US1750576A - Desk distributor set - Google Patents

Description

March 11, 1930. w 1, CUBBERLEY 7 1,750,576

DESK DI STRIBUTOR SET Filed Sept. 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 11-, 1930. w. 1. CUBBERLEY DESK DISTRIBUTOR SET Filed Sept. 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 awwnto'a Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATE WARNER I. GUBBER-LEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA' 1 DESK DISTRIBUTOR SET Application filed September My present invention, in its broad aspect, has to do with improvements in so-called distributing sets for use on desks, tables, in shops, stores, and the like, whereby different 5 types of mail, such as iii-coming and outoing, bills, letter mail, and the like, or diferent folders, files and the like, or drawings, books, pamphlets, may be held and sorted into difierent compartments, such compartments being adjustable in size and number. More particularly it is my purpose to provide a desk distributor set of this general character which is cheap, efficient, may be decorated, and the compartments of which may be of any desired size or number, and especially it is my purpose to utilize that type of device having a substantially vertical and a horizontal portion such as is disclosed in my Patent #1,725,702, and in my pending application Serial #383,944 and others. I utilize my devices having a substantially vertical portion, and corrugated horizontal portions of two types, namely of the type having a horizontal portion in the nature of a single tongue or extension out of the center part of the vertical portion such as is described and shown in Figure 4 of my pending application Serial #383,944; and the type having a slot in the center of the horizontal portion such as is 3! shown in Figure 10 of my Patent #1,725,702. In practice the desk distributor set or the like is built up of a plurality of the two types of devices; that is those having the single tongue are placed so that the single tongues are po- 3 sitioned between the tongues, and in the slots, of the slotted type, and may extend under the horizontal portions of the slotted type to form very small compartments, while the horizontal portions of the slotted type are ar- 4 ranged with the corrugations interengaging to form a set up unit; the interengaging corrugations in conjunction with the weight of the objects in the compartments and on the horizontal portions holding the several members in their adjusted positions, it being understood that the corrugations in the single tongues are engaged by the bottom edges of the objects supported for a similar purpose, and these tongues are also so arranged that 60 the corrugations arealso engaged by the 5, 1929. Serial No. 380,584.

edges of the vertical portions of the slotted type when they pass under the vertical portions. My present invention also includes the utilization of the slotted type of devices and the devices with a single tongue in conjunction with filing drawers of file cabinets or the like provided with series of corrugations or indentations, protrusions or the like in series, either in channels or directly in the fiat bot tom, for interengagement with the corrugations, indentations, protrusions or the like of said devices. It is also my purpose to provide book ends wherein a relatively heavy vertical or back is provided in conjunction with an attached (and separable) or hinged horizontal portion, or a horizontal portion attached thereto by screw or spring means, or simply embedded in a casting or in any other way attached to a relatively heavy backing or vertical portionthe horizontal portions being corrugated. Furthermore my present invention includes the formation" of a base for a distributor set which will not scar or in jure the surface of a desk or table and which may be picked up and transported from place to place without special care.

Other and equally important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as the description thereof proceeds with reference to its several parts; but interpretation of the scope of the invention should only be conclusive when made in the light of the subjoined claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a distributor set assembled in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of my devices formed with a center horizontal corrugated tongue,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of my devices formed with two tongues, or what may be termed a slotted horizontal portion which is corrugated,

Figure 4 is a view of the manner in which 95 the devices having the center tongue and those having the slots are relatively placed and assembled,

Figure 5 is a view of the manner in which the devices having tongues and assembled 109 with the slotted devices so that the center tongues extend under the vertical portions of the slotted type to form very small compartments,

Figure 6 is a detail view showing how the vertical portions of the slotted type engage in the corrugations of the tongues of the remaining type to hold said devices in relatively adjusted positions when the tongues of the one extend under and through the vertical portions of the other,

Figure 7 is a side view of a book end having a relatively heavy decorative back, and to which the horizontal portion is attached at the base thereof by screws,

Figure 8 is a sectional side view of a book end having a relatively heavy, decorative back, the horizontal portion being attached by spring clip means,

Figure 9 is a view of the base of a back of the type defined in Figure 7,

Figure 10, is a View of a horizontal portion having an upstruck part for spot-welding, pin attachment, or simply to be imbedded in :he back,

Figure 11 is a sectional view showing one manner of attaching the upstruck portion of the type of horizontal portion shown in Figure 10 to a back,

Figure 12 is a detail view of a hinge or pivotal connection between a relatively heavy back and a horizontal corrugated portion,

7 Figure 13 is a view of my present invention utilized with a file cabinet drawer having a center channel and the base of the center channel being corrugated.

Figure 1 1 is a view of a type of my device having spaced series of corrugations, and another type of my device having an uncorrugated tongue positioned between the two series of corrugations of the other,

Figure 15 is a side or edge view of a pair of devices such as are shown in Figure 14, the tongue type being positioned with the tongue extending through the vertical part of the tvpe having two series of spaced corrugations,

Figure 16 is a view of the tongue type of my device per se of the type shown in Figure 1:1. i. e the tongue being uncorrugated,

*Figure 17 is a view of a type of my device for use with a file cabinet and wherein the corrugated part is struck down to engage in a series of struck-down corrugations in the bottom of a file drawer, and with a type of my device having a center corrugated tongue extending through the vertical back of the first y Figure 18, is a view of a device having a center slot and corrugated horizontal portions, the horizontal portions having end ears for relative engagement with slots to hold two of said members together as a unit to form a base.

Figure 18 is an edge view of one of the devices illustrated in Figure 18, and

Figure 19 is a perspective view of two of the devices shown in Figures 18 and 18 assembled together to form a base which may be transported with facility.

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like or similar parts throughout the several views The numeral (1) is used to designate the relatively vertical portion of my devices. The type shown in Figure 2 having a center, narrow, substantially horizontal tongue (2), and the type shown in Figure 3 having horizontal portions formed with spaced parallel elements (QM-(2) with an intervening slot (3); both the tongue of the type shown in Figure 2 and the horizontal portions in the type shown in Figure 3 are provided witha series of corrugations, protrusions, elevations or the like. In practice a type of my device of the type shown in Figure 2 is placed with its tongue (2) in the slot of the type shown in Figure 3 (see Figures 4 and 5) and several types having slots are built up thereon with certain of their corrugations interengaging as shown in Figure 1 to provide a desk or table distributing set. In the assembly shown in Figure 1 two devices having tongues (2) are used and four devices having slots the devices having slots being placed with certain of their corrugations in terengaging, and the devices having tongues being placed with the tongues extending in the slots (3) and under the vertical portions 1) of the slotted type after the manner shown in Figure 5; other devices of the slotted type being shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. By this means an adjustable desk or table distributing set for files, letters, books, pamphlets or the like is formed which has a number of compartments of any desired size, and which may be added to indefinitely simply by adding more and more devices having tongues and slots. In Figure 6 is shown the manner in which the devices having tongues extend under the vertical parts (1) of the devices having slot-s; there being provided a slight recess in the vertical part (1), same being designated (3) to interengage with any one of the corrugations in the ton ue part (2) extending thereunder to hold the same in relative adjusted positions. The corrugations in all of the horizontal members engaging the bottom edges of files to prevent slumping or slipping of the same, and the vertical parts keeping the files in a substantially vertical position after the manner defined in my Patent #1,725,702; in addition the weight pf the files or other objects placed on my devices assists in positively holding them in adjusted positions, and in practice the corrugations of the horizontal parts having slots register with th se f the tongues so that the edge'of a file will ordinarily engage in those corrugations of parts (2*) which register with a similar corrugation in tongue (2) thereby to lock the same in adjusted positions.

In Figures 7 to 12 I have shown book ends formed with vertical parts and horizontal parts provided with corrugations; such corrugations engaging the bottom edges of books, files, pamphlets or the like to prevent the same from slipping, and to prevent the book ends from sliding out when a book is withdrawn and another falls down or over on the back of a book end such as now happens with book ends having either no horizontal portion or a horizontal portion not provided with corrugations, protrusions or the like. In this phase of my invention the back (4) is relatively heavy, preferably of cast or molded metal of decorative design;

and the horizontal part has a series of corrugations down the center, or several series extending from end to end and spaced apart. The base (4) of the vertical part of back is recessed as at (6) in Figure 9 to receive the end of the horizontal part and has openings (6*) to receive screws or pins to retain the horizontal part in engagement with the back. In Figure 8 I have shown means for attaching the horizontal part (5) to the back (4) by means of spring elements (7) and (7 rising or struck up from the end (7") of the member (5) the metal mate rial of part having sufiicient spring action to engage over parts of the base of the back to hold the horizontal part thereon. In Figure I have shown a form of my horizontal part having a relatively smooth uncorrugated end (8) with a vertical tongue (9) struck up therefrom out of the out (9 in practice this tongue may be spot welded to the back (4) or may be embedded in the base of the back during the casting operation, or may be inserted in a slot in the base of the back 1) and then pinned fast as shown at (9) in Figure 11. In Figure 12 is shown a pivoted or hinge connection for a horizontal portion with a relatively heavy back; the hinge or pivot being shown conventionally at (10).

My devices such as are described in Figures 1 to 6 are adapted for use with a file cabinet drawer having a corrugated center channel of the type defined in my pending application Serial #384,559. In which case the bottom A of a file cabinet drawer has a center corrugated channel (10') the bottom is attached to sides B by suitable means shown at C; my devices having tongues or slots (3) are positioned thereon i. e. that is in the corrugated channel (10) with the tongues extending between the parts (2) and in slots (3) as shown in Figure 13; and

my devices may be moved together so that the tongues (2) extendunder the vertical por tions (1) and are engaged at (3), see the dotted line position in Figure 13. In Figure 17 there is shown a slight modification of a file cabinet construction in which the drawer bottom Ahas a corrugated channel (10) in which is seated a device having a vertical part (1) and a horizontal part having a downstruck series of corrugations interengaging with those in the channel (10) the plane side parts (11 engaging with the smooth upper face of the drawer bottom A; in practice certain of my devices having tongues (2) are also disposed in the drawer with the tongues extending through the vertical backs In the file drawer construction hereinbefore described the devices or tile followers engage with the horizontal portions in the channels so that the corrugations of the devices which engage with those of the channels prevent slipping and hold the devices in adjusted positions in the drawer. Slight pressure on the devices move them to new positions, and by forming the tongues (2) so that they are positioned in slots the devices may be brought closer together.

In Figure 14 is shown a form of one ofiny devices having spaced series of corrugations (2 and a center smooth part (3) with sides smooth parts (11.) the vertical part (1) has an opening in the center smooth part a smooth horizontal tongue (2) of another form of my device (shown in detail in Figure 16) is positioned to slide thereon. In Figure 15 the tongue (2) is shown extending through opening (3) in the back or vertical part 1) of the type of device having spaced series of corrugations or the like. With reference to this form of my invention; the types having smooth tongues are prevented from slipping on the devices having spaced corrugated parts by engagement of the bottom edges (2) of the vertical parts (1) with the corrugations, as shown in Figure 14:; the smooth tongues preventing tilting and the .i (e.

In Figure 19 is shown means whereby my devices may be positively connected together to form a base. In the form shown my devices have the usual vertical part 1) and spaced members (2 separated by a slot (3) and each having smooth side parts (11) each vertical part has a hand opening (13) and on the bottoms are felt tabsor the like (14) to prevent scarring of a desktop. One of said devices has a series of slots or openings ('15) in the portions (11) in which engage the ears (16) of the other niemberafter the manner shown in Figure 19 so that said members. are positively locked together tobetransported. A plurality of other devices, not shown, having tonguessuch as are shown in'Figur-e 16 and (2) are designed tobe placed thereon, and also still other devices having-slots (3) the assembly being built'up onthe lbase' 'a'f er the manner shown and described with reference to Figure 1.

It is believed that the operation of my invention will be apparent from the foregoing, and in connection therewith it is again emphasized that when a number of the two types of devices are used they mayv be moved close together to form narrow compartments and the like. Interpretation of the invention, however, should only be conclusive in the like of the claims.

I claim 1. An office accessory of the type described comprising a plurality of members, certain of which have substantially vertical portions and horizontally arranged tongues formed with corrugations, and others having substantially vertical portions and horizontal corrugated portions formed each with a slot to receive the tongue of the first mentioned devices; said devices being relatively interengaging to form a compartmented assembly when set up.

2. An office accessory of the type described comprising a plurality of members each having a substantially vertical portion, certain of said members being formed with center tongues extending horizontally therefrom and being provided with protrusions, and others having horizontal portions formed with a slot, the horizontal portions provided with protrusions similar to those in the tongues, and the tongues receivable in the slots.

3. A device of the character described com prising a plurality of interengaging members. certain of which have corrugated tongues, and others slots with corrugations to either side thereof, and the tongues fitting into the slots, and all of said members having substantially vertical portions, the tongues formed to fit under the vertical portions with the corrugations engaged thereby to provide an interlocking assembly.

4. A filing device comprising a base having series of corrugations therein, and a plurality of interengaging members, certain of which have corrugated tongues, and others slots with corrugations to either side thereof, and the tongues fitting into the slots, and all of said members having subsantially Vertical portions, the tongues formed to fit under the vertical portions, and all of said devices formed to interengage in assembly with the corrugated base to be adjustably supported thereby.

5. A device of the character described comprising a supporting member having a series of corrugations therein, and aplurality of members each having a vertical portion and a substantially horizontal portion, certain of said members having slots in the horizontal portion, and the horizontal portions of the other members fitting into the slots, and the horizontal portions of all of said members being corrugated to cooperate with the corrugations in the supporting member thereby to adjustably retain the same thereon.

6. A device of the type described comprising a vertical and a substantially horizontal portion; the vertical portion having at least one plane surface, and the horizontal portion having a series of corrugations extending from end to end thereof; and means whereby the vertical portion is attached to the horizontal portion, said means being so associated with the vertical and horizontal portions that the space between the upper face of the horizontal portion and the opposing face of the vertical portion is unobstructed, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereunto.

W'ARNER I. CUBBERLEY.

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