Patent Publication Number: US-6986455-B2

Title: File folder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a file folder, and more particularly to a file folder having a structure for preventing a clip from being disengaged from the file folder inadvertently. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Typical file folders comprise a front sheet, a back sheet, a folder strip formed between the front sheet and the back sheet and foldable relative to the front sheet and the back sheet, to receive paper sheets between the front sheet and the back sheet. A clip is further provided and engaged onto the edge portions of the front sheet and the back sheet, to clamp and retain the paper sheets between the front sheet and the back sheet. 
   For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,104 to Gloeckle discloses one of the typical file folders which also comprises a clip provided to clamp and retain the paper sheets between the front sheet and the back sheet. However, a long slit or cut is required to be formed in the folder strip to receive the clip, and the clip may not be easily engaged through or into the slit or cut of the folder strip. In addition, the folder strip may interfere with the operation of the clip. 
   The applicant has also developed a file folder which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,676 to Su, and which comprises three foldable strips coupled to a base sheet. One of the strips that is located close to the base sheet includes an opening formed therein to receive the clip. However, the foldable strips may be easily curled and may not be retained in position. In addition, the foldable strips may also interfere with the operation of the retaining clip. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,952 to Ho discloses another typical file folder which comprises two slits perpendicular to the slit or cut as shown in Gloeckle, to slidably receive two protrusions extended from the clip, and which comprises two holes formed in the ends of each of the slits, to receive the protrusions of the clip. 
   However, when the clip is slid away from the file folder or when the clip is completely engaged onto the file folder, the protrusions of the clip will be aligned with the holes of the file folder, and will be easily disengaged from the file folder. 
   The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional file folders. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a file folder including a structure for preventing a clip from being disengaged from the file folder inadvertently. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a file folder comprising a base sheet including a front portion, a rear portion, and two side portions, and including two slits formed in the rear portion thereof and spaced away from each other to form two ears, a flap extended from the rear portion of the base sheet, and including a folding line formed between the flap and the rear portion of the base sheet, to allow the flap to be folded relative to the base sheet, and a clip including a base plate having two side portions engageable through the slits of the base sheet, and arranged between the ears of the base sheet, and including a clamping plate, and a bow formed between the base plate and the clamping plate. The ears of the base sheet are engaged onto the side portions of the base plate of the clip, to guide the base plate of the clip to move forwardly and rearwardly relative to the base sheet, and to prevent the base plate from being moved laterally relative to the base sheet, and the base plate of the clip includes a middle portion arranged between the side portions thereof and between the ears of the base sheet, to allow the clip to be easily moved forwardly and rearwardly relative to the base sheet. 
   The clamping plate includes a front portion having a hook member provided thereon, the flap includes at least one cut formed therein to form at least one stop therein, and the stop is engageable with the clamping plate of the clip, to prevent the clip from being disengaged from the flap. 
   A cover sheet may further be provided or extended from the flap, or extended from the rear portion of the base sheet. 
   Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a file folder in accordance with the present invention, in which the file folder is arranged in an open position; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the file folder, similar to  FIG. 1 , in which the file folder is arranged in a closed position; 
       FIGS. 3 ,  4  are upper perspective views illustrating the operation of the file folder; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the file folder, similar to  FIG. 2 , as seen from the bottom of the file folder, in which the file folder is also arranged in the closed position; 
       FIGS. 6 ,  7  are bottom perspective views illustrating the operation of the file folder; 
       FIGS. 8 ,  9 ,  10  are partial cross sectional views taken along lines  8 — 8 ,  9 — 9 ,  10 — 10  of  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4  respectively; 
       FIGS. 11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14  are perspective views illustrating the operation of the file folder; 
       FIG. 15  is an exploded view illustrating the other embodiment of the file folder; 
       FIG. 16  is an upper perspective view of the file folder as shown in  FIG. 15 ; and 
       FIGS. 17 ,  18  are perspective views illustrating the further embodiment of the file folder. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the drawings, and initially to  FIGS. 1–8 , a file folder in accordance with the present invention comprises a bottom or base sheet  10  including a front edge or portion  11 , a rear edge or portion  12 , and two side edges or portions  14 , and including two curved slits  15  formed in the rear portion  12  thereof and spaced away from each other to form or define two ears  17 . 
   A strip or band or flap  20  is formed on or extended from the rear portion  12  of the base sheet  10 , and a hinge line or folding line  21  is formed between the base sheet  10  and the flap  20 , for allowing the flap  20  to be folded toward and to engage with the base sheet  10 . The flap  20  includes one or more cuts  23  formed therein to form or define a stop  24  each, best shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  8 – 10 . The stops  24  of the flap  20  are arranged between the ears  17  of the base sheet  10 . 
   A clip  30  includes a base plate  31  having two side portions  32  to be engaged through the slits  15  of the base sheet  10 , and arranged between the ears  17  of the base sheet  10 . The ears  17  of the base sheet  10  may be engaged onto the side portions  32  of the base plate  31  of the clip  30 , so as to stably guide the base plate  31  of the clip  30  to move forwardly and rearwardly relative to the base sheet  10 , and to prevent the base plate  31  of the clip  30  from being moved laterally relative to the base sheet  10 . 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 5–7 , the ears  17  of the base sheet  10  are only engaged onto the side portions  32  of the base plate  31  of the clip  30 , and are not engaged onto the middle portion  33  of the base plate  31  of the clip  30 , such that the finger(s) of the user may be engaged with the middle portion  33  of the base plate  31 , to move the middle portion  33  of the base plate  31  forwardly and rearwardly relative to the base sheet  10 . The movement of the clip  30  relative to the base sheet  10  thus will not be interfered by the ears  17  of the base sheet  10 . 
   The clip  30  further includes an upper or clamping plate  34  formed or provided above the base plate  31 , and a bow member  35  formed or provided between the base plate  31  and the clamping plate  34 , to form or define a space  36  between the base plate  31  and the clamping plate  34  ( FIGS. 8–10 ). The clamping plate  34  includes a barb or hook member  37  provided in the front edge or portion  38  thereof and extended inclinedly toward the base plate  31  and toward the bow member  35 , for engaging with the stops  24  of the flap  20  ( FIGS. 8–10 ). 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 8–10 , the inclinedly extended hook member  37  of the base plate  31  of the clip  30  is arranged for allowing the hook member  37  of the base plate  31  to be easily engaged onto the flap  20  and/or the paper sheets or document  90  to be held or clamped in the file folder, and to be easily engaged over the stops  24  of the flap  20 . 
   In operation, as shown in  FIGS. 2–4  and  8 – 14 , the paper sheets or document  90  to be held or clamped in the file folder may first be disposed on the base sheet  10 , and the flap  20  may then be folded and engaged onto the paper sheets or document  90  or the rear portion  12  of the base sheet  10 , best shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , for allowing the paper sheets or document  90  to be stably retained between the base sheet  10  and the flap  20 . 
   The side portions  32  of the base plate  31  of the clip  30  may then be engaged through the slits  15  of the base sheet  10 , and the ears  17  of the base sheet  10  may be engaged onto the side portions  32  of the base plate  31  of the clip  30 , to guide the base plate  31  of the clip  30  to move forwardly and rearwardly relative to the base sheet  10 , and to prevent the base plate  31  of the clip  30  from being moved laterally relative to the base sheet  10 . 
   The hook member  37  of the base plate  31  may then be easily engaged onto the flap  20  and/or the paper sheets or document  90 , and engaged over the stops  24  of the flap  20  by moving the clip  30  toward the base sheet  10  and the flap  20 . After the hook member  37  of the base plate  31  has been engaged over the stops  24  of the flap  20 , the stops  24  of the flap  20  with the hook member  37  of the base plate  31 , and thus may prevent the clip  30  from being disengaged from the base sheet  10  and the flap  20  inadvertently. 
   It is to be noted that the middle portion  33  of the base plate  31  of the clip  30  has not been blocked or clamped or shielded by the ears  17  of the base sheet  10 , such that the finger(s) of the user may be engaged with the middle portion  33  of the base plate  31 , to move the middle portion  33  of the base plate  31  forwardly and rearwardly relative to the base sheet  10 , without being interfered by the ears  17  of the base sheet  10 . 
   The flap  20  may include a length or width equals to that of the base sheet  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1–14 . However, the flap  20  may also include a length or width smaller than that of the base sheet  10 , such as those shown in  FIGS. 15–16 . 
   As also shown in  FIGS. 1–14 , the file folder may further include a cover sheet  25  extended from the flap  20 , and may include a hinge line or folding line  22  formed between the cover sheet  25  and the flap  20 , for allowing the flap  20  to be folded relative to the cover sheet  25 . 
   Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the cover sheet  25  may also be formed or extended from the base sheet  10 , instead of extending from the flap  20 , and may have the hinge line or folding line  21  formed between the cover sheet  25  and the base sheet  10 , for allowing the cover sheet  25  to be folded relative to the base sheet  10 , and for allowing the flap  20  and the clamping plate  34  of the clip  30  to be shielded between the cover sheet  25  and the base sheet  10 . 
   Accordingly, the file folder in accordance with the present invention includes a structure for preventing a clip from being disengaged from the file folder inadvertently. 
   Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.