Improvements in File Cases or Cabinets.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 46th May, 1904
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 13th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 13th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in File Cases or Cabinets.
We, JOHN HENRY HARRISON HOGGE of 32 Queen's Terrace Southampton, in
the County of Hants Shipping Agent, and WILLIAM JOHN BONIFACE
of 1 Anglesea Place Southampton aforesaid Cabinet Manufacturer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to file cases or cabinets of the kind wherein a number of
letter or other paper or document files provided with suitable indexes are fitted in
compartments in the case or cabinet. The object of this invention is to construct
file cabinets of the kind above described, in such manner that a cabinet for
containing a given number of files shall occupy less floor or wall space and be
arranged more conveniently for reference than a file cabinet for containing the same
number of files, as heretofore constructed.
In use for filing ordinary papers the documents at the tail end of the file are
approximately only one half the thickness of the documents at the clip end;
and we take advantage of this fact to economise space in our file cabinet. In
constructing our file cabinet we provide a skeleton drum or cage in the shape of a
cylinder or partial cylinder and having radial compartments to receive the files,
into which the latter are placed so that the documents filed lie in the plane containing
the axis of the drum or cage, and the clip ends of the files are at or near the
circumference of the drum or cage. We fit this drum or cage into an outer case
or shell in such manner that it can be rotated or partially rotated from outside the
said case or shell. We prefer to construct the outer case or shell so as to completely
enclose the drum or cage and we provide a lock up door to which the files can be
successively brought by the rotation of the drum or cage aforementioned. Secured
to the spindle of the drum or cage and outside the outer case or shell is an indicating
device corresponding with the labels on the various files so that any one of the files
can be brought to the door as required. To stop the rotation of the drum or cage
when the desired file is in position in front of the lock up door, we prefer to adopt
the following arrangement:
To each division of the indicating device we pivot or hinge a locking plate which
can be turned over so as to bear on a ring secured to the outer case or shell and by
which said locking plate the drum can be rotated. When the locking plate arrives
in line with the door in the outer case it passes into a slot in, or abuts against a
projection on, the aforementioned ring and further rotation of the drum or cage is
thus prevented. We may however if required, construct the outer case or shell so
that it only partially encloses the rotatable drum or cage in which case no indicating
device would be required as the labels on the files could be seen by the operator as
they were successively brought into view.
The outer case or shell may be made so as to be adapted for use as a pedestal to
an ordinary pedestal writing table, or it may form part of an ordinary cylinder
writing table or be made as a wall cabinet or be otherwise constructed. The drum
or cage may rotate on a horizontal or on a vertical axis and a series of such drums
may be arranged side by side or one above the other in the same cabinet and fitted
so as to rotate together or independently of each other.
Dated this 16th day of May 1894.
F. W. GOLBY,
36, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in File Cases or Cabinets.
We JOHN HENRY HARRISON HOGGE of 32 Queen's Terrace, Southampton, in
the County of Hants, Shipping Agent, and WILLIAM JOHN BONIFACE
of 14 Anglesea Place, Southampton aforesaid, Cabinet Manufacturer, 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 file cases or cabinets of the kind wherein a number of
letter or other paper or document files provided with suitable indexes are fitted in
compartments in the case or cabinet. The object of this invention is to construct
file cabinets of the kind above described, in such manner that a cabinet for
containing a given number of files shall occupy less floor or wall space and be
arranged more conveniently for reference than a file cabinet for containing the same
number of, files as heretofore constructed.
In use for filing ordinary papers the documents at the tail end of the file are
approximately only one half the thickness of the documents at the clip end; and
we take advantage of this fact to economise space in our file cabinet.
In the accompanying drawings which are furnished in illustration of our
invention
Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections taken at right angles to each other of a
file cabinet constructed in accordance with this invention and fitted in a pedestal
outer case;
Figures 3 to 5 shew details of construction, and Figures 6 and 7 shew modifications
all of which will be more fully explained hereinafter.
The same letters of reference where they occur in the several figures are used to
indicate the same or corresponding parts.
In a suitable outer case or shell D we journal a skeleton drum or cage A made
in the shape of a radial paddle wheel or of a segment thereof. This drum or cage
we make sufficiently large to accomodate the files C which are placed therein, the
compartments B between the successive radii or partitions being made of such
size that the files fit snugly thereinto and in such position that the documents filed
lie in the plane containing the axis of the drum or cage with the clip ends of the
files at or near the circumference of the said drum or cage as shewn in Figure 1.
A file such as we prefer to use is shewn partially withdrawn from the drum or cage
in Figure 1. It consists of a simple board with an arched wire clip and a hinged
or flap board at the bottom or tail end which latter serves to keep the papers in
place as and when the drum is rotated. To prevent the files falling out of the
compartments B. we secure to the outer case or shell D the arc shaped boards E E
in a position between the discs a a forming the vertical walls or faces of the drum
or cage A (see Figure 2). Or on the outer edge of each partition 6 we may secure
a spring device such as is shewn in Figure 3, which consists of an ordinary
spring secured to the underside of the partition and having a coiled or turned up.
end 63 which overlaps the outer edge c¹ of the base c of the file when the latter is
in place. To withdraw the file it is only necessary to turn the spring device down
into the dotted position shewn in Figure 3 when the file can be withdrawn thereover.
We may use this spring device in conjunction with the arc shaped boards E E if
found convenient. Or we may adopt any other device or arrangement which will
effect the desired object..
In Figure 1 the outer case or shell D completely encloses the rotatable drum or
cage A and is furnished with a lock up door F.to which the files are successively
brought by the rotation of the drum or cage.. Secured to the axle of the drum or
cage, or to the drum itself when the latter rotates over a fixed axis, and outside

page_text: the case or shell D is an indicator corresponding with the labels on the various
files, or when the latter are not labeled the indicator serves as an index to the files.
When any given file is required, the drum or cage is rotated by a handle or other
suitable device until the index symbol of the desired file is brought to a given
position when the desired file is brought to the aperture G in the outer case or
shell D formed by the open door F.
To stop the rotation of the drum or cage when the required file is brought to the
door F we prefer to adopt the arrangement shewn in Figure 4 which is an enlarged
elevation of the outer case or shell D shewing the indicating device in position.
Figure 5 is a detail view of part of the indicating device further enlarged. It will
be seen that the indicating device consists primarily of a ring K³ divided into a
number of compartments B in the drum or cage shewn in Figure 1. Each division.
has an index symbol having reference to a given file and between every two
succeeding divisions a locking plate H is pivotted or hinged. One of these locking
plates is shewn detached in side elevation in Figure 5. The normal position of the
locking plate is at right angles to the ring K as shewn by the dotted lines in
Figure 5, but it can be turned on its hinge or pivot through an angle of 90°, when
a rib or projection & thereupon will rest upon a metal ring J which is rigidly secured
to the face of the outer case or shell D. is the pivot of the plate H and h³ is a
knob or finger piece by means of which the said plate can be turned on its pivot
and the indicator and consequently the drum or cage A thereby rotated. In the
cuter ring J is a slot I which is in line with the door F and when the locking
plate H arrives at said slot the rib or projection enters thereinto thus stopping
further rotation of the drum or cage A. In place of the slot a peg or pin may be
fixed to the outer case or shell D. We prefer to use this arrangement for the
reason that the friction set up by the rib or projection ½ riding on the ring J
prevents the too rapid rotation of the drum or cage which otherwise might acquire
too great momentum. For the saine purpose if required we may in addition provide
a friction brake in the interior of the outer case or shell D.
h
We may construct the outer case or shell so that it only partially encloses the
rotatable drum or cage in which case no indicating device would be required as the
labels on the files could be seen by the operator as they were successively brought
into view. The shape or configuration of the outer case or shell is not essential to
our invention, all that is necessary being that it shall support the rotatable drum or
cage. Sometimes we fit the rotatable drum in an ordinary cylinder writing table
as shewn in Figure 6 when the outer case D supporting the axle of the drum or
cage forms part of the writing table. In this construction a wheel segment drum
or cage may be used. Figure 7 shews part of a modified form of pedestal writing
table wherein our drum file cabinet is arranged to rotate on a vertical axis in two
tiers rotating together or separately as desired.
A file case or cabinet such as is herein described may be used as an indicator in
connection with a library the radial compartments in the rotatable drum or cage
having filed therein tabs or labels corresponding to the books or volumes on the
shelves of the library so that the case or cabinet will serve as an index to the books
or volumes on the various shelves &c. of the library. A duplicate case or cabinet
may be provided into which the tabs or labels are to be placed when the books are
removed from the shelves &c. so that the presence of the tab or label in one or
other of the cabinets will indicate whether the book is on its shelf or whether it is
out on loan or in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A file case or cabinet comprising a drum or cage with radial compartments to
receive the files, an outer case or shell in which said drum or cage is rotatably
mounted, an indicating device secured to said drum or cage and projecting through
the outer case or shell, said indicating device having reference to the files contained

page_text: in the drum or cage and means for rotating said drum or cage, all the parts being
arranged and combined to operate substantially in the manner and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying
drawings.
2. For use with a file case or cabinet such as is described in the preceding claim
the indicating device shewn and described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the
accompanying drawings serving as an index to the files in the drum or cage and
whereby said drum or cage can be rotated and stopped in a given position,
constructed substantially in the manner described.
3. A file case or cabinet, constructed substantially in the manner described and
illustrated and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 7th day of. March 1895.
.
F. W. GOLBY,
36, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agent for the Applicants.