Improvements in Files for Holding Books and Documents.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVIDIUNAL DIUITIVATION.
Improvements in Files for Holding Books and Documents.
I, RICHARD CATTON DERBY, of 138, Bellevue Avenue, Newport, R.I., U.S.A.,
Real Estate and Insurance Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a file, more especially applicable for
holding books in a compact manner, but also capable of holding documents of
various sizes in a way which permits any one or more of them to be readily found
and removed when required, thus rendering the file very useful for holding loose
sheets of printed music, manuscripts, etc.
A file, constructed in accordance with these my improvements, consists of a base-
board, of suitable length and width, and having end pieces extending upwardly
to a convenient height. The end-pieces are preferably hinged to the respective
ends of the base-board, and the board itself may be made in several pieces, hinged
together, to permit of its being folded when out of use. The upper parts of the
end-pieces are connected and supported by a horizontal bar or bars having ends
which are reduced and preferably squared to enter square notches or apertures
in the end-pieces; being retained therein by a hook-catch which enters an eye
projecting from the extremities of the bar or bars or by other suitable devices."
Division boards depend from the bar or bars and are attached thereto by suit-
able clamps, capable of being tightened or loosened by set-screws, to fix or release
the division boards for adjustment against books or the like placed between them.
If desired, the clamps may be fitted with spring pawls which engage a rack on the
bar or bars in such manner that the division boards can be readily moved against
the books, but cannot recede therefrom unless the spring-catch be operated by
pressure of the thumb. The base board may also be provided with a rack along its
centre, or racks along its edges, the former being engaged by a spring-pawl on the
centre of the division boards, or the latter, by spring-pawls or catches on the lower
corners of the boards. By making the teeth V-shaped, the division boards may be
moved in either direction by the application of a little force; the spring-catches
riding over the teeth.
In a simplified form, the racks and spring-catches are dispensed with.
Improvements in Files for Holding Books and Documents.
I. RICHARD CATTON DERBY, of 138, Bellevue Avenue, Newport, R.I., U.S.A.,
Real Estate and Insurance Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
[Price 8d.]

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide a file, more especially applicable for
holding books in a compact manner, but also capable of holding documents of
various kinds in a way which permits any one or more of them to be readily found
and removed when required, thus rendering the file very useful for holding loose
sheets of printed music, manuscripts, etc.
Reference being had to the drawings hereunto annexed,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved file; Fig. 2 is a plan thereof; and
Fig. 3 shews parts of the same folded.
Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive, are detail views of the spring catches used in connection
with the file.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a more simple form of the invention, and Figs. 10
and 11 are detail views of parts thereof.
A file constructed in accordance with these my improvements consists of a
base-board 1 of suitable length and width, and having end-pieces 2 extending
upwardly to a convenient height. The end pieces are preferably hinged to the
respective ends of the base-board at 3, and the board itself may be made in several
pieces hinged together as shewn at 4 to permit of its being folded when out of
use in the manner shewn in Fig. 3. The upper part of the end-pieces are con-
nected and supported by one or more horizontal bars 5-one only being shewn
in the drawing having ends 6 which are reduced and preferably squared to enter
square notches or apertures 7 in the end-pieces; being retained therein by a
hook catch 8 which passes over a screw 9 projecting from the extremities of the
bar or bars.
The hook catches may, however, be dispensed with if desired, and the bar be
kept in place by means of the heads 10 of the screws 9 as shewn in Fig. 2.
Division boards 11 depend from the bar and have the aperture for the rod pre-
ferably bushed with metal as shewn at 12.
The upper part of each board is fitted with a spring catch or pawl 13 which
comprises a metal body, adapted to fit the recess 14 in the division board, and
having flanges 15 through which pins or screws 16 may be inserted to retain it
in place. A pawl 17 is slidably fitted in the casing and is retained in place by
the pin 18 working through the aperture 19 and fitted with the head 20. The
pawl is normally pressed downwards by the spring 21. The point of the pawl
engages ratchet teeth 22 on the bar 5.
The lower parts of the division boards are fitted with spring catches 23 which
comprise the body 24 adapted to be recessed into the lower parts of the division
boards, and be retained in place by pins or screws 25 passed through flanges 26.
The pawl in this case, has preferably a V-shaped point, and is kept in place
against the pressure of the spring 27 by the pin 28 working in the slot 29. The
pawl is adapted to engage racks 30 recessed into the base-board. If preferred,
the point of the pawl may be made similar to that shewn in Fig. 5, but in that
case, the pin 28 is elongated as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 7 so that the
pawl can be raised thereby when moving the division board in one direction: it
being capable of riding over the teeth of the rack when moved in the opposite
direction.
It will be understood that one rack only may be used if desired, or the racks
and spring pawls be dispensed with altogether in a cheaper form of the invention.
When the division boards are adjusted in one direction the pawls in both
the upper spring catch 13 and lower spring catches 23 will ride over the teeth on the
bar and racks respectively; but that in order to adjust the division board in the
ather direction against books, papers or the like, it is necessary to raise the
head 20.
A more simple form of the file is shewn in Figs. 9 to 11 in it will be seen that 5
the end pieces are securely attached to the base, the latter is of one piece, and the
racks and spring catches are dispensed with. In this form the division boards

page_text: are secured to the rod by means of clamps which comprise metal plates 31 and 32,
the former having a flange 33 at right angles as shewn clearly in Fig. 11. These
two plates are secured on opposite sides of the division boards by screws 34. A
lug 35 and a stud 36 project upwardly from the flange 33. A cap 37 has aper-
tures 38 and 39 which fit over the lug and stud, and is kept in place by the trans-
verse pin 40 in the lug, and the thumb-nut 41. By means of the nut, the division
boards can be clamped upon the rod in any desired position as will be readily
understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
(1) A file for holding books and documents comprising a base made in parts
hinged together, end-pieces hinged to the base, a rod or rods supported by and
between said end-pieces, division boards suspended on said rod, spring-pressed
pawls on the division boards adapted for engagement with the teeth on the rod
or rods, means for raising said pawls, spring-pressed pawls at the lower parts of
the division boards, and a rack or racks on the base adapted for engagement by
said pawls, all substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth and
illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
(2) A file for holding books and documents comprising a base, end-pieces secured
at right-angles to the respective ends of the base, a rod supported horizontally by
and between the end-pieces, and clamps on the division boards for retaining them
in any desired position on the rod, all substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before set forth and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
(3) In the construction of a file of the class herein described, the spring-pawls,
and clamps hereinbefore referred to and illustrated in the drawings hereunto
annexed.
Hatad this 92nd day of December 1898