GB2325893A

GB2325893A - Folder or ring binder made from separate differently coloured panels

Info

Publication number: GB2325893A
Application number: GB9710942A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Brown
Original assignee: DESIGNEASE Ltd
Current assignee: DESIGNEASE Ltd
Priority date: 1997-05-29
Filing date: 1997-05-29
Publication date: 1998-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2017-05-29
Also published as: GB2325893B; GB9710942D0

Abstract

The folder is formed from three separate, differently coloured plastic blanks. The blanks are attached together by slits 17 (Fig 1) and (23,Fig 2) co-operating with tongues (29, Fig 3). The ring binder has separate cover panels 40,41 (Fig 4) with tongues 43 co-operating with slits 51 in a spine panel 42.

Description

FOLDERS This invention relates to a folder and, more particularly but not exclusively, to a folder made of plastics material.

It is well known to produce folders or cases (herein called "folders") from a single blank of plastics material. The blank has appropriate fold lines and cooperating tongues and tongue receiving openings whereby the blank can be assembled into a folder having front and rear walls, two side walls, a bottom wall, a top wall and a closure flap.

According to the present invention there is provided a folder formed from at least two separate blanks provided with appropriate fold lines and attached together by co-operating tongues and tongue receiving openings.

Preferably, the blanks are of different colours.

Preferably, one of the blanks includes a front wall of the folder and the or another of the blanks includes a rear wall of the folder.

In a preferred embodiment, the folder is formed from three separate blanks.

In this case, preferably, one of the blanks includes a front wall of the folder, another includes a rear wall, a top wall and a closure flap of the folder and the other includes two side walls and a bottom wall of the folder.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank forming a first part of one embodiment of a folder according to the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of a blank forming a second part of the folder, Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank forming a third part of the folder, and Figure 4 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a folder according to the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a blank comprising a rear wall panel 10, a top wall panel 11 and a closure flap 12 of a folder. Reinforcement flaps 13 project from the three free sides of the rear wall panel 10.

The blank is formed of plastics material and is die cut to provide creases 14, 15 and 16 and to form slits 17. The crease 14 defines a fold line between the rear wall panel 10 and the top wall panel 11. The crease 15 defines a fold line between the top wall panel 11 and the closure flap 12. The creases 16 define fold lines between the reinforcement flaps 13 and the rear wall panel 10. The slits 17 define tongue receiving openings and their purpose will become apparent hereinafter.

A semi-circular slit 18 is also formed in the closure flap 12 to define a latching tongue 19.

Figure 2 shows a blank comprising a front wall panel 20 and three reinforcement flaps 21. The blank is formed of plastics material and is die cut with creases 22 and slits 23. The creases 22 define fold lines between the reinforcement flaps 21 and the front wall panel 20 and the slits 23 define tongue receiving openings for a purpose which will become apparent hereinafter. A part of the upper portion of the front wall panel 20 is cut away to define a recess 24 and a slot 25 is cut in the panel 20 to receive the latching tongue 19 of the closure flap 12.

Figure 3 shows a blank comprising a bottom wall panel 26, two side wall panels 27 and 28, tongues 29 and ears 30.

The tongues 29 are undercut as shown by the reference numeral 30 so that the tongues will positively locate in the tongue receiving openings defined by the slits 17 and 23 in the previously mentioned blanks.

Creases 31 are provided between each tongue and its respective panel 26, 27 or 28 to define fold lines and creases 32 are provided to define fold lines between the bottom wall panel 26 and the two side wall panels 27 and 28. Creases 33 define fold lines between the two ears 30 and respective side wall panels 27 and 28.

In order to assemble the folder, the reinforcement flaps 13 on the blank shown in Figure 1 are turned inwards and the tongues 29 along one edge of the blank shown in Figure 3 are located in respective slits 17 along three sides of the rear wall panel 10. The reinforcement flaps 21 attached to the front wall panel 20 of the blank shown in Figure 2 are then turned inwards and the tongues 29 along the other edge of the blank shown in Figure 3 are located in the slits 23 along the sides of the front wall panel 20. The tongue 19 can then be located in the slot 25 to releasably close the flap 12.

Figure 4 shows a folder in the form of a ring binder. The ring binder comprises a front cover 40, a rear cover 41 and a spine 42. The front cover has latching tongues 43 and fold lines 44 between the tongues 43 and main panel of the cover 40. The rear cover 41 also has latching tongues 45 and fold lines 46 between the tongues 45 and main panel of the cover 41. The spine 42 has a main panel 47 to which a ring mechanism 48 is attached, reinforcement flaps 49, fold lines 50 between the reinforcement flaps and the main panel 47 and slits 51 which define tongue receiving openings for the latching tongues 43 and 45.

A folder made according to either of the above embodiments has the advantage that the three different parts may be of different colours to enhance the appearance of the folder and it also has the advantage that the product can be sold flat packed.

The embodiments described above are given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the blank shown in Figure 3 may be dispensed with and, for example, the side wall panels may become part of the blank shown in Figure 1 and the bottom wall panel may become part of the blank shown in Figure 2.

Claims

1. A folder formed from at least two separate blanks provided with appropriate fold lines and attached together by co-operating tongues and tongue receiving openings.

2. A folder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blanks are of different colours.

3. A folder as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one of the blanks includes a front wall of the folder and the or another of the blanks includes a rear wall of the folder.

4. A folder as claims in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the folder is forrned from three separate blanks.

5. A folder as claimed in claim 4, wherein one of the blanks includes a front wall of the folder, another includes a rear wall, a top wall and a closure flap of the folder and the other includes two side walls and a bottom wall of the folder.

6. A folder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.