Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LARGE CAPACITY EXPANDABLE FILE FOLDER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a portable, multiple pocket, large
capacity expandable file folder. In particular, the invention pertains to a
wide-mouth
expandable file folder having a support structure that can open more than 90
with a file
portion fanned open to access the contents.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to provide expandable envelopes or folders that include a
plurality
of individual pockets or compartments for separating documents. Such envelopes
or folders
must be capable of being shipped or stored in a flat, collapsed state to use
shipping or storage
space efficiently, and then expanded to receive varying sizes and amounts of
contents, such as
sheets of paper. Such file folders typically include pockets defined by
divider panels of the
same size which tend to obscure the identifying indicia located on documents
so that, in order
to find pertinent documents, a user must at least partially remove documents
from their pocket
sections for review.
Files are known with dividers, indexing tabs and additional pockets which open
from top and securely close for transport. Some cases are known for carrying
papers or the
like that provide access to the interior of the case without requiring that
the top closure of the
case be fully opened.
Some files provide a convenient system for storing and transporting different
types of documents in a single wallet structure having different filing
systems. U.S. Patent
No. 6,669,080 discloses a combination of a filing pouch having a foldable and
enveloping
flap, and an expandable filing case subdivided into a plurality of file
pockets by divider sheets.
The sides of the filing case are constructed with pleated, accordion folds so
that as the filing
case front cover is drawn away from the top of the rear filing case cover, for
example at an
angle of about 30 or so, the contents of the filing case between the indexed,
tabbed dividers
in the individual pockets are readily visible.
U.S. Patent No. 6,516,927 discloses a case for carrying papers or the like
that
provides access to the interior of the case without requiring that the top
closure of the case be
fully opened. Additionally, the carrying case provides access to the interior
at a side of the
case as well as at the top of the case. The case provides access to the papers
in the interior of
the case such that the papers are presented at an angle thereby permitting
easy inspection,
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selection and removal thereof. For example, a wall of the case can be opened
at an angle of
about 45 or so to access the contents therein.
There remains a need for a file folder that can separate documents and make
effective use of available space while facilitating the identification of
documents and
providing easy access to them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a file folder with a plurality of
internal
pockets therein. In a preferred embodiment, the file folder includes a support
structure
including first and second walls in pivoted association for pivoting between
closed and open
positions. The first and second walls define an angle therebetween, and when
the first and
second walls are in the open position, the angle is greater than 90 . An
expandable file
portion includes an expansion-limiting member connected to the first and
second walls and
configured for limiting the pivoting of the first and second walls to the open
position, and a
plurality of divider panels disposed between the first and second walls and
connected in series
to the expansion-limiting member to define pockets therebetween. In the closed
position, the
pockets are collapsed, and in the open position, the pockets are expanded with
the divider
panels pivoted with respect to each other.
Preferably, the expansion-limiting member includes an expandable sidewall
attaclied to the first and second walls and configured to expand and collapse
between the open
and closed positions of the first and second walls. The expandable sidewall
preferably defines
at least one side of the pockets. The expandable sidewall also preferably
include accordion
pleats for expanding and collapsing. In one embodiment, the expandable file
portion of the
file folder is configured to fan open in an arcuate shape.
Preferably, the expandable sidewall includes at least two expandable sidewalls
disposed on opposite sides of the pockets. The divider panels are preferably
connected
between the two expandable sidewalls to define wedge-shaped pockets in the
open position.
The expandable file portion also preferably includes an expandable and
collapsible bottom
wall connected to at least one of the expansion-limiting member or the divider
panels to define
the bottom portion of the wedge-shaped pockets. In one embodiment, the bottom
wall
includes accordion pleats for expanding and collapsing. The bottom wall can
also preferably
include first and second end portions and an intermediate portion disposed
therebetween.
Preferably, the intermediate portion is substantially free from the support
structure for moving
with respect thereto. In another embodiment, the support structure includes a
spine pivotally
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connected between the first and second walls and disposed facing the
intermediate portion of
the bottom wall, and the bottom wall is moveable towards and away from the
spine.
Preferably, the divider panels define at least eight pockets between the first
and
second walls. The first and second walls are also preferably substantially
more rigid than the
expansion-limiting member and the divider panels.
In one embodiment, the file folder further includes at least one stiffener in
stiffening association with the expansion-limiting member to inhibit or
prevent collapse,
preferably radial or axial collapse, of the expansion file portion when the
first and second
walls are in the open position. Preferably, the stiffener includes two spaced
circumferentially-
facing walls substantially aligned with the divider panels, and an axially-
facing wall
substantially aligned with the expansion-limiting member and connecting the
circumferentially-facing walls. The circumferentially-facing walls also
preferably have a
stiffness greater than the stiffness of the divider panels. In the closed
position, the stiffener is
preferably generally aligned with the divider panels. The file folder can also
include at least
one tether connected between the stiffener and either the first or second
wall. The tether is
preferably operable to keep the stiffener upright when the file folder is
fully opened and to aid
in supporting the weight of the contents of the pockets.
The file folder can also include a spine that connects the first and second
walls.
In one embodiment, the spine is substantially rigid and includes first and
second hinges
connected to the first and second walls in hinged association. In another
embodiment, the
spine is flexible for flexing when the first and second walls are moved
between the open and
closed positions.
Preferably, the file folder includes a cover panel associated with one of the
first
or second walls and configured to extend over and across the file portion
between the first and
second walls when the first and second walls are in the closed position. The
file folder
preferably further includes a closure member configured to secure the cover
panel in the
closed position. In one embodiment, the file folder includes first and second
cover panels,
wherein the first cover panel is associated with the first wall and the second
cover panel is
associated with the second wall. The first and second cover panels can each
include a
plurality of ribs operable to interlock with each other to selectively close
the file folder.
The present invention thus provides a novel file folder with improved access
to
the contents therein when the file folder is in the open position, and also
has a compact profile
for portability when the file folder is in the closed position.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portable, wide-mouth, large
capacity expandable file folder according to the present invention in a closed
position;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof in a fully open position, resting on a
flat
surface;
Fig. 3 is a side view of the open file folder of Fig. 2, as viewed from the
opposite side;
Fig. 4 is a side view thereof in a half-open position;
Fig. 5 is a partial cutaway perspective view of another embodiment of the file
folder according to the present invention in the fully open position;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a portable, wide-mouth,
large capacity expandable file folder according to the present invention in a
closed position;
and
Fig. 7 is a perspective view thereof in a partially open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 is a left and front side perspective view of one preferred embodiment
of
a portable, wide-mouth, large capacity expandable file folder 10 in a closed
position. The file
folder 10 includes a support structure that includes a first wall 12 and
associated first closure
flap or cover panel 14, a spine 15 and a second wall 16 with an associated
second closure flap
or cover panel 18. As shown, the spine or center panel 15 is resting on a
surface 19 and the
first closure flap 14 is interlocked with the second closure flap 18. An
expandable file section
or portion 20 is positioned between the first wall 12 and second wall 16. An
expandable file
mechanism 21 includes a first guide 22 connected to the first wall 12, a
second guide 24
connected to the second wall 16, and a central axis pin 26 rotatably
connecting the first 22 and
second 24 guides together. Preferably, the first and second guides are hinges
connected, such
as by hinge pins, in hinged association with each other. Another, preferably
identical,
expandable file mechanism 23 (shown in Fig. 3) is located on the opposite side
of the file
folder above the spine 15 and includes two guides, each connected to one of
the first wall 12
and second wall 16. The functioning of the expandable file mechanisms 21 and
23 will be
described in detail below. When the file folder 10 is in the closed
configuration as shown in
Fig. 1, it may be easily transported or stored, and any items contained
therein are safely
secured.
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As shown in Fig. 1, the file folder 10 preferably has dimensions for carrying
relatively larger-sized items, for example, papers of various standard sizes.
Preferably, the file
folder 10 has a length 52 at least about 8 inches and at most about 16 inches.
More preferably,
the length 52 is between about 10 and 12 inches. The file folder 10 also
preferably has a
height 56 at least about 6 inches and at most about 14 inches. More
preferably, the height 56
is between about 8 and 10 inches. The spine 15 of the file folder 10 has a
width 54 of at least
about 1 inch and at most about 6 inches. More preferably, the width 54 in the
closed position
is between about 2 and 4 inches.
Fig. 2 illustrates the file folder 10 of Fig. 1 in the fully open position,
resting on
a surface. In this fully open position, the file folder is preferably fanned
to an open arcuate
shape, and the first wall 12, first closure flap 14, spine 15, second wall 16,
and second closure
flap 18 all lie in substantially the same plane on the surface. The opposing,
generally semi-
circular, expandable bellows arrangements 40 and 42 are preferably fully
deployed to provide
full access to all of the file pockets 30. Thus, the file folder 10 opens like
a large book, similar
to a "coffee-table" book, so that substantially all of the materials within
the file pockets 30 are
presented and easily accessible to a user. As shown, each of the file pockets
has a generally
wide opening and is wedge or pie-shaped. The expandable file mechanism 21 is a
hinged
mechanism, and when the file folder is fully opened the first guide 22 and the
second guide 24
have been rotated to overlap above the spine 15. The expandable file
mechanisms 21 and 23
function to support the pockets of file pocket structure 30. Preferably, the
spine 15 is made of
flexible material such that the spine can flex away and towards the expandable
file section 20
when the first and second walls 12,16 are moved between the open and closed
positions.
The sidewalls of the folder are preferably expansion-limiting members, and
include first and second expandable bellows arrangements 40 and 42 that are
accordion-
pleated so that they can expand when the folder is open and then fold flat
when the folder is
closed, and form the sidewalls of each of the plurality of separate pockets
30. The expandable
bellows arrangements are preferably connected to the first and second walls
12,16 and
configured for limiting the pivoting of the first and second walls 12,16 to
the open position.
The expandable bellows arrangements 40 and 42 may be made of a durable elastic
material,
and include a plurality of generally pie-shaped or wedge-shaped portions that
are accordion
pleated in a conventional manner. Each opposing pie-shaped portion forms the
sidewalls of a
pocket between two divider panels 25. The expandable nature of the file 10 is
provided by the
arrangement of the divider panels and the pie-shaped bellows portions. A rigid
central divider
panel 26 is provided to provide additional support for the file structure.
Preferably, the central
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panel 26 acts as a stiffener, and may be fabricated from thicker and/or more
rigid material than
the divider panels 25 for reasons which are explained below.
Fig. 2 also illustrates a pair of tethers 28 and 29 associated with the first
expandable bellows arrangement 40, which are provided to support the file
structure and to
ensure that the first expandable bellows arrangement 40 does not absorb undue
strain which
may cause it to rip or tear. In an embodiment, an additional set of tethers 43
and 44 (see Fig.
3) is associated with the second expandable bellows arrangement 42.
Preferably, the tethers
28 and 29 (plus 43 and 44) are associated with the center divider panel 26 to
form a
suspension-bridge type construction, wherein the center divider panel 26 is
kept in an upright
position by the tethers when the file is fully open to help support the weight
of the contents of
the pockets. The tether arrangements also act as a stop so that the file
pockets 31 and 38 (see
Fig. 3) that are located adjacent to the first wall 12 and the second wall 14,
respectively, do
not disgorge their contents under the force of gravity when the file folder 10
is fully opened.
In particular, when the file folder 10 is being opened, the tethers prevent
the first wall 12 and
second wall 16 from forming an angle greater than about 180 degrees with each
other.
The first closure flap 14 preferably includes a plurality of ridges or ribs 13
that
are designed to interlock with a plurality of ribs 17 of the second closure
flap 18 when the file
is closed, as shown in Fig. 1. The staggered arrangement of the ribs permits
an incremental
and adjustable engagement to be made, to accommodate the thickness of the file
folder 10
depending upon the quantity and thickness of items, such as documents or
papers contained
within the file pockets 30. In an implementation, the first and second closure
flaps are made
of a thermal-formed plastic such that the ribs snap together to form a
definitive seal so that the
user is aware that the file is securely closed. It should be understood,
however, that other
adjustable closure arrangements and/or devices could be used instead of
interlocking ribs on
the closure flaps. For example, the closure flap 14 could include a first
portion of a fastening
device or closure member, such as a plurality of hooks of a hook and loop
fastener or a
magnet of a magnetic fastener, whereas the second closure flap could include
the second
portion of such fastening devices or closure members. A closure flap
configuration may be
arranged to ensure that the file will be as flat as possible when in the
closed position.
Fig. 3 is side view of the open file folder 10 of Fig. 2, as viewed from the
opposite side or from the perspective of the side containing the second
expandable bellows
arrangement 42. The file folder 10 is fully opened and sitting on a surface 7,
so that access is
provided to each of the file pockets 31 to 38. Tethers 43 and 44 are fully
deployed and are
connected between the central divider 26 and the first and second walls 12 and
16,
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respectively. The tethers 43 and 44 (and 28 and 29) may be a cord made from a
non-
stretchable fabric, for example.
Fig. 4 is a side view of the file folder 10 of Fig. 3 in a substantially 90
degree
or half-open position, wherein the pockets 35 to 38 are accessible to a user,
and the pockets 31
to 34 are folded closed. In this position, the second wall 16 is substantially
perpendicular to
the first wall 12 and the tether 43 is supporting the central divider 26. The
tether 44 is coiled
or folded upon itself as shown. It should be understood that the opposite
configuration,
wherein file pockets 31 to 34 are accessible and pockets 35 to 38 are folded,
can also be
obtained. In an implementation, guides 46 and 48 of the second expandable file
mechanism
23 (and the guides 22 and 24 of the first expandable file mechanism 21)
include distinct
mechanical stops (not shown) at the 90 degree and at 180 degree (Fig. 3)
positions to provide
added support for the file folder when the first and second walls are opened
by a user to these
positions. One skilled in the art knows how to provide such mechanical stops,
and also could
provide additional stops at other intermediate positions, for example between
90 degrees and
180 degrees, if desired.
Fig. 5 is a detailed, partial cutaway top perspective view of another
embodiment of the file folder 10 in the fully open position. In this
implementation, each
pocket 32 to 34 includes an additional, reduced size or small document pocket
50 positioned
on each divider panel 25 (or 26). The reduces size pockets 50 may be embossed
with a ribbed
pattern to enhance divider rigidity. These small pockets 50 may function as a
handy accessory
pouch for storing smaller items such as note cards, paper clips and the like.
Fig. 6 shows another preferred embodiment of a portable, wide-mouth, large
capacity expandable file folder 60 in a closed position. The file folder 60
preferably has a
support structure configured to support the expandable file section or portion
70. The support
structure includes panels such as the first wall 62 and second wall 68. An
expandable file
portion 70 is preferably defined between the first wall 62 and the second wall
68, and includes
expansion-limiting sidewalls 71 and divider panels 94. The first and second
walls 62, 68 are
preferably substantially more rigid than the sidewalls 71 and divider panels
94 contained
therebetween. Preferably, the file folder 60 has similar dimensions as those
previously
disclosed for the embodiment of the file folder 10.
Preferably, the first wall 62 is pivotally associated with second wall 68 and
substantially encloses pockets of a file pocket structure or file portion 100,
shown in Fig 7.
More preferably, the first and second walls 62,68 are in hinged association.
Walls 62,68 can
pivot between an open file position 59, shown in phantom in Fig. 7, and a
closed file position,
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shown in Fig. 6. The spine 72 is preferably substantially rigid and pivotally
connects first
wall and second wa1162,68. The first wa1162, second wall 68, and spine 72 are
preferably
connected by hinges, such as living hinges 111.
The first and second walls 62,68 define an angle 112 therebetween, and the
file
folder can preferably fan open to the open position such that the angle 112
between the walls
is greater than 90 . First wall 62 and second wall 68 can also be attached to
expansion-
limiting sidewalls 90,92 that are configured for limiting the pivoting of the
first and second
walls to the open position.
Fig. 7 illustrates the file folder 60 of Fig. 6 in a partially open position.
In the
open position 59, the opposing, generally semi-circular, expandable sidewalls
90,92 are
deployed in an arcuate shape to provide access to majority of the file pockets
101-108, with
the pockets facing radially away from the pivoting axis 58 and open to access
the contents
thereof.
The sidewalls of the file folder include first and second expandable sidewalls
90,92 that preferably include accordion pleats in a bellows arrangement for
collapsing and
expanding. The sidewalls 90,92 also preferably include integral dividers
panels 94, which
partition the pockets 101-108 of the file pocket structure 100. Outer pockets
are also defined
between the outer-most dividers and the first and second walls 62,68,
respectively. In the
closed position, the pockets 101-108 collapse upon each other, and in the open
position, the
pockets 101-108 expand with the divider panels pivoting away from each other.
The
expandable sidewalls 90,92 may be made of durable elastic material, and are
preferably
configured to expand and collapse when the first and second walls 62,68 pivot
between the
open and closed positions.
The wedge-shaped pockets 101, shown in Fig. 7, preferably defined by the
expandable sidewalls on either axial side and by sequential divider panels,
can include
accordion pleated expandable and collapsible bottom wa1199. The bottom wa1199
may be
attached to the divider panels 94 or at least one of the expandable sidewalls
90,92. The
bottom wa1199 preferably includes opposing end portions 114 and an
intermediate portion 116
therebetween. As shown in Fig. 7, the end portions are preferably connected to
or near the
support structure, leaving the intermediate portion 116 substantially free
from the opposing
spine 72 such that the intermediate portion 116 can move with respect to the
spine 72, for
example away from and towards the spine 72, when the file folder 60 is pivoted
from the open
to closed positions.
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Preferably, file folder 60 also includes at least one stiffener 76 in
stiffening
association with the expansion-limiting member 71 to provide for additional
support and
inhibit or prevent collapse of the expansion file portion 70 in the open
position, as shown in
Fig. 7, or closed position, as shown in Fig.6. The stiffener 76 preferably
prevents radial and
axial collapse of the expansion file portion. In the closed position, the
stiffener 76 is
preferably generally aligned with the divider panels. As shown in Fig. 7, the
stiffener 76 also
defines a rigid pocket 118 defined between two sequential divider panels 94
that is relatively
more rigid that the other pockets 101-108 due to the stiffener 76 comprising
the axial
sidewalls of the rigid pocket 118. Advantageously, the increased rigidity of
the rigid pocket
118 provides added protection and security for containing relatively fragile
or important items
therein.
In one embodiment, the stiffener has a box-like configuration and includes two
spaced circumferentially-facing walls substantially aligned with the divider
panels, and an
axially-facing wall substantially aligned with the expansion-limiting
sidewalls and connecting
the circumferentially-facing walls. Preferably, the axially-facing wall has a
width that spans
at least half the angular width of a pocket wall defined between two
sequential dividers 110.
Additionally, the circumferentially-facing walls of the stiffener preferably
have a greater
stiffness than that of the divider panels 94 and sidewalls 71.
The wedge-shaped pockets 101-108 are preferably configured such that the file
folder has a large capacity for holding contents therein. Preferably, the
capacity is at least
large enough to contain papers of standard sizes, such as letter, legal, A3,
and A4. Pockets
101-108 can also be larger and configured to accommodate the needs of artists,
cartographers
and drafts people. Other embodiments that include pockets to accommodate
personal checks,
business cards, currency, and receipts are possible. The number of pockets is
configurable
according to the desired application of the file folder. Additionally,
indexing extensions 98
may be associated with each pocket such that the extensions are viewable in
open file
position, shown in Fig. 7.
Referring again to Fig. 6, the top closure member of file folder 60 is
preferably
formed from a first cover panel 66 pivotally associated with the first wall 62
and a second
cover panel 64 pivotally associated with the second wa1168. Preferably, the
first cover panel
66 includes a handle 80 that extends through an opening 84 in the second cover
pane164 to
secure the file folder in the closed position. Additionally, the second cover
panel 64 may
include a first portion of a closure member, such as a button or other fixed
member 88, where
as the first cover panel 66 or first wal162 may include the second portion 86
of such closure
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member, such as a flexible loop. As shown in Fig. 6, the button 88 is
preferably fixed to the
surface of the second cover panel 64 and a portion of the flexible loop 86 is
fixed to the first
wall 62 such that the loop 86 may be extended over the second cover panel 64
and attached
around the button 88 to securely fasten the second cover panel 64 over the
first cover panel 66
and to the first wa1162. Other fastening mechanisms may also be used to secure
the cover
panels as is known in the art. A closure flap configuration may be arranged to
ensure that the
file will be maintained as flat as possible when in the closed position. In
other embodiments,
the file folder may include a single cover panel with a closure member for
covering and
securing the expandable file portion in the closed position.
In the file folder embodiments illustrated in the figures, the first wall and
the
second wall are generally rectangularly-shaped and equal in size; however, it
should be noted
that the first and second walls of the file folder may be of any suitable
configuration and
relative size. Similarly, the divider panels are generally rectangularly-
shaped and have
dimensions slightly smaller than those of the first and second walls, but the
dividers may also
be of any suitable configuration and relative size. It is contemplated that
the file folder may
be dimensioned to accept documents or sheets of paper, but it could also be of
larger or
smaller dimensions to accept other items. In addition, a portion or all of the
first and second
walls may be made of a transparent or translucent material to enable a user to
generally
discern the contents of the file folder before opening it, or to house a
colored insert or other
signage therein.
The various components of the file folder may primarily be made of a
cardboard material. It is contemplated, however, that certain components would
be made of
more durable or rigid materials. For example, the file support structure
and/or divider panels
may be made of materials such as light-weight plastic, urethane foam sheet
stock material,
durable and semi-rigid plastic material, a polymer sheet stock material, a
rubber material, an
elastomer material, a durable composite material and/or combinations of such
materials. The
expandable sidewalls maybe made of a light-weight and durable mesh or cloth
material, and
the guides of the expandable file mechanisms may be made of sheet steel, or
other metal, or
rigid composite material. The tethers may be made of a non-stretch, fabric-
wrapped cord
material, or of a high-strength monofilament line, or of a wire material, as
appropriate.
Various or all components of such a file folder may be injection molded from
plastic using
known techniques. In general, the materials used to form the wide-mouth file
folder will be
chosen to provide a light-weight but durable folder, and may depend on the
size and weight of
the article(s) to be placed within the folder.
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The term "about," as used herein, should generally be understood to refer to
both the corresponding number and a range of numbers. Moreover, all numerical
ranges
herein should be understood to include each whole integer within the range.
One of skill in the art would understood that, although ten pockets (including
the outer
pockets defined between the outer-most dividers and the first and second
walls) are shown in
the configuration of Figs. 2, 3, and 7, more or less pockets could be formed
depending on such
considerations as the overall size of the folder 10, 60 and its intended use.
For example, the
file folder includes at least two pockets and at most twenty pockets,
depending on the size of
the contents that the file folder is designed to contain. In addition, the
file folder 10,60 and the
divider panels may be formed of any desired shape, and the maximum expansion
of the
pockets can be adjusted by varying the dimensions of the pie-shaped portions.
Consequently,
although a particular embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the invention,
it will be
understood by those of skill in the art that various changes and modifications
could be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
claims.
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