WO1988010197A1 - Improvements in or related to document files - Google Patents

Abstract

Index means for a document file comprising a base part (6) having tab guiding surfaces, a panel part (7, 18) also having tab guiding surfaces, the panel part located opposite the base part and spaced therefrom by a flange, the areas defined by said flange and all tab guiding surfaces comprising channel formations, one or more locations on the panel part being of reduced width, first and second stop means (19a, 19) provided at predetermined locations of said channel formations, and a cover part (10) of translucent or transparent material having a pair of inwardly directed tabs capable of insertion over said locations of reduced width and of slidable movement within said channel formations whereby an information carrier can be inserted into a space between the panel and cover parts. Such index means may be more convenient in use, less prone to breakage or unwanted detachment and facilitate index label insertions and changes.

Description

UILK

Improvements in or relating to Document Files

This invention is concerned with improvements in document files and in particular in indexing means for such files. Files for retaining documents and the like are well known and there are various ways of providing an indexing means to display file content information. Conventional lateral or suspension files are constructed of cardboard and have a metal supporting member secured at the upper edges of the file covers. Indexing means are conventionally supplied separately and these may comprise a clear moulding of e. . polystyrene which is provided with a slot in which a ticket, label or other information carrier may be inserted. These separate indexing means are secured to an upper edge of a suspension file, or a side edge of a lateral file.

It has been found that conventional index means can be inconvenient in use. Difficulty may be encountered in either inserting or removing index labels and when inserted the index labels may only be visible from a narrow field of view. It has also been found that insertion and removal of a known index means from the side edge of a lateral file can result in that file becoming torn and consequently the file may have a reduced lifetime. In addition to this it may be necessary in bulk storage to separate files from their associated index means. Some index strips have also failed through breakage when mistreated.

It is from a consideration of known index means and their attendant disadvantages which has led to the development of the present invention.

According to this invention there is provided index means for a document file comprising a base part having tab guiding surfaces, a panel part also having tab guiding surf ces, the panel part located opposite the base part and spaced therefrom by a flange, the areas defined by said flange and all tab guiding surfaces comprising channel formations, one or more locations on the panel part being of reduced width, first and second stop means provided at predetermined locations of said channel formations, and a cover part of translucent or transparent material having a pair of inwardly directed tabs capable of insertion over said locations of reduced width and of slidable movement within said channel formations whereby an information carrier can be inserted into a space between the panel and cover parts.

The index means may comprise an integral part, e.g. an extending part of a file support member. Whilst a document file, its associated support and the index means (less the index cover) may be fabricated in any suitable material it is preferred to form at least the base part of the index means preferably also the flange and panel parts in a resiliently flexible plastics material, most preferably as a one piece moulding. The cover part for the index may be of a different, more rigid plastics material.

The base part may be secured in fixed location to an edge of the file to extend over the whole or only part of the length thereof. The index cover may include a hollow region in which an index label, strip or the like bearing information can be inserted.

The base and/or cover part of the index means may be angled at one or more locations along their respective lengths. Preferably both such parts are angled whereby the angled location comprises one of the stop means.

It is most preferred to use a clear, substantially rigid material for the cover such as clear polystyrene. The base part, flange and panel part of the index means may be formed in a resiliently flexible plastics material. Such may be derived from propylene polymer. In order that the invention may be illustrated and readily carried into effect, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which;

Figure 1 is an isometric view of one form of lateral file incorporating integral index means ,

Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 with, index- cover removed,

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of Figure 1, and

Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged details of cover and a fragmented view of the lower part of index means respectively.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a document file suitable for carrying documents comprises a folder 1 preferably constructed from resiliently flexible plastics material. The folder is formed by a pair of covers 2 which extend from a lowermost fold line 3, the adjacent covers being integrally formed or otherwise suitably connected at a rearmost edge or fold 15 which forms a suitable back¬ stop for documents. The upper edges 4 of both covers are rigidly secured, preferably by continuous weld line 9, to resiliently flexible plastics support members 5,5b respectively. The said support members 5,5b are one-piece integral mouldings, each having an extending part 6,6b respectively which depend continuously from an outer edge part 24 of each support member. A recessed surface 23 is provided on the internal side of each member 5,5b and these are further provided with a series of projecting formations 13 which can mutually abut when the support members 5,5b are brought into close contact. The recessing of the surface 23 can reduce the cost and

6 weight of the support members, the projections 13, preferably being hollow as shown in support member 5, assisting initial alignment of the two support members 5,5b for inserting the document file into a filing system (not shown) .

Side edges 5a of each cover are fastened to the extending parts 6,6b respectively by means such as a weld line 9a.

In order to cater for one type of filing system for lateral files utilising two parallel rods, there are provided end hooks 8a on -each support member. The document file can be inserted into such a filing system in similar fashion to conventional lateral files. To cater for another type of filing system each support member is further provided with an intermediate hook portion 8 and a reaction surface 14 whereby a single horizontal bar may engage the hook portions 8, and the reaction surfaces 14 may abut a horizontal surface within a filing system, to support the weight of the files and any documents contained in the pockets. An interlocking mechanism is provided in a form of a projecting formation 11 on the one extending part 6b and a co-operating recess 12 on the other extending part 6. When two such files are inserted into an appropriate filing system, the projecting formation 11 on the one filer can be a push-fit, snap-fit or other engagement with thee ccr-operating aperture 12 on an adjacent file (not shown) . The fitting mechanism may be provided by resiliently deformable detents whereby the respective extending parts can simply be "snapped together".

One of the extending parts 6 forms a base part for the index means which is provided with a spaced panel part 7,18. The base part and undersides of panel part have substantially flat tab-guiding surfaces. The display panel 7 extends substantially from the outer edge 24 of the support member 5 towards the bottom of the base part 6 and is spaced by an integrally formed flange. It comprises a largely flat panel, angled at a first stop means 19a, and having narrowed sections for purposes discussed hereinafter. Fitted over the panel part 7 is a transparent or translucent cover part 10 which may be conveniently made from clear polystyrene. An information carrier, bearing information relating to actual or intended documents can be inserted into a space between the said cover part 10 and panel part 7. The covers 2 and support members 5,5b are preferably constructed from heat and/or ultrasonic weld-compatible plastics materials. To provide an effective join between each cover 2 and the respective support member 5,5b a welding machine may be utilised to heat or ultrasonically weld the upper edge 4 of the cover 2 and a part of the side edge 5a of the cover 2, to the support member and extending parts. As such it will be observed that additional fastening means for the cover to support member are absent.

It will also be appreciated that within the scope of the present invention it is not essential for there to be a welded connection as between the covers^' and support members, providing there is a sufficiently rigid connection therebetween.

The covers are preferably of one-piece construction, suitably connected at the rearmost end 15 and at the lower fold line 3.

Referring to Figure 2 specifically, the cover part 10 of the index means is shown separated from the panel part 7. The said panel part 7 has a lower section 18 against which it is intended an information carrier, such as an index strip, may be located. The panel part 7,18 is spaced from an adjacent section of the base part 6 by a flange, forming a pair of three sided channels 21 in which the tabs 16 of a cover 10 may be guided during sliding motion thereof. The lowermost end 20 of the cover is provided with a pair of mutually opposite tabs, the interior of the said cover 10 being hollow as shown at 22 in Figure 4.

The index means includes a lowermost, s econd stop 19 comprising an external projection near the end .of the base part 6, the uppermost, first stop 19a formed by an angled section in the panel 7,18. The panel has portions 17 of reduced width whereby the tabs 16 can be inserted thereover to slide within the channels 21 located as aforesaid.

The arrangement is shown in further detail in Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 showing an enlarged side elevation of the index cover alone, Figure 5 showing an enlarged detail of the lowermost end of base part 6, with cover 10 located. An index strip (not shown) can be placed upon the panel 18 and the cover 10 can be inserted and closed whereby its lowermost part 20 engages the second stop 19. To resist unwanted removal of the cover from the document file, an uppermost stop 19a is provided which in use can abut the tabs 16 when the cover is slid upwardly with respect to the document file.

Such an arrangement provides for a convenient means of inserting, withdrawing and changing any index strips , without having to remove the cover 10 for this purpose. To provide a greater security of fixing of the cover 10 on to the panel 18, a supplementary pair of tabs (not shown) may be employed, so that the cover can only be inserted by locating those tabs over both narrowed sections 17 shown in Figures 2 and 5, and similarly removed from the panel in that one relative position.

Figure 3 of the drawings shows an alternative way of forming a rear back stop 15 by welding one part of a cover to the other along a weld line 9. The channel formation 21 in the base part 6 may be seen more clearly together with the spaced panel 18 upon which the cover 10 is slidable. The projecting part-spherical projection 11 may be provided with resilient lugs or some other means to engage a corresponding aperture 12 within a base part 6 rigidly secured to a further document file (not shown) .

Index means according to this invention may be more robust and convenient to use than known index means for cardboard type suspension or lateral files. At least the base part, panel part and flange can be conveniently formed as a one-piece moulding. The covers of the file may themselves be a one-piece member, readily fabricated in cast or extruded plastics materials preferably. The cover for the index • means- may be readily moulded in clear plastics material. It may be more convenient to use an index means as an integral part of a document file as described herein, with less risk of broken indexes and broken or otherwise injured finger nails when inserting or changing information carriers such as index strips.

With respect to the present invention, the said ba_5^~e part includes an elongate flat surface immediately opposite the under (tab guiding) surfaces of the panel (7 or 18). The tab guiding surfaces of the base and panel parts are substantially flat and respectively form two 0 sides of the channels 21 within which the tabs can slide after insertion of the cover part 10 onto the panel part. The tabs can thus slide in these channels between stop locations 19 and 19a. The part 10 is easily replaceable. 5-^"

A major advantage of files having index means according to the invention is in the insertion and removal of index labels for file content information. The label can be positioned into a relatively wide space without sliding it into narrow slots and held in position QJ by the cover which is inserted or closed subsequently. This can increase the effective angle of view and simplify label changes.

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Claims

CLAIMS.

1. Index means for a document file comprising a base part having tab guiding surfaces, a panel part also having tab guiding surfaces, the panel part located opposite the base part and spaced therefrom by a flange, the areas defined by said flange and all tab guiding surfaces comprising channel formations, one or more locations on the panel part being of reduced width, first and second stop means provided at predetermined locations of said channel formations, and a cover part of translucent or transparent material having a pair of inwardly directed tabs capable of insertion over said locations of reduced width and of slidable movement within said channel formations whereby an information carrier can be inserted into a space between the panel and cover parts.

2. Index means as claimed in Claim 1 which, less the cover part, comprises an integral part of a file support member.

3. Index means as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which one or more of the base part, flange and panel part are constructed from resiliently flexible plastics material, as a one-piece unit.

4. Index means as claimed in Claim 3 in which the base part, flange and panel part are constructed from resiliently flexible plastics material and the cover part from a different plastics material.

5. Index means as claimed in any preceding claim in which the base part is secured in fixed location to an edge of a document file to extend over the whole or only

10^' part of the length thereof.

6. Index means as claimed in any preceding claim in which the cover part has a front surface and two opposed side surfaces, the tabs extending towards each other from

15. said side surfaces.

7. Index means as claimed in any preceding claim in which the cover part includes a hollow region wherein an index label, strip or the like can be inserted. α»

8. Index means as claimed in any preceding claim in which the base and cover part are angled at a location which forms one of the stop means.

5m

9. A document file incorporating index means as claimed in any preceding claim.

10. A lateral document file as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the base, flange and panel parts comprise integrally formed features of a file support member which member extends over two edges of said file and is rigidly affixed thereto.