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US3554381A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Document sorting device

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-04-15
•
Granted: 1971-01-12
•
Expires: 1989-04-15
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Abstract

Abstract A document sorting device comprising a plurality of document dividers each in the form of a sheet mounted on a pair of rollers which are trapped between a resilient upwardly urged base and a pair of spaced horizontal guide rails, the rollers being permanently attached to the dividers and being held in frictional engagement between the guide rails and the base by the spring member which urges the base upwardly.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jack B Guest
  • 👤 Kathleen E J Guest

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 03:28
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42F; B42F17/00; B42F17/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 119 words
A document sorting device comprising a frame having a pair of spaced horizontal guide rails, a pressure pad beneath the guide rail, which is spring urged upwardly towards the guide rails, and a plurality of document dividers each of which is mounted between the guide rails on a pair of free running rollers so as to be freely pivotable about the axis of the rollers, the rollers being trapped between the guide rails and the pressure pad and being normally held in position by the upward pressure of the pressure pad but movable to vary the spacing between the dividers by the application of a force sufficient to overcome the friction created on the rollers by the pressure pad.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 119 words
A document sorting device comprising a frame having a pair of spaced horizontal guide rails, a pressure pad beneath the guide rail, which is spring urged upwardly towards the guide rails, and a plurality of document dividers each of which is mounted between the guide rails on a pair of free running rollers so as to be freely pivotable about the axis of the rollers, the rollers being trapped between the guide rails and the pressure pad and being normally held in position by the upward pressure of the pressure pad but movable to vary the spacing between the dividers by the application of a force sufficient to overcome the friction created on the rollers by the pressure pad.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said rollers of each divider are permanently attached to the divider.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 49 words
A device as clAimed in claim 2, wherein each divider comprises a sheet of stiff material mounted nonrotatably on a rod having end portions which project from opposite sides of the sheet, the said rollers being permanently mounted, for free running, on the projecting end portions of the rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 72 words
The combination of a device as claimed in claim 1 and a plurality of spacers each of which comprises a resilient strip of material, the depth of which is approximately equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the rollers and the length of which is greater than the gap between the guide rails, each spacer having its opposite ends trapped beneath the guide rails to space the adjacent dividers apart.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure pad comprises a sheet of stiff material and a spring member or members located beneath the sheet to urge the sheet upwardly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 37 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the frame and guide rails are formed integrally from a single sheet of material the edge portions of which are bent upwardly and inwardly to form the guide rails.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 76 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a pair of end plates are mounted between the guide rails on free running rollers which are trapped between the guide rails and the pressure pad and wherein a pair of handles are pivoted to the ends of the frame, each of the end plates being provided with a locking means which is engageable with the adjacent handle to lock the end plate in an approximately vertical position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 43 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein each handle comprises a looped rod and the locking means on each end plate comprises an L-shaped lug adapted to trap a portion of the adjacent handle against the outer surface of the end plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 72 words
The combination of a device as claimed in claim 8 and a plurality of spacers each of which comprises a resilient strip of material, the depth of which is approximately equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the rollers and the length of which is greater than the gap between the guide rails, each spacer having its opposite ends trapped beneath the guide rails to space the adjacent dividers apart.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1838681A Cited
US1931785A Cited
US1952118A Cited
US2435077A Cited
US2642067A Cited
US2890798A Cited
US3102542A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-01-11 1974-07-13 1975-01-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-01-11 1978-07-13 1979-01-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-01-11 1982-07-13 1983-01-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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