Container-card file 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. A plate which in effect forms a part of the link is used to automatically move those cards from an open position into a storage position when the lid is moved from an open position to a closed position.

We claim: 
     
       1. A container which includes a hollow base having an open top and spaced front and rear ends, a lid fitting over and enclosing said top of said base, said lid having front and rear ends, a first pivot means pivotally connecting said rear end of said base with said rear end of said lid so that said lid can be rotated about a first axis between a closed position covering said top of said base and an open position in which said lid extends generally in back of said rear end of said base, carrier means having front and rear ends, for supporting a load, said carrier means being located generally within the interior of said base when said lid is in said closed position, second pivot means pivotally connecting said rear end of said carrier means to said lid adjacent to said rear end of said lid so that said carrier means is rotated about a second axis which is parallel to said first axis during rotation of said lid in which the improvement comprises: link means for use in pivotally supporting said front end of said carrier means, said link means extending between said carrier means and said base,   third pivot means pivotally connecting said link means and said carrier means so that said carrier means may be rotated relative to said link means about a third axis, said third axis being parallel to said first and said second axes,   fourth pivot means pivotally connecting said link means and said base so that said link means may be rotated about a fourth axis relative to said base, said fourth axis being parallel to said first, second and third axes.[...].   .Iadd.arm means attached to said lid, said arm means having an extremity remote from said lid which extends into the interior of said base beneath said first pivot when said lid is in said closed position and which extends above said first pivot when said lid is in said open position,   said second pivot means is located at said extremity of said arm means, and   said arm means supporting the rear end of said carrier means so that during movement of said lid from said closed position to said open position the rear end of said carrier means is elevated relative to the front end of said carrier means and is moved rearwardly of its location when said lid is in said closed position. .[.   
     
     
       2.  A container as claimed in claim 1 including: arm means attached to said lid, said arm means having an extremity remote from said lid which extends into the interior of said base beneath said first pivot when said lid is in said closed position and which extends above said first pivot when said lid is in said open position, and   said second pivot means is located at said extremity of said arm means..].   
     
     
       3. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the weight of said lid is such that when said lid is in said open position the weight of said carrier means, said load, and said link means will not cause said lid to rotate to said closed position.   
     
     
       4. A container as claimed in claim 1 including: spring means for biasing said lid toward said open position disposed generally between said lid and said carrier and engaging said lid and said carrier.   
     
     
       5. A container as claimed in claim 4 wherein: said second pivot means includes an axle,   said spring means comprises a coil spring disposed about said axis, one end of said coil spring engaging said lid and the other end of said coil spring engaging said carrier means.   
     
     
       6. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said load comprises a stack of index cards,   said carrier means includes rail means for holding said stack of index cards so that said cards may be moved between storage and open positions, said cards extending upwardly and toward the rear of said carrier means when in said storage position, said cards extending upwardly and toward the front of said carrier means when in said open position.   
     
     
       7. A container as claimed in claim 6 wherein: said carrier means includes a rear stop means for limiting the amount said cards extend toward the rear of said carrier means when in said storage position.   
     
     
       8. A container as claimed in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.6 .Iaddend.wherein: said link means serves as a second stop means for limiting the amount said cards can extend forwardly when in said position.   
     
     
       9. A container as claimed in claim 8 wherein: said fourth axis is above and to the rear of said third axis when said lid is in said open position and said third axis is to the rear of and below said fourth axis when said lid is in said open position so that said link means will engage the card of said stack closest adjacent to said front end of said base in order to move any cards in said open position to said storage position when said link means and said carrier means are rotated as a result of rotation of said lid.   
     
     
       10. A container as claimed in claim 8 wherein: said link means includes an integrally formed plate which abuts against the card of said stack closest adjacent to the front of said base when said lid is moved from said open to said closed position.   
     
     
       11. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said load comprises a stack of index cards,   said carrier means includes rail means for holding said stack of index cards so that said cards may be moved between storage and open positions, said cards extending upwardly and toward the rear of said carrier means when in said storage position, said cards extending upwardly and toward the front of said carrier means when in said open position,   said carrier means includes a rear stop means for limiting the amount said cards extend toward the rear of said carrier means when in said storage position,   said link means serves as a second stop means for limiting the amount said cards can extend forwardly when in said position,   said fourth axis is above and to the rear of said third axis when said lid is in said position and said third axis is to the rear of and below said fourth axis when said lid is in said open position so that said link means will engage the card of said stack closest adjacent to said front end of said base in order to move any cards in said open position to said storage position when said link means and said carrier means are rotated as a result of rotation of said lid,   said link means includes an integrally formed plate which abuts against the card of said stack closest adjacent to the front of said base when said lid is moved from said open to said closed position.   
     
     
       12. A container as claimed in claim 11 including: arm means attached to said lid, said arm means having an extremity remote from said lid which extends into the interior of said base beneath said first pivot when said lid is in said closed position and which extends above said first pivot when said lid is in said open position, and   said second pivot means is located at said extremity of said arm means.   
     
     
       13. A container as claimed in claim 12 wherein: the weight of said lid is such that when said lid is in said open position the weight of said carrier means, said load, and said link means will not cause said lid to rotate to said closed position.   
     
     
       14. A container as claimed in claim 13 including: spring means for biasing said lid toward said open position disposed generally between said lid and said carrier and engaging said lid and said carrier, and wherein   said second pivot means includes an axle,   said spring means comprises a coil spring disposed about said axis, one end of said coil spring engaging said lid and the other end of said coil spring engaging said carrier means. .Iadd.   
     
     
       15.  A container which includes a hollow base having an open top and spaced front and rear ends, a lid fitting over and enclosing said top of said base, said lid having front and rear ends, a first pivot means pivotally connecting said rear end of said base with said rear end of said lid so that said lid can be rotated about a first axis between a closed position covering said top of said base and an open position in which said lid extends generally in back of said rear end of said base, carrier means having front and rear ends, for supporting a load, said carrier means being located generally within the interior of said base when said lid is in said closed position, second pivot means pivotally connecting said rear end of said carrier means to said lid adjacent to said rear end of said lid so that said carrier means is rotated about a second axis which is parallel to said first axis during rotation of said lid in which the improvement comprises: link means for use in pivotally supporting said front end of said carrier means, said link means extending between said carrier means and said base,   third pivot means pivotally connecting said link means and said carrier means so that said carrier means may be rotated relative to said link means about a third axis, said third axis being parallel to said first and said second axes,   fourth pivot means pivotally connecting said link means and said base so that said link means may be rotated about a fourth axis relative to said base, said fourth axis being parallel to said first, second and third axes,   said load comprises a stack of index cards,   said carrier means includes rail means for holding said stack of index cards so that said cards may be moved between storage and open positions, said cards extending upwardly and toward the rear of said carrier means when in said storage position, said cards extending upwardly and toward the front of said carrier means when in said open position.