1. Field of the Disclosure
The present invention is directed to folders for use in connection with storage of documents.
2. Description of the Related Art
Folders and more particularly pocket folders are useful for holding documents permanently or temporarily. For competitive reasons they must be made inexpensively, but without sacrificing durability and functionality. Most folders are designed with a single pocket because that is the most inexpensive form to make, but there has been a long felt need for multi-pocket folders but which can still provide durability and low cost. The present disclosure provides such a solution.
To assist the reader in preparing to digest the detailed description and claims below, a short summary has been provided. It is far from complete and only provides a glimpse of the invention concepts. It is not intended to define the scope of the invention. The claims perform that function.
The present disclosure shows a multi-pocket disclosure in several embodiments.
In one embodiment, the folder includes 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 which extends beyond the bottom edge, said extension forming the front panel of a foldable pocket and a further back panel having lateral flaps, said back panel being located behind said front panel and said flaps wrapped around and affixed to the front side of said front panel, thereby forming a pocket, said pocket being foldable at said bottom edge; so that the folder has two pockets one of which is formed in conjunction with the other.
In another embodiment, the folder includes 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 which extends beyond the bottom edge, said extension forming the front panel of a foldable pocket and a pocket formed from further panel having a front portion, a back portion said portions being folded together along a longitudinal fold line thereby forming a pocket bottom, a pair of lateral flaps extending from one of the portions and folded around the other portion to form sidewall of the pocket. Said pocket being affixed to said extension so that said pocket can be folded outwardly at said bottom edge thereby opening a pocket formed between the pocket and the first side.
In a further embodiment, there is disclosed a double pocket folder formed of unitary a blank having a first and second panels, each having side and top and bottom edges, said bottom edges straddling a central fold line therebetween; said first panel forming a back of the folder and a portion thereof at the top edge being a top tab section. An extension panel extending laterally from a side edge of the first panel foldable along a second fold line generally orthogonal to the central fold line; said extension panel being of such width, that when folded over said first panel it does not occlude said top tab section thereof, said extension panel further including at least a bottom flap extending from a bottom edge thereof; whereby said folder is formed by folding said second panel over said first paid along said central line, to create a first pocket therebetween and then folding said extension panel over said second panel and affixing said flap to the back of said first panel, thereby creating a second pocket therebetween and a bottom for both pockets.
In a further embodiment, the extension panel has a further foldable side flap on its edge adjacent and generally orthogonal to said bottom flap, to be applied to the back of said first panel to create side boundary of the pockets.
In a further embodiment, the blank is one continuous web of material, all panels and flaps being part of a single unitary web.
In a further embodiment, said second panel includes a notch adjacent said central fold line at the intersection of the first, second and extension panels.
In a further embodiment, the height from top to bottom of said second panel is less than the first panel and the height of the extension panel is less than that of said second panel so that when said panels are folded, the panels stepwise; increase in height from front to back.
In an alternate embodiment said second panel has a top edge which is cut at a diagonal and wherein said extension flap likewise has a top edge cut at a diagonal, and wherein the diagonal cut on the extension panel is deeper than the cut on said second panel, so that when said panels are folded, the panels stepwise; increase in height from front to back.
This disclosure describes file folders, sometimes known as pocket folders, in various related embodiments.
The following is an overview:
A method of manufacture is also disclosed by the drawings and description.
File folder 10 in
In order to insure that there will be tab/writing space 40, 42, 44 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 48 provides exposure of the tab section 40 of panel 16 by being shorter than height 54 in panel 14. Likewise panel 16 must have its lateral height 50 shorter than both heights 52 and 54 in order that all tabs areas are exposed. The corner 46 of panel 12 is cut an angle to reduce interference between the tabs 30, 32.
The method of manufacturer is to cut a single unitary blank. 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, when formed to make a folder. The second panel 16 is folded upwarded along fold line 20 and then the extension panel 12 is folded onto the second panel 16 and flaps 32/30 (or just 30 if an open side is desire) are affixed to the back panel 14 thereby forming two pockets with a single unitary blank.
The embodiment shown in
The folder 110 from which the blank differs in that the top edges 142, 144 are cut at an angle to expose more of the surface of the documents which may be stored in the pocket. This diagonal or slash cut can be as shown rising from left to right or right to left. Otherwise, the unitary nature of the blank and method of manufacture is the same as the prior embodiment.
A pocket unit is attached to the bottom edge 234 by in various forms as shown in the figures. In
To create a pocket, front panel 221 with tabs 223 is applied to the front of panel 217 and tabs 223 are affixed to the back of panel 217, though the reverse configuration with tabs in front is also possible.
Note that there is preferably a notch 241 laterally into panel 214a adjacent fold line 235, to provide expansion space within the pocket. Likewise, panel 214b can be folded in front of panel 214a or behind it. If in front, then its height will be lower than that of 214a by the cut down area 243 to allow visibility of documents therein.
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.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61773387 | Mar 2013 | US |