Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 30th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 3rd May, 1887.
RESERV
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM A. COOKE Junior, of Brooklyn, and CHARLES
S. COOKE, of New York, both in the State of New York, United States of America,
Inventors.]
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, Fel. Inst. P.A. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6. Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and
323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of files wherein there is one or more needles or
standards on which the papers are impaled and a corresponding number of transfer
wires which join the needles or standards at one end, which is separable from the
needles or standards when papers are to be placed on or taken from the file. In files
of this description when a paper is to be filed the movable end of the transfer wire is
disjoined from the needle or standard, the paper impaled on the latter, and the transfer
wire again turned in connection with the needle or standard, and when a paper is to
be examined or taken from the file the superincumbent papers, if any, are first slipped
over onto the transfer wire and laid back leaving the desired paper exposed, and if
the paper is to be taken off the transfer wire is moved out of connection with the
needle which is thus left unguarded, whereupon the paper can be removed. If it is
to be again filed its place may be retained by allowing the transferred papers to
remain on the transfer wire until it is replaced, but if it is removed permanently the
transfer wire is rejoined to the needle and the paper retransferred thereto.
The invention also relates to a perforator for the papers which are to be filed, to
perforate or punch holes in the said papers for the insertion of the impaling needles
or standards. Heretofore the perforations for this purpose have been made by a
separate instrument, and it was a distinct operation from filing the papers.
The object of this invention is to simplify the construction and economize the
manufacture of paper files of the kind herein before described, and also to produce a

page_text: file which shall be capable of perforating the papers simultaneously with the filing
and by means of the filing mechanism, thus dispensing with a separate device and
reducing the labor one-half.
The invention consists, first, of one or more tubular impaling needles or standards
and a corresponding number of transfer wires held in a sleeve or sleeves by means of
a bayonet joint, so that the transfer needles can be raised and turned to disconnect
from the needles, and be retained in that position while the papers are being filed or
taken from the file, and guided on their return to the impaling needles: second, it
consists in making the needle end of the transfer wire of a suitable shape to perforate
the paper and punch a piece therefrom when pressed against the paper placed on top
of the needle.
A tablet made of wood or other suitable material forms the base of the file on which
the papers lie. This tablet or plate may however be made smaller so as to serve merely
as a base plate for the impaling needles or standards and the transfer wire or wires.
The impaling needles or standards which are tubular are fastened to the tablet or plate
in a vertical position, and in a line parallel to the squared front edge of the tablet.
The needles or standards are preferably screw threaded at their lower ends so that they
can be secured to the tablet by means of nuts screwed on them and against the two
surfaces of the tablet. This is the preferred mode of securing the needles or standards
and also the transfer wire tubes, hereafter described as it is the most economical, but
other modes of fastening may be adopted.
In
The transfer wire tubes, sleeves or sockets are placed opposite and parallel to the
impaling needles or standards, and are secured to the tablet in the same manner.
each of the said tubes is a vertical slot terminating a short distance below the top
thereof, and communicating with another slot, which extends from the vertical slot
at an acute angle, preferably, in order to furnish an inclined edge for the pin hereafter
described. But the one slot may be at right angles to the other if preferred.
This
The shanks or straight parts of the transfer wires are socketed in tubes and provided
with a pin or projection near the lower end which is entered into the slot so as to turn
freely therein, the upper parts of the said transfer wires are curved and the ends
join with and enter or telescope into the tubular impaling needles. When a paper is
to be filed, the transfer wires are raised up vertically, until the pins reach the upper
ends of their slots, the ends of the transfer wires have then passed out of the needles
and the transfer wires are then turned outward, on their axes in the tubes.
movement causes the pins to enter the slots, whereby the transfer wires are held in
their upper position, and when the pins reach the ends of the said slots the wires are
at right angles to their former positions. The paper is now filed on the needles, and
the transfer wires being turned back until the ends are in line with the needles, when
the pins have passed out of the slots, the wires are permitted to fall, and being guided
by the pins and slots, the ends enter the tubular needles unerringly. Thus the
readjustment of the wires for connecting with the impaling needles is almost entirely
automatic, and there is no liability whatever of their missing the needles so long as
the latter retain their perpendicular position. And there is no danger of bending
the needles by the contact of the wires with them when resuming their position in
connection therewith, as there is no impact of the ends of the transfer wires with the
ends of the needles, as in the files which have the transfer wires pivoted and controlled
by a spring. By making the slots with a slight downward inclination, the transfer
wires retain their open position better than if the one set of slots were at right
angles to the other.
In the construction first described, in transferring papers from the needles to the
transfer wires they should be passed entirely off the curved portions of the wires
before the latter are turned away from the needles otherwise when the wires are swung
around the papers would probably be torn.
Another construction of the file has the needles, tubes and transfer wires constructed.
and operating in all respects like the construction first described, except that the
extreme end of the tranfer wire is squared off and fits snugly in the upper end of
the tubular impaling needle, so that when the paper is placed between the end and

page_text: the top of the needle, and the transfer wire pressed down, the end acting opposite
the edges of the needle tube will cut or punch out a disc of paper, and thus make a
hole or perforation for the passage of the impaling needle. The upper end of the
impaling needle should be thin and sharp, so as to form a cutting edge and thus,
when the end presses upon the paper a cutting effect will be produced instead of
tearing the paper. The perforation will be so nearly the same diameter as the needle
that no trouble will be encountered in forcing it over the needle. A slight taper
should be given preferably to the needle so that the pieces or discs of paper punched
will pass through and out of the tube, which is open at the lower end, without
difficulty.
Index leaves may be placed on the impaling needles or filing standards. When a
paper is to be filed under a certain letter or in a certain class, the intervening leaves
are transferred from the needles until the proper letter or class is reached, the transfer
wires are then disjoined from the needles, the paper filed and the leaves retransferred
to the needles.
A duplex file is described, but the invention and improvements may be applied to
a single file if desired.

page_text: A communication from abroad by WILLIAM A. COOKE Jr., of Brooklyn King's
County and State of New York, and CHARLES S. COOKE, City, County and State
of New York, United States of America, Inventors.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON Fel. Inst. P.A. of the Agency for Patent
Solicitors 6 Lord Street, Liverpool 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 paper files which have one or more fixed wires
and a corresponding number of movable wires, one end whereof joins with one end
of the fixed wires, the two forming rings or arches. The papers filed on the fixed
wires are transferable to the transfer wires without disarranging the order of their
filing, and the two wires are separable to permit papers to be inserted in the proper
division, and for the removal of papers without disturbing the order of those
remaining on the file. This invention also relates to perforators by which holes are
made in the papers for the filing wires.
The object of this invention is first, to simplify the construction and economize the
manufacture of paper files of the kind above described, second, to prevent the movable
wire from being separated from the fixed wire by a lateral motion only, and thus avoid
any liability of accidentally opening the file when transferring papers; third, to punch
or perforate the paper simultaneously with filing it on the fixed wires of the file.
In the accompanying drawing a
:-.
Figure 1, represents a perspective view of the improved paper file with duplex
filing wires.
Figure 2, a vertical longitudinal section of the file, the section being taken through
one of the filing wires.
Figure 3, is an enlarged illustration of the tubular socket in which the movable
wire is held and operates.
Figure 4, represents a modification of the invention.
Referring to the drawing, A represents a tablet or board which is made of wood,
paper, metal, or other suitable material, and forms the base to which the file wires are
attached, and on which the papers lie and are held or supported evenly when the file
is ilfted or moved. The said tablet in some instances is made only large enough to
serve as a base for the filing wires; it is thus made when the file is hung up, but for
a desk file the tablet should be made as large at least as the papers that are placed
on the file. B is the fixed wire. This wire is tubular and is fixed to the base or
tablet A at right angles to the same, by screw threading its lower end, passing it
through a hole in the base, and fastening it by means of a jam nut a and screw nut a¹,
with suitable washers between them and the tablet, as shown; a recess is also made
in the base or tablet to receive the nut a', and thus give an even surface to the
underside. This is the preferred mode of fastening the wires, and also the tubular
sockets for the movable wires to the base or tablet, but it is evident that other
fastenings may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention.

page_text: C, is the tubular socket for the movable wire. This is placed in juxtaposition to
the fixed wire B and at a distance therefrom equal to the intended width of the arch;
said tube is fastened to the base or tablet in the same manner as wire B. In the
tube C is a vertical slot which does not extend the whole length of the tube, but
terminates a short distance from the top, with a laterally, and by preference, slightly
downwardly inclined slot or notch d, which serves as a rest and stop for the pin,
hereafter referred to, by which the movable wire is held out of conjunction with
the fixed wire.
D is the movable transfer wire. The stem or straight part 1 of this wire is
socketed in the tube C, and near the lower end is provided with a pin or stud e,
which projects into the slot and slides freely therein when the movable wire is
opened. The upper part of the wire D is formed into a curve or arch 2 of such a
radius that the end c when in line with wire B enters the latter and forms a telescopic
connection therewith as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
When a paper is to be filed, the transfer wire is raised vertically until stopped by
the pin e striking the upper end of the slot ; at this point the free end c passes out
of the fixed wire, and is permitted to vibrate or be turned on its axis (the stem 1) and
thus leave the end of the fixed wire unguarded. To open the file therefore for the
insertion or removal of a paper, the arched movable wire is vibrated or swung away
from the fixed wire-the stem / serving as the pivot on which it swings-in the
direction of the arrow in Figure 1. This movement causes the pin e to enter the
lateral slot or notch d, which limits the swinging motion of the arched wire, and holds
it in its upper position. The arched wire swings to a position at about right angles to
its closed position in order that there may be ample space for removing papers from
and filing them on the fixed wire. To close the file the arched wire is turned toward
the fixed wire until the pin passes out of the lateral slot at this point, the end c is in
vertical alignment with the fixed wire, and by its own weight it drops and telescopes
into the end of the fixed wire, thus locking the two together. The slot guides the
arched wire in its descent; hence after swinging it into position no further care need
be excrcised by the operator. An important advantage obtained by closing the file in
the manner stated is, that there is no liability of bending the fixed wire as there is no
lateral blow given to its upper end by the impact of the end of the arched wire.
Furthermore, the telescoped end of the arched wire supports the upper end of the
fixed wire, and prevents it from being bent by an accidental blow when the file is
closed.
By making the slot d. with a slight downward inclination the transfer wires retain
their open position better than if they were at right angles to the slot b.
The modification shown in Figure 4, consists in making the needle and transfer
wire precisely alike, both being stationary, and having their upper ends curved towards
each other, with a narrow space between. A curved tube or sleeve is placed on the
needle B and another on the transfer wire D. These tubes slide from one side to the
other, but do not pass down on the stems of the wires; and when one is pushed over
from one wire to the other it is stopped when it comes in contact with the sleeve on
the opposite wire, and bridges the opening between them, so that the papers can be
transferred from one wire to the other. When a paper is to be filed or removed, the
sleeves are both pushed back, and the space being opened, the papers are passed between
and stuck on the wire or removed as the case may be.
In the construction first described, in transferring papers from the fixed to the
inovable wire; they should be passed entirely off the curved portion of the wire before
the end c is turned away from the fixed wire, to avoid tearing them.
The perforator construction of the file illustrated by Figures 5 and 6, consists in
making the tubular fixed wire of a slightly tapering form widening towards the base,
and squaring off the upper end. The end of the movable wire is also squared off,
and fits closely into the end of the fixed wire, so that the adjacent edges of the two
form cutting edges. When the file is opened, and a paper laid on top of the fixed
wire, and the end e brought down on it, the two edges cut through the paper and a

page_text: hole is formed which the fixed wire passes through upon giving the paper a slight
downward pressure.
The upper end of the fixed wire is made as thin as possible, so that the hole formed
in the paper will not be appreciably smaller than the tube. The perforation made is so
nearly equal to the diameter of the fixed wire that no difficulty is encountered in filing
the papers. The slight taper given to the fixed wire, prevents the disks punched out
of the paper from sticking in the tube of the fixed wire.
As shown in Figure 1, index leaves F are placed on the fixed wire. When a paper
is to be filed under a certain letter or in a certain class the superincumbent leaves are
passed over to the transfer wires, the file opened and the paper filed in its proper
place, the file is then closed, and the index leaves re-transferred to the fixed wires.
The file above described is either single or duplex. As represented by Figure 1, it
is duplex. The two sets of filing wires are each separate in their operation, but
connected with the same base. It may be readily seen that one may be used or two,
or more as may be desired to properly hold papers of different sizes. The pin in the
stem of the movable wire, and the slot in the socket, limit the movement of the
movable wire, and connect the two together, so that the opening and closing of the filo
are effected by motions; certain in extent and direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is
1st. In files for letters, papers, bills, and the like, the combination of a tablet, a
tubular socket fixed thereto, an arched wire having one end connected with the tubular
socket, and the other end free, the said wire being susceptible of limited longitudinal
and vibratory motion, and a fixed wire also connected with the tablet, and with which
the free end of the arched wire aligns and interlocks by a longitudinal and vibratory
motion in sequence, and unlocks and diverges therefrom by the same motions reversed,
substantially as specified.
2nd. The combination of a tablet, a fixed wire or needle, and a movable arched
transfer or keeper wire having one end or leg pivoted in a suitable support, and the
other end or leg free, said arched wire being susceptible of a limited positive
longitudinal motion to interlock with and unlock from the fixed wire, and a limited
positive vibratory motion by which its free end may be aligned with, and diverged
from the fixed wire, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3rd. The combination of a fixed tubular wire, a socket or tube provided with slots
bd and a movable transfer wire, having its upper end curved so as to join with and
enter the fixed wire and its stem pivoted in the tube or socket and provided with a
pin e which projects into the slot 6 and guides the transfer wire when raised and
lowered, and when turned or swung out of conjunction with the fixed wire enters
slot d, and holds the transfer wire out of connection with the fixed wire, substantially
as specified.
4th. The combination of the tubular fixed wire, having its upper end squared off
forming thus part of a punch, and a movable transfer wire having its free end squared
off to form the other part of the punch, substantially as specified.
5th. The combination of the tube or socket C, provided with slots bd, the movable 4
transfer wire having a pin e in its stem, and the end g of the movable wire squared
off, and the fixed wire B, substantially as specified.
11th 2011
CML 1007
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.