File sorting device
United States Patent [191 Jones 1 FILE SORTING DEVICE [75] Inventor: Charles E. Jones, Skokie, 111.  
 [73] Assignee: Amberg File and Index Co.,  
 Kankakee. 111.  
  221 Filed: Oct. 1, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 402,022  
 \ [52] US. Cl. 211/11; 24/208 A; 211/50 [51] Int. Cl ..L B421 17/00; A471 7/16 [58] Field of Search 211/11, 50, 57; 40/336;  
 24/D1G. 16, 201 R, 213 R, 208 A, 214  
 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 764,299 7/1904 Marsh 211/11 X 2.533.799 12/1950 Haydu 24/201 R 2,585,438 2/1952 Clingman 24/208 A 2,765,925 10/1956 Raach... 211/11 2,876,907 3/1959 Amberg. t 211/11 3.000.509 9/1961 Larter 211/11 3.554.381 1/1971 Guest et a1 211/11 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Assistant Examiner-Andrew M. Calvert Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Guy A. Greenawalt 1451 Apr. s, 1975 {57] ABSTRACT A tray-like device for sorting correspondence or similar material which is characterized by a relatively rigid, elongate narrow base strip member having a shallow recess in the top face which extends the length of the base member with side marginal portions forming guide edges in which there are slots extending along the bottom of the recess for receiving laterally extending anchoring ears on the ends of a series of material separating strips which are in the form of flexible plastic leaves disposed in overlying relation in the recess and hingedly mounted at the one end, with marginal portions exposed at the other end on which sorting information may be imprinted so as to be visible when material is placed between the separating strips The anchoring ears on the material separating strips are adapted to be slidably positioned in the guide slots from an open end thereof when assembling the device and held in place by a clamp member at one end and a like clamp member at the opposite end, with the latter securing therein a spacer positioned with side marginal portions seated in the slots and locking the separating leaves in the recess.  
 15 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures FILE SORTING DEVICE This invention relates to equipment for use in connection with the filing of correspondence or similar material and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a device for sorting papers, or material of similar character, according to an alphabetical or numerical classification or in some other predetermined order, generally in preparation for placing them in a file or other storage area for future reference.  
  Devices have heretofore been provided for facilitating the filing of correspondence or similar material by pre-sorting, which devices have been in the form of an elongate base member with a series of overlying or overlapping strip members which are anchored at one end and extend at the other end sufficiently to afford space for tabs or marking with letters, numbers, or other sorting criteria, the length of the strip members being sufficient and the arrangement being such that the marking remains visible as pieces of the material are placed between the separating strips. Generally, the strip members have been formed of flexible paper and are bound at one end or they have been formed of relatively inflexible metal or the like and hinged at one end so as to open sufficiently for insertion of the papers be tween the same. A limited number of different marking systems have been provided in the devices heretofore provided. While these devices have met with some success, it has been felt that the devices heretofore provided could be improved so as to make them better adapted for use and more economical. It is a general object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved device for pre-sorting correspondence and similar material preparatory to the filing of the material which is more versatile in use, which enables the user to more easily accomplish the sorting, which is of simple construction and which may be produced in an economical manner.  
  A more specific object of the invention is to provide a device for sorting correspondence or similar material which comprises a small number of basic parts constructed so that the device may be easily assembled in a number of different forms or sizes with minimum change in the character of the parts.  
  A further object of the invention is to provide a device for sorting sheet-like material, such as, correspondence which comprises a base member in the form of a strip having an open face with oppositely disposed side edge guide formations and a series of material separating strips of equal length superimposed on each other and anchored at one end in the side guide formations so that portions of the opposite ends are in stepped arrangement and visible for receiving identifying numerals, letters, or other marking, which may serve as sorting criteria.  
  Another object of the invention is to provide a sorting device for correspondence or the like which comprises an elongate, relatively narrow base member, preferably of rigid material having a top face which is recessed and provided with guideway formations in oppositely disposed relation in the inner faces of side edge portions defining the recess and a plurality of material separating strips of relatively flexible sheet material which are of equal length and arranged in overlying relation, each with portions at one end in the recess in the top face and having laterally extending ears in the plane thereof which are positioned in abutting relation in the guideway formations so as to space said strips along the top face of said base member and enable the opposite ends to extend at least in part in a stairstep arrangement for receiving thereon letters, numbers or other sorting information.  
  A still further object of the invention is to provide a device for sorting correspondence or similar material which comprises a support member in the form of an elongate, relatively rigid base forming strip member having a top face which is recessed along the length thereof and provided with side marginal portions constituting side edge guide formations having guide slots which extend laterally in opposed inner edges and along the bottom of the recess and which are open at least at one end of the base strip member and a plurality of relatively thin, flexible, material separating strip members disposed on the top face and in overlying relation, with each having one end seated in the recess and each having laterally extending ears at said one end which are positioned in the guide slots so that the material separating strips are spaced along the length of the base strip member with the opposite end margin of each of said separating strip members extending at least in part beyond the like margin of the strip member immediately overlying it so as to be visible when sheets of correspondence or the like are placed between the separating strip members.  
  Another object of the invention is to provide in a sorting device for correspondence or similar material a supporting base strip member and a plurality of relatively flexible, overlying material separating strip mem&#39; bers disposed in leaf-like arrangement on the top face thereof which are anchored at one end and have their opposite free ends extending, at least in part, in stairstep formation, and with each having at said opposite end at least one laterally extending marginal ear facilitating finger engagement for lifting the end thereof so as to enable material to be placed beneath the same.  
  These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the several forms of sorting devices which are shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:  
  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a tile sorting device which incorporates therein the principal features of the invention;  
  FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view, to an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1, and with portions broken away;  
  FIG. 3 is an end elevational view, to an enlarged scale, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and with portions broken away;  
  FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view, to a greatly enlarged scale, the view being taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 5 is a plan view, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away, showing one of the material separating members;  
  FIG. 6 is a plan view, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away, showing the topmost separating strip member in the assembly of FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 7 is a plan view, to an enlarged scale, and with portions broken away, showing the spacer member which is inserted in the bottom of the recessed face of the base member for retaining the separating strip assembly in position;  
  FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an end clamp or end cap member which is employed in blocking opposite ends of the recess in the top face of the base member;  
  FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a modified form of file sorting device;  
  FIG. 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9, to an enlarged scale;  
  FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view, with portions broken away, showing underlying structure at the one end of the device which is shown in FIG. 10, the view being taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10; and  
  FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a pair of the material separating strips disposed in overlying relation as in FIG. 9.  
  Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a file sorting device 10 which is in the form of an elongate tray or base member 12 with an assembly 14 of material separating strips, which are mounted thereon in hinged relation for swinging movement, like leaves in a book, so that correspondence or similar sheet material may be interposed between the separating strip or leaf members in the assembly 14 with each of the members having, at its free end, a marginal portion which extends a short distance beyond the corresponding margin of an overlying leaf member for accommodating letters of the alphabet, numerals or other information or marking constituting the sorting criteria and identifying the material to be placed beneath each leaf member in carrying out the sorting operation. The illustrated device It) enables letters or other correspondence or similar material, to be separated or sorted in an orderly fashion according to markings on the separating strip or leaf members. In the device 10 as shown in FIG. 1, the assembly 14 comprises only six material separating strips or leaves which limits the device to separation in six different groups, piles or categories. It will be understood that the sorter 10 can be made any desired length to accommodate any desired number of different sorting arrangements. For example, sufficient leaves can be provided for sorting alphabetically, monthly or according to any desired numerical arrangement with the leaves bearing the required marking for the divisions desired.  
  The sorting device 10 in FIG. 1 comprises the base member 12 having a relatively shallow recess 16, in the top face of which the assembly 14 of material separating strips or leaves is mounted. The base member 12 (FIGS. 1 to 4) is formed of a relatively rigid material, preferably, high impact polystyrene plastic. It is of a convenient width depending upon the nature of the material which is to be sorted and possibly other use factors. In sorting ordinary correspondence and similar material, a width of approximately 2 k inches has been found convenient and economical. This may be varied to meet different requirements. The recess 16 in the top face of the base member 12 extends the full length of the base mamber and has open ends with oppositely disposed vertical side faces 18, 18&#39; which are the inner faces of relatively narrow, parallel side portions 20, 20&#39; forming side edge guides for the assembly 14 of material separating members. At the bottom of the edge guide faces 18 and 18&#39; slots or slits 22 and 22&#39; are provided which extend laterally and longitudinally of the recess 16 and which are adapted to receive anchoring portions of the material separating members in the assembly 14. The edge guide faces 18 and 18&#39; are extended upwardly a short distance by ribs 24 and 24&#39; which serve an additional purpose as hereinafter described. On the bottom face 26 of the base member 12 longitudinally extending, reinforcing ribs 28 and 28&#39; are provided adjacent the side margins. The base member 12 has a pair of holes 30, 30&#39; in the margin at one end and a pair of like holes 32 and 32&#39; in the margin at the opposite ends for attaching hereto end stop members 34 (FIG. 8). The end stop or end cap members 34 are of identical construction and serve to close the ends of the recess 16 and also provide a means for clamping in position the material separating strip or leaf assembly 14.  
  The end stop members 34 (FIGS. 1 to 4 and 8) are formed preferably of suitable plastic material and each comprises a relatively short, narrow, plate-like base strip 36 having a substantial degree of flexibility with a pair of attaching buttons 38 on the bottom face which are spaced a distance apart corresponding to the spacing of the pairs of end holes 30, 30&#39; and 32, 32&#39; in the base member 12. The attaching buttons 38 each have an axially ribbed stem portion 40 terminating in a dome-shaped head 42 which is of larger maximum diameter than the holes 30, 30&#39; and 32, 32&#39; and which is adapted to be compressed so as to pass through the holes 30, 30&#39; and 32, 32&#39; and seat as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The base plates 36 of the end stop members 34 are of a length somewhat less than the space between the edge guide faces 18 and 18&#39; and are provided with a flangelike edge portion 36&#39; which is adapted to lie along the outside end edge of the base member 12 when installed.  
  The separating leaf assembly 20 comprises a plurality of separating leaves 44 (FIG. 5) which are of identical construction, except for marking thereon, with a topmost one 44&#39; (FIG. 6) being slightly modified for cooperation with an end cap and clamping member 34. All of the separating leaf members 44, 44&#39; are of the same length and may be formed by cutting from sheet material, preferably high density, polyethylene plastic, which has a substantial degree of flexibility. The leaf forming strip members 44, 44&#39; as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 have a width throughout the main body portion which is slightly less than the distance between the guide faces 18 and 18&#39;.  
  Each of the members 44, 44 has marginal portions at the one end which extend laterally on opposite sides to form latching or anchoring ears 46, 46 and 48, 48&#39; which are adapted to seat in the slots 22, 22&#39; in the base of the guide walls 18 and 18&#39;. The end margin of the topmost strip member 42&#39; is provided with holes 50, 50 which are positioned to align with the holes 30, 30&#39; in the base member 12 so as to receive the end cap 34 which serves as a clamp for holding the topmost strip member 44 in position and thereby locking the strip assembly 14in that end of the base member 12. The anchoring ears 48, 48&#39;are cut away at 52, 52&#39; to better anchor the ears 48, 48&#39; in the guide slots 22, 22&#39;. The anchoring ears 46, 46&#39; and 48, 48 have a dimension in the longitudinal direction of the strip member which is determined by the marginal exposure desired at the free ends of the strip members, the members 44 and 44&#39; in the assembly 14 being of equal length. In the assembly 14 the end edge 54 of each strip member 44 has its end portions abutting the forward edges 56, S6 of the anchoring ears 46, 46&#39; of the overlying strip member, the slots 22, 22 having a vertical dimension only slightly greater than the thickness of the material in the anchoring ears 46, 46 and 48, 48&#39; so that the ears will not overlap to any appreciable degree when properly inserted in the slots 22, 22&#39;. A hinge forming crease line 54&#39; may be provided to extend between the abutment edges 56, 56 so as to form a definite hinge line for the strip members 44, 44&#39;. At the free ends the strip members 44, 44&#39; have laterally extending ear formations 58, 58&#39; which are adapted to rest on the longitudinal ribs 24, 24 and which are of sufficient extent laterally to overhang the ribs 22, 22 so as to permit easy finger engagement for lifting the ends of the individual strip members.  
  A filler strip 60 (FIG. 7) is provided for seating in the bottom of the recess 16 so as to lock the assembly 14 in position when all of the strip members in the assembly are in position. The filler strip 60 is preferably formed of the same sheet material as the separator strip members 44, 44&#39;. It may be somewhat wider so that side margins will extend into the slots 22. 22&#39; with ear formations 62, 62 at one end corresponding to the ear formations 46, 46&#39; and similar lateral extensions 64, 64&#39; at the opposite end in the margin of which a pair of holes 66, 66 are provided which are positioned to align with the holes 32, 32 so as to receive the attaching buttons 38 on an end cap 34 for closing that end of the recess 16 and for locking the spacer 60 in position, the latter being dimensioned lengthwise to have the inner end edge 68 engage the edges 56, 56&#39; of the anchoring cars 46, 46&#39; on the bottommost strip member 44.  
  In assembling the device the topmost strip member 44&#39; may be first slid into position with the anchoring ears in the slots 22, 22 and the end cap 34 posi tioned to anchor the end of the same. Thereafter, the strip members 44 are slid into position followed by the filler strip 60 which is locked in position by the end cap 34. The tops 42 of the buttons 38 on the end caps 34 serve as feet for supporting the device on a desk or table top without fear of damage to the supporting surface when the device is moved about.  
  The exposed margins at the free ends of the separating strips 44, 44&#39; provide space for imprinting (FIGS. 5 and 6) or otherwise marking thereon the letters of the alphabet. numbers, days, months or any other information which may be desired as a basis for separating the material to be sorted. The length of the device may be varied to accommodate the number of material separating strip or leaf members which are required for the use or uses the device is intended to fill.  
  A modified form of the sorting device is illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 12. This form of the sorter is designed so as to provide a shortened over-all length device with a more compact assembly of the material separating strip or leaf members, enabling the device to be used as indicated for sorting letters L, or similar material.  
  The modified sorter device 70 comprises a tray-like base member 72 of the same structure as the base member 12 in the device of FIG. 1, having a longitudinally extending shallow recess 76 in the top face, and an assembly 74 of material separating strip or leaf members which assembly is mounted in the recess 76 and adapted to be used in the same manner as the assembly 14. The separating leaf or strip assembiy 74 comprises a plurality of pairs of strip members 78, 78 which, as shown in FIG. 12, are of substantially the same configuration except for being rights and lefts. The strip members 78, 78 are similar to the strip members 44 in the device of FIG. 1, being of the same relative width and having at the corresponding ends laterally extending anchoring ear formations or members 80, 80&#39; which correspond to the ear formations 46, 46&#39; except for the dimension in the direction lengthwise of the strip members which is approximately half that of the ear formations 46, 46&#39;. The end edges 82, 82&#39; of the strip members are adapted to have the end portions in edge engagement with the inner edges 84, 84&#39; of the ear formations 80, 80&#39; on the overlying strip member. The overlying strip member 78 is preferably provided with a hinge forming score or crease line 86 spaced from the end edge 82 as shown while the underlying strip member 78&#39; preferably has a hinge line 86&#39; located immediately beneath the hinge line 86. The overlying strip member 78 of each pair thereof has a length greater than the underlying member 78 by an amount equal to the dimension of the ear formations 80, 80 in the direction lengthwise of the member so that the two strip members have free end edges 90, 90&#39; aligned and free end portions of the two strip members are cut away on the diagonal lines 92, 92&#39; so as to render visible the end marginal portions of both strip members as shown in FIG. 12 when they are in operative position in the assembly 74. The topmost strip member 94 (FIG. II) in the assembly 74 may have the anchoring ear end formed the same as the topmost strip member 44&#39; in the assembly 14.  
  The modified sorting device 70 is assembled in the same manner as described with respect to the sorting device 10, the strip member or leaf member assembly 74 being locked in position in the recess 76 by an end cap and clamp member 34 at the hinged end of the assembly and at the other end by a spacer strip of proper length and the same construction as the spacer strip 60 together with an end cap and clamp member 34 as in the form of the device shown in FIG. 1.  
 I claim:  
  1. A device for use in sorting correspondence or similar material comprising an elongate, relatively flat, strip member forming a base member having an upwardly opening, relatively shallow recess in the top face thereof with narrow side marginal portions providing oppositely disposed, parallel, spaced, vertical side walls defining said recess and having longitudinally extending, narrow slot formations in said side walls at the bottom of said recess, a plurality of relatively flat, flexible, material separating strip members disposed in said recess in overlying relation and means for securing said material separating strip members in said recess including laterally extending portions at one end thereof which are in the form of ears with forward and rearwardly facing edges, said edges being disposed in said slot formations in substantially edge abutting relation so as to anchor an end portion of each of said material separating strip members at corresponding ends while permitting the remaining portions of said material separating members to swing apart in an upward direction, and providing marginal end areas at the free ends of said material separating members for receiving marking thereon indicating the material to be placed be tween each said material separating member and the next material separating member, which marking is visible between free end portions of overlying and underlying material separating members.  
  2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said material separating strip members are of equal length and said laterally extending, anchoring portions are of a size and positioned so that said strip members are equally spaced in said recess.  
  3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said material separating strip members have widened portions at the margins of the free ends thereof which overlie the side marginal portions of the base member where they are free for finger gripping to lift the free ends of said strip members.  
  4. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for securing said material separating strip members in said recess includes cap members at opposite ends of said recess which serve to block the ends of said recess and to hold the topmost and bottommost material separating members against movement out of the ends of said recessv 5. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said material separating strip members are of equal length and have laterally extending anchoring portions of equal dimensions in the direction of the length of said members.  
  6. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for securing said material separating strip members in said recess includes cap forming members positioned at opposite ends of said base member, said base member having apertures in said end margins and said cap forming members having resilient, distortable, securing button members adapted to be positioned in said apertures and to extend beyond the bottom face of said base member so as to form supporting members for said device.  
  7. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base member has upwardly projecting, generally parallel ribs which are relatively narrow and which extend along opposite margins of the top face and underlie inner areas of marginal portions at the free ends of said material separating strip portions.  
  8. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said material separating strip members are arranged in pairs with the members of each pair thereof in overlying and underlying relation and with a portion of the free end of the overlying member of each pair thereof cut away so as to expose an end portion of the underlying member and enable marking thereon to be observed.  
  9. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for securing said material separating strip members in said recess comprises a clamp member at the hinged end of the topmost material separating member and a clamp member at the opposite end of said base member with a spacer member disposed in said recess between the bottommost material separating member and said clamp member at said opposite end of said base member.  
  10. A device in the form of a tray for sorting correspondence or similar material which comprises a relatively rigid, elongate narrow base in the form of a strip member having a shallow recess in the top face which extends the length of the base member with transversely spaced, side marginal portions providing spaced, vertical, guide-forming edges, having outwardly directed, inwardly opening slots therein which extend along the bottom of the recess, a plurality of material separating strip members which are in the form of flexible leaf members disposed in overlying relation in said recess and hingedly mounted at the one end with marginal portions exposed at the other end on which sorting information may be imprinted so as to be visible when material is placed between the separating strips, said material separating strip members having laterally extending portions at the hingedly mounted end which are seated in the slots in said guide edges and which may be slid into abutting engagement from an open end of the slots, means at the hingedly mounted end of the topmost strip member to hold said topmost strip member in position in said slots, and means at the opposite end of said base member preventing withdrawal of said laterally extending portions so as to lock the leaf forming, material separating strip members in the recess.  
  11. A device as set forth in claim 10 wherein said material separating leaf members are of equal length and have portions in the form of ears extending in the plane of the respective leaf member and at corresponding ends which are positioned in said edge slots and arranged so as to form a hinge mounting for each said leaf member.  
  12. A device as set forth in claim 10 wherein said slots at the bottom of said recess extend in the plane of the bottom of said recess and have a cross sectional dimension only slightly greater than the corresponding dimension of the laterally extending portions of said leaf members which are positioned in said slots whereby said leaf members may be slid into position in said recess in assembling the same on said base member and spaced lengthwise thereof according to the dimension of said laterally extending portions in the lengthwise direction of said recess.  
  13. A device as set forth in claim 10 wherein said base strip member has apertures in the bottom wall at opposite ends thereof and combination clamp and closure members are mounted in the ends of said recess which have attaching buttons adapted to be frictionally secured in said bottom wall apertures with the clamp and closure member at one end overlying the hinged end of the topmost material separating strip member and the clamp and closure member at the other end overlying a spacer strip member which locks the separating strip members in position.  
  14. A device as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means at the hingedly mounted end of the topmost strip member to hold said topmost strip member in position in said slots comprises a clamp member and means to attach said clamp member to said base member in overlying relation to the end margin of said topmost strip member.  
  15. A device as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means at the opposite end of said base member for locking the material separating strip members in the recess comprises a spacer strip member having side portions seated in said edge slots and an end portion posi tioned to block movement of the bottommost material separating strip member in the direction of said opposite end of said base member and a clamp member securing said spacer strip member in said recess.