Household filing system

• US 5,547,226 A
• Filed: 06/26/1995
• Issued: 08/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wentworth, Claudia H.
• Original Assignee: Wentworth, Claudia H.
• Inventors: Wentworth, Claudia H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fridie, Jr., Willmon
• Application Number:
  US08/494,730
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 283/36, 283/37, 283/38, 283/41, 283/42, 283/67, 283/117, 40/359, 493/947
• US Class Current: 283/36
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 17/02 in which the cards are stored substantially at right angles to the bottom of their containers
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 21/00 Indexing means; Indexing tabs or protectors therefor

Abstract

A filing system for storing, organizing, and handling household documents and data includes a file container in which a series of file folders are supported. Each file folder is provided with a label for a general topic and a related color for ease of identification. In general, red file folders are used for the distribution of information, mail processing, bills to be paid, and paperwork to be filed. Green file folders are used for the documentation of money received and expensed paid out. Orange file folders store information related to auto expenses and insurance, mortgage and loans, and taxes and personal finances. Blue file folders are designated for storage of information relating to legal, medical and dental, and general family matters. Information regarding general household and community matters is stored in yellow file folders. Within each file folder are a plurality of file folders, each labeled with subheadings for topics that are specific subjects relating to the general topic of the larger file folder and provided with the same color as the file folder in which it resides. In addition, selected file folders are provided with one or more icons in addition to topic labels. Each icon represents a cross-reference to another file folder. One icon indicates that further information is contained in another file folder. Another icon indicates that information within the file folder is relevant to filing tax returns. In addition, an icon may indicate that the file folder contains copies of documents which are stored elsewhere; e.g., safe, fireproof box, or sale deposit box. A further icon may indicate that the file folder contains information forms to be completed by the user, so that necessary information is elicited, organized, and stored for easy retrieval.

Claims

1. A filing system for storing, organizing, and managing household and personal documents and information, including;

a first plurality of file folders disposed within a first plurality of divider file folders, said file folders and divider file folders having a common first color, said divider file folders labeled to receive incoming documents including mail, bills, and general information, said file folders labeled with subtopics to organize said incoming documents;

a second plurality of file folders disposed within a second plurality of divider file folders, said second file folders and second divider file folders having a common second color, said second divider file folders labeled to receive documents related to money received and money paid out, said second file folders labeled with subtopics to organize bank statements, income receipts, purchase receipts, and payments relating to household expenses;

a third plurality of file folders disposed within a third plurality of divider file folders, said third file folders and third divider file folders having a common third color, said third file folders labeled to receive documents related to household information regarding insurance, mortgage and other loans, tax returns, and other household financial matters;

a fourth plurality of file folders disposed within a fourth plurality of divider file folders, said fourth file folders and fourth divider file folders having a common fourth color, said fourth file folders labeled to receive documents related to household information regarding non-financial, personal matters;

whereby said incoming documents are initially sorted and placed in said first plurality of file folders in said first plurality of file folders for short-term storage, and said incoming documents are processed and filed in appropriately labeled file folders for long-term storage in said second, third, and fourth plurality of file folders.

2. The filing system of claim 1, further including cross-referencing means for said file folders to correlate information stored among said first, second, third, and fourth pluralities of file folders.

3. The filing system of claim 2, wherein said cross-referencing system includes a plurality of icon symbols selectively applied to said pluralities of file folders.

4. The filing system of claim 3, wherein said plurality of icon symbols includes a first icon to indicate that information stored in one file folder relates to further information stored in another file folder.

5. The filing system of claim 4, wherein said plurality of icon symbols includes a second icon to indicate that a file folder contains information pertaining to tax payment and tax returns.

6. The filing system of claim 5, wherein said plurality of icon symbols includes a third icon to indicate that a file folder contains copies of original documents that are being stored in another, safe location.

7. The filing system of claim 6, wherein said plurality of icon symbols includes a fourth icon to indicate that a file folder contains an information form to be completed by the user of the filing system.

8. The filing system of claim 1, wherein said first color comprises red.

9. The filing system of claim 8, wherein said second color comprises green.

10. The filing system of claim 9, wherein said third color comprises orange.

11. The filing system of claim 10, wherein said fourth color comprises blue.

12. The filing system of claim 1, further including a fifth plurality of file folders disposed within a fifth plurality of file folders, said fifth file folder and fifth file folders having a common fifth color, said fifth file folders labeled to receive documents related to household information regarding non-financial household and community matters.

13. The filing system of claim 12, wherein said fifth color comprises yellow.

14. The filing system of claim 1, further including means for eliciting and organizing predetermined information from the user of the filing system.

15. The filing system of claim 14, wherein said means for eliciting and organizing includes a plurality of information forms bearing questions to be completed by the user of the filing system.

16. The filing system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of information forms are disposed in preselected file folders having subhead titles appropriate to the data contained in the respective information forms.

17. The filing system of claim 16, further including icon means for labeling file folders having at least one of said information forms disposed therein.

18. A method for processing and filing information and documents relating to household operation to regularize the tasks associated with personal and household financial and personal matter, including the steps of:

providing a first plurality of file folders disposed within a first plurality of divider file folders, said file folders and divider file folders having a common first color, said divider file folders labeled to receive incoming documents including mail, bills, and general information, said file folders labeled with subtopics to organize said incoming documents;

providing a second plurality of file folders disposed within a second plurality of divider file folders, said second file folders and second divider file folders having a common second color, said second divider file folders labeled to receive documents related to money received and money paid out, said second file folders labeled with subtopics to organize bank statements, income receipts, purchase receipts, and payments relating to household expenses;

providing a third plurality of file folders disposed within a third plurality of divider file folders, said third file folders and third divider file -folders having a common third color, said third file folders labeled to receive documents related to household information regarding insurance, mortgage and other loans, tax returns, and other household financial matters;

providing a fourth plurality of file folders disposed within a fourth plurality of divider file folders, said fourth file folders and fourth divider file folders having a common fourth color, said fourth file folders labeled to receive documents related to household information regarding non-financial, personal matters;

processing incoming documents and information by initially sorting said documents and information and placing items requiring action without delay into appropriately labeled first file folders, and placing documents for long-term storage in appropriately labeled third and fourth file folders; and

,

retrieving documents and information from said first file folders and carrying out the action required by these items, thereafter placing these items into appropriately labeled second file folders.

19. The method of claim 18, further including the step of periodically removing all items from said second file folders to establish an income summary, expense summary, and projected budget.

20. The method of claim 18, further including the step of cross-referencing all of said pluralities of files by applying a plurality of icons to selected file folders.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein a first of said plurality of icons is designated to indicate that information stored in a file folder labeled with said first icon relates to further information stored in another file folder.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein a second of said plurality of icons is designated to indicate that a file folder contains information pertaining to tax payment and tax returns.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein a third of said plurality of icons is designated to indicate that a file folder contains copies of original documents that are being stored in another, safe location.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein a fourth of said plurality of icons is designated to indicate that a file folder contains an questionnaire form to be completed by the user of the filing system, whereby data pertaining to the file folder subtopic is elicited, organized, and filed for easy retrieval.