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US5322167A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

File holder

Assignee: Fellowes Inc
•
Filing: 1992-11-03
•
Granted: 1994-06-21
•
Expires: 2012-11-03
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Abstract

Abstract A file holder and organizer is provided that can be used in either a horizontal or vertical direction. The file holder contains at least one removable partition and unitary body constructed of a material suitable for folding to provide the body for the file holder.

Inventors

  • 👤 Andrius S. Birutis
  • 👤 Ross J. Bourbonnais
  • 👤 Gerald R. Klaus

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 16:03
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B43/00; A47B43/02; A47B63/00; B; B42; B42F; B42F17/00; B42F17/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim 160 words
A file holder and organizer adapted to be used either in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction comprising: a. at least one removable fiberboard partition; and b. a unitary fiberboard body, when in the vertical direction comprises a base and four walls with the walls extending substantially vertically upward, the walls including a rear wall, a front wall spaced from and opposite the rear wall and two opposite side walls, each side wall being at a substantially right angle to the rear wall, the first side wall having at least one vertical slot at its top edge and the second side wall having at least one corresponding vertical slot at its top edge, the corresponding slots lying in a plane parallel to the front and rear walls and adapted to receive the removable partition such that when the partition is received in the corresponding slots, the partition lies in a plane parallel to the front and rear walls.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 160 words
A file holder and organizer adapted to be used either in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction comprising: a. at least one removable fiberboard partition; and b. a unitary fiberboard body, when in the vertical direction comprises a base and four walls with the walls extending substantially vertically upward, the walls including a rear wall, a front wall spaced from and opposite the rear wall and two opposite side walls, each side wall being at a substantially right angle to the rear wall, the first side wall having at least one vertical slot at its top edge and the second side wall having at least one corresponding vertical slot at its top edge, the corresponding slots lying in a plane parallel to the front and rear walls and adapted to receive the removable partition such that when the partition is received in the corresponding slots, the partition lies in a plane parallel to the front and rear walls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The file holder of claim 1 having three partitions and each side wall having three spaced apart vertical slots.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
The file holder of claim 2 wherein the base is provided with at least one partition support slot parallel to the rear wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The file holder of claim 5 wherein the partition member has a depending tab adapted to removably engage a partition slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
The file holder of claim 1 wherein the base is provided with a column of three spaced apart partition support slots, the slots being parallel to the rear wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
The file holder of claim 1 wherein the vertical elevation of the base near the rear wall is greater than the vertical elevation of the base near the front wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
The file holder of claim 6 wherein the vertical height of the rear wall is greater than the vertical height of the front wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
The file holder of claim 7 wherein the vertical height of each side wall is greater at the rear than at the front.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 173 words
A file holder and organizer adapted to be used either in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction comprising: a. at least one removable fiberboard partition, the partition member having a depending tab; b. a unitary fiberboard body, when in the vertical direction comprises a base and four walls with the walls extending substantially vertically upward, the walls including i. a rear wall joined with the base, ii. a front wall joined with the base, the front wall spaced from and opposite the rear wall, and iii. two opposite side walls, each side wall joined with and being at a substantially right angle to the rear wall; c. a first downwardly extending flap parallel to and joined with the first side wall, the flap having at least one vertical slot; and, d. a second downwardly extending flap parallel to and joined with the second side wall, the flap having at least one vertical slot corresponding with the vertical slot on the first flap, the slots being adapted to receive the partition member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 173 words
A file holder and organizer adapted to be used either in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction comprising: a. at least one removable fiberboard partition, the partition member having a depending tab; b. a unitary fiberboard body, when in the vertical direction comprises a base and four walls with the walls extending substantially vertically upward, the walls including i. a rear wall joined with the base, ii. a front wall joined with the base, the front wall spaced from and opposite the rear wall, and iii. two opposite side walls, each side wall joined with and being at a substantially right angle to the rear wall; c. a first downwardly extending flap parallel to and joined with the first side wall, the flap having at least one vertical slot; and, d. a second downwardly extending flap parallel to and joined with the second side wall, the flap having at least one vertical slot corresponding with the vertical slot on the first flap, the slots being adapted to receive the partition member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
The file holder of claim 9 wherein the base is provided with at least one partition support slot parallel to the rear wall and adapted to receive the depending tab of a partition member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 41 words
The file holder of claim 9 wherein the base is provided with a column of three spaced apart partition support slots, the slots being parallel to the rear wall and adapted to removably engage the depending tab of a partition member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 30 words
The file holder of claim 9 wherein the vertical elevation of the base near the rear wall is greater than the vertical elevation of the base near the front wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 24 words
The file holder of claim 12 wherein the vertical height of the rear wall is greater than the vertical height of the front wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 23 words
The file holder of claim 13 wherein the vertical height of each side wall is greater at the rear than at the front.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 61 words
The file holder of claim 9 wherein the rear wall is joined with the base along a base fold, the front wall is joined with the base along a front fold, the first side wall is joined with the rear wall along a first side fold, and the second sides is joined with the rear wall along a second side fold.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 99 words
The file holder of claim 15 further having: a. a pair of spaced apart base retaining slots provided on the base adjacent the front fold; b. a first front face joined with the first side wall, the face being at a substantially right angle to the side wall and further having a depending tab that removably engages a base retaining slot; and, c. a second front face joined with the second side wall, the face being at a substantially right angle to the side wall and further having a depending tab that removably engages the other base retaining slot.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 39 words
The file holder of claim 16 further having a retaining flap joined with the front wall and having two depending tabs, each tab removably engaging a base retaining slot when the retaining flap is folded over each front face.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 53 words
The file holder of claim 9 further having: a. a first prop joined with the first side wall; and, b. a second prop joined with the second side wall such that when the first prop and the second prop are folded underneath the base, the props substantially abut the underside of the base.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 71 words
The file holder of claim 18 wherein a. the base further has a pair of prop slots; b. the first prop further has a prop tab; and c. the second prop further has a prop tab such that when the first prop and the second prop are folded underneath the base, the first prop tab removably engages one prop slot and the second prop tab removably engages the other prop slot.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 77 words
The file holder of claim 9 further having: a. a first foot joined with the first side wall; b. a first prop joined with the first foot; c. a second food joined with the second side wall; and, d. a second prop joined with the second foot such that when the first foot and the second foot are folded underneath the base, the feet are substantially horizontal and the props substantially abut the underside of the base.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 458 words
A fiberboard file holder and organizer adapted to be used either in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction comprising: a. at least one removable partition having a depending tab, the partition having a greater width at its upper portion than at its lower portion; b. a unitary body, when in the vertical direction comprises a sloping base and four walls with the walls extending substantially vertically upward, the walls including i. a rear wall joined with the base along a base fold, ii. a front wall joined with the base along a front wall fold, the front wall spaced from and opposite the rear wall, iii. a first side wall joined with the rear wall along a first side wall fold and being at a substantially right angle to the rear wall, iv. a second side wall joined with the rear wall along a second side wall fold and being at a substantially a right angle to the rear wall, the base having a greater vertical elevation near the rear wall than near the front wall and further having at least one partition support slot parallel to the rear wall and adapted to receive the partition member depending tab; c. a first downwardly extending flap parallel to and joined with the first side wall, the flap having at least one vertical slot; d. a second downwardly extending flap parallel to and joined with the second side wall, the flap having at least one vertical slot corresponding with the vertical slot on the first flap, the first and second flaps adapted to receive the upper portion of the partition member; e. a pair of spaced apart base retaining slots provided adjacent the front fold; f. a first front face joined with the first side wall, the face being at a substantially right angle to the side wall and further having a depending tab that removably engages the base retaining slot; g. a second front face joined with the second side wall, the face being at a substantially right angle to the side wall and further having a depending tab that removably engages a base retaining slot; h. a retaining flap joined with the front wall and having two depending tabs, each tab removably engaging a base retaining slot when the retaining flap is folded over each front face; i. a first foot joined with the first side wall; j. a first prop joined with the first foot; k. a second foot joined with the second side wall; and, l. a second prop joined with the second foot such that when the first foot and the second foot are folded underneath the base, the feet are substantially horizontal and the props substantially abut the underside of the base.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 458 words
A fiberboard file holder and organizer adapted to be used either in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction comprising: a. at least one removable partition having a depending tab, the partition having a greater width at its upper portion than at its lower portion; b. a unitary body, when in the vertical direction comprises a sloping base and four walls with the walls extending substantially vertically upward, the walls including i. a rear wall joined with the base along a base fold, ii. a front wall joined with the base along a front wall fold, the front wall spaced from and opposite the rear wall, iii. a first side wall joined with the rear wall along a first side wall fold and being at a substantially right angle to the rear wall, iv. a second side wall joined with the rear wall along a second side wall fold and being at a substantially a right angle to the rear wall, the base having a greater vertical elevation near the rear wall than near the front wall and further having at least one partition support slot parallel to the rear wall and adapted to receive the partition member depending tab; c. a first downwardly extending flap parallel to and joined with the first side wall, the flap having at least one vertical slot; d. a second downwardly extending flap parallel to and joined with the second side wall, the flap having at least one vertical slot corresponding with the vertical slot on the first flap, the first and second flaps adapted to receive the upper portion of the partition member; e. a pair of spaced apart base retaining slots provided adjacent the front fold; f. a first front face joined with the first side wall, the face being at a substantially right angle to the side wall and further having a depending tab that removably engages the base retaining slot; g. a second front face joined with the second side wall, the face being at a substantially right angle to the side wall and further having a depending tab that removably engages a base retaining slot; h. a retaining flap joined with the front wall and having two depending tabs, each tab removably engaging a base retaining slot when the retaining flap is folded over each front face; i. a first foot joined with the first side wall; j. a first prop joined with the first foot; k. a second foot joined with the second side wall; and, l. a second prop joined with the second foot such that when the first foot and the second foot are folded underneath the base, the feet are substantially horizontal and the props substantially abut the underside of the base.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 135 words
A file holder and organizer adapted to be used either in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction comprising: a. three removable fiberboard partitions; and b. a unitary fiberboard body, when in the vertical direction comprises a base and four walls, with the base having at least one partition support slot parallel to the rear wall, and with the four walls extending substantially vertically upward, the walls including a rear wall, a front wall spaced from and opposite the rear wall and two opposite side walls, each side wall being at a substantially right angle to the rear wall, the first side wall having three vertical slots at its top edge and the second side wall having three corresponding vertical slots at its top edge, the corresponding slots adapted to receive the removable partition.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 135 words
A file holder and organizer adapted to be used either in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction comprising: a. three removable fiberboard partitions; and b. a unitary fiberboard body, when in the vertical direction comprises a base and four walls, with the base having at least one partition support slot parallel to the rear wall, and with the four walls extending substantially vertically upward, the walls including a rear wall, a front wall spaced from and opposite the rear wall and two opposite side walls, each side wall being at a substantially right angle to the rear wall, the first side wall having three vertical slots at its top edge and the second side wall having three corresponding vertical slots at its top edge, the corresponding slots adapted to receive the removable partition.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 21 words
The file holder of claim 22 wherein the partition member has a depending tab adapted to removably engage a partition slot.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 142 words
A file holder and organizer adapted to be used either in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction comprising: a. at least one removable partition; and a body, when in the vertical direction comprises a base and four walls with the walls extending substantially vertically upward, the base further provided with a column of three spaced apart partition support slots, the slots being parallel to the rear wall, the walls including a rear wall, a front wall spaced from and opposite the rear wall and two opposite side walls, each side wall being at a substantially right angle to the rear wall, the first side wall having at least one vertical slot at its top edge and the second side wall having at least one corresponding vertical slot at its top edge, the corresponding slots adapted to receive the removable partition.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 142 words
A file holder and organizer adapted to be used either in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction comprising: a. at least one removable partition; and a body, when in the vertical direction comprises a base and four walls with the walls extending substantially vertically upward, the base further provided with a column of three spaced apart partition support slots, the slots being parallel to the rear wall, the walls including a rear wall, a front wall spaced from and opposite the rear wall and two opposite side walls, each side wall being at a substantially right angle to the rear wall, the first side wall having at least one vertical slot at its top edge and the second side wall having at least one corresponding vertical slot at its top edge, the corresponding slots adapted to receive the removable partition.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 146 words
A file holder and organizer adapted to be used either in a horizontal direction or in a vertically direction comprising: a. at least one removable partition; and b. a body, when in the vertical direction comprises a base and four walls with the walls extending substantially vertically upward, the walls including a rear wall, a front wall spaced from and opposite the rear wall and two opposite side walls, each side wall being at a substantially right angle to the rear wall, the first side wall having at least one vertical slot at its top edge and the second side wall having at least one corresponding vertical slot at its top edge, the corresponding slots adapted to receive the removable partition and wherein the vertical elevation of the base near the rear wall is greater than the vertical elevation of the base near the front wall.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 146 words
A file holder and organizer adapted to be used either in a horizontal direction or in a vertically direction comprising: a. at least one removable partition; and b. a body, when in the vertical direction comprises a base and four walls with the walls extending substantially vertically upward, the walls including a rear wall, a front wall spaced from and opposite the rear wall and two opposite side walls, each side wall being at a substantially right angle to the rear wall, the first side wall having at least one vertical slot at its top edge and the second side wall having at least one corresponding vertical slot at its top edge, the corresponding slots adapted to receive the removable partition and wherein the vertical elevation of the base near the rear wall is greater than the vertical elevation of the base near the front wall.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 24 words
The file holder of claim 25 wherein the vertical height of the rear wall is greater than the vertical height of the front wall.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 23 words
The file holder of claim 26 wherein the vertical height of each side wall is greater at the rear than at the front.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4228904A Cited
US4512541A Cited
US4579232A Cited
US4819792A Cited
US4795196A Cited
US4962859A Cited
US5148942A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-06-20 1997-12-20 1998-06-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-06-20 2001-12-20 2002-06-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-06-20 2005-12-20 2006-06-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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