US3037510A - File folder indicia device - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1962 L. SAYMON FILE FOLDER INDICIA DEVICE Filed Dec: 8, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR. 1504 sly/ 10w BY Wk ATTOf/VEX June 5, 1962 L. SAYMON FILE FOLDER INDICIA DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 8, 1959 INVENTOR. L 0/v s4 mom United States Patent 3,037,510 FILE FOLDER INDICIA DEVICE Leon Saymon, 8554 Tolbut St., Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Hanita F. Saymon, Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Dec. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 858,201 7 Claims. (Cl. 129-16.7)

This invention relates to filing systems in general, and in particular relates to an indicator tab device and the file folder or card with which the indicator is used.

In the past, many types of file folders together with movable indicating devices have been known. While each of the known devices may be suitable for a particular purpose, no presently available indicator device is capable of providing the combined attributes of ease of engagement and disengagement, rapid shiftability of the indicator from one position to another while mounted on the file folder, positive lock of the indicator device to the file folder to prevent inadvertent disengagement or dislocation, side by side location of a plurality of indicator devices on a common file folder, and all of the foregoing functions being used in conjunction with a file folder having a glued in suspension bar.

For example, all of the known devices which are positively locked in position on the file folder are either mechanically very complicated having a number of parts for accomplishing the locking function, or cooperate with the suspension bar of the file folder in such a manner that the suspension bar must be removable from the folder in order to engage or disengage the indicator device. Thus, rapidity of indicator device position adjustment is absolutely precluded and use of the known types of filing systems is rendered impractical as for example in an inventory control system or stage by stage charting of production flow because of the inordinate length of time required to manipulate the indicator devices. Moreover, some applications require that a plurality of indicator devices be mounted upon the same file folder simultaneously,

and in most cases it is not possible to utilize the full width of the file folder because of the relative constructions of the file folder and indicator device used in conjunction therewith. Accordingly, it is a primary object of my invention to provide a novel file system indicator device which may be rapidly attached to and detached from a file folder without necessitating the removal of the folder from the file.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel filing system indicator device which may be quickly shifted in position along the edge of the file folder and locked thereto at a desired location without removing the file folder suspension bar from the folder.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel filing system indicator device which may be positively locked to a file folder having a glued in suspension bar, and which may be quickly released and shiftedto a different position along the edge of the file thereto in its now position.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel filing system indicator device having the foregoing desirable features which may be produced relatively easily and inexpensively by mass production methods.

The foregoing and other objects of my invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the following specification when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of the filing system indicator device according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the indicator device illustrated in perspective in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the indicator device illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the folder and locked indicator device in the central region thereof as indicated by the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken adjacent one end of the indicator device as shown by the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the indicator device illustrated in FIGURE 3 as viewed along the lines 6-6 therein;

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view of the indicator device and file folder with which it is used;

- FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the indicator device partially assembled to the file folder seen in FIGURE 7;

FlGURE 9 is a fragmentary front perspective view of the partially assembled indicator device and file folder seen in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view through the partially assembled indicator device and file folder as seen when viewed along the lines 10-10 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary front perspective view similar to FIGURE 9 except that the indicator device is illustrated as completely engaged with and locked to its associated file folder;

FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view through the assembled indicator device and file folder as seen when viewed along the lines 12-12 of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 12 excepting that the indicator device is illustrated in the process of being unlocked from the file folder preparatory to removal therefrom or lateral shifting relative thereto;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper part of a file folder showing two of the indicator devices positively locked in place thereon with other indicator devices shown inphantom to illustrate the manner of utilizing the entire width of the file folder when so desired without the necessity of leaving a space between adjacent ones of the indicating devices.

In the several figures, like elements are denoted by like reference characters.

Considering first FIGURES 1 through 6 which illustrate the structural aspects of the indicator device alone, it will be observed that the indicator device 20 consists basically of an indicator upper portion 21 of flattened tubular form connected at its lower narrow edge to a clip lower portion 22 also of flattened tubular form by means of an intermediate bridging wall 23. The upper portion 21 and lower portion 22 of the indicator device 20 are oriented relative to one another so that the flattened tubular faces of each portion are inclined at an angle to the flattened tubular faces of the other portion. This angular offset, as will be subsequently seen, provides improved visibility for legend markings associated with the indicator upper portion 21.

The indicator upper portion 21 comprises a front wall 24- and rear wall 25 curved at their upper and lower edges so that they merge with one another and define the indicator channel 26 extending longitudinally therebetween. The clip lower portion 22 is somewhat similarly formed having a front wall 27 and rear wall'28 which define therebetween a clip channel 29. The front and rear clip walls 27 and 28 turn inwardly at the top and merge with one another and with the lower edge of the indicator upper portion 21 in the region of the common bridging wall 23. Extending forwardly and upwardly from the bottom edge of the clip portion rear wall 28 at each end thereof are a pair of clip hooks 32 whose upwardly turned front portions lie in a common plane with the clip front.

wall 27, being separated therefrom however by the lengthwise extending clip front wall slot 30. Each of the clip hooks 32 extends longitudinally inwardly along the bottom edge of the indicator device '20 for a predetermined distance from an end of the indicator, the inner ends 33 of the clip hooks 32 stopping short of one another and defining therebetween a bottom central recess 31.

The indicator channel 26 is adapted to accept a legended card having material written or printed thereon, and which when disposed within the channel 26 is visible through the indicator front Wall 24 which, of course, must be transparent. The clip portion channel 29 is adapted to receive the folded back upper edge portion of an associated file folder and the suspension bar which is normally disposed within the fold. This latter aspect of the invention will be described in more detail in connection with the description of FIGURES 7 through 13.

The indicator device 20 may be formed from a transparent extruded plastic which initially comprises two flattened tubular portions both of which are of the form of the indicator upper portion 21 and which are joined in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2, 4 and 5. The lower flattened tubular portion may then be machined or cut to form the clip portion 22 by slitting out the front wall 27 in the manner shown at 30 and then recessing the bottom central region as at 31 to form the hook portions 32. The forming process can, of course, be carried out by automatic machinery, or in the alternative, the indicator device 20 may be molded unitarily in the form illustrated.

It is also, of course, not necessary that the indicator device he formed of a plastic composition, but might be formed of metal which is characterized by a certain resiliency for reasons to be subsequently made clear. In such a case, the indicator portion front wall 24 would be apertured out to provide a window so that the legend on a card disposed within the indicator channel 26 would be visible. Other suitable materials from which the indicator device may be fabricated, and combinations thereof, can, of course, be devised while retaining the form of the indicator device 20 as illustrated which will perform equally well by virtue of the particular structural aspects of the invention.

Understanding now the structure of the indicator device 20 as viewed in FIGURES 1 through 6, attention should at this point be directed to the showings of FIGURES 7 through 14 which illustrate the form of the file folder used in conjunction with the novel indicator device, and the manner in which the file folder and indicator cooperate with one another in carrying into effect the functions and advantages previously set forth. Considering first FIG- UR-E 7, there will be seen therein a file folder 40 having main wall panels 41--41 folded as at 47 to form a V- shaped pocket. The top edge of each main wall panel 41 is folded inwardly and downwardly as illustrated by the flaps 42, which latter are glued or otherwise secured to the inside surface of each of the main wall panels 41, care being taken to leave an unglued channel at the top edge of each main wall panel through which suspension bars such as 45 may be inserted. Each of the suspension bars 45 is notched at its ends as at 46 in the conventional manner so that the suspension bar notches 46 may be disposed upon the file suspension rails (not illustrated) which support the file folders 40. Alternatively to forming the file folders 40 as previously described, the suspension bars 45 may be laid in position across the width of the main wall panels 41 prior to gluing down the flaps 42. When now the flaps 42 are turned down and glued, the suspension bars 45 may at the same time be glued permanently in position as illustrated.

With either construction of file folder just described, the main wall panel 41 and flap 42 are then slotted through as at 43 and 44 to provide a plurality of spaced apart slots extending lengthwise across the width of the file folder immediately below the upper edge portion occupied by the suspension bar 45. It will be observed that the two end slots 43 are each half the length of the interior slots 44, this construction being most readily apparent in the illustrations of FIGURES 8, 9 and 11. Each of the end slots 43 is of sufficient length to just accom modate one of the clip hooks 32 of the indicator device 20, whereas each of the interior slots 44 is therefore of sufficient length to accommodate two of the clip hooks 32 when the clips of a pair of indicator devices 20 are placed endwise adjacent one another as is best seen in the showing of FIGURE 14. It follows as a matter of course that the spacing between any two adjacent slots in the file folder 40 corresponds to the length of the central recess 31 at the bottom of the clip portion 22 of the indicator device 20. From the showings of FIGURES 11 and 14 it is seen that with the indicator device 20 mounted to the file folder 40 in the manner shown, the indicator device 20 is precluded from lateral shifting relative to the file folder 40 by virtue of the fact that the inner ends 33 of the clip hooks 32 are in abutment with adjacent ends of a pair of the slots 43 and 44 of the file folder. The file folder end slots 43 are, of course, half the length of the interior slots 44 because these end slots 43 are never required to accommodate more than a single clip hook 32. On the other hand, the interior slots 44 may be required to accommodate two clip hooks 32 in those instances where it is desired to secure more than one indicator device 20 to the file folder in side by side relation as previously seen in the showing of FIGURE 14. While the clip hooks 32 of the indicator device 20 have been illustrated as being substantially equal in length, it is possible that some applications will best be served by making these clip hooks 32 of unequal lengths. In such a case, the end slots 43 would, of course, be punched to the proper size to accommodate the different length hooks and the interior slots 44 would be punched so that their length would be equal to the combined lengths of the hooks of the indicator device.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 which illustrate the manner in which the indicator device- 20 is attached to the file folder 40, and recalling from FIGURE 1 that the hooks 32 are disposed at a lower ele/ vation than the clip front wall 27, the indicator device 20 is attached to the file folder 40 in the following manner. Firstly, the front edges of the hooks 32 are placed behind; the upper edge of the file folder 40 and the upper portion 21 of the indicator device 20 is pressed forward to open the clip channel 29 by moving the hook front wall 27 forward out of its common plane with the front edge of the hooks 32. With the front wall 27 sprung forward the slot 30 is opened out and the entire indicator device 20 may he slipped downwardly so that the upper edge of' the file folder together with its enclosed suspension bar is. effectively moved upwardly into the clip channel 29 with the clip front wall 27 and the hooks 32 disposed on opposite sides thereof as best seen in the showing of FIG- URE 10.

As the indicator device 20 is slipped downwardly, theupper edge of the hooks 32 eventually encounters the slotted openings 43 and 44, and due to the resilient nature of the material from which the indicator device 20 is fabricated the hooks 32 snap forward through the slots and lock the indicator device 20 to the file folder 40 as seen in the showings of FIGURES 11 and 12. It should be observed that the upper edge of the hooks 32 as illustrated in FIGURES 11 and 12 lies above the top of the slot through which the hook is disposed so that there exists no tendency for the hook 32 to be displaced backwardly out through the slot, and hence constitutes a front to rear anti-rotational locking feature. The hooks 32 ride up in the manner illustrated by virtue of the fact that the clip channel 29 in the topmost region is of a reduced crosssectional area, and while the indicator device may be forced downwardly so that the top edge of the file folder is compressed as it moves up into this reduced cross-sectional area, there exists a positive tendency for the indicator device to ride upward when released to relieve the compression exerted at the top edge of the file folder. The indicator device 20 may therefore be considered to be effectively cammed upwardly relative to the top of the file folder 40 when the indicator device 20 is released. in order to achieve the maximum possible lock effect, the distance between the upper edge of each hook 32 and the bottom edge of the indicator device 20 should be made substantially equal to but not greater than the vertical dimension of the slots 43 and 44.

FIGURE 13 illustrates the manner of releasing the indicator device 20 from its locked engagement through the file folder slots 43 and 44. The release is accomplished by grasping the upper portion 21 of the indicator device 20, pushing downward on the indicator to force the upper edge of the file folder upward into engagement with the top of the clip channel 29, and then rotating the upper portion 21 forward, as indicated by the arrow, which causes the clip hooks 32 to be displaced rearwardly out through the slots in the file folder. The indicator device 20 may then be readily slipped upwardly and off of the file folder, or if desired while still in the position illustrated in FIG- URE 13 may be laterally shifted along the file folder upper edge to a different position, and when the rotational force is released while still maintaining the downward pressure on the indicator device 20 the hooks 32 will move forward through the file folder slots present at the relocated position. Release of the indicator device will then cause the hooks 32 to move upwardly into their previously described locked condition.

The front wall 27 of the clip portion 22 may have its ends rounded ofi at the lower edge thereof so that the ends of the front wall 27 exhibit no tendency to dig into the file folder as the indicator device 20 is being shifted laterally across the upper edge thereof, as when changing its position. Additionally, the width of the slot 30 may be somewhat greater or smaller than that illustrated provided that it is not made so large that the clip front wall 27 is shortened to such an extent as to impair the clamping action which it exerts upon the file folder top edge in conjunction with the clip rear wall 28. Finally, in those instances where the indicator device 20 is desired to be used with a file folder 40 which does not have a glued in rod 45 but which instead has formed at the file folder upper edges an open-ended channel through which the suspension bars 45 may be projected and removed, the slots 43 and 44 need only be made through one thickness of the file folder, as for example through the main wall panel 41 but not through the flap 42. With this arrangement the indicator device 20 would operate in exactly the fashion already described with the sole exception that the hooks 32 would project only through the slots formed in the main wall panel 41 and would snap up between the inside surface of the flap 42 and the proximate surface of the suspension bar 45.

Having now described my invention in connection with a particularly illustrated embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications from time to time will occur to those persons normally skilled in the art without departing from the essential scope or spirit of the invention, and accordingly it is desired to claim the same broadly as well as specifically as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A filing system including a suspension bar type file folder and an indicator device removably attached to the upper marginal edge portion of the file folder, said file folder upper marginal edge portion including a channel extending across the width of the folder and a suspension bar disposed within said channel in operative position therewithin, said folder including a plurality of spaced apart slots disposed across the width of the folder with the top edges of the slots located substantially at the lower edge of the suspension bar and with the slots extending downward therefrom below the level of the suspension bar, said indicator device comprising a clip portion of generally flattened tubular form surmounted by an indicator portion, said clip portion having front and rear walls curving inwardly at their top edges into a continuation of one another and defining between said walls aclip channel, said clip portion rear wall extending downwardly lower than the bottom edge of said clip front wall and turning forward and upward into a hook element disposed in substantially coplanar relation with said front wall, the upper edge of said hook element being positioned below and spaced apart from the bottom edge of said front wall so that said hook element upper edge and front wall bottom edge define therebetween a clip slot, said clip portion front and rear walls being resiliently springable apart to open said clip channel so that the upper marginal edge of said file folder may pass thereinto through said clip slot, the distance between the top of said clip channel and the upper edge of said hook element being at least equal to the distance between the topmost edge of the file folder upper marginal edge portion and the bottom of said suspension bar, whereby when said folder upper marginal edge portion is fully disposed within said clip channel said clip hook may snap forward through one of said folder slots.

2. The filing system according to claim 1 wherein the width of the clip channel between the said clip portion front and rear walls is substantially equal to the thickness of the file folder upper marginal portion.

3. The filing system according to claim 1 wherein the top region of the clip channel formed by the inwardly curving top edges of said clip portion front and rear walls is of narrower front to back width than the file folder upper marginal edge channel with the suspension bar disposed therein, whereby said file folder upper marginal edge must be forced upward into said region of narrower width to permit said clip hook to snap forward through the said file folder slot whereupon said indicator device when released is cammed upward to move the narrow width region out of engagement with the file folder upper edge and said clip hook thereby rides up out of lateral registry with said file folder slot and hookingly engages around the file folder marginal P rtion just above the folder slot.

4. The filing system according to claim 1 wherein said clip portion rear wall turns forward and upward at two regions spaced apart lengthwise along the indicator device to form two of said hook elements, said two hook elements being spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between adjacent slots in said file folder.

5. The filing system according to claim 4 wherein the file folder end slots which are those closest to the folder side edges are of shorter length measured widthwise of the folder than are the interior file folder slots which are disposed therebetween, and wherein one of said two hook elements is substantially the same in length as a file folder end slot, the length of the other of said two hook elements being equal to the difference in lengths between an interior file folder slot and an end slot.

6. The filing system according to claim 5 wherein said file folder interior slots are each equal to twice the length of an end slot, and said two hook elements are equal in length.

7. A filing system including a suspension bar type file folder and an indicator device removably attached to the upper marginal edge portion of the fi-le folder, said file folder upper marginal edge portion including a channel extending across the width of the folder and a suspension bar having an unbroken rectilinearly extending bottom edge disposed within said channel in operative position therewithin, said folder including a plurality of spaced apart slots disposed across the width of the folder with the top edges of the slots located substantially at the lower edge of the suspension bar and with the slots extending downward therefrom below the level of the suspension bar, said indicator device comprising a clip portion of generally flattened tubular form surmounted by an indicator portion, said clip portion having front and rear walls curving inwardly at their top edges into a continuation of one another and defining between said walls a clip channel, said clip portion rear Wall extending downwardly lower than the bottom edge of said clip front wall and turning forward and upward into a hook element disposed in substantially coplanar relation with said front wall, the upper edge of said hook element being positioned below and spaced apart from the bottom edge of said front Wall so that said hook element upper edge and said clip channel and the upper edge of said hook element being at least equal to the distance between the topmost edge of the file folder upper marginal edge portion and the bottom of said suspension bar, whereby when said folder upper marginal edge portion is fully disposed within said clip channel said clip book may snap forward through one of said folder slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,289,577 Jonas July 14, 1942 2,771,076 Peter Nov. 20, 1956

Images