Abstract:
A file carrier and storage system is disclosed which can be used for any type of files and is particularly well suited for transporting hanging files which have hooks which extend beyond the file. A container provides a storage and support structure for the files while a carrier allowed batches of files to be transported in a structure which slideably receives the container. A plurality of containers may be used with a single carrier so that the container can be used as shelf or drawer holders for files. In this way, non hanging (suspended) files can also be conveniently used.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/655,368 filed on 23 Feb. 2005, the complete subject matter of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention is directed to a mobile container system for files. 
         [0005]    2. Background 
         [0006]    In an office setting, hanging folders are commonplace and are routinely used for storing documents. A hanging folder has a front and a back cover, connected by a fold at the bottom of the folder. The contents are inserted between the front and back covers through the top of the folder. The hanging folder is suspended by four hooks, located at opposite ends along the top edge of both the front and back covers. 
         [0007]    The hooks provide a convenient way to suspend the folders, but they are a hindrance when transporting or archiving the hanging folders. The hooks may easily snag on other folders or papers, and may be easily damaged. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, the hanging folders do not easily fit into common storage boxes because of the hooks, requiring custom boxes for archival storage that are generally expensive and are not of a standard size. Furthermore, if one wishes to archive a relatively small number of file folders, such as the amount typically contained in a three-ring binder, one either has to use a small portion of a large archival storage box, thereby wasting space, or remove the contents of the hanging file folders and place them in a file system of a different type, thereby consuming effort and additional materials. Both of these scenarios are unacceptable. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, there exists a need for a filing system that can accommodate files, file folders, hanging file folders and other office products, in which the folders may be easily identified, accessed, carried and transported. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, the hanging folders are typically used in drawers, where the hooks engage ridges on the side edges of the drawer, or require an additional metallic rail system on the inside of the drawer. It would be convenient to store the hanging folders on a shelf, rather than in a drawer, which would simplify access to the files. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, there exists a need for a containerized filing system, in which the containers may be stored on a shelf and may be easily transported. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    This summary is provided to assist the reader in understanding some aspects of the invention but is not intended to define the scope of the invention or even point out all of the embodiments. For that, reference must be had to the claims and entire specification. 
         [0013]    One aspect of the invention is a hanging file transport system having a container having first pair of opposing sides and second set of opposing sides together forming a rectangular boundary defining a space therein sized to receive hanging folders; said first pair of opposing sides including support opposed support edges spaced to receive hanging folder hooks; and a carrier having 4 sidewalls and a bottom, thereby defining a receiving space, said receiving space sized to receive the carrier. 
         [0014]    In another aspect of the system, the carrier receiving space is sized to snugly to receive said carrier between said second set of opposing sides. 
         [0015]    In another aspect of the system, the carrier receiving space between said first said of sidewalls is sized to be just greater than the greatest extent of a hanging folder. 
         [0016]    In another aspect of the system the container include apertures extending though opposing sidewalls, said apertures forming handles and having a convex upper surface. 
         [0017]    In another aspect of the system the carrier include a foldable section configured to be able to fold away from said carrier, thereby further exposing said defined receiving space. 
         [0018]    In another aspect of the system the carrier includes at least one aperture in the bottom thereof to assist in urging said container out of said defined receiving space. 
         [0019]    In another aspect of the system the carrier includes a lever mechanism configured to urge said container out of said defined receiving space. 
         [0020]    In another aspect of the system the lever mechanism includes a first lever pivotally attached to an outer surface, a pivot and a lifting bar extending from said pivot into said defined receiving space generally adjacent said bottom. 
         [0021]    In another aspect of the system the container has a wire frame structure and wherein said sidewalls and bottom are open air. 
         [0022]    In another aspect of the system the wire frame further includes a folder sling hanging from top edges of said wire frame and extending toward said bottom. 
         [0023]    In another aspect of the system the sling is a flexible material. 
         [0024]    In another aspect of the system the container includes a pair of retractable handles in opposing sidewalls. 
         [0025]    In another aspect of the system the container includes sidewalls having apertures forming handles and a depressed region surrounding said handles. 
         [0026]    In another aspect of the system the file management system with transporter having a plurality of containers having first pair of opposing sides and second set of opposing sides together forming a rectangular boundary defining a space therein sized to receive folders, each container including at least one removal handle; and a carrier transporter having a handle, 4 sidewalls and a bottom, thereby defining a receiving space, said receiving space sized to receive at least one of said containers. 
         [0027]    In another aspect of the system the defined space within said container is wide enough to receive hanging folders but narrow enough that hooks from the hanging folders extend outwardly beyond said defined spaces, so that the files are supported by said opposing sides. 
         [0028]    In another aspect of the system the defined receiving space is wide enough to receive said container and said hooks. 
         [0029]    In another aspect of the system, there is a method of transporting groups of hanging files by the steps of forming a container having an upper frame edge, the container being wide enough to contain the files but narrow enough that the hanging hooks of the files extend outside the container; forming a transporter carrier with a handle and a receiving space large enough to accommodate said container and said hooks within the space. 
         [0030]    In another aspect of the system there is the step of ejecting the container from the carrier by urging the container out of the carrier by levering upward from the bottom. 
         [0031]    In another aspect of the system, further including the step of ejecting the container from the carrier by urging the container out of the carrier through apertures in the bottom of the carrier. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is a perspective plan drawing of a filing system with the container separated from the carrier. 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a filing system with the container removed from the carrier. 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a filing system with the container partially inserted into the carrier. 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a filing system with the container inside the carrier. 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a wireframe carrier. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    The present invention has many embodiments. One system is a shelf mountable file storage/management system with transporter, where a plurality of containers  11  can be shelf or drawer mounted/stored and when there is a need to transport them, they can be slipped into a reusable transporter carrier  12 . In this configuration, the container can also provide support for the files so that they don&#39;t tip over, so that non-supported (suspended) files can more easily be used. For example, a drawer may have files in a plurality of side by side containers. If they were non-suspended files, they would normally fall over unless the drawer was tightly packed, with the use of containers, they will stay substantially upright and accessible. In another embodiment, the container and transporter can be sold/used as a unit and where the container provides a convenient method to hold groups of files, especially hanging (ie suspended) folders which are difficult to transport. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  shows a filing system  10  that has a container  11  and a carrier/case  12 . The container  11  is sized to accommodate several files or folders  13 , and fits inside the carrier  12  along with all its folders  13 . The preferred configuration is for carrier  12  to hold hanging folders  13 , though the invention should not be seen as restricted to this type of file. 
         [0039]    The container  11  has a pair of first opposing edges  14 , which are preferably formed as rigid supports, which can support the hooks  15  which are typically integral to steel or plastic bars of hanging folders  13 . The first opposing edges are preferably spaced just greater than the greatest extent of the integral bar including hooks. When suspended, the hanging folders  13  are largely contained inside the container  11 , and any index tabs  36  along the top edge of the hanging folders  13  may be visible from the top of the container  11 . The carrier  12  is preferably tall enough to accommodate the index tabs  36  on the hanging folders  13 . 
         [0040]    The container  11  may have an identification slot/holder or a label  16  on its spine, so that the contents of the container  11  may be readily identified without disturbing the container  11  or the hanging folders  13 . The label  16  or window may be affixed directly onto the side of the container  11 , or may be inserted into a transparent holder on the side of the container  11 , or it may be cut out to view file loading. 
         [0041]    The container  11  may have a hole or aperture  17  on its side, preferably on the same side as the label  16 . Such a hole  17  is useful for removing the container  11  from a shelf. If we consider a container that does not have such a hole, said container may prove difficult to remove from a shelf, especially if said container is located directly adjacent to other containers of the same size. The hole  17  allows a user to grip the wall of the container  11  directly, then easily pull the container  11  off the shelf. 
         [0042]    The container  11  may have one or more handles  18 , preferably formed as holes in the walls of the container  11 , i.e. below the top edge of the wall. The handles  18  are preferably located on the pair of walls adjacent to the wall that has the label  16  and hole  17 . The handles  18  allow a user to easily lift the container  11  and its contents. The handles  18  have an arcuate shape, convex with respect to the user&#39;s hand to make lifting less painful. Handles may also be slideably attached to the inner or outer surfaces of the sidewalls and thus be retractable. 
         [0043]    One or more top edges of the container  11  may have an access feature  19  (an arcuate concave depression though any depression or recess which exposes the file surface will also suffice), which allows a user to grip the hanging folders  13  while they are still hanging inside the container  11 . If slideably retractable handles are used, depression  19  would provide a way to grasp the handles and draw them upwardly. Although the access feature  19  is drawn centered along the edge of the container, it may also be located off to one side or the other. Alternatively, there may be more than one access feature  19  along a top edge of the container  11 . 
         [0044]    The carrier  12  is sized to receive the container  11  with its contents. As drawn in  FIG. 1 , the carrier  12  opens via the top (side or ends). A user inserts a container  11  with its contents into the opened carrier  12 . Finally, the carrier  12  is closed and sealed, typically by a latch  21 , although a buckle, snap, clip, hooked fastener, or other well-known fastening mechanism may be used. Once sealed, the carrier  12  holds the container  11  securely, so that even if the carrier  12  is inverted, the contents of each hanging folder  13  remain intact and do not mix between folders. The carrier  12  preferably has a handle  22 , which aids in carrying the carrier  12 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  shows a filing system  20  in which the container  23  is in position to be lowered into the opened carrier  24 . 
         [0046]    The container  23  is empty, and the absence of hanging files allows several of the features to be seen more clearly. The container  23  has a pair of opposing edges  25 , which support the hooks on the hanging folders. The container  23  has a pair of handles  26  and access features  27 . The container  23  also has a label  28  and a hole  29 . 
         [0047]    At times it may be difficult to remove the container  23  from the case  12  since the handles, in one embodiment are recessed at a tightly packed carrier may make reaching the handles difficult. There are several solutions to this problem. One is shown in  FIG. 1  where the surface  218  proximate the handles  18  is inwardly depressed or recessed on both sides so that a gap will be formed between the depressed region and the inner walls of the carrier. This gap will allow for a user to insert his/her fingers and grasp the carrier. Of course this depressed region, which can be formed by pressing or molding of the sidewall will occupy some of the interior space. Hence another solution is possible. 
         [0048]    There are many ways to eject or urge the container out of the  FIG. 3  illustrates a lifting lever  315  which is located on an exterior sidewall of case/carrier  12 . The lever  315  is pivoted toward the bottom of the case at pivot  320  and is preferably rigidly attached, preferably to a lifting bar  325 . By pulling lever  315  away from the case, bar  325  will be raised there by raising carrier  25  sufficiently to grasp the handles. A bias spring can be provided to maintain lever  315  in contact with case/carrier  12  and a gripping hook  330  can be provided to grasp same. 
         [0049]    The opened carrier  24  has a handle  31  attached to a handle flap  32 . When the carrier  24  is closed, the handle flap  32  closes first and provides the surface in closest proximity to the top ends of the hanging folders. For this reason, it is preferable that the handle flap  32  extends over essentially the entire top surface of the carrier  24 , so that the contents of each folder may be held in place during transport. Dotted line  37  indicates a possible second fold part in addition to flap  32 . In this embodiment flap  32  would also bend at line  37 , located preferably one-half to two-thirds from the bottom. This will expose handle  26  for easy lifting. Dotted line  37  also indicates a possible a side/front entry version of this product where the fold line  37  is less than half the height of the sidewall. In such case, the carrier  25  can be “front loaded” into the case without it being fully opened. Note that the carrier could be wider to accommodate multiple containers side-by-side, such as double or triple width, the limiter being only the weight of the fully loaded carrier. 
         [0050]    Opposite the handle flap  32  is an attachable flap  33 , which closes after the handle flap  32 . The attachable flap  33  has a hole  34  that allows access to the handle  31  once the flaps are closed and secured. At the end of the attachable flap  33  is a latch  35 , which engages a latch mount  36  when the carrier  24  is secured. Alternatively, any other suitable locking mechanism may be used, including a buckle, a snap, or others. 
         [0051]      FIG. 3  shows a filing system  30  in which the container  23  is partially lowered into the opened carrier  24 . Note that the interior of the carrier  24  is slightly larger than the container  23 , so that the container may be inserted and removed easily, and so that the hooks on the hanging folders may fit inside the carrier without catching on any of the edges. Also illustrated are optional holes  340  which would provide an alternate means of urging or ejecting carrier  25  out of the case, sufficiently to grasp the handles. 
         [0052]      FIG. 4  shows a filing system in which the container is completely inserted inside the carrier  41 , which is closed and secured. Note that the handle  42  extends through the attachable flap  43 , and may be held by the user when the carrier  41  is transported. 
         [0053]    In a preferred embodiment, the containers are made from a suitable material such as plastic or cardboard. In fact, they may also be a wire frame style with no sidewalls. It is necessary that they be rigid enough to support hooks  15  if hanging files are stored therein. Otherwise, they could be fabric or other soft web (even disposable) material like Tyvek® with a top frame, or full wireframe and a fabric/web sling for easy removal. Most preferably, the carriers are inexpensive enough to use as medium-term storage, in the same manner that documents are typically stored on shelves in three-ring binders. Also preferably, the carriers are made from a durable material such as leather, cloth or a hard fabric, such as those used in briefcases and laptop computer cases. 
         [0054]    The containers are preferably sold separately from the carriers, so that a relatively few number of carriers/cases may sufficiently support a relatively large number of containers. For instance, if an office worker wants to take the contents of a particular container home or to another office, the worker places the container into a carrier, closes and secures the carrier, and transports the carrier as if it were a suitcase or briefcase. If the container is unintentionally turned on its side or inverted during transport, the contents of each hanging folder remain intact without mixing with the contents of any other folder. 
         [0055]      FIG. 5  shows a wireframe version of carrier  11 , denoted as carrier  111 . In this embodiment, a wire frame metal or other substantially rigid material forms a top frame  113 , and four upright supports  115  (two shown) and optionally a base frame  117 . An optional fabric sling  119  is suspended between rails  113 A and  113 B. This option is only needed for files that do not have hooks that would engage the wireframe  113 . 
         [0056]    The description of the invention 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.