US4749121A — Reinforced file folder

Claim 1

Independent Claim 163 words

A file folder comprising a paper substrate having front and back panels joined along a fold line with said panels cooperating to define an integral side tab along at least a side edge of said back panel exposed beyond a corresponding side edge of the front panel when said file folder is in a folded condition, said side tab being connected with said corresponding side edge of said front panel by an undercut region, a high tensile strength reinforcing flexible plastic film adhered to each side of said undercut region and to each side of said side tab and to each side of said front panel at said corresponding side edge and reinforcingly bridging across said fold line on each side thereof, said film and paper stock along said corresponding side edge and said undercut region terminating at a commonly cut edge where said film and said paper substrate cooperate to increase the tear resistance of the folder at said commonly cut edge.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 163 words

A file folder comprising a paper substrate having front and back panels joined along a fold line with said panels cooperating to define an integral side tab along at least a side edge of said back panel exposed beyond a corresponding side edge of the front panel when said file folder is in a folded condition, said side tab being connected with said corresponding side edge of said front panel by an undercut region, a high tensile strength reinforcing flexible plastic film adhered to each side of said undercut region and to each side of said side tab and to each side of said front panel at said corresponding side edge and reinforcingly bridging across said fold line on each side thereof, said film and paper stock along said corresponding side edge and said undercut region terminating at a commonly cut edge where said film and said paper substrate cooperate to increase the tear resistance of the folder at said commonly cut edge.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

A file folder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said undercut region is provided on said front panel immediately adjacent said fold line and in a manner to provide a curved edge between said side tab and said front panel.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

A file folder as claimed in claim 2 wherein said film secured to said tab is of a total width of about 3 to 4 inches with at least one and a half inches applied to opposed sides of said tab.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

A file folder as claimed in claim 2 wherein said side tab and said front panel adjacent said side edge are of a double thickness of said paper substrate.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

A file folder as claimed in claim 1 including at least one pressure sensitive adhesive label carried directly on the surface of said film and located on said side tab.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 153 words

A lateral file folder made of a suitable paper stock and comprising front and back panels joined by a fold line, each panel having a corresponding reinforced side edge region joined in the length thereof by a transition region, said reinforced side edge regions and said transition region being of a double thickness of adhered paper stock and of a shape to produce a side labelling extension along essentially the length of the side edge region of said back panel exposed beyond the side edge region of said front panel when said folder is folded, said file folder including a flexible plastic reinforcing film adhered on each side of said edge regions and said transition region along the entire length thereof and reinforcingly bridging said fold line on opposite sides thereof, said film and paper substrate at said side region of front panel and said transition region co-terminating at a common cut edge.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 153 words

A lateral file folder made of a suitable paper stock and comprising front and back panels joined by a fold line, each panel having a corresponding reinforced side edge region joined in the length thereof by a transition region, said reinforced side edge regions and said transition region being of a double thickness of adhered paper stock and of a shape to produce a side labelling extension along essentially the length of the side edge region of said back panel exposed beyond the side edge region of said front panel when said folder is folded, said file folder including a flexible plastic reinforcing film adhered on each side of said edge regions and said transition region along the entire length thereof and reinforcingly bridging said fold line on opposite sides thereof, said film and paper substrate at said side region of front panel and said transition region co-terminating at a common cut edge.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 41 words

A lateral file folder as claimed in claim 6 wherein said transition region includes a continuous curved edge which joins the edge of said labelling extension and the side edge region of said front panel both of which are essentially straight.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

A lateral file folder as claimed in claim 7 wherein said transition region is located to one side of said fold line.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

A lateral file folder as claimed in claim 7 wherein said transition region is at said fold line joining said front and back panels.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 31 words

A file folder as claimed in claim 9 wherein said film is of a color different than said paper stock to provide a color band along an edge of the folder.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

A lateral file folder as claimed in claim 6 wherein said extension includes adhesively secured labels thereon directly carried by said film.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 125 words

A file folder of paper stock having a body portion folded to form a generally rectangular front panel and a generally rectangular back panel, one of said panels having an integral identification extension along one edge thereof, said extension having a high tensile strength plastic film adhesively secured to either side and extending the length of said extension, and wherein said file folder is a lateral file folder having said extension along a side edge thereof, said plastic film extending about the edge of said extension and extending and secured to either side of said other panel at the edge adjacent said extension to reinforce said file folder at said extension and a fold line in said body portion between said front and back panels.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 125 words

A file folder of paper stock having a body portion folded to form a generally rectangular front panel and a generally rectangular back panel, one of said panels having an integral identification extension along one edge thereof, said extension having a high tensile strength plastic film adhesively secured to either side and extending the length of said extension, and wherein said file folder is a lateral file folder having said extension along a side edge thereof, said plastic film extending about the edge of said extension and extending and secured to either side of said other panel at the edge adjacent said extension to reinforce said file folder at said extension and a fold line in said body portion between said front and back panels.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

A file folder as claimed in claim 12, including at least one label secured to said film on each side of said extension.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-06-07	1991-12-07	1992-06-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-06-07	1995-12-07	1996-06-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-06-07	1999-12-07	2000-06-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Reinforced file folder

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