An Improved Letter File.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
An Improved Letter File.
I, WILLIAM JAMES GREEN, of the City of Toronto, in the Province of Ontario,
in the Dominion of Canada, Solicitor, temporarily residing at Number 6, Ferre-
stone Road, Hornsey, N., in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:
My invention relates to what are known as double arched letter files in which
the arches swing to and from the impaling standards and has for its object the
construction of a file in the cheapest and most convenient possible form
embracing the greatest degree of durability. With this object in view, my
invention consists in the construction of the arches, connecting bar and crank
of a single piece of wire, in the particular means employed in journalling the
connecting liar of the arches, and in the peculiar construction of the flat spring
used to engage with the said crank, and the mode of securing it in place.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved file.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of my file with the arches thrown back.
In the drawings, like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the
different figures.
"A" is the base plate formed of a thin malleable metal, struck up with sur-
rounding flanges and strengthening ribs. This base plate is shaped substantially
as shown, and has holes a" formed therein to receive the impaling stand-
ards
B.
"
"C" are malleable lugs formed integral with the base plate which may be bent
over as shown, to form bearings for the connecting bar "D" of the arches "E."
"C" are lugs formed upon the base plate in such a position as to lie in contact
with the near side of the connecting bar "D" close to the crank "F" which is
formed therein. The base plate has a central slot "G" cut therein across which
is formed the bridge "H" which is preferably formed with a hump on the under
side as shown in Fig. 2.
>
66
"I" is a flat steel spring the ends of which are slightly bent or arched at c"
and d." The arch "c" rests upon the portion of the base plate "A" at the
end of the slot "G." The centre of the spring passes beneath the bridge "H"
and the arch"" rests upon the crank "F" when the arches are in the position
as shewn in Fig. 2.
"
When the arches are swung forward, the crank is engaged by a portion of the
spring closer to the bridge H." The peculiar shape of the bridge on the under
side permits of it being in contact with the spring at one point only, and full
advantage may thus be taken of the resiliency of the spring at each side of the
bridge. The arch d" fulfills a two-fold purpose. In the first place as is noticed
in Fig. 2 it serves to hold the crank "F," so that the arches have no tendency to
swing either forward or backward but will retain the position shown. In the
".

page_text: next place from the shape and location of the arch, the spring will not be raised
further from the base plate when the crank is in the position shown in Fig. 1
thus ensuring that there will be no increase of strain upon the spring.
It will be noticed that the arches "E," connecting bar "D" and the crank "F"
are made from a single piece of wire bent to the required shape. I consider
this an important feature of my invention, as it is impossible to connect a crank
to a connecting bar or a connecting bar to the arches in such a manner as to
ensure good wearing qualities or to be sufficiently cheap in construction to be
a commercial success. This construction renders it necessary to use a bearing
that can be applied or formed after the connecting bar has been set at its proper
position. To achieve this end, I form the malleable lugs "c" upon the base
plate, and after placing the connecting bar in position, bend these lugs over to
form the desired bearing. Cap bearings held down by screws would answer the
purpose but would be too expensive to be commercially available.
The lugs "" serve to retain the connecting bar in position under the pressure
of the spring "I" upon the crank, but they may be dispensed with if the con-
necting bar be sufficiently stiff. The impaling standards "B" are preferably
made hollow and are engaged by the arches "E" in the usual manner.
The base plate "A" is secured to the file board by screws, and is provided with
the usual hole for the purpose of suspension.
It will of course be understood that the arches might be rigidly connected to
the base plate and the impaling standards made to rock. The combination
would, however, be identical in every other respect to that shown.
From the above description it will be seen that I have constructed a very cheap
and convenient file embracing the greatest possible degree of durability.
Dated this Fifth day of September 1898.
WILLIAM JAMES GREEN, of 257, Wellesley Street, in the City of Toronto,
Dominion of Canada, Barrister, formerly of G, Ferrestone Road, Hornsey,
London, England, 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 what are known as double arched letter files in which
the arches swing to and from the impaling standards and has for its object the
construction of a file in the cheapest and most convenient possible form
embracing the greatest degree of durability. With this object in view, my
invention consists in the construction of the arches, connecting bar and crank
of a single piece of wire, in the particular means employed in journalling the
connecting bar of the arches, and in the peculiar construction of the flat spring
used to engage with the said crank, and the mode of securing it in place.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved file.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of my file with the arches thrown back.
In the drawings, like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the
different figures.
The drawings left with the Provisional Specification are those referred to here.
A is the base plate formed of a thin malleable metal, struck up with sur-
rounding flanges and strengthening ribs. This base plate is shaped substantially
as shown,, and has holes a formed therein to receive the impaling standards B.

page_text: c are malleable lugs formed integral with the base plate which may be bent
over as shown, to form bearings for the connecting bar D of the arches E.
bare lugs formed upon the base plate in such a position as to lie in contact
with the rear side of the connecting bar D close to the crank F which is
formed therein. The base plate has a central slot G cut therein across which
is formed the bridge H, which is preferably formed with a hump on the under
side as shown in Fig. 2.
I is a flat steel spring the ends of which are slightly bent or arched at c
and d. The arch c rests upon the portion e of the base plate A at the end of the
slot G. The centre of the spring passes beneath the bridge H and the arch d
rests upon the crank F when the arches are in the position as shown in Fig. 2,
When the arches are swung forward, the crank is engaged by a portion of the
spring closer to the bridge H. The peculiar shape of the bridge on the under
side permits of it being in contact with the spring at one point only, and full
advantage may thus be taken of the resiliency of the spring at each side of the
bridge. The arch d fulfils a two-fold purpose. In the first place as is noticed
in Fig. 2 it serves to hold the crank F so that the arches have no tendency to
swing either forward or backward but will retain the position shown. In the
next place from the shape and location of the arch, the spring will not be raised
further from the base plate when the crank is in the position shown in Fig. 1
thus ensuring that there will be no increase of strain upon the spring.
It will be noticed that the arches E, connecting bar D and the crank F
are made from a single piece of wire bent to the required shape. I consider
this an important feature of my invention, as it is impossible to connect a crank
to a connecting bar or a connecting bar to the arches in such a manner as to
ensure good wearing qualities or to be sufficiently cheap in construction to be
a commercial success. This construction renders it necessary to use a bearing
that can be applied or formed after the connecting bar has been set at its proper
position. To achieve this end, we form the malleable lugs c upon the base
plate, and after placing the connecting bar in position, bend these lugs over to
form the desired bearing. Cap bearings held down by screws would answer the
purpose but would be too expensive to be commercially available.
The lugs 6 serve to retain the connecting bar in position under the pressure
of the spring I upon the crank, but they may be dispensed with if the connecting
bar be sufficiently stiff. The impaling standards B are preferably made hollow.
and are engaged by the arches E in the usual manner.
The base plate A is secured to the file board by screws, and is provided with
the usual hole for the purpose of suspension.
It will, of course, be understood that the arches might be rigidly connected to
the base plate and the impaling standards made to rock. The combination
would, however, be identical in every other respect to that shown.
From the above description, it will be seen that I have constructed a very cheap
and convenient file embracing the greatest possible degree of durability.
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:-
2. In a letter file, the combination of a base plate; impaling standards con-
nected therewith; arches, connecting bar and crank formed of a single piece of
wire suitable bearings on the base plate for the connecting bar; and a spring
adapted to bear on the crank substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a letter file, the combination of a base plate; impaling standards con-
nected therewith; arches, connecting bar and crank formed of a single piece of
wire; malleable lugs formed on the base plate and bent over to form bearings
for the said connecting bar; and a spring adapted to bear on the crank, substan-
tially as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a letter file, a base plate slotted centrally and provided with a bridge

page_text: over the slot and malleable lugs bent over to form bearings for the connecting
bar of the arches, in combination with impaling standards to the base plate;
arches connecting bar and crank formed of a single piece of wire; and a spring
arched at one end to rest upon the base plate, passing under the bridge and
resting upon said crank, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. In a letter file, a base plate slotted centrally and provided with a bridge
over the slot, and malleable lugs bent over to form bearings for the connecting
bar of the arches, in combination with impaling standards connected to the
base plate arches, connecting bar and crank formed of a single piece of wire;
and a spring arched at one end to rest upon the base plate passing under the
bridge and resting upon the said crank, and arched to engage with the crank
when the arches are swung rearwardly, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
5. In a letter file, a base plate slotted centrally and provided with a bridge
over the slot in combination with impaling standards connected to the base
plate; arches, connecting bar and crank of a single piece of wire; bearings for
the connecting bar; and a spring arched at one end to rest upon the base plate,
passing under the bridge and resting upon the said crank and arched to engage
with the crank when the arches are swung rearwardly, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
6. A base plate for letter files having holes a formed therein to receive the
impaling standards; having a central slot G provided with a bridge H and
having lugs b and malleable lugs c formed thereon, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
7. A base plate for letter files having holes a formed thereon to receive the
impaling standards, having a central slot G provided with a bridge H and
having lugs and malleable lugs c formed thereon, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
8. In a letter file, the arches E connecting bar D and crank F formed of a
single piece of wire, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
W. CARLEILL HALL.
Toronto, February 27th 1899.
Signed in the presence of
Toronto, February 27th 1899.
Signed in the presence of
J. WEBBER PAYNE.
W. J. GREEN.