US1160173A - Filing appliance. - Google Patents

Description

H. J. HICK.

FILING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 11.1912.

1,160,173. PatentedvNov. 16, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CO..WAsM|NuTON. D. c.

H. l. HICK.

FILING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION man DEC. 11'. m2.

1 1 60, 1 73. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

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[NVENTOR Allarnzy COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH c0., WASHINGTCIN, n. c.

H. J. HICK.

FILING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 11.1912. 1,160,173, Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

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E STATES AEN nron.

HARRY J. HICK, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE MGCASKEY REGISTER COMPANY, (INCORPORATED IN 1914,) OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, A

CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FILING APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

Original application filed May 26, 1909, Serial No. 498,425. Divided and this application filed December 11, 1912. Serial No. 736,176.

To, all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY J. Then, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alliance, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Filing Appliances, of which the following 1s a specification.

This invention relates to filing appliances, ordinarily known as credit accounting appliances, it being more particularly adapted for the systematic filing and keeping of memoranda, data, slips ofv paper and the like, incident to business systems, such as sales slips, bills or accounts payable and receivable, statements, ledger cards and for similar purposes.

This application is a division of my appllcation filed'May 26, 1909, Serial No. 498,425, issued Feburary 4:, 1913, in Patent No. 1,052,444. V

One object of the invention is to provide in a filing appliance, having one or more filing sections provided with a slip-holding clip or series of clips, a separating plate or divider forming on the filing section a pocket or pockets adapted to receive and hold memoranda and records, such as bills payable or receivable, statements, and other data and records.

Further objects of the invention consist in the combination or combinations of parts described and claimed in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings illustrating one form of the invention.

Figure l is a perspective view of a filing appliance embodying my invention, most of the leaves of the series of leaves being re clined, and the casing or housing being broken away. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the upper portion of the leaves when in normal vertical position. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of one of the leaves. Fig. l is a modification of one of the eaves. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view on the line 77 of Fig. i. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View of a portion of the casing and leaves, when the latter are in normal position. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing one of the separator plates. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a casing or housing of any usual or preferred constructlon. It preferably comprises an upright portion 2, having a back 2 and side pieces 2", 2 and a desk portion 3, having a transparent top 3*, an index carrying slide 3 and drawers 3, 3 the latter being adapted to receive and store blanks, pads, pad holders, pencils, or other supplies and articles for use in carrying out the system, if desired.

4 indicates a support, preferably arranged on a3 level with or slightly above the desk top 5 indicates a plurality of leaves or sections, the front one 5 being, in the example illustrated, pivotally mounted at 5, 5, on the support 4. Preferably, suitable pivoting and connectmg devices 6 are arranged between the leaves or sections, so that when one or more of them are'reclined from the vertical, the lower edges of all the remaining upright leaves or sections move forward to the positlon occupied by the lower edge of the last leaf reclined. It will be understood that the series of leaves 5 may be pivotally mounted in any desired manner.

7 indicates a series of record or bill-holding spring operated clips mounted upon one or both sides of each leaf or section, as desired.

7 indicates one form of clip shown on some of the leaves, and 7 2 indicates another form of clip on other leaves 5.

"Each of the clips 7 is preferably formed from resilient wire, and coiled at 7 near its opposite ends to form springs for normally pressing the clip toward the adjacent face of the leaf. The free ends of the wire are suitably secured to the leaves 5. It will be understood that my invention is not limited to a spring clip, as any suitable bill-holding clip or clamp may be employed. They are preferably of skeleton form in order that the memoranola or the slips or papers filed be hind them can be easily read.

5 indicates a plurality of spacing strips extending longitudinally of each leaf and parallel to each other. The strips o operate to strengthen the leaves, as well as to space them apart, and to form side walls for each slip filing section.

8 indicates a separating plate or divider.

for some of the leaves or sections, preferably arranged behind one or more of the clips 7 and adapted to be engaged and normally pressed by said clip or clips against the ad jacent face of the leaf or section 5. The separating plate. 8 preferably comprises a metallic plate 8 that forms a backing against which the clip or clips 7 act. The plate 8 is pivoted on or near the axis of the clips 7 relatively to the face of the adjacent leaf or section 5. Preferably the pivoting notes, bills payable or receivable, accounts payable, inventory records, agreements and other memoranda, preferably concealed from View, as well as all memoranda relating to each separate account, and which it may be desirable to formulate and record from time to time for ready inspection and reference.

As will be understood from the drawings the divider or separator 8 consists of a plate, which is preferably formed from sheet metal, and of a size to fit between adjacent strips 5*. The divider thus serves to conceal from view any and all papers filed behind it. It will therefore be seen that each filing section may be provided with two slip hold- .ing members, one of which is of skeleton form and permits the memoranda on the last filed slip or paper to be clearly seen and read, and the other of which entirely conceals from view' those papers filed behind it.

For convenience in operation, I preferably arrange the upper edges of the leaves 5 adapted to receive the credit sales slips, in echelon, so that the index devices 11 may be readily seen. As the leaves provided with separating plates 8 are not intended to be used generally, their upper edges are shown in the drawings as being arranged in the same horizontal plane, onebehind the other. The upper edges of these last mentioned leaves may, however, be arranged in echelon, if desired.

12 indicates a guiding device. This device preferably comprises an arm pivoted to the back 2 and provided with a latch 12 at or near its free end. The guide arm 12 is gravity operated and when all the leaves are in normal vertical position its catch 12? engages the upper edge of the front leaf 5 and holds all the leaves closed. When the front leaf 5 is reclined, the guide arm 12 is moved upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 1, against a stop 12* and operates then to move the upper edges of all the upright leaves forward when one or more of them are reclined. If all the leaves except the last leaf of the series is reclined,-the upper edge of the last leaf engages with the catch 12 and is held upright thereby. l/Vhen the upper edges of some of the leaves are arranged in the same horizontal plane, one behind the other, and the other leaves of the series are arranged in echelon, as shown in the drawings, the guide arm 12 is bent,- as

separator. plate is arranged. behind and common to each two adjoining clips 7 7 1 1 indicates pivot pins loosely mounted at the lower edge of the separator plates 13 and each. arranged to have its opposite ends extend into the adjacent coils 7 of. the springs 7 and be pivoted thereto relatively to the adjaceint leaf face.

In order to provide compensating means for the memoranda anddata to be filed behind the separator 13, the pins 1 1 are bent at substantially right angles at 1 1 14, 14. 1 1 to form an off-set portion 15 which is loosely pivoted to the lower edge of the separator 13. This construction permits the lower edge of the separator to accommodate itself to the thickness of the papers or memoranda filed behind the separator 13, whereby the papers or memoranda may be filed one behind the other and held in per: foot order by the separator 13.

To those skilled in the art of making ap paratus of the class described, many alterations and widely differing embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest themselves. tion herein are purely illustrative, and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

For the purpose of illustrating a use to which the leaves or sections provided with separators or dividers are adapted, I have shown in Fig. 1 one of the dividers broken away to expose an account 16 of John Jones against the proprietor of the appliance, William Smith. It should be assumed that another or additional and later account My disclosures and descrip payable between the same parties is rendered. The first one is numbered 1, and the amount is for $500.00. WVhen it was received, a slip 17 was made out in the name of John Jones, carrying the amount of ac count No. 1 and placed under the clip 7 and number 16, which index number designates John Jones filing section in the appliance. WVhen the second account is received, it is numbered 2, and a second clip 17 is made out in favor of John Jones and having carried forward on it the amount $500.00 of the first slip, to which is added the amount of $700.00 of the second slip, giving a total of $1,200.00 on the second slip, which slip may then be filed under the clip 16. vNow the advantage of this system is due to the fact that the slips may be made in multiple and in such manner that one may be filed under John Jones to show the amount owed him to date, the other may be filed under a section devoted to total accounts payable, the amount of John Jones last bill being added to the amount of. total accounts payable on the last slip appearing in the section devoted to that purpose; the third slip may be used in the stock account to show the amount of stock on hand; and the fourth slip may be used for taking ad- Vantage of the last day for discounting the last bill rendered, etc.

The advantage of the appliance for accommodating such a system of keeping a merchants record will be at once apparent. The bills payable, accounts payable, and the like, may be filed systematically and concealed from view by the separators or dividing plates, simply indexed for reference purposes, and manifolding pads may be employed, the slips of which filled in at a single writing, may be used for keeping up to date Various details of the merchants business, among others, the total amount of all the accounts payable owed a particular party, which slip when made out is filed under the spring clip which bears upon the separator or dividing plate behind which are filed the accounts payable of the creditor in question, or a ledger sheet in card or other form may be used for keeping a record of debits and credits of any account and it may be held by the spring clip above mentioned. 7

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a series of leaves, means permitting said leaves to swing relative to each other, a skeleton paper-engaging spring clip carried by each leaf, a plate interposed between one of said clips and the adjacent leaf, and means for pivotally supporting said plate loosely relative to said leaf on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the clip and permitting it to swing independently of said clip.

2. The combination of a series of leaves, means permitting said leaves to swing relative to each other, a spring clip carried by each leaf, a supporting plate interposed between one of said clips and the adjacent leaf, and means for pivotally supporting said plate loosely relative to said leaf on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of the clip and permitting it to swing independently of said clip, the said plate being provided with a flange which serves as a rest for the papers filed behind it.

3. The combination witha swingable leaf, of a pair of devices for holding papers on said leaf, and means for pivotally supporting said devices on said leaf on the same axis but to move independently of each other, one of said devices comprising a wire clip having coils for operating it toward the leaf and permitting the papers filed behind it to be inspected without removal and the other device comprising a plate that is pressed toward said leaf by the clip and serves to conceal from view the papers filed behind it.

l. The combination of a leaf or frame,-a

support therefor, a plurality of independently operated spring clips carried thereby, a separator commonto, and arranged be tween said clips and said leaf, and means for pivotally supporting said separator relative to said leaf and permitting it to swing independently of the clips, the said clips operating independently to press the separator toward the said leaf.

5. The combination of a swingable leaf for a filing appliance, of a paper supporting device comprising a plate provided with a flange extending from its lower edge inwardly and serving as a rest for papers, and means tending to press the upper edge of said plate toward said leaf.

6. In a filing appliance, the combination of a series of pivotally mounted leaves, each provided with a plurality of spring oper-' ated paper engaging clips, and a paper supporting plate interposed between one of said s ring operated clips and the face of an adjacent leaf, and means for loosely pivoting the plate on substantially the same axis as the axis ofjthe clip.

7. In a filing'appliance the combination of a movable leaf or frame, a support therefor, a plurality of independently operable spring clips carried by said leaf or frame, and a separator pivotally mounted relative to said leaf or frame and arranged between it and the clips and swingable independently thereof.

8. In a filing appliance, the combination of a series of pivotally mounted leaves, each provided with a plurality of independently operable spring clips, and means comprising a pivoted plate common to and acted upon by each of the clips and pivoted relatively to the adjacent leaf, for holding memoranda relating to the records exposed beneath either of said clips.

r 9. In a filing appliance, the combination of a series of pivotally mounted leaves ar- 'rangedztobe assembled face to face, paper engaging clips carried by each of the leaves and each provided with coiled springs for normally operating the said clips, a paper supporting plate arranged behind one or more clips and normally pressed against the face of an adjoining leaf, and means for hinging the said plate in the said-spring coils, and permitting it to swing independently of the adj acent clip.

10. In a filing appliance, the combination with a series of pivotally mounted leaves, arranged to be assembled face to face, a plurality of paper engaging clips on one .or both faces'of each of the said leaves and each provided with a pair of coiled springs adapted to press the said clips toward the face of'an adjacent leaf, a paper supporting plate forming receivingpockets interposed between ea chclip and the face of an adjacent leaf, and pivotpins carried by each plate having their free ends extending into the coilsof the said springs to permit the plate'to swing relatively to the said leaf independently of'the adjacent clip.

11. In a filing appliance, thecombination of a leafftor frame, a plate for supporting and holding memoranda, a spring operated clip for receiving records and'arranged to normallypress the plate against the face of the leaf, devices for, pivotally supporting' the plate, provided with means for permitting the plate to accommodate itselfto the thickness of the memoranda papers,

12. In a filing appliance, the combination of a support, a leaf or frame pivotally mounted thereon, and provided with a plurality of clips, a plate for supporting and holding papers pivotedrelative to said leaf orframe and arranged between one of said clips and the adjacent face of the leaf or frame, said plate being provided with an iniiurned lower edge on which the papers filed behind it are supported and means for pivotally supporting said plate-and permit ting it to accommodate itself to the papers filed behind it. v i r 13. In a filing'appliance, the combination of a leaf or frame, a separator plate, a clip arranged in front of said separator plate and movable relative thereto to receive memoranda betweenthe separator plate and the clip, and arranged to press the separator plate against the adjacent face of the leaf,

14. In a filing appliance, the combination of a leaf, a separator plate for holding mem oranda, a clip arranged in front'o-f said separator-plate adapted to'receive and hold records and to normally press the separator plate against the face of the leaf, coiled springs'for operating the'clip, and a pivot pin for swingably supporting the separator plate, the said pivot pin having its free ends extending into the coils of the said springs and loosely supported thereby and being formed with an off-set portion loosely .pivoted to the saidseparator plate to'permit the latter to accommodate itself to the thickness of the memoranda concealed by the said separator plate. 1

15. In a filing appliance, the combination of a leaf, a series of paper engaging spring clips'carried by said leaf and arranged side by side to swing. independently on axes coincident with each otaer, a paper support ing plate carried by said-leaf and arranged behind two adjoining spring'clipsthereon, and means for pivotally supporting the plate to swing on an axis substantially coincident-with the axesiof the adjacent clips and independently thereof. t

16. A file clamp mechanism, comprising a supporting base, a hinge pinmounted on said base, a hinged plate mounted on said hinge pin, its hinge engaging-portion being of less width than the width ofsaid plate, a coil spring mounted on said hinge pin on either side of the hinge engaging portion of said plate, and a loop formed by the continuation of the internal ends of said coil spring bearing upon and forming clamping means on'the exterior surface of said plate. 17. A file clamp mechanism, comprising a supporting member, a hinge, pin -mounted on said member, a hinged plate member, engaging said hinge pin and pivotally supported thereon, and a spring engaging said hinge pin and forming a clamping member to engage a memorandum supported on said plate member, whereby substantially the entire area of the plate is exposed for writing on the memorandum sheet held on said plate.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature, in the presence of two wltnesses.

HENRY F. PoLLooK, PETER Voss.

Copies oi this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington,D. c.

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