US1983878A

US1983878A - Pyroxylin plastic tab

Info

Publication number: US1983878A
Application number: US582787A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles F Rand
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-12-23
Filing date: 1931-12-23
Publication date: 1934-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1951-12-11

Description

Dec. 11, 1934. c F RAND PYROXYLIN PLASTIC TA'E Filed Dec, 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M INVENTOR BY 63 1 M62100 A ITORNEI'S Dec. 11, 1934.- c F RAND. V 1,983,878

PYROXYLIN PLASTIC TAB Filed Dec. 23, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z BY 0r? uromvzw Patented Dec. 11, 1934 v UNITED- STATES PATENTv OFFICE 1,983,878 rraomm rms'rrc '1AB Charles F. Band, North Tonawanda, N. Y. Application December 23, 1931, Serial No. 582,787

1 Claim This invention relates to pyroxylin plastic tabs adapted to be applied to an article and is more particularly intended to be embodied in a pyroxylin plastic tab for a record card or the like in which the tab projects upwardly from the edge of the record card and is adapted to carry a slip of paper upon which the index word, letter or other reference character is printed. It will be understood that the invention comprehends index tabs or the like made from cellulose acetate as well as those made from cellulose nitrate.

The invention is shown more particularly in connection with a record card to which the tab is adapted to be applied, the tab being provided with legs which straddle the opposite faces of the card and form a pocket which receives a slip of paper on which the reference character can be printed. In attaching such a tab difilculty has been experienced in properly positioning the tab upon the card. If the tab is applied so as to embrace too much of the card, the pocket formed is too small to receive the slips or strips of paper supplied with the tab for indexing purposes and if the tab is not placed far enough down upon the index card not only is this pocket too high but the tab itself also projects too high from the card, and is in danger of being torn ch in opening and closing the drawer in which the index cards are kept.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide a shoulder in the index tab which forms a catch or stop by which the tab is properly and accurately positioned. on the index card. Such shoulder not only insures such accurate positioning but also avoids the necessity of exercising any particular care in applying the tabs since the tabs need only be moistened, slipped over the edge of the card until the catch shoulder is engaged and then held until a bond is effected between the moistened glue of the tab and the side of the index card.

Another object is to provide such a tab which can be made in a wide variety of shapes and forms to meet all filing req ements and which can also be made in the form of individual tabs and also tabs which are sold ,in the form of a long strip and then cut of! by the user in lengths which he may require. Other objects are to provide such a shoulder which is cheaply and easily provided on the tab without appreciable increase in the cost of manufacture, and therefore can be sold in competition with pyroxylin plastic tabs which do not have this feature. In the accompanying drawings! rious forms and Figure 1 is a perspective view of an index card having a pyroxylin plastic tab made and applied in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2--2, Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a strip of tabs, this strip following the form of the invention shown in Fig. can be cut to any lengths the user may desire.

Figure 6 is a. view similar to Figs. 1 and 3 and showing a further modified form of the invention in which the upwardly projecting end of the index tab is offset with reference to the card.

Figure 'l is a section taken on line 7-7, Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a further modified form of the invention in which the upwardly projecting part of the tab is not only offset but is also arranged at an angle so as to be more visible from above.

Figures 9-13 inclusive are perspective views of difierent modified forms of the invention applied to a strip from which the tabs can be cut.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a tab having a stop shoulder cemented thereto in contradistinction to the integral formation of the tab as shown in the other forms of the invention.

Figure 15 is a section taken on line 15-l5, Fi 14 Figure 16 is a perspective view showing the form of the invention shown in Figs. 14 and 15 applied to a strip from which the tabs are adapted to be cut.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts in the several views.

While the invention can be embodied in vaa large number of modified forms are shown in the accompanying drawings, each of the forms is composed in general of a piece of pyroxylin plastic which is folded over to form two

legs

20 and 21 which are adapted to straddle the edge of an index card 22. Each 0! these legs consists of a bottom portion 23 which is adapted to be cemented to the corresponding side of the index card 22 and the upper portions of these legs are joined to form an upwardly projecting portion which forms a pocket 24 into which a strip of paper or the like is adapted to be inserted. On this strip (not shown) is printed-the usual indexing number, word or other character and since the tab is made of pyroxylin plastic, this word or reference character is visible through the transparent sides of the tab. When the tabs are separately formed as illustrated in Figs. 1, 8, 6, 8 and 14 1 but being of such form that they 10 the attachiri portions 23 of the legs are preferably enlarged so that when these parts are cemented to the card 22 a greater area of contact is provided and a more reliable attachment is secured. 7 It often occurs, however, that the user of the tabs requires different lengths for different purposes and under which conditions the tabs are made in the form of a continuous strip as illustrated in Figs. 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 16. When the tabs are so formed the user can cut the strip into lengths, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. and 9 and can cut the tab to any length he may desire.

The present invention is directed to the form of the tab and any method can be used for securing the attaching portions 23 of the tabs to the card, such as by stapling, as is now commonly used. However, for convenience in attaching I prefer to provide the inner faces of the attaching portions 23 with a transparent water soluble adhesive layer or coating 25 in the manner disclosed in either of my co=pending applications Ser. No. 455,943, filed May 26, 1930, or Ser. No. 528,493, filed December 2, 1931. These applications describe methods which provide a water soluble coating for a pyroxylin plastic tab or the like and which is, at the same time, transparent so that the reading matter on the card is visible through the attaching tab. By providing the adhesive coating in water soluble form all that the user need to do is to moisten the surface of this coating and apply the tab to the card.

The present invention relates primarily to the provision of a stop shoulder orcatch to insure the proper position of the index tab upon the card 22. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 this shoulder is provided by punching an inturned lip or lips 26 in one side of one leg of the tab immediately above the line at which the tab should be set a when properly placed upon the card 22. As

' best shown in Fig. 2 this inturned lip 26 forms a shoulder which is adapted to engage the top' of the card 22 and limit the downward movement of the tab upon the card. It is therefore ap'pare'ntthat'in applying the tab all the user need to.do;,} is to moisten the water solubletransparentadhesive coating 25 and thenset'the tab over the,edg'e of the card 22 until the lips 26 engage the edge of the card. Upon then pressing the sides of the tab against the card a firm bond will be obtained between the tab and the card and the card is ready for use. SLnce the lips 26 form an accurate gage the pocket 24 will be of exactly the right size to receive the index strip of paper or the like and also the upper part of the tab will project up from the card to exactly the desired extent. As shown the lips 26 are formed after the tabhas been folded and consequently a lip 27 is also formed in the opposite leg of the tab. It is apparent, however, that this lip 27, which serves no function, can be eliminated by punching the lips 26 while the tab is still in a flattened or unbent' condition.

Instead of forming the lips 26 within the it is apparent that these lips can be provided at the ends of the tabs. Such lips as indicated at 28 in Figs.'3 and 4 will function in the same manner as the lips-26 in 'Fig s..1 and 2-and if these lips are formed after the tab is folded, inoperative lips 29 will be formed in the opposite leg of the tab which can, however, be eliminated by forming the lips 28 before the legs of the tab are folded over.

In Fig. 5 the form of the invention shown tabs .in Fig. 12 to very thin cards the opposite wall in Figs. 1 and 2, that is the provision of the lips 26 in the center of the tabs, is shown as applied to a long strip 30 which can be out to any desired length by the user, as indicated by the dotted lines 31. This long strip is also provided with a layer of adhesive along its attaching portions 23 as in the other forms of the invention.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is illustrated a form of the invention in which the upwardly projecting part of the tab is offset as illustrated at 32. In so offsetting the upper portion of the tab a shoulder 33 is formed which rests upon the upper edge of the card 22 and forms a stop shoulder which limits the downward movement of the tab upon the card 22 and insures its proper positioning thereon. It is apparent that this form of the invention avoids the necessity of providing inturned lips on the tab as is required in the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1-5.

It is apparent that the upwardly projecting portion of the form of the'tabs shown in Figs. 6 and 7 can be formed so as to be arranged at an angle as indicated at 34 so that the strip of paper within the pocket 24 is more easily visible in using the index record. In other respects this form of the invention is identical to that shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

In Fig. 9 is illustrated a strip tab in which one leg of the strip is formed to provide an offset shoulder 35 which forms a stop gage in attaching the tab to a card. With this form the upwardly projecting part 36 can be either arranged in a vertical position or can be disposed at an angle as illustrated in Fig. 9.

In Fig. 10 is illustrated another form of the invention in which one leg of the tab is provided with an inwardly extending crimp 37, this crimp forming a stop shoulder which limits the downward movement of the tab on .the card 22 and determines the position of the tab upon the card. The other leg of the tab is formed to provide a horizontal shelf 38 which connects the attaching portion 23 of this leg with an angularly disposed upper portion 39.

.37 as illustrated in Fig. 10,.it is appparent that this crimp, asillustrated at 40 in Fig. 11, can

be made wider-and rest upon the shelf 38. This.

form provides a tabwhich is somewhat stronger than the form shown in Fig. 10.

A simplifiedfform of the invention is shown in Fig. 12 in which one leg of the tab is provided with an inwardly extending crimp 41 which is'adapted to contactv with the opposite leg of the tab. This crimp, of course, forms a stop shoulder as in the other forms of the invention. In this form the upwardly projecting portion of the tab can be vertically disposed, as illustrated, or it can be arranged at an angle so as to be more visible from above. I

In applying the form of the invention shown from the crimp 41' is formed to provide a groove or corrugation 42 which receives the crimped shoulder 41. By making this corrugation 42 of sufficient size the legs of the tab can be brought sufliciently close together to contact and form a good bond with an index card 22 of any thick ness.

Instead offorming the gage shoulder integrally with the tab as illustrated in the other forms of the invention, this shoulder can be made in the form of a separate strip 43 of pyroxylin plastic or the like. This strip 43 is then cemented to the inner side of one leg of the tab in proper position to form a stop shoulder. Any means can be employed for cementing this strip but preferably one face of the strip is coated with a suitable solvent of pyroxylin plastic, such as monoethyl ether or ethylene glycol, butyl, ethyl or amyl acetates, or methanol or the like and this strip is then pressed against the leg of the tab. By this means the strip 43 is firmly united to the tab and forms a stop shoulder for limiting the downward movement of the tab upon the card 22 and insures the proper positioning of the tab thereon.

In the form'oi the invention shown in Figs. 14 and 15, as in the other forms of the invention, a layer of colored material 44 can be applied to the inside of the tab at the bend or upper end thereof. This layer of colored material 44 extends the full length of the tab but does not interfere with the ready visibility of the strip of paper arranged in the pocket 24. The colors contained in the layers 44 can be varied and are useful as an aid in indexing, all tabs having a red color at their bends having one indication and all tabs having a yellow color at their bends having another indexing indication, for example. By the provision of these layers of colored material it is apparent that the use of files is greatly expedited and at the same time no visibility is lost through the provision of this layer of colored material even though the same may be entirely opaque.

In Fig. 16 is illustrated a form of the invention in which the strip 43 is applied to a continuous length of a strip tab from which the tabs may be cut to any desired length. In other respects this form of the invention is identical to that described in Figs. 14 and 15.

It is apparent that the invention can be greatly varied as to details and while I have shown a large number of modifications it is obvious that the invention is susceptible to a large number of further modifications and variations without departing from the spirit of the invention, the primary intent of which is the provision of a stop shoulder within a pyroxylin plastic tab which limits its downward movement and insures the proper positioning of the tab and insures the provision of a pocket-24 of proper size to receive the strip of paper and also insures that the tab is set far enough down upon the card to avoid interference in opening and closing the drawers in which these index cards are usually placed.

I claim:

A tab of the character described, comprising a piece of sheet material bent to form two legs, the end portions of the two legs forming attaching portions adapted to be secured to the opposite sides of a card or the like, and the portion of said tab adjacent said bend being adapted to project outwardly from the edge of said card, the outwardly projecting portion of said tab being offset laterally relative to said attaching portions whereby one leg is provided with a ridge perpendioular to the attaching portion of said leg and extending the full length of said tab and adapted to cooperate with the edge of said card toinsure the proper positioning of. the attaching portions ofsaid legs on opposite sides of said card and insuring the predetermined projection of the other part of said tab beyond the edge of said card, and the outwardly projecting portion of said tab being inclined relative to said attaching portions.

CHARLES F. RAND.