The present invention relates to a pull-out drawer for a filing case which slidably cooperates with said case, said pull-out drawer comprises a bottom platform and a front panel rigidly connected to said platform and having a handle or grip projecting from the front face of said panel.
In particular, similar filing cases are in use in stack type filing cabinets wherein the pull-out drawers comprise means to contain materials on top of the bottom platform. Such materials include paper sheets carrying information relating to a particular subject. The filing case then may be assigned to such a particular subject.
Recently computer processed information is presented printed out on flat-pack chained listing sheets. To enable consultation at a later date such flat packs need to be filed in a convenient way on a temporary basis.
The present invention has an object to provide filing means for paper sheets.
A further object is to provide filing means for a flat-pack of chained listing sheets.
These objects and still further objects are attained in a pull-out drawer as above in that in said platform a first array of apertures is arranged next to said front panel and in parallel therewith to receive paper fastener means. Next to the platform edge opposite from said front panel a second array is provided.
In particular, the front panel is provided laterally and at both ends with an extension shaped as a channel across the height of the front panel and opening toward the far end of the platform, the grip or handle being a rail joined along the length of the extended front panel. The outer edge at both ends of the extended front panel is flush with the respective outer face of the sidewall of the case.
The invention will be illustrated by a description of a preferred embodiment referring to drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a filing cabinet comprising a stack of filing cases each comprising a pull-out drawer according to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a pull-out drawer as in FIG. 1 in a different perspective, and
FIG. 3 shows details of a pull-out drawer according to the invention.
FIG. 1 shows a filing cabinet 10 comprising a stack of cases 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17. The bottom case 17 is a dummy to provide a bottom support. The cases 11-16 being identical, a description of case 16 will suffice. Case 16 comprises a drawer 20 including a front panel 24 and a bottom platform 26 rigidly joined together. A flat pack of paper sheets 30 is fastened to platform 26 by means of fasteners 34 and 35. Channels 21, 25 extend front panel 24 laterally within the outlines of case 16. Both channels extend the height of front panel 24. A grip or handle to pull out drawer 20 from its case 16 is shaped as a rail 22 extending substantially along the full width of the extended front panel 24 inclusive of extensions 21, 25. In fact, rail 22 is backing up or reinforcing channels 21, 25 which are intended for use in a vertical filing device, a trolley for example. Centrally in rail 22 a hand opening 23 is arranged for convenient handling.
FIG. 2 shows drawer 20 in a different perspective. In addition to FIG. 1 it shows a bracket 29 to add to the rigid joining of front panel 24 and bottom platform 26. Also a clamping device 33 is received in apertures in the fittings 31 and 32 along the far edge of platform 26 to hold the pack of paper sheets 30 flat.
FIG. 3 shows details of the apertures in platform 26 and of an embodiment of a fastener. Apertures 41, 43 are slots directed in parallel with front panel 26. Inside slot 41 wing means 44, 45 extending over a fraction of its length are arranged to be received in a channel portion 52 of a rectangular foot 51 of a threaded pin or post 53 carrying a nut 54. Foot 51 being of a resilient material, the channel portion 52 can be placed next to the wing means 45 in aperture 41 and pushed into position. Foot 51 then fills aperture 41, as shown in relation to aperture 43.
A pull-out drawer according to the invention thus is adapted for multiple use, viz. actually as a pull-out drawer in a filing case; as a hanging file on rails mounted in an open trolley; and as a hanging file to be pushed in a channel comprised in a front door cabinet.