US3413053A

US3413053A - Posting cabinet with file and posting surface

Info

Publication number: US3413053A
Application number: US629597A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles M Featherston
Original assignee: VUE FAX SYSTEM CONTROLS CORP
Current assignee: VUE FAX SYSTEM CONTROLS CORP
Priority date: 1967-04-10
Filing date: 1967-04-10
Publication date: 1968-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1985-11-26

Description

NOV- 26, 1968 c. M. FEATHERSTON 3,413,053

NET WITH FILE AND POSTING SURFACE Filed April 1o, 1967 POSTING CABI w. YN

M ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,413,053 PQSTING CABINET WITH FILE AND POSTING SURFACE Charles M. Featherston, Norwalk, Conn., assignor to Vue- Fax System Controls Corporation, Westbury, N.Y., a

corporation of New York Filed Apr. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 629,597 11 Claims. (Cl. 312-304) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This specification discloses an improved posting cabinet having t-he usual visible index card le but with the le set back -far enough to provide a desk space or posting surface in front of the tile. While the depth of the posting surface is ample for efficient work space, the iile is still close enough to an operator, sitting in front of the posting cabinet, to reach conveniently even the back cards in the file. The index tabs on spacer panels preferably extend above t'he level of the posting surface `for good visibility, even when the spacer panels are sloping forward, and a cover that extends over both the le and posting surface has underside clearance for the tabs and provision `for locking at the front. For extra capacity, the posting surface is made wider and files are located sideby-side at the back of the posting surface. The operator faces the work at all times and the cabinet is constructed to provide ample knee room under the posting surface.

Brief description of the invention This invention relates to posting cabinets. It is common practice for an operator to have a desk in front of her and a tile at her side so that she has to turn each time she refers to the le. This is necessary in order to get the lile close enough to reach conveniently the rearward cards in the le. This invention locates the tile facing the operator so that she can always work facing forward. Constant turning to refer to cards is eliminated. By combining a desk space or posting surface, in front of the tile, with a file which has its depth correlated with the depth of the posting surface, all `cards in the tile are within convenient reach.

Where the required capacity of the filing space would otherwise call for a depth of iile `greater than could be reached conveniently across the posting surface, this invention obtains the capacity by locating files side-by-side along a wider posting surface and the operator can work with one group of cards in front of the iile containing those cards, and subsequently work with cards of the group in the second file at the part of the posting surface in front of the second file. IIf desired, two operators can work at the same time at a wide cabinet having two les. The invention is constructed so that the posting surface does not interfere with the visibility of the le cards, and it has been found that a posting surface with a 4fore-andaft depth of inches does not locate the tile at an excessive distance from the operator, particularly with provision for ample knee room under the posting surface so that the operator can sit close to the cabinet.

The posting surface does not interfere with the closing `and locking of the le. A cover that extends over the le may also extend over the posting surface or may cover only the tile and leave the posting surface uncovered. The cover has means for locking it in closed position.

3,413,053 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 ICC Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out as the description proceeds.

Brief description ofthe drawing In the drawing, forming a part hereof, in which like reference characters indicate corersponding parts in all the views:

'FIGURE 1 is an isometric view showing a posting cabinet made in accordance with this invention;

lFIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the plane 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of one of the visible index files used in the posting cabinet shown in the other views; and

FIGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of yFIGURE 3.

Detailed description of the inventoln The posting cabinet shown in FIGURE 1 includes a frame 10 which has its opposite sides connected together by transversely extending elements including a top 12, front and back panels 14, a shelf 16, 'and le supporting means 20. The opposite sides of the frame 10 each include a front leg 24 and a back leg 25, connected together by side panels 26.

The various elements of the frame 10 can be welded together or connected in any desired manner to obtain the necessary rigidity; but in the preferred construction, the shelf 16 is supported at its opposite end by supports 28 connected at opposite ends with the front and back legs. The shelf 16 is connected to the supports 28 by fastening means such as screws 30 which permit adjustment of the shelf 16 forward-and-aft along the supports 28 to obtain more knee room, if desired. T-he screws 30 can extend through different openings in the supports 28 for changing the location of the shelf 16.

The forward portion of the top 12 provides a posting surface 34. This posting surface is writing-desk height so that it can be used conveniently by an operator sitting in a chair in front of the posting cabinet, with her knees under the front panel 14 and under the top 12. In practice, 10 inches has been found to be a convenient depth for the posting surface 34. Writing-desk height is approximately 30 to 32 inches.

There are two

openings

37 and 38 located sideby side in the top 12 at the back of the posting surface 34. A relatively narrow area 40 separates the

openings

37 and 38 so as to provide for separate covers for the tiles that iit in these

openings

37 and 38, as will be explained.

FIGURE 3 shows a visible index card le or box 44 having a front wall 46 and a back wall 48, joined together by parallel side walls 50. The front wall 46 back wall 48 converge toward one another as they extend downwardly to a bottom 52 of the le. In the construction shown there are ridges 54 on the fornt and back walls for supporting the file on the supporting means 20 (FIG- URE 2). The le illustrated in FIG. 3 is merely illustrative of visible index files.

The tile 44 ts the openings 37 and 38 (FIGURE 1) and when resting on the channel 18, the upper end of the le -or box 44 is preferably flush with the top 12 of the cabinet. In the construction shown in FIGURE 2, the average fore-and-aft depth of the le box 44 is slightly less than that of the posting surface, but the cabinet can be made with somewhat greater foreand-aft depth for the 3 le box 44 without having the back of the file out of reach of the operator and the invention has the vertical depth of the file box and the fore-and-aft posting surface depth substantially equal to one another with some variation either way, depending upon the file capacity.

The file 44 has spacer panels 62 which are preferably made of sheet metal and which have their lower ends extending into successive notches of a sawtooth retainer 64 at the bottom of the file adjacent to each of the side walls. The separators 62 are held substantially parallel to one another by rollers 66 (FIGURE 3) located at each side of the separators 62.

There 'are index tabs 70 at the top of intermediate guides 71, between the separators 62, and these index tabs preferably extend above the top of the file and above the level of the top 12 in order to provide maximum visibility even when the separators to which they are connected are sloping forward, as is the case with some of the separators in the right-hand le shown in FIGURE 1.

The posting cabinet has covers 74 and 75. The cover 75 will be described in detail, but it will be understood that both covers are of similar construction. FIGURE 2 shows the cover 75 in section. When in open position, as shown in full lines in FIGURE 2, the cover 75 extends substantially vertically and downward at the back kof lthe posting cabinet. Its upper end extends a substantial distance above the level of the top 12. There is a handle 82 at the front and center of the cover.

The cover 75 is connected with the frame of the posting cabinet by a sliding hinged connection consisting of a block 84 on a bracket 83 attached to one end of a hinge 89. The other end of the hinge is secured to the main frame of the posting cabinet. This block 84 extends into a channel 90 in the side of the cover 75.

There are similar blocks 84 and channels 90 at both sides of the cover 75. These blocks 84 and the channels 90 permit the cover 75 to move up and down and forward-and-aft, and leaves it free to swing about the axis of the hinge 89 while preventing transverse displacement of the cover. This sliding hinge connection is diagrammatic and the block is long enough to prevent the cover from sliding down beyond the position shown in FIG- URE 2.

The cover 75 extends far enough above the axis of the hinge 89 to permit the cover to be swung easily in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 2 -by pulling forward on the handle 82. The cover is swung clockwise as it is pulled up and it moves into the closed position indicated by dotted lines in FIGURE 2. It will be noted that the underside of the cover 75 is recessed to provide clearance for the index tabs 70 which extend above the level of the top 12.

Each of the covers 74 and 75 (FIGURE 2) has locking means including a lock 92 on the cover with a stud 93 in position to engage in a lock recess 94 in the to-p 12. Keyholes 96 open through the front of the cover. Thus each of the les can be closed and locked separately from the other le. When shorter covers are provided, reaching across the files only, the recesses 94 are in the top at the back of the posting surface.

The invention has been illustrated as embodied in a double posting cabinet; but features of it can be used in single posting cabinet or in cabinets having more than two files. Other changes and `modifications can be made without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A posting cabinet including, in combination, a frame having transversely extending elements extending between the sides thereof and connecting together opposite sides of the frame, the sides of the frame including front and -back legs for supporting the cabinet from a floor or other supporting surface, a horizontal posting surface at writing-desk height from the oor and extending across the forward portion of the frame, a visible card index tile box rearward of the posting surface and with its upper end at substantially the same level as the posting surface, and supporting means for the box below the level of the posting surface, the transversely extending elements being located in positions to leave ample knee room under the posting surface for an operator seated in front of the posting cabinet.

2. The posting cabinet described in claim 1 characterized by a level top surface, the forward portion of which is the posting surface, the top surface having an opening therein into which the visible card index file box fits, and the transversely extending elements of the frame including the supporting means for the file box located under said opening in position to support the visible card index file box.

3. The posting cabinet described in claim 2 characterized by there being two openings in the top surface sideby-side and at substantially the same distance from the front of the top surface, and there being two Visible card index le boxes, one for each of the openings and both supported by the transversely extending supporting means located under the opening.

4. The yposting cabinet described in claim 2 characterized by the visible card index le box having front and back walls that converge toward one another toward the bottom of the file box so that the le box is of less foreand-aft depth at its lower end, outwardly and transversely extending ridges on said front and yback walls, the transversely extending means that support the file having surfaces on which the ridges rest, the knee room in front of the lower part of the forward wall of the le box `being unobstructed, and the forward wall of the le box sloping rearwardly as it extends downwardly to increase the knee room under the top of the cabinet.

5. The posting cabinet described in claim 2 characterized by another of the transversely extending elements being an element at an intermediate location between the front and back of the cabinet and spaced above the floor by a distance less than one half of the height of the posting surface above the floor, said transversely extending element at the intermediate location being adjustable forward-and-aft.

6. The posting cabinet described in claim 5 characterized by the transversely extending element at the intermediate level beng a shelf.

7. The posting cabinet described in claim 1 characterized by the vertical depth of the file box being substantially equal to the fore-and-aft depth of the posting surface of the cabinet.

8. The posting cabinet described in claim 1 characterized by a rigid cover that extends across the full foreand-aft depth of both the file and the posting surface, sliding hinge connections at opposite sides of the cover -on which the cover swings and slides between an open position, in which it extends vertically downward entirely behind the posting cabinet with only a portion of the front end of the cover above the level of the posting surface and the top of the le, and a closed position in which it extends horizontally across the full depth of both the le and the posting surface.

9. The posting cabinet described in claim 8 characterized by the cover having its underside recessed for providing clearance for tabs at the upper ends of separator partitions in the le, a lock for cover including a part at the front end of the cover and a cooperating part at the forward end of the posting surface.

10. The posting cabinet described in claim 1 characterized by the posting cabinet being wider than two visible card index file boxes, two such file boxes located side-by-side at the back of the posting surface, each of the file boxes having a vertical depth substantially equal to the fore-and-aft depth of the posting surface.

11. The posting cabinet described in claim 10 characterized by the top of the frame -being wider than two 3,413,053 5 6 visible card index lile boxes, two such le boxes located face, a handle at the front end of each cover, and separate side-by-side at the back of the posting surface, a different locking means for each cover. rigid cover for each of the le boxes, each of the covers, when in closed position, extending across the full depth of both the le box and the posting surface in front References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS of the le box, sliding hinge connections between each 1,488,319 3/1924 .De Canio et aL 10g 26 of the covers and the frame of the cabinet, each cover 3,164,430 1/1955 Beem et 11. 312 293 X when in open position, being substantially vertical and 3,169,495 2/ 1965 OBrien 10S-.26 located entirely in a position extending down the back 3,178,029 4/ 1965 Meyers 211-50 X of the cabinet ybehind the file lboxes but with its front 10 3,294,465 12/1966` Blodee et al. 312-297 end at a substantial distance above the hinge connec- 3,346,318 10/ 1967 PrOPSt 312-330 tions of the top of the frame, le boxes and posting sur- JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner.