GB2172548A - Files for holding papers - Google Patents

Abstract

A file for holding papers comprises a spine (14) hingedly interconnecting two casing portions (10, 12) each having a recess for accommodating papers. A ring binder (52) on the spine (14) retains two cardboard support panels (54, 56) which cover the papers in the respective recess of the casing portion (10, 12) and serve as a writing support to enable the papers (58) on the central ring binder (52) to be written upon. The edges of the casing portions have respective edges (60, 62) to support the outer edges of the panels (54, 56). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Files for holding papers Field of the invention This invention relates to files for holding papers.

Background to the invention The invention was devised to provide a file for holding the accounts papers for a small business, in such a way that papers in different categories (eg bank statements, purchase invoices and accounts or ledger paper) may be stored separately and neatly for ease of reference, record keeping and updating, whilst also enabling the accounts or ledger paper to be firmly supported so that the accounts or ledger paper can be written upon when the file is opened.

The invention may have application to files used for other purposes, eg by club treasurers.

Summary of the invention According to the invention a file for holding papers comprises a spine, two casing portions hingedly attached to the spine so that the casing portions can be moved between a folded position corresponding to a closed condition of the file and an unfolded position corresponding to an open condition of the file, each casing portion having a recess for accommodating papers and means for retaining the papers in the corresponding recess, paper retention means on the spine and two support panels which are retained on the paper retention means and which, in the open condition of the file, are capable not only of substantially covering the respective recesses but also serving as supports for paper in the retention means, to facilitate writing upon the paper in the paper retention means.

The two casing portions are preferably similar, being interconnected by the spine which is preferably planar and occupies a horizontal plane when the file is in the open condition.

In the open condition of the file, with the two casing portions horizonal, the two support panels are preferably also horizontal. This is conveniently achieved by providing each casing portion with a support which is at substantially the same level as the spine and which supports the edge of the corresponding support panel remote from the spine, so that each support panel spans the spine and the corresponding support above the respective recess.

In the preferred embodiment to be described, the paper retention means are ring binders openable and closable with a snap action. The means for retaining the papers in the respective recesses may also be ring binders, or alternatively may be tags, retention bars or other stationery devices capable of removably holding papers.

Afile according to the invention may be associated with a further file for receiving papers originally stored in the two recesses and in the paper retention means. In this case, the inventive file is termed the "main file" and the further file the "transfer file". To accommodate the three categories of papers from the main file, the transfer file preferably has three paper-receiving regions. This enables accounts papers to be removed from the main file and transferred to the transfer file once an accounting year is over.

The transfer file, complete with a year's accounts papers, may then be handed to an accountant, leaving the main file free to accommodate the accounts papers for the following year.

A main file and a transfer file will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a perspective view of the main file in an open condition.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the main file also in an open condition, but with papers in an alternative position, Figure 3 is a sectional view through the main file in an open condition, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the main file in a closed condition, Figure 5 is a plan view of the transfer file in an open condition, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the transfer file in a closed condition.

Detailed description of the drawings The main file shown in Figures 1 to 4 is for holding accounts papers of a small business, particularly a new or young business owned by a self-employed individual. The main file has two similar casing portions 10, 12 each hingedly connected to a central spine 14. Each casing portion 10, 12 has a respective base panel 16, 18 edged on three sides by respective side walls 20,22. Each casing portion 10, 12 is therefore recessed and the left hand recess accommodates bank statements (shown at 24 in Figure 1) and the right hand recess accommodates purchase invoices (shown at 26 in Figure 2).

The bank statements 24 are detachably received on a pair of ring binders 28 on the base panel 16, and the invoices 26 are detachably retained on a pair of ring binders 30 on the base panel 18. The left hand recess also has a pouch 32 for cheque books and paying in books 34 (which may be retained by a detachable loop 36), a loop 38 an eraser 40 and loops 42 for pen and pencil 44. The right hand recess has a pouch 46 for a hole punch 48 (to punch holes in the invoices for placing the latter in the ring binders 30) and a detachable strap 50 for retaining the invoices in position.

The central spine 14 has a series of ring binders 52 for retaining two cardboard support panels 54, 56. In Figure 1 the support panels 54 and 56 are both on the right hand side of the ring binder 52 to reveal the left hand recess, and in Figure 2 the two support panels 54,56 are both on the left hand side of the ring binder 52 ro reveal the right hand recess.

Sheets of account or ledger paper 58 are located on the ring binder 52 between the panels 54 and 56.

As best shown in Figure 3, the support panel 54 is capable of covering the bank statements 24 and accessories in the left hand recess, as well as serving as a support to enable the left hand sides of the account papers 58 to be written on when the file is open. This is achieved by providing the longest wall of the side walls 20 of the left hand casing portion 10 with a support in the form of a ledge 60. When the file is opened as shown in Figure 3, the support panel 54 can span the spine 14 and the ledge 60, providing a horizontal surface which supports the accounts papers 58 thereabove whilst at the same time concealing the bank statements 24 therebelow.

Similarly, the longer wall of the side walls 22 has a ledge 62, and the support panel 56 can extend horizontally between the spine 14the ledge 62 so as to provide a support surface for the right hand sides of the accounts papers 58 whilst concealing the invoices 26 in the recess therebelow.

It will be seen from Figure 3 that when the file is in its open condition with the base panels 16, 18 horizontal, the spine 14 is also horizontal art a level which is approximately half the depth of the casing portions 10,12 and which is also level with the upper surfaces of the ledges 60,62 so that the support panels 54, 56 are substantially horizontal in the position shown in Figure 3.

When the main file is closed as shown in Figure 4, the two casing portions come together to enclose all the papers. Detachable, lockable clasps 64 are provided to retain the casing portions 10, 12 in their closed position, and the casing portion 12 has a carrying handle 66 by which the main file may be carried.

When an accounting year is finished, the user transfers the papers from the main file into the transfer file shown in Figures 5 and 6. The accumulated accounts papers for the financial year may then be handed to an accountant in the transfer file, leaving the main file free to receive accounts papers for the ensuing year. Thetransferfile has two sets of tags 70 for receiving the accumulated invoices 26, further sets of tags 72 for receiving the accumulated bank statements 24 and a third set of tags 74 for receiving the accounts papers from the central ring binders 52. The transfer file also has a pouch 76 for receiving the cheques and paying in books. The transfer file thus has three paper-receiving regions corresponding in position to the three paperreceiving regions of the main file.

The transfer file has expandable concertina portions 78 and three flaps 80 which fold around the inserted papers and can be retained in position by means of interengagable hook and loop tapes 82 such as those known by the Registered Trade Mark Velcro. Figure 6 shows the transfer file as it would appear having been loaded with accounts papers and folded neatly for handing to an accountant.

Instead of being of cardboard, the support panels 54,56 may be of a synthetic plastics sheet which has sufficient rigidity to provide effective support for the account and ledger paper 58. The casing portions 10, 12 may be of plastics, and cardboard covered with plastics. The casing portions will normally be rigid, but the walls thereof may be collapsible in a concertina fashion.

Claims (10)

1. Afileforholding papers, comprising a spine, two casing portions hingediy attached to the spine so that the casing portions can be moved between a folded position corresponding to a closed condition of the file and an unfolded position corresponding to an open condition of the file, each casing portion having a recess for accommodating papers and means for retaining the papers in the corresponding recess, paper retention means on the spine and two support panels which are retained on the paper retention means and which, in the open condition of the file, are capable not only of substantially covering the respective recesses but also serving as supports for paper in the retention means, to facilitate writing upon the paper in the paper retention means.

2. A file according to claim 1, wherein the two casing portions are similar, being interconnected by the spine which is planar and occupies a horizontal plane when the file is in the open condition.

3. A file according to claim 2, wherein in the open condition of the file, with the two casing portions horizontal, the two panels are also horizontal.

4. A file according to claim 3, wherein each casing portion is provided with a support which is at substantially the same level as the spine and which supports the edge of the corresponding support panel remote from the spine, so that each support panel spans the spine and the corresponding support above the respective recess.

5. Afile according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the paper retention means are ring binders openable and closable with a snap action.

6. A file according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the means for retaining the papers in the respective recesses are ring binders, tags or retention bars capable of removably holding papers.

7. Afile according to any of the preceding claims and in combination with a further file for receiving papers originally stored in the two recesses and in the paper retention means.

8. The combination according to claim 7, wherein the further file has three paper-receiving regions, enabling accounts papers to be removed from the two recesses and from the paper retention means of the first-mentioned file and transferred to the further file once an accounting year is over.

9. A file constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

10. The combination of two files constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.