Improvements in Indexes for Books.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Indexes for Books.
We, FRANK BOWMAN a resident of Brooklyn, King's County New York and
doing business at 119 William Street, New York City, Manufacturer, and
CHARLES DOUGLAS DAVIS of the City of Washington, District of Columbia,
Patent Lawyer, both citizens of the United States of America, 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 for its object to provide an improved index tag for the edges
and other parts of books, whereby the letters will be effectually protected from
defacement by handling, and the edges of the cut leaves materially strengthened,
as will more fully hereinafter appear.
Figure 1 represents a view of a portion of a book provided with the improved
index and
Fig. 2 a detail sectional view, enlarged, of a portion of one of the leaves of the
book, showing the manner of printing the indexial letters or characters on the
inside of the transparent cloth tag;
Fig. 3 a detail of the tag showing its shape before being folded and attached to
the leaf;
Fig. 4 a detail view shewing the tag attached to leaves of a different con-
struction;
Fig. 5 a detail of a modification of the tag; and
Fig. 6 a view of a small book provided with another form of index.
In the accompanying drawing a designates the tag proper, which consists of a
piece of strong transparent material-such as tracing-linen or strong paper folded
on itself at a, about midway its length, and pasted or otherwise secured over the
edge of the leaf so as to embrace it, the usual projecting part of the leaf, formed
by cutting out its edge, fitting between and being closely embraced by the folds of
the tag. The ends of the tag extend inwardly a short distance on the leaves and
are provided, preferably, with extensions a" which extend down along the edge of
the leaf on both its sides for the purpose of strengthening the corner-cut and
preventing tearing at that point. The indexial letters are not printed on the
leaves of the book but on the under side of the transparent tag material, through
which they may be easily read as shown, whereby the expense of printing directly
on the leaves is avoided and the letters are effectually protected against soiling and
defacement. The letters are preferably printed on the inner or under sides of both
the folds so as to be read from both sides of the leaf, and it will be observed
that the letters, in order to appear properly through the transparent material,
must be printed in reverse on the underside of the material.
When the tag extends beyond the edge of the leaf and the latter is not cut out,
the folds of the transparent fabric beyond the edge of the leaf are pasted or other-
wise secured together as shown in Fig. 4, or a small piece of fabric or paper may
be secured between the folds beyond the edge of the leaf to add strength and body
to the tag, the essential feature being to protect the indexial letters from deface-
ment and save the trouble and expense of priuting them on the leaves of the book.
If desired instead of folding the tags and attaching them as described they may be
constructed as shown in Fig. 5, that is, they may consist simply of pieces of
transparent material pasted directly upon the extensions of edges of the leaves,
the letter being printed in reverse on their under sides as in other cases.
It will be observed that this invention is not confined to the use of any particular
transparent material or fabric, but inasmuch as strength and flexibility is desirable
we prefer to use transparent linen.

page_text: It will be observed that this invention is not confined to the use of simple indexial
letters printed on tags attached to book leaves, as suitable figures or words, and
description, printed in reverse on the-underside of the transparent material may be
used for other purposes and on other parts of the. book; for instance, a sheet of
the transparent material, containing the desired characters in reverse on its under-
side, may be pasted on the inside of the cover of the book (as shown in Figure 6)
or upon the title-page or other part of the book, without departing from the inven-
tion, the essential feature of which consists in printing or otherwise placing the
reference matter on the underside of a transparent protecting sheet. It will be
observed also that the tags or sheets may be manufactured separately from the book
and sold as. articles of manufacture.
It is obvious also that this method of protecting printed or engraved characters
may be used for.. other purposes than indexes without departing from the
invention.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. As a. new article of manufacture an index tag or sheet consisting of a piece
of transparent flexible material having the indexial matter printed in reverse on its
underside, substantially as described.
2. In combination with a book an indexial tag consisting of a piece of transparent
material pasted or otherwise secured to the book and having the indexial-character
placed on its underside, whereby it will be protected from defacement and the
printing of the indexial character directly on the leaf is avoided, substantially as
described.
:
3. In combination with a book, the index-tags consisting each of, a piece of
transparent material folded upon itself and secured over the edge of the leaf, the
indexial character being placed on the inner side of one of the folds of the tag,
substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of November 1892.
3
F. BOWMAN,
By L. W., per F. B.
C. D. DAVIS,
By L. W., per F. B.