Patent Publication Number: US-2015075039-A1

Title: Collapsible display folder

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/879,451, filed on Sep. 18, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     The present invention is directed to a display folder, more particularly, to a display folder which can be arranged in a relatively flat, compact configuration. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Display folders and the like may be used to store and display items. However, many existing display folders are fixed in configuration, and not able to be moved to a relatively flat, compact configuration. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, the invention is a display folder including a front panel and a rear panel pivotally coupled to the front panel, the rear panel having generally the same size and shape as the front panel. The display folder further includes a pocket positioned on at least one of the front or rear panels, and a collapsible support panel coupled to both the front and rear panels. The display folder is movable between an expanded configuration wherein the front and rear panels form a first angle therebetween and the support panel is generally not collapsed, and a compact configuration wherein the front and rear panels form a second angle therebetween smaller than the first angle and the support panel is collapsed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the display folder of the present invention, shown in its expanded configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the display folder of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of the display folder of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the display folder of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the display folder of  FIG. 1 , shown in its compact configuration; and 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the display folder of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the display folder of the present invention, generally designated  10 , may include a front panel  12  and a rear panel  14 , with a support panel  16  positioned therebetween. The front  12  and rear  14  panels may be pivotally coupled together along a pivot or fold line/area  18  along their uppermost, outer edges. The support panel  16  may be directly pivotally coupled to the front  12  and rear  14  panels at opposite ends thereof. The front  12 , rear  14  and support  16  panels can all be generally rectangular in front view, and in one embodiment have the same width (e.g. a dimension extending in a direction parallel to the fold line  18 ). The front  12  and rear  14  panels can have the same or generally the same size and shape, if desired. In the illustrated embodiment the support panel  16  has a support panel fold line  20  extending across its entire width, parallel to the fold line  18 . The support panel fold line  20  divides the support panel  16  into support panel portions  16   a,    16   b.    
     In one embodiment, the front  12 , rear  14  and support  16  panels are all different portions of a single, unitary rectangular piece of material separated by fold lines or areas of weakness. Thus in this case the support panel  16  can be permanently and non-removably coupled to the front  12  and/or rear  14  panels at both ends thereof. However, the display folder  10  can be formed in various differing manners, and if desired, the panels  12 ,  14 ,  16  can be made of separate and discrete pieces of material joined together. The folder  10 /panels  12 ,  14 ,  16  can be made of or include any of a wide variety of materials, such as polymers (including plastic, vinyl, etc.), paper, cardboard, polymer-covered cardboard, leather, or the like. 
     The front panel  12  may include or be coupled to a coupling flap  22  that extends over or at least partially defines the pivotal connection  18  between the front  12  and rear  14  panels. The coupling flap  22  can thus be positioned over an upper part of the rear panel  14  and secured via a joint or coupling  24 , shown as a heat sealing coupling  24  in  FIG. 3 . The coupling flap  22  can be formed as a single, unitary piece of material with the front panel  12  and/or the other panels  14 ,  16 , or can be made of a separate piece of material. In one case the coupling flap  22  solely defines the pivotal connection  18  between the front  12  and rear  14  panels, spanning a gap therebetween, wherein the front  12  and rear  14  panel are not joined directly together (except by the coupling flap  22 ). The positioning and utility of the front coupling flap  22  can provide ease of assembly and ensures that the joint  24  of the display folder  10  is spaced away from the lower edges of the display folder  10 , such that the joint  24  does not support any weight of the display folder  10  and/or is exposed to relatively little wear and tear to protect the joint  24  and provide a more robust arrangement. 
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrate the display folder  10  in an expanded configuration, wherein the front  12  and rear  14  panels form a first, relatively large angle therebetween (e.g. at least about 20° in one case or at least about 30° in another case) and the support panel  16  is generally flat and planar, and not folded/collapsed. When in the expanded configuration, the display folder  10  may be in a generally triangular configuration wherein the support panel  16  forms a base of a triangle at the bottom-most extent of the display folder  10  and supporting the weight or at least part of the weight thereof, engaging a support surface(such as a desk, table top, etc.) therebeneath, and the front  12  and rear  14  panels form sides of the triangle extending generally upwardly away from the support panel  16 /base. The support panel portions  16   a,    16   b,  are parallel or generally parallel in this configuration. The support panel  16  also limits pivotal movement of the panels  12 ,  14  away from each other when the display folder  10  is opened to ensure that the display folder has the proper shape and configuration. 
     The display folder  10  is movable into and out of a compact configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , by pivoting the front  12  and rear  14  panels about the fold line  18  to bring them closer together, and folding/collapsing the support panel  16  about the support panel fold line  20 . When the display folder  10  is in the compact configuration the front  12  and rear  14  panels form a relatively small angle therebetween (e.g. less than about 10° in one case, or less than about 5° in another case), and the support panel  16  is folded/collapsed (or more folded/collapsed than when in the configuration shown in  FIGS. 1-4 ) and positioned/sandwiched between the front  12  and rear  14  panels. In this configuration, the support panel portions  16   a,    16   b  are brought together and form a relatively small angle therebetween (e.g. less than about 10° in one case, or less than about 5° in another case). 
     In one embodiment, the folder  10  includes a pocket panel  26  that is generally parallel with and spaced apart from the front panel  12  to define a pocket  28  therebetween in which loose items can be placed, along with a mouth  30  providing access to the pocket  28 . The pocket  28  can further includes a pair of side panels  32  oriented generally perpendicular to the pocket panel  26  and the front panel  12 , the side panels  32  being positioned on opposite sides of the pocket  28 . In the illustrated embodiment the side panels  32  are gusseted to provide a collapsible/expandable functionality to the pocket  28 . 
     The front panel  12  can include an inner face  12   a  facing the rear panel  14 , and an outer face  12   b  on the opposite side thereof. The pocket  28  can be located on the outer face  12   b  of the front panel  12  such that the pocket  28  can be accessed from the front side of the front panel  12  for ease of access. In the illustrated embodiment at least part of the mouth  30  is at least partially spaced away from an outer perimeter of the front panel  12  to further provide ease of access. The pocket  28  is shown as being positioned on the front panel  12 ; however, it should be understood that the pocket  28  could instead or in addition be positioned on the rear panel  14 . 
     The folder  10  can also include a supplemental pocket  34  positioned on the pocket  28 . In the illustrated embodiment, the supplemental pocket  34  is defined by a supplemental pocket panel  36  positioned on the pocket panel  26 , defining the supplemental pocket  34  therebetween. In one embodiment the supplemental pocket panel  36  is made of a generally clear, transparent and/or translucent material such that items positioned in the supplemental pocket  34  are viewable therethrough. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the display folder  10  may include a closure strap  40 , which can be generally elastic, coupled to the rear panel  14 . In the illustrated embodiment the strap  40  has a pair of ends  42 ,  44 , and each end  42 ,  44  is attached to an upper and lower portion, respectively, of the rear panel  14  by a tab  43  positioned on an inner surface of the rear panel  14 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the strap  40  is at least partially passable around the display folder  10  (including the front panel  12  and/or pockets  28 ,  34  and/or support panel  16 ) when the display folder  10  is in the compact configuration. In this manner the strap  40  can help to retain the display folder  10  in its compact configuration, and help to retain loose items in the pockets  28 ,  34 . It should be understood that while  FIGS. 3-6  illustrate the strap  40  as being coupled only to the rear panel  14 , the strap  40  can instead or in addition be coupled to the front  12  and/or support panel  16 , or other portions of the display folder  10 . Moreover, the strap  40  can be a continuous loop, in one case with both ends  42 ,  44  joined directly together, with the strap  40  being coupled to the display folder  10 , such as via a staple, passing the strap  40  through a flap/opening, etc. 
     The display folder  10  can be used in a variety of settings and to provide various functionalities. However, in one particular case, the display folder  10  can be used as an activity center in a classroom. In this case, the teacher can place instructions for a particular activity or activities, or an invitation to participate in the activity, or a description of a particular activity, in the supplemental pocket  34 . When the supplemental pocket material  34  is clear, transparent or translucent, the instructions are visible to all users/students facing the display folder  10 . In this manner the materials in the supplemental pocket  34  can act as an attention-getting device for the student. The teacher can then place materials associated with the instructions, description or invitation, such as hand-outs, worksheets or the like, in the pocket  28 . Since the pocket  28  can have a relatively high storage capacity, due to the gusseted side panels  32 , materials for a number of users, such as each member of a classroom, can be stored therein. The system thereby enables a user to display contents and provide associated materials in bulk, utilizing a single display folder  10  which can be easily folded relatively flat and stored when not in use. 
     Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the various embodiments, it should be understood that modifications and variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the claims of the present application.