The present invention is directed to dividers for folders in connection with storage of documents.
Incorporation by reference: This application hereby incorporates the following patent disclosures by reference in their entirety: U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,427 to Kachel et al., Reinforced Expanding Folders; U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,470 to Bullock, Slip Resistant File Folders; U.S. Pat. No. 8,746,539 to Dodson, Visually Enhanced Tab File System; U.S. Pat. No. 8,550,330 to Black et al., Integrated Tab Hanging File System.
Folders and more particularly pocket folders are useful for holding documents permanently or temporarily. Many pocket folders have accordion side walls to make them expandable to accommodate more papers. It would be desirable to be able to subdivide the pocket folder to segregate papers. A common solution is to simply insert separate folders within the pocket, but they tend to slide down into the pocket, and if they have visual indicator tabs, the tabs are no longer visible. To build dividers into the pocket folder at time of manufacture limits the flexibility of the pocket in case a large block of papers would fill the entire space, and the dividers would get into the way.
Thus, there has been a long felt need to solve both problems: 1) provide flexibility of a pocket folder to have a large opening; 2) to provide a divider system which could be removably installed into a pocket folder when needed; and 3) tabs on the dividers would not slide down into the pocket and thus would no longer be visible to the user. The technology to solve this problem has long existed, but no comprehensive solution has been heretofore found. The present invention solves the above mentioned problems, amongst others.
To assist the reader in preparing to digest the detailed description and claims below, a short summary has been provided. It is not intended to be a complete disclosure but rather provides a glimpse of the invention concepts. It is not intended to define the scope of the invention. The claims perform that function. There are several embodiments in this disclosure.
There is disclosed a divider unit for use in a pocket container having spaced apart sidewalls a width for receiving documents, having any or all of the following elements; a unitary web of generally planar material having a plurality of fold lines to form a plurality of divider panels and a foot having flanges. In the preferred embodiment, the web material is a fiber paper board material which can be folded and will retain its folded state along a fold line. The foot is sized to be inserted within a container in said width to provide subdividing panels to separate groups of documents. The foot should be narrower than the space/width provided for in the pocket container though accordion pockets have variable width so different foot widths are possible.
The web material is folded to include or create the following structures: a pair of spaced apart upwardly oriented divider panels having top and bottom ends. Note that “upward” orientation is intended to help the reader when the insert is oriented in a pocket container with an open top. If it has a side opening, then “upwardly” means toward the opening in the pocket container. The bottom ends of each divider panel having an outward extending first portions, or flanges formed by folding of portions of the panel. The first portions further having a further second portion being folded under said first portion wherein the second folded under portion from each divider panel connecting together, thereby forming together a foot portion under the first portions and between said spaced apart panels, as one continuous web.
Also disclosed is a divider unit for use in a pocket container having spaced apart sidewalls a width for receiving documents, having any or all of the following elements: a unitary web of generally planar material having a right and left end and at least first, second, third and fourth score and/or fold lines to define a plurality of regions. The right and left sides being interchangeable terms and provide only reference. The term score line and fold line should be interpreted to be interchangeable. Where there is a fold line there may also be a score line:
a. a first region between the right end and second first score line, thereby defining a right divider panel;
b. a second region between the first and second score lines, thereby defining a second portion. This portion may be a relatively narrow strip equal to the spaced desired between an inner wall of the pocket and this first most adjacent upright divider panel.
c. a third region between the second and third score lines, thereby defining a third portion foot plate. The foot plate is typically a width equal to or narrower than the width of the inner walls of the container. In an accordion container, this may be variable.
d. a fourth region between the third and fourth score lines, thereby defining a fourth portion. This region can be a mirror image of the second region if the divider spacing is symmetrical or equidistant.
e. a fifth region between the fourth score line and the left end, thereby defining the left divider panel. The region is typically the other divider panel.
wherein said first region is generally perpendicular to said second region. Perpendicular is meant to be generally at right angles but since the web material is flexible it is at least upright;
wherein said second and third regions are folded in at least partial overlapping abutment with each other. The second and third regions are thus folded on each other. The second region is typically narrower so that they may only partially overlap;
wherein said third and fourth regions are folded in at least partial overlapping abutment with each other. The same conditions apply as for second and third regions.
wherein said left panel is generally perpendicular to said third and fourth regions and wherein said right panel is generally perpendicular to said first and second regions; thereby creating a pair of spaced apart left and right panels and a foot plate insertable into said pocket container formed as one continuous web. A continuous web means that the material need not be bonded together to form this shape, though that is also possible within the scope of this disclosure.
There is also disclosed a method of forming a unitary web material into a divider system for a pocket folder comprising any or all of the steps of, in any order:
There is also disclosed a divider unit for use in a pocket container having spaced part sidewalls defining a width for receiving documents, having a first unitary web of generally planar material having a plurality of score and fold lines folded to form a pair of first and second generally upright panels with a central bottom portion between and joining said upright panels and generally orthogonal thereto. The word “upright” has been defined earlier and necessarily in an up oriented position, but toward the opening of a container box. The unitary web is preferably a single piece of material, often a paper or fiber but may also be other materials. The score lines are indentations pressed into the web to define the location of a fold.
A second unitary web of generally planar material having a plurality of score and fold lines folded to form a pair of third and fourth generally upright panels with a central bottom portion between and joining said upright panels and generally orthogonal thereto a foot plate having a width not greater than said defined pocket width. The pocket width is the space between inner walls of the pocket container, wherein said second and third panels are bonded together to form a common double walled panel and together forming a three generally upright dividers and wherein the bottoms of the unitary webs are bonded to said foot plate, so that said foot plate forms a bottom of the divider unit and is sized to be received within said pocket container.
There is also disclosed a method of forming a divider system for a pocket folder having any or all of the following steps, in any order:
There is also disclosed a divider unit for use in a pocket container having spaced part sidewalls defining a width for receiving documents, having any or all of the following elements: a first unitary web of generally planar material having a plurality of score or fold lines folded to form a pair of first and second generally upright panels with a central bottom portion between and joining said upright panels and generally orthogonal thereto; a second unitary web of generally planar material having an upper and lower end, and at least first and second score lines to define three regions, a first region formed between said first score line and toward said upper end to create a third generally upright panel; a second region formed between said first and second score lines to create an intermediate portion; a third region formed between the second score line and toward said lower end to create a foot plate having a distal end; wherein a portion on said third region is folded into overlapping abutment with said second region and bonded thereto; wherein said central bottom portion is bonded to a portion of said foot plate spaced from said third upright panel thereby creating first, second and third generally upright panels extending from said footplate, and thereby defining spaces between said panels for document retention. In this embodiment it is possible to have at least three divider panels in the divider with only two separate web components. One web is used to create at least two divider panels and the other web provides a single panel and the bottom foot.
There is further disclosed a divider further including a third and fourth score line in said foot plate, said third score line being adjacent and parallel to said second score line and said fourth score line being adjacent to but spaced from the end of the distal end of the foot plate; said third and fourth score lines and wherein space on the web between said second and third score lines defining a first foldable adjustment portion and wherein the space on the web between said fourth fold line and the distal end of the foot plate defines a second foldable adjustment portion, and wherein said adjustable portions are foldable according to user desire to adapt the divider insert to varying foot plate dimensions. This feature, which is applicable to all embodiments, provides a second score line which is available to the user to define a foot width of varying size. The score lines can be folded to fold over a region/portion to narrow the foot base. Multiple score lines can be made in the foot plate so that the plate can be sized to virtually any container width by folding over or folding up part of the plate to make it narrower.
There is also disclosed a method of forming a divider system for a pocket folder comprising any or all of the following steps, in any order:
This disclosure describes file folder, sometimes known as a pocket, and a removable divider system, and method of manufacturer and assembly. The removable divider system may be used with containers other than a file or pocket, such as a box or filing cabinet. For simplicity we will refer to all containers as a pocket. The divider may be removable or affixed permanently.
A method of manufacturer is also disclosed by the drawings and description.
Pocket 10 in
In order to insure that there will be tab/writing space 40, visible at the top (distal) edge of each panel, it is preferably to offset/cut away a portion of panel 12 at its top tab edge 42. This offset 43 (shown in broken lines as an option) provides exposure of the tab section 40 of panel 14a by being shorter than panel 14b.
In
The insert unit 200 is shown in
In
The embodiment shown in
In this embodiment, the stock is folded between 206b and 206c with portions 206b/206c glued/affixed to portion 206d. This occurs on both sides of 206c. The result is that two flanges/feet are created by the span of 206b/206c affixed to 206d. When inserted into the pocket, these feet provide stability and inhibit movement of the unit within the pocket especially when the pocket is filled with papers which thereby press the feet into the bottom of the pocket. It is also possible for the feet to be glued to the pocket or held in by a removable adhesive system such as Velcro® or releasable glue.
Notice that the both portions 206a and 206b overlie 206c/206d in this embodiment. This is so that the score between the portions 206a/206b can be folded upwardly on both sides so that the span of the foot is reduced by the width of 206a according to user needs. This feature, of extra score and fold lines can also be incorporated in all embodiments to provide easy user adjustment of the panel spacing, at least with respect to the panels which face the sidewalls of the pocket folder. If the desired width of the pocket is W1 then the portions 206b/206c are folded up. If the desired width of the pocket is W2, then portions 206a/206b are allowed to remain flat or orthogonal to panels 202/204. Thus, in this embodiment, the width of the foot is adjustable. It is within the scope of this invention to provide additional score lines parallel with those shown to provide additional foot width adjustment.
Likewise, in an alternate embodiment, portions 206a (or 206b) may be eliminated if no adjustment is desired.
To form the base for this embodiment is a separate element 206 which is then bonded to the floor sections 320 (typically horizontal portions) of the folder units.
The assembly is shown if
The scoring of material is illustrated in
The method of manufacturer is to cut a single unitary blank and score an assemble the blank in accordance with the structure shown and bond elements also as shown. Unitary means that the material is a continuous web, not joined from separate pieces. The preferred cut pattern is as follows: a back panel with first and second sides having bottom edges and separated by a central fold line, the first side including a foldable extension panel which extends beyond the bottom edge. The extension forms the front panel of a foldable pocket and has lateral flaps.
The above description and its applications as set forth herein is illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein are possible and practical alternatives to and equivalents of the various elements of the embodiments would be understood to those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this patent document. These and other variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
This application claims priority and incorporates by reference in their entirely the disclosure of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/182,981 filed 22 Jun. 2015.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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154546 | Foye | Sep 1874 | A |
1551302 | Gabel | Aug 1925 | A |
5720427 | Kachel et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
6273470 | Bullock | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6837368 | Chang | Jan 2005 | B1 |
8540138 | Christensen et al. | Sep 2013 | B1 |
8550330 | Black et al. | Oct 2013 | B2 |
8746539 | Dodson | Jun 2014 | B2 |
20070125835 | Pelleg | Jun 2007 | A1 |
20140131427 | Scott et al. | May 2014 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62182981 | Jun 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15187981 | Jun 2016 | US |
Child | 16116241 | US |