US4164309A — Document storage and access case

Claim 1

Independent Claim 176 words

A document storage and access case for a plurality of groups of documents comprising: a housing having bottom wall means, sidewall means an an open top; a plurality of inclined ramp means extending forwardly up from said bottom wall means at a shallow angle relative thereto, each of said ramp means being adapted to support a group of documents thereon; document support means cooperating with at least one of said ramp means for supporting groups of rearwardly leaning documents resting on said ramp means, the angle of said ramp means permitting each document of a group to be supported with one edge resting thereon in a position so that when the documents within each group are of uniform height dimension the top edge of selected document in the group is higher than the documents disposed rearwardly thereof permitting each said selected document to be individually gripped and tilted to a stable forwardly leaning position to provide access to the remaining documents of the group; means for supporting said selected documents in said stable forwardly leaning position.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 176 words

A document storage and access case for a plurality of groups of documents comprising: a housing having bottom wall means, sidewall means an an open top; a plurality of inclined ramp means extending forwardly up from said bottom wall means at a shallow angle relative thereto, each of said ramp means being adapted to support a group of documents thereon; document support means cooperating with at least one of said ramp means for supporting groups of rearwardly leaning documents resting on said ramp means, the angle of said ramp means permitting each document of a group to be supported with one edge resting thereon in a position so that when the documents within each group are of uniform height dimension the top edge of selected document in the group is higher than the documents disposed rearwardly thereof permitting each said selected document to be individually gripped and tilted to a stable forwardly leaning position to provide access to the remaining documents of the group; means for supporting said selected documents in said stable forwardly leaning position.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 68 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 1 including: laterally outwardly extending ledge means disposed between said ramp means and said sidewall means to accommodate thereon a portion of a document; whereby a document having a portion positioned on said ledge means is oriented differently from the documents resting on said inclined ramps to indicate the position of that document within a group of documents.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 61 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 2 including: inner sidewall means depending from the inner peripheral edge of said ledge means, said inner sidewall means being spaced apart a distance at least as great as the length of documents supported on said ramp means; and wherein said plurality of ramp means extend between said inner sidewall means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 3 wherein: said inner sidewall means taper inwardly and downwardly to facilitate positioning a portion of a document on said ledge means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 65 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 3 wherein: said ledge means comprises first ledge means; and including: second laterally extending ledge means disposed between said first ledge means and said sidewall means; and intermediate sidewall means depending from the inner peripheral edge of said second ledge means; the outer peripheral edge of said first ledge means intersecting said intermediate sidewall means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 5 wherein: said first and second ledge means are co-planar.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 5 wherein: said first ledge means is closer to said bottom wall than said second ledge means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 97 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 7 wherein: said inclined ramp means comprises first inclined ramp means; and said first ledge means includes a plurality of second inclined ramp means lying in planes generally parallel to said first inclined ramp means, whereby groups of documents of a first size are disposed between said inner sidewall means and are supported on each of said first inclined ramp means and groups of documents of a second size are disposed between said intermediate sidewall means and are supported on each of said second inclined ramp means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 3 wherein: said inclined ramps, said ledge means and said inner sidewall means form part of an insert disposed within said housing.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 9 wherein: the highest point of said inclined ramp means is no higher than said ledge means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 32 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 9 wherein: the insert sidewall means taper inwardly and downwardly to facilitate positioning a portion of a document on said ledge means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 9 wherein: said insert includes riser means extending between the lowest and highest points of adjacent ones of said ramp means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 57 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 12 wherein: each of said ramp means is inclined at an angle of between about 15° and about 35° relative to said bottom wall means; and each of said riser means is inclined at an angle of at least about 70° relative to said bottom wall means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 51 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 12 wherein: each of said ramp means is inclined at an angle of about 30° relative to said bottom wall means; and each of said riser means is inclined at an angle of about 80° relative to said bottom wall means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 52 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 14 wherein: at least a portion of the surface of each of said ramp means is configured to increase the coefficient of friction with the edges of the document supported thereon to inhibit movement of said documents relative to said ramp means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 42 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 15 including: means having a roughened surface affixed to the surface of each of said ramp means for effecting said increased coefficient of friction with the edges of the document supported thereon.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 12 wherein: said document support means is generally planar substantially rigid member disposed adjacent selected ones of said riser means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 28 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 17 including: means for retaining said document support means in position adjacent selected ones of said riser means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 18 wherein: said retaining means includes a plurality of aligned slots formed in said sidewall means for slidably receiving said document support means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 26 words

A document storage and access case as claimed in claim 19 wherein: said document support means retained in said aligned slots rests on said ledge means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 34 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 17 including: a plurality of said document support means; and means securing each of said document support means to one of said riser means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 72 words

A case as defined in claim 9 including: second laterally extending ledge means integrally formed as a part of said housing and disposed between said insert ledge means and said sidewall means; and intermediate sidewall means depending from the inner peripheral edge of said second ledge means; said insert being disposed between said intermediate sidewall means with the outer peripheral edge of said insert ledge means being located adjacent intermediate sidewall means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 20 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 22 wherein: said first and second ledge means are co-planar.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 117 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 22 wherein: said insert is a first insert; and including: alternative insert means substitutable for said first insert and having: an alternative plurality of inclined ramp means having a configuration substantially the same as said inclined ramp means of said first insert, alternative laterally extending ledge means, and the inner peripheral edge of said alternative ledge means, said alternative inner wall means being spaced apart a distance different than the distance between the inner sidewall means of said first insert, the outer peripheral edge of said alternative ledge means being located adjacent said intermediate sidewall means when said alternative insert is disposed between said intermediate sidewall means.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 75 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 3 including: a cover having top wall means, sidewall means and an open bottom adapted to fit on said housing for providing a generally dust free enclosure; and a raised portion extending around at least a substantial portion of the periphery of said top wall means for slidably receiving a housing thereon with the inner sidewall means of said housing retained within said raised portion.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 28 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 2 including: riser means extending between the lowest and highest points of adjacent ones of said ramp means.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 31 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 26 wherein: said document support means is a generally planar substantially rigid member disposed adjacent selected ones of said riser means.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 28 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 27 including: means for retaining said document support means in position adjacent selected ones of said riser means.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 33 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 28 wherein: said retaining means includes a plurality of aligned slots formed in said sidewall means for slidably receiving said document support means.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 26 words

A document storage and access case as claimed in claim 29 wherein: said document support means retained in said aligned slots rests on said ledge means.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 34 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 27 including: a plurality of said document support means; and means securing each of said document support means to one of said riser means.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 28 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 1 including: riser means extending between the lowest and highest points of adjacent ones of said ramp means.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 35 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 32 wherein: each of said ramp means is inclined at an angle of between about 15° and about 35° relative to said bottom wall means.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 33 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 33 wherein: each of said riser means is inclined at an angle of at least about 70° relative to said bottom wall means.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 31 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 33 wherein: each of said ramp means is inclined at an angle of about 30° relative to said bottom wall means.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 31 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 35 wherein: each of said riser means is inclined at an angle of about 80° relative to said bottom wall means.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 31 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 36 wherein: said document support means is a generally planar substantially rigid member disposed adjacent selected ones of said riser means.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 28 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 37 including: means for retaining said document support means in position adjacent selected ones of said riser means.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 33 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 38 wherein: said retaining means includes a plurality of aligned slots formed in opposite sidewall means for slidably receiving said document support means.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 32 words

A document storage and access case as claimed in claim 39 wherein: said slots retain said document support means in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of said bottom wall means.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 34 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 37 including: a plurality of said document support means; and means securing each of said document support means to one of said riser means.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 36 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 32 wherein: the surface of each of said ramp means is configured to inhibit movement along said surface of the edges of the documents supported thereon.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 37 words

A document storage and access case as claimed in claim 42 wherein: only the lower portion of the surface of each of said ramp means is configured to inhibit movement of the supported edges of the documents.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 51 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 43 including: means having roughened surface affixed to the surface of each of said ramp means for increasing the coefficient of friction between said roughened surface and the edges of the document supported thereon whereby the documents are retained in place.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 195 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 32, wherein: said document support means comprises a generally planar substantially rigid member disposed adjacent a selected one of said riser means with the bottom edge of said document support means resting on the lower portion of a ramp means immediately adjacent to said riser means, said document support means including a downwardly projecting portion and having a generally stable rearwardly leaning position; a recess for receiving said projecting portion at the junction of said one riser means and the lowest point of said immediately adjacent ramp means, and first abutment means having a height no greater than the height of said ramp means defines a front end of said recess, the base of said front end of said recess being spaced from the lowest point of said riser means by a distance at least as great as the thickness of the projecting portion of said document support means; and said document support means abuts said one riser means and said front end of said recess when in said rearwardly leaning stable position to prevent said document support means from sliding along said ramp means.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 79 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 45, including: second abutment means which cooperates with said recess and is engageable with said document support means when said document support means is moved from said stable position to a forwardly leaning position, said second abutment means retaining said document support means in said forwardly leaning position; whereby said document support means is tiltable between backwardly and forwardly leaning positions and is retained in both of said positions.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 51 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 46, wherein: said second abutment means comprises inwardly extending projections on said sidewall means; and said document support means has outwardly projecting side flanges engageable with said second abutment means when said document support means is in said forwardly leaning position.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 43 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 47 wherein: said document support means engages an adjacent one of said inwardly extending sidewall projections when in said rearwardly leaning position to further retain said document support means in said stable position.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 25 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 45, wherein: said ramp means is integral with said bottom wall means of said housing.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 26 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 45, wherein: said recess includes a bottom wall defined by said bottom wall of said housing.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 112 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 45, wherein: said sidewall means includes a pair of sidewalls; each of said ramp means includes a slot extending from the lowest point thereof to the highest point thereof, said slots in said ramp means being aligned; and a generally planar substantially rigid insert means is removably received in said slots; whereby documents of one size may be supported on said plurality of inclined ramp means between one of said sidewalls and said insert means, and documents of another larger size may be supported on said plurality of inclined ramp means between said pair of sidewalls when said insert means is removed.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 26 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 1 wherein: said inclined ramp means form a part of an insert disposed within said housing.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 35 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 52 including: riser means forming a part of said insert and extending between the lowest and highest points of adjacent ones of said ramp means.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 30 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 53 wherein: said document support means is generally planar substantially rigid member disposed adjacent selected ones of said riser means.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 28 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 54 including: means for retaining said document support means in position adjacent selected ones of said riser means.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 33 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 55 wherein: said retaining means includes a plurality of aligned slots formed in said sidewall means for slidably receiving said document support means.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 44 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 55 wherein: said retaining means comprises a pair of generally planar inserts disposed adjacent opposed sidewall means; each of said planar inserts including a plurality of slots for slidably receiving said document support means.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 34 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 54 including: a plurality of said document support means; and means securing each of said document support means to one of said riser means.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 57 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 52 wherein: each of said ramp means is inclined at an angle of between about 15° and about 35° relative to said bottom wall means; and each of said riser means is inclined at an angle of at least about 70° relative to said bottom wall means.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 51 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 59 wherein: each of said ramp means is inclined at an angle of about 30° relative to said bottom wall means; and each of said riser means is inclined at an angle of about 80° relative to said bottom wall means.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 66 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 52 wherein: said housing is generally rectangular in plan view with one pair of opposed sidewall means being shorter than the other pair of opposed sidewall means; and said insert is generally square in plan view and is adapted to rest on said bottom wall means with the peripheral edges disposed immediately adjacent said sidewall means.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 88 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 61 wherein: said insert defines a plurality of said inclined ramp means on both sides thereof, with riser means interconnecting the lowest and highest points of adjacent ones of said ramp means, whereby documents of one size may be supported on said plurality of inclined ramp means between one pair of opposed sidewall means and documents of another larger size may be supported on said plurality of ramp means when said insert is turned over and rotated 90°.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 135 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 62 including: means for retaining said document support means adjacent selected ones of said riser means including: a first pair of generally planar inserts adapted to be disposed adjacent said one pair of opposed sidewall means, each of said generally planar inserts having slots aligned with selected ones of said riser means interconnecting said plurality of ramp means for slidably receiving and retaining in place said document support means; and a second pair of generally planar inserts adapted to be disposed adjacent said other pair of opposed sidewall means, each of said second pair of generally planar inserts having slots aligned with selected ones of said riser means interconnecting said plurality of ramp means for slidably receiving and retaining in place said document support means.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 95 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 1 wherein: said sidewall means defines a pair of sidewalls, a back wall extending between said sidewalls and a centrally disposed partial front wall; including: handle means formed integrally with said case by sloping portions extending beyond the front edge of said bottom wall means towards said open top from either side of said partial front wall, and a cross member extending therebetween and spaced from said partial front wall; and additional sidewall means on either side of said sloping portions and said cross member.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 64 words

A document storage and access case as defined in claim 64 including: a cover member having substantially the same configuration as said housing and adapted to fit thereon, said cover member having an outwardly offset skirt portion formed along the free edge of the sidewalls thereof and adapted to fit over the peripheral edge of said housing sidewalls for providing a dust tight enclosure.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1982-08-13	1983-02-12	1983-08-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1986-08-13	1987-02-12	1987-08-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1990-08-13	1991-02-12	1991-08-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Document storage and access case

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