Storage box file organizer

Abstract

A foldable material (10), folded laterally in the middle along a major fold (14) is placed between a side of a file storage box (16) and a collection of files (18). The folded material places sufficient pressure on the files to hold them on end against the wall of the box, thus keeping them organized and upright.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to file storage boxes, and specifically a device to improve their organizational function.

2. Prior Art

File storage boxes such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,740 to Sorenson (1980), and the box that can be made by the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,964 to Rosenbaum (1997) are everywhere in the world and they are used by everyone as a cheap and easy means to store things. The problem with these boxes is that they do very little to keep their contents organized and secure unless they are completely full. It is almost impossible to keep loose papers upright. The contents of the box will fall down and turn every which way. This makes it very time consuming and tiring to wrangle with the papers.

The type of storage boxes in question suffer from the following disadvantages:

• • (a) They have no means of keeping files stationary unless full.
  • (b) Many different size boxes would be required to serve the function of the organizer.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

The advantages of this device over the prior-art are:

• • (a) It is physically simple, consisting of no more than a unitary material.
  • (b) It is cheap to produce since there are no complex shapes involved in production.
  • (c) It is user friendly and easily adjustable.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, a storage box file organizer is comprised of a unitary material which can be laterally folded so that it retains its shape.

DRAWINGS—FIGS.

FIG. 1A is a top down view of the file organizer

FIG. 1B is an isometric view of the file organizer in use

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of alternative embodiments

DRAWINGS - Reference Numerals
10 file organizer
12 perforations
14 major fold
16 file storage box
18 files
20 fold over area
22 scoring
24 beveled front

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIGS. (1-2)

FIG. 1A shows the preferred embodiment of the device. It shows a top-down view of a unitary material 10 which comprises the file storage box organizer. The organizer 10 is scored laterally down the middle 14 which allows it to be easily folded in half This scoring 14 is the major fold. Disposed on either side of the major fold are lateral perforations 12. These perforations 12 occur at regular intervals on either side of the major fold and allow for easy folding of the organizer 10. This folding is how the organizer is adjusted in length.

FIG. 1B shows an isometric view of the organizer 10 inside a file box 16. The files 18 are restrained at the end of the box by the organizer 10. The organizer 10 has been folded in half along the major fold 14 and subsequently adjusted for length by folding along a row of perforations so that the fold over area 20 is now adjacent to a wall of the box 16.

FIG. 2 shows alternative embodiments of the organizer 10. Instead of lateral perforations, this figure shows lateral scoring 22. The scoring serves the same purpose as the perforations. Also shown is a beveled front edge 24. This would allow for the files to be thumbed through easier whilst still keeping the files secure.

Operation—FIGS. 1A, 1B

FIG. 1A shows the organizer 10 in its unfolded position. To operate it, simply fold it along the major fold 14. Then fold it along a row of perforations 12 depending on the amount of files that are to be in the box. Fold it along the corresponding opposite perforations and it is ready to be inserted into a file box.

FIG. 1B shows the organizer 10 in the file box 16. It has been folded along the major fold 14. The files 18 are secured against the back of the box 16. The fold over area 20 does not have to be folded along the back wall but could be folded forward instead. As the box 16 becomes filled with files 18, the organizer will have to be folded along another row of perforations 12 to accommodate them. This will make the fold over area 20 progressively larger until the organizer is no longer needed to fill the empty space in the box 16.

Additional Ramifications

Many different materials can be used to produce the disclosed device. Some of these materials are, but are not limited to, paper, cardstock, rubber, plastic, metal, composites, or any combination of these. This device could also come in a number of shapes and sizes to accommodate various storage box sizes.

Advantages

From the description above, it is easy to see that the storage box file organizer greatly improves upon the function and aesthetics of a storage box.

a) It is a very simple design, consisting of only a unitary material.

b) It is easy to install by just folding it several times and sliding it into place.

c) It is easily adjustable

d) It is simple to manufacture

e) It provides a cost-effective solution to organized file storage.

Although the description above contains many specificities of the disclosed invention, these should not be construed as to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, they provide examples of some of the preferred and possible embodiments of this invention. As such, the scope of this invention should be determined by the following claims and their legal equivalents rather than the examples given above.

Claims

1) A device for improving the organizational function of file storage boxes comprising:

a) A foldable material