US219062A - Improvement in bill-files - Google Patents

Description

J. BELL. Bill-11116.

No. 219,062. Patented sept. 2, 1879.

Fuero-mummy UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

JAMES BELL, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

r IMPROVEMENT IN BILL-FILES.

Speeication forming part of Letters Patent No. 219,062, dated September 2, 1879; application filed January 31, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES BELL, of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain Improvements in Bill or Document Files or Holders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference bein g had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved file or holder in an open position ready for the reception of bills, deeds, and other papers to be filed therein. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the file or holder when closed down upon its contents to retain them compactly therein. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the center of the same, the

Vcontents being removed. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on the line .r :v of Fig. 3.

To provide a file or receptacle in which bills, deeds, certificates, maps, or various other documents may be conveniently and compactly kept, and in which ready access may be had to any individual paper without disturbing or removing the entire contents, is the object of my present invention, which consists in a pair of leaves or covers united by two pairs of crossbars pivoted together at or near their centers, two ends of the cross-bars on each side being rigidly secured to the two covers, and the other ends of the bars being free to slide in slots therein oron guides thereon, by which construction the le may be instantly opened or closed by simply drawing apart or pressing together the covers, which will then remain in any desired position after adjustment, the cross-bars also serving as sides to thele or receptacle, by which its contents are prevented from moving laterally out of place, and my invention also consists in so closing one end of the lile as to afford a suitableplace for attaching thereto a label or memorandum indicating its contents, the above-described le being inexpensive, of simple construct-ion,convenient to use, light, and durable.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings, A A represent the two leaves or covers of the file, each cover being being rigidly secured to the ends of a rod or Wire, '11, extending transversely through the space c at this end of the le, and held immovably in place therein, while the outer ends of each pair of cross-bars are secured to the ends of another rod or wire, k, which passes transversely through the space c in the le where the slot d is formed.

C is a strip or band of non-elastic material, which passes into the space within each cover, and has secured to each of its ends a short elastic strip or webbing, l, which has its outer end fastened around the rod 7c, which ypasses through the slotted end of the file, the middle portion of the band G serving to close one of its ends, and affording a convenient place to attach a label or memorandum, m, indicating the contents of the `file, as represented by the words and figures Alachua l to 100).

It will be seen from the foregoing construction that the rods Ic at the outer ends of the iile are free to move in the slots, d, formed therein, and when the le is opened, by drawing the covers apart the desired distance, it is retained permanently in this position by the resiliency of the elastic band, which thus produces the friction necessary for this purpose, the slack of the band O being also taken up by the elasticity of the connection as soon as the le commences to be closed.

If desired, the covers may be made of sheet metal, and their inner ends turned over to form the back of the lile, on which to attach a label or memorandum describing the contents.

It is evident that my improved file is simple, compact, light, durable, and convenient to handle, and of a form which particularly adapts it to the ordinary rectangular pigeonholes or recesses found in the various departments of Government oflices.

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l. The covers A A, united by twopairs of cross-bars, B B, pivoted together,l andhaving their outer ends connected by rods or Wires 7c, sliding freely in slots d,and their inner ends connected by rods'z', rigidly secured' to the covers,or vice versa, when constructed to operate substantiallyin the manner and for I.the purjfpose set forth.

f 2. The combination of the elastic connectingband G Z, the covers A A, and two pairs of pivoted eross-bars, B B, connected therewith and operating in respect thereto as described, substantially as and for the purpose speoied.

Witness my Vhandthis 31st day of January,

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