US744276A - File-cabinet. - Google Patents

Description

No. 744,276. PTENTED NOV. 17, 1903.

l L-H. ATHEY.

PILE CABINET.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 5, 1902.

UNITED STATES Patented November 1'7, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC I-I. ATHEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO RAILWAY-COMMER- CIAL CABINET AND FILE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF ILLINOIS.

FILE-CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,276, dated November 1'7, 1903. Application filed August 5, 1902. Serial No. 118,43 7. (No model.)

4ing letters, documents, catalogues, tariffs,

and other business papers in order that ready access may be had thereto for reference or removal.

The object of my invention beyond providing means for a simple and effective filing system is the construction of a cabinet provided with removable compartments or receptacles of a character to afford accessv to the interior of each with the least eort and in the shortest possible time. l

Among the objections to the file-cabinets equipped with ordinary drawers or sliding receptacles now in general use is the loss of time caused by the frequent necessity for the entire removal of thedrawer or if but partially removed the necessity of handling the contents over a ixed front end.

In addition to economy of time and labor a further object of my invention is the-construction of a cabinet-frame' in which drawers or receptacles of different depths and capacities may be used interchangeably to facilitate and simplify both manufacture and USG.

In a general way my invention consists in a drawer or sliding receptacle corresponding in construction to a drawer of ordinary or usual pattern except in that the front or exposed side thereof comprises a separate member pivotally connected to the receptacle proper and free to drop out of the way when the handle is released after the drawer is partially withdrawn; and my invention further consists in simple means to retain the drop-front in place when the drawer is closed, permit of a free drop when the drawer is partially withdrawn, and necessitate the return of the front i to place by the act of closing; and my invention further consists in the construction of a cabinet-frame in which receptacles 'of dierent depths with certain restrictions may be used interchangeably; and my invention further consists in the various details of construction and in combinations of parts, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out inthe claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure lis a View in perspective of a drawer or receptacle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the front closed. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective, part broken away, of a cabinet, illustrating the manner in which drawers of different depths may be interchangeably used in the same frame.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have shown a file-cabinet drawer or receptacle open both front and top, the bottom 2 of which projects slightly beyond each side throughout a portion of its length to provide the slides 3 3, adapted to be insertedwithin grooves 4 4 in any suitable cabinet-frame. Pivotally attached to the exterior of each of the sides 5 of said drawer, preferably by means of the small plates 6 6 and the screws 7 and 8, are the similar triangular-shaped plates 9 9, which carry at their extremities, attached in any suitable manner, the front 10 of said drawer. These connectingr v means should be so adjusted that when the front 10 lis closed, as indicated in Fig. 2, the drawer should have the general appearance and character of the ordinary four-sided receptacle, said front being free,however,to drop through an arc of at least ninety degrees when the handle 1l, with which it is preferably provided, is released.

It will be noted that when the drop-front 10 is in place the lower edges of the plates 9 9 form substantially a continuation of the line formed by the lower edges of the sides. These lower edges of the plates 9 9 are outwardly bent at right angles to provide slides l2 12, forming when the front 10 is closed substantially a continuation of the slides 3 3. These slides l2 l2 follow the slides 3 3 into the grooves 4:, necessitating the closing of the front 10 when the drawer is returned to place and when within said grooves supporting the front 10.

The screws 7 through the plates 6 6 also pass through the extremities of the plates 9 9 and form the bearings on which said plates rotate. The plates 6 6 are preferably somewhat elongated in order that they may form suitable stops against which the extremities of the slides 12 l2 strike at the end of a quadrant of rotation. Each plate 6 may be provided With the recess 13 to more positively engage the ends of said slides and prevent the bending or twisting of the thin metal. 'Ihe additional screw 8 serves to more rigidly hold said plate in place.

I prefer that the upper front corners 14 14 of the receptacle proper shall be cutaway to avoid sharp edges and facilitate access to the contents. I have also shown the front edge of the bottom 2 provided with a recess l5 for a similar purpose.

It is apparent that by providing a suitable cabinet-frame the interior height of which is, for example, twelve inches or some multiple thereof and providing grooves located one inch apart drawers of two, three, four, and six inches in depth may be to a certain extent interchangeably used, it being only necessary that the total height of the tier of drawers be twelve inches or the multiple thereof selected. Thus three two-inch and two three-inch drawers or one six-inch and three two-inch drawers could be used within the same frame or various combinations wherein the combined depth of the tier amounts to the fixed total. I am able to avail myself of this feature of interchangeability on account of the construction of my receptacles, which are provided with longitudinal projections slidable in grooves in the frame instead of requiring inwardly-projecting supports on the inner faces of said frame.

Many modifications of the minor details of my improved file-cabinet will doubtless readilysuggest themselves to those skilledin the art to which it appertains, and I therefore do not desire to limit my invention to the specic construction herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a file-cabinet, the combination, with a frame having side supports, of a drawer, a front for said drawer, and pivotally-movable drawer and front connections provided with lateral frame-engaging bearings,said connections being adapted to support said front upon the drawer when open and in the sides of the frame when closed.

2. In a file-cabinet, the combination, with a frame provided with suitable side supports, of a drawer, a drop-front for said drawer, and drawer connections provided with bearing-flanges at the ends of said front and adapted to support the latter horizontally upon the drawer and vertically in said side supports.

3. In a file-cabinet, the combination, with a frame provided with drawer-supporting grooves in its vertical sides, of a drawer, a movable frontfor said drawer, and means for supporting said front in said grooves.

4. In a file-cabinet, the combination, with a frame provided with grooves in its vertical sides, of a drawer, a movable front for said drawer, and anged drawer and front connecting members adapted to support said front in said grooves.

5. In a file-cabinet, the combination, with a frame provided with drawer-guide grooves, of a drawer having groove-engaging anges, and a drop-front for said drawer carried by plates paralleling and pivotally secured to the sides of said drawer, said plates being provided with anges substantially forming, when the drawer is closed, continuations of the drawer-supporting flanges.

6. In a tile-cabinet, the combination, with a frame provided with drawer-guide grooves, of a drawer the bottom of which projects beyond each side thereof throughout a portion of its length to form slide-supports for said drawer, and a drop-front for said drawer rotatively carried by plates paralleling and pivotally secured to said sides, said plates being provided with flanges which form, when the front is in place, substantially continuations of said slide-supports.

7. In a file-cabinet, the combination, with a suitable frame provided with drawer-guide grooves, of a drawer having longitudinallycoextensive sides and bottom and a front, said front being provided with groove-engaging flanges, adapted to support same in closed position.

8. In a lecabinet, the combination, with a frame having suitable drawer-guide grooves, of a drawer having longitudinally-coextensive sides and bottom, a fixed groove-engaging Hange projecting laterally from the bottom portion of said drawer and terminating short of its forward end, and a front for said drawer adapted to swing underneath the bottom thereof, said front being fixed upon pivoted, hanged plates adapted to support said front in its closed or normal position and to guide the same into place as the drawer is closed.

9. In a file-cabinet, the combination, with a frame provided with a plurality of equidistant, oppositely-located, horizontal grooves, of a plurality of drawers the bottom of each of which projects beyond each side thereof throughout a portion of4 its length to form slide-supports for said drawer slidable within any pair of oppositely-located grooves in said frame, the front or exposed end of each drawer being a separate member adapted to swing under the bottom of said drawer and connected to the body portion thereof by pivoted plates paralleling the sides of said drawer, the lower edges of said plates being outwardly bent to form substantially detached continuations of said slide-supports.

10. A file-cabinet drawer comprising a re- IOO IIO

ceptacle open top and front, the bottom of and adapted to support said front when the drawer is closed.

11. A tile-cabinet drawer comprising a receptacle open top and front and provided with slide-supports 3, the drop-front l0 adapted to swing under the bottom of the drawer and pivotally connected to the sides thereof by plates 9 having projections 12 which vform substantially continuations of said slide-supports when said front is' in place, and the plates 6 to engage the ends of the projections l2 and stop rotation.

In testimony of the foregoing I have heref unto set my hand, this 7th day of July, 1902, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

f ISAAC H. ATHEY. Witnesses:

A. G. STUBBS, F. P. BLACKMAN.

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