Patent Publication Number: US-8117774-B2

Title: Hanging file folder having fold-up label features

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Hanging file folders typically have tab members to identify the contents of the folders. These tab members need to be staggered in placement to permit ease of viewing of the tabs. Rather than providing sets of file folders having fixed position tab members in staggered formation, a common practice to is to provide slots into which detached, repositionable tab members can be positioned as desired by end users. An example disclosure of these types of tab members can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,487. 
     Such repositionable tab members have proven less than ideal for some end users. For example, some end users report that the repositionable tab members are difficult to insert. Similarly, some end users report difficulty judging the proper slots into which to insert the tab members in order to obtain the desired positioning. Additionally, the hanging file folder will be without a tab if the repositionable tab member becomes lost or damaged. 
     Other hanging file folders have been developed to permit selective placement of tab members by providing multiple tab members to a folder, which can be prepositioned for selective extension beyond the edge of the folder. In other words, any of the tab members can be manipulated by the user to cause that tab member to become extended beyond a folder edge, while the other tab members remain hidden so as not to block view of tab members of other folders. An example disclosure of this type of tab member can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,461. In this patent, the tab member is made of a clear plastic sheet, and the mechanism for holding an extended tab in the extended position is an interlocking rib and groove mechanism. Labeling with this tab member is accomplished by creating a label and inserting it into a plastic sleeve formed of the tab member. 
     SUMMARY 
     A hanging file folder having fold-up label features can be comprised of a sheet of flat, foldable material having two doubled over ends. A first hanger member can be disposed within one of the doubled over ends and configured to couple to a hanging file drawer rail. A second hanger member can be disposed within the other of the doubled over ends and configured to couple to the hanging file drawer rail. A plurality of tab members formed of the flat, foldable material can be attached to at least one of the doubled-over ends and have pairs of ears extending to the sides of the tab members. The tab members can be positioned to extend beyond an edge of the doubled over end to which they are attached by folding the tab members and inserting the ears into pairs of slots formed in the doubled over ends. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a hanging file folder having fold-up labels in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2   a  illustrates an open hanging file folder having fold-up labels in a pre-extended position. 
         FIG. 2   b  is an expanded view of one of the fold-up labels shown in  FIG. 2   a.    
         FIG. 3  illustrates the hanging file folder of  FIG. 2  in which one of the fold-up labels has been selectively extended. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the hanging file folder of  FIG. 2  having fold-up labels in an extended position. 
         FIG. 5  is a drawing illustrating various aspects of the file folder of  FIGS. 1-4 , such folder capable of being formed from a single sheet of paper material (such as 100% recycled paper). In the figure, dashed lines represent score lines and wherein measurements are in inches. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a folder portion (Detail A) of the drawing of  FIG. 5  in greater detail. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a folder portion (Detail B) of the drawing of  FIG. 5  in greater detail. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a folder portion (Detail C) of the drawing of  FIG. 5  in greater detail. 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of a design for a hanging file folder having fold-up label features, illustrating, in particular, fold-up labels in a pre-extended position. 
         FIG. 10  is an additional perspective view of the design shown in  FIG. 9 , illustrating in particular fold-up labels in an extended position. 
         FIG. 11  is yet a further perspective view of the design shown in  FIG. 9 , illustrating in particular fold-up labels in both pre-extended and extended positions. 
         FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of the hanging file folder shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  is a rear elevation view of the hanging file folder shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 14  is a right side elevation view of the hanging file folder shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 15  is a left side view of the hanging file folder shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 16  is a top view of the hanging file folder shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom view of the hanging file folder shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     For  FIGS. 9-17 , the dashed and broken lines are for illustrative purposes only, showing the environment, and form no part of the design. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     It should be understood at the outset that although an exemplary implementation of the present invention is described below, the present invention may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The present invention should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations, drawings, and techniques described below, including the exemplary design and implementation illustrated and described herein. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the description. Additionally, the drawings contained herein are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     With reference now to the figures, and in particular with reference to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary hanging file folder  100  is shown in which a number, such as three, of fold-up labels are provided. The file folder  100  can be constructed of a jacket  100 A made of any suitable material, such as heavy paper or card stock, plastic, or fabric, or for example, 100% recycled materials. The file folder  100  typically has doubled over ends  100 B and  100 C that may be formed by folding the ends of the jacket over upon themselves and affixing them in place by any suitable means, such as glue or another adhesive. Hanging members  100 D and  100 E typically are affixed within the double over ends  100 B and  100 C, respectively, by any suitable means, such as glue or adhesive. Hanging members  100 D and  100 E, also known as suspension bars, can be configured to couple to hanging file drawer rails, and they can be of any suitable size, shape, and material typically employed for such suspension bars. 
     In some embodiments, the fold-up labels can be provided by forming tab members  102 A- 102 C made of a flat, foldable material attached to a doubled over edge  100 B of the folder  100 . In one embodiment, the tab members  102 A- 102 C can be formed of the same flexible material as the jacket  100 A for ease of manufacture, and may be integral with the doubled over edge  100 B of the file folder  100 . It should be understood that, in alternative embodiments, multiple tab members can be provided to one doubled over edge, multiple tab members can be provided to both doubled over edges, or single tab members can be provided to each of the doubled over edges in different, staggered locations. It should also be understood that the tab members may vary in size and shape. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , tab members  102 A- 102 C may each have a pair of ears  104 A- 104 F for insertion in a pair of slots  106 A- 106 F formed in the edge  100 B of the hanging file folder  100 . As shown more particularly in  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, the ears  104 A- 104 F and slots  106 A- 106 F can be positioned generally equidistant from a folding line at or adjacent to a location at which the tab members  102 A- 102 C are attached to the doubled over edge  100 B of the folder  100 . This choice can ensure a snug fit of the ears  104 A- 104 F into the slots  106 A- 106 F, assist the end user in properly matching the ears  104 A- 104 F to the slots  106 A- 106 F, and effectively eliminate excess tab material that might bulge and tend to resist full closure of the folder  100 . However, it should be understood that other arrangements can be implemented, such as longer tab members  102 A- 102 C, ears  104 A- 104 F positioned further along the tab members  102 A- 102 C, with the tab members  102 A- 102 C being folded upon themselves to match the ears  104 A- 104 F to the slots  106 A- 106 F. In this embodiment, a score line or other marking can be added at locations on one or both sides of the tab members  102 A-C (see  FIG. 2 ) to assist the end user in matching ears  104 A- 104 F to slots  106 A- 106 F, as well as to assist the user in aligning the label on the tab. In addition, the tab members  102 A- 102 C may contain a score mark along a horizontal axis of such tab member which may serve to provide stress relief to keep the tab member flat. 
     Still in reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in one embodiment, the slots  106 A-F may be generally adapted to hold ears  104 A-F in place after such ears are inserted into slots  106 A-F (see  FIG. 1 ). The slots  106 A-F generally may contain an elongated portion and one or more smaller portions, as best shown in  FIG. 1  ( 106 E,  106 F). The slots  106 A-F are formed in the doubled-over end  100 B, the elongated portion of the slot being generally substantially perpendicular to the hanging members  100 D and  100 E, and the one or more smaller portions are substantially parallel to the hanging members  100 D and  100 E and extend from the elongated portion, as shown. Such slot configuration in the doubled-over end  100 B yields a rigid yet flexible barrier which serves both to hold the ears  104 A-F, and in turn, tab members  102 A-C, in the extended position, but yet is flexible enough such that the user may easily remove the tab member from the slots in order to place the tab member in a pre-extended position. It should be understood that the slots  106 A-F which may be formed in the material of the doubled-over end  100 B of the hanging file lie in a different horizontal plane than the hanger members  100 D and  100 E. 
     In one embodiment, the ears  104 A- 104 F can have flat edges and can become narrower in a direction extending away from the tab member. The narrowing of the ears  104 A- 104 F can reduce the degree to which the end user must bend tab members  102 A- 102 C when inserting the ears  104 A- 104 F into the slots  106 A- 106 F, especially when the ears  104 A- 104 F and slots  106 A- 106 F are positioned generally equidistant from a folding line at or adjacent to a location at which the tab members  102 A- 102 C are attached to the doubled over edge  100 B of the folder  100 . However, it should be understood that the ears  104 A- 104 F can have other shapes in alternative embodiments. For example, rounded or square ears might be employed. 
     As shown, in particular, in  FIG. 2 , the tab members  102 A-C may be attached to the file folder at various locations. In one embodiment, tab members  102 A-C may be attached at multiple, different locations, which may be equidistant to one another.  FIG. 2   b  is an expanded view of tab member  102 A illustrates additional characteristics of tab members of the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 2   b , for example, tab members  102 A-C generally may be characterized as each having a top end  112 A-C and a bottom end  114 A-C. In one embodiment, tab members  102 A-C may be attached to the file folder utilizing hinge elements  120 A-F. Hinge elements  120 A-F generally may be formed of the same material as tab members  102 A-C and serve to connect tab members  102 A-C to the file folder  100 . Generally, as shown more particularly in  FIG. 2A  (referencing specifically tab member  102 A as an example), hinge members  120 A-F may have a first end  122 A-F and a second end  124 A-F, the first end  122 A-F being attached to an edge of the doubled over end  100 B, or other portion of the file folder  100 , and the second end  124 A-F may be attached at the bottom end of the tab member  102 A-F. 
     It will be recognized that the number of hinge members  120 A-F may vary. In one embodiment, two hinges may be employed equidistant to one another. As best illustrated in  FIG. 2   a , the placement of the hinge members  120 A-F may form an elongated “gap”  130 A-C between hinge members  120 A-F. This “gap” may be defined horizontally by the position of the hinge members  120 A-F and may be defined vertically by the bottom end of the tab member ( 114 A-C) and the point of attachment to the file folder. This configuration generally may relieve stress and keep the tab member flat and prevent bowing, both in the pre-extended and extended positions of the tab members. 
     As indicated in  FIG. 3 , a user may fold all three tab members into an extended position. Alternatively, a user may extend only one of the tab members on a folder, such as tab member  102 A. By extending folding tab member  102 A at its natural folding point and inserting its ears into slots  106 A and  106 B, a snug fit can be achieved that retains the tab member  102 A in an extended position. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , extending the tab member yields a labeling surface  108 . The end user can label the folder in various ways, such as by writing directly on the labeling surface  108 , or by writing on an adhesive label and placing the adhesive label on the labeling surface  108 . The tab member may be formed from heavy paper or card stock for ease of use. 
     By alternating which of the tab members is extended on different folders in this manner, the visible labeling surfaces can be staggered as desired. If relabeling is desired, the end user can choose to repurpose the folder by extending a different tab member and writing directly on the new labeling surface. Alternatively or additionally, the end user can place a new adhesive label over an old label while employing the same tab member. 
       FIGS. 5-8  show how hanging file folder  100  may be cut from a sheet material, such as heavy paper or card stock. Of course, the dimensions shown in  FIGS. 5-8  are for illustrative purposes only, and the present invention is in no way limited to such dimensions. Utilizing this construction method, formation of the folder can be accomplished by folding ends of a jacket cut from the sheet over hanger members. Adhesive can be utilized to secure the hanger members and the doubled over ends in place. The tab members are thus placed in a non-extended position and prepared for use. Adhesive is generally not applied to the tab members, nor utilized near the slots so as to permit a pocket into which the ears can be inserted. 
       FIGS. 9-17  illustrate an ornamental design for a hanging file folder having fold-up label features.  FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of such ornamental design, illustrating, in particular, fold-up labels in a pre-extended position.  FIG. 10  is an additional perspective view of such ornamental design illustrating in particular fold-up labels in an extended position.  FIG. 11  is yet a further perspective view of such ornamental design illustrating in particular fold-up labels in both pre-extended and extended positions.  FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of the hanging file folder shown in  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 13  is a rear elevation view of the hanging file folder shown in  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 14  is a right side elevation view of the hanging file folder shown in  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 15  is a left side view of the hanging file folder shown in  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 16  is a top view of the hanging file folder shown in  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 17  is a bottom view of the hanging file folder shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.