Improvements in Files for Letters, Invoices, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Files for Letters, Invoices, and the like.
I, CAMILLE DUREY of 17 & 19 Rue Le Brun, Paris, France, Engineer, 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 an improved file upon which letters, invoices &c. to he
held thereon can be placed in a rapid and easy manner.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a file according to my invention, the cover to
which in practice the file would be applied being omitted.
Fig. 2 is a cross section,
Fig. 3 shows the two main parts separate from each other.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of the preceding arrangement.
My apparatus consists of two main parts viz. one, A, which can, at will, be
moved away from the other and another, B, which is firmly fixed to a cover formed
of a piece of cardboard (or the like) in the form of a book (Fig. 3). The movable
part A consists of two curved rods a, b, fixed on a plate or piece c carrying a small
projecting piece d. The parts c and d may be of metal or other suitable material.
The free ends of the rods a, b are somewhat reduced in size, as shown in Fig. 3.
A piece of wire e of which the use is hereinafter described, slides on the rod b, and
is provided at its end with a flattened or contracted loop f.
The fixed part B of the apparatus consists of two vertical hollow rods g, h fixed
on a strip i of suitable material such as metal on which is arranged a piece of bent
flat strip metal k capable of turning about a pin l.
A file such as described is used as follows:-
h
The part B having been firmly fixed on one of the sides of a piece of cardboard
having the form of a book, the ends of the rods a, b are placed into their respective
tubes 9, as shown in Fig. 1. The rotary piece k is then brought to bear upon the
projecting piece d so as to hold the latter. In this manner the two parts A and B
of the apparatus are firmly connected to each other. When filing letters and the
like the mode of operation is as follows:-By means of any suitable perforating
device, the sheet to be filed is pierced near its edge with two small holes having
their centres at a distance from each other equal to the distance of the centre of
the rod g from the centre of the rod h. Then, the part A being moved away from
the part B, as shown in Fig. 3, the two rods g, h, are inserted into the small holes
in the sheet to be filed. The part A is then moved close to the part B by inserting
the free ends of the rods a, b into the corresponding openings of the rods g, h, and
the angled or bent piece k is moved on to the projection d, as shown in Fig. 1.
will be readily understood that a considerable number of sheets placed one upon
another may be connected together in this manner. The wire è serves to keep
them together, for which purpose it is merely necessary to cause the loop f to
embrace the rod g. Reversely, when it is desired to separate the sheets from one
another, it is sufficient to remove the loopf from the rod y, whereupon the sheets
may be raised and caused to turn about the rods a, b. When it is desired to
remove altogether one or more sheets, it is simply necessary first to turn the
piece k so as to release the projection d, then the whole of the movable part A is
lifted up. The ends of the rods g, h being thus free, it will be very easy to remove
the sheet or sheets to be taken out.
It
The junction m (Fig. 2) of the movable rods with the fixed rods is such as not
to present any projecting portions so that there is no risk of tearing the sheets of
paper. In place of employing only two curved rods a, b corresponding to two

page_text: rods g, h, as shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings. I may employ three,
four, or more such rods. Also the curvature of the rods a and b, may be modified
as desired.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the two parts of the apparatus are
fixed on the book-shaped cardboard cover, and are connected to each other by
means of a binge n. In this arrangement the file is composed of two or more
rods o o p p fixed to a plate s, and having their ends reduced in size so as to enable
them to enter the corresponding openings of the rods qr which are fixed to a
plate t.
On the piece is mounted a rod about the upper end of which there turns a
hook the end of which is adapted to embrace or engage the neck y of the piece u
mounted on the plate t.
In this arrangement, as in the one previously described, the rods are made in
such a manner as to offer no projection at the junction z so as not to tear the sheets
of paper.
The mode of using this apparatus is as follows.-First, the sheet to be filed, is
pierced near the edge with two small holes spaced apart at a distance equal to that
between the rods o, p; then after having separated the two parts of the apparatus
from each other (Fig. 5), the rods o, p, are inserted into the holes formed in the
sheet of paper, and the two parts of the apparatus are brought together into the
position shown in Fig. 4. The hook is caused to engage with the neck y of
the rod u to prevent the two parts of the apparatus from moving asunder.
A cross rod, similar to the piece e (Fig. 1) serves to cause the sheets to bear
upon one another as in the first arrangement.
With the herein described apparatus, all kinds of papers, such as letters,
invoices &c. can be filed with speed and with the greatest ease. When the said
papers are thus held together, it is very easy to consult and read the same.. Also,
one or more sheets can when desired, be very readily removed.
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. A file for letters, invoices, and other papers, comprising two main separable
parts A and B; the part A. being formed with two or more curved or bent rods a b,
whose ends are adapted to be inserted into corresponding recesses formed in the
upper ends of rods g, h, of the fixed part B; and these two parts A and B being
connected together by means of a piece k which bears upon the projecting part d
and with or without a cross rod e serving to keep the letters or the like in place.
2. A file such as specified in Claim 1, but in which the rods are fixed on two
base-plates which are adapted to move about a hinge n; the two parts being
connected together by means of a hook x.
Dated this 8th day of November 1894.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.