US1156812A - Reference device for desks and the like. - Google Patents

Description

. E. R. PROBE-IRR- REFERENCE DEVICE FOR DESKS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7 1913.

' 1 156 812. Patented 00E 12, 1915;

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EDWIN R. 'PROBERT, 0F COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNQR TO THE MOESCHL- EDWARDS CORRUGATING COMPANY, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, A CORPORA- TION OF KENTUCKY.

REFERENCE DEVICE FOR DESKS AND THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN R. PROBERT, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Covington, in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky, have in ventsheets containing information and figures relating to materials, prices and the like, and an indexed or indicator tab or handle projecting forwardly from the outer end of each metallic plate; and the invention further consists of a vertical series of horizontal plates of metal or other suitable material,

paper or like sheets having classified information produced thereon and stuck or other- Wise suitably attached to one or both faces of each of said plates, indexed tabs or handles projecting forwardly from the outer ends of said plates and having printed or Written matter thereon that conforms to the information on the respective sheets, and guide-ways adapted for the sliding and supportin engagement of. the opposite longitudina edges or sides of said plates; and the invention still further consists of a vertical series of horizontal plates of metal orother suitable material adapted to receive duly at tached paper sheets of classified information' on one or both faces of each plate, rein forcing hems made along the opposite longitudinal edges or sides of each plate, indexed tabs or handles projecting from the outer ends of the respective plates, a drawerfront having slort slots or elongated openings made therein and adapted to freely acv.commodate the said indexed tabs or handles of each of said plates so that the outer ends of said indexed-tabs project a suitable viewing and manipulating distance from the face of said drawer-front and so that each plate can be drawn outwardly with said drawerfront independent of the other plates, and

crimped sheets or strips of metal forming guidewaysadapted to the sliding and supportin engagement of the opposite longitudina edges or sides of said plates.

A Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

Application filed February 7, 1913. Serial No. 746,769.

Other features of the invention herein will be fully hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one upper end of an ordinary fiat-top desk showing my device in closed position and occupying the place of the ordinary upper drawer of the desk, which is the most convenient position for the occupant in connection with the special use of the invention referred to herein; Fig. 2, a fragmentary cross-section showing the top-drawer pocket or chamber having a vertical series of horizontal guide-ways at both sides of said chamber; Fig. 3, a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing the top drawerfront and one of its two inwardly-extending longitudinal bars that engage guideways or pockets that lie parallel to but beneath the vertical series of horizontal guide- Ways for the sliding-plates referred to in connection with Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a detail perspective view of one of the special forms of crimped sheets or strips of metal that are adapted to form the vertical series of horizontal guide-ways at both sides of the topdrav cr chamber; Fig. 5, a detail perspective view showing one of the metal plates having a forwardly-projecting indexed tab or handle at its outer end and adapted to be slid along the guide-ways seen in Fig. (L; and Fig. (i, a detail perspective view showing fragments of the drawer-front, crimped guide-way sheet or strip and indexed-tab "with an intervening horizontal partition 6,

as customary.

Instead of using an entire drawer in the top-chamber of the drawer-casing I use what may be termed a skeleton drawer that is without sides, rear end or bottom, a front 7 of the usual form having lower, longitudinal side bars or rear extensions 8 that are dovetailed at 9. An ordinary handle 10 is attached in place to the drawer-front 7, preferably near; its central lower-edge, as

best seen in Figs. 1 and 3. This handle is the usual'manipulating' one and isused for facilitating the drawing of the skeleton drawer outwardly from its pocket in the upper part of the drawencasing. a 11 indicates each one of a vertical series."

'of horizontal igrooves or guideways provided in the opposite sides of the top-chain- I ber of the drawer-casing and preferably formed in asheet or strip of crimped sheetmetal, as best seen in Fig. 4, such crimped sheet being readily made and just as readily attached. in place by means of tacks 12 dr ven into the sides 2 and 3, as best seen in Fig; 2. Qt course strips of wood or the like can be provided 1 instead of sheet-metal strips and suitable guide-ways made in the inner faces thereof for the purpose that I shall presently describe. The wooden strips, however, would. not be as convenient or stand the wear of the sheet-nietal ones and not as readily made.

13 indicates an upturned rightangled flange made along the lower edge 01" each of the sheets or strips that contain. the

V guide-ways 11. These flanges 13 form gulde-ways for the lower rear extei'isions or pro ecting forwardly from the outer or fore edges oi the plates, as best seen 1n Figs. 1 A and 5. These tabs or tongues 15 form means by which the plates 14 are drawn along the. guide-ways 11 from within the upper cham' ber of the drawer-casing and are adapted to contain index-matter of any kind to show or indicate whateach of the plates 14: has in the shapeof classified, tabulated, or other information of any kind on one or both of .its faces. The said. tabs or tongues 15 extend forwardly through slots 16 that are made in the drawer-front 7 out of horizontal alinement or in a gradually descending line, the said tab on the lowermost plate beingnearest its right-hand edge while those on the succeeding plates above gradually ascend to the left-end of the drawer-front.

. The said slots '16 taper inwardly so that they are widest on the inner face of the drawer-front 7, as best seen in Fig. 3 and so that the tabs ortongues 15 of all the plates 14: can more-readily enga'gesaid slots as the d1'awerfront"7 is being. slid into closed position in the desk.

It is not absolutely requisite; have the drawer-front 7 in'theopening leadin to the chamber in which the reference-c plates is! are housed, except to-prote matter contained on said plates from UH."

authorized use and dust, or other injurious exposure, a suitable lock being provided in sald draWer-fr0nt 7 for fastening it in Iclosedposition and preventing access to said reiterence-carrylng plates by unauthorized persons. It is notabsolutely necessary either to have the slots 16 made in said drawer-front 7, as-the plates can-be made shorter so that the tabs or tongues 15 will not project forward beyond the inner face of said drawer-front When'clos'ed. In such event the drawer-front 7 can be readily drawn outward and access easily had to the several tabs or tongues of the plates within.- ln such event, too, there is no danger of tear ing or injuring contact of the clothes and person with the projecting tabs.

lnorder to operate the device as it is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, with the slots 1.6 in the drawer-front and the tabs or I tongueslfi extending outwardly, it is only necessary to take hold of one of the tabs or. tongues 15 that contains the information desired and drawing outwardly, which act draws the skeleton drawer with that 'par- 'ticular tab or tongue independent oi the other plates within the upper chamber of the desk and without disturbing any of the drawenfront 7 to and from closed position.

The plates l lare adapted to the attachment by sticking or otherwise to one or both oftheir respective faces, of sheets of paper or the like containing printed matter in the shape of tables o1"- figures, market quotations, 1

current prices, weights and neasurestimetables, telephone lists, and, in fact, information of all kinds for handyreference by the occupant ofthe desk ininaking up estimates or bids or compilations of all kinds. Fig.5 shows how strips oi printed sheets 1? or otherwise preparedfsheets or clippings from catalogues ornewspaperalor leaflets, containi g quotations or other desired matter, can be attached tothe face of the plate for immediate reference and out of the way of other matter on the desk and occupying a place in the desk, practically all its own, and readily replaced by other quotations, prices and the like to suit theconditions o the current or passing markets.

To so newhat stiffen the skeleton drawer so'thatthe sidebars 8 will not have any lateral niorement'or becorne loose from drawer-front 3,1 provide braces l8 that clear the upper edge of the flange 13 in the space 19 above said flange in the slidingmovenients of said skeleton drawer. v

To somewhat stifi'en the opposite longitudinal edges 01" the plates ll, so that lighter material might be used, I provide hems' 20, as best seen in Fig. 5.

I claim:

A ready-reference file device comprising a vertical series of horizontal plates of metal or other suitable material adapted to feceive dulyattached paper sheets of classified information on one or both faces of each plate, reinforcing hems made along the opposite longitudinal edges or sides of each plate, in-

dexed tabs or handles projecting from the outer ends of the respective plates, a drawerdrawer-front &

front having short slots or elongated openj ings made therein and adapted to freely accommodate the said indexed tabs orhandles of each of said plates so that the outer ends of said indexed tabs can project a suitable viewing-and manipulating distance from the face of said drawerfront and so that each plate can be drawn outwardly with said independent of the other plates, and eriniped sheets or strips of metal forming guide-Ways adapted to the sliding and supporting engagement of the opposite longitudinal edgesor sides of said plates.

' EDWIN R. PROBERT.

Witnesses:

JOHN ELIAs JoNEs, LORETTA LUCK.

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