CARD FILES WITH A DROP FRONT

• US 3,595,433 A
• Filed: 04/25/1969
• Issued: 07/27/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles E. Jones, Joseph H. Gruenhut
• Original Assignee: Charles E. Jones, Joseph H. Gruenhut
• Inventors: Jones, Charles E., Gruenhut, Joseph H.
• Application Number:
  US04/819,312
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• US Class Current: 206/737
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 17/08 Construction of the containers, e.g. trays or drawers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/00 Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 45/16 Clips, hooks, or clamps which are removable, or which remain connected either with the closure or with the container when the container is open, e.g. C-shaped U-shaped or bifurcated members B65D45/04

Abstract

A filing case is formed as a unitary resilient, or flexible, plastic structure. A forward-swinging or dropfront panel is released when the filing case is opened, thereby making the contents readily accessible. All components of the case, including cover, panel, and hinges, are molded as an assembled structure from one mass of resilient plastic material. The cover and front panel are each formed in an open position so as to bias these elements in that position.

Claims

1. In a one-piece dropfront container for use as a filing case or the like, and including A. body having contiguous bottom, rear, and a pair of side panels, B. a cover integrally hinged to the top of said rear panel, and having contiguous top, front, rear, and a pair of side panels, C. a forward swinging front panel integrally hinged to the front of said bottom panel, with a pair of guide tabs contiguous with said first panel and extending into said body adjacent said side panels, and D. means cooperating with said guide tabs for permitting limited forward movement of said front panel, said body, cover, hinges, guide tabs, and limited movement means being integrally formed as a unitary structure of resilient plastic material, the improvement comprising:

1. a first, inwardly extending, latch integral with said cover, said latch being manually liftable when said front panel and said cover are in closed position, and 2. a second, outwardly extending, latch integral with said front panel and matable with said first latch when said cover and said front panel are both in closed position, so that either outward lifting of said first latch or inward pressure on said front panel disengages said latches and permits said cover to be opened and said front panel to be swung outward.

2. a second, outwardly extending, latch integral with said front panel and matable with said first latch when said cover and said front panel are both in closed position, so that either outward lifting of said first latch or inward pressure on said front panel disengages said latches and permits said cover to be opened and said front panel to be swung outward.

3. Container of claim 1 wherein said resilient plastic comprises isotactic polypropylene.

4. Container of claim 1 wherein said limited movement means comprises a pair of channel elements near the tops of said side panels and inwardly of said body, said channel elements being contiguous with said side panels and with said rear panel, said channel elements providing a movement-limiting abutment for said guide tabs.

5. Container of claim 1 wherein said limited movement means comprises a pair of projections on the inwardly facing sides of said side panels near the top thereof to provide a movement-limiting abutment for said guide tabs.

6. Container of claim 1 wherein said limited movement means comprises a pair of outwardly extending projections on said side panels, and a pair of inwardly extending flanges along the front edges of said side panels to provide movement-limiting abutments for said projections.

7. Container of claim 1 wherein said hinge connecting said cover and said body comprises a pair of tapered flanges extending outwardly of the rear panels of said cover and said body, the intersection of said flanges being of relatively thin material.

8. A one-piece dropfront container for use as a filing case or the like comprising:

A. a body having contiguous bottom, rear, and a pair of side panels, B. a cover integrally hinged to the top of said rear panel, with