Improvements in Letter-file Cases.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1892-Accepted 27th Feb., 1892
ADI
HOLLAN
Improvements in Letter-file Cases.
I, ARTHUR JAMES WELLS of 250 Tallman Street, in the City of Syracuse,
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 an improved file case, and has for its object the production
of a simple and effective construction for enabling letters, circulars and other matter
to be readily and quickly assembled according to a distinguishing letter or other
symbol; and to this end the invention consists, essentially, in an enclosing shell or
case; a series of partitions adjustable towards and away from each other within
the case for providing the same with a series of adjustable compartments, and a
series of files between the partitions.
The invention furthermore consists in a series of tags for designating the com-
partments; a movable cover for the case having a movable folding plate, and the
detail construction and arrangement of its 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 represents an isometric perspective view of my improved filing case,
shown with its cover and movable plate in operative position.
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the case with the cover shown
as in its closed position.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the lower portion of the case, for illustrating the
construction and arrangement of the adjustable compartments.
Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line x-x, Figure 3, for illustrating
particularly the construction of the adjustable partitions.
Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line y-y, Figure 4, showing the
attachment of the distinguishing tag for the partitions.
Figure 6 is a perspective of the detached tag, and
Figure 7 is an isometric perspective view of a file adapted to be removably
mounted in my improved case.
This invention is particularly applicable in the various offices in which mail,
circulars and like articles are filed away according to some distinguishing letter or
symbol thereon.
I am aware that there have been constructed various files for this purpose, but I
am not imformed that there has been devised a file having adjustable compartments
in order to enable conformity to the variations which naturally occur, since, for
instance in filing away letters, there are a great many more received from
persons whose surname commences with certain letters of the alphabet than with
others.
My invention is furthermore designed to greatly reduce the time required either
for filing or finding any previously filed letter, circular or other article, and this
desirable result is effected by a working plate which is movably mounted on the
hinged cover of the case, enabling the operator to remove from its particular
compartment, the detachable file in which the same is kept, and then support the
file upon the working plate during use.
The outer enclosing shell A of my improved filing case may be of desirable form,
size and construction, and is here illustrated as an oblong box having the movable
cover B hinged at one extremity b and removably secured at its opposite extremity

page_text: by a catch 6, the construction of which is immaterial and unnecessary to herein
describe.
CC represent supports or straps for the cover B which enable it to swing
downwards into a plane disposed at an obtuse angle with the front of the case.
These supports or straps are of any desirable material and are preferably con-
structed of flexible sheet metal for the purpose of affording great strength.
D represents the plate having a facing D' upon which the operator supports the
respective files when using or examining them. This working plate D may be of
desirable form, size and construction, and is illustrated as having one extremity d
hinged to the free end of the cover B and the other end supported by flexible
straps which allow the plate D to assume a plane at substantially right angles to
the cover B.
The base A' of the shell or case A is provided with the upwardly extending
shoulder E having adjustably mounted thereon a series of partitions F which sub-
divide the case A into a series of adjustable compartments which in use preferably
remain normally fixed until further adjustment.
These partitions F may be of any desirable form, size and construction and may
be secured in any desirable manner to the base A¹ As illustrated, however, the
partitions are formed of spring wire bent into a triple U-shape formed with the
centre inverted and somewhat contracted.
e
The lower ends of the wire composing the partition F, engage in apertures or
slots formed in the edge of the shoulder E and are provided with angular or
laterally extending feet f¹ which contact with a shoulder e¹ formed in the edge of
the base E.
This construction of partition F and shoulder E holds the former rigidly in its
adjusted position, but it will be understood that this is not the only one for attaining
this desirable result.
To designate one compartment from another, I provide suitable tags G which
are secured to the base E and are preferably removable therefrom for allowing
their position to be varied in conformity to the variation in the compartments.
These tags G are preferably formed with a T-shaped end G' composed of the
central bar g and the lateral arms g.
The edge of the shoulder E of the base A' is preferably formed of a thin plate
bent into a U-shape and formed in its central portion with a series of transverse
slots which form the slots e. When inserting the tag G it is held edgewise and
caused to enter the slots e after which it assumes a flat position, whereupon the
arms g¹ bear against the inner face of the plate e¹ and securely retain the tag in
position.
Within the compartments of my improved case are suitable files H, which are
preferably removable as best seen in Figure 7. These may be of desirable form
and construction, but are here illustrated as formed of the stiff side pieces H¹, the
open folding ends h formed with the lower closed extremity and the partitions h'.
The front side is shorter than the partitions and, at the upper extremity of said
partitions is an index formed by a series of cut outs 2, each one longer than the
preceding in order that when the file is in its closed position, the particular letter or
symbol for designating each partition may be readily apparent and thus facilitate
rapid operation.
One or more of these files are removably supported in the various compartments
of my filing case and when desired for use are readily removed and placed upon the
plate D, as shown by dotted lines at Figure 1, with their lower edge at the
edge d of the plate and their open top edge showing in plan view the distinguishing
letters of the various compartments.
The operation of my invention will be readily perceived from the foregoing
description and upon reference to the drawing, and it will be noted that its parts
are very simple, economical and readily assembled, and its operation both simple
and effective, and that the compartments are readily adjusted to suit the variation
of the letters, &c., under the different distinguishing marks and that the filing and

page_text: finding of particular letters, circulars, &c., is greatly facilitated. It is evident,
however, that the detail construction and arrangement of the parts of my improved
case may be somewhat varied from that shown and described without departing
from the spirit of my invention.
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-The combination with an enclosing case and a movable cover therefor; of a
series of normally fixed adjustable compartments within the same, having projec-
tions adapted to engage a supporting wall, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
2-The combination with an enclosing case and a movable cover therefor; of a
series of partitions within the case having one extremity adjustably mounted upon
one wall thereof with the other extremity unsupported and projecting from said
wall, said partitions being movable towards and away from each other for forming
a series of compartments, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3-The combination with an enclosing case; of a series of partitions composed
of spring material mounted within the case and adjustable towards and away from
each other for forming a series of adjustable compartments, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
4 The combination with an enclosing case; of a series of partitions within the
case adjustable towards and away from each other for forming a series of compart-
ments, and a file removably mounted in one or more of the compartments,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5 The combination with an enclosing case; of a series of partitions composed
of spring material mounted within the case and adjustable towards and away from
each other for forming a series of adjustable compartments, and one or more files
removably supported between one or more of said partitions, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
6-The combination with an enclosing case; of a series of normally fixed adjust-
able compartments within the case, a tag for designating the compartments,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7--The combination with an enclosing case; of a series of partitions within the
case adjustable towards and away from each other for forming a series of com-
partments, a file removably mounted in one or more of the compartments, and a tag
for designating one or more of the compartments, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
8-The combination with an enclosing case having an upwardly extending
projecting shoulder on its lower base; of a series of seats in the shoulder, a series
of partitions removably secured in said seats, and a series of files removably
mounted between the partitions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9 The combination with an enclosing case having an upwardly extending
projecting shoulder on its lower case; of a series of seats in the shoulder, a series
of partitions removably secured in said seats for forming a series of compartments,
a series of files removably mounted between the partitions, and a series of tags
removably mounted on said base for designating the compartments, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
10 The combination with an enclosing case having a movable cover, a plate D
for folding upon the cover, and a series of removable files in said case, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
11-The combination with an enclosing case having a hinged cover, straps for
holding the cover in its open position, a plate having one edge hinged to the cover
and straps for supporting the plate in its open position, and a series of removable
files in said case, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
12 The combination with an enclosing case having a hinged cover, straps for
holding the cover in its open position, a plate having one edge hinged to the cover,

page_text: and straps for supporting the plate in its open position, a series of adjustable
partitions within the case, and a series of removable files mounted in said partitions,
substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of December 1891.
ARTHUR JAMES WELLS.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, and 57 & 58, Chancery Lane,
London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.