US2627343A - Letter tray - Google Patents

Description

1953 R. L. GALLAGHER 2,627,343

LETTER TRAY Filed Nov. 18, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 zyww gym ATTORNEY TOR 1953 R. GALLAGHER 2,627,343

LETTER TRAY Filed Nov. 18, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET z Richard LGalZa 718/ BY INVEN OER AT TORNEY Patented Feb. 3, 1953 LETTER TRAY Richard L. Gallagher, Erie, Pa., assigncr to Victor Safe & Equipment Company, Inc., North Tonawanda, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 18, 1948, Serial No. 60,672

4 Claims.

The present invention is concerned with provision of means for facilitating the removal of documents from trays of the kind normally adapted to stand on a desk for the reception of correspondence and other data.

This is a continuation in part of my Patent No. 2,470,347, granted May 17, 1949.

An object of the present invention is the provision of means whereby an edge of documentary matter in the tray can be raised into a position for easy grasping as the band. is put into the tray in the normal action of collecting the documentary matter.

A further object in a preferred form of the invention, is the provision of such means in a form which in assembly requires mere interengagement of the cooperating parts as distinct from any complicated mechanical assembly oper ation.

A futher object of the invention is, the provision of means to facilitate the handling of documents in a tray in such form that said means will normally remain in a position ready for use and will in no way interfere with the normal functioning of the tray.

Yet a further object in a preferred form of the invention is the provision of such means in a manner which enables said means to be lifted straight off for dusting or cleaning purposes, or, if desired, to use the tray without said means, or to use said means on another tray.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent in the ensuing description.

In order that it may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view looking into the open top of a document tray incorporating a preferred form of means according to the present invention for facilitating the handling of the documents. v

Fig. 2 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation taken on the line IIIHI of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing how the device is operated to facilitate the handling of documents.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation taken on the line VII--VII of Fig. 5, but showing how a document in the tray is raised for grasping. This showing, in fact corresponds to Fig. 4 but, the hand seen in Fig. 4 is here omitted.

Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation illustrating a further modified form of the invention.

In the construction illustrated with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the reference numeral 9 represents the bottom of the tray with the walls 10, ll, l2 and I3 upstanding therefrom. The wall I2 is preferably formed with an opening at the top to define an edge Hi.

A rockable member constituted mainly by a plate i5 having an operating lever 16 and intermediate channel portion ll has the channel portion engaged upon the edge 14 which thus comprises virtually a fulcrum point for the rockable member, the clearance between the substantially parallel walls 18 and I9 defining the channel, being spaced apart sufiiciently to permit free rocking action within the limits between which, on the one hand, the plate l5 abutsthe bottom of the tray and, on the other hand, the corner 20 abuts the outer surface of the wall [2. The arrangement is such that in the normal position as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the plate I5 rests on the bottom of the tray which preferably is recessed as indicated at H so that the upper surface of the plate l5 lies substantially flush with the upper surface of the bottom 9.

It will be observed from Fig. 2 that the plate 15 is substantially wider than the operating lever it. That is of considerable advantage in that it tends positively so to load the rocking member that unless positively operated by downward pressure on the lever 16 it assumes the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The corners of the side walls are preferably rounded as indicated in the drawings as also are the edges 22 and 23 at each side of the fulcrum edge It.

The straight-forward character of the tray itself and of the rocking member are such as to lend the device according to the present invention to production from simple pressings, stampings or moldings.

One method of operation of the device is made clear with reference to Fig. 4 from which it will be seen that light downward pressure on the operating lever It, as the hand indicated at 24, ap-' son standing up desires to remove documents from the tray, it may be more convenient to slide the fingers under the documents as the lever I6 is depressed by the back of the hand. Thus while providing a considerable degree ofchoice in the manner of operation, the arrangement en ables an operator to raise the'end'sof all documents in the tray and grip them securely for easy removal with the single motion or directing the hand into the tray in close proximity over the lever portion H5, in the course of which action some part of thehand or wrist seems in practice to engage and depress the lever with an almost unconscious and automatic 'act'ionl' In the=modification illustrated with reference toFigs; 5, 6and 7-the rocking member comprisesthe plate ZGjwhich "normally extends substan-' tially horizontally having at its" forward "end the vertical wall 21 anaatu mea overupper edge portion 28 In this form the'rocking member-swings about an "axis defined by the rod 29engaged in holes in the opp'ositesid'e walls. The weight of the plate 26 is such that'the vertical front wall 27 of the rockingm'embernormally lies inan opening-oi the Irontwall defined by themarginal wallportions 30and 3!;- and virtually completes the front wallo'f'thetray, I

In the further modified form illustrated with ieflerence to' liig B the plate 32-0f the'rocking member is fitted' -into 'aportion cutout from the bottom 33 ofthe tra and to prevent the'plate from swinging down through-the plane of the bottom 33 a lip 34' is provided onthe inner end of the plate32 to engage over the adjacent edge of the bottom; I u I The invention claimed is: 4 l

1. A document tray having a bottom and an opening at the top defined by walls upstanding from substantially the edges of said bottom, one ofsaid'walls having a jcutaway portion on the uppersid'e thereof n'ieansfor raising an edge portion ofa document in the tray into a position to be grasped by hand for"ea'sy -removal; such "documentedge'raising means comprising a plate having an extension defining, at its end remote from said plate, an operating lever above'the plane 'of said plate and means intermediate said plate and said lever engageable with the upper edge of the cut away portion of said cut away wall rockably mounting said document edge raising means with respect to said tray with the plate normally resting flat upon the upper surface of saidbottom and said lever disposed outside said tray above the plane of said plate, the weight of said'plate being such, relative to said lever, as to ensure that said plateportion rests flatupon the upper surface of said bottom at all times except when pressure is applied to said operating lever for raising said plate.

2. In combination with a document tray having a bottom and an opening at the top defined by side walls upstanding from substantially the edge of said bottom, one of said side walls having the central portion thereof cut away to define a horizontal knife edge below the top thereof, means for raising an edge portion of a document in the tray into a position to be grasped by hand for easy removal, such document edge raising means comprising a plate; an extension on one side of said'pl'ate defining'a lever ofiset upwardly and outwardly therefrom disposed in the cut away portion of said'cut away wall, and an intermediate raised portion on said extension engageable with the knife edge in the cut away portion of said wall, said plate being rockable on said knife edge when the'outer endof said extension-is pressed" downwardly whereby-said plate is raised and the edge of a'docu'ment insaid'trayis moved intoaposition for engagement by the handas it is entered into said tray for grasping the docunt, 1; L

3. The combination" as set'iorth in claim z in which thepla'te is'normally engaged in a recess in the bott'om of said tray with the upperface of said plate disposed substantially in the same plane asthe uppersurface ofsaid bottom.

4. A document tray comprising an opencontainer having a bottom and vertically'extending marginal walls, one of said'walls'having a rectangularshaped cut away portiondefining'ahorizontal knife edge intermediate the top and bottom of said wall,"a plate" adapted to normally lie flat onthe bottom' of said' container for raising the edges of documents therein having an upwardly and outwardly extending portion extending through the cutaway portion'of said cut away wall, the outer end'of'said ofiset portion of said plate-defining an operating lever'above the plane of said plate for tilting same, and a raised channel portion intermediate said extending portion e'ngageable'with said horizontal knife edge in the cutaway 'portionofsai'd cut away'side'wall, said knife edge defining a'fulcrum whereby said plate is tilted upwardly away from'the bottom of said container when saidlever-is-pressed downwardly.

, RICHARD L, GALLAGHER.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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