Blotting-pad.

Application filed April 13,1903 . Serial No. 152,418, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, William Amaker Murray, a citizen of the United States, residingat Washington, in the District of Columbia, 5 have invented new and useful Improvements in Blotting-Pads, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to blotting-pads, and particularly to means for holding the elampio ing-plate in reliable connection to the body of the pad and overcome the disadvantages resident in blotting-pads as ordinarily constructed and wherein a screw extends upwardly from the center of the body through 15 an opening in the clamping-plate to receive the handle or grip. In this ordinary or common form of blotting-pad the threads of the screw, which is usually wood, become worn or broken and the clamping-plate soon works 20 loose and fails to hold the strips of blottingpaper o'n the body with that firmness which is necessary to render a blotting-pad effective.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which 25 will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a blotting-pad embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical 30 longitudinal section through the center thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a nut mounted in the body to receive the holding device. Fig. 4 is an elevation of a different-form of holding device or fastening 35 means.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates a body which is 40 of the usual form and has a lower convex face and an upper flat side. In the center of the body a recess 2 is formed to receive a circular shouldered nut 3, said recess being formed in the under side or face of the body. 45 The preferred form of the nut 3 comprises a lower disk 4, which serves as a head, and an integral collar 5 of considerably less diameter, both the disk and collar having a screwthreaded bore 6 extending centrally there50 through. The recess 2 is of the same shape as the nut, and the latter is so disposed as to have the disk or head 4 at the bottom. In line with the bore 6 the body has an opening 7 formed therein, which extends through the upper side of the body, and cooperating with 55 the latter is a clamping-plate 8, also having an opening 9 through the center thereof. A grip or handle 10 is arranged on the clamping-plate 8, and projecting centrally therethrough is a holding or fastening means in 60 the form of a bolt 11, having its head countersunk in the upper end of the said grip or handle and its lower end 12 screw-threaded to engage the bore 6 of the nut 3. The bolt 11 is applied to the grip or handle in such 65 manner as to rotate therewith, and the nut 3 not only serves as a reliable means of connecting the bolt to the body, but obviates wear on the latter and permits it to be constructed of light soft material, such as wood. 70

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of nnt 13, which is square or angular, and to accommodate the use and application of the same the recess in the body 1 will be correspondingly shaped. 75

The lower side of either form of -nut is flush with the lower face or side of the body 1 when properly assembled in relation to said body, and in the nse of the improved blotting-pad strips of blotting-paper of suitable So length are pressed against the lower convex face of the body 1 and the ends thereof turned over the upper side of the body. The clamping-plate 8 is then applied over the body, and the ends of the strips of blotting- 85 paper and the grip 10 and bolt 11 carried thereby are applied so that the said bolt will project through the openings 9 and 7 and engage the bore 6 of the nut 3 or that of the nut 12, as the case may be. The grip is then ro- 90 tated to bring the lower end thereof iu close contact with the clamping-plate to secure the strips of blotting-paper firmly to the body. When it is desired to remove one of the strips of blotting-paper, the grip 10 is rotated in a re- 95 verse direction to release or loosen the bolt 11.

The improved form of blotter will be found exceptionally durable, and all the parts may be constructed of wood except the nut and bolt, which will be of metal. Of course other ico materials may be employed in forming the body, clamping-plate, and grip.