Improvements in Files or Apparatus for Keeping Letters and other Articles.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Files or Apparatus for Keeping Letters and other
Articles.
I, JOHN BUCILAN, of 22, Avenue Villas, Cricklewood, in the Parish of Hendon,
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
I provide a box, drawer, tray, chest, desk, seat or cabinet upon the bottom of
which the letters, cards photographs or similar articles to be filed are placed on
their edges between upstanding sides, these latter having each a longitudinal
groove or recess along the bottom. The articles when placed in this receptacle
are by preference separated into groups, alphabetically or otherwise by the
insertion of so called guide cards which bear the indication or designation for
each group. The aforesaid articles are supported in a sloping position at any
convenient angle for ready reference by means of a weighted piece having a
rocker action resting with its underside upon the bottom of the receptacle and
having a peg at each front side which pegs enter the aforesaid grooves in the
sides and form a fulcrum for the weight of the rocker support to work on while
bearing against the upper part of the grooves, which may be milled or roughed
and thus fixes itself in any desired position. When it is desired to move it
the rocker support which may have a curved underside is taken hold of by the
upper end and rocked forward by a pulling action whereby the pegs leave their
bearing against the upper part of the grooves and the rocker support can then be
freely moved along the bottom, for the insertion or removal of articles in the file.
Hated this 4th day of October 1899.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.
Improvements in Files or Apparatus for Keeping Letters and other
Articles.
I, JOHN BUCHAN, of 22, Avenue Villas, Cricklewood, in the Parish of Hendon,
Middlesex, Gentleman, 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 consists in what I call an overbalancing rocker like piece pro-
vided at each front side with a peg which pegs work in lower recesses or rebates

page_text: in the sides of a box, drawer, tray, chest, desk, seat or cabinet intended for
filing therein letters, cards, photographs or similar articles placed on their
edges between the upstanding sides of the box and supported in a sloping
position at any convenient angle by means of the aforesaid rocker piece when
the pegs take a bearing against the upper edges of the rebates in the box.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical longitudinal section and
Fig. 2 a vertical cross section of a box with rocker piece according to my
invention.
Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are perspective views illustrating various forms of rocker.
A is an overbalancing rocker-like piece having its bottom curved resting on
the bottom C of the box and provided at each front side with a peg B.
These
pegs enter rebates D' in the sides D of the box and form a fulcrum for the over-
balancing weight of the rocker to work on while bearing against the upper
part 3 of the rebate which may be milled, toothed or roughed as shewn in
one place and thus fixes itself firmly in any desired position. The cards, letters
or other articles E placed in the box or other receptacle are by preference
separated into groups, alphabetically or otherwise, by the insertion of socalled
guide cards F which are higher than the cards E and on the upper projecting
Dart bear the indication or designation for each group. The cards are supported
in a sloping position at any convenient angle for ready reference by means of
the appropriately formed overbalancing rocker A. When it is desired to .move the
rocker support the latter is taken hold of by the upper end and rocked forward
in the direction of the arrow by a pulling action whereby the pegs B leave
their bearing against the upper part 12 of the rebates D and the rocker can
then be freely moved along the bottom C of the box for the insertion or
removal of articles in the file.
The rocker A shewn in Fig. 3 is formed with wooden wings A', the one ir.
Fig. 4 with iron brackets A¹, and the one in Fig. 5 as a plain wedge. In these
figures the dotted line D³ represents the upper edge of the rebate D; if the
rocker pegs B do not take a bearing at this point the tendency of the rocker is to
fall over on its back in the direction of the dart.
The angle which the rocker assumes depends upon the distance of the bearing
surface 12 from the bottom of the box.
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:-
An overbalancing rocker like piece to be used in combination with a box or
other receptacle for cards, letters or other articles to be filed therein, said rockers
adapted to rest on the bottom of the box and having below in front on each
side a peg which is adapted to enter a rebate formed in each of the upstanding
sides of the box, said pegs bearing against the upper surfaces of said rebate
when the rocker is in its working position for the purpose of supporting the
cards and keeping them in position, and the pegs being removed from their said
bearing position when the rocker is rocked forward for the purpose of moving
the rocker along to enable the insertion or removal of cards in the file, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Dated this 4th day of July 1900