Improvements in Files or Indexes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1893-Accepted, 15th July, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Files or Indexes.
I, ALEXANDER JOSEPH RUDOLPH, of 1221, Filbert Street, San Francisco,
California, in the United States of America, Librarian, 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 files or indexes and it comprises a series of cards, with
means for holding index slips upon them, a box or case adapted to contain the said
cards, a device for supporting the cards in the said tray, box, case or drawer in a
position to enable them to be readily examined, and movable indicators whereby
the proper position of each card of a series can be at once determined, and the
misplacement of any card can be detected.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it can be
carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :--
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a file or index constructed according to my
invention:
Figures 2 and 3 are transverse and longitudinal sections respectively of the
same; and,
Figure 4 is a sectional perspective view drawn to an enlarged scale of one of the
cards with its means for holding slips and its movable indicator.
Similar letters in all the figures indicate similar parts.
A is the box or case of any suitable size, preferably made with bars or ribs a, a
projecting a little inwardly at each end to prevent the ends of the contained cards
from rubbing against the inner ends of the box.
The cards B consist of long strips of cardboard or sheet metal of sufficient length
to just fit inside the ribs a, a longitudinally within the box A and of a width about
equal to the depth of the box.
Upon the opposite longitudinal edges of these strips are fixed strengthening
strips C, and over these strips are fastened other strips D which project inwardly
a little way over the first named strips, thus forming grooves or channels between
the outer strips D and the faces of the cards B.
The ends of each slip-holder are either closed, or made so narrow that the inserted
slips cannot fall or be pushed out.
Within the channels or grooves fit the index slips b, b, Figure 4, which consist
of narrow strips with the index or other matter written, printed, or otherwise
marked upon them.
When a number of these slip-holders are placed in the drawer or box A. they
should be arranged alphabetically, numerically or in some other order. To retain
this order and prevent the misplacement of any of the cards, after they have been
removed, I form the upper edges of them with an enlarged tubular polygonal or
other shaped rib or back E.
F is a clasp which made of some elastic material, and fits upon the projecting
rib E of each of the cards, and it is adapted to be slid to any desired point from one
end to the other, the elasticity and friction being sufficient to hold it at any point
desired.
These clasps are arranged diagonally upon a set of cards contained in a box, so
that they form a symmetrical line diagonally across the cards when they stand on
edge in the box, as shewn in Figure 1.
Supposing a card be taken out of the box for the purpose of inspecting the slips
upon it, or for any other reason and it be by accident misplaced, the position of the
Indicating clasp F will shew at once that it is out of place as it no longer forms a
ine with the others.

page_text: whenever new cards are to be introduced, the clasps are simply moved along
and a line rearranged to include the new card.
In order to assist in this arrangement and make it accurate, I prefer to mark the
backs or sides of the cards with regularly spaced transverse lines at a distance
apart equal to the length of the clasps so that the latter may be readily placed at
the proper point.
The slip-holders, when placed in the drawer A on their edges, will take the
position of a book partially opened, as shewn in the transverse section Figure 2.
In order to support and hold the cards in this position I employ supports G which
are made of wire bent as shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
The ends of these wires fit into a series of holes c, c made to receive them in the
ribs a at the ends of the box A and the loop or crank formed by bending the wire,
extends downward toward the bottom of the box, and is set so as to give the cards
the proper inclination or angle for easy reference.
The bent portion is retained in place by resting upon the bottom of the box.
Any change of position to adjust the supports G to a greater or less number of
cards, can be easily made by withdrawing the ends of the supports from one set of
holes c, c and introducing them into another set, they being sufficiently elastic for
this purpose.
One of the wire-supports G is placed' upon each side of the line of cards so that
the latter can be opened against the supports in either direction. The slip-holders
or cards being thus placed in the box on their edges, the opposite inclined planes
formed by the oppositely placed wires keep the cards at any point, and standing at
any angle so that they may open like a book, and any one or more can be easily
removed at any time by grasping them by the enlarged upper edge formed by the
strips D upon which the clasps are fixed.
The drawers A in which these cards are placed are arranged to slide into a case
designed to receive a number of the drawers, and in order to prevent the drawer
being entirely pulled out and probably dropped, whereby its contents would become
disarranged, I provide a stop or check H which consists of a bar fulcrummed at 1
upon the rear end of the drawer A so that its ends project respectively above and
below the drawer, the weight of the lower part of the bar being sufficient to retain it
normally in a vertical position. These two projecting ends strike against the
interior of the case front and thereby retain the drawer when pulled out to its
fullest extent and prevent its being entirely withdrawn
If it is desired to remove the drawer for any purpose this can be done by turning
the stop H until the ends come within the upper and lower edges of the drawer.
This can be conveniently effected by means of a rod L which extends along the
bottom of the drawer to the lower end of the check H.
The front end of the rod is held by springs or a piece of india-rubber d so that it
will normally remain in a straight position and the stop is turned to allow the
drawer to be removed by pressing the rod L to one side.
The slip-holders are arranged, as hereinbefore described, and have a series of
letters or numbers printed upon them in bold type, or written or pasted upon
removable slips, to enable the person using the index to easily turn to the desired
name, topic or number, or various colours may be used for the same purpose to aid
the eye in instantly locating the desired entry.
If a slip-holder be not entirely filled with slips, those which are contained in it
are prevented from slipping out of place by means of stops K which are made of
two thicknesses of card, or other suitable material, one thickness projecting at each
end beyond the other. The shortest one is of sufficient length to lie between the
inner edges of the grooves or channels, and the outer one extends into these
grooves in the same manner as the slips band by reason of its being beut downward
over the shorter one, it is sufficiently elastic to remain firmly in any place where it
may be inserted. Therefore, when these slips K are inserted below, or at both
sides of the entry slips b in a holder which is not full, it retains the slips b in place,
and prevents their dropping out,

page_text: These slip-holders are preferably made with one column upon each side so that
the drawers will not be made too deep, and the slips are more readily consulted.
The position in which the wire supports G, against which the holders rest upon
opposite sides, are placed will be according to the number of slip-holders that may
be contained within the drawer. If there are only a few slip-holders, the supports G
are moved along the ends so as to stand near together, and as the number of slip-
holders in the drawer increases, the supports are separated and introduced into
other holes c by simply springing them out of the holes in which they are placed,
and introducing them into the others, the elasticity of the wire enabling this to be
easily done.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a file or index, a series of rigid slip-holders having parallel grooves or
channels upon their opposite edges, independent flexible slips, the ends of which are
held within the said grooves or channels, the said slips having marked upon them
the subject matter of the work to be indexed, and being movable along the holder,
whereby they are capable of rearrangement within the slip-holders, a portable tray
or drawer in which the said slip-holders are arranged longitudinally side by side
and removable and adjustable inclined supports G against which the slip-holders
rest upon opposite sides, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawing.
2. In a file or index, a series of rigid slip-holders having parallel grooves or
channels upon their opposite edges and independent flexible ships, the ends of which
are adjustably held within the said grooves or channels, a portable tray or drawer
within which the said, slip-holders are arranged longitudinally side by side, and
movable clasps fixed to the upper edges of the slip-holders and adapted to slide
thereon, whereby they may be arranged in diagonal or symmetrical lines upon the
slip-holders to indicate the proper positions of the slip-holders within the tray with
reference to each other, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawing.
3. In a file or index, a series of rigid slip-holders having parallel grooves or
channels upon their opposite edges, independent flexible slips, the ends of which are
adjustably held within the said grooves or channels, enlarged or tubular projections
extending along the upper edges of the slip-holders, clasps fitting over the said
projections and adapted to slide thereon, whereby a series of slip-holders within a
containing tray or drawer can be regularly arranged with relation to each other,
and division marks formed upon the upper edges of the said slip-holders to indicate
the positions for the movable clasps, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
4. In a file or index, a series of rigid slip-holders having parallel grooves or
channels upon their opposite edges, independent flexible slips, the ends of which are
held within the said grooves or channels so as to be movable along the holder or
capable of rearrangement therein, a portable tray or drawer within which a number
of the slip-holders are placed side by side longitudinally, adjustable inclined supports
against which the outer slip-holders upon each side are adapted to rest so that the
slip-holders may be turned over like leaves of a book, enlarged or tubular strips
along the upper edges of the slip-holders with transverse lines or marks made
thereon, and clasps fitting the upper edges and adapted to slide along them so as to
allow of their adjustment with relation to each other to form diagonal lines across
the slip-holders in the drawer, whereby the proper positions of the ship-holders with
relation to each other is indicated, and readjustments can be effected when
introducing new slip-holders, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawing.
5. In a file or index, a series of rigid slip-holders having parallel grooves or
channels upon their opposite edges and independent flexible slips, the ends of which

page_text: are held within the said grooves or channels, the said slips being movable and
capable of readjustment within the slip-holders, drawers within which the said slip-
holders are arranged longitudinally side by side and parallel with each other,
projecting strips formed across the ends of the drawers to hold the ends of the slips
out of contact with the drawer-ends, and a stop-check fitted to the inner end of the
drawer, whereby the latter is prevented from being pulled entirely out of its case,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
6. In a file or index, a series of slip-holders, drawers fitted in a case and
adapted to contain the said slip-holders in longitudinal parallel lines with supports
against which they may be opened, a stop-check for each drawer consisting of a
vertical swinging-bar fulcrummed to the rear end of the drawer, with its ends
projecting above and below, and a spring actuated rod extending along the bottom
of the drawer to the said bar whereby the latter may be turned so as to allow the
drawer to be withdrawn from the case, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
7. In a file or index, a series of rigid slip-holders having parallel grooves or
channels upon their opposite edges, independent flexible slips, the ends of which
are held in the said grooves or channels, the said slips being movable and capable
of readjustment within the slip-holders, and adjustable stops or checks and letters
correspondingly adjustable within the slip-holders, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
8. The improved file or index herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
Dated the 19th 1
2000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.