IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTFOLIOS AND PAPER FILES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tomlinson Bousfield, of Loughborough Park,
Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PORTFOLIOS AND PAPER FILES."-A communication from abroad by
Henry Tillinghast Sisson, of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island,
United States of America.
Sealed the 1st June 1866, and dated the 24th March 1866.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 24th March 1866, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughborough Park, Brixton, in the County of
Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PORTFOLIOS AND PAPER FILES," (a communication to me from abroad by
Henry Tillinghast Sisson, of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, United
States of America), and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, that is to say:

page_text: Sheet I., Figure 1, is an inside view of one form of the portfolio; Figure 2
is a central longitudinal section of what I term the holder case, which forms
the back of the portfolio; Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sections of the
portfolio near the middle of its length; Figures 5 and 6 are transverse
sections of the same near one end, but in different planes.
Sheet II., Figure 1, is an inside view of another form of the portfolio,
differing only from the one shown in Sheet I. in the arrangement of the
devices for holding back the folder, and in operating the same; Figures 2, 3,
and 4 are sectional views of the same.
This Invention is designed to afford a convenient means for readily filing
letters or papers in book form for preservation or reference, and with a slight
modification the apparatus can be used as a file for newspapers and other
papers.
The Invention consists in the use of a case provided with hooks for
retaining the papers in combination with a hinged spring, flap, or folder for
arranging the same evenly upon the hooks, and holding them in place. A
contrivance is also introduced for holding the folder back against the tension
of its actuating springs while the sheets of papers are being placed in the
proper position preparatory to filing.
In the accompanying Drawings (referring to Sheet I.) A represents a
holder or case, made by preference of sheet metal, which in this instance is
'semi-cylindrical in form, with the exception of a small portion at the extreme
ends, which is cylindrical for the accomodation of the springs which actuate
the folding flap.. The opening or semi-cylindrical portion a, a, should bo of
sufficient length to accommodate the papers for which it is intended. To this
holder are attached a series of hooks b, b, pointed at their ends, and curved
to correspond with the arc which the edge of the folder flap will describe;
these hooks may nearly span the open portion a, a, of the holder case, and
need come short of touching the side of the case opposite to that to which
they are attached by a space sufficient only to accomodate the flap when
laid back, and to allow of the convenient presentation of sheets of the usual
thickness for filing. The folding flap is shown at B, and consists of a flat or
slightly curved strip of sheet metal or other material, in length a little less
than that of the opening c, and little more than one-half its width. In this
particular instance the folder is made with cylindrical ends, which are fitted
into the tubular ends of the holder case, so as to turn freely therein, and as
the edge of the flap will overlap the edge of the case it is necessary to cut
notches or openings in the same corresponding to the number of hooks, to
allow it to turn upon its axis without being interfered with by the hooks.

page_text: The folder is provided at its ends with coiled springs-q, q, (Figures 2 and 6)
applied in any convenient way, having each one end attached to the folder,
and the other to the cylindrical end of the holder, and operating to press the
.flap c, c, in a direction toward the side of the holder upon which the hooks b, b,
are attached. For the purpose of holding the flap back for convenience in
removing a paper from the file, or in adjusting one to be filed I make use of
a spring latch and catch of well-known construction, and which may be
arranged in various ways familiar to all mechanics. The arrangement, here
shown consists of a spring latch f attached to the interior of the holder within
one of its cylindrical ends. 9 is a stop so located on the folder that it will
engage with the latch and hold back the folder, as shown at 'Figure 3. The
spring of the latch f has attached to it a button i which protrudes through
the shell of the holder, and which upon the application of pressure will liberate
the folder, and permit it to fly against the sheet of paper and file it upon
the hooks. I have also instead of the latch and catch arrangement shown
dispensed with the cylindrical ends upon the folder, and use instead a plain
shaft extending through the axis of the case, and upon this shaft at one end,
and next to the end of the case, wound a spiral spring, which will give to
the shaft and flap a tendency to make an endwise movement, but which will
be restrained by the head of the case at the other end until the flap is laid
completely back, when it will spring into a notch cut in the edge, of such
circular head, and hold the same until pressure is applied to the end of the
shaft, which projects through the head and has a thumb-piece upon it, when
it will spring back, as in the other arrangement.
In Sheet II. the Figures represent a modified form of the Invention so far
as relates to the means for holding back and operating the flap is concerned.
By this arrangement instead of making use of coiled springs 9, 9, (Sheet I.
Figures 2, 6,) arranged within a cylinder, and the spring latch and catch
above described, I simply form the axis of the folder flap near its ends into
the shape of a crank, as shewn at D, D', or instead of so doing I can make
use of eccentrics located at the same positions, underneath the same I place
flat springs a, a, against which the cranks or the faces of the eccentrics will
bear, and as the flap is turned back will depress the springs. It is obvious
that when the flap has been laid back the cranks will be at their dead points,
and the pressure of the springs will be in operation to move the flap, but
when this point is passed by raising the edge of the flap with the finger to
communicate its return movement the springs will cause it to fly against the
papers and file them upon the hooks in the way already explained in the other
modification of the Invention.

page_text: The apparatus above described in its various modifications is intended to be
provided with a suitable bookbinder's cover when the same is to be used as a
portfolio, and by attaching a handle to the holder and dispensing with the
covers the same can be conveniently used as a file for newspapers and other
papers, and in the latter case instead of fastening the hooks to the barrel case
they may be fastened to the folder itself. I do not wish to limit myself to the
precise construction of the several parts as described, as it is obvious that the
same principle can be embodied in a variety of forms which will suggest
themselves to persons familiar with the subject.
What I claim as the Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,
a holder A provided with curved paper file hooks b, b, and a hinged spring
folder B, or their equivalents, in combination arranged and operating sub-
stantially as described for the purposes specified.
I also claim in combination with the folder B a spring latch f and stop 9,
substantially as described.
I also claim a folder flap independent of the case, and provided with cranks
D, D', Sheet II., or their equivalents, in combination with the springs a, a,
and operating substantially as described for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
ח זArTal
GEC. T. BOUSFIELD. (L.D.)