Abstract: A container for L-shaped plate-like objects, comprising an elongated spring provided in the container so as to extend thereacross, one end of the elongated spring being fixed to one inner surface of the container with the other end being free and able to urge the L-shaped plate-like object to an inner surface of the container which is opposite to the inner surface to which the plate spring is fixed.

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet stacking tray comprises a tapered section for aligning stimulable phosphor sheets at a predetermined position, which is positioned at least at an inner wall of one side end face of the stacking tray where a lower end portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet falling by the sheet weight passes through. Or, the stacking tray comprises a sheet holding member positioned for contact with upper ends of the stacked stimulable phosphor sheets between an inner wall of an upper end face of the stacking tray and the upper ends of the stacked stimulable phosphor sheets, and a system for moving, by operation from the exterior, the sheet holding member to and away from the stacked stimulable phosphor sheets. Or, the stacking tray is provided with a sheet fall preventing member comprising a stopper projectable from the center of a side end of the opening face of the stacking tray to the inside of the opening face to prevent the sheet falling, and a member for supporting and moving the stopper.

Abstract: A dispenser for paper napkins including a container having a substantially open top and front. Opposed side walls of the container receive a cover that can pivot about an axis adjacent the rearward edges of the cover. In addition to pivotal movement, the cover is also mounted for up and down sliding movement to better accommodate various numbers of napkins. Angling the forward edges of the cover downwardly toward the stack of napkins concentrates the pressure exerted on the stack across a line inward of the front of the container. The cover is pressed down on the stack causing the ends of the napkins to fan apart facilitating the user grasping and removing any desired number of the napkins.

Abstract: A dispenser for playing cards includes a shoe adapted to contain stacked playing cards and dispense a single card at a time. The shoe includes a front wall adapted to conceal the leading card of the stack. A slot sized to permit a playing card to pass through is positioned adjacent the floor and front wall. The dispenser also includes a card pusher adapted to urge the stack cards down an inclined floor and a contact roller for dispensing cards. An endless belt located in an opening in the front wall engages the contact roller. The belt also securely engages a pair of inner rollers spaced by a predetermined distance such that displacement of the belt by the operator through the predetermined distance causes rotation of the contact roller to advance the leading card into and substantially out of the slot. The predetermined distance is preferably selected to approximate the distance which operators are accustomed to move the leading card when dealing the leading card from a manual shoe.

Abstract: A card-dispenser guard apparatus for a playing-card dealing shoe, the apparatus comprising a plate having an opening therethrough, the opening having disposed therein a flexible closure partable along a vertical axis thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible closure comprises a plurality of closely adjacent tensioned strands which extend from the perimeter of the opening and whose ends meet along a vertical axis of the opening essentially mid-way between the lateral sides of the opening to thereby provide right strands extending from the right perimeter and left strands extending from the left perimeter of the opening. The right and left strands extend at opposing downward angles as measured from a horizontal plane so that the angles and the ends of the right and left strands converge along the vertical axis.

Abstract: A system for controllably compressing a plurality of microfiche in a file tray comprises a flat compressor having a rigid upper transverse portion and a flexible, resilient lower transverse portion. A mounting mechanism mounts the compressor to a pair of rails extending lengthwise of the tray on either side of the microfiche for sliding motion lengthwise of the holder and permits the compressor to be inclined for access to the units. Cam means on the mounting mechanism releasably clamp the mounting mechanism to the rails when the compressor is rotated into a vertical position.

Abstract: An arrangement for filing records in which a fastener, provided with two flexible fastening prongs passing through holes in the records, is maintained in a slot on a fastener carrier, whereby a guide channel located inside the wall of a slot and parallel to the fastener plane, is provided to accommodate the central bead of the fastener and also the openings for the passage of fastening prongs which extend through to reach the bearing surface of the fastener carrier. The technical problems in this case are to configure the filing arrangement so that changing the fastener does not require it to be removed from the fastener carrier itself, and to allow the fastener to be firmly secured without the help of any additional accessories. A flexible flap (12) is arranged opposite the guide channel (9)--see FIG. 1.

Abstract: A sliding file support to cooperate with a dual access file system having a central longitudinal upwardly open U-channel. At least one side of the channel has an outer surface and at the top of the side a lip with an inner surface. The element comprises a slider and a loop for an end stop. The slider carries two rear, lower legs with inner bearing surfaces; also a third, lower forward leg longitudinally between the other two and with an inward bearing surface. The slider also carries a ledge longitudinally between the rear legs, and a hook longitudinally spaced from the legs. In operation the hook is hooked under the lip of the wall, the ledge rides on the top of the wall, and the bearing surfaces clasp the wall between them in sliding engagement. The body and the support are readily engaged and disengaged.

Abstract: A sheet holder for releasably restraining a stack of sheets of varying thickness so that operations such as writing or drawing can be performed on the top sheet. The sheets are supported on a stack support shelf secured to a base. A retainer is pivoted to the same base and has a portion which overlies the front edge of a stack of sheets on the support shelf. A rubber band, spring or other elastic member may be provided to apply a force to the retainer urging it into retaining engagement with the stack of sheets and an alignment member acts as a guide to maintain the sheets in the stack in alignment with each other. The elastic member and the alignment member may be the same part. In one embodiment the retainer also serves as a hand rest for a person performing operations on the stack of sheets. A prop or leg may be provided to releasably hold the retainer out of contact with the stack of sheets so that sheets may easily be added or removed.

Abstract: A merchandise display device adapted to maintain merchandise in an organized orientation upon a display surface is diclosed. The device comprises an insert sized to be positioned within a display case or drawer and includes a base plate formed to contact the merchandise, an anchor member adapted to attach the insert to the display case and an accordian-like extensible member positioned between the base plate and anchor member. The extensible member is provided with plural spring clips at each of its apexes to continuously bias the base plate away from the anchor member. As merchandise is removed from the display case, the device constantly urges the merchandise in a forward direction and thereby maintains the stack of merchandise in an organized orientation.

Abstract: An article display stand, particularly for sheet-like data carriers, has a substantially horizontal bottom plate with an outer edge, and at least two pairs of substantially vertical lateral walls arranged on the bottom plate and forming at least two upwardly open elongated compartments for accommodating objects in an upright position and provided with object withdrawing openings in the region of the outer edge of the bottom plate, wherein the lateral walls of each of the compartments approach one another in direction toward the respective withdrawing openings, so that each of the compartments forms an angle in direction of its elongation, and the withdrawing openings of the two compartments are located near one another.

Abstract: A portable towel dispenser that dispenses towels from an open top portion of a hollow rectangular shaped container. A slider is provided with a retainer portion for holding the towels down and a lifter portion for successively lifting each towel. Further provided on the slider is two parallel spaced plates forming a groove therebetween which fits in a slot in the front wall of the container and is vertically displaceable through a plurality of positions. Due to the binding action of the plates on the edges of the slot when the container is turned over, the towels will not fall out of the container when it is turned over.

Abstract: A compressor for cards stored in a drawer of magnetic material comprising a base positionable in the drawer and a compressor member mounted on the base for pivotal movement relative to the base between an extended position in which the compressor member can support the cards in a vertical position and a retracted position in which the compressor member is retracted from the cards. A spring biases the compressor member toward the extended position. A first magnet section on the base cooperates with the magnetic material of the drawer for magnetically retaining the compressor on the drawer. A second magnet section on the base retains the compressor member in the retracted position against the biasing force of the spring.

Abstract: The invention provides a set of spring-like tongues for mounting in a compartment, for frictionally retaining differing objects, in particular sanitary commodities such as tampons, tampex cartridges and the like, comprising a plurality of juxtaposed spring-like tongues, longitudinally extending from a common head rail, which spring-like tongues are pre-bent in such a way that, starting from points adjacent to the head rail, they slope substantially away from the plane containing major surfaces of the head rail. The invention also provides a compartment for frictionally retaining and dispensing of differing objects incorporating such a set of spring-like tongues.

Abstract: A dealing shoe for playing cards in the form of a box having a sloping front wall with a finger opening therein communicating with a slot horizontally disposed at a lower edge of the front wall for passage of cards therethrough. A downwardly inclined support plate is disposed within the box and slidably supports a pusher which serves to push the cards toward the front wall. Springs are employed to resiliently bias the pusher toward the front wall.

Abstract: A playing card dispenser comprising: (a) at least two compartments each appropriately sized to accommodate a stack of playing cards; (b) an exterior opening leading from each compartment and from which playing cards can be withdrawn one at a time; (c) a cover selectively placeable about any compartment from which playing cards are not to be withdrawn to block such withdrawal; and (d), as in a preferred embodiment, a roller mounted within a housing and disposed in each compartment behind each said stack, said roller gravitationally rollable on the floor of said compartment to maintain the stack of playing cards tightly stacked.

Abstract: A merchandising rack for displaying and dispensing a plurality of generally planar upright product packages comprises a forwardly inclined ramp adapted for receiving a first linear array of the product to be dispensed. A product carrying container is slidably received on the ramp. The product carrying container defines a parallelpiped having an angle of inclination approximately equal to the slope angle of the inclined ramp. The container is adapted for receiving a second linear array of the product and backing up the first linear array of the product to gravity bias the same in the forward direction for viewing and dispensing. Stop means is disposed at the front of the ramp for engaging the foremost members of the first linear array of the product and the gravity biasing container when the first linear array of the product is exhausted.

Abstract: Microfiche cards and the like are held in a file enclosure between file-segregator cards. The segregator cards are shaped to fit on and slide along longitudinal rails. To promote fanning of the segregator cards when they are compressed in a particular way, they have added thickness in a zone near their bottom edges. Two independently adjustable compressors are provided, one above and one below the added-thickness zone. By manipulation of the compressors a user can fan the file to a desired extent, controlling the fraction of the group of segregator cards which fans, and the angle between the adjacent fanned segregator cards, or can maintain the file tightly closed.

Abstract: A posting tray, or similar record holding tray, includes two side rails which are adjustably movable toward and away from one another, and are releasably fixable in any given position of adjustment, to suit the tray for record cards of various different widths. Each side rail is part of a C-shaped member having two laterally inwardly extending legs at its opposite ends. The legs are connected to the front and rear walls of the tray. The two legs associated with each wall overlap one another throughout a portion of the range of adjustable movement of the side rails, and are out of such overlapping relationship throughout another portion of the range of adjustable movement, to maximize the side rail spacing variation range. The overlap of the legs which does occur may be accommodated in either the vertical plane or the horizontal plane.

Abstract: Correspondence (or the like) filing folders and filing cabinet drawer dividers, hereinafter generally referred to as "separators", are made of relatively thin and inexpensive sheet material and are novelly constructed and configured to prevent them from "slumping" when installed in a compartmented filing system; the folders/dividers being of improved functioning and increased life characteristics. An improved (optionally employed) file content "follower" contributes to an overall improved filing system.

Abstract: A file device includes a shelf member containing a plurality of dividers each removably attached to the shelf member in a selective longitudinal position by means allowing of pivotal displacement about its lower edge. A compressible pad upon the shelf floor constantly biases against the attached divider lower edges to form a tight seal therewith while each divider is provided with lateral tabs overlying the shelf member side walls and having a specified height selected to limit the degree of pivotal displacement of that divider. Additionally, removable label holders for the divider tabs form a close mating fit therewith. Improved support means for the shelf member includes a stand cooperating with the shelf side walls or hanger brackets engageable with the shelf and walls, both serving to retain the shelf member at a fixed transverse inclination.

Abstract: A sheet holder attachment is used with a sheet holder for a counter for counting sheets and comprises a base member, a keep member pivotably mounted on said base member and spring means for urging said keep member toward said base member to hold a stack of small sheets to be counted on said base member. The base member has a stand portion for supporting the lower end of the sheet stack and abutment members adapted to engage the rear end of the sheet stack.

Abstract: A card file holder for filing cards of various thickness and length comprising an upwardly opening U-shaped support member having a forward and a rearward wall. A foam rubber member has a forward and a rearward wall surface with one surface thereof glued to the rear wall of the support, while an opposed wall surface thereof is glued to a movable plate member. The plate member is urged toward the forward wall of the support so that cards of various thickness are captured in supported relationship between the movable plate member and the forward wall of the support.

Abstract: A tray is adapted to be supported on an elevator mechanism and moves vertically by the elevator mechanism to pick up a shingled array of signatures which are supported on edge in an inclined position adjacent the elevator mechanism. The tray includes a generally horizontally extending support portion adapted to engage the lower edges of the signatures as the tray is raised. A member located at one end of the tray has an inclined surface against which the last signature at one end of the tray rests. A clamp mechanism at the other end of the tray includes a clamp member which is engageable with the last signature in the array to clamp against that last signature.

Abstract: A holder is provided for both supporting and carrying napkins and containers, such as condiment bottles. The holder includes a lower tray for napkins and an upper tray supported thereabove on struts for containers. The struts are constructed with vertically extending slots in which a retaining bar is received to rest upon the napkins and hold them securely in place. A handle extends above the upper tray to provide means for readily transporting the tray, while at the same time providing structure to engage and help support the containers. Flanges are provided around the perimeter of the upper and lower trays to assist in holding the containers and napkins in place.

Abstract: End restraints for article shipping bins each include a rigid plate pivotally mounted on a carriage for movement toward and away from sides of the articles. Biasing facilities act on the carriage to (I) maintain the plate in contact with the sides of the articles; (2) limit longitudinal motion of the articles; and (3) dampen longitudinal forces acting on the articles during transit.

Abstract: An elevating device for use in a box of facial tissues for the purpose of elevating the stack of tissues therein comprises a unitary structure of a resiliently flexible plastics material, such as polyethylene. The structure includes a central platform on which the stack of tissues is supported and resiliently splayable legs integrally formed with the platform along opposite transverse edges thereof. Longitudinally extending and generally central fingers are usefully also integrally formed with the platform to provide additional support for the stack of tissues.