Improvements in Devices for Holding and Manipulating Tickets, Cards, Papers, and similar Articles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 7th Feb., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Holding and Manipulating Tickets,
Cards, Papers, and similar Articles.
A. communication from abroad by ABROT AUGUSTUS LOW, of Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings and State of New York, United States of America,
Gentleman.
1, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, 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 :-
The invention relates to devices adapted to the holding and manipulation of
tickets, coupons, bills, cards, and similar articles which are required to be held or
filed away in bunches or packages, from or into which packages it is desirable
from time to time to remove or insert one or more tickets or papers from or into
various positions in the package.
The object of the invention is to afford means for readily and conveniently
separating the tickets or papers in a package at any given part thereof either for
the purpose of cutting off one or more tickets or papers from the main body or
spreading apart the tickets composing the latter for the insertion or removal of a
ticket or paper in a prescribed relation to the others, the manipulator at the same
time being adapted to perform the functions of a holder or retaining plate for the
tickets or papers when not in active use as aforesaid.
The invention consists primarily of an elongated plate of suitable material
which is adapted to act as a wedge for insertion between the tickets or papers
composing a package held together by rubber bands or other similar and well
known means of retaining such articles in a bunch. To this end the wedge or
plate may be made pointed or tapering for either a portion or the whole of its
length, to facilitate its entrance between the tickets or papers.
A secondary feature of the invention consists in forming the wedge with a
longitudinal slot or opening for the purpose of affording access for the fingers to
the rear or inner sides of the tickets or papers separated by the wedge to enable
them to be conveniently grasped and removed.
A third feature consists in forming the wedge plate with one or more laterally
projecting shoulders, adapted to engage the end of a ticket or paper and facilitate
its insertion, with the wedge, into position between the other tickets or papers
composing the bunch,-the wedge being thus used as a carrier or vehicle for the
insertion of the tickets or papers as well as to effect their removal. In performing
the latter function it is used to cut off' or isolate one or more of the tickets or
papers from the rest, when the actual removal may be effected more quickly and
conveniently than heretofore and without danger of disturbing the remaining
tickets or papers.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the improved ticket manipulator and
holder;
Figure 2 an edge elevation of the same;
Figure 3 a longitudinal section upon the plane of linee Figure 1 ;
Figure 4 a similar view showing the wedge shape extending the whole length of
the plate;
Figure 5 a view illustrating the insertion and removal of a ticket or paper from
the central portion of a bunch or parcel :
Figure 6 a view illustrating the use of the device simply as a ticket or paper
holder:

page_text: Figure 7 a similar view in elevation at right angles to Figure 6;
Figures 8 and 9 views illustrating the cut off of a ticket or paper from the rest
of the package;
Figure 10 a view illustrating the use of the wedge as a vehicle for inserting or
removing a ticket or paper into or from the central portion of a bunch or
package.
The plate A is formed of any suitable material affording the necessary degree of
rigidity combined preferably with comparative lightness. One end is narrowed
down to an edge a from which the tapering sides a, a extend upward either the
whole of the length of the plate A as shown in Figure 4 or only for a portion of its
length, as shown in the other figures.
An elongated opening or slot B is formed in the body of the plate A extending
in a longitudinal direction. This slot forms a means of holding the device by
inserting the finger therein, or of hanging up the device and its bundle of tickets
or papers when not in use.
It also facilitates the removal of the tickets or papers by permitting of the
insertion of the finger underneath or between them, the form of plate shown in
Figure 4 being specially adapted to the latter purpose on account of the increasing
thickness of the wedge, which spreads the tickets further apart at the upper end.
The upper end of the wedge plate A is formed with transverse lateral shoulders c
which are adapted to engage with and protect the end of a ticket or paper placed
against the side of the plate as shown in Figure 10,-the plate in this case being
used as a carrier or placer for the ticket or paper when it is desired to insert such
article into a definite position between the other tickets or papers constituting the
bunch.
DD represent the series of tickets or papers and EE the rubber bands used for
holding the parts of the bunches or packages together,
The practical use of the device in removing tickets will be readily understood by
reference to Figures 5, 8 and 9. In Figure 5 the wedge plate is used to spread
apart or open the bundle of tickets so as to admit of the ready removal of one
situated near the centre of the bundle, while in Figures 8 and 9 the operation of
cutting off and separating a single ticket from the outside of the bundle is
illustrated.
When used as a ticket holder the device is designed to hold one or more sets of
such articles in such manner as to preserve and protect them while presenting them
in positions in which they may be readily and quickly grasped by the fingers and
withdrawn one at a time without disturbing those remaining.
Articles of the kind designated, when carried loosely in the pocket of the user,
are not only liable to become separated and lost but soon become bent and
damaged besides being inconvenient to find and handle, creating considerable
annoyance and loss of time unless an exceptional degree of care is bestowed upon
them, and for these and similar reasons many persons refrain from availing them-
selves of the economy, convenience and advantage that would otherwise be attendant
upon the purchase of tickets &c. in packages.
A feature of the invention consists in a plate of suitable material, adapted to
receive and support one or more sets of tickets, cards or similar articles, the latter
being held upon the plate by elastic or spring pressure attained by utilizing the
ordinary rubber bands which usually accompany packages of such articles.
use.
Such holding devices may be adapted for use for filing papers &c., as well as for
ticket holders, substantially the same features of construction being retained in
either case and the difference being mainly in the relative sizes requisite for special
As illustrated in the following named figures of the drawings, however, the
invention is adapted for use as a holder for comparatively small articles, such as
packages of bridge, ferry, omnibus or car tickets or other similar articles required
frequently for daily use, and therefore do not limit myself to the identical form
shown but reserve the right to modifications which would obviously be essential in
adapting the device to cognate uses.

page_text: Another leading feature of the invention consists in forming the holder plate
with one or more finger openings which permit of the insertion of the finger
through the plate to facilitate the manipulation of the tickets or the handling of
the holder, the said openings also affording a means of hanging up the device if
desired.
Another feature of the construction here specially referred to consists in forming
the holder plate at one end of less width than the tickets or cards in connection
with which it is designed to be used, while the portion of the plate adjoining its
other extremity is of greater width than the width of the tickets or cards to be so
used the edges of the holder plate tapering or converging gently from one
extremity to the other. The object of this is to provide for the expansion of the
elastic retaining bands by the holder when desired, the wider portion of the holder
plate being pushed between the said retaining bands like a wedge until the tickets
or cards are relieved from side or lateral pressure, their extraction being thus
rendered easier.
An incidental feature of the invention consists in the combination and use of
two wedge plates with each other in two ways; first with their ends reversed or
opposed to each other so as to constitute practically a single retaining plate with
wide ends and a comparatively narrow waist or centre, by which means the
retaining bands and tickets are prevented from travelling toward the narrow thin
wedge ends of the holders and second with their narrow wedge ends together, a
ticket or other like article being interposed between them when it is desired to
either insert or remove such article into or from the body of the package.
The invention also consists in forming the wedge plate with a notch or
depression in one of its edges preferably the upper or thicker end, to hold the
retaining band or bands in place, and also in this connection in the use of a
longitudinal elastic retaining band which effectually prevents the slipping
longitudinally of the tickets &c. down and off the inclined sides of the wedge.
Figure 1 is an edge elevation of the holder plate.
Figure 12 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 13 is a longitudinal section upon the plane of line all of Figure 12.
Figure 14 a side elevation of two wedge plates placed together in reverse
positions;
Figure 15 an edge view of Figure 14;
Figure 16 an edge view of two wedge plates illustrating their use in conjunction;
Figure 17 an edge elevation of the holder plate similar to Figure 11, but
showing three series of tickets attached thereto;
Figure 18 a side elevation of the arrangement shown in Figure 17:
Figure 19 a transverse section upon the plane of line y, y Figure 18:
Figure 20 an elevation similar to Figure 18 excepting that the wide portion of
the holder plate is shown as inserted between the retaining elastic bands;
Figure 21 a transverse section upon the plane of line, Figure 20:
=
Figure 22 a side elevation of the wedge plate formed with a single finger opening.
The holder plate shown in the figures referred to may be formed with flat parallel
sides as hereinbefore described or with inclined sides a² a² which converge from one
extremity to the other, forming a wedge shaped plate as shown. The wedge shape
is desirable in that it may be more readily introduced between the tickets, cards or
other papers, and facilitates their manipulation.
It will be noticed that the edges a³, a³ also converge toward the bottom or com-
paratively thin edge at of the wedge A, said edge a being of less width than the
width of the tickets, cards or papers to be used in connection with the holder. By
this means provision is had for quickly and conveniently passing the edge at of the
wedge A not only between the said articles but also between the retaining
bands B B.
The latter may be especially provided for use in connection with the holder
plate A or they may consist of the usual retaining bands surrounding ordinary
packages of tickets &c.

page_text: At or near the opposite extremity of the plate it is formed with an annular per-
foration or finger opening F which permits of the insertion of the finger through
the plate for the purpose of holding the latter, or of assisting in the manipulation
of the cards thereon.
The annular form is preferable in that it does not materially weaken the holding
plate, while the finger of the user fits snugly within it, and in inserting or with-
drawing the holder more or less into or from the bunch of tickets or other similar
articles by the movement of the finger there is play or loss of motion within the
opening F.
It will be noticed that the width of the lolder plate A adjoining the finger
opening F is greater than the width of the tickets or other similar articles T.
When the tickets occupy the lower end of the wedge A adjoining the edge a', their
retaining bands do not come in contact with the edges a³, a³ of the holder A, but
when the wedge A is inserted between them to a sufficient depth its edges a³, a³
come in contact with the inner sides of the retaining bands B B and expand them
as indicated in Figures 17 and 18, thus relieving the tickets from lateral pressure
and facilitating their insertion or removal either individually or collectively.
As shown in Figure 12 the wedge plate may be formed with two finger
openings F, F, if preferred the latter opening F' affording access to the rear of
tickets of a small size, or to the rear of the larger tickets when occupying the
extreme lower portion of the wedge in substantially the same manner that the
upper finger opening F is utilized.
In this
In order to afford means for positively holding the retaining bands against
accidental slip or displacement, a notch or depression d may be formed at any
desirable point, into which the retaining band fits as shown in Figure 18.
figure its use is illustrated in connection with a longitudinal retaining band L, but
it is obvious that it may be arranged in the sides of the wedge to hold the trans-
verse retaining bands B', B' if desired, and it may be duplicated or otherwise
modified in form and arrangement to suit special requirements or taste.
The longitudinal or supplementary band L is not essential to the practical use of
the device, although it affords a positive guard against the displacement of the
tickets longitudinally while not interfering with their manipulation and removal
since, as will be seen by reference to Figures 17 and 18, considerable space 7, is
left between the inner sides of the band and the sides of the plate thus affording
unobstructed access to the upper end of the tickets.
By reversing two plates A. A with relation to each other and placing them back
to back as shown in Figure 14 the effect of a single plate having central depressions
is attained, the narrow waist or central portion acting as the equivalent of the
depression d to prevent the slipping of the transverse retaining bands B, B.
There are several other advantages attained in practice in using two of the
wedge plates instead of a single one. The two plates may be used as exterior
shields or covers for the tickets when not in use, binding the latter together and
protecting them against derangement and wear. They may also be used for
effecting the insertion or removal of a ticket into or from the package, or for
cutting off or dividing certain tickets from the rest.
Hereinbefore I have described the supporting plate as made with finger openings
to facilitate the manipulation of the cards, the finger openings consisting of circular
perforations of suitable size formed directly within the body of the plate, through
which the end of the finger of one hand might be passed to raise or hold the tickets
when selecting and securing one for removal by the other hand of the user.
A feature of the invention consists in forming the finger openings with an outlet
at the upper end of the plate so that a card or ticket may be withdrawn on a plane
substantially parallel thereto. That is to say that whereas heretofore the ticket or
card had to be raised by the finger inserted through the finger opening from one
side and then grasped and withdrawn entirely from the other side of the holding
plate, by the present construction I am enabled to grasp and remove a ticket or
card from either side of the plate with the fingers of one hand acting on both sides

page_text: of the plate, the open mouth of the finger opening presenting no impediment to this
operation as did the walls of the circular finger openings heretofore described.
This form of finger opening also enables me to loosen or raise and separate the
cards or tickets from the same side upon which they are situated without the inser-
tion of the finger from the opposite side, the open mouthed recess permitting of a
finger of the hand by which one or more tickets or cards are to be removed being
readily passed downward to the upper edges of the tickets or cards and of its being
inserted partially under the said edges in order to facilitate their selection.
Thus formed the finger opening also affords protection for and prevents the entire
lateral displacement of the end of a longitudinal retaining band when the latter is
used, the side walls of the opening confining that end of the rubber-band within a
reasonable limit of play while the wide mouth of the opening permits the said end
of the rubber band to be readily grasped and withdrawn from that end of the
holding plate when it is desired to remove one or more of the tickets or cards.
I herein show and describe the device as used for the temporary retention of
cards and tickets, although it is obvious that by making it of suitable size and shape
it may be equally adapted for use either as a temporary or permanent file for papers
etc. of various kinds.
Another feature of the invention consists in forming the side extensions created
by the open mouth of the finger recess with perforations which facilitate the
handling of the wedge-shaped plate and its insertion or withdrawal from a series of
cards, papers, or tickets, as the case may be besides affording means for suspending
it from a hook, or filing it away with others of its kind..
Still another feature of the invention consists in forming the plate with a recess
extending through it into which projects a stud or knob around which the ends of
the longitudinal elastic band, when doubled may be looped. This recess is prefer-
ably situated in the narrow or wedge end of the plate, and has a contracted entrance
through which the thickness of the longitudinal elastic retaining band may be forced
when it is desired to use it without doubling, the contracted entrance preventing the
unintentional escape or displacement of the said band from the plate.
The invention also includes minor details of construction hereinafter set forth.
Figure 23 is a side elevation of the plate without the retaining band or bands.
Figure 24, a similar view showing a package of cards or tickets held to the plate
by a longitudinal elastic retaining band.
Figure 25, a similar view illustrating the use of a transverse retaining band in
addition to the longitudinal retaining band.
Figure 26, is a similar view showing the longitudinal retaining band removed
from the cards or tickets but still retained at one extremity by the holder
plate.
Figure 27, is an edge view of the plate with a package of tickets on either side
and showing both the transverse and longitudinal retaining bands.
Figure 28, is a central longitudinal section of the arrangement shown in
Figures 25 and 27.
What may be designated as the upper end of the wedge A, is formed with the
recess or finger opening B2 having a comparatively wide entrance ², sufficient to
admit of the passage of a finger to and from the enlarged part of the opening B².
The horns or extensions C, C, left by the formation of the finger opening B², are
perforated at or near their upper or outer extremities by the holes e',, which
afford a purchase to the fingers of the user while inserting or withdrawing the
wedge into or from a series of cards or tickets. These perforations, also
afford a ready means of suspending the holder etc. temporarily upon a hook or file,
and for filing away a series of such holders with papers etc. attached when the
device is used upon an enlarged scale as a paper file.
The tickets or cards D, are held against the holder A, by the transverse elastic
retaining bands E', which usually retain the cards or tickets upon the plate
laterally while permitting of their manipulation and withdrawal longitudinally

page_text: -
during the absence of the longitudinal elastic retaining band F, the latter being
designed to lock and secure the tickets or cards against longitudinal movement on
the plate A, under ordinary conditions, and being turned down out of the way as
indicated in Figure 26, when access is to be had to the tickets or cards.
The tickets or cards, are manipulated through the finger opening B2, by means of
which the fingers can readily select and withdraw a particular ticket or card, and
through which the fingers can easily be withdrawn while retaining the ticket or card
between them. In fact this form of finger opening retains all the advantages of the
circular finger-opening with the additional feature of a free and unobstructed upper
end to the plate.
The opening, also permits of the reception and retention of the upper end of the
longitudinal elastic retaining band F, which is thereby isolated and protected by it.
The other end of the longitudinal band F, when used single as shown in
Figures 25, 26, 27 and 28, is passed into the recess G, through the contracted
opening the inner lips, of which are preferably turned upward and inward to
prevent, as far as possible, the chance of the band coming into coincidence with,
and escaping through, the said contracted opening as might otherwise happen when
the band is hanging loose, as in Figure 26.
The recess G, thus isolates and protects the lower end of the longitudinal
retaining band while affording a means of attachment to the plate which does
not interfere with the application or removal of the band over or from the cards or
tickets.
The study projects from the body of the plate A, into the recess G, and it is
desired to double the longitudinal band F, as shown in Figure 24, the opposite
loops of the band F', being passed around the said stud, upon which they are
held by the elasticity of the band itself. In order to prevent accidental dis-
placement of the ends or loops of the longitudinal retaining band when thus used,
it is preferred to form the stud with lateral projections 3, 3, over which the ends
of the loop have to be passed in applying them to the stud g², and which effectually
retain the said loops until intentionally removed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
I declare that what I claim, is :-
1. A device for holding and manipulating tickets, papers, etc. consisting of the
plate A, formed with the converging longitudinal edges, and with the wedge shaped
end a for the purpose and substantially as set forth.
2. A device for holding and manipulating tickets, papers etc. substantially as
and for the purpose set forth, consisting of the plate A, formed with the wedge shaped
end a and with the elongated finger slot B, substantially as shown and described.
3. A. device for holding and manipulating tickets, papers, etc. substantially as
and for the purpose set forth, consisting of the plate A, the sides a¹, a', of which
converge throughout their entire length to form the wedge shaped end a, substantially
as shown.
4. A device for holding and manipulating tickets, papers, etc. substantially as
and for the purpose set forth consisting of the plate A, formed with the wedge
shaped edge a, and with one or more lateral shoulders c, substantially as shown
and described.
5. A device for holding and manipulating tickets, papers etc. substantially as
and for the purpose set forth, formed of a single piece or plate A, having the wedge
shaped end u, longitudinal slot B, and lateral shoulder c, substantially as shown and
described.
6. A device for holding and manipulating tickets, cards and similar articles,
substantially as herein set forth, consisting of a plate formed with a finger opening,
in combination with an elastic retaining band, for the purpose and substantially in
the manner described.

page_text: 7. A device for holding and manipulating tickets, cards, and similar articles,
substantially as herein set forth, consisting of a plate A, formed with the annular
finger opening F, in combination with an elastic retaining band, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose described.
8. A device for holding and manipulating tickets, cards, and similar articles
substantially as herein set forth, consisting of an elongated plate A, one end a', of
which is of less width than the width of the articles to be used upon the said holder
plate, while another portion of the said plate is made of greater width than the
width of the articles to be accommodated, in combination with an elastic retaining
band, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
9. A device for holding and manipulating tickets, cards, and similar articles,
substantially as herein set forth, consisting of the elongated plate A, formed with
the comparatively narrow-edge a*, and_comparatively wide portion above said
narrow edge and with the finger opening F, in combination with an elastic retaining
band, for the purpose and substantially in the manner described.
10. A device for holding and manipulating tickets, cards, and similar articles
as herein set forth, consisting of a plate A. formed with the two annular
finger openings F, and F, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described.
11. A device for holding and manipulating tickets, cards and similar articles as
herein set forth, consisting of a plate A, formed with a recess or depression d, for
the purpose and substantially in the manner described.
12. A device for holding and manipulating tickets, cards, and similar articles
substantially as herein set forth, consisting of two wedge-shaped plates A, A, arranged
and combined with suitable elastic retaining bands, substantially in the manner and
for the purpose set forth.
13. In combination with an elastic retaining band the plate A formed with a
finger opening B2, having the entrance, for the purpose and substantially in the
manner described.
14. In combination with an elastic retaining band, the plate A, formed with the
finger opening B³ with entrance 62, and with the side pieces C, C, substantially in
the manner and for the purpose set forth.
15. In combination with an elastic retaining band, the plate A, formed with the
finger opening B, and one or more smaller perforations c', for the purpose and
substantially in the manner set forth.
16. In combination with an elastic retaining band, the plate A, formed with the
finger opening B2, entrance, and side pieces C, C, formed with the perforations c', c¹,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
17. In combination with an elastic retaining band, the plate A formed with the
recess g having the contracted entrance for the purpose and substantially in the
manner described.
18. In combination with an elastic retaining band, the plate A, formed with the
recess G, having the contracted entrance, and inwardly protruding lips g¹,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
19. In combination with an elastic retaining band the plate A, formed with the
stud g², for the purpose and substantially in the manner described.
20. In combination with an elastic retaining band, the plate A, formed with the
stud g², having one or more lateral projections g³, for the purpose and substantially
in the manner described.
21. In combination with an elastic retaining band, the plate A, formed with
the finger opening B2, 12, at one end, and the recess G, with contracted entrance g,
at the other, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
Dated this Lith d of 1000
J. C. MEWBURN.