US1923366A - Visible card index - Google Patents

Description

2, 1933. J. 1.. GARFIELD 1,923,366

VISIBLE CARD INDEX Filed Aug. 9. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Aug. 22, 1933 burr STATES" since 1 PATE T My invention relates to a visible card index of which the cards "have individual hinge suspensions adjacent a suitable support or panel, the hinging of the cards making both sides there- 5 of accessible for reading or writing without card removal from the panel or other support and the.

hinging of the record sheets upon. the stubs of the cards being desirably uniformly'spaced along the face of the support so as to make the record sheets normally overlap one another upon the face of the support and disclose index margins at their lower edges. 1

A purpose of my invention is to provide, a cardv index of the character indicated in which any record sheet normally adapted to lie fiat on the support can not only be turned up for examination but can be held resiliently in this position.

The record sheets are hinged to the stubs ator near the upperedges of the cards and in'nor 2O nial position preferably lie flat, overlapping one another upon the surface of the support. They can be turned fiat over on their hinges to permit full use of the under sides.

A further purposeis to hinge an index'record Z5 sheet along one or more portionsof its width to a support and to provide the sheet along one or more other portions or its width with what for convenience. are here called extensionsor heels projecting beyond the line of the hinge adapted to engage and spring past the adjacent face of the support when the card is turned upwardly beyond the erpendicular. The cooperating engagement between the said extensions or heels and the support prevent the card from returning to its normal position unless forced downward so as again to spring the extensions past the support thereby to permit the sheet to lie again in its normal position. y

A further'purpose is to hinge a record sheet to a stub mounted upon a support and to snap the record sheet across a position perpendicular to the support against the resilience of the card so that the sheet will be, retained in itsexisting range of positions on one side of the perpendicular or the other unless and until it has been snapped or sprung into the otherrange of positions.

A further purpose is to alternate spring engaging andhinging portions of a record sheet across the width of a card, the spring engaging portions being adapted to engage and spring past the surface of a support while the sheet is being turnedup about its hinge line.

to that of Figure 6 except that there isa different sheets hinged upon opposite sides of the stub and to adapt one or both of the sheets to spring retention in positions on opposite sides of the perpendicular to a. support.

A further purpose is to provide a composite card having an intermediate stubto engage a support and binge connections along opposite.

sides with two record sheets, each of which carries an extension across the hinge line as in my other forms. I

A further purpose'is to anchor the stubs of supported cardsbeneath the stubs of adjoining cards.

A further purpose is to interlink the stubs of adjoining cards fastened to a. support, and .to utilize the combined spring of their stubs to 7 hold the record'sheet of one of the cards in raised position with respect to the support.

A further purpose. is to attach card stubs to a card supportby tabsextending longitudinally of thelength of the stub, and :to interlink the stubs with the adjoining stubs of other cards i by tongues extending laterally with respect to the stubs. v p

Further purposes will appear in -the specifica- .80 tion and in the claims.

. I have elected to show a few only of the many different forms of my invention selecting forms from the standpoint particularly that these well illustrate the principles involved.

Figurel is a perspective View illustrating card index structure embodying a desirable form of my invention. v f

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section to enlarged-scale upon the line 2-2 ofFigure 1 and to be considered somewhat diagrammatic Figure 3 is a plan view showing one of the cards of Figure 1.- 9

Figure 4 is an end view of Figure 3. p

Figure 5 isa front elevation of Figure 3 showinghowever ap'ortion of a supportnot shown in Figure 3. V

Figure 6 is a plan view showing an unmounted double card. V

Figure '7 is an end elevation of Figure 6 showing in dot-and-dash one ofthe record sheets turned over and downward to its normal position upon the other record sheet. W

Figure 8 shows a double card generally similar 105 form of tab for connection to the support.

Figure 9 is a view generally similar to Figure 3 but showing a somewhat different form of card. H A further purpose is to provide a double, card having an intermediate stub and outer record Figure ljdisaplanview of adoubl'e card gen- 11 0 eraIIysirnilar to the single "card of'Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a plan view of a single card having a somewhat different form of tab for connection with support.

Figure 12 is a front elevation of Figure 11 showing also a portion of the support.

Figure 13 is a desirable form of single card; in which the hinge and holding extensions alternate across the card width.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary view illustrating that the cards and hinge connection with the support may be separate, the cards being removably mounted upon the stub.

Figure 15 is a front elevation of a support for the double card structure of Figure 14. a

Figure 16 is a plan view of one of many different forms of support.

Figure 17 is a section taken upon the line, 17-17 of Figure 16. I

Figure 18 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating another form of my invention.

Figure 19 is a section along the-line 19-49 of Figure 18.

Like numerals refer to like: parts in all figures.

Describing in illustration and not in limitation and referring to the drawings:

As seen in Figure 1, my visible index includes a flat support, here a panel 20 and overlapping cards hinged to the panel.

-' Each card includes a record sheet 21 hinged to.

one or more stub portions comprising a stub 22. The hinge is seen at 23.

The stubs are secured to the face of the support and the record sheet is adapted to' receive records upon bothsides, to fold upwardly at the hinge 23 and, by reason of my invention to stand up of'itself when turned upwardfrom its normal position to a point sumcientlybeyond the perpendicular. 1

In normal positions the record sheets are considered for convenience of reference as hanging downwardly from the stubs so that what will be called the inner face of each record sheet overlaps-the outer face of the record sheet'under it.

The stub 22 which fastens against the face'of the support may comprise relatively short and alined strips near opposite sides of the card as in Figures 1 and 3 or-may. comprise strips across the full rearward width of the card as in Figures 9 and 13, but in either event the record sheet has one or more portions 24 that extend inwardly somewhat across the hinge line. a

When the record sheet is raised, the inner edge of the extension 24 swings-downwardly about the hinge line and engages the face of the support or panel, first resisting the upward movement of the card and then springing past the center line along the face of the support. The position past the center (that is past a perpendicular from the hinge line to the engaged surface of the support) causes the extensions now to engage the support to resist lowering of the card to its normal position parallel to the face of the support unless the card is forced downward.

The stub 22 of the card may fasten to the supportv in'many different ways, each of which may perhaps'be preferable according to circumstance. I prefer a tab and slot connection between the stub and the support. As shown, tabs 25 upon the stubs turn down and enter slots 26 of the support.

In'Figures 1 and 3 the tabs 25 are directed outwardly and are spaced inwardly from the outer edges of the stubs. They enter oppositely directed folds 27 upon opposite sides of a support 28. This support is desirably constructed 7 from sheet metal folded upwardly at the sides for any desired portion of the length of the support so as to present, the inwardly directed slots 26 to receive the tabs of the cards.

This type ofsupport permits the cards to be moved along the support and also permits them to be very quickly and easily inserted by suitably bending the tabs inwardly and inserting them into slots as seen in Figure 5. They can-also be removed very readily.

Figure 2 is a partially diagrammatic fragmentary view drawn to greatly enlarged scale corresponding to a section upon the line 22 of Figure 1.

, The card 21 has been turned up about the hinge 23 beyond the perpendicular from the normal position shown in dot-and-dash, the extension 24 moving downwardly as the card moves up, engaging the upwardly directed face of the support 20 and springing along this face past the hinge line when the card has been turned some little distance beyond the perpendicular. x

The full line showing of the card indicates the .position thereof after it'has retracted somewhat downwardly -(counterclockwise) to or near the perpendicular, where it has been stopped from furthermovement by the extension 24 engaging the face of the support.

My invention is. applicable to double cards as well as to single cards. Figures 3, 9, 11 and 13 illustrate single cards and Figures 6, 8,10 and 14 show double cards. I

In the double cards two record sheets 21 have hinge connection with a common stub 22' and extensions 24 and 24' pass inwardly across the respective hinge lines for service in holding the record sheets in normal or in raised position.

The stubof each card is fastenedto the support and the hinge lines 23 and 23' are spaced from one another on opposite sides of the tabs 25 which connect to the support.

The record sheets are adapted to fold together and may be of the same or variant lengths;--for 1 example the upper record sheet may be'made the same length as the lower record sheet when each sheet is to be individually indexed on its margin, or may be longer than the lower sheet by an amount equal to the width of the stub when the two sheets are to be a unitwith asingle marginal index. The outer edges of the sheets may normally come together or be in spaced relation according to preference or circumstance.

If the lower edge of the upper record sheet normally folds down uponthe lower edge of the lower sheet the index notation is made upon the disclosed lower marginon the upper sheet of every doublev card, the upper and lower sheets then normally lying together and together forming an index unit, while if the two sheets are of the same length the lower sheet will extend a marginal distance beyond the edge of the upper sheet, each sheet of the double card in effect then forming the record sheet of a single index card.

The tab connections at 25 Figure 6 are generally similar to those shown in Figure 3.

Figure 8 shows a double card like that of Figure 6 except that the tabe 25 are cut inwardly from the outside edges of the card instead of being spaced inwardly from the edges Each record sheet extends at 24 and 24' across the hinge line 23.

The card shown in Figure 9 is generally similar to that shown in Figure 3 except that the hinge line 23 is spaced from the tabs 25 while in Figure I 3 it is along one edge of the tabs.

The extensions 24 for holding the card up are sheared clear of thestub, and, desirab1y,the stub is suitably cut away along the edge of theexten sion, in order to provide adequate clearance be-' tween the record sheet and stub whenthe record sheet is turning upward. ihis is illustrated at 30,

Figure 10. v Figure 10 shows a double card similar to the single card of Figure 9, in that the hinge linesare spaced some little distance from the tabs 25 that serve to fasten the stub to thesupport.

- In Figures 3 to 10 the tabs 25 have beendirected outwardly. Obviously however they may be directedinwardly as illustrated at 25 in Figures 11 and 12, it being somewhat a matter of preference as to whether the tabs are directed inwardly or outwardly, the inwardly directed tabs being shown in Figure 12 seating in outwardly directed folds .31 of a metal support 32 having double upward folds alongopposite sides.

Figure 13 shows a desirable form of. card .in which numerous hinge portions 23 and extensions 24 alternate across the width of the card.

. I show the inner edge of the stub recessed at 33 opposite the extensions 24 in order to provide clearance from the extensions of an adjacent card, as best seen in Figure 1 where the convex extension 24 engages the face of the support in the concaved recess 33. These recesses are also shown in Figure 13. V

It will be understood that the recesses 33. while desirable, are not necessary, asthe engagement of the extension 24 may be uponthe top of the next lower card.

I usually prefer to make the stubs and record sheets of the index card integral, but, as illustrated in Figure 14, may make them separate, providing separate stubs for fastening to the support. and record sheets removably mounted on the stubs.

In Figure l l he assembly includes hinge holding portions 22 toward opposite ends of the lines of hinging and stubs 21' hinging to opposite sides of the holders 22, with extensions 24 from'the stubs inwardly across the lines of hinging and tabs25 on the holders 22 for connecting the-assembly to the support. r

The record sheets fasten in any suitable way to the outer edges of the stubs 21 for example by suitable spring tabs 39 formed with a hook at their end, and located towards opposite ends of the card holder embracing the inwardly directed edge of the card and hooking into suitable perforations 40 of the card.

Obviously the tabs 25 may fasten in any suitable way to the seating in either inwardly or outwardly directed hooks as shown in Figures 5 and 12 respectively, or as illustrated in Figures 16 and 17, where the tabs extend through a slot 34 intflat plate 35 and bend over in either dire tion and, optionally fasten to the back of the plate.

I adapt the record sheet to hinge withrespect to the stub by scoring or perforating on the line of hinging, or in-any other suitable way, and I may make the score lines double as indicated at 23 Figure 10 in order to provide a more easy turn.

I show in Figure 1.0 the double scoring upon the upper side only of the stub,'because theupper record sheet normally lies further from the surface of the support than the lower record sheet, by a distance equal to the thickness of one card, but I may provide both or either of the hinge lines with double scoring or single, scoring ac cording to circumstance.

While my invention as thus far describedis fully. operative I may secure additional anchorage, for each card stub, and i at the same time add resilience from the spring of the next stub, by the use of tongues 36, which are struck out from the stub of each card and bent back to lie under and engage thestub of the next adjoining card,.preferably near each end of the stub.

These tongues 36 are shown in the fragmentary perspectiveview of Figure 18 and the section of Figure 19. l g

Their position with respect to the nextcard is shown in the fragmentary section of Figure 19 upon line 19-19 in Figure 18. The tongues can be cutfrom and used with the stub of a double card as well as the stubof a single card.

From Figure 18 it will be seenthat each'stub is thus anchored to the stub next adjoining so that the effect of lifting 'theoard, in upwardly springing the stub of that card by engagement of extension 24 with the support face 20, will communicate part of the movement of the stub which. has been sprung to the next stub, lifting the next one and any others affected if the lifting be high enough, and correspondingly utilizing the elasticity of the'several stubs forthe benefit of the record sheet which (has been lifted.

In operation each card acts independently in so far as its anchorage to the support is concerned, and in the cooperation betweenthe spring of this card andthe spring of the stub of the next adjoining card. The anchorage of. each card to the stub of the next card causes the stub of the next card necessarily to be lifted slightly when the card is turned up, adding the spring of the next stub to the spring ofthe side lugs 25 in resisting the movement of the card, both in lifting and in lowering. This additional fastening of the card tothe stub of the next card relieves the outwardly directed-stubs 25 from part" ing of the individual. stubs by reason of turning movement of the record sheet extensions of their own cards, interlinkage of the stubs with the stubs ofadjoining cards, where, used, causesthe adjoining stubs also to be sprung, along with the stubs attached to the raised record sheets, giving added stub resilienceto oppose the swinging movement of the extension, and to hold the extension in position when it has beenswung beyond the perpendicular. 1

:The lateral, interlinkage of thestub of one card with the stub of the next adjoining card by a reversely bent tongue is of benefit not only. in adding the resilience of the additional stubs as indicated, but also in holding the stubs more firmly in their relativepositions and in preventing sawing of one stub or card by the next.

I usually prefer to mount the cards so that their stubsare in substantial juxtaposition and flat against the face of the support, the stubs of successive cards then substantially filling a considerable'length of the support with little or no intermediate space between the edges of the. stubs of adjoining cards, but this is a matter of preference and thecards may be variantly spaced along themount. i I may desirably employ extensions 24 whose lower ends are slightly convexed, so that as the extensions contact upon the surface of the support it is more certain that the middle of the extension will touch'the support. This is shown in Figure 18;,.Even when the lower edges of the dicular to the surface.

suming an appearance similar to 24 in Figure 18.

When desiring to write upon the reverse side of any card, that cardand all of the cards above it are turned up and .over flat against the support, being held to place during writing.

When the handis removed fromthese cards, the cards move back to positions nearly perpendicularto the face of the support, where they remain standing up,in view of the engagements between the extensions 24 and the surface of the support. v v

, When desiring to read the record portion of any card the overlapping cards are turned up'to the position shown in-Figu're 1,?the card adjacent to the exposed card standing'up and supporting the higher cards from moving down, as indicated in Figure 1.

. In'view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of myinvention.

Having thus described. my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1

'1. A support for a series of cards, a card comprising a record sheet and stubs hinged thereto along a common line, means fastening the stubs to the support, and extensions from the record sheet projecting inwardly beyond'the line of hinging adapted to engage and spring past the support when the record sheet is turned up with respect to the stub beyond positions perpen- 2. A card comprising an intermediate stub and record sheets having hinge. connection to opposite sides of the stub, in combination with a support, means fastening the. stub to the support, and inward extensions from the record sheets across their hinge lines adapted toengage and spring past the surfaceof the support when the record sheets are turned up. about their hinge lines. T

'3, In a visible card index,a card support, a plurality of cards,-each having a stub and a record sheet hinged together, and inward extensions. from the record sheets at intervals across the hinge line and the inner edges of the stubs being recessed opposite the extensions and means fastening the stubs successively-to the support. 4. A support for a plurality of cards, a card thereon comprising a stub and 'a record sheet hinged to the stub, a tab connection-between the stub and support, and a plurality of extensions of the record sheet beyond the hinge line and on opposite sides of the tab connection. 5. A support for a plurality of cards, a card comprising a stub, and a record sheet hinged to the stub, tab connections betweenthestub and support toward opposite ends of the stub, and a plurality'of extensions of therecordsheet beyond the hinge line and between the spaced tab connections. I

6. Asupport for-a plurality of cards, a card comprising a stub and a record "sheet hinged 'to the stub; spaced tabs fastening .the stub to the support, and a plurality of extensions of the record sheetbeyond the hinge line and on opposite sides of the support-engaging tabs.

7. A card'support and a series of cards, each card comprising a stub and a record sheet hinged together, tab and seat "connections between the gether, tab and slot connections between the support and'stubs presenting the cards at the lines of hinging individually. adjacent .a face of the support, and an extension from each record sheet across its line of hinging to engage and spring on the said face when the sheet is turned up with respect to the face.

9. A card support, a series of cards, each card comprising a stub and a record sheet hinged together, means fastening the stub to the support presenting the card at its line of hinging adjacent a face of the support and an extension from each record sheet inwardly across its .line of hinging and the said means including reversely directed tabs on the stub, and cooperating re versely directed seats on the support.

'10. A card support,"a series of cards held by the support, each card comprising a stub and a record sheet hinged together, the support exposing a flat surface adjacent the line of hinging, connections between the stub and the support, and an extension of the record sheet rearwardly beyond the hinge adapted to engage the surface of the support and to snap along it when the sheet swings past a position perpendicular'to the said surface.

11. A card support exposing a contacting surface, a series of cards held by the support, each card comprising a stub and a record sheet hinged together, means fastening the stub to the support including outwardly directed tabs on the stub in cooperating inwardly directed seats presented by the support, and an extension from the record sheet across the line of hinging adapted to engage and'spring along the surface of the support when the record sheet is turned up with respect to the said surface. '12. In a visible index, a support, together with a stub and a card holder, hinge connection between the stub and card holder, and an extension from the card holder inward across the hinge line swinging with the card holder during hinging, in combination with means fastening the stub to the support and 'a card removably fastened to the card holder.

13. In a visible index, a support, together with a stub and card holders, the card holders hinged to opposite sides of the stub and having inward extensions across the hinge lines swinging with the card holders in hinging, means fastening the stub to the support and cards removably fastened to'the card holders.

14. A support for cards having provisions for the receipt of card tabs, a plurality of card stubs, having tabs on the stubs oppositely directed and adapted to engage with the support, record for movement away from the support.

15. In a visible index card system, a support therefor having stubs secured to the support close to each other and record sheets, one hinged to each stub, extensions from the record sheets beyond the hinge line engaging the support to spring the stubs laterally with respect to the support when the record sheets are swinging on their stubs and. a projection from the one stub engaging the other stub to interlock with it and carry the upon the support and a tongue out from one stub and bent back laterally upon the stub and interlocking with the other stub. 7

JAMES LYON GARFIELD.

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