Year: 1887

page_text: 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 that class of cases or cabinets in which drawers, trays, or
like receptacles are arranged to slide horizontally into and out of the case or cabinet
proper; and it is the aim of the invention to provide a simple construction by which
said trays, when drawn forward from the cabinet, may be automatically arrested and
supported in such position as to permit convenient examination of the contents.
To this end the invention consists, essentially, in providing the cabinet and the tray
at the top and bottom with stops or shoulders arranged to engage directly with
corresponding stops or shoulders in the cabinet, as hereinafter more fully explained.
My correspondent is aware that file-boxes have been arranged to tip forward about
their lower forward corners as a fulerum, and without the sliding motion; also that
trays and drawers have been pivoted to the forward ends of horizontal slides mounted
in a case or cabinet; but believes himself to be the first to provide stops or supporting
devices by which a horizontally-sliding tray may he engaged directly with the case or
cabinet, both at the top and bottom, in such manner that when withdrawn from the
cabinet it is supported by direct engagement therewith.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in perspective a portion of the
case or cabinet constructed on this plan, one of the trays being shown in its outer
position. Figure 2 represents a vertical longitudinal section through a portion of the

page_text: cabinet with the trays in their closed position. Figure 3 is a similar view showing
one of the trays in its extended or projected position. Figure 4 is a top plan view of
one of the trays, showing the device for confining the papers therein.
Referring to the drawings, A represents the case or cabinet, which may be con-
structed in any appropriate manner, with horizontal cells or openings to receive the
trays or drawers B, which are adapted to slide into and out of the cabinet, after the
manner of ordinary drawers.
In applying the improvement each tray is provided at its lower side, and at a
suitable distance from the rear end, with a stop or shoulder, a, the cabinet is also
provided at its front, below the tray, with a stop or shoulder, b, preferably in the form
of a transverse rod, as shown. The tray B is further provided, at its rear end, with
top shoulders or stops, e, which may consist, as shown, of metal straps attached thereto
and bent upward at their rear ends. Above the tray, at the front of the cabinet, a
stationary stop or shoulder provided, to encounter the shoulder c. The rod b, which
serves as the under stop for one tray, may be used as the upper stop for the next tray
below, as shown in the drawings.
The operation is as follows: The tray being drawn forwards slides bodily from the
cabinet until its under shoulder, a, encounters the stop or shoulder b, the effect of
which is to arrest the outward movement and prevent the disconnection of the tray
from the cabinet. If, now, the front of the tray is released, it will fall by gravity
until its upper shoulder, c, encounters the upper stop or shoulder, b, whereupon the
tray is arrested and supported in its projected position, as shown in Figure 3.
It will be observed that under this system the tray is engaged directly with the
cabinet above at its upper and its lower edges, and thus supported firmly in position
without the employment of intermediate parts. The upper rear corners of the tray
are commonly curved as shown in the drawings, but it will be manifest to those
familiar with the art that if the parts are properly proportioned this curvature will be
unnecessary. If it be required to detach a tray from the cabinet, it is only necessary
to raise its front end slightly from the position shown in Figure 3, and then lift the
rear end bodily until the stop or shoulder a is clear of the stop b, whereupon the tray
may be withdrawn from the cabinet.
The essence of the invention resides in providing the tray with stop-shoulders, both
at the top and bottom, adapted to interlock with corresponding stops or shoulders on
the cabinet, and it will be manifest to the skilled mechanic that the form of the parts
may be essentially modified without changing their mode of action or departing from
the limits of this invention.
In order to confine papers or similar articles within the tray, it is proposed to
employ the pressure plate or follower C, hinged or jointed at one end to a leaf, D,
which is in turn jointed to the front of the tray, this construction permitting the
leaf D to be turned into and out of position at will. To secure it firmly in place, the
locking device is provided, consisting simply of a wire, E, bent into approximately
the form of the letter U, its two extremities being fastened to the leaf, and its two
corners projected outward loosely beneath guides or straps d, so as to bear against the
inner walls of the tray. On pressing the middle portion of this wire in the direction
indicated by the arrow it is drawn inward from the walls of the tray, thus releasing
the leaf or follower.
The application of rubber or similar cushions F to the locking wire is recommended
for the purpose of giving firm engagement with the tray.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner it is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In combination with an inclosing case or cabinet, a sliding and tilting tray
adapted to fall to an inclined position when partly withdrawn, and to interlock when
thus tilted directly with the case, substantially as described, and a stop, substantially
as shown, to arrest the sliding movement of the tray when withdrawn to the proper
position for tilting.

page_text: 2. In combination with an inclosing case or cabinet, a sliding and tilting tray
mounted therein and sustained directly thereby, said tray provided with a shoulder or
stop to limit its outward sliding motion, and adapted, as described, to drop to an
inclined position and interlock directly with the cabinet.
3. In combination with the sliding trays or drawers provided with stops at the top
and bottom, the receiving cabinet provided with the front rod lying between the
trays and serving as an under stop for one and an upper stop for the next, as
described.
4. In combination with the cabinet having stops at its front at different heights,
the intermediate sliding tray having the under stop at a distance from the rear end,
and the upper stops on the rear rounded corners, as shown.
5. In combination with the tray or drawer, the internal leaf or follower jointed
thereto, and the fastening-wire of substantially U form applied thereto, substantially
as described.