Abstract:
This invention relates to a hook-shaped hanger adapted to be attached by a pair of spaced prongs to a vertical panel wall and adapted to support an envelope of plastic film that hangs form that hook-shaped hanger to serve as a temporary file repository for a user. The hook-shaped hanger includes a ridge across the outside surface of the hook that retains the envelope on the hook when a file or the like is being removed from the envelope. The envelope may be a single file envelope supported by a single hanger or a multifile expandable envelope supported by two spaced hangers.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are two patent applications currently filed entitled PANEL WALL ORGANIZER, Ser. No. 29/119,670; Confrm No. 6701, filed Mar. 3, 2000 and PANEL WALL HANGER U.S. Design Pat. No. D436,841, dated Jan. 30, 2001. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a wall-mounted file holder, and more particularly, it relates to a transparent pocket for a file and a means for attaching that pocket to a vertical wall. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The only known related art is a spring-loaded clip for suspending a paper from the clip and attaching it to a wall via a pair of spaced prongs integral with the back of the clip. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a transparent bolder for a file folder and the combination of that file holder and a hook-shaped hanger for the file holder that is attachable to a vertical wall. The hook-shaped hanger is attachable to the wall by means of two parallel spaced prongs projecting outwardly and downwardly from the back of the hanger. The lower front portion of the hanger is hook-shaped to receive a slotted opening formed in an upper flap of a transparent plastic envelope that serves as a file holder in this invention. The invention includes as one embodiment the combination of one hook-shaped hanger from which there is suspended a single plastic envelope; and a second embodiment which is the combination of two hook-shaped hangers and a large expandable plastic envelope of several compartments that may hold several file folders, the two hangers being widely separated and the large envelope being suspended from two slots designed to accept a hook-shaped hanger in each slot. A specific improvement feature of each hanger is found in the design of each hook to include a sharp ridge or shoulder on the outside lower surface of each hook positioned such that the slot for each envelope will slightly deform and just pass over the ridge on the hook, in a snap lock manner, before reaching its final hanging position; and the ridge will serve to prevent the envelope from sliding off the hook when a file is removed from the envelope. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 a perspective view of the hook-shaped hanger of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the hook-shaped hanger of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the hook-shaped hanger of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a top end elevational view of the hook-shaped hanger of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom end elevational view of the hook-shaped hanger of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the hook-shaped hanger of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the hook-shaped hanger and the file holder as shown along line  7 — 7  of FIG. 8 or FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a hook shaped hanger supporting a single file holder in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a pair of hook-shaped hangers supporting a multiple file holder in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a partial front elevational view showing the slotted opening of either file holder of FIG. 8 or  9 ; and 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the portion shown in a circle in FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a temporary readily accessible file holder for a typist, computer operator, telephone operator, etc. who needs a place to store a file and has nothing but wall space available for such a purpose. This invention provides a pocket large enough to enclose a file folder and one or two hangers to attach the pocket to a vertical wall, commonly a panel wall, that is receptive to pins or prongs that can be attached to the wall by the force of human fingers. The invention includes the combination of one or more hangers that has prongs pushed into the wall and a plastic film pocket that is hung from a hook on the bottom of the hanger. The features of this invention are seen in the attached drawings wherein FIGS. 1-6 show the hook-shaped hanger and FIGS. 7-10 show how the hanger of FIGS. 1-6 is employed to support two different sizes of file holders. 
     FIGS. 1-6 show the features of the hanger that is attachable to a vertical wall and from which a plastic film pocket can be hung for the storage of a file such as a manilla folder containing sheets of typing or the like. The hanger has a solid molded plastic body  20  with a pair of steel pins or prongs  22  angled outwardly from the back of the body  20  and positioned parallel to each other. The prongs  22  are pushed into the wall so as to make the body  20  lie substantially parallel and flat against the wall providing a laterally extending hook-shaped bottom  21  terminating in an upwardly directed free end or nose  23  which is sized to readily pass through a slotted opening  28  in the plastic film pocket  25  or  26 . The prongs  22  may be molded into the body  20  when it is manufactured or the prongs  22  may be added after the molding, e.g., by an adhesive or the like. Preferably, the prongs  22  are added when the body  20  is molded, prongs  22  actually being two ends of a single wire having a U-shape with the cross piece being encased in the body  20 . The upper end of body  20  is thicker than the remainder of body  20  so as to provide a mass that will not break away due to the stress introduced therein by the cross piece connecting the two prongs  22  and due to weight of the file or files suspended by that hanger or hangers. 
     FIGS. 7-11 show the combination of one or more hook hangers  20  and a plastic film pocket folder  25  or  26 . Pocket folder  25  is a single pocket of two pieces of plastic film sealed together around three sides and with an open top for the insertion of or the withdrawal of a file or even a single sheet of paper. Pocket folder  26  is larger and designed to contain perhaps three separate files in three separate sections of the folder  26 , and because of its additional weight it is supported by two spaced hook hangers  20  inserted into two spaced slotted openings  28 . As shown in FIG. 7, the hanger  20  is shown spaced away from wall panel  27 . However, when properly positioned the rear face  35  of hanger body  20  will engage outer face  36  of wall panel  27 , particularly when the folder  25  or  26  has items disposed therein. The hook hangers  20  could be used to support frames or wall clocks or items other than pocket folders so long as the item had an appropriate slot opening  28  adapted to be attached to the hook  21  of the hanger  20  to obtain the full benefits of the retention feature hereinafter described. 
     The present invention also provides a retention feature that improves the utility of the combination of a hanger and a pocket folder of this invention. This retention feature is best illustrated in FIG.  11 . The outside surface of the lower portion of the hook hanger  20  is fashioned with a small shoulder or ridge  24  extending across the surface generally perpendicular to the long axis of the body  20  so that when a pocket folder  25  or  26  is suspended from the hook hanger  20  by the slot  28  in the pocket folder, the slot  28  slightly deforms so that the ridge  24  passes forwardly of outside surface  30  of pocket folder  25  or  26 . The weight of the folder will be concentrated immediately behind ridge  24 , i.e., the slot  28  will automatically hang on the hook  21  on the side of the ridge  24  which is next to the wall  27  to which hanger  20  is attached. This precise positioning of ridge  24  provides a resistance to pocket folder  25  or  26  sliding off hook surface  21  when a person attempts to remove papers from the pocket folder  25  or  26  without removing the pocket folder from hook body  20 . It may be seen in FIG. 11 that the position of pocket folder  25  or  26  hanging from hook hanger  20  is at the bottom of the U-shaped portion of the hook as would be expected due to gravity. Immediately to the left (away from the wall  27  to which hanger  20  is attached) is ridge  24  with its edge lying against the outside surface  30  of the upper portion  31  of pocket folder  25  or  26 . If one wishes to remove any part of the file or paper contained in the pocket of folder  25  or  26 , it will tend to pull pocket folder  25  or  26  off the hook  21  of hanger  20 , but because of the presence of ridge  24  the pocket folder  25  or  26  will be retained or restrained from being removed from the hook  21 . If ridge  24  is sharp and deep, the restraint is strong, but may be weakened by adjusting the ridge to dull and shallow, resulting in less restraint. The relative sizes of ridge  24  and the pocket folder  25  or  26  and the size of the slot  28  will determine how well the restraint will work to prevent inadvertent removal of the entire pocket folder  25  or  26  and its contents each time a paper is removed from the pocket folder. 
     The hook hangers  20  may be made from any acceptable thermoplastic or thermosetting material that has an acceptable strength, and other desirable properties. Such materials include polyalkylenes, polyamides, polyaldehydes, polyesters, polyacrylics, etc. The flexible pocket folders similarly may be made from any of several materials that are suitable to form flexible plastic films, such as polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, etc. The prongs  22  are made of a springy metal that is strong enough to puncture wall materials and sufficiently inflexible not to bend easily. Usually a metal is selected that does not rust or corrode, like stainless steel, but other materials may be selected like aluminum, copper, brass, and any of a variety of more expensive metals and their alloys, without departing from the scope of this invention. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.