Improvements in Files or Filing-cabinets for Letters and other Documents, Catalogues, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Files or Filing-cabinets for Letters and other
Documents, Catalogues, and the like.
I, ARTHUR JAMES WELLS, of No. 250 Tallman Street, in the City of Syracuse,
County of Onondaga, and State of New York, United States of America,
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 :-
My invention relates to files or filing-cabinets for containing papers, letters,
books, catalogues, and similar articles, and has for its object the production of a
simple and practical device, easy of access, highly efficient and convenient in use,
and so constructed, that its compartments are capable of a maximum degree of
adjustment for effecting the utmost economy of space; and to this end it consists in
the general construction and arrangement of its component parts, all as hereinafter
more particularly described and pointed out in the claims.
In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing,
forming a part of this Specification, in which, like letters indicate corresponding
parts in all the views.
Figure 1 is an isometric perspective of this file, the upper and one of its lower
doors being open.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the file, the upper door only
being open.
Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the upper section
of the file.
Figure is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of one of the lower
doors and its folding shelf or support shown in operative position.
Figure 5 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of one of the bars or supports
of the file and the adjacent extremity of the upper arm of one of the partitions
engaged therewith.
Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of one of the shelves of
the file and the adjacent extremity of the lower arm of one of the partitions
movable along the shelf.
Figure 7 is an isometric perspective of one of the strips secured to said bars or
supports and shelves, and
Figures 8 and 9 are, respectively, front elevation and longitudinal vertical
sectional view of a slightly different construction of this file.
The outer case consists of front, rear, opposite side and top and bottom
walls a a¹ a² a² a³ a, and is formed preferably of upper, lower, and intermediate
sections AA A2 separated by partitions A³ A. The front wall a is chiefly
composed of an upper door as provided with hinges a at its lower longitudinal edge and
opposite lower doors a' a' having hinges as at their outer upright edges. The free
edges of the doors a' a' a' may be provided with suitable locks a³, not necessary
to herein illustrate or further describe for holding the doors normally closed. The
upper door a swings downwardly into engagement with rigid stops
upon the outer case beneath the opposite ends of said door.
a10 provided
Within the upper section A of the outer case is a bottom wall or shelf B having
its outer edge provided with apertures or perforations & and engaging shoulders 61 ;
and supported out of alignment with the horizontal plane of the wall or shelf B,
and preferably above the same upon the wall a' is a bar or support B¹ having
its upper edge also provided with apertures or perforations and engaging
shoulders 6.

page_text: The formation of the apertures b 62 and the engaging shoulders 6 13 is facilitated
by providing the lower edge of the wall or shelf B, and the upper edge of the bar
or support B with strips B2 suitably secured thereto, as by nails . These
strips B are formed with transverse slots or apertures, and are substantially
Ushaped in cross section, the lower face of the lower strip and the inner face of
the upper strip being provided with shoulders 66. The slots in the strips B² form
the apertures or perforations in the edges of the wail or shelf B and the bar or
support B', and the lower and inner faces of the lower and upper strips B2 form
the engaging shoulders of said wall or shelf and bar or support. It is thus evident
that the file is formed with separate rows of apertures and engaging shoulders
arranged one above the other.
Projecting from the wall or shelf B is a series of partitions C, which are cheaply
manufactured, are firmly supported in position, and are readily and quickly
adjustable towards and away from each other for forming a series of adjustable
compartments. Each of the partitions preferably consists of a bar or wire formed
with a curved central portion, a lower arm or portion c having its free end inserted
into an aperture or perforation and provided with an engaging shoulder c¹ bearing
against the adjacent shoulder b', and an upper arm or portion
having its free end
inserted into an aperture or perforation and provided with an engaging shoulder c³
bearing against the adjacent shoulder ³.
The compartments formed by the partitions C may be provided with tags D of
any desirable form, size, and construction, and preferably formed with shoulders d
suitably engaged with the strips B².
Within the lower section A² are a series of shelves B³ disposed one above the
other, and arranged out of alignment with the horizontal planes of said shelves are
bars or supports 134 supported upon the rear wall a' of the outer case. The outer
edges of the shelves B³ and the upper edges of the bars or supports B are
provided with apertures 2 and engaging shoulders is similar to the like
apertures and engaging shoulders of the shelf B and the bar or support B',
previously described.
Projecting from each of the shelves B³ are partitions Cadjustable towards
and away from each other and formed of substantially the same construction as
the partitions C, previously described, with the exception that their central
portions are angular instead of curved. Each of these partitions C¹ is provided
with lower and upper arms or portions having their free ends inserted
within the apertures 662 of the corresponding shelf B and bar B₁ and provided
with engaging shoulders c¹ engaged with the shoulders b¹³ of said shelf and
bar.
The intermediate section A¹ is preferably unprovided with front and rear walls
or with supporting shelves and adjustable partitions, and is particularly applicable
for the reception of large books and similar articles.
In order to facilitate ready filing of the articles within the compartments formed
by the partitions of this improved file, suitable filing cases E are removably inserted
between the partitions, those illustrated being composed of opposite end pieces e e¹
and leaves e².
It is extremely desirable to refer readily to the articles within the filing cases E
or the compartments of this file, and consequently the upper door a³ and one or both
of the lower doors a' is provided with a folding shelf or support. The shelf or
support F for the door a³ is arranged lengthwise thereof and consists of a strip
having one edge secured to the door by hinges f and its opposite edge supported in
its operative position by flexible strips secured to the door.
The shelf or support G for one or both of the lower doors a' is arranged crosswise
thereof and consists of a section 9 having its upper edge secured to the door by
hinges 9; and a second section 92 hinged at 9 to the free edge of the section
and provided with a shoulder g movable into and out of engagement with a fixed
shoulder upon said door. When the shoulder g is disengaged from the shoulder 9°
the folding shelf G assumes its position illustrated at Figure 2.

page_text: At Figures 8 and 9 a modified construction of this invention is illustrated which
is substantially similar to the lower section A² and consists of an outer case provided
with opposite doors a" a", a series of shelves and bars B₁ B", adjustable
partitions C, and folding shelves or supports G₁ similar to the like parts a' a
B³ B C¹º G¹º, previously described.
be con-
It will be evident that an additional modification of this invention
may
structed similar to the section A, by dispensing with the sections A' A² and
mounting the same on a suitable support, and that, if desired, a shelf or frame of
suitable construction may be formed with separate rows of apertures and engaging
shoulders arranged one above the other, and with partitions adjustable towards and
away from each other and having lower and upper arms or portions inserted into
said apertures and provided with shoulders engaging said shoulders.
The operation of this invention will be readily perceived upon reference to the
foregoing description and the accompanying drawing, and it is evident that the
same is simple and practical, is easy of access, highly efficient and convenient in
use, and is so constructed that its compartments are capable of a maximum degree
of adjustment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A file or filing-cabinet comprising an outer case provided with a movable door
hinged at one of its upright sides, a folding shelf or support arranged transversely
on the door and supported thereon, a series of shelves supported within the case
one above the other, and a series of partitions projecting from said shelves and
adjustable towards and away from each other, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
2. A file or filing-cabinet comprising an outer case provided with a movable
door, a folding shelf or support, a series of shelves supported within the case one
above the other, a series of shoulders arranged out of alignment with the hori-
zontal planes of the shelves, and a series of partitions adjustable towards and away
from each other, and each having separate portions supported on the corresponding
shelf and shoulder, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. A file or filing-cabinet comprising a frame provided with separate rows of
perforations and engaging shoulders arranged parallel with each other and one
above the other, and partitions adjustable towards and away from each other and
having lower and upper arms_ or portions inserted into said perforations and
provided with shoulders engaged with said shoulders, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
4. A file or filing-cabinet comprising an outer case formed with a rigid stop and
provided with a door hinged to the case and movable against said stop, a folding
shelf or support mounted on said door, a shelf supported within the case, and a
series of partitions projecting from said shelf and adjustable towards and away
from each other, substantially as described.
This day of January 190f
ARTHUR JAMES WELLS.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.