Improvements in Files for Holding Letters, Invoices, and other Articles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
Improvements in Files for Holding Letters, Invoices, and other
Articles.
I, ARTHUR LYTTON MUSTART, Director of Limited Company, 14, Finsbury
Street, E.C. 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 hook files for holding letters, invoices, and the like, and
the object is to render them more durable, efficient and less liable to go out of
order than the ordinary hook files.
In carrying my invention into effect I proceed in or in about the following
manner, making reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front
view and Fig. 2 a vertical section.
Similar parts are represented by similar letters in both figs.
Attached in any suitable manner to a wood or other base a is a tubular stem b in
which is free to slide the inner stem c having the hook d at its upper end. Below c
and within b is a spiral spring e of sufficient strength to propel the lower end of c
towards the upper end of b. The side of b is split, the split extending from the
extreme upper end, and reaching some distance towards the bottom of b. This split
is not an uninterruptedly straight one. The first part f is in the plane of the axis
of 6, the second part g is at right angles or more or less so to f. The next part h
is in a vertical plane not coincident with the plane of f. At the end of h the split
takes a turn at right angles or more or less so to h, as at i. At the end of i is an
upwardly pointing notch j. Projecting sideways from the lower end of c is a pin k
of such size as to pass freely along the split above mentioned. In the normal
condition of the file the spring e is kept compressed by the end of c, the upward
pressure of e keeping the pink in the notch j. When c is required to be withdrawn,
it is slightly depressed by pressure on the hook d. This brings the pin k in line
with i and by turning e the pin will pass along i, it can then be drawn along and g
and out through f, thus freeing c from b. The papers on b can then be taken off,
arranged or inspected, and the part c can be replaced by reversing the above
mentioned movements for withdrawing it. The file can be made of any suitable or
convenient materials, for instance a may be of wood, b of brass and c of steel.
As considerable variation is possible without departing from the spirit of the
invention, I do not confine myself to the precise details shown in the drawing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same may be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
An improved file consisting essentially of a base supporting a tubular stem within
which is free to slide an inner stem or rod having a hook at its upper end, the lower
end of the inner stem being in contact with the upper end of a spiral spring
contained within the tubular stem and operating between the lower end of the
inner stem or rod, and the lower end of the tubular stein, the said inner stem or rod
being provided with a projecting pin destined to travel in a partly vertical and
partly horizontal split or slit provided for its accommodation in one side of the said

page_text: tubular stem, the whole substantially as described in the above specification and
exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st dow of Anvil 1907
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, Agents.