Improvements in Files for Letters, Invoices, and other Documents.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 29th May, 1891-Accepted, 11th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Files for Letters, Invoices, and other Documents.
I, PHILIP STEER WATKINS of 57 Burnt Ash Hill, Lec, Kent, Inventor do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in fitting the bottom of a file for letters invoices and
other documents with a spring flap that readily expands to allow the papers to be
placed on the file and which Hap holds the papers securely when so filed.
Dated this 15th day of April 1891.
ELT & Co.,
33, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, London, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Files for Letters, Invoices, and other Documents.
I PHILIP STEER WATKINS of 57 Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, Kent, Inventor 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 that class of file which is technically known as an apron
file and which consists of a backboard furnished with one or more flaps and has
for its object to afford means for filing letters invoices and other loose papers
securely so as to prevent their being lost or torn; at the same time that they can
be readily and conveniently referred to.
Hitherto bills letters and other loose papers have generally been filed by being
spiked on a hook fixed in the backboard of the file and have been very liable to
be lost owing to imperfect spiking and to be torn when looking for any particular
document the latter disadvantage being of very frequent occurrence.
In order to obviate these disadvantages I fit the backboard of a file at the
bottom with a spring flap which readily expands to allow papers to be placed on
the file and which flap when closed holds the papers securely as in
pocket when
they are so filed. This flap is covered with bookbinders cloth leather or any other
suitable material. A portion of such covering extends beyond the bottom of the
flap and is glued or otherwise fastened to the backboard of the file thus securely
attaching the flap thereto and forming a gusset which allows of the requisite
expansion of the flap when a number of papers are on the file. Two or more suit-
able eyelet holes are made in the sides of such spring flap and also in the sides
of the backboard through which holes clastic Inces are inserted and fastened in
any convenient manner. Or in lien of such elastic laces elastic gussets or flat
metallic springs may be employed and fitted to the sides of such spring flap and
of the backboard. The method of fitting such elastic gussets or metallic springs
will be readily understood by any skilled workman and does not therefore require
any particular description. Two turn down flaps are fitted either to the spring
flap or to the backboard one on each side. These flaps when turned up act as
brackets to hold the spring flap open and thus leave both hands free either to
arrange the papers on the file or to take them out as required. This will be
found a great convenience when searching for any particular document on the file
or when arranging the papers thereon. If preferred however such turn down side
flaps may be dispensed with but it will then be requisite to hold the bottom flap
open with one hand either when placing papers on or taking them off the file. An
alphabetical index (not shown in the accompanying drawings is fitted to the

page_text: down or apron flap is fitted to the top of the backboard and is furnished with a
gusset in a similar manner as already described with respect to the bottom flap.
This fall down or apron flap covers the documents when filed and thus protects
them from dust and injury. A ring is likewise fitted in the top of the backboard
so that the file can readily be hung up in any convenient position. The operation
of my invention is as follows:-In order to file a document the fall down or apron
flap is turned back, the spring flap pulled out and the side flaps turned up thus
keeping the bottom flap open and the elastic laces or gussets or springs expanded.
The document is then placed in its proper position on the file and upon turning
down the two side flaps the elastic laces gussets or springs collapse thus causing
the bottom flap to press tightly on the document filed and securely grip it between
such flap and the backboard thereby effectually preventing it from dropping out
and being lost.
DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a view in side elevation of an
apron file having my improvements applied thereto the top or apron flap being
turned back and the bottom or spring flap being open.
Figure 2 shews a side clevation and Figure 3 a front view of such file when
closed.
Figure 4 shews a front view of such file with the top flap turned back and the
bottom flap gripping the documents between it and the backboard.
a is the backboard- the spring flap- eyelet holes for elastic laces-d elastic
laces e lateral turn down flaps fall down or apron flap-y ring whereby to
suspend the file.
I would here observe that I am aware that it is not novel to furnish a file with
an alphabetical index to enable the documents thereon to be filed in alphabetical
order I therefore make no claim to such alphabetical index.
I would also observe that I do not confine myself to the precise details of con-
struction hereinbefore described and shewn as the same admit of some minor
modifications without departing from the essential feature of my invention which
is to provide an apron file with a spring flap that serves to securely grip the
documents filed in the manner hereinbefore described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is.
1. In combination with an apron file a bottom flap fitted with elastic laces or
gussets or with springs all substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn.
2. In combination with such spring flap two lateral turn down flaps to hold
such spring flap open all substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn.
3. The improved construction of apron file all substantially as herein before
described and shewn.
Deted thi
d. 10
ELT & Co..
33, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, London, Agents for Applicant.