Improved File for Loose Sheets, Papers, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved File for Loose Sheets, Papers, and the like.
I, GUSTAV MENKE, of 7, Feldstrasse, Frankfort-on-Main, in the Empire of
Germany, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The necessity of binding or filing loose sheets, manuscripts, papers and the
like in a portfolio has led to various forms of construction being devised, of
which the alphabetical files for which the accumulated papers must first be
perforated are probably the most widely used.
The filing devices for unperforated manuscripts are too complicated to allow
of their being so widely used as the above named files.
This invention relates to such a filing device in which the capability of
arranging manuscripts and the like in such a way as to allow of their easy
inspection and of retaining the same in the device is afforded in the simplest
manner without its being necessary to previously perforate such papers.
The improved filing device consists of four parts, namely of three spring wire
loops bent many times and a perforated plate. The pile of papers lies on the
main loop which has its ends bent vertically upwards against the edge of the pile.
The plate is provided with two perforations to engage over the vertical ends of
the main loop and the two other wire loops are pivotally mounted at their ends
at both sides of this plate whose ends are bent down for the purpose in such a
way that the points of rotation of the one loop lie outside those of the other
loop with the vertical ends of the main loop between them. The internally
mounted loop is so bent that it acts when pressed down as an eccentric or cam
on the outwardly mounted loop.
The use of the file is as follows:-
The sheets to be filed are placed on the horizontal part of the main loop and
the pressure device consisting of the other two loops and plate is then pushed
down on the sheets and the two loops turned over. By this pressing down of
the two loops their ends act on the plate and slightly tilt it so that its holes
which engage over the vertical ends or arms of the main loop are caused to
grip said arms.
In order to prevent any slipping of the plate on the ends or arms of the main
loop, these arms may be notched or toothed at one or both sides.
In order to remove single sheets, the one loop is turned up, thus releasing
the second loop and also simultaneously loosening the plate on the vertical arms
of the main loop. The two loops and plate are then pushed upwards either
entirely off or on to the horizontally bent parts of the vertical arms of the main
loop and in the latter case may form a support for sheets placed thereon. The
vertical arms of the main loop also serve for fixing an index perforated in the
usual way. The file hereinbefore described may be used by itself and also in
I combination with a case or portfolio. In order to fasten the same into or on
the portfolio or case a sheet metal plate fixed to the same is provided with notches

page_text: at the sides which are bent over and into which the main loop on its insertion
snaps and is held fast.
Dated this 17th day of September 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
Improved File for Loose Sheets, Papers, and the like.
I, GUSTAV MENKE, of 7, Feldstrasse, Frankfort-on-Main, in the Empire of
Germany, Merchant, 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:-
The necessity of binding or filing loose sheets, manuscripts, papers and the
like in a portfolio has led to various forms of construction being devised, of
which the alphabetical files for which the accumulated papers must first be
perforated are probably the-most widely-used.
The filing devices for unperforated manuscripts are too complicated to allow
of their being so widely used as the above named files.
This invention relates to such a filing device in which the capability of
arranging manuscripts and the like in such a way as to allow of their easy
inspection and of retaining the, same in the device is afforded in the simplest
manner without its being necessary to previously perforate such papers.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation ;
Figure 2, a sectional plan;
Figure 3, a sectional front elevation; and
Figure 4, a plan of the main loop and plate for attaching the file to a case.
The improved filing device consists of four parts, namely of three spring wire
loops a cd bent many times and a perforated plate b. The pile of papers lies
on the main loop a which has its ends, bent vertically upwards against the edge
of the pile. The plate b is provided with two perforations to engage over the
vertical ends of the main loop a and the two other wire loops c are pivotally
mounted at their ends at both sides of this plate b whose ends are bent down
for the purpose in such a way that the points of rotation of the one loop lie
outside those of the other loop with the vertical ends of the main loop a between
them. The internally mounted loop c is so bent that it acts when pressed down
as an eccentric or cam on the outwardly mounted loop d. ;
The use of the file is as follows;
The sheets to be filed are placed on the horizontal part of the main loop a
and the pressure device b c d consisting of the other two loops and plate is then
pushed down on the sheets and the two loops turned over. By this pressing
down of the two loops c d their ends act on the plate and slightly tilt it so
that its holes which engage over the vertical ends or arms of the main loop a
are caused to grip said arms.
In order to prevent any slipping of the plate on the ends or arms of the main
loop a these arms may be notched or toothed at one or both sides.
In order to remove single sheets, the one loop is turned up, thus releasing
the second loop d and also simultaneously loosening the plate b on the vertical.
arms of the main loop a. The two loops c d and plate b are then pushed upwards
either entirely off or on to the horizontally bent parts of the vertical arms of the
main loop a and in the latter case may form a support for sheets placed thereon.

page_text: The vertical arms of the main loop a also serve for fixing an index perforated
in the usual way. The file hereinbefore described may be used by itself and
also in combination with a case y or portfolio. In order to fasten the same into
or on the portfolio or case y a sheet metal plate fixed to the same is provided
with recesses at the sides which are formed by bending over the metal and into
which the main loop a on its insertion snaps and is held fast.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A file for loose sheets consisting of a loop (a) formed of springy material
and a movable perforated plate (b) adapted to be placed upon the vertical, fixed,
smooth or toothed free ends of the loop, on which plate two other loops (c and d)
are pivotally arranged and which are so bent that by means of the one loop (c),
the other loop (4) may be pressed upon the layer of papers and the latter be
held fast between the two pivoted loops (c and d) and the horizontal part of
the main loop (a) and whereby the two pivoted loops (c and d) may turn round
simultaneously in such a manner on the plate (6) that the latter is clamped
firmly on the vertical arms of the main loop (a) substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. The fastening of a file such as described to a plate fixed to a case by forming
said plate with lateral recesses into which the horizontal arms of the main
loop (a) are adapted to snap on insertion and so be secured against unintentional
falling out, substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 14th day of June 1898.
.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.