The present invention relates to an apparatus which defines a plurality of retaining sections each of which is capable of receiving various objects and which enables easy sorting of objects as well as browsing of the objects received in the retaining sections.
In an office setting, a common situation arises in which papers or documents must be retained and/or sorted. For example, it might be required to create ten different booklets with each booklet having twenty sequentially numbered pages. If the twenty pages are printed one at a time in batches of ten (one for each booklet), then they will have to be sorted with one page being allotted to each booklet.
A multi-section retaining/sorting/browsing apparatus is often used for this purpose and includes a plurality of dividers which define object-retaining sections therebetween into which the pages can be placed sequentially. That is, first the page numbered 1 is placed in each section, then the page numbered 2 is placed behind page number 1 in each section, and so on until ten complete booklets are created. When placing a page in each section, the dividers may be flipped to expose that section and after the page is placed in that section, a divider may be flipped to expose an adjacent section. The sorting process continues in this manner by flipping the dividers and inserting pages into each exposed section. Alternatively, sorting can be done in reverse, starting with the last page. Using this technique, flipping of the dividers may be avoided.
Such multi-section retaining/sorting/browsing apparatus are also used to hold file folders to enable papers to be stored and/or sorted into the file folders. In this case, a file folder can be retained in each section and opened one at a time by flipping the dividers (without removing the file folder) and one or more pages or documents may be placed into each file folder as it is opened.
The same apparatus also enables browsing through the file folders retained in the apparatus. For example, by flipping the dividers to expose the file folders in each section, it is possible to view the contents of each file folder without removing the file folders from the apparatus. By placing the file folders in the sections defined by the apparatus, it is not required to remove the file folders to open each one but rather, the file folders can be continually retained in the sections in the apparatus and by flipping the dividers, each file folder can be opened and browsing of the contents thereof is possible.
A problem with the conventional multi-section retaining/sorting/browsing apparatus of this type is that not all of the known devices allow for a file folder in a particular section to be opened without requiring the exertion of pressure to keep the dividers in place and that section exposed.
A multi-section retaining/sorting/browsing apparatus is often also used to display small objects for sale, wherein it is desired to ease the purchaser's ability to browse through the objects. In particular in the sale of multi-media objects, such as CDs, DVDs, records and computer software, it is desirable to enable a purchaser to relatively easily and quickly flip through the objects to see whether any are of interest for possible purchase. To this end, by providing a retaining/sorting/browsing apparatus including a plurality of dividers which define object-retaining sections therebetween into which the multi-media objects are placed, the purchaser can easily flip the dividers, or the objects depending on which is larger, forward or backward to view the objects in each section. If the objects are larger and thus flipped, then the dividers are flipped upon flipping of the objects.
Unfortunately, retaining/sorting/browsing devices are not always designed so that easy flipping is provided in combination with the ability to allow the user or purchaser to expose an object or objects in one or more of the object-retaining sections without exerting pressure to keep the dividers in position so that the desired section is exposed.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved multi-section retaining/sorting/browsing apparatus.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved multi-section retaining/sorting/browsing apparatus including a plurality of object-retaining sections and which is designed to facilitate easy sorting of objects into each section.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved multi-section retaining/sorting/browsing apparatus including a plurality of object-retaining sections and which enables exposure and viewing of an object or objects such as file folders in one or more of the object-retaining sections preferably without exerting pressure to keep the dividers in place and that section exposed.
It is yet another of the present invention to provide a new and improved multi-section retaining/sorting/browsing apparatus which is easy to assemble.
In order to achieve these objects and others, a multi-section retaining/sorting/browsing apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a base defining at least one cavity and including at least one set of parallel slots opening thereto and dividers arranged in connection with the base to define an object-retaining section between adjacent dividers. Each divider has an anchor portion arranged in the cavity and an object support portion coupled to the anchor portion and extending through a respective slot to provide a support for retaining objects. The anchor portion is rotatable in the cavity to enable the divider to be flipped forward and backward in a longitudinal direction of the apparatus.
To retain the dividers in connection with the base, the anchor portion of each divider generally has a width larger than a width of the respective slots. To this end, the anchor portion may be provided with a uniform width, e.g., substantially cylindrical with a uniform diameter, while the slot may be provided with a uniform width. Other mechanisms for ensuring retention of the dividers in connection with the base are also possible and some are discussed below.
With such an apparatus, it becomes possible to place file folders in each section to enable sorting of papers or documents into the file folders in the sections and browse through the file folders without removing them from the apparatus.
The construction of the slots in the base with a smaller width than the width of the anchor portions of the dividers is generally sufficient to retain the dividers in connection with the base, i.e., prevent removal of the dividers from the base. However, various modifications of the base and the dividers are possible to ensure that the dividers are retained in connection with and rotatable relative to the base. For example, in one embodiment, at least one end of the anchor portion includes a projection engagable with a recess in an inner wall of the cavity. The projection enters into the recess upon installation of the divider in connection with the base and this engagement assists in preventing removal of the divider from the base. In the alternative, a recess can be provided in the anchor portion and a complementary projection formed in the base.
In another embodiment, the anchor portion of the dividers is provided with a larger transverse length that the transverse length of the slots. More specifically, the transverse end of each anchor portion includes a projection which extends beyond the transverse end of the respective slot. To accommodate the elongated anchor portions, the transverse length of the cavity is larger than the transverse length of the slots, i.e., each slot has a first transverse end spaced inward from an adjacent end of the cavity and a second transverse end spaced inward from an adjacent end of the cavity.
Each slot may be defined by angled surfaces of the top wall of the base which limit flipping of the dividers by virtue of contact between the dividers and the angled surfaces.
The base may be formed from a first, cover member defining the top wall and a second member defining the bottom wall. The cover member includes an opening in a lower surface into which the second member is placed. To assemble the apparatus, prior to insertion of the lower member into the opening of the cover member, the object support portion of each divider is placed through the slots from below and thereafter, the lower member is inserted into the opening and fixed to the cover member. Since the anchor portion has a larger width than the width of the slots, the dividers cannot be removed from the base once the lower member is fixed to the cover member.
Although the base may be constructed from two separate members as described above wherein the dividers are inserted through the slots from below, in this case, it is possible to form the base as a unitary member with individual cavities or a common cavity and to insert the anchor portion of the dividers into the cavity or respective cavity by forming the anchor portion from a material which provides a small degree of resiliency. In this manner, the anchor portion can be pressed through the slot into the cavity.
The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements.
Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements, a multi-section retaining/sorting/browsing apparatus in accordance with the invention is designated generally as 10 and comprises a base 12 defining one or more cavities 14 (see
To establish a convention for the following description and without limiting the invention, in the embodiment shown in
In some embodiments, a single cavity 14 is provided in the base 12, in which case, all of the slots 16 communicate with the single cavity 14 and a portion of each divider 18 is situated in the single cavity 14. On the other hand, if a plurality of cavities 14 are provided in the base 12 (see
All of the slots 16 may have the same size for receiving dividers 18 having the same length as shown in
The base 12 may be formed from two members, an upper member 22 defining a top wall 24 of the cavity or cavities 14 and a lower member 26 (see
Referring now to
Each divider 18 has an anchor portion 32 arranged in the cavity 14 and an object support portion 34 coupled to the anchor portion 32 and extending through a respective slot 16 to provide a support for retaining the objects 8 (see
To enable a limited amount of flipping of the dividers 18 during use of the apparatus 10, each slot 16 is preferably defined by downwardly angled surfaces 16a,16b of the top wall 24 of the base 12. As such, a smaller opening is formed in a lower surface of the top wall 24 than in an upper surface of the top wall 24 for each slot 16 (see
The anchor portion 32 is rotatable in the cavity 14 to enable the divider 18 to be flipped forward and backward in a longitudinal direction (see
To enable passage of the object support portion 34 through the respective slot 16, a part 34a of the object support portion 34 has a length in the transverse direction equal to or less than the length of the respective slot 16. The object support portions 34 may be substantially planar and directly connected to the anchor portions 32. Also, the object support portions 34 may be provided with different forms or shapes as desired, e.g., with a recess 34b as shown, and from different materials (i.e., metal, plastics, wood, etc).
To assemble the apparatus 10, the upper and lower members 22, 26 and dividers 18 are first constructed and the dividers 18 are inserted through the slots 16 by inserting the object support portions 34 of the dividers 18 through the slots 16 until the anchor portions 32 come into contact with the lower surface of the top wall 24 of the upper member 22. Then, the lower member 26 is inserted into the opening 22a in the upper member 22 and attached to the upper member 22. The apparatus is thus ready for use for retaining objects, for enabling sorting of objects such as papers and documents, and for enabling browsing of objects such as file folders.
Referring now to
Dividers 18′ are retained in the cavity 14′ by virtue of the anchor portion 32′ having a width W1 (the diameter of the anchor portion since the anchor portion 32 is cylindrical) larger than the width W2 of the slots 16′ (see
Since the base 12′ has a unitary construction, the assembly method described above cannot be used for this embodiment. In this embodiment therefore, in order to place the dividers 18′ into the slots 16′ in the assembly of the apparatus 10′, the anchor portion 32′ of the dividers 18′ (and possibly also the object support portion 34′) are formed from a material which provides a small degree of resiliency, such as some types of molded plastics, so that the anchor portions 32′ of the dividers 18′ can be pressed (i.e., forced) downwardly along the inclined surfaces 16a′, 16b′ into the slots 16′.
Optionally, as shown in
Assembly of the apparatus 10′ would therefore entail simply pressing each divider 18′ into a respective slot 16′, and so that the projection on the divider 18's enters into the recess 46 in the inner wall of the base 12′ defining the cavity 14′ if present.
Referring now to
Retention of the dividers 18″ in connection with the base 12″ is provided by constructing the anchor portion 32″ of the dividers 18″ to have a larger transverse length than the transverse length of the slots 16″, and specifically, to extend beyond each transverse end of the slots 16″. Thus, the slots 16″ are formed in the top wall 24″ of the upper member 22″ so that each slot 16″ has a first transverse end 48 spaced inward from an adjacent end 14a of the cavity 14″ and a second transverse end 50 spaced inward from an adjacent end 14b of the cavity 14″ (see
The projections 36 are secured in the base 12″ between the top wall 24″ and the bottom wall 28″ to enable rotation of the anchor portion 32″ and thus the divider 18″. To this end, the projections 36 may be supported on raised shoulders 38 of the bottom wall 28″ so that the projections 36 are positioned between the shoulders 38 and the overhanging portion of the top wall 24″ defined by the upper member 22″ (see
To assemble the apparatus 10″, the upper and lower members 22″, 26″ and dividers 18″ are first constructed and the dividers 18″ are inserted through the slots 16″ by inserting the object support portions 34″ of the dividers 18″ through the slots 16″ until the anchor portions 32″ come into contact with the lower surface of the top wall 24″ of the upper member 22″. Then, the lower member 26″ is inserted into the opening in the upper member 22″ and attached to the upper member 22″. The apparatus is thus ready for use for retaining objects, for enabling sorting of objects such as papers and documents, and for enabling browsing of objects such as file folders. The dividers 18″ may be pressed down into slots 16″ as described above with reference to
As shown in
Although in the embodiments described above, the slots are formed in a top wall of the base, other forms and shapes of the base can be constructed in which the slots are formed in other walls of the base. For example,
The various bases and dividers described above can each be made of various materials, such as aluminum, wood and plastic, so that various combinations of materials are possible.
It should be clear that various modifications and alterations can be made within the scope of the present invention. Also, various features of one embodiment can be combined with features of other embodiments, consistent with proper operation thereof, within the scope of the present invention. All of the embodiments can be assembled by pressing the dividers down through the slots and into the cavity(ies), when the materials have sufficient resiliency or elasticity.