Improvements in Letter Files.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 19th July, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Letter
Files.
A communication from abroad by THE OFFICE SPECIALTY Co., of Rochester, New
York, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to those letter files which consist of a base provided with
arches or arched wires on which to string the letters, each arch being divided into
two parts, one of which is hinged or pivoted so that it may be turned to or from its
companion.
The objects of the invention are, first, to provide for folding the arches down
flatwise into compact form when the files are to be shipped or stored; and, second,
to provide for, in those files which consist of two arches, the locking of the parts
together when the file is in use.
The first named result is secured by hinging or jointing the parts to their support
in such manner that they may be folded or turned down from the normal to a
receiving position. The joints or hinges for this purpose may be variously constructed
and the details are susceptible of many modifications without departing from the
principle of operation on which the invention is based.
As good a result is secured by connecting the swinging parts of the two arches so
that they engage over the respective stationary parts from opposite sides, so that they
act in opposition, one to check the closing action of the arches, the other to prevent
the opening action until it is forcibly separated from its companion.
Dated this 26th day of October 1889.
WM. P. THOMPSON & CO.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Letter Files.
A communication from abroad by THE OFFICE SPECIALTY Co., of Rochester, New
York, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby 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 those letter-files which consist of a base-plate or support
provided with one or more upright arched wires adapted to be opened at or near
the top in order to permit the introduction or removal of the letters or other sheets.
The improvement consists broadly in so hinging or jointing the filing wires or
arches that when not in use they may be folded downward flatwise upon the base or
support in order to admit of the file being conveniently transported or of its being
stored in compact form.
The details of construction as regards the arch, the base and the hinges or joints
may be modified at will within the range of mechanical skill provided they are
adapted to permit the folding action above described.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings :-
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing in operative position a file containing the
improvement.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same, showing one of the arches in a folded
position.
Referring to the drawings:-
A represents a base-plate of metal or other material and B C and B¹ C¹ two
filing arcbes constructed in duplicate, and in the present instance independent of
each other.
The part C consists of a single wire having the horizontal journal F, and a portion
rising from and at right angles to said journal, and turned over at the upper end in
the form of a hook. The horizontal journal is seated so as to slide and turn in a
plate G, riveted to the base-plate, and having in one end a slot so that when the
wire is turned to an upright position and the journal thrust endwise the upright
member will enter the slot and maintain the wire in an erect position, as in Figure 1.
The upper end of the wire C is adapted to enter the notched upper end of the tubular
base B, which has at its lower end a horizontal journal seated in a plate, G², on the
base-plate so that it be turned down thereon in a direction at right angles to that
in which the wire is turned.
When the parts CB are interlocked, as shown in Figure 1, and on the left hand
in Figure 2, they hold each other erect or in operative position.
The introduction or removal of the papers is effected by simply detaching the ends
of the parts C B whereupon the papers may be applied to or removed from either
of said members.
The arch B C is constructed and operates in precisely the same manner as the
one just described.
It is repeated that the essence of the invention lies in jointing or hinging the
arches to fold downward, and the form of their members and the construction of the
joints will be modified at will.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a letter-file, a base or support in combination with a filing wire or arch
substantially as described, hinged or jointed in such manner that it may be folded
flatwise upon the base when not in use.
2. In a letter file, a base or support in combination with a two-part filing arch or
wire, the parts hinged to fold flatwise upon the base when not in use, and adapted
to interlock and held each other in operative position when erect.
Dated this 18th day of July 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.