Patents by Inventor Steven Charles Black

Steven Charles Black has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9586432
    Abstract: An integral tab system for a 2-D or 3-D tab for a folder, and a method of making same is disclosed. The integral 2-D (flat) tab (20) is provided in the hanging folder itself without the need for additional tabs being affixed. The 3-D tab version (120) is created by an extension which is folded onto itself so that one edge surface is at an angle relative to the panels of the file folder allowing it to be read from the side. These tabs may also be supplied in a detachable form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Smead Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Steven Charles Black, Duane Christensen, David Fasbender
  • Patent number: 9272565
    Abstract: An integral tab system for a 2-D or 3-D tab for a folder, and a method of making same is disclosed. The integral 2-D (flat) tab (20) is provided in the hanging folder itself without the need for additional tabs being affixed. The 3-D tab version (120) is created by an extension which is folded onto itself so that one edge surface is at an angle relative to the panels of the file folder allowing it to be read from the side. These tabs may also be supplied in a detachable form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Smead Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Steven Charles Black, Duane Christensen, David Fasbender
  • Publication number: 20160023497
    Abstract: An integral tab system for a 2-D or 3-D tab for a folder, and a method of making same is disclosed. The integral 2-D (flat) tab (20) is provided in the hanging folder itself without the need for additional tabs being affixed. The 3-D tab version (120) is created by an extension which is folded onto itself so that one edge surface is at an angle relative to the panels of the file folder allowing it to be read from the side. These tabs may also be supplied in a detachable form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Steven Charles Black, Duane Christensen, David Fasbender
  • Publication number: 20140151441
    Abstract: An integral tab system for a 2-D or 3-D tab for a folder, and a method of making same is disclosed. The integral 2-D (flat) tab (20) is provided in the hanging folder itself without the need for additional tabs being affixed. The 3-D tab version (120) is created by an extension which is folded onto itself so that one edge surface is at an angle relative to the panels of the file folder allowing it to be read from the side. These tabs may also be supplied in a detachable form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Steven Charles Black, Duane Christensen, David Fasbender
  • Patent number: 8550330
    Abstract: An integral tab system for a 2-D or 3-D tab for a folder, and a method of making same is disclosed. The integral 2-D (flat) tab (20) is provided in the hanging folder itself without the need for additional tabs being affixed. The 3-D tab version (120) is created by an extension which is folded onto itself so that one edge surface is at an angle relative to the panels of the file folder allowing it to be read from the side. These tabs may also be supplied in a detachable form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Smead Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Steven Charles Black, Duane Christensen, David Fasbender
  • Publication number: 20110253768
    Abstract: An integral tab system for a 2-D or 3-D tab for a folder, and a method of making same is disclosed. The integral 2-D (flat) tab (20) is provided in the hanging folder itself without the need for additional tabs being affixed. The 3-D tab version (120) is created by an extension which is folded onto itself so that one edge surface is at an angle relative to the panels of the file folder allowing it to be read from the side. These tabs may also be supplied in a detachable form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Smead Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Steven Charles Black, Duane Christersen, David Fasbender
  • Publication number: 20080030016
    Abstract: An integral tab system for a 2-D or 3-D tab for a folder, and a method of making same is disclosed. The integral 2-D (flat) tab (20) is provided in the hanging folder itself without the need for additional tabs being affixed. The 3-D tab version (120) is created by an extension which is folded onto itself so that one edge surface is at an angle relative to the panels of the file folder allowing it to be read from the side. These tabs may also be supplied in a detachable form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Steven Charles Black, Duane Christensen, David Fasbender
  • Patent number: 7305784
    Abstract: An index tab adapter, suitable for retrofitting an existing file folder for use with a particular index tab style. The adapter has adhesive portions, located on either side of a non-adhesive portion. The non-adhesive portion is slotted and is spaced apart from the file folder. The slots are shaped to engage a particular style of index tab, so that when a given index tab is inserted into the slots in the adapter, the given index tab becomes attached to the file folder, and the file folder may be identified by the given index tab as if it were originally configured to accept the style of the given index tab. Put another way, an index tab removably engages slots in the adapter, rather than slots in the file folder itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Smead Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Steven Charles Black
  • Patent number: 6082612
    Abstract: An integrated pocket folder for holding an article, such as a computer diskette or the like, where the article is held in a secondary pocket created by an opening in the cover of the pocket. In one embodiment of the invention, a folder has a rear pocket cover attached at a folded portion to a front pocket cover to form a pocket therebetween. The folded portion includes a fold of material of at least one of the rear and front pocket cover. The front cover has at least one first cut therethrough, which is positioned on the front pocket cover so as to form a secondary pocket between the cut and an inner surface of the fold. Methods of manufacturing the folder are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Smead Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Steven Charles Black
  • Patent number: 6027013
    Abstract: A slash jacket for holding an article on the front cover is provided, where the article is held in a retaining pocket in a lower portion of the front cover. The retaining pocket is formed by a single cut on the front cover and communicates to the inside of the slash jacket. The retaining pocket is formed by a simple cutting process step at the time of manufacturing the form from which the slash jacket is fabricated. The slash jacket may also include a retaining tab on the front cover for retaining the article held in the pocket. The pocket is preferably cut so as to prevent the upper lip of the first cut from catching on any portion of the object inserted therein. Additional features of the slash jacket include an index tab along the side of the slash jacket, and tick marks to secure the die cut flaps forming the pocket and securing tab. The upper portion of the front cover may be cut to be parallel with the top edge of the back cover, so as to expose a greater portion of any documents contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Smead Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Steven Charles Black
  • Patent number: 5713682
    Abstract: A paper handling device comprises a flexible, substantially U-shaped handle portion having first and second side members, the first and second side members terminating at first and second ends respectively; first and second arms are respectively disposed at the first and second ends and each directed substantially away from the handle portion; first and second tines depend transversely from the first and second arms respectively, the first and second tines extending in a generally parallel relation and normally spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than the spacing between pre-punched holes in the paper. Compressing the handle portion reduces the distance between the tines so as to allow the tines to be inserted into the respective holes in the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Smead Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Dennis Gary Clark, Steven Charles Black, Duane Christensen, Michael Barry Lasky
  • Patent number: D380495
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: The Smead Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Steven Charles Black, Duane Christensen