An Improved Letter File.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1895-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Letter File.
I, OSWALD ASSMANN, Engineer, of Tegelen, Holland, 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 for an improved letter file consists in the arrangement of
mechanism so as to facilitate the searching for a document without the risk of
loosening others and to more securely and conveniently hold them.
On the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings. Figs. 1-4 show the
arrangement of mechanism and Figs. 5 and 6 show its application in the position
for searching for a document, and for placing on or taking off a document
respectively.
As shown in Figs. 1-4, there are two back pieces connected by a hinge, au
provided with teeth, or as in Fig. 2 with teeth and small tubes.
To one back piece is hung the frame or loop a, b, c, d which swings on the
axis a and the movement of which is limited by the stops e, f. A spiral spring g
wound round the axis a and bearing at one end on the backing and at the other
end on the frame a, b, c, d causes the frame to continuously press on the stop f.
On the other back piece two nose pieces are attached, against which the
connecting bar c of the frame rests when the mechanism is open. The side pieces
of the frame are of such a length that when the letter file is opened far enough,
the teeth or small tubes thereof are in such a position with regard to each other
that no document can be removed or fall out, (see Figs. 1 and 2).
As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the letter file opens out, in searching for a document,
as wide as the trame a bed and the nose pieces allow. The removal or loss of a
document is however not yet possible.
When in this position there must, even when full of letters, by reason of the
partial opening, be a free space, through which the connecting bar c is accessible.
If now, this connecting bar c is taken hold of and moved in the direction of the
arrow (Fig. 5) the frame is first moved from contact with the nose pieces and then
the side pieces b and d, of the frame rest on the projections e so that the file opens
completely, taking up the position shown in Fig. 6.
In closing, the connecting bar c of the frame slides over the nose pieces / and
by means of the spring g falls again automatically behind the nose pieces.
The whole arrangement can be made one sided, to fulfil the same object, in
which case the frame assumes the shape of a tension clip and only one nose piece is
requisite.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A letter file with back pieces rotatable about a hinge and carrying small
tubes or spikes, distinguished by a bar e rotating about an axis a between stops e
and fand being controlled by a spring, this bar when engaging behind two nose
pieces on the other back piece permitting a partial opening of the file, but so
that the small tubes and spikes still remain engaged together whilst the file can be
completely opened only after freeing the bar c from the nosepieces substantially
as described.

page_text: 2. The arrangement and construction of letters files substantially as described
with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 15th day of July 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.