US1552519A - Compression guide - Google Patents

Description

1,552,519 C. B. ULRICH COMPRESSION GUIDE Sept. s, 1925.

Filed Dec. 1, 1920 flvmwrae CHA mes B. ULRICH Arm/awry Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

CHARLES E. union, or JAMEsTownnEwYoeK.

oolvrrruzssron GUIDE.

Application filed December 1, 1920.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLns B. ULRICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Compression Guides, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved form of compression guide for use in filing cab inets of different types by which the guides used in the filing drawer or. tray automatically extend to occupy all of the drawer or tray not occupied by the contents filed, thus maintaining the filed subject matter in vertical position without the use of follower blocks.

My present invention is an improvement on that shown on Patent No. 1,121,151 issued to me on an improvement in files on December 15, 1914, the improvement consisting in hinging the two walls of each guide together below the upper edge of the guide, thus leaving the upper portion of the guide in a single plane, thereby greatly facilitating inserting the matter to be filed in the proper place and also greatly facilitating indexing the guides in any desired manner.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof in which i Fig. 1 shows my improved compression guide in perspective view,

Fig. 2 shows in end view a modified form of the guide shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows in perspective view the upper portion of a guide similar to that shown in Fig. 1 provided with a modified form of indexing device, and

Fig. 4 shows in end View to a reduced scale a series of guides ofthe kind shown in Figs. 1 and 3 provided with devices for retaining the guides in place whereno retaining rod is employed.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Fig. 1, my improved compression guide consists of a first sheet 10 of suitable material such as press board, metal or the like towhich a second sheet 11 of similar material is secured by flexible strips 12 connecting the upper edge of the sheet 11 to the back surface of the sheet 10 below the upper edge of the sheet 10 so that the upper Serial No. 427,508.

upright in the drawer or filing tray, in a single plane without any parts projecting from said plane of the upper portion. The strips 12 are preferably of flexible material such as cloth or other'hinge material so that the sheet 11 may move freely towards or away from the sheet 10 as required by the use of the guide in the filing case. Expan- 'sion springs 13 are located between their ploy springs of a construction permitting them to be collapsed into a minimum thickness to facilitate giving the filing case a maximum filing capacity. To accomplish this'the springs may be made of spring wire and of helico-spiral conformation. 3The springs are preferably distributed over the inner surfacesof the sheets '10 and 11 so as toex'ert their extending effect on substantially the entire sheet 11 and the corresponding portion of the sheet 10. The springs are so made that when they are extended, the guides, in their extended condition, will occupy the entire length ofv the filing casing when the latter has no matter filed therein. The lower edges of the sheets 10 and 11. may be provided with tabs 15 and 16 respectively containing holes 17 and 18 to engage a retaining rod where such a device is used to hold the guidesin the filing casing.

As a result of the construction described, index tabs may be formed on the upper edge of the sheet 10 or carried thereby as indicated at 19, these tabs being of any convenient size and located to meet the needs of any particular filing condition. The tabs are thus given prominence by projecting above the sheet 10 and since the sheets are maintained at all times in separate relation either by theexpansion of the guides or by the material filed between them, or both, the indexing devices are always in plain View and any particular guide can readil be selected, when desired subject matter 0 any classification is to be taken from between the guides or when additional subject matter of said classification is to be filed between the portion 10 of the sheet 10 is free and stands Ill? guides. Furthermore as the upper portions of the sheets 10 are in parallel relat on in the filing casing at all times and separate from each other as described, matter to be filed may readily be inserted at the proper place between the guides, the fiat, upper portions of the .guides offering no hindrance to inserting the matter to be filed between them.

The construction shown in Fig. 2 is sim1- lar to that described, the only difference being that the sheets 10 and 11 are formed from the same sheet of material, folded at 20 and secured together in any desired manner at a distance below the folded edge as for example by rivets 21, by suitable adhesive or otherwise thus leaving the upper portion of the guide in a single plane for the purposes and with the advantages above described. In any event the sheets 11 and 11 are preferably of flexible material to permit the guide to adapt itself readily-to the conformation of the matter filed adjacent to it and with the construction shown in Fig. 2, the flexibility of the sheet 11 perlar in effect to that shown in Fig. 1. In this construction the upper edge of the sheet 10 is shown as protected by a strip of suitable material such as fabric 22, folded over its upper edge and securedthereto by'suitable means such asfadhesive', and the sheet 11 is extended above thehinge connection and se cured to the sheet 10 in any convenient manner, for example by adhesive. The indexing tab-in this modification is in the form of a metal card-carrier 23 secured in desired position to the upper edge of the sheet 10 by suitable fastening devices, for example rivets 24, the card-carriers being secured to various guides in different positions and projecting from the upper edges thereof to secure the same. advantages described for the indexing tabs l9'referred to above.

In Fig. 4 a plurality of guides is shown, each being of similar construction to that described in connection with Fig. lrwith the tabs 15 and 16 omitted, each hinge connection comprisinga single hinge strip 12. In this construction the lower edge of, the sheet 11 of a first guide is connected with the lower edge of the sheet 10 of a second guide by a strip of flexiblevmaterial 25 by suitable fastening devices or by adhesive to 'forma pockettoengage the lower edges of the sheets filed between two adjacent guides where no retaining rod is used in the filing casingand with this construction the matter filed,'by' engaging the strips or pockets 25, serves to retain the guides in position in the filing casing.

While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment above described, it

I wider part.

5. A compression guide comprising two willbe understood that I do not limit myself to this exact construct=ion as I may employ equivalents known to the art at the time of the filing of this application without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

lVha-t I claim is:

1. A compression guide comprising two.

parts of thin sheet material of different widths, the narrower part projecting from the upper portion of the wider part in hinge-d relation below the upper edge of the wider part, whereby the upper portion of the wider part remains flat when the guide is extended, and a spring construction tending to separate them from each other, 2. A compression guide comprising two parts of thin sheet material of different widths, the narrower part) proj ecting from the upper portion of the wider part in hinged relation below the upper'edge of the wider part, whereby the upper portion of the wider part remains flat when the guide is extended, and a spring construction tending to separate them from each other, and an indexing device carried by the upper edge of the wider part. I i 3. A compression guide comprisingtwo parts of thin sheet material of different widths, the narrower part projecting from the wider part in hinged relation below the upper edge of'the wider part, whereby the upper portion of the wider part remains fiat when the guide is extended, and expana sion springs between said parts tending to separatethem from each other.

' 4. A compression guide comprising two parts of thin sheet material of' different widths, the narrower part projecting from the wider part in hinged relation-below the upper edge ofthe wider part, whereby the upper portion of the wider part remains flat when the guide is extended, expansion springs between said parts tending to'separate them fro meach other, and an indexing device carried by the upper edge of the parts of thin sheet material of different widths, the narrower .part projecting from the wider part in hinged relation below the upper edge of the wider part, whereby the upper portion ofthe wider part remains flat when the guide. is extended, andhelical springs secured to said parts and between them tending to separate them from each other. i 6. A compression guide comprising two parts of thin sheet material of different widths, the narrower part-projecting from the wider part in hinged relation below the upper edge of the wider part, whereby the 7 upper portion of the wider part remains flat W en he guide is exte ded, and helical springs secured to said parts. and between springs having their ends secured to said,

parts and between them tending to separate said parts from each other.

8. A compression guide comprising two parts of thin sheet material of different widths, the narrower part projecting from the wider part in hinged relation below the upper edge of the wider part, whereby the upper portion of the wider part remains fiat when the guide is extended, and helicospiral springs having their ends secured to said parts and between them tending to separate said parts from each other, and an indexing device carried by the upper edge of the wider part.

9. A compression guide comprising two sheets of thin material of different widths, and devices connecting the upper edge of one sheet with the other sheet below its upper edge to permit movement of said sheets towards or away from each other below said connecting devices, and spring mechanism tending to separate said sheets from each other.

10. A compression guide comprising two sheets of thin material of different widths, and devices connecting the upper edge of one sheet with the other sheet below its upper edge to permit movement of said sheets towards or away from each other below said. connecting devices, spring mechanism tending to separate said sheets from each other, and an indexing device carried by the wider sheet.

11. A compression guide comprising two sheets of thin material of different widths, and devices connecting the upper edge of one sheet with the other sheet below its upper edge to permit movement of said sieets towards or away from each other below said connecting devices, and expansion springs between and secured to said sheets tending to separate them.

12. A compression guide comprising two sheets of thin material of different widths, and devices connecting the upper edge of one sheet with the other sheet below its upper edge to permit movement of said sheets towards or away from each other below said connecting devices, and spiral springs secured to said sheets and between them tending to separate them.

13. A compression guide comprising two parts of thin sheet material of different widths, the narrower part projecting from the upper portion of the wider pa t in hinged relation below the upper edge of the wider part, whereby the upper portion of the wider part remains flat when the guide is extended, and a construction tend-- ing to separate them from each other, and tongues extending from the lower edges of said parts for engaging a retaining rod.

14. A compression guide comprising two parts of thin sheet material of different Widths, the narrower part projecting from the wider part in hinged relation below the upper edge of the wider part, whereby the upper portion of the wider part remains fiat when the guide is extended, and a spring construction tending to separate them from each other, reinforcing means carried by the upper edge of said guide, and an indexing device carired by said upper edge;

15. A compression guide comprising two sheets of-t-hin material'of different widths, and devices connecting the upper edge of one sheet with the other sheet below'its upper edge to permit movement of said sheets towards or away from each other below said connecting devices, and spring mechanism tending to separate said sheets from each other, reinforcing means carried by the upper edge of said guide, and an indexing device carried by said upperedge.

16. A compression guide'comprising two sheets of thin material of different widths, hinge strips of fabric secured to the upper edge of the narrower sheet and to the wider sheet below its upper edge, and springs between said sheets to expand them.

17. A compression guide comprising two sheets of thin material of different widths, hinge strips of fabric secured to the upper edge of the narrower sheet and to the wider sheet below its upper edge, and spiral springs between said sheets and secured to them to expand the same. v

18. A compression guide comprising two sheets of thin material of different widths, hinge strips of fabric secured to the upper edge of the narrower sheet and to the wider sheet below its upper edge, springs between said sheets to expand them, and an indexing device carried by the wider sheet.

19. A compression guide comprising two sheets of thin material of different widths, a hinge strip of fabric secured to the upper portion of the narrower sheet and to the wider sheet below its upper edge, springs between said sheets to expand them, reinforcing means carried by the upper edge of said guide, and an indexing device carried by said upper edge.

20. A guide comprising two walls of sheet material having their upper portions connected together in hinged relation below the upper edge of the guide, and a spring construction between their outer surfaces tending to hold the lower portions of said walls apart, whereby the portion of the guide above said hinge connection remains flat for all conditions of separation of the lower portions of said walls.

21. A guide comprising two walls of sheet material having their upper portions conneoted together in hinged relation below the upper edge of the guide, and springs carried by said walls between their outer surfaces tending to hold the lower portions of said walls apart, whereby the portion of the guide above said hinge connection remains flat for all conditions of separation of the lower portions of said walls.

22. A guide comprising two walls of sheet material having their upper portions connected together in hinged relation below the upper edge of the guide, and helico-spiral springs carried by said walls between their outer surfaces tending to hold the lower portions of said walls apart, whereby the portion of the guide above said hinge connection remains flat for all conditions of separation of the lower portions of said walls.

guide between its upper edge and said hinge connection, in flat condition at all times.

24, A guide comprising two thin members movable towards and from each other having spring means tending to hold said mem bers in separated relation, a hinge connection between said members extending laterally across the guide below the upper edge thereof, maintaining the portion of the guide between its upperedge and said hinge connection, in fiatcondition at allctimes, and an indexing device carried bysaid guide.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name his 1 th day N v mbe A. D 1920.

CHARLES ULRICH.

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