GB2415411A

GB2415411A - Folder with multi-layer plastic foam cover.

Info

Publication number: GB2415411A
Application number: GB0501088A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jui Lin Chang; Shu-Hua Shih
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-06-22
Filing date: 2005-01-19
Publication date: 2005-12-28
Also published as: FR2871729B3; GB0501088D0; ES1059231Y; JP3106107U; DE202004019250U1; ITMI20050054U1; ES1059231U; FR2871729A3

Abstract

The storage folder has a cover with pre-folding marks 13 in its central area 10 at which the cover can be folded into a first panel 11 and a second panel 12. The cover defines a storage portion 20 to accommodate files of preset types. The cover has a multi-layer structure. A central layer A1 with one or more layers made of plastic foam material lies between a pair of plastic external surface layers A2,A3. The central layer(s) A1 and surface layers A2,A3 may be of different colours.

Description

STORAGE FOLDER

The present invention relates generally to a storage folder, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a storage folder with special cover or board structure facilitating the enhancement of strength and reduction of cost, and featuring diversity in colors and shapes.

The cover or board portions of conventional storage folders are typically made of paper (or cardboard) or plastic material, which may result in the following disadvantages.

As the inner portions of the storage folders need to be bound and bear the weight of files, they may not be able to bear the weight of the files or the folding of external force if the cardboard is too thin. On the other hand, if the cardboard thickness is increased, the cost of the paper-based storage folders will increase significantly. Even if the strength of the cardboard is improved, e.g. by increasing the thickness, they are still vulnerable to humidity or water intrusion, resulting in softening after a period of use.

To reduce the cost and solve the problems of paper storage folders, practitioners replaced the paper/cardboard with plastics.

However, plastic storage folders are often still too soft to bear the weight of files if the plastic covers/boards are too thin. Furthermore, due to monotony in colors and shapes, the plastic boards cannot provide a diversified appearance or colors.

It is an object of the present invention to address one or more of the above problems of the conventional storage covers/boards.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a storage folder comprlsmg: a cover having a multi-layer structure comprising a central layer made of plastic foam material, and two plastic external surface layers covering each side of the central layer.

The central layer made of plastic foam materials and two external surface layers may enhance the strength of the board significantly.

However, the manufacturing cost of the storage folder of the invention may be lower than that of the paper storage folder with the same thickness. Therefore, the storage folder according to this aspect may possesses the advantages of rigid structure and cost-effectiveness.

Preferably the cover has in its central area one or more pre-folding marks according to which the cover is folded into a first panel and a second panel.

Preferably the side of the cover, which forms the interior of the folder, has a storage portion which has a predetermined volume of receiving space to accommodate files of preset types.

More preferably said receiving space of the storage portion is changeably configurable to accommodate files of different shape and size, such as large-size paper, diplomas, copy paper, sheets, photos, negative films and name cards.

In some embodiments, the central layer of the board may be formed of multiple layers of plastic foaming material.

The central layer of the said board and its two external surface layers may be provided in different colors.

Utilising the multi-layer structure of the plastic board, the storage folder can thus be provided with different colors in the central layer and its two external surface layers. Therefore, it may possess flexibility in color collocation and contributes substantially to diversified designs.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a board formable into the cover of a storage folder according to the first aspect, the board having a multi-layer structure comprising a central layer made of plastic foam material, and two plastic external surface layers covering each side of the central layer, the board having in its central area one or more pre-folding marks according to which the board can be folded into a first panel and a second panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the multi-layer structure of portion B of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3-4 show the cross-sectional views of the present invention.

FIGS. 5-7 show the exemplars of the installed storage compartments of the present invention.

FIGS. 8-11 show the exemplars of the storage structure of the present invention.

The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a storage folder according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a cover or board A that has formed in its central area 10 one or a plurality of pre-folding marks 13 according to which the cover can be folded into a first panel 11 and a second panel 12. The inner side of the cover has a storage portion 20, which has a predetermined volume of receiving space to accommodate files of preset types (a plurality of embodied modes are presented below). In addition, the said cover possesses a multi-layer structure. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a central layer Al featuring one layer or a plurality of layers of plastic foam material is provided in the centre of the cover, and both sides of the central layer Al are topped with a plastic external surface layer A2/A3 respectively.

Taking advantages of the said structure, the design not only facilitates the enhancement of strength and reduction of cost of the folder but also can be diversified in colors and collocation.

The central layer Al of the said cover A can be constructed from multilayer plastic foam material (refer to FIG. 4).

The central layer Al of the said cover A and its two external surface layers A2 and AS can be provided with different colors.

The storage portion 20 can be fixed in the central area l O of the cover A by ultrasonic compression/welding (referring to FIG. 5, the mark B is the place of ultrasonic compression/welding).

Alternatively or additionally, storage portion 20 can also be fixed in the central area 10 of the cover A by riveting with rivets 30 (refer to FIG. 6).

Alternatively or additionally, the storage portion 20 can also be fixed in an appropriate position of the inner side of the cover A by detachable keepers 40 (refer to FIG. 7).

The receiving space of the storage portion can be configured to accommodate large-size paper files 51, such as diplomas and copy paper. In this way, it becomes a special storage folder for large-size paper files.

Alternatively or additionally, the receiving space of the storage portion can be configured to accommodate photos. In this way, it becomes a special storage folder for photos.

Alternatively or additionally, the receiving space of the storage portion can be configured to accommodate negative films. In this way, it becomes a special storage folder for negative films.

Alternatively or additionally, the receiving space of the storage portion can be configured to accommodate name cards. In this way, it becomes a special storage folder for name cards.

Claims

1. A storage folder comprising: a cover having a multi-layer structure comprising a central layer made of plastic foam material, and two plastic external surface layers covering each side of the central layer.

2. A storage folder according to claim 1 wherein the cover has in its central area one or more pre-folding marks according to which the cover is folded into a first panel and a second panel.

3. A storage folder according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the side of the cover, which forms the interior of the folder, has a storage portion which has a predetermined volume of receiving space to accommodate files of preset types.

4. The storage folder defined in claim 3, wherein said receiving space of the storage portion is changeably configurable to accommodate files of different shape and size, such as large-size paper, diplomas, copy paper, sheets, photos, negative films and name cards.

5. The storage folder defined in any preceding claim, wherein said central layer of the board is formed of multiple layers of plastic foaming material.

6. The storage folder defined in any preceding claim, wherein said central layer of the said board and its two external surface layers are in different colors.

7. A board formable into the cover of the storage folder of any one of the preceding claims, the board having a multi-layer structure comprising a central layer made of plastic foam material, and two plastic external surface layers covering each side of the central layer, the board having in its central area one or more pre-folding marks according to which the board can be folded into a first panel and a second panel.

8. A storage folder substantially as any one herein described with reference to, or as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.