Abstract:
A method of removing and returning a file folder or folders to the original location or locations is provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a method for removing, place holding, identifying, locating and returning items including file folders and the file contents to the original location within a top or side tab filing cabinet, file container, bin, or shelf storage system. 
         [0002]    File organization, indexing, adjustability, ease of use, scalability and expandability are everyday problems that many people have spent many years trying to solve. A great deal of innovation can be seen in this area of document filing. Attempts have been made to solve lack of visibility behind file tabs, clear location and tracking of files removed from their place, adjustability and expandability of the file collection, as well as simple visible index guides to direct people to proper filing locations. 
         [0003]    In conventional filing, when you pull a file from a cabinet (SA), you do not always mark the location, so returning it takes filing time and effort. Also, there is no indication that a file has been removed, and when one file is missing, it might be signed out, or it might be misfiled. Currently, “out-guides” are available for the purpose of identifying removed file locations by means of sign-out forms. This distinguishes files that are signed out from those that are just in the wrong place (or missing). Available out-guides have the disadvantage of being cumbersome to properly fill out. Further, out-guide sets have fixed tabs that are often all in the same place. Individual out-guides within a given set are usually identical and most out-guides must be disposed of after use. 
         [0004]    It is an important and difficult task to properly place a file folder back to it original location so that a next user can easily locate it and use it. Often, a file folder was urgently needed, the user rushed to full the file folder from a file cabinet or a shelf, diligently worked on a project using that file folder and neglected to put the file folder back to its original location. It would be very difficult for a next user to find the file folder. In the worst scenario, the file folder was left on the desk for weeks and a finder of that file folder would not know where to put it back to the original location. 
         [0005]    A lot of time can be spent looking for a file folder if it is misplaced within a file cabinet. A project could be delayed or damages could be incurred if important file folders are lost. There is a need to develop a method or a process, where a removed file folder can be easily found and put back to its original location. 
         [0006]    This invention is a device (and a method) used to mark locations of file folders as they are removed from a cabinet. The first marker (in the cabinet) holds the place and designates that the file is “signed out”. The second marker designates the file and also is used as a bookmark for any item removed from the folder. This way you can keep your files closed, and your stuff in order. Everything has a place, and that place is marked so it can be easily found. 
         [0007]    This invention is a method which can be used to satisfy all these requirements of adjustability, visibility, file tracking, re-filing, indexing, out guiding and book marking within individual files and entire file systems. 
         [0008]    It is also an object of this invention to provide a method for removing a file folder from a cabinet using a dual marker system, where a first marker is placed in the file cabinet and a second marker is placed in the removed file folder. Matching the first marker in the file cabinet to the second identical marker in the file folder, a user can easily put the file folder back to it original location and then remove both file markers from the file cabinet and the file folders. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for removing a file folder from a file cabinet, finding the removed the file folder and returning it to the original location by using a dual marker system, where a set of dual markers has its own unique color or pattern. 
         [0010]    It is a further object of this invention to a method for removing a file folder from a file cabinet, finding the removed file folder, and returning it to the original location by using a dual marker system, where each set of dual markers has at least two distinguishing marks. 
         [0011]    It is a further object of this invention to a method for removing a file folder from a file cabinet, finding the removed file folder, and returning it to the original location by using a dual marker system, where each set of dual markers has at least two distinguishing marks and is colored. 
         [0012]    It is a further object of this invention to provide folder bookmarking of documents removed and replaced from the folder in a similar fashion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1A  shows a marker inside a file container. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1B  shows the file folders and the tabs of the file folders. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows an example of three sets of markers in a limitless series comprising three markers and their matching markers. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  shows a marker being placed inside a file container, and a matching marker being placed inside a folder being removed. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  is shows a detailed picture of a marker being placed inside a file container and a matching marker being placed inside a file folder being removed from the shelves. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  shows a person can easily detect the marker indicating that a file folder has been removed. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  shows a variety of markers that can be used. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  shows how a matching marker can identify a file folder being removed and how it can be placed back into the file container. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  shows how the oval markers can be used for vertical file containers. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The invention relates to a marker  20 A as shown in  FIG. 1A  preferably circular in shape being inserted into a file cabinet where a file folder  22  is being removed. The marker  20 A left in the file cabinet  26  serves as a reminder that a file folder  22  has been removed. The marker  20 A also indicates the exact location where the file folder should be returned. The diameter of the marker  20 A is sized such that it is tall enough to be seen behind other tabs  24  of other folders as shown in  FIG. 1B , but short enough that the file container  26  of the file cabinet  28  can be closed. The dimension of the marker  20 A is tall enough that the matched pair  20 A and  20 B can be pinched between the fingers and removed without trapping the file contents, but short enough that it does not pose a cumbersome interference to viewing or handling file folders or tabs or file contents. The markers  20 A with its circular shape when left in the file folder  22  or the file container  26  can easily roll around inside the file folder  22  or the file container  26 , respectively, when pushes by a user. The marker  20 A and the matching marker  20 B are identical in every aspect. 
         [0023]    Another way to return the removed file folders  22  to their original locations is to use a set of two markers with same features for one folder. Three sets of markers are shown in  FIG. 2 . A set of two markers  20 A and  20 B is used for a file folder being removed. A second set of two markers  20 AA and  20 BB is used for a second file folder being removed. A third set of two markers  20 AAA and  20 BBB is used for a third file folder being removed. 
         [0024]    When a file folder  22  is removed as shown in  FIG. 3 , a marker  20 AA is left inside the file container  26  where the file folder  22  was situated. The circular shape of the marker  20 AA allows it to roll around the file container easily. The marker  22 BB is inserted inside the removed file folder  22 . After an extended period of usage of the removed file folder  22 , a user will go back to the file cabinet  28 , look into different file containers as shown in  FIG. 4 . When the user finds the matching marker  20 BB, put the file folder  22  back into the file container  26 , and remove  20 AA and  20 BB markers for usage at a later time. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows different sets of markers that can be used for this application. A set of markers may be distinguished from anther set of markers by the pattern shown on the markers, by the color shown of the markers, by the pattern and the color shown the markers, by multiple colors shown on the markers, or a combination of the above schemes. 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  shows how a person can find a missing file folder  22 . First, he looks into file container  26  of file cabinet  28  and finds a file folder  22  is missing. He recognizes the marker  20 A. He looks around the office and finds a matching marker  20 B on a desk on the office. He takes the file folder  22  from the desk, goes back to the file container  26 , returns the file folder  22  to the file container  26  and removes the marker  20 A from the file container. He has returned the file folder  22  to the original location. He can use this same method to return the file contents to the original location. He can use this method to find files and contents that are outside the file cabinet and are being used by others by looking for the matching marker around in the office. 
         [0027]    For file containers that are vertical, the marker and the matching marker are of substantially oval shape. The marker has two slightly curved edges and two substantially curved edges.  FIG. 7  shows a vertical cabinet with five file containers. The marker is long enough so that one of its substantially curved edge sticks slightly out of the file container  26  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0028]    While the embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations, and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.