CA1076634A - Filing system for vertically suspended documents - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Disclosed herein is a filing system for vertically suspending large documents. The filing system comprises in com-bination the filing cabinet and a strip attachable to the docu-ment and mountable within the filing cabinet. The filing cabi-net in a preferred embodiment is comprised of a main frame mounted on four supporting casters, a pull-out unit having two casters mounted at one end and a bearing support assembly for telescopically mounting the other end of the pull-out unit to the base of the main frame, and a plurality of laterally spaced apart groups of horizontally extending cantilever bars with first ones of each group of bars being rigidly mounted to the top of the main frame and second ones of said bars of said groups being mounted at the top of the pull-out unit.
The bars are substantially coplanar and conjointly support the documents. The elongate strip is of a thin, flexible polyester material and has a plurality of groups of coplanar oval orifices therein equal in number and spaced so as to be mountable on the plurality of bars.

Description

~076~;34 The present invention relates to a filing sys-tem for vertically suspending large documents and more par-ticularly relates to a filing cabinet and a mounting strip attachable to the documents and mountable on rods in the filing cabinet.
The prior art is replete with filing cabinets for vertically hanging drawings and the like on opposed, horizontally extending pins which are attached to opposite supporting members in the filing cabinet. Many of the fil-ing cabinets disclosed in the prior art utilize curved, or pivoting bar support arrangements. In practice, both of these arrangements are completely impractical and unusable with large quantities of drawings. As a result, large amounts of storage space is either wasted or the drawings are damaged when too many of them are stored in these types of filing systems. Naturally, if a large number of draw-ings must be safely stored, a large number of incompletely filled filing cabinets must be used with the large atten-dant increase in cost of the filing system. Many other conventional filing systems use a male and female mating bar assembly which also has tremendous practical diffi-culties. Drawings kept in male and female mating bar assemblies are difficult to separate and to extract a particular drawing. Additionally, it has been found that in a fully loaded cabinet of this type, the femal bar tends to jàm within its co-operating male bar and thus causes damage to the cabinet and renders is unusable.
Filing cabinet systems of the foregoing type for suspend-ing drawings, documents, sheets and the like are dis-closed in the following references: Adams, U. S. Patent ~ 3 --107~;3~

1,335,415 disclosing curved male and female supporting bars;
Xlitscher U. S. Patent 1,170,975 disclosing a pair of curved, interconnecting opposed supporting bars; Mobus, U. S. Patents

2,205,903 and 2,711,941 disclosing male and female pivoted supporting bars; and Rubissow, U. S. Patent 3,292,982 dis-closing telescopic male and female supporting bars which are either straight or curved.
Other types of vertical filing systems disclose horizontal oppositely projecting supporting bars which are attached to relatively movable lathes or vertical dividers.
These types of filing systems are disclosed in the Barnhart U. S. Patent 1,416,661 and the Barker Canadian Patents 832,899 and 832,900 through 832,902. These systems have at least two major disadvantages. Firstly, it is extremely difficult to view one of the suspended documents without removing it from the filing cabinet and secondly the maxi-mum number of documents storable in this type of filing sys-tem is greatly reduced because of the internal dividers and lathes.
The prior art also discloses a plethora of means for hanging the documents from the supporting bars. For ex-ample, in the aforementioned Rubissow and Barker patents, the documents themselves are perforated with the resulting holes being reinforced. This system has the obvious disadvantages of permanently disfiguring the documents and relegating the documents for use in only one type of filing cabinet. Other filing systems use expensive and bulky clips which are rigid-ly attached to the documents. Two such clips are disclosed in the Dannheiser U. S. Patent 923,412 and the aforementioned Adams patent. Still other conventional systems use sheet 1076~34 protectors which totally encompass the drawing or the upper part thereof, such as disclosed in the Ambert Canadian Patent 504,088, or in the aforementioned Mobus patent. All of the foregoing suspension means are bulky, w~ich reduce the number of storable documents, preclude the document from being universally storable, tend to catch on the supporting bars, and/or can damage the docu-ment if not carefully used.
-An integrated filing system according to the present invention has advantageous features for overcoming the foregoing and other disadvantages. The present filing system can economi-cally and efficiently store twice as many vertically hung docu-ments as the prior art systems. A filing cabinet of the present system is of rugged and sturdy construction, yet has an overall small weight so that it is easily movable. When opened, docu-ments can be easily viewed without removing them or can be easily removed without`damaging the remaining documents. The present system overcomes the disadvantages of conventional systems which, when overloaded, did not permit easy access or removal of the stored documents and which usually resulted in the documents being torn or otherwise damaged.
The present invention also provides a means for vertically suspending the documents in a file cabinet which occupies very little additional space, is rugged, easily slides over and is removable from the document supporting bars, and is extremely lightweight. The attachment means does not result in a disfigurement or damage to the document and can be readily attached to or removed from the document and reused with another document. It is extremely inexpen-sive and can be easily stored in large numbers for future attachment and use with documents to be suspended in a ~07663~

filing cabinet.
A filing cabinet according to the present inven-tion comprises a first frame having a first base and a first vertical side mounted at the bottom end thereof to one end of the first base. A second frame, having a second base and a second vertical side mounted at the bottom end thereof to one end of the second base, is slidably receivable by the first frame such that the other end of the second base is co-opera-tively engaged with the other end of the first base. As such, the first and second frames can be relatively separated to open the filing cabinet and can be relatively separated to open the filing cabinet and can be relatively combined to close the filing cabinet. At least two, laterally spaced apart groups of horizontally extending cantilevered bars are provided with first ones of each group of bars being rigidly mounted to the top end portion of the first side and second ones of each group of bars being rigidly mounted to the top end portion of the second side. Documents are conjointly suspended from the bars at one end of the docu-ment.
A means for suspending documents comprises an elongate strip attachable along the bottom thereof to the document. The strip has therein a plurality of spaced apart groups of spaced apart oval orifices, each orifice for receiving respective ones of the bars in the filing cabinet.
These and other objects of the present invention will clearly be understood from the following description of the preferred ,embodiment thereof, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-~07663~

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a filing cabi-net in accordance with the present invention in the closed position.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the filing cabi-net depicted in Figure 1 in the open position.
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the filing cabinet in the closed position.
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the filing cabinet in an extended, partially opened position.
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the pull-out half of the filing cabinet.
Figure 6 is a plan view of the filing cabinet with the top removed.
Figure 7 is a partial side elevational view, partly in cross-section with parts removed, and taken along line 7-7 in Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a partial side elevational, cross-sec-tional view with parts removed of a second embodiment of the invention.
Figure 9 is a side elevational view of an elongate strip according to the present invention which is attached to a document or sheet and which is used in combination with a filing cabinet of the present invention.
A filing system for vertically suspending sheets or documents is disclosed in the several viewswherein like numerals represent like elements and comprises in combination a filing cabinet 10 and an elongate strip 12 that is attach-able to a document 14 so that document 14 can be vertically suspended in filing cabinet 10. Filing cabinet 10 is com-prised of a first or main frame or unit 16 and a removable second or pull-out frame or unit 18 so that is slidably re-ceived by a main frame 16. Means for suspending the docu-ments comprises a plurality of cantilevered bars 20 rigidly mounted at the upper ends of main frame 16 and pull-out unit 18~ Filing cabinet 10 also comprises hinged sides 22 and a hinged top 24.
With reference to Figures 1 through 6, main frame 16 comprises a horizontal base 26 and a vertical side 28 mounted at the bottom end thereof to the rearward end 30 of base 26. Base 26 comprises a welded U-shaped frame 32 made from square channels, a horizontal, transversely extending stabilizer bar 34 rigidly attached proximal the forward end of U-shaped frame 32, and a pair of longitudinally extending vertical sides 36 securely mounted to U-shaped frame 32.
Two horizontal tracks 38 are rigidly mounted to the inward faces of base sides 36. A resilient molding 40, best seen in Figure 8, extends along the inward surface of each arm of frame 32 for protecting main frame base 26 as pull-out unit 18 is moved relative thereto.
Mounted on the bottom of main frame 16 at each corner thereof are four 4 inch swivel casters 41. A lower gusset plate 42 is rigidly attached, for example by welding, at each side of base 26 to both base 26 and vertical side 28 and provides rigidity and strength to main frame 16.
As shown in Figure 7, an upper gusset plate 44 is rigidly attached at the upper end along each edge of vertical side 28 and provides a mounting for top 24.
Vertical side 28 of main frame 16, as best shown in Figures 2 and 7, comprises a frame 46 preferably comprised of sheet metal, rigidly attached, for example by ~107663~

welding, to frame 46. Mounted to the top of frame 46 is a smaller hollow square channel 50 to which a piano hinge 52 for mounting top 24 is attached.
As best shown in Figures 2 and 5, pull-out unit 18 comprises a horizontal base 54 and a vertical side 56 mounted at the bottom end thereof to the forward end 58 of base 54. Two gusset plates 60, welded between vertical side 56 and base 54 provide rigidity for vertical side 56~ Base 54 comprises a U-shaped frame 62 preferably made from hollow square channels welded together and a transversely extending stabilizer bar 64. A resilient molding 66 i5 fixedly attached on the outward sides of base 54 for engagement with resilient molding 40 when pull-out unit 18 is moved relative to main frame 16.
Adjustably mounted to base forward end 58 of pull-out unit 18 are two spaced apart 4 inch fixed casters 68.
Rigidly mounted on each side of the rearward end of pull-out unit base 54 is an upstanding bearing mounting bracket 68.
Two vertically spaced apart rollers 70 are rotatably mounted ~20 on bracket ~3~ for engagement on either side of track 38 on main frame 16. Thus, with rollers 70 engaging track 38, the forward end of pull-out unit 18 is slidably supported by base 26 of main frame 16.
As best seen in Figures 1 and 6, vertical side 56 of pull-out unit 18 is comprised of a sheet metal back 72 rigidly mounted, for example by being welded, onto a frame 74 of four hollow, square channel members. A transversely extending pull-out bar 76 is rigidly mounted on the outside or forward side of back 72 for providing a means for pulling out pull-out unit 18 and opening filing cabinet 10. A locking system 'h~

1(~76~;34 permits the locking of file cabinet 10 in the closed posi-tion and comprises a conventional drop bolt 80 and operating handle 82 together with appropriate linking members (not shown) .
Bars 20 from which documents 14 can be suspended comprise, in the preferred embodiment, three-quarter inch round, straight bars mcunted at one end and having a rounded distal end, as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. In one embodi-ment of the invention, bars 20 are arranged into four later-ally spaced apart bars 84 and 86, respectively. The first bars 84 are rigidly mounted at the top end portion of main frame side 28, for example by weld 88 and spot welds 90 to frame 46. Second bars 86 are similarly rigidly mounted at the top end portion of pull-out unit side 56. First and second bars 84 and 86 are preferably mounted at the same vertical height on their corresponding vertical sides 22 and 56 so that they are substantially coplanar. It can thus be seen that first and second bars 84 and 86 conjointly suspend documents 14 at one end of the documents.
Elongate strip 12 is best seen in Figure 9 as comprising a plurality of pairs of oval orifices 92. The number of pairs of orifices 92 and the spacing between the pairs, as well as the spacing of the orifices in each pair, is equal in number and spacing to bars 20. It is preferable that elongate strip 12 be manufactured from a suitable plas-tic material such as a thin thermoplastic polyester, for ex-ample "MYLAR" (a trademark of DuPont) and which consists essentially of polyethylene terephthalate. An elongate strip 12 made from the presently preferred "MYLAR" material is flexible, yet is resistent to tears and physical decompo-iV7663~

sition. Such a strip can be easily mounted along the bottom end thereof to the top portion of a document 14 with means such as an adhesive tape 94, with staples, or with other similar fastening means.
An alternative embodiment in which the rearward end of pull-out unit base 54 is telescopically, slidably mounted to main frame base 26 is depicted in Figure 8. An upstanding bracket 96 is mounted to the sides of base frame 62 of pull-out unit 18. Rotatably mounted on bracket 96, for example with a bolt 98 and a nut 100, are two vertically spaced apart rollers, an upper roller 102 and a lower roller 104.
Upper roller 102 engaged along the top thereof an angle bracket 106 that is rigidly mounted for example by being welded to main frame base 26. Lower roller 104 engages along the bottom there-of a smaller hollow square channel 108 that is rigidly mounted on the top of the arms of frame 32 for example by being spot welded. The alternative embodiment for supporting the rear-ward end of pull-out unit 18 provides a greatly stiffened fil-ing cabinet which can be easily opened and closed even when fully loaded.
The filing system of the present invention can be easily used to efficiently and safely suspend large numbers of documents. An elongate strip is securely fastened to the top portion of each document, the document preferably being cen-tered between the ends of the strip. The filing cabinet is then unlocked by rotating handle 82 and pulling out pull-out unit 18 using bar 76. Pull-out unit 18 is pulled out far enough so that there is a small space between the distal ends of first and second bars 84, as shown in Figure 2.

Hinged sides 22 can be opened for easy access to the inter-ior of filing cabinet 10 if filing cabinet 10 is of the large, "walk-in" type or hinged top 24 can be opened in smaller models.
Strip 12 is then suspended from either first bars 84 or second bars 86 and filing cabinet 10 can then be closed. Should it be desirable to only observe a suspended document without re-moving it from the filing cabinet 10, pull-out unit 18 is only withdrawn an amount to ensure an overlap between first and second bars 84 and 86, as shown in Figure 4. Even when filing cabinet 10 is fully loaded with documents, upwards of 3,000 documents easily being storable in a larger filing cabinet, the documents can be readily separated as a result of the al-most frictionless contact between the elongate strip 12 and bars 20 and because of the oval shape of orifices 92. Further in this regard, it is noted that when a filing cabinet is fully loaded, the weight of the documents tends to warp bars 20 and the sides of main frame 16 and pull-out unit 18. Where-as conventional round orifices and conventional suspension means would bind up, the oval orifices 92 can accommodate for the disalignment and warping of bars 20 and filing cabinet 10.
Although the invention has been described in de-tail with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of oridnary skill in the art that variations and modifications may be effected within the scope 24 and spirit of the invention.

Claims (8)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A filing cabinet for carrying sheets in vertical suspension therein comprising:
a first frame including a first base and a first vertical side interconnected at the bottom end thereof to one end of said first base;
a second frame including a rigid second base and a second vertical side interconnected at the bottom end thereof to one end of the second base;
support means for movably supporting said cabinet on a floor including first roller means for independently, movably supporting said first frame, and second roller means for movably supporting said one end of said second frame on the floor;
a single horizontal row of cantilevered bars for supporting the top ends of the sheets including at least two laterally spaced apart groups of bars, each of said groups including first and second laterally spaced apart bars, one end of the first bar in each group being connected to the top end of said first vertical side, and one end of the second bar in each group being connected to the top end of said second vertical side, each said bars being adapted to cooperate with sheet suspension means for storing the sheets suspended in the filing cabinet;
coupling means for telescopically interconnecting said first and second bases and for guiding said second base relative to said first base, whereby the first and second frames can be moved apart to open the filing cabinet and moved together to close the filing cabinet, said coupling means including track members on said first base and roller means on said second base engaging said track members, whereby said first base movably supports the other end of said second base and said second base is guided between the closed and opened positions with said first and second cantilevered bars spaced apart a substantially constant distance during movement between said closed and opened positions.

2. A filing cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a pair of vertically spaced apart rollers mounted on each side of said second base, and parallel upper and lower tracks on each side of said first base, one roller of each paid engaging a lower surface of the upper track and the other roller engaging an upper surface of the lower track.

3. A filing cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said support means includes first rollers pivotally mounted on each end of said first base, and second rollers pivotally mounted on said one end of said second base.

4. A filing cabinet according to claim 1, in combination with the sheet suspension means, the suspension means comprising a thin, elongated plastic strip; a plurality of orifices in said plastic strip for receiving said bars to suspend a sheet; and means for attaching the bottom of said strip to one end of a sheet.

5. A filing cabinet according to claim 4, wherein the number of orifices is equal to the number of bars.

6. A filing cabinet according to claim 4, wherein each said orifice is larger than a bar and substantially oval in shape, the major axis of the oval being substantially horizontal, and the upper perimeter of each orifice defining a substantially straight edge for low friction contact with said bar.

7. A filing cabinet according to claim 6, wherein the spacing between said first and second bars, and between orifices for said first and second bars is small relative to the spacing between the groups of bars, the orifices being arranged in groups corresponding to the grouping of said bars and being equal in number to the number of bars.

8. A filing cabinet according to claim 1, including a moulding on inner sides of said first base opposing outer sides of said second base for protecting said first base as said second base is moved relative thereto.