US2010740A - Guide card retaining means for filing drawers - Google Patents

Description

1935- F. L. G. STRAUBEL 2,010,740

GUIDE CARD RETAINING MEANS FOR FILING DRAWERS File'd Aug. 7. 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l redericlil Aug. 6, 1935- F. L G. STRAUBEL GUIDE CARD RETAINING MEANS FOR FILING DRAWERS 4 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Aug. 7, 1934 W IFederiQF/L. irwubel,

Aug. 6, 1935.

F. L. 3. STRAUBEL GUIDE CARD RETAINING MEANS FOR FILING DRAWERS Filed Aug. 7, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwue/wiom Frederickllififmubel,

Aug. 6, 1935.

F. L. G. STRAUBEL CARD RETAI NING MEANS FOR FILING DRAWERS GUIDE Filed Aug. 7, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNlTlEiD-f STATES.

CARD RETAINING MEANS FOR s FILING DRAWERS l rederlck L. G. Straubel, Green Bay, Wis. hp'plication August 7,1934, Serial No. 738,849

' sfc aiins. (01. 129-16) This invention relates to filing drawers and more particularly to guide card retainingmeans intended for use in the bottom channel of the' drawer. The subject-matter of the present case is a continuation in part of- Patent No. 1,983,573,,

dated December 11, 1934.

Filing drawers are usually provided-;with' an; upwardly opening main-bottom channel for the which may be readily assembled in or removed I from the channel in the bottom of the drawer,

, purpose of receiving the depending shank of a 10 guide card which separates the filing space of the drawer into proper divisions or sections; Ordinarily, this channel is intended to. accomr modate a guide card shank havingan eyelet or opening for receiving a guide card 'lockin'g rod intended to lock the cards in the drawer so that r they will not be pulled out accidentally with filing folders and inadvertently removed from the drawer. In the patent above referred to, a guide card construction is illustrated which does not need a locking rod to hold the card in the drawer because the card is provided with a novel support intended to interlock with a continuous key slot overlying the channel formation in the bottom of the drawer. New drawer construction may be so formed as to use the type of guide card claimed in the patent aforesaid. However, where it is desirable to use my improved guide card having a key type support in old construction merely having an upwardly opening channel in the drawer bottom it is desirable to equip the 01d channel with retaining means which provides a key receiving slot. Therefore, for the purpose of adapting guide cards having 'a key-type rounded-bottom support, of the kind set forth in Patent No. 1,983,577, to olddrawer construction, the present invention contemplatesthe provision of a novel key means which may be fitted in drawer channels having plain vertical sides so'that the guide card locking rod may be dis- 4o pensed with, and guide cards of the novel type previously referred to may be used.

A primary object of the invention is to provide means adapted to be positioned in the main bottom channel of the drawer which provides upper and lower retaining surfaces for the support or hearing. portion of a guide card. That is to say, theinvention contemplates the provision of means adapted to be inserted in the usual main bottom channel or the drawer which will provide an upper retaining surface disposed substantially in the plane of the drawer bottom and a lower retaining surface disposed below the drawer bottom but above the bottom of the main channel. These retaining surfaces are intended to accommodate the laterally projecting por-' tions of the guide card support so that it may be slidably positioned between the retaining surfaces and may roll or rock on the lower surface, while the upper surface prevents the guide card support from being lifted from the channel. 5

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel key-channelor retainer construction consisting of separate interfitting parts and which may be secured in place without the aid of special tools, thereby materially simplifying, installation and permitting the user readily to adapt'his filingsystem to guide cards of the improved type.

A further object of the invention is to provide retainingmembers which may be readily interlocked with the bottom or side wall of the main channel in a simple and expeditious manner, as for example, providing the retaining members with lugs adapted to fit in the slots or openings of either wall of the channel, and which may be-bent after insertion in the slots to hold the members in place. i

A still further object of the invention is to provide an insertable retaining unit. This unit may consist of separate retaining members, as previously set forth, which are held in place by holding elements that interfit or interlock with openings' or shoulders in the ordinary drawer construction; or, the unit may consist of a single one-piece'member including the retaining. members connected by a webwhich is formed to expose the bottom of the channel so that the spaceregulator abutments formed on the bottom of the drawer channel may be available .for engagement by the space-regulator clutch. Thus, it will be apparent that whether the unit is made in separate sections or in one-piece, adequate provision is made for exposing the follower or space 40 regulator holding means on the bottom wall of the main channel.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and definedin the appended claims.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:- 1

Figure 1 is a detail vertical cross-sectional view 55 tending retaining flanges 6 and 6 of a filing drawer illustrating the application of one form of the present improvement thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the construction shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the key-chan nel unit with the parts separated, prior to assembly, and in their relative positions. Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified form of construction wherein the retaining members are interlocked with the drawer at one end and with the bottom of the drawer channel.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the construction shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a further modification'wherein the retaining members are interlocked with the bottom of the drawer channel Figure 8' is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure.9 is a plan view of another modification showing the retaining members interlocked with the sides of the drawer channel.

Figure 10 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on the line IIII of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a. top plan view of a further modificafion of the invention illustrating the retaining members combined in a single integral unit.

, Figure 12 isa longitudinal sectional view of the construction shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on the line'I3I3- of Figure 11.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

'Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the filing drawer is designated generally as'.A, the same having the usual sides, back and front, and a bottom portion A provided with an upwardly opening main channel I, having the horizontal bottom wall 2 and the vertical side walls 3.

As will be observed from the drawings, this mainchannel is intended to be continuous throughout the bottom of the drawer. Assuming that it is desired -to use guide cards-G of the type having the novel support S including the roll -bearing S'., -in a drawer having the characteristics above, referred to, it is desirable to insert the construction constituting the present invention- This construction consists of the retaining members 'B in the form of continuous channel shapes which include theupper and lower inwardly ex- The upper flanges 6 are. intended to be so spaced as to provide a slot therebetween thereby to receive the notchedshank' or cut away portion ofthe guide card support S and the lower flanges 6 provide a surface on which the rounded bottom of the guide card support may slide, roll, rock or tilt. The members'lB may also include the vertical wall portions I-"! intended to be engaged at their innerfaces by suitable fingers or projections on the rear and-front clamping members C and D reposition against the vertical side walls 3 of the channel I. The clamp D at the front of the unit comprises a body portion l provided with the offset fingers I! for engaging the inside faces 1-! of the members 3-3 at the front thereof.

When the retaining members are set up in the main channel I of the drawer, a continuous channel defined by flanges 6 and 6 is provided for the guide card supports so that the latter may be freely and readily shifted in the drawer and may also roll or rock on the flanges 6, while the upper flange prevents the lifting of thecard from the drawer.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-3 includes in its organization a pair of opposite retaining members in the form of channels or side rails so formed as to produce-inwardly facing grooves that provide in effect a key-slot or runway for a key type guide card support. The construction may be readily fitted into a channel formed in the bottom of a filing drawer by first placing the front ends of the members BB properly spaced by clamp D beneath the inside face of the drawer head and; then laying them against the sides of the main channel. The clamping member C may then be placed in position as 'indicated in Figure 2. Thus. it will be observed that the clamping and spacing. member C interlocks with the rear wall of the drawer, while the front clamping and spacing member D engages beneath'the inside of the drawer head or front. Therefore, when the construction is assembled in the main bottom channel of the drawer, it is effectively held in position-against upward movement in event that the guide cards which are interlocked therewith are lifted upwardly. It will, of course, be understood that the guide cards may be locked and released with reference to the channel by moving the same to the proper oblique angle with reference to the transverse width of the slot formed between the edges of the upper flanges 6.

In the event that it is desired to use the drawer with a guide card construction having an eyeleted support, and a guide card locking rod, it will, of course, be understood that the removable channel unit constituting the present invention can be removed by first removing the member 0- and subsequently removing BB and D.

Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6, it will beobserved that the retaining members B which may be of the same cross-sectional shape as the members B, have their bottom flanges 1 provided with at one end of the main channel I of the drawer bottom. In applying the members B it will be apparent that the projections 19 thereof may be inserted in the openings 20 and then the lugs [8 may berinserted in the openings l8 of the drawer bottom 2 and bent over or clinched to lock the retaining members in the main channel.

- According to the modification shown in Figures '7 and 8 the retaining members B may dispense with the projections I9 at the end thereof, and in that case. a'nluralitv of lugs I8? are formed on the lower flanges 1, the same being adapted to enter openings li in the bottom wall 2 of the main channel and to be clinched or bent into holding engagement therewith as shown in Figure 8. i

If desired, the holding lugs may be placed on the sides of the retaining members as shown'in Figures 9 and 10. As will beobserved from the latter, the retaining members B have lugs l8 formed from the side wall 6' which connects the retaining surfaces 6 and 6. These lugs I are intended to enter openings 18 pierced in the side walls 3 of the main bottom channel lo! the drawer. When the lugs l8 are clinched or bent as shown in Figure 10 it will be apparent that the retaining members B will be held in the main channel.

Figures 11', 12 and 13 of the drawings illustrate a modification of the invention wherein the retaining members B are integrally connected by a web 22 which is open or cut away-as at 23 to expose the rack formation or abutments 24 on the bottom 2 of the main channel I so that the clutch means of the space regulator or follower may readily function in the desired manner. It will, of course, be understood that the retaining members B are provided with the upper and lower retaining surface 6 and 6 and the connecting web 22 may be provided, at opposite edges, with the bottom lugs 25 adapted to enter openings 26 in the bottom 2 of the main drawer channel so that the lugs 25 may be bent or clinched as shown in Figure 13 to lock the entire unit in place.

It will be apparent that in all forms of the invention, the essential. feature of providing retaining members adapted to be fitted into and held within the main bottom channel I of the drawer is observed' Also, in all forms, the bottom of the channel is exposed between the retaining members so that the space regulator or follower may properly function under all conditions of use.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

1. In a filing drawer, the combination with the drawer bottom having a main bottom channel for receiving a guide card support, of an insert-' rear wall having .a slot, a drawer head and a main bottom provided witha main channel extending beneath a portion of the head; a pair of members presenting inwardly directed retaining flanges, and adapted to be positioned against the sides of the main channel with their front ends beneath said portion of the drawer head, a front clamping member having means for spacing the front ends of said first mentioned members and holding them against, the sides of the main channel and a rear clamping member also having means for spacing and holding said first mentioned members in and against the sides of the channel, and said rear clamping member having means for engaging in the slot in' the rear wall of the drawer.

3. In combination, a filing drawer having a bottom wall formed with a main channel including vertical side walls and a horizontal bottom,

guide card retaining means for the filing drawer, including a retaining unit for the bearing portions of guide card supports adapted to befitted in the main channel of the drawer and comprising inwardly facing channel members adapted to be positioned adjacent the side walls of the main channel and a connecting web overlying the bottom of the main channel, said web being cut away to expose a portion of the surface of the bottom wall of the main channel, and means for securing said unit in the main drawer channel.

4. In combination, a filing drawer having a bottom wall formed with a main channel including opposite side walls, guide card retaining means for the drawer, including, a pair of retaining members substantially S-shaped in cross-section positioned along the side walls, and means for securing the retaining members in the channel.,

5. In combination, a filing drawer having a bottom wall formed with a main channel including opposite side walls, guide card retaining means for the drawer, including, a pair of retaining members of substantially S-shaped crosssection, each having an inwardly directed flange and positioned along the side walls of the channel, and means for securing the retaining members in the channel.

6. In Combination, a filing drawer having a main channel including opposite side walls, guide card retaining means for the drawer, including, a pair of retaining members of substantially S- shaped cross-section each having spaced upper and lower inwardly directed flanges and positioned along the said side walls of the channel, and means for securing the retaining members in the channel.

7. In combination, a filing drawer having a bottom for supporting the filing material and provided with a main central channel having side walls and a bottom wall disposed below the plane of the drawer bottom, guide card retaining and supporting means for the filing drawer, including guide members each having spaced inwardly directed retaining and supporting flanges to provide a guideway for slidably receiving a guide card support, and means for holding the said guide members adjacent to the upper edges of the side walls of the main channel, thereby to space the supporting flanges of each guide member above the bottom wall of the main channel to provide a bearing surface for the guide cardsupport adjacent the drawer bottom.

8. In combination, a filing drawer having a bottom for supporting filed material and formed with a central main channel including side walls and a bottom wall, guide card retaining means in the channel, including, inwardly projecting pairs of continuous flanges positioned at the side walls of the main channel and each pair of flanges providing an upper retaining surface and a lower supporting surface for slidably receiving therebetween the bearing portion of a guide card support, said flanges exposing therebetween the bottom of the main channel, and means for positioning said finages in said main channel whereby the lower flanges which provide abearing and supporting surface for the guide card supports are held at an elevation above the exposed bottom wall of the main channel and. ad- '5' jacent to the drawer bottom.

9. In a filing drawer, the combination with the drawer bottom having a main bottom channel for receiving a guide card support, of an insertible and removable key-channel device fitted in said first-mentioned channel and comprising 0ppositely opening key channel members having inwardly directed top flanges, transverse end members engaged with the ends of the key channel members to hold the same in spaced apart relation, and means for holding said key channel device in the main bottom channel of the drawer.

FREDERICK L. G. STRAUBEL.

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