An Improved Receptacle for Holding Business Papers, Documents, or the like, and Permitting of their Ready Reference Withdrawal
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th Mar., 1804 Accepted, 19th Apr., 1501
To manj
πννυμιν
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Receptacle for Holding Business Papers, Documents,
or the like, and Permitting of their Ready Reference
Withdrawal."
.1
or
1, SAMUEL TOPLEY, of 148, Upper Thames Street, in the City of London,
Wholesale Grocer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to an improved receptacle for containing business papers,
documents, or the like, and it has for its object to so construct the receptacle that
such papers can be kept in a compact and tidy manner, and yet be so arranged that
any one or other of them may be readily inspected, or withdrawn for reference,
without disarranging the others.
In carrying out my invention I construct the receptacle of metal, wood, wicker,
or other suitable material, and arrange the back end in an inclined position sloping
outwardly and forming an obtuse angle with the bottom.
The sides of the receptacle are provided with one or more corresponding vertical
slots or openings, through one or other of which a removeable transverse partition
may be passed into and be retained by the corresponding opposite one, for the
purpose hereinafter mentioned.
There is also any convenient number of separate and removeable division plates,
or partitions, of suitable dimensions, which may have letters or words thereon
indicating the alphabetical arrangement or nature of the various papers or
documents contained in the receptacle.
The papers or documents are arranged in any desired order between the division
plates which rest with their lower edges within and upon the bottom of the
receptacle, and by reason of the sloping back end they assume a slanting position
when in place.
When it is required to withdraw any particular paper or document, the top ends
of the division plates, and the papers between them, are tilted forward, one-by-one,
and are allowed to fall and lean against the removeable transverse partition before
mentioned. When the desired division plate is found, the required documents or
papers can be easily removed without in any way disturbing the order of the
remaining papers.
It will thus be seen that my improved receptacle constitutes, so to speak, a series
of perpendicular and self-expanding adjustable pigeon-holes wherein the documents
or papers can be conveniently kept ready for immediate reference.
The bottom of the receptacle is preferably roughened on the inside so as to
prevent the papers slipping down from their sloping position; or if preferred the
bottom may be covered with some material, such as baize, which will answer the
same purpose. The bottom is also preferably formed with a transverse groove, or
with a ridge, in proximity to the sloping back end, for the reception of one of the
division plates which may be set therein, and by leaning against said sloping back
end will give an increased surface thereto for use with papers of large dimensions
which would otherwise lap over and be bent or otherwise injured.
The vertical slots or openings in the sides of the receptacle may be replaced by
vertical grooves into which the transverse partition may be dropped.
Or in place of this transverse partition, a rod or bar may be employed having
at each end a spring-clip, or the like, for engaging with the top edges of the sides
of the receptacle. This rod or bar could then be moved to and fro and would
answer the same purpose as the said transverse partition.
Dated this 12th day of June 1800
ERNEST DE PASS,
78, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
An Improved Receptacle for Holding Business Papers, Documents,
от the like, and Permitting of their Ready Reference or
Withdrawal.
I, SAMUEL TOPLEY, of 148, Upper Thames Street, in the City of London,
Wholesale Grocer, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My invention relates to an improved receptacle for containing business papers
documents or the like, and it has for its object to so construct the receptacle that
suclr papers can be kept in a compact and tidy manner and yet be so arranged that
any one or other of them may be readily inspected or withdrawn for reference
without disarranging the others.
In carrying out my invention I construct the receptacle forming a holder, tray,
basket or the like of metal, wood, wicker or other suitable material, and arrange
the back end (or both the back and front ends) in an inclined position sloping
outwardly and forming an obtuse angle with the bottom.
The sides of the receptacle are provided with one or more corresponding vertical
slots or openings, through one or other of which a removable transverse partition
may be passed into and be retained by the corresponding opposite one for the
purpose hereinafter mentioned.
There is also any convenient number of separate and removable division plates
or partitions of suitable dimensions, which may have letters or words thereon
indicating the alphabetical arrangement or nature of the various papers or
documents contained in the receptacle.
The papers or documents are arranged in any desired order between the division
plates, which rest with their lower edges within and upon the bottom of the
receptacle, and by reason of the sloping back end they assume a slanting position
when in place.
When it is required to withdraw any particular paper or document, the top ends
of the division plates, and the papers between them, are tilted forward, one by one,
and are allowed to fall and lean against the removable transverse partition before
mentioned. When the desired division plate is found the required documents or
papers can be easily removed without in any way disturbing the order of the
remaining papers.
It will thus be seen that my improved receptacle constitutes, so to speak, a series
of perpendicular and self expanding adjustable pigeon holes, wherein the documents
or papers can be conveniently kept ready for immediate reference.
The bottom of the receptacle is preferably roughened on the inside so as to
prevent the papers and division plates slipping down from their sloping position;
or if preferred the bottom may be covered with some material, such as baize, which
will answer the same purpose. The bottom is also preferably formed with a
transverse groove, or with a ridge, in proximity to the sloping back end, for the
reception of one of the division plates which may be set therein and by leaning
against said sloping back end will give an increased surface thereto for use with
papers of large-dimensions which would otherwise lap over and be bent or otherwise
injured.
The vertical slots or openings in the sides of the receptacle may be replaced by
vertical grooves into which the transverse partition may be dropped.
In order that this invention may be readily understood I will proceed to describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation,
Fio 2 is a longitudinal section : and

page_text: Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section, showing one construction of my improved
receptacle.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the receptacle with the division plates removed.
a is the holder, tray or basket, having its end a' arranged in an inclined position,
and its sides provided with vertical slots a², a², a³, a³, through which the movable.
transverse partition b may be passed. In the drawings this partition is shown in
the slots a a². c, c, are the removable division plates between which the
documents d, d, lie, and which have thereon letters or words indicating the alpha-
betical or other desired arrangement or nature of the documents comprised between
the same.
The division plate c', which leans.against the sloping end a', rests with
its bottom edge against the ridge ax (Figs. 2 and 4) formed on the bottom of the
receptacle so that it may retain its sloping position, and give an increased surface
e is a slicet of baize,
to the sloping end a' for the purpose hereinbefore mentioned.
or the like, cemented to the inside surface of the bottom of the receptacle so that
the removable division plates c, c, may be prevented from slipping out of their
sloping position.
Should it be required to obtain or inspect any particular document or paper, the
division plate immediately in front of the division in which said document or paper
is contained is tilted forward as shown in Fig. 2 and allowed to lean against the
partition, the desired document can then be readily found and withdrawn and
the division plate restored to its original position without in any wise disturbing the
order of the other documents. As the documents contained in the receptacle
become more numerous or bulky and the space between the sloping end and the
partition gets too full to allow of the tilting of the division plates c, the partition b
is removed from the slots a², a², and inserted through the slots a³, a³, thus affording
increased space for the tilting forwards of the division plate.
b
Fig. 5 is a side elevation ;
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section; and
Fig. 7 is a transverse section showing a modified construction of receptacle.
Fig. 8 is a plan of the receptacle with the division plates removed.
In these figures like letters represent similar parts to those already described
with reference to Figs. 1 to 4.
In this construction both the ends a', a', of the receptacle a are arranged at an
inclined position and the slots a², a3, in the first described arrangement are dispensed-
with. The partition is in this case arranged in an inclined position, and it can be
shifted to and fro along the receptacle and is guided in its movement by means of
the short tubes or eyes 6, 1, with which it is provided and which slide along the
rods a, a. As in the previous case the documents lie in 'an inclined or perpen-
dicular position between the division plates c, c, and by reason of the partition
being adjustable they are kept as upright as necessary. The top edge of this
sliding partition is furnished with a rod whose ends are bent over so as to assist
in guiding the partition in its movements. A. finger piece or loop b³ is also provided
to enable the partition to be more readily shifted.
This construction has the advantage of enabling the partition to be readily
shifted any required distance as the papers in the receptacle increase in bulk and it
being incapable of removal from the receptacle there is no likelihood of its becoming
detached or removed..
Or in place of guiding this sliding partition in the manner above described, its
rod or bar may be provided at each end with a spring clip, or the like, for engaging
with the top edges of the sides of the receptacle. The guide rods a' and the short
tubes or eyes,, could then be dispensed with.
By constructing both ends of the receptacle sloping I may if preferred do away
with the partition altogether and make use of one end of the receptacle to support
This construction is
the division plates when these latter are tilted forward.
specially suitable for receptacles of small dimensions. This modified arrangement
is shown at Fig. 9.
Or I may if preferred construct the receptacle with both its ends straight instead

page_text: of sloping and the division plates will then occupy a perpendicular position. This
construction is particularly suitable for envelopes post cards or similar business
papers which are not kept for reference.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A receptacle for holding business papers, documents, and the like, consisting
of a holder, tray, basket, or the like, containing a number of movable division plates
.occupying an inclined or perpendicular position between which the documents or
papers are placed and lie, together with adjustable means for supporting said division
plates when tilted forward for the purpose of inspecting or withdrawing any
required document, the said receptacle thus constituting, as it were, a series of
expansible and adjustable pigcon holes, substantiaily as described.
. .
2. A receptacle for holding business papers and documents consisting of a holder,
tray, basket, or the like, having one of its ends sloping and its sides provided with
slots for the reception of a removable partition against which the division plates
may rest when tilted forward, substantially as described and shown with reference
to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings annexed.
3. A. receptacle for holding business papers or documents consisting of a holder,
tray, basket, or the like having both its ends sloping and provided with a sliding
partition, against which the division plates may rest when tilted forward, substan-
tially as described and shown by Figs. 5 to 8 of the drawings annexed.
4. The modified arrangement or construction of receptacle for holding business
papers or documents, as described and shown with reference to Fig. 9 of the
accompanying drawings and for the purpose set forth.
5. My improved receptacle for holding business papers documents or the like and
for permitting of their ready reference or withdrawal, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown by the annexed drawings.
حيمد
"
1001
ERNEST DE PASS,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.