US421409A - Letter file - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. F. LASH. LETTER EILE.

No. 421,409. Patented Feb} 18, 1890-.

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

JOHN F. LASI-I, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO ZEBULUM AITON LASH, OF SAME PLACE.

LETTER==F| LE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,409, dated February 18, 1890.

I Application filed May 9, 1889- $erial No. 310,206. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN FANNON LASH, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at the city of Toronto, in the county of York, in the Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Files, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of letter-files which consist of one or more arches, each arch being so constructed as to be opened or separated to admit of papers being strung on the file; and it consists, essentially, in constructing the parts which make upthe arch so that they may be folded down fiat upon the base or upon alevel withit in knockdown form for convenience and safety in packing for transportation; and it consists, also, in a simple and effective manner of joining together the parts of each arch, so that papers may be transferred from one part of the arch to the other, and that papers on the file will not fall off.

The improvements may be more easily understood by referring to the drawings.

Figure 1 is aview of a file with two arches constructed with my improvements, showing the file set up ready for use. Fig. 2 is a view of the same file with the parts which make up one of the arches folded down flat in knockdown form for convenience of packing.

I call the parts which make up each arch One of the parts I a pair of filing-wires. call a filing-wire and the other an arched transfer-wire.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, A represents a bed-plate to which a pair of filing-wires is secured.

B represents the fili11g-wire,"a11d O represents the arched transfer-wire. At D the ends of the filing-wire B are shown hollowed out and also with a slot cut in the hollowed ends, and the end of the arched transfer-wire O is shown interlocked therein. The filingwire B is hinged or secured to the bed-plate, so that it may be rocked away from the arched transfer-wire C to receive papers, or it may be folded down flat on a level with the bedplate A, as shown in Fig. 2. The arched transfer-wire O is represented as bent at a Y right angle at E and secured to the bed-plate A within a socket, so that it also may be folded down fiat, as shown in Fig. 2; but the same object-via, that of packing the file in knockdown forn1can be attained by sliding it out of the socket, or by constructing its connection with the bed-plate in such a manner as to be separable therefrom, ostensibly for the purpose of laying it down flat in packing the file for transportation. Advantages derived by thus folding down the projecting parts of arched files are a great saving of space in storage, and in shipping quantities much smaller packing-boxes and less other necessary packing materials are required.

In order to hold an arched tranfer-wire up in position for use, it may be slid into a slot cut in the socket, as at F. This will steady it and give it at its point of juncture with its corresponding filing-wire a slight right or left tendency, which will assist in keeping it interlocked within the slot D in the cavity in the filing-wire B by the natural spring in the wire. The same result may be obtained if the construction above described be reversed by shaping the end of the arched transferwire C, as described, for the end of the filingwire B. This mode of joining and keeping the ends of the wires together produces a suitable joint, over which papers can be passed, and also prevents papers from falling oif.

Papers can be filed on either of the wires, and by manipulating the papers on the arches any desired paper can be taken off or put on without taking off any others.

While I have described herein the preferred details of construction, it is to be understood that these details'may be modified, provided the parts of the arch are adapted to turn down in tiatform on the base or support.

I believe myself to be the first to construct a filingarch the two parts of which are hinged or jointed to permit their separation when letters are to be applied or removed in such manner that when not in action both parts may be turned down flatwise upon the base or support; and it is to be understood that my invention embraces any construction the mechanical equivalent of that herein shown which permits't-his folding action.

That I claim isr 1. In a letter-file, the combination of a suitor support and two filing-arches, each composed of an arched and a straight member, the arched members hinged to fold downward and rearward in opposite directions and the straight members hinged to fold down in a different direction, substantially as and for c the purpose described and shown.

4.. In a letter-file, the base, the filing-wire and an arched wire co-operating therewith, and a hinged connection, substantially as shown, sustaining the arched wire and allowing the same to fold down sidewisc, but resisting its motion in other directions, whereby the arch is sustained when in active position, but allowed to fold out of the way when not in use.

5. In combination with the bed-plate or support, a filing-wire B, mounted thereon to fold to a flat position, and a separate arched transfer-wire detachably secured to the support, substantially as described and shown,

whereby the parts are adapted to be placed in fiat and compact form for storage or transportation.

6. In a letter-file, and in combination with a suitable base or support, a filing-wire B, having its exposed end provided with the longitudinal cavity and the lateral slot or opening therefrom, and the co-operating arched wire 0, having its end adapted to enter the slot and engage in the cavity.

7. In a letter-file, and in combination with a base-plate or support,two independent filingwires 0, hinged to turn down in opposite directions when not in use, whereby they are adapted to be held in operative positions in whole or in part by the letters or sheets through which they pass.

8. In a letter-file, the combination of the slotted socket G and the arched transfer-wire 0, having its base bent at a right angle and seated to slide and turn in the socket.

9. In a letter-file, the combination, substantially as described and shown, of a bed or base plate, a notched socket thereon, and the arch ed transfer-wire having the angular lower end mounted to slide and turn in the socket, substantially as described.

, JOHN F. LASI-I.

Witnesses:

A. MACKENZIE, ROBERT GOWANS.

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