An Improved Letter File or Device for Classifying Correspondence.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Letter File or Device for Classifying Correspondence.
I, ALEXANDRE RENUCCI, of No. 5 Rue Blondel, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
The invention which forms the subject of this application relates to a letter file or
device, or arrangement for classifying correspondence and sundry documents and
papers in a methodical and easy manner, enabling an index to be dispensed with.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which the improved arrangement is represented by way of example only.
Figure 1 is a front view of the complete classifying device, shown closed;
Figure 2 is a plan thereof;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the arrangement;
Figure 4 comprises an elevation and a plau, being both detached detail views of
the nut or ferrule connecting the hinged or pivoted rod with the fixed rod;
Figure 5 is a front view of the same classifying device shown open and ready for
the insertion of the letter or document to be classified;
Figure 6 is a plan view thereof;
Figure 7 is a front view of a modified form of the complete classifier; shown
closed;
Figure 8 is a side elevation thereof, partly in section ;
Figure 9 is a front elevation of the same classifier shown open and ready for the
insertion of the document to be classified, while at the same time permitting the
batch of correspondence to be divided;
Figure 10 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a sectional front elevation of the complete arrangement enabling the
papers classified to be almost instantaneously bound up in book form; and
Figure 12 is a side view of the same.
As will be seen from the drawings, the device consists of a metal support a to
which are hinged, pivoted or linked in any convenient manner bent rods c, the pivot
point being at b.
Two corresponding rods d, secured to the support a, each terminate in a screw
threaded portion, whereon a ferrule e, provided with a slot f, is adapted to be screwed ;
the said slot serving for the passage of a pin g projecting from each of the movable
arms c, and also doing duty as a stock and a means for locking the mechanism in
position.
Supporting or retaining washers h are placed upon the arm c for the purpose of
facilitating the division of the batch of correspondence, when one case is filled.
The complete arrangement just described may be attached to a cover, case or
wrapper, which may be made of cardboard or any other suitable material, and
completes a letter classifying or docketing device not unlike those now generally
used.
It will thus be understood that after opening the classifier the letters or documents i
to be classified are placed upon the fixed rods d; then the hinged arms care turned
on their pivots so as to make them. take up their position above the said fixed arms;

page_text: and the whole arrangement is locked in position by turning the tapped ferrules e
retaining the extremities of the hinged arms.
Upon being thus locked or closed the classifier forms a species of ring, or annular
rail, for the classified papers freely to slide upon, according as this may be required
in the event of a search having to be made in the correspondence.
It will be understood that the improved classifying arrangement may be employed
without any cover or case whatever, thus simply forming a "block" of superposed
papers.
In the modification shown in Figures 7 to 10, the corresponding rods d are fitted
with a case or tube k adapted to assist in dividing the batch of correspondence when
the case is filled.
The upper end of each of these tubes k carries a slot ƒ for the reception of the
pin g, and the lower ends of these tubes may be fitted with a base or foot such as h,
or be connected by a cross piece l, as clearly shown in Figures 9 and 10.
When the batch of correspondence i on the tubes k becomes too bulky for the
convenient operation of the classifier, a portion of it bas to be taken off; to which
end it is sufficient to remove the said tubes k from the rods d, or in other words, to
lift them off the said rods, along with the part of the batch of correspondence which
it is desired to separate, and to transfer the whole to some other classifying case or
other suitable place.
The tubes k may be simply passed over the fixed rods d or connected to such rods
by means of a screw thread or in any other suitable manner.
A fetated, the tales are
together by a emis ml/ml in order
to bind the papers up in bask form, the tubes are passed into one of the sides of
the case m, and the batch of correspondence i is then placed upon such tubes, into
which there is inserted a bent rod n which is placed into contact externally on the
opposite side m' of the case.
The ends of the rod m are screw threaded and adapted to receive a tightening
screw or washer o (Figures 11 and 12).
From the foregoing it will be understood that the sheets superposed in the manner
stated may be bound up in book form instantaneously.
The shapes and dimensions adopted and the materials employed in the
performance of this invention may vary without any departure from the principle
thereof.
Dated this 10th day of March 1807
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Letter File or Device for Classifying Correspondence.
I, ALEXANDRE RENUCCI, of No. 5 Rue Blondel, Paris, in the Republic of France, 4
Clerk, 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 invention which forms the subject of this application relates to a letter file or
device, or arrangement for classifying correspondence and sundry documents and 4
papers in a methodical and easy manner, enabling an index to be dispensed with.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the drawing left with my
provisional specification, in which the improved arrangement is represented by way
of example only.

page_text: Figure 1 is a front view of the complete classifying device, shown closed;
Figure 2 is a plan thereof;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the arrangement;
Figure 4 comprises an elevation and a plan, being both detached detail views of
the nut or ferrule connecting the hinged or pivotted rod with the fixed rod;
Figure 5 is a front view of the same classifying device shewn open and ready for
the insertion of the letter or document to be classified.
Figure 6 is a plan view thereof;
Figure 7 is a front view of a modified form of the complete classifier; shown
closed;
Figure 8 is a side elevation thereof, partly in section ;
Figure 9 is a front elevation of the same classifier shown open and ready for the
insertion of the document to be classified, while at the same time permitting the
batch of correspondence to be divided ;
Figure 10 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a sectional front elevation of the complete arrangement enabling
the papers classified to be almost instantaneously bound up in book form; and
Figure 12 is a side view of the same.
As will be seen from the drawings, the device consists of a metal support a to
which are hinged, pivotted or linked in any convenient manner bent rods c, the pivot
point being at b.
Two corresponding rods d, secured to the support a, each terminate in a screw
threaded portion, whereon a ferrule e, provided with a slot f, is adapted to be screwed
the said slot serving for the passage of a pin g projecting from each of the movable
arins c, and also doing duty as a stock and a means for locking the mechanism in
position.
Supporting or retaining washers h are placed upon the arm c for the purpose of
facilitating the division of the batch of correspondence, when one case is filled.
The complete arrangement just described may be attached to a cover, case or
wrapper, which may be made of cardboard or any other suitable material, and
completes a letter classifying or docketing device not unlike those now generally
used.
It will be understood that after opening the classifier the letters or documents i to
be classified are placed upon the fixed rods d; then the hinged arms c are turned
on their pivots so as to make them take up their position above the said fixed arins;
and the whole arrangement is locked in position by turning the tapped ferrules
retaining the extremities of the hinged arms.
Upon being thus locked or closed the classifier forms a species of ring, or annular
rail, for the classified papers freely to slide upon, according as this may be required
in the event of a search having to be made in the correspondence.
It will be understood that the improved classifying arrangement may be employed
without any cover or case whatever, thus simply forming a "block" of superposed
papers.
In the modification shewn in Figures 7 to 10, the corresponding rods d are fitted
with a case or tube k adapted to assist in dividing the batch of correspondence when
the case is filled.
The upper end of each of these tubes k carries a slot f for the reception of the
pin g, and the lower ends of these tubes may be fitted with a base or foot such as h,
or be connected by a cross piece l, as clearly shown in Figures 9 and 10.
When the batch of correspondence i on the tubes becomes too bulky for the
convenient operation of the classifier, a portion of it has to be taken off; to which
end it is sufficient to remove the said tubes k from the rods d, or in other words, to
lift them off the said rods, along with the part of the batch of correspondence which
it is desired to separate, and to transfer the whole to some other classifying case or
other suitable place.
The tubes k may be simply passed over the fixed rods d or connected to such rode
by means of a screw thread or in any other suitable manner.

page_text: As before stated, the tubes k are connected together by
cross rod and in order
to bind the papers up in book form, the tubes & are passed into one of the sides of
the case m, and the batch of correspondence i is then placed upon such tubes, into
which there is inserted a hent rod n which is placed into contact externally on the
opposite side m' of the case.
The ends of the rod m are screw threaded and adapted to receive a tightening
screw or washer o (Figs. 11 and 12).
From the foregoing it will be understood that the sheets superposed in the manner
stated may be bound up in book form almost instantaneously.
The shapes and dimensions adopted and the materials employed in the performance
of this invention may be varied without departing from the principle thereof.
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 :-
A device for classifying correspondence consisting of an arrangement of hinged
arms, such as c and fixed arins, such as d, in combination with tubes or sleeves, such
as k, connected by a cross piece l, and enabling the correspondence to be taken off
and transferred elsewhere, or bound up in book form, through the medium of a bent
rod such as n, passed through the tubes k; all arranged and combined substantially
as described and illustrated in the drawing.
Dated this 10th day of November 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.