US2106511A - Bookbinding means - Google Patents

Description

Jan. `25, 1938. R A wlLLlAMS 2,106,511

BOOKBINDING MEANS Filed June 16, 1936 .Erie- INVENTOR. ober Amigo Wiiam/s HIS ATTORNEY.

of the sheets or signatures.

Patented Jan. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES .eM/ENT orme-EL y BooKINmNGMEANs Robert Anmz Williams, chicago, Y111. Application June 16, 1936,,Seria1-No. 85,4471

16 claims. 01'. 2in-L25) This invention relates to bookbinding means, and has for a particular object the provision of a `means applicable to the .art of edition bookbinding.

"The invention resides in the novel combination and form 'of parts, `to be hereinafter particularly described in View of the annexed drawing in which:

Fig. 1 isfarperspective View of a complete book bound in 'edition style;

`Fig. 2 is a Vertical section taken along 4the lines 22-2 of Fig. "1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail taken alongthe lines3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4lis an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the lines lI-Il of Fig. 2, While Fig. 5 isran exploded perspective view 'of the book of Fig. 1.

The present invention is directed particularly tothe art'o'f edition bookbinding and is adapted to simplify the heretofore elaborate and expensive methods peculiar to this art, with a -iparticu'lar View Yto eliminating certain of the -more complicated Aand expensive steps necessary in themethods of 'modern edition bookbinding, and at the Sametime lto provide ka 'binding which is superior to -any heretofore known in the matter of simplicity and ruggedness and 4novel structuralfeatures.

Referring to Fig. 5, the method contemplates the preliminary steps of cutting and folding 'a pliuality of printed sheets `into 'folded groups Aor signatures Il) and gathering `these into an initial bookform or outline, each signature being itself inthe nature of a small unbound sheaf or book, and the group of signatures vbeing preferably gathered in the form shown, and stapled as by the Wire staple I2, shown'in Eig."2, to facilitate the handling of =rthe gathered signatures inthe succeeding steps of the method. 'These cutting, .gathering and Ifo'lding operations are usually accomplished by automatic machine `means wellknown in the art.

When thesignatures aregathered in `bookform and stapled for'handling they are Aprovided'with a 'lateral key or Wedge slot II (Figs. '2 and `5) adjacent the rear longitudinal extremities of the signature folds, and these slots are directed substantially toward'the center of the book'form and individual signatures thereof` at an angle `preferably :of 45 degrees relative to `the lateral axes The formed signatures are then represented in the completed step generally indicated at A in Fig. 5.

Subsequently a pair of cover boards I4 having suitably` beveled :rear longitudinal edges t4 :are joined lby :a iiexiblehinge Vmember itS @which -fmay be iof fabric or :the llike and which fisl.preferably glued :by methods also Well-known in fthe art to theinnerss'rdesoffthe cover boards 1I 4 fifnthe'region :5; thereof iadgacent the said flongitudin'al'fbeveled edges I4..

The hinge membery I6 :may then be 'provided with fa lateral key slot lil lcorresponding'to the key 7islot 'Il .iin the 'formedsignatures -above del0 scribed,l orthe' slot "N lmay have @been previously applied to fthe hinge Vfstripsas desired.

In this condition rtheassembled covers I 4 joined by the ehinge VI6 wvi'llform What istermed a Casing `represented by Jrthe step genelally indicated l5 at.B'inFig. 5.

'The @casing B :may then Vbefiittedup'on 'the ibook form 'A "so .that the respectivekey slots II-'and III" are registered, whereupon Ja *key member for wedge 20, gtheV form of lwhich 'will `"be hereinafter particularly-described, "'is inserted in Ythe -registered fslots lII `and IIII' 1in such vmanner'tha't the lower key surface 2-2 thereof rests snugly Within the said slots (seeFig.i2-particularly). This step ofthe procedurey is generally indicated at VCin Fig. 5.

Atthis ljuncture the paper end sheets I8, :being the louter 'leaves of the outermostsignatures -or sections I0, `may be-suitably glued Vto the Vinner orback' sides ofjeach ofthe respective covers I4, so as to lcover y'the Aentire vinner surfaces 'thereof andparticularly tlnejuncture` of Athe hinge member I6 with the said cover boards (see Figs. 2 andBparticularly) l l 'Thereafter la rigid backbone `member or backing channel "34g, a preferred form and construction of `Which will .be hereinafter Iparticularly described, is fitted upon the `combined casing and book form so that its free longitudinal vedges A36 insidewalls Vthereof substantially confront the rear longitudinally .extensive .beveled edges lI4' .of the ,cover I4. -Thisstep being generallyrepresented -at.D 'in Rig. 5, the result of Whichis shown in assembled fform. in Figs. 2 and 3 particularly.

.By .the foregoing method of binding a number of heretoforeinecessary Ysteps .peculiar to -the art of `edition .bookbinding .are eliminated, as those skilled yin theartwill readily recognize. In particular, the .necessity `for sewing the ,signatures together in any of the several recognized Imanners :is eliminated, as is also the heretofore essenti-a1 .-step 1of gluing-up'of the signatures for rounding and backing. In addition, the `present .method-makes `unnecessary thevlheretofore Jrequired step of casing-in which included gluing the signatures into the cover.

By the elimination of the foregoing particularly specified steps which are recognized as essential in the art of edition bookbinding as heretofore practiced, I have correspondingly eliminated the need for certain expensive machinery and handling operations involved in these previous methods, and, while I am aware that other methods have been proposed for the elimination of certain of the foregoing steps, the method here presented provides an edition bound book which is superior in the matters of simplicity and ruggedness to anything thus far developed, as will appear from the following particular description of the novel keying and channeling members used in my above described method.

A preferred form of a keying or wedging member 20 for use in the above described bookbinding method is desirably constructed of metal and has a vertical wall 2| with an angularly disposed keying or locking surface 22 and opposite side wings 24 and 25 (Fig. 5). This member 20 may conveniently be struck from a suitable die in large numbers for use in the binding operation.

The backing channel 34 is also preferably made of metal and has opposite side Walls 35 corresponding generally in their lateral Width to the width of portions 24 and 25 o-f the key member 20 and is so dimensioned that the said key member may be slidably tted therein with its vertical wall 2| confronting the bottom portion of the channel 34, the wing portions 24 and 25 sliding against the walls 35 of the channel member.

In placing the backing channel 34 upon the cased book in conformance with step D of Fig. 5, the channel member may be slid 'longitudinally upon the hinge portion of the cased signatures after the keying members 20 have been applied thereto in the manner indicated in the dotted line representation of Fig. 1. Or, if desired, the channel member 34 may be pressed or formed directly upon the said hinge portion of the cased signatures after the keys have been inserted, and for this purpose the side walls 35 of the channel member may be spread apart slightly to facilitate such application and thereafter the said side walls 35 may be pressed or crimped to compressably grip the fold portions of the signatures, together with the hinge portion of the casing, and thus rigidly secure the several members, indicated in the steps A to D, in Fig. 5, in the assembled relation shown in Fig. 1.

In either of the above alternative methods of applying the channel backing to the cased signatures, the free longitudinal edges of the side walls 35 of the channel 34 are bent back upon themselves to provide the lip portions 38, which are adapted to confront the free longitudinal edges 24' and 25 of the wings 24 and 25 of the key member 2D, and in this manner the said key member is secured for slidable longitudinal movement in the channel member 34, but will resist any displacement laterally of the channel.

In like manner, the lateral edges of the side walls 35 of the channel member 34 are bent back upon themselves to form lip portions 39 which are adapted to confront the lateral edge portions 29 of the key member 20, when the latter is secured in the channel, and are adapted to limit the longitudinal movement of said key members therein. It will thus be apparent that with either of the alternative methods of applying the backing channel to the cased signatures with the key member in place, that is to say by sliding the channel in a longitudinal direction upon the casing, as indicated in Fig. 1, or by placing the channel squarely upon the cased signatures and thereafter crimping it into place, the said key member will be securely engaged and its movement therein limited in the particular manner set forth. However, should the sliding method of applying the channel member be used, it will be apparent that the lateral edge extremities of the channel side walls 35, which form the lips 39, will necessarily be left in their originally extended condition, as indicated by the dotted line representation in the upper part of Fig. 2, and after the channel has been thus applied the said edge portions may be pressed into place to form the lips 39, as shown in Fig. 5.

By the use of my improved method and binding means, books, and particularly those in edition form, are very ruggedly bound with particular respect to the securing of the signature sections against movement in any direction relative to one another, or their backing or casing, and also from tearing-out of folds or leaves Vof the individual sheets comprising the signatures, and other deformations to which edition-bound books manufactured by previous methods are commonly subject.

It is also important to observe that my novel binding permits the use of covers of any Weight, and that whereas the covers provided in methods heretofore used were secured to the formed signatures largely through the medium of the end sheets, the covers in my present construction are supported entirely by the hinge member I6, which may be attached to the cover members as securely as the circumstances may warrant, the hinge member being held in assembled relation to the signatures by the conjoint action of the keying members 20 over limited surface areas thereof, and the compressing and binding action of the channel member over its entire areas.

Attention is also called to the fact that th keying member, once it is inserted in the key slots, can move in only one direction, namely, out of the said slots at the particular angle at which they are pitched; and that movement in any other direction is entirely prevented, for the locking action of the key member increases in substantially direct proportion to the displacing stress which is put upon it. When the channel member has been assembled with the key member, the latter is incapable of displacement in a direction to remove it from the key slots since the companion key member, being pitched oppositely to the first key member, prevents any pivotal movement of the channel member, which would be necessary to move the other key member of the pair out of its slot. The resulting binding structure is therefore extremely rugged and makes possible the production of edition books which will withstand a very high degree of abuse; and this advantage, together with others already pointed out, distinguishes the invention as a decided advance in the art of edition bookbinding.

It will be understood that the number of keys or wedges which may be applied to a given book in the practice of this method is not restricted to two. In heavier books, for example, it may be necessary or desirable to apply multiple wedges 29, and where this is done, I prefer to cut a pair of key slots l I at a distance from the middle line of the signature form, and on either side of the staple l2 (Fig. 2), and these latter slots il" are also preferably pitched at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the lateral axis of the grouped asocian 3 signatures, the lon'gitudina'l lfaxis, r`-o'fcourse, fb'e'ing that parallel to the foldedfedgesof the Vsi'gfna'tures l5. `fBut, Whereas the fendm'ost wedges-2ll yare pitched iconvergently toward ith-e icenter of the book or the center Iof fthe `plane iof #the several sheets of the signatures, and :thus toward each other, 1I prefer to slant the inner pair o'f Wedges 2U vaway from the said center of the :book form and in a :convergent direction relative to their respective endmostkeysror vWedgesZll. "1I-linge slots H", cutin theoover hinge f6, wherekeys 20'1are used as `indicated `'in Fig. l2, fare I'correspondingly slanted.

I also nditcOnVenent inthe practice fof this method Where the aforementionedfdivergling lcentra] -key slots are employed, to form fthe central Wedge v2li with integral lkey surfaces 222", fand thus expedite the manufacture rof the wedges for keys vas Well -as the 'method by 'which the 'ibook is bound in edition style.

1t should ffurther be :explained that my lmetho'd, where-it refers tocasin'g-'infandfthe cas'ingrepresented in step B of Fig. 5, refers to the igenerally used term by which the step o'f `pr-ovidingthe book form with a-#coverji-s known to those familiar with the art fof edition `=b`ookloinding. And in 'this regard,'I desire to `-point out that I fdo not intend to be restrictedto lthe form o'f casing shown in Fig. 5, step B, wherein the cover "boards t4 have a'rear longitudinal beveled'edge I4 and are joined by a cloth or vthe llikev hinge strip 176.

The casing to befused -in step B Vof lFig. -5 'may be Iof thefull-c'lo'thlcoveritype in Which'the-'cover boards have no rear beveled "edge Hl', 'and the cloth llS is'extendedentirely over rthe-cover boards in such manner that they are completely encased in clothand preferably have asdou'ble Ithickness of cloth or fabric over the hinge -portion,-one facing the outer most side 'of vthehinge part' (|16) and the other, facing 'the innermost sideo'f ithis hinge part.

Where the type of casing justabovedescribedis used, the vsliding method of 'applyingthe'channel or backbone member=34 as indicated in the dotted lines of Figs. 1 and "2, :is particularlyconvenient, and it Willbe apparentthat when lthe Tull-cloth covers such as described are V`used, the )juncture between the hinge `part 'and the 'cover boards, which is visible'inthe endw'ise section 'of Fig. 3, is less pronounced, since therewill be'another thickness of cl'othpassing from the topmojst surface of the cover (and also the bottommost) Aunder the side wall 35 `of `the 'channel :34.

summarily, 'the heretofore commonly -practiced methods of binding books in .edition stylehaverequired the sizing, 'foldingandgathering of sheets into signatures; sewing or stitching the signatures; ,gluing-up the signatures 'for rounding and backing; rounding and backing thevsignatures; gluing a lining clothron thebackboneof the signatures; gluing the lining (orhinge) clothontocover boards to form a case or cover; andrnally casingin by gluing therend sheets .of .the signatures onto the inside surfaces of the .casezor covers.

In accordance with ythe `present `invention, the binding of a bocklin editionstylezis.accomplished lby the following steps:

.tures (C) Keying the said casing LAand signatures ltogether;

(D) And-compressibly securing said keyed'casclaim ian'diparticularly desiretoprotect by Letters PatentoftheUnited States is:

i1. .A book comprising sa plurality of gathered signatures having :lateral slots cut at an oblique angle iin Atheliinge 'portions thereof, a cover `for saidibook including-:apair of cover boards hingedly joined and havingxopenings inthe yhinge `part thereof =in registration `with said slots in said signatures, .Ia lplur'alityof 'key members .each having an 'obliqu'ely disposed fkey part `linserted in said registered :slots and 1a `longitudinally extensive channel member ittedupon the said signatures and ihinged :partfo'f said Ycovers fan'dhaving parts grippingly y engaging the aforesaid signatures and cover fmembers i'and the said rkey members in assembled relation.

f2. A 'book "comprising: fifa 2.plurality of folded sheets-gathered in groups -with theirfold portions in superposed relation 4and having lateral slots cut into `said lsheets :across "the fold portions hereof at-'an oblique fangle irelative to the long member including tcover vboards.'hingedly joined and :having `a cut-away portion :in registration with the said slots in said :folded sheets; a plurality offkeymembers-each'having a bottom Wall and fa spairof fopp'ositely disposedfside Walls'with a 1 key part 'extended :between the "said vside walls at an L'.obliquexangle Sto :theisai'dbiottom walLsaid key members fbeingitteduponsaid folded sheets and cover members-.in assembledfrelation so that lthe said "key rpartszarefitted into 'the said registered slots with .the .said fbottom walls thereof fitted substantially against the folded edges of said sheets and lthe ihingepartof saidrcovers thereon; and:arbinding.memberin'thefformof a longitudinally extensive'channel'spiece:ha-vingbottomand i side walls and -)fitted onto .the said :'foldedsheets 'and icoverrmemb'er-With the bottom Wall thereof in confrontation Iwith .the said ibottomV Wall of vsaid key smembers fand the Vsaid :hinge member, and

having :itsfsideiwalls ,clamped upon the said 'hinge r member'and sheets 'thereinin the region adjoiningthefsaidifolkzbparts,` thefedge extremities of the said ibottom 'and side Walls of Isaid .channel member being lbent jback'zupon :themselves to form lip .parts fior limiting the fmovemezit of 'said key i members.

.A-bopk vcomprising .alplurality of gathered sheets having a-plurality of lateral lslots cut obliquely into 4an edge `thereoa'plurality of U- shaped keying clamps tted-uponi-said edge, vsaid clamps :each having :a keying tongue extended obliquelyfrom the bottom thereof. and into a saidslot,fandafU-shaped backbone member fitted upon .said 'edgeand :the lclampstthereon With its side portionsflrmly clamped :upon the Aoutermost ones'of said :sheets k\in thefregion adjoining said edge thereof, said ybackbone having parts along itsiedge portionsfor retaining said-clamps therein.

4. A .book .comprising :.a v.group of superposed sheets having registered lateral slots cut obliquely into the sheets along one edge thereof, and binding means including locking keys in the form of members having a back surface fitted against the slotted edge ofl said group of sheets and each said member having a keying tongue part extended into one of said slots and having side surfaces overlying the outermost sides of the group of sheets in the region adjacent said edge, said means further including a grooved member having .a bottom surface fitted upon the slotted edge of said group of sheets and the key members thereon and having a pair of opposite side surfaces extended from the said bottom surface thereof and clamped upon the outermost sides of the group of sheets'adjoining said slotted edge and upon the said side surfaces of said locking key members, said grooved member having parts securing said locking key members against withdrawal therefrom.

5. A book comprising a group of superposed sheets having a plurality of registered, lateral slots cut obliquely into one edge of the group, and a longitudinally grooved backbone fitted upon said edge and having a plurality of locking keys in the grooved part of the backbone, each of said locking keys having a part-extended in a direction obliquely vaway from said backbone toward and into one of said slots, said backbone having parts turned back upon itself toward the grooved part thereof to prevent the withdrawal of said locking keys therefrom.

6. Binding means for leaf matter arranged in a stack, said means including. a longitudinally channeled backbone fitted onto an edge of the stack and a plurality of recessed key members secured in said backbone against movement laterally out of the same and each fitted around said edge of the stack and having an oblique lateral tongue extending into an oblique lateral slot formed in said edge, there being one of said key members positioned near each of the ends of said stack edge, and said backbone having endwise parts engageable with said key members near the ends of the stack edge as aforesaid to prevent longitudinal movement of the backbone on said edge.

'7. A folio device including a stack of leaves having a binding edge provided with a plurality of lateral oppositely inclined oblique slots cut therein, there being one of said slots nearfeach of the ends of said binding edge, a plurality of locking keys fitted around said edge and each having an oblique. tongue extended into one of said slots, together with an elongated channelshaped backbone fitted onto said binding edge and the keys thereon and having its longitudinal side portions closely overlying the side'portions of said stack adjoining said binding edge, said backbone further having its free edge portions turned inwardly toward adjacent underlying portions of said key members and preventing separation of the latter from the backbone and further preventing longitudinal movement of the backbone on said edge.

8. A book comprising a stack of leaves having a binding edge provided with a plurality of lateral slots cut obliquely into the stack, a plurality of locking keys fitted around said edge and each having an oblique tongue extending into one of said slots, and an elongated backbone strip fitted around said binding edge and the keys thereon and having free edge portions bent in a direction against said keys and preventing separation of the latter from the backbone in a lateral sense and further preventing longitudinal movement vof the backbone relative to said edge.

9. Aebook comprising a stack of leaves having a binding edge provided with a plurality of lateral slots'cut obliquely into the stack in a direction away from said edge, a plurality of keying members each having a bottom and adjoining opposite side portions and fitted onto and around said binding edge, each of said keying members further having a tongue portion extended obliquely up from the bottom thereof between said side portions and extending into one of said slots, together with an elongated channel-like binding strip fitted onto and around said binding edge of the stack and the keying members thereon and having free edge portions bent back upon itself toward said binding edge and preventing separation of saidV keying members laterally therefrom, and said binding strip having means at its ends preventing movement of said keying members longitudinally out of the same.

10. A book comprising a stack of leaves having abinding edge provided with a plurality of lateral slots cut obliquely into the stack in a direction away from said edge, there being one of said slots near each end ofsaid edge and each of the latter slots being obliquely inclined oppositely to the other, a plurality of key members each having a bottom and adjoining opposite side portions and fitted onto said binding edge and each further having an integral, rigid tongue extended obliquely up from an end of said bottom between said side portions and said tongues each being engaged in one of said slots, together with an elongated channel-shaped binding strip fitted vonto said binding edge and the key members thereon and having rims formed along its free edgeportions and preventing lateral separation of the same and said key members and also effective in cooperation with the said key members disposed near the ends of said binding edge to prevent longitudinal movement of the binding strip relative to said edge. y

l1. A book comprising a stack of leaves hav.- ing a binding edge provided with a plurality of lateral slots cut obliquely into the stack in a direction away from said edge, at least two of said slots being oppositely inclined in an oblique sense, a plurality of locking wedges each shaped to fit around said edge` and each having a rigid integral and obliquely extending tongue, said wedges being fitted onto said binding edge with their respective tongues in one of said slots, and an elongated channel-shaped backbone fitted 'onto said binding edge and the wedges thereon and having longitudinal sidewall portions closely overlying the side portions of said stack adjoining said edge, said backbone further having means arranged along its free edge portions preventing both lateral and longitudinal displacement of said backbone relative to said wedges and said binding edge.

l2. A book comprising gathered leaves having a binding edge with a plurality of oblique lateral slots cut therein, a plurality of keys of substantially channel-like cross section fitted onto said binding edge of the stack and each having rigid oblique tongue portions extending into one of said slots, together with an elongated backbone fitted over said binding edge and the keys thereon and having longitudinally extensive groove formations along its opposite sides and fitting over the underlying edge parts of said keys, said backbone also having means at its ends engaging the outermost ones of said keys and preventing movement of the backbone in a longitudinal direction on said binding edge.

13. Binding means for a stack of leaf matter and including an elongated channel member having therein a plurality of channel-shaped keys adapted to move longitudinally in said. channel member, and the latter having parts along its longitudinal free edge portions elective to prevent movement of said keys laterally out of the same, said channel member and the keys therein being tted over an edge of said stack, each of said keys having a lateral tongue extending obliquely therefrom into said stack and at least two of said tongues being inclined oppositely to each other in an oblique sense, said channel member having means engaging said keys nearest the longitudinal ends of said binding edge to prevent longitudinal movement of the channel relative to said last-mentioned keys and said edge.

14. Binding means for a stack of leaf matter and including an elongated channel-shaped member provided with longitudinally extensive grooves on opposite sides thereof, and a plurality of locking keys in said member and each having opposite longitudinal side portions engaged in said grooves in a manner to permit longitudinal sliding movement of the keys in said member and eiective to prevent movement of the keys laterally out of the same, the channel-shaped member aforesaid and keys therein being fitted around an edge of said stack and each of said keys having a tongue formation extended obliquely into the aforesaid edge of the stack, at least two of said tongues being oppositely inclined, and said channel-shaped member having means at its ends engaging endwise portions of the said keys nearest the extremities of said edge and preventing longitudinal movement of the channel member on said edge.

15. Binding means for book signatures and pages, said means including a plurality of locking keys disposed along the binding edge of said signatures or pages and each having a tongue extended obliquely into said signatures or pages and one of said tongues being inclined in a direction opposite to another of the same, together with an elongated channel tted onto said edge and the keys thereon and having its free edge portions bent for engagement with said keys to prevent movement of the same laterally out of the channel and also to prevent longitudinal movement of the latter relative to said keys and said signatures or pages.

16. A book including a stack of leaves, a channel-shaped backbone of elongated form fitted around an edge of said stack and having disposed therein a plurality of keys substantially channel-shaped in cross section, each of said keys having an oblique tongue extended into said edge of the stack and one of said tongues being inclined oppositely in an oblique sense to another one of said tongues, said backbone being provided with means along its free edge parts catching each of said keys against separation therefrom in a lateral sense, said means catching the keys being further operable to prevent longitudinal movement of the backbone relative to said keys in their assembled relation with the stack as aforesaid.

ROBERT ALONZO WILLIAMS.

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