Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~NGING FILE: 8Y9TEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the InYentipn.
The present invention relates generally to the field of
filing equipment, and more particularly, to a hanging filing
system forming a vertical filing system which may be utilized
within a confined space such as on the back of a door, such as
a closet door, on a portable partition such as used to create
separate office cubicles or work stations, upon suitable
recessed wall space, in a cabinet specifically designed for
such use, hung on a flat wall surface, from the underside of
a shelf within a clothes or storage closet, or even mounted in
conjunction with the interior surface of a car trunk, or in a
horizontal position placed under a conventional bed.
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2. Description of the Prior Art.
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As is well-known, filing systems of the prior art
; generally comprise cabinets of a size which makes these
~ cabinets quite inconvenient and aesthetically unpleasing for
use in areas where decorating decor may dictate such devices
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to be out of place. The typical fi.le cabinet whose dimensions
may be eighteen (18) inches or more in width, extending fore
and aft three (3) feet or more and having a height of five (5)
feet, may well prove obtrusive in a well decorated office or
home.
There have been other patented filing systems which have
utilized the vertical filing principle in order to save space,
but such systems, by and large, combine the same drawbacks as
just previously mentioned in that the systems require cabinets
-of some bulk which are not easily hidden from view. In
addition, these vertical filing systems of the prior art
generally are quite complicated and are somewhat cumbersome in
their use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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In accordance with the present invention, it is
contemplated that a vertical filing system will be provided
; which houses standard file hanging jackets and file folders of
~- both a letter and legal size. The present invention is
- designed to hang on the back of any door or may be hung
elsewhere such as on walls in suitable locations, on closet
rods, hung from closet shelves, or, if desired, may be
recessed in a wall, or may be housed in built-in cabinet
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suitable for the intended use. In addition, the filing systemmay be fitted with a back closure panel and a door system on
the front of the file to completely enclose the filing system.
Due to the simplicity of the invention, the construction
5 may be of simple means such as any suitably strong material
such as metal, plastic, wood, or of a wire. Another type of
construction which may well be suitable, would be a peg
arrangement projecting outwardly from the mounting surface.
It is anticipated that the system may be of such a width so as
to accommodate at least one vertical column of either letter
size or legal size file folders, or of any other size file
that may be useful to an end user. If space allows, the
system could well utilize a multiple width filing system which
may be of any particular length to allow convenient user
access. Further, file units of shorter length could be
utilized and, if the situation so dictated, the shorter units
could be vertically attached to one another in a daisy chain,
sr a single hanging file module may be either attached and
daisy-chained to other hanging file modules, or independently
attached to a vertical support structure, (which vertical
support structure is in turn attached to a vertical surface or
is supported by hanging the modules vertically), in a modular
fashion to make an elongated file system to meet the needs of
most users.
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In actual use, conventional file folder jackets areplaced within the hanging filing system and then conventional
file folders of suitable size and number are placed within the
hanging file folder jackets. Assuming a front to rear depth
of six (6) inches in the present filing system described
herein, it can be seen that a multiple level system of five
(5) vertical levels would provide approximately thirty (30)
inches or more of horizontal file storage space, yet would
require only six (6) inches of actual horizontal space. In
such a system, adequate vertical space would exist between the
hanging file folder locations thereby allowing viewing of file
tabs for identification, removal and insertion of files within
the jackets.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
provide a novel and unique, vertical hanging filing system
which requires very little horizontal space, may be mounted at
any convenient location within a very short period of time,
and is easily accessible to the user.
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Another object of the invention is the provision of a
hanging file system which uses standard file folders and
hanging jackets which are readily available in the office
supply market.
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Another object of the invention is the provision of the
hanging filing system which, when properly mounted, maintains
office files neatly out-of-sight, will mount on virtually any
available door or other suitable surface thereby utilizing
otherwise wasted space, and yet may be easily removed from the
mounting surface, and is extremely portable.
Another object of the invention is the provision of a
hanging filing system which may also be attached to a clothes
closec rod or to the underside OL a closet shelf, thereby
making practical use of excess closet space.
A further object of the invention is the provision of
multiple units of the filing system which may be hung directly
in front of one another thereby creating a greater depth of
filing space.
Another object of the invention is the provision of the
hanging filing system of the present invention which provides
a large volume of permanent file storage at a small cost, and
utilizes an extremely simple unit constructed of commonly
obtained material, is easily manufactured, is relatively
inexpensive, and is easily utilized by the ultimate user.
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Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the
invention will become apparent from the following description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing
only a preferred embodiment of the invention.
5BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention
shown being utilized on the interior of a typical closet door;
Figure 2 is a front elevation view showing the invention
belng utilized on the door of Figure 1;
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. 10Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the invention
attached to a door;
Figure 4 is a top view of the invention attached to a
door;
Figure 5 is a partial perspective, close-up view of the
15invention showing the file jackets being suspended within the
: hanging file system of one particular type of construction for
said system;
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Figure 6 is an elevation view showing the invention being
utilized in a small enclosed space, and of multiple units
being hung from a wire-type shelf;
Figure 7 is a front perspective view showing another
embodiment of the invention being utilized on a closet door;
Figure 8 is a partial perspective view of the embodiment
shown in Figure 7, and further showing hanging file folders
:~ being placed therein;
Figure 9 is a full perspective view of the embodiment
shown in Figure 7;
Figure 10 is a side elevation view of the embodiment
shown in Figure 7 as it may be mounted on a door; and
Figure 11 is a perspective view of stand-off bumper which
is used in the manner shown in Figure 10.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals
designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures,
the hanging file system of the present invention is generally
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indicated by the numeral 11. As is seen in Figure 1, the
system 11 comprises a pair of elongated sidewalls 12a and
12b which are typically interconnected by a top 13 and a
bottom 14, thereby forming the basic unit. If desired, the
basic system 11 could be fitted with an optional back panel
and optional doors on the front to fully enclose the unit.
The doors are not shown in the drawings of the preferred
embodiment.
While the file system 11 has been shown in the preferred
embodiment as having solid sidewalls, and solid top and bottom
members, it should be noted that many different types of
construction could be utilized such as wood, plastic or a wire
mesh design such as is utilized in display or closet shelving.
It should be anticipated that any such construction technique
would be applicable to the present invention. The side-
- walls 12a and 12b are designed to incorporate multiple
slots 15 at vertically disposed locations. While the
preferred embodiment describes a file system 11 having solid
~ side walls with slots 15 therein, it should be evident that a
; 20 supporting rod of suitable type could be mounted on the
interior of the sidewalls to accept the hanging file
jackets 16, thereby eliminating the slots 15.
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To cooperate with the file system 11, there would be
provided multiple hanging file jackets 16, of conventional
design, which have, as part of the jacket, a pair of
stiffening hanger rods 17 to which the file jacket is attached
at either end. Such construction forms an open-top envelope
into which a standard file folder may be inserted. At each
end of the folder hanger rod 17, there would normally be
provided a hanger hook 18 which, when in its operative
position, would have a downwardly facing notch 19 which will
cooperate with the bottom edge of the slot 15 to retain the
jacket in its intended hanging position in a suspended
relationship with any desired vertical planar surface. The
jacket 16 is easily seen in Figure 5 hanging in its intended
mode and its intended use. As shown, multiple jackets may be
placed within the file system 11 and at each slot position,
thereby providing several jackets at each slot position
wherein each jacket could easily hold one or more common file
~folders therein. There would normally be a reasonable amount
;` - of distance between the vertically disposed slot positions so
that the user could access the top of each jacket without
disturbing the jackets in the slot position just above. In
this way, the user will be able to remove file folders from
the jackets quite easily without disturbing any of the other
jackets. Additionally, in Figure 5, there is shown an
optional back panel 20 which provides rigidity to the unit, if
necessary.
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As seen in Figures 1-4, the hanging file system 11 of the
present invention is shown being attached to the rear surface
of a door 21 and, in this case, the door is indicated as being
a closet door leading into a relatively small enclosure 22.
However, as previously noted, the present invention is not
only particularly suited to a door or vertical wall
environment, but may equally be used in built-in arrangements
much like bookcases, or may be built into a pantry-like
enclosure where a pantry type door may be vertically hinged
and the hanging file system of the present invention may be
swung out in multiple stages wherein several of the file
: systems could well be housed in a very compact and convenient
enclosure within such a wall cabinet.
Any number of means may be utilized to suspend the
hanging file system 11 on a door, or a wall, or other suitable
mounting surface. As shown in the embodiment of Figures 1-4,
the system is mounted upon door 21 by means of an optional
hanger bracket 23 which may be of substantially L-shaped
design having an extended leg 24, a base leg 25, and possibly
an optional lip 26 which contacts the reverse side of the door
to prevent the bracket 23 from being accidentally released
from the door. Frequently the aesthetics of a mounting
situation will dictate against having a lip 26 showing on the
opposite side of a door. If such was the case, the lip might
well be done away with and the hanging file system would be
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secured to the door with various other means such as screwing
base leg 2s to the door top. In fact, the other mounting
means may be in addition to the hanger bracket 23, or the
other mounting means may be independent thereof, and the
hanger bracket 23 may well be done away with depending on the
desired mounting scheme. For instance, as shown in Figure 2,
optional side mounting brackets 27 are attached to the
sidewalls 12a and 12b in such a manner that suitable screw
fasteners may be placed therethrough into the door or other
mounting surface to maintain th~ file system 11 suspended upon
the intended mounting surface. Obviously other mounting means
could be utilized, some of which may be utilized independently
or may be utilized in conjunction with one or more of the just
described mounting systems. For instance, instead of
utilizing the side mounting brackets 27, the hanging file
system might well be supplied with hook and loop fasteners
which would assist the mounting of the unit on a door and yet
would not deface the door with screw holes or other type of
. fastening means. Hook and loop fasteners, or adhesive means,
may also be used to hold files against a vertical surface to
prevent movement.
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It might be desired to utilize the hanging file system 11
in conjunction with a shelf having an open-weave of wire mesh
similar to that found in the typical closets of today.
Figure 6 shows an installation of the hanging file system 11
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in such a closet environment in which a closet 22 is provided
with a door 21 to conceal the hanging file system. The system
components comprising multiple units 28a and 28b, are hung
from a closet shelf 29. The members of the hanging component
preferably comprise a mesh weave wire cross grid array having
projecting wire supports 31 and cross wire supports 32.
At the upper end of the units 28a and 28b are located a
plurality of engagement devices, shown herein as eye-type
hooks 33 engaged by respective S-type hooks 34 which connect
the system units to the cross wire supports 32. The wire grid
system is used herein as an illustrative hanging support
inasmuch as it is obvious that a solid wood shelf could be
used equally well. In any event, by locating a plurality of
the system units 11, one in front of the other, in a confined
space such as a closet, it is apparent that a great degree of
additional file storage space is achieved. If the optional
back panel 20 is not utilized, it is possible to reach through
the multiple units to retrieve a file from one of the units
which is located rearwardly from the frontmost unit.
A further application of a shorter version of the hanging
- file system may be located within a trunk of an automobile,
such as being hung from the underside of the trunk-lid. In
this way the files may be made to recline toward a horizontal
position on the trunk floor when the trunk lid is closed, and
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the files may be positioned in a nearly vertical position when
the trunk lid is opened. This allo~s ample, convenient access
to files while traveling in an automobile. The file may be
easily transferred from the auto to the home, office, cabinet,
bedroom or closet, etc., for continuing accessibility. It
also permits convenient transport of the hanging file system.
Figures 7-11 show a modified embodiment of the hanging
file system, generally indicated by numeral 35, and which is
constructed of steel rod typically painted or covered by a
vinyl covering to give a more finished appearance. The open
frame work of the modified hanging file system 35 comprises a
pair of spaced apart side rails 36 on each side of the unit.
The side rails 36 are maintained apart from each other by one
or more rear lateral support members 37 which span the
distance between respective side rails 36. To provide
addltional support there is provided multiple fore and aft
support rods 38 which span the distance between the respective
side rails.
During manufacture of the modified system 35, the typical
unit might be manufactured in either a "letter" sized unit or
a "legal" sized unit. The file system 35 would need to be
manufactured to fit one size or the other, because the hanging
file jackets 16 are obviously of different lengths depending
on whether it is a letter size or a legal size folder.
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However, it has been found that, since the respective
side rails 36 are identical for either size unit, the file
system is expandable to either the letter or legal size. This
is accomplished by having the rear lateral support members 37
configured in a sleeve mode and then fitting the ends of
sleeve 37 over the sleeve support stubs 40, thereby making the
system capable of being either letter or legal size depending
on the length of the sleeve 37 which is supplied by the
manufacturer. In addition, the sleeve 37 may be placed at
varying vertical positions to allow the system 35 to be
mounted at desired heights when used with hanger bars 4~.
When a hanging file jacket 16 is placed in the modified
file system 35, the folder hanging rods 17 are designed to be
-~supported on designated file jacket supports. The file jacket
supports comprise parallel support rods 39a and 39b spaced at
intervals along the vertical length of the file system 35
wherein the spacing will allow the vertical stacking of file
jacket 16 in any desired number of bays. Referring to
Figure 8 which shows a detailed view of the hanging file
jackets 16 being supported by the file jacket supports, it is
easily seen that the jackets are hung only on support rod 39b
and do not engage support rod 39a. Typically, the spacing
between the file jacket support rods 39a and 39b is of such a
dimension that the user of the system will be able to remove
the jacket 16 from support rod 3gb by merely twisting the
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rods 17 rearwardly enough so that, upon lifting the rods 17
vertically, while moving one side of rod 17 forward or
backward, the tilt that was given by the user will allow the
rods 17 to disengage the file jacket support rod 39b and to be
removed from file system 35 without striking file jacket
support rod 39a. Consequently, the true purpose of file
jacket support 39a is to maintain the file jacket 16 upon
support rod 39b even when the door 21 or other movable
vertical surface is maneuvered in such a manner that there
would be a possibility of upsetting the file jackets and
causing the rod 17 to dislodge from support 39b. Therefore,
with a provision of support rod 39a above the rod 17 there is
little chance, because of the spacing between rods 39a and
39b, of the file jackets becoming inadvertently dislodged.
Alternatively, file jackets 16 may be supported on top of rod
39a, or rod 39a may be eliminated completely, providing only
single support rod.
One advantage of the present embodiment is that the
length of the system 35 may be easily varied by the user. For
instance, if the user of the three bay system shown in
Figure 9 would need additional hanging space, it would be a
simple matter to take a pair of the three bay hanging file
system shown in Figure 9 and attach one to the other by means
of hanger hooks 41. The topmost system 35 would be mounted to
a door, or other suitable surface, and then the second unit
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would be hung from the bottom of the first unit by means of
the hanger hooks 41. Depending upon the situation, several
ways could be utilized to attach one unit to the other. For
instance the hanger hooks might be hooked over the lowermost
rear lateral support 37, or the hanger hooks might well be
attached to one of the file jacket support rods 39a or 39b.
In either instance the hanging of one unit to the other is
essentially the same. Of course, the manufacturer of the
present invention might well decide that a four or fi~e bay
system might be very practical and would manufacture file
systems 35 with additional bays as needed thereby eliminating
the need of attaching one system to the other by means of
; hanger hooks 41.
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: It is obvious that some means must be made for attaching
the modified file system 35 to a vertical surface and, to this
end, there are several methods which may be utilized. For
instance if the system is to be hung over a door such as is
shown in Figure 10, it may well be practical to provide a
hanger bar 42 which at one end thereof would have either an
L-shaped hanging member, or a U-shaped hanging member as
indicated by numeral 43. If the decorating decor is such that
the projecting lip of the U-shaped hanger 43 i5 unattractive,
as it may show over the door and to the interior of the room,
then the distal lip of the U-shaped hanger could be eliminated
leaving only an L-shaped hanger hung over the door and it
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would then be possible that a fastening device such as a nail
or screw (not shown) could be placed through the short leg of
the L into the top of the door. The proximal end of the
hanger bar 42 is designed to have an upturned U-shaped hanger
portion 44 which is adapted to accept the uppermost rear
lateral support 37 therein to maintain the file system 35 in
its desired position on the vertical surface.
Normally it is desirable to maintain the file system 35
from contact with a vertical surface so that upon swinging of
a door, or like member, the file system does not scrape
against the vertical surface. To this end it is anticipated
that a bumper 45 will be provided so that it may be placed at
spaced intervals along side rail rod 36b. The bumper could
also be placed in conjunction with rear lateral supports 37 as
the situation may dictate. The bumper generally comprises a
box-like structure having on one surface thereof a rounded
slot 46 which is open to the exterior of the bumper and which
is designed to matingly engage with the side rail rod or the-
rear lateral support when the bumper is to be utilized. The
user would normally snap the bumper on to the rail and the
bumper would then provide a certain standoff distance between
the file system 35 and the vertical surface to which the
system is mounted. At times it may be desirable to fixedly
mount the bumper 45 to the vertical surface and, to this end,
a screw 47 will be placed through a hole 48 in the bumper into
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the door 21, or other vertical surface, thereby fixedly
mounting the bumper in a desired location. At other times if
it would be desirable not to use a screw to mount the bumper
such other mounting means might include adhesive material or
a hook and loop fastener type material of suitable type. Of
course, the adhesive or hook and loop fastener would be
affixed to the rearmost surface of the bumper as is generally
indicated by the broken lines 49 in Figure 11.
The present invention has disclosed a hanging file system
-which fits in any closet or suitable vertical space providing
an out-of-sight and/or off the floor filing system, utilizing
what heretofore has most usually been wasted space. Further,
the system presented herein is inexpensive, requires little
installation knowledge and needs no floor space, but yet
eliminates unsightly filing cabinets and provides convenient
access to the user of a light, strong and extremely durable
filing system.
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Various modifications may be made of the invention
without departing from the scope thereof and it is desired,
therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon
as are imposed by the prior art and which are set forth in the
appended claims.
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