Apparatus for the retrieval and refiling of documents in flat file storage drawers

A portable arrangement for use in a drawer for storing a plurality of flat sheets, said drawer having a predetermined width, runners, a front wall, a rear wall, sidewalls and a cover member having means for being uprightly mounted at said rear wall, said arrangement comprising;

• (a) a sheet separator with a tapered front portion and having means for being mounted on at least one transverse spanning member which in turn has means for slidably coupling to said runners;
• (b) first clamping means comprising at least one member having a surface for clampingly engaging at least one sheet located below the sheet desired to be extracted;
• and
• (c) a second clamping means comprising at least one member having a surface for clampingly engaging at least one sheet located above the sheet desired to be extracted, said second clamping means having a body with one of its ends connected to means to permit detachable hanging from said dust cover.

A method of extracting at least one sheet from a plurality of sheets stacked in a flat storage drawer comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an upright member positioned at the rear of said storage drawer so as to span but not contact said plurality of sheets;
• (b) providing a sheet separator mounted on at least one transverse member so as to span but not contact said plurality of sheets;
• (c) providing first clamping means comprising at least one member having a surface for clampingly engaging at least one sheet located below the sheet desired to be extracted;
• (d) providing second clamping means comprising at least one member having a surface for clampingly engaging at least one sheet located above the sheet desired to be extracted, said second clamping means having a body with one of its ends connected to means to permit detachable hanging from said upright member;
• (e) searching through said plurality of sheets to locate the sheet desired to be extracted;
• (f) clamping said first clamping means to the one or more sheets located below said sheet desired to be extracted;
• (g) holding one end of the one or more sheets located above the sheet desired to be extracted and while so doing placing at least one loop in said sheets;
• (h) clamping the said second clamping means to an upper portion of said looped sheets;
• (i) detachably hanging said second clamping means from said upright member;
• and
• (j) extracting said sheet desired to be removed.