rapers, Documents, and Plans.
Year: 1884

page_text: rapers, Documents, and Plans.
I, GEORGE BRUMFITT, of 12 Alexandra Crescent, Ilkley, in the county of York,
Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED Box,
CASE, OR COVERING FOR THE STORAGE OF LETTERS, PAPERS, DOCUMENTS AND
PLANS, to be as follows:-
My improvement relates, mainly, to a rectangular form of box, case, or receptacle,
suitable for home or office use, for preserving letters and other such papers from
dust & disorder; and also, in the second place, to a cylindrical form of the same
idea for protecting maps or rolled up documents.
The object of my invention is to provide-referring to the rectangular form-a
box which shall possess the following advantages:
1. It shall be practically fire-proof-(as far as regards small fires such as often
occur and are confined to the one room).
2. It shall protect its contents from dust.
3. It shall be rectangular, so as to allow of a number of them being closely
packed away on the floor, or on a shelf, or in a cupboard.
4. It shall when taken from its storage and placed in its proper position (erect)
on a desk in front of a writer-occupy a mininum space thereon.
5. It shall be light & portable, & therefore easily removed from place to place
when required.
G. It shall, by the mere shape & arrangement, of the box, keep the papers in the
exact order in which they are placed in it, without piercing them, & without the
use of springs, or any other mechanical contrivance.
7. It shall, when open, permit any paper to be easily removed & replaced with-
out being torn; & without disturbing the order of the other papers.
8. It shall be so arranged that the letter headings & docketings are easily seen.
9. It shall permit of being easily labeled & re-labeled as to its contents.
10. The labels shall be so placed as to be in view when the box stands closed on
the desk; or when it is placed on a shelf-lying on either flat-or when standing
on the floor.

page_text: 11. The lid of the box, when removed, shall occupy no practical space when
placed in a position on the case which shall prevent its being mislaid.
12. The cost of manufacture-notwithstanding the many advantages-shall be
reduced to a minimum.
Referring to the round or circular form of case-the object is to provide a
suitable sheath or protection, for maps, & other rolled up documents, which shall as
far as possible possess the herein before mentioned advantages so far as they can be
taken to apply to the altered form. The best way of storing such cases, systematically,
in offices, will be to expose one end to view, by placing them in racks-vertical or
horizontal ; but where the numbers are few & circumstances permit, they may be
placed, standing on their ends, in any corner of a room.
I accomplish my object as follows:-I make my box in two separate parts which
may be called the case & the cover. I make them of tin, or thin zinc, or other
such suitable material. The wholo might be made of thick cardboard, or wood, or
other such substance, but I prefer tin as being more fireproof. I arrange the
vertical height of the box to suit the length of the size of paper for which the box
is constructed, (taking the heading or docketing to be the top of the paper), the
horizontal breadth is also made to suit the said paper, whilst the third dimension
is made to suit the number of sheets that it may be thought desirable to store in
any one box;-but it is essential not to make the box too large or too small in this
direction for ordinary note-paper I make the box about three inches wide, & this
will give the requisite base on which to stand securely. It must be understood
that papers of various sizes are best stored in boxes suited to their special sizes,
but, of course, any larger paper may be folded to suit a smaller box & docketed if
Decessary. The vertical front of my case, as it stands on a desk facing a writer,
only reaches up to about two thirds of the height of the back; whilst the sides slowly
curve away from the front until they join the back at its full height. This curving
of the sides answers two purposes-first, it permits the cover to be more casily put
on & second, it leaves more room for the fingers when sorting out any papers. Or
the sides can be made the same height as the front; an advantage of this shape
over the other being that the papers are more easily manipulated, but on the other
hand the lid cannot bo replaced with such perfect facility as in the first shape.
.The lid or cover fits completely over the top of the case in the manner of a lid of a
square canister, except that its lip or flange extends downwards far enough, not
only to cover up the part cut away from the front side of the case, but also to
obtain a good hold of the case itself. The length of this lip is such, that, when it
is slid over the other end of the case, it reaches no further up than the front of the
case, so that it does not interfere with the examination or free manipulation of the
papers contained in the case. The top of the lid & the base of the box, as I prefer
to make them, are not solid across, but a broad lip only of the tin is turned over
from the sides leaving an aperture in the centre. This aperture is filled by a thick
cardboard which is cut to suit the entire inner breadth & width of the case, & is
thrust in from the inside so as to fill the ends & bear up against the lip, which, of
course, holds it in position, while the apertures thus left in the ends admit of any
label on the card being seen from the outside. The cardboard I use for this
purpose is of such a thickness as to be practically fire-proof seeing that its ends are
protected from the flame. If the cardboard be not white it is only necessary to
introduce a piece of white paper before inserting the card-board, & this serves for
labeling, both on the top & the base. A label is changed in like manner.
When the circular form is arranged for maps, & rolled up documents, the
canisters are made in a very similar way. The case & cover have cardboards-used
for labeling-fixed as before described. The upper edge of the case is incised to a
suitable extent in such a manner as permits the thumb the better to assist the
fingers in removing a coiled paper that bas fixed itself (in case the paper does not
project beyond the tin).
I also make use of pairs of covers for protecting the ends of maps or plans that
are of such a length as to render it undesirable to completely encase them. The

page_text: covers protect the ends of such maps & keep out the dust from the interior & are
labeled to denote the contents. When various sizes of these covers (lids) are kept
at hand one or more maps may be made up in a roll of any size; & then a cover of
slightly larger diameter than the roll may be placed on each end; a little shake
will then uncoil the maps which will expand themselves to fit these said end
covers.
An improved Box, Case, or Covering for the storage of Letters,
Papers, Documents, and Plans.
I, GEORGE BRUMFITT, of 12 Alexandra Crescent, Ilkley, in the County of York,
Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED Box,
CASE, OR COVERING FOR THE STORAGE OF LETTERS, PAPERS, DOCUMENTS, AND
PLANS, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My improvement relates, mainly, to a rectangular form of box, case or receptacle,
suitable for home or office use, for preserving letters and other such papers from.
dust and disorder, and also, in the second place, to a cylindrical form of the same
idea for protecting maps or rolled up documents.
The object of my invention is to provide-referring to the rectangular form-
a box which shall possess the following advantages.
1. It shall be practically fire-proof (as far as regards small fires such as often
occur and are confined to the one room).
2. It shall protect its contents from dust.
3. It shall be rectangular, so as to allow of a number of them being closely
packed away on the floor, or on a shelf, or in a cupboard.
4. It shall when taken from its storage and placed in its proper position (erect)
on a desk in front of a writer occupy a minimum space thereon.
5. It shall be light & portable, and therefore easily removed from place to place
when required.
6. It shall, by the mere shape and arrangement of the box, keep the papers in
the exact order in which they are placed in it, without piercing them, and without.
the use of springs, or any other mechanical contrivance.
7. It shall, when open, permit any paper to be easily removed and replaced
without being torn, and without disturbing the order of the other papers.

page_text: 8. It shall be so arranged that the letter headings and docketings are easily seen.
9. It shall permit of being easily labeled and re-labeled as to its contents.
10. The labels shall be so placed as to be in view when the box stands closed
on the desk, or when in its place on a shelf, lying on either flat, or when standing
on the floor.
11. The lid of the box, when removed, shall occupy no practical space when
placed in a position on the case which shall prevent its been mislaid.
12. The cost of manufacture-notwithstanding the many advantages-shall be
reduced to a minimum.
Referring to the round or circular form of case-the object is to provido a
suitable sheath or protection, for maps, and other rolled up documents, which shall
as far as possible possess the herein before mentioned advantages as far as they can
be taken to apply to the altered form. The best way of storing such cases,
systematically, in offices, will be to expose one end to view, by placing them in
racks vertical or horizontal-but where the numbers are few and circumstances
permit, they may be placed, standing on their ends, in any corner of a room.
I accomplish my object as follows:-I make my box in two separato parts which
may be called the case and the cover. I make them of tin, or thin zinc, or other
such suitable material. The whole might be made of thick cardboard, or wood, or
other such substance, but I prefer tin as being more fire-proof. I arrange the
vertical height of the box to suit the length of the size of paper for which the box
is constructed, (taking the heading or docketing to be the top of the paper)-the
horizontal breadth is also made to suit the said paper, whilst the third dimension
is made to suit the number of sheets it may be thought desirable to store in any
one box ; but it is essential not to make the box too large or too small in this
direction for ordinary note-paper I make the box about three inches wide, and
this will give the requisite base on which to stand securely. It must be under-
stood that papers of various sizes are best stored in boxes suited to their special
sizes, but, of course, any larger paper may be folded to suit a smaller box and
docketed if necessary.
The vertical front of my case, as it stands on a desk facing a writer only reaches
up to about two thirds of the height of the back; whilst the sides slowly curve
away from the front until they join the back at its full height.
This curving of the sides answers two purposes-first, it permits the cover
to be moro easily put on-and second, it leaves more room for the fingers when
sorting out any papers. Or the sides can be made the same height as the front,
an advantage of this shape over the other being that the papers are more easily
manipulated, but on the other hand the lid cannot be replaced with such perfect
facility as in the first shape.
The lid or cover fits completely over the top of the case in the manner of a lid
of a square canister, except that its lip or flange extends downwards far enough, not
only to cover up the part cut away from the front side of the case, but also to
obtain a good hold of the case itself. The length of this lip is such, that, when it
is slid over the other end of the case, it reaches no further up than the front of the
case, so that it does not interfere with the examination or free manipulation of the
papers contained in the case. The top of the lid & the base of the box, as I prefer
to make them, are not solid across, but a broad lip only of tin is turned over from
the sides leaving an aperture in the centre. This aperture is filled by a thick
cardboard which is cut to suit the entire inner breadth & width of the case, & is
thrust in from the inside so as to fill the ends & bear up against the lip, which, of
course, holds it in position, while the apertures thus left in the ends admit of any
label on the card being seen from the outside. The cardboard I use for this
purpose is of such a thickness as to be practically fire-proof, seeing that its ends
are protected from the flame.
If the cardboard be not white it is only necessary to introduce a piece of white
paper before inserting the card-board, & this serves for labeling, both on the top
and the base. A label is changed in like manner.

page_text: When the circular form is arranged for maps, and rolled up documents, the
canisters are made in a very similar way. The case and cover have cardboards-
used for labeling-fixed as before described. The upper edge of the case is incised
to a suitable extent in such a manner as permits the thumb the better to assist the
fingers in removing a coiled paper that has fixed itself-(in case the paper does not
project beyond the tin).
I also make use of pairs of covers for protecting the ends of maps or plans that
are of such a length as to render it undesirable to completely encase them.
The covers protect the ends of such maps & keep out the dust from the interior,
& are labeled to denote the contents.
When various sizes of these covers (lids) are kept at hand one or more maps
may be made up in a roll of any size; & then a cover of slightly larger diametor
than the roll may be placed on each end, a little shake will then uncoil the maps
which will expand themselves to fit the said end covers.
In order to explain my invention fully I have annexed a drawing on which the
letter A refers in every instance to the cover of the box, & B to the case itself.
B' represents the case with the cover A¹ closed, in elevation: A & B² form a
side elevation, & B³ is a plan.
B shows a perspective view of the case standing, open, inside its cover A, on
a table with the contents X visible.
The papers may be classed in any order that may be found convenient, and
simply require sliding into the box with the headings to the front, their own
weight and stiffness do the rest. When the case is empty the first few papers
may have a tendency to double up, for want of support, but a simple fold given to
them down the centre (acting like a corrugation) will keep them standing until
others join in supporting them.
The shape of the front and the curving of the sides of the case are clearly shown
in this perspective view.
A shows a cover cut away, partly for the sake of economy in material, such
shapo being handy for covering over the top when the case is extra full & has
papers projecting forward over the open front. If used in conjunction with a case
as at B the cutting away must be less abrupt. (Sec dotted line B6).
B6 shows a case with the sides cut level with the front, the back of the case
standing up to the full height, a little above the papers, as before.
A & B' show the manner in which I make the ends open, & fit in the cardboard,
or its equivalent.
Bs & As show the docketing at the foot of the case when laid away on a shelf,
and A & B show a closed case with a docketing on the cover, standing on a desk,
or floor, & A³ shows a plan of the docketed end.
A¹³ is a section of an oval or circular cover with cardboard for docketing, fitted
over the end of an oval or circular case B¹³. The side or sides-so to speak-of
this case are cut away so that its contents are more visible, & more easily
manipulated. If found convenient all but the two opposite sides against which the
lid is to fit may be entirely cut away, so that the markings of plans &c. stored
therein may be seen from either front or back.
A large case may, as shown, hold several rolled up plans.
A is a circular plan of the system of my open end docketing.
A10 is a simple circular cover on my docketing system, which may be made in
pairs for fixing on to the ends of a rolled up map-as shown at A" & A". The
map may be last wrapped, before the covers are put on, in a cloth partially fire-
proof if considered necessary.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The partially fireproof and dustproof rectangular box, specially designed and
arranged to stand & take up the minimum of desk room-whether open to show

page_text: the contents, or closed for protection-in an upright position in front of a writer
(& equally capable of being systematically stored away with others when not
required) having a specially formed front and cut away sides, and fitted also with a
deep edged cover capable of sliding over either end into the particular positions
explained, with the objects & for the purpose set forth, substantially as described
& shown on the drawing at A¹-B¹—A²-B²—B³—B-A—and A³-B*.
2. The modified form of the same box with sides cut away entirely to the level
of the front, as shown at Bº.
3. The box as claimed under heads 1 & 2, having its cover, or base, or both made
to receive a movable end of cardboard or other substance on which docketings may
be written and changed or rewritten, with the objects & for the purpose set forth
substantially as described & shown on the drawing at A'-B-B³—A®—A®—B°—
and A³.
4. The oval or circular form of box with its cover, or base, or both, made to
receive a movable end of cardboard or other substance on which docketings may
be written, changed, & rewritten, with the front & sides cut, as it were, with the
objects & for the purpose set forth, substantially as described & shown on the
drawing at A¹³-B¹³ & A".
5. The circular cover arranged to receive a movable end of cardboard, or other
equivalent, on which docketings may be written, changed, & rewritten, with the
objects & for the purpose set forth, substantially as described & shown on the
drawing at A10-A¹ & A¹³
Dated this second day of Santamban 100%