File drawer and assembly for supporting differently sized hanging file folders
According to the present invention, there are provided a convertible bottomless file drawer and a file folder support assembly adapted to the bottomless file drawer for storing hanging file folders of different predetermined sizes. The bottomless file drawer includes a rectangular frame that includes a plurality of outside walls and a middle wall that includes a u-shaped channel having a bottom, and a first wall and a second wall dividing the frame into a plurality of compartments of a first predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a first predetermined size. The file folder support assembly including an inverse u-shaped channel having an inner tubular member disposed centrally therein, the tubular member of the inverse channel being adapted to seat in the u-shaped channel of the middle wall and the u-shaped channel of the middle wall being adapted to seat in the inverse channel, and a first projection extending horizontally from a first lower edge of the inverse channel, the projection having an outer wall, the top of which is coplanar with the plurality of outside walls of the frame, the outer wall reducing the first predetermined dimension of a first compartment to a second smaller predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.
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1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to file drawers for storing hanging file folders. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a bottomless file drawer eliminating the need for box drawer construction and reducing the overall clearance dimensions required to store hanging file folders, and an assembly adapted thereto for converting the bottomless file drawer from storing hanging file folders of a first predetermined size to storing hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Business desks, cabinets or other similar type units generally provide at least one file folder drawer, having a box drawer construction (four walls and bottom), adapted to store hanging files folders for retaining documents of different sizes, e.g., legal, letter and the like. The file folder drawers generally vary in their dimensions to accommodate the hanging file folders for the particular documents required to be stored.
More specifically, the height of the file drawer is generally at least as high as the width of the actual documents to be stored. Additional height is required for the box drawer construction in which the bottom is secured by grooves in the walls some distance above the lower plane of the walls. Furthermore, the hanging file folders that store the documents require additional height, as they are larger than the documents that they store, and further additional buffer height is needed between the hanging file folders and the bottom of the file folder drawer in order to avoid bending and/or damaging the documents.
The upper perimeter of the file folder drawer generally includes a u-shaped channel or rail for receiving the supporting or hooking members of the hanging file folders to be stored in the file folder drawer. A variety of assemblies have been designed to subdivide the file folder drawer of various dimensions to provide efficient storage space for the different types of file folders, i.e., accommodating storage of different document sizes.
However, as file drawers having box drawer construction have to be high enough to accommodate the file folders stored therein as described above, they may not be advantageous for other applications/cabinets that accommodate low file drawer constructions and that have limitations as to the overall clearance allotted to the file drawer construction.
Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a bottomless file drawer for different applications eliminating the need for the box drawer construction and reducing the overall clearance dimensions, and an assembly adapted thereto for converting the bottomless file drawer from storing hanging file folders of a first predetermined size to storing hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a bottomless file drawer that eliminates the need for box drawer construction and reduces the overall clearance dimensions required to store hanging file folders, and an assembly adapted thereto for converting the bottomless file drawer from storing hanging file folders of a first predetermined size to storing hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a file folder support assembly adapted to a bottomless file drawer having a rectangular frame that includes a plurality of outside walls and a middle wall that includes a u-shaped channel having a bottom, and a first wall and a second wall dividing the frame into a plurality of compartments of a first predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a first predetermined size, the file folder support assembly comprising: an inverse u-shaped channel having an inner tubular member disposed centrally therein, the tubular member of the inverse channel being adapted to seat in the u-shaped channel of the middle wall and the u-shaped channel of the middle wall being adapted to seat in the inverse channel; and a first projection extending horizontally from a first lower edge of the inverse channel, the projection having an outer wall, the top of which is coplanar with the plurality of outside walls of the frame, the outer wall reducing the first predetermined dimension of a first compartment to a second smaller predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a convertible bottomless file drawer for storing hanging file folders of different predetermined sizes, the file drawer comprising: rectangular frame that includes a plurality of outside walls and a middle wall that includes a u-shaped channel having a bottom, and a first wall and a second wall dividing the frame into a plurality of compartments of a first predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a first predetermined size; and a file folder support assembly including: an inverse u-shaped channel having an inner tubular member disposed centrally therein, the tubular member of the inverse channel being adapted to seat in the u-shaped channel of the middle wall and the u-shaped channel of the middle wall being adapted to seat in the inverse channel; and a first projection extending horizontally from a first lower edge of the inverse channel, the projection having an outer wall, the top of which is coplanar with the plurality of outside walls of the frame, the outer wall reducing the first predetermined dimension of a first compartment to a second smaller predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art, in view of the following detailed description in combination with the attached drawings, in which:
The present invention is directed to a bottomless file drawer eliminating the need for box drawer construction and reducing the overall clearance dimensions required to store hanging file folders, and an assembly adapted thereto for converting the bottomless file drawer from storing hanging file folders of a first predetermined size to storing hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.
The bottomless file drawer 100 comprises studs 112 on its right side and studs 114 on its left side for engaging respective heavy duty drawer slides (not shown), permitting the file drawer 100 to slide in and out in relation to a cabinet or other device (not shown) in which it is installed. The studs 112, 114 are preferably self clinching to the drawer slides, although a variety of different attachment mechanisms may be employed to affix the slides to the file drawer 100.
The file drawer 100 further comprises sidewalls 102, 104, back wall 106 and front wall 108. Each of the walls 102-108 includes along its top edge a respective hem flange 116, 118, 120 and 122. The hem flange is obtained by folding each of the walls 102-108 about 180 degrees along its top edge to obtain a rounded edge. The hem flanges 116-122 provide the rigidity to the file drawer 100 and also facilitate the supporting of hooking members of the hanging file folders that the bottomless file drawer 100 will store. In embodiments of the bottomless file drawer 100 which are made of different materials, the hem flanges 116-122 may easily be replaced by rails or u-shaped channels (of wood, plastic, metal or composite) along the top edges of walls 102-108 for supporting the hooking members of the hanging file folders that the file drawer 100 will store.
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While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with regard to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A file folder support assembly, the file support assembly adapted to a bottomless file drawer having a rectangular frame that includes a plurality of outside walls and a middle wall that includes a u-shaped channel having a bottom, a first wall and a second wall, dividing the frame into a plurality of compartments of a first predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a first predetermined size, the file folder support assembly comprising:
- an inverse u-shaped channel having an inner tubular member disposed centrally therein, the tubular member of the inverse channel being adapted to seat in the u-shaped channel of the middle wall and the inverse u-shaped channel being adapted to receive the u-shaped channel of the middle wall bounded by walls of the inverse u-shaped channel and the tubular member; and
- a first projection extending horizontally from a first lower edge of the inverse channel, the first projection having an outer wall, the top edge of of the outer wall being adapted to be coplanar with the top edges of the plurality of outside walls of the frame when the u-shaped channel of the middle wall is received by inverse u-shaped channel, the outer wall being adapted to reduce the first predetermined dimension of a first compartment of the file drawer to a second smaller predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.
2. The file folder support assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a second projection extending horizontally from a second lower edge of the inverse channel, the projection having an outer wall, the top edge of of the outer wall being adapted to be coplanar with the top edges of the plurality of outside walls of the frame when the u-shaped channel of the middle wall is received by inverse u-shaped channel, the outer wall being adapted to reduce the first predetermined dimension of a second compartment to a second smaller predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.
3. The file folder support assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an attachment means for securely attaching the file folder support assembly to the middle wall of the file drawer.
4. The file folder support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inverse channel, including the inner tubular member, is provided with at least one through hole and a respective at least one screw is adapted to secure receipt by the inverse channel of the u-shaped channel of the middle wall via the at least one through hole.
5. The file folder support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the top edge of the outer wall of the file folder support assembly includes a hem flange adapted to support hanging file folders.
6. A convertible bottomless file drawer for storing hanging file folders of different predetermined sizes, the file drawer comprising:
- rectangular frame that includes a plurality of outside walls and a middle wall that includes a u-shaped channel having a bottom, a first wall and a second wall, dividing the frame into a plurality of compartments of a first predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a first predetermined size; and
- a file folder support assembly including: an inverse u-shaped channel having an inner tubular member disposed centrally therein, the tubular member of the inverse channel being adapted to seat in the u-shaped channel of the middle wall and the u-shaped channel of the middle wall being adapted to seat in the inverse channel, the u-shaped channel of the middle wall being bounded by walls of the inverse u-shaped channel and the tubular member; and
- a first projection extending horizontally from a first lower edge of the inverse channel, the first projection having an outer wall, the top of of the outer wall being adapted to be coplanar with the top edges of the plurality of outside walls of the frame when inverse channel is seated in the u-shaped channel of the middle wall, the outer wall being adapted to reduce the first predetermined dimension of a first compartment to a second smaller predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.
7. The convertible bottomless file drawer according to claim 6, wherein the file folder support assembly further comprises a second projection extending horizontally from a second lower edge of the inverse channel, the second projection having an outer wall, the top edge of the outer wall being coplanar with the top edges of the plurality of outside walls of the frame, the outer wall being adapted to reduce the predetermined dimension of a second compartment to a second smaller predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.
8. The convertible bottomless file drawer according to claim 1, wherein the file folder support assembly further comprises an attachment means for securely attaching the file folder support assembly to the middle wall of the file drawer.
9. The convertible bottomless file drawer according to claim 1, wherein the inverse channel, including the inner tubular member, of the file folder support assembly is provided with at least one through hole and a respective at least one screw is adapted to securely attach the inverse channel to the u-shaped channel of the middle wall via the through hole.
10. The convertible bottomless file drawer according to claim 1, wherein top edges of the walls of the frame and the file folder support assembly include hem flanges for supporting hanging file folders.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 27, 2005
Publication Date: May 3, 2007
Applicant: Infra-Structures, Inc. (Brentwood, NY)
Inventors: Patrick Ricchetti (Kings Park, NY), David Jacobsen (Seaford, NY)
Application Number: 11/260,093
International Classification: A47B 63/00 (20060101);