MISPLACED FILE INDICATING SYSTEM

• US 3,701,987 A
• Filed: 08/16/1971
• Issued: 10/31/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John S. Leighton
• Original Assignee: John S. Leighton
• Inventors: Leighton, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): John W. Caldwell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scott F. Partridge
• Application Number:
  US05/172,119
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 340/280,276,282,421 200/61.59,61.63
• US Class Current: 340/570
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 63/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, specially adapted for storing books, documents, forms, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 17/00 Card-filing arrangements, e.g. card indexes or catalogues or filing cabinets indexing features B42F21/00; furniture features A47B, A47F
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 17/02 in which the cards are stored substantially at right angles to the bottom of their containers

Abstract

A system is provided for electrically indicating that an error in filing has taken place. In one form, the file container is metal and serves as one electrode. An insulated bus bar is diagonally positioned across the file bearing surface. A circuit is formed by the file container, a power source, alarm and bus bar and is completed when a conductive lower edge of the file folder is misfiled. When in the proper position an insulator over the appropriate portion of the conductive edge of the file folder keeps the file folder from completing the circuit.

Claims

1. A file apparatus for indicating the presence of an erroneously placed file comprising:

a. a file container including a file supporting member having an upper surface adapted to support the lower edge of a file, said file supporting member having a first edge extending along the length thereof;

b. a first conductor extending along the length of said surface, c. a second conductor extending along said surface and electrically insulated from said first conductor, said second conductor being positioned on said surface so that it progressively becomes more remote from said first edge as it progresses along the length of said file container;

d. an electrical power means;

e. an electrically activated alarm means;

f. lead means connecting said first conductor, said power means, said alarm means and said second conductor so that when a file having a conductive edge is placed in contact with said first and with said second conductor said alarm is activated.

2. A file apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said file supporting member is metal and forms said first electrode.

3. A file apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said supporting member has a generally rectangular configuration and said second conductor extends generally diagonally across said supporting surface.

4. A file apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said upper surface has a third conductor electrically insulated from said first conductor and extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal edge of said supporting member, said third conductor being in electrical contact with said second conductor.

5. A file apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first conductor is mounted on the upper surface of and is electrically insulated from said supporting member and is positioned generally parallel to said first edge.

6. A file apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein the upper surface of said supporting member is of a generally rectangular configuration.

7. A filing system for indicating the presence of an erroneously placed file comprising:

a. a file the major portion of the lower edge thereof being coated with a conDuctive material with at least one portion of the lower edge being non-conductive corresponding to its desired position within the file;

b. a file container for said file including a file supporting member having an upper surface adapted to support the lower edge of a file, said file support member having a first edge extending along the length thereof;

c. a first conductor extending along the length of said surface;

d. a second conductor extending along said surface and electrically insulated from said first conductor, said second conductor being positioned on said surface so that it progressively becomes more remote from said first edge as it progresses along the length of said file container;

e. an electrical power means;

f. an electrically activated alarm means;

g. lead means connecting said first conductor, said power means, said alarm means and said second conductor so that when said file is positioned along said file supporting member so that the conductive edge is placed in contact with both said first and said second conductors said alarm is activated.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said file is coated with a conductive material across the entire lower edge thereof and an electrical insulator material is placed over said conductive material in a position corresponding to the desired position of the file in the file container.