Improvements in Index Cases and like Receptacles.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Index Cases and like Receptacles.
A communication from abroad by HERBERT ELBRIDGE DAVIDSON, of Coolidge
Hill Street, East Watertown, in the County of Middlesex and State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturer.
I ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55 & 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent 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:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in drawer cases, commonly known
as card-index cases, and like receptacles and it has for its object the strengthening
of certain parts to be described in the construction of the drawer, which latter is
run and supported on what are commonly known as "Taylor slides," and also
to provide a new and useful device whereby the usual inclined movable card
support or partition usually found in such drawers, is held securely at any desired
distance from the front of the drawer, thereby forming a positive and reliable
support for the cards or other contents of the drawer.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 represents an isometric view of a card index case,
embodied therein.
with my improvements
Fig. 2 represents an enlarged view of the movable block or partition constructed
in accordance with my invention.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section of one of the drawers.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 represents a side view of a portion of one of the drawers.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6, Fig. 5, and
Fig. 7 represents a modification.
The same letters of reference indicate like parts in all the drawings.
As herein shewn, a represents the casing, and b, b, the drawers of a card index
case the drawers being mounted on the usual " Taylors slides" c, the whole
being of the usual construction excepting in the particulars hereinafter specified.
My improvements relating to the connection of the drawer to the slides c are as
follows
In each of the outer sides of the drawers is sunk a preferably circular plate d, and
preferably having its outer side flush with the outer side of the drawer.
On said plate is cast or otherwise formed a hooked lug d' which engages and is
moved upon the upper edge of the slide c.
Screws e, e, are inserted from the interior of the box into tapped holes in
the plate d, the heads of said screws being countersunk in the inner surface of
the box.
The plate with its hooked lug thus attached constitutes a very secure means of
connecting the drawer with the slide, the connection of the plate with the drawer
being such as to prevent liability of the plate being detached therefrom by the
weight of the said drawer and its contents.
i represents the adjustable partition which is usually placed in the drawers of a
card index case to form a rear support for the cards or other contents, said partition
being provided with means whereby it may be secured in position at different
distances from the front of the drawer, so that the position of the partition may
correspond with the number of cards in the drawer.
Heretofore the partition has had two dowels projecting downwardly from its

page_text: Dottom surface and entering noles in the bottom of the drawer, there being two
series of holes to receive said dowels.
This arrangement is objectionable because the engagement of the dowels with the
holes does not prevent the partition from being tipped backwardly by the pressure
of the cards against it, the dowels being liable to slip out of the holes.
This difficulty has been overcome by the improvements which I will now
describe.
In the bottom of the drawer I form a shallow longitudinal groove b' extending
the entire length of the drawer.
In the drawer at the bottom of the groove I form a row of holes 6 and a slot 63,
said slot being at the rear end of the drawer and extending to the end of the bottom
piece under the back of the drawer, as shewn in Fig. 3.
To the bottom of the partition I attach by screws 1, 3, or otherwise, a slide
fitted to move freely in the groove b¹, and provided at one end with a downwardly
projecting spur adapted to enter any of the holes 6 or the slot b³.
The slide, preferably a metal plate, projects some distance in front of the
partition, so that a number of the cards in the drawer rest on said slide and by their
weight prevent the partition from tipping backwardly.
The rear end of the slide having the spur preferably projects somewhat from
the back side of the partition, and thereby further prevents the backward tipping
of the partition.
The partition may be freely moved lengthwise of the drawer and may be secured
at any desired position by engaging the spur with one of the holes .
When the partition has been moved to the extreme rear of the drawer, the slot b
receives the spur and permits the rearwardly projecting portion of the slide
to extend under the back of the drawer, so that the partition may bear directly
against it.
The partition slide and spur are adapted to be readily raised from the bottom of
the box to permit re-adjustment of the partition.
When the partition is in place, it is prevented from moving forward and
backward by the engagement of the spur with one of the holes, and from swinging
or turning on said spur by the bearing of the edges of the slide on the edges of the
groove.
It will be evident from the foregoing that the improvements relating to the
partition and the means. for securing it in different positions overcome the
objections beretofore existing and make the adjustment and locking of the partitions
very convenient.
Fig. 7 shews a modification of my invention, in which the slide is provided on its
front end with a spur 6, the said spur having a lip on its lower end adapted to
bear on the bottom surface of the drawer bottom adjacent the opening into which
the spur.is inserted, to thereby prevent the backward tipping of the partition.
In this case the forward projection of the slide from the partition will not
be essential.
The rearmost opening of the series &* is made somewhat larger than the others,
to permit the partition to rest squarely against the drawer back when desired.
This invention is not limited to the exact form and arrangement of parts
described, for it is obvious that the same may be re-arranged or modified without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The use of a card index case or drawer or like receptacle having in its bottom
a series of holes extending from front to back of the drawer, a groove extending
along said series of holes, a transverse partition movable in the drawer, a slide op
the bottom of the partition adapted to be moved longitudinally in the groove, and a
downwardly projecting spur on said slide adapted to enter any of said holes, the
. "

page_text: partition, slide, and spur being adapted to be raised from the bottom of the drawer
for adjustment, and held in adjusted position by the holes, the spur and the sides of
the groove, as set forth.
2. The use of a drawer or like receptacle having a longitudinal groove in its
bottom, a series of holes in said groove and a slot in the rear end of the groove
extending under the back of the drawer, a partition Laving a slide movable in said
groove, said slide projecting from both sides of the partition, and a downwardly
projecting spur at the rear end of said slide, as set forth.
3. The construction or arrangement and use of parts of a drawer case such as a
"card index case," or like receptacle substantially as and for the purposes herein
before set forth and shewn by the drawings.
Dated this 10th day of September 1894.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.