MILWARD of Malthouse, Astwood Bank, Redditch, in the
County of Worcester, Foreman, 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 has reference to paper holders, or to combined letter-clips and
paper weights, and consists in employing as the letter clip or paper holding device,
an upright or outstanding and hollow coil of wire, with the convolutions coming
nearly together so that the opposed coils form jaws for gripping papers or holding
letters between them.
The holder may be made of the figure of a spire, or a cone, or of a combined
conical and cylindrical shape, or of the figure of a double cone, and may be

page_text: attached to a base or carrier, and secured to a table or wall, or it may be mounted
upon a heavy base constituting a paper-weight.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents a combined letter holder and
paper-weight constructed according to one form of my invention and comprising a
close-coiled conical spiral spring, mounted upon a heavy or weighted base.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same, showing papers to be held inserted
between the opposed convolutions or coils of the spring.
Figure 3 is a topside plan of Figure 1.
Figure 4 represents another form of my invention, shown in section as in
Figure 2, with a check cora introduced into the hollow interior of the spring so as
to prevent over-distension of the coils when the paper-weight is picked up.
Figure 5 represents another form of letter clip which is in the form of a double
cone, carried upon a base, which may either be carried upon a table or be secured
to a wall, so that in the latter case, the holding spring would project outwardly.
Figure 6 represents a further form, in which the spring is partly conical and
partly cylindrical and is mounted upon a letter-weight.
In Figures 1 to 3, a is a spiral closely wound coil of stout spring wire, with the
upper end or apex a', fitted with a knob or loop ², for convenience in taking hold
of the appliance, whilst the lower end a, is soldered or otherwise made fast to a
base b, which forms a paper-weight, and which is either made of heavy metal or
consists of a shell loaded with lead. Papers, letters, or documents c, are shown
inserted between and held by the coils.
In Figure 4, a, is the spring coiled holder, a2 the top and b the preferably
weighted base, and d is a check cord or spring disposed between, and made fast at
its ends to the base b and the top inside of the spring, in order to prevent the coils
releasing their grip upon the papers held when the clip or holder is taken hold of
from the top.
In Figures 5 and 6 a is the coiled spring holder and b an ordinary base.
Where the holder is required to be exceptionally heavy the weight may be
divided and disposed partially at the base and partially at the apex, so that part
of the weight at the apex will assist in more firmly gripping the papers held,
whilst the strain upon or distension of the coils will not be so great, when the
article is lifted from the top, as it would if all the weight were disposed at the
bottom.
As a further means for preventing the over-distension of the coils, a check
string, cord, spring or wire may be directed from the apex to the base, but upon
the outside and preferably coming close against the opposite side of the said spring
to that at which the papers are inserted between the convolutions.
The paper clip may be used alone independent of the weight, and I wish it to
be understood that I do not limit myself in any way to the shape of the said
holder, nor to the character of the weighted or other base, nor to the means of
affixing the one part to the other, as these details may be varied without departing
from the nature of my invention.
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:-
First. A letter clip or paper holding device, consisting of an upright or out-
standing and hollow coil of wire, with the convolutions coming together or nearly
together, so t at the opposed coils form jaws for gripping or holding papers, letters
or the like between them, substantially as and for the purpose described and set
forth.
Secondly. A letter clip, or paper holding device consisting of an upright and
hollow coil of spring wire, with the convolutions coming together, or nearly to-
gether, said coil being mounted upon a loaded or heavy base so as to constitute a
paper weight, substantially as described and set forth.

page_text: Thirdly. The improvements in letter holders and paper weights, substantially
as herein described and set forth.
Tlated this 22nd day of October 1897
HARRY JAMES MILWARD.
By Henry Skerrett,
24 Temple Row, Birmingham Agent for Applicant.