GB2072582A - Holder for folded sheet material - Google Patents

Abstract

A flat rail (1) has a series of holes (2) matching with the rings or bows of letter files, ring-binders or the like. Parallel to the row of holes (2) is a slot (3), into which folded sheet material can be inserted in the unfolded condition. The portion (4) of the rail (1) between the slot (3) and the adjacent long edge may have lesser thickness than the rest of the rail (1), so as to be easier bendable, to facilitate insertion of the material. The end of the rail (1) may be recessed for mounting in a suspension file. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Holder for folded sheet material The invention relates to a holder for folded ' sheet material, for example, periodicals, brochures, drawings and the like, in letter files, suspension filing equipments, or loose-leaf books. Such folded sheet material can be retained in letter files or loose-leaf books by means of tape which is adhesively secured to one edge of the periodical so as to leave a a non-adhesive portion projecting from the periodical, the non-adhesive portion being provided with a series of holes to match the bows or rings of letter files or loose-leaf books within which the material is to be retained. This system has the serious disadvantage that the adhesive tape covers a certain portion of the surface of the filed material, which portion may contain valuable text, drawing or other information. Another drawback consists in the fact that the adhesive tape cannot be removed, if it is desired to change the method of filing, without destroying the portion of the filed material it covers. A third drawback is that the filed material will occupy an oblique position in the letter file or loose-leaf book if the tape is not positioned accurately parallel to the inner edge of the filed material. This error occurs frequently and cannot later be corrected. Another quite different method of filing periodicals, brochures and the like consists in opening the folded material so as to uncover the middle pages, and then pushing the material down beneath one of a plurality of wires fastened to the inner side of the back of a file cover, such as a loose-leaf book. Alternatively one end of the wire can be disengaged from the back of the book, the file material inserted, and the wire positioned along the middle fold, after which the end of the wire is again fastened to the back of the book. In this way, no destruction of the filed material takes place. However, single sheets of paper, such as letters, price lists, press-cuttings and the like, not being folded, cannot in practice be filed in a cover of this type. The invention accordingly provides a holder for folded sheet material, the holder comprising an elongate member having an elongate longitudinally extending slot for receiving the folded sheet material therethrough and being apertured and/or recessed for being mounted in a receptacle. In use, folded sheet material is opened so as to uncover the middle pages and is put through the slot in the holder, after which the material is again folded as it was before. The holder and the material held thereby can then be inserted into any appropriate suspension filing device or letter file, or loose-leaf book, into which single, non-folded sheets of paper can also be inserted in the usual way. No portion of the surface of the sheet material is obscured. The material will by itself be positioned precisely in the suspension file, letter file, or loose-leaf book, that is, its edges will parallel to the fold line. Furthermore, the material may be removed at any time from the suspension file, letter file, or loose-leaf book without being damaged or destroyed. The holder may be manufactured in a wide variety of materials, such as suitable plastics materials, fibreboard, cardboard, plywood or metal sheet. The holder may be manufactured by punching or by injection moulding of plastics material. In order to facilitate insertion of the material into the slot, that portion of the holder that lies between the slot and the nearly longer edge may be of lesser thickness than the portion of the holder provided with the holes. The first mentioned portion is thereby made easier to bend than the rest of the holder, so that the insertion of the material to be filed is made easier. Furthermore, material is saved in this way. The invention thus makes it possible to provide a simple and inexpensive holder by means of which periodicals, brochures and other folded sheet material can be positioned i conveniently and precisely in ring binders, letter files and loose-leaf books, or in suspension filing equipment, without larger or smaller portions of the surface of the filed material being covered or obscured; also the material can be readily removed without being damaged or destroyed. The invention is further described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:- Figure 1 is a side view of a holder according to the invention; Figure 2 is an edge view of the same holder, seen from the left hand edge of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III of Fig. 1. The illustrated holder comprises a flat rail 1 made of plastics material of appropriate rigidity or flexibility. The rail is provided near the left hand side as shown in Fig. 1 with a longitudinal series of holes 2 which match with the bows or rings of currently available letter files or loose-leaf books. Near the opposite side, the rail 1 has a longitudinal slot 3 which is parallel to this side and has a length which is only a little less than the length of the rail itself. The length of the slot 3 corresponds to the maximum height of the folded sheet material to be filed, and the width of the slot 3 corresponds to half the maximum thickness of this folded material. In use, the folded sheet material is opened so as to uncover the middle pages, and is then put through the slot 3 until the rail 1 extends along the fold line of the material. After this has been done, the rail 1 is mounted in the usual manner, by means of the series of holes 2, into a letter file ring binder or a loose-leaf book. The portion 4 of the rail 1 at the right hand side of the slot 3 as shown in Fig. 1 is somewhat less thick than the rest of the rail, as can be seen from Fig. 3, so that this porton 4 is more yielding; this facilitates the insertion of the material into the slot 3. The rail 1 illustrated may be injection moulded of flexible plastics material. However, the rail may also be made from sheet material, such as cardboard, thin metal sheet, plywood or fibreboard, manufacture being then effected by a single punching operation only. The rail 1 may extend beyond the ends of the slot 3 sufficiently for a recess to be formed at each end in the right hand longitudinal edge, instead of or in addition to the holes 2, so that the rail can be received in suspension filing cabinets or racks.

Claims (7)

1. A holder for folded sheet material, the holder comprising an elongate member having an elongate longitudinally extending slot for receiving the folded sheet material therethrough and being apertured and/or recessed for being mounted in a receptacle.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1 having an aperture or a series of apertures extending parallel to the slot whereby the holder can be mounted in a ring binder or the like.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 1 or 2 having a recess at each end of one longitudinal edge outwardly of the slot whereby the holder can be mounted in a suspension filing cabinet or rack.

4. A holder as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the portion of the elongate member between the slot and the longitudinal edge of the member which is to be within the fold of the material in use is of lesser thickness than the portion of the member on the other side of the slot.

5. A holder as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the elongate member comprises a flat strip.

6. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the elongate member is of plastics material.

7. A holder for folded sheet material substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.