Vertical Pocket Folder

• US 20140151442A1
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smead Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Smead Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Gilbertson, David J., Seleski, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,346,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/67.3
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/00 Making flexible containers, e.g. envelopes or bags
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 7/00 Filing appliances without fastening means B42F17/00 takes precedence; suspension files B42F15/00; wallets, notecases, briefcases A45C, e.g. A45C1/00; furniture features A47B, A47F; envelopes B65D, e.g. B65D27/00
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 7/08 expansible
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 27/08 with two or more compartments

Abstract

A vertical file folder system is disclosed in several embodiments. The folder (10) has a plurality of pocket segments 20, 30, 32 which are joined together at their bottom by living hinges 38 which maintain the bottoms edges 16, 116, 216 spaced apart. Port 28 also allow for expansion as do slots 60. An alternative embodiment (FIG. 9-10) show a folder which has a bottom flap 320, side flap 322 and top flap 318 which overlie each other to create a three sided boundary for papers or other contents.

Claims

1. A multi-pocket file folder comprising:

a first pocket comprising;

a) a first back portion having two sides, a first top edge and a first bottom edge;

b) a first flap extending from the bottom edge and foldable upwardly toward said top edge but terminating distant therefrom to form a pocket therebetween,

c) a pair of sidewalls bridging said flap and back portion on both sides;

said sidewall terminating a predetermined distance from said bottom edge, thereby creating a void area between said flap and back portion adjacent said bottom edge, said void providing expansion space for items to be held in said pocket;

d) a second pocket comprising;

1) a second back portion having two sides, a second top edge and a second bottom edge;

2) a second flap foldable to extend from the second bottom edge upwardly toward said second top edge but terminating distant therefrom to form a pocket therebetween;

3) second sidewalls bridging said second flap and second back portion on both sides;

said second sidewall terminating a predetermined distance from said second bottom edge, thereby creating a void area between said second flap and second back portion adjacent said second bottom edge, said void providing expansion space for papers in said second pocket, the distance between said sidewalls defining a lateral opening extent

e) a flexible bridging material connecting said first and second pockets at said bottom edges, said bottom edges separated from each other from contact by said material whereby expansion space is provided between said first and second pockets.

2. The folder of claim 1 further including a cover flap having a lateral extent less that that lateral opening extent of said second pocket and extending from said first top edge and being bendable down and into said second pocket between said second flap and said second back portion;

to protect papers in the folder.

3. The pocket folder claim 1 further including a shear guard comprising a slot in said back portion distant from said pocket and adjacent an edge of the back portion said slot adapted to allow a corner of papers in the pocket to pass therethru further retaining the papers and providing a shear guard against tearing a staple point in the corner of the papers,

4. The folder of claim 3 wherein the slot is diagonal and positioned to receive a corner of papers in the folder.

5. The folder of claim 1 further including a plurality of spaced apart pressure relief slots in the bottom of at least one pocket adjacent its lower end.

6. The folder of claim 2 further including a plurality of spaced apart pressure relief slots in the bottom of at least one pocket adjacent its lower end.

7. The folder of claim 6 wherein each pocket includes said slots.

8. A multi-pocket file folder comprising:

a first pocket comprising;

a) a first back portion having two sides, a first top edge and a first bottom edge;

b) a first flap extending from the bottom edge upwardly toward said top edge;

c) sidewalls bridging said flap and back portion on both sides;

d) a second pocket comprising;

1) a second back portion having two sides, a second top edge and a second bottom edge;

2) a second flap extending from the second bottom edge upwardly toward said second top edge;

3) second sidewalls bridging said second flap and second back portion on both sides;

e) a flexible bridging material connecting said first and second pockets at said bottom edges said bridging material being applied to both inner and outer faces of the pocket at the bottom edge and said bottom edges separated from each other from contact by a portion of said material which forms a living hinge comprising direct contact between said bridging material, whereby expansion space is provided between said first and second pockets;

f) a cover flap having a lateral extent less that that lateral opening extent of said second pocket and extending from said first top edge and being bendable down and into said second pocket between said second flap and said second back portion;

to protect papers in the folder.

9. A method of making a multi-pocket vertical folder with a hinged bottom from a pair of first and second folded blanks folded into pocket sections comprising the steps of:

a) placing the bottom edges of the first and second pocket section in an end to end arrangement, proximate but not in contact thereby creating a gap therebetween,

b) applying a strip of binder material over a portion of the ends of said adjacent bottom edges on one face of the sections thereby joining them and creating a gap therebetween spanned by said material;

c) simultaneously turning over the joined section to their other face and applying binder material over a portion of the ends of said adjacent bottom edges, thereby creating a double thickness section of binder material in said gap, which becomes a living hinge.

10. The folder of claim 9 wherein said folder includes a mirror image portion extending from said other side edge thereby creating a double sided pocket folder.

11. The folder of claim 9 wherein at least one of the portions includes a plurality of pressure relief expansion slots located adjacent its edge.

12. The folder of claim 9 wherein said slots comprise a plurality of spaced apart apertures having rounded ends.

13. The folder of claim 9 wherein said side portion has a diagonal cut edge distant from said side edge with its wider portion being adjacent said bottom edge and its narrower portion being located toward said top edge.