Patent Publication Number: US-6910621-B2

Title: Expanding file portfolio

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an expanding file portfolio that has a plurality of pockets for storage of various articles and materials. More specifically, the present invention relates to an expanding file portfolio that is made from substantially rigid plastic components and is of sturdy construction and is easy to manufacture. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It has heretofore been the general practice to fabricate expanding file portfolios from flexible cardboard, fabric, plastic sheet material or the like. These prior art file portfolios are generally not of sturdy construction. There is a need for an expanding file portfolio that is made from substantially rigid components and is easy to manufacture. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The expanding file portfolio in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a front panel member, a rear panel member and a spine member, all of which are preferably formed from a substantially rigid plastic material. The spine member comprises a base section having a front edge and a rear edge, a front section extending from the front edge and a rear section extending from the rear edge. The front section of the spine member overlaps and is attached to a portion of the front panel member and the rear section of the spine member overlaps and is attached to a portion of the rear panel member. 
   The front and rear sections are preferably respectively connected to the front and rear edges of the base section of the spine member by living hinges. The front and rear panel members are preferably formed with recessed portions on the outer surfaces thereof for respective receipt and attachment of the front and rear sections of the spine member by sonic welding or the like. 
   The rear panel member preferably includes a front flap section, a rear panel section, and a connecting section extending therebetween. The connecting section is provided with at least one transversely extending living hinge portion and preferably a plurality of spaced apart living hinge portions. The front flap portion is preferably formed with an opening therein for receipt of a latch member associated with the front section of the spine member. 
   In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a divider insert member extends between the front panel member and the rear panel member. The divider insert includes accordion side panels and spaced apart divider sheets extending therebetween. The divider insert member further includes a pair of front side flange portions and a pair of rear flange portions, which are respectively sonic welded to the front panel member and the rear panel member. 
   The base section of the spine member is preferably formed with spaced apart foot portions that permit the file portfolio to stand on the spine member and with a substantially flat portion for receipt of an identification label. 
   In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the latch member includes a pair of spaced apart latching elements that are integrally formed with the front section of the spine member. The latching elements are received through the opening in the front flap section of the rear panel member to secure the front flap section of the rear panel member to the front section of the spine member. The latch elements are preferably movable toward one another to permit withdrawal thereof through the opening in the front flap section of the rear panel member. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an expanding file portfolio according to a preferred embodiment, showing the expanding file portfolio in a closed condition; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the expanding file portfolio of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the rear panel member; 
       FIG. 4  is a right side elevational view of the rear panel member of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a rear elevational view of the rear panel member of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the rear panel member of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the front panel member; 
       FIG. 8  is a right side elevational view of the front panel member of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of the spine member; 
       FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of the spine member of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the spine member of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a bottom plan view of the spine member of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view taken through lines  13 — 13  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view taken through lines  14 — 14  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 15  is an enlarged side elevational view of an upper portion of the expanding file portfolio of FIG.  1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-15 , an expanding file portfolio constructed in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at  10 . Portfolio  10  is formed from a front panel member  12 , a rear panel member  14 , and a spine member  16 , which members are preferably injection molded from a plastic material such as polypropylene, or the like. Portfolio  10  also includes a divider insert member  18 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , rear panel member  14  includes a front flap section  20 , a rear panel section  22  and a connecting section  24 . As best seen in  FIG. 5 , rear panel section  22  is provided with a recess portion  26  formed in the outer surface thereof. The sidewalls  28  and  30  of recess portion  26  are slightly indented from the corresponding sidewalls of the remainder of the rear panel section. Front flap section  20  is formed with an opening  32  formed therein. As best seen in  FIG. 4 , connecting section  24  has a plurality of spaced apart, transversely extending living hinge portions  34  formed therein. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7-8 , front panel member  12  is formed with a recess portion  36  in the outer surface thereof. The sidewalls  38  and  40  of recess portion  36  are slightly indented from the corresponding sidewalls of the remainder of the front panel member  12 . A slightly raised rectangular portion is also formed in the recess portion  36 . Front panel member  12  is also provided with a notched portion  44  formed along the upper edge thereof. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 9-12 , spine member  16  includes a base section  46  that defines a front edge  48  and a rear edge  50 . Spine member  16  further includes a front section  52  extending from the front edge  48  and a rear section  54  extending from the rear edge  50 . Living hinge portions  56  and  58  are respectively formed adjacent the front section  52  and the front edge  48  and the rear section  54  and the rear edge  50 , to permit relative movement between the front and rear sections and the base section  46 . As best seen in  FIGS. 9 and 12 , the bottom surface of the base section  46  is formed with a pair of spaced apart foot portions  60  and  62  that permit the portfolio  10  to stand on the spine member  16 . The bottom surface of the base section  46  is also formed with a substantially flat portion  64  for receipt of an identification label (now shown). 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  9  and  14 , the front section  52  of spine member  16  includes a latch member  66  that comprises a pair of spaced apart latching elements  68  and  70  that are integrally formed in the front section  52 . Latching elements  68  and  70  are formed within generally U-shaped openings  72  and  74  so as to permit the latching elements to be movable toward one another. The latching elements are formed with raised curved portions  76  and  78  to facilitate movement of the latching elements. The latching elements  68  and  70  are further respectively formed with finger portions  80  and  82  which respectively have chambered edges  84  and  86  associated therewith. 
   Referring to  FIG. 15 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting section  24  of the rear panel member  14  includes living hinge portions  34  formed therein to define a center section  88  and a pair of side sections  90  on either side thereof. In order to facilitate the opening and closing of the file portfolio  10 , the thickness of the living hinge portions  34  adjacent to the center section  88  is less than the thickness of the other living hinge portion  34 . In a most preferred embodiment, the thickness of the living hinge portions  34  adjacent to the center section  88  is about 0.2 millimeters and the thickness of the other living hinge portions is about 0.35 millimeters. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  13  and  14 , divider insert member  18  includes a pair of accordion side panels  92  and  94 . Extending between the side panels  92  and  94  are a plurality of spaced apart divider sheets  96  suitably secured thereto so as to define pockets  98  therebetween. A pair of front side flange portions  100  and  102  and a pair of rear side flange portions (not shown) are respectively defined by the side panels  92  and  94 . The divider sheets  96  are provided with conventional tabs  104 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the assembly of the file portfolio  10  will now be discussed. As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the respective recess portions  26  and  36  of rear panel member  14  and front panel member  12  are formed with energy concentration rings  106  to facilitate the sonic welding of these members to the spine member  16 . The front section  52  of the spine member  16  is located in the recess portion  36  of the front panel  12  and is sonic welded thereto. The rear section  54  of the spine member  16  is located in the recess portion  26  of the rear panel member  14  and is sonic welded thereto. The divider insert member  18  is located between the front panel member  12  and the rear panel member  14  and the front side flange portions  100  and  102  are sonic welded to the front panel member and the rear side flange portions (not shown) are sonic welded to the rear panel member. 
   In operation of the file portfolio  10 , the front flap section  20  of the portfolio is secured to the front section  52  via latch member  66  to close the portfolio. As best seen in  FIG. 14 , in operation, as the latch member  66  is directed through the opening  32  in front flap section  20 , the chambered edges  84  and  86  of the finger portions  80  and  82  contact the edge portions defining the opening  32  and urge the latching elements  68  and  70  towards one other. As the latching elements  68  and  70  extend through the opening  32  they spring back to their static position and the finger portions  80  and  82  retain the front flap section  20  secured to the front section  52 . When it is desired to open the portfolio  10 , the latching elements  68  and  70  are urged towards one another, by applying a squeezing action through the curved portions  76  and  78 , and the latch member  66  is withdrawn through opening  32  to permit the front flap section  20  to be moved into an opening position. In the open position the front and rear sections  52  and  54  are free to pivot about the living hinge portions  56  and  58  to permit access to the file portfolio. 
   Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.