US1525513A - Index device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. l0, 1925.

J. H. RAND, JR., ET AL INDEX DEVICE iled Nov.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 10, 1925. 1,525,513

J. H. RAND. JR., ET AL INDEX DEVI CE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb, 10, 1925.Y

J. H. RAND, JR., ET AL INDEX DEVICE 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov.

Il rIlIllllI/IIIIL Feb, '10, 1925.

J. H. RAND, JR., ET AL INDEX lDEVICE 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed .Nov

Fatented Feb. ld, l.

.tanins n. naam,

atraen JR., 0F TONAWANDA, AND LGUES C. BRQECKER, GF BUFFALO, NEW

YORK, SA@ BROECKER ASSIGNGB. T0 SAID MND.

INDEX envios.

Application filed November To aZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that we, JAMES H. RAND,J r., and LOUIS C. BROECKER, citizens of the United States, residing at Tonawanda and Buda-lo, respectively, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Index De vices, of which the following is a specificatlOIL This invention relates to record or index card or card-holder trays or supports and more particularly to devices for maintaining cards or card-holders in proper position on the vtrays or supports.

Heretofore, card indexes have been provided comprising trays or supports on which are positioned a lplurality of cards or cardholders, the card or card-holders being provided with aps whereby the heads of adja; cent cards or holders may be inserted therebeneath to maintain the cards or card-holders nested in overlapping arrangement with the edges of the cards projecting one beyond the other. The trays have further been provided with side flanges or guide members beneath which tonguesy or the like on the' cards or holders engage so that the cards or holders may be releasably connected to the tray or support. Follower blocks 'or members ha-ve also been rovided which are adapted. to be engaged with a portion of the ktray and to bear against one or more of the cards or holders with a View to holding the nested cards or holders in the tray in proper position and prevent-ing unintentional removal thereof. These latter devices as heretofore constructed have been relativelydiilicult to posit-ion and operate. Certain of these follower devices, having parts for engaging lugs or teeth on the bottom. of the tray and another part for bearing against the card or holder, depend upon the y cards lor holders for support in one direction, and if the cards or holders are not fully compressedwhen the devices are put in position` there is not sulicient pressure upon the followers to maintain them in positlon, with the result'thatthey may become disengaged fromthe. trays. Again, these' devices as a rule have to be positioned and adjusted within ,thek tray and it is often difficult and i yinconvenient to follow such procedure. Further, with-the typelemploying a lsliding follower block cooperating with lugs 'or other e, leas. serial no. eraves.

I for maintaining the follower` in position, the

number of cards or holders which may be secured in the tray cannot be widely varied, as it is not practical to provide lugs orprojecting parts beneath any ortion of the tray on which the cards or ho ders slide without liability of serious damage to the cards or holders.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a card or card-holder tray or the like having a follower or member which is held in position by a ortion oiv the tray other than the bottom thereof; alsoptoprovide a cardiollower or securing device which is readily extensible, whereby it may be used to secure any desired number of cards in the tray, and also to provide a follower or' securing device which may be read-KL ily actuated from the outside of the tray. Further objects are to provide improvements in card-followers o r securing devices in the other respects hereinafter setv forth and claimed.

In the accompanyin drawings:

Fig.v l isa longltu inal sectlon on line 1/-1, Fig., 2, of a card or card-holder tray provided with a follower or member for maitaining the cards or holders in position in the tray, said follower being constructed in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the front yportion of'` the tray, the holders being broken awayy Fig. 4 is a' section of the stem part of the .Y l

follower, on "line 4 4, Fig. 6. f 'Fig 5 is 4an enlarged plan view ofy the spacing or extensible, stem portion of the follower with the channely member thereof 1 i Figs.l 8 and 9 are longitpdinal .sectionalviews, on line 8 8, Fig. .7, showing` the follower in operative and partly withdrawn positions, respectively.

Fig. l0 is a fragmentaryplan view of the follower shown in Fig. 7, partly in section to disclose the stem portion thereof.

Figs. 11 'and 12 are transverse sections on line 11-11, Fig. 7, with the parts in different positions to show the action of the stem-holding spring.

vFig. 13 is a transverse section on line 13-13, Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 1s a fragmentary plan view of lthe follower showing the ste-m portion released from the sliding plate.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view of a tray provided with another modiied form of follower.

Figs. 16 land 17 are longitudinal sectional views, on line 16-16, Fig. 15, with the follower in closed and partly withdrawn positions, respectively.

Fig. `18 is a sectional plan view of the adjustable .follower stem.

Fig. 19 is a face view of the outer end..

thereof and a portion of the front wall of the tray. l Fig. 2O is a transverse section of the stem on line 20-20, Fig. 18.

Figs. 21 and 22 are fragmentary plan views, partly in section, of the front part of a tray provided with, and showing two different adjustments' of, another modifiedform of follower.

Eig. 23 isa longitudinal section thereof i on 1in@ afa-'23, Fig. 21.

y Figs. 24 and 25 are transverse sections thereof on lines 2li-24 and 25-25 respectively, Fig. 21.

Fig. 26 is a sectional plan viewv showing the released position of the adjustable stem of the follower.

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary transverse section on line 27-27, Fig. 22.

. The present invention, generally stated,

comprises a tray or .other supporting member for receiving a plurality of cards, cardholders or other record-members and a movable follower or device for engaging one of said cards or other members, said follower gia art extending to the outside ofthe tray,

or followers also engaging a ortion of the tray or support outside of t e portion of the tray normally occupied by the cards or other members when they are in position. This follower or holding member is'preferably extensible so that it may be used to secure any desired number ofcards or card-holders on the tray and preferably has w ereby it may be actuated from without the tray for the purpose of disengaging it from the cards or record-members to permit their removal and for adjusting the follower to changevits length so that it may properly engage and retain a varying number of cards orrecord-members on the tray.

A'designates a tray' or other` supporting device which receives a series or a plurality of card holders B. As is a usual practice,

andas shown in the drawings, these card holders may be in nested, overlapping arrangement on the tray and the traymay be provided with side anges C adapted to engage tongues D on the card-holders, which project beneath the anges so that the cards are maintained in sliding engagement with the tray. The tray may be provided, if de-, sired, with a. fixed part or portion which provides a stop for one of the series of cardholders to limit the extent to which they may be moved in one direction longitudinally ofthe tra-y. For this purpose, in the device illustrated, there is shown a back stop E which engages the head of the rearmost holder of the series. This back stop E, as illustrated, may have an overhanging bead or portion F for the purpose of engaging the upper edge of the head of the rearmost card-holder to prevent the card-holders from .being lifted out of the tray when the rearmost holder is in engagement with the back stop.

10 designates a movable card-follower or securing device. This device is preferably provided with a part for engaging one of the series of holders on the tray, such for example, as the sliding part or plate 11- shown in the drawin and also a part for engaging a ortion o the tray, whereby the device may releasably maintained in position. As illustrated, the ysliding' plate 11 is preferably provided with ears or tongues T which en age beneath the side anges of the tray an ide the. late in Iits sliding movements; lgiir releasably maintaining the device in proper position, a spacing portion 12 is provided which is connected to the f plate portion 11 and has a part preferably in engagement with the part of the tray adjacent the front edge thereof. The spacving portion is preferably extensible se that the number of card-holders on the tray may be varied and the securing device still pe1 form its function of effectively holding the card-holders on the tray. This extensible portion of the securing device may he of any desired form. For example, in Fig. 1, the late member 11 is, provided with a stem 14 aving a spring-pressed stud 15. The portion bearing this stud is slidable in a channel 16 which has suitable recesses 17 into which the stud may engage. These recesses 17 are spaced apartlongitudinally of the channel and the stem and channel with the stud and recesses described, provide a member which is readily extensible for var ving the distance betweenthe plate member of the follower Vand the front of the tray. The channel member 16 is provided with a part or parts, as for example,the shoulders 18, for engaging a part of the tray. In the spring normally urges the rack to one sidev so that its teeth will engage the edge of the button or hand-pull 20 at the outside of the tray and has suitable means tor causing the shoulders on the extensible member l'12 lto engage the wall of the tray. For this purpose, as illustrated in Fig. 1, a spring strip 21 may be provided which is adapted to bear upon a port-ion of the front of the tray and to urge the shoulders on the channel into engagementwith the front of the tray. The spring 21 is preferably so ormedand positioned that its free end is enclosed in thel button or hand pull. In order to release the device, the button or hand pull maybe pushed down against the action of the spring strip 21, whereupon the shoulders. on the channel piece will disengage from the front. ol the tray and the extensible member 12 may then be pulled outwardly through the opening in the tray front. As illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6, theextensible member may be readily adjusted by pushing the button 2D downwardly and pulling the extensible member outwardly. The spring stud 15 may then be readily lifted, the channel member 16 moved to any desired position relatively to the stem-14, and the stud inserted in another recess in the channel member.

The extensible portion of the follower may be constructed in ditte-rent suitable forms, for example, in the modtied form shown in Figs. 7- 14, 11a designates the plate or sliding member having guiding ears T and the extensible art of the follower is made in the 'formof a rack 22 having a plurality of teeth 23. This rack -is slidablel through an apertured portion 24 of the plate member and the teeth of the rack are caused to-engage an edge of the apertured portion .by suitable means, such, for example, as the spring 25 on the plate member which bears against the straight side of the rack. This apertured portion of the plate. The extensible portion or rack is provided with a suitable part for engaging a portion of the. tray. For this purpose, in the form shown there is provided a shoulder 26 on one side edge oi' the extensible' part, which engage-s an.l

edge of the front of the tray adjacent the aperture 27 through which the extensible part slides. 28 designates a button or linger piecewhereby the follower of this form may e actuated. `ln Figs. 15 to 20,'there is; shown another modified form. In this form the sliding plate member, 11", preferably having guide `ears or tongues T2, is 'provided with a screwthreaded stem 29. This screw-threaded stem cooperates'with a handle ortion 30 having an internal. screw-three 31. The hand1e,'portion 30 is slidable through -an aperture 32 -inthe `front ofthe tray 'and has a part for engaging the tray iront, whereby the follower may be held in position within the tray. ln the. form shown` this part has a shoulder 33 which is adapted when the follower is pushed into the tray to engage behind the front wall of the tray. The stem is provided with a suitable button 34 at the outside of the tray so as to permit actuation of the follower from the out` side of the tray. The handle 30 may be released by pushing inwardly and upwardly upon the button 34, whereupon the handle may be pulled outwardly through'the lfronto the tray. The device is adjusted for distance by pulling the handle 30 out to clear the front wall of the tray, and then turning the handle portion upon the screw threaded stem to canse the plate member to project ay greater or lesser distance into the tra-y.

Still another modiied form of follower device is shown in Figs. 21-27. The sliding plate member 11c of this form is similar to the plate 11, Fig. 7, and is provided with guide ears T3 to engage under'the flanges C of the tray. rlhe adjustable stem portion of this follower preferably includes a lock bar 40 having means adapted to adjustably engage an edge of the plate 11c and means for engaging afixed part on the tray. and a handle portion '41 to which said lock bal' 40 is pivoted, and which extends outwardly beyond, the front edge of the tray through an a erture 42. The lock bar 40 is pivoted at its inner end 43 to the handle ortion to lie substantially parallel and coincident with said handleportion when in locking engagement with the follower late.` The two /members are together slida ly supported on the follower plate 11c by depressed, oppositely directed lugs 44-44 and 45445 which engage opposite sides and the 'under face of the yart 41.

adapted to normally engage an edge of the4 aperture to prevent unintentional movement of the follower. The bar 40 is further provided with a depressed -lug `or hook 48, adapted to engage a part on the handle part 41, 'for instance, the cut-out shoulder 49 which is so positioned that when the lug 48.

is in en agement therewith the rack 47 is held against the edge of the apertured part 46 and relative endwise movement between These lugs are preferably stampe out and depend from the tollowel1- ,the plate and lock bar is prevented. The

at this point, so that, by disengaging the lug 48 :trom the shoulder 49 the bar,may be given a limited swinging movement on the pivot 43 sufiicien'r to disengage the rack teeth from the edge of the aperture, as

shown in Fig.. 26. The means for holding the device in engagement with the tray in clude a tongue or shoulder 50 extending upwardly and forwardly from the lock bar 40, said tongue being held in engagement with an edge of the aperture 42 in the front wall button 53 is depressed and moved inwardly to release the tongue 50 from the tray front.

whereupon the device may be pulled outwardly by keeping the spring strip 52 depressed until the tongue is free of the tray. In this position' the lock bar is accessible andif it is desired to make an adjustment for a different number of cards or holders the lock bar is moved upwardly and swung .as shown in Fig. 26, so that the lug 48 is freed from ythe shoulder 49 and the ttceth 47 are clear of the edge of the aperture 46. If

desired, the inward movement of the adjust-r .able stem ortion may be limited, as for instance by t e shoulder 54 on the handle por tion y41, which is adapted to engage a part on the follower plate, as for instance, the apertured portion 46. This shoulder preferably coincides with the last'tooth on the rack 47 thereby preventing the stem from being pushed in to an extent where the stem would be prevented from proper locking engagement with the follower plate.

In these devices described, the followers or plates having parts in engagement with the front wall of the tray and extending therethrough, are effectively' maintained in connection with the tray. They Aare not liable to fall out or become misplaced. The stems orextensible parts of the several devices may be of any desired length or any desired degree of extensibility so that the followers may be used to maintain any desired number of the cards in place in' the tray. Thefollower devices ot' this invention engaging the fixed front wallor other part of the tray and being connected thereto, do not depend upon the 'cards or holders for maintaining their positions in the tray. The fixed stop adjacent the rear of the tray limits movement of the cards or holders lon itudinally toward the rear of. the tray an the extensible followers which may be made of any desired length effectively secure the cards or holders against movenent forward-in the tray.

The handles of the movable follower or securing devices projectingI exteriorly at the ends of the trays or receptacles may be used to move the trays or receptacles bodily as well as to actuate the follower devices.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a record-holding tray, the combination of a part providing a. stop for engaging a portion of a. series of record devices disposed in predetermined order iatwise on said tray to prevent movement of said series in one direction longitudinally of said tray, and an extensible member having a part releasably engaging a portion of said series for preventing movement of said series longitudinally of said tray in the other direction.

2. In a record-holding tray, the con'ibination of a part providing a stop `for engaging a portion of a series of record devices disposed in predetermined order atwise on v said tray to pre-vent movement of said series `in one direction longitudinally of said tray, an extensible member having a part engaging a portion of said series. and a part extending adjacent an outer edge of said tray for releasably preventing movement of said first mentioned part and said series longitudinally of said trayl in the other direction.

3. In a record-holding device having an outer side portion and parts for supporting a series of record members in predetermined arrangement tiatwise on said device, the combination of a part-'on said device providing a stop for engaging a portion of said Series of record members to prevent movement of said members in one direction longitudinally of said device and a cooperating member having a part for engaging a portion of said` series for preventing movement of said series longitudinally of said device in another direction and an operating part releasably engaging saidouter side of lsaid dcvlce.

4. In a record-holding tray having a side portion and parts for supporting a series of record members in predetermined arrangement, iatwise on said tray, thel combination of a part on said tray for engaging I a portion of said series to limit movement of said series longitudinally of said tray in one direction, and a movable member having a part for engaging a portion of said series of record members to hold said series against longitudinal movement in the other direction, and an extensible part for releasably engaging apart of said tray, whereby a varied number of record members may be held against longitudinal movement on said tray,

5. In a record-holding container having a side portion and parts for supporting a series of record devices in predetermined atwise nested arrangement in said container including parts on said container for preventing novement of said devices transversely of said container, the combination otI fill messie a part on said container for engaging a portion of said series to limit movement of said series lon 'tudinally of said container in one direction, and a movable member having a part for engaging a portion of said.

lparts for supporting said devices and a part for engaging one of said devices for limiting movement orl said series lengthwise of said container in one direction, and an extensible member having a part for engaging one of said record devices and a part for releasably engagin a fixed part of said container for releasab y holding said series of devices against movement lengthw1se of said container in the other direction.

7. ln a record device, the combination with a plurality or record-receiving devices having interlocking parts whereby the devices may be nested in series in overlapping arrangement, of a tray having parts for supporting said devices and apart for engaging one of said devices for limiting movement o said series lengthwise of said tray in one direction, and a member having a part for engaging one of said devices on said tray an a part releasably engaging a portion of said tray and operable from the exterior ot' said receptacle for releasably holding said series of devices against movement lengthwise of said tray in the opposite direction.

8. In a. record device, the combination with a plurality of record-receiving devices having parts whereby the devices may be held in spaced overlapping arrangement,- of a tray having parts for supporting sai devices,side parts for enga "ng portions of said devices to maintain sai devicesagainst transverse movement on said tray, and a art for engaging one of said devices to imit shiftingI of said series longitudinally of said tray in one direction, and a securing member having a part engaging one of said devices, parts engaging the side parts of said tray,and a part extending to the exterior of said tray and releasably engaging a portion of said tray for releasably holding said devices fromlongitudinal movement on said tray in the other direction.

9. The combination with a plurality of record-receiving devices having interengaging parts whereby 'the devices may be nested in overlapping arrangement, of atray having parte or supporting said devices and a wall with an 'aperture therein, and a securing device having a part provided with a portion for engaging one of said recordreceiving devices for relea'sably holding said record-receiving devices against movement on said tray in one direction and a handle, said handle having a portion extending through the aperture in said tray wall whereby said securing device may be actuJ ated from t'he outside of said tray.

10. ln la record device, 'a tray having a portion for supporting record-displaying members in predetermined flatwise order substantially parallel with said supporting portion, and an end Wall having' an opening therein, a securing device having a part movable on said tray for engaging and holding said record-displaying members and a part extending through said end wall opening to the exterior of said tray whereby said securing device may be operated from the outside of said tray to disengage it from and release said record-displaying members.

ll. ln a record-holding receptacle having a portion. for supportin a lseries of record devices in predetermine arrangement, the combination of a part providing a stop for engaging'a portion of said series of record devices to limit movement of said devices relatively to said receptacle in one direction, and an extensible member having a part engaginga portion of said series of record devices for limiting movement of said series f relatively to said receptacle in the opposite direction, said extensible member having a relatively. fixed part, Iand a movable part having a series of selectively spaced vengaging portions thereon, said relatively fixed part having a portion adapted to be engaged y said selectively spaced engaging portions and said movable part [having a portion for engaginga part of said receptacle whereby the distance between the part of said extensible member engaging the record devices` and the part of said receptacle engaged by said extensible member may be varied acd cording to the size and number of record devices to be held on said receptacle.

12. In a movable stop for trays ,for supporting record-receiving devices, a pair of relatively movable members, one of said members having a part for engaging` recordp receiving devices on said tray and a part for engaging the other of said members, said other member having a plurality of selectively spaced parts movably mounted so as to be moved into or out of engagement with said first member engaging part and a' part for engaging avportion. of the receptacle, whereby the distance between said receptacle-engaging part and the record device engaging part may be varied.

13. In a movable stop for trays for supporting record-receiving devices, a pair of relatively movable members, 'one of said llt) members having a part for engagin recordreceiving devices on said tray an a part for engaging the other of said members, said other member comprising a handle portion adapted to extend from said first member to the outside of said tray, and a movable member on said handle having a plurality of selectively spaced parts for engag ing the part on said rst member, and a part for engaging a portion-of said tray, whereby said iirst member may be caused to project more or less into said tray.

14. In a record device, a receptacle having a portion for supporting record-displaying members in recumbent positions and an end wall, said end wall having an opening therein, an extensible securlng device havin a part movable in said receptacle for engaging and holding said record-displaying members and a part extending through said end wall opening to the exterior of said receptacle, whereby said securin device may be operated from the outside o? said receptacle to disengage it from and release Said record displaying members.

15. In a record device, the combination of a card-record receptacle adapted to support a pluralityof record members in recumbent or horizontal positions, and a follower block movable in said receptacle, said follower block having a portion extending through an end of said rece tacle whereby it may be accessible and isl adapted to be moved from the exterior of said receptacle.

16. The combination of a receptacle a plurality of spaced record cards in recumbent positions in said receptacle, a securing member having a part which engages the cards in said receptacle, a part extending outside of said receptacle and provided with a handle and parts releasably connecting said handle part to said receptacle, whereby said securing member may be moved relatively to said receptacle from the outside of said receptacle by manipulating said handle or the receptacle may be moved bodily by said handle without shifting said securing member relatively to the receptacle.

17. In a card index, a card-receptacle, a plurality of cards in recumbent positions therein, and a movable follower member for releasably holding said cards in position in said receptacle, said follower member having a part extending to the exterior of said receptacle wfhereby it may be actuated from the outside of said receptacle.

JAMES H. RAND, JR. LOUIS C. BROECKER.

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