Background of the Invention Frequently, it is desirable to store various small objects such as computer disks, photographs, tape cassettes and index cards in portable packages or carriers for transport or storage. Various prior devices exist for that purpose, including hanging file disk pockets, hanging pockets, and 3 1/2"diskette viewer folders from Globe-Weis of Atapco Office Products Group, St. Louis, MO. However, such conventional containers may be deficient in certain circumstances.

Hanging file pockets, add-on pockets and the like are typically open-ended.

Therefore, disks and other objects placed into the pockets can fall out, particularly if the pocket becomes inverted in use or transport. Some prior devices appear to respond to that difficulty by making the pocket more rigid and closely dimensioned to the object to be carried so as to grip the object better. Unfortunately, such devices have a tendency to be more difficult for the object to be inserted into and removed from, often requiring the users to employ both hands in the effort.

Many prior carriers were also integrally formed with or permanently secured to an underlying support, such as a folder, ring binder or documentation package. When the object is to be removed from the package, a separate, additional carrier has been employed. Also, each such package has typically employed a carrier specialized in dimension and materials which is particularly adapted to that package type alone. Thus, even where the carriers have been removable, efficient collection and storage by users of carriers from diverse packages has been inhibited.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved carrier for storing and transporting a small object or article. Other objects include the provision of a carrier which: a. is inexpensive and convenient to manufacture and assemble; b. is durable and protective of an object inserted therein, c. permits an object to be readily inserted and removed therefrom for repeated storage therein; d. is reusable and detachable from its initial packaging; e. can be easily attached to or integrated into the design of various packages; and f. securely retains an object once deposited therein.

Summary of the Invention These and other objects of the present invention are attained by the provision of an object carrier formed from a folded web of flexible material having an enclosed pocket defined thereby regardless of the insertion of the object and a slit opening to that pocket which is biased open. The pocket is preferably formed by retaining one portion of the web in bowed relation to another portion of the web, and a third portion can be employed to overlay the bowed portion as a cover. The web may be integrally formed as part of the underlying package and/or detachable therefrom.

The present invention provides the carrier from a substantially flat web of flexible material which is folded and assembled to define a pocket space and an over-pocket space for retaining at least one object on three sides or aspects. A cover panel may also be formed from a fold in the web to overlie both such spaces to retain the object therein from above and across its face. A portion of the web may also be used for attaching the carrier to another body or structure.

Especially preferred embodiments include a portable carrier which may be attached to a variety of surfaces, and which includes a single piece body, cut and scored for manual assembly from a unitary blank of suitably sized semi-flexible sheet material such as paperboard, which has an interconnected front panel, back panel, top panel and cover panel. The back panel has a fastening slit which interlocks with a locking tab and lock notch arrangement extending from the fastening edge of the front panel along with a first over-flap and a second over-flap that cooperate to hold the carrier in its folded shape when the front panel is folded over the back panel. The cover panel is then folded to overlie the front panel and thereby retains an object deposited into the carrier's pocket space from above and across the object's exposed face. A strip of adhesive or other attachment device is attached to the back panel so that, when the body is folded to form a carrier, the carrier may be attached to another article, such as an interior surface of a file folder. When the carrier is attached to an interior surface of a file folder, closure of the file folder impinges the overlying carrier cover panel to hold the cover panel in a closed position. Once attached in this way to a file folder, the carrier provides a secure storage and transport device for objects deposited therein, while also permitting quick and easy, one-handed access to the object retained. The nature of the arrangement permits standardization of carriers across a variety of applications and easy reuse and removability of the carrier.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following drawings and detailed description of preferred embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure I is a plan view of the exterior face of a carrier according to the present invention in its flattened, unfolded state.

Figure 2a is a perspective view of the unfolded interior face of the carrier shown in Fig. 1.

Figures 2b through 2e are sequential perspective views of the carrier shown in Fig.

2a with various folding and assembly operations being performed.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the completed carrier taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 2e.

Figure 4 is a perspective rear view of the carrier shown in Fig. 2e with a bipronged fastener.

Figures 5a and 5b are side elevational views of a carrier according to the present invention affixed to an interior surface of a file folder.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a carrier according to the present invention in a folded and assembled state with the cover panel shown open and the retained object shown in broken lines.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the exterior face of another embodiment of the present invention in its flattened, unfolded state.

Figure 8a is a perspective view of the unfolded interior face of the embodiment shown in Fig. 7.

Figure 8b through 8f are sequential perspective views of the embodiment shown in Fig. 8a with various folding and assembly and integration operations being performed.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the completed embodiment taken substantially along line 9-9 of Fig. 8d.

Figure 10 is a perspective rear view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 8d with a bipronged fastener.

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 8d affixed to an interior surface of a file folder in an orientation where the interior surface of the file folder and its folded edge functionally serve to retain the object from above and across its exposed face.

Figure 12a is a plan view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 12b is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 12a in a folded orientation.

Figure 13 is a plan view of still another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 14 is a plan view of yet still another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 15a is a plan view of a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 15b is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 15a in a folded orientation.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 18 is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the carrier shown in Fig. 18 after it is folded and assembled.

Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view of the completed carrier taken substantially along line 20-20 of Fig. 19.

Figure 21 is a plan view of the interior face of the carrier shown in Fig. 1 showing the function of the mouth flap design.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent various embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain aspects of the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments The embodiments disclosed in the detailed description below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to merely the precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments selected for the description are disclosed so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. The limits of the patent are defined by the appended claims.

Figure 1 shows a carrier 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Carrier 10, in its flattened or unfabricated state, includes a substantially flat web or body 12 and a thin strip of adhesive 60 which is, for example, double sided and covered by a larger protective strip of removable release liner 61 on its exposed side.

Body 12 includes a front panel 18, a back panel 16, a top panel 68 and a cover panel 70.

Front panel 18 and back panel 16 are preferably separated by a bottom scoreline 22 which forms the bottom edge 23 of carrier 10 when fully folded and assembled, as described in further detail below. Back panel 16 and cover panel 70 are preferably separated by a set of parallel score marks, namely a first top scoreline 65 and a second top scoreline 66, which together define the top panel 68 of carrier 10 when fully folded. A single score mark could alternatively be provided so that the width of top panel 68 is minimal if noticeable at all.

Back panel 16 also contains a fastening slit 34, cut through its faces, laterally offset from center by a distance"e", oriented parallel to and spaced away from bottom scoreline 22 by a distance designated"a"in Figure 1. Fastening slit 34 also has an angled extension 33 opposite its offset end 35 as shown in Figure 1. Additionally, back panel 16 includes a first prong slit 48 and a second prong slit 49 which are adapted to receive the first prong 51 and the second prong 52 of a standard bipronged fastener 50 as shown in Figure 4.

Front panel 18 includes a mouth flap 79, a cut slit which substantially divides front panel 18 into an upper portion 86 and a lower portion 87 and defines the width of pocket mouth opening 32 when carrier 10 is fully folded and assembled as best shown in Figure 6. Mouth flap 79 is, for example, bow shaped and includes a center curve 80, a first angled side 82, a second angled side 83, a first end curve 84, and a second end curve 85.

Mouth flap 79 serves to provide the pocket mouth opening 32 which is biased toward an open position leading into pocket space 26 by the flexing of front panel 18 of carrier 10 when assembled as is described in further detail below.

Fastening edge 20 of front panel 18 has, extending from it, a locking tab 36 which includes a lock notch 38, inset and in registration with the offset end 35 of the fastening slit 34. Disposed to the sides of this locking tab 36 are a first over-flap 42 and a second over-flap 44 extending from fastening edge 20. Lock notch 38 with fastening edge 20, is inset a distance"e"from the edge of the locking tab 36 and is spaced from bottom scoreline 22 by a distance"b". The amount by which distance"b"is greater than distance"a"determines the thickness of pocket space 26, as will become apparent from the following description of the assembly and operation of carrier 10.

Assembly Figures 2a through 2e show a folding and assembly process for a carrier 10 of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2a, body 12 can readily be cut or stamped from a single piece of substantially flat and preferably semi-flexible material during the manufacturing process.

Carrier 10 is assembled by first folding front panel 18 upwardly along bottom scoreline 22 and then downwardly toward back panel 16, as shown by the arrows in Figures 2a and 2b, so that the interior face 13 of each is in contact as best shown in Figure 2c and Figure 3. Upper portion 86 of front panel 18 is then pressed toward back panel 16 to separate upper portion 86 from lower portion 87 along mouth flap 79. Upper portion 86 is slid along back panel 16 toward bottom edge 23, as shown by the arrow in Figure 2c, which causes lower portion 87 of front panel 18 to flex or bow outwardly generally along mouth flap 79 so that the lower portion 87 becomes spaced or bowed from back panel 16 while upper portion 86 remains substantially planar with back panel 16 and the pocket space 26 is formed. Locking tab 36 is aligningly moved laterally a distance"e"and inserted through fastening slit 34. Lock notch 38 of locking tab 36 is defined by fastening edge 20 so that once it is inserted through fastening slit 34, lock notch 38 returns a lateral distance"e"to overlie the offset end 35 of fastening slit 34, as shown in Figure 4, and secures the locking tab 36 in position. Cover panel 70 is now folded along parallel score marks, namely a first top scoreline 65 and a second top scoreline 66, to overlie front panel 18, as shown by the arrow in Figure 2d. Carrier 10, when thus assembled, creates an over-pocket space 72 above pocket space 26 and between back panel 16 and cover panel 70 as shown in Figure 2e. An object 11, such as a diskette or like article, may be placed within this over-pocket space 72 and partially inserted in pocket space 26 formed by mouth flap 79 and the outwardly bowed lower portion 87 of front panel 18 for convenient, secure transportation and storage as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 6. Figure 21 illustrates how a diskette or like article 11 can be packaged for shipment with an unassembled carrier blank 10. Figure 3 shows the interlocking connection between front panel 18 and back panel 16 of assembled carrier 10.

Referring now to Figure 4, after the release liner 61 is removed from the strip of adhesive 60, locking tab 36 may be adhered to back panel 16, leaving the remaining portion of the strip of adhesive 60 exposed. Carrier 10 may be affixed to a selected surface of a container or underlying package by pressing the remaining portion of the exposed strip of adhesive 60 into contact with the package's surface. Depending upon the nature of the adhesive selected, the carrier can be permanently, releasably or repeatedly bound to the package.

Alternatively, the release liner 61 may be left in place and carrier 10 may be attached to a package or surface using a bipronged fastener 50. Once carrier 10 is folded and assembled according to the procedure illustrated in Figures 2a through 2e, first prong 51 and second prong 52 of bipronged fastener 50 are inserted through first prong slit 48 and second prong slit 49 from the exterior face 14 of back panel 16 to permit attachment of carrier 10 with the bipronged fastener 50 to a standard twin-hole punched file folder.

Bipronged fastener 50 may optionally carry an additional fastener adhesive strip 54 that allows it to be affixed to the surface of a file folder 150 or other selected package as shown in Figure 5a.

As best shown in Figures 5a and 5b, once carrier 10 is attached to an inside surface or interior page of a file folder 150, closure of the file folder 150 and its contact with cover panel 70 permit the cover panel 70 to remain in engagement with front panel 18, as shown in Figure 5b. The impingement between the file folder 150, or its contents, and over panel 70, when the file folder 150 is closed, can prevent carrier 10 from accidentally opening and discharging a retained object 11. The overlap between cover panel 70 and front panel 18 enhances the positive closure provided by the above- mentioned impingement. Also, parallel score marks, namely the first top scoreline 65 and the second top scoreline 66, further enhance the tendency of carrier 10 to remain closed by providing cover panel 70 with clearance of the thickness of object 11 to generally assume this folded position overlying front panel 18. As such, carrier 10 resists opening so long as the file folder 150 is closed. When affixed to a file folder 150 in the above-described manner, carrier 10 secures the object 11 (shown in broken lines) loosely deposited within pocket space 26 while also allowing quick and easy one-handed removal and reinsertion of the object 11 whenever file folder 150 is opened.

An additional feature of the present invention is depicted in Figure 6. An optional retaining tab 76 is provided, which in an exemplary embodiment is a cut semi- circular slit in front panel 18. Retaining tab 76 is disposed on front panel 18 so that, when separated, retaining tab 76 receives the distal edge 71 of cover panel 70 when cover panel 70 is folded to overlie front panel 18. As such, retaining tab 76 retains cover panel 70 in its folded, closed position and additionally secures the object 11 in carrier 10 when carrier 10 is used to transport object 11. Additionally, a sticker-seal 77 may be applied to jointly overlay the cover panel 70 and the retaining tab 76, as shown in Figure 6, thereby securing the retained object 1 1 from pilferage during retailing operations.

Another alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 7. Here carrier 10 has a back panel 16 that has cut through its faces a c-shaped fastening tab 24 with two extremity points 25. A front panel 18 has a simple fastening edge 20 and a c- shaped pocket mouth flap 28 cut through its faces andjoined at one side along a zone of attachment 30 to the upper portion 86 of the front panel 18. Carrier 10 is assembled by first folding front panel 18 upwardly along the bottom scoreline 22 and then downwardly toward the back panel 16 as shown by the arrows in Figures 8a and 8b. Upper portion 86 of ftont panel 18 is then pressed toward back panel 16 to separate upper portion 86 ftom lower portion 87 along pocket mouth flap 28. Upper portion 86 is slid along back panel 16 toward bottom edge 23, as shown by the arrow in Figure 8c, which causes lower portion 87 of front panel 18 to flex or bow outwardly generally along pocket mouth flap 28 so that the lower portion 87 becomes spaced or bowed ftom back panel 16 while upper portion 86 remains substantially planar with back panel 16 and the pocket space 26 is formed. Fastening edge 20 is then inserted under fastening tab 24 as shown in Figure 8d. Carrier 10 can then be removably or permanently bound or stapled near the distal edge 71 of the back panel 16 along with the pages of a booklet, as shown in Figure 8e, for later assembly and storage of an object. Carrier 10, when integrated along a lateral edge of back panel 16 at a lateral scoreline 146 with the right cover panel 147 of a booklet or brochure, as shown in Figure 8f, can also be assembled as just described and an object 11, such as a diskette, may be placed within the pocket space 26 for storage. In the embodiments described in Figures 8e and 8f, the left cover panel 145 and cover spine 148 of the booklet or brochure perform the retaining fimction performed by the top panel 68 and cover panel 70 of the carrier 10 in a previously described embodiment. Figure 9 shows the interlocking connection between front panel 18 and back panel 16 when carrier 10 is assembled.

Referring to Figure 10, after the release liner 61 is removed, fastening edge 20 may be adhered to fastening tab 24 leaving the balance of the strip of adhesive 60 free to affix carrier 10 to a file folder 150 or like article. Figure 11 shows carrier 10 attached to the inside surface of a file folder 150 oriented such that the folding edge and cover of the closed file folder 150 perform the retaining function normally performed by the top panel 68 and cover panel 70 of the carrier 10 in its preferred embodiment. Alternately, a bipronged fastener 50 with a fastener adhesive strip 54 can be used to attach carrier 10 in the same manner.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 12a and 12b. This embodiment is disclosed to demonstrate carrier 10 integrated with another article, such as the pocket folder 152 shown in the figures. The components and operation of carrier 10 are preferably substantially the same as described above except that one lateral edge of back panel 16 is connected to pocket folder 152 by an extension section 154. Also, glue or adhesive could be used to attach back panel 16 to the underlying folder leaf 156. By folding carrier 10 along folder scorehne 158, and then assembling carrier 10 in the above-mentioned manner, a pocket folder 152 with an integrally formed and internally disposed carrier 10, as shown in Figure 12b, is constructed.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 13. This embodiment is disclosed to demonstrate carrier 10 integrated into a disposable section 92 which is separated from the carrier 10 along a line of perforation 90. The components and operation of carrier 10 are substantially the same as described above except that one edge of front panel 18, back panel 16, top panel 68 and cover panel 70 is integrated with disposable section 92 along the line of perforation 90. Disposable section 92 has two or more mounting apertures 94 cut through it to allow storage in a standard ring or spiral binder prior to use. At the time of use, disposable section 92 is removed along line of perforation 90 and discarded. Carrier 10 is then folded and assembled in the same manner as described above.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 14. This embodiment is disclosed to demonstrate carrier 10 integrated into a side panel 98. The components and operation of carrier 10 are substantially the same as described above except that only one lateral edge of back panel 16 is integrated with side panel 98. Front panel 18 is separated from side panel 98 by a first side perforation 100 while top panel 68 and cover panel 70 are separated from side panel 98 by a second side perforation 102.

Side panel 98 has two or more mounting apertures 94 cut through it to allow storage in a standard ring or spiral binder both prior to and during use. At the time of use, front panel 18 is separated from side panel 98 along first side perforation 100 and top panel 68 and cover panel 70 are separated from side panel 98 along second side perforation 102.

Carrier 10 is then folded and assembled in the same manner as described above except that it remains connected to side panel 98 along a lateral edge of back panel 16 after first side perforation 100 and second side perforation 102 are separated from side panel 98.

In this configuration, carrier 10 is retained within a standard ring or spiral binder by this side panel 98 during use.

Yet another alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 15a and 15b. This embodiment is disclosed to demonstrate carrier 10 with an integral side extension panel 112 which extends from back panel 16 along an extension scoreline 110.

By folding this side extension panel 112 along extension scoreline 110 so as to overlie back panel 16, a document space 114 is formed between these panels as seen in Figure 15b, open from above and on one side, that can receive contents such as a booklet of instructions. When carrier 10 is then folded and assembled in the manner described above, articles such as CDs can be stored and transported safely and securely. If carrier 10 is to be used for articles sensitive to scratching, such as CDs, a strip of soft fabric or paper 118 can be adhesively attached to its exterior face 14 and interior face 13 in the region of mouth flap 79 to reduce friction when articles are inserted and removed. In this embodiment, carrier 10 provides storage for articles and associated notes or instruction booklets and has expansive, unbroken surfaces for advertising or instructions on the exterior face 14 of back panel 16, top panel 68 and cover panel 70 Still another alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 16.

This embodiment is disclosed to demonstrate carrier 10 with a unshaped cut hanging tab 120 in the upper portion of the back panel 16, laterally centered with its open end adjacent the first top scoreline 65, and attached to the back panel 16 by at least two narrow points of interconnection or nicks 121 where the cut is interrupted. Hanging tab 120 has centered within it a hanging aperture 124. When the nicks 121 are manually broken and hanging tab 120 is bent upward through 180 degrees, hanging aperture 124 can be used to mount carrier 10 on a hook or post for retailing operations.

A further alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 17.

This embodiment has two pin apertures 128 cut in the upper portion of back panel 16, laterally centered and adjacent to the first top scoreline 65. These pin apertures 128 receive a safety-pin fastener 130 oriented so the carrier 10 can be attached to a person's apparel for use in trade shows or as a means of identification based on information applied to the exterior face of the cover panel 70.

Yet still another alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 18. This embodiment is disclosed to demonstrate carrier 10 having a body 12 with a front panel 18 extended in length and its fastening edge 20 replaced by a semi-circular internal locking tab 136, laterally centered and having an internal lock slit 138 inset a distance (e), both cut through the faces of the front panel 18. This semi-circular shaped internal locking tab 136 has extremity points 25 disposed to form a fine generally parallel to bottom scoreline 22 and located a predetermined distance (b) from it. The front panel 18 is further subdivided by a first top scoreline 65 and a second top scoreline 66 that define a top panel 68 and a cover panel 70. The back panel 16 has a fastening slit 34, laterally offset from center by a distance (e) to match the lateral inset of the internal lock slit 138. Carrier 10 is then assembled by first folding front panel 18 upwardly along bottom scoreline 22 to overlie the back panel 16. The internal locking tab 136 is then urged through the fastening slit 34 in a manner similar to the preferred embodiments described above, as shown in Figure 20, whereupon the front panel 18 bows outward and the pocket mouth flap 28 flexes inward and internal lock slit 138 comes to engagingly overlie the offset end 35 of fastening slit 34. Finally, top panel 68 and cover panel 70 are folded along the two top scorelines to overlie the front panel 18 and its pocket mouth opening 32 as shown in Figure 19. The opposing edge of the cover panel 70 is then inserted under the retaining tab 76. Two mounting apertures 94 adjacent the opposing edge of back panel 16 allow the carrier 10 to be retained by any two of the rings in a standard 3-ring binder. Alternately, a first prong slit 48 and a second prong slit 49 located adjacent the opposing edge of the back panel 16 can be used to attach a bipronged fastener 50 with a fastener adhesive strip 54 to the carrier 10, in a manner already disclosed above, so that the carrier 10 can be attached to articles such as a file folder 150 and the like in any desired orientation.

While this invention has been described as having exemplary embodiments, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure and appended claims. This application is thus intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. For example, the flexible materials used to form the carrier may be of paper, cardboard, paperboard or plastic and colored, patterned or textured. Where desired for particular applications, the carrier material may be transparent to microwave energy and the carrier may be filled and shrink- wrapped for retail merchandising.