Improvements in Sliding Doors for Cabinet Files and other purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 25th Oct., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sliding Doors for Cabinet Files and other purposes.
I, WILFRED IGNATIUS ОHMER, Manufacturer, of 132 North Main Street, Dayton, in
County of Montgomery, and State of Ohio, do hereby declare the nature of my inven-
tion for Improvements in Gravity Catches for File Cabinets, 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 certain new and useful improvements in gravity pawls for
sliding doors of file cabinets.
My improvements have reference to combining a lift attached to a sliding door with
a gravity pawl formed in one piece; and have reference to combining a frame secured
to a sliding door, and adapted to receive a designating card, and having a lift integral
thereon, and also having lngs on the frame carrying a gravity pawl having a down-
ward extension to engage a portion of the case and support the sliding door, and having
also a spur projecting outside to manipulate said pawl, and have reference to other
points of detail hereinafter brought out and explained.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Specification, and on which
like reference letters indicate corresponding parts.
Figure 1, represents a front elevation of my device;
Figure 2, a rear view thereof, and
Figure 3, a vertical section on the line x, x, of Figure 2, showing its relation to a
file case, also in section.
The letter A designates a file case having a sliding door B, to which is fastened by
screws or otherwise a frame (, adapted to hold and expose to view a card designating
the contents of one division of the said case, and preferably inserted into said frame
by sliding into a recessed portion therein that secured it by the edges as shown in
Figures 2 and 3. This frame has a lift D, projecting therefrom, and formed inte-
grally with the same, extending preferably from the lower portion of the said frame, as
shown, and used for raising the said sliding door by catching the finger under it in the
usual way. Directly above the lift, and preferably on the rear side of the said frame,
is pivotally mounted by an axle carried by lugs or ears e, e, or otherwise, a pawl E,
having a downward extension F, conveniently broadened to give a good bearing
surface, and enlarged to preserve a normally vertical position of the weight thereof. An
opening or slot G, in the said frame allows a projection or spur H on the upper part
of the said pawl to project through the said slot, and extend conveniently over the said
lift. The size of the said spur H is not so great as to overbalance the downward por-
tion F, which thus normally sustains it in an elevated position at the upper end of the
said slot, and in convenient reach of the thumb when the finger is under the said
lift.
The pawl is preferably recessed or let into the door, so that the shelves of the case
may be in close proximity to the doors, and yet be clear of any accidental engagement
with the pawl. Thus only the compartment opened is exposed to the entrance of dust
during the temporary opening of the same.
The action of the device is as follows: The forefinger is placed under the lift, and
the sliding door is raised till the bottom of the extension F, is higher than the next
shelf above the compartment, or compartments, to be opened. The thumb is then
pressed lightly down upon the spur H, causing the said extension of the pawl to fly
upward and inward, the door is lowered till the pawl bears on the shelf, and holds the
door up after the hand is removed. The spur H is then in its lowest position, and
pears against the bottom of the slot, and forms a stop for the pawl. One or more
loors may be supported by the pawl that is in action when used in a series of vertically
liding doors all in the same plane, and in this case, only the pawl of the lowest

page_text: compartment open is actuated by the thumb, while all the others preserve their normal
position away from the shelves, due to gravity. When the door is to be lowered, all
that is necessary is to raise the door by the lift so that the pawl can drop into its
recess, and out of engagement with the shelf it was bearing upon, and then lower the
door to its proper position, thus closing the compartment. In the case of a series of
doors resting upon the one whose pawl is actuated, the release of this pawl will allow
all the others to descend also.
Thus it will be observed that by one simple action of the thumb on the pawl of the
duor lifted, the door is held in the desired elevated position by the pawl thereof, which
automatically disengages itself by the action of gravity when the door is raised
slightly, and then lowered to its closed position without any action of the thumb in
the whole operation, except a slight downward pressure upon the spur of the Dawl to
cause the extension F to fly tipward and inward in order to engage the shelf.
While I have described my device as applied to the sliding door of a file case, I do
not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this particular form or construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:
1st. In a file cabinet, the combination with a sliding door and an adjacent portion
of the case, of a gravity pawl having a downward extension and a projecting spur
formed in one piece, and pivoted in the said door so as to engage the said adjacent
portion and support the said door.
2nd. In a file cabinet, the combination with a sliding door and an adjacent portion
of the said case, of a pivoted gravity pawl having a downward extension to bear upon
the said adjacent portion, when raised by a spur that normally occupies an elevated
position on the said pawl, and means to secure said pawl in its pivotal position in said
door.
3rd. In a file cabinet, the combination with a sliding door and an adjacent portion
of the case, of a frame adapted to hold a card, and having a lift formed integrally
thereon, and also having a slot in the frame near the said lift, and a gravity pawl in
one piece pivoted in the said slot, and adapted to engage said portion of the case, and
support. the said door.
"
4th. In a file cabinet, the combination with a sliding door, of a frame adapted to
hold and expose a card and having a lift formed. integrally thereon, and also having
ears, a gravity pawl pivoted between the said ears, and having a downward extension
to support the door, and an upward spur.projecting outside of the frame to manipulaté
said pawl.
5th. In a catch, the combination with a frame adapted to hold and expose a card,
and having lugs to form pivot supports, of a pawl pivoted between said lugs, and
having a gravitating end to engage a fixed object, and a normally elevated end
adapted to be manipulated by the hand.
6th. As a new article of manufacture, a lift for doors consisting of a single piece of
metal provided with an index display-opening, and.a pawl pivoted thereto.
1
בז
1000
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street; London, E.C., Patent Agent::