US890438A - Line-indicator. - Google Patents

Description

No. 890,438. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

v G. G. MUTZENBERG. 7

LINE INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1907.

n: NORRIS PETERS cc., WASHINGTON, nv c,

UNITED STAYEZS PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES G. MUTZENBERG, OF FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY.

LINE-INDICATOR.

, T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES G MUTZEN- BERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Frankfort, in the county of Franklin and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Line-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a line indicator adapted for application to note or record books or bound books or records of any type to serve as a guide to the eye in reading lines of writing or printing or other matter to be copied, the object in view being to provide a simple, convenient and inexpensive device of this character which may be applied with equal facility to the right or left side of the book and to books varying in number of pages or thickness, and which is further adjustable for use in connection with pages varying considerably in width.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the clamping member on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section through the indicating blade on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawin the numeral 1 designates a clamping member comprising a pair of parallel metallic strips 2 and 3 form' ing coacting longitudinal clamping jaws, the upper or front strip 2 beingformed at its outer edge with a rearwardly or downwardly extending flange 4 beyond the outer edge of the under or rear strip 3, which flange is designed to serve the function of a stop to engage the outer edge of the cover or leaves of the book to which the device is applied to hold the clamp from inward movement thereon. These strips may be of any desired length to serve effectually for use in connection with books of varying height within determined limits and are yieldingly connected by spring means to hold them in clamping engagement with the book. To this end, a partially circular spring 5 is arranged mid Way between the ends of the strips and is provided at its respective ends with ears 6 and 7 projecting over upon and riveted or otherwise secured to the outer faces of the strips, the contractile energy of the spring serving Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 7, 1907.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Serial No. 387,522.

normally to hold the strips in abutting contact. Finger pieces 8 are applied to the sides of the spring and extend outwardly therefrom, so that they may be grasped and moved toward each other to effect the expansion of the spring and spring the clamping strips or jaws apart for engagement with the cover and leaves of the book.

A guide rod 9 extends longitudinally along the outer face of the strip 2, and is preferably formed of wire spaced from the face of the strip and having its ends bent at an inward angle and suitably fitted to the strip. This rod forms a guide for a line indicating blade 10 comprising a main section 11 formed or provided with eyes 12 slidably engaging the rod, by which the blade may be adjusted longitudinally of the clamp. The blade extends inwardly at right angles from the clamp, and, by its adjustable connection therewith, may be moved vertically up and down over the page of the book to adapt it to be set for use and intermittently moved downward to register with and successively indicate the lines of the printed or other matter upon the page which is being read or copied. In order to retain the blade frictionally in adjusted position when the book is supported vertically or in an inclined position, alight coiled spring 13 is provided and extends through the eyes 12 and engages the rod 9, the coils of the spring being so disposed as to maintain it in a determined relation to the eyes, and also being of proper diameter to snugly embrace the rod, whereby the blade will be prevented from dropping by gravity and yet may be easily and conveniently adjusted by slight pressure.

In order to provide for the adjustment of the blade to extend across pages varying in width, the longitudinal side edges of the metal of which the main section 11 is composed are bent upwardly and inwardly to form guide flanges 14, thus providing a guideway in which an extension strip 15 is fixed to longitudinally slide to vary the effective length of the blade. The extension strip corresponds substantially in length with the main blade section 11, so that when adjusted inwardly to the limit of its movement it will be wholly confined within said main section. A button, knob or other suitable finger piece 15 is secured to the extension strip 15 and extends outwardly through the slot formed between the flanges 14 to enable said extension r to maintain said blade in a strip to be readily and conveniently adjusted to accord with the full width of the page across which the blade extends.

In use, the device is applied to grasp the cover and one or more pages of the book to hold the latter open and maintain the device in position, and the blade 10 is extended across the adjacent exposed page and ad justed to register with the upper or first line of the page, after which it is successively moved downwardly to register with the suc ceeding lines, as will be readily understood.

If the page is of greater width than the length of the main section 11 of the blade, the extension strip 15 may be adjusted outwardly to accord with the full length of the written or printed line. By the described construction and arrangement of the parts, the device may be applied with equal facility to the cover and pages at the left or right hand side of the open book without the necessity of reversing it or turning its rear side forward in this operation. The mode of applying and releasing the device will be apparent, and its manifold convenience to readers, stenographers and copyists appreciated.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A device of the character described comprising a clamp, a guide rod upon the clamp, a blade slidably mounted upon said rod, and a coiled spring slidably encircling the rod and engaging the blade for adjustment therewith prescribed position of adjustment.

2. A device of the character described comprising a clamp, a guide rod carried thereby, a blade having eyes slidably engaging said rod, and a coiled spring passing through the eyes and engaging the same and rod to maintain the blade in a prescribed position of adjustment.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a pair of elongated clamping strips adapted to engage the free side edges of the cover and leaves of a book, a spring connecting said strips and provided with expanding means, a guide rod disposed longitudinally upon one of the clamping strips, an indicating blade slidably mounted at one end upon said rod and projecting laterally at one side of said clamping strips, and co-engaging means between the rod and blade for frictionally retaining the latter in adjusted position.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a pair of elongated clamping strips, said strips being adapted to engage the free edges of the cover and leaves of a book, a

spring connecting said strips and provided with expanding means, a guide rod arranged longitudinally upon one of the strips, a blade extending laterally in one direction from said rod and slidably mounted thereon, an extension strip slidably mounted upon the blade and provided with operating means, and coengaging means between the rod and blade for frictionally retaining the latter in adjusted position.

5. A device of the character described comprising a clamp, a guide rod thereon, an indicating blade havingspaced eyes slidably engaging the rod, and a coiled spring passing through and engaging the eyes and frictionally engaging the rod to maintain the blade in a prescribed position of adjustment.

6. A device of the character described,

comprising a clamp consisting of a pair of elongated parallel strips, a partially circular spring terminally connected with the strips for pressing the same towards each other, finger pieces connected with the sides of the spring for expanding the same and spreading the strips, aguide rod arranged longitudinally upon one of said strips, and an indicating blade slidably engaging said rod. 7. A device of the character described, comprising a clamp consisting of a pair of elongated parallel strips, one of said strips having a longitudinal stop flange at the outer edge thereof, a spring disposed at one side of and yieldingly connecting the strips and provided with operating means, a rod arranged longitudinally upon one of the strips, and a blade slidably connected at one end with said rod and extending laterally from the side of the clamp opposite the'spring.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a clamp consisting of a pair of elongated parallel strips, one having at its outer edge a stop flange, and a spring arranged at the outer side of the clamp and yieldingly connecting the strips and provided with operating means, a guide rod arranged longitudinally upon one of the strips, a blade extending laterally from the clamp opposite the spring and slidably connected at one end with the rod, an extension strip slidably engaging the blade, and means cooperatively engaging the rod and blade to frictionally maintain the latter in a prescribed position of adjustment.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

K. ALLEN, H. DITTMAN.

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