Patent Publication Number: US-2021177140-A1

Title: Hanger bar

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a US National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/CN2018/083358, filed Apr. 17, 2018, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to hanging file folders, and more particularly to a hanger bar for a hanging file folder. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hanging file folders are commonly used for storing and organizing papers in storage units such as file cabinets and drawers. Sleeves may be provided in the folder&#39;s top edges through which hanger bars or rods are received. The ends of the bars are exposed and may be notched to enable the bars to engage and be retained on rails within the storage unit. The bars are of sufficient length to span the distance between the support rails. Therefore, in use, the bars are hooked over the support rails so that the file folder is suspended therefrom enabling the file folder to hang on the rails within the storage unit. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a hanger bar for mounting a hanging file folder on a pair of support rails generally comprises a body having a top, a bottom, and opposite longitudinal ends. The body includes a first section having a length extending longitudinally across the body and a height extending from the top of the body toward the bottom of the body. A second section has a length extending longitudinally across the body and a height extending from the first section of the body toward the bottom of the body. A third section has a length extending longitudinally across the body and a height extending from the second section of the body to the bottom of the body. The first section is angled with respect to a vertical axis when the body is positioned in a vertical orientation. 
     In another aspect, a hanger bar for mounting a hanging file folder on a pair of support rails generally comprises a body having a top, a bottom, and opposite longitudinal ends. A pair of hooks are formed in the bottom of the body. Each hook is configured for receiving a respective support rail to mount the hanger bar on the support rails. A first hook is formed proximate a first longitudinal end of the body and a second hook being formed proximate a second longitudinal end of the body opposite the first longitudinal end of the body. Portions of the hooks formed for engaging the support rails are blunt to facilitate sliding of the hanger bar along the support rails. 
     In yet another aspect, a hanger bar for mounting a hanging file folder on a pair of support rails generally comprises a body having a top, a bottom, and opposite longitudinal ends. The body includes a first section having a length extending longitudinally across the body and a height extending from the top of the body toward the bottom of the body. A second section has a length extending longitudinally across the body and a height extending from the first section of the body toward the bottom of the body. A third section has a length extending longitudinally across the body and a height extending from the second section of the body to the bottom of the body. The first, second, and third sections are each planar. 
     Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective of a hanging file folder system; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged fragmentary view of the hanging file folder system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front, fragmentary perspective of a hanger bar of the hanging file folder system; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear, fragmentary perspective of the hanger bar; 
         FIG. 5  is a front, fragmentary view of the hanger bar; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear, fragmentary view of the hanger bar; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged fragmentary view of the hanger bar of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged fragmentary view of the hanger bar of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a vertical section of the hanger bar taken through a middle section of the hanger bar; 
         FIG. 10  is a vertical section of the hanger bar taken through a hook of the hanger bar; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross section of the hanger bar taken through line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a cross section of the hanger bar taken through line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a hanging file folder system is generally designated at  1 . The system comprises a hanging file folder  3  and a pair of hanger bars  5  received in respective folds  7  of the hanging file folder for mounting the hanging file folder on a pair of support rails  9  in a filing cabinet drawer (not shown). In one embodiment, the hanger bars  5  are formed from metal. The hanger bars  5  are configured to slideably mount the hanging file holder  3  on the rails  9  for moving the hanging file folder along the rails and for opening and closing the hanging file folder on the rails. The hanger bars  5  include hooks  11  at opposite longitudinal ends of the hanger bars which receive a respective support rail  9  to mount and retain the hanging file holder  3  on the support rails. Each hook  11  has a blunt engagement surface  13  to facilitate sliding of the hanger bars  5  along the support rails  9 . The rounded configuration of the surface  13  of the hooks  11  also reinforces the hanger bars  5  at the hooks to strengthen the hanger bars. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 and 9 , each hanger bar  5  comprises a body  15  including a top edge  17 , a bottom edge  19 , and opposite longitudinal ends  21 . A length L of the body  15  extends between the longitudinal ends  21 . A height H of the body  15  extends between the top edge  17  and bottom edge  19 . The body  15  can be of sheet metal formed to include a first section  23 , a second section  25 , and a third section  27  each extending longitudinally across the body  15  between the longitudinal ends  21 . As seen in the figures, the hooks  11  formed in the body  15  form a discontinuity in a portion of the second and third sections  25 ,  27  of the body. However, it will be understood that the sections generally extend between the longitudinal ends  21 . At least a portion of the second section  25  extends continuously between the longitudinal ends  21 . An entirety of the first section  23  extends continuously between the longitudinal ends  21 . 
     The first section  23  is disposed at the top of the body  15  when the hanger bar  5  is in use such that a height H 1  extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the body from the top edge  17  to the second section  25 . The second section is disposed in the middle of the body  15  and has a height H 2  that extends perpendicularly from the longitudinal axis of the body from the first section  23  to the third section  27 . The third section is disposed at a bottom of the body  15  and has a height H 3  that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the body from the second section  25  to bottom edge  19 . In the illustrated embodiment, the second section  25  extends directly from the first section  23 , and the third section extends  27  extends directly from the second section. However, additional sections could be included between the first section  23  and the second section  25  and between the second section and the third section  27  without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , each section  23 ,  25 ,  27  comprises a planar section of the body  15 . A thickness T of the body  15  may be the same for each of the first, second, and third sections  23 ,  25 ,  27 . The thickness T of the body  15  may be between about 0.25 mm (about 0.01 inches) and about 0.45 mm (about 0.02 inches). In one embodiment, the thickness of the body  15  may be less than about 0.5 mm (about 0.02 inches). When the body  15  of the hanger  5  is positioned in a vertical orientation, a height H 1  of the first section  23  extends at an angle to a vertical plane. In one embodiment, the height H 1  of the first section  23  is between about 2 mm (about 0.08 inches) and about 3.5 mm (about 0.14 inches.) A vertical orientation of the body  15  may be defined as a position of the body where a bottommost portion of horizontal segment  39  ( FIGS. 7 and 10 ) of the hook  11  is oriented to face a horizontal plane. The section of  FIG. 9  shows the body  15  in the vertical orientation. This is the position the hanger bar  5  will assume when in use as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In this orientation, the first section  23  extends at an angle α to a vertical axis. The first section  23  may extend at an angle α from about 20 degrees to about 40 degrees from vertical. A height H 2  of the second section  25  extends at an angle β to a vertical axis and at an angle μ to the first section  23 . In one embodiment, the height H 2  of the second section  25  is between about 2.5 mm (about 0.1 inches) and about 4.5 mm (about 0.18 inches). The second section  25  may extend at an angle β from about 20 degrees to about 40 degrees from vertical, and at an angle μ from about 110 degrees to about 130 degrees from the first section  23 . A height H 3  of the third section  27  extends at an angle σ to a vertical axis and at an angle γ to the second section  25 . In one embodiment, the height H 3  of the third section  27  is between about 2.0 mm (about 0.08 inches) and about 3.5 mm (about 0.14 inches). The third section  27  may extend at an angle σ from about 20 degrees to about 40 degrees from vertical, and at an angle γ from about 110 degrees to about 130 degrees from the second section  25 . 
     The angles of extension of the first and third sections  23 ,  27  of the body  15  are preferably such that the first and third sections extend generally parallel to each other. However, the first and third sections  23 ,  27  could extend at non-parallel angles without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The angled configuration of the sections  23 ,  25 ,  27  strengthens the body  15  of the hanger bar  5  as compared to a hanger bar having a single vertical or multiple vertical sections. As a result, the thickness T of the body  15  can remain relatively small while maintaining sufficient strength for providing the structural support for the hanging file holder  3  while bearing the weight of the files received in the file folder. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7, 8, and 10-12 , the hooks  11  on the hanger bar  5  are defined by cutouts or notches in the body  15  near the longitudinal ends  21 . The cutout extends completely through the height of third section  27  and partly through the height of second section  25 . The portion of the body  15  that defines the hook  11  is rolled in a rearward direction toward a back of the body to define the blunt engagement surface  13 . Thus, material of the body  15  is bent out of plane with respect to an adjacent portion of the body forming a curved segment that extends along the hook  11 . It will be understood that the body  15  may be formed other than by bending sheet metal without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Because the hook  11  is formed in the material of the body  15 , the engagement surface  13  includes segments which correspond with the second and third sections  25 ,  27  of the body. As such, first segments  31  correspond to the third section  27  of the body  15 . Bends  33  extend from respective first segments  31  and correspond to the angle γ formed between the second and third sections  25 ,  27  of the body  15 . Second segments  35  of the engagement surface  13  correspond to the second section  25  of the body  15 . Bends  37  extend from respective second segments  35 . 
     A third segment  39  defines a horizontal segment of the engagement surface  13 . The third segment  39  extends within the second section  25  of the body  15 . Each of the segments and bends  31 - 39  is rolled so that the entire engagement surface  13  has a rounded configuration which facilitates sliding the hanger bar  5  along the rails  9 . This also eliminates the need to apply a coating over the hooks  11  to provide the smooth surface for engaging the rails  9 . Therefore, the metal material of the hanger bar  5  which defines the hooks  11  is configured to directly engage the support rails  9  when the hanger bar is mounted on the support rails. Thus, the hanger bar  5  including the support rail engaging hooks  11  is formed from a single piece of material. The rounded configuration of the hooks  11  also reinforces the hooks to strengthen the area of the hanger bar  5  that engages the rails  9 . The result is a hanger bar  5  formed from a single piece of thin sheet metal having a body  15  with the strength and rigidity to support the hanging file folder  3 , and any files held in the file folder, and reinforced hooks  11  configured to easily slide along the support rails  9  in a filing cabinet drawer. 
     When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
     As various changes could be made in the above apparatuses, systems, and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.