Patent Publication Number: US-7900814-B2

Title: File folder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to file folders and relates, more particularly, to a file folder whose features enhance its usefulness. 
     The class of file folders with which this invention is to be compared includes a common accordion-style folder which can be expanded from a collapsed condition for storage to an enlarged, or expanded, condition for holding documents or other relatively flat items. Such an accordian-style folder includes bottom and side portions which are joined between the front and back panels of the folder and which include an arrangement of fold lines which accommodate the movement of the front and back panels of the folder toward and away from one another as the bottom and side portions collapse and expand in a manner resembling the movement of pleated bellows. 
     It would be desirable to provide a file folder whose fold lines are much less complicated than the arrangement of fold lines normally associated with accordion-style folders of the prior art and which enable the folder to be quickly expanded to a condition for use or collapsed to a condition for storage. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved file folder which can be quickly expanded to a position for use or collapsed to a condition for storage. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide such a folder embodying relatively few fold lines which enable the folder to be moved between expanded and collapsed conditions. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a folder which is constructed of a relatively durable material. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a folder which is provided with a tab accommodating the labeling of the folder. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide such a folder having a storage pocket for holding a diskette or a similarly-sized item. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide such a folder having a front panel which is provided with a transparent sheet behind which a sheet, such as one bearing an identification of file contents, can be readily inserted. 
     A yet still further object of the present invention is to provide such a folder which can be grasped for lifting with the fingers with reduced likelihood that the file will slip from the fingers when lifted. 
     One more object of the present invention is to provide such a folder which is uncomplicated in construction, yet effective in operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention resides in a file folder for use in an office environment, such as that of a law office. 
     The file folder includes a front panel having two opposite side edges and opposite top and bottom edges which extend between the side edges of the front panel, a rear panel having two opposite side edges and opposite top and bottom edges which extend between the side edges of the rear panel, and two side panels which are joined between the front and rear panels to provide two sides for the folder and wherein each side panel includes a forward edge to which a side edge of the front panel is joined and a rearward edge to which a side edge of the rear panel is joined. Furthermore, each side panel further includes opposite top and bottom edges which extend between the forward and rearward edges of the side panel, and the folder further includes a bottom panel which is joined between the front, rear and side panels to provide a bottom for the folder. Moreover, the bottom panel meets the front panel and the side panels at two forward corners of the folder, and the bottom panel meets the rear panel and the side panels at two rearward corners of the folder so that the front, rear, side and bottom panels collectively define an interior for the folder, and the top edges of the front, rear and side panels collectively define a top through which the interior of the folder is accessible. 
     In addition, the front panel defines a first fold line which extends from one side panel to the other side panel so that the front panel is divided by the first fold line into an upper portion and a lower portion, and each side panel defines a second fold line which extends downwardly from the top edge of the side panel toward the bottom panel so that the side panel is divided by the second fold line into a forward portion and a rearward portion. Each side panel further defines a third fold line which extends rearwardly along the side panel from the location at which the first fold line meets the side panel to the second fold line, and each side panel further defines a fourth fold line which extends from the location at which the second fold line meets the third fold line to a forward corner of the folder and a fifth fold line which extends from the location at which the second fold line meets the third fold line to a rearward corner of the folder. These fold lines permit the folder to be folded from an open condition into a collapsed condition by folding the forward and rearward portions of the side panels against one another along the second fold line and by folding the upper and lower portions of the front panel against one another along the first fold line while each of the second panels is folded about itself about the third, fourth and fifth fold lines. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a folder within which features of the present invention are embodied. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the  FIG. 1  folder whose panels have been separated from one another along the edges thereof for display of the folder in an exploded condition. 
         FIGS. 3-6  are perspective views depicting the  FIG. 1  folder being folded from an open condition into a collapsed condition. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of a blank of sheet material which has been appropriately cut and provided with fold lines which enable the blank to be folded and attached to itself to form the  FIG. 1  folder. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the rear panel of the  FIG. 1  folder, shown exploded. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the front panel of the  FIG. 1  folder, shown exploded. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings in greater detail and considering first  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated an embodiment, generally indicated  20 , of an embodiment of a folder within which features of the present invention are embodied. The folder  20  is capable of being moved between an open condition for accepting documents and papers placed therein and a collapsed condition at which the folder  20  is in a substantially flattened condition. In addition, the folder  20  is particularly well-suited for use in a law office for holding substantially flat materials, such as documents and letters. 
     The folder  20  includes a front panel  22 , a rear panel  24 , two side panels  26 ,  28  and a bottom panel  30 . Within the depicted folder  20 , the front and rear panels  22 ,  24  are about the same in width as one another, although the height of the front panel  22  is slightly smaller (e.g. about one-half inch) than that of the rear panel  24 . Meanwhile, the two side panels  26 ,  28  are about the same in size as one another, although the height of each of the panels  26 ,  28  is appreciably shorter than that of the front or rear panel  22  or  24 . Furthermore, the bottom panel  30  spans the length of the front and rear panels  22 ,  24  and possesses a width which is about the same as that of each of the two side panels  26 ,  28 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 1 , the front panel  22  includes a front surface  32  and opposite rear surface  34 , two opposite side edges  36 ,  38 , a bottom edge  40  and a top edge  42 . Similarly, the rear panel  24  includes a front surface  44 , an opposite rear surface  45 , two opposite side edges  46 ,  48 , a bottom edge  50  and a top edge  52 . 
     One side panel  26  includes an outer surface  54 , an opposite inner surface  56 , a forward edge  58 , a rearward edge  60 , a bottom edge  62  and a top edge  64 . Similarly, the other side panel  28  includes an outer surface  66 , an opposite inner surface  68 , a forward edge  70 , a rearward edge  72 , a bottom edge  74  and a top edge  76 . The bottom panel  30  has a forward edge  78 , a rearward edge  80  and two opposite side edges  82 ,  84 . 
     When the aforedescribed panels of the folder  20  are joined to one another to form the assembled  FIG. 1  folder  20 , the side edge  36  of the front panel  22  is joined to and extends along the forward edge  58  of one side panel  26 , the side edge  38  is joined to and extends along the forward edge  70 , and the bottom edge  40  of the front panel  22  is joined to and extends along the length of the forward edge  78  of the bottom panel  30 . Moreover, the side edge  46  of the rear panel  24  is joined to and extends along the rearward edge  60  of one side panel  26 , the side edge  48  of the rear panel  24  is joined to and extends along the rearward edge  72  of the other side panel  28 , and the bottom edge  50  of the rear panel  24  is joined to and extends along the length of the rearward edge  80  of the bottom panel  30 . 
     It will also be understood that the folder  20  is capable of being folded about the panel edges at which the various panels are joined to one another. For example, the front panel  22  can be moved relative to the bottom panel  30  as the front panel  22  is pivoted (e.g. folded) about the bottom edge  40 , and the rear panel  22  can be moved relative to the bottom panel  30  as the rear panel  22  is pivoted (e.g. folded) about the bottom edge  50 . As will be apparent herein and when the folder  20  is moved between its open condition and its collapsed condition, several of the panel edges, such as the side and bottom edges of the front and rear panels  22 ,  24 , permit the adjacent panels to be pivoted (e.g. folded) relative to one another. Accordingly, the joinder of the various panels of the folder  20  to one another along the edges thereof permit such a pivoting of the adjacent panels relative to one another about the edges thereof. 
     Collectively, the top edge  42  of the front panel  22 , the top edge  52  of the rear panel  24 , the top edge  64  of one side panel  26 , and the top edge  76  of the other side panel  28  define the top  86  ( FIG. 1 ) of the folder  20  through which access is provided to the folder interior, indicated  87  in  FIG. 1 . 
     It is a feature of the folder  20  that it is capable of being readily moved from an open condition (as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) at which the folder  20  is in condition for accepting contents (e.g. substantially flat items, such as documents and letters) and a collapsed condition (as illustrated in  FIG. 6 ) for storage. To this end, selected panels of the folder  20  include as arrangement, generally indicated  88  in  FIG. 1 , of fold lines which are formed and extend across the panels and which permit selected ones of the panels to be readily folded between an unfolded and a folded condition so that the folder  20  is moved between its open and collapsed conditions. 
     With reference again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the arrangement  88  of fold lines includes a first fold line  90  which extends laterally across the front panel  22  between its side edges  36 ,  38  and divides the front surface  32  of the front panel  22  into an upper portion  92  and a lower portion  94 . As will be apparent herein, the first fold  90  line permits the front panel  22  to be folded upon itself so that the upper portion  92  thereof engages the lower portion  94  thereof. In the depicted folder  20 , the first fold line  90  is disposed about one-fifth of the way up the front surface  32  of the folder  20  from the bottom edge  40 , but it will be understood that in an alternative embodiment of a folder, such a first fold line can be positioned at an alternative distance from the bottom edge  40  of the front panel  22 . 
     The remainder of the fold lines of the arrangement  88  of fold lines are defined along the side panels  26 ,  28 . In particular, one side panel  26  includes a fold line  96  which extends downwardly through about the middle of the side panel  26  from the top edge  64  thereof to a location, indicated  98  in  FIG. 2 , on the side panel  26  which is about even with (e.g. located about on a horizontal plane with) the fold line  90  of the front panel  22 . Similarly, the other side panel  28  includes a fold line  100  which extends downwardly through about the middle of the side panel  28  from the top edge  64  thereof to a location, indicated  102  in  FIG. 2 , on the side panel  28  which is about even with (e.g. located about on a horizontal plane with) the fold line  90  of the front panel  22 . Each of the pair of fold lines  96  and  100  divides its corresponding side panel  26  or  28  into forward and rearward sections, and as will be apparent herein, each of the fold lines  102  and  104  permits the corresponding side panel  26  or  28  to be folded so that the outer surfaces of its forward and rearward sections engage one another. 
     If desired and to facilitate the folding of the side panels  26  and  28  along the fold lines  102  and  104 , each of these fold lines  102  and  104  can be extended downwardly through the  FIG. 2  location  98  or  102  to the bottom edge  62  or  74  of the panel  26  or  28 . 
     In addition, there is provided along one side panel  26  another fold line  104  which extends laterally across a portion of the side panel  26  from the location at which the first fold line  90  (of the front panel  22 ) meets the side edge  36  to the location  98  at which the fold line  104  meets the fold line  96 . Similarly, there is provided along the other side panel  28  another fold line  106  which extends laterally across a portion of the side panel  28  from the location at which the first fold line  90  (of the front panel  22 ) meets the side edge  38  to the location  102  at which the fold line  106  meets the fold line  100 . As will be apparent herein, these fold lines  104  and  106  enable the front panel  22  to be folded upon itself during the movement of the folder  20  into a collapsed condition. 
     Still further, one side panel  26  includes still another fold line  110  which extends angularly across the side panel  26  from the location  98  at which the fold lines  96  and  104  meet one another to the front corner location, indicated  112  in  FIG. 1 , at which the front panel  22 , the side panel  26  and the bottom panel  30  meet one another, and the side panel  26  includes yet another fold line  116  which extends angularly across the side panel  26  from the location  98  to the rear corner location, indicated  118  in  FIG. 1  at which the rear panel  24 , the side panel  26  and the bottom panel  30  meet one another. Similarly, the other side panel  28  includes another fold line  120  which extends angularly across the side panel  28  from the location  102  at which the fold lines  100  and  106  meet one another to the front corner location, indicated  122  in  FIG. 1  at which the front panel  22 , the side panel  38  and the bottom panel  30  meet one another, and the side panel  26  includes yet another fold line  126  which extends angularly across the side panel  26  from the location  102  to the rear corner location, indicated  128  in  FIG. 2 , at which the rear panel  24 , the side panel  38  and the bottom panel  30  meet one another. As will be apparent herein, these two sets of fold lines  110 ,  116  and  120 ,  126  (each of which provide a V-shape whose apex coincides with the location  98  or  102  and whose V shape opens downwardly) facilitates the folding up of the side panels  26  and  28  when the folder  20  is moved from its open condition into a collapsed condition. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 through 6 , there are illustrated various positions of the folder  20  when it is folded from its fully open condition of  FIG. 1  to a fully collapsed condition as illustrated in  FIG. 6  suitable, for example, for storage of the folder  20 . As will be apparent herein, various ones of the panels of the folder  20  are folded about the fold lines of the arrangement  88  and edges of various ones of the panels to enable the folder  20  to be folded to its collapsed condition. 
     In particular and to move an open folder  20  to its  FIG. 6  collapsed condition, the side panels  26  and  28  are folded about the fold lines  96  and  100  so that the forward and rearward portions of the side panels  26  and  28  begin to move toward one another as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . As the forward and rearward portions of the side panels  26 ,  28  are folded toward one another about the fold lines  99 ,  100 , the side panels  26 ,  28  are also pivoted (e.g. folded) about the two side edges  36 ,  38  of the front panel  22 , about the two side edges  46 ,  48  of the rear panel  24 , and about the side edges  82 ,  84  of the bottom panel  30 . The side panels  26  and  28  continue to be folded against one another toward and into the condition illustrated in  FIG. 4  while the side panels  26  and  28  are simultaneously folded about the sets of fold lines  110 ,  116  and  120 ,  126  (and panel edges  36 ,  38 ,  46 ,  48 ,  82  and  84 ) to facilitate the engagement of (the outer surfaces of) the forward and rearward portions of the side panels  26  and  28  against one another. In this connection, each set of fold lines  110 ,  116  and  112 ,  126  permit the outer surfaces of the adjacent portions of the side panels  26  and  28  to be folded toward one another. 
     Having placed the folder  20  in the condition illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the folder  20  is then folded about the first fold line  90  which extends across the front panel  22  and about the fold lines  104  and  106  which extend across a portion of the side panels  26  and  28 . By folding the folder  20  in this manner, the front panel  22  is moved in sequence (from the  FIG. 4  illustrated condition) into the  FIG. 5  condition and then into the  FIG. 6  collapsed condition as the front and rear panels  22 ,  24  are pivoted (e.g. folded) relative to the bottom panel  30  about the panel edges  40  and  50 . It follows that during the movement of the folder  20  from its open condition to the collapsed, substantially flattened  FIG. 6  condition, the fold lines  104  and  106  of the side panels  26  and  28  permit the side panels  26  and  28  to be folded upon themselves in a manner which better facilitates the folding of the front surface  32  of the front panel  32  onto itself about the first fold line  90 . In other words and as best shown in the view of  FIG. 6 , the front panel  22  is folded upon itself about the first fold line  90  in conjunction with the folding of the side panels  26  and  28  about the fold lines  104  and  106  as each of the front panel  22 , side panels  26 ,  28  and the bottom panel  30  is pivoted (e.g. folded) relative to its adjacent panel about a corresponding panel edge  40 ,  50 ,  36 ,  38 ,  46 ,  48  or  82 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated a blank, indicated  140  in  FIG. 7 , of material whose various sections can be folded together, and attached, where appropriate, to form the front and rear panels  22 ,  24 , the bottom panel  30  and the side panels  26 ,  28  of the folder  20 . Within the  FIG. 7  blank  140 , the various portions thereof which provide the front and rear panels  22 ,  24 , the bottom panel  30  and the side panels  24 ,  26  have been identified with the same reference numerals. Each of the various portions of the blank which provide these panels are pre-scored or pre-perforated along the edges at which adjacent panels are joined and the fold lines of the arrangement  88 , where appropriate, so that when folded and attached together to form the folder  20 , the folder  20  is provided with the aforedescribed fold lines (i.e. of the arrangement  88 ) and the foldable panel edges enabling the folder  20  to be moved between a fully opened condition for use and a collapsed condition for storage. In the connection with the foregoing, the blank  140  is provided with tabs  178 ,  180  which are joined (along foldable edges) to the portions of the blank  140  which form the side panels  26 ,  28  so that when folding the blank lines  140  together to form the folder  20 , the tabs  178 ,  180  can be folded around and glued, or otherwise bonded, to the rear surface  34  of the rear panel  24  and to the bottom surface of the bottom panel  32 . 
     With reference still to  FIG. 1 , another feature of the folder  20  is that it is constructed of a relatively durable material. More specifically, the material out of which the folder  20  is constructed is adapted to resist damage, such as a weakening of the folder material due to exposure to moisture or dry-rot, which commonly plagues folders which are constructed out of a paper material. One material which is well-suited for use in the construction of the folder  20  is polypropylene. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 8 , the folder  20  further includes means, indicated  142 , providing an auxiliary pocket within which items, such as a diskette or similarly-shaped items, can be placed. Within the depicted folder  20 , the auxiliary pocket  142  is formed with a four-edged, flat piece  144  of material (e.g. polypropylene) having three of its edges (i.e. its side and bottom edges) which have been glued, or otherwise bonded, to the front surface  44  of the rear panel  24  of the folder  20  along a path  146  ( FIG. 8 ) so that the piece  144  provides, with the front surface  44  of the rear panel  24 , the auxiliary pocket  142  having an open, upwardly-directed top  148 . It follows that the top  148  provides access to the interior of the pocket  142  so that a relatively flat item, such as a diskette or a similarly-sized item, to be directed into the interior of the pocket  142  for storage. Furthermore and because the pocket  142  of the depicted folder  20  is situated within the interior of the folder  20 , an item placed into the pocket is well-protected by the front and rear panels  22 ,  24  of the folder  20 . 
     Furthermore and by arranging and attaching the piece  144  along the rear panel  24  of the folder  20  so that the top  148  of the auxiliary pocket  142  is disposed adjacent the top  86  of the folder  20 , the top  148  of the pocket  142  is readily accessible by a user for inserting an item, such as a diskette, into the pocket  142  or for retrieving the item from the pocket  142 . Accordingly, the positioning of the auxiliary pocket  142  within the interior of the folder  22  is further advantageous in this respect. 
     It is also a feature of the folder  20  that at least one of the upper edges of the front or rear panels is provided with a tab portion  150  which extends upwardly above the remainder of the upper edge  42  or  52  of the front or rear panel  22  or  24 . This tab portion  150  provides a flat surface  152  upon which indicia may be printed for identifying the contents of the folder  20 . Furthermore and because the tab portion  152  extends above the remainder of the folder  20 , by filing the folder  20  alongside folders possessing about the same size as that of the folder  20 , the tab portion  152 , and any content-identification indicia borne thereby, is readily viewable by a user. 
     If desired, a transparent cover, indicated  190  in  FIG. 2  and having a U-shaped cross section, can be slipped downwardly upon the tab portion  150  for securement thereto. Because each of the opposite ends of the cover  190  is open, an appropriately-sized label (not shown) can be inserted into the cover  190  through an end thereof and into a position at which the label can be seen through the front portion of the cover  190 . Thus, the cover  190  enables the folder  20  to be labeled at the tab portion  150  without requiring that the tab portion  150  be written upon or otherwise marked. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 9 , it is also a feature of the folder  20  that it includes a transparent panel  160  associated with the front panel  22  which accommodates the positioning of a sheet (e.g. a paper sheet) between the front surface  32  of the front panel  22  and the transparent panel  160 . To this end, the transparent panel  160  can be provided by a clear piece of plastic sheet  162  having opposite side edges  164 ,  166  and opposite bottom and top edges  168 ,  170 , respectively, and the side and bottom edges  164 ,  166 ,  168  are glued, or otherwise bonded, to the front surface  32  along a path, indicated  172  in  FIG. 9 , so that a sheet (e.g. a paper sheet, not shown) can be inserted edgewise through the gap provided between the top edge  170  of the plastic sheet  162  and the front surface  32  of the front panel  22  so that the inserted sheet (and any indicia borne thereon) is viewable through the transparent panel  160 . 
     In use, it is envisioned that a sheet to be inserted between the transparent panel  160  and the front surface  32  of the front panel  22  will be pre-printed with indicia which reflects information relating to the contents of the folder. If, for example, the folder  20  contains information relating to a legal action, then the information which is pre-printed upon the sheet which is subsequently inserted between the transparent panel  160  and the front surface  32  of the front panel  160  may, for example, chronicle various deadlines which must be met in the legal action. Of course, by positioning such information in a position against the front panel  22  so that the information is readily viewable through the transparent panel  160 , the contents contained within the folder  20  need not be removed for purposes of seeking out this information. 
     Furthermore and if the information borne by an inserted sheet which is already positioned between the transparent panel  160  and the front surface  32  of the front panel  22 , the inserted sheet can be readily removed (through the gap provided between the top edge  170  of the transparent panel  160  and the front surface  32  of the front panel  22  so that the information borne by the inserted sheet can be updated or revised and subsequently be re-positioned between the transparent panel  160  and the front panel  22 . 
     Within the depicted folder  20 , the transparent panel  160  is large enough to accept a sheet placed behind the panel  160  which measures eight and one-half by eleven inches in width and length, and a transparent panel  160  which possesses such a size is preferred if the interior of the folder  20  is sized to easily accept papers which possess such dimensions. If, of course, the folder  20  is sized to accept papers having alternative dimensions, such as that of legal-sized paper (i.e. eight and one-half by thirteen inches in width and length), the transparent panel  160  can be sized to accept a sheet of paper having alternative dimensions. 
     With reference still to  FIGS. 1 and 9 , it is also a feature of the folder  20  it includes an anti-slip substance, generally indicated  176  in  FIGS. 1 and 9 , which is disposed along sections of the front and rear panels  22 ,  24  which would normally be grasped with the fingers of a user who desired to lift the folder  20  from a file cabinet. Such sections (i.e. those at which the anti-slip substance  176  is attached) are located upon the front surface  32  of the front panel  22  and adjacent the top edge  42  thereof and upon the rear surface  45  of the rear panel  24  adjacent the top edge  52  thereof. 
     The anti-slip substance  176  can take any of a number of forms, such as a substance which is coated upon the aforedescribed sections of the front and rear panels  22 ,  24  in an uncured condition and which subsequently cures to a hardened condition having a rough surface, or may be an adhesive-backed anti-slip substance which is adhesively applied to the aforedescribed sections of the front and rear panels  22 ,  24 . 
     It follows that the anti-slip substance  176  borne by the front and rear panels  22 ,  24  reduce any likelihood that the folder  20  will slip from the fingers when grasped by the user for purposes of lifting the folder  20 , and the anti-slip substance  176  is advantageous in this respect. 
     It will be understood that numerous modifications and substitutions can be had to the aforedescribed embodiment  20  without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the aforedescribed embodiment  20  is intended for the purpose of illustration and not as limitation.