Improvements in Letter Files and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 12th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Letter Files and the like.
I, DANIEL DE CASTRO, of Mortlake in the County of Surrey, Barrister-at-Law,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to files for filing letters and similar papers, and has for its
object, the construction and arrangement of a file, whereon letters can be filed
with great facility, so that when the full complement of letters has been filed
thereon, they may be so fastened and held as if bound in a book, while at the
same time, any particular letter may be extracted from the file and replaced thereon
at will.
My invention consists in the combination of two covers of stiff formation
attached by hinges to a back and a device for holding the letters constructed and
arranged substantially as hereinafter more fully described.
To show how I may carry my invention into effect I have appended hereunto a
drawing showing in a diagrammatic manner, the main features of the device.
Figure 1 shows one form of my invention and Figure 2 shows a modification of
the same.
The path of movement of parts of the device are shown by dotted curves.
The letter file is composed of a stiff back A to which the covers B B are
hinged at the points a a; each cover B is also provided with a hinge at the
points bb. The device C upon which the letters are filed is attached to the centre
of the stiff back A at C and consists of two plates E E hinged together at C,
and having prongs P₁ attached to the plates EE at P, one prong is made hollow
and the other prong is adapted to pass freely therein. These prongs are curved, and
the curve is struck from the centre C of the hinge. The plates and their prongs
If we
move about their centre quite freely and independently of the back A.
assume for the sake of example that the back is four inches wide, then the chord
of the arc P P¹ is also 4 inches, i.e. the same length as the back of the book. The
outer part of the covers D which are hinged at b serves to enclose the papers
engaged in the file. When now the covers B D are moved from the horizontal
position as shown in full lines through 90° to the dotted position, the plates E E
are each moved through about 45° and the point P of the plate is adjacent to the
hinge at b, and the prongs P₁ Pi become threaded one within the other and assume
the positions as shown in dotted lines. The portions of the covers marked B can
be clamped together by any device when in this position, the remainder of the
covers marked D being capable of opening outwards about the hinge b, as shown
in dotted lines and marked D' and in this way the covers, back, and action form a
book, the side of which open outwards like any ordinary bound book, leaving
anything filed upon the prongs easily accessible.
If necessary I may arrange a device in connection with each cover and the
plates E E, so that when the covers are being opened out horizontally on the table
to insert upon or take away a letter or paper from the file, the plates E E with
their prongs are automatically drawn back, into the position shown in full lines
on Figure 1 leaving an opening between the prongs and enabling the desired
operation to be affected.
Further this device may be arranged to take the rub of the outer edges of the
plates E so that the interior of the covers is not abraded by the edges of the said
plates during the operation of inserting upon or withdrawing from the file, letters
or other paners.

page_text: In Figure 2 I have shown a modification of the plates E, so as to overcome the
disadvantage of the bending inwards of the margin of the letters or papers
situated between the plates, which occurs in the device as shown in Figure 1 when
the file is filled as full as it will hold.
This modification consists in bending the outer ends of the plates E for that
portion which directly covers the margin of the papers, so that when the action is
in its closed position, the said bent portions of the plates E E are parallel to one
another, and thus allow the letters and papers to be flat one upon the other within
the file without bending at the marginal edges.
Dated this 13th day of March 1895.
FELL & WILDING,
1 Queen Victoria Street, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Letter Files and the like.
I, DANIEL DE CASTRO, of Mortlake, in the County of Surrey, Barrister-at-
Law, 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:-
This invention relates to files for filing letters and similar papers and has for its
object the construction and arrangement of a file whereon letters can be filed with
great facility, so that when the full complement of letters has been filed thereon,
they may be so fastened and held as if bound in a book, while at the same time,
any particular letter may be extracted from the file and replaced thereon at will.
My invention consists in the combination of two covers of stiff formation,
attached by a hinged connection to a back, and a device for holding the letters
and papers, mounted upon the said back, the whole device being constructed and
arranged substantially as hereinafter more fully described.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I will now proceed to
describe the same, in relation to the accompanying drawings, reference being had
to the letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters refer to like parts in the
various figures.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved letter file in its open extended
position ready for the placing of letters or papers thereon.
Figure 2 is an end view of the same showing the filing device with the portion
of the covers enclosing the same, in the closed position after the letters have been
placed upon the file, the main covers of the file being shown in the open
position.
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing an end view of the file in its extreme
extended form.
Figure 4 is a similar view showing it with the filing device and its enclosing
covers in their closed form but with the main covers open.
Figure 5 is a view of the same with the main covers in their closed position.
Figures 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views of the file, with a modified filing device
in the open and closed positions respectively.
Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 show various methods of clamping the filing device
in its closed position.
Figures 13 and 14 are views of the clasp of the book file with a punching
attachment embodied therewith, for punching holes in the letters or papers, for
engagement with the prongs of the file.
Figure 15 shows the clamps hinged to the back.
To carry my invention into effect arrange upon a stiff back A two covers BB
which are hinged thereto at the points a a. Each cover B is also, provided with a

page_text: hinge b. Both hinges a and b allow of the portions of the cover being bent in an
outward direction but not in an inward direction. Upon the centre line of the
back AI mount the filing device C at the point c. This filing device C consists
of two plates E E which are hinged together so as to move freely and inde-
pendently of the back A. Upon the outer edges P of these plates E EI mount
two or more curved prongs P₁ so that each prong lies in a circle struck from the
centre at c. The prong on one side is adapted to pass into the prong on the other
side, to permit this one prong is made tubular, so as to allow the other prong to
slide freely therein. The length of the prongs should be made such that the length
of the cord of the arc P P should be equal to the width of the back A so that
when the file is in its open position as shown in Figure 3 a space exists between
the ends of the prongs sufficient to enable the papers or letters to be placed
thereon.
When the parts of the covers enclosing the device C have been moved from the
position shown in Figure 3 through an angle of 90° to that shown in Figure 4, the
plates E E and their prongs P¹ P¹ are moved through an angle of about 45°. In
order to allow of this movement being made smoothly and to prevent the abrasion
of the covers B by the edges of the plates E I arrange on each cover B a strip of
metal F which is attached thereto. This strip is so situated that the outer edge
of the plates rub against the said strip during the relative movement of the plate E
with the cover B. I further arrange that this strip F shall control the movement
of the plate E, which I effect by forming the strip F with a T shaped end f, the
projecting portions of which engage with the opposite side of the plate E to that
adjacent to the cover on which the strip is mounted, the strip F being passed
through an aperture e in the plate E. When the covers B are opened out into
their extended position as shewn in Figure 3, the projecting portion of the strips F
pull back the plates E E and prongs P P¹ into their open position, and when the
covers are closed, the plates E E are pushed up into their closed position by sliding
up the strip F.
In Figures 6 and 7 I have shown a modification of the filing device C in which
the shape of the plates E have been altered, in order to allow of the letters and
papers filed laying flat upon one another in a plane, so that their marginal edges
situated within the filing device are not bent and cramped into fan shape when the
full complement of letters has been placed upon the file. To effect this the ends
of the plates E are bent for that portion which directly covers the margin of the
papers, so that when the filing device is in its closed position as shown in Figure 7,
the said bent portions of the plates are parallel to one another.
When the file has received its full complement of papers it may be desirable to
clamp those portions of the cover enclosing the filing device C. This may be done
in a variety of ways, some of which are illustrated in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
The two parts of the covers may be held together by strings or tapes, or a bolt or
bolts may be passed through them from side to side as shown in Figure 12, or I
may arrange a spiral spring or springs a connecting the two covers together, as
shown in Figure 11, or a hinged hooked catch a may be used as shown in Figure 10,
or an embracing clamp y may be utilized in either of the forms shown in Figures 8
and 9, the former engaging outside the covers and the latter engaging behind
suitable catches y arranged upon the interior surfaces of the covers B B. The
engaging portions of these cramps and their holders may be corrugated or indented,
so as to form a reasonably secure attachment to the covers.
I may sometimes arrange upon one of the covers at some convenient part a
panching device, which is adapted to punch each letter or paper with holes so as
to enable the letter or paper to be readily threaded on to the prongs.
A convenient form for this punch is to combine it with the clasp as shewn in
Figures 13 and 14. As will be seen the clasp G is fitted with a hinged or flexible
flap H punches J are arranged on that part of it which is fixed to the cover B,
and holes or dies K being formed in the hinged or flexible flap H so that if a
letter or paper be inserted between the punches J and dies K and the flap H be

page_text: pressed against the clasp G, holes will be formed in the letter or paper. It is obvious
that the holes or dies K and punches J may be arranged in the converse manner.
In Figure 15 the embracing clamps y¹ y₁ are shown hinged to the back of the
file so that when disengaged from the flaps they are not detached from the file.
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:
1st. A letter file consisting of a stiff back with covers hinged thereto, in
combination with a filing device mounted upon the centre line of the said stiff back
consisting of two sets of curved prongs adapted to telescope one within the
other, plates hinged at the point of support of the filing device on the said back
and carrying the said prongs, the curve of the said prongs being struck from the
axis of the lines of the plates, substantially as described.
2nd. In a letter file, a stiff back two covers hinged thereto, each cover being
divided into two parts, a hinge joining the divided parts of the cover, in com-
bination with a filing device, mounted on the said stiff back, substantially as
described.
3rd. In a letter file, a stiff back, two covers hinged thereto, each cover being
divided into two parts, a hinge joining the divided parts of the cover, in combination
with a filing device, mounted on the said stiff back, and a clamping device adapted
to retain in a rigid position, the parts of the divided covers adjacent to the said stiff
back, substantially as described.
4th. In a letter file, a stiff back, two covers hinged thereto, each cover being
divided into two parts, a hinge joining the divided parts of the cover, and a filing
device mounted on the said stiff back in combination with a clamping device having
ears or lugs arranged at right angles to body of the clamp adapted to engage the
edges of the parts of each of the divided covers adjacent to the said stiff back,
substantially as described.
5th. In a letter file, a stiff back, two covers hinged thereto, each cover being
divided into two parts, a hinge joining the divided parts of the cover in
combination with a filing device mounted upon the centre line of the said stiff
back, consisting of two sets of curved prongs adapted to telescope one within
the other, plates hinged at the point of support of the filing device on the said
back, and connections attached at one end to the parts of the covers adjacent to
the back and adapted at their other end to slidingly engage with the said hinged
plates, substantially as described.
6th. In a letter file, the combination of the cover with a punching device
adapted to punch holes in the letters or papers, substantially as described.
7th. In a letter file, the combination of the cover, with a clasp adapted to
fasten the covers together, and formed with two parts movable relatively to one
another, one part carrying a punch and the other part being provided with a dic
to engage the punch, substantially as described.
8th. In a letter file, a stiff back, two covers hinged thereto, in combination with
a filing device mounted upon the centre line of the said stiff back, consisting of
two sets of curved prongs adapted to telescope one within the other, plates
hinged at the point of support of the filing device on the said back, and
-connectors attached at one end to the parts of the covers adjacent to the back
and adapted at their other end to slidingly engage with the said hinged plates,
substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of December 1895.
FELL & WILDING,
1 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.