US3528715A - Display structure and means for a management communication decision making process - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 15, 19 0 P. G. WILLIAMS, JR

DISPLAY STRUCTURE AND MEANS FOR A MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION DECISION MAKING PROCESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1968 INVENTOR. fi m! 61L [mare Wilhamsgfr Ware 0% flan 41s- 3,528,715 NICATIQN Sept- 15, 7 P. G. WILLIAMS. JR

DISPLAY STRUCTURE AND MEANS FOR A MANAGEMENT COMMU DECISION MAKING PROCESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1968 IN'VENTOR. 421164111107? WYiafliiiJZ Naiiww Ware 34' E61 V1.3

5, 379 P. G. WILLIAMS, JR 3,528,

EMENT COMMUNICATION DISPLAY STRUCTURE AND MEANS FOR A MANAG DECISION MAKING PROCESS Filed Aug. 8, 1968 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INIIHR (ll II II II I I INVENTOR. Pall! 6412mm Wdhamij US. Cl. 312184 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A system and apparatus wherein all active subject categories and information related thereto are constantly, visually displayed before a manager. The apparatus comprises transparent suspension file folders and colored inserts therefor; a display board to which the file folders may be moved and vertically displayed by suspending them on pins or between pairs of guide rails; multiple drawer side-by-side filing cabinets having suspension rails for suspending the file folders, the filing drawers being open fronted whereby the file folders are visible in the filing cabinet and having color-coded rails for indicating the subject matter of files suspended adjacent thereto; and a similar single row open front filing cabinet wherein the most active files may be vertically suspended and related to planning diagrams drawn on a front transparent window. The hinged top of this console is provided with rails for vertically displaying a plurality of files, a horizontal dateline and a date pointer. The single row filing console is provided with internal illumination means.

The file folders are formed of polyvinyl chloride sheet or the like on which information may be written with semipermanent or washable markers. They are closed at the top to form a sleeve and material is entered into them by sliding it sideways.

The display board is provided with a white surface of vinyl material or the like on which information may be written or drawn with semipermanent or washable markers. The vinyl is adhered to a magnetically permeable sheet whereby photographs, notes, file cards and the like may be held thereto by flexible strip magnetic material. The display board is also provided with at least one horizontal dateline.

RELATED APPLICATIONS The subject matter of the present applications is closely related to that of my copending application, Ser. No. 582,317, filed Sept. 27, 1966, entitled Problem-Solving Equipment, now Pat. No. 3,418,730. That application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to management decision making, planning, filing, rapid retrieval and communication systems and tools. It grew out of experience using the threedimensional planning tool disclosed in the above-identified copending application. One of a managers most difiicult functions is to constantly keep in mind all of the options available to him and to communicate the essence or meaning of such options rapidly, pictorially and precisely to his associates. I have discovered that what is out of sight is literally out of mind. Thus, I found that the three-dimentional planning tool disclosed in the aboveidentified application not only facilitated visualization of the relationship between an overall plan and individual detailed programs, and the relationships between the individual detailed programs; but that the availability to the manager of a constant visual presentation of concurrent individual programs together with their interrelationships to the plan helps to prevent inattention to indinited States Patent ice vidual programs as well as the objectives of the overall plan which is responsible for so many management failures, the point being that both plan and program are provided for in a single tool at the same time. The constant visual presentation to the manager of the existence of each of the programs, that is, each of the areas of his concern, constantly focuses his mind on the ever-changing overall relationships between these programs. Such visual presentation constantly directs at least some of the managers attention to each program or subject, and facilitates his discovery of new relationships, as well as his memory and communication of them. In matters of decision making, he is literally able to make better decisions because he can see what all of his options are.

The decision making, planning, filing, rapid retrieval and communication tools disclosed in the present application greatly aid and facilitate this multiple attention to all of the individual subjects of the managers responsibility and concern. They rely on constant visual and pictorial presentation to form interrelated pictorial clusters of subject areas rather than the serial or linear filing, priority and tickler systems of the prior art. They are free form and general to allow visible spatial changes in the placement of subject files and the observable picture elements within each file to suggest, reflect and communicate the constantly changing interrelationships of the subjects. They capitalize, when appropriate, on the technique of Suspended Judgment-permit the constant upgrading of the juxtapositions of knowledge elements so that the passage of time is turned into a competitive advantage instead of needless technological or meaning obsolescence. In short, by permitting optimum flexibility through the systems provision for movable pictures it is also a communications-knowledge process facility. The systems goal is to achieve constantly faster, more precise and more persuasive communication of idea MEANING from one executives mind to anothers. It is a knowledge-meaning TRANSFER process.

While the system and tools of the present invention are designed for such concurrency and relevance of any and all programs at a given moment in timethey also provide for the control and management of previously decided upon projects where linear concepts of time are valid and do apply. Expressed another Way, as in the case of my previous invention (disclosed in the above-identified application) where it became physically possible to cope separately or concurrently with a plan-vs. the concept of program, we have in these newer tools a practical extension of coping with the inevitable two sides of truth. R. Buckmaster Fuller calls these the non-mirror opposites; e.g., man and woman.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly speaking, the system of the invention is to provide file folders or MANAGE-JACKETS, preferably transparent, on which the manager may store or draw or write semipermanent notes, reminders, plans, diagrams, pictures and the like. These file folders are stored in openfronted filing cabinets in which they are arranged vertically-constantly visible and related to color-coded strips (in some applications linear time scales) along the edge of each file drawer. Selected file folders may be vertically suspended on a novel display board, either between pairs of horizontally arranged rails or from suspension pins. The display board is preferably White and the rails transparent and optionally removable so that slides or motion pictures may be projected thereon. It is surfaced with washable material on which the manager may draw or write with semipermanent markers and is magnetic so that filing cards, notes, photographs, and the like may be aifixed thereto by means of magnetic strips. The invention also provides a console file having a transparent open front in which the more important currently active file folders may be filed and displayed. The console is provided with a hinged top having at least a pair of rails for displaying one or more of the file folders in vertical orientation. The top has a time index strip, as does the display board, to facilitate relating in time current developments to an overall plan. The console is provided with illumination means to brightly illuminate the files so as to constantly bring them to the managers attention.

Thus, the tools of the present invention represent an on-the-job extension of the executive PERTing, option identification and option communication process disclosed in the above-identified application. The movable file jackets, charts and pictures of my invention-movable left and right, up and down, as well as fore and aftprovide a novel and powerful way of retaining and managing the pieces or pictures of changing situation patterns. That is, the system of my invention provides for retaining and managing interrelated pieces of kowledge-information so that they can be properly placed concurrently in point of linear time and in the concurrent open-ended clusters of knowledge information required in modern open-ended feedback oriented management systems.

Because of the high degree of pictorial orientation of the tools provided by the present invention, they can be used for rapid visual identification and retrieval (that is manage filing) of art materials of all kindsa market need satisfaction far beyond the original problem solving and post PERT networking requirements of the invention of my above-identified application.

Thus, for the first time they make practical use in a management system of the concept of readily movable pictures of all kindsa concept directly analogous to the Gutenberg invention of movable type. The information language advantage of the system is magnified by the fact that movable pictures communicate materially more efficiently than movable type. The latter are only coded symbols representing knowledge information, while movable pictures provided for by my interrelated tools represent real images, that is, uncoded or less coded reality. And they communicate these images directly and clearly. Because they are not restricted to a single language, they may be used to communicate across international lines without translation. The system thus provides a very specific base from which a universal language may more speedily emerge.

In addition, the tools provided by the present invention serve as photographic set from which point of origin photographs of all kinds can be taken. By photographs we mean, of course, video tape, film, electrostatic copies, whatever physical means of image retrieval we have provided for.

Also, the open-ended physical structure of each program jacket provides a way to manage programs, as well as plans, on an open-ended instead of closed basis. Since the computer art relies largely on closed programs for reasons of current state of the art limitations, these across the board, open-ended provisions represent a singular advance in the art of information meaning communication.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a management decision making system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a man agement planning system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a management information filing and rapid retrieval system.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rapid management information communication system.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a total management system of the above character for constantly bringing to the managers consciousness the existence of each of the multiple areas of his responsibility and concern.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a total management system of the above character employing the technique of Suspended Judgment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a total management system of the above character that facilitates a managers discovery, memory, and communication of the constantly changing interrelationships of the individual subjects of his responsibility and concern.

Another object of the invention is to provide a total management system of the above character that constantly presents to a manager all of his options.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a total management system of the above character wherein plans, pictures, networks, diagrams, memoranda, letters, and other material relating to an individual subject are displayed and filed together.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a total management system of the above character that is visual, pictorial and concurrent rather than serial or linear.

A further object of the invention is to provide a total management system of the above character facilitating the use of movable pictures to form interrelated pictorial clusters.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a total management system of the above character that also provides for management, where appropriate, of linear time dependent programs and plans.

Another object of the invention is to provide a total management system of the above character suitable for art management.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a total management system of the above character providing a point of origin photographic set for information meaning communication.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a total management system of the above character for handling programs and plans on an open-ended basis.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a total management system of the above character having component tools that are visually pleasing to the eye, easy to use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and operate.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises a system providing the functions and relationships between functions and tools for the systems having the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the system and tools hereinafter set forth. The scope of the invention is indicated in the claims.

THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accom panying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a transparent display and file folder according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view, partially cut away and sim ilar to FIG. 1, of an alternative form of visual display and file folder according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric View, partially cut away and on a smaller scale, of a display board according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, partially cut away, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a multiple drawer filing cabinet according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial isometric view of the filing cabinet of FIG. 6;

'FIG. 8 is a front view of a display filing console according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8; and,

FIG. is an isometric view of the display console of FIG. 8.

The same reference characters refer to the same elements throughout the several views of the drawings.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION More particularly and referring to the drawings, a visual display file folder according to the invention is generally indicated at 20 in FIG. 1. It comprises a pair of transparent sheets 22 and 24 of material (for example, polyvinyl chloride) on which semipermanent markers can be used. A flexible hinge 26 is provided along the bottom edge ofthe sheets 22 and 24. This may be of less polymerized polyvinyl chloride than the somewhat rigid, selfsupporting transparent sheets 22 and 24. The hinge 26 may be afiixed to the transparent sheets 22 and 24 by means of adhesive, heat sealing, or the like.

The display file folder is preferably closed at the top as by a piece of opaque, vinyl tape 28. Key slots 30 and 32 are provided for suspending the display file folder 20 from rods, rails or pins. The file folder is preferably reinforced at the key slots 30 and 32 as by polyvinyl tapes 34 and 36.

Alternatively, a visual display folder 42 according to the invention (FIG. 2) may be formed of a single sheet 44 of polyvinyl chloride provided with an integral hinge 46.

A transparent, acetate insert 38 (FIG. 1) is provided for ease of marking and the insert 38 is provided with a color-coded strip 40, which may also be vinyl adhesive tape. Alternatively, the file folders 20, 46 may themselves be of colored transparent plastic.

Now referring to FIG. 3, a display board according to the invention is generally indicated at 48. It comprises a flat, preferably white, front surface 50 on which semipermanent markings may be made as with nylon fiber point or felt marking pens. The board is provided with a plurality of transparent rails 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60. File folders 20 may be suspended therebetween by inserting their upper edge; for example, within rail 52 and their lower edge within rail 54. The file folders may be then slid along between the rails to any desired position.

The file folders may also be suspended from pins 62 by means of the key slots 30 and 32 (FIG. 1), as is shown for a file folder 42 in FIG. 3.

The folder may be secured to the pins 62 by means of semi-hard rubber or plastic washers 64 which have a hole slightly smaller in diameter than the pins 62.

Now referring to FIG. 4, the display board 48 comprises a wooden frame 66 to which a rigid backsheet 68 is affixed. Backsheet 68 may be of plywood, composition board, or the like. A magnetic permeable metal plate 70 is optionally affixed to the front of the frame 66 and the backsheet 68. This plate 70 may be, for example, a galvanized iron sheet or an iron or steel sheet painted or otherwise coated to prevent rusting. The display board is surfaced with vinyl pressure-sensitive sheet material 72 to provide a smooth opaque surface for writing and is preferably white for use as a projection screen. The rails 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 are, therefore, preferably of transparent plastic material and, as shown at FIG. 5, may be formed of a pair of strips 74 and 76 glued or otherwise secured together. The strips are held to the display board 48 by means of screws 78 (FIG. 3).

Referring to FIG. 5, pins 62 may be comprised of one or more interlocking units 67 and 69, such as are utilized for accounting books. The rail 54 is tapped and a threaded insert 79 is screwed into it, and the post 62 is screwed into the insert.

Again referring to FIG. 3, photographs 80, notes 82, or cards 84, or the like, may be secured to the board 48 by means of flexible magnet strips '86, which are preferably color coded.

The display board 48 is provided with a tray rail 88 6 for writing tools, such as the marking pen 90, shown in FIG. 3. A dateline 55 is provided along rail 54.

A multi-drawer filing cabinet, according to the invention, is generally indicated at 92 in FIGS. 6 and 7. It comprises a pair of drawers, generally indicated at 94 and 96, which may be pulled forward as is drawer 94 in FIG. 7 for the purpose of filing. Display file folders 20, according to the invention, are suspended upon rods 98 within the drawers, the drawers having been strengthened by means of horizontal frame members 100, 102 and 104. Frame members 104 are porvided with color-coded strips 105, which may be colored vinyl tape. These may be changed at will by the user. Frame members are each provided with a time scale 107.

Thus, a particular color may be provided for each subject of the managers responsibility or concern. The file folders 20 may be similarly color coded integrally as previously described or by means of the acetate inserts 38 each having an appropriately colored strip 40. Also, where appropriate the file folders 20 may be related to the time scales 107.

The filing cabinet may be provided with opaque doors (not shown) as in the prior art for security.

Now referring to FIG. 8, a console filing cabinet, according to the invention, is generally indicated at 106. It comprises a rectangular box frame 108, which may be of wood or other suitable material. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, this management console 106 is provided with a pair of rods 110 for suspending vertically a plurality of file folders 20, according to the invention. The front of the console 106 is provided with a transparent window 112 of glass or plastic so that the file folders 20 are visible therein. The console is preferably illuminated as by the fluorescent tube 114 controlled by ON-OFF switch 116, shown in FIG. 8. The floor of the console is a translucent plastic or glass plate 118.

The transparent front-window 112 and end walls 120, 122 and a back wall 123 slide into slots 150, 152, 154 and 156, respectively. Thus, if desired, .front window 112 or any walls may be removed and opaque or transparent panels substituted therefor. When the management console 106 is used for relating programs and plans, as disclosed in the above-identified application, all panels are preferably transparent. However, for management through the use of movable pictures and picture clusters, as above described, the side panels and 122 and the back panel 123 may be either transparent or opaque and are preferably provided with inner translucent sheets to facilitate illuminating the file folders 20 within the console. These inside opaque sheets are preferably washable and able to receive semipermanent markings.

The top of the management console 106 is preferably formed of a similarly markable translucent plastic sheet 126 hinged to the console as by hinge 128. A pair of rails 130 and 132 are provided for holding file folders, such as folder 134, therebetween. One of the rails 130 is provided with a time scale 135 (usually in weekly intervals) which cooperates with a pointer 136 which may be slideably affixed to the rail 130 or backed with pressure-sensitive adhesive so that it may be atfixed at any position along the scale 134.

The top of the management console 106 is preferably provided with an egg crate plastic'diifuser 138 formed of translucent plastic strips 140 and 142 so that the console may be illuminated by ambient light when not illuminated internally.

Those skilled in management systems and methods will see that I have thus provided a system and tools for keeping the individual subjects of a managers responsibility and concern and the materials directly relating to these subjects constantly within the managers view, either within the filing cabinet 92, the management console 106, on the display board 48, or on a plurality of display boards forming a total wraparound environment for decision making. The juxtaposition of the color-coded file folders 20 relating to the various subjects within the filing cabinet 92, the management console 106, and on the display board 48 (with the pictorial reminders visible through or drawn on the file folders) allows the manager to rearrange his working tools and materials so that their interrelationships can be visualized. Once visualized, these interrelationships can easily be communicated to others and are constantly brought to the attention of the manager when he views the several tools provided by the invention.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceeding description, are efiiciently attained and, since certain changes may be made in carrying out the above system, and in the described tools, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The structure set forth in claim 17 having a display board comprising a plurality of facing horizontally disposed channel-like members between pairs of which are adapted to receive for slidable movement therein display file folders from said console.

2. The structure set forth in claim 11 having a plurality of pairs of pins spaced along said channel-like members from which display file folders housed in said console may be suspended on the front of said display board.

3. A system of the class described, comprising:

(a) at least one filing cabinet having a pair of parallel horizontal rods extending along the top thereof from which display file folders may be slidably suspended for slidable movement toward the left or right on said rods, said filing cabinet having an open front whereby display file folders suspended therein may be viewed on edge from said open front;

(b) a plurality of transparent display file folders having a pair of integral slots spaced along the top edge the same distance as said rods for slidably suspending said file folders from said rods in said filing cabinet; and

(c) a display board having means for suspending a plurality of said transparent display file folders from said slots vertically thereon where said display file folders and their contents may be viewed by an observer.

4. The system defined in claim 3 wherein said display file folders are closed at the top and bottom edges thereof to form a sleeve which is adapted to receive its contents by insertion from either side.

5. A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said display board comprises a plurality of facing horizontally disposed channel-like members between pairs of which said display file folders may be positioned and slidably movable therein.

6. The system defined in claim 5 wherein said display board further comprises a plurality of pairs of pins spaced along said channel-like members with each pair of pins spaced the same distance as slots in said folders from which said display file folders may be suspended in front of said display board.

7. A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for suspending said display file folders comprises a pluralit of pins each pair of which is spaced the same distance as the slots in said folders whereby said display file folders may be suspended on the front of said display board.

8. A display file folder for a system of the class described comprising:

(a) a pair of semi-rigid, transparent side walls hinged along the bottom edge thereof and closed along at least a portion of the top edge to form a sleeve which is open on each end thereof, and

(b) a pair of key slots extending into and formed by said side walls and spaced a predetermined distance along the top edge thereof for suspending said file folder from a pair of suspension means having the same predetermined spacing as said slots.

9. The file folder as defined in claim 8 and a transparent sheet inserted between the side Walls of said display file folders, said transparent sheet having a colorcoded edge strip.

10. A management console for a system of the class described, comprising:

(a) a generally rectilinear boxed-like frame;

(b) a transparent generally rectilinear front sheet and at least one transparent side sheet;

(c) a pair of rods spaced along the top of said frame from which display file folders may be suspended to be viewed on edge through said front transparent sheet; and

(d) a hinged top for said management console having the inside surface thereof forming a display means which includes means for vertically positioning display file folders thereon.

11. The management console defined in claim 10 wherein said display means comprises a pair of spaced rails affixed thereto between which display file folders may be positioned for vertical display and slidable movement therein,

12. The management console defined in claim 11 having a dateline along at least one of said rails and slots on each side of said box-like frame for receiving either transparent or opaque panels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,625,456 1/1953 Rostau 312107 3,249,111 5/1966 Vincens 312-184 3,281,193 10/1966 Murray 312-184 3,365,259 1/1968 Heisman et al. 3l2184 X 3,424,167 1/1969 Lennartz 3l2184 3,433,548 3/1969 Moore 312184 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 312245, 330

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