Moveable tab

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10427448-B2
Application number	US-201213357639-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2012
Priority date	Feb 4, 2011
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

A tab system including a tab for attachment to a component, the tab having a display portion proximate to a first edge of the tab and a pair of attachment portions. Each attachment portion is located on a corner of the tab along a second edge opposite from the first edge. Each attachment portion includes curved or angled, generally parallel upper and lower edges, or, alternately each attachment portion includes a pair of generally parallel, spaced-apart outwardly-extending legs.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tab for attachment to a component having a pair of slots therein or therethrough, each slot having a slot height extending in a first direction, the tab comprising:
a flat display portion proximate to a first edge of the tab; and
a pair of attachment portions extending outwardly in a lateral direction perpendicular to the first direction, each attachment portion being located on a side edge of the tab or on a corner of the tab that is positioned along a second edge opposite from the first edge, wherein both attachment portions are located mutually opposite of said display portion with respect to the first direction, and wherein:
(i) each attachment portion includes curved or angled upper and lower co-planar edges, wherein said upper and lower edges of each attachment portion are predominantly parallel to enable each attachment portion to be inserted into a slot, wherein each attachment portion is coupled to said tab at a base of the respective attachment portion, and wherein said tab includes a pair of relief cutouts positioned adjacent to the base of each attachment portion, each pair with one cutout being co-planar with the associated upper edge and with another cutout being co-planar with the associated lower edge, and wherein the relief cutouts are configured to enable said tab to be secured to said component in a flat configuration and resist removal therefrom; or
(ii) each attachment portion includes a pair of spaced-apart, outwardly-extending co-planar legs wherein the pair has a collective height that is greater than the slot height, and wherein at least one leg in each attachment portion is configured to be reversibly and springingly movable toward the other leg to enable said legs to fit through an associated one of the pair of slots to couple said tab to the component.

2. The tab of claim 1 , wherein the slots have a slot spacing therebetween extending in a second direction, and wherein each attachment portion extends laterally a distance of between 10% and 50% of the slot spacing.

3. The tab of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said upper or lower edges is curved along an entire length thereof and is concave in a direction away from the display portion.

4. The tab of claim 1 , wherein each attachment portion, at a juncture of that attachment portion with the tab, has a neck portion with a neck height approximately equal to the slot height, and the tab is positionable in an installed position wherein the neck portion is received into the slot.

5. The tab of claim 4 , wherein each attachment portion has a shoulder portion adjoining the neck portion outside the juncture of that attachment portion with the tab, and the shoulder portion has a shoulder height greater than the slot height.

6. The tab of claim 4 , wherein each attachment portion has an upward extension portion extending upward relative to the neck portion, and when the tab is in the installed position, the upward extension portion extends upward beyond the slot height.

7. The tab of claim 1 wherein each lower edge of each attachment portion terminates at a position adjacent to but spaced away from a lower edge of said tab, and wherein each upper edge of each attachment terminates at a position adjacent a middle portion of said tab.

8. The tab of claim 1 further comprising said component including a pair of spaced, parallel slots, wherein each attachment portion is received in one of said slots to removably couple said tab to said component.

9. The tab of claim 8 wherein each attachment portion includes curved, predominantly parallel upper and lower edges having a maximum spacing therebetween approximately equal to the slot height.

10. The tab of claim 1 wherein each attachment portion includes the pair of spaced-apart, outwardly-extending co-planar legs.

11. The tab of claim 10 wherein each leg extends parallel to said first and second edges of said tab.

12. The tab of claim 10 wherein at least one leg of each attachment portion increases in thickness in a direction away from a base of said leg.

13. The tab of claim 12 wherein at least one leg of each attachment portion includes a notch formed therein spaced away from a distal end thereof.

14. The tab of claim 1 wherein each attachment portion includes the pair of spaced-apart, outwardly-extending co-planar legs, each leg in each attachment portion having a gap therebetween which is co-planar with the associated legs, wherein said gap is configured to reduce in size when said legs in an associated attachment portion are moved closer to each other in a plane of said tab to enable said legs to fit through an associated slot.

15. The tab of claim 1 wherein each attachment portion is flat and planar, and wherein each upper edge is positioned along an outer edge of the associated attachment portion and each lower edge is positioned along another, opposite outer edge of the associated attachment portion.

16. The tab of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower edges of each attachment portion are spaced apart in a direction in a plane of said tab.

17. A tab system comprising:
a sheet of material having a bound edge and a free edge, said sheet of material including at least one pair of slots positioned adjacent to said free edge, said at least one pair of slots having a spacing therebetween; and
a tab releasably coupleable to said sheet of material, said tab including a flat display portion proximate to a first edge of the tab, said tab further including a pair of attachment portions, each attachment portion being located on a side edge of the tab, or at a corner of the tab, wherein each attachment portion is receivable through one of said slots, wherein both attachment portions are located mutually opposite of said display portion with respect to a direction parallel to said slots, and further wherein:
(i) each attachment portion includes curved or angled, uppermost and lowermost co-planar edges, wherein said uppermost and lowermost edges of each attachment portion are predominantly parallel to enable each attachment portion to be inserted into a slot, wherein said tab includes a pair of cutouts positioned adjacent to a base of each attachment portion, with one cutout of each pair of cutouts being positioned in adjoinment with the uppermost edge of the associated attachment portion and the other cutout of each pair of cutouts being positioned in adjoinment with the lowermost edge of the associated attachment portion, and wherein each attachment portion protrudes outwardly from said tab in a lateral direction and wherein said pairs of cutouts are spaced away from each other along said lateral direction, and wherein one cutout of each pair of cutouts is spaced away from the other cutout of that pair of cutouts in a direction perpendicular to said lateral direction; or
(ii) each attachment portion includes a pair of spaced-apart, outwardly-extending co-planar legs wherein the pair has a collective height that is greater than the slot height, and wherein at least one leg in each attachment portion is configured to be reversibly and springingly movable away from the flat display portion and toward the other leg to enable said legs to fit through an associated one of the at least one pair of slots to couple said tab to the sheet of material.

18. The tab system of claim 17 wherein said slots are parallel to each other and extend perpendicular to the free edge.

19. The tab system of claim 17 wherein each cutout in each pair of cutouts are coplanar, and wherein said pair of cutouts are coplanar.

Assignees

• Busam Edward P
• Richied Kenneth P
• Witter Kevin W
• Acco Brands Corp

Inventors

• Busam Edward P
• Richied Kenneth P
• Witter Kevin W

Classifications

• G09F23/10

  on paper articles, e.g. booklets, newspapers · CPC title

• B42F21/06 Primary

  Tabs detachably mounted on sheets, papers, cards, or suspension files · CPC title