Containerized File Carrier System

Abstract

A file carrier and storage system is disclosed which can be used for any type of files and is particularly well suited for transporting hanging files which have hooks which extend beyond the file. A container provides a storage and support structure for the files while a carrier allowed batches of files to be transported in a structure which slideably receives the container. A plurality of containers may be used with a single carrier so that the container can be used as shelf or drawer holders for files. In this way, non hanging (suspended) files can also be conveniently used.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/655,368 filed on 23 Feb. 2005, the complete subject matter of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a mobile container system for files.

2. Background

In an office setting, hanging folders are commonplace and are routinely used for storing documents. A hanging folder has a front and a back cover, connected by a fold at the bottom of the folder. The contents are inserted between the front and back covers through the top of the folder. The hanging folder is suspended by four hooks, located at opposite ends along the top edge of both the front and back covers.

The hooks provide a convenient way to suspend the folders, but they are a hindrance when transporting or archiving the hanging folders. The hooks may easily snag on other folders or papers, and may be easily damaged.

Furthermore, the hanging folders do not easily fit into common storage boxes because of the hooks, requiring custom boxes for archival storage that are generally expensive and are not of a standard size. Furthermore, if one wishes to archive a relatively small number of file folders, such as the amount typically contained in a three-ring binder, one either has to use a small portion of a large archival storage box, thereby wasting space, or remove the contents of the hanging file folders and place them in a file system of a different type, thereby consuming effort and additional materials. Both of these scenarios are unacceptable.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a filing system that can accommodate files, file folders, hanging file folders and other office products, in which the folders may be easily identified, accessed, carried and transported.

Furthermore, the hanging folders are typically used in drawers, where the hooks engage ridges on the side edges of the drawer, or require an additional metallic rail system on the inside of the drawer. It would be convenient to store the hanging folders on a shelf, rather than in a drawer, which would simplify access to the files.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a containerized filing system, in which the containers may be stored on a shelf and may be easily transported.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to assist the reader in understanding some aspects of the invention but is not intended to define the scope of the invention or even point out all of the embodiments. For that, reference must be had to the claims and entire specification.

One aspect of the invention is a hanging file transport system having a container having first pair of opposing sides and second set of opposing sides together forming a rectangular boundary defining a space therein sized to receive hanging folders; said first pair of opposing sides including support opposed support edges spaced to receive hanging folder hooks; and a carrier having 4 sidewalls and a bottom, thereby defining a receiving space, said receiving space sized to receive the carrier.

In another aspect of the system, the carrier receiving space is sized to snugly to receive said carrier between said second set of opposing sides.

In another aspect of the system, the carrier receiving space between said first said of sidewalls is sized to be just greater than the greatest extent of a hanging folder.

In another aspect of the system the container include apertures extending though opposing sidewalls, said apertures forming handles and having a convex upper surface.

In another aspect of the system the carrier include a foldable section configured to be able to fold away from said carrier, thereby further exposing said defined receiving space.

In another aspect of the system the carrier includes at least one aperture in the bottom thereof to assist in urging said container out of said defined receiving space.

In another aspect of the system the carrier includes a lever mechanism configured to urge said container out of said defined receiving space.

In another aspect of the system the lever mechanism includes a first lever pivotally attached to an outer surface, a pivot and a lifting bar extending from said pivot into said defined receiving space generally adjacent said bottom.

In another aspect of the system the container has a wire frame structure and wherein said sidewalls and bottom are open air.

In another aspect of the system the wire frame further includes a folder sling hanging from top edges of said wire frame and extending toward said bottom.

In another aspect of the system the sling is a flexible material.

In another aspect of the system the container includes a pair of retractable handles in opposing sidewalls.

In another aspect of the system the container includes sidewalls having apertures forming handles and a depressed region surrounding said handles.

In another aspect of the system the file management system with transporter having a plurality of containers having first pair of opposing sides and second set of opposing sides together forming a rectangular boundary defining a space therein sized to receive folders, each container including at least one removal handle; and a carrier transporter having a handle, 4 sidewalls and a bottom, thereby defining a receiving space, said receiving space sized to receive at least one of said containers.

In another aspect of the system the defined space within said container is wide enough to receive hanging folders but narrow enough that hooks from the hanging folders extend outwardly beyond said defined spaces, so that the files are supported by said opposing sides.

In another aspect of the system the defined receiving space is wide enough to receive said container and said hooks.

In another aspect of the system, there is a method of transporting groups of hanging files by the steps of forming a container having an upper frame edge, the container being wide enough to contain the files but narrow enough that the hanging hooks of the files extend outside the container; forming a transporter carrier with a handle and a receiving space large enough to accommodate said container and said hooks within the space.

In another aspect of the system there is the step of ejecting the container from the carrier by urging the container out of the carrier by levering upward from the bottom.

In another aspect of the system, further including the step of ejecting the container from the carrier by urging the container out of the carrier through apertures in the bottom of the carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective plan drawing of a filing system with the container separated from the carrier.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a filing system with the container removed from the carrier.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a filing system with the container partially inserted into the carrier.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a filing system with the container inside the carrier.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a wireframe carrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has many embodiments. One system is a shelf mountable file storage/management system with transporter, where a plurality of containers 11 can be shelf or drawer mounted/stored and when there is a need to transport them, they can be slipped into a reusable transporter carrier 12. In this configuration, the container can also provide support for the files so that they don't tip over, so that non-supported (suspended) files can more easily be used. For example, a drawer may have files in a plurality of side by side containers. If they were non-suspended files, they would normally fall over unless the drawer was tightly packed, with the use of containers, they will stay substantially upright and accessible. In another embodiment, the container and transporter can be sold/used as a unit and where the container provides a convenient method to hold groups of files, especially hanging (ie suspended) folders which are difficult to transport.

FIG. 1 shows a filing system 10 that has a container 11 and a carrier/case 12. The container 11 is sized to accommodate several files or folders 13, and fits inside the carrier 12 along with all its folders 13. The preferred configuration is for carrier 12 to hold hanging folders 13, though the invention should not be seen as restricted to this type of file.

The container 11 has a pair of first opposing edges 14, which are preferably formed as rigid supports, which can support the hooks 15 which are typically integral to steel or plastic bars of hanging folders 13. The first opposing edges are preferably spaced just greater than the greatest extent of the integral bar including hooks. When suspended, the hanging folders 13 are largely contained inside the container 11, and any index tabs 36 along the top edge of the hanging folders 13 may be visible from the top of the container 11. The carrier 12 is preferably tall enough to accommodate the index tabs 36 on the hanging folders 13.

The container 11 may have an identification slot/holder or a label 16 on its spine, so that the contents of the container 11 may be readily identified without disturbing the container 11 or the hanging folders 13. The label 16 or window may be affixed directly onto the side of the container 11, or may be inserted into a transparent holder on the side of the container 11, or it may be cut out to view file loading.

The container 11 may have a hole or aperture 17 on its side, preferably on the same side as the label 16. Such a hole 17 is useful for removing the container 11 from a shelf. If we consider a container that does not have such a hole, said container may prove difficult to remove from a shelf, especially if said container is located directly adjacent to other containers of the same size. The hole 17 allows a user to grip the wall of the container 11 directly, then easily pull the container 11 off the shelf.

The container 11 may have one or more handles 18, preferably formed as holes in the walls of the container 11, i.e. below the top edge of the wall. The handles 18 are preferably located on the pair of walls adjacent to the wall that has the label 16 and hole 17. The handles 18 allow a user to easily lift the container 11 and its contents. The handles 18 have an arcuate shape, convex with respect to the user's hand to make lifting less painful. Handles may also be slideably attached to the inner or outer surfaces of the sidewalls and thus be retractable.

One or more top edges of the container 11 may have an access feature 19 (an arcuate concave depression though any depression or recess which exposes the file surface will also suffice), which allows a user to grip the hanging folders 13 while they are still hanging inside the container 11. If slideably retractable handles are used, depression 19 would provide a way to grasp the handles and draw them upwardly. Although the access feature 19 is drawn centered along the edge of the container, it may also be located off to one side or the other. Alternatively, there may be more than one access feature 19 along a top edge of the container 11.

The carrier 12 is sized to receive the container 11 with its contents. As drawn in FIG. 1, the carrier 12 opens via the top (side or ends). A user inserts a container 11 with its contents into the opened carrier 12. Finally, the carrier 12 is closed and sealed, typically by a latch 21, although a buckle, snap, clip, hooked fastener, or other well-known fastening mechanism may be used. Once sealed, the carrier 12 holds the container 11 securely, so that even if the carrier 12 is inverted, the contents of each hanging folder 13 remain intact and do not mix between folders. The carrier 12 preferably has a handle 22, which aids in carrying the carrier 12.

FIG. 2 shows a filing system 20 in which the container 23 is in position to be lowered into the opened carrier 24.

The container 23 is empty, and the absence of hanging files allows several of the features to be seen more clearly. The container 23 has a pair of opposing edges 25, which support the hooks on the hanging folders. The container 23 has a pair of handles 26 and access features 27. The container 23 also has a label 28 and a hole 29.

At times it may be difficult to remove the container 23 from the case 12 since the handles, in one embodiment are recessed at a tightly packed carrier may make reaching the handles difficult. There are several solutions to this problem. One is shown in FIG. 1 where the surface 218 proximate the handles 18 is inwardly depressed or recessed on both sides so that a gap will be formed between the depressed region and the inner walls of the carrier. This gap will allow for a user to insert his/her fingers and grasp the carrier. Of course this depressed region, which can be formed by pressing or molding of the sidewall will occupy some of the interior space. Hence another solution is possible.

There are many ways to eject or urge the container out of the FIG. 3 illustrates a lifting lever 315 which is located on an exterior sidewall of case/carrier 12. The lever 315 is pivoted toward the bottom of the case at pivot 320 and is preferably rigidly attached, preferably to a lifting bar 325. By pulling lever 315 away from the case, bar 325 will be raised there by raising carrier 25 sufficiently to grasp the handles. A bias spring can be provided to maintain lever 315 in contact with case/carrier 12 and a gripping hook 330 can be provided to grasp same.

The opened carrier 24 has a handle 31 attached to a handle flap 32. When the carrier 24 is closed, the handle flap 32 closes first and provides the surface in closest proximity to the top ends of the hanging folders. For this reason, it is preferable that the handle flap 32 extends over essentially the entire top surface of the carrier 24, so that the contents of each folder may be held in place during transport. Dotted line 37 indicates a possible second fold part in addition to flap 32. In this embodiment flap 32 would also bend at line 37, located preferably one-half to two-thirds from the bottom. This will expose handle 26 for easy lifting. Dotted line 37 also indicates a possible a side/front entry version of this product where the fold line 37 is less than half the height of the sidewall. In such case, the carrier 25 can be “front loaded” into the case without it being fully opened. Note that the carrier could be wider to accommodate multiple containers side-by-side, such as double or triple width, the limiter being only the weight of the fully loaded carrier.

Opposite the handle flap 32 is an attachable flap 33, which closes after the handle flap 32. The attachable flap 33 has a hole 34 that allows access to the handle 31 once the flaps are closed and secured. At the end of the attachable flap 33 is a latch 35, which engages a latch mount 36 when the carrier 24 is secured. Alternatively, any other suitable locking mechanism may be used, including a buckle, a snap, or others.

FIG. 3 shows a filing system 30 in which the container 23 is partially lowered into the opened carrier 24. Note that the interior of the carrier 24 is slightly larger than the container 23, so that the container may be inserted and removed easily, and so that the hooks on the hanging folders may fit inside the carrier without catching on any of the edges. Also illustrated are optional holes 340 which would provide an alternate means of urging or ejecting carrier 25 out of the case, sufficiently to grasp the handles.

FIG. 4 shows a filing system in which the container is completely inserted inside the carrier 41, which is closed and secured. Note that the handle 42 extends through the attachable flap 43, and may be held by the user when the carrier 41 is transported.

In a preferred embodiment, the containers are made from a suitable material such as plastic or cardboard. In fact, they may also be a wire frame style with no sidewalls. It is necessary that they be rigid enough to support hooks 15 if hanging files are stored therein. Otherwise, they could be fabric or other soft web (even disposable) material like Tyvek® with a top frame, or full wireframe and a fabric/web sling for easy removal. Most preferably, the carriers are inexpensive enough to use as medium-term storage, in the same manner that documents are typically stored on shelves in three-ring binders. Also preferably, the carriers are made from a durable material such as leather, cloth or a hard fabric, such as those used in briefcases and laptop computer cases.

The containers are preferably sold separately from the carriers, so that a relatively few number of carriers/cases may sufficiently support a relatively large number of containers. For instance, if an office worker wants to take the contents of a particular container home or to another office, the worker places the container into a carrier, closes and secures the carrier, and transports the carrier as if it were a suitcase or briefcase. If the container is unintentionally turned on its side or inverted during transport, the contents of each hanging folder remain intact without mixing with the contents of any other folder.

FIG. 5 shows a wireframe version of carrier 11, denoted as carrier 111. In this embodiment, a wire frame metal or other substantially rigid material forms a top frame 113, and four upright supports 115 (two shown) and optionally a base frame 117. An optional fabric sling 119 is suspended between rails 113A and 113B. This option is only needed for files that do not have hooks that would engage the wireframe 113.

The description of the invention and its applications as set forth herein is illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein are possible, and practical alternatives to and equivalents of the various elements of the embodiments would be understood to those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this patent document. These and other variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A hanging file transport system comprising:

a. a container having first pair of opposing sides and second set of opposing sides together forming a rectangular boundary defining a space therein sized to receive hanging folders; said first pair of opposing sides including support opposed support edges spaced to receive hanging folder hooks; and

b. a carrier having 4 sidewalls and a bottom, thereby defining a receiving space, said receiving space sized to receive said carrier.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said carrier receiving space is sized to snugly receive said carrier between said second set of opposing sides.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said carrier receiving space between said first said of sidewalls is sized to be just greater than the greatest extent of a hanging folder.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said container include apertures extending though opposing sidewalls, said apertures forming handles and having a convex upper surface.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one sidewall of said carrier include a foldable section configured to be able to fold away from said carrier, thereby further exposing said defined receiving space.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said carrier includes at least one aperture in the bottom thereof to assist in urging said container out of said defined receiving space.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said carrier includes a lever mechanism configured to urge said container out of said defined receiving space.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said lever mechanism includes a first lever pivotally attached to an outer surface, a pivot and a lifting bar extending from said pivot into said defined receiving space generally adjacent said bottom.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said container has a wire frame structure and wherein said sidewalls and bottom are open air.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said wire frame further includes a folder sling hanging from top edges of said wire frame and extending toward said bottom.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said sling is a flexible material.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said container includes a pair of retractable handles in opposing sidewalls.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said container includes sidewalls having apertures forming handles and a depressed region surrounding said handles.

14. A storable file management system with transporter comprising:

a. A plurality of containers having first pair of opposing sides and second set of opposing sides together forming a rectangular boundary defining a space therein sized to receive folders, each container including at least one removal handle; and

b. a carrier transporter having a handle, 4 sidewalls and a bottom, thereby defining a receiving space, said receiving space sized to receive at least one of said containers.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said defined space within said container is wide enough to receive hanging folders but narrow enough that hooks from the hanging folders extend outwardly beyond said defined spaces, so that the files are supported by said opposing sides.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said defined receiving space is wide enough to receive said container and said hooks.

17. A method of transporting groups of hanging files by the steps of

a. forming a container having an upper frame edge, the container being wide enough to contain the files but narrow enough that the hanging hooks of the files extend outside the container.

b. Forming a transporter carrier with a handle and a receiving space larger enough to accommodate said container and said hooks within the space.

18. The method of claim 17 further including the step of ejecting the container from the carrier by urging the container out of the carrier by levering upward from the bottom.

19. The method of claim 17 further including the step of ejecting the container from the carrier by urging the container out of the carrier through apertures in the bottom of the carrier.