US1475568A - Alphabetical divider for card-index systems - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27,1923. G. H. DAWSON ALPHABETICAL DIVIDER FOR CARD INDEX SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 5 1921 T E1 1 E1 Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

1 ,475,568 umreo stars-s PATENT o FIcE.

GEORGE E. DAWSON, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS ASSIGNOR T LIBRARY BU- BEAU, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

ALPHABETICAL DIVIDEE FOR, CARD-INDEX SYSTEMS.

Application filed. December 5,1921. Serial no. 520,1aai To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, Gnoncn H. DAWSON,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Cambridge in the county of 5 Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alphabetical Dividers for Card- Index Systems; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full clear, and exact 1 description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying,drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Thi invention relates to a card index system in which a plurality of index cards are supported in overlapping relation in a tray or frame.

It is an object of this inventionto'provide an alphabetical divider that divides the index cards in an alphabetical arrangement,

that readily catches the eye of an observer and that is automatically adjustable with the expansion or contraction of the different alphabetical lists or divisions.

This invention comprises the novel fea tures of construction and combination of parts hereinafter'described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my in vention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

tional view of a frame or tray containing index cards divided according to my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of an alpha- 40 betical marker upon an enlarged scale embodying my invention.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of said alphabetical marker upon an enlarged scale, detached from its supporting means.

Figure 4 is an edge view of Figure 3.

As shown on the drawings:

In referring to the drawings, it will be observed that the card index system to which my invention is adapted comprises a tray or frame 1 having overhanging inturned flanges 2, providing guide channels in which the supporting and spacing bars of the mounted cards are slidingly retained. The cards are adapted to be mounted and 55 maintained in alphabetical order since the Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevacards are adjustably held in the guide channels so that a card and its supporting means 7 can be insertedat any point by shifting the ad acent cards upwardly or downwardly to provide the proper spacer Likewise, 'a card and its support can be:removed from any point and the remaining spacing bars brought together tofill up the space left by the removed baraccording to any well.- known method in the art. Further, the cards may be removed fromtheir support and interchanged if necessaryso that an alphabetical order isalways possible.

In such an alphabetical,arrangement of index cards, it is desirable to have each alphabetical list or division separated or divided from the following list so that each list or division will be readily distinguished and noticed by the eye of an observer for ready reference thereto. And further,- when it is desired to add a card to any a1- phabetical division, no error can arise in adding thev same since the divider will serve as a guide to tell just Where the added card must be inserted.

, According to my invention, I have provided an automatically adjustable divider adapted to be inserted between the different alphabetical lists or divisions for performing the aforedescribed purpose. The dividers are mounted and supported in a man ner similar to the manner in which the cards are mounted andsupported so that they can be adjusted to increase or decrease the alphabetical divisions they define. Each divider comprises a member 3 of card board or the like having the same dimensions as the index cards used; the lower edge of the member 3, that part which lies exposed in the series of overlapping cards, is provided with some highly colored border of some conspicuous substance such as colored celluloid for example. While it is only necessary to cover the front and lower edge or border of the member 3, I preferably fold a strip of the proper substance over the lower ex posed dge and paste, glue or secure the same in any appropriate manner. The folded strip 4 may be flush with the lateral edges of the card as shown in the dividers A. and C in Figure l or may be laterally extendedbeyond the lateral edges as shown'in the divider B of Figure 1. In the latter case, the lateral extensions may be provided with the designating character which Will hence be readily observed since the extensions he beyond the lateral edges of the cards.

The upper lateral edges of the divider member 3 is provided with elongated notches 5 adapted to receive the studs 6 on a hinge member 7 by means of flexing the divider member in a vertical plane. And in order to hold the divider member on the studs, lateral flaps 8 integral with the hinge member are secured to the studs 6 so as to overlie portions of the divider member as shown in Figure 2. The hinge member 7 is secured to a supporting and spacing bar 9 similar to the, card-supporting bars so that each divider will have the same depth of exposed edge as the index cards with which it is used. signed to slidingly fit in the guide channels of the frame or tray where they are placed at the terminal of each alphabetical division as shown in Figure 1.

It will accordingly be apparent that I V have provided an alphabetical divider that is readily observable and forms a conspicuous marker between the alphabetical divisions that is readily adjustable for expansion and contraction of the alphabetical divisions, and that is automatically adjustable with the mounted cards.

I am aware that numerous details of con- The ends of the bars 9 are der struction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. I a card index system, a plurality of divisions of alphabetically arranged index cards adj ustably mounted in overlapping re-' lation with their edges exposed, an alphabetical divider therefor comprising a sup-. porting and spacing bar, and a member hinged thereto and having a conspicuously colored border on its exposed edge, said divider being slidably re-tainedbetween said alphabetical divisions. 7'

2. In an overlapping card index system, an alphabetical divider comprising a supporting and spacing bar, a member hinged to said bar, a colored strip secured to'the lower edge of said member, and extending beyond the lateral edges thereof. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. DAWSON.

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