US2298128A - Card file - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1942. J. M. HURLEY` CARD FILE Filed May 27, 1940 Patented Oct. 6, 1942 STATES r fr rio 4 Claims.

This invention relates to vcard les and is particularly adapted for les which can be conveniently transported and also conveniently opened to provide a ready reference le wherein the le cards and papers will not become disarranged while being transported.

An object of my invention is to provide a card le of this type which can be completely closed to protect the contents of the file and which, when opened, will present the contents in such position that they can be readily referred to.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for conveniently holding the contents of a iile wherein certain cards may be removed and kept segregated where ready reference to a small portion of the file is desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable card iile including a receptacle and a closure wherein the closure is movable relative to the receptacle but connected thereto to provide a convenient unitary structure.

These and other objects and advantages will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the views, and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section showing the device open;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View in closed position; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. l through 4 there is provided a rectangular receptacle 8 having four walls of equal height. On inner sides of opposite side walls of the receptacle I provide plates 9 which are spaced inwardly from said side walls and are provided with cut-away portions I0. These cut-away portions lie adjacent a vertical partition I I across one end of the receptacle. Edges I0, the partition II, and the bottom of the receptacle 8 provide a guideway I2. The receptacle is provided with a closure I3 which is of such Width that it will t between the plates 9. At one edge of the closure I3 is a transverse pin I4 which is slightly longer than the width of the closure and which iits into the guideways I2 at its opposite ends. Thus the closure is capable of limited movement relative to the receptacle, said movement being, of course, determined by the shape and extent of the guideway I2 which extends vertically for a distance nearly as great as the height of the receptacle and horizontally for a shorter distance, as best shown in Fig. 2.

Pivotally connected to the transverse pin I4 is a plate I5 which, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, has two at portions which are disposed at an angle of approximately degrees. The space between the closure I3 and the plate I5 is adapted to receive a plurality of le cards I6, the ends of which are adapted to rest upon one flat portion of said angular plate when the plate is in one position, and the sides of the cards are adapted to rest upon the other portion of the plate when the plate and closure are moved to the position shown in Fig. 3. A substantially T-shaped element I'I is shown inserted in the stack of cards. In Fig. 2 the head of the T-member lies beneath the edges of the cards, and the shank of the member lies approximately in the middle of the stack of cards between two adjacent cards. The element Il provides a movable partition in the main chamber of the device and when only a few file cards are present it will prevent them from slipping down and will maintain them in the desired position when the device is open and the card index is used.

When the device is moved from the open posi.- tion shown in Fig. 2 to the closed position shown in Fig. 3, the closure at its lower end is moved along the guideway I2 and thence upwardly with the pin I4 riding in the guideway. This draws the plate I5 to the left as shown in Fig. 2, and if the closure is swung shut, the cards are changed from the angularly upstanding position of Fig. 2 to the flat stacked position shown in Fig. 3. A stop flange I3 at one end of the receptacle B supports that end of the closure I3 opposite from the end which carries the pin I4. The pin carrying end is held against upward movement by the weight of the index cards which are lying on the plate I5. A suitable catch I9 on the outer side of the receptacle 8 can be snapped over the closure I3 to secure the same in closed position.

It will be noted that the angular plate I5 has a tongue-like extension I5a which is adapted to contact the inner side of the closure I3 to prevent the closure and angular plate from swinging to a more acute angle as the device is closed. Should said closure and plate swing closer toward each other when closing the device there Would be a tendency for the hinged edge of the closure to sag and not come completely to the top of the receptacle. Furthermore, the tongue portion [5a prevents the insertion of too great a number of cards which would cause the device to jam.

On the inner face of the closure I3 is a pocket 20 into which spare or used cards may be placed and which can be removed from behind the stack of index cards I6 shown at the left in Fig. 2. The spare cards IGa are retained in position by short inwardly extending flanges 29 which are turned inwardly from opposite edges of the inner side of closure I3. The flanges 29 extend upwardly to the end of the closure I3 and small inwardly extending transverse tongues 39 form an upper card receiving pocket 3| which is open at the top and is adapted to temporarily receive index cards I6b which may bev removed from the main stack of cards for reference purposes. Another temporary card receiving pocket is provided by generally triangular side walls 32 which extend inwardly from opposite edges of the closure I3, and the elements 32 in combination with an inclined plate 33 form this pocket. The shape of the pocket formed by members 32 and 33 and the flange 29 is such that a small group, such as one alphabetical sub-division, of the main stack of cards, can be placed therein to permit examination of that group as indicated by the cards |60.

It should be noted that when the device is in its closed position the angularly disposed strips 33 which extend from the side plates 32 on the closure member are fairly close to the edges of the stacked cards at their right-hand sides to prevent the cards from becoming disarranged. Thus the le device can be conveniently carried in a vehicle and regardless of the position in which it is placed or the amount of jostling which it receives the cards will remain in order.

The outer side of the closure I3 is provided with a pair of retaining elements 39 beneath which can be positioned diagonally opposite corners of a stack of cards 35. Thus cards are available for notations when Vthe main le is closed and after a notation has been made on the card, it can be temporarily placed in a pocket 39 at the rear end of the receptacle, said pocket being offset from the closure I3 so that it remains uncovered when the receptacle is closed.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a portable le card structure which can be completely closed so that the contents will not be injured by dust or other means, and which, at the same time, can be quickly and conveniently opened and set up for use. The several parts are so interconnected that they provide a unitary structure and there are no disconnected parts to become misplaced and consequently the structure is such that it is of particular convenience for use by traveling men who might have to quickly refer to records in motor vehicles or at customer stops.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A card file comprising a box-like receptacle, a guideway in opposite side walls of said receptacle, a closure having a portion extending into said receptacle and having oppositely disposed guide members slidably tting the guideway of said receptacle walls, said guideway and guides permitting limited movement of said closure relative to said receptacle, and le card holding means associated with said closure for movement therewith.

2. The structure in claim 1 and said guideway extending vertically with respect to said receptacle side walls adjacent the ends of said side walls and thence horizontally inwardly from ends of said side walls adjacent the bottom of said receptacle.

3. A card le comprising a box-like receptacle, a closure member connected to said receptacle for -limited movement with respect thereto, a portion of said closure being adapted to extend into said receptacle in one position thereof, and card file holding means in said receptacle and connected to that portion of said closure extending into said receptacle, said holding means including an angular element adapted to support the edges of file cards in one position of the holder and closure and adapted to support the faces of file cards in another position of said holder and closure.

4. A card file comprising a box-like receptacle, a closure member connected to said receptacle for limited movement with respect thereto, a portion of said closure being adapted to extend into said receptacle in one position thereof, card file holding means in said receptacle and pivotally secured to said portion of said closure adapted to extend into said receptacle, said card le holding means comprising an angular element adapted to support the edges of file cards in one position of the holder and closure and adapted to support the faces of file ycards in another position of the holder and closure, and a tongue 'element extending outwardly from said angular element adjacent its point of pivotal connection with said closure.

' JOSEPH M. HURLEY.

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