Collapsible file box
First Claim
1. A collapsible file box comprising:
- (a) a rectangular base;
(b) a pair of generally rectangular ends adapted to extend vertically upwardly from the rectangular base, each end including an upper side tab and a lower side tab which both extend outwardly from each of two edges of the end in substantially co-planar relationship with the end, the upper side tabs having a different width than the lower side tabs; and
(c) a pair of generally rectangular sides adapted to extend vertically upwardly from the rectangular base, each side having an upper groove and a lower groove in each of two side extremities of the side, the upper grooves being slightly wider than the vertical dimension of the upper tabs so that each upper groove may receive an upper tab, the lower grooves being slightly wider than the vertical dimension of the lower tabs so that each lower groove may receive a lower tab;
wherein the upper tab and the lower tab of each edge of a rectangular end can be simultaneously inserted into only the corresponding upper groove and lower groove of an extremity of a rectangular side, so that the collapsible file box can be assembled only with the sides and ends in correct vertical orientation with respect to each other.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A collapsible file box is disclosed which includes a rectangular base, a pair of generally rectangular ends adapted to extend vertically upwardly from the rectangular base, each end further including a plurality of side tabs extending outwardly from each of the two side edges of the end, a pair of generally rectangular sides adapted to extend vertically upwardly from the rectangular base, each side having a plurality of grooves at each of the two side extremities of the side to receive the tabs on the ends so that the tabs may be inserted into the grooves to assemble the collapsible file box only with the sides and ends in correct orientation to each other. The collapsible file box may also include a rectangular lid which is substantially structurally identical to the rectangular base, and may also include upwardly facing side rails on the sides for suspending conventional letter size hanging file folders, and upwardly facing end rails on the ends for suspending conventional legal size hanging file folders. The assembled collapsible file box may have a base, end, sides, and a lid with substantially closed surfaces so that the assembled collapsible file box is substantially dustproof.
125 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A collapsible file box comprising:
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(a) a rectangular base; (b) a pair of generally rectangular ends adapted to extend vertically upwardly from the rectangular base, each end including an upper side tab and a lower side tab which both extend outwardly from each of two edges of the end in substantially co-planar relationship with the end, the upper side tabs having a different width than the lower side tabs; and (c) a pair of generally rectangular sides adapted to extend vertically upwardly from the rectangular base, each side having an upper groove and a lower groove in each of two side extremities of the side, the upper grooves being slightly wider than the vertical dimension of the upper tabs so that each upper groove may receive an upper tab, the lower grooves being slightly wider than the vertical dimension of the lower tabs so that each lower groove may receive a lower tab;
wherein the upper tab and the lower tab of each edge of a rectangular end can be simultaneously inserted into only the corresponding upper groove and lower groove of an extremity of a rectangular side, so that the collapsible file box can be assembled only with the sides and ends in correct vertical orientation with respect to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A collapsible file box comprising:
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(a) a rectangular base; (b) a rectangular lid which is substantially structurally identical to the base, and therefore interchangeable with the base; (c) a pair of generally rectangular ends adapted to extend vertically upwardly from the rectangular base, each end further including a plurality of side tabs extending outwardly from each of two side edges of the end; and (d) a pair of generally rectangular sides adapted to extend vertically upwardly from the rectangular base, each side having a plurality of grooves at each of two side extremities of the side to receive the tabs on the ends so that the tabs may be inserted into the grooves to assemble the collapsible file box only with the sides and ends in correct orientation to each other; wherein each end and each side further includes a bottom tab of selected thickness extending downwardly from a bottom edge of each side and each end, the bottom tabs being substantially co-planar to the sides and ends from which they extend, said bottom tabs including an inside and an outside face and each side extremity of a side comprises a cornering portion having the upper and lower grooves; wherein the rectangular base and the rectangular lid each further include (i) a skirt around the periphery thereof extending normally from an inside surface of the base and lid, said skirt including a skirt edge, four inside faces, and four inside corners, each inside face including a plurality of protuberances, and (ii) four jutting projections extending normally from the inside surface of said base, each jutting projection located a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the bottom tabs of the sides and, ends, inside from the center of each of the four inside faces of said skirt, (iii) four cornerpiece tabs extending normally from the inside surface of the base and lid to a distance beyond the skirt edge, each cornerpiece tab molded to one of the four inside corners of said skirt; wherein after the two ends are securely assembled together with the two sides and then the rectangular base is seated into the bottom tabs of the sides and ends, the four cornerpiece tabs on the base abut the four cornering portions of the sides helping to maintain the position of said base, and the protuberances on each inside face of the base skirt abut against the outside face of a bottom tab, and each jutting projection on the base abuts against an inside face of a bottom tab so that the jutting projections in combination with the protuberances on the base apply a pressure to both faces of said bottom tabs, creating a friction force which helps retain the base to the bottom tabs; and wherein when the lid is seated properly on the assembled side and ends, the four cornerpiece tabs on the lid abut the four cornering portions of the sides helping to maintain the position of said lid so that the skirt edge of the lid rests on the top edges of the two ends and of the two sides. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification