Storing device for flat objects

Claim 1

A device for storing flat objects comprising: (A) a plurality of structurally identical, pocket-like receptacles for receiving the objects to be stored, each of them being formed by double-folding a generally rectangular blank of thin but stiff sheet material and having a front wall portion and a rear wall portion, the height of the latter exceeding that of the front wall portion, (a) said pocket-like receptacles being slidably interconnected in series, one to the next, in a manner to permit limited relative movement of them between a first, storing position, in which they are all located straight behind one another, and a second, stepped and partly exposed position, in which each receptacle behind projects vertically beyond the next adjacent receptacle in front a predetermined distance at least approximately corresponding to the difference in height between the front and rear wall portions of each receptacle; (B) an inner cover enclosing said interconnected receptacles when they are in said first position but leaving them free to be moved into said second, partly exposed position, said inner cover including a fore wall member and a back wall member, both being of approximately the same size as said pocket-like receptacles, (b) the front wall portion of the foremost receptacle in said series of receptacles being connected to said fore wall member of said inner cover; (C) a slide member, to which the rear wall portion of the rearmost receptacle in said series of receptacles is attached, (c) said slide member being connected to said back wall member of said inner cover in a manner to permit guided and limited vertical movement thereof in parallel relationship to said back wall member; and (D) an outer box-like case receiving said series of interconnected receptacles, said inner cover, and said slide member, and having an opening, through which said slide member together with at least some of said interconnected receptacles may be pulled out, (d) said inner cover being retained in said outer box-like case in a manner to form a lining therein; and wherein (E) the interconnection between adjacent receptacles is provided solely by means of interengaging tabs and slits formed in the two wall portions of each receptacle, the slits extending vertically therein and each tab being cut out integral with the respective wall portion in a manner to lie substantially in the plane thereof and to extend laterally into the corresponding slit of the next adjacent receptacle.

Claim 2

A device for storing flat objects comprising: (A) a plurality of structurally identical, pocket-like receptacles for receiving the objects to be stored, each of them being formed by double-folding a generally rectangular blank of thin but stiff sheet material and having a front wall portion and a rear wall portion, the height of the latter exceeding that of the front wall portion, (a) said pocket-like receptacles being slidably interconnected in series, one to the next, in a manner to permit limited relative movement of them between a first, storing position, in which they are all located straight behind one another, and a second, stepped and partly exposed position, in which each receptacle behind projects vertically beyond the next adjacent receptacle in front a predetermined distance at least approximately corresponding to the difference in height between the front and rear wall portions of each receptacle; (B) an inner cover enclosing said interconnected receptacles when they are in said first position but leaving them free to be moved into said second, partly exposed position, said inner cover including a fore wall member and a back wall member, both being of approximately the same size as said pocket-like receptacles, (b) the front wall portion of the foremost receptacle in said series of receptacles being connected to said fore wall member of said inner cover; (C) a slide member, to which the rear wall portion of the rearmost receptacle in said series of receptacles is attached, (c) said slide member being connected to said back wall member of said inner cover in a manner to permit guided and limited vertical movement thereof in parallel relationship to said back wall member; and (D) an outer box-like case receiving said series of interconnected receptacles, said inner cover, and said slide member, and having an opening, through which said slide member together with at least some of said interconnected receptacles may be pulled out, (d) said inner cover being retained in said outer box-like case in a manner to form a lining therein; and wherein (E) the interconnection between adjacent receptacles is provided solely by means of interengaging tabs and slits formed in the two wall portions of each receptacle, the slits extending vertically therein and each tab being cut out integral with the respective wall portion in a manner to lie substantially in the plane thereof and to extend laterally into the corresponding slit of the next adjacent receptacle.