Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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INDEX TABS FOR HANGING FILE FOLDERS
SPECIFICATION
This invention relates to an index tab for hanging file
folder systems and the like, and to devices for storing,
preparing and dispensing index tabs.
One type of widely-used index tab and hanging file
folder system disclosed, for example, in U. S. Patent No.
4,053,051, has a file folder with a slotted edge to accept
slot-in index tabs. The index tabs are typically
constructed of flexible clear plastic, comprising a folded
structure. The structure includes a parallel message holder
portion, in which a paper messag-carrying insert may be
placed, and a base portion, which has two lug portions for
mounting the tab on the slotted file-folder.
The advantages of this type of user-indexed file folder
are well known, but the process by which the user creates an
index tab is cumbersome. The user must essentially complete
a four-step process; particularly, first preparing the paper
inserts with a message, next cutting or tearing the paper
inserts from each other, then folding the inserts, and
finally, inserting the inserts into a plastic index tab.
The preparation of the paper message inserts of the
prior art is particularly difficult because the small size
of the inserts - even when they are in a continuous
perforated strip - makes them susceptible to misalignment
and jamming in standard typewriters. Similarly, the
preparation of handwritten messages on these inserts is
awkward because of their small size.
Moreover, in ordinary use, these paper message insert
tabs have a tendency to become dislodged and lost, resulting
in further inconvenience to the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention
to provide an improved index tab of the type used for
hanging file folders. It is desired to simplify and
expedite the processes of inscribing information on the tabs
and forming the inscribed tabs into a configuration to be
appended to the hanging file folder.
Another object is to reduce the likelihood that a tab
will be inadvertently removed from a hanging file folder.
In achieving the above and additional objects, the
invention provides a one-piece tab for hanging file folders
which is severed or removed from tab stock or a tab carrier
member after inscribing with a message. Preferably, the tab
comprises opposing, bilaterally symmetric portions generally
similar in shape to the plastic tab holders of the prior
art.
In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of paper or
plastic tabs backed by pressure sensitive adhesive are
carried on a release sheet, advantegously in a continuous
array. The adhesive may be of a single-use type, for use
with file folders and permanent indexing of notebooks and
the like, or, alternatively, the adhesive may be of the
repositionable type, for use in temporary placemarking
applications. The tab outer edges are perforated or scored
for separation from the remainder of the stock at the time
of use, and the bilaterally symmetric tab may be scored or
creased along a medial line (line of symmetry) , for easy
folding at the time of use.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a
plurality of tabs are joined together in a continuous tab
stock, with no carrier sheet. The tabs may be
interconnected by lands with no surrounding material, or
alternatively may be defined within a surrounding skeleton
by perforations or score lines. In this embodiment, no
backing adhesive is required.
The index tab stock may be inserted in a typewriter for
precise alignment during message placement. Alternatively,
CA 020110~2 1998-07-21
a carrier sheet or tab stock skeleton may be perforated
along its edges for continuous tractor-feeding on a printing
device, providing for the automated preparation of index
tahs.
In a broad aspect, then, the present invention relates
to an index tab for hanging file folders comprising a
flexible sheet material at least one face of which is
imprintable, said sheet material comprising two bilaterally
symmetric portions separated by a medial fold line; each
portion including an imprintable message section proximate
the medial fold line and a base section, said base section
being configured to engage slots in the hanging file folder
after folding the tab along its medial fold line.
In another broad aspect, the present invention relates
to an index tab stock for use with hanging file folders
comprising: a release sheet; and at least one tab comprising
a flexible sheet material in two portions separated by a
fold line, each portion including a message section
proximate the fold line, said message section being
imprintable on its exposed face, and a base section
configured to engage the hanging file folder after removing
the tab and folding along the fold line; said tab being
removably adhered to said release sheet by pressure
sensitive adhesive.
CA 020110~2 1998-07-21
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~ e a~lvrllltages of the index tab of the present
invel1tic)n include reduced preparation time multiplicity of
al-plication adaptability to automated user message
placement and reliable performance during use.
Other advantages of the present invention will be
alparellt in the drawings which follow and in the
~l~scription and claims contained herewith wtlich by way of
i]lustration show a preferred embodiment of the present
invention and the principles thereof. Other embodiments of
tl~e invention employing equivalent principles may be made by
tllose skilled in the art without departing from the present
invention and purview of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TIIE DRAWINGS
l~le above and additional aspects of the invention are
i]lustrated with reference to the detailed description which
follows takén in conjunction with the drawings in wl~ich:
FIGURE l is a plan view of an index tab for use with a
file folder or the like in accordance with the preferred
embodiment;
FIGURE 2 is a plain view of a carrier slleet for two of
tlle index tabs of FIGURE l:
FIGURE 3 is a partial perspective view of a prior art
file folder suspension bar with vertical mountil1g slots for
tl1e index tab of FIGURE l;
FIGURE ~ is a perspective view of a prior art index
t-ab with a paper message insert partially removed;
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the index tab of
FTGU~E l after being prepared for use;
FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a perforated tab stock in
3~ accordance Witl1 an alternative embodiment of the invel1tion;
alld
F']GURE 7 is a plan view of a perforated tab stock in
accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference should now be had to Figures 1 and 2 which
illustrate an improved tab for hanging file folders, and tab
stock, in accordance with a first embodiment of the
invention. As seen in the plain view of Figure 1, index tab
10 includes opposing, bilaterally symmetric portions 12 and
16 separated by a center fold line 20. Portion 12 is
comprised of a message section 13 and base portion 14, while
portion 16 includes message section 17 and base portion 18.
(The respective base and message portions are shown
separated by fold lines 21 but this is optional).
Advantageously, each portion of tab 10 is generally similar
in shape to the plastic tab holders for hanging file folders
of the prior art, and the base portions include lugs 25-28
for engagement by file folder slots as discussed below.
In a first embodiment of the invention, illustrated in
Figure 2, two tabs 10 are mounted on a release sheet 30 to
create a tab stock 40. Tabs 10a and 10b are formed in a
cover sheet 35 the back of which is coated with pressure
sensitive adhesive and adhered to release sheet 30, as seen
at 33 at the longer left corner where a portion of tab 10b
is removed. Tabs 10a and 10b are die cut within a
surrounding portion 38 or skeleton of the cover sheet 35
along border line 37, while a series of score lines 32
facilitate folding of the tabs after removal.
Advantageously, tabs 10 are formed of a plastic film or of
paper or other appropriate sheet material. Desirably a
double layer of such material provides a durable tab, yet
the tab may be easily peeled off the backing sheet.
The pressure sensitive adhesive 33 may be of a single-
use type, for permanent forming as a file folder tab or for
one-time attachment of the tab to a page or divider, or the
adhesive may be of a multiple-use type, for repositioning
the tabs when used in semi-permanent index or placemarking
applications.
The creation of file folder index tabs by the user will
now be described for both the prior art and the present
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invention. Figure 3 shows a file folder 60, with vertical
slots 62 which are equally spaced along the outer edge 64 of
the file folder suspension bar 66. Refering to the prior
art index tab as depicted in Figure 4, the tab consists of a
plastic index tab holder 80 which includes lugs 81a and 81b
for insertion into file folder vertical slots 62, and
transparent opposing walls 83a and 83b, accessible via
openings 85a and 85b. A paper message insert 70 is inserted
into the plastic index tab holder through either of the
openings 85a or 85b.
Preparation of the prior art index tab requires the
user to first place a message on the paper message insert
70. Due to the relatively small size of the paper message
insert used with the prior art, it is difficult to type
messages on the insert. Likewise, handwritten messages are
awkward because of the small size of the insert. Although
inserts are available in perforated strip stock, the narrow
width nevertheless presents difficulties in both typing or
writing messages. After a message is placed on the insert,
the insert must be separated from the stock, folded and then
pushed into one of the ends of the plastic tab holder. Such
tab inserts 70 are occasionally lost due to inadvertent
removal from the plastic tab holder 80.
Preparation of the present index tab for use with file
folders involves placement of a message on one or both
message sections 13 and 17 of a given tab 10 in the tab
stock 40, peeling away of the tab from the release paper 30,
and folding of the tab along the medial line 20 to cause
the tab portions 12 and 16, to adhere to each other. This
results in an inscribed tab (Figure 5) which may be similar
in shape to the tab holder 80 of Figure 4. The tab 10 may
be preprinted with a colored zone 26 for color coding
purposes. The message portions 17 of the resulting tab may
be folded relative to the base portion 18 along fold line 21
to create a desired orientation of such message portion in a
file folder.
The placement of a message on the index tab of the
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present invention is relatively easy because the message
portion is an integral part of the tab, which is attached to
the release paper. Accordingly, the tab stock may be placed
in a typewriter, or may be easily held for handwritten
messages. Perforations may be placed on the release paper
for use with tractor feed devices, when required.
With both the prior art tab and the present invention,
the prepared index tab is then sprung into vertical slots 62
of the file folder 60. The tab lugs are held flat against
the suspension bar by the material of the file folder which
is wrapped around the suspension bar.
Figure 6 illustrates an alternative form of tab stock
90, which comprises a strip of stiff paper which is
perforated to define two tabs 92, 94 within a skeleton 95.
These tabs may be removed after inscribing a desired message
by separation along their perforated borders 96. In a
variation of the embodiment the tab stock 90 may be scored
at 97 to facilitate folding as described above. In the
embodiment of Figure 6, it is optional to provide a backing
adhesive.
In a further variation, shown in Figure 7, tab stock
100 includes four tabs 101-104 defined by perforated borders
105, wherein each tab corresponds to one of the two tab
portions 12, 16 of the tab 10 of Figure 1. In this
embodiment, to inscribe messages on both sides of a tab it
is necessary to turn over the tab stock 100. It is
desirable to provide a sturdy tab stock material because the
final tab comprises a single rather than a double layer.
It can be seen that the present invention provides a
considerably more straightforward means for creating and
using index tabs. Moreover, the same tabs may be also used
with pages or dividers by folding the tab portions over each
side of the page or divider. A further advantage of the
present invention over the prior art is the stability of the
message on the tab: there is no chance of the message
becoming disloged, as with the paper inserts used in the
prior art plastic holder/paper insert combinations.
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While various aspects of the invention have been set
forth by the drawings and the specification, it is to be
understood that the foregoing description is for
illustration only and that various changes in parts, as well
as the substitution of equivalent constituents for those
shown and described, may be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the
appended claims.
