US2752707A - Visible index device - Google Patents

Description

July 3, 1956 o. K. KING VISIBLE INDEX DEVICE Filed April ll, 1955 w www 3 31m. .36mm mE.

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00...: :fin I U QHSH .24. In ox United States Patent 2,752,707 VISIBLE INDEX DEVICE Oliver K. King, Tenafly, N. J., assignor to Acme Visible Records, Inc., Crozet, Va., a corporation of Delaware Application April 11, 1955, Serial No. 500,518 1 Claim. (Cl. 40-102) 'Ihis invention relates to improvements in index or record equipment of the class wherein anged frames, panels or trays are adapted to receive flexible indicia strips.

More specifically, the present invention relates to directory units comprising a base or holder, generally adapted to be employed in a horizontal position, having pivotally mounted in vertically stacked relationship thereon a plurality of frames of the class indicated.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a unit of the class described wherein the respective frames are self-indexing, so that, as distinguished from prior devices, no separate tabs or indexing means for the respective frame contents are necessary.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention I provide a supporting stand comprising a pair of parallel upstanding walls adjacent one end of a supporting base and a plurality of frames pivotally engaged between said walls, the frames being adapted to replaceably receive tlexible indicia strips disposed parallel to the hinge line. These frames are pivoted between the side walls in regularly spaced positions so that with respect to two adjacent frames, the upper one is rearwardly offset from the lower one a distance equal to that which will expose the last record or indicia strip on the front of the lower frame dexing detail, and for units of this class.

The objects and advantages of the present invention, and

lowing specication and accompanying drawings, where- 1n:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of vention, and

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the frames removed from the holder.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views on the lines 4 4, 5 5 and 6 6, respectively, of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral indicates a supporting base, which if desired may include nonskid corrugated rubber support means 11, the unit being normally adapted to rest on a horizontal surface. Secured to and extending vertically from one end of base 14) are a spaced, parallel 12 12 integral with the rear end wall 13, the latter termithe device of the present inof their contents, as shown by the dotted position in Fig. 2.

The side walls 12 12 are adapted to swingably receive and engage the frames 15 by hinge means such as the rods 16 secured within the bead 17 on the upper edge of frame 15, the projecting ends of said rods being receivable in the apertures 19 formed in the upstanding ice side walls 12. These apertures 19 are regularly spaced on an incline from adjacent the base 10 and forwardly of the rear wall 13, upwardly and rearwardly to adjacent rear wall 13 so that the adjacent panels can normally lie stacked in plane parallel relationship to each other and to the base 10 by virtue of the vertical spacing of apertures 19, and so that the last indicia strip 20 on the front of each frame 15 will be visible and unobscured by an upper adjacent frame by virtue of the horizontal spacing of apertures 19, which thus maintains the frames in regular longitudinally offset relationship to each other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The component frames 15 may be formed of a pair of plates 2.1 21 of equal extent, each having return-bent longitudinal edges to dei-ine the flanges 22 22 spaced from the surfaces of the plate for reception of the ends of an indicia or index strip 20, these strips conventionally being flexible so that they may be foreshortened and snapped into position, as shown in Fig. 3. In the illustration, the two plates 21 21 are joined back-to-back at one transverse end by means of the U-shaped strip or clamp 23 which closely grips the opposed faces of plates 21 21 and forms an abutment for the mounted strips 20.

At the opposed transverse end the plates 2]; 21 are another U-shaped strip 24 ceiving and embracing the rod 16, the opposed legs of the strip being bent to lie flush with the plates 21 21 to further ferm abutments at the heads of the plates or composite frame for mounted strips 20.

As will be seen from Fig. 1, the frames, with the mounted strips 20 extending parallel to the hinge rod 16, when swingably mounted between the upstanding walls 12 12, are stepped or progressively offset from each other, so that when a frame is completely lilled with strips 20, the last one, i. e., the one in abutment with strip 23 on the upper face of the frame, remains visible and provides a self-indexing means for the contents of the panel without requirement of tabs, label changing, or other indexing detail.

In a typical use the unit may comprise, for example, 7 or 13 frames, the strips 20 having typed thereon names followed by telephone numbers. These strips are arranged alphabetically on the frames,

struction, without departing trom the spirit ot my lnvention and its unique and time-saving self-indexing feature.

I claim:

including opposed pair of longitudinally extending ilanges deiining trough-shaped recesses for reception of the ends of flexible index strips and opposed transversely extending abutment members for limiting movement of engaged index strips longitudinally of said panel, a plurality-of index strips mounted on and filling the confines of said panel, said panels being normally disposed on said base in vertically-stacked plane-parallel stepped relationship exposing an engaged index strip lodged against the abutment member at one transverse end of the upper face of a panel free of concealment b y the end of an upper adjacent panel, andlaterally projecting rod means carried bythe opposed transverse ends of said panels in pivotal engagement with said side walls retaining said panels in 10 swingable engagement therewith.

References Cited in tbe rile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cornish May 21, Rand Aug. 6, McCauley Oct. 30, Gobberdiel Oct. 23, Larson Feb. 21, Hopkins Dec. 9, Conley et al. Nov. 11,

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