US2501402A

US2501402A - Desk novelty letter holder

Info

Publication number: US2501402A
Application number: US676210A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter W Mcguire
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-06-12
Filing date: 1946-06-12
Publication date: 1950-03-21
Anticipated expiration: 1967-03-21

Description

w. W. M GUIRE 0 DESK NOVELTY LETTER HOLDER Filed June 12, 1946 March 21, 1950' Inventor Patented Mar. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DESK NOVELTY LETTER HOLDER Walter W. McGuire, Jackson, Mich.

Application June 12, 1946, Serial No. 676,210

1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to a device for holding letters, papers, and the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel letter holder for use upon a desk, or the like, the letter holder also forming a novel and attractive desk ornament.

A further object is to provide a letter holder including gravity actuated self-adjusting means for securing a number of letters in place.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned class which is extremely simple, and therefore inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be a parent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawin s. forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a letter holder embodyin the invention,

Fi ure 2 is a plan view of the same,

Figure 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a knob removed, pa t in section, and,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a pin removed.

In the drawings, where for the pu ose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I de i nates a generally flat rectangu ar base, provided in its upper surface with a central longitudinal groove or recess 1 l, the bottom I2 of wh ch slo es down wardly toward one end of the base l0, from a point on the top surface of the base. near the opposite end of the same. The recess H is parallel to the sides of base II]. as sho n. Side upstanding portions or guide shoulders l3 are formed by the recess II. A vertical rectangular end or wall I4 is permanently ri idly secured to one end of base i0, as shown, and projects above the same for a substantial distance. This end I4 extends for the full width of base l0, and its sides are flush with the sides of the base.

A removable weight or roller I 5 is arranged in the recess l I. and is ada ted to roll freely upon the inclined bottom 12. The axial width of roller 15 is slightly less than the width of recess l I, and the roller is guided by the inner sides I 6 of shoulders l3. The roller 15 is cylindrical, and provided upon its opposite sides and at its center with knobs or handles 11, having axial openings 18 to receive dowel pins i9,or the like, which also engage in an axial opening ,20 extending through the center of roller 15.

The parts of the device above described may be formed of wood, metal, plastic, or any other suitable material. Suitable ornamentation may be provided, and I have shown inlay strips 2| 0 arranged in the top surface of base [0, and similar inlay strips 22 in the inner vertical surface of end I4. These

strips

21 and 22 may be made any color desired, such as red. v

In use, the device is placed upon a desk, or the like, as in Figure 1. The roller l5 will always tend to roll down the inclined bottom I2, and will therefore exert a constant force against the inner surface of end M. The desired number of letters or papers may be placed vertically between the end 14 and roller [5, and will be held in place by the roller. As each letter or paper is withdrawn, the roller IE will automatically roll down the bottom I 2 a slight distance, due to gravity, and the remaining letters will be held in place. The knobs I! facilitate handling the roller [5, which is removable.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the subjoined claim.

I claim:

A device for holding letters and the like, comprising a substantially horizontal generally fiat rectangular low base provided upon its upper facewith a longitudinal shallow recess extending for substantially its entire length, the bottom of said shallow recess being inclined downwardly toward one end of said base, spaced parallel longitudinal guide shoulders at the sides of the base and having inner vertical edges formed by said shallow recess, a substantially vertical end wall secured to the base at its end adjacent to the lowermost end of the inclined bottom and extending transversely across the base and above the base for a substantial distance, and a removable cylindrical roller disposed within the recess and adapted to roll upon said bottom and having its ends guided by said inner vertical edges, the roller tending to engage the inner side of said end wall and serving to removably clamp letters and the like against the same.

WALTER W. MCGUIRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 446,486 Van Benthuysen Feb. 17, 1891 648,603 Whitehead May 1, 1900 669,142 Love Mar. 5, 1901 1,485,092 Rauchut Feb. 26, 1924 1,843,692 McDonald Feb. 2, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 35,206 France July 2, 1929