US17311A - Portfolio - Google Patents

Description

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ROBERT ARTHUR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PORTFOLIO. i

Specicaton of Letters Patent No. 17,311, dated May 19, 1857.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT ARTHUR, of the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Po-rtfolios for Keeping Together Securely Letters, Loose Pa pers, &c., for Convenient Reference, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make a part of this specification.

Two stiff binders boards, or their equivalent, of any desirable size, or'shape,

are secured, at, one side, by elastic hinges made of corrugated india-rubber cloth, metallic springs, or any other equivalent, properly secured to the boards, by being glued or riveted to them, or in any other suitable manner. Opposite to the hinges a strap (or more than one if required), is attached to one of the boards, and arranged so as to be secured, at pleasure, to the opposing board, when the two boards are brought together, by means of any suitable fastening. The disadvantages arising from loss of elasticity -of the gu1n.-fabric, when this material is employed, which occurs when it is kept stretched for a considerable time, to or near, the extent of its elasticity, may be obviated by making the hinge and fastening adjustable, in the manner now toI be described.

In the accompanying drawing, a Figures 1 and 3 represents a piece of metal fastened to one of t-he boards, by three rivets, at a distance of a quarter of an inch, more or less, apart. The heads of these rivets are allowed to project abovethe level of the board, as shown in Fig. 2, sufiiciently high to receive a small plate attached to the end of the elastic stra Fig. 3, in which plate a slot is cut. This slot, at one part, c Fig. 3, is sufficiently wide to pass over the heads of the rivets, but is made smaller at the part b, Fig. 3, so that when drawn into place it cannot slip off the head of the pro jecting rivet to which itis attached. This contrivance is applied to both hinges, and to the fastening at the opposite side, as

shown in Fig. 1. When provided with this l arrangement, the elasticity of the hinges and fastenings is taxed only enough to keep the contained papers steadily in place; when any considerable quantity of papers is added, the capacity of the portfolio may be increased by changing the attachment of the hinges and fastening strap, from the first to the second or third projecting rivet. Vhen it is desirable to empty the book, the attachment is again changed to the rivet to which it was at first attached. Any similar contrivance for making the hinges, and fastening adjustable, may be employed.

The advantages of such a` port-folio are obvious. I/Vhen empty, the sides are in close contact, and will keep securely together two orv three sheets of paper, but owing to the elasticity of the hinges and fastening, a very large number of sheets may be introduced; at pleasure. When they are removed, unless the elasticity of the material used for the hinges and fastening, has been over-taxed, which may to a great extent be avoided, by means of the device just described, the sides of the port-folio will come together again almost as perfectly as when first made.

I am aware that a letter-file is made of a broad band of india-rubber, which is used to keep together, by means of its elasticity, a bundle of folded letters. I am also aware that a file has been made by confining to gether two stiff boards, by means of an elastic Cord, or band, passing entirely around them or fastened to one board, the papers being put -in at one end, by drawing the boards apart. I am also aware that an elastic clasp for pocket-books and probably other articles has been made. These I disclaim.

lVhat I claim as my invention, is:

l. A port-folio made with an elastic back or hinge, combined with an elastic`fastening.

2. I also claim making the hinge and fastening adjustable for the purpose specified.

ROBERT ARTHUR.

Witnesses:

DAVID MORGAN, J. ALDEN ARTHUR.

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