Conventionally, a typical filing system for wallets comprises a drawer of a cabinet with two horizontal guide rails from which wallets can be suspended. The wallets are typically positioned in front of one another on the guide rails. Unless index tabs are provided on the filing wallets themselves, it is difficult to locate and retrieve a file at a glance without resorting to perusing through a number of wallets. This is also true for side entry filing systems in which two horizontal rails, one at the rear and one at the front of a cabinet, and a series of wallets with open sides suspended from the rails are provided. Also, replacing the file involves the awkward task of holding neighbouring filing wallets apart to create a space for the wallet at its original position. Furthermore, all filing systems including cabinets are space-consuming and are heavy and cumbersome to relocate. Indeed, they are particularly unsuitable to the home office environment in which space is at a premium.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to alleviate the problems described above.

Accordingly, the invention comprises a filing system for suspending two or more filing wallets comprising: first and second elongate members, each member being adapted to be positioned in a generally vertical orientation, and having two or more support formations spaced vertically along its length, the first member being laterally spaced from the second member whereby a first hanging member of a filing wallet is suspendible from a support formation of the first member, and a second hanging member at another end of the filing wallet is suspendible from a corresponding support formation of the second member.

Preferably, the first and second members are movable with respect to one another. Thus, the distance between the members can be varied. Preferably, the first and second members are separate items. Thus, the members are easily positioned at any distance from one another eg suitable for standard distances such as A3, A4, A5 or even at non standard distances. Also, the orientation of the members to one another can easily be varied.

References to relative terms such as upper, lower, outer, inner etc are with reference to the members when in a position ready for use.

In a preferred embodiment, at least two pairs of first and second elongate members are provided and the second member of one pair and the first member of another pair form an integral elongate member whereby files are suspendible between the first and second elongate members

of each pair.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filing system has provided on each member three or more vertically spaced support formations. Preferably, the support formations are substantially equidistantly spaced from one another in a generally vertical direction. The support formations may be present along one or more elongate sides of one or both members. For example, support formations may be formed on opposite sides of one or both members.

Preferably, the filing system includes a filing wallet.

The term filing wallet includes a filing folder, pocket etc of any suitable material which opens from the top or side and has at least one hanging member or end such as a hook or an extension or other means for suspending the filing wallet, protruding beyond side edges of filing wallet at or near an upper edge of the wallet. The invention is applicable to filing wallets of all standard sizes, for example, A5, A4, A3 etc, as well as to non standard sizes.

In a preferred embodiment, corresponding support formations on each member comprise an upwardly facing seat for receiving respective hanging members or ends of a filing wallet. Preferably, one or more, and preferably each, support formation comprises an upwardly projecting member for aiding retention of the wallet in the seat.

Preferably, the seat of at least one pair of

corresponding support formations, one on each member, is shaped so that under the influence of gravity the ends of a filing wallet will tend to rest in a pre-determined end-stop position. For example, the seat may be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. The seat may be inclined upwardly towards a front of the first or second members so that the end-stop position is to a rear of the seat. Alternatively, the seat may be inclined upwardly towards a rear of the first or second member so that the end-stop position is towards the front of the seat. This embodiment is particularly advantageous since it results in more efficient use of the width of the first and second members. For example, when the end-stop positions are towards the front of the first and second members, any wallets placed in these end-stop positions have space to expand, as they become fuller, both in front of the first and second members and in the width of the first and second members to the rear of the end-stop positions.

Thus, the first and second members need not be as wide as when the end-stop positions are to the rear of the first and second members, to accommodate the same width of file.

Preferably, one or more support formations comprise a recess in a side edge of the member. Preferably, one or more recesses have a height along its respective member which is greater than its depth into the member.

Preferably, successively lower support formations have successively shallower depth into the member.

Preferably, the lowest points of each successive support formation are substantially equidistant from one another.

Preferably, one or more formations comprise a generally V-shaped recess. Preferably, the V-shaped recess has two sides, preferably, at an obtuse angle with respect to one another. The sides preferably meet to form the obtuse angle.

Preferably, one or more successively lower support formations are located further outwards in a horizontal direction than one or more higher support formations with respect to a substantially vertical reference line through the member when the member is in a position in a generally vertical direction ready for use. Where the rear of the member is substantially vertical when the member is in position ready for use, this reference line may be the rear of the member. Preferably, each successive formation is located progressively further outwards with respect to the reference line through the member.

Preferably, the lowest pair of corresponding support formations have an upwardly facing seat for receiving an end of a filing wallet and each seat is shaped so that under the influence of gravity the hanging members of a filing wallet will tend to rest in a predetermined end- stop position of the seat and the end-stops of these lowest formations are positioned furthest from the reference line whereby a wallet hanging in this pair of support formations is in the lowest possible hanging position.

Preferably, the highest formation is spaced by a predetermined amount, and preferably is the furthest formation from a substantially vertical reference line through the member. When the member is positioned ready for use, this space allows an uppermost wallet to expand, if necessary, for example as it becomes full. Typically this distance will be 2-6cm and preferably 3-5cm, for example it may be around the same distance as that between support formations along the same member in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Preferably, one or more lower formations have a progressively narrower lateral extension than a preceding formation. Preferably, each successively lower formation has a progressively narrower lateral extension than the formation immediately above it. This reduces the lateral extent to which the filing system juts out towards a user when in position. This embodiment of the filing system is particularly efficient in the use of space.

Preferably, two lines, one passing through a rearmost part of three or more, and preferably, all of the formations and one passing through a frontmost part of three or more of the formations, meet at a point below the lowest formation.

Preferably, the first and second members comprise means for mounting to a support structure such as a wall such as a hole, a recess, an adhesive strip, a VELCRO strip, a screw and so on. Other examples can be envisaged and are covered by this invention.

Preferably, the means for mounting the first and second members to a support structure, for example a wall or a free standing structure, is releasable. Preferably, the means for mounting comprises VELCRO. The means for mounting may comprise adhesive.

Preferably, the filing system includes at least one free standing support structure to which one or both of the first and second members are mounted. Preferably, each of the first and second members are mounted to a respective free standing support structure.

Alternatively the first and second members form a free standing support structure.

The first and second members may be provided with means, such as one or more threaded bores, for receiving respective ends of one or more rods to be positioned between the members. Preferably, the rods have threaded ends to be received in the bores. A free standing filing system may be formed using the rod or rods. At least one of the bores at the top of one of the first and second members is a throughbore so that the end of a rod can be passed therethrough to be connected to the other of the first and second members.

Preferably, the first and second members are planar. The first and second members may comprise one or more planar support members adapted, for example, for interlocking with the first and second members. One or both support members may comprise one or more slots that receive

projections on the first and second members, or vice versa. For example, a recess could be formed behind the projection, the recess being sized and shaped to slot over the support member at one end of the slot. Or, the one or more support members may be hingedly connected to the first and second members. In either case, the filing system can be disassembled to form a flat pack if the members are also planar.

Preferably, the filing system is made from plastic. This allows for flexibility when constructing the filing system and enables manufacturing costs to be kept to a minimum. The filing system may be extruded for strength in strip-form or vacuum-moulded, and then the shape of the members stamped out. Preferably, one or both of the first and second members are formed by moulding such as but not limited to injection moulding. Preferably, one or both of the first and second members are T-shaped in cross-section.

Preferably, one or both of the first and second members are formed from a unitary member.

Ideally, the filing system is transparent, for example, made from transparent plastic. Not only is this aesthetically pleasing but it also allows the files to be seen and thus more easily identified, when viewed from the side of the filing system.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a filing system according to the invention including first and second members having support formations.

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of part of the first or second member of the filing system of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view of a support member for the first or second members of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a filing system according to the invention showing a filing wallet suspended from a pair of support formations.

Figure 5 is a more detailed view of the member of Fig. 2 showing each support formation comprising a recess.

Figure 6 is a more detailed view of an alternative first or second member according to the invention showing alternative support formations.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a filing system incorporating an integral elongate member having two elongate first and second members in another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 is a schematic side view of a first or second member according to a further embodiment.

Figure 9 is a schematic side view of a first or second member of the invention according to a further embodiment, the member having support formations spaced vertically along opposite sides.

Figure 10 is a schematic side view of an alternative embodiment of a first or second member for use in, for example, a free-standing filing system.

Figure 11 is a schematic side view of first or second members for use in a free-standing, double sided filing system.

Figure 12 shows schematic side and front views of a unitary injection moulded first or second member.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a filing system 1, for suspending filing wallets having first and second elongate members 2,5. In this particular embodiment members 2,5 comprise shaped front struts 3,6 which are fixed realisably to respective supporting rear members 4,7. First and second elongate members 2,5 have support formations 8, spaced vertically along the front edge of front struts 3 and 6, from which filing wallets can be suspended. The support formations 8 will be described in more detail

below.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1, front struts 3,6 are separate from and simply slot into respective rear members 4,7 to form elongate members 2,5 of the filing system. However, this need not be the case. For example, front members 3,6 could be integral with rear members 4,7. Or, front struts 3,6 could be adapted to form elongate members 2,5 without rear members 4,7.

For example, front struts 3,6 may have other means of support, as would be easily imagined by those skilled in the art, than rear members 4,7.

Supporting rear members 4,7 may be free standing or connectable to a separate support structure, for example, a wall. It is envisaged that means for fixing rear members 4,7 include screws, hanging hooks etc.

Surprisingly, VELCRO is highly suitable for fixing rear members 4,7 securely to a vertical support structure such as a wall. This is attributable to the resistance of VELCRO to the detachment of opposing VELCRO pieces in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the pieces. In other words, opposing VELCRO pieces will not easily slide over one another. VELCRO has been found to support the filing system on a wall even when partially or fully full.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, front struts 3,6 are realisably mounted to respective rear members 4,7 by upper and lower interlocking means 9,10,11. Firstly, upper and lower projections 9 on struts 3,6 are received

by respective upper and lower slots 10 in rear members 4, 7 so that recess 11, formed between projection 9 and front members 3,6, is positioned over a rest 12 on rear members 4,7. Next, front struts 3,6 are moved in a downward direction relative to rear members 4,7 so that recess 11 slides down to contact rest 12. This sliding action causes projection 9 to abut against the rear face of rear member 4,7 thereby locking front member 3,6 to rear member 4,7. In this way, front member 3,6 can be released from rear member 4,7 only by firstly moving front member in an upward direction relative to rear member 4,7, so that projection 9 slides clear from the rear face of rear member 4,7, and then passing projection 9 through and away from slot 10. Front members 3,6 can be fixed more securely to rear members 4,7 by providing at least upper and lower interlocking means 9,10,11.

As shown in Fig. 4, separate, elongate members 2,5 are spaced by a pre-determined distance to accommodate a filing wallet 13 in between the members. It will be understood that the distance between members 2,5 can be altered to accommodate filing wallets 13 of different sizes. Thus, members 2,5 being separate items can be mounted to suit a user's requirements. Whilst it is preferred that members 2 and 5 are entirely distinct and separate, they may simply be movable with respect to one another. For example, they may be joined by a cross bar, with predefined mounting positions so that the members can be mounted at specific distances from one another. This is less preferred than the option of completely

separate members which can be mounted separately at any distance, including standard and non standard distances, and indeed at any orientation with respect to one another. The filing wallet has provided at each end a protruding hanging member 14, such as a peg or hook, by which the filing wallet is suspended at each end from the support formations 8 on members 2,5. The filing wallet 13 is supported at one end 14 by a support formation 8 of first elongate member 2 and at its other end 14 by a corresponding support formation 8, that is, a support formation typically at the same horizontal level of the second elongate member 5. In this way, a series of filing wallets can be suspended from successive pairs of vertically spaced support formations 8.

In Fig. 5, a series of eight vertically spaced support formations 8 are provided on each member 2,5. In preferred arrangements, twelve pairs of support formations, corresponding to 12 months say, or seven pairs of support formations, corresponding to seven days, may be provided. Typically, the members are 24 inches (60cm) to 36inches (90cm) in height for ease of manufacture, the support formations being spaced by around 2 inches (5cm).

In Fig 5, each support formation 8 comprises an upwardly facing generally V-shaped recess 15. The V-shaped recess 15 has two sides at an acute angle with respect to one another. The base of each recess 15 faces upwardly to form seats al-hl for receiving a hanging member of a filing wallet 13. The seats al-hl are inclined with

respect to a horizontal plane upwardly towards the front edge of the member 3,6 so that an end-stop position 16 is formed towards the rear of the seat. When a filing wallet is suspended from seats al-hl, the filing wallet 13 will tend, under the influence of gravity, to slide to the rear of the seat and come to rest at end-stop position 16a-h. This enables the wallet to be opened by pulling one edge of the wallet forwards, along and up the seats al-hl.

Each recess 15 is of a height, say the length of the opening of the recess between support formations 8, along its respective member 3,6 which is greater than its depth into the member 3,6, say the width of the seat, or the front edge of the recess to the end-stop position 16a-26h. This enables ease of access when inserting or extracting wallets.

It can be seen from Fig. 5 that in this embodiment the end-stop positions 16a-h of support formations 8 are substantially equidistant from one another, so the files are equally spaced when hanging in the system. If a particularly large file is to be accommodated in a wallet, this distance between support formations may be increased for one or more pairs of formations. Also, the distance of successively lower end-stop positions 16a-h relative to a reference line 18 drawn parallel to the rear edge 19 of the member 3,6 increases. Thus, the file wallets do not, in this embodiment at least, hang vertically above one another, but rather are spaced in a horizontal direction. This provides ease of access to

the wallets, whilst it is preferred that successively lower seats are spaced further from a centre line of the filing system, some seats may be spaced above one another, for example, the lowest two or three seats may be positioned directly vertically above one another.

This limits the amount the members 2,5 protrude. Also, successively lower seats al-hl are preferably successively narrower. Thus, preferably successively lower support formations 8 have a successively shallower depth into the member 3,6. If a first imaginary reference line 20 were to pass through the innermost points, say the end-stop positions 16a-16h, of seats al- hl, and a second imaginary reference line 21 were to pass through the outermost points of the seats al-hl, ie the projections 17, then the two lines 20,21 would converge below the lowermost support formation 8. Narrower seats al-hl lower down also alleviate the problem of the overall width 23 of the filing system 1 being excessively wide and inconvenient in environments where space is at a premium. This arrangement, in combination with placing lower seats further from the rear of members 2,5, is a particularly advantageous design, providing easy access to wallets without too deep a filing system.

At the outer end of its seat al-hl, each support formation 8 comprises an upwardly projecting member 17 for aiding retention of the hanging member 14 in the seat al-hl. This is particularly useful when seats al-hl are less steeply inclined, horizontal or even inclined in the reverse direction as shown in Fig. 6.

The distance 22 between reference line 18 and the rear edge of member 3,6 is usually larger than shown in Fig.

5 to accommodate filing wallets 13 suspended from the upper support formations 8 which may become bulky when full. Typically distance 22 is one third to around one half the total width of member 3,6. Furthermore, bulky filing wallets 13 can be suspended from lower support formations 8 since these will tend to bulge out into the space in front of the filing system 1.

V-shaped recess 15 facilitates the placing and removal of a filing wallet 13 in the direction as indicated by arrow 100. Top-opening filing wallets 13 suspended from any of seats al-hl can be opened towards the user to a maximum opening width equivalent to the length of the particular seat al-hl from which the filing wallet is suspended, that is, the distance between the end-stop position 16a-h and the projecting member 17. Filing wallets suspended from upper seats, for example al-dl, can be opened to a greater extent than those suspended from lower seats, for example el-hl.

However, if seats al-hl were more steeply inclined, or if the V-shaped recess opposite seats al-hl were less steeply inclined, it would be more difficult to insert and retrieve filing wallets 13 from support formations 8, and to open filing wallets 13 suspended from any of seats al-hl, for example to insert documents.

As can be seen in Fig. 6, a differently shaped recess can be envisaged in which a filing wallet placed along the

length of seat 16 can be opened in a direction away from the user towards the rear of the seat, and will come to rest at end-stop positions 16a-16h near the front of seats al to hl. As in Fig. 5, the distance of successively lower end-stop positions relative to reference line 18 drawn parallel to the rear edge 19 of the member 3,6 increases. In either embodiment, lengths a-h could be equal, so that all of the seats al-hl are directly under one another. Further alternatives regarding the distance of end-stop positions 16a-h relative to reference line 18 can be envisaged. For example, lengths a and b could be equal, lengths c and d could also be equal but longer than lengths a and b, and so on. In this way, a filing system could have two seats directly under one another then the next two seats laterally spaced from the former seats. Similarly, a filing system can have three seats, or four seats, directly under one another, then the next three seats, or four seats, laterally spaced from the former seats.

Indeed, the embodiment of members 3,6, shown in Fig. 6, can be narrower overall than that in Fig. 5, thus saving space, since the end-stop positions are to the front of the first and second members. This enables the wallets to sit to the front of the first and second members and expand rearwards if necessary. Indeed, where the seats al-hl are quite steep, as in Fig. 6, it may be difficult to open the top of a wallet whilst it is still in the filing system. However, when a wallet is partially pulled out of the formations 8, the front of the wallet typically falls forward so exposing the contents and

enabling papers to be inserted or extracted.

In Fig. 6, distance 35 can be increased to accommodate a file suspended from seat 16h. This is useful when member 2,5 or struts 3,6 are designed to be free standing.

As shown in Fig. 7, several pairs of first and second members 2,5 can be mounted in series to provide a series of identical filing racks each capable of holding a vertically spaced row of files 13. Central integral member 30 forms a second elongate member 5A of a first file rack 2A, 5A, and a first elongate member 2B of a second file rack 2B, 5B. Several sets of integral members can be placed in series along, say, a wall, to form a filing system comprising several filing racks one after the other.

Figure 8 shows an alternative shape for a first or second member 3,6 based on the principles of the invention.

Recess formations 32 are more roundly shaped than in the previous embodiments.

Figures 9 and 10 show alternative members 33,34 which function as members 3,6 with support formations 8 spaced vertically along opposite edges, thus forming a double- sided filing system. Members 33 and 34 can stand freely when the bases of the members are sufficiently wide or where cross bars or rods are placed across the gap between the members 33,34 to help stabilise and support the filing system. If members 33 and 34 are part of free standing filing systems, the distance between the lowest

support formations and the base of the members is typically sufficiently long so a file can be suspended from these formations. This is shown as a dotted line in Fig.11.

Figure 11 also illustrates threaded bores 36 for receiving threaded ends of rods (not shown) to be mounted between members 34 to form a free standing structure.

Figure 12 shows front and side views of a unitary first or second member 2,5. Here front strut 3,6 is integral with rear support members 4,7. Thus, the member 2,5 is T-shaped in cross-section. Member 2,5 is T-shaped in cross-section. Member 2,5 is moulded, typically by injection moulding, from plastic. To simplify the moulding operation and keep the costs of the tool down only one fixing hole 38 has been provided. Elsewhere alternative mounting features have been provided in the form of slots 40. Slots 40 are, in this particular case, formed in widened section 42 of rear member 4,7.

Adhesive and/or Velcro can be fixed to widened section 42 to mount members 2,5. Also, the rear members have a generally flat rear surface for aiding positioning on a wall.

Whilst it is envisaged that the first and second members can be identical to one another this need not necessarily be so. This may be the case for example, as already described, if a series of file racks is envisaged, the second member of one being integral with the first member of another and thus different from the first member of

the first rack. Another arrangement could be first and second members differently sized, for example, to take account of a recess in a wall against which they are positioned. Thus the average distance of support formation 8 from the rear of the member could be greater in one member than the other to take account of the recess. Other variations between members to take account of their intended location can be envisaged from this description of the invention.

Kits may be provided including members 3,6 and 4,7 along with preferably one or more rods for providing a free standing structure. Indeed, members 4,7 can be provided with holes 10A as shown in Fig. 3 for permanently fixing members 4,7 to the wall, say with screws or nails. Also, members 3,6 may be provided with holes 36 for forming a free standing structure using the rods.

Such kits would therefore be adaptable for being releasably, or optionally permanently, fixed to a wall or optionally, free standing. Where two sets of first and second members are included in the kit, a free standing, double sided filing system is provided. Thus a basic kit may include first and second members adapted to be permanently and/or realisably mounted and a more sophisticated kit may include one or two pairs of first and second members and rods for interconnection between the first and second members.