US1943997A

US1943997A - Filing cabinet

Info

Publication number: US1943997A
Application number: US426679A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl F Wolters
Original assignee: Remington Rand Inc
Current assignee: Remington Rand Inc
Priority date: 1930-02-07
Filing date: 1930-02-07
Publication date: 1934-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1951-01-16

Description

Jan. 16, 1934. c. F. WOLTERS 1,943,997

FILING CABINET Filed Feb. 7, 1930 -4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 16, 1934. c. F. WOLTERS FILING CABINET Filed Feb. 7, 1930 4 Sheets- Sheet 2 FILING CABINET Jan. 16, 1934.

Filed Feb. 7, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4' I Patented Jan. 16, 1934 PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES 1,943,997 FILING canmar Carl F. Wolters, Marietta, Ohio, assignor to Remington Rand Inc., Buflalo, N. Y., a corpoi-ation of Delaware Application February 7', 1930. Serial No. 426,679

17 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements infiling cabinets and particularly to an improved fire resistant file adapted to contain ledger or card holding trays and the like.

An object of the invention resides in providing a filing cabinet having an open ended compartment and a closure for the open end thereof adaptedfor sliding movement into open and gether with 'a record supporting structure mov- 4 tion showing the mounting for the front end of able in the compartment in the'cabinet toward and from the open end connected to and operable 20 by the movement of the closure.

The invention further comprehends the provision of a filing cabinet having a compartment open at the upper end throigh the top of the cabinet, a closure slidable on the upper end of 26 the cabinet into open and closed positions and adapted to be moved adjacent one side wall of the cabinet in open position, the movement of the cover being utilized for raising andlowering a record supporting member within the cabi 80 net so that in the open position of the cover the record supporting member will be raised to provide accessto the cards carried thereby.

Another feature of the invention resides in providing a fire resistant cabinet having an open upper end for the compartment therein, the cablnet being lined with fire resistant material to protect recordsheld therein and the openupper end of the cabinet being provided with sealing grooves of a special character adapted for oooperation with complementary portions on an insulated cover provided to form a closure for the open upper end of the cabinet so as to, seal the compartment and protect the contents against fire and in addition to form an operating member for counter-balancing the weight of a file supporting memberwithin the compartment .of the cabinet also adapted to be elevated by the operation of the cover to the upper open end in connection with the specific structural relainvention comprehends other objects tion and association of the parts showing a preferred form of construction, it being understood, however, that various changes in the size, shape and relation to these parts together with the manner of assembly may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as herein set forth.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a front elevation" ofga cabinet constructed according to the invention with parts 66 broken away to illustrate some'of the details of construction.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on'line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the parts iii-closed position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the 70 parts in open position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed seeshow the bottom.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 8-,-8 of Fig. lillustrating the lock mount- This new filing cabinet comprises essentially a cabinet 1 having a compartment therein open at the upper end and closed by the cover 2-which has both sliding and swinging movement relative to the cabinet in movement to both its open v and closed positions, and serves as an operating and counter-balancing member for-the tray Q 3 adapted for movement in thefcabinet from a position adjacent the upper open end thereof into the bottom thereof. When' the tray 3 is at. the

upper open end of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 3 the recordscontained therein are supported forconvenient access and use, while the same rec-- ords are protected and housed in the cabinet when the tray is in the bottom thereof and the cover is in closed position so as to prevent their destruction by fire, The specific features of construction of the cabinet, the closure and the tray together with the associated parts and'operating mechanism will now bedescribed.

' A cabinet- 1 is suitably. supported by a stand 4 which comprises a rectangular frame member formed of angle iron side members 5 and end members 6 which are connected at their ends to the legs 7 provided withfcasters 8 on theirIlower 110 ends so that the cabinet supported thereon may be conveniently moved about the ofiice or other place of business where it is used. The stand 4 is suitably and preferably permanently attached to the cabinet 1 in any suitable manner.

The cabinet 1 is formed with an outer sheet metal casing 9 enclosing a fire resistant monolithic body 10 forming a liner for the casing 9. The casing 9'and liner 10 of the cabinet 1 are formed to provide afront wall 11, rear wall 12, side walls 13 and bottom wall 14 so as to form a compartment within the monolithic body 10 open at the upper end.

The upperopen end of the cabinet is of special form and will now be described. The upper edges of the side walls 13 and rear wall 12 of the casing 9 terminate inlaterally and inwardly extending portions 15 having at their inner edges downwardly. extending flanges 16 which embrace the corresponding portions of a frame member 17 forming with the flanges15 and 16 an enclosure for the upper side and rear edges of the monolithic body 10 in a manner clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

This frame member 17 is formed to provide sealing grooves for sealing cooperation with complementary portions of the cover or closure 2. The rear end of the frame 17 as shown in Fig. 3 is formed with an inwardly horizontally extending portion 18 terminating at its inner edge in a downwardly extending wall portion 19 along the inner space of the rear wall of the liner 10 which is provided in its intermediate portion with an offset 20 forming an inwardly spacing groove, while the lower edge of the wall portion 19 of frame 17 is offset at 21 and embedded within the monolithic lininglO as shown in Fig. 3. Referring to Fig. 6 the side portions of the frame 17 have horizontally inwardly extending portions 22 at the lower ends of the downwardly extending portions 16 oh the casing 9. the portions'22 being slightly below the level or horizontal plane of the portion 18 on the rear wall of the cabinet and frame 17. ,At the inner edges these portions 22 of frame 17 terminate in upwardly-extending beads 23 from which wall portions 24 ex- 'tend downwardly along the inside face of the side walls of the liner 10, terminating at the lower edges in ofisets 25 embedded'within the material of the liner. as shown in Fig. 6. This provides upwardly facing channels or grooves 27 at the upper inner edges of the side walls of the cabinet for portions on the cover which will be presently described. In the bottom of these grooves and secured to the horizontal portions 22 are sealing and wear compensating strips 28.

The front wall 11 of the cabinet has its upper edge terminating. below the upper edges of the side walls and below the horizontal plane of the portions22 of the edge frame 17 as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The casing 9 of the cabinet 4 has its upper edge on the front wall 11 formed edge portion 32 is formed from thesheet metal adjacent the bead 31 which terminates in a downwardly extending inner wall portion 33 lying flush with the inner. face of the front wall of the liner 10 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. This provides a l metal edge frame andprotection for the monolithic liner 10- along the upper edge of the front wall 11 of the cabinet and also provides the bead 31 which forms with the portions 9 a d 9 7411 the edge frame 17 as shown in Fig. 1.

as shown in Fig. 5 at opposite ends of the front wall 11 of the cabinet and immediately above the portion 29 thereof. These recesses receive the bearing rollers 35 rotatably mountedpn hub portions 36 secured to the supporting brackets 37 by the retaining screws 38, shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The brackets 37 have their end portions secured to The peripheries of the rollers 35 project above the horizontal plane of the upper edge of beads 23.

Fulcrum bearings 39 shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 are mounted on the inner faces of the side walls 13 of the cabinet adjacent the inner space of the front wall 11 and the wall portion 33 formed on the front wall of the casing 9 so that they have peripheries projecting slightly above the horizontal plane of the horizontal upper edge portion 32 on the front wall. The purpose of these fulcrum rollers 39 and the bearing rollers 35 will be described in connection with the structure and operation of the cover or closure 2.

The tray 3 is formed of sheet metal to provide a bottom 40, side walls 41 and end walls 42. Side walls 41 have their upper edges formed with out- .wardly extending flanges terminating in downturned lips as indicated at 43 which embrace channel members 44 extending the entire length of the sides of the tray as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. The channel members 44 face outwardly from the sides of the tray as illustrated in Fig. 6 and have depending lip portions on the upper outer edges for enclosing a portion of the groove in the channel member as shown at 45 in Fig. 6. Immediately below the channel members 44 are mounted a pair of channel members 46 similar in construction to channel members 44 but shorter in length, the channel members. 46 being mounted adjacent to the front end of the tray and the lower edge of the members 44 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Channel members 47 similar to channels 46 are mounted in the bottom of the cabinet and attached to the inside of the side walls 13 of'the cabinet to the inner walls of the mono lithic liner 10 adjacent the bottom wall 14 as 'alsoof the monolith 10 so that a firm anchor is pro vided in the monolithic body for supporting these channel members 47, which are also positioned adjacent the front end of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 2.

A lazy tong mechanism comprising two pairs of

cross levers

48 and 49, has one pair of cross levers mounted at each side of the tray adjacent the side walls 13'of the cabinet. These

levers

48 and 49 of each pair are pivotally connected in their central portions as indicated at 50 while the rear ends of each of the

levers

48 and 49 are pivotally connected at 51 and 52 to the rear" end of the inner faces of the side walls of the cabinet and to the rear end of the sides 41 of the tray, respectively. This is shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. The forward ends of these

levers

48 and 49 carry rollers v which engage and ride in the

channel members

46 and 47 respectively in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and'3, also Fig. 1. By this lazy tong mechanism the tray 3 is uniformly'guided in its movement from-the bottom of the cabinet as end or side walls during itsoperation by'the cover ina manner hereafter described.

' The tray 3 is adapted to receive and contain ledger trays or card holding drawers or trays containing various types of record cards which stand on edge so that reference may be had for indexing or filing purposes to the cards along the upper or side edges thereof.

The tray 3 will support these cards in position for the manipulation thereof by the mer when at its upper limit of movement in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 6. in which position the upper edges of; the cards will project above the upper edges of the cabinet. to vary the height which the cards project above the cabinet, this may be obtained by the use of false bottom members 53 having marginal depending flanges which support these members above the bottom 40 so as to elevate the cards in the tray. Any number of these false bottom members 53 may be used in superposed relation to obtain the desired elevation of the cards in the tray.

The cover or closure 2 is of special construction having a sheet metal casing enclosing monolithic slab or liner 55 of suitable fire resistant material of any desired character known in the art. The

rear edge of the closure 2 is formed as illustrated in Figs. 2 and -7 to provide a pair of

projections

56 and 57 of unequal length between which is provided a groove 58.

The sheet metal casing 54 for the cover extends around the projections 56 and 5'7 in the groove 58 in the manner shown'in Fig. 2 so as to protect the edge of the monolith slab 55. jections 56 and 5'7 in the the groove 58 are formed so as to provide .a complementary portion. for

- the edged structure of the rear wall 12 of the cabinet as previously described in which the'profiection 5'7 fits in the .groove formed by the offset 20 while the projection 56 seats in the recess formed by the angularly arranged portion 16 of the casing 9 and 18 of the edge frame 1'7. When the rear end of the cover is in closed postion the parts'areinterengaged as shown'in Fig. 2 so that the cover seals the joint alongthe rear edge with the cabinet to prevent the entrance of fire into thepcompartment in the cabinet.

The side edges ofthe cover or closure 2 areprovided to form depending projections 59 which fit in the groove 2'7 in the upper edges of the side walls, while grooves 60 in the cover re eive the beads 23 on the upper edges of the side walls of the case of the cabinet so that when the cover is in closed position, the projections 59 in the grooves 60 will cooperate with the complementary portions of the cabinet. to provide sealing cooperation along the side edges of the cover or closure for effectively preventing the entrance of fire or'heat sufiicient to destroy the contents of the compartment in the cabinet. I The side edges of the cover 2 have the sheet metal casing 54 extending around the projections 59 and in the grooves 60, while this cover within the'grooves 63 and adjacent thereto is reinforced by. the bar members of track bars 61 having laterally extending flanges on the oppositeedges thereof as shown in Fig. 1. These bar members provide tracks or the like which carry the weight of the cover during its opening and closing movements in which the bearing rollers 35 have roll- Should it be desired The proshown in Fig. 4 and indicated at 62'toaccommodate the bearing rollers 35 in the closed position of the cover. The track bars 61 together with the overlying portion of the casing 54 as shown in Fig. 4 is formed with an angular upwardly extending end portion 63 over the recesses 62 in each side of the cover. As the cover moves to its final-closed position this angular portion 63 permits the cover to drop slightly toward the upperend of the cabinetso that the grooves and projections on the cover and cabinet will firmly engage in interfitted relation to provide 8. definite seal between the cover and the cabinet.

A bracket 64 is mounted on the edge 65 of the casing 54 of the cover as clearly shown in Fig. 4; and is provided for retaining a rubber or other resilient stop member 66 adjacent the front corner of the cover so that when it is moved to open position it will cushion the engagement of the front end of the cover on the front of the cab.- net and supporting stand an prevent the scarring of'the finish on the cabinet and stand and also the objectionable contact of the metal in the cover with the cabinet.v

The front portion of the cover has a downwardly extending portion formed therein adapted to seat upon the portion 29 of the top of the front side wall and an inward projection 66', spaced from the top, forms a groove for reception of the bead 31, thereby making a tightly sealed joint which prevents the entrance of fire into the inner compartment of the cabinet and aids in rendering the same fire resistant.

The rear end of the cover is provided with a pair of supporting and operating brackets or members 67 positioned adjacent the side edges of the cover as shown in Fig. 7,. These brackets 67 p are provided withbase flanges .68 secured to the cover while arms of angular cross-section extend laterally from the cover. The side portions '70 of these arms 69 carry bearing rollers 71 at their free end which fit;- and ride within the channel the fulcrum bearings 39 so that when the bearings 39 engage the stop portions 73, the cover w.ll move about these-bearings 39 as a pivot.

The bracket members 67 support the rear end of the cover during its sliding movement into closed position by the bearing engagement of the bearing rollers 71 in the channel members 44. During this movement of the bearing rollers I1 in the channel members 44 the tray 3 is seated on the bottom of the cabinet and the cover is supported slightly above and out of contact with the upper edges of the cabinet. As the cover moves into the closed position shown in Fig. 2 at which time the front end drops into contact with the upper front portions of the cabinet, the bearing rollers 71 ride downwardly on the downwardly inclined portions 74 of the channel members 4&4 which permits the rear end of the cover to be lowered'sufficiently to rest and be supported on the upper edges of the cabinet. In this way the entire edge portion of the cover has its grooves and projections engaged in the complementary part of the cabinet and provided with an intimate contact with these parts of the cabinet to effectively seal the contents of the compartment in the cabinet against the entrance of fire and heat from an external sort around the cover.

When the cover'is to be opened from a position members 44 on thetray 3 as shown in Figs. 1, 2,

as shown in-Fig. 2 for movement to the position shown in Fig. 3, the handle 75 on the front end of the cover is grasped by the operator and the cover given a forward pull. This will result in the bearing rollers 71 riding upwardly on the incLned portions 74 of the channel members 44 and the track members 60 having the inclined portions 63 engaging with the bearing rollers 35 so as to elevate the front portion of the cover out of 'contact with the cabinet, whereupon the cover is supported by the bearing rollers 35 and the bearings 71 for free longitudinal sliding the cabinet, the fulcrum bearings 39 will engage the track portions 72 of the supporting and op- I crating brackets 67 adjacent the base portions 68 and will cause the cover to ride upwardly thereon due to the inclined relation of the track portions 72. This will also begin to lift the tray 3 upwardly from the position shown inFig. 2. Then the front end of the cover may be permitted to lower so that the track portions 72 will ride over the fulcrum bearings 39 to form a travelling fulcrum for the cover as the front end moves downwardly toward the position shown in Fig. 3. This will be occasioned by the weight of the cover which will in turn further elevate the tray 3 toward the upper end of the cabinet until the.

central portion 76 of the track portions 72 engage the fulcrum bearings 39 when the tray will be elevated to substantially its uppermost position as-shown in Fig. 3.

Then the operator .forc'es the lower end of th cover inwardly toward the front wall of thecabinot which will efiect the final elevation of the tray into the position shown in Fig. 3 during which time the track members'72 will ride over the fulcrum bearings 39 from the portions 72 into engagement with the-stops '73. This movement of the cover will also be occasioned by engagement of the inner face of the cover with the rollers 77 carried. by the brackets 78 secured to the front wall 11 of the cabinet adjacent the upper edge thereof as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The tray on the cover is locked in the position shown in Fig. 3 by suitable mechanism including a pair bf latches 79 pivotally connected to the front wall 42 of the tray at 80 and normally moved into locking position by spring members 81 so that the projections 82 will engage over the operating brackets 69 in the manner shown in Fig. 6. An operating handle 83 is' pivotally mounted on the front end of the tray 42 as indicated at 84 to which 85 are pivotally connected at opposite sides of the pivot 84 and have their opposite ends pivotally connected to the locking members 79 intermediate their ends as shown in Fig. 6. A coil spring 86 has one end secured to the lever 83 and the opposite end secured to the front wall 42 of tray 3 and normally assists in the movement of the latches to the looking position. By operating the handle 83 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6, the latches 79 may be moved into the dotted line position also illustrated in Fig. 6, which will permit the tray to be moved downwardly and the cover to be moved into the closed position. In moving the cover to the closed position the parts will be opora'ed in the reverse manner to that described above for the movement of the cover to the open position.

Attention is particularly directed to the special in convenient position during use..

' with the recess 91 to permit access to the lock ing mechanism 87 for its removal and repair.

that it substantially disen gages the cabinet by movement beyond the front wall befo'rebeing 80 swung downwardly against the front wall of the cabinet to the position shown in Fig. 3. As a result of the special construction and operation provided for the movement 'of the cover from open to closed positions, it will be noted that 85 when the cover is in the open position it lies adjacent the front wall of the cabinet and has substantially a small amount of space, thus making it necessary to provide a special extra space for the cabinet in order to permit the opening of the cover. In the construction disclosed the cover moves into the working area in its opening movementand is then moved downwardly out of the way so that access may be had to the contents of the tray 3. In this way these cabinets may be mounted side by side when desired and will not in any way interfere with the operation of one another.

Card trays for account cards such as are .used

in banks and the like are mounted in the tray 3 and supported at any desired elevation by use of i the false bottoms 53 so that the cards will project the desired height above the upper end of the cabinet for ready access and reference. This type of cabinet is usually used in conjunction with machine posting devices of the types now used in the art and provide aconvenient support for cards used .in this manner which will not onlyhouse the cards but support them Attention is also particularly directed to the special feature obtained by connecting the cover through the medium of the operating arms 67 with the tray so that in ,the movement of cover or closure to the open position, the tray is elevated from the bottom of the compartment to the top portion thereof, and also counter balances the weight in the tray -3 so that the cover -may be easily and readily operated without relifting on the tray in. the central portion thereof,

there is likely to be a tendency for the tray, o tilt in the cabinet which would cause a wedging of the ends between the front and rear walls. This is avoided by the lazy tong mechanism heretofore described, which insures the uniform elevation of all parts of the tray from a lower position to the upper position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 8', a looking mechanism for locking the cover in closed position to prevent access to the contents of the cabinet by unauthorized persons is provided. This mechanism includes a key operated lock 8'7 for projecting the locking bolt 88 into the keeper 89 mounted in the projection on the front end of the cover. The lock 87 is mounted in a suitable bracket 90 mounted in the'central portion of the front wall '11 of the cabinet and embeddedin the monolith liner which is provided A suitable cover plate 92 is positioned on the inside of the front wall 11 of the cabinet to close the inner open end of this recess 91-as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

plurality of independent and adjacent compart ments, each having a tray movable therein and operated by a separate cover section which may be removed .in the same manner. as the cover above described. These cover sections may be made to lie adjacent the front of the cabinet in open position, or in some cases may be made to lie' adjacent the sides, it being the intention to comprehend this multiple compartment structure in this application as well as the single com partment illustrated and described.

What is claimed is:

1.. A file comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at one side, a closure for the open side of, said cabinet slidable into open and closed positions and movable to lie adjacent a side of said cabinet, arms mounted on and extending laterally from said closure, a tray movable in said compartment, said arms engaging and moving said tray into the open end of said compartment as the closure is moved from closed position to the position adjacent the side of said cabinet.

2. A file comprising a cabinet having a compartment open at one end, a closure for the open end of said compartment slidable and movable into open and closed positions, said closure being supported adjacent oneside of said cabinet in open position, a tray movable within said cabinet, and means carrying said closure and engaging .said tray for moving the tray to the open side of said cabinet and for supporting said closure for,

movement to a positionadjacent the side of said cabinet after its slidable movement toward open position.

3. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at the upper end, a tray movable in said compartment, a lazy tong mechanism for securing uniform movement of the tray relative to the cabinet, a cover member for said cabinet slidabic and movable into open and closed positions, a pair of arms mounted on and extending laterallyfrom said cover member having the ends slidably engaging said tray, bearings on said cabinet for said arms, whereby in the movement of said cover member to open position said arms will engage and ride on said bearings and move said tray into the upperend of said cabinet,

said cover membermoving to aposition adjacent a side. of said cabinet, and latching means on the tray for engaging said arms to retain the tray in elevated position and the cover member in open position.

4. A file, comprising a cabinet formed to provide a compartment open at' one side, a closure for the open side of said cabinet slidable into open and closed positions, arms mounted on and extending laterally from said. closure, a traymovable in said compartment, said arms engaging and movingsaid tray into the open end of said compartment when said closure is moved to open position.

5. A file comprising a cabinet having a compartment open at one end, aclosure for the open end of said compartment slidable into open and closed positions on said cabinet, a plurality of arms mounted on and extending laterally from said closure, a tray within said compartment hav-' ing portions in engagement with said arms, and bearing membersmovably supporting said arms when the tray is moved to the open end of said compartment and said closure is slidably moved 'to the open position. '5.

6. In a file, a cabineth-avinga compartment open at one end, a tray movable in said compartment, operating means engaging with said tray and attached to a closure for moving said tray to the open end of said compartment when said closure is moved to open position, and a latching mechanism for engagement with said operating means when said closure is adjacent a side of said cabinet to sustain said tray in thc'open end of said compartment and retain said closure in said last-named position. v

'1. In a file, a fire resistant cabinethaving a compartment open at one end, a tray movable within said cabinet, :3. fire resistant closure slidable on said cabinet, the marginal portions of said closure and cabinet being formed for sealing cooperation in the closed position of said closure, a plurality of arms attached to said closure and slidably contacting with channels upon said tray to support said closure for free sliding movement, one portion of said channels extending in angular relation to the remaining portions whereby said closure will move laterally at one end of its sliding movement to provide a tightly sealed joint with the cabinetwhen said arms move onto said when said angular portions engage over said.

bearing members.

9. In a file, a'cabinet having a compartment open at its upper end, a tray mounted in said compartment for movement from the bottom thereof, to said open end, a closure for the open top of the compartment slidable to uncover said compartment and pivoted about an edge thereof to lie adjacent a side of the cabinet subsequent to said uncovering movement, and means conheating said closure and said tray whereby upon pivotal movement of said closure said tray is raised in said compartment by gravitational action of said closure.

10. In a file, a cabinet having a compartment open at its upper end, a tray mounted in said compartment for movement from the bottom th'ereof to said open end, a closure for the open top of the compartment slidable and movable into open and closed positions, said closure being supported adjacent a side of said cabinet in open position, and means connecting said closure to said tray, said closure during its movement acting as a counterbalance to raise said tray.

11. A file comprising a cabinet having a compartment open at one end, a closure for the open end of said compartment slidable to uncover said compartment,.pivot means within said compartment adjacent a side wall thereof, lat erally extending arms on'said closure, curved trackways on said arms terminating in stop means, said trackways upon sliding uncovering movement of said closure riding upon said pivot means to elevate rear portions of the closure, to space the same from the top of said side wall whereby said closure may be pivoted about said pivot means in spaced relation to said side wall to a position substantially parallel thereto with the stop means abutting said pivot means.

12. In a file, a cabinet having a compartment open at its upper end, a tray in said compartment, a closure for the open end of the compartment slidable to uncover said compartment and pivoted to lie adjacent a side of the cabinet, 10-

arms mounted on and extending laterally from said closure and connected to said tray, said arms uponpivotal movement of said closure raising said tray to the open end of the compartment, said closure counter-balancing said tray during such movement, and latching means on the tray engaging .said arms to retain the raised tray and closure in locked relation.

13. In a file, a cabinet having sidewallsand a compartment open at one end. a closure for the open end of said compartment mounted on supporting means disposedwlthin said cabinet, and slidable to uncover said compartment, pivot means within said cabinet, said supporting ;means cooperating with said pivot means upon opening movement to pivot said closure about said pivot means in spaced relation to said cabinet to a position substantially parallel to one of said side walls and on the outer side thereof.

14. In a file, a cabinet having a; compartment open at one end; a closure forthef open end of said compartment slidable to uncover said compartment, supporting means normally with-' in the cabinet for said closure comprising-laterally extending arms -on said closure having trackways, and pivot meanswithin said cabinet cooperatingwith the trackways on said arms to support and guide said closure, whereby said closure may be pivoted about sa d pivot means so as to lie adjacent a side wall of said cabinet on the outerside thereof.

15. In a file, a cabinet having a compartment open at its upper end, a tray mounted in said compartment for movement from the bottom thereof to said open end, a closure for the open top of the compartment slidable and movable between open and closed positions, said closure .joct'ons for portion of one said projections and grooves and engaging strip being supported adjacent a side of 'said cabinet in open position, and operating means between the closure and tray operable for moving the tray in movement of the closure, said closure acting as a counterbalance for said tray.

16. A file comprising a cabinet having a compartment open at one end, a" closure-for the open end of said compartment slidable and movable into open and closed positions, said closure being supported adjacent one side of said cabinet in open position, a tray movable within said cabinet, and means connected with said closure engageable with parts connected with said tray operable to move said tray to the open sideof said cabinet and for supporting said clo-' sure for movement to open position adjacent a side of said cabinet.

17. In a file, a fire resistant cabinet member having side and end walls for a compartment open at one end, a fire resistant closure member slidable and movable on said member into open and closed positions, the marginal portions of said closure member and the edges of the side and end walls, of said'cabinet member being formed with complementary grooves and prosealing cooperation in the closed position of said closure member, bearing members supported at the sides of said file in the of said members formed with portions in the grooves along the sides of the other member and operable to-support said cover with the grooves and projections along the sides interengaged in spaced non-sealing relation for ee sliding movement ofsaid cover toward and tions being formed in angular relation to the remainder of said strip portions to provide for I from open position, end sections of said strip porlateral movement of the closure member relative to its plane of sliding movement and toward the cabinet at the end of its sliding movement toward closed position to bring said grooves and projections of both members into sealing cooporation and engagement.