Improvements in Filing Receptacles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
COMPLETE, SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Filing Receptacles.
I, GEORGE HENRY RICHTER, of 92 Franklin Street, Boston, in the County
of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, 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 improvement in receptacles and indexes used in
letter or paper filing cases or cabinets, and it consists in the combination and
arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter, and specifically
defined in the appended claims.
The objects of the invention are to provide a filing receptacle or drawer, so
constructed that the index sheets can in no event become detached from their
fastening wire; to enable new indexes to be easily substituted for filing ones, so
that the transfer to a binding case of an index filled with letters may be quickly
made; to hold the index wire immovable until it is desirable to transfer the papers
to the binding case; to hold the papers in position by means of a weighter cover
which holds down the front edges of the sheets filed better than the spring devices
heretofore used in this class of files.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a filing receptacle which embodies my invention.
Figs. 2 and 3 are detailed views of the wires a.
Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, are detailed views of different forms of the
metallic frame in which the wires a, are made to catch.
Figs. 12 and 13 are detailed views of one form of the weight which is applied to
the top sheet.
Figs. 14 and 15 show another form of the weight and the manner of
attaching it.
Figs. 16, 17, 18, and 19 also show different forms of the weight and the manner
of attaching it to the top of the sheet.
Reference being had to the details of the drawing A¹ represents a file drawer
having its inner corners cut away as shown, and C, a filing case provided with a
hinged end and cover in the usual manner. In the outer end of both the drawer.
and filing case are formed suitable recesses which extend vertically and in which
are placed the angular frames h, and which are provided with longitudinal slots
through which the ends of the wires a, pass in placing the indexes in position and
removing them therefrom.
The holding or fastening wires a, have each of their ends made U-shaped, as
shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the point of each end is formed into a loop d, of
sufficient width to slide freely in the frame d, as shown in Fig. 1. One end has
its loop d, closed when the wire is first made, but the other loop is left partly open
so that the index sheets and the cover A can be strung upon the wire and then the
loop is closed so that they cannot become detached.
Instead of holding the index to the side of the drawer, as shown in Fig. 1 the
index wire loops may be fastened directly to the side of the file drawer or transfer
case by means of tacks, screws, or rivets or by hooks, staples, or other suitable
fastening means.
The slotted frames b, shown in Fig. 1 answer all ordinary purposes and are
simply fastened in place by small tacks ċ or other similar fastening devices but,

page_text: should it be desirable to make the wires only removable under a direct application
of force, the frames D, G, or X will be specially constructed for this purpose.
In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 the frames are shown as indented, as at e, and g, the one being
upon one side of the case, and at one end, and the other being upon the opposite
side and at the opposite end. The loops d, will have to be forced past these
indentations in being inserted into position, and the indentations exert enough
frictional contact to prevent the wires from being accidentally displaced. Should
it be preferred, the free edges of the frames may be bent inwardly, as shown in
Figs. 8 and 9 so that these edges will exert a frictional contact upon the loops for
the purpose of holding them in position. In Figs. 10 and 11, two square holes are
punched in the back of the holder D, and a spring is inserted having a knob or
indentation y, at the lower end, and projecting through one of the holes. The
loop d, passes over this knob and is thereby prevented from rising out of place.
All of these frames b, d, g, or x, are provided with small perforations as shown,
and through which the tack, nail or other fastening device is passed for the
purpose of securing them in position. The vertical openings through the sides of
the frames allow the lower ends of the holding wires to be inserted into position,
and the two ends of the wires are always held in line with each other and all
lateral displacement is prevented.
The sheets of the index are provided with holes through which the wires a, are
passed and these sheets may be raised or lowered upon the wires at will for the
purpose of inserting letters, papers or bills of any kind between them. The top
sheet of the index A has its inner edge folded upon itself and fastened thus
forming a stiffening strip which prevents the warping and twisting of index covers
heretofore used in other files. As the index A is threaded upon the wires a, it is
evident that the index and wires are removable together, and therefore when the
file drawer has become filled with letters or papers, the index and wire are
removable bodily by withdrawing the loops d, d, from the holders b, and
transferring the paper filled index bodily to the transfer case and the loops d, d,
of wires a, are slid into a similar holder b, fastened in the binding case, shown in
dotted lines in Fig. 1. The cover or top sheet of the index is made from enameled
board or some such thin flexible material and is folded over so as to include the
metal or other heavy strip B and is then fastened by glue or other means so as
to leave the metal strip unfastened and removable at pleasure from its enclosure.
Should it be desired to retain the strip permanently in position it may be fastened
to the cover by any suitable fastening means.
In Figs. 17, and 18 a strip of metal or other heavy material B, has lugs punched
from it which pass through the cover A, and secure said strip thereto. The
strip B may be either upon the upper or lower side of the cover A, but if on the
upper side, it will preferably be given an ornamental finish.
In Figs. 12 and 13 the weight B' is made U-shaped and of some elastic material
so that its edges will spring together over the end of the cover A. and clamp itself
thereto and remain practically a part of said cover, unless pulled outward by more
than ordinary force. The holding power of this spring may be increased by
inserting a raised eyelet or other raised point in the thin or flexible part of the
cover, or by raised points in the weight engaging in corresponding holes in the
cover sheet. The ends of these springs B may be closed so as to prevent the
removal end wise thereof from the cover, and lugs may be punched from the cover
to secure it permanently to the flexible portion thereof.
In Figs. 16 and 19 the weight B is made of a sheet of metal or other heavy
substance folded as shown and adapted to be entwined with a cover of thin or
flexible material A which also has its edge folded as shown. This folded edge of
the thin or flexible portion of the cover being fastened to the cover proper forms
a stop which prevents the removal of the weight from the front. The holding
power of said weight may be increased by inserting in this thin or flexible cover a
raised eyelet O, and a hole corresponding thereto, in the weight, which snaps over
the eyelet and secures the weight from any ordinary endwise pull, or by placing

page_text: holes in the thin or flexible cover and punching corresponding raised points on the
weight to engage therewith.
An index made with my stiffened or reinforced cover may have its sheets held
together by a binding tape or string passing loosely through the holes in said
index sheets, and then having its ends eyeletted to the top or to the bottom cover,.
permitting the expansion of the index as it becomes filled with papers, and thus.
securing a firmer and better fastening than by the old method of glueing the tape
to the index cover. I overcome the warping or twisting of index covers heretofore
prevalent in the following manner: the cover sheet is stiffened by folding the front
or back edge of the same, preferably however both upon itself and fastening to the
cover proper by an adhesive or other means.
As an equivalent a separate strip of stiff material may be bent to a V-shape, the
edge of the cover inserted into the said V- and then the latter fastened down so as
to obtain three thicknesses of material at that edge.
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. A filing case or drawer and a slotted metallic frame inserted in one end
thereof, combined with a wire bent at right angles near each of its ends, and
then having its ends formed into loops to fit in the frame and turned inwardly
toward each other so as to be in a line with the main body of the wire, substantially
as shown.
2. In a filing case or drawer, a covering sheet combined with a removable weight
secured to its outer edge, substantially as shown and described.
3. In a filing case or drawer, a covering sheet combined with a removable weight
applied to the edge thereof, the weight being formed of elastic metal which is
doubled upon itself, so as to receive the edge of the sheet between its two edges,.
substantially as set forth.
4. In a filing case or drawer, a covering sheet provided with an eyelet or catch,
combined with a removable U-shaped weight which is applied to the outer edge of
the sheet, said weight being elastic and provided with an opening to catch over
the eyelet or catch substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 27th day of June 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.