US1866352A - Visible index - Google Patents

Description

July 5,.1932 LE Rol' EA Hu'rcHlNGs VISIBLE INDEX Filed Sept. l, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 5, 1932- LE Rol E. HUTcHlNGs VISIBLE INDEX Filed sept. 1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m a4. A ffazzz Patented July 5, 1932 Niro STATES TNT OFFICE LE ROI E. HUTCHINGS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSGNOR TO REMINGTON RAND INC., OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK VISIBLE INDEX Application led September 1, 1927. Serial No. 215,896.

This invention relates to improvements in visible index equipment and particularly toa card and signal mounting. Y This invention is designed to provide a s card holder which will engage and retain a card against movement therein and which is adapted for'detachable cooperation with a suitable supporting element in such a manner that the card will be readilyy removable if: from the supporting element and at the same time will be effectivelyn secured thereto in attached relation to prevent accidental disengagement. An object of the invention is to provide i a visible index in which cards or sheets of relatively cheap light-weight material may have card holders readily applied thereto so that the sheets may be detachably Vconnected to suitable supporting elements mounted init spaced relation so that the lower edges of the cards when lying one upon the other will be relatively offset.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a card or signal holder having if a card or signal receiving portion and a support-engaging portion, and also cooperating means to retain a card and support engaged therewith, and which may be readily detached from the support or card.

Another object of the invention is to provide a card holder of simple construction which is cheap to manufacture and which may be readily applied to a bar or other support through the coopera-tion of suitable resilient portions of the holder, formed during its construction.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a. holder which `will suitably space the inner edges of the cards from the support- 4.@ ing elements so that the cards may be freely rotated about the supporting elements on a plurality of card holders which are adapted to be simultaneously engaged o-r dise-imaged from the supporting elements. A 1

The invention further comprehends the provision of visible index equipment utilizing these novel card holders with suitable supporting elements which are adapted to permit lateral shifting of the cards to ofi'- 50 set certainV cards with respect to others in an index panel, and with which a signal` may be interchangeably associated so as to utilize one of the supporting elements for the cards. In this connection the invention includes a new combination in providing for the mounting of the signal on the supporting element `in detachable relation, independently of the detachable mounting for the index cards.

holding structure of extra sheets adapted to be associated with each card for mounting in the front and rear thereof which are` retained in position by the special cooperation between the card, the sheets and the card holders.

The invention comprehends numerous other objects residing in the combination of parts, and the specific construction and association of these parts which are more particularly pointed out in the following detailed description directed to the preferred forms of the invention, it also being understood, that various other changes in the relation, construction, and association of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as herein set forth.

In the drawings forming part of this application, y

Fig. l is an elevation illustrating a group of cards mounted on suitable supporting elements carried by a panel showing the relation of the partsA when assembled and also illustrating how one or more cards may be offset with respect to the others in accordance with the provisions of this invention.

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and v5 are perspectives illustrating several forms of card holders.

F ig. 6 isa sectional view through the inner edge of a card showing a card holder similar to that of Fig. 2 applied to the card in accordance with this invention, and further illustrating how a sheet is retained in assembled relation on the upper face of a card by the holder.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating a double sheet applied to the card having a strip portion retained against the front face of the card by the card holder and having portions hinged to the opposite edges ot the strip portion and lying in front and in bach of the card respectively.

Fig. 8 illustrates the application of a card holder as shown in Fig. to a card and a supporting bar or element, the Darts being shown in transverse section and substantially enlarged.

Fig. 9 is a perspective illustrating the double sheet structure shown in Fig. 7 with the front and back leaf portions separated to illustrate the details ot construction.

Fig. is a perspective illustrating the double sheet structure applied to a card the sameV as in Fig. 7 with the card holders applied for retaining the central strip portion of the sheet in position on the card.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate spacing bar constructions carrying the supporting elements for the card holders, each showing ditferent types of construction adapted for obtaining special advantages in the use of the card holders.

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional View through one of these-supporting bars or elements illustrating a card holder as shown in Fig. 2 applied thereto, the card holder having a card connected thereto, and having the resilient retaining tongue on kthe upper side of the card in its normal position in a panel.

Fig. is a. view similar to Fig. 14 showing the card holder in a reversed position with the retaining tongue on the underside of the card in its normal position in a panel.

Fig. 1G illustrates how a signal may be interchangeably applied to the supporting elements for cooperation with a card carried thereby.`

A panel or the like is indicated at 1 which may be of any desired form as used in connection with visible index equipment well lrnown inthe art, and is provided with guide channels 2 at the opposite sides. Supporting and spacing bars 3 are applied transversely of the panel 1 and have the end portions extending into the channels 2 by which they are secured in the panel as shown in Fig. 1 in adjacent contacting relation.

These supporting` bars 3 may be constructed as shown in Figs. 11, 12 or 13, of inverted U-shaped form as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, and of substantially tubular form as shown in Fig. 13. In Fig. 11, showing on-e end portion of one supporting bar, a pair ot' ofi'set portions 4 are provided adjacent the ends of the bar while a supporting element in the form of a'wire or rod 5 extends over these eti'- set portions 4 and has Ithe end portions seposite one of these odset portions. Stops 6 are struck out of the body of bar 3 at the ends of the olifset portions to engage the card holders and align the cards in a panel.

The bar 3 as illustrated in Fig. 12 is constructed similar to that shown in Fig. 11 having the pairs of odset portions 4 adjacent the opposite ends thereof over which entend the supporting elements 5. In this construction the supporting elements are anchored to the bar in a slightly diil'erent manner from that shown in Fig. 11, both at the ends and in the raised central portion 7. The bar is secured through the binding action of the upwardly struck strip portions S extending overV the elements and rigidly binding the ends against the ysurface of the bar. Between these offset portions- 4', the central portion of the bar is oilset in a similar manner as illustrated at 9 in Fig. 12. The central part of this offset portion 9 is round or beaded lengthwise as indicated at 10 in order that the inner edges of the cards when applied in the panel will not catch on the edges of the bar in lieXing during the movement of the cards around thesupporting elements. The central portion of the bar as shown in Fig. 11 is formed similar to the central portion 9. This oisetting of portions of the bars 3 and 3 as shown in Figs. 11 and12 prevides for a"saving in material'and at the same time places the ends or" the bars at the proper height above the bottoms or baclrs of the panels to engage the upper faces of the guide channels 2. The bars are thereby retained against movement laterally in the panel.

In Fig. 13 the bar 3 is of tubular formation as above mentioned and instead of having the offset portions, it is provided with cut-out sections 11 at the end portions and which may also be provided at the central portion as illustrated to obtain the proper clearance space for the reception and operation of the card holders. T he supporting elem-ents for the card holders are indicated at 12 and have their opposite ends extending underV the strips 13 which secure them rigidly on the upper fac-e of the bar. Suitable shoulders 14 may be proviced by slightly depressing the upper surface of the bar which receives the ends of the supporting elements in order to prevent endwise movement on the bar.

A card holder for associati-on with the support-ing elements is indicated at 15 in Fig. 2 which is formed of a thin strip of material folded in its central portion as indicated at 16, one end portion of which is wider as indicat-ed at 17 than the opposite end portion 1S. The portion 17 is substantially throughout its length to provide a cardengaging portion which is provided at the free end with the laterally extending flange 19 bifurcated as indicated at 2O and having theterminals of the bifurcated portion formed into a substantially, U-shaped or semi-circular portion 21 `extending from flange 19 and adapted to receive the supporting element on the Spacing bars 3. The portion 18 of the card holder is tapered toward itsfree end as illustrated in Fig. 2 which extends beyond theends ofthe Ybifurcatedv portion 2O and beyond the supporting element receiving portions 21. The terminal of portiony 18 is offset slightly as indicated at 22 to provide a support-engaging lip adapted to aid in the ready application of the holder to the supporting element. rIhe portion 18 is normally held by its own resiliency in substantial contact with the portion 17 so as to clamp the upper edge portion of a card in the card-holding portion of the I holder and also to hold thesupporting element receiving portion 21 in engagement with a supporting element. The holder is applied to a card 23 as illustrated in Fig. 14, by insertion of tongue 18 through the slot 24 formed in spaced parallel relation to the inner edge of the card so that the edge portion of the card is seated in the portion 17. A pair of these card holders are usually applied to a card as illustrated in Fig. 1 adjacent'the opposite end portions.

These card holders are applied with the card to the suppo-rting elements as shown' in Fig. 14 with the element-engaging portions 21 on the under side of the supporting elements while the tongues 18 are on the upper side thereof. To apply these holders in this position to the supporting elements they are graspedbetween the fingers placed at opposite ends of the card 23 and the offset portions 22 are moved into engagement with the supporting elements. Then, by depressing or Vpressing downwardly on the cardholders simultaneously the tongues 18 will be flexed to permit movement of the-element-receiving portions 21 and the portion 17 away from the portion 18 as a result of which the elementreceiving portions 21 may be passed around and below the supporting elements and the card holders moved into the engaged position. When it is desired to remove the card and the holders from the supporting element thisvmay be done by rotating the card holders to van inclined position about the supporting elements and then through grasping the card and the cardholders adjacentA to the portion 16 and pressing downwardly the tongues 18 will be flexed again to permit the movement 3 of the portions 21 away from the supporting elements, as al result of which the holders may be readily and simultaneously detached.

`When these holders are in the attached position the tongues 18 cooperate with the support-engaging portions 21 in such a. manner that by exerting a pull lengthwise or `in the pla-ne of the card 23, the card holders will i not become detached from the supporting ing elements.

rlhe card holders may be applied in the n opposite position as shown in Fig. 15 with the tongues on the upper side of the support- In this relation which may be preferred, pressure is exerted laterally to the plane of the card, and upwardly to flex the tongues 18 during application or removal of the card holders from the supporting elements. v p

In Fig. 3 the; card holder is of slightly different form from that illustrated in Fig. 2, being formed of a strip of uniform width bent intermediate its ends at 25 `to provide at one side1of the bend or fold the card-receiving portion 26 and the support-engaging portion 27 while the strip at'the Vopposite side of the fold 25v is'substantially straight as indicated at 28 and extends beyond the portion 27 to provide the operating lip 29 by which the portion28 may be flexed away from the portions 26 and 27 in applying the holder to a card and to a supporting element.

In Fig. 4 the card holder is similar to the construction shown in Fig. 3 and in addition, is provided with the projecting portion 30 between the card-receiving portion 31 and thesupporting element receiving section 32 `to form a stop for preventing the card from riding upwardly in the card holder and preventing the cardfrom interfering` with efficient cooperation of the holder and supporting element. v

A wire clip is illustrated in Fig. 5 formed of a suitable length of wire having a central portion 33-from which the ends extend laterally iny curved relation as shown at 34 andA terminate in the offset portions 35v parallel with the portion 33. At the ends of the portions 35 which extend outwardly in opposite directions from the portions 34 the wire is formed into the curved sections 36 which are in alignment with the curved port-ions 34 and cooperate therewith to provide for the reception of a supporting element. The ends are then extended asrindicated at 37 and converged toward each other, these ends 37 extending substantiallyat right angles to the portions 33 and 35 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. rIhe ends of the wire are then formed with the return bends 38 so that the terminals lie in substantially parallel relationV as indicated at 39 and engage the portions 35 a-d- 'acent the free ends. W ith this wire clip it will be noted that the portions 37 formfthe card-receiving portion similar to the previously described forms of the card holder, while the portions 34 and 36 form the supporting element receiving portion. The central portion 33 is formed to li'eY between the ends 39 so as to prevent the inner edge of a card 23 from riding upwardly 'against the supporting element.` This relation of theV ics iis

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parts is illustrated in Fig. 8 showing hoWjtlie Wire clipin Fig. 5 is applied to a card and a supporting element. rlhe free ends of the portions 39 extend beyond the portions 85 and provide supporting element engaging lips by Which the portions 39 may be flexed away from the portions to permit. application and removal of the Wire clip from engagement With a card and a supporting element, in the manner above described.

Referring particularly to Fig. 6, there is illustrated in addition to the card 23, a sheet which has a strip portion 11 adjacentfthe inner edge of the card in coincident relation with the card and connected to the remaining portion of the sheet a hinged portion at l2 formed by perforations or otherwise with openings for registry with the slots 24.- in the card to receive the card holders 15. lVhen the card holders are applied to the assembled card and sheet the strip portion is held in contact with the sheet as shown in l?" 6 While the remaining portion of the sheet may be flexed upwardly for inde-ing use. This provides a construction in which one or more sheets may be superposed on the card and provide additional record space in which the sheets are usually shorter than the card so as not to interfere with the exposed edges of the card and in which tie card holc er retains the sheets and card in the proper assembled relation.

Vith'particular reference to Figs. 7, 9 and 10, a folded sheet is illustrated i3 having a central strip portion 1.4: to which the remaining portions of the sheet are hinged and 46 respectively. rlhe hinge is at the folded edge of the sheet as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 10 which is applied over the inner edge of the card. rlhe strip portion is engaged against the front face of the card and held in intimate relation therewith by the card holders 15 While the portion of ie sheet overlying the front face of the card may be flexed u Wardl alone' the nin'e l5 in the t? J g2 saine manner as with tne sheet snovvn in Fie'. 6. The back section of the sheet 41-3 adjacent to the hinge 46 is provided with elongated openings 47 for the card holders. 1il-.Tith this construction, and When the card 23 is lifted, the card holder will rotate about tl e supporting elements While the opening v-.f'ili permit the flexing of the. bach section of the sheet along the hinge 4G so that access be obtained to ree rds used on this sheet. ln this construction the card holders again ceoperate With the card and the sheet to effectively7 retain the central strip section en- Ga-Oed with the inner edge of the card. o c a Vith the use of bar constructions as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 in an assembled 'ndez structure as shown in Fig. 1 the card holders 15 'may be applied so that the .irds may he .l secured to the bars in either of tivo positions,

providing for lateral offsetting of one or more cards with respect to the others' te obtain advantages in filing systems used for accounting records. TVith the construction shown in Fig. 11 the offsetting may beI obtained by sliding the holders along the supporting elements in one direction or the other across the central portion 6. Vllhis Will cause a fiez-:ing of the supporting elements relative to the portions S which Will act as a latch or stop to normally prevent the sliding of the card from one position to the other. Vith the construction shown in Fig. 12 the offsetting is obtained by detaching Jthe holders from the supporting elements and shifting and applying them to the elements in the other position. rllie arrangement of the cards as shown in Fig. 1 illustrates both positions in Weich the cards may be applied to the supporting elements in obtaining this offsetting feature.

il further advantage of this offsetting feature is illustrated in Fig. 16 in which a signal is used which is indicated at i8 having a slot @-9 at the inner end receiving one of the card holders 15. The signal maybe detachahlyfand interchangeably applied to the supporting clement structure as shown in Fig. 1 for signalling cooperation With the card secured on the saine element. This provides independent mounting for the signal and the card so that they may both be readily applied and removed from the supporting elements.

. `l/Vhere cards of unusual Width are used and in order to facilitate the use of light-Weight cards or paper the structure as shouv in Fig. 13 may be employed With card holders applied in the central portion to provide an additional support. Any number of holders may be employed in carrying out this feature in accordance with 'the size of card used. T he offsetting feature obtained by the construction as shown in 11 and 12 may be coinbined with this supporting connection as shown in F ig. i3 through using pairs of supporting element-s in the intermediate section of the har as Well as the end sections. The construction shown in Fig. 13 may also be employed for mounting signals.

What is claimed is:

1. A card holder, comprising a strip meinber formed to provide a card-engaging portion, a support-embracing portion, and another lportion for cooperating with the aforementioned portions to hold the card and for retaining said support-embracing portion in engaged relation With a support to prevent detachment under longitudinal pull, and operable to permit engagement and detachment thereof from the support under lateral pressure. i'

2. A card holder7 comprising a card-engaging portion, and a support-engaging portion and having a substantially straight retaining tongue adapted to permit a card to be readilyy inserted upon said card-engaging portion, and to retain said card thereon and the support-engaging portion on a suitable support.

3. In combination, a supporting member, an index card, a card holder associatedvwith said index card, and an element mounted on said supporting member detachably receiving said card holder, said supporting member being offset laterally adjacent said element l to accommodate said holder.

4. In combination, a supporting element, an index card, a card holder detachably mounting said index card on said element, a signal, and a clip independently mounting said signal on said supporting element in superimposed relation on said card for signalling cooperation therewith.

5. In combination, a supporting element, an index card, a card holder associated With said card and detachably engaging said supporting element in either of a plurality of positions, and a signal having meansfor engaging said supporting element in either of said plurality of positions interchangeably with said card holder.

6. In combination, a supportingelement, an index card, a sheet having one edge coincident With said card, and a card holder engaging said card and sheet and retaining said coincident edge on the sheet engaged With said card, sai-d card holder detachably securing said card and sheet on said supporting element.

7. In combination, a supporting element, an index card, a sheet having a strip portion along one edge coincident With one edge of the card, a card holder engaging and retaining said strip portion, and the card in adjacent relation, said card holder detach ably mounting said card and sheet on said supporting element, and a hinge portion connecting said strip portion to the remainder of the sheet.

8. In combination, a supporting element, an index card, asheet having a strip portion with one edge coincident With one edge of the card, a card holder engaging and .retaining j the card and strip portion in adjacent relalms tion, .said card holder detachably mounting said card and sheet on said supporting element, and a hinge portion at opposite edges of said strip portion connecting the remaining portions of the sheet thereto.

9. A card holder, comprising a folded strip Y adapted to be passed through an opening in the card end to embrace the opposite faces of a marginal portion of said card, the ends of the strip adapted to project beyondthe edge of said card and being formed for coaction in opposed relation to detachably embrace a support. Y

10. In combination, a supporting member, a record card having slots formed adjacent a margin thereof, and card holders formed card holder embracing a marginal portion of said card and having the freeends of the strip projecting beyond the edge of the card and formed for complementary embracing cooperation With the supporting member to detachably hinge said record card thereon.

' l1; A card holder, comprising a member formed With a card-holding portion and a support-embracing portion, said card-holding portion Vhaving auxiliary means for releasably retaining said support-embracing portion in engagement with a support.

12. A card holder, comprising a. member formed with a card-holding portion and a support-embracing portion,saidcardholding portion having an extension for normally holding said support-embracing portion in engagement With a support, said extension beinglaterally movable from said supportengaging portion to engage and disengage said support-embracing portion With a support. Y

185A card holder, comprising a supportembracing portion, a card-engaging portion including resilient means having an exten-V sion opposed to said support-embracing portion and normally cooperating therewith to retain said support-embracing portion engaged With a support, said support-embracing portion also cooperating With said resili- -ent means of said card-embracing portion to prevent detachment of a card therefrom.

14. A card holder comprising a folded strip, one extremity of one fold of said strip being formed With a support-engaging portion, the remainder of the strip forming a card-holding portion y With the other fold adapted to resiliently engage a card therein and also extending to releasably retain said support-engaging portion in engagement With a support. o

LE ROI E. HUTCHINGS.

of folded strips engaged in said slots, each, s

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