US551888A - Ii fig - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

D. DE CASTRO.

LETTER FILE.

' Patented Dec. 24, 1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL DE CASTRO, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

LETTER-FILE.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,888, dated December 24, 1895.-

Application filed April 6 1895. Serial No. 544,801. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL DE CASTRO, residing at London, England, have invented an Improvement in Letter-Files, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to files for filing letters and similar-papers, and has for its object the construction and arrangement of a file whereon letters can be filed with great facility, so that when the full complement of letters has been filed thereon they maybe so fastened and held as if bound in a book,while at the same time anyparticular letter may be extracted from the file and replaced thereon at will.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same in relation to the accompanying drawings, reference being had to the letters marked thereon.

Like letters refer to like parts in the various figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved letter-file in its open extended position ready for the placing of letters or papers thereon. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same showing the filing device with the portion of the covers inclosing the same in the closed position after the letters have been placed upon the file, the main covers of the file being shown in the open position. Fig. 3 isa diagrammatic view showing an end view of the file in its extreme extended form. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing it with the filing device and its inclosing-covers in their closed form but with the main covers open. Fig. 5 is a view of the same with the main covers in their closed position. Figs. 6 and '7 are diagrammatic views of the file with a modified filing device in the open and closed positions re- Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 show various methods of clamping the filing device in its closed position; and Figs. 13 and l i are views of the clasp of the book-file with a punching attachment embodied therewith, for punching holes in the' letters or papers for engagement with the prongs of the file.

To carry my invention into efiect I arrange upon a stiff back A two covers B B, which are hinged thereto at the points a a. Each cover B is also provided with a hinge 12. Both hinges a and I) allow of the portions of the cover being bent in an outward direction but not in an inward direction. Upon the center line of the back A, I mount the filingdevice O at the point 0. This filing device consists of two plates E E, which are hinged together so as to move freely and independently of the back A. Upon the outer edges P of these plates E E, I mount two or more curved prongs P, so that each prong lies in a circle struck from the center at c. The prong on one side is adapted to pass into the prong on the other side. Topermit this one prong is made tubular, so as to allow the other prong to slide freely therein. The length of the prongs should be made such that the length of the chord of the arc'P P should be equal to the width of the back A, so that when the file is in its open position, as shown in Fig. 3, a space exists between the ends of the prongs sufficient to enable the papers or letters to be placed thereon.

When the parts of the covers inclosing the device 0 have been moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 through angle of ninety degrees to that shown in Fig. 4, the plates E E and their prongs P P are moved through an angle of about forty-five degrees. In order to allow of this movement being made smoothly and to prevent the abrasion of the covers B by the edges of the plates E, I arrange on each cover B a strip of metal F, which is attached thereto. This strip is so situated that the outer edge of the plates rub against the said strip during the relative movement of the plate E with the cover B. I further arrange that this strip F shall control the movement of the plate E, which I effeet by forming the strip F with a T-shaped end f, the projecting portions of which engage with the opposite side of the plate E to that adjacent to the cover on which the strip is mounted, the strip F being passed through an aperture 6 in the plate E. Then the covers 13 are opened out into their extended position, as shown in Fig. 3, the projecting portion of the strips F pull back the plates E E and prongs P P into their open position, and when the covers are closed the plates E E are pushed up into their closed position by sliding up the strip F.

In Figs. 6 and 7 Ihave shown a modification of the filing device 0 in which the shape of ICO the plates E have been altered in order to allow of the letters and papers filed lying fiat upon one another in a plane, so that their marginal edges situated with the filing device are not bent and cramped into fan shape when the full complement of letters has been placed upon the file. To effect this the ends of the plates E are bent for that portion which directly covers the margin of the papers, so that when the filing device is in its closed position, as shown in Fig. 7, the said bent portions of the plates are parallel to one another.

When the file has received its full complement of papers it may be desirable to clamp those portions of the cover inclosing the filing device 0. This may be done in a variety of ways, some of which are illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. The two parts of the covers may be held together by strings or tapes or a bolt or bolts 00 may be passed through them from side to side, as shown in Fig. 12, or I may arrange a spiral spring or springs 00 connecting the two covers together, as shown in Fig. 11, or a hinged catch X may be used, as shown in Fig. 10, or an embracingclamp 31 maybe utilized in either of the forms shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the former engaging outside the covers and the latter y engaging behind suitable catches 1 arranged upon the interior surfaces of the covers B B. The en gaging portions of these clamps and their holders may be corrugated or indented so as to form a reasonably secure attachment to the covers.

I may sometimes arrange upon one of the covers at some convenient part a punching device, which is adapted to punch each letter or paper with holes so as to enable the letter or paper to be readily threaded onto the prongs. A convenient form for this punch is to combine it with the clasp, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

As will be seen the clasp Gr is fitted with a hinged or flexible flap l-I. Punches J are arranged on that part of it which is fixed to the cover B, and holes or dies K being formed in the hinged or flexible flap H so that if a letter or paper be inserted between the punches J and dies K and the fiap H be pressed against the clasp G holes will be formed in the letter or paper.

It is obvious that the holes or dies K and punches J may be arranged in the converse manner.

The part G of the clasp I have shown for convenience in Fig. 14 as in section with a slot at G to receive the hooked end of the part H.

Having now particularly described my in vention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination in a file, the covers each of which is divided into two sections hinged together, the stiff back hinged to said section, the filing device comprising the two plates hinged centrally to the stiff back, the free edges of said hinged plates being engaged by the inner sections of the cover to be raised thereby and the prongs carried by the hinged plates for engaging the papers to be filed, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the two covers, the stiff back hinged thereto between them, the two plates having the bent outer portions, said plates being hinged to the back and the prongs connected with the bent portions of the plates, substantially as described.

3. In a letter file, a stiff back, two covers hinged thereto, each cover being divided into two parts, a hinge joining the divided parts of the cover in combination with a filing device mounted upon the center line of the said stiff back, consisting of two sets of curved prongs adapted to telescope one within the other, plates hinged at the point of support of the filing device on the said back, and connectors attached at one end to the parts of the covers adjacent to the back and adapted at their other end to slidingly engage with the said hinged plates substantially as described.

4. In a letter file, the combination of the cover with a clasp adapted to fasten the covers together, and having one member formed with two parts movable relatively to one another, one part carrying a punch and the other part being provided with a die to engage the punch, substantially as described.

5. In a letter file, a stiff back, two covers hinged thereto, in combination with a filing device, mounted upon the center line of the said stiff back, consisting of two sets of curved prongs adapted to telescope one within the other, plates hinged at the point of support of the filing device on the said back, and connectors attached at one end to the parts of the covers adjacent to the back and adapted at their other end to slidingly engage with the said hinged plates, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL DE CASTRO. lVitnesses:

RICHARD A. HOFFMANN, CHARLES H. CARTER.

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