US1017089A - Index system. - Google Patents

Description

E. A. DUNN.

INDEX SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY5, 1910.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

EDWARD A. DUNN, 0F NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

INDEX SYSTEM.

' Application filed m 5,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

1910. Serial No. 570,276.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. DUNN, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Index Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fili g systems of The objects of the invention are to provide improvements-which will reduce labor costs by increasing ,the facility of use; to provide an index which is expansive to avoid necessity for revising the index from time to time; to provide an index'which is compact, thus saving space which .represents a cash value; to, provide an index which will enable surnames to be sub-divided by Christian names,-thus facilitating reference and posting especially where surnames are commen; and to providean index having subdivisions that may be used in common in different de artments of a business.

' A particular object of the invention is to provide posting-sheets especially adapted for use in connectionwith-loose'leaf binders, said sheets being so provided with numerically indicated Christian names or firmname sub-divisions, in addition to numerically indicated surname sub-divisions as to serve as further sub-divisions of the latter to a far greater extent than could be rovided for in a column or in columns, within the limited -space that could be used therefor on such sheets.

lo "these ends the invention consists in the system substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

' Of the accompanying drawings ;--Figure 1 is a perspective view of a series of posting sheets constructed in accordance with my present invention, said sheets being 1llnstrated as attached to a loose leaf binder which, however, forms no part of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view similar a portion as Fig. 1, but-illustrates a mod fication hereinafter described. Fig. 3 is a view representing a set of indexicards suitable for use in card indexing, the cards being constructed according to my present invention.

Referring first to Fig. 1, a loose leaf binder of a well known form is indicated at 10, said binder containing a number of sheets 11, each sheet having its margin pro- -vided with alphabetical sub-divisions constituting a surname key, each of which subdivisions is designated by a distinct numeral, the numerals running in sequence from one to any number required. Preferably each sheet 11 has a portion of these sub-divisions printed on one side, so that when the set is open to expose two leaves, the opposite pages which are thus exposed show the complete alphabetical and numerical sub-divisions arranged in two columns. These sub-divisions includethe first and second letters of surnames, sometimes, however, including the three first letters of surnames. Above this surname key by lOs, is a Christian and firm name key comprising the numerals from 0 to 9 inclusive, said numerals identifying groups of initials, said initials running from A to Z. Preferably the cipher is employed to indigzate miscellaneous names such as firm or corporation names. The Christian and firm name key is indicated at 12, and is duplicated on both sides of each sheet in the form shown in Fig. 1, but as indicated at13 in Fig. 2, the Christian or vfirm name key may be divided, partly on one page, and partly on the opposite page, the two expose pages when the set is opened, completing the entire key.

as indicated in Fig. 1, said division sheets having. tabs 15, the tabs being printed with the alphabet in accordance with the divisions of the surname key.

For the entire alphabet, the key 12 has ten sub-divisions from O to 9 inclusive, of which the 0 division preferably relates to miscellaneous names such as firm or corporation names, while the numerals 1 to 9 1ndicate consecutive sub-divisions of the alphabet so that, in the arrangement illustrated, any Christian name beginning with A or B would be known numerically as Christian name beginning with C would be known numerically. as '2, and so on. By utilizing numerals 1,2, 3, etc'., in the surname key to designate alphabetical sub-divi- Preferably division sheets 14 are employed numerically individualized sub-divisions of,

series which is conveniently referred to as sions, a far greater sub-division of the alphabet is provided for because, reading 1 as 10, 2 as 20, 3 as 30 and so on, pro vision is made for increasing the sub-division ten fold. For instance, the sheets with the surname keys as shown in Fig. 1 would provide for 80 alphabetical sub-divisions, but by reading each numerical indication as though it has a cipher suflixed, to it, the equivalent of S00 sub-divisions is obtained. If Ba were to be mentall considered as distinguished by a 40, and Be by a 50, there would be ten extra sub-divisions for such surnames as Babson, Badger and so on, without having sheets actually bearing the suflixed ciphers. By the use of the key 12, any further sub-division from 0 t0 9 may be obtained between the sub-divisions provided in the surname key. The surname Adamson would be numerically known b a 1,

Allison by a 2, Barnes by a l, Fllene by a 22 and so on. To sub-divide these by the Christian names, the surname numerals mentioned would have sufiixed thereto the Arther Adamson would be numerically designated 11 (Au) Ch l H I! U (I H M David 1: u u u u 13 44 th u UV 1! n u 1 :1 Oliver 1: u u u n 18 u Arthur Allison 21 (Al) Charles H I u u u u 2 a David u u u g u 23 u Nathan u u .4 u u 2 1: Oliver 1: u u u n v 2 II To further illustrate the utility of the invention, the name William Filene will be under 229 Surname F i 22 Christian T-Z 9 e The sheets illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 are especially for such uses as the posting of accounts, but the same invention may be applied to card indexes as indicated-in Fig. 3 in which each guide card or sheet 16 has the same numerically and alphabetically indicated sub-divisions as shown in Fig. 1

' comprised in the surname key, and also has a Christian and firm name key 17 ,which is substantially the same as key 12 in Fig. 1, excepting that the initials of the alphabet are placed horizontally instead of vertically.

' The guide cards 16 are shown as having tabs 18 which in this instance should bear the numerals and letters corresponding with those in the key 17. Division sheets having tabs are not essential, but they may be employed for convenience in opening the set ofsheets at approximately the point desired for access to a certain numeral. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the tabs 15 and 18 are each provided with an alphabetical sub-division as well as a numeral but in use the numerals are to be chiefly relied upon. When guide cards such as shown in Figs. 3 are employed,

they all bear uniform alphabetical subthat is available on the sheet or guide card to furnish a sub-division ten times. closer than a svstem employing the surname d1- vision only.

When a name is assigned to a sheet in the I first place, that sheet is given the proper sectlon number which is obtained by reference to the index on the margin and the sheet is then placed in the binder in its consecutive order according to the section num-' bers. Frequently more than one name will fall within one section, and the sheets for all such names are given the same section number, but they will be arranged in alphabetical order by surnames.

The index is borne by sheets which, when of stifi material are termed cards, and when of flexible material are usually referred to simply as sheets. By the term sheets, I mean to include material of any degree of thickness.

I claim 1. An index comprising a series of sheets or cards each having alphabetical subdivisions for surnames, individualized by numerals, and also having al habetical subdivisions for Christian or rm names individualized by numerals other than the first mentioned numerals, in combination wit-h an indexed element or elements, whereby an indexed element may be indicated by combining an individualized numeral of the surname subdivision with an individualized numeral of the Christian name-subdivision.-

2. An index comprising a series of sheets or cards, each having alphabetical sub-divisions for surnames individualized by numerals in sequence of 10s, and also having alphabetical sub-divisions of initials in groups individualized by numerals O to 9, in combination with an indexed element or elements, whereby an indexed element may be indicated by combining an individualized numeral of the surname subdivision with an individualized numeral of the Christian name subdivision.

3. A posting sheet having two separate series of alphabetical sub-divisions individualized by numerals, one series including the first and second letters of surnames .in alphabetical order and with the numerals in sequence, the other series having initials in groups, each group having a single numeral, in combination with an indexed element or elements, whereby an indexed element may be indicated by combining an individualized numeral of the surname subdivision with an individualized numeral of the Christian name subdivison.

4. A posting sheet having two separate series of alphabetical sub-divisions individualized by numerals, one series including the first and second letters of surnames in alphabetical order and with the numerals in sequence in multiples of lOs, the other series having initials in groups individualized by the numerals 0 to 9, in combination with an indexed element or elements, whereby an indexed element may be indicated by combining an individualized numeral of the surname subdivision with an individualized numeral of the Christian name subdivision.

5. A sheet havin acolumn of initials and second letters 0% s urnames numbered in sequence, and having also, a name key comrising initials in groups, each group being individualized by a single numeral, in combination with an indexed element or elements, whereby an indexed element may be indicated by combining an individualized numeral of the surname subdivision with an individualized numeral of' the Christian name subdivision.

6. A sheet having alphabetical subdivisions for surnames individualized by numerals in sequence of tens and having also alphabetical subdivisions of initials in groups individualized by numerals 0-9 in combination with an indexed element or elements, whereby an indexed element may be indicated by combining an individualized numeral of the surname subdivision with an individualized numeral of the Christian subdivision.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

' EDWARD A. DUNN. Witnesses:

A. -W. HARRISON, P. W. Puzzarrr.

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