Accordion File Folder With Removable And Repositionable Dividers

INVENTORS Christensen, Duane Jordan, William A.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/634042 filed on 6 December 2004, the complete subject matter of each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR

DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is directed to organizational products, file folders and more particularly to multi pocket or accordion file folders.

[0003] DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0004] Multi-pocket file folders sometimes sold as "accordion folders" have great utility in an office environment. A typical accordion folder has a series of pockets that can store office-sized documents. The pockets are permanently affixed to each other, front-to-back, with flexible sides that can expand to accommodate a large number of documents. Because the pockets are arranged in a fixed order with respect to each other, the accordion folder is especially suitable for filing tasks that require numerical or alphabetical order. The pockets may even be labeled with suitable tabs, such as "A" through "Z" or "1" through

"31", for instance.

[0005] However, the typical accordion folder lacks flexibility. The number of pockets is fixed, as is the size of the individual pockets. If only a few pockets are used in the folder, there may be unused pockets in the folder, requiring a folder that is substantially larger than it has to be. If the user wishes to store a large number of documents in a small pocket, the pocket may tear. Or, if the user uses an accordion folder with deliberately large pockets, so that the large number of documents may be accommodated in a single pocket, the remainder of the large pockets may be underutilized, resulting in wasted space in the accordion folder.

[0006] Furthermore, the labeling along the edge of the pockets lacks flexibility. For instance, there may be fixed tabs along an edge of each pocket with pre-printed indicia, such as "A" through "Z". Or, if the tabs are blank, they may be located at inconvenient locations, such as "left", "right" and "centered" in a fixed pattern along the open edge of the folders.

[0007] An additional drawback of the typical accordion folder is that the folders are indeed in a fixed order. In many circumstances, the user may wish to rearrange the pockets, such as when reprioritizing the elements in a particular file. In order to rearrange the contents of a typical accordion folder, the user has to remove and store the contents of each pocket separately, then reinsert each pocket's contents into the proper pocket in the folder. This is unwieldy at best, and may result in the loss or incorrect filing of particular documents in the folder. [0008] In addition, the pockets in a typical accordion folder lack portability.

If a user needs to remove and transport the contents of only one pocket in the folder, the entire folder must be transported, or a separate, additional folder must be used to transport the contents of a single pocket. This requires extra space during transport, or extra inventory in the office for the additional required folders. [0009] Accordingly, there exists a need for an accordion folder that can accommodate pockets of varying size, number, and labeling scheme, which easily allows the user to remove, reposition, rearrange, or reprioritize the contents of the particular pockets.

[0010] SUMMARY

[0011] The present invention has multiple features and embodiments. This summary is provided to assist the reader to receive a quick overview of the invention, but it is not a definition of the scope of the invention nor is it to be read as a limitation of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims which appear elsewhere in this text.

[0012] The invention includes a multi-pocket filing system, comprising:

A folder comprising a front, a back, a bottom and two sides, and a plurality of removable and repositionable dividers, wherein each divider engages each of said sides to form a sub-pocket within the filing system.

[0013] It may also have a locking mechanism, so that divider may be held rigidly in place to the sides by the locking mechanism.

[0014] In one embodiment the filing system of includes wherein divider includes first and second side edges, and wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one projection on each edge of the divider and pair of receiving apertures each of the sides to receive and engage said projection.

[0015] In one embodiment the filing system of has each divider including a top edge, and further comprises a plurality of spaced apart slots adjacent said top edge and sized to receive removable index tabs.

[0016] In one embodiment, the filing system of has the side edges of said divider each including engagement strips extending from said edges and wherein said locking mechanism is affixed thereto.

[0017] In one embodiment, the filing system the engagement strips are flexibly attached to said edges.

[0018] In one embodiment., the filing system has sides of said folder including a plurality of pleats of predetermined width and wherein said engagement strips are sized to be equal to or narrower than said predetermined width.

[0019] In one embodiment, the filing system has dividers having two sides and a top and bottom edge and therefore a top and bottom width between said

edges, and wherein the top width is greater than said bottom width to create a tapered shape from top to bottom.

[0020] In one embodiment, the filing system has dividers having tapered bottom corners to facilitate insertion of the dividers into said folder.

[0021] In one embodiment, the filing system has dividers including first and second side edges, and wherein the locking mechanism comprises a hook and look fastener for removeable engagement thereof.

[0022] In one embodiment, of the filing system each divider includes first and second side edges and wherein the locking system comprises a releasable adhesive.

[0023] In one embodiment of the filing system each divider includes first and second side edges and wherein the locking system comprises a magnet fastener.

[0024] There is also disclosed a method of dynamically sub-dividing the space within a folder have two opposing walls and pleated sides connecting the walls, and a plurality of dividers having edges, comprising; a. providing a locking mechanism on the edges of the divider; b. providing an engager on at least some of the pleats configured to releasably engage said locking mechanism on said dividers; so that the space within the folder can be dynamically sub-divided by installing of said dividers.

[0025] Further disclosed is a method wherein said locking mechanism include prongs and pleats include apertures sized to receive said prongs and wherein the method includes inserting said prongs into said apertures to secure the divider within the folder.

[0026] This summary is only that, and is not the complete disclosure.

Reference should be had to the rest of this text for a full understanding of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0027] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an accordion filing system with removable dividers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0028] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an accordion filing system 10. It is understood that this invention is not limited to accordion style folders but is intended to cover any organizing system which has dividers to create separate sections. The word "folder" is to be interpreted broadly, to include, traditional file pocket folders for papers and the like, but also file boxes, and indeed, any container capable of confining objects which could be subdivided into separate removable sections. Accordion files are illustrated only for convenience and for ease of understanding. An accordion file folder 11 has pleated edges and, optionally, a pleated bottom (not shown in FIG. 1). Each pleat 12 may accommodate a removable divider 14, where the divider is inserted preferably snugly in a pleat 12, in the corresponding pleat on the opposite edge of the folder, and in the optional pleat in the bottom of the folder. The dividers 14 may be positioned by a user in response to the size of a "sub" pocket required for a particular group of documents. For instance, if the user requires a relatively large pocket, the dividers 14 may be spaced relatively far apart, with one or more pleats 12 left empty. Or ₁ if the user requires a relatively narrow pocket, the dividers 14 may be inserted in adjacent plats 12. Advantageously, the dividers 14 are spaced in accordance with the needs of the user, both in terms of relative pocket sizes and the total number of pockets required. Accordingly, an accordion file folder 11 with n number of pleats 12 may accommodate any number of dividers 14 between 0 and n, which in turn form any number of pockets between 1 and n+1. The number n may preferably be 11. [0029] The accordion file folder 11 may be made of a durable paper material, such as the material commonly used for the exterior of typical known accordion folders. Alternatively, a plastic material may also be used. The dividers 14 may be made of a paper material as well, such as a manila stock. In

general, the dividers 14 need not be as durable as the accordion file folder 11 exterior, so a thinner paper stock may be used. Alternatively, a plastic material may also be used for the dividers 14.

[0030] Each divider 14 may have folded over sides or flap extensions or strips 15, where the folded portions themselves engage the pleats 12 in the accordion file folder 11. In general, the folded sides 15 provide more strength and tear resistance to the divider 14 than a comparably-sized unfolded side. Sides 15 may be sized to fit the pleats for extra engagement and reinforcement of the pleats themselves. The width of sides 15 may be equal to the smallest pocket anticipated in the system or equal to the size of pocket desired and create "spacers" between the pockets. Therefore, it is possible that different sized dividers 14 with wide or narrow sides 15 will create discrete sized pockets. This is especially true in systems which do not have pleats (such as a large open pocket, a pocket of soft or web material which does not create discrete sub sections or the like.

[0031] In addition to strength, the folded sides 15 may also have an optional locking mechanism to secure the dividers in place inside the accordion file folder 11. On such system is drawn in FIG. 1 , the locking mechanism may be a strip (preferably soft metal) 16 with bendable ends/prongs/projections/ 18 , flexible enough so that it may easy be bent by the user, but thick enough to rigidly retain its shape once bent by the user. The metal strip 16 is fixedly attached to the folded side 15 between the two fold points 17 which receive the prongs 18. Beyond the fold points 17 are bendable ends /prongs 18, which may be bent by the user to substantially any orientation between flush with the folded side 15 and folded back fully upon itself. When a divider 14 is inserted into a pleat 12, the metal strip 16 may releasably be received and engage a pair of slits 13 in the side of the pleat 12, which are spaced apart by roughly the separation between the two fold points 17. When engaged, the bendable ends 18 extend through the slits 13, and the user locks the divider 14 in place by bending the bendable ends 18 to lie either flush with the folded side 15 or folded back fully upon themselves. This optional locking mechanism provided by the metal strip

16 and the slits 13 may be implemented on either or both edges of the accordion file folder 11. Note that if only one edge of the folder has slits 13 and only one edge of the divider has a metal strip 16, then each divider necessarily has a preferred orientation in the accordion file folder 11 , with respect to front vs. back. [0032] Many other attachment systems are possible or need not be fully removable. For example, hook and loop systems (like Velcro®) attached to opposing faces will work. In addition, adhesive tape with a removable protectant shield strip will provide an efficient one time use solution. Low tack adhesives like that used in Post It® notes may suffice. In metal containers, for example magnetic elements may be used.

[0033] The folded sides 15 may be tapered at the bottom edge, in order to guide the divider 14 more smoothly into the pleat 12 and to prevent snagging. The tapers 19 may preferably be at 45 degrees or at least have a contour matching the contour of the file folder bottom, although any angle between 0 and 90 degrees may be used.

[0034] It is also possible to taper the divider itself toward the bottom. The taper can be slight, such as less than a 1-5 % differential between the bottom extent 30 and the top extent 31. The taper will not affect the dividing function (except in configurations where must be water tight, in which case there should be no taper and special grooves must be provided in the folder are to be provided to receive the dividers 14.

[0035] Each divider 14 may have a series of slots 20 arranged along its top edge, which can accommodate an index tab. The index tabs themselves may be the well-known index tabs commonly used with hanging folders, which engage a pair of slots 20 and identify the divider based on a particular used- defined index on the tab. A common index tab spans across three slots, engaging two slots with an unused slot located midway across the tab. For a divider 14 with m slots, the common index tab may therefore be located in any of m-2 (m minus 2) locations along the top of the divider 14. The number m may preferably be 11. [0036] Although the slots 20 may extend through both sides of the divider

14, they are preferably accessible from only one side. Note that the presence of slots 20 may also define a front of the divider, in combination with the presence of a metal strip 16 along a particular edge. A preferred way of fabricating the slots 20 is to first punch a series of through-holes in the paper stock, then to fold a region 21 of the paper stock containing the holes back upon itself, and finally to bond or glue a portion of the folded region 21 onto the unfolded region. In FIG. 1 , the portion between edge 22 and the holes 20 may be glued, as described above. Furthermore, the fold line described above thereby forms the top edge of the divider 14, which provides additional strength to the divider 14. The glues used are well-known to one of ordinary skill in the art of file folders. [0037] Alternatively, the dividers themselves may have index tabs on their top edge 31.

[0038] The description of the invention and its applications as set forth herein is illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein are possible, and practical alternatives to and equivalents of the various elements of the embodiments would be understood to those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this patent document. These and other variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.