Multi-pocket folder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9902188-B2
Application number	US-201414522176-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2014
Priority date	Mar 24, 2008
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A folder including a main panel having an inner face and an outer face, and a slash panel having an inner face and an outer face. The slash panel is coupled to the main panel such that the inner face of the main panel and the inner face of the slash panel form a first pocket therebetween. The folder further includes a first outer panel coupled to the main panel and forming a second pocket with the outer face of the main panel. The folder has a second outer panel coupled to the slash panel and forming a third pocket with the outer face of the slash panel. The main panel, the slash panel, the first outer panel and the second outer panel are all made of a single unitary piece of material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A folder comprising:
a main panel having an inner face and an outer face;
a slash panel having an inner face and an outer face, said slash panel being coupled to said main panel such that said inner face of said main panel and said inner face of said slash panel form a first pocket therebetween, wherein said main panel and said slash panel are coupled along a fold line that extends therebetween and defines a first outer edge of said folder, and wherein said main panel and said slash panel are coupled along a second outer edge of said folder positioned on an opposite side of said folder relative to first outer edge;
a first outer panel coupled to said main panel and forming a second pocket with said outer face of said main panel; and
a second outer panel coupled to said slash panel and forming a third pocket with said outer face of said slash panel, wherein said main panel, said slash panel, said first outer panel and said second outer panel are all made from a single unitary piece of material.

2. The folder of claim 1 said slash panel has a surface area less than a surface area of said main panel to provide access to said first pocket.

3. The folder of claim 1 wherein said main panel, said first outer panel and said second outer panel are all generally rectangular, and wherein said slash panel is not generally rectangular.

4. The folder of claim 1 wherein said slash panel has a bottom edge, a pair of opposed parallel side edges oriented perpendicular to said bottom edge, and an upper edge, at least part of which is oriented in a non-parallel manner relative to said bottom edge.

5. The folder of claim 4 wherein said main panel and slash panel are joined along said fold line that is coincident with one of said side edges, and wherein said at least part of said upper edge moves away from said bottom edge in a direction moving away from said fold line.

6. The folder of claim 1 wherein each pocket is at least partially closed along at least three edges thereof.

7. The folder of claim 1 wherein each pocket is made of opposing panels having at least one of differing sizes or shapes to provide manual access thereto.

8. The folder of claim 1 wherein each pocket has a size less than a size of said main panel.

9. The folder of claim 1 wherein said first outer panel and said second outer panel are both rectangular and have the same size.

10. The folder of claim 1 wherein said second pocket and said third pocket have the same size, and said first pocket has a larger size than said second and third pockets.

11. The folder of claim 1 wherein said main panel has the largest surface area of said panels, and said slash panel has a surface area less than said main panel but greater than each outer panel.

12. The folder of claim 1 wherein said main panel and said first outer panel are coupled along a first fold line that extends therebetween, said slash panel and said second outer panel are coupled along a second fold line that extends therebetween and is parallel to said first fold line, said main panel and said slash panel are coupled along said fold line that extends therebetween and is perpendicular to said first and second fold lines, and first outer panel and said second outer panel are coupled along a third fold line that extends therebetween and is parallel to said fold line.

13. The folder of claim 1 wherein said first pocket is at least partially closed along at least three sides thereof.

14. The folder of claim 1 wherein a bottom edge of said first pocket is at least partially closed by a tab extending less than an entire length thereof.

15. The folder of claim 14 wherein said tab couples together said main panel and said slash panel.

16. The folder of claim 14 wherein said tab is integrally formed with one of said main panel or said slash panel and is coupled to said other one of said main panel or said slash panel.

17. A folder comprising:
a first main panel;
a second main panel coupled to said first main panel forming a first pocket therebetween, wherein said first main panel and said second main panel are coupled along a fold line that extends therebetween and defines a first outer edge of said folder, and wherein said first main panel and said second main panel are coupled along a second outer edge of said folder positioned on an opposite side of said folder relative to first outer edge;
a first outer panel coupled to said first main panel forming a second pocket with said first main panel; and
a second outer panel coupled to said second main panel forming a third pocket with said second main panel, wherein said first main panel, said second main panel, said first outer panel and said second outer panel are all made from a single unitary piece of material.

18. The folder of claim 17 wherein each pocket is at least partially closed along at least three edges thereof.

19. The folder of claim 17 wherein said second main panel has a surface area less than a surface area of said first main panel to provide access to said first pocket.

20. The folder of claim 17 wherein a bottom edge of said first pocket is at least partially closed by a tab extending less than an entire length thereof.

21. The folder of claim 17 wherein said first pocket is at least partially closed along at least three sides thereof.

22. The folder of claim 17 wherein the folder has only three pockets.

23. The folder of claim 17 wherein the folder has no more than four panels as plies in a thickness direction across a majority of a surface area of each outer panel.

24. The folder of claim 17 wherein the first main panel and the second main panel face each other and overlie each other in a thickness direction perpendicular to the first main panel.

25. A folder comprising:
a first main panel;
a second main panel coupled to said first main panel along a side of said folder and forming a first pocket therebetween;
a first outer panel coupled to said first main panel along a bottom of said folder and forming a second pocket with said first main panel;
a second outer panel coupled to said second main panel along a bottom of said folder and forming a third pocket with said second main panel; and
a tab positioned at a bottom of said first pocket, wherein said tab is coupled to one of said first main panel or first outer panel at one end thereof, and is coupled to one of said second main panel or said second outer panel at another end thereof and at least partially defining said first pocket.

26. The folder of claim 25 wherein said bottom of said first pocket is at least partially closed by the tab which extends less than an entire length of the first pocket.

27. The folder of claim 25 wherein said tab is coupled to said first outer panel.

28. The folder of claim 25 wherein said first pocket is open along said bottom except for where said tab is positioned.

29. The folder of claim 25 wherein said bottom of said folder is oriented perpendicular to said side of said folder.

30. The folder of claim 25 wherein said first main panel, said second main panel, said first outer panel and said second outer panel are all made from a single unitary piece of material.

31. The folder of claim 25 wherein the tab is coupled to said first main panel and coupled to said second main panel.

Assignees

• Acco Brands Corp

Inventors

• Busam Edward P

Classifications

• B42F11/00

  Filing appliances with separate intermediate holding means (B42F17/00 takes precedence; with adhesive strips for mounting papers or sheets B42D1/10) · CPC title

• B42F13/0053

  Indexing means on file covers · CPC title

• B42D1/06

  in which the fillings and covers are united by other means · CPC title

• B42F21/00

  Indexing means; Indexing tabs or protectors therefor · CPC title

• B42F7/06 Primary

  {Filing appliances comprising a plurality of pockets or compartments, e.g.} portfolios or cases with a plurality of compartments (indexing features B42F21/00) · CPC title