Patent Publication Number: US-2007096607-A1

Title: File drawer and assembly for supporting differently sized hanging file folders

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Technical Field of the Invention  
      The present invention generally relates to file drawers for storing hanging file folders. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a bottomless file drawer eliminating the need for box drawer construction and reducing the overall clearance dimensions required to store hanging file folders, and an assembly adapted thereto for converting the bottomless file drawer from storing hanging file folders of a first predetermined size to storing hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      Business desks, cabinets or other similar type units generally provide at least one file folder drawer, having a box drawer construction (four walls and bottom), adapted to store hanging files folders for retaining documents of different sizes, e.g., legal, letter and the like. The file folder drawers generally vary in their dimensions to accommodate the hanging file folders for the particular documents required to be stored.  
      More specifically, the height of the file drawer is generally at least as high as the width of the actual documents to be stored. Additional height is required for the box drawer construction in which the bottom is secured by grooves in the walls some distance above the lower plane of the walls. Furthermore, the hanging file folders that store the documents require additional height, as they are larger than the documents that they store, and further additional buffer height is needed between the hanging file folders and the bottom of the file folder drawer in order to avoid bending and/or damaging the documents.  
      The upper perimeter of the file folder drawer generally includes a u-shaped channel or rail for receiving the supporting or hooking members of the hanging file folders to be stored in the file folder drawer. A variety of assemblies have been designed to subdivide the file folder drawer of various dimensions to provide efficient storage space for the different types of file folders, i.e., accommodating storage of different document sizes.  
      However, as file drawers having box drawer construction have to be high enough to accommodate the file folders stored therein as described above, they may not be advantageous for other applications/cabinets that accommodate low file drawer constructions and that have limitations as to the overall clearance allotted to the file drawer construction.  
      Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a bottomless file drawer for different applications eliminating the need for the box drawer construction and reducing the overall clearance dimensions, and an assembly adapted thereto for converting the bottomless file drawer from storing hanging file folders of a first predetermined size to storing hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is directed to a bottomless file drawer that eliminates the need for box drawer construction and reduces the overall clearance dimensions required to store hanging file folders, and an assembly adapted thereto for converting the bottomless file drawer from storing hanging file folders of a first predetermined size to storing hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.  
      According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a file folder support assembly adapted to a bottomless file drawer having a rectangular frame that includes a plurality of outside walls and a middle wall that includes a u-shaped channel having a bottom, and a first wall and a second wall dividing the frame into a plurality of compartments of a first predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a first predetermined size, the file folder support assembly comprising: an inverse u-shaped channel having an inner tubular member disposed centrally therein, the tubular member of the inverse channel being adapted to seat in the u-shaped channel of the middle wall and the u-shaped channel of the middle wall being adapted to seat in the inverse channel; and a first projection extending horizontally from a first lower edge of the inverse channel, the projection having an outer wall, the top of which is coplanar with the plurality of outside walls of the frame, the outer wall reducing the first predetermined dimension of a first compartment to a second smaller predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.  
      According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a convertible bottomless file drawer for storing hanging file folders of different predetermined sizes, the file drawer comprising: rectangular frame that includes a plurality of outside walls and a middle wall that includes a u-shaped channel having a bottom, and a first wall and a second wall dividing the frame into a plurality of compartments of a first predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a first predetermined size; and a file folder support assembly including: an inverse u-shaped channel having an inner tubular member disposed centrally therein, the tubular member of the inverse channel being adapted to seat in the u-shaped channel of the middle wall and the u-shaped channel of the middle wall being adapted to seat in the inverse channel; and a first projection extending horizontally from a first lower edge of the inverse channel, the projection having an outer wall, the top of which is coplanar with the plurality of outside walls of the frame, the outer wall reducing the first predetermined dimension of a first compartment to a second smaller predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a second predetermined size. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art, in view of the following detailed description in combination with the attached drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is an exemplary perspective view of a bottomless file drawer for storing one or more hanging file folders of a first predetermined size;  
       FIG. 2  is an exemplary top view of the bottomless file drawer of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the bottomless file drawer of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is an exemplary assembly adapted to the bottomless file drawer of  FIGS. 1-3  for storing hanging file folders of a second predetermined size;  
       FIG. 5  is an exemplary perspective view of the assembled bottomless drawer that includes the bottomless file drawer of  FIGS. 1-3  and the assembly of  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  is an exemplary top view of the assembled bottomless file drawer of  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 7  is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the bottomless file drawer of  FIGS. 5 and 6 ;  
       FIG. 8  is an exemplary cross-section view of bottomless file drawer depicted in  FIGS. 1-3  storing hanging file folders of the first predetermined size;  
       FIG. 9  is an exemplary cross-section view of bottomless file drawer depicted in  FIGS. 4-7  storing hanging file folders of the second predetermined size; and  
       FIG. 10  is an exemplary perspective view of a cabinet that houses the bottomless file drawers depicted in  FIGS. 1-9  for storing hanging file folders of first and second predetermined sizes. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is directed to a bottomless file drawer eliminating the need for box drawer construction and reducing the overall clearance dimensions required to store hanging file folders, and an assembly adapted thereto for converting the bottomless file drawer from storing hanging file folders of a first predetermined size to storing hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.  
       FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary perspective view of a bottomless file drawer  100  for storing hanging file folders of a first predetermined size. As will be described hereinafter, the first predetermined size is dictated by the overall width of the bottomless file drawer  100 . The bottomless file drawer  100  can be made of any material, such as wood, metal, plastic, combination thereof, or a composite material. Preferably, the bottomless file drawer  100  is made of metal for enhanced structural integrity, as the increasing weight of the hanging file folders will continue to load the bottomless file drawer  100  greatly.  
      The bottomless file drawer  100  comprises studs  112  on its right side and studs  114  on its left side for engaging respective heavy duty drawer slides (not shown), permitting the file drawer  100  to slide in and out in relation to a cabinet or other device (not shown) in which it is installed. The studs  112 ,  114  are preferably self clinching to the drawer slides, although a variety of different attachment mechanisms may be employed to affix the slides to the file drawer  100 .  
      The file drawer  100  further comprises sidewalls  102 ,  104 , back wall  106  and front wall  108 . Each of the walls  102 - 108  includes along its top edge a respective hem flange  116 ,  118 ,  120  and  122 . The hem flange is obtained by folding each of the walls  102 - 108  about 180 degrees along its top edge to obtain a rounded edge. The hem flanges  116 - 122  provide the rigidity to the file drawer  100  and also facilitate the supporting of hooking members of the hanging file folders that the bottomless file drawer  100  will store. In embodiments of the bottomless file drawer  100  which are made of different materials, the hem flanges  116 - 122  may easily be replaced by rails or u-shaped channels (of wood, plastic, metal or composite) along the top edges of walls  102 - 108  for supporting the hooking members of the hanging file folders that the file drawer  100  will store.  
      Further in reference to  FIG. 1 , the bottomless file drawer  100  comprises a middle wall  110  which provides added rigidity to the bottomless file drawer  100  and subdivides the bottomless file drawer  100  into two partitions as will be described below. The middle wall  110  is preferably a tubular member with a rectangular cross-section, which includes along its top edge a u-shaped channel  128 , formed by left hem flange  124  and right hem flange  126 . In embodiments of the file drawer  100  that are made of different materials, the hem flanges  124 ,  126  may easily be replaced by rails or a u-shaped channel (of wood, plastic, metal or composite) along the top edge of middle wall  110  for supporting hooking members of hanging file folders that the file drawer  100  will store. The middle wall  100  separates the bottomless file drawer  100  into two partitions labeled as partition A and partition B. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the u-shaped channel  128  of the middle wall  110  provides an independent hem flange  124 ,  126  to the respective partition A, B for supporting the hooking members of the hanging file folders that the file drawer  100  will store in each of the partitions A, B. It is to be noted that all hem flanges  116 - 126  are level with one another.  
       FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary top view of the bottomless file drawer  100  for storing hanging file folders of a first predetermined size depicted in  FIG. 1 . As is clearly seen in  FIG. 2 , the bottomless file drawer  100  includes flanges  202  and  204  for facilitating the bottomless file drawer to easily slide in and out of a cabinet (or unit) in which it is installed. It is to be noted that each sidewall  102 /flange  202  and sidewall  104 /flange  204  may be manufactured from sheet metal into respective one-piece “L” constructions. The bottomless file drawer  100  further includes flange channels  206 ,  208  along the back wall  106  and the front wall  108 . It is to be noted that each of the back wall  106 /flange channel  206  and the front wall  108 /flange channel  208  may be manufactured from sheet metal into respective one-piece “L” channel constructions. The flange channel  208  is narrower than the flange channel  206  to allow for travel of drawer slides affixed to studs  112 ,  114  in back of unit in which the bottomless file drawer is installed. While both flange channels  206 ,  208  increase the rigidity of the unit, the front flange channel  208  also provides a continuous handle or pull for sliding the file drawer  100  in and out of the unit in which it is installed.  FIG. 2  also more clearly depicts the respective partitions A and B for storing the hanging file folders. As will be described in more detail with in reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the hanging file folders will be stored parallel to the back and front walls  106 ,  108  and transverse to the sidewalls  102 ,  104  and the middle wall  110 .  
      Further in reference to  FIG. 2 , the preferred outer dimensions of the bottomless file drawer  100  are about 33 inches wide, about 15½ inches deep and about 3½ inches high. The preferred inner dimensions of the bottomless file drawer  100  are about 31½ inches from sidewall  102  to sidewall  104 , and about 13½ inches from back wall  106  to front wall  108 . The preferred dimensions of each of the partitions A and B are about 15½ inches wide (from each of the sidewalls  102 ,  104  to the middle wall  110 ) and about 13½ inches deep (from back wall  106  to front wall  108 ). These foregoing dimensions facilitate the storage of legal-sized hanging file folders, which are generally 15¾ inches wide and 9¼ deep.  
       FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary cross-sectional view of the bottomless file drawer  100  depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As is clearly illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the preferred embodiment of the middle wall  110  is a hollow tubular member  310  with a rectangular cross-section, having a left wall  302 , a right wall  308 , bottom wall  306  and top wall  308 . The cross-section of the tubular member  310  may easily be changed depending on the particular application, e.g., the tubular member  310  may have a square or other cross section. The top wall  308  includes along its length the u-shaped channel  128 , defined by left hem flange  124  and right hem flange  126 . The middle wall  110  is preferably constructed monolithically from sheet metal bent into a u-shape with hem flanges  124  and  126  formed at the open ends of the u-shape. A flat sheet metal plate is welded inside the u-channel, about the lower plane of the hem flanges  124 ,  126  and in parallel to the bottom of the u-channel. The metal plate increases the rigidity of the middle wall and provides a surface for the mounting or attaching of the assembly described in reference to  FIGS. 4-7  and  9  below. In embodiments of the bottomless file drawer  100  that are made of other materials, the tubular member  310  may be of a similar or different cross-section depending on the material used and may be solid or hollow also depending on the material used.  
       FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary perspective view of the assembly  400  adapted to the bottomless file drawer  100  of  FIGS. 1-3  for storing hanging file folders of a second predetermined size using the bottomless file drawer  100 . More specifically, the second predetermined size of the hanging file folder may be any size smaller than the first predetermined size of the hanging file folders, e.g., letter size, notepad size and the like. Preferably, the second predetermined size is letter size hanging file folders. The assembly  400  comprises an inverse u-shaped channel  401 , projections  402  and  404  on the respective sides of inverse channel  401 . The inverse u-shaped channel  401  includes a top wall  410 , a left wall  412  and a right wall  414 . The left and right projections  402 ,  404  include respective outer walls  420 ,  422  having along the top of their length hem flanges for storing hanging file folders as will be elucidated hereinafter in reference to  FIG. 5 .  
      Further in reference to  FIG. 4 , centered on the inner portion of the top wall  410  there is disposed a tubular member  408  having a square cross-section, which runs the length of the top wall  410 . The tubular member  408  is adapted to sit firmly in the channel  128  of the middle wall  110 , being bounded by hem flanges  126  and  128  and top wall  308 . That is, the cross-section of tubular member is adapted to fit the depth and width of channel  128  firmly. In addition, hem flanges  126  and  128  fit the depth and width of the inverse u-shaped member  401  firmly, being bounded by walls  412  and  414 . This type of double-fit coupling facilitates the centering of assembly  400  in respect to wall  110 , and increases rigidity of the middle wall  110 . A plurality of through holes  416  is provided through the top wall  410  of the inverse u-shaped member and the tubular member  408 . A plurality of screws  418  is used to attach the assembly  400  to the middle wall  110  via through holes  416  to the top wall  308 . Although preferably four screws  418  are used, any number of screws or other attachment mechanism may be used to attach or affix the assembly  400  to the middle wall  110 . More specifically, tool-less hardware, such as thumbscrews or star knobs may be employed.  
       FIG. 5  depicts an exemplary perspective view of the assembled bottomless file drawer  500 , which includes the bottomless file drawer  100  of  FIGS. 1-3  and the assembly  400  of  FIG. 4 , for storing hanging file folders of a second predetermined size. The assembly  400  of the bottomless file drawer  500  reduces the dimensions of partitions A and B of the bottomless file drawer  100  to those labeled as C and D for the second predetermined size. Preferably, the dimensions of each of the partitions C and D are about 12½ inches wide and 13½ inches deep. These preferable dimensions facilitate the hanging of letter size file folders in the bottomless file drawer  500 . With particular reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , walls  420 ,  422  include respective hem flanges  504 ,  508 . It is to be noted that the hem flanges  504  and  508  are level with the other hem flanges  116 - 122  for storing file folders of the second predetermined size.  
      Now in particular reference to  FIGS. 3-5 , although two projections  402 ,  404  depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5  are preferable, it should be understood that only one of the projections  402  or  404  may be provided for facilitating the storing of differently sized hanging file folders in the respective partitions C and D. For example, assembly  400  may omit right wall  414 , projection  404  and wall  422 . In this case, the width dimension of tubular member  408 , the top wall  401  and/or the location of the through holes  416  may be adjusted to free hem flange  126 , thereby allowing the storing of the differently sized hanging file folders. Alternatively, the top wall  401  of assembly  400  may be constructed to form a u-channel (or be replaced therewith) for fitting in the u-channel of the middle wall  110  firmly. In this latter case, the newly formed channel may be directly affixed to the top of wall  308  (omitting the tubular member  408 ), or the height of the tubular member may be reduced to free hem flange  126 , thereby allowing the storing of the differently sized hanging file folders. In this fashion, for example, partition C would store hanging file folders of the first predetermined size (e.g., legal size) and partition D would store hanging file folders of the second predetermined size (e.g., letter size).  
       FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary top view of the assembled bottomless file drawer  500  of  FIG. 5  for storing hanging file folders of a second predetermined size. The outer dimensions of the bottomless file drawer  500  are identical with those of the bottomless file drawer  100  of  FIGS. 1-3 .  FIG. 5  more clearly depicts the respective partitions C and D for storing hanging file folders of the second predetermined size. The hanging file folders will be stored parallel to the back and front walls  106 ,  108  and transverse to the sidewalls  102 ,  104 , as will be described in reference to  FIG. 9  below. As discussed above in reference to  FIG. 5 , the preferred dimensions of each of the partitions C and D are about 12½ inches wide (from sidewall  102  to wall  420  and from sidewall  104  to wall  422 ) and about 13½ inches deep (from back wall  106  to front wall  108 ). These dimensions facilitate the storage of letter-sized hanging file folders. Each of the projections  402 ,  404  is approximately 3 inches wide (from wall  412  to wall  420  and from wall  414  to wall  422 ). By providing the assembly  400  with projections  402 ,  404  of varying widths, the bottomless file drawer  500  may be adapted to accommodate differently sized hanging file folders as described above in referenced to  FIG. 4 . It should be noted that practically any custom-made size hanging file folder could be accommodated by an appropriately dimensioned assembly  400 .  
       FIG. 7  depicts an exemplary cross-sectional view of the bottomless file drawer  500  depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . As is clearly illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , the assembly  400  is adapted to seat into the u-shaped channel  128  of the middle wall  110 . More specifically, member  408  of the assembly  400  seats into channel  128  (having hem flanges  124 ,  126 ), which in turn is adapted to seat into the inverse channel  401  (having walls  412 ,  414 ) of the assembly  400 . The assembly  400  is secured to the middle wall  100  via through holes  416  using a plurality of screws  418 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , a tight coupling is provided between the assembly  400  and the middle wall  110 . This type of construction provides sufficient sectional modulus, that any off-center weight applied to the assembly  400  is spread through the entire bottomless file drawer  500 . When the assembly is mounted to the middle wall  100 , hem flanges  504  and  508  of the assembly are coplanar with hem flanges  116  and  118 , providing level storage of hanging file folders in the bottomless file drawer  500 .  
       FIG. 8  depicts an exemplary cross-sectional view of bottomless file drawer  100  depicted in  FIGS. 1-3  for storing hanging file folders of a first predetermined size. The file drawer  100  is adapted to store one or more hanging file folders  802  in partition A and one or more hanging file folders  804  in partition B. As described hereinabove in reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , file drawer  100  accommodates file folders  802 ,  804  that are of a first predetermined size, preferably legal-size. Alternate desired dimensions for the bottomless file drawer  100  may be used to accommodate file folders of a different size.  
       FIG. 9  depicts an exemplary cross-section view of bottomless file drawer  500  depicted in  FIGS. 4-7  for storing hanging file folders of a second predetermined size. The file drawer  500  is adapted to store one or more hanging file folders  902  in partition C and one or more hanging file folders  904  in partition D. As described hereinabove in reference to  FIGS. 4-7 , file drawer  500  accommodates file folders  902 ,  904  that are of a second predetermined size, preferably letter-size. Also as described hereinabove, alternate desired dimensions for the projections  402 ,  408  may be used to accommodate file folders of a different size.  
       FIG. 10  depicts an exemplary perspective view of cabinet  1000  that houses bottomless file drawers  100 ,  500  depicted in  FIGS. 1-9  for storing hanging file folders of first and second predetermined sizes. The cabinet  1000  is depicted as housing three bottomless file drawer depicted in  FIGS. 1-9 , i.e., one bottomless file drawer  100  and two bottomless file drawers  500 . The cabinet  1000  comprises top wall  1002 , sidewalls  1004 ,  1006 , bottom wall  1008  and bottom stand  1010 . Hinged doors  1012 ,  1014  are used to open and close the cabinet  1000 . It is noted that cabinet&#39;s dimensions may be selected to house any number and combination of bottomless file drawers in accordance with  FIGS. 1-9 . That is, the dimensions may be selected to house any number of only bottomless file drawers  100  or only bottomless file drawers  500 , or a combination thereof. In addition, the cabinet may be designed to house additional drawers of any variety (not shown) in combination with bottomless file drawers  100  and/or  500 .  
      While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with regard to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.