Abstract:
This invention relates to multi-sectioned file folders, and particularly to the construction of an integrally formed self sectioning file folder having at least a sectioning panel formed between a front and a rear cover. The invention provides for the self-sectioning panel as part of a pocket panel which pocket panel may be formed as a pocket on the front or rear cover of the file folder by a series of folding and a sealing operation. The invention provides for the formation of such a self-sectioning panel of “book mark” strips for separating piles of paper, formed from a single panel sectioned and continuously folded piece of material, where the book-mark array can be formed by only two folds and a sealing operation.

Description:
This patent application is a filing on Provisional Patent Application No 60/262,448 filed on Jan. 18, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to multi-panel folders, and particularly to the construction of a multi-panel file folder enclosure which provides self-sectioning panels interior to said file folder, where said self-sectioning panel is integrally formed with the file folder panels, and may be automatically folded into a closed configuration on a high speed folding machine. 
     Two cover file folders have been available which are formed from a front and rear cover hinged at a spine. These file folders have a single interior area for filing materials in what amounts to substantially a pile, held between the two covers. They do not provide an integral means for sectioning out the piled materials, a requirement for a variety of record keeping applications where information is gathered and then separated within a category. 
     Various forms of loose section dividers are normally employed within a file folder to separate the sections, including tabbed dividers of various kinds. Usually these are full panels substantially the size of the paper held within the file. The idea of providing an integral panel, and in particular one which is separable, as by having a set of sections itself which are like a set of book marks has been unavailable heretofore. The provision of such a self-sectioning panel as part of a pocket panel which pocket panel may be formed as a pocket on the front or rear cover of the file folder has been unavailable heretofore. A self-sectioning panel of “book mark” strips for separating piles of paper, formed from a single panel sectioned and continuously folded piece of material, where the book-mark array can be formed by two folds and a sealing operation, have been unavailable. 
     The use of a pocket on a cover of a file folder is known. Examples include what is commonly referred to as a “stasher pocket” which is a pocket on the interior panel of the front cover of a folder or folio. In some instances, more than one pocket is so deployed although not formed in the manner provided for herein. In all instances, the inclusion of such one or more pockets is the extent of sectioning which is provided in the folder. These kinds of folders are often referred as dual pocket folders. They employ four panels, but two of the panels are utilized as pockets that are formed in combination with each of the covers of the folder. Heretofore, no four panel configuration has been provided in which solely one of the additional panels other than the front and rear cover panels is used as a pocket and the fourth panel allowed to remain free as a separator for filed papers. Heretofore, no such free separator panel has been provided as a perforated or separated set of strip marks forming an array of independently separable book marks. Heretofore, no such assembly has been provided as an integral set of panels, where a glue strip or a sealing operation can be performed to glue the pocket panel to the spine of a cover of the file folder portion to offer a single pocket, to which is hingedly attached, a free turning separator panel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention therefore relates to file folders, pockets, and to separator panels for matter filed interior to the file folder, and in particular to the provision of a free turning separator panel which is integrally formed as a part of a pocket formed on one of the covers of the file folder. 
     The invention further relates to the construction of a file folder of the above described kind, where at least two of the sides of the pocket so formed are enclosed. 
     Further the invention relates to the construction of a file folder of the above described kind where a fourth panel is deployed as a panel hinged to said pocket, and where the panel is available as a free turning separator panel. Further, the invention relates to the construction of such a file folder, where the separator panel is itself sectionable into a set of book mark like subpanels which remain hinged along a common hinge axis and turn freely to separate batches of paper. 
     In particular, the invention relates to the construction of a file folder according to the invention, formed from one sheet of flexible material such as card stock, where the cut and fold pattern of the card stock allows for the formation of the complete file folder by a sequence of two folds and a sealing step. 
     The invention relates to the construction of file folders of this kind from any flexible material such as spun olefin(tyvek™/Dupont), polypropelene, vinyl, paper, plastic of other varieties or like and similar substances having from flexible to subtly rigid properties and being bondable by way of adhesive tabs, electrical bonding, heat sealing, specialty gluing, stapling and the like. 
     It is the further object of this invention to provide a file folder construction where the pocket base panel has a cut out section along a portion thereof to provide additional storage facilities therein. 
     It is a further object of this invention to integrate a box file feature into the file folder, wherein a tab is provided in the rear panel, which tab leading edge aligns with a hinged fold in the front cover to form a box file by fonding the front cover back into the tab to lock the front cover therein. 
     It is the object of this invention to provide for three panel constructions of a separable pocket file formed in a fashion similar to the above described file folder, incorporating a self sectioning panel, where the construction is formed from three panels, and where closure is provided along one or two edges of the front and rear cover, allowing the sectioning panel to be sandwiched there between the front and rear covers of the otherwise partially sealed folder configuration. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from consideration of the following drawings taken to conjunction with the detailed description following these drawings, in which like reference characters are used to refer to like parts and in which: 
     FIG. 1 Shows the front view of a four panel integral file folder in closed position 
     FIG. 2 Shows a top perspective view of an open configuration of FIG. 1 
     FIG. 3 Shows a front view of the integral four panel configuration used to make FIG. 1 
     FIG. 3A shows the box file formation with the tab and cover hinge, in open panel form 
     FIG. 3B shows the tab deployed 
     FIG. 3C shows the front cover locked behind the tab at the hinged front cover fold, exposing the sectioning panel portion. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a three panel configuration 
     FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a three panel configuration showing perfed marker panel 
     FIG. 5 is a three panel configuration of FIG. 4 with a stub front cover 
     FIG. 6 is a front view of an alternative self sectioning panel providing side tabbing 
     FIG. 7 shows a front view of a closed three panel file with a two section self sectioning panel 
     FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a three panel file folder with a three panel self sectioning panel having a glue tab for sealing a bottom edge thereof 
     FIG. 8A shows the front view of FIG. 8 when the front panel is closed and ready for sealing 
     FIG. 9 shows a front three panel configuration having self sealing self sectioning panels 
     FIG. 9A shows the panel formulation of FIG. 9 
     FIG. 9B shows where the glue is placed on the panel sections of FIG. 9 a    
     FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a three panel folder according to this invention having a self sealing front cover 
     FIG. 10A shows the file of FIG. 10 closed and sealed. 
     FIG. 11 shows a front perspective view of a three panel configuration with one self sectioning panel where the self sectioning panel seals across a bottom edge 
     FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a folder with a split self sealing front cover providing the self sectioning panels. 
     FIG. 12 a  is a front view of a sealed version of FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a folder where the self sealing front panel is a three section panel 
     FIG. 13 a  is a front view of FIG. 13 
     FIG. 14 is a front view of a three panel configuration where closure of the front pocket is provided on three sides, with the third side closed by a set of rings 
     FIG. 15 is a front view of a four panel version as in FIG. 14 
     FIG. 16 is a front view of a two panel side tabbed version of FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 17 is a wire version of a three panel configuration with three independent sections, where the first section is provided by the front panel 
     FIG. 18 is a version of FIG. 17 with side tabbing 
     FIG. 19 is a front view of the inverse version of FIG.  18   
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the integral self-sectioning file folder. In this figure the folder is shown in the closed position allowing the preferred panel heights of the four panel configuration to be seen in relation one to the other. Here it is seen that the front cover has a shortest height h 1 . H 2  is the height of the self sectioning panel, which allows for the tab sections on the panel  13 , to be seen past the edge of the front cover. H 3  is the height of the rear pocket which is substantially the height of the rear, backing panel,  2 , panel height. FIG.  2 . Shows the file folder in an open position with one of the self sectioning panel portions,  13  shown turned out. The optional pocket slit,  11 , in rear pocket  3  is shown. The self sectioning panel is hingedly attached along the spine hinge  7  between corners  28  and  29  forming pocket pp 1 . The height h 3  of this pocket is intended to be of substantially enough extent to allow paper of height p 1  to fit therein without having any overhanging edges. Each panel  13  is separable to permit the sectioning of additional papers filed therein. FIG. 3 shows the laid open four panel configuration used for folding this self sectioning pocket file. The preferred glue zone  31  is shown for the implementation in paper, where clue can be applied in line as the panel configuration is fed down the line on a high speed folding and gluing machine. The panel is laid open, glue applied in a strip or in sections along  31  zone, panels  3  and  4  are folded over sealing spine  8  along spine  7 , and the folder is then “closed” by folding panels  1  and  4 , which are now substantially coplanar and coterminous over hinge  7 / 8  onto panel  3 . The sections  13 , are intended to be split by perforation at the time of use by the end user. They remain perfed during the machine folding operation, so as to permit automatic folding. If this device is hand folded, the panels may be die cut in advance. It would be possible to deliver the pocket with a peelable adhesive strip, and the end user could assemble it. This configuration could be made in poly plastic and sealed along hinge  7 / 8  in the same area as zone  31  by heat, RF or melting operations. In the case of poly, the sections would be precut, as perfing would not tear in this kind of material. The panel can be a single section or can be die cut into two or more subsections. A three panel section is featured here. Height p 1  is substantially height h 1 , allowing all tabs to show up across the top of the folder. 
     As seen in FIG. 3, the proposed preferred embodiment is formed as a section of foldable material for forming a self sectioning file folder having front,  1 , and rear or backing panel  2 , covers, with a pocket panel formed from portion  3 , on the interior portion one of said file folder covers, particularly the backing panel  2 , said section of material comprising at least an interconnected set of panels including a back panel,  2 , of predetermined height, h 4 , having perimeter features including adjoining first and second backing panel edges, hinge  7  and hinge  15  defining said adjoining edges, a front panel,  1 , a pocket panel,  3 , and a sectioning panel portion,  4 , which can be an integral panel or can be sectioned into sub sections, said interconnected set of panels being attached off at least one of said first and said second of said adjoining first and second backing panel edges, each of said panels having a predetermined height, h 1 , h 2 , h 3  and h 4  which heights are typically “width wise heights” related to the width of a sheet of paper to be filed therein , such as predetermined paper width height p 1 , said panels forming a front cover,  1 , a rear pocket, pp 1 , and a sectioning panel,  4 , here show comprised of sections  13 ,  13   a ,  13   b ,  13   c , wherein a first panel of said first, second and third panels is disposed along a first of said first and second adjoining backing panel edges, typically said cover  1 , and a third panel, here shown as the rear pocket panel  3 , of said first, second and third panels is disposed along a second of said first and second adjoining backing panel edges for forming a pocket therewith, and where a second panel, here the self sectioning panel  4 , of said first, second, and third panels is disposed between said first, and third panels, hingedly attached to what is the interior edge of said pocket panel, edge  8 , and where each of said predetermined heights of said first, second, and third panels is preferably such that said predetermined height is substantially at least as tall as the predetermined height of a piece of paper to be held within p 1 , and h 2  is taller than h 1  by the height of the tabs thereon  23 , which panel is substantially the height of the back cover h 4  and the rear pocket h 3 , and where the tab zone of the rear pocket  12  extends above the edge  17  to allow the tab to be rear cover tab to be seen when the folder is closed. 
     In the preferred embodiment a gluing means is provided for attaching the hinge  8  to hinge  7  along glue zone  31  to provide a closed bottom to the pocket pp 1 , which additional side along edge  9  is closed by the fold hinge formed there with. 
     FIGS. 3 a, b , and  c  show the formation of a box file version of this self sectioning file folder. The cover is provided with a hinged fold,  101 , at substantially the distance d 1 , of the leading edge of the tab  100 , from the spine hinge. When the tab is popped out of the rear panel portion, it provides a locking tab behind which the hinged front cover can be folded. This allows the file to form a “box” which has closure on the spine and along the bottom. This formation is a useful way to keep the file contained without using elastics or adhesives, while preserving the full open feature of the file folder at times that the user wants to operate the file as a traditional fully open file. 
     Other embodiments of an integral self sectioning file folder may be constructed from three panels as shown in FIGS. 4 to  19 . In this disclosure, FIGS. 4-19, details a folder having subclassification marker tabs formed as an integral unit from a single blank having substantially a series of adjacent panels, where the folder is an essentially open sided folder, and the invention details the basic most open sided format with three open sides and a series of novel closures which seal progressively 1 additional side, then 2 additional sides. 
     The first format provides for an integral file folder w/subclassification marker tabs having 3 open sides. This is shown in FIGS. 4-7. The landed area for perf separation makes it easy to plow over the subclassifier panel. The user can separate each tab upon use. FIGS. 6&amp;7 show how side tabbing can be implemented. 
     To progress to a slash type format with 2 closed sides, an extra sealing flap can be utilized, FIG.  8 . This shows this. Alternatively one or more sealing tabs can be hinge cut off of the bottom of the subclassification marker tab itself. When glue is applied to it, and the front flap plowed over, the same effect of 2 sided closure can be achieved. The advantage is no need to flip. It can be glued with a bump and turn operation or straight line with one flip if desired. The glue must be applied precisely to the tab. The landed areas are mini areas to keep material together for folding. They separate easily on use. If poly is used, I.e. Poly pocket, then you can heat seal onto the sealing tabs directly from the (front) cover and through by creating the bond without using glue. FIGS. 9,  9   a ,  9   b  show this. 
     FIG. 10 is a one panel separator. FIG. 11 shows the seal tab fit into rear and reach through sub classification panel. FIGS. 12,  12   a  shows another variation on a glue tab. FIGS. 13,  13   a  shows only one glue tab in a 3 sub marker panel. FIGS. 14,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18  features additional closure using rings or wire. Here, the sealing tabs are employed. The edge of the left most subclassifier tab may be recessed to avoid linkage to the rings or wire. If the front panel is used as a separator itself, it may be linked to the rings as shown in FIGS. 15 and 17, to the wire. FIG. 15 shows a 4 panel subclassifier w/four “pockets”. FIG. 16 shows side tabbing. It features 3 “pockets”. An application for FIG. 16 could be school work filing where labels are preprinted as shown or added later. FIGS. 17 and 18 show wire versions of a 3 tab sub classifier. FIG. 19 is the “inverse” of FIG. 18, an ideal format for a cover of a book on an index separator, if made in paper. 
     It would be possible to print or color print the sub classifier marker tabs. 
     If each side is tinted a different color, or only (at least) one side is tinted, a nice color complement is displayed on assembly, where subclass marker tabs are contrasted to base cover. This is true of all of the above configurations  1 - 19 . 
     A good application would be in clear poly, so you could “see through” to your work as it is incrementally separated and sub filed. As shown in FIG. 19, the recessed front cover exposes the tabs. The sealing tabs are bonded through the inside flap, which itself serves as a separator yielding a “3 pocket” format. 
     The intended sealing along zone  31  can be made in other ways. For example, edge  18  can be sealed along edge  14   a  by heat, a closure tab, or adhesive applied there to and the hinge portion  7 / 8  left unsealed. In this case, the pocket is still formed and is essentially closed by folding  7 / 8  one into the other. The rear pocket can have any shape, and can be cut to allow for the exposure of most of the paper stored within without loosing the integrity of the pocket. The pocket panel can be fully glued to the rear cover to form a stiff back without loosing the integral formation of the sectioning panel , as a hinged panel there to, which is the key and significant feature of this invention. 
     Although it is most practical to form the integral self sectioning file folder from one section of material formed from interconnected panels, it would be possible to combine sections of material to establish the basic four or three panel configurations as shown without loosing the basic novelty of the integral formation of a self-sectioning file according to this invention. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 # 
                 FIG. 
                 What 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 3 
                 Front Cover 
               
               
                 2 
                   
                 Rear Cover 
               
               
                 3 
                   
                 Pocket Panel 
               
               
                 4 
                   
                 Self-Sectioning Panel 
               
               
                 5 
                   
                 Front Cover Expansion Creases 
               
               
                 6 
                   
                 Self Sectioning Panel Expansion Creases 
               
               
                 7 
                   
                 Front Cover/Rear Cover Spine Hinge 
               
               
                 8 
                   
                 Self Sectioning Panel/Pocket Panel Fold Hinge 
               
               
                 9 
                   
                 Cover Panel/Pocket Panel Fold Hinge 
               
               
                 10 
                   
                 Primary Glue Zone 
               
               
                 11 
                   
                 Pocket Panel Pocket Slit(optional) 
               
               
                 12 
                   
                 1/3 Cut Tab Marker 
               
               
                 13 
                   
                 Self-sectioning Tab Markers 
               
               
                 14 
                   
                 Folder First Side Edge 
               
               
                 15 
                   
                 Folder Second Side Edge 
               
               
                 16 
                   
                 Folder First Top Edge 
               
               
                 17 
                   
                 Folder Second Top Edge 
               
               
                 18 
                   
                 Pocket Panel First Outer Edge 
               
               
                 19 
                   
                 Pocket Panel Second Outer Edge 
               
               
                 20 
                   
                 Pocket Panel Opening Detent 
               
               
                 21 
                   
                 Self Sectioning Panel First Outer Edge 
               
               
                 22 
                   
                 Self Sectioning Panel Second Outer Edge 
               
               
                 23 
                   
                 Self Sectioning Panel Third Outer Edge/Top 
               
               
                 24 
                   
                 Tear Perforation 
               
               
                 25 
                   
                 First Self Sectioning Panel Section 
               
               
                 26 
                   
                 Second Self Sectioning Panel Section 
               
               
                 27 
                   
                 Third Self Sectioning Panel Section 
               
               
                 28 
                   
                 Self Sectioning/Pocket Panel First Corner 
               
               
                 29 
                   
                 Front Cover/Rear Cover Corner Join 
               
               
                 30 
                   
                 First Fold Over 
               
               
                 31 
                   
                 Adhesive Applied To Glue Zone 
               
               
                 31a 
                   
                 Adhesive 
               
               
                 31b 
                 2 
                 Second Fold Over To Form Pocket 
               
               
                 32 
                   
                 Separated Self Sectioning Panel Deployed 
               
               
                 P1 
                   
                 Paper Height(Substantially h1 Height) 
               
               
                 33 
                 1 
                 Integral Self Sectioning File Folder With Rear Pocket 
               
               
                 h1 
                   
                 Front Cover Height 
               
               
                 h2 
                   
                 Self Sectioning Panel Height 
               
               
                 h3 
                   
                 Pocket Panel Height 
               
               
                 h4 
                   
                 Rear Cover Height 
               
               
                 w1 
                   
                 File Folder Width 
               
               
                 50 
                 4 
                 Label Area 
               
               
                 51 
                   
                 Subclassification Marker Tabs 
               
               
                 52 
                   
                 Tab On File Folder 
               
               
                 53 
                   
                 Rear Cover Of File Folder 
               
               
                 54 
                 4a 
                 Landed Perforation For Separation 
               
               
                 55 
                   
                 Subclassifier Pane; 
               
               
                 56 
                 5 
                 Stub Front File Cover 
               
               
                 57 
                 6 
                 Panel Fold Over 
               
               
                 58 
                   
                 Landed Separation Perforation 
               
               
                 59 
                   
                 Side Tabbing 
               
               
                 60 
                   
                 Hinged Edge 
               
               
                 61 
                 8 
                 Extra Sealing Flap 
               
               
                 62 
                   
                 Landed Area For Separation 
               
               
                 63 
                 8a 
                 Fold Sealing Flap Over 
               
               
                 64 
                 9 
                 Subclassification Marker Tabs 
               
               
                 65 
                   
                 Open 
               
               
                 66 
                   
                 Open 
               
               
                 67 
                   
                 Sealing Tabs In Subclassification Marker Tabs 
               
               
                 68 
                 9a 
                 Back 
               
               
                 69 
                   
                 Sealing Tab 
               
               
                 70 
                   
                 Front 
               
               
                 71 
                   
                 Marker Tab Panel 
               
               
                 A 
                   
                 Fold Over 
               
               
                 B 
                   
                 Fold Over 
               
               
                 72 
                 9b 
                 Marker Tab Panel 
               
               
                 73 
                   
                 Back 
               
               
                 74 
                   
                 Front 
               
               
                 75 
                   
                 Semi-Permanent Landed Perforation 
               
               
                 E 
                   
                 Glue 
               
               
                 C 
                   
                 Fold Over 
               
               
                 D 
                   
                 Fold Over 
               
               
                 76 
                 11 
                 Subclassification Panel 
               
               
                 77 
                   
                 “Reach Through Cutout” In Subclassification Panel 
               
               
                 78 
                   
                 Glue Tab Punched Through From Rear Cover 
               
               
                 79 
                 12 
                 Glue Tab 
               
               
                 80 
                 13 
                 Glue Tab 
               
               
                 81 
                 14 
                 Edge Recessed To Avoid Linkage To Rings 
               
               
                 82 
                 16 
                 Inside Flap 
               
               
                 83 
                   
                 Exposed Tab Recessed Front Cover 
               
               
                 84 
                   
                 Sealing Marks 
               
               
                 101 
                 3a 
                 Front Panel Cover Hinge 
               
               
                 100 
                   
                 Locking Tab For Forming Box File 
               
               
                 d1 
                   
                 Distance Of Leading Edge Of Locking Tab And Cover Hinge