Visually Enhanced Tab File System

• US 20080156853A1
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smead Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Smead Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Dodson, Darryll
• Granted Patent: US 7,900,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/67.1
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2150/00 Flexible containers made from sheets or blanks, e.g. from flattened tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2160/10 rectangular and flat, i.e. without structural provision for thickness of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2160/102 obtained from essentially rectangular sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2160/20 with structural provision for thickness of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/14 Cutting, e.g. perforating, punching, slitting or trimming cutting window openings B31B70/83
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/142 using presses or dies
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/20 Cutting sheets or blanks
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/82 Forming or attaching windows
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 15/0023 with single suspension means
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 15/0035 suspended at both extremities
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 19/00 File cards B42F21/00 takes precedence; punched cards for information retrieval, e.g. for manual use, G06K21/00
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 19/02 folded
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 21/02 Tabs integral with sheets, papers, cards, or suspension files
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 21/025 for suspension files
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 27/00 Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of contents with shock-absorbing properties B65D81/03; letter-cards B42D15/00

Abstract

A tab system for a folder (10a), and a method of making same is disclosed. The tab is enlarged to carry more information/indicia. The visual indicia space (16a), i.e. the viewable space on the front (32a, 36a) of the folder which allows viewing of the enlarged tab is achieve without violating the overall size restrictions (40a) of the file folder. Instead, the front of the folder adjacent to the tab on the back panel, is cut away (32a,34a) to expose a greater portion of the back panel (14a) and allow an increase in visual indicia space. The remaining portion of the front panel, not adjacent to the tab may also be cut away (34a) to allow other enlarged tab files, with offset tabs, (22d, 21a) to be viewable behind the present file.

Claims

1. A file folder, with increased writable tab surface comprising:

a) a back panel surface having a top edge including a tab,

b) a front panel surface overlying at least a portion of the back panel, said front panel having a cut out portion adjacent said tab and being at least as large as the tab, so that said tab has a portion of its writable surface visible thru the cut our portion of said front panel.

2. A file folder comprising:

a) a back panel having a top edge and a tab extending upwardly therefrom;

b) a front panel having a top edge and a recessed portion creating a void, said void exposing a portion of the tab; and

c) said top edge of said front and back panels being substantially equal in height except at the void and tab respectively.

3. A hanging folder comprising:

a) a back panel including top edge and a tab extending upwardly therefrom

b) a support element in said panel for support;

c) a front panel including a top edge and a support element in said panel for support;

d) said top edge of said front panel including a recessed portion in positioned at least under said tab of said back panel, thereby exposing additional portions of the back panel.

4. The folder of claim 3 wherein said front panel includes a support element having an offset portion at the recessed portion.

5. The folder of claim 4 wherein said support element is a support rod having at least one linear section and a section offset from said linear section and being connected to said linear section by at least one connecting portion, thereby forming a support rod with an offset section.

6. A method making a file folder to have enhanced visual indicia tab space without increasing the overall folder size comprising:

a) providing a folder blank of predetermined dimensions having a front and back panel, the back panel including a tab extension portion extending from an edge of the folder, the back panel having a tab of predetermined height and the front panel likewise having a predetermined height;

the front panel overlying the back panel when the folder is in use thereby covering most of the back panel; and

b) reducing the coverage of the back panel by the front panel adjacent the tab extension by cutting a portion of the front panel away thereby exposing more of said tab to be visible from the front.

7. A method making a file folder to have enhanced visual indicia tab with a writable visible tab space larger taller than a predetermined industry standard tab height without increasing the overall folder height comprising:

a) providing a folder blank of predetermined dimensions having a front and back panel, the back panel including a tab extension extending upwardly from an edge of the folder generally equal to a predetermined industry standard tab height above the front panel height, the front panel overlying the back panel when the folder is folded thereby covering most of the back panel;

b) deleting a portion of the front panel which would lie adjacent to the tab extension on the back panel, said deletion creating a recess in the front panel roughly equal to the predetermined standard tab height;

so that the exposed portion of the tab extension is roughly equal to twice the predetermined industry standard tab height allowing additional indicia to be written on said exposed portion.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said deletion extends only in the region directly adjacent the tab extension.