Improvements in Letter Files.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date o Application, 29th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th May, 1891-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by A. and T. TENGWALL, of Helsingborg, in the
Kingdom of Sweden.]
Improvements in Letter Files.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a letter-file.
The two covers of the
halves which are provided
same direction as the file.
which the covers are fixed
dently of the back.
improved file are fixed to a back made of two parts or
with hinges for enabling the back to be opened in the
Both parts or halves of the back have rigid edges to
in such a manner that the latter can be opened indepen-
On the inner surface of these edges are secured pins or prongs bent to the circle
which they describe when the back is opened or closed. Two or more pins or prongs
arranged on each side of the back so that the letters or other papers provided with
suitable holes will be held by four or more such pins or prongs when the back is
closed, as soon as the back is opened the pins or prongs will recede from each other.
For taking a letter from the file the latter is first opened like an ordinary book, the
leaves being parted at the point where the desired letter is placed, when the back
is now opened the letters on either side will be carried away with the cover whereon
they are lying being held together in proper order by the said pins or prongs. In
this manner a letter can be readily taken from the file, whilst its insertion is
similarly effected with great facility.
The two parts or halves of the aforesaid back are kept closed by any suitable
locking device, such as, for instance one or more spiral spring bars or hook springs.
These may either be firmly connected with the back, or arranged to be applied
separately.
In case the parts or halves of the back are to be locked through the medium of a
spring hook the latter may be secured to one of these parts or halves, this hook being
arranged in such a manner that when the back is closed it will engage with a
suitable cavity formed in the other part or half. A small spring operated by
pressure serves to release the aforesaid hook for enabling the back to be opened.
The locking device may be placed in close proximity to the lower end of the
back and the hook spring opened by pressing one end of a spring adapted to act
upon the said hook spring, the free end of which descends to the lower edge of the
back.
Another arrangement for keeping the backs of the file closed consists in providing
the outer edges of the hinge with eyes or securing separate eyes to the parts or
halves of the back, through which a rigid clamp of steel wire is passed this clamp.
being removed when the back is to be opened. The above described devices for
locking the two parts or halves of the file are only described by way of example, as
the same object can be effected by any other suitable means.
The improved file can be used either for collecting or keeping letters or other
papers. In the former case a metallic bar is employed which has two or more pins
or prongs adapted to pass through the holes in the letters or other paper when the
file is opened. The entire collection of letters or other papers can then be easily
taken out and placed in another file for keeping them, which may be constructed in
the above or any other suitable manner.
The bent pins or prongs above mentioned can be fixed in various manners; for
instance, directly upon the parts or halves of the back or upon a metallic-bar which

page_text: is either secured to the back or slid under ledges and hooks fixed to the back so
that the hook is held by friction or by a spring or other means.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to a letter-file.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the improved file opened and with a few
letters held therein.
Figure 2 is a section on the line ab of Figure 1 showing the file closed.
Figure 3 is a view of one half of the back shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a modification.
The covers of the improved file consist of rigid parts A, and the cover proper A¹.
The said rigid parts A are secured to a back also made in two parts or halves B
which are provided with hinges for enabling the back to be opened in the same
direction as the file. The covers A¹ are secured to the rigid parts A in such a
manner that the said covers A¹ can be opened independently of the back.
On the inner surface of the rigid parts are secured pins or prongs C and C¹ bent
to correspond with the circle which they describe when the back is opened or
closed. Two or more pins or prongs are arranged on each side of the back so that
the letters or other papers provided with suitable holes will be held by four or more
such pins or prongs when the back is closed; as soon as the back is opened the pins
or prongs will recede from each other. For taking a letter from the file the said
file is first opened like an ordinary book, the leaves being parted at the point where
the desired letter is placed; when the back is opened the letters on either side will
be turned down with, and will lie upon their respective covers A¹, being held
together in proper order by the said pins or prongs C and C. In this manner a
letter can be readily taken from the file, whilst its insertion is effected with great
facility.
The two parts or halves of the aforesaid back or cover are kept closed by any
suitable locking device, such as for instance one or more spiral springs bars or hook
springs. These may either be firmly connected with the back, or arranged to be
applied separately.
In case the parts or halves of the back are to be locked through the medium
of a spring hook, the latter may be secured to one of these parts or halves this
hook D being arranged in such a manner that when the back is closed it will
engage with a suitable cavity E formed in the other part or half. A small
spring E (see Figure 2) operated by pressure serves to release the aforesaid hook
for enabling the back to be opened.
Figure 3 shows another arrangement for opening the lock. The locking device
is in this case placed in close proximity to the lower end of the back, and
the hook spring opened by pressing one end of a spring E' adapted to act
upon the said hook spring, the free end of which descends to the lower edge of
the back.
Another arrangement by means of which the back can be kept closed is shown
in Figure 4. One half of the hasp carries at its extreme end a staple N, which
when the back is closed, passes through a suitable opening in the second half

page_text: of the hasp. A metal pin, a rigid clamp of steel wire," is then passed through
the eye of the staple in such a manner that the back can only be opened when
this pin is removed.
The improved file can be used either for collecting or keeping letters or other
papers. In the former case a metallic bar is employed which has two or more
pins or prongs adapted to pass through the holes in the letters or other paper
when the file is opened as shown in Figure 1.
The entire collection of letters
or other papers can then be easily taken out and placed in another file for
keeping them which may be constructed in the above or any other suitable
manner.
The bent pins or prongs above mentioned can be fixed upon the metallic bar as
shown in Figures 1 and 2 which is either secured to the rigid part A of the cover or
slid under ledges or hooks fixed to the said part A so that the said bar is held by
friction or other means. As shown in Figure 2 the said metallic bars are so
arranged upon the rigid part A. of the cover that they will project beyond the
edges of the said parts so that the covers A' will rest against the said bars which
thus act as stops.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a letter-file provided with a back which is divided in the longitudinal
direction into two parts or halves connected by hinges, the device for keeping the
parts or halves locked when the file is closed, comprising a spring hook fixed to one
part or half and adapted to engage with a cavity in the other part of the back and
to be disengaged through the medium of a pressing knob, a spring or the like so
that the back can be opened.
Second. In a letter file a modified device for locking the two halves of the back,
comprising a rigid clamp which is passed through eyes fixed to one or the other
half of the back.
Third. In a letter file the use of metallic bars to which the bent pins or
prongs are fixed and which are made of such breadth that they will project beyond
the edges of the rigid part of the cover with which the two parts or halves of the
back are provided in order to enable the two covers to bear against the same when
they are closed.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.