Patent Publication Number: US-2007095695-A1

Title: Card file

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      1. Field of the Disclosure  
      The disclosure generally relates to storage devices and specifically to nestable card files.  
      2. Related Technology  
      Card filing containers are known in the art. Most of these containers are simply boxes having an opening on or near a top surface for access to a storage space within the container. Because these containers inherently comprise mostly empty space, they generally take up relatively large amounts of retail shelf space and also a significant amount of space during shipment.  
      A significant drawback to these containers from a retail sales point of view occurs in bulk transportation and display of these containers for sale. Because such containers are typically made to hold a plurality of cards, they consist mostly of empty space, surrounded by four or more walls and a bottom. During bulk transportation from the manufacturer to the retailer, the volume of empty space within the container may be lost to the shipper and may result in a higher per unit cost to the retailer. Furthermore, such containers are often displayed for sale by stacking one product on top of a like product, thus losing valuable display space to the empty storage space within the containers.  
     SUMMARY  
      A card file is described herein including a base and a lid hingedly joined together. The base includes a base panel, front, back and side walls. Likewise, the lid includes a lid panel, front, back and side walls. The front, back and side walls of both the base and lid extend away from respective ones of the base and lid panels. The front and back walls diverge away from one another in a direction away from the base or lid panel. Likewise, the side walls diverge away from one another moving away from the base or lid panel. A first storage space is defined between the base panel and respective front back and side walls of the base. Similarly, a second storage space is defined between the lid panel, and respective front, back and side walls of the lid. Thus, both the first and second storage spaces are generally smaller in cross-sectional area near respective base or lid panels than near respective exposed edges of the front, back and side walls. The card file is stackable with like card files in a nested configuration. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a card file constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure;  
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the card file of  FIG. 1  in an open position;  
       FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of the card file of  FIG. 1  in an open position; and  
       FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view of the card file of  FIG. 1  stacked in a nested condition with like card files. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      A card file generally includes a first portion, or base, and a second portion, or lid, hingedly joined together. Each of the first and second portions includes a panel and two opposing sets of walls. In a closed configuration, the card file is box-like in shape including a storage space defined between the panels and walls of the first and second portions. The card file may be sized for storage of index cards or the like. Additionally, the size and shape of the card file may be selected based on what is to be stored in the storage space. The card file may be produced in virtually any size to accommodate a desired card size. For example, the card file may be sized to receive 3″×5″ cards, 4″×6″ cards, business cards or virtually any other sized card or document.  
      A card file  10  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure is shown in  FIG. 1 . The card file  10  is shown in a closed position and includes a first portion or base  20  and a second portion or lid  22 . The base  20  and lid  22  are hingedly attached to one another and are movable between an open position, in which a storage space is exposed, to a closed position, in which the storage space is not exposed. A front wall  24  of the base  20  includes a generally scalloped or recessed area  26 . A front wall  30  of the lid  22  includes a corresponding tongue  32  extending from a first edge  34  thereof that overlays the scalloped or recessed area  26 . The tongue  32  conveniently provides a grasping surface for a user when moving the card file  10  from the closed position to the open position. Additionally, the lid includes a groove  36  disposed on a first surface  40  thereof. The groove  36  is sized and shaped to support an index card on the first surface  40  in a generally upright orientation so that a user may view the index card without holding the index card. Thus, the groove  46  frees the user&#39;s hands for other uses while still allowing easy viewing of the index card.  
       FIG. 2  shows a top plan view of the card file  10  in an open position. The base  20  and lid  22  are hingedly attached along a first edges  40 ,  42  of respective back walls  44 ,  46 . In this example, the base  20  and lid  22  are attached to one another via a living hinge  50 . Of course any type of hinge could be used to attach the base  20  to the lid  22 . The base  20  includes a base panel  52 , front and back walls  24 ,  44  and a pair of side walls  54 . The front and back walls  24 ,  44  of the base  20  extend away from the base panel  52  and diverge slightly away from one another as the front and back walls  24 ,  44  of the base  20  extend away from the base panel  52 . Likewise, the two side walls  54  of the base  20  extend away from the base panel  52  and diverge away from one another as the side walls  54  of the base  20  extend from the base panel  52 . A storage space  56  for the base  20  is formed between the front, back and side walls  24 ,  44 ,  54  of the base  20 . The storage space  56  of the base  20  is smaller in cross-sectional area near the base panel  52  than near the distal edges of the front, back and side walls  24 ,  44 ,  54  of the base  20 .  
      Likewise, the lid  22  includes a lid panel  60 , front and back walls  30 ,  46 , and a pair of side walls  62 . The front and back walls  30 ,  46  of the lid  22  extend away from the lid panel  60  and diverge slightly away from one another as the lid front and back walls  30 ,  46  extend away from the lid panel  60 . Similarly, the two side walls  62  of the lid  22  extend away from the lid panel  60  and diverge away from one another as the side walls  54  of the lid  22  extend from the lid panel  60 . A storage space  64  for the lid  22  is formed between the front, back and side walls  30 ,  46 ,  62  of the lid  22 . The storage space  64  of the lid  22  is smaller in cross-sectional area near the lid panel  60  than near the distal edges of the front, back and side walls  30 ,  46 ,  62  of the lid  22 .  
      The groove  36  in this example extends generally from one side wall  62  of the lid  22  to the other side wall  62  of the lid  22 . Thus, an index card may be supported on the lid  22  for easy viewing. Additionally, in this example, the groove  36  is substantially parallel to the front wall  30  of the lid  22 . Of course, the groove  36  may be dimensioned and oriented as required by the user.  
      A plurality of flanges  66  are disposed on the base panel  52  and the lid panel  60 . Each flange  66  extends away from the base panel  52  or the lid panel  60  and to a height less than that of a respective front or back wall  24 ,  44  of the base  20  or a respective front or back wall  30 ,  46  of the lid  22 . The flanges  66  act as nesting stops when the card file  10  is nested with like card files  10 . This interaction will be discussed in detail hereinafter.  
      Further, the card file  10  may include a plurality of ribs  70  disposed on the base panel  52  and the lid panel  60 . The ribs  70  facilitate organization of the cards stored in the card file  10  by preventing the cards from sliding to one side of the storage space  56 ,  64 . The ribs  70  also facilitate storage of the cards in a generally upright orientation within the card file  10 . Further, the tapered front, back and side walls  24 ,  44 ,  54  of the base  20  provide more space near a top portion of the cards allowing a user to fan the top portions of the card for easy viewing.  
       FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of the card file  10  of  FIG. 1  in an open position. The lid  22  and base  20  are joined by the hinge  50  along the first edge  40  of the back wall of the base  20  and the first edge  42  of the back wall of the lid  22 . In this embodiment, the back wall  44  of the base  20  and the back wall  46  of the lid are substantially the same height, this feature allows the base panel  52  and the lid panel  60  to lie in substantially the same plane when the card file  10  is in the open position. The substantially coplanar orientation of the base panel  52  and the lid panel  60  provides a relatively stable starting condition with which a stack of card files  10  may be constructed.  
      The side walls  54  of the base  20  taper from the front wall  24  of the base  20  towards the back wall  44  of the base  20 . In other words, the side walls  54  of the base  20  are greater in height near the front wall  24  of the base  20  than near the back wall  44  of the base. Conversely, the side walls  62  of the lid  22  taper from the back wall  46  of the lid  22  to the front wall  30  of the lid  22 . That is to say, the side walls  62  of the lid  22  are greater in height near the back wall. 46  of the lid  22  than near the front wall  30  of the lid  22 . Of course, the side walls  54  of the base  20  and the side walls  62  of the lid  22  could be constructed with varying heights and tapers. However, the general taper of the side walls  54 ,  62  from the front wall  24  of the base  20  toward the front wall  30  of the lid  22  allows a user easy viewing of cards stored in the card file  10 . Viewing of the cards is especially enhanced by the taper of the side walls  54 ,  62  when the card file  10  is at or near capacity.  
      Additionally, the flanges  66  extend generally away from the base panel  52  and the lid panel  60  respectively. Further, the flanges  66  are attached to one of the front walls  24 ,  30  of the base  20  or lid  22  and the back walls  44 ,  46  of the base  20  or lid  22 . However, the flanges may be freestanding in that they only extend from the base panel  52  or the lid panel  60 . Furthermore, the flanges  66  may be eliminated if desired. The flanges  66  generally provide an upper surface  72  which bears against a lower surface of the base panel  52  or the lid panel  60  of a like card file  10  when like card files  10  are stacked in a nested configuration. In this manner, the flanges  66  act as nesting stops to prevent frictional locking between adjacent card files when nested. Alternately, one or more of the ribs  70  may be lengthened to provide a similar upper surface for bearing against another base panel  52  or lid panel  60 .  
       FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of a stack  74  of like card files  10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″, in a nested configuration. In this configuration, a first card file  10  is partially inserted into the storage spaces  56 ′,  64 ′, of a second card file  10 ′. The base panel  52  of the first card file  10  bears against the flanges  66 ′of the second card file. Likewise, the lid panel  60  of the first card file  10  bears against the flanges  66 ′of the second card file  10 ′. Thus, the first card file  10  may only be inserted into the second card file  10 ′to a predetermined depth. Accordingly, frictional locking is prevented and a user may easily separate the individual card files  10 ,  10 ′from the stack  74  of card files. The two card files  10 ,  10 ′, may likewise be nested with a third card file  10 ″. The volume of space occupied by the stack  74  of card files is significantly less than the sum of the volumes occupied by the individual card files. Therefore, shipment and storage of the card files  10  in the stacked and nested configuration is more efficient that shipment and storage of traditional card files. The resulting increase in shipping and storage efficiency reduces the overall cost of the products to a consumer.  
      While the disclosed embodiments are generally manufactured from molded plastic, the card files can, of course, be constructed from virtually any suitable material and by virtually any suitable manufacturing process. For example, the card files may be constructed from polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, engineering grade plastic, ABS, TPE, thermoplastics, metal, wood, organic materials, laminates, leather, glass and/or combination thereof. One example of the card file may be manufactured of plastic through an injection molding process. The material and method of manufacture may be chosen by one skilled in the art according to desired features, cost, and/or ease of manufacture, among other considerations.  
      The disclosed card files improve upon maximizing retail shelf space, accommodate variable shelf space and configurations, and enhance product nesting for shipping, stock storage, and display for sale. Product nesting is accomplished by stacking each card file vertically upward relative to its preceding card file in a stack. The stacked card files can be displayed and shipped without damage to the product due to scuffing, scratching, and the like because the products will be tightly nested. Additional packing between adjacent card files can be negated.  
      Additionally, freight cube size can be optimized and significantly reduced utilizing the disclosed nested card file configuration. Products shipped in bulk can be directly unloaded from the master carton or shipping box onto a retail shelf. No additional reorientation of the product may be necessary, making the merchandiser&#39;s handling of the product easier. The nested card files also assist in retaining the displayed card files on a retail shelf space. The card files also look more organized when nested as disclosed herein. This reduces the amount of work required by both customers and merchandisers to keep the shelf displays neatly organized and arranged. An organized shelf space may effect the perception of the consumer and influence his or her decision to buy the displayed products.  
      Further, because more product can be displayed for sale in a given amount of shelf space, less restocking time and stocking space is necessary for the retailer. Having more product available and on display for sale at any one time reduces the frequency of an item appearing to be out of stock, which can prevent a consumer from leaving the establishment to go elsewhere to find the desired product.  
      Although certain card files that are nestable have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of the appended claims is not limited thereto. On the contrary, the claims cover all embodiments of the teachings of this disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.