US1571187A - Apparatus for filing documents and the like - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2 1926. V1,571,187

l w. R. M. DE WHALLEY APPARATUS FOR FILING DOCUMENTS AND THE LIKE Fledebf 26,- 1924-J,

INYENTOR Patented Feb. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES PAT-ENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ROBERT MURAD DE WI'IALLEY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGrNOR TO RONEO LIMITED, 0F LONDON, ENGLAND, A COMPANY 0F GREAT BRITAIN.

APPARATUS FOR FILING DOCUMENTS AND THE LIKE.

Application led February The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for tiling documents and the like in cabinet drawers or like compartments.

As is well known, when a drawer of a filing cabinet is loaded with correspondence there is a tendency, when a folder containing correspondence is removed, for the aperture to be closed owing to the expansion of the remaining folders. Moreover, it is in some cases necessary before removing a folder or inspecting a letter to ush all the folders and correspondence in ont of the desired folder towards the front of the drawer, and to return a folder with its contents, `or a letter to its place in the folder, a similar process vis again necessary. This continual pushing or pulling over of the folders causes damage to the top edges of the guide cards and folders, and moreover, there is a tendency for the folders to ride up from the bottom of the drawer so that the drawer with its guide cards'and folders containing the correspondence presents an untidy appearance.

Now the object of the present invention is to overcome these disabilities by providing means for dividing up batches of folders and correspondence into compartments or sections by spacer members which are pivotally attached in the channel in the bottom of the drawer so that they are free to be moved to any position in the drawer and can be turned on their pivots to a forward or rearward inclined position.

l1n conjunction with saidl pivotally attached spacer bars there is provided an adjustable locking stop which acts behind the rearward spacer member.

Furthermore, one of the spacer members is provided with a hinged flap which no1'- mally acts in conjunction with the channel formed in the bottom of the drawer to allow the foremost spacer member to be turned to its forwardly inclined position.

In well-known metal filing cabinets the 26, 1924. Serial No. 695,146.

base of each drawer is provided with a oentra'lly disposed channel extending the length of the drawer, and in this channel is securedA a housing for a compresser member which may be adjusted to any position in the drawer. The said housing comprises a strip of metal formed with upward- 1y and inwardly bent flanges within which the compresser member slides.

Now accordingto the present invention, the compresser member may be dispensed with, and the guide or housing in the channel is used in conjunction with the spacer members and the locking stop.

The invention will now be fully described by reference to the accompanying drawmgs whereonz Fig. l shows an elevational view of 4a drawer containing the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view of one'of the spacer members.

Fi 4 is a similar view of the spacer mem er with the pivoted flap portion.

5 is a side view of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view of the drawer channel showing the adjustable locklng device and one of the spacer members.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the adjustable locking device.

On the drawings 1 is the drawer of a steel filing cabinet, the base of which is provided with the centrally disposed channel 2 extending the length of the'drawer, and within which is secured a housing 3, the .said housing comprising a base part 4, uprlghts 5 and fianged-over portions 6.

The spacer members 7 are formed from sheet metal of a width rather less than the wldth of the drawer and a depth greater than the depth of the drawer.

s rlhe bottom edge of each spacer member 1s plrovided with a substantially inverted T-s aped iange 8, while the top edge is formed into a tubular or like shape 9 by bending the" edge of the sheet, the said tubular edge being substantially wider than the rest o the member, as shown, so that it projects slightly over the edges of the drawer on each side.

The adjustable locking stop 10 is formed from a strip of metal having flanges 11 adapted to t in the flanges 6 of the housing or guide 3 secured to the channel 2 in the bottom of drawer 1, and the said strip of metal is bored out centrally and tapped for the reception vof a thumb screw 12.

The inverted T-shaped flange 8' of one of thespacer members 7 is provided with one or more slots 18 in which is freely hinged a flap 14, the free end of which may be bent into tubular form 15, the whole of the flap portion being so constructed that when in use it lies within the guide 3 the foremost edge or tubular portion 15 abutting against the front of the drawer 1, and thereby spacing the foremost spacer member at such a distance from .the front of the drawer that it can be turned in a forward direction at an angle to the bottom of the drawer as shown in Fig. 2.

In assembling the apparatus, each spacer member 7 is presented to the drawer 1 at an angle diagonal to the bottom of the drawer so that the inverted T-shaped flange 8 formed on each member can be introduced into the guide or housing 3 and when cach flange 8 is inserted within the guide the spacer member 7 is turned so that its face is at right angles to the bottom of the drawer, and when released it falls into a rearward slope, the projecting tubular or similarly shaped ed es 9 resting upon and slightly overhanging t e sides of the drawer 1.

In assembling the spacer members in the manner described it is to be understood that the member 7 having pivoted thereto the flap 14 is placed in the foremost position in the drawer see Figs. 1 and 2. When all the spacer members 7 are assembled in a drawer, the guide cards, and folders 16 containing the correspondence or other matter to be filed` is placed behind the foremost spacer member, and in front of and behind succeeding spacer members, terminating in front of the final spacer member, behind which is fitted the adjustable locking stop 10, which is introduced-into the guide 3 in the same manner as the spacer members 7 and is locked in position by turning the thumb screw 12 which causes the flanges 11 to abut against the flanges 6 of the guide 3.

The spacer members 7 can be moved along the guide 3 to take up any position in the drawer 1.

When it is desired to refer to any folder the guide cards and folders 16 immediately in front of the desired folder are turned in a forward direction see Fig. 2 thereby leaving a substantially V-shaped opening, so that easy access to any folder is obtained, and correspondence can be inspected or filed away in a quicker and neater manner than hitherto has been the case.

When each compartment behind the rst spacer member and in front of the last spacer member is filled up with correspondence the compartment formed between the front of the drawer and the first spacer member may be utilized since the distance flap 14 lies completely within the guide, but it will be understood that if correspondence be inserted in this first compartment the guide cards and folders will then be in a substantially vertical position and consequently the V-shaped opening will not be so well maintained when the filing Iapparatus 1s 1n use.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows 1. .For use with filing cabinets of the type specified, a series of division or spacer members, an adjustable locking stop separate from said spacer members and formed from -a, strip of metal having flanges adapted to .fit in the channel of the drawer, the said strip of metal being bored out centrally and tapped to receive a thumb screw for adjusting the stop in the drawer the said stop being housed within the channel of the drawer so that the flange of the last of the series of division or spacer member abuts against the flanged portions of the stop.

2. For use with filing cabinets of the type specified, a division member formed from sheet metal the bottom edge of each member being provided with a substantially inverted T-shaped flange and a flap hingedly secured to said flanged portion, the said flap acting in conjunction with the channel or guide formed in the bottom of the drawer to |allow the foremost spacer member to be turned to its forwardly inclined position, and determining the position of the said member in the drawer. j

3. For use with filing cabinets of the type specified, division or spacer members' formed with flanges to engage in the channel in the drawer, the Harige of one of said members being slotted and a flap member formed with a bead or rolled edge at one end and hook elements adapted to engage and be retained in the slots formed in the flange of one of the said spacer members, the beaded or rolled edge limiting the forward movement of the spacer member in the drawer.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WllllAM ROBERT MURAD de WHALLEY.

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