File folder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9254703-B2
Application number	US-201313866542-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2013
Priority date	Apr 19, 2013
Publication date	Feb 9, 2016
Grant date	Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

A file folder includes a rotatable cover and a closure mechanism. The closure mechanism secures the rotatable cover against a front of the file folder to maintain the file folder in a closed position. The closure mechanism further secures the rotatable cover against a back of the file folder to maintain the file folder in an opened position. The closed position protects contents of the file folder, while the opened position allows access to the contents of the file folder.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A file folder comprising:
a rotatable cover having a clasp that includes a first end protruding from a first side of the rotatable cover and a second end protruding from an opposing second side of the rotatable cover;
a loop that is slidable within a plurality of holes in the file folder;
wherein when the loop is pulled in a first direction through at least two of the plurality of holes the loop engages with the first end of the clasp to secure the rotatable cover against a front of the file folder; and
wherein when the loop is pulled in a second direction through at least two of the plurality of holes the loop engages with the second end of the clasp to secure the rotatable cover against a back of the file folder, the second direction being different from the first direction.

2. The file folder of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes comprise a pair of holes extending through the front of the file folder and a pair of holes extending through the back of the file folder, wherein the pair of holes extending through the front of the file folder are in alignment with the pair of holes extending through the back of the file folder.

3. The file folder of claim 1 , wherein the loop comprises a cord that is threaded through each of the plurality of holes and has ends coupled together by a crimp tube.

4. The file folder of claim 1 , wherein the file folder comprises an expandable file folder and wherein the front and the back of the expandable file folder are made from a rigid material and sides of the expandable file folder are made from a flexible material.

5. The file folder of claim 1 , further comprising a zippered pouch attached to the front of the file folder.

6. The file folder of claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends of the clasp are larger in dimension than a middle component of the clasp that connects the first and second ends.

7. The file folder of claim 1 , wherein when the loop engages with the first end of the clasp to secure the rotatable cover against the front of the file folder, the file folder is in a closed position.

8. The file folder of claim 1 , wherein when the loop engages with the second end of the clasp to secure the rotatable cover against the back of the file folder, the file folder is in an opened position.

9. A method of accessing contents of a file folder, the method comprising:
releasing a loop that is engaged around a first end of a clasp that is coupled to a rotatable cover on a file folder, the first end of the clasp protruding from a first side of the rotatable cover;
rotating the rotatable cover from a closed position to an opened position;
pulling in a first direction the loop through at least two of a plurality of holes in the file folder; and
engaging the loop around a second end of the clasp that protrudes from an opposing second side of the rotatable cover to secure the rotatable cover in the opened position.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising releasing the loop that is engaged around the second end of the clasp.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
rotating the rotatable cover from the opened position to the closed position; and
pulling in a second direction that is different from the first direction the loop through at least two of the plurality of holes.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising engaging the loop around the first end of the clasp to secure the rotatable cover into the closed position.

13. A file folder comprising:
a front, a back and a pair of opposing sides, wherein the front includes a pair of holes and the back includes a pair of holes that are aligned with the pair of holes in the front;
a rotatable cover having a clasp that includes a first end protruding from a first side of the rotatable cover and a second end protruding from an opposing second side of the rotatable cover; and
a continuous loop that is threaded through each of the holes in the front and the back of the file folder and is slidable within each of the holes in the front and the back of the file folder;
wherein when the loop is pulled in a first direction an excess length of the loop extends from the front and engages with the first end of the clasp to secure the rotatable cover is a closed position; and
wherein when the loop is pulled in a second direction an excess length of the loop extends from the back and engages with the second end of the clasp to secure the rotatable cover in an opened position.

14. The file folder of claim 13 , wherein when the file folder is in the closed position the rotatable cover is secured against the front of the file folder using the continuous loop and the first end of the clasp.

15. The file folder of claim 13 , wherein when the file folder is in the opened position the rotatable cover is secured against the back of the file folder using the continuous loop and the second end of the clasp.

16. The file folder of claim 13 , wherein the continuous loop comprises an elastic cord material.

17. The file folder of claim 16 , wherein the elastic cord material is threaded through each of the plurality of holes and has ends coupled together by a crimp tube.

18. The file folder of claim 13 , wherein the file folder comprises an expandable file folder and wherein the front and the back of the expandable file folder are made from a rigid material and the opposing sides of the expandable file folder are flexible.

19. The file folder of claim 18 , wherein the opposing side of the expandable file folder are made flexible by being formed into an accordion pleat.

20. The file folder of claim 13 , further comprising a zippered pouch attached to the front of the file folder.

Assignees

• Target Brands Inc

Inventors

• Kuehn Thomas P
• Larson Katherine E

Classifications

• B42P2241/02

  Fasteners; Closures · CPC title

• B42F7/08 Primary

  expansible · CPC title

• B42F7/04

  Covers with retention means · CPC title