US353953A - Paper-file - Google Patents

Description

(No' Model.)

J. G. LANG'.

PAPER PILE.

No. 353,953. Patented Deo. 7, 1886.

Nirn

STATES JOHN C. LANG, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.A

PAPER-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353,953, dated December 7I 1886.

Application filed September 28, 1883. Serial No. 107,636. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that l, JOHN C. LANG, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Paper-Files, of which the following is a speeilication.

My invention relates to that class of tile- 'holders in which the box or receptacle to receive the files or papers is provided with a movable follower or pressure-board designed to confine the papers.

It is the aim of the invention to provide a device of exceeding simplicity and cheapness, by means of which the papers may be firmly clamped, which will admit of their being readily released,and which will also admit of the follower-board being tipped backward when released at any point in the path of its movement, in order to permit convenient examination of the papers within the box.

To this end it consists, essentially. in combining with a follower-board, which is connected to the base in such manner that it may slide freely forward and backward and also tip backward at any point, a lever pivoted to the rearside of the follower-board and acting` upon the base in rear of the same, the lever thus applied serving as a movable support to lock and maintain the follower in an upright position, and also as a means of automatically drawing the follower backward in the act of releasing the same.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view ot' a box constructed 0n my plan; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section ot' the same as it appears when in use, the follower-board being locked in its upright position. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the box with the follower-board released and tipped backward. Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the line x m, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the box or receptacle which contains the papers. This receptacle, which may be made of any suitable forni, is preferably composed, as shown in the drawings, of a horizontal baseboard, a, an upright end board, b, and two triangularside boards, c, connected to thebase and end boards, as shown, the whole constituting a triangular box. Lengthwise in the center of lhefbase-board I form a groove orrecess in which l place a guide-bar, d, sustaining and securing the saine at its ends in such manner as to leave the slots c along and beneath its two edges.

B represents the follower or pressure board, made of suitable size to tit transversely within the box, its lower end being connected to the guide d by means ofa plate, C, to which the follower is screwed or otherwise firmly united. The plate C has its lower end provided with lugs or ears, adapted to extend downward and engage beneath the edges of the guide (l, the form and arrangement ot' the parts heingsnch as to admit of the board being moved freely forward and backward in an upright position, and also of its being tipped or tilted backward to an inclined position at any point in the length ot' the guide cl.

If preferred,` the lower end ofthe plate C may be made in the l'orm of a loop or buckle v to completely encircle the guide d; but in ordinary cases it is sul'licient to have the saine engage beneath the edges of the guide, as shown. On its rear face near the base-board the plate C is provided with two backwardlyextending arms, y, to and between which there is pivoted a lever, D, of the forni represented in the various figures. Upon turning this lever to an upright position, as shown in Figs. l and 2, its lower end bears upon the guide d and serves as a support forthearins g, thereby maintaining the follower-board B in an upright position, as shown. Il will be observed that when the parts are thus adjusted the follower-board is maintained, tirst, by the engagement of the plate C beneath the guide,

and, secondly, by the lever D resting on top of the guide, in consequence of which the pressure or resistance ot' the papers against the forward face of the follower-board will cause the same to be locked lirmly and rigidly in place in its upright position. The lever D has its upper end fashioned, as shown, to form a convenient handle, by which it may be manipulated. On turning the lever backward into the position represented in Fig. 3 it serves to draw the follower board backward, and at the same time, by lowering the arm g, permits the follower to tip or incline backward, as represented in Fig 3. Vhen thus released, the board may be moved forward and backward within the box with entire freedom.

In operating theparts, the papers are intro- ICO duced'between the follower-board and the front part of the receptacle, the parts standing meanwhile in the position represented in Fig. 3. The operator, grasping the lever D, pushes the same forward 'until the baseot the followerboard is'brought in contact with the papers, whereupon the lever is turned to an upright position until it bears against the rear face of the follower. As the lever is turned upward its lower end bears. upon the guide with a considerable degree of friction, in consequence of which the board is not only turned forcibly toits upright position, but at the same time urged forward against the papers before it. i

It is to be noted as an important feature of my device that the follower-board is permitted to tilt backward automatically upon being released, and this without the necessity of moving it backward to the rear end of the receptacle.

The essential requirements of my construction are that the follower-board shall be connected to the base-board and thatthe supporting-lever shall be pivoted to the followerboard in such manner as tosustain the same in an erect position. Provided the parts are adapted to operate as above described, they may be modilied in form and arrangement as desired. l

The guide d may be of wood or of metal, and when of wood it may be made sufficiently thin to be slightly elastic, in order to permit the devices to interlock the more securely therewith. This elasticity is not, however, a necessary feature of the device.

It will be observed that bylmaking use of the plate or standard, which is free to tip forward and backward, I am permitted to attach the same rigidly to the follower-board, thus avoiding the necessity which exists under other constructions of hinging' the follower-board 'centrally to thc upper end of its supporting standard. It will also be observed that as my follower-board tips backward from the lower end, instead of tilting upon a point midway of its height, it is not necessary to draw the standard backward to secure an inclination of the board, as in those structures which have the board pivoted to the upper end of the standard.

While I have illustrated the follower-board as being triade in an independentpiece from the supporting plate or standard and screwed thereto, the two may be cast complete in a single piece.

The form of the guide d in cross-section and of the lower end of the plate or standard which engages with the guide may be modified as desired, provided only the construction is such as to permit the standard to slide freely forward and backward, and also to tip or incline backward at any point in the length of the guide. The form of the hand-lever may also be modified, provided only that it is adapted to act upon the rear side of the standard to sustain the same in an elevated position.

I am aware that a follower-board has been hinged to a locking-standard arranged to slide forward and backward and to tip backward yconstructions I lay no claim.

"Ihe present-.invention is restricted to those matters and things which are hereinafter claimed, and as to all matters which maybe described and shown, but which are not claimed, t

the right is reserved to make the same the subject of a separate application.

I am aware that a standard having a broad base arranged to slide in a slotted guide has been provided with an eccentric-'lever by means of which the standard could be locked rigidly in position on the guide, and to such construction I lay no claim.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is l. In a paper-hie, the box or receptacle having a guide or base, d, in combination with a sliding and backwardly-tipping standard having the follower-board attached and having l rearward arms or projections, and a lever act- IOO free to'tip backward at any point'thereon,

and a lever connected to the rear side of said standard and acting upon the base, substantially as described, to maintain the standard in an erect position.

3. In a file-holder, a receptacle having a base-board with a longitudinal guide therein and a rigid upright at one end to sustain the papers, in combination with a follower-board, a standard rigidly secured to the board and adapted to bolhslide and tilt backward upon the guide, and a movable sustaining-lever pivoted to the rear side of the standard and acting at its lower end upon the guide or base at a point in rear ot the standard, whereby said lever is caused to sustain and lock the standard, and also to draw the standard backward and permit its inclination in the act of unlocking the same.

4. The combination of a box or receptacle provided with a guide, d, the standard having a sliding connection with said guide and adapted to incline backward as described, the arms g on the rear of the standard, the follower-board rigidly attached to said standard, and the lever pivoted between said arms, as described and shown.

5. In a file-holder, a front board, in combination with a base or guide of a followerboard having a sliding and tilting connection therewith, and a brace connected by a hinged joint with the rear side of the followerboard and arranged to bear at its lower end upon l strueted as described and shown, to limit the the brace or guide to sustain the follower in backward tipping motion of the follower- Io an upright position. board.

6. In a paperfile aboX or receptacle a follower-board having a sliding and hinged con- JOHN C' LANG' neetion therewith, the plate C, extending in Witnesses: rear of the follower-board7 and a. supporting- P. T. DODGE,

lever hinged to said plate, the parts being con- HARRY SHIPLEY.

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