US1887882A

US1887882A - Cabinet filing drawer

Info

Publication number: US1887882A
Application number: US532789A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul A Bredsvold
Original assignee: WILLIAM P HOY
Current assignee: WILLIAM P HOY
Priority date: 1931-04-25
Filing date: 1931-04-25
Publication date: 1932-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 1949-11-15

Description

P. A. BREDSVOLD CABINET FILING DRAWER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 qs oompoqoonooo Nov. 15, 1932. P. A. BREDSVLD CABINET FILING DRAWER Filed April 25, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. l5, 1932. P, A .BREDSVQLD 1,887,882

CABINET FILING DRAWER' Filed April 25. 19:51 4 sheets-sheet I l YJO Nov. 115, 1932'. P, A, QREDSVOLD 1,887,882

CABINET FILING DRAWER Filed April 25. 1931 4'Sheets-Sheet 4 'Patented Nev. 1s, 1932` UNITED STATES PATaNToFI-ics :PAUL A. nannsvoLD, or CIIICACo, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoa or CNE-HALF, 'ro

f WILLIAM I. HOY, or CHICAGo, ILLINoIs CABINET' FILING DRAWER. y

Application nl ed April 25,

The invention relates to follower plates or compressors for use'in cabinet filing drawers. Such filing drawers are usually equipped with a plate or so-called follower for the purpose of maintaining the filing material 1n Ia compact vertical position to prevent its buckling down or bending and also to make it easy of accesswhen it is examined or inspected. Such follower devices 'are usually adjustable to provide theproper pressurel in accordancey with' the `amount of material in the drawer and thereby serve equally as well to compress the file contents when the drawer is only partially lilled as when it is filledto its maximum capacity. Such devices as heretofore constructed require that the follower plate be positioned vat a substantial distance from the rear end of the drawer to provide room for its manipulation and rearward 2 movement. The vacant space between the rear end-of the drawer and the follower plate very seriously curtails the maximum available capacity of lthe drawer and as a result there is aIv substantial waste of available cabinet and drawer space. V

,An object of the invention is to novell frmof mounting for followers of the kind described, by means of which the drawer ymay be substantially filled with material under compression and which upon opening of the'drawer permitsa the file contents to spread andproject over the rear wall of the drawer whereby the space back of the open drawer is utilizedfor expansion of the file contents.

Another. object o f the invention is the provision of animproved follower device which operates as a compressor equally as well when the drawer` in which it is positioned is substantially filled as when `it is only partially filled and thereby enables practically .all oT the spacein a drawer and a cabinet to be advantageously utilizedl without waste.

, A Still another object of the invention i's the provision of a cabinet filing drawer adapted when closed to occupy a small compact space.

with the contents in closely compressed vertical position between a follower plate and the front end of the drawer and'when open provide a and more 19a1.` serial No. 532,789.

to permit the contents to` loosen and take a position permitting easy inspection.

A further object'of the invention is the provision of improved mounting means for av followerwhich permits the follower to move rearwardly as the drawer is opened and causes the follower to move forwardly as the drawer is closed.

A still further .obj ect of the invention is the provision 'of an improved mounting means 60 for a follower which permits the position of the follower relative' to the ends Vto be adjusted in accordance withthe file contents and causes thel follower to move longitudinally of the drawer as it is opened and closed. 55

It isla further object of the invention to follower in any position to which it is moved lengthwise of the drawer.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction erein shown acnd described will' be obviousto those (skilled in the artj 75 from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and. described,

particularly pointed4 011i?- in the 80 claims. Y C

In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, f

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a sliding drawer, equipped with the device ofmy invention, and showing the drawer in partially open position in a cabi` net and with theiile contents partly broken 90. awav to show parts beyond; l

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing' the drawer closed;

Fig. 3 is a view Fig. 2; l 95 Fig.v 4 is a view along the line 4 4 of Fig.

2 and drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 5 is a view along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; f

. Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a 100 along the lineh3`3 of detailed portion of the device embodying my Y invention;

Fig. 7 is a view along the line 7-7 of 5; ig; 8 is a view along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2 drawn to a larger scal e Fig. 9 is a view along the line 9-9 of Fig.

.2 drawn to a larger scale;

along thel line equipped with an alternative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 12 is a view along the line 12-12 of Fig. 11 drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 13 is a view along the line 13-13 of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional view along the line 14-14 of Fig. 11.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2() designates the side walls of a cabinet containing file drawers equipped with one embodiment of the invention. The open spaces in the front' of the cabinet, through which the drawers slide outwardly and inwardly, are bounded by channel members 21,. providing frames for the openings. The cabinet is provided with horizontally extending partitions 22 and a rear wall 23.

The drawer shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a bottom plate 26 having the usual longitudinal central trough portion 27. The walls of the drawer comprise side plates 29, a relatively low rear plate 28 and a two-ply front wall structure 30. Triangular shaped members 37 provide a brace connecting the front wall 30 with the relatively low side wall members 29. The drawer is manually actuated from open to closed position and vice versa by means of a handle 31.v The Vdrawer is held in its closed position by a latch member 32. The lower end of the member 32 is suitably beveled to slide over and engage the flange of the underlying channel member 21. The latch member 32 is disengag-ed by means of a stem 33 projecting from the front wall 30 underneath the handle 31. The latch member 32 is held in position by the stem 33 which projects through a slot 34, and by a pin 35 which projects through a slot 36. The

slots

34 and 36 are of suflicient length to permit the latch member 32 to be elevated to disengage the channel member 21 when it is desired to 'open the drawer.

The tops of the side wall members 29 form channels 38, the upper edgesof which terminate in downwardly extending flanges 39.y A pair of members 40 each having a double Z-shaped cross-section, are fastened to the vertical side wall members 20 of the cabinet and extend substantially the full length of the drawer space. A pair of plates 43 are channel bars 50 as best shown in Fig. 6.

positioned one on each side of the drawer in cooperative relation with the members 40.

Each plate 43, has one edge turned down to form a flange 44 on which are mounted a plurality of stub shafts 45 each carrying a roller The lowerl horizontal portion of the channels 38 ride upon the rollers 46 so that the members 40 provide tracks carrying the weight of the drawer as it is opened and closed. 'A plurality o f stub shafts 48, secured in the vertlcal portion'of the side walls 29, each provides a mounting for a roller 49. The lrollers 49 press upwardly against the horizontal portion of the member 43 to prevent binding and to permit easy movement of the drawer. The lower edge of the member .43 forms a iange 47 limiting lateral movement of the drawer in the cabinet.

The channels 38 each provide a runway for a slidable channel shaped bar 50. The bars 50 have inclined flanged edges 51 folded back upon themselves. The middle portion 52 of each bar 50 is convex inwardly and contains a row of apertures59 arranged in predetermined spaced-apart relation. The forward ends of the channel bars 50 are each provided with ascrew bolt or pin 42 which projects through a longitudinally extending slot 25 formed in the forward end of the channel member 38 forming a portion of the side wall ofthe drawer as best shown in Fig. 1. The

rollers

46 and 49 are so spaced and arranged as to permit the'drawers to be opened substantially full length without binding or frictional contact of the pin 42 with the walls of the slot 25.

The rear ends of the channel bars 50 project beyond the rear wall 28 of the drawer and are connected by a member 53. The ends of the member 53 are turned inwardly to form stem 'members 54 operatively engaging c upper horizontal portion of the convex inturned webs 52 of the channel bars 50 are each carried by a plurality of rollers 55. g

The rollers 55 are journalled on pins 56 projecting through the channel members 38 comprising the top side walls of the drawer and thereby provide a support for the channel bars anda follower plate 57 carried thereby. The follower plate 57 is detachably connected to the channel bars 50 by a pair of oppositely extending rods- 58. The rods 58 have their outer ends each normally projecting through a cylindrical member 61 and into one of the apertures 59 of the adjacent channel bar 50. The inner ends of the cylin drical members 61 have a. relatively large flange 62 and the outer ends of thefcylindrical members comprise annularly grooved flanges 63. The follower plate 57 has a pair of rearwardly extending stem members 64 by means of which the cylindrical members 6l are mounted on the follower plate. A pair of plaies 'L positioned one in each of the sliding channel bars 50 provide supports for the cylindrical members 61- and the follower plate 57 as best shown in Fig. 4. One end of the plates 72 operatively engage the grooved lianges 63 on the outer ends of the cylindrical members 61.

The follower plate 57 is adjustably mounted on the channel bars 50 in accordance with the file contents of the drawer by moving the rods 58 into and out of operative engagement with the channel bars as indicated by the full and dotted line positions respectively of Fig. 4. This movement of the rods 58 is accomplished by manually actuating a lever 69 mounted on a pivot 70 positioned in the middle of the follower plate. The lever 69 is operatively connected with the rods `58 by a pair of slidably mounted bars 65. The bars 2'0 65 are supported in a plurality of staples or socket members 66. The staples or socket members 66 are fastened to the follower plate 57 by means of rivets 67. The staple members 66 are so arranged that the rods 65 are easily moved or slid therein. The outer ends of the bars are each turned back to connect'with a rivet-like stem 68 projecting from the rods 58. The inner ends of the bars 65 are connected with the lever 69 by screwbolts 71 extending through elongated sockets (not shown) in the lever. Y In Fig. 3 the lever 69 is shown ina position7 corresponding to the full line position of the rods 58 wherein therods operatively engage the channel bars 50 and permit limited rearward tilting of the follower plate from its vertical position. p By Y rotating the levers 69 in clockwise direction it is obvious that the rods 68 will be moved to their dotted line position and be disconnected from the convexjinturned middle portions 52 of the channel members 50.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of a follower mechanism which permits the drawer` to be substantially filled with material in compressed position and upon expansion to spread back into the space between the rear of the drawer and the cabinet. To illustrate this feature of the invention, the follower plate 57 is shown in Figs. l and 2 in itsrearmost position in the drawer with the rods 58 inserted in the end apertures 59 of the channel bars 50. In Fig. 1 which shows the drawer rin open position, the ilc contents 60 are inclined rearwardly and have been loosened by therea-rward movement Vand tilting of the follower plate 57 on its pivotal-mounting rods'58. The rear wall 28 of the drawer is suiciently low to permit the follower plate 57 to project rearwardly of the rear wall 2 8 and to occupy the space between the rear end of the drawer and the back wall 23 of the cabinet. This position of the device corresponds to the condition of maX- imum capacity of the drawer and it is to be $5 noted that thefile contents as shown in Figs 1 occupy a greater space than that between the front and rear walls of the drawer.

The up er end ofthe follower plate 57 has a rearwar ly extending flange 77 which adjacent to or in contact with the vertical wall 23 of the cabinet for the position of the drawer and mechanism shown in Fig. 1. In

50 forwardly in the channel members 38.I

The movement of the sliding bars 50 forwardly, relative to the drawer, completes the movement of the file contents to vertical position and then compresses the same,.since the follower plate 5-7 is thereby moved to vertical and is advanced in the drawer. Movement of the drawer from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 locks the drawer in its closed position by means of the latch member 32 with the contents compressed.

It is obvious that the device will operate -equally as well to compress the ile contents when the drawer is only partially filled as when it is completely filled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by shifting the mounting of the follower plate 57 fromone pair of apertures 59 to another as is found necessary and inl the manner already described.

The rods 58 by means of which the follower plate 57 is adjusted are normally out of sight of the operator and difficult of access. Since the rods 58 must be in alignment with the apertures 59 before inserting the ends of the rods therein it is desirable to provide means whereby the operator can easily detect when the follower plate 57 has been shifted to a point where the rods will enter the apertures. The upper middle portion of the.' follower plate 57 is cut away to enable the oper-f ator to reach the lever 69 to disengage the rods58 when it is desired to adjust the position of the follower plate 57 relative to the front and rear walls of the drawer. The desired exact alignment of the rods 58 with the apertures 59 is secured by providing a' device which takesthe form of a'spring member 74 fastened to the mounting plate 72 by means of rivets 75 as best shown in Fig. 5. The spring member 74 comprises a rearwardly extending stem having an expanded middle port-ionproviding an outwardly extending spherical protuberance 76. The spring member 74 extends the full length of and overlies 'an opening 73 in the plate' 72. The protuberance 7 6 projects through the opening 73 and is positioned in alignment with the apertures 59. In shifting the follower plate 57, its mounting late 7 2 and thespring member 74 are also shifted longitudinally and the pressure of the memlao' ber 74 forces the protuberance 76 into the apsertures 59.

. ing plate 72 and the spring member 74.-.` The spherical protuberance 76 slides over the channel bars 50 and into the next adjacent aperture 59. The operator can detect when the protuberances 76 have engaged an aperture 59 by the increased pressure required to advance the follower plate. The position of the protuberances 76 relative. to the rods 58 is such that when the protuberances'engage the adjacent apertures 59, the rods 58 are in exact. alignment with `corresponding apertures 59. This process of adjustment can be repeated as often as necessary and the follower plate repeatedly shifted rearwardly until the rods 58 engage the rearmost apertures 59 which position corresponds with the maximum capacity of the drawer.

The operation of this embodiment of the invention has been described for a drawer filled with compressed material. The compressing of the-file contents) is accomplished entirely by contact of the rearwardly projecting channel members 50 with the cabinet wall 23 both whenthe drawer is entirely filled and when only partially filled. In case the drawer is only partially filled the device provides the same advantages of compression ofthe contents when the drawer is closed and of expansion and resulting loosening of the contents in tilted rearward position as when it is filled.

In Figs. 11 to 14;V inclusive I have illustrated an alternative -embodiment of the invention, mounted in a drawer having a front wall 30, bottom wall 26,'and latch member 32 similar to those shown for the preferred embodiment already described. The drawer also comprisesra rear wall 80 of substantially the same height as the side walls 81.

The upper. edges of the sidel walls 81 form channels 82 having an `inturned flange 83.

' The channels 82 provide runways for channel bars 85 which are similar in construction to the channel bars 50 of the preferred embodiment. The channel bars 85 have an inturned middle portion 86 containing a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinally aligned slotted apertures 89. The channel bars 85 have inturned flanges 87 as best shown in Fig. `12. The channel bars 85 project rearwardly from the drawer Aand are connected by a cross member 88. A vertical follower plate 93 Vis operatively connected with the channel bars 85 so as to be moved forwardly and rearwardly in the drawer with the corresponding movement of the channel bars 85. The fols extensions 95 t within they flanges 86 of the channels 82 as best shown in Fig. 12. The positioning of the extensions 95 in the channels 82 as described serves to hold the follower plate 93 vertical.- In order that the follower plate 93 may be mounted in the channels 82 as described each ange 83 is cut away for a substantial length to provide a slot 90. The slots 90 are provided so that the extensions 95 of the follower plate 93 may be inserted in the channels 82, following which the channel bars 85 are inserted in the channels 82 from the rear...

The channel bars 85 are supported on a plurality of rollers 91 suitably journalled on v stub shafts 92 mounted on the channel member 82. The forward end of the channel bars have a pair of screw bolts 103 and 104re- -spectively projecting through (a slot 105 formed in the vertical portion of the'sidewall channels 82. The length oftheslot 105 and the position of the bolt 103 are such as to provide for the ordinary expansion and compression requirements. In the case of drawers of ordinary capacity this expansion is preferably about three inches. By removal of the screw bolt 103 the expansion can be increased if desired by the distance represented by the spacing between the

bolts

103 and 104. In practice it is found that for drawers of ordinary size the maximum de` siredv expansion will be about four inches and the position of the

bolts

103 and 104 and the length of the slots 105 will be predetermined accordingly. If the drawer is illed to capacity the follower plate 93 may( if desired be disconnected from the channel bars 85.

In the open position of the drawer as shown in Fig. 11, the file contents 60 vwill take the inclined position shown by dotted lines.' In

closing the drawer Ifrom the position of Fig. 11 the ends of the channel bars 85 and the connecting bar 88 contact with the rear cabinet wall 23 so as to advance the channel bars 85 and the follower plate 93 forwardly relative to the drawer, as the drawer moves rearwardly.

The follower plate 93 operatively engages .A

the channel bars 85 b v means of transversely movable rods 100. The rods 100 are supported and guided by a plurality of fingers 101 which permit the outer ends of the rods 100 to be inserted in and removed from the slotted apertures 89 in the channel bars 85. The bars 100 are moved longitudinally by a lever 69 not shown but similar to .that shown1 in Fig. 3. v-

The upper edge of the follower plate 93 has a pair of rollers 102 suitably mounted thereon so that as the follower plate is advanced in the' drawer by the contact of the detector or spring member 97 is positioned.l

The spring members 97 are fastened to the extension members 95 by a plurality of rivets 98. The middle portion of the spring members 97 provides a corrugation 99 which presses into the adjacent slotted apertures 89 as the follower plate is shifted. The position of the rods 100 relative to the spring member 97 is such that when the corrugation 99l engages a slotted aperture 89 the rods s 100 will be in exact alignment with anl ad- Y jacent slotted aperture 89. The engagement of the corrugatlons 99 with an a erture 89 is easily detected'by the operator y reason of the increased pressure necessary to shift the follower plate 93.

The rods 100 are then moved to insert their outer ends in the adjacent slots 89. The device therebyenables the follower plate 93 to be mounted in any one of the slotted apertures 89 and be thereby suitably positioned to compress the file contents of the drawer accordance with the thickness thereof.

Thus it will be seen` that I have provideda novel form of mounting for followers of the character described, which is movable back and forth relative to the drawer to compress the file contents as the drawer is being closed 'and to permit the expansion of the contents as the drawer is opened. The device further provides mea-ns for` adjusting the posltion of the follower. plate in laccordance with the le contentsjfof the drawer and still further is adapted''for use with drawers filled with file conteii'ts to maximum capacity with material under pressure when the drawer is closed, and which when the drawer is opened permits,M the contents t`o spread and project rearwardly over the rear wall of the drawer thereby utilizing the space between the rear end of the open drawer and the adjoining rear cabinet wall.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the sameA without departing from thespirit of my invention; hence, do not wish to be understood as limiting myself tothe exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a. cabinet drawer, a pair' of longitudinally movable bars slidably mounted one in'each side wall of' the' drawer andprojecting rearwardly therefrom into position to contact with the cabinet, a follower plate ivotally mounted on and'movable lwith said ars, said contact operable to advance the follower plate into compressive engagement with the file contents as the drawer is moved 'from 'open to closed position.

` 2. I n a cabinet drawer, a member slidably mounted in each side wall and projecting rearwardly from the drawer into position to extending member slidably mounted in eac side wall and projecting rearwardly from the drawer into position for cooperative contact with Ithe cabinet wall, a transversely extending, vertical rearwardly tiltable follower plate, and. adjustable fastening means operable to connect said plate with said members at any one of a plurality asf predetermined points, said cooperative contact of said members with the rear wall of the cabinet causing said members to advance relative to the dawer and to carry therewith said follower p ate.

4. In a cabinet drawer, a longitudinall extending member slidably mounted in eac side wall and projecting rearwardly from the 3. In a cabinet drawer, a longitudinall f ydrawer into position for cooperative contact).100

bers'with the rear wall of the cabinet causing Y said members to advance in the drawer an to carry therewith said follower plate when the drawer is vmo'vedf fromv open to closed position and permitting rearward movement of the follower plate relative to the drawer as the drawer ismoved from closed to open Y ppsition.

5. In cabinet drawer construction, the combination with a filing drawer so constructed that when closed its rear wall is in closely spaced parallel relation to a. wall of a cabinet in which the drawerv is mounted, of longitudinally extending members slidably mounted one in each side wall ofthe drawer and projecting rearwardly into cooperative contact with a cabinet Wall, said contact operating to advance the members in the drawer as the drawer is moved to closed'position, and a follower plate mounted on and movable with said members.

6. In cabinet drawer construction .comprising a cabinet and a filing drawer mounted therein, said drawer when-,closed having its rear Wallin closely spaced parallel relation to a wall of the cabinet,'mechanism operable to compress the le contents when the drawerv isclosed, said mechanism'comprising a pair of longitudinally extending members slidably .mounted one in each side wall of the drawer, each of said members projecting rearwardly into position for cooperative contact with said wall of the cabinet and operable thereby to be advanced in the drawer as the drawer is moved to closed position, and a follower pla-te tiltably mounted on and movable with said members.

7. In cabinet drawer construction, the combination with a filing drawer having its rear operatively connecting said plate to said members in close proximity to the rear wall of the drawer when the drawer is closed, the rear wall of the drawer being relatively low and permitting-the follower plate to move rearwardly and tilt back over the rear wall a substantial amount when the drawer is opened.

Y t 8. In cabinet drawer construction, the combination with a filing drawer having its rear wall in closely spaced relation to the rear wall of thel cabinet when the drawer is closed, of means operable to compress the file contents when the drawer is closed, said means comprising a pair of longitudinally extending members slidably mounted one in each side wall of the drawer, each of said members projecting rearwardly into position for contact with the rear wall of the cabinet and operatable thereby to be advanced in the drawer as the drawer is moved to 'closed position and to permit relative rearward movement of the members upon opening the drawer, a transversely extending vertical rearwardly tiltable follower plate, and fastening means operatively connecting said plate to said members fin close proximity to the rear wall of the drawer when the /drawer .is closed, the rear wall of the drawer being relatively'low and permittingthe follower plate to move rearwardly and tilt back over the rear wall a' substantial amount when the drawer is opened;

9.. In a cabinet drawer, a pair of channel- A shaped members slidably mounted one on horizontal ianges ofsaid channel members A having their edges respectively turned downwardly and upwardly in substantial alignment with the innermost portion of theconvex web portions, said web4 portions having a plurality of apertures arranged in aligned spaced-apart re ation, a plate cooperating with each of said channel members, the edges of the plate having sliding contact with said turned edges of the flanges and the middle portion of the plate beingn in contact with said convex we portion, a follower plate mounted on the rear end of'said plates, a pair of laterally projecting rods mounted on said follower plate, means operable to move the outer ends of said rods into and out of the adjacent apertures of said channel members, said slidable plates having'an opening therethrough, a spring plate mounted on each slidable plate and extending over said opening, said spring plate having a protuberance projecting through said opening into sliding contact with said convex web along the line of said apertures, said protuberance partially entering said apertures as the sliding plate is moved, said protuberances and said rods being so positioned that the rods are in alignment with an adjacent aperture when said.

protuberances are overlying adjacent apertures.

10. In a cabinet drawer, a transversely extending follower plate tiltable from vertical to rearwardly inclined position and vice versa, means actuated by the closing of the drawer operable to move said plate from inclined to vertical position and to advance the plate in the drawer in said vertical position thereby compressing the file contents of the drawer, the pressure of said iile contents against said plate operating, upon opening of the drawer, to move said plate and means rearwardly ofthe drawer and to ltilt said plate from vertical to rearwardly inclined position.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe'my name this 21st day of April A. D., 1931.

PAUL A. BREDSVOLD.

each side wall of the drawer, the web portions of said channel members being vertical and convex inwardly, the upper and lower