Improvements in Paper File Clasps.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Paper File Clasps.
I, VERRENICE MUNGER, of Ansonia, Fairfield County, Connecticut, United
States of America, Counsellor at Law, 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 new and useful improvements in paper file clasps such as
are used to bunch varying numbers of miscellaneous papers together.
It is the object of my invention to improve upon devices of the above class, by
making them adjustable for different widths of papers, as well as varying thicknesses,
and to secure said results in such a manner that the device may be made of wire
and sheet metal combined, or entirely of wire, as will later appear, and finally to
generally strengthen and improve the device so as to make it more desirable for
practical use.
With these objects in view I have devised the simple and novel construction
shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, upon
which similar numerals of reference denote like or corresponding parts, and of
which,
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of my novel clasp, containing a bunch of
papers.
Figure 2 is a similar perspective view, the papers being omitted.
Figure 3 is a perspective view, agreeing with Figures 1 and 2, excepting that
the construction shown therein is composed entirely of wire.
Figure 4 is a detail plan view of the lower adjustable cross band 6, shown in
Figure 2.
Referring to the numerals of reference marked upon the several figures of the
drawings, 1-1 indicates the side frames of the clasp, which frames consist of
spring coils 2 and 3, connecting bar 4 and yieldable ends 5, the latter serving as
means of attachment for the cross bands 6. In the above connection it is obvious
that coils 2 and 3 may be single or double as desired, the latter permitting a
greater amount of yieldability to the completed clasp than the single coil would
afford.
To the upper and lower free ends of the side frames are attached adjustable
cross bands 6, which are preferably constructed of sheet metal as shown in my
preferred form. Said cross bands consist substantially of three parts, namely, the
two slidable end pieces 7, and a central hood 8, into which said end pieces slide.
Both of these end pieces are provided with an orifice 9 (see Fig. 4) into which a
lug 10 of said hood is movably fitted. Said lug serves as a stop to limit the
outward movement of said end pieces when the latter are expanded.
In the modification shown in Figure 3 it will be seen that the cross band 6
consists simply of an inward crosswise extension of the yieldable ends 5 of the side
frames and that said band is made adjustable by means of the extremity 11 of said
ends being returned around the body of the crosswise extension of the opposite
side thus producing a cheap, effective, and desirable clasp, in every particular. It
will further be obvious that other modifications of my construction can be made,
without departing from the gist of my invention and consequently I do not wish to
be limited to the exact construction shown in the drawing.
I am aware that various contrivances have been devised for use as a paper file

page_text: clasp, but so far as I know, there has been nothing produced which embodies the
principles of my invention, as above set forth, and as will more fully appear in
the claims hereunto annexed.
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. As a new article of manufacture, a paper file clasp comprising the side frames,
consisting of the coils 2 and 3, the connecting bars 4 and the Fieldable ends 5, and
the bands 8 connecting the two.
2. As a new article of manufacture, a paper file clasp comprising two side frames
consisting of the coils 2 and 3, the connecting bar 4 and the yieldable ends 5, in
combination with adjustable cross bands, substantially as shown and described.
3. As a new article of manufacture, a paper file clasp consisting of two yieldable
side frames, in combination with the adjustable cross bands comprising the sheet metal
end pieces 7, the hood 8, partially inclosing said pieces and in which said pieces 7
slidably operate, and means for limiting such sliding movement.
4. As a new article of manufacture, a paper file clasp comprising two side frames,
each consisting of coils 2 and 3, a connecting bar and yieldable end pieces, in
combination with adjustable cross bands consisting of end pieces 7, hood 8, all
adapted to operate as shown.
D
ስ
1007
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.