Improvements in Letter or Bill Files.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 19th Apr., 1890
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Letter or Bill Files.
I, ARTHUR JAMES WELLS of No. 46 West Onondaga Street, in the City of
Syracuse and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of my 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 of the class described and claimed in
my previous patents filed 16th of May, 1889, Nos. 8160 and $161, and has for its
object the production of a simple portable file rack, which may be set up on a desk
or in any other desired position, and to this end it consists essentially in a suitable
base and adjustable partitions mounted in a novel manner thereupon. It also consists
in providing tho adjustable partitions with detachable tags upon which a letter or
other symbol or sign of memoranda can be placed for the purpose of labelling articles
filed in the adjustable partitions of the paper file. It furthermore consists in the
detail construction and arrangement of the parts, all as hereinafter more particularly
described and pointed out in the claims.
In describing my 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 is a perspective of my improved paper or bill file in operative
position.
Figure 2 is a transverse section, taken on line .-, figure 1.
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the connection of the adjustable
partition to the supporting base.
Figure 4 illustrates a modified form of the base.
Figure 5 illustrates a portion of the metallic edge secured at the edge of the base in
the preferable construction of my invention.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section through the detached edge of the supporting base
illustrating the detachable tag as on the point of being secured thereto.
Figure 7 is a sectional view, taken on line y-y, figure 6, and
Figure 8 is a perspective of a detached partition.
The base A of my improved file is of any desirable form or construction to attain
the desired result and is supported in any required position. As preferably con-
structed, the upper part of the base is of less width than the lower part, forming the
projecting rib A. The upper part of the base on the longitudinal edges thereof is
provided with open slots a-a.
These slots au are preferably formed in a plate A², which plate is beni so that a
portion thereof projects outwardly from the paris a secured to the base. It will
thus be seen that a groove B is formed between the lower edge a of the plate A and
the rib A¹ of the base A. The partitions may be of any desirable form and construc-
tion, but are here shown as a piece of wire formed in a triple Ụ shape, and
laving its side legs (provided with the lateral projections or feet c.
The legs of the adjustable partitions are engaged with the slots a of the base A
and their projections or feet c lie in the groove B, and by bearing against the
face a² of the plate A prevent said legs from disengagement. The central portion
of the adjustable partitions may be of any suitable form to give the desired rigidity
to the partition.
By reference to figure 5, it will be seen that the slots a in the plate A2 are
preferably tapering from their central portion to the extremities thereof. The spring
of the legs will thus forco the same into the contracted portion of the slot and
secure the leg more firmly therein. However, it will be readily understood that the
plate A might be readily formed with straight slots instead of the form described.

page_text: At figure 4, I have shown a modified construction in which the base A has no
metallic edge A2 secured thereto. In this construction the slots a and the groove B
are formed directly in the base A. This construction, however, is not as desirable
as that illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3.
1
:
In order to render the bill file very effective for use, and that articles may be
arranged therein alphabetically or according to rule, 1 provide the tags D, which are
detachably secured between the separate partitions, and upon which may be marked
any desired letter, symbol or sign. These detachable tags are preferably provided
with the cut-outs d extending inwardly from the edges of the forward inner part
thereof, and forming the central portion d' and the shoulders d².
By reference to the drawings it will be seen that this central portion is of equal
or less width to that of the slots a. The forward inner part of the tag is of a width
to be easily insertod lengthwise in the slots a until the contracted portion d' is
engaged with the said slot. The tag can then be partly revolved and can be dropped
into the position illustrated in figure 1. It will thus be seen that the shoulders d
abut against the inner surface of the adjacent part of the plate A2 and the tag is
securely retained in the desired position.
When desired to change the partitions the tags can be readily detached without
care, skill or time.
The parts of my invention are very simple in construction, and it will be observed
that the same can be readily and cheaply manufactured. The base A may be
readily formed or stuck through a suitable grooving or planing machine, the plates D
may be readily cut or stamped out of sheet metal and bent into the desired form,
and the partitions may be readily formed by a suitable bending machine.
When desired to ship my improved file the partitions may be readily removed
therefrom, causing the device to take up but little room. It will be understood that
considerable change may be made in the relative construction and arrangement of my
invention without departing from the spirit thereof.
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 of a supporting base having a longitudinal groove and trans-
verse slots leading thereinto; of adjustable partitions provided with their lower
extremities registering with the transverse slots and formed with feet registering with
the longitudinal slot of the base, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2-The combination of a supporting base, a longitudinal shoulder provided on the
said base, transverse shoulders arranged at an angle with the longitudinal shoulder,
adjustable partitions having projections for engaging with the transverse shoulders of
the base, and lateral projections or feet formed upon said projections for engaging the
longitudinal shoulder, substantially as described.
3-The combination of the base A having the wearing edge or plate A2
projecting therefrom, slots provided in the said edge or plate, adjustable partition's
engaged with said slots, and feet or projections provided upon the adjustable partitions,
said feet engaging a shoulder formed upon the said wearing edge or plate, substan-
tially as and for the purpose described."
4 The combination with a base, adjustable partitions mounted upon said base,
and a tag detachably secured to said base, substantially as specified.
5-In a file, the combination of a supporting base, a series of partitions adjustable
towards and away from each other for varying the file spaces, and tags adjustably
mounted for conforming to the adjustment of the partitions, substantially as
specified.
6-In a file, the combination of the supporting base, a series of partitions adjustable
towards and away from each other, projections upon said partitions for detachably
engaging the cut-outs in the supporting base, and a tag also having a projection for
detachably engaging said cut-outs, substantially as described.
7-The combination of a supporting base, a longitudinal shoulder provided on said

page_text: base, transverse shoulders arranged at an angle with the longitudinal shoulder,
adjustable partitions having projections for engaging with the transverse shoulders
of the base, lateral projections or feet formed upon said projections for engaging
the longitudinal shoulder, and a tag having projections formed thereon for engaging
the shoulders of the supporting base, substantially as described.
S-The combination of a base, metallic edges provided upon said base projecting
therefrom, and having their extremities secured thereto; slots provided in the
projecting portion of the plates or edges A, of the tag D having the
shoulders d and the contracted portions d, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Ր Walm 1900
ARTHUR JAMES WELLS.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.