Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1895-Accepted, 5th Oct.. 1895
I, ARMIN KRAH, of 75 Alte Jacobs-strasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
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 letter-files and the like.
A letter-file constructed according to this invention is distinguished by great
simplicity.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 shows the back of an improved letter-file seen from the interior.
Figure 2 is a section on the line x-x of Figure 1, showing the covers in two
positions.
Figure 3 shows to a larger scale parts of Figure 1, without the wires.
Figure 4 is a side view of Figure 3.
Figure 5 represents an elevation of a modified form, and
Figure 6 is a transverse section through Figure 5 to a larger scale.
The letter-file consists substantially of a wooden back h, to the two sides of
which are fastened the covers m m of the file either by strips of leather or by
other means so that these covers, as indicated in Figure 2, can be opened and
closed like those of a book. To the interior face of the wooden back is secured
longitudinally a plate bent upwards a little in the middle at g', Figures 3 and 4,
where it is provided with a double channel of sheet metal. This channel i
receives two round iron or steel wires and e which are arranged close together in
the longitudinal direction of the back. These wires d and e are furnished at their
ends with rectangular bends c c which are again united to form a rod c¹ c¹, Figure 1.
It will be seen that the wires c' c d and c¹ ce forming a whole can be easily turned
in the hinge plate i in the manner well known with the wires of the other letter-files.
The two terminal positions of these wires are represented in Figure 2 by full and
dotted lines.
Each of the two longitudinal wires c¹ c¹ carries two wires a and bent to an arc
of a circle and made of such length that when the file is closed the ends of the
wires a and b will reach close to the front of the opposite wire c¹ c'. These wires
are in front somewhat pointed so that sheets of paper which have previously
been perforated at the corresponding places may be slid upon the wires as is
customary with letter files.
In order that in the closed position, indicated in Figure 1 and in dotted lines in
Figure 2, the wires a c¹ and b c will remain in their position I provide spring
plates ss upon the plate g, Figure 1, which bear against the lower part of the
bends cc, thereby holding these parts more or less firmly. For enabling this to
take place better still, the plates s s are each furnished with two grooves s¹ s¹ which
are so formed therein that the parts c c of the wire will take into these grooves
when the whole device is in the closed position, that is to say when the papers
between c c on the wires a bare to be held together.
Figure 3 shows one of the plates s with the two grooves s¹ s' and also the hinge
plate i upon the plate g g', the two wires de being however supposed to have been
removed in order to show the details better; Figure 4 is a side elevation showing
the spring plate s.

page_text: The mode of operation of these, parts will be readily understood; the papers
provided with four holes corresponding to the four wires ab are slid upon the
latter after the file has been opened. and the wires have been bent apart by hand.
This having been effected the file is closed by simply moving the two covers
towards each other, whereupon the inner sides of these covers will move the
wires c¹ c¹ towards the middle until the parts c c engage with the grooves s¹ s¹. If
it is desired to take one or more papers from the file I simply pass with the hand
between such papers and push them gently asunder until the parts c c slide from
the grooves s¹¹ and pass to the position indicated in full lines in Figure 2, so that
I may now easily remove the papers by slipping them from the wires a band also
put them back again.
Figures 5 and 6 show a modification. In this arrangement no covers are used,
there being only a wooden back h; covers may however if desired be provided on
this back as at m m in Figure 1. As this modified device illustrated in Figures 5
and 6 is chiefly designed for use as a newspaper file such covers m m are mostly
superfluous. A further difference from the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 4
consists in that the wires de are fixed in the two plates ss, and that moreover
instead of the wires c c use is made of sheet metal strips c" which are bent to the
form of tubes at their lower ends and also at their upper ends a" 6". The four
wires are now all placed on one side, for instance on the right hand side
Figure 6, and are riveted in the tube or otherwise fixed. The points of these
four wires penetrate partially into four holes a¹ in the tube a" on the left hand
side, as clearly indicated in Figure 6 by dotted lines. The plates ss are provided
with depressions s¹ in order that the parts cell may be kept in the closed
position.
This arrangement is very convenient if it is desired to clamp a newspaper or but
few sheets between a" and ". In this case the sheets need not be previously
perforated, being held between the opened plates which are then allowed to close,
the points then penetrating through the sheets into the holes a¹.
The back may be furnished with a handle for enabling the file to be conveniently
held in the hand.
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. In a paper file, the combination with a back, of two sheet retaining clips
hinged to said back, and a spring plate secured to said back at each end of
said hinged clips, said spring plates having grooves adapted to be engaged by
said hinged clips and operating to hold said clips closed, substantially as
described.
2. In a paper file, the combination with the back h and the leaves m, m, hinged
thereto, of the plate 9 secured to said back and provided with two tubular
channels i, wires d, e, seated in said channels and provided at their opposite ends
with lateral extensions c, c, rods c¹, c¹, connecting the outer ends of said extensions,
curved fingers a, b, carried by said rods, and spring plates s, s, secured to said back
and provided with recesses s¹, s' adapted to be engaged by the extensions c, c,
substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of I... 100%
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.