US201004A - Improvement in bill-files - Google Patents

Description

J. E. GORMAN. Bill-File.

No. 201,004. Patented March 5, I878.

yolun Zeer N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITMOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. GORMAN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BILL-FILES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,004, dated March 5, 1878; application filed February 13, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN E. GORMAN, of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented a new and usemlmprovement in Bill- Files; and I do hereby declare that the following is an accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which like letters refer to like parts.

My invention relates to bill-files or fileboxes designed to retain public documents records, letters, 850.; and its object is to make a file-box which shall permit of easy access to its contents, and at the same time preserve the papers placed therein from exposure, and hold them flat or in bundles without the use of tapes or bands.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation; and Fig. 4 is a front view, showing the flanges turned over to hold a label, with label in place.

A is the side of a rectangular box, made of metal, wood, pasteboard, or other suitable material. One end of the box F is hinged at b, and when closed is secured bythe bail E turning down into the notch a. The end of the box opposite the hinged end F is permanently secured to the sides A, and this permanent end and the hinged end F have each a series of corrugations, B B, upon the inside. These corrugations may be made in the ends of the box, or in a separate piece of wood or metal, soldered, riveted, or otherwise secured to the ends of the box.

The corrugations may be in the sides instead of in the ends, in which case the follower will slide in from the open end.

A follower, 0, wide enough to fit easily into the box, and just long enough to enter the depressions between the corrugations, but not to pass them, is placed upon a pile of papers in the box, and pressed down upon them, when, by closing the cover F, the follower will be held between the corrugations, holding the papers compressed, and not permitting them to be displaced until the cover F is opened and the follower 0 released.

The front end of the box has flanges I turned in from the corners, to secure a label, H, which may be slipped in from above. In making the box of sheet metal, which is the form in which I prefer to use it, the seams are swaged or turned over to the front, thereby producing the turned-in flanges without any additional expense.

Other forms of flanges may be used.

When the bail E is turned down into the notches win the sides A, it may be secured by a small bolt, D, at the side. This will only be necessary, however, when the box is full of papers.

To render the box substantially dust and water proof, a supplementary cover, K, may be hinged to one of the ends, as at b or b, Figs. 2 and 3. When this cover is attached, the bail E and catch D may be dispensed with, if desired.

G is a ring to draw out the box from a shelf or pigeon-hole.

By the above construction a file-holder is made which is neat, light, and cheaply constructed.

When papers are put in the box they are held down. by the follower C so closely that they are not likely to be injured by fire, as it is well known that packed or compressed paper is exceedingly non-combustible and when the boxes are made of metal, and a large number placed side by side upon shelves or other supports, or in pigeon-holes, they form a practically fire-proof wall, as only the metallic ends bearing the labels are exposed to the action of a fire in the rooms where the files are stored.

Instead of using the supplementary cover, I may dispense with this part, and, by simply turning the open side to the wall or down upon the shelf, obtain the same result--viz., render the box dust and water proof without the addition of the cover K.

Having thus described the construction of my device, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of the permanent end and the hinged end, corrugated as described, with the follower O, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

.2. The combination of the hinged end F; gated ends or sides,-the bail, and follower, all bail E, and sides A, notched at a, substanconstructed, combined, and arranged substantially as described. tially as described.

3. The combination of the bail E notched side plate A, and the fastening device D, con- JOHN GORMAN' structed and arranged substantially as de- Witnesses: scribed. G. Y. AT LEE,

4. A file holder or box having the corru- M. P. CALLAN.

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