US1695257A

US1695257A - Hinged compressor

Info

Publication number: US1695257A
Application number: US149777A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ohnstrand Enoch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1926-11-20
Filing date: 1926-11-20
Publication date: 1928-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1945-12-11

Description

Dec. 11, 1928. 1,695,257

E. oHNs'rRAND HINGED COMPRESSOR Filed Nov. 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet; 2

Patented Dec. ll, 1928.

Ul'lED ST TES' ENOCI-I OHNSTRAND, OF KENMORE, NEW YORK.

HINGED COMPRESSOR.

Application filed November 20, 1926. Serial 116,143,777.

This invention relates to trays or filing drawers of the kind customarily used to hold ledger cards or sheets for reference or for removal for the purpose of inserting additional s data thereon, and more particularlyto improved locking means for clamping the cards within the tray during its transportation, as for example between its cabinet and the desk of a clerk. f

The invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of elements set forth in the following specification and includes' the provision of simple yet effective locking or clamping means adapted to secure the ledger- 16 cards within the tray but permitting a full inspection and ready removal of the cards when desired, and the further provision of means permitting such inspection or removal without disturbing the adjustment of one element of the clamping means.

In general the invention comprises a tray of the ordinary type, a follower movable lengthwise of the tray and adjustable to a variety of positions, and a compressor plate for clamping the ledger cards against the follower, having a double hinged connection to the front end of the tray and an actuatingbail associated therewith adapted to be low ered to compress the plate against the cards or to be raised permitting the plate to tilt forwardly against the box end.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is' a central longitudinal section of a tray showing the compressor plate in rearward clamped position, in solid lines, and in its most forward position, in broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, with portions of the device in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the device showing an intermediate position of the compressor plate; and

Fig. 4 is a broken central longitudinal section of Fig. 3. j

The'ledger tray 5 preferably consists of a substantially rectangular box of sheet metal, open at the top and having a bottomv wall 6 with bent up portions 7 constituting side walls bottom of thev tray may be provided with a* false bottom consisting of longitudinal side panels 13 and a central channel strip lll having inturned flanges 15 extending lengthwise of the tray. Retaining flanges 16 riveted to the front and rear walls of the tray secure the false bottom against removal or 'displacement. f

The compressor 17, a thiinfiat plate of sheet metal, is mounted for swinging movement upon a double hinger consisting of three transverse hinge leaves, the outer leaves 18 and 2O being riveted to the false bottom adjacent the front wall and to the lower edge of the compressor plate 17, respectively, and the center leaf 19, of appreciable width, constituting a freely swinging leaf member or toggle between the

hinges

21 and 22, extending transversely of the tray, by which it is pivotally connected to the

leaves

18 and 20 respectively, the hinge 22 being positioned adl jacent the lower edge of plate 17.

In the compression position of the plate 17, shown in solid lines in F igfl, the center leaf 19 and hinge member 22 lie iiatwise kupon the upper surface of the false bottom panels 19, permitting the lower edge of the compres-` sor plate vto rest adjacent said false bottom.` rlhe compressor plate is locked in this position by means of the bail member 23 which is preferably a U-shaped metal rod of suitable stiffness and strength having outwardly bent ends 24E engaging socket members 25 mounted upon the upper edge ofthe front wall 8, which` may be strengthened by a reinforcing strip. The cross-bar portion 26 of bail 23 slides vertically of the compressor plate within guide straps 27 fastened to the forward face thereof at either end, but in said operated position the side portions of the. bail incline downwardlyl toward the plate 17 so that the cross-bar 26 abuts the lowerv shoulders ofthe straps 27 in a horizontal plane below the plane of the bail ends 211, thus effectively locking the plate in its compressed position. Thev side arms of the bail are preferably of such length that in said position the top of the compressor plate is'inclined rearwardly of the tray.

W hen the tray is in use for the purpose of consulting or removing the ledger cards, thev central hinge leaf 19 is then swung upwardly from the tray bottom, an increased longitudinal spaceis provided for the cards withf out disturbing the position of the follower. This feature is very desirable when a. relatively large number of cards are filed in the tray, since it permits the cards to be separated, allowing a full view of the data inscribed on the cards including the entries adjacent their bottom edges, and also permits the temporary or permanent insertion of a number of cards in the tray before the follower need be readjusted.` Such readjustment is necessary only when a larger or smaller number of cards are to be reclamped for storage, and the operation is easily performed by releasing the follower, setting the compressor plate to intermediate position, re-

f* for concomitantly tilting the compressor away from the cards and withdrawing the bottom of the compressor a predetermined distance from the cards, the upper ond compressor being preferably spaced from the cards a greater distance than the lower end, and resting upon the front end of the tray, the compressor also having an intermediate position in which the bottom of the compressor is in clamping position while the top is spaced from the cards permitting the adjustment of the follower to a varied number of cards.

A ledger tray constructed in accordance with the foregoing description may be simply and economically fabricated, the majority of elements being stamped from sheet metal, and possesses many novel and improved features, but, since various structural modifications may be embodied in an operable device, it is not my intention that my invention be limited to the exact construction shown, eX- cept as it is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

l. A tray for holding a group of cards or the like comprising an abutment and a compressor for clamping the cards together, means for bodily lifting and tilting the compressor upwardly and away from the cards into a position wherein the lower end ofthe compressor is spaced from the cards and the upper end is spaced a greater distance therefrom, and a face plate slidably associated with said compressor so that it `tilts with the compressor without lifting.

2. A filing tray having therein a compressor extending transversely thereof and pivoted adjacent its lower edge for swinging movement, a double hinge having one hinge member attached to said compressor, the other hingemember fixed to the bottom portion of the tray, and a freely swinging leaf portion between said hinge members to permit the compressor to be swung upwardly from the tray bottom, and actuating means for operating said compressor movement.

8. Ay filing tray having therein a compressor extending transversely thereof and pivoted adjacent its lower edge for swinging movement, a hinge attached to said lower edge permitting said movement, said hinge e having a freely swinging leaf portion pivoted to a second transverse hinge and said second hinge being fixed to a bottom portion ofthe tray near the front wall of thetray but spaced therefrom, wherebyv the com? pressor may be swung forwardly of the tray and upwardly from said bottom portion to provide greater space to the rear of the compressor, and actuating means for operating the movement of compressor.

si. A filing tray having therein a com pressor extending transversely thereof and pivoted adjacent its lower edge for swinging movement, a hinge attached to said lower edge permitting said movement, saidhinge having a freely swinging leaf portion piv oted to a second transverse hinge and said second hinge being fixed to a bottom portion of the tray near the front wall of the tray but spaced therefrom, whereby the `compressor may be tilted forwardly against the front wall of the tray in one position with its lower edge raised from the tray bottom and in another position may be tilted forwardly of the tray with its lower edge resting adjacent said bottom, said actuating `means also operating to tilt the compressor rearwardly from said second position to lock the compressor. Y

5. A filing tray having therein a compressor extending transversely thereof and pivoted adjacent its lower edge for swinging movement, a hinge attached to said lower edge permitting said movement, said hinge having a freely swinging leaf portion pivoted to a second transverse hinge and said second hinge being fixed to a bottom portion of the tray near the front wall of the tray but spaced therefrom, whereby the compressor may be swung forwardly of the tray and upwardly from said bottom portion to provide greater space to the rear of the compressor, and a guard plate mounted for ver-V tical sliding movement on the back face of the compressor so that its lower edge rests upon the tray bottom during swinging movement of the compressor, thereby protecting said hinges. j Y f 6. A tiling tray having therein a compressor extending transversely thereof and Uil pivoted adjacent its lower edge for swinging movement, a hinge attached to said lower edge permitting said movement, said hinge having a 'freely swinging leaf portion'pivoted to a second transverse hinge and said second hinge being lined to a bottom portion of the tray near the front wall of the tray but spaced therefrom, whereby the compresser may be swung forwardly of the'tray and upwardly from said bott-om portion to provide greater space to the rear of the compressor, a bail member pivoted at its ends upon the front wall ot the tray to swing up and down adjacent the front tace of tbe com presser to cause said swinging movement thereof, and a strap attached to said compressor face for guiding and limiting said up and down movement ofthe bail whereby the compressor may be tilted `:forwardly against the front wall of the tray, said strap having a shoulder engaging the top ot said wall to hold the compressor in said *forward position. Y

7. A tray for holding a group ot cards or the like, comprising an abutment, a compresser for clamping the cards together, means hingedly connected to the tray and the compressor at spaced points adapted to permit movement of said compressor bodily away from said cardsand relative to said tray, and means for retaining` said compressor in card compressing position.

8. A tray tor holding a group of cards or the like, comprising an abutment, a compressor for clamping the cards together, means for bodily elevating said compressor relative to the tray in movement from card compressing to non-compressing relation, said means permitting tilting ot said compressor, means i'or operating and retaining said compressor in card compressing position, and means for limiting operation of tbe last mentioned means ormedfor cooperation with tray carried means to support said compressor in disengaged relation relative to the cards.-

, 9. A. tray for holding a group of cards or the like, comprising an abutment, a' compressor 'for clamping the cards together, means for n'ioving said compressor longitudinally and laterally relative to said cards from coinpressing to non-compressing position, and means interposed between the compressor and cards movable only longitudinally relative to the cards with said compressor.

ENOCH Ol-INSTRAND.