EP1413458A1

EP1413458A1 - Letter file

Info

Publication number: EP1413458A1
Application number: EP20030078367
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alexander Benn
Original assignee: Smead Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Smead Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 2002-10-25
Filing date: 2003-10-24
Publication date: 2004-04-28
Also published as: CA2446657A1; US20050098509A1

Abstract

A letter file (31) for use in managing papers on a desktop is disclosed. The letter file has a foot element (1), a staircase base (3) located atop said foot, detachable paper file trays (2) extending generally vertically from at least some of stairs, a storage element (5) extending from the lowest of said stairs and in front of said file trays, the storage element having a plurality of elongated compartments sized to receive writing instruments or the like, the lower section including a recess (8) and upper and lower rails, slideable storage unit (6) and a document ledge (7) extending from the lower of rails for holding a document upright in front of the letter file.

Description

Technical Field

This disclosure is in the filed of office desk organizer products.

Background

In order to do the various activities in this field of work, equipment such as monitors, keyboard, portable computers of various sizes and telephones as well as office articles such as letter files, pen-holders and desk accessories together with office materials such as writing paper, note pads, pens and pencils, paper clips, etc. are normally needed.
The state of the art is using individual articles for the various requirements. Vertical or horizontal letter files are used to file paper, desk accessories are used to keep pens and pencils, note sheets, calling cards, paper clips etc., wires of telephones, computers and other communication equipment lie on the desk or hang down from the back edge of the table. The state of the art is also office articles in which a number of areas of use are combined. A detrimental effect in some of the known applications is the fact that the objects to be found on the desk needed for the work block the working space available and thus make it smaller. A further detrimental effect is that the accumulation of a number of objects on the desk affects the clarity and the easiness of cleaning.

Summary

The invention is disclosed with a combination of elements but may also reside in single elements or different groupings of elements.
In one configuration, a letter file is made up of: a foot element, a staircase base located atop said foot, said base having a plurality of stairs, a detachable paper file trays extending generally vertically from at least some of stairs, a storage element extending from the lowest of said stairs and in front of said file trays, said storage element having an upper section and lower section, the upper section including a plurality of elongated compartments sized to receive writing instruments or the like, said lower section including a recess and upper and lower rails, slideable storage unit sized to be received within said recess in said lower section and slideable laterally along said rails; the slideable storage unit having generally vertically oriented compartments and a front face forming a front wall to the compartments, the front wall including apertures for allowing visual inspection of the contents of said compartments; a magnetic element on said front face for maintain magnetically attracted objects; and a document ledge extending from the lower of rails for holding a document upright in front of the letter file.
An object of the invention has the benefit that it combines the filing of a number of piles of paper, storage of small articles such as paper clips, staples, calling cards and similar, a number of pen-holders and a document holder with one another, simultaneously organizing the wires needed at the workplace, e.g. telephone wires, network wires etc., also preventing them from sliding back over the edge of the table. All the functions described are provided by the object of the invention on a surface, the area of which is smaller than the DIN A4 format; in the embodiment in the example, the surface area is only 70% of a DIN A4 format.
A further advantage of the invention is that all the functions are available simultaneously and do not block one another.
An object of the invention is that a number of individual parts which are put together to form a unit, each fulfilling its own specific function. This is done in a modular way. These individual modules can optionally be used in various finishes. In this way, an individual combination of the required functions is enabled.
The invention proves itself to be versatile and space-saving in combination with an attractive and clear design.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with office supplies shown in place;
Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with a sheet in the document holder;
Figure 4 is a rear-side perspective view;
Figure 5 is a view like Fig. 1 with supplies in the storage unit and the unit slid laterally;
Figure 6 is a close up partial perspective of the storage unit and rails;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the foot (1), from the front, with channel-like recesses (9) and wires (10) therein as well as coupling devices (12 and 28) for paper file unit (4) and storage element for pens and pencils (5);
Fig. 8 is a view like figure 7 except from the rear with no wires shown;
Fig. 9 is a view like figure 7 of the foot (1), from the front;
Fig. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the step-shaped base (3) with coupling devices (13 and 26);
Fig. 11 is a bottom perspective view of paper files (2) with tongue-shaped coupling device (27)
Fig. 12 is a bottom perspective view of storage element for pens and pencils, mobile telephone and other objects (5) with dovetail-shaped coupling device (29); and
Fig. 13 is a top perspective view of the storage unit for small parts with integrated document holder (6).

Detailed Description

The letter file (31) comprises a foot (1), a staircase/stair-step-shaped base (3) with a number of paper files (2), together forming a paper file unit (4), a storage element for pens, mobile telephone or similar objects (5) and an extendible storage unit for small objects (6) with an integrated document holder (7). The foot (1) provides a passageway from the back to the sides (either or both) so that cables to a device adjacent the letter file (like a PDA) can be used without wire clutter.
In accordance with one embodiment, there are two recesses (8) Figure 8, on the bottom of the foot, which are large enough for a number of communication wires to be guided under it next to one another. In accordance with another embodiment there is a channel-like recess (9) in each of the left and right front areas of the foot, on the top of the same, via which recess the wires guided through from the back (10) can be distributed laterally. The lateral distribution of the wires has the effect that they can be guided to the equipment in question on the side provided for. In addition, the lateral recesses (9) are beneficially designed wide and low, with the result that a number of wires (10) can also be arranged next to one another in this area. As a result of the guidance firstly through the lower recesses and then via the channel-like lateral recesses, a bend (11) results in the wire. Beneficially, this bend results in the wire touching the foot at a number of places. The friction occurring as a result of this prevents an undesired slipping back of the wire to a great extent.
According to a further embodiment, there is a coupling device (12) (Fig. 7) on the top side of the foot, into which the base (3) can be pushed through a corresponding coupling device tab (13) and connected detachably. Further, there is a recess having dovetail walls on the front of the foot, which acts as a coupling device (28) and into which the storage element (5) for pens and pencils can be pushed and connected detachably. The storage element for supplies like pens and pencils also contains a corresponding coupling device (29), which is preferably shaped dovetailed in the embodiment.
A further benefit of the invention is the step-shaped design of the base (3) of the paper file unit (4), which has the effect that the papers or piles of paper inserted can be staggered step-shaped behind one another of different vertical extents or staggered. In this way, the upper area of each pile of paper is easily visible.
A further benefit of the invention is a number of (or at least one) paper files (2), which can be pushed into the base (3) and connected with it detachably through matching coupling devices (26 and 27). In the embodiment, this is designed in such a way that a tongue (27) on the paper file is inserted into the matching slot/receivers (26) on the base.
The paper files preferably are bowed with a slightly curved back (14) inclined to the rear, which has the advantage that papers (15) deposited or placed in these files can be put into a stable shape and thus made to stand thanks to the curvature and the inclination. This curvature is a shape, which causes sheets to stiffen along their vertical extent so that they will not fold over. A slight curvature is defined as sufficient to create resistance in a sheet to prevent it from falling over if vertically oriented (i.e. remain erect). By creating a slight longitudinal (vertical) arcuate curvature in the sheet, such as paper, the entire sheet will be stiffened.
In order to fulfil this purpose, the curvature and the inclination are preferably both present. In the preferred embodiment, the curvature has a radius of 450 mm and the inclination is 12 degrees to the back against vertical. Other ratios between inclination and curvature can also prove to be purposeful. A slight inclination is generally between 1 and 12 degrees off vertical.
Beneficially, the paper files (2) are fitted in a vertical alignment (with inclination). The vertical alignment of the paper files results in a more effective utilization of space than would be the case with a horizontal file. In addition, the paper can beneficially be inserted in the direction of reading. The slight inclination to the back results in the paper being supported from behind.
In the embodiment, the paper files are sensibly dimensioned for DIN A4 or for American Letter format (8.5x11) and accordingly provided with lateral edges (16) which put the piles of paper into an ordered shape.
One embodiment contains paper files without lateral edges, into which piles of paper or folders can be inserted both upright and also transverse (landscape).
Further embodiments are paper files with straight backs and/or a horizontal alignment, which is sensible if folders, bound documents and similar are to be inserted.
According to one beneficial design, the storage element (5) for pens and pencils contains compartments accessible from above (17), into which writing apparatus (18) and other objects can be inserted. These compartments (17) are dimensioned in such a way that they prevent the writing apparatus from falling to the side. In other words, the maximum cross section of the opening of the compartments is small enough, that, when the depth of the compartment is taken into consideration, a portion of the contents of the compartments will always extend over the top of the compartment, even if tipped to the side.
In a further beneficial design, the storage element (5) for pens and pencils is designed with a front face, with the same curvature as the paper files, thus adapting in its construction and its design to the foot and the paper files. This will come into play with respect to copy holder 7 (by creating the same tensioning via curvature as mentioned above).
A further beneficial design of the storage element for pens and pencils (5) contains a guide (19) (Figure 6) underneath the pen compartments, into which a further module can be inserted. In the embodiment, the further module is a storage unit for small objects (6). The guide (19) surrounds the storage unit for small objects (6) like a bracket on three sides and has been provided with guidance grooves (30), in which the storage unit for small objects, which is equipped with corresponding grooves (30), slides along the side and can thus be pushed in and out. Preferably, the front face of the storage unit (6) will have the same arcuate curvature as mentioned above for the storage element (5).
In an embodiment, the storage element for pens and pencils is beneficially equipped with a lip-shaped ledge element on the front bottom edge, fulfilling the function of a document or copy holder (7).
A further beneficial embodiment of the object of the invention contains a storage unit for small objects (6) with an integrated document holder (7), the unit (7) which can be pushed into and out of the guide (19, Figure 6) of the storage element for pens and pencils in both directions along guides or rails 30. Two compartments (20) (Figure 5) accessible from above are integrated into this storage unit for small objects (6) and are provided for calling cards/business (21) and note sheets and other small-sized objects. Purposefully these compartments are provided with a viewing means, such as window-like access ports, apertures or recesses (22) from the front, through which what is currently inside can be seen.
A further purposeful design is a hollow-like recess (23) accessible from the front, which is backed by magnets. For example, paper clips (24) can be kept in this hollow-like recess and kept inside it by the magnetic effect. Small objects attracted by magnets can also be kept in it.
According to a further beneficial design there is a lip-shaped compartment /document holder (7) extending evenly along the entire width on the front bottom edge of the storage unit for small objects (6). This compartment acts as a document holder (7), into which current, important or other documents (25) can be placed vertically. The document is inserted behind the lip-shaped element and then leant onto the two storage units, also preferably curved for the tensioning effect. As the document holder is on the front side of the object of the letter file (31), the entire surface of the inserted sheet of paper is visible. The lip-shaped compartment also functions in this way with the storage unit (6) pushed out to the side. The slightly curved shape of the front sides of the two elements (5 and 6), which put the inserted document into a stable shape so that it can remain standing without further aids, proves to be sensible for the function of a document holder.

Diagrams:

List of reference numbers:

1: foot
2: paper files
3: step-shaped base
4: paper file unit
5: storage element
6: storage unit / storage element
7: lip-shaped fitting element, document holder
8: recesses on the base of the foot
9: lateral recesses on the top of the foot
10: wire
11: bend in wire
12: coupling device on the top of the foot for base
13: coupling device on the underside of the base
14: back of a paper file
15: paper
16: lateral edge of a paper file
17: compartments for writing apparatus and similar
18: writing apparatus
19: guide on storage element for pens and pencils
20: compartments
21: calling card, note sheet
22: window-like recess
23: hollow-like recess
24: paper dips
25: document or paper in DIN A4 or a similar format
26: slot-shaped coupling device on the base for paper file
27: tongue-shaped coupling device on the paper file
28: coupling device on the foot for storage element for pens and pencils
29: coupling device on the storage element for pens and pencils
30: guide groove, guide element
31: paper file with additional functions

Claims

A letter file comprising:
a) a foot element;

b) a base located atop said foot,

c) paper file trays having a front and back faces, said trays extending generally vertically from said base and being inclined off the vertical axis so that the back face is closer to the base.
A letter file according to claim 1 wherein
said front face is concave so that papers in the tray are tensioned against folding over.
A letter file according to claim 1 wherein said base includes is stair-step and wherein said paper trays sit atop adjacent stairs of the base so that they are vertically distinguishable.
A letter file according to claim 1, where said foot includes a passageway for cabling.
A letter file according to claim 4 wherein said passageways include paths extending from the back of said foot and exiting on either side thereof.
A letter file according to claim 5 wherein said paths exit on both sides of said foot
A letter file according to claim 1 wherein said base includes a stair-step and at least one of said steps includes a receiver, and wherein at least one of said trays includes a flange to be received into said receiver for removably mounting said tray.
A letter file according to claim 1 wherein said letter file includes a document holder extending from said base, said holder being arcuate along its length, so that a paper received therein will be arcuately tensioned to prevent folding over of the paper.
A letter file according to claim 8 wherein paper trays are formed in a like arcuate shape.
A letter file according to claim 8 further including a pair of spaced apart rails connected to said foot, and a slidable storage unit locatable between said rails and capable of lateral movement therealong.
A letter file according to claim 10 wherein said storage unit has a front face and further includes at least one compartment therein and at least one viewing means in said front face for viewing the contents of said compartment.
A letter file according to claim 10 including a second storage unit, having a front face, is located above said rails, and wherein said front faces on said storage units are arcuately shaped, to maintain the curvature of a sheet inserted into said copy holder, said copy holder being spaced from said front faces and having a like arcuate curvature.