Box file

Abstract

A box file is provided herein including two rigid or semirigid panels or boards connected by a spine that is likewise rigid or semirigid. The boards include a lower board which forms the back of the box file. The lower board includes, at least along one side, a rigid wall of approximately the same thickness as the spine, and, along the edge opposite the spine, a hinged flap to close the file, of the same thickness as the spine. The wall is hinged to the back, and connected at each end to locking parts that lock the wall at 90° to the back in a storage position of the file, and allow the wall to be pivoted down flat to form an extension of the back when the file is opened out for consultation of documents.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a box file, and more especially a box file of the type comprising two rigid or semirigid panels or boards connected by a spine that is likewise rigid or semirigid, the lower board, forming the back, being provided, at least along one of its short sides, with a rigid wall of approximately the same thickness as the spine, and, along the edge opposite the spine, with a hinged flap to close the file.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A box file is very practical in that the documents which it contains cannot accidentally escape from it when the file is in the closed position.

[0005] However, such a file does not make for easy consultation of the documents inside it, largely because of the lower wall of the board forming the back of the file, which gets in the way of handling the documents when consulting them and when writing on them.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a file of this type in which the lower wall forming a ledge for the documents does not get in the way when they are being consulted.

[0007] For this purpose the file to which it relates, of the type comprising two rigid or semirigid panels or boards connected by a spine that is likewise rigid or semirigid, the lower board, forming the back, being provided, at least along one of its short sides, with a rigid wall of approximately the same thickness as the spine, and, along the edge opposite the spine, with a hinged flap to close the file, of the same thickness as the spine, is characterized in that, on the one hand, the rigid wall running along one short side of the back is hinged to the latter, and, on the other hand, this wall is connected at each end to parts that lock it at 90° to the back in the storage position of the file, and allow it to be pivoted down flat to form an extension of the back when the file is opened out for consultation of documents.

[0008] The rigid wall or walls connected to the back therefore act as ledges when the documents are in storage, and can be dropped down when the file is opened in order to make it easier to consult the documents.

[0009] In another embodiment of this file, each locking part consists of a tab hinged, either (a) to the spine or to the closing flap or to components integral with these, about an axis coaxial with the hinge axis between the wall and the board forming the back, or (b) to the wall about an axis situated along an edge of the latter perpendicular to the hinge axis between this wall and the board forming the back, this tab having, on the one hand, means for curved guidance either on the hinged wall or on the spine or closing flap, respectively, and on the other hand, at its free end, and at the end of the guiding movement, locking means either on the pivoting wall or on the spine or closing flap, respectively.

[0010] In this file, each tab locks the flap to which it is connected in the closed position of the file. Because of the presence of the curved guide means, the wall moves automatically, during closure of the file, from a position in which it is laid flat as an extension of the back of the file to a position in which it is perpendicular to this back.

[0011] In a first embodiment of this file, each locking tab comprises at least one curved slot which runs out at the furthest end from that hinged either to the spine or closing flap, or to the hinged wall, and is designed to be engaged on a guide pin with an enlarged head integral either with the hinged wall or with the spine or closing flap, respectively.

[0012] In another embodiment of this file, each locking tab is of a curved shape and is designed to be engaged in a guide groove or a tunnel formed in the component-spine, flap or wall-adjacent to that carrying the tab.

[0013] In addition, and in accordance with a first possibility, each locking tab is equipped, at its free end, with a locking stud projecting laterally therefrom and designed to be engaged, in the locked position, in an opening formed in that component of the file which comprises the tab guiding means.

[0014] As the final stage in the closing of the file, the pin associated with each tab is inserted through an opening formed in the corresponding component of the file, locking the rigid wall in a position perpendicular to the back. When opening the file, pressure must be applied to each locking stud to enable it to escape from the opening in which it is engaged, in order to allow the wall to be swung down from its position perpendicular to the back to a position in which it is aligned with the back.

[0015] In accordance with another possibility, each locking tab is equipped, at its free end, with a hooked part designed to be engaged, in the locked position, in an opening or in the bottom of a recess formed in that component of the file which comprises the tab guiding means.

[0016] In a situation of this kind, each hook must be disengaged from the bottom of the recess against which it is bearing, in order to release the rigid wall.

[0017] In one embodiment of this file, each locking tab is an integral part of the file and is formed as an extension of the spine, of the closing flap or of the hinged wall, from which it is separated by a fold line.

[0018] In another embodiment, this file comprises a subassembly consisting of the hinged wall and the locking tabs, that is fixed to the board forming the back of the file.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] However, the invention will be understood clearly from the following description, which refers to the attached schematic drawing illustrating, by way of non-limiting examples, a number of embodiments of this file.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first file in the open position;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a detail view of part of the file of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIGS. 3 and 4 are two perspective views showing part of the file of FIG. 1 while the file is being closed;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a detail of the guide means of a locking tab;

[0024] FIG. 6 is a view of a second file constituting a variant of the file of FIG. 1, with certain parts disassembled;

[0025] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another file constituting a variant of FIG. 1 employing a reverse configuration;

[0026] FIG. 8 is a flat view of part of another file;

[0027] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of part of the file of FIG. 8 during closure;

[0028] FIG. 10 is a view of a variant of the file of FIG. 8;

[0029] FIG. 11 is a detail perspective view of the file of FIG. 10 during closure;

[0030] FIG. 12 is a sectional view through the file of FIG. 10 taken on the line 12-12 shown in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031] The file 2 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a flat panel 3 forming the back and connected by a rigid spine 4 to a board 5, only part of which is illustrated. The board 3 comprises along its two short edges a fixed wall 6 of the same height as the spine 4, and a wall 7 that pivots between a position in which it is in the continuation of the board 3, as shown in FIG. 1, and a position in which it is perpendicular to this board. On the edge opposite the spine 4, the board 3 is equipped with a closing flap 8.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the spine 4 is extended by a curved tab 9, while the flap 8 is extended by a tab 10 curved in the opposite direction to the other tab. The tabs 9 and 10 are hinged to the spine 4 and to the flap 8, respectively, about axes 12, 13 formed by folds, and are coaxial with the axis 14 so that the wall 7 can pivot with respect to the board 3. As the tabs 9 and 10 have the same function, being connected to similar components at both ends of the wall 7, only tab 9 is described below. This tab 9 comprises two mutually parallel curved slots 15 in the form of arcs of circles that run out at the opposite end of the tab from the end hinged at 12 to the spine 4. The central portion of the tab, i.e. that located between the two slots 15, comprises, towards the free end of the tab, a hole 16 in which a downward-projecting stud 17 can be snap fastened. Mounted on the inside face of the wall 7 are two pins 18 with enlarged heads for engagement in the two curved slots as the file is being closed. In practice, and as shown in FIG. 3, the pivoting wall is rotated through 90° and the curved tab 9 is guided by engaging the pins 18 in the slots 15. This engagement is facilitated by the ramp form 20 of the free end of the curved tab. As shown in the drawing, the wall 7 has a hole 22 in which the stud 17 is engaged as the last stage in the closing of the file. The curved tab 9 cannot therefore move relative to the wall 7, which means that the latter is firmly locked in a position at 90° to the board 3.

[0033] FIG. 6 shows a variant of the device shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 in which the tabs 9, 10 and the pivoting wall 7 form part of a subassembly 23, which is fastened to the board 3, e.g. with rivets 24.

[0034] FIG. 7 shows a variant of this file in which the technical configuration that allows the pivoting wall 7 to be laid flat and to be locked in the closed position is the reverse of that of FIG. 1. Here, the flaps 9a, 10a are integral with the pivoting wall 7, while the pins 18 are provided on the spine 4 and on the closing flap 8.

[0035] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the board 3 forming the back is provided with a wall 7 comprising a groove 25 in the form of an arc of a circle designed to accommodate, during the closing of the file, a tab 26, also in the form of an arc of a circle, constituting an extension of the spine 4, to which it is hinged by a fold 27. The free end of the tab 26 comprises a hooked part 28 designed to engage, in the closed position, in the bottom of a recess 29 formed at the end of the groove 25. At the end of the closing movement, the hook 28 engages in the bottom of the recess 29. To release the tab 26, the hook 28 must be disengaged from the bottom of the recess 29. This is made possible by the presence of an opening 30 where the board 3 meets the wall 7.

[0036] FIG. 10 is a variant of the device shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 using a subassembly 32 having a face 33 that is fastened by rivets 34 to the board 3 forming the back of the file, this face 33 containing the groove 25. The face 33 is continued by the wall 7, which possesses lateral extensions 35 that pivot about fold lines 36, each extension 35 itself being equipped with a tab 26 folding about a line 37. In this form, and as shown more particularly in FIGS. 11 and 12, the groove 25 formed in the face 33 defines with the board 3 a tunnel for the passage of each tab 26 which locks into the bottom of the recess 29 as described earlier. As is apparent from the above, the invention makes a great improvement on the existing art by providing a box file of simple design which has excellent retention of the documents contained inside it owing to the presence of walls along the short edges of the back, and yet at the same time is very easy to use because at least one of these walls can be laid flat to allow consultation of the documents contained inside the file or to allow them to be written on.

[0037] It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to only those embodiments of the file described above by way of examples but encompasses all variants thereof.

Claims

1. Box file comprising: two rigid or semirigid panels or boards; and a spine that is likewise rigid or semirigid, connecting the two boards; wherein the two boards include a lower board, forming a back, being provided, at least along one of its sides, with a rigid wall of approximately the same thickness as the spine, and, along an edge opposite the spine, with a hinged closing flap to close the file, of the same thickness as the spine; and wherein the wall is hinged to the back and connected at each end to locking parts that lock the rigid wall at 90° to the back in a storage position of the file, and allow the wall to be pivoted down flat to form an extension of the back when the file is opened out for consultation of documents.

2. Box file according to claim 1, wherein each locking part includes a locking tab hinged, either: (a) to the spine or to the flap or to components integral with these, about an axis coaxial with a hinge axis between the wall and the lower board, or (b) to the wall about an axis situated along an edge of the wall perpendicular to the hinge axis; the locking tab including means for curved guidance either on the spine or the flap, or on the wall, respectively, and, at a free end, and at an end of guiding movement, locking means either on the spine or the flap, or on the wall, respectively.

3. Box file according to claim 2, wherein each locking tab comprises at least one curved slot which runs to a furthest end from the hinge either to the spine or the flap, or to the wall, and is designed to be engaged on a guide pin with an enlarged head integral either with the spine or the flap, or the wall, respectively.

4. Box file according to claim 2, wherein each locking tab is of a curved shape and is designed to be engaged in a guide groove or a tunnel formed in a component adjacent to that carrying the tab.

5. Box file according to claim 4, wherein each locking tab is equipped, at its free end, with a locking stud projecting laterally therefrom and designed to be engaged, in a locked position, in an opening formed in either the spine, the flap, or the wall which comprises the tab guiding means.

6. Box file according to claim 2, wherein each locking tab is equipped, at its free end, with a hooked part designed to be engaged, in the locked position, in an opening or in a bottom of a recess formed in either the spine, the flap, or the wall which comprises the tab guiding means.

7. Box file according to claim 2, wherein each locking tab is an integral part of the file and is formed as an extension of the spine, of the closing flap, or of the hinged wall, from which it is separated by a fold line.

8. Box file according to claim 2, further comprising a subassembly including the wall and the locking tabs, that is fixed to the lower board.

9. Box file according to claim 4 wherein the component part is the spine, the closing flap, or the rigid wall.