WO1999036273A1

WO1999036273A1 - Easily manufactured expandable folder

Info

Publication number: WO1999036273A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/012370
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel L. Vanlanen; David C. Kramlich
Original assignee: Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
Priority date: 1998-01-16
Filing date: 1998-06-12
Publication date: 1999-07-22
Also published as: AU7839298A

Abstract

The folder according to the present invention comprises (1) a back portion adapted to engage one major surface of a stack of sheets; (2) a side retaining portion adapted to engage the opposite major surface of the stack ; (3) a base portion adapted to engage anedge surface of the stack, which base portion has a first edge attached to the back portion a second edge attached to the side retaining portion, and has a width between those edges about equal to the maximum thickness of a stack of sheets to be received in the folder; (4) a first anchor portion attached to the back portion along one end of the side retaining portion; and (5) two edge retaining portions, each having an edge attached to the anchor portion along an edge parallel to and spaced a different distance from the edge on the back portion at which the side retaining portion is attached, and having second edges attached to the side retaining portion along an edge parallel to and spaced a different distance from the edge by which the side retaining portion is attached to the base portion.

Description

EASILY MANUFACTURED EXPANDABLE FOLDER

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to folders made from a single sheet of material (e.g., corrugated, paperboard, or polymeric material) that are adapted to receive and hold a stack of sheets, which folders each typically include a back portion adapted to engage one major surface of the stack of sheets, a smaller side retaining portion adapted to engage the opposite major surface of the stack of sheets, which side retaining portion is attached along a bottom edge of the back portion, and a cover portion attached along one side edge of the back portion that is adapted to overlay the back and side retaining portions to protect the sheets when the folder is closed, and is adapted to be spaced from the back and side retaining portions to open the folder and afford access to sheets in the folder.

Background of the Invention

The art is replete with folders made from a single sheet of material (e.g., tagboard or polymeric material) that are adapted to receive and hold a stack of sheets. Typically, such folders include a back portion adapted to engage one major surface of the stack of sheets, a smaller side retaining portion adapted to engage the opposite major surface of the stack of sheets, which side retaining portion is attached along a bottom edge and one side edge of the back portion, and a cover portion attached along one side edge of the back portion that is adapted to overlay the back and side retaining portions to close the folder and protect the sheets, and is adapted to be spaced from the back and side retaining portions to open the folder and afford access to sheets in the folder. Such folders can receive and protect a small number of sheets, however, a thicker stack of sheets (e.g., about 3/8 inch thick) is not as easily received. Edges of the side retaining portion are attached to edges of the back portion so that the side retaining portion and back portion must deform to move away from each other to receive such a thick stack of sheets when it is placed in the pocket therebetween. Folders generally of this type can be made which include a short peripheral wall around at least two sides of the side retaining portion to space it from the back portion so that such a thicker stack of sheets can be received in a pocket between the side retaining and back portions, however, such peripheral walls permanently space the side retaining portion from the back portion, which is not desirable when the folder is empty or contains only a few sheets.

Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention provides a folder that can be made by cutting, creasing and attaching together portions of a single sheet of material (e.g., corrugated, paperboard, or polymeric material) that is adapted to receive and hold a stack of sheets, which folder includes a back portion adapted to engage one major surface of the stack of sheets, and a smaller side retaining portion adapted to engage the opposite major surface of the stack of sheets that is attached to the back portion in a way that allows it to move relative to the back portion while remaining relatively parallel to the back portion so that the folder can receive from a small amount to a relatively thick (e.g., 3/8 inch thick, 1 inch thick or thicker) stack of sheets without deforming the back or side retaining portions.

The folder according to the present invention comprises (1) a back portion adapted to engage one major surface of the stack of sheets; (2) a first side retaining portion adapted to engage the opposite major surface of the stack of sheets; (3) a first base portion adapted to engage a bottom edge surface of the stack of sheets, which base portion has a first edge attached to a straight edge of the back portion and a second edge attached to a straight edge on the side retaining portion, and has a width between its first and second edges about equal to the maximum thickness of a stack of sheets to be received in the folder; (4) a first anchor portion attached surface to surface to the back portion along one end of the side retaining portion; and (5) at least one, and preferably a row of edge retaining portions adapted to engage the side edge surface of the stack of sheets. Each edge retaining portion has a first edge attached to the anchor portion along a straight line parallel to and spaced a different distance from the straight edge on the back portion and has a second edge attached to the side retaining portion along a straight edge parallel to and spaced a different distance from the straight edge on the side retaining portion, and each edge retaining portion has a width about equal to the maximum thickness of a stack of sheets to be received in the folder between the first and second edges along which they are attached and have edge surfaces extending between those first and second edges adapted to engage the side edge surface of the stack of sheets. The folder is bendable along the edges described above (i.e., those edges can be formed by creases in a single sheet of material) so that the base portion, side retaining portion, base portion and edge retaining portions are moveable relative to the back portion between a storage portion with the base, side retaining, and edge retaining portions in surface to surface contact with the back portion, and use positions with the side retaining portion generally parallel to and spaced from the back portion by up to the maximum thickness of a stack of sheets that the folder is adapted to receive and with the base and edge retaining portions projecting above the back portion between the back and side retaining portions.

Preferably the folder is made with a second side retaining portion mounted on the edge of the back portion opposite that on which the first side retaining portion is mounted by second anchor, base and edge retaining portions in the same manner that the first side retaining portion is mounted, with the second side retaining, anchor, base, and edge retaining portions in opposed allochiral relationship to the first side retaining, anchor, base, and edge retaining portions. The stack of sheets can then be slid from an edge of the backing portion opposite the edge retaining portions to a position between the backing portion and both of the side retaining portions and in contact with the contact edges of the edge retaining portions. The folder can further include a cover portion corresponding in size to the back portion mounted along that edge of the back portion from which the sheets are slid so that after the sheets are positioned between the side retaining portions and the backing portion the cover portion can be closed by moving it to a position overlaying the sheets, whereupon the sheets are completely retained within the folder. Brief Description of Drawing

The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts in the several views, and wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a folder according to the present invention in which the folder is open, and in which portions in the folder that can hold sheets are in a storage position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the folder of Figure 1 in which a stack of sheets has been inserted into the folder and the portions in the folder that hold the sheets are in one of their use positions;

Figure 3 is an end view of the folder and stack of sheets as illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the folder of Figure 1 illustrating portions of the folder that can hold sheets in the storage position; Figure 5 is a fragmentary end view of the fragment of the folder as illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the folder of Figure 1 illustrating portions of the folder that can hold sheets in the use position;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary end view of the fragment of the folder as illustrated in Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 8-8 of Figure 2 after a cover portion of the folder is closed.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to the drawing there is illustrated a folder according to the present invention generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The folder 10 is adapted to receive a stack 12 of sheets (see Figures 2 and 3), which stack 12 of sheets has opposite first and second major surfaces 13 and 14, up to a predetermined thickness (e.g., 3/8 inch (1 centimeter), 1 inch (2.54 centimeter), or more) between its major surfaces 13 and 14, and edge surfaces extending between its major surfaces including a bottom edge surface 15, an opposite top edge surface 16, and a side edge surface 17 disposed at about a right angle with respect to the top and bottom edge surfaces 16 and 15.

The folder 10 is formed from a single layer of stiff flexible material (e.g., paperboard), which layer of material has first and second major surfaces 20 and 21 and is creased and severed to provide several portions. Those portions include a rectangular back portion 22 having a part of the first major surface 20 that is adapted to engage one major surface 13 of the stack 12 of sheets, together with a smaller first side retaining portion 23 that has a part of the first major surface 20 that is adapted to engage the opposite or second major surface 14 of the stack 12 of sheets. A first base portion 24 of the layer of material has a part of its first major surface 20 that is adapted to engage the bottom edge surface 15 of the stack 12 of sheets. That base portion 24 is attached to the back portion 22 along a first edge defined by a straight crease 25 in the flexible material, and is attached to the first side retaining portion 23 along a second edge defined by a straight crease 26 in the layer of material. The base portion 24 has a width between the first and second creases 25 and 26 that is about equal to the maximum predetermined thickness of the stack 12 of sheets the folder 10 is adapted to receive. A first anchor portion 30 of the layer of material is attached surface to surface to the back portion 22 along a second end part 31 of the first side retaining portion 22. That first anchor portion 30 is joined to the back portion 22 along the first crease 25 at one end of the base portion 24. The layer of material is bent about 360 degrees between the back portion 22 and the anchor portion 30 so that the anchor portion 30 extends along the end part 31 of the first side retaining portion 22, and the parts of the first surface 20 on the back and anchor portions 22 and 30 are attached together by a suitable adhesive or otherwise. Two edge retaining portions 34 of the layer of material extend between interdigitated parts of the side retaining portion 23 and the anchor portion 30. Each of the edge retaining portions 34 has a first edge attached to the anchor portion 30 by a straight crease 35 therebetween that is parallel to and spaced a first distance from the first crease 25, and each has a second edge attached to the side retaining portion 22 by a straight crease 36 therebetween that is parallel to and spaced that same first distance from the second crease 26. The edge retaining portions 34 each have a width between their first and second edges that is about equal to the maximum predetermined thickness of a stack 12 of sheets the folder 10 is adapted to receive. The edge retaining portions 34 each have a contact edge 37 extending between its first and second edges that is adapted to engage the side edge surface 17 of the stack 12 of sheets, and the contact edges 37 of the two edge retaining portions 34 are aligned along a plane normal to the first crease 25 between the back and first base portions 22 and 24.

The layer of material is bendable along the creases 25, 26, 35, and 36 described above so that the side retaining portion 23, base portion 24, and edge retaining portions 34 are moveable between a storage portion (see figures 1, 4, and 5) with parts of the first major surface 20 on them in contact with the part of the first major surface 20 on the back portion 22; and use positions (see Figures 2, 3, 6, and 7) with the first side retaining portion 23 generally parallel to and spaced from the back portion 22 by a distance equal to the maximum predetermined thickness of the stack 12 of sheets the folder 10 is adapted to receive with the base and edge retaining portions 24 and 34 projecting above the back portion 22 between the back portion 22 and the first side retaining portion 23.

Preferably, as illustrated, the folder 10 is made with a second side retaining portion 40 mounted on the edge of the back portion 22 opposite that on which the first side retaining portion 23 is mounted by a second anchor portion 41, second base portion 42, and second edge retaining portions 43 in the same manner that the first side retaining portion 23 is mounted by the first anchor portion 30, first base portion 24, and first edge retaining portions 34, with the first and second side retaining portions 23 and 40 and the portions mounting them being in opposed allochiral relationship. The stack 12 of sheets can then be slid into the folder 10 from an edge 44 of the backing portion 22 opposite the edge retaining portions 34 and 43 to a position between the backing portion 22 and both of the side retaining portions 23 and 40 and in contact with the contact edges 37 of the edge retaining portions 34 and 43 (see Figures 2 and 3). The folder 10 can further include a cover portion 46 corresponding in size to the back portion 22, which cover portion 46 is mounted along that edge 44 of the back portion 22 so that after the stack 12 of sheets is positioned between the side retaining portions 23 and 40 and the backing portion 22 the cover portion 46 can be closed by moving it to a position overlaying the stack 12 of sheets (see Figure 8), whereupon the sheets in the stack 12 are completely retained within the folder 10. More specifically, the second side retaining portion 40 has a part of the first major surface 20 of the sheet material adapted to engage the second major surface 14 of the stack 12 of sheets. The second base portion 42 has a part of the first major surface 20 adapted to engage the top edge surface 16 of the stack 12 of sheets. The second base portion 42 is attached to the back portion 22 along an edge thereof defined by a third straight crease 48 in the layer of material parallel to and spaced from the first straight crease 25 by a distance slightly greater than the distance between the bottom and top edge surfaces 16 and 15 of the stack 12 of sheets, and the second base portion 42 is attached to the second side retaining portion 40 along an edge defined by a fourth crease 49 in the layer of material extending between end parts of the second side retaining portion 40. The second base portion 42 has a width between those third and fourth creases 48 and 49 about equal to the maximum predetermined thickness of the stack 12 of sheets the folder 10 is adapted to receive. The second anchor portion 41 is attached surface to surface to the back portion 22 along a second end part 50 of the second side retaining portion 40, and the second edge retaining portions 43 each have a first edge attached to the second anchor portion 41 by a straight crease 52 therebetween that is parallel to and spaced a first distance from the third crease 48 and each have a second edge attached to the second side retaining portion 40 along a straight crease 53 therebetween that is parallel to and spaced that same first distance from the fourth crease 49. The second edge retaining portions 43 each have a width about equal to the maximum predetermined thickness of the stack 12 of sheets the folder 10 is adapted to receive between their first and second edges along which they are attached, and each have a contact edge 54 adjacent the second side retaining portion 40 that extends between its first and second edges and is adapted to engage the side edge surface 17 of the stack 12 of sheets. The layer of material is bendable along the edges defined by the creases 48, 49, 52 and 53 so that the second side retaining portion 40, the second base portion 42, and the second edge retaining portions 43 are moveable between a storage portion with the parts of the first surface 20 on the second side retaining portion 40, second base portion 42, and second edge retaining portions 43 in surface to surface contact with the part of that first surface 20 on the back portion 22, and use positions with the second side retaining portion 40 generally parallel to and spaced from the back portion 22 by up to a distance equal to the maximum predetermined thickness of the stack 12 of sheets the folder 10 is adapted to receive with the second base portion 42 and second edge retaining portions 43 projecting above the back portion 22 between the back portion 22 and the second side retaining portion 40.

The cover portion 46 corresponds in size to the back portion 22 and is mounted on the back portion 22 by means including a first sidewall portion 56 attached to the back portion 22 along a fifth straight crease 58 in the layer of material that extends between and is disposed at a right angle to the first and third straight creases 25 and 48 at the ends of those creases opposite the first and second edge retaining portions 34 and 43 and defines the edge 44. The first sidewall portion 56 is attached to the cover portion 46 along an edge defined by a sixth straight crease 59 in the layer of material, and the first sidewall portion 56 has a width between those fifth and sixth creases 58 and 59 about equal to the maximum predetermined thickness of the stack 12 of sheets the folder 10 is adapted to receive.

The folder 10 also includes a flap portion 62 having a straight edge defined by a seventh crease 63 and a tab 64 projecting from the side of the flap portion 62 opposite that straight edge 63; and a second sidewall portion 66 having a first edge defined by an eighth straight crease 67 at which it is attached to the cover portion 46 on the side of the cover portion 46 opposite the sixth crease 59. The second sidewall portion 66 is attached to the flap portion along the crease 63, and the second sidewall portion 66 has a width between the seventh and eighth creases 63 and 67 about equal to the maximum predetermined thickness of the stack 12 of sheets the folder 10 is adapted to receive.. The folder 10 is bendable along the creases 58, 59, 63 and 67 between (1) an open position with the parts of said first major surface 20 on the back and cover portions 22 and 46 generally coplanar (see Figures 1 and 2), and (2) a closed position (see Figure 8) with the parts of the first major surface 22 on the back and cover portions 22 and 26 opposite each other, and the part of the first major surface 20 on the flap portion 62 along the part of the second surface 21 on the back portion 22. The back portion 22 has an opening 70 adapted to receive the tab 64 on the flap portion 62 in the closed position of the folder 10 (Figure 8) to help retain the folder 10 in that closed position.. As illustrated, the folder 10 also includes a containment portion 72 attached to the cover portion 46 along a straight crease 73 at its edge extending between the sidewall portions 56 and 66 and secured closely spaced from the cover portion 46 by a folded under tab 74 joined to it by a crease 75 along its edge adjacent the first side wall portion 56. A small number of sheets can be positioned between the containment portion 72 and the cover portion 46, and a flap portion 76 attached at a crease 77 along the edge of the cover portion 46 opposite the containment portion 72 helps to retain such sheets in the folder 10. The containment portion 72 can, as illustrated have openings 78 shaped and spaced to receive and hold a conventional calling card in a highly visible position along its outer surface. The flap portion 76 could also support along the part of the second major surface 21 thereon thin packages of the products sold under the trade designation "Post-it" (t.m.) Notes and "Post-it" (t.m.) Tape Flags by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, MN, and/or a low profile pen.

The folder 10 can be easily manufactured by die cutting and creasing a single sheet of material to form all of the portions described above; folding the formed sheet along the first and third creases 25 and 48 to bring the anchor portions 30 and 41 into surface to surface engagement with the back portion 22 and fastening those surfaces of the anchor portions 30 and 41 and back portion 22 together; and folding the formed sheet along the creases 73 and 75 and adhering the tab 74 to the cover portion 46. As an example, the layer of material from which the folder 10 is made can be 20 point clay coated solid bleached sulfate paperboard, which facilitates printing of the folder 10. The back portion 22 can have dimensions of 12 inches (31 centimeters) between the first and third creases 25 and 48, 9.5 inches (24.1 centimeters) between the crease 58 and the opposite edge of the back portion 22, and 8.2 inches (20.1 centimeters) between the crease 58 and the contact edges 37 and 54 of the edge retaining portions 34 and 43. The side retaining portions 23 and 40 can have a width normal to the creases 26 and 49 of 2.2 inches (5.6 centimeters), and the folder 10 can be adapted to receive a stack 12 of sheets having a maximum thickness of about 3/8 inch or 1 centimeter.

The present invention has now been described with reference to a single embodiment and certain modifications thereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes can be made in the embodiment described without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the portions of the folder could be made from more than one layer of material and joined along some of the edges of the portions. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the structure described in this application, but only by the structures and method described by the language of the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A folder adapted to receive a stack of sheets, which stack has opposite first and second major surfaces, up to a predetermined thickness between said major surfaces, and edge surfaces extending between said major surfaces including a bottom edge surface, an opposite top edge surface, and a side edge surface disposed at about a right angle with respect to said bottom edge surface, said folder being formed from a single layer of material having first and second opposite major surfaces, which layer of material is severed and creased to provide: a back portion having a part of said first major surface adapted to engage the first major surface of the stack of sheets; a first side retaining portion having a part of said first major surface adapted to engage the second major surface of the stack of sheets, and having first and second end parts; a first base portion having a part of said first major surface adapted to engage the bottom edge surface of the stack of sheets, said first base portion being attached to said back portion along a first straight crease in the layer of material and being attached to said side retaining portion along a second straight crease in the layer of material extending between said end parts, said base portion having a width about equal to said predetermined thickness between said first and second creases; a first anchor portion attached surface to surface to said back portion along said second end part of said first side retaining portion; and a first edge retaining portion having a first edge attached to said first anchor portion along a straight crease between said first edge retaining portion and said first anchor portion parallel to and spaced from said first crease, and having a second edge attached to said first end part of said first side retaining portion along a straight crease between said first edge retaining portion and said first side retaining portion parallel to and spaced from said second crease, said edge retaining portion having a width about equal to said predetermined thickness between said first and second edges, and said edge retaining portion having a contact edge extending between said first and second edges adapted to engage the side edge surface of the stack of sheets; said layer of material being bendable along said creases to move said first side retaining portion, first base portion, and first edge retaining portion between a storage portion with parts of said first major surface on said first side retaining portion, first base portion and first edge retaining portion in contact with the part of said first major surface on said back portion, and use positions with said first side retaining portion generally parallel to and spaced from said back portion by up to said predetermined distance and with said first base and first edge retaining portions projecting above said back portion between said back portion and said first side retaining portion.

2. A folder according to claim 1 wherein said folder includes a plurality of said first edge retaining portions having contact edges adapted to engage the side edge surface of the stack of sheets, each of said first edge retaining portions having a first edge attached to said first anchor portion along a straight crease parallel to and spaced a different distance from said first crease and having a second edge attached to said first side retaining portion along a straight crease parallel to and spaced a different distance from said second crease, each of said first edge retaining portions having a width about equal to said predetermined thickness between said first and second edges along which said first edge retaining portion is attached.

3. A folder according to claim 1 wherein said folder further includes: a second side retaining portion having a part of said first major surface adapted to engage the second major surface of the stack of sheets, and having first and second end parts; a second base portion having a part of said first major surface adapted to engage the top edge surface of the stack of sheets, said second base portion being attached to said back portion along a third straight crease in the layer of material parallel to and spaced from said first straight crease by a distance slightly greater than the distance between the bottom and top edge surfaces of the stack of sheets and being attached to the second side retaining portion along a fourth crease in the layer of material extending between said end parts of said second side retaining portion, said second base portion having a width about equal to said predetermined thickness between said third and fourth creases; a second anchor portion attached surface to surface to said back portion along said second end part of said second side retaining portion; and a second edge retaining portion having a first edge attached to said second anchor portion along a straight crease parallel to and spaced from said third crease and having a second edge attached to said second side retaining portion along a straight crease parallel to and spaced from said fourth crease, said second edge retaining portion having a width about equal to said predetermined thickness between said first and second edges along which said second edge retaining portion is attached, and said second edge retaining portion having a contact edge adjacent said second side retaining portion, said contact edge extending between said first and second edges of said second edge retaining portion and being adapted to engage the side edge surface of the stack of sheets; said second side retaining portion, second base portion, second anchor portion, and second edge retaining portion being mounted on said back portion in opposed allochiral relationship to said first side retaining portion, first base portion, first anchor portion, and first edge retaining portion; said layer of material being bendable along said creases so that said second side retaining portion, second base portion, and second edge retaining portion are moveable between a storage portion with the parts of said first surface on said second side retaining portion, second base portion and second edge retaining portion in surface to surface contact with the part of said first surface on said back portion, and use positions with said second side retaining portion generally parallel to and spaced from said back portion by up to said predetermined distance with said second base and second edge retaining portions projecting between said back and second side retaining portions.

4. A folder according to claim 3 further including: a cover portion corresponding in size to said back portion; a first side wall portion attached to said back portion along a fifth straight crease in the layer of material extending between and disposed at a right angle to said first and third straight creases at the ends of said first and third straight creases opposite said first and second anchor portions, said first side wall portion also being attached to said cover portion along a sixth straight crease in the layer of material, said first side wall portion having a width about equal to said predetermined thickness between said fifth and sixth creases; a flap portion having a straight edge and a tab projecting from the side of said flap portion opposite said straight edge; and a second side wall portion having a first edge attached to said cover portion along a seventh straight crease in said sheet of material on the side of said cover portion opposite said sixth crease, and being attached to said flap portion at an eighth straight crease along said straight edge, said second side wall portion having a width about equal to said predetermined thickness between said seventh and eighth creases, said folder being bendable along said creases between (1) an open position with the parts of said first major surface on said back and cover portions generally coplanar, and (2) a closed position with the parts of said first major surface on said back and cover portions opposite each other, and said part of said first major surface on said flap portion along the surface of said back portion opposite said first major surface, said back portion having an opening adapted to receive said tab on the flap portion in said closed position of said folder.

5. A folder according to claim 3 wherein said folder includes a plurality of said second edge retaining portions having contact edges adapted to engage the side edge surface of the stack of sheets, each of said second edge retaining portions having a first edge attached to said first anchor portion along a straight crease parallel to and spaced a different distance from said third crease and having a second edge attached to said first side retaining portion along a straight crease parallel to and spaced a different distance from said fourth crease, each of said first edge retaining portions having a width about equal to said predetermined thickness between said first and second edges along which said second edge retaining portion is attached.

6. A folder comprising: a back portion adapted to engage one major surface of the stack of sheets; a first side retaining portion adapted to engage the opposite major surface of the stack of sheets; a first base portion adapted to engage a bottom edge surface of the stack of sheets, which base portion has a first edge attached to a straight edge of the back portion and a second edge attached to a straight edge on the side retaining portion, which base portion has a width about equal to the maximum thickness of a stack of sheets to be received in the folder between its first and second edges; a first anchor portion attached surface to surface to the back portion along one end of the side retaining portion; and at least one, and preferably a row of edge retaining portions adapted to engage the side edge surface of the stack of sheets, each edge retaining portion having a first edge attached to the anchor portion along a straight line parallel to and spaced a different distance from the straight edge on the back portion and having a second edge attached to the side retaining portion along a straight edge parallel to and spaced a different distance from the straight edge on the side retaining portion, which edge retaining portions each have a width about equal to the predetermined thickness between the first and second edges along which they are attached and have edge surfaces extending between those first and second edges adapted to engage the side edge surface of the stack of sheets.

The layer of material is bendable along the edges so that the base portion, side retaining portion, base portion and edge retaining portions are moveable relative to the back portion between a storage portion with the base, side retaining, and edge retaining portions in surface to surface contact with the back portion, and use positions with the side retaining portion generally parallel to and spaced from the back portion by up to the predetermined distance and with the base and edge retaining portions projecting above the back portion between the back and side retaining portions.

7. A folder according to claim 6 wherein said folder includes a plurality of said first edge retaining portions having contact edges adapted to engage the side edge surface of the stack of sheets, each of said first edge retaining portions having a first edge attached to said first anchor portion, said first edge being straight, parallel to and spaced a different distance from said first edge and having a second edge attached to said first side retaining portion, said second edge being straight, parallel to and spaced a different distance from said second crease, each of said first edge retaining portions having a width about equal to said predetermined thickness between said first and second edges along which said first edge retaining portion is attached.

8. A folder according to claim 6 wherein said folder further includes: a second side retaining portion adapted to engage the second major surface of the stack of sheets, and having first and second end parts; a second base portion adapted to engage the top edge surface of the stack of sheets, said second base portion being attached to said back portion along a straight edge of the second base portion parallel to and spaced from said first straight edge by a distance slightly greater than the distance between the bottom and top edge surfaces of the stack of sheets and being attached to the second side retaining portion along a fourth straight edge extending between said end parts of said second side retaining portion, said second base portion having a width about equal to said predetermined thickness between said third and fourth straight edges; a second anchor portion attached surface to surface to said back portion along said second end part of said second side retaining portion; and a second edge retaining portion having a first edge attached to said second anchor portion along a straight edge parallel to and spaced from said third straight edge and having a second straight edge attached to said second side retaining portion that is parallel to and spaced from said fourth straight edge, said second edge retaining portion having a width about equal to said predetermined thickness between said first and second edges along which said second edge retaining portion is attached, and said second edge retaining portion having a contact edge adjacent said second side retaining portion, said contact edge extending between said first and second edges of said second edge retaining portion and being adapted to engage the side edge surface of the stack of sheets; said second side retaining portion, second base portion, second anchor portion, and second edge retaining portion being mounted on said back portion in opposed allochiral relationship to said first side retaining portion, first base portion, first anchor portion, and first edge retaining portion; said folder being bendable along said edges so that said second side retaining portion, second base portion, and second edge retaining portion are moveable between a storage portion in surface to surface contact with said back portion, and use positions with said second side retaining portion generally parallel to and spaced from said back portion by up to said predetermined distance with said second base and second edge retaining portions projecting between said back and second side retaining portions.

9. A folder according to claim 8 further including: a cover portion corresponding in size to said back portion; a first side wall portion attached to said back portion along a fifth straight edge extending between and disposed at a right angle to said first and third straight edges and at the ends of said first and third straight edges opposite said first and second edge retaining portions, said first side wall portion also being attached to said cover portion along a sixth straight edge, said first side wall portion having a width about equal to said predetermined thickness between said fifth and sixth edges; a flap portion having a straight edge and a tab projecting from the side of said flap portion opposite said straight edge; and a second side wall portion having a first edge attached to said cover portion on the side of said cover portion opposite said sixth edge, and being attached to said flap portion at said straight edge, said second side wall portion having a width about equal to said predetermined thickness between said seventh and eighth edges, said folder being bendable along said edges between (1) an open position with the parts of said first major surface on said back and cover portions generally coplanar, and (2) a closed position with the parts of said first major surface on said back and cover portions opposite each other, and said part of said first major surface on said flap portion along the surface of said back portion opposite said first major surface, said back portion having an opening adapted to receive said tab on the flap portion in said closed position of said folder.

10. A folder according to claim 8 wherein said folder includes a plurality of said second edge retaining portions having contact edges adapted to engage the side edge surface of the stack of sheets, each of said second edge retaining portions having a first edge attached to said first anchor portion with said first edge being straight, parallel to, and spaced a different distance from said third edge and having a second edge attached to said first side retaining portion, said second edge being straight, parallel to, and spaced a different distance from said fourth edge, each of said first edge retaining portions having a width about equal to said predetermined thickness between said first and second edges along which said second edge retaining portion is attached.