US3465460A

US3465460A - File structure

Info

Publication number: US3465460A
Application number: US753837A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernest A Dahl Jr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-08-07
Filing date: 1968-08-07
Publication date: 1969-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1986-09-09

Description

Sept. 9, 1969 E. A. DAHL., JR 3,465,460

FILE STRUCTURE Original Filed June 13. 1966 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 Iii UHU [11| Z0 ZZ um im ullnjl mm .um

Tui? HH .Miu y," *l

HGH "Mill @s /Qsw,

E. A. DAHL, JR

FILE STRUCTURE sept. 9, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 13, 1966 United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 129-16 2 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A file arrangement including a container for holding a plurality of lm sheets of microfiche cards. Permanent magnets are located on opposite side walls of the container and a plurality of full width metallic, magnetic dividers are interposed between the microfiche cards. The dividers may be color-coded to separate the cards into definite categories. The metallic dividers are easily separated by the magnetic force of the magnets and serve to provide easy access to microfiche cards as well as preventing them from curling. One embodiment provides metallic dividers with upstanding spaced-apart tabs on the upper edge thereof so that damage to the microfiche cards from objects being placed on the file arrangement is avoided.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 557,310, filed June 13, 1966i, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to a filing structure and more particularly to a magnetic file structure for microfilm.

Data is commonly recorded on sheets of microfilm called microfiche. The microfiche are usually stored in files until they are utilized in a reader. Since the microfiche are made from long rolls of film which is cut into standard size sheets, the microfiche tend to curl back to the shape after the film is processed and filed. This curl memory results in the microfiche bending or otherwise deforming pasteboard spearators or dividers which have been utilized in prior art filing structures to define filing locations for data bearing objects. The deformed pasteboard dividers have been found to be unsatisfactory in use, since the files are hard to search and are bulky due to waste space between the curled microfiche and the divider.

It has been found to be particularly advantageous to use microfiche for recording data commonly found in massive automotive truck parts catalogs. The data contained in several massive parts catalogs can be easily stored in few trays of microfiche. However, the continual searching of the files and changes in humidity tend to wear out the pasteboard separators normally used in prior are separators. The service life of the pasteboard separators is shortened still further when foreign material, such as grease from the hands of a mechanic, adheres to the separator.

In a garage, and other locations, the protection of the relatively expensive microfiche against damage is one of the main functions of a file container. The problem of protecting the delicate microfiche becomes particularly acute when a file container is used in a location where books or heavy automotive parts may be placed on top of the file container. However, this need for protecting the microfiche is counterbalanced by the necessity of having ready access to the filed microfiche.

The microfiche files will, in all probability, be utilized by several men at the same time. It is relatively easy for one man to misfile a microfiche in a location from which someone else has withdrawn a microfiche. For all practical purposes, the data on a misfiled microfiche is lost Patented Sept. 9, 1969 ICC until the microfiche is refiled in its proper location. Thus a filing system should enable a misfiled microfiche to be readily located and returned to its proper filing location.

Therefore, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a durable filing structure for holding a microfiche or other filed object in a fiat position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a filing structure which has rugged dividers which are impervious to changes in humidity and foreign material.

Another object of this invention is to provide an open top filing structure which protects the filed microfiche, or other data bearing objects against damage while at the same time permitting easy access to the filed objects.

Another object of this invention is to provide a filing system in which a misfiled object can be readily located and returned to its proper filing location.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a file container setting forth a preferred embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. l, illustrating a microfiche positioned in its filing location in the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the relationship between the microfiche and the dividers utilized in the filing structure of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a microfiche;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a separator utilized in the filling container of FIG. l to separate the microfiche and associated dividers into groups according to the subject matter of the microfiche;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional View of the mounting means for a filing rod which retains the dividers and separators in the filing container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the relationship between the microfiche and a second embodiment of the dividers which are utilized to define filing locations for the microfichepand FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the relationship between an upstanding tab of the dividers of FIG. 7 and a microfiche.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is illustrated in FIG. l an exemplary filing container 10 having a pair of -longitudinally extending side walls 12 Iand 14 which are inter-connected by a transversely extending base wall 16. A pair of sloping endwalls 18, only one of which is shown, are also provided to interconnect the

side walls

12 and 14 to provide an open box-shaped filing structure.

Referring now to FIG, 2, taken in conjunction with FIG. 1, it can be seen that a pair of longitudinally extending bar magnets 2-0 and 22 are mounted on the

side walls

12 and 14. A plurality of data-bearing objects, such `as microfiche 24, are positioned in the filing container 10 intermediate the

bar magnets

20 and 22. The base or lower edge 26 of a :microfiche rests on a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart

support platforms

28 and 30 which are secured to the base and side walls of the container.

As is perhaps best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the container 10 is divided into a plurality of filing locations by the transversely extending dividers 32 which are integrally formed of a magnetizable metal. The metallic dividers have a vertical height which is less than that of the microfiche 24. The microfiche 24 extend vertically above the metallic dividers 32, and the

side walls

12 and 14 of the container, so that an indicia bearing identification section 34 of the microfiche is visible above the dividers and the side walls of the container (see lalso FIG. 2). The

dividers 32 are fanned apart, due to the induction of similar magnetic fields in the adjacent dividers, by the longitudinally extending

bar magnets

20 and 22. The similarly magnetized metallic dividers will repel each other in a manner well known to those skilled in the art and set forth in greater detail in United States Patent No. 2,954,032 to Ernest A. Dahl, Sr. It should be noted that in prior art devices, such as -that disclosed in the aforementioned patent to Ernest A. Dahl, Sr., a pair of spaced apart metallic inserts are mounted in a pasteboard divider. In the present device a completely metallic divider made of a magnetizable material cooperates with the

bar magnets

20 and 22.

The metallic dividers utilized in one experimental structure have a thickness of approximately .004 of an inch. The pasteboard dividers, commonly utilized in prior art structures, generally have a body thickness of approximately .006 of an inch. The pasteboard dividers, at the location wherein the metallic inserts are positioned, commonly have a thickness of approximately .012 of an inch. It is apparent that by the use of metallic dividers a saving of approximately .008 of an inch of space results at each filing location. Since a microfiche has a thickness of approximately .0085 of an inch, the space saving resulting from the use of a metallic divider is equal to approximately the thickness of the microfiche. Therefore, a microfiche and a metallic divider can be filed in the same longitudinal space as was formerly occupied by just a pasteboard divider with its metallic inserts. The resulting space saving increases the filing capacity of a container by approximately one and one-half times the filing capicity of the container when pasteboard dividers having metallic inserts are utilized.

The use of metallic dividers, in addition to increasing the storage capacity of a filing container, enables a wider induced magnetic field to be formed in the dividers. Thus, the magnetic field induced by the

bar magnets

20 and 22 in the metallic dividers 32 can extend for the entire area of the divider. The resulting relatively wide induced magnetic field provides a soft fanning action between the dividers, as shown at the center of the container of FIG. l. This soft fanning action permits the file container to be searched for a particular microfiche without damaging the other filed microfiche.

The metallic dividers 32 also last longer than the pasteboard dividers commonly utilized in prior art structures. The pasteboard dividers absorb moisture from the air and are adversely affected by changes in humidity. The 4pasteboard dividers also absorb dirt, grease and other foreign material which may be on the hands of a person searching the files. Therefore, the pasteboard dividers must, after a period of use, be replaced. On the other hand, the metallic dividers do not absorb moisture from the air or other foreign materials. If the metallic dividers become dirty, due to grease or dirt adhering to the exterior surface of the dividers, the dividers can be easily cleaned by merely wiping them off or with a cloth and suitable solvent. In addition to these advantages, the service life of a metallic divider is further increased since it will not become ragged or torn along its exposed edges when used continuously, as is the tendency with pasteboard dividers.

In addition to the aforementioned advantages of metallic dividers which are desirable in connection with the filing of any data bearing object, the metallic dividers are particularly well suited to the filing of microfiche. The metallic dividers have a greater weight than pasteboard dividers, due to the relatively dense formation of metal. The comparatively large weight of a metallic divider enables the divider to press the microfiche fiat'against and adjoining divider which is juxtaposed with the surface of the microfiche. Therefore, the aforementioned curl memory of the microfiche cannot result in an arcuate bending of the microfiche as commonly occurs in a filing structure utilizing pasteboard dividers. ln a filing structure utilizing metallic dividers, the relatively heavy metal dividers press the microfiche fiat, due to planar contact of the heavy -divider with the microfiche, while a pasteboard divider results in only a line contact between the pasteboard divider and the microfiche at the center of the arcuate bend or curl in the microfiche.

The microfiche 24, as will be seen from an inspection of FIG. 4, includes a plurality of horizontally extending rows 40 of data which are identified by indicia in a column -42 at the left side of the microfiche. The rows 40 of data are also divided into vertically extending columns 44. Indicia 46 which is displayed on the upper indicia bearing section 34 of the microfiche 24 identifies the data set forth in the rows 40 and columns 44 on the body of the microfiche. The upper indicia bearing section 34 is color coded, as indicated lby the lines in FIG. 4, to further identify the subject matter of the data set forth in the body portion of the microfiche.

The microfiche are also separated into groups, in the filing container 10, by a plurality of separators 47, as shown in FIGS. l and 5. The separators 47 divide the filing container 10 into groups according to the subject matter of the microfiche. The subject matter of each group is indicated by an upstanding tab 48 which is formed on an upper edge of the separators 47. Suitable indicia 50 is positioned on the tab to indicate the subject matter of the group of microfiche set off by the particular divider. Since all of the microfiche relating to one subject group have indicia sections 34 of the same color, all of the microfiche associated with a particular separator 47 have indicia sections 34 of the same color. The adjacent groups of microfiche, relating to different subject matter, are set off by suitably marked separators 47 and have a color contrasting with that of the adjacent microfiche relating to a different subject matter. If a microfiche should 4be inadvertently filed in an incorrect group, the colored indicia section 34 of the microfiche enables the microfiche to be quickly located, Thus if a microfiche relating to a subject matter color coded red is placed in a filing location intended for a microfiche relating to a subject matter color coded blue, the misfiled microfiche having a red indicia section will be immediately apparent. It is contemplated that the microfiche could have indicia sections 34 of two different colors, such as red and blue, when a large number of subject groups are used in a filing system. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the metallic dividers 32 and separators 47 could, if desired, be colored with a suitable coding to indicate the color coding of the associated microfiche.

The dividers 32 and separators 47, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, have downwardly projecting retaining

tabs

54 and 56. The

tabs

54 and 56 have

central apertures

58 and 60 through `which a retaining rod 62, as shown in FIG. 6, is inserted. The apertures `58 and 60 are considerably larger in diameter than the retaining rod 62. The relatively

large apertures

58 and 60 permit the dividers and separators to be fanned relative to each other and the sides of the container. Since the dividers 32 and separators 47 are formed of metal, the

tabs

54 and 56 will not be ripped or mutilated at the

apertures

58 and 60 due to the fanning of the dividers and separators.

The retaining rod 62 is mounted in the container on a mounting bracket 66 which is secured to the base wall of the container. The mounting bracket 66 includes an upwardly projecting rectangular base member 68 from which a rearwardly extending tapered cylindrical socket 70 is integrally formed. The socket 70 includes a plurality of resilient fingers 72 which are defined by the slits 74 in the socket 70. The resilient fingers 72 clampingly engage a rearward end 76 of the retaining rod `62 to hold the retaining rod fixedly in position relative to the container 10. The retaining rod 62 can be withdrawn from the mounting member `66 by pulling the knob 80, see FIG. l, at an opposite end of the rod outwardly relative lo the container 10.

A second embodiment of my invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this embodiment a plurality of dividers 90 having upwardly extending ears or tabs 92 are utilized for defining filing locations for the microfiche 24. The tabs 92 are positioned adjacent vertically extending outer edges of the dividers 90 to protect the outer edges of the microfiche, as shown in FIG. 8. The ears or tabs 92 extend vertically above the microfiche to protect the microfiche against the inadvertent positioning of a heavy object, such as a book or automotive part, on the open topped filing container 10. The ears or tabs 92 also protect the upper outer corners of the microfiche.

The indicia 46 on the microfiche is clearly visible in a recess 94 formed between the upwardly extending ears or tabs 92 of the dividers 90. The recesses 94 permit the indicia 46 and the colored upper section 34 of the microfiche to be readily viewed when the dividers are fanned apart to search the container. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the metallic dividers 90 could, if desired, extend above the microfiche 24 for the entire transverse upper edge of the microfiche. This would, protect the upper edge of the microfiche. However, such a divider construction would impede the rapid location of a desired microfiche, since the recess 94 would be eliminated and the indicia 46 would not be clearly visible.

For purposes of affording a more complete understanding of the invention it is advantageous now to provide a functional description of the mode in which the component parts thus far identified cooperate. A plurality of sheets of microfilm, or microfiche 24 are positioned in the filing container 10 in filing locations defined by the metallic dividers 32 and separators 47. When it is desired to locate a particular microfiche in the filing co-ntainer 10, it is merely necessary to move the metallic sepparator 47 associated with the subject matter of the desired microfiche. The microfiche in the group related to that subject matter will be fanned apart due to the magnetic repulsion between similarly induced magnetic fields in the metallic dividers 32. The indicia 46 on the upper colored section 34 of the microfiche will then be easily seen above the upper edge of the microfiche.

After the selected microfiche has been inspected in a suitable reading mechanism, the microfiche is returned to the container 10` by fanning the dividers associated with the color coded subject of the microfiche to be returned. When the predetermined filing location for the microfiche is located, the microfiche is inserted therein. If the microfiche should be misfiled, the color coding in the upper section 34 of the microfiche will cause the misfiled microfiche to stand out in a color coded group other than the one in which the microfiche should be filed.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the microfiche will be protected against damage by heavy objects being placed on the open topped file -by the upstanding tabs or ears 92. When a heavy object is placed on the file, the tabs or ears of the relatively rrigid metallic dividers will prevent the object from engaging an upper edge of the comparatively delicate microfiche. While the ears or tabs 92 protect the microfiche against damage, they also permit the file to be readily searched, since a recess 94 is formed between the upstanding ears 92 in which the indicia 46 and the microfiche 24 can be readily viewed.

The specific embodiments herein shown and described are to be considered as being primarily illustrative. Various changes beyond those described will, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art; and such changes are to be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A file assembly comprising in combination: a plurality of microfiche data cards; each said microfiche data card having an inherent curling property; a container having first and second spaced apart sidewalls interconnected by a base wall for holding said microfiche data cards; a first magnet means supported by said first sidewall; a second magnet means supported by said second sidewall; and a plurality of dividers each being integrally formed entirely of a thin sheet of magnetizable metallic material, said dividers being of a width substantially equal to the width of, and a height slightly less than that of said microfiche cards, so that said cards extend above said dividers from within said container and with opposite edges of said dividers disposed adjacent said first and second magnet means, each of said microfiche cards being interposed between a pair of said dividers in said container to define filing locations for said microfiche cards, said dividers having a thickness less than that of Said cards and a density and weight sufficient to counteract and prevent the curling of said microfiche cards; wherein the removal of a microfiche card from its filing location is facilitated by a fanning apart of at least a portion of said plurality of dividers by magnetic repulsion between magnetic fields induced throughout the area of each of said dividers by said first and second magnet means.

2. A file assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said microfiche cards have a thickness `of approximately .0085 of an inch and wherein said metallic dividers have a thickness approximately half that of said microfiche cards.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,233,076 7/1917 Lowenstein.

2,341,639 2/1944 Mathiesen 129-16 2,523,722 9/1950 Saaf et al. 129-16 2,668,877 2/1954 Gent et al. 129-l6.1 X

2,984,921 5/1961 Herzig 40--158 3,224,824 12/1965 Remke 129-16 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,965,134 10/1934 Australia.

1,327,257 4/ 1963 France.

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. XR.