US2877773A - Posting tray for loose leaf filing systems - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1959 F. R. SE WELL 2,877,773

POSTING TRAY FOR LOOSE LEAF FILING SYSTEMS Filed June22. 1956 V 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTO? Frederick Robert Sewell ATTORNE YJ March 17, 1959 F. R. SEWELL 2,877,773

POSTING TRAY FOR LOOSE LEAF FILING SYSTEMS Filed June 22, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 Frederick Robert Sewell ATTORNEYS March 17, 1959 F. R. SEWELL POSTING TRAY FOR LOOSE LEAF FILING SYSTEMS Filgd June 22. 1956 5. Sheets-Sheet 3 lNl/ENTOR Frederick Robert Sewell BY M ATTORNEY:

United States Patent POSTING TRAY FOR LOOSE LEAF FILING SYSTEMS Frederick Robert Sewell, Beckenham, England, assiguor gercy Jones (Twinlock) Limited, Beckenham, Eng- Application June 22, 1956, Serial No. 593,149

Claims priority, application Great Britain August 29, 1955 3 Claims. (Cl. 129-29) This invention relates to improvements in posting trays for loose leaf filing systems, of the kind in which a horizontal surface is provided upon which a number of loose sheets are supported on their edges, with side rails extending upwardly from such horizontal surface to maintain the lateral edges of the filed sheets in register, and with end plates extending upwardly from such horizontal surface, one of which is disposed adjacent to one end of such surface and is there secured in position, while the other end plate is movable along the length of the horizontal surface to any desired position of adjustment along such length, in which position it. can be locked against further movement, the surfaces of such end plates engaging against the surfaces of the end sheets posted in the tray to maintain the same closely packed together when the tray is not required for use, and to support'the sheets in suitable positions for reference, for entries thereon, or for removal or insertion of such sheets, when the tray is inuse.

The present invention provides an improved construction of such posting trays and more particularly an improved construction of the end plates above referred to so as to enable the same to be more conveniently and efficiently movable from the out-of-use to the in-use posi tions and vice versa.

According to the invention, the horizontal surface of a posting tray is provided with two end-plates, one of which is mounted at a fixed point adjacent one end of the said surface, and the other is slidably mounted in a suitable guideway or guideways provided in such surface, both said end plates being pivoted at their lower horizontal edges to their mountings and both having latch means and support means whereby they may be retained in vertical position or released to lie against such support means in planes inclined outwardly from the space between the said plates, and wherein the mounting for the slidably movable end plate include manually releasable locking means inoperative to prevent movement of the said plate towards the fixed end plate, but operative to prevent movement of the slidable plate away from the fixed plate.

One constructional embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, it being understood however that the details of construction of such embodiment may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the said drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a posting tray equipped with end plates in accordance with the invention,

Figures 2 and 3 are sectional detail views showing the releasable locking means whereby the movement of the slidable end plate is controlled, and

Figures 4 and 5 are detail views of the latch means and supporting means whereby the two end plates are retained in the vertical position and released to be supported in the inclined position.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3, the tray illustrated 2,877,773 Patented Mar. 17, 9

comprises a horizontal posting surface 1 adapted to support a number of sheets on their edges, side rail 3, preferably of the kind described in our co-pending application No. 593,150, filed June 22, 1956, and end plates 4 and 5.

The end plates 4 and 5 are pivoted along their lower edges at 6 and 7 respectively, and are each provided with a pivoted latch plate 8 having an abutment extension 9, a hooked end 10 and an inwardly extending lip 11 on the latch plate, and an inclined support 12 provided with a projection 13 for engagement with the hooked end of the latch plate and an edge 14 for engagement with the lip 11.

As shown in Figure 5, in the position of the end plate 5 when the posting tray is not required for use, its lip 11 is in engagement with the edge 14 of the support 12, thus preventing outwards pivotal movement of the end plate. As will be appreciated, in use, the weight of the sheets supported on their edges between the two end plates will normally tend to urge the end plates outwardly, such outwards movement being however prevented as just described.

When the movable end plate has been moved away from the pack of posted sheets, and it is desired to release the end plates so as to allow them to pivot outwardly to present inclined surfaces upon which the sheets may rest during reference thereto, withdrawal therefrom or insertion thereinto of selected sheets, the latch plates 8 are manually swung about their pivots 15 against the effort of springs 16 thus lifting the lips 11 above the edges 14 of the supports 12 and at the same time swinging the hooked ends 10 of the plates out of engagement with the pins 13, the end plates then pivoting on their pivots until each lies against the fiat inclined surface 17 of its support 12, as shown in Figure 4.

The end plates are readily returned from the position shown in Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 5 by inwards manual pressure thereon, e. g. on handles 18 provided adjacent the upper free edges of the end plates, the lips-11 riding over the ends of the pins 13 and the edges 14 until the said lips are engaged behind the said edges by means of the springs 16.

It will thus be seen that the improved construction of the end plates and their latching means and supports enables rapid and easy movement thereof from and to either of their alternative positions, the handles 18 further serving as a convenient means whereby the posting tray as a whole can be lifted and transported.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the movable end plate 5 and its pivot 7 are secured to a carriage 20 provided with four rollers 21, such carriage 20 travelling in a recessed guideway 22 provided centrally of the sheetsupporting surface 1, the rollers 21 moving in trackways on either side of such guideway, as shown in Figure 3, the carriage being further guided by a rod 23 extending over the entire length of the guideway 22 and secured at its ends to the tray, the said rod also extending through the carriage.

The support 12 for the end plate 5 is secured to a carriage 20 and has an inwardly extending pin 24 secured thereto with an enlarged head 25 at its inner end. A bar 26 has an aperture therein through which passes the said pin 24, such bar having a second lower aperture through which passes the guide rod 23. A helical spring 27 is coiled round the guide rod 23 between the end of the bar 26 and the end wall of the carriage 20, so as to urge the end of such bar in a direction towards the end plate 5. The aperture in the bar 26 through which the guide rod 23 passes is of slightly greater diameter than that of the guide rod, so that the bar 26 is normally inclined in the position shown in full lines in Figure 2, i. e. in an outwards direction. As will be appreciated, when pressure is applied to the support 12 in a direction tending to move the support in the outwards direction, i. e. away from the other end plate 4, the edge of the aperture in the bar 26 binds on the periphery of the rod 23 and positively locks the support and the end plate against such outwards movement. To enable the bar to be returned from its inclined locking position, to which it is urged by the spring 27, release means are provided consisting of two studs 28, having inwardly tapering enlarged conical ends 29, are mounted on a pin 30 and held in spaced apart relationship by a helical spring, as shown in Figure 3. The said studs 28 are mounted in recesses in the sides of the support 12, and are so located within the said support that inwards movement of one or both of such studs by the finger or by the finger and thumb of the user causes the conical ends 29 to engage the inclined bar 26 and to move such bar against the effort of the spring 27 to a vertical position, thus freeing the support and the end plate 5 for unrestricted travel along the guide rod 23 towards the other end plate 4. Release of the studs 28 allows the same to separate under the effort of the spring coiled round the pin 30, and the spring 27 then returns the bar 26 to its inclined position, thus again locking the support 12 against outwards movement, but permitting free inwards movement of the support, since the abutment of the edge of the aperture in the bar on the periphery of the guide rod 23 automatically tends to move the bar from its inclined and locked position to its vertical, unlocked position.

I claim:

1. A posting tray for loose leaf filing systems comprising a horizontal sheet supporting grooved rectangular tray portion, a guide rod disposed in said groove and fixed to said tray, a support, apertures in said support adapted to receive said guide rod whereby said support is slidable on said guide rod, an upwardly extending end plate on said support, a locking device including a vertically disposed bar rockably mounted on the movable support, an aperture in said bar adapted to receive the guide rod passing theretbrough, said aperture being of a diameter which is greater than that of the guide rod and spring means urging the bar to a position inclined with respect to the guide rod to present a locking edge surface to the periphery of the guide rod preventing movement thereof in one direction, said support having opposed side walls, a pin extending between said side walls and a stud slidably received on each end of said pin and projecting through said side walls, a conical inner end on each of said studs in straddling relationship to said bar and inwardly movable with said studs to earn said bar in opposition to said spring means to move said bar to a substantially vertical position and thereby release said support for movement in either direction along said guide rod.

2. A posting tray for loose leaf filing systems comprising a horizontal sheet supporting grooved rectangular tray portion, a guide rod disposed in said groove and fixed to said tray, a support, apertures in said support adapted to receive said guide rod whereby said support is slidable on said guide rod, an upwardly extending end plate on said support, a locking device including a vertically disposed bar having an aperture in the lower end thereof receiving the guide rod therethrough, said aperture being of a diameter which is greater than that of the guide rod, a horizontal pin fixed to said support and said bar having an aperture in an intermediate portion thereof loosely receiving said pin, said pin terminating in an enlarged head forming a stop for said bar, spring means urging said bar to a position inclined with respect to the guide rod to present a locking edge surface to the periphery of the guide rod preventing movement thereof in one direction, said support having opposed side walls, a pin extending between said side walls and a stud slidably received on each end of said pin and projecting through said side walls, a conical inner end on each of said studs in straddling relationship to said bar and inwardly movable with said studs to cam said bar in opposition to said spring means to move said bar to a substantially vertical position and thereby release said support for movement in either direction along said guide rod.

3. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein a spring is received on said pin normally urging said conical ends apart to permit said bar to effect a locking action on said guide rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 487,006 Ohmer et al. 1. Nov. 29, 1892 865,706 Hutchins et a1. Sept. 10, 1907 1,051,108 Hemstreet Jan. 21, 1913 1,424,080 Carpenter July 25, 1922 1,755,764 Benedict et a1 Apr. 22, 1930 1,881,477 Gideon Oct. 11, 1932 2,556,633 Power et al June 12, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 296,016 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1954

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