Telephone directory binder support and storage apparatus

Claim 1

In a telephone directory holding and positioning apparatus of the type including a binding having a rigid back and hinge means connected to said rigid back for supporting the directory and binding for movement in a vertical plane extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal edge of a shelf between a storage position below and a use position above the shelf, and mounting and storage means for moving the directory and binding from said vertical plane to a storage position beneath the shelf, the improvement wherein said mounting and storage means comprises, in combination, a support bracket including a tubular sleeve having its axis extending in a generally vertical direction rigidly mounted beneath said shelf and spaced from said longitudinal edge, fixed cam means on said tubular sleeve and having at least one upwardly directed and upwardly spiraling cam surface thereon, a hanger assembly operably connected to said hinge means and said mounting bracket, said hanger assembly including a cylindrical shaft journaled in said sleeve and carrying cam follower means engaging said at least one cam surface and supporting said hinge means, said binding, and the directory thereon while permitting relative rotation between said hanger and said mounting bracket about a generally vertical axis, said cam means and said cam follower means cooperating to raise the structure supported thereon upon forced rotation of said binding in one direction from said storage position and to automatically rotate the structure in the opposite direction by action of gravity on the supported structure upon release thereof following such forced rotation to return the structure to said storage position, said hinge means including angle bracket means having one end pivotally connected to the rigid back of said binder substantially at the transverse centerline thereof and its other end pivotally connected to said cylindrical shaft with the pivotal axes of said angle bracket being generally parallel, said cam surfaces and said cam follower means being arranged so as to position the directory, binding and hanger means beneath said shelf with said binding extending generally parallel to said longitudinal shelf edge when said directory is in said storage position, said angle bracket projecting outwardly and upwardly around said longitudinal edge when said directory is in said use position.