Means for and Method of Designating Document Files.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Means for and Method of Designating Document Files.
I, GEORGE HENRY BALL, of Menands, in the County of Albany and State of
New York, United States of America, Superintendent of Commercial Agency, 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:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of several packages of documents; collated in
respect to certain geographical localities and having my designating-clip attached
to an upper edge of one of the binders-boards of each package, showing the
preferred manner for arranging said packages in a drawer:
Figure 2 is an end elevation of a portion of one of said binders-boards having
my designating-clip attached thereto :
Figures 3 and 4 are detached perspective views of my designating-clip; and
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of one of my binders-boards made in
a modified form, by having a legend-bearing panel made integrally therewith.
In many business establishments and in government departments documents-
classified, either by particular geographical localities, or by other subjects, to
which they relate-are required to be filed in such a manner that ready access can
be had to any series of such documents. These files are usually kept in drawers
and pigeon-holes, and it has been customary to affix a label, designative of the
contents of the package, to the outer face of a binders-board commonly placed on
the sides of each package for the purpose of affording protection to the documents
and for giving stability to the package. These labels, by being fixed to the side of
a package, are liable to be hidden from view when the package is placed with
others in a drawer or pigeon-hole, and the finding of a particular package is
frequently attended with much difficulty, even when the packages contain documents
classified in respect to certain subjects and arranged alphabetically; but the
difficulty is greatly increased when, by carelessness or design, a package is placed
out of its proper order in a drawer or pigeon-hole where it has usually been kept.
The object of this invention is to afford facilities for discovering at a glance a
required package when in its proper place, and for detecting a package misplaced
from its regular order. And, in order to effect this object, my invention consists
in collating in packages documents relating to like subjects, or to the same
geographical localities, applying a binder to one or both sides of said package;
said binder being provided with a designating-clip or panel on one of its edges-so
arranged that a legend-bearing panel will overlap onto the package and mark the
boundary of the latter, and securing said binder or binders to said packages,
substantially in the manner hereinafter set forth and described.
As represented in the drawing, A designates the packages of documents,
contained between side-pieces or binders, B, which are preferably made of binders-
boards, or other light material, having sufficient rigidity to maintain the documents
in a Hattened condition and to support the packages in erect positions when
required. Each of said packages is usually fastened separately, as at C, by means
of tape, elastic bands, or other suitable fastenings that will secure the same in a
proper manner.
D designates a designating-clip which is attachable to an edge of the binder B-
either a longitudinal edge, as shown in Fig. 1, or a transverse edge, as circum-
stances may require-and said clip may be made of metal, cardboard, or other
suitable material; and it may be either permanently or removably fixed to said
binder. Said clip consists of a panel, 1, that is arranged to lie flatwise on an edge
of the binder B, a pendent lug, 2, fitted to bear against the outer face of the

page_text: binder, and a second lug, 3, which is fitted to bear against the inner face of said
binder. Said panel and lugs are made integral, and the panel is adapted to contain
a legend that will indicate the character, or subject matter contained in the
documents, of the package to which the clip is applied, and said legend may be
stamped, engraved, printed, or in any suitable manner applied to or on said panel.
The pendent lug 2 of said clip is made flush with one edge of the panel 1, so that
the edge of said panel will mark one of the boundaries of a package and will not
project beyond the outer face of the binder B to interfere with an adjoining
package, and the lug 3 is bent inwardly, towards the lug 2, so that the panel 1 will
be offset at that side to overlap onto the package to which it is attached; by this
construction each package is rendered readily removable from a drawer or pigeon-
hole without interference with other packages contained in the same receptacle.
In Fig. 5, B' designates a modified form of binder for packages of document
files; said binder is provided with a legend-bearing panel, 1, which is made integral
with said binder and is bent at right-angles to the face of said. panel, so as to
overlap on to a package of documents to which said binder may be applied. While
I claim a binder made as last described, I prefer the form first shown and described
herein.
I am aware that binders or side-pieces have heretofore been used for the purpose
of holding documents and other papers in packages, by tieing said binders, by
means of tapes and strings, to opposite sides of said packages; therefore I do not
broadly claim the use of such binders or side-pieces for the above-named purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. The method of designating document files which consists in forming the files
into packages corresponding to the several subject matters thereof, labelling the
edge of each package, and arranging the packages side by side so that the labels
shall mark the boundaries of the respective packages, substantially as specified.
2. A binder or side-piece for packages of document files having one of its edges
provided with a panel for bearing a legend indicative of the subject matter
contained in the package; said panel being arranged perpendicularly to the face of
said binder, so that it will overlap onto the package to which it is applied, and so
that one of its edges will be flush with the outer face of said binder, as and for the
purpose herein specified.
3. A device for designating document files which consists of a panel arranged to
carry a suitable legend for indicating the subject matter of the contents of a
package to which the device is applied, said panel being bent perpendicularly to
form a finger which is integral therewith and having its outer face flush with the
corresponding edge of said panel; the latter being arranged to overlap on to the
edge of a package of documents so that its outer edge will define the boundary of
said package, substantially as described.
4. In a means for arranging and designating packages of document files, the
combination of a supporting board therefor, a clip attached thereto having its
outer finger flush with the board, and carrying at right angles to the board a panel
arranged to carry a suitable legend, and to overlap the package and mark the
boundary thereof, substantially as described.
Dated this 25th day of October 1892.
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicant.