Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FILE 1-IOLDE
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Field of the Disclosure
X0001] The disclosure is generally directed to file storage devices, and more
particularly
to stackable and nestable file holders.
Related Technology
[0002 File storage devices have traditionally included generally cube-shaped,
crate-type
devices which may be used to store and/or transport file folders. These
storage devices
may be constructed of wood, plastic, metal, or other suitable material or
combination of
materials. Mostly, these storage devices are small enough to be carried by a
single person
with both hands and may include handles or holes on the sides for graspin~l.
X0003) A significant drawback to these storage devices from a retail sales
point of view
occurs in bulk transportation and display of these storage devices for sale.
Because such
storage devices are typically made to hold a plurality of file folders, they
may consist
mostly of empty space, surrounded by four or more walls and a bottom. During
bulk
transportation from the manufacturer to the retailer, the volume of empty
space within the
storage device may be lost to the shipper and may result in a higher per unit
cost to the
retailer.
X0004] In an attempt to solve the problems mentioned above, storage devices
have been
designed which may nest with one another, thereby reducing the potentially
empty volume
during shipping. These designs, while at least partially successful in
reducing lost
transportation volume, are generally nested by inverting or rotating one
storage device and
inserting it partially into a like storage device. Therefore, the recovery of
empty space is
very limited in that only two such storage devices may be nested together.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
(0005] A file holder includes a base panel and front and back walls spaced
apart and
opposed relative to one another. A pair of side walls are spaced apart and
opposed relative
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to one another, and disposed between the front and back walls. Each side wall
includes a
cut out portion. The base panel, front, back and side walls define a storage
space
therebetween that is larger near top edges of the side walls than near bottom
edges of the
side walls because the side walls generally diverge away from one another from
the bottom
edges of the side walls to the top edges of the side walls.
[OOOGJ Further details of the file holder of the present disclosure may be
appreciated
with reference to the several views of the drawings, as well as the following
detailed
description of the preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWLNGS
~0007J FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a file holder constructed according to
the
teachings of the disclosure;
X0008) FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the file holder ofFIG. l;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the file holder of FIG l;
[OOIO~ FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the file holder of FIG l;
X0011 ~ FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the file holder of FIG. 1 including
file folders
disposed therein;
(0012] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the file holder of FIG. 1 partially
nested with a
like file holder;
[0013] FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the file holder of FIG. l nested with
a like file
holder;
[0014 FIG. 7 is a close up view of the top of a sidewall of the file holder of
FIG. l;
[0015 FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another file holder constructed
according to the
teachings of the disclosure;
[0016 FIG. 9 is a perspective view of yet another file holder constructed
according to
the teachings of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The disclosure is generally directed to file holders, hereinafter
described as
"holders", for storing files, documents, and the like, in a generally vertical
orientation. The
disclosed holders nest with one another in a stacked configuration that
reduces the amount
of retail display shelf space, shipping space, and storage space required for
multiple
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holders. Additionally, the disclosed holders nest with a plurality of similar
holders so that
when packaged and shipped or when on display for sale to consumers or stacked
in a given
location for use, the holders take up relatively little shelf space and much
less space than
traditional holders of a similar type. Relative terms, such as front, back,
vertical,
horizontal, up, down, top, bottom, etc. are used only to describe elements as
oriented in the
drawings and are not meant to be limiting of the disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder 10 constructed in accordance
with the
teachings of this disclosure. In this example, the holder 10 is intended to
hold letters, files,
hanging file folders, papers, and the like in a generally vertical
orientation.
~0019~ The holder 10 has a generally horizontally oriented base panel 12
including front
and back edges 14, 16 and side edges 18, a back panel 20 having a bottom edge
22 coupled
to and extending generally upwardly from the back edge 16 of the base panel
12. A front
panel 24 has a bottom edge 26 that is coupled to and extends generally
upwardly from the
front edge 14 of the base panel 12. The holder 10 also has a pair of spaced
apart and
opposed side walls 28. The side walls 28 span between respective side edges of
the back
panel 20 and respective side edges of the front panel 24.
~0020~ In this embodiment, a storage space 32 is defined by the space above
the base
panel 12, between the front panel 24, the back panel 20 and the side walls 28.
A top
opening 34 is formed between top edges of the front and back panels 24, 20 and
top edges
of the side walls 28. The top opening 34 permits insertion into and/or removal
from the
storage space 32 of documents, file folders, other holders and the like.
X0021 J FIG_ 2 is a front elevational view of the holder 10, a rear
elevational view being a
mirror image thereof. The front panel 24 includes a generally arcuate top edge
36. The
top edge 36 in this example is ideally concave in shape with respect to the
base panel 12,
but alternate shapes are possible. For example, the top edge 36 could be
substantially
straight or convex with respect to the base panel 12. The curvature of the top
edge 36 adds
strength and rigidity to the holder 10. Additionally, the concave shape of the
top edge 36
allows a user to view a portion of the file folder or document disposed in the
storage space
32. The front panel 24 also includes a window 38, which is generally arch
shaped in this
embodiment. Like the top edge 36, the window 38 may be virtually any size or
shape
depending on user appeal, or the window 38 may be eliminated altogether. The
window
38 reduces the weight of the holder 10 and reduces material required for
manufacture.
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[0022) The base panel 12 includes a plurality of protrusions or feet 40
disposed on a
bottom surface 42 thereof. The feet 40 may be integrally formed with the base
panel l 2 or
may be attached to the bottom surface 42. Regardless, the feet 40 each are
substantially
the same thickness as one another, thereby providing a stable and level
support for the
holder 10 when the holder 10 is placed on a surface. Of course, the feet 40 of
this example
could be eliminated without affecting the functionality of the holder 10.
[0023 Vertical protrusions or ribs 44 are disposed on an outer surface of the
side walls
28 and function as nesting stops when like holders are nested together for
transportation or
display. The protrusions or ribs 44 extend generally outwardly from the side
walls 28
proximate the top edges of the side walls 28. The ribs 44 are generally
trapezoidal in shape
and wider near a top edge than near a bottom edge 46 thereof. As will be
discussed further
with respect to F1G. 6A, the bottom edges 46 of the ribs 44 contact and bear
against the top
edges of the side walls 28 of a like holder l 0 when two or more holders are
nested
together.
~0024~ In this embodiment, the side walls 28 generally include two sections,
an upper
section 48 which is substantially perpendicular to the base panel 12 and a
lower section 50
which tapers with respect to the base panel 12. The two side walls 28 taper in
a manner
that produces a storage space 32 that is narrower proximate the base panel 12
than
proximate the top edges of the side walls 28. The upper and lower sections 48,
50 are
joined at a transition point 52. Above the transition point 52, the side walls
28 are
generally perpendicular to the base panel 12 and below the transition point
52, the side
walls 28 taper inwardly.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the holder 10 of F1GS. 1 and 2.
The side
walls 28 may include one or more cut-out portions 54 similar to the windows 38
in the
front and back walls 24, 20. The cut-out portions 54 in the side walls 28
allow the lower
corners of a file folder or document disposed in the storage space 32 to
extend outward
beyond the side walls 28. This feature, which is evident in FIG. 5, allows the
side walls 28
to taper inwardly thereby providing the nesting ability with similar holders
10 while, at the
same time, allowing generally rectangular objects to be disposed in the
storage space 32.
Additionally, the ribs 44 are disposed on the side walls 28 proximate the top
edges thereof
and spaced apart from one another. The ribs 44 are separated by a ledge 56.
The ledge 56
provides a support structure for file folders disposed in the storage space 32
and a hand
hold for a user to grasp during transportation of the holder 10. The ledge 56
is disposed
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generally between the ribs 44 and is oriented generally perpendicularly to the
ribs 44
and/or generally parallel to the base panel 12.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the holder 10. In this example the windows
38 of the
front and back panels 24, 20 extend at least partially into the base panel 12
forming voids
58 and give the front and back edges 14, 16 of the base panel 12 curved edges
60. These
voids 58 reduce the amount of material reduired to manufacture the holder 10
and thus the
weight of tile holder 10. Further, a top surface 62 of the ledge 56 extends
outwardly from
the respective side wall 12. In addition to the ledge 56, a rim extends
laterally outwardly
from the top edges of the front and back walls 24, 20 and the pair of side
walls 28 forming
a continuous lip 64 around the top of the holder 10. However, the lip 64 need
not be
continuous and may be eliminated if desired.
[0027 FIG. S illustrates a perspective view of the holder 10 of FIGS. 1-4
including a
plurality of file folders 66 disposed in the storage space 32. Ears of the
file folders 66 rest
on and are supported by the top 62 of the ledge 56 and the top edges of the
side walls 28.
Additionally, lower corners of the file folders 66 protrude beyond the lower
sections 50 of
the side walls 28. Thus, a file folder 66 which is substantially rectangular
in shape and
substantially the same width as the top of the holder 10 may be disposed
within the storage
space 32 of the holder without folding, or otherwise altering shape of the
file folder 66.
Moreover, a portion of the file folder 66 extending beyond the lower section
50 of the side
walls 16 is viewable by a user and may be marked, labeled, or otherwise coded,
for easy
identification.
[0028] FIG. 6A illustrates two similar holders 10 in a partially nested
condition. A first
holder 10 is partially inserted into the storage space 32' of a second holder
10'. In this
configuration, the side walls 28 and front and back walls 24, 20 of the first
holder 10 are
positioned substantially between the side walls 28' and front and back walls
24', 20' of the
second holder 10'. As the first holder 10 is lowered into the storage space
32' of the
second holder 10', the bottom edges 46 of the ribs 44 of the first holder 10
approach the
top edges of the side walls 28' of the second holder 10'. Moving the first
holder 10 further
into the storage space 32', a second nested condition is approached and
illustrated in FIG.
6B. In this second, nested configuration, the bottom edges 46 of the ribs 44
of the first
holder 10 rest on the top of and bear against the top of the side walls 28' of
the second
holder 10'. This feature prevents the first holder 10 from becoming
frictionally locked
with the second holder 10' in the nested condition.
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[0029 FIG. 7 is a close up view of one rib 44 and a portion of the ledge 56.
The rib 44
protrudes generally outwardly from the side walls 28, from the top of the side
wall 28 to a
position near top of the window 54. The rib 44 tapers from top to bottom and
is narrower
near its bottom edge 46. The ledge 56 also extends generally outwardly from
the side
walls 28 and is generally parallel to the top edge of the side wall 28 and to
the continuous
lip 64.
X0030] FIG. 8 illustrates another holder 1 10 constructed in accordance with
the
teachings of this disclosure. The holder 110 includes a generally horizontally
oriented base
panel 1 12, a back panel 120 with a bottom edge 122 that is coupled to and
extends
generally upwardly from a back edge 116 of the base panel 112 and a front
panel 124 with
a bottom edge 126 that is coupled to and extends generally upwardly from a
front edge 1 I 4
of the base panel 112. The holder 10 has a pair of spaced apart and opposed
side walls
128. The side walls 128 generally span between the back panel 120 and the
front panel
I 24. In a manner similar to the holder described above, the holder 1 10 of
FIG. 8 defines a
storage space 132 above the base panel 112, between the front panel 124, the
back panel
120 and the side walls 128.
~0031~ In this example, the back panel 120 has a greater height than the front
panel 124.
Thus, the top edges of the side walls 128 taper generally downward toward the
front panel
124 and, in this example, tapers incrementally, forming a series of generally
parallel, but
vertically offset support ledges 168. At the forward end of each support ledge
168 is an
upward protrusion or stop 170. Hanging file folders disposed in the storage
space 132
partially rest on the support ledges 168 and are prevented from falling to the
next lower
support ledge 168 by the protrusion or stop 170. In this manner, hanging file
folders stored
in the holder 10 cascade and allow a user to view portions of multiple folders
at the same
time. A front lip 172 extends outward from the top edge of the front panel 124
and
partially along each side wall 128. The front lip 172 acts as the stop 170 for
the forward-
most support ledge 168. The holder 110 of FIG. 8 receives file folders and
nests in a
manner similar to the holder 10 of FIGS. 1-7.
[0032] FIG. 9 is yet another embodiment of a holder 210 constructed in
accordance with
the disclosure. The holder 210 includes a front panel 224 and a back panel 220
spaced
apart from one another and connected by a pair of spaced apart side walls 228.
Each of the
front and back panels 224, 220 and the side walls 228 diverge away from one
another from
respective top edges thereof towards respective bottom edges thereof defining
a storage
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area 232 that is smaller near a top of the holder 210 than near a bottom of
the holder 210.
The holder 210 also includes a top opening 234 for insertion of documents,
file folders and
the like and a bottom opening 274 for nesting with like holders 210.
[0033] Each side wall 228 has a ledge 256 disposed thereon which is
substantially
parallel to the upper edge of the side wall 228. Further, the ledge 256
differs from
previously described ledges in that the ledge 256 is formed from a recess or
cutout in the
side wall 228 instead of a rib or protrusion. Ears of a file folder rest on
and are supported
by the ledge 256. Unlike previous embodiments, the holder 210 of FIG. 9 nests
with like
holders 210 by inserting a first holder 210 into the storage area 232 of a
second holder 2l 0
through the bottom opening 274 of the second holder 10. The front panel 224,
back panel
220 and side walls 228 each include a generally arcuate bottom edge, although
other
shapes are acceptable and do not affect the functionality of the holder 210.
[0034 While the disclosed embodiments are generally manufactured from molded
plastic, the holders can, of course, be constructed from virtually any
material and by
virtually any manufacturing process. For example, the holders may be
constructed from
polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, engineering grade plastic, ABS,
TPE,
thermoplastics, metal, wood, organic materials, leather, glass and/or
combination thereof.
One example of the holder may be manufactured of plastic through an injection
molding
process. During injection molding, the windows in the front and back panels
may be
molded as shutoffs while the windows in the side walls may be cut out after
the molding
process. Of course, the windows in the side walls may also be molded as
shutoffs during
the molding process. The material and method of manufacture may be chosen by
one
skilled in the art according to desired features, cost, and/or ease of
manufacture, among
other considerations.
[0035] The disclosed holders improve upon maximizing retail shelf space,
accommodate
variable shelf space and configurations, and enhance product nesting for
shipping, stock
storage, and display for sale. Product nesting is accomplished by stacking
each holder
vertically upward relative to its preceding holder in a stack. The stacked
holders can be
displayed and shipped without damage to the product due to scuffing,
scratching, and the
like because the products will be tightly nested. Additional packing between
adjacent
holders can be negated.
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[0036) Additionally, freight cube size can be optimized and significantly
reduced
utilizing the disclosed nested holder configuration. Products shipped in bulk
can be
directly unloaded from the master canon or shipping box onto a shelf. No
additional
reorientation of the product may be necessary, making the merchandiser's
handling of the
product easier. The nested holders also assist in retaining the displayed
holders on a retail
shelf space. The holders also look more organized when nested as disclosed
herein. This
reduces the amount of work required by both customers and merchandisers to
keep the
shelf displays organized and arranged. An organized shelf space may effect the
perception
of the consumer and influence his or her decision to buy the displayed
products.
[0037 Further, because more product can be displayed for sale in a given
amount of
shelf space, less restocking time and stocking space is necessary for the
retailer. Having
more product available and on display for sale at any one time reduces the
frequency of an
item appearing to be out of stock, which can prevent a consumer from leaving
the
establishment to go elsewhere to find the desired product.
[0038 Although certain holders that are nestable have been described herein in
accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of the
appended claims
is not limited thereto. On the contrary, the claims cover all embodiments of
the teachings
of this disclosure that fairly tall within the scope of permissible
equivalents.
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