Abstract: An electric soldering iron having an elongated handle with an electric heating element attached therein and including a removable tip member located to receive heat from the heating element and a holding member to hold the tip relative to the heating element is improved by forming said heating element as an elongated flat blade heating element having a elongated flat planar heated surface. The heating element is so located in the handle to extend outwardly from the handle. The tip member includes a body having an elongated flat planar heat transfer surface which fits against the planar heated surface of the heating element and receives heat therefrom. The tip member further includes an operative tip extending away from the remainder of the tip member. A retaining tube detachably secured at one end to the handle fits over the heating element and tip member and except for its operative tip and maintains them in a fixed relationship with respect to each other and to the handle.

Abstract: Two different types of circuits, the first a coil operation circuit and the second an operating circuit can be effectively used together in connection with an assembly such as a desoldering tool having a remotely located, associated structure for use in regulating when a vacuum is available at the tool in response to manipulation of the tool. The operating circuit employed utilizes a current control circuit capable of being actuated through the use of a switch on the tool to pass a full or a half wave AC current and a load such as a heating element located on the tool. The operating circuit also includes a detection circuit for determining whether a full or half wave current is being utilized to supply power to the load which is positioned within the associated structure. The coil operation circuit is located within this associated structure and includes a bidirectional solid state switch is series with a coil, another solid state switch in parallel with the coil, and the first noted switch.

Abstract: A composite letter file consists of a primary tray member defining a letter receptacle and having detent means thereupon for engagement by corresponding detent means on a secondary tray member. A plurality of secondary tray members can be secured to one another and supported from the primary tray member which has supporting means associated therewith adapted to maintain it in operative relationship with a supporting surface. The sidewalls of the secondary tray member are resilient to permit them to be sprung outwardly to permit the mutual engagement of the detent means of said secondary tray member with the corresponding detent means of said primary tray member.

Abstract: A container having a hollow base and a lid pivotally mounted on the base can be constructed so as to utilize a carrier pivotally mounted on the lid adjacent to the rear of the lid. With this structure when the lid is moved from a closed to an open position the rear of the carrier is elevated. The front of the carrier is pivotally connected to the front of the base through the use of a link which accommodates movement of the carrier toward the rear of the container as the lid is opened. In a preferred utilization of the invention the carrier is shaped so as to carry a "load" consisting of a stack of index cards in such a manner that the index cards are capable of being moved between "storage" positions in which they extend upwardly and rearwardly of the carrier and "open" positions in which they extend upwardly toward the front of the carrier.

Abstract: A soldering iron can be constructed using a heating element structure or first part connected to a handle structure or second part through the use of connectors on these parts which are adapted to be secured together through the use of a rotary or twisting type motion. The handle structure includes a spring biased sleeve which projects from it toward the heating element structure. The heating element structure includes a metal flange which is resiliently engaged by the sleeve when the parts are connected together. This flange in effect forms a part of a tubular, metal housing used to connect a body disposed in proximity to the heating element so as to conduct heat away from the heating element and the connector on the heating element structure. The housing serves to protect the heating element structure against physical damage and is grounded through the flange and the sleeve to an appropriate grounding wire leading from the handle structure.

Abstract: A container having a hollow base and a lid pivotally mounted on the base can be constructed so as to utilize a carrier pivotally mounted on the lid adjacent to the rear of the lid. With this structure when the lid is moved from a closed to an open position the rear of the carrier is elevated. The front of the carrier is pivotally connected to the front of the base through the use of a link which accommodates movement of the carrier toward the rear of the container as the lid is opened. In a preferred utilization of the invention the carrier is shaped so as to carry a "load" consisting of a stack of index cards in such a manner that the index cards are capable of being moved between "storage" positions in which they extend upwardly and rearwardly of the carrier and "open" positions in which they extend upwardly toward the front of the carrier.