An Improved Letter File.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
An Improved Letter File.
I, ARMIN KRAH, of 78, Alte Jacobs-strasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany;
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to an Improved Letter-file which is provided with two pairs
of wires on which the letters or the like can be passed or strung. Each pair of
wires is secured to a separate rod arranged along the back of the case which is
formed like a book-cover.
Each rod is adapted to be readily turned by hand, so that the wires may be
readily opened or closed, according as it is desired to put the letters on, or to
remove them from, the file. Or the wires may be arranged to close automatically,
when the case or cover is closed by the user.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide two pairs of arc-shaped
wires adapted to receive (in the well known manner) the letters or documents to be
filed, each pair of which wires, with their straight extensions being secured to one
of the bars or rods extending along the back of the case or cover. These two rods
are arranged, in close proximity to each other, upon a sheet of metal and are
covered over by another sheet of metal. The two sheets or plates are secured to
the inner side of the back by screws or in any other suitable manner.
At the parts
where the rods which support the wires are situated, the upper or cover-plate is
beat or raised, so as to form a hinge-groove in which the rods may turn freely. At
the parts where the wire-extensions are fixed to the rods the cover-plate is
perforated or slotted.
The ends of the rods are bent near the lower end of the back, and provided with
enlargements or finger pieces. When the file is closed the bent portions closely
adhere to the plate, the said finger-pieces alone remaining in a raised position which
enables them to be turned up with the finger or thumb of the user. When this is
done, the position of the parts is such that the letters or papers previously
perforated may be passed on to either pair of wires. If after filing the letters, it is
desired to close the file, the wires are allowed to come together, either by depressing
the finger-pieces or (and this is the simpler method of the two) by raising the covers
of the case, as though closing a book. The covers are thereby made to act upon
the backs or angles of the arc-shaped wires and to move them into juxtaposition.
To prevent the wires, when closed or as the file is opened, from moving apart of
their own accord, I provide two studs or stops against which the bent portions of
the rods will bear, owing to their resilient nature, until they are moved past the
said stops by gentle pressure.
To afford a sufficient support to the letters or the like the wires are fitted at the
ends of their arc-shaped portions with longitudinal plates adapted to retain the
letters or the like in position.
The two rods or pivots of the filing wires may, if preferred, be embedded within
the back of the case or cover by which arrangement a material saving of available
space may be effected. The screws for securing the two plates forming the hinge
are, in this case, inserted from the outside of the back. The studs or stops for
retaining the bent portions and finger-pieces in position however, remain on the
inside of the back.
D
1
1
1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Letter File.
I, ARMIN KRAH, of 78, Alte Jacobs-strasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Merchant, 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 Letter File which is provided with two
pairs or sets of wires on which the letters or the like can be passed or strung.
Each pair or set of wires is secured to a separate rod arranged along the back of
the case which is formed like a book-cover.
Each rod is adapted to be readily turned by hand, so that the wires may be
readily opened or closed, according as it is desired to put the letters on, or to
remove them from the file. Or the wires may be arranged to close automatically,
when the case or cover is closed by the user.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is an elevation, and
Figure 2 an end view showing the letter-file closed.
Figure 3 is a section drawn to an enlarged scale, showing the filing mechanism;
Figures 4 and 5 are transverse sections of the mechanism, drawn to a still further
enlarged scale, showing the file, respectively, open and closed.
Figures 6 and 7 are transverse sections representing a modification of my
improved mechanism.
Figure 8 is a vertical section, and
Figure 9 a horizontal section, showing another modification of my invention.
I provide two pairs of arc-shaped wires a a and b b (Figure 3) adapted to receive
(in the well known manner) the letters or documents to be filed, each pair of which
wires, with their straight extensions c, being secured to one of the bars or rods d
and e, extending along the back of the case or cover. These two rods d and e are
arranged, in close proximity to each other, upon a sheet of metal (Figures 4
and 5), and are covered over by another sheet of metal g. The two sheets or
plates and g are secured to the inner side of the back by screws or in any other
suitable manner. At the part where the rods d and e are situated, the upper plate
or cover is bent or raised, so as to form a hinge-groove in which the rods may
turn freely. At the parts where the wire-extensions are fixed to the rods d and e,
the cover-plate is perforated or slotted.
The ends of the rods d and e are bent near the lower end of the back, as shown
at ii, and provided with enlargements or finger pieces k and l. When the file is
closed (Figure 4), the bent portions ii lie closely against the plate g, the finger-
pieces and only remaining in a raised position, which enables them to be turned
up with the finger or thumb of the user, as indicated by arrows in Figure 4. When
this is done, the position of the parts is as illustrated in Figure 5, the two wires a
and b being open, so that the letters or papers, which are previously perforated,
may be passed on to either pair of wires. If, after filing the letters, it is desired to
close the file, the wires are allowed to come together, either by depressing the
finger-pieces kl, or (and this is the simpler method of the two) by raising the
covers m m of the case (Figure 5), as though closing a book. The covers are
thereby made to act upon the backs or angles of the arc-shaped wires a b and to
move them into juxtaposition. To prevent the wires, when closed (Figure 4), or
as the file is opened, from moving apart of their own accord, I provide two studs
or stops n n against which the bent portions ii of the rods de will bear, owing
to their resilient nature, until they are moved past the said stops by gentle
pressure.

page_text: To afford a sufficient support to the letters, or the like, the wires a 6 are fitted at
the ends of their arc-shaped portions with longitudinal plates o o adapted to retain
the letters or the like in position.
The two rods or pivots de of the filing wires a b may, if preferred, be embedded
within the back of the case or cover (as shown in Figures 6 and 7), by which
arrangement a material saving of available space may be effected. The screws for
securing the two plates and g forming the hinges are, in this case, inserted from
the outside of the back (Figures 6 and 7). The studs or stops n n for retaining the
bent portions ii and finger-pieces in position, however, remain on the inside of the
back. The difference between the two arrangements will be readily understood by
comparing Figures 4 and 6.
Figures 8 and 9 show a modification of my invention wherein I simplify the
apparatus by removing the finger-pieces k, I and the studs or stops n n. In this
arrangement the bent portions ii, of the rods de are arranged in the centre, and
the short ends of these bent portions, (which are parallel with the rods de), are
secured by means of flat springs pp, or by a single strip of sheet metal formed
with two springy bent portions pp, when the arc-shaped filing wires ab are closed,
as shown in Figure 9. When it is desired to open the file, it is only necessary to
insert the hand between the sheets of paper strung on the filing-wires and then
gently press them apart, until the springs pp, release the wires a, c and 6 c.
The file is closed as above described, i.e., by simply closing up the two covers m m
of the file. In the arrangement shown in Figure 8 the rods or pivots are made
shorter than in the other forms.
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 :-
First. A letter-file comprising two pairs or sets of filing wires (a b), each pair or
set being secured to one of a pair of rods or hinge-pins (de) extending along the
back of the outer case or cover of the file, in close proximity to each other, each
rod or pin being bent (as at ii), and the bent portions being adapted, when the file
is closed, to bear against stops (n n), and the said bent portions being provided with
enlargements (as at k 1) which serve to facilitate the shifting of the wires from the
closed position to the open position, substantially as described.
Second. A letter-file, comprising the cover and back, the hinge-pins or rods (d, e)
extending side by side along the back, the arc-shaped filing wires (a, b) connected
to the rods (d, e,) respectively by the sections (c), the said arc-shaped arms
operating in opposite directions when opening and closing, and the finger-pieces at
the ends of the said hinge-pins or rods for operating the same, substantially as
described.
Third. A letter-file comprising the cover and back, the hinge-pins or rods d, e
extending side by side along the back, the arc-shaped filing wires a, b connected to
the rods d, e, respectively by the sections c, the said arc-shaped arms operating in
opposite directions when opening and closing, and the springs p p, for the bent ends
of the rods d, e at ii, substantially as described.
Dated thie 27th dow of April 1804
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.