Improvements in Letter Files.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1894
Improvements in Letter Files.
A communication from abroad by BENJAMIN LAWRENCE, Manufacturer, of
224, Centre Street, in the City, County, and State of New York, United States
of America.
I, JOHN CORRY FELL, of the Firm of Fell & Wilding, of 1 Queen Victoria
Street, in the City of London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 letter and bill files wherein duplex filing
or impaling wires and duplex vertically-pivoted transferring wires are employed,
and has for its main object to provide simple and effective means for connecting
the transfer wires so that they shall operate simultaneously when either one is
moved and also for properly holding said wires in both their open and closed
positions.
To these ends the invention consists primarily in combining with the vertically
pivoted transfer wires a spring, connected to each of said wires and operating to
transmit the motion of one of said wires to the other, in the opening and closing
operations of the file, and also operating by its tension to properly hold said wires
And the invention consists
both open and closed relatively to the impaling wires.
secondarily in certain details of construction and combinations of devices, all as will
be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended
claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan view of a file embodying the improvements, a part of the case
being broken away to show the interior parts, and the transfer wires and their
connecting spring being also shown, by dotted lines, in the positions they occupy
when the file is open.
Figure 2 is a side sectional elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan view omitting the board and the case and showing a modifi-
cation of the invention.
Figure 4 is a similar view showing another modification thereof.
Figure 5. is another view showing still another modification thereof; and
Figure 6 is a similar view showing a further modification.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, 1 designates the base-plate adapted
to be screwed to a board or tablet 2. Formed integral with the base-plate is a
case or housing 3 open at its upper side and provided with a top or cover 4. 5, 5
designate the upright impaling wires, which are secured to the base-plate, and 6, 6
represent the arched transfer wires having each a vertical portion or stem 7 which
is rotatably mounted in the case, the said stem 7 forming a vertical pivot or axis of
vibration for the arched portion of the transfer wire, whereby the free end of the
arch may swing in a horizontal plane to and from the free end of its associated
impaling wire, a mode of operation now well-known.
Each vertical portion or stem 7 is formed or provided at its lower end within
the case with an inwardly projecting arm 8 adapted to turn therewith. Upon the
arms 8 are slipped the ends of a coiled wire spring 9, which serves to connect the
two arched wires and move one of the same when force is applied to the other to
move it. Said spring also acts to keep the transfer wires properly in either their
open or closed positions, as may be desired. When the file is closed the arms 8
project rearwardly and inwardly towards each other, and the spring is maintained
in a bowed or arched condition. The file is shown closed at Figure 1 by the full
1

page_text: lines, and open by the dotted lines. To either open or close the file either one of
the arched wires 6 may be manipulated. If the right hand arch of the transfer
wire is swung outward, the arm 8 fast on the stem 7 will operate to draw the spring
bodily towards the center of the casing, thereby gradually compressing its coils
and causing the spring in turn to vibrate the opposite or left hand arm 8 and
thereby partially rotate its stem 7 and cause the arch thereof to swing outwardly.
When the right hand arm 8 has been moved past the center line of the stems 7, the
tension gradually imparted to the spring by the closure of its coils operates to
complete the outward swing of the arched portions of the wires, and just before the
force of the spring has been expended the central portion of the spring will come
to a stop or bearing against the inner side of the front vertical ledge or flange 10
of the case, as shown by the dotted lines. The spring therefore has a natural
tendency to keep the wires open when in the dotted line positions shown. To
return the transfer wires to close the file the arched portion of either wire may be
swung inwardly, and during this movement the spring is again compressed by the
arms 8, which work together almost immediately after the swinging movement of
one arch commences, and after the arms have passed the center line in their
backward movement, the spring begins to expand as the arms diverge and hence
acts through said arms and the stems to complete the inward swinging of the arched
portions of the wires.
Preferably there is no direct stop for the spring in the closing operation of the
wires, and hence when the points of the arched wires meet the points of the
impaling wires there is yet some power or tension in the spring. By this arrange-
ment and action a perfect closure of the file is obtained, which it will be understood
is a great desideratum. In previous files the construction and arrangement were
such (particularly after a brief usage of the file) that the power of the spring
would be insufficient to move the points of the arched wires into contact with the
points of the impaling wires and maintain such contact, and for this reason in
transferring letters and bills the holes or perforations in the paper would become
considerably enlarged or torn. But by the present construction it will be observed
that the complete expansion of the spring is resisted solely by the points of the
impaling wires, and for this reason the joint formed by the bevelled ends of the
impaling and transfer wires is always close, smooth and even, and hence all liability
of tearing the papers or enlarging the holes therein is effectually avoided..
Referring to Figure 3, the vertical stem-like portion of each arched wire is
provided with a socket 11, into which the end convolutions of the coiled spring 12
are inserted. The operation of this form or construction of file is the same as that
hereinbefore described.
Referring to Figure 4, the stem portion of one arched wire is provided with a
bub 13. Into a slit at the inner end thereof is inserted one end of a flat or bar
spring 14, the opposite end of said spring being similarly connected to a like hub
fast on the other stem. In practice this spring has an action similar or analogous
to that shown in the preceding figures, in that it serves to connect the two arched
wires and move one when the other is manipulated, and also in that it has a spring
tension to both complete the opening of the wires and the closing thereof.
Referring to Figure 5, a construction somewhat similar to that shown at Figure 4
is exhibited, the only difference being that the wire is looped or corrugated at its
middle on each side of the straight end portions thereof, as shown at 15 and 16.
If the right hand end arched wire be moved by hand to the dotted line position a,
the loops or corrugations of the spring will close and the end portions straighten
out, as indicated by the dotted lines at b; and when the said right hand wire is
moved by hand slightly beyond the dotted line position a, and the spring is caused
to pass the center line, the spring will expand and complete the opening of the
wires or move them to the dotted line positions at c, the spring moving to the dotted
line position d and assuming the form shown thereat. In closing the file the
reverse of this action takes place.
Referring to Figure 6, a round wire spring is shown provided with straight ends 17,

page_text: which enter hubs on the stems of the arched wire, and having between said straight
nds a series of convolutions 18. A file of this construction has substantially the
ame action as that shown at Figures 1 and 3.
In all of the views it will be observed that the spring is employed as the
connecting medium between the vertically-pivoted arched wires, and that when
either one of said wires is moved the motion is transmitted by said spring to the
other wire, said spring serving in each instance also by its tension or expansion to
complete the opening and closing actions of the wires and operating also to maintain
the arched wires properly and perfectly in both their open and closed positions.
In each example of the invention it will be seen that the total length of the
normally-bowed connecting parts between the stems is greater than the distance
between said stems on a straight line transversely of the file, and that for this
reason a contraction or compression must occur in the connecting means when
moving towards said straight line and an expansion or distension when moving
from said straight line, in order to permit the connecting means to move to and
past said line and effect the alternate opening and closing of the file. As the
connecting means is formed in whole or in part of a bodily movable spring said
contraction and expansion of said means may readily occur in consequence.
In the contracting movement, the spring while serving to transmit the motion of
one wire to the other is at the same time put under tension or stress, which is
utilized in the expanding movement to drive the wires.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with the impaling wires, and the vertically-pivoted transfer-
wires, of a bodily-movable spring arranged intermediate of and connected at both
ends to the pivotal portions of said transfer-wires and adapted to transmit the
motion of one wire to the other when either transfer wire is taken hold of and
rotated, and the said spring being arranged to move from a position on one side of
the line of the pivots of the transfer-wires to a position on the other side thereof
as the wires are opened and closed, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with the impaling wires, and the vertically pivoted transfer
wires, of connecting means, between the pivotal portions of said transfer wires,
including an intermediate bodily-novable transmitting spring; the said connecting
means being greater in length than the distance directly between said pivotal
portions, and the said spring serving to transmit the motion from one transfer wire
to the other and being adapted to be compressed or contracted and put under
tension when moving bodily towards the line of said pivotal portions and to expand
or distend when moving from said line; substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with the impaling-wires, and the vertically-pivoted transfer-
wires, of a bodily-movable normally-bowed combined spring and motion-transmitter
connected at its ends to the pivotal portions of said transfer-wires and arranged
and operating substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with the impaling-wires, and the vertically-pivoted transfer-
> wires, of separated arms or members projecting inwardly from the pivotal portions
of said transfer-wires, and an intermediate bodily-movable spring connected at its
euds to said arms or members and serving to transmit the motion from one
transfer wire to the other, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with the impaling-wires, and the vertically-pivoted transfer-
O wires, of the separated arms 8, and the intermediate bodily-movable transmitting
coiled spring 9 connected thereto at its ends, substantially as set forth.
1004
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.