Patent Grant
6938549
This invention relates to improvements in file folders, expandable folders, hanging folders, and the like.
File folders have become a necessity in today's modern offices and businesses. Such folders may be as simple as stiff, folded paperboard, often having predetermined cut out or raised areas for attaching labels or other identifying indicia. File folders, such as manila folders, are useful for storing paper and related articles in an orderly manner in file drawers or cabinets. Many improvements have been made to the simple file folder, including expandable folders that can hold a large amount of papers, reinforced edges for stronger, longer lasting use, and clasp means for positively securing the file contents so that enclosed papers stay organized and do not fall out.
Many variations of the simple file folder are known. For example “file pockets” are expandable file folders having fan-folded sides for higher capacity storing of papers. File pockets come in a variety of sizes, including letter and legal size. “Expanding files” are similar to file pockets, but generally have a flap attached that can be secured to a front cover to prevent papers from falling out the top of the file. Expanding files often have numerous pockets inside which are sometimes indexed for added organizational capability. Closely related to expanding files are expanding wallets, which generally have an elastic cord attached to the flap which can be used to secure the flap in a closed position.
In addition to simple file folders, file pockets, expanding files and expanding wallets, it is known to use hanging folders for receiving file folders and the like. Hanging folders are made for use in standard storage units such as file cabinets, desk drawers and the like. Hanging folders are generally formed of a sheet of heavy weight paper with a central horizontal fold which forms the folder's bottom and has open sides. Folds are provided in the file's top edges through which hanging rods are movably or immovably fixed. The ends of these rods are exposed and notched, enabling the file to hang on a complementary standard parallel file frame in office storage equipment, such as filing cabinets and desk drawers.
Improvements to hanging folders include providing the inner surfaces of the folded over portions at the top of each flap with uniformly spaced slots for insertion of labeling tabs. Reinforcing plastic film may be applied to the exposed edges to reduce wear as the file is moved in the frame or file drawer. This film may be applied with colored adhesive to provide a color coding system or a clear film may be applied over a colored surface by clear adhesive to achieve the same result. Hanging folders with strong, flat bottoms have been made to handle oversized or heavy contents. Other various improvements to hanging folders are exemplified in the art, including various means for attaching labeling, as well as adapting the hanging folder concept for a wide variety of articles, such as hanging loose-leaf ring binders.
One drawback to existing file folders and hanging folders is the relative difficulty in removing such folders from file drawers, file cabinets, and the like, especially when such folders are oversized, such as relatively full expandable folders or full flat-bottom (box-bottom) hanging folders. It is often necessary to remove a folder to inspect, remove, or add to its contents, and it is often necessary to remove an entire file pocket or hanging folder for similar reasons. Removal is generally accomplished by gripping the top edges of the folder and lifting it out of the drawer. However, it is difficult to grip the top of a very full, thick, folder to remove it from the file drawer without it slipping, possibly falling and spilling its contents. This is because the paper stock used for existing folders is generally very smooth, and somewhat slick, requiring the person removing the file to exert extremely high pressures to lift the folder. Even pulling a relatively thin file folder or hanging folder out of a full drawer is made more difficult by the pressure of adjacent files. Often it is necessary to use two hands to grip a folder for removal. This problem is especially pronounced for older persons, persons having arthritis, or persons otherwise being incapable of applying sufficient grip strength.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a slip-resistant file folder, hanging folder, and the like, that is easy to grip and remove from its drawer or cabinet.
Additionally, it would be desirable to be able to adapt an existing file folder, hanging folder, and the like, to be slip-resistant for easier removal from a drawer or cabinet.
Additionally, it would be desirable to be able to economically produce slip-resistant file folders, hanging folders, and the like.
Methods for producing easily and securely gripped slip-resistant file folders, including file pockets and hanging folders are disclosed. The methods include providing folder paper stock; conveying the folder paper stock in the process of folder manufacture; providing a curable slip-resistant material in a melt state; applying the slip-resistant material at predetermined areas of the folder paper stock; and curing the slip-resistant material; such that the slip-resistant portion comprises cured slip-resistant material. Another method includes providing folder paper stock; providing embossing dies in spaced, operable, mating relationship; positioning the folder paper stock appropriately in the embossing dies; applying force to at least one of the embossing dies so as to decrease the spaced relationship; and deforming the folder paper stock.
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the present invention, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying Drawing Figures, in which like reference numerals identify like elements, and wherein:
As used herein, when used alone, the term “folder” encompasses all of “file folders”, “file pockets”, “expanding files”, “expanding wallets”, and “hanging folders” as well as other folding articles that may be stored in a file drawer or cabinet, such as hanging ring binders, bound presentation folders, and the like.
As used herein, the term “file folder” means folders such as manila, kraft, pressboard, or plastic, typically supplied in letter or legal size. File folders come in a variety of “points”, which denote the weight of the paper stock used for the folder. File folders are supplied with various improvements, such as color coding, undercut tabs for labeling, reinforcing strips along edges, and fasteners to hold papers attached in various positions. By way of example, a manila file folder suitable for the present invention is the Smead 152L heavyweight 11 pt. manila folder, available from the Smead company, Hastings, Minn.
As used herein, the term “file pockets” means expandable pockets having fanfolded sides and a fan-folded bottom, useful for large files. File pockets have a larger capacity than file folders, and may be used in standard filing systems, including hanging files. By way of example, a file pockets suitable for the present invention is the Wilson Jones 64 series 3½ inch expansion COLORLIFE® file pocket, from the Wilson Jones Company, or the Smead 1524E Redrope® Pockets. File pockets are often reinforced to provide maximum durability and capacity.
As used herein, the term “expanding files” means expandable filing folders, generally having a fan-folded bottom, full fan-folded sides, and a fold-over flap that is used to securely close the file. By way of example, an expanding file suitable for the present invention is the 21-pocket Smead DR117A expanding file with flap, available from the Smead company.
As used herein, the term “expanding wallets” means expandable filing folders similar to expanding files. Expanding wallets generally have elastic cord tie flaps for securely closing a top flap. By way of example, expanding wallets suitable for the present invention include the Oxford Plus® 60343 3½ inch expansion reinforced wallets.
As used herein, the term “hanging folder” means folders designed for use with hanging file systems. Such folders come in many variations including box-bottom, expandable, color-coded, and reinforced-edge, durable designs. By way of example, hanging folders suitable for the present invention include standard size folders such as the Esselte Pendaflex® 4152 series (letter size) and 4153 series (legal size) folders; box bottom folders such as the Esselte Pendaflex® 4152X series (letter size) and 4153X series (legal size) folders; expanding file pockets such as the Smead 18H24ESS (letter size) and 18H26ESS (legal size) folders; and hanging expanding files such as the Globe-Weis GlobalFile® 85030 expanding hanging file. A further example of hanging folders of the type useful for the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,439 to Hawes, Jr. et al., issued Jan. 4, 1994.
As used herein, “high coefficient of friction” means a coefficient of friction between a folder and a person's fingers that is sufficient to resist slippage of the folder from the person's grip when lifting a folder out of a file drawer. It is acknowledged that sufficient friction will depend on a variety of factors, including a person's grip and the weight of the folder, as well as other environmental factors such as relative humidity. For this reason, “high coefficient of friction” is not meant to denote any absolute number or level, but is generally substantially higher than the coefficient of friction between typical folder paper stock and a user's fingers when gripping a folder from the top. It is otherwise simply descriptive in principle of the desired characteristic of a suitable material (or paper configuration) for use as the slip-resistant portion of the present invention. In other words, whether a material is applied as the slip resistant member, or the paper is deformed, e.g., as by embossing, the effect is an increase in the frictional force between the folder and the user's fingers. The increase can be due to an actual increase in the coefficient of friction due to addition of a material such as a light tack adhesive, or it can be due to a change in normal forces due to a change in folder geometry, such as by embossing.
A typical embodiment of a folder 10 of the present is shown in
Slip-resistant portion 1 may comprise a variety of materials, configurations, patterns, and positions, but in general, the purpose of the slip-resistant portion is to provide a region of the folder having a high coefficient of friction between a user's fingers and the folder as it is being removed from a file drawer. For this reason, the slip-resistant portion can be comprised of a slip-resistant material, such as a light-tack adhesive that has a high coefficient of friction. A wide range of adhesives may be used, but in a preferred embodiment the slip-resistant portion comprises a permanently tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive. By “pressure sensitive” is meant that the adhesives of the invention are tacky to the touch at room temperature (e.g., about 20 degrees C.), as can be readily determined by a finger tack test, and can easily form a useful adhesive bond with the application of light pressure. Pressure-sensitive adhesives are commonly used for adhesive tapes and labels, often with release liners for ease of delivery and application. Pressure sensitive adhesives may be rubber-based or acrylic/acrylate-based, with or without tackifiers added to impart tack or stickiness. In a preferred embodiment the slip-resistant portion is applied in the hot melt state and allowed to cure to a light tack during folder manufacture. Typical recipes for such adhesives are shown in the Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Herman F. Mark, Ed., 1988, Vol. 13, under the heading Pressure Sensitive Adhesives and Products, which section is hereby incorporated herein by reference. In addition to the adhesive properties, the placement and pattern of the slip-resistant portion also contributes to its performance. A currently preferred pressure sensitive adhesive for use as the slip-resistant portion of the present invention is a removable adhesive such as the pressure sensitive adhesive having a low tack utilized on Post-it® notes. For example, a suitable adhesive is an acrylate copolymer which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,691,140, issued Sep. 12, 1972 to S. F. Silver, assigned to the Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co. of St. Paul, Minn., and improvements thereof. The adhesive is described as having infusible solvent-dispersible, solvent-insoluble, inherently tacky, elastomeric copolymer microspheres consisting essentially of about 90 percent by weight of at least one alkyl acrylate ester and about 10 to about 0.5 percent by weight of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of substantially oil-insoluble, water-insoluble, ionic monomers and maleic anhydride. The microspheres are prepared by aqueous suspension polymerization utilizing emulsifier in an amount greater than the critical micelle concentration in the absence of externally added protective colloids or the like. The disclosure of the above-mentioned Silver '140 patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Improvements to acrylate copolymer adhesives include improvements to the processibility of the adhesive. In particular, such adhesives have been improved to take advantage of the procedural, economical and environmental advantages of a hot melt processible adhesive. For example, an adhesive suitable for use as the slip-resistant material of the present invention is an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive which displays a superior balance of tack, peel strength and cohesive strength for hot melt processing as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,451, issued Sep. 3, 1996 to Everaerts et al., assigned to the Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co. of St. Paul, Minn., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The adhesive is described as a permanently removable, low melt viscosity acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive having three components: (1) at least one lower alkyl acrylate having an alkyl group which comprises from about 4 to 12 carbon atoms, (2) at least one higher alkyl acrylate having an alkyl group which comprises from about 12 to 26 carbon atoms and (3) sufficient crosslinker to impart cohesive strength to the adhesive. Such removable pressure-sensitive adhesives, depending upon the viscosity, can be coated via any of a variety of conventional coating methods, such as roll coating, knife coating, hot melt coating, or extrusion.
In a preferred embodiment, the pressure sensitive adhesive used as the slip-resistant portion of the present invention has very light tack, or “stickiness”. Additionally, it is believed to be advantageous to have a removable pressure sensitive adhesive having excellent shear strength, and reduced adhesive transfer to a person's fingers upon gripping and releasing a folder of the present invention. Such an adhesive is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,241 issued Sep. 2, 1997 to Takamatsu et al., assigned to the Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co. of St. Paul, Minn., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The disclosed adhesive comprises polyhydrazide to microparticles, producing an adhesive having excellent shear strength, and reduced adhesive transfer.
Alternatively, other high coefficient of friction polymeric materials, such as rubber-based adhesives (e.g., contact cement), or polymeric materials, for example low durometer polyurethane, may be applied in ways known in the art. Additionally, as shown below, the slip-resistant portion may be affixed in tape form to folders or formed by permanently deforming the flaps of the folder, such as by embossing. Whether affixed, applied, or formed by embossing, the slip-resistant portion is preferably an integral part of the folder. However, it is contemplated that a removable slip-resistant portion may be desirable, such that it may be removed by the user if unwanted. A slip-resistant portion comprising removable double-back tape may be removed if desired.
Slip resistant portion 1 can also be formed integrally with the folder by mechanical methods such as embossing. Embossing can be accomplished by pressing the folder between embossing dies, such as those described with reference to
As shown in
In one embodiment, slip-resistant portion 1 can be affixed as a narrow band of material near the top edge of either or both the front and rear flaps of a folder. By “near the top edge” is meant within normal reach of a person's thumb or fingers when grasping a folder from the top, for example to lift it out of a drawer. In particular, a band approximately 6-25 mm (¼1 inch) wide in an area 20-80 mm (about 1-3 inches) from the top edge of the folder flap is currently considered optimal. The band need not extend the whole width of the folder, but should at least span the central portion of the width. In general, as shown in
As shown in
Slip-resistant portion 1 may be discontinuous, such as stripes or dots in a regular or random pattern, or a continuous network of interconnected beads or lines of adhesive, for example. By varying the amount and placement of slip-resistant material, the overall tackiness of slip-resistant portion 1 may be varied. If desired, a release strip 5 may be supplied covering the light-tack adhesive, as shown in FIG. 3. In this manner, the end user may activate the slip-resistant feature at will by removing all or part of the release strip 5.
If light-tack adhesive, or other pressure sensitive adhesive, is used for slip-resistant portion 1, it may be applied and cured in a continuous process during manufacture of the folder 10 as described below with reference to
While one embodiment of slip-resistant portion 1 comprises a material applied or affixed to the front or back flaps of a folder 10, it need not be so. For example, as shown in cross-section in
While the raised ridge-like structures shown in
When pressure-sensitive adhesive is used, the slip-resistant portion 1 on the front flap 22 is preferably vertically offset a certain distance from the slip-resistant portion 1′ on the rear flap 24. In this regard, the “vertical” direction refers to the direction orthogonal to a top edge 25 of a folder flap, generally in the plane of the respective folder cover. As shown in
It is contemplated that if vertically-offset slip-resistant portions are used, as shown in
The folder 10 shown in
File pocket 30 is shown in
The folder 10 shown in
The slip-resistant portion embodiment shown in
The slip-resistant portion shown in
The slip-resistant portion 1 shown in
Hanging folders come in a wide range of sizes and configurations, all of which may benefit by the improvement of the present invention. For example, in
Also shown in
Often reinforcing plastic film is applied to the top edges of folders. For example, hanging folders have reinforced plastic laminates folded with the paper stock enclosing the hanging rods, which serve to make the hanging folder more durable and wear resistant. One embodiment of the present invention contemplated is to combine the reinforcing laminate material of such folders with the slip-resistant portion 1 of the present invention. In such an embodiment plastic materials with a high coefficient of friction could be chosen as the reinforcing laminate material at the top edges of the folders. By doing so, the slip-resistant portion is “built-in” to a material having a separate primary function, thereby eliminating or reducing any costs associated with adding a separate material for slip-resistant material 1.
In an alternative embodiment, a separate member, such as an injection molded plastic strip can be preformed and affixed to the flaps of a folder. For example, a thin plastic strip can be molded to have raised ridges, bumps, or other gripping surfaces. The strip can then be joined to the folder by methods known in the art. Thus, an existing folder can be easily converted to a slip resistant file folder by the application of the molded strip to the folder, such as by adhesive.
As stated above, one method for applying slip-resistant portion 1 is to manually apply light-tack adhesive tape to an existing folder 10. However, commercially viable processes are preferred, such as a rotogravure printing process, schematically depicted in FIG. 11. Other printing processes and configurations known in the art may be used as necessary for particular manufacturing considerations, but the rotogravure process is described here as a preferred method. In general, such processes apply an adhesive or polymeric material in the melt state which is subsequently cured or dried to a substantially solid layer. By “melt state” is meant hot melt as well as liquid state material temporarily having low viscosity to allow for application by printing, spraying, extrusion, or other application methods known in the art.
As shown in
During the printing process, the slip-resistant material, is supplied to a heated supply tank 78 and pumped to the heated doctor application head 79 by a suitable metering pump. It is generally desirable to maintain constant temperature during the process; therefore, it is desirable to continually circulate the melted composition between the supply tank and the application head while maintaining an adequate amount in the reservoir. The heated doctor application head supplies the slip-resistant material to the engraved roll, the surface of which is engraved with the desired pattern for slip-resistant portion 1.
In operation the engraved roll is loaded to the backing roll to force the paper stock into contact with the engraved roll. The backing roll can be any material that meets the process requirements such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber or other compressible surfaces. Loading pressures can vary, depending on paper stock thickness, composition thickness, and processing speeds.
If necessary, post-application processing for curing or otherwise substantially solidifying the slip-resistant material, such as UV curing, radiant heat drying, or other steps may be employed. Specific processing steps necessary for particular melt processible adhesives are known in the art and the steps disclosed may be modified, added to, or otherwise changed in ways that do not depart from the scope of the present invention. For example, melt processing comprising extrusion may be advantageously employed for certain adhesives or polymers.
Additionally, continuous layers of slip-resistant material, such as light-tack adhesives or high coefficient of friction liquid polymer materials, may be applied by spraying in predetermined patterns, for example by the process schematically depicted in FIG. 12. Again, folder paper stock 71 may be conveyed on a manufacturing line, such as endless conveyor 72 in a generally flat-out configuration during a continuous manufacturing process 70. A spray nozzle 75, or other suitable die, may be set up in position to intermittently spray a pattern of curable adhesive 74 or other curable polymeric material at predetermined positions, according to the various embodiments of the present invention. Further processing to cure, such as UV curing, radiant heat trying, and other advantageous processing steps may be employed as necessary for specific processes and equipment. As well, other spray processes and techniques may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Permanent mechanical deformation can be accomplished by the use of opposing, mating dies, such as embossing dies 80 shown in FIG. 13. Many methods known in the art for embossing, stamping, or otherwise pressing paperboard can be used to form the ridges and valleys 9 that make up the slip resistant portion 1. In
The apparatus depicted schematically in
In like manner, dies 80 can be modified to provide for other patterns of ridges and undeformed regions. In one embodiment, as depicted in
While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as illustrative of exemplary and preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed. For example, additional folds of flap material near top edges may be sufficient to form a slip-resistant portion. Accordingly, it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such variations, changes, and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 09/463,229 entitled Slip Resistant File Folders, priority date Jan. 21, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,470.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1585237 | Doughty | May 1926 | A |
| 3283992 | Hanson et al. | Nov 1966 | A |
| 3524583 | Gregory | Aug 1970 | A |
| 3885726 | Fridlund et al. | May 1975 | A |
| 5720427 | Kachel et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20020093186 A1 | Jul 2002 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09463229 | Jan 2000 | US |
| Child | 09873436 | US |
