US597704A - Book-holder - Google Patents

Description

( 0 Model.)

A. C. BISBEE.

BOOK HOLDER.

11 d Jan. 25,1898.

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Wifgesszs UNITED STATES PATENT rrrcn.

ASA C. BISBEE, OF CARSONVILLE,MICHIGAN.

BOOK-HOLDER.

SPEOIFTCATIQN forming part of Letters IPatent No. 597,?04, dated January 25, 1898. Application filed January 21, 1897. $erial No. 620,124. (No modem To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ASA C. BISBEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Garsonville, in the countypf Sanilac and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Book- I-lolder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to book holders or frames particularly adapted for use with an index for account-books, its object being to provide a holder or frame which will support the index and hold it in a closed position, but which will permit it to be opened at any desired point and automatically close it.

This invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the frame or holder with the index in place, closed. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of Fig. 1, showing the index open. Fig. 3 is a detached detail.

Similar reference-numerals indicate similar parts in the several figures.

1 indicates the base of the frame, which may be of any suitable material, either wood or metal, and which should preferably be of so fficient weight to keep the frame steady without any supplemental securing devices when the index is opened or closed.

2 represents the back, which may also be of any suit-able material and which, as shown, is partially open or cut away for the sake of lightness. The sides 8 of the frame between which the index is confined are preferably made of wire bent to the desired form and secured to the base 1 and back 2 by staples at or by other suitable securing devices. The side pieces 3 are provided at their upper ends with horizontal portions 5, on which are pivoted dogs 6, which are also preferably made of wire bent substantially in the form of a bell-crank. The end of one arm has a curved outline, as indicated at '7, and the end ofthe other arm is bent at a right angle to project inwardly beyond the side pieces,-as indicated at 8. The book-closer consists of the two vertical arms 9, connected together at their upper ends by the crossbar 10 and pivoted at their lower ends on pins 11, which for convenience of attachment are preferably threaded at their inner ends in order that they may be screwed into the base 1, as indicated at 12. The base is provided at each of its ends with openings 13 for the reception of the pins 11 and a coiled spring 14:, which surrounds each of the pins 11 and has its inner end secured in the base. The outer ends of the springs are continued upwardly and formed with hooks 15, which engage the vertical arms 9.

16 represents the index, which, as shown in Fig. 1,is adapted to rest on its bound edge on the base and to be held in avertical position by theorossbar 10 of the book-closer, the springs 14 tending normally to hold it in that position. The cover of the index, which rests against the back of the frame, is provided with one or more straps 17, secured at one end to the cover in any suitable manner and each having a perforation at the opposite end to enable it to be hooked onto a pin 18, secured in the back of the frame. The strap or straps serve to keep thebook from pulling away from the back of the frame to an unnecessary extent. in the position shown in Fig. 1, the curved arms '7 of the dogs 6 rest upon the crossbar 10 and their inwardly-bent ends 8 are out of engagement with the book. lVhen, however, the index is opened at any point and pulled downward, as shown in Fig. 2, the curved arms 7 willbe disengaged from the cross-bar 10 and fall downward and in a forward direction, thereby throwing the bent ends 8 of the other arms into engagement with that part of the index which remains in a vertical position and hold it there, as indicated in Fig. 2. These dogs may operate by gravity alone, if desired, or they may be provided with springs 19, secured to the arms 7 and the frame, to pull the arms 7 downward and hold the bent arms 8 in close contact and with suflioient force against the leaves that are left in a vertical position as to securely hold them in such position. It may some times be desirable to connect the springs 19 at one end to the arms 9 of the book-closer instead of to the frame, and hence I do not intend to limit myself to any special point of attachment for these ends of the springs 19. It is of course to be understood that the springs 14 must be of sufficient force to lift the index or any part of it that may be pulled When the book is down and also to overcome the resistance of the dogs 6 in order to enable the book-closer to return the index to its closed position.

The leaves of the index are provided with tags at different portions of their length, and these tags are lettered. in alphabetical sequence in the ordinary manner. In order to open the book at any page, it is only necessary to take hold of the desired tag with the thumb and forefinger of the left hand and pull that portion of the index which is in advance of such tag downward and hold it in that position until the necessary entry is made, when by removing the hand from the index the book closer will automatically return the portion that had been pulled down to its closed position, and in its upward movement the crossbar 10 will engage the arms 7 of the dogs and throw the arms 8 out of the way to permit the book to completely close.

Although I have described the sides 3 and the dogs 6 as being made of wire bentto the desired form, it is to be understood that the sides may be solid and that the dogs may be made of other metal than wire The wire is, however, preferable, since it is light and of sufficient strength for all strain that may be placed on either the sides or the dogs. While it is preferable to have the base of sufficient weight to hold the frame steady when in use, it is obvious that the base may be made of lighter material and secured to its support in order to holdit steady; but it will not be always quite as convenient, especially when it is necessary to frequently move the frame from place to place.

The advantages of my invention will be obvious; but among others it may be stated that by the use of my invention a bookkeeper will be able to open the index at any point desired by using only one hand,thereby avoiding the necessity of laying down his pen. The index will always be closed automatically and kept closed by the frame when not in use, and it will therefore last much longer and be less liable to be torn or soiled than if left lying around loose on a desk. It will also be out of the Way, since the most convenient place for it on the desk Will be at the head of the ledger or similar book, and it will therefore not be in the way of the bookkeepers arms or take up space to the right or left of the ledger or similar book.

If desired, the base may be provided with a recess for the reception of an ink-well, and a pen-rack may also be attached to either of its ends or to its front edge.

It is of course to be understood that the frame may be employed to hold books other than indexes and that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a book-holder, the combination with the base and back against which the book rests,of a sprin g-actuated book-closer pivoted on the base to engage the front face of the book and hold thelatter in a vertically-closed position, and a dog adapted to engage the book when the book-closer is lowered, and hold the book in a vertical position, substantially as described.

' 2. In a book-holder, the combination with the frame, of a spring*actuated book-closer pivoted on the frame to engage the front face of the book, and a bell-crank-shaped dog pivoted on the side of the frame with one arm normally engaging the book-closer and its other arm adapted to engage the book when the book-closer is lowered, substantially as described.

3. In a book-holder, the combination with the frame adapted to receive the book, of devices to detachably connect one cover of the book to the frame, a spring-actuated bookcloser pivoted on the frame to engage the front face of the book and hold the latter in a vertical closed position, and a dog adapted to engage the book when the book-closer is lowered and hold the book in a vertical position, substantially as described.

4. In a book-holder, the combination with the frame adapted to receive the book, of devices to detachably connect one cover of the book to the frame, a spring-actuated bookcloser pivoted on the frame to engage the front face of the book, a bell-crank-shaped dog pivoted on the frame with one arm normally engaging the book-closer and its other arm normally out of engagement with the book but adapted to engage it when the book closer is lowered, and means to positively move the latter arm into engagement with the book when the book-closer is lowered, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ASA O. BISBEE.

lVitnesses:

JOHN H. FARLEY, A. M. NILEs.

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