Patent Publication Number: US-2003234281-A1

Title: Expandable file folder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] This invention relates to an expandable file folder, more particularly to an expandable file folder which can stand steadily in a planar surface.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional expandable file folder is shown to include an expandable folder body  1  and a cover body  2 . The folder body  1  includes two expandable lateral walls  11 , 12  and a plurality of partitions  13  connected to the lateral walls  11 , 12  to form a plurality of volume variable spaces  10 . The cover body  2  includes a base wall  23 , and front and rear cover walls  22 , 21  extending upwardly from the base wall  23  and connected to the lateral walls  11 , 12 . A cover part  211  extends from and is hinged to an upper edge of the rear cover wall  21 , and is movable between closed and open positions to cover and uncover an open top of the volume variable spaces  10 .  
       [0005] Documents can be conveniently stuffed into the volume variable spaces  10  due to the expansion of the lateral walls  11 , 12 . However, when a lot of documents are stuffed into the spaces  10 , the file folder will bulge and will not be able to stand upright. That is, the base wall  23  cannot rest properly on a planar surface, which is inconvenient when a plurality of file folders are to be arranged in a line.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an expandable file folder which can stand upright even when a lot of documents are stuffed thereinto.  
       [0007] According to this invention, the expandable file folder includes a base wall elongated in a longitudinal direction. The base wall has right and left base edges opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction, and front and rear base edges opposite to each other in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction. Front and rear cover walls are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction. Each of the front and rear cover walls includes a lower portion which is connected to a respective one of the front and rear base edges, and a middle portion which extends from the lower portion in an upright direction transverse to the longitudinal and transverse directions and which terminates at an upper edge. In addition, each of the front and rear cover walls has right and left cover edge portions opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction. Expandable right and left end walls are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. Each of the right and left end walls extends in the transverse direction, and has front and rear ends, and a plurality of pleats which are formed between the front and rear ends to permit a corresponding one of the right and left end walls to expand in the transverse direction. The front ends of the right and left end walls are connected respectively to the right and left cover edge portions of the front cover wall. The rear ends of the right and left end walls are connected respectively to the right and left cover edges portions of the rear cover wall. As such, the right and left end walls cooperate with the front and rear cover walls and the base wall to confine a document holding space with an open top at the upper edges of the front and rear cover walls. A plurality of partitions are disposed in the document holding space, extend in the longitudinal direction, and are connected to the right and left end walls so as to divide the document holding space into a plurality of volume variable spaces. A bracing member has front and rear bracing ends which are disposed opposite to each other in the transverse direction and which are connected securely and respectively to the right cover edge portions of the front and rear cover walls proximate to the lower portions of the front and rear cover walls to brace the right cover edge portions of the front and rear cover walls, and extends in the upright direction so as to maintain a distance between the lower portions of the front and rear cover walls in the transverse direction when documents are stuffed into the volume variable spaces to cause bulging of the file folder. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional expandable file folder;  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a view of a preferred embodiment of an expandable file folder according to this invention oriented in a planner configuration;  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment in an open state;  
     [0012]FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned view showing a portion of the preferred embodiment;  
     [0013]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing that the preferred embodiment is stood in an upright position; and  
     [0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a row of the expandable file folders according to this invention standing in the upright position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0015] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of an expandable file folder according to the present invention is shown to comprise a cover body  4  and an expandable folder body  3 .  
     [0016] The cover body  4  includes a base wall  43  which is elongated in a longitudinal direction, and which has right and left base edges  432 , 433  opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction, and front and rear base edges  434 , 435  opposite to each other in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction. Front and rear cover walls  42 , 41  are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction. Each of the front and rear cover walls  42 , 41  includes a lower portion  426 , 416  which is connected to a respective one of the front and rear base edges  434 , 435 , and a middle portion  427 , 417  which extends from the lower portion  426 , 416  in an upright direction transverse to the longitudinal and transverse directions and which terminates at an upper edge  428 , 418 . In addition, each of the front and rear cover walls  42 , 41  has right and left cover edge portions  429 , 420 , 419 , 410  opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction.  
     [0017] The expandable folder body  3  includes expandable right and left end walls  31 , 32  which are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. Each of the right and left end walls  31 , 32  extends in the transverse direction, and has front and rear ends, and a plurality of pleats which are formed between the front and rear ends to permit a corresponding one of the right and left end walls  31 , 32  to expand in the transverse direction. The front ends of the right and left end walls  31 , 32  are connected respectively to the right and left cover edge portions  429 , 420  of the front cover wall  42 . The rear ends of the right and left end walls  31 , 32  are connected respectively to the right and left cover edges portions  419 , 410  of the rear cover wall  41 . As such, the right and left end walls  31 , 32  cooperate with the front and rear cover walls  42 , 41  and the base wall  43  to confine a document holding space  30  with an open top at the upper edges  428 , 418 . Further, a plurality of partitions  33  are disposed in the document holding space  30 , extend in the longitudinal direction, and are connected to the right and left end walls  31 , 32  so as to divide the document holding space  30  into a plurality of volume variable spaces.  
     [0018] First and second bracing members  44 , 48 , which are in the form of strips, are formed integrally with, and extend from the right and left base edges  432 , 433  of the base wall  43  in the longitudinal direction. Each of the first and second bracing members  44 , 48  is folded along the respective one of the right and left base edges  432 , 433  so as to extend in the upright direction to confront a respective one of the right and left end walls  31 , 32 . In addition, each of the first and second bracing members  44 , 48  has front and rear bracing ends which are disposed opposite to each other in the transverse direction. Two pairs of tab members  422 , 412  and  423 , 413  are provided with bonding surfaces, and project outwardly from and are foldable along the corresponding right and left cover edge portions  420 , 429  and  410 , 419  of the front and rear coverwalls  42 , 41  adjacent to the corresponding first and second bracing members  44 , 48 . As such, each of the tab members  422 , 412 , 423 , 413  is folded to have its bonding surface confronting a corresponding one of the front and rear bracing ends of the first and second bracing members  44 , 48  so as to abut thereagainst and to be secured thereon by means of high frequency welding, thereby reinforcing the first and second bracing members  44 , 48  when the latter are secured to the corresponding right and left cover edge portions  420 , 429 , 410 , 419 . Thus, the first and second bracing members  44 , 48  can brace between the right cover edge portions  429 , 419  and the left cover edge portions  420 , 410  of the front and rear cover walls  42 , 41  so as to maintain a distance between the lower portions  426 , 416  of the front and rear cover walls  42 , 41  in the transverse direction when documents are stuffed into the volume variable spaces to cause bulging of the file folder.  
     [0019] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, preferably, two fold lines  424 , 415  are formed in the lower portions  426 , 416  of the front and rear cover walls  42 , 41 , respectively, and extend in the longitudinal direction such that the front and rear cover walls  42 , 41  are folded along the fold lines  424 , 415  to facilitate expansion of the document holding space  30  when documents are stuffed into the volume variable spaces.  
     [0020] Further, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and  5 , the base wall  43  has inside and outside wall surfaces  436 , 437  opposite to each other in the upright direction. A sheet member  45  is superimposed upon and is attached securely to the inside wall surface  436  by means of high frequency welding so as to form a label receiving space  450  with an access opening  451 . In this embodiment, the access opening  451  is formed adjacent to the second bracing member  48 . Thus, two transparent sheets  47  and a label  46  sandwiched therebetween can be inserted into the label receiving space  450  via the access opening  451 . In addition, the inside wall surface  436  of the base wall  43  has an elongate penetrating hole  431  which extends through the outside wall surface  437  such that the label  46  received in the label receiving space  450  can be exposed from the penetrating hole  431 . An insert access  481  is formed between the left base edge  433  and the second bracing member  48  for insertion of the label  46  and the transparent sheets  47  into the label receiving space  450 . By virtue of the transparent sheets  47 , the label  46  can be protected from moisture.  
     [0021] A cover part  411  extends from and is hinged to the upper edge  418  of the rear cover wall  41  in a known manner, and is movable between a closed position, as shown in FIG. 6, where the cover part  411  covers the open top of the document holding space  30 , and an open position, as shown in FIG. 3, where the cover part  411  uncovers the open top of the document holding space  30 .  
     [0022] Further, a fastening member includes two fastening parts  414 , 421  which are respectively disposed on the cover part  411  and the front cover wall  42  and which are interengageable to hold the cover part  411  in the closed position.  
     [0023] With such a construction, as shown in FIG. 5, the file folder can be stood on a planar surface in a steady manner, with right base edge  432  resting on the planar surface by means of the first and second bracing members  44 , 48  which brace the lower portions  426 , 416  of the front and rear cover walls  42 , 41 , and with the label  46  visible to the user. Therefore, it is convenient to arrange a plurality of expandable file folders of the invention in a line in an orderly manner, as shown in FIG. 6.  
     [0024] While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.