AU2003100961A4 - A filing product - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant: ACCO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD A.C.N. 000 265 047 Invention Title: A FILING PRODUCT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 STORAGE DEVICE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to devices for the storage of paper or the like in various pockets. Such devices can be used in all manner of domestic, office, commercial and industrial applications where the storage or filing of paper or the like is practised, and will primarily be described with reference to this context.

Background Art Various types of storage folders are known in the art, including folders having multiple separate storage pockets for receipt of paper. These folders are typically sized so that papers are stored in the pockets in a landscape, or sideways orientation, which means that, in use, the printed information on the paper is concealed from view. This can make retrieval of a particular document more time consuming, and the misfiling of a document in an incorrect storage pocket can mean that the entire storage folder needs to be examined in order to retrieve that misfiled document.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a paper storage device comprising a plurality of pockets for retaining one or more paper articles, a portion of some or each of the pockets being removed so as to reveal at least some of a paper article when stored therein in use.

By removing a portion of the pockets, the printed material on the paper article is visible whilst the paper article is stored in a respective pocket. Such visual access to the pocket contents can reduce the time taken to locate any filed (or even misfiled) paper article.

In the present application the terms "paper" and 3 "paper article" broadly include planar articles such as paper sheets, cards, folders, placards, photographs, photographic film, transparencies, plastic sheets and film etc, whether plain or printed with writing or other images.

Preferably the removed portion of some or each of the pockets is cut away or recessed from an uppermost edge of a side wall of the said pockets. More preferably the cut away or recess is formed as a V-shaped scallop. Most preferably thecut away or recess is located on one side of the uppermost edge.

Preferably the pockets are connected adjacent to one another at their side walls or have a mutually adjoining side wall.

Preferably the pockets have end walls joining the side walls of each pocket, the pockets being expandable in a lateral direction by the in use expansion of their end walls.

Preferably the pockets are arranged parallel in a row.

Preferably a cover is moveable between a first position in which the pockets are covered and concealed from view and a second position in which the pockets are accessible for insertion or removal of the paper articles.

Preferably the cover is hingedly connected to a panel positioned at one end of the row of pockets, the lid being retainable at another panel positioned at an opposing end to the one end of the row of pockets by a retaining means.

Preferably said panels are rigid.

Preferably said panels are spaced apart and are hingedly joined to a base panel. Preferably said base panel is rigid.

Preferably each pocket is sized to receive and store one or more A4 paper sheets in a portrait or vertical orientation.

In a second aspect the present invention provides a storage device comprising a plurality of pockets for retaining one or more articles, a portion of the pockets 4 being cut away or recessed from an uppermost edge of a side wall of the said pockets so as to reveal at least a portion of an article when retained therein.

In such a device the stored articles can include such items as compact discs and DVDs, videotapes, long playing records, books and magazines, or paper of any description, as previously defined. Because a portion of the pockets is cut away during their manufacture, the stored articles are visible whilst being stored in a respective pocket. Such visual access to the pocket contents can reduce the time taken to locate any filed or even misfiled article.

Preferably the device of the second aspect is otherwise as defined in the first aspect.

In a third aspect a storage device comprising a plurality of pockets for retaining one or more articles wherein each pocket is sized to receive and store one or more A4 paper sheets in a portrait or vertical orientation.

In such an arrangement if the storage of printed papers, reports and the like is practiced, the title and other details (for example, the printed section showing addressee name and date at the uppermost corner of an email printout) can then be readily located whilst perusing the file pockets. Such visual access to the pocket contents can reduce the time taken to locate any filed or even misfiled paper article.

Preferably the device of the third aspect is otherwise as defined in the first aspect.

Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perpective view of one embodiment of a paper storage device in accordance with the invention; and

I

Figure 2 shows a perpective view of another embodiment of a paper storage device in accordance with the invention.

Modes for Carrying out the Invention Referring to Figure 1, a paper storage device in the form of a concertina-type vertical file 10 is shown. The file 10 comprises a plurality of rectangular prism-shaped pockets 12 which are closely sized to receive and store one or more A4 sized paper articles in a portrait, or vertical, orientation. In order to avoid repetition and for ease of reference, similar components and features of the alternative embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2 have been designated with an additional such as the file 100.

In the embodiments shown in Figure 1, a V-shaped scallop portion 14 of the side wall 16 of each pocket 12 is cut away from an uppermost edge 18 of that side wall 16 so as to reveal at least some of a paper article when stored therein in use. The V-shaped cut away portion 14 is located on one side 20 of the uppermost edge 18 of the pocket(s) 12. In further embodiments, the cut away portion need not be of a V-shaped scallop shape but can be a rectangular, or even semi-circular cut away shape, and may be located at any position along the uppermost edge 18 of the pocket(s) 12. In further embodiments the cut away portion need not be located on each and every side wall 16.

In the embodiments shown in the Figures, the side wall of any two adjacent pockets is a single side wall panel 16 although, in other embodiments, respective side walls of two adjacent pockets can be mutually adjoined or connected to one another. In still further embodiments the side walls of adjacent pockets can be spaced apart by a small gap or other spacing element such as a cardboard barrier or the like.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, each pocket is defined by two V-shaped folded end walls 22 which are 6 positioned between and which join the side walls 16 of adjacent pockets 12. The end walls 22 thus are able to be expanded and contracted in a lateral direction because of the folding of these V-shaped end walls 22 thus permitting insertion of larger quantities of paper articles in the pocket(s) 12 during use.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the pockets 12 of the vertical file 10 are arranged parallel in a row 28, and the row 28 is positioned between two stiffened or rigid panels 24, 26 located at either end thereof. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the two stiffened or rigid panels 24, 26 are hingedly or flexibly joined to a base panel 30 which is located underneath the row 28 of pockets 12, thus forming a strengthened exterior to further protect the row 28 of pockets 12 as well as to facilitate the carrying and movement of the entire vertical file 10. No such base panel is found in the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

As a further part of the exterior protection of the row 28 of pockets 12, a cover lid 32 of the device 10 is shown which is hingedly connected to the rigid panel 26 positioned at the back end of the row 28. The lid 32 shown in Figure 1 is detachably retainable onto the front rigid panel 24 of the device 10 by a retaining means in the form of a buckle 34 with a depressible tab 36 which is connected to the lid 32, the tab 36 of which in use is received into a clasp 38 connected onto a face of the front panel 24.

When the tab 36 of the buckle 34 is disconnected from the clasp 38 so that the lid 32 is not held to the front panel 24, the lid 32 can be hingedly moved into a position where the pockets 12 are accessible for insertion or removal of the paper articles to be held therein. When the lid 32 is moved into a position to closely face and cover the uppermost ends of the pockets 12, the paper articles held therein are concealed from access and view.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the lid 320 is 7 detachably retainable onto the front rigid panel 240 of the device 100 by a retaining means in the form of an elasticised strap loop 350 which is connected to the lid 320 and which in use is wrapped around a projecting tab 390 connected to a face of the front panel 240.

When the loop 350 is unwound from the tab 390 so that the lid 320 is not held to the front panel 240, the lid 320 can be hingedly moved into a position where the pockets 120 are accessible for insertion or removal of the paper articles to be held therein. When the lid 320 is moved into a position to closely face and cover the uppermost ends of the pockets 120, the paper articles held therein are concealed from access and view.

By removing a portion 14, 140 of the pockets 12, 120 during their manufacture, the printed material on a paper article is visible whilst such paper is stored in a respective pocket 12, 120. Such visual access to the pocket contents can allow easy perusal and location of a filed document, particularly to locate the important information often found on an upper edge of a paper document (for example the printed section showing addressee name and date at the uppermost corner of an e-mail printout, or the title of a document). Such an arrangement can reduce the time taken to locate any filed (or even misfiled) paper article.

Typically the device can be used for the storage of planar paper articles such as paper sheets, cards, folders, placards, photographs or photographic film, whether printed with writing or other images. In such embodiments there is no requirement for the size of the pockets to be A4 in size, but other sizes of paper articles are contemplated, such as A5, A3 or even A2 for the storage of artwork etc.

In still further embodiments the shape of the pockets can be arranged to be suitable for the storage of other articles, and the configuration of the removed portion of those pockets can also be arranged for the inspection of 8 those other articles, for example items as compact discs and DVDs, videotapes, long playing records, books and magazines and the like.

The embodiments of the device 10 described can be used in many applications in the domestic or office environment.

The device may be of any particular shape as the situation demands. In further embodiments the lid of the device may not be present, and if a lid is present there are several other possible ways of fastening that lid to the rigid end panels of the device.

The materials of construction of the front and back rigid panels and the pockets themselves, as well as the lid (if there is one), and the lid retaining means can comprise any suitable materials which can be shaped, formed and fitted in the manner so described, such as cardboard, plastics, etc. The row of pockets can be injection moulded to give a structurally sound device, or made of cardboard or plastic panels glued together. The cut away portion of the or each pocket wall can be formed at the time of manufacture of the device, or detached along a frangible line by a user after manufacturing and immediately prior to use of the device.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a number of preferred embodiments it should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (3)

1. 2. A paper storage device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the removed portion of some or each of the pockets is cut away or recessed from an uppermost edge of a side wall of the said pockets to define a V-shaped scallop.
2. 3. A paper storage device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the pockets are connected adjacent to one another at their side walls or have a mutually adjoining side wall, and wherein the pockets have end walls joining the side walls of each pocket, the pockets being expandable in a lateral direction by the in use expansion of their end walls.
3. 4. A storage device comprising a plurality of pockets for retaining one or more articles, a portion of the pockets being cut away or recessed from an uppermost edge of a side wall of the said pockets so as to reveal at least a portion of an article when retained therein. A storage device comprising a plurality of pockets for retaining one or more articles wherein each pocket is sized to receive and store one or more A4 paper sheets in a portrait or vertical orientation. Dated this 12 th day of November 2003 ACCO (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD by its Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK