US3844415A - Support device for files - Google Patents

Abstract

Support device for files comprising one or a pair of support members adapted to support files in a vertical position and having engagement means for slidably engaging the support member in any of a plurality of positions.

Description

Umted States Patent 1191 1111 3,844,415 Heimann [4 Oct. 29, 1974 SUPPORT DEVICE FOR FILES 1,739,545 12/1929 Cubberley 211/51 x l 1,750,576 3 1930 C bb l 211 43 X [76] Invent: Falkenberg 56 1,780,872 11/1930 Diimlfe n i r 2 11/43 PP -L Germany 1,832,884 11/1931 Ulrich 211/43 2,689,571 9/1954 Watkins 211/11 X [22] Filed 1972 2,872,046 2/1959 Polay 211/42 [21] Appl. No.; 304,980 3,235,092 2/1966 Schwarz... 211/43 3,425,565 2/1969 Sprenger.. 21 1/43 3,487,945 11/1970 Barham 211/43 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 9, 1971 Germany 2155505 P im ry Examiner-Roy D, Frazier Assistant Examiner-Thomas J. l-llolko [52] US. Cl 211/43, 211/51, 211/184 [51] Int. Cl A47b 63/00 [58] Field of Search 211/11, 42, 43, 52, 51, [57] ABSTRAC? 21 1 4; 108/61 Support device for files compr|s1ng one or a pair of support members adapted to support files in a vertical [56] References Cited position and having engagement means for slidably en- UNITED STATES PATENTS gaging the support member in any of a plurality of po- 504,233 8/1893 McVey et a1. 211/43 Smonsi 1,682,060 8/1928 Banks 211/43 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SUPPORT DEVICE son was SUMMARY The present invention relates to a support device for files, folders, card filing systems, catalogues, loose sheets, newspapers, journals or the like all hereinafter referred to as files.

It is known to support books between sheet angle iron supports known as book ends to prevent the books from falling out. The base of the supports are often provided with a smooth surface or a covering, for example of felt, to prevent the supports scratching the support ing surface on which they are resting. However, the supports slip on the base if there is a lateral pressure on them from a stack of books being supported between them.

A solution to this problem is to provide slip-proof coverings on the base of the supports but this is only effective when there is a deliberate outward movement of the supports e.g., to insert further books between them.

The disadvantages are particularly evident if the material to be inserted are unstable files, brochures or other sheets or when the files are often consulted so that it is necessary for the device to provide easy lateral displaceability of the supports together with maximum support. When a file is to be inserted it is necessary for their to be some play between the two supports acting on the two sides of the already inserted files whereas any play between the supports after they have been closed to support the files is damaging because of the tendency for other files to curl up or fall out.

A'further disadvantage of the known support means is that the supports have a minimum approach distance determined by the length of the base of the two supports. Shortened bases reduces this minimum approach distance but simultaneously it reduces the stability of the supports.

It has therefore been proposed to provide supports with securing catches adapted to engage slots provided in the support surface supporting the supports and must stand perpendicular only a small amount of play is provided between the securing catches and the slots. However, it is difiicult to replace the supports if the stack of files contained between them exerts a large pressure. Furthermore the adjustment of the supports can only be effected at predetermined positions spaced at relatively large distances from each other and this is disadvantageous especially when thin files are to be stored. Furthermore a slotted support surface is necessary.

There is a need for a simple device which provides reliable lateral support of a file without free play and at the same time can be easily laterally displaced to any position in a range or at least to any of a large number of predetermined positions.

The invention includes a support device for files including at least one support member adapted to support one side of a file and engagement means for slidably engaging this support member in any of a plurality of positions.

The invention also includes a support device for files including a support member adapted to support files in a vertical position between it and another support member or other support, this first said support member being movable and having a surface adapted to engage another surface to stop motion of the said support member.

file material but also simple and easy adjustability of the supports.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the support device designed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view towards the support device with documentary material or files placed therein, pressure being exerted from the outside on to the upper part of the support panels;

FIG. 3 is a view as in FIG. 2, but in this case an outwardly-directed pressure is being exerted on the support panels;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a further form of embodiment of the subject of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a section along line Ill-Ill in FIG. 4.

The support device comprises the twoparts 1 & 2.Part 1 is formed by aperpendicular support panel 3 and ahorizontal base panel 5 andpart 2 is formed by aperpendicular support panel 4 and a horizontal basepanel Base panel 5 is in the form of twotongues 7 & 8 andbase panel 6 is in the form of asingle tongue 9 which interleaves with thetongues 7 & 8. The contact faces of the twotongues 8 are 10 and the cooperating contact faces of thetongue 9 are 11.

The underface of the tongues is smooth so that the base panels'S & 6 glide easily over thesupport surface 19.

Thepanels 3 & 4 can be displaced to change the width x and can be moved towards each other until they meet. In this way a large amount of documentary material in a number offiling folders 12 can be held adjacent each other without the documentary material rolling together.

In theory the largest effective width x is achieved when thepanels 3 & 4 have been moved away from each other to the position where thetongues 7 & 8 are still just in contact with thetongue 11. It is however possible practice to extend the effective width it further although the reciprocal guiding action oftongue 9 with thetongues 7 & 8 is lost.

It is advantageous in this case the chamfer the upper corner of the front edges of l3, l4 & 15 of the threetongues 7, 8 and 9 so that when theparts 1 and 2 are pushed together again any files positioned between thetongues 7 & 8 and thetongue 9 can be easily lifted on to the tongues without damage.

Slip barriers l6, l7 & 18 having an extremely slipproof coating, e.g., self-adhesive Tesaband 563, are located under the tongues to stop the tongues from slipping alongsurface 19 when files are being held between thepanels 3 & 4. The slip barriers l6 & 17 are arranged at a distance y from the outside edge of thesupport panel 3 and similarly theslip barrier 18 is arranged at a distance y from thesupport panel 4. Thus, when theparts 1 & 2 are pushed inwards (FIG. 2) and the barriers l6, l7 & 18 thereby lifted out of contact with thesurface 19, theparts 1 & 2 can be moved as a result of their smooth surface. As soon as the top parts of l & 2 are no longer pushed inwards or outwards, theparts 1 & 2, their original position & theslip barrier 16, 17 & 18 contact thesurface 19 thus preventing theparts 1 and 2 being forced outwards as the result of the pres sure emanating from the stack of files l2.

The forward parts of thetongues 7, 8, & 9 are resiliently flexible andrear part 1 of thetongues 7, 8 & 9 are rigid.Panels 3 & 4 are maintained rigid e.g. by means of reinforcement ribs and 21.

Theslip barriers 16, 17 & 18 are also raised in a similar manner if a pressure is exerted from the inside outwards on to the upper half of thesupport panels 3 and 4. in thiscase parts 1 & 2 are pushed from within (see FIG. 3) and raise the slip barriers l6, l7, 18 from thesupport surface 19 with the result that theparts 1 and 2 slide outwards. lf the coating of the slip barriers l6, l7 & 18 is quite thick it is advantageous to provideslid ing edges 22 on the outside edges of thepanels 3 & 4. it is possible in this way to raise theslip barriers 16, 17, 18 from thesupport surface 19 by pivoting thepanels 3 & 4 about these slidingedges 22 without any difficult rotation of thesupport panels 3 and 4.

in order to facilitate movement of thesupport panels 3 & 4,handles 23 and 24 are provided. Thesehandles 23 & 24 can also serve to indicate thefiles 12 which have been inserted into the device if they are provided with classification cards.

Cuts 25, 26 are provided insupport panels 3 and 4 for the passage of thetongues 7, 8 and 9 which enablespanels 3 & 4 to be pushed completely together. It is further advantageous to extend thesecuts 25, 26 upwards sufficiently to allowtongues 7, 8 & 9 some upward play. In this waythe tipping motion of either of thesupport panels 3 & 4 which raises the slip barriers l6, l7 and 18 fromsurface 19 is prevented from being transmitted to theother support panel 4 & 3.

In another embodiment shown in figure 4 the support parts have been drawn apart to their maximum effective width x. Sunktoothed tracks 27, 28, 29 are arranged on a stationary support surface with a view to guiding theparts 1 & 2. The slip barriers comprise rockingteeth 30, 31, 32 which lock into thetoothed tracks 27, 28 & 29 respectively. The removal of theteeth 30, 31, 32 from thetooth tracks 27, 28, 29 is achieved by an inwardly directed lateral tipping motion on thepanels 3 & 4.

The inclined faces 27'29' of the teeth of the tracks are directed inwardly in the opposite directions so thatparts 1 & 2 will not be spaced out by lateral pressure from thefiles 12.

The length of thetongues 7, 8 & 9 is approximately the same as the height of thesupport panels 3 & 4 to obtain the best value for both the effective width x and stability. 7

Aguide 33 is provided on the outer side edge of onetongue 7 for guiding thesupport part 1 along the front edge of the stationary support surface. Thisguide 33 can also be used to record the files filed in the device. Astop 34 is provided on the outer side edge of theother tongue 8 to stop files inserted into the device from falling out the back. Theguide 33 andstop 34 are connected totongues 7 or 8 only in the zone Z in order that the forward end of the tongues can remain resilient or at least flexible.

In this embodiment the device can only be widened to the distance x. Themiddle tongue 9 of thesupport 2 is bent upwards to form alip 35 which can engage thesupport panel 3 to prevent excessive spacing outwards i.e., an extraction or inwards of thesupports 1 & 2. The support device can be portable or stationary. In the latter case thetoothed tracks 27, 28, 29 are provided in a stationary support surface. This device is particularly suitable for light and very flexible documentary material such as e.g. newspaper sheets which have been folded together many times.

My device can be varied by moving thesupports 1 & 2 for the necessary effective width of the file material to be inserted by using the handles. As a result of the cog-like intermeshing of the tongues the supports can be made to contact each other so as to support very thin file material.

The inclined faces of the teeth of the toothed tracks could be directed outwardly, and the teeth of the tongues correspondingly shaped to fit these tracks & then the removal of the teeth from the tooth tracks would be achieved by outwardly directed lateral tipping motion on thepanels 38L 4.

One of theparts 1 & 2 could be permanently fixed. Thesurface 19 could be flexible instead of thetongues 7, 8 & 9. The slidingedge 22 could be located on the other side of the slip barrier & thepanels 38t 4 tilted inwardly. The sliding edge could be fixed to thesupport surface 19. Instead of each tongue having only one tooth it could have a line of teeth & the toothed tracks replaced by a single recess adapted to receive any of these teeth. Instead ofteeth 30, 31 & 32 these could be a recess & instead of the toothed track there could be a recess & instead of the toothed track there could be a line of projections.

Theteeth 30, 31 & 32 could be on the support surface & the toothed tracks could be on theparts 1 & 2. One of theparts 1 and 2 could have a slip barrier whilst the other part has a tooth. The slip barrier could be secured to the support face & not the base of theparts 1 & 2.

Theguide 33 could be a rim on thesupport surface 19. Thestop 34 could be on thesupport surface 19.

What I claim is:

1. A support device for record files and the like objects, disposed on a horizontal support surface, said device comprising at least a support panel adapted to support files in a vertical position having a vertical support wall and a base panel extending from the lower edge of said support wall and adapted to underlie said files, a substantial portion of the underface of said base panel being smooth to glide easily over said horizontal support surface; a pivotting member disposed below the vertical support wall adjacent the lower edge thereof and adapted to engage said horizontal support surface, a slip barrier connected to said underface of the base panel and being engageable with said horizontal surface, said slip barrier being spaced'from the lower edge of said support wall by a predetermined distance so that by a lateral pressure exerted from the inside outwards to the upper part of the support panel said slip barrier would be raised from and thus disengaged from said horizontal supporting surface, when said pivotting member engages said horizontal supporting surface, said slip barrier also being spaced from the (outer) edge of said base panel opposite said lower edge by a predetermined distance so that by a lateral pressure exerted from outside inward to the upper part of the supporting panel said slip barrier would be raised from and thus disengaged from said horizontal supporting surface.

2. A support device as defined inclaim 1 additionally including a first support panel being associated with a second support panel and wherein the base panel of said first support panel is in the form of two spaced tongues and the base panel of said second support panel is in the form of a single central tongue which interleaves with said two spaced tongues of the first support panel and wherein both said support walls have at least one enlarged recess extending upwards into each said vertical support wall said recess being sufficient to allow the passage of said tongues as well as to allow said tongues an upward play so that said pressure exerted inside outwards is prevented from being transmitted to the support wall.

3. A support device as defined inclaim 2, wherein said tongues of said base panels are at their outer portions (at a predetermined extend) resilient, whereas the portion of said tongues adjacent the lower edges of the support walls are rigid.

4. A support device as defined inclaim 2, additionally including stop means directed upwards for stopping the files falling sideways out from the device, said stop means being connected to said spaced tongues.

5. A support device as defined inclaim 2, wherein at least one tongue of one of said base panels has an upward directed portion which is adapted to engage the other support panel to prevent separation from each other beyond a predetermined distance.

6. A support device as defined inclaim 1, wherein said slip barrier is a relatively thin strip of slip proof material.

Claims (6)

1. A support device for record files and the like objects, disposed on a horizontal support surface, said device comprising at least a support panel adapted to support files in a vertical position having a vertical support wall and a base panel extending from the lower edge of said support wall and adapted to underlie said files, a substantial portion of the underface of said base panel being smooth to glide easily over said horizontal support surface; a pivotting member disposed below the vertical support wall adjacent the lower edge thereof and adapted to engage said horizontal support surface, a slip barrier connected to said underface of the base panel and being engageable with said horizontal surface, said slip barrier being spaced from the lower edge of said support wall by a predetermined distance so that by a lateral pressure exerted from the inside outwards to the upper part of the support panel said slip barrier would be raised from and thus disengaged from said horizontal supporting surface, when said pivotting member engages said horizontal supporting surface, said slip barrier also being spaced from the (outer) edge of said base panel opposite said lower edge by a predetermined distance so that by a lateral pressure exerted from outside inward to the upper part of the supporting panel said slip barrier would be raised from and thus disengaged from said horizontal supporting surface.

2. A support device as defined in claim 1 additionally including a first support panel being associated with a second support panel and wherein the base panel of said first support panel is in the form of two spaced tongues and the base panel of said second support panel is in the form of a single central tongue which interleaves with said two spaced tongues of the first support panel and wherein both said support walls have at least one enlarged recess extending upwards into each said vertical support wall said recess being sufficient to allow the passage of said tongues as well as to allow said tongues an upward play so that said pressure exerted inside outwards is prevented from being transmitted to the support wall.

3. A support device as defined in claim 2, wherein said tongues of said base panels are at their outer portions (at a predetermined extend) resilient, whereas the portion of said tongues adjacent the lower edges of the support walls are rigid.

4. A support device as defined in claim 2, additionally including stop means directed upwards for stopping the files falling sideways out from the device, said stop means being connected to said spaced tongues.

5. A support device as defined in claim 2, wherein at least one tongue of one of said base panels has an upward directed portion which is adapted to engage the other support panel to prevent separation from each other beyond a predetermined distance.

6. A support device as defined in claim 1, wherein said slip barrier is a relatively thin strip of slip proof material.

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