Improvements in or Appertaining to Files or Devices for Binding Together Sheets of Papers, Periodicals, Newspapers, Pamphlets, Manuscript Music, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 26th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Appertaining to Files or Devices for Binding
Together Sheets of Papers, Periodicals, Newspapers, Pamphlets,
Manuscript Music, and the like.
I OLIVER FRANK WESTRUP of F 12 Exchange Buildings, Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster, Marine Insurance Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a device for and process of binding together
periodicals, music, pamphlets or other papers and is specially designed for
temporarily binding the consecutive issues of serial publications previous to
permanent binding or the temporary holding together of sheets of paper whereby
they are all kept in order for convenient reference. The invention is however not
limited to this use as it might be employed for binding other classes of publications
or manuscripts either temporary or permanently.
My invention when using it in the simplest form for single sheets of paper as
set forth in my experimental apparatus is as follows:--
A piece of fine chain cord or its equivalent is provided upon which the bills
etcetera may be strung. To one end of the chain is attached any suitable perforator
such as a stout needle, which is adapted to be pushed through the articles, the
chain being pulled through after it until the articles press against a stop piece
attached to the remote end of the chain.
A retaining piece or disc of bone, metal, or other suitable material having a
suitable spring and a narrow slot or slit in both disc and spring reaching from
about the centre to the circumference is used to retain the articles upon the file.
This is done by means of the said disc being placed on the chain, the slot aforesaid
embracing that link thereof which reaches immediately above the uppermost paper
or other article on the chain and the spring serves to securely retain the disc in
position by pressing itself and the disc against the links immediately above and
below. For further security a short slot at right angles to the main slot may be
made in the spring into which that link which is immediately above the link
engaged by the main slot, will sink. The flat spring which is what I prefer to use,
preferably forms part of the disc and is bent back so as to lie against the top
thereof. The disc may also be provided with a neck or projection upon its outer
surface whereby it may be drawn from off the file of papers, etcetera, when desired,
and the two discs may be coupled together by a piece of thread or the like.
I sometimes provide a guard or ferrule with which to cover the needle when
not being used for perforating. This may also be used to temporarily hold some
of the articles when it is desired to take one of them from the file, that is to say,
those articles which have been placed upon the chain after the one it is desired
to remove, may instead of being altogether taken off the file, be slipped on to the
ferrule, which is then removed with thein. The desired article can now be taken
off the chain, the ferrule replaced, the articles thereon being pushed back on to
the chain and held by the disc as before.
In another arrangement I provide a cord or the like on which the papers etcetera
may be strung, and having a plate at one extremity. A. retaining piece or disc is
provided having a hole or slot through which the cord is passed, and a neck or
projection having a slot slightly narrower than the diameter of the cord. The cord
is passed through the articles to be strung together, and is then passed through
the hole or slot in the retained disc and is securely held by being engaged by the
narrow slot in the neck or projection aforesaid.

page_text: .
If the bills, letters or other bundles are large, more than one of these devices
may be made use of for filing.
Where this invention is applied to binding together periodicals if the chain or
cord be passed direct through the periodicals or music, themselves, it is found that
they will not lie- flat and considerable inconvenience is attended therewith. In
order to enable me therefore to fasten these periodicals together by means of a
chain or cord I form an eye; loop or projection (hereafter called an eye) upon a
rigid, flexible or elastic wire, plate or bar of suitable size and length, and prefer-
ably cut away or bent back slightly near the eye. One, two or more of these eyes
may be placed at varying distances on one stem, or one or more of these devices
with a single eye may be employed in each publication. In conjunction with this
device I use a broad needle formed like the pointed blade of a knife but having a
split eye of any convenient form at the end. Into the eye of this needle the eye
of the first named device is made to slide so as to lie in the same plane as the
blade of the needle.
The mode of action is as follows.-The two eyes being threaded together the
needle already described is forced into the seam or fold of the periodical on the
inside and pressed through to the back. It is drawn out until the eye projects.
The chain or cord already described or even a simple string or chain with a knot
or lump at the end to prevent it passing entirely through the eyes is passed
through the one or more series of eyes fixed to the various numbers of the
periodical or other pamphlet and the whole are fixed tightly together in the manner
already described by means of a spring-plate or notched plate. In some cases
however I prefer to omit these plates and to employ instead of a knot or end
plate a board like the back of a book. In this case I prefer to have two or more
series of eyes and pass a corresponding number of strings, cords, or chains through
the eyes. Fastened to the aforesaid board is a flexible piece of leather with rows
of eyelets corresponding in position to the series of eyes. The cords or chains
after passing through the eyes pass through this piece of leather or cloth forming
the back of the book and then through an eyelet or other hole in the second board
after which they can either be tied together or as I prefer hooked on to an elastic
or adjustable fastner on the board. By this means when a fresh periodical has to
be attached the chain or cord is unhooked from the fastener, withdrawn from the
leather back and passed through the eyes of the fresh periodical. The adjustable
fastener can be of the form used for tieing tennis poles.
It will be obvious from the foregoing that this back can also be used when the
chain and discs in their simplest form are used for fastening papers together and
in this way single papers can be bound up into book form. Even when in book
form I prefer to have a needle or blade attached to each chain or cord as by this
means one is enabled to more quickly bind up the book.
Dated this 25th day of November 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Files or Devices for Binding
Together Sheets of Papers, Periodicals, Newspapers, Pamphlets,
Manuscript Music, and the like.
I, OLIVER FRANK WESTRUP, of F 12, Exchange Buildings, Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster, Marine Insurance Agent, 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 a device for and process of binding together
periodicals, music, pamphlets or other papers, and is specially designed for

page_text: permanent binding, or the temporary holding together of sheets of paper whereby
they are all kept in order for convenient reference. The invention is, however, not
limited to this use, as it might be employed for binding other classes of publications
or manuscripts either temporarily or permanently.
My invention, when using it in the simplest form for single sheets of paper, is
set forth in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bundle of papers secured together by my
improved appliance.
Figure 2 is an elevation showing the appliance full size and in position, the papers
being in section.
Figures 3 and 4 are section and plan respectively of the retention device of the
appliance drawn to a larger scale than Figure 2.
Figure 5 shows, in section, a modified form of retention device.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the same at right angles to Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a plan of same.
Figures 8 and 9 are side view and plan respectively of another modified form of
retention device.
Figure 10 shows a paper holding device used in connection with the filing
appliance and hereinafter more fully described.
Figure 11 is a side view of said holding device.
A is a series of papers. B is a flexible binder, such as a piece of fine chain, cord
or its equivalent upon which the papers are strung. To one end of the chain or
cord is attached a suitable perforator, such as a stout needle C, which is adapted to
be pushed through the papers, the chain or cord being pulled through after it until
the papers press against a stop piece D attached to that end of the chain or cord
remote from the needle.
E is a retaining piece or disc of suitable material, such as metal or bone, which
is adapted to be placed on the flexible binder to hold the papers in position
thereon.
When a chain is employed, the retaining piece E is provided on its upper face
with a flat spring F, which is attached to it preferably at or near one edge thereof,
and stands normally a short distance from the face of the piece E, as seen on
Figures 2 and 3. The spring F and disc E are both provided with a narrow slotf,
which extends from the circumference of the disc to about the centre thereof or
other convenient point, the slot being wide enough to permit of the passage of a
chain link edgewise. The disc E is placed upon the file of papers and is slipped
sideways on to the chain in such manner that the link, which projects immediately
above the uppermost paper, enters the slot f, as seen in Figure 3. The spring is at
the same time compressed by contact with the link above it, and presses the disc
firmly against the paper or against the link just below the disc, the combined link
and disc being thus held securely on the chain. As an additional security, a short
slot f1, Figure 4, is formed in the spring at right angles to the main slot f, whereby,
when the disc is pushed home, the spring flies up and its cross slot fl engages the
lower end of the link just above it, as seen in Figure 3. The flat spring Fis
preferably formed in one with the disc E, being bent back so as to lie in proximity
to the disc, as shown.
The disc E may be also provided with a lip or projection G on its outer face,
whereby it may be drawn off from the chain when desired, the spring being com-
pressed at the same time by the tip of the finger or thumb which engages the lip.
H is a piece of thread or the like, which connects the two pieces E and D together,
and prevents the retaining piece E from being mislaid when removed from the
chain.
Where the papers are strung upon a cord instead of a chain, the construction of
the retaining device is rather different. In this case, the perforator C and cord B
are passed through a hole J in or near the centre of the retaining disc, the said

page_text: hole being formed with a V-shaped notch at one side, as at J. The cord being
drawn through the hole J, the disc is pressed down against the papers, and the cord
pressed into the V notch J. The loose end of the cord is now secured to the disc
by any suitable device which will exert a slight tension on the cord in the direction
of the notch J¹.
For example, a lip or projection K may be provided on the outer face of the disc
at the side nearest the V notch J', and said lip may have a slot k slightly narrower
than the diameter of cord B, so that the latter, when pressed into it, is held therein
with sufficient pressure to produce the required tension on the cord, as aforesaid.
If desired, the sides of the slot may be made capable of springing apart slightly,
and, to this end, the disc may be split as at ', so that the lip K and the adjacent
parts of the disc form, as it were, a spring clip for the cord.
Other forms of spring clip may be employed, as, for instance, that shown in
Figures and 9, in which L is a flat spring mounted on the upper face of the
disc E. The cord is adapted to be hitched under the spring, as shown in dotted
lines in Figure 9, and the latter may be hollowed out, as at 1, to afford an additional
grip ou the cord.
In the drawings, only one filing device is shown for securing the bundle of papers,
but it will be obvious that any convenient number may be used, the same being
placed at intervals along one edge of the bundle.
I sometimes provide a guard or ferrule M, in which the perforator C, when not
being used, may be enclosed. This guard may be employed as a temporary paper
holder, and, to this end, it may be furnished with a collar m at its outer end. When
it is desired to remove a particular paper from the body of the bundle, the papers
above it are slipped on to the guard M. The latter is then removed from the
perforator, the desired paper drawn off the chain or cord, the guard replaced on the
perforator, the papers on the guard slipped on to the chain or cord again, and
the retaining device replaced.
Where this invention is applied to binding together periodicals, etcetera, if the
chain or cord be passed direct through the periodicals or music themselves, it is
found that they will not lie flat, and considerable inconvenience is attended there-
with. In order to enable me therefore to fasten these periodicals together by
means of a chain or cord, I form an eye, loop or projection (hereafter called an
"eye") upon a rigid, flexible or elastic wire, plate or bar of suitable size and
length, and preferably cut away or bent back slightly near the eye. One, two or
more of these eyes may be placed at varying distances on one stem, or one or more
of these devices with a single eye may be employed in each publication. In con-
junction with this device I use a broad needle formed like the pointed blade of a
knife, but having a split eye of any convenient form at the end. Into the eye of
this needle, the eye of the first named device is made to slide, so as to lie in the
same plane as the blade of the needle.
To enable the invention to be more readily understood, reference is had to
Figures 12 to 29 inclusive of the accompanying drawings, in these :-
Figure 12 is a plan of the binder as applied to a number of periodicals, one of
the covers being thrown back and part of the fastening devices undone.
Figure 13 is an edge view of the parts shown in Figure 12 the fastening devices
being removed.
Figure 14 is an isometric view of the appliance, one of the covers being removed
and the inner flap thrown back to illustrate the method of using the appliance.
Figure 15 is an enlarged view of part of Figure 14.
Figures 16, 17 and 18 are three enlarged views illustrating the method of
connecting the periodicals to the binding cords.
Figures 19, 20 and 21 are three edge views showing three different forms of the
needle which is depicted in plan in Figure 17.
Figure 22 is an enlarged view illustrating the method of stringing the periodicals
on to the binding cords.

page_text: Figure 23 shows a duplicated form of binding eye.
Figures 24, 25 and 26 are three other forms of binding eye hereinafter
described.
Figure 27 is a plan of a slightly modified form of binder, the fastening being
shown undone, and the periodicals removed.
Figure 28 is an isometric view of the same appliance as applied to a number of
periodicals.
Figure 29 is an enlarged view of the fastening device.
A A are the periodicals folded at a in the usual manner. B B are the binding
eyes aforesaid, each formed by making an eye, loop or hook upon a wire, plate
or bar b', Figures 16, 17 and 18, and Figures 23 to 26.
The eyes
B are adapted
to be attached to the periodicals in such manner that their loops project on the
outside beyond the back folds or creases thereof. When the binding eyes are
constructed of wire in the manner shown in Figures 16, 17, 18 and 23, the wires b₁
are adapted to lie in the folds a of the periodicals and the loops to be inserted
through the folds so as to project on the outside thereof (see Figures 16 and 18).
It is preferable to notch said binding eyes or bend them slightly in proximity to
the loops b, as seen at 63, for the purpose of preventing the eyes bearing upon the
fold a in immediate proximity to the holes therethrough and thus tending to tear
the holes larger. The extreme ends of the eyes may also be turned in slightly, as
at 63, to prevent them from injuring the folds of the paper. One or more of the
eyes B have their loops inserted through the back of each periodical at convenient
points, two being employed in the example shown. Where two or more are thus
employed, their various loops may, if desired, be united by a single wire or
equivalent connection as seen in Figure 23.
To insert binding eyes of the above or similar construction into position, I
employ, in conjunction with them, the needle C aforesaid, which is formed some-
what like a pointed knife blade, and provided with a split eye or hook c of any
convenient form, into which the loop of a binding eye may be inserted in such
manner as to lie approximately in the same plane as the blade of the needle.
Figures 19, 20 & 21 show 3 slightly different forms of needle suitable for the above
purpose. It will be understood that the split. eye in all the examples is so arranged
that there is no liability of the said eye catching and tearing the paper as it is
forced through the hole made by the blade.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The loop of a binding eye being inserted into the eye of the needle C, the latter
is thrust through the seam or fold of the periodical from the inside to the back, as
shown in Figure 17, and the loop drawn through the paper (until the eye projects)
into the position shown in Figure 16. The needle is then hitched off the loop,
which is now ready for the reception of the chain or cord already described or.
even a simple chain or cord D with a knot or lump at the end to prevent it passing
entirely through the eyes is passed through the one or more series of eyes fixed to
the various numbers of the periodical or other pamphlet and the whole are fixed
tightly together in the manner already described by means of a notched plate or
by a spring plate. In some cases however I prefer to omit these plates and to
employ instead of a knot or end plate, boards like the back of a book. In this
case I prefer to have two or more series of eyes and pass a corresponding number
of strings, cords, or chains through the eyes. Fastened to the aforesaid board is a
flexible piece of leather with rows of eyelets corresponding in position to the series
of eyes. E is the lower board to which the binding cords, chains or wires D are
secured as at e, Figure 22. The cord D is preferably double and has a binding
needle F permanently strung upon it, as shown in Figures 12, 14 and 22. The
needles and cords are passed through their respective eyes, which latter have
the same relative positions as the points of attachment of the cords to the
cover E.
Attached to the lower cover E is a flexible back piece or flap G of leather or

page_text: other suitable material. This flap is adapted to be pierced by the needles F, as
hereinafter described, and, to this end, it may conveniently be provided with rows
of holes or eyelets arranged across the flap in line with the cord attachment
points e.
H is the upper board or cover provided with holes h, near one edge, having the
same relative position as the cords D, which are adapted to be threaded through
said holes, as seen in Figure 12. J are hooks adapted to hook into the eyes of the
needles For into the bights of the cords D. The said hooks are connected, as at j,
to the inner side of the cover H by means of adjustable connections K or extensible
connections L. The former connections may each consist of the well known
adjusting device of a doubled cord and perforated button kl, whilst the latter may
each be a simple elastic band connecting the hook with its attachment point j.
Both forms are shown by way of illustration.
When it is desired to bind in a fresh periodical, the connections J K (or J L)
are undone, as shown in the upper part of Figure 1, the needles F and their cords
are drawn through the holes in the upper cover H and the latter removed. The
flap G is thrown back and the needles and cords drawn through it, as shown in the
lower part of Figure 14. Two or more binding eyes B are then attached to
the back of the periodical by means of the needle C, as hereinbefore described, and
the eyes are strung on to the binding cords D, as shown in Figure 14. The cords
are then threaded through those holes in the flap G which are most suitable to the
depth of the pile of periodicals, and the flap is turned over on to the pile, as shown
in Figure 12. The needles and cords are then passed through the upper cover H
from the outside to the inside, and made fast to the connections J K or JL, or
the cords might, if long enough, be tied together or wrapped and secured to the
spring plate or elastic fastener m aforesaid (Figure 29) on the inner side of the
cover H. The latter is now folded over the periodicals and the binding operation
is complete.
It will be obvious from the foregoing that this back can also be used when the
chain and discs in their simplest form are used for fastening papers together and in
this way single papers can be bound up into book form. Even when in book form
I prefer to have a needle or blade attached to each chain or cord as by this means
one is enabled to more quickly bind up the book.
In Figures 24, 25 and 26 three modified forms of binding eyes are shown. That
shown in Figure 24 is formed of a flat bar which may be conveniently stamped
out of a piece of sheet metal. In other respects it is substantially the same as
the binding eye shown in Figures 16 and 17 being provided with a loop b adapted
to be drawn through the folds of the paper by a hooked needle C and with notches 2
for the purpose aforesaid. The corners 63 may also be rounded off to prevent injury
to the folds of the papers, and one or more loops 6 may be formed on the same bar,
in a similar manner to that shown in Figure 23.
The binding eye shown in Figure 25 is formed of a piece of wire doubled at the
centre to form the loop b. The ends of the wire are then together thrust through
the folds of the paper from the outside, and bent back against the fold of the
paper, as shown.
In Figure 26 a binding eye is shown, very similar in construction to the pre-
ceding. The loop is formed by crossing the wire at its centre. The ends
of the wire are then bent at right angles at some distance from the loop and
away from it. The bent ends are then thrust through the folds from the out-
side at two different points, and afterwards bent back upon the inside of the folds,
as shown.
The arrangement shown in Figures 27, 28 and 29 is quite similar in the idea
to that already described. E H are the boards, D the binding cords or laces
which are tabbed at the ends and secured by a nut or lump at e, and A are the
publications to be bound.
The laces are secured at e, and are then threaded through the eyes in the

page_text: publications. They are then pulled tight so as to take up any slack in the flexible
back piece g and are then twisted or wound round the elastic fastener m which is
provided with a piece of leather m¹ to prevent the laces being cut.
It will be evident that the binding eyes and cords might be employed for con-
necting the various periodicals together quite apart from the covers É and H and
flap G, the lower ends of the cords being, in this case, provided with a knot or
other suitable stop, and the upper ends being tied together or fastened in any way
calculated to prevent them from being drawn through the eyes when the file was in
ordinary use. Moreover, the needles F could be loose on the cords, or could be
dispensed with altogether and the broad needles C might also be dispensed with,
the eyes B (Figures 23 and 24) being, in such a case, introduced through the folds
of the periodicals by means of a penknife or the like. It will also be obvious that
the combination of covers, flap, binding cords and needles could be employed quite
apart from the binding eyes B, the needles and cords being simply passed through
the papers to be filed at a short distance from their edges. This latter arrange-
ment will be found especially applicable for loose papers and single sheets, while
the use of the binding eyes will be found more convenient for periodicals or the
like, each containing several or more folded sheets, and it will be found that these
latter may be turned over much more readily than if the cords were simply passed
through the paper itself. Further, a series of binding eyes, such as herein
described with reference to Figures 16, 17, 23 and 24 may be employed in a
general way for binding periodicals or the like either temporarily or permanently,
the eyes being capable of being rapidly placed in position with the aid of the
broad hooked needle aforesaid.
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. A binding or filing appliance in which a cord or chain having a stop piece at
one end and a perforator at the other, is adapted to be threaded through the
papers to be filed and then securely held in position by a loose retaining piece
capable of being placed at any part of the chain or cord, and of being firmly con-
nected therewith by a suitable catch mounted on the said piece, substantially as
described.
2. In combination with the perforator of a paper filing appliance, such as
described, a guard having a collar at one end, and adapted at the other to be
slipped over the point of the perforator and to form a continuation of the same,
upon which papers withdrawn from the binding chain or cord may be temporarily
held, for the purpose described.
3. A binding or filing appliance, in which a series of rigid binding eyes are
attached to the papers to be filed, in such manner as to project beyond one edge
thereof, and are threaded upon one or more binding chains or cords, each of which
is attached permanently at one end to a rigid board below the papers, and at the
other end is temporarily secured in any suitable manner to a similar board above
the papers, the loose end of each cord being provided or not with a permanently
attached needle, substantially as described.
4. In connection with a binding or filing appliance, a rigid binding eye having
arms adapted to lie within or along the folds of the papers to be bound, and one or
more loops adapted to project through the folds on the outside, the said arms being
provided or not with hollowed out parts in proximity to each loop, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
5. In connection with a binding or filing appliance, a flat needle having a hook
for engaging the loop of a binding eye and a flat blade of approximately the same
width as the loop, by means of which the folds of the paper may be perforated
and the loop drawn through into position at one operation, substantially as
described.
6. In a binding or filing appliance, the combination of a series of binding eyes B,

page_text: a lower board E, a flexible back flap G, forming an extension of the lower board,
and adapted to be folded over on to the papers, an upper board H, one or more
binding chains or cords D attached to the lower board and threaded through the
eyes B, flap G and upper board H, successively, and adjustable devices connecting
the cords temporarily to the upper board, substantially as described.
7. The various forms of paper binding or filing appliances each taken as a whole
and each combined and arranged, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 25th day of August 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.