Expandable Patents (Class 493/918)
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Patent number: 8425387Abstract: A stair-step, expandable file folder is disclosed, in which each pocket in the folder has the same depth, rather than the back pockets being deeper than the front pockets. The folder is formed from a group of attached dividers. Each divider in the group is generally planar and includes two horizontal folds near a bottom edge of the divider. The divider area above the folds forms a wall of a pocket. The divider area between the folds extends to an adjacent divider and forms the bottom of the pocket. The divider area below the folds is attached to the adjacent divider. The adjacent divider forms an opposing wall of the pocket. When the group of dividers is compressed front-to-back, the dividers all have the same lateral footprint. When the group is expanded front-to-back, the dividers translate vertically, so that the tops of the dividers are all visible simultaneously from the front of the folder.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2010Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Smead Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Duane Christensen, Tim Blegen, Dennis Bowen, Harold Peter Lindelof
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Patent number: 7407469Abstract: An expandable folder (10) is disclosed for holding reports. The folder (10) is formed of a single sheet of material (12). The folder (10) includes a back (14), a front (20), two sides (16, 18) and a flap (22). The sides (16, 18) are folded inwardly and the front (20) is folded upwardly to form a pocket. Tabs (68, 70) on the front fit into slots (58, 60) in the sides (16, 18) to hold the folder together. Two label sections (label section (82) and back (14)) are provided to allow the folder to be marked with identifying information.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2007Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Inventors: Doris L. Lockhart, legal representative, William E. Lockhart
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Patent number: 7331917Abstract: Plastic bag making apparatus by which it is arranged that even if a bottom gusset member is not specially supplied, a bottom gusset can be incorporated into a plastic bag. As continuous trunk members (1,2) are fed, they are guided by a trunk guide mechanism (16-29) and folded along a longitudinal fold line (8). Then, the folded portion (4) is folded back along a longitudinal fold-back line (10), whereby a twofold section is formed of the trunk members, with the continuous trunk members forming the trunk of the plastic bag, the twofold section forming the bottom gusset of the plastic bag.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2003Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Totani CorporationInventor: Mikio Totani
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Patent number: 6796428Abstract: An expanding, portable envelope for use in transporting papers compartmentalized into organized sections is formed of a base sheet and a divider sheet. The two sheets are secured by a pair of transverse lines of sealing across the bottom of the envelope. A pair of divider panels is thereby created from a single divider sheet. Moreover, the bottoms of the pockets created between the divider sheets and the front and rear panels formed from the base sheet are closed, so that papers cannot slip down underneath the divider panels. The base sheet defines side panels that extend from one of the front and rear panels, and are heat sealed to the other. Bottom attachment tongues formed as extensions from the side panels are directed inwardly toward each other at the bottom of the envelope and are also permanently attached to the divider sheet so as to close and reinforce the bottom corners of the expanding envelope.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2002Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Inventor: Bon S. Ong
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Patent number: 5857952Abstract: A flat trapezoidal container provides a generally frustoconical single cavity for snugly sheathing a flower pot. The container is specifically dimensioned sheath a flower pot so as either (a) to leave therebeneath, a surplus of film in an transition zone which is concealable under the flower pot, or (b) form a hexagonal gusset in the bottom. The container is made from two flat panels of heat-sealable film, each shaped in the general form of a trapezium; or from a single web folded double. The lower portion of the container is ornamentally imprinted along a border extending beneath a generally lateral line above the longitudinal axis of the web; and, with a marker in the upper portion, identifies the contents, or provides instructions for their use or care. When the cavity is distended by being partially filled, the entire container, except for a transition zone, presents a smoothly arcuate surface of the frustum of a cone.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 1997Date of Patent: January 12, 1999Assignee: Professional Package CompanyInventor: Scott Robert Gilbert
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Patent number: 5711750Abstract: An expandable folder is provided which includes a front panel member, a rear panel member, and an expandable gusset which connects the panel members and forms the bottom and sides of the folder. Reinforcing means are provided upon critical or highly stressed locations to enhance the durability and useful life of the folder. Various types of reinforcement are provided about and, preferably, over the top of the gusset. The end portions of the gussets along the sides and, where applicable, the bottom, preferably have a width which is at least twice the width of the gusset folds. The outer surfaces of the inner front and rear panel members are also reinforced to strengthen the folder at least in the areas where the gusset is attached, and, for best results, on the entire outer surfaces of the panels.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: January 27, 1998Assignee: Smead Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Duane Christensen, Theodore V. Kachel, Jonathan B. Rivlin, Robert E. Hawes, Jr., Lee A. Boy, Setsuo Kanamoto, Eric R. Aaldenberg, John Heffernan, James J. Lynch, Cheryl Dellacroce-Steinberg
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Patent number: 5544473Abstract: A first embodiment of the envelope comprises an outer envelope forming an interior, and a packing material secured in the interior of the outer envelope and forming a pocket for receiving an article. This packing material is comprised of a flexible and expandable packing material forming a multitude of slits arranged to allow the packing material to be pulled into a three-dimensional shape in which the packing material cushions and protects the article inside the packing material. A second embodiment of the envelope of this invention comprises a plurality of sections connected together to form an interior for holding an article; and each of these sections is comprised of a flexible and expandable paper material forming a multitude of slits to allow the sections to be pulled into three dimensional shapes in which those sections cushion and protect the article in the interior of the envelope.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1994Date of Patent: August 13, 1996Assignee: Prompac Industries, Inc.Inventors: Richard C. Maida, Joseph Sferlazza
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Patent number: 5492585Abstract: A five-piece expanding pocket having front inner and outer panels secured to each other by cohesive glue, rear inner and outer panels secured thereof by cohesive glue, and a gusset having outer edge portions with cohesive glue and opposite sides thereof bonded between edge portions of the front and rear inner and outer panels which are bonded to each other. A fixture for assembling a five-piece expanding pocket including locating plates for retaining front and rear inner panels in a predetermined position, a positioning member for locating a gusset relative to the front and rear inner panels on the locating plates and permitting the gusset to be secured to cohesive glue on the front and rear inner panels, and the locating plates also permitting the locating of the front and rear outer panels relative to the front and rear inner panels, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 1994Date of Patent: February 20, 1996Inventor: Thomas J. Corey
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Patent number: 5362299Abstract: A stamp storage envelope is constructed from a single sheet of material which allows for varying the size of the access opening into the storage chamber by how many panels of end walls are overlapped with each other or adjacent front and rear walls. The panels may be secured to each other and the front and rear walls by adhesive.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 1991Date of Patent: November 8, 1994Inventor: Diane D. Schou
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Patent number: 5342467Abstract: A five-piece expanding pocket having front inner and outer panels secured to each other by cohesive glue, rear inner and outer panels secured to each other by cohesive glue, and a gusset having outer edge portions with cohesive glue on opposite sides thereof bonded between edge portions of the front and rear inner and outer panels which are bonded to each other. A fixture for assembling a five-piece expanding pocket including locating plates for retaining front and rear inner panels in a predetermined position, a positioning member for locating a gusset relative to the front and rear inner panels on the locating plates and permitting the gusset to be secured to cohesive glue on the front and rear inner panels, and the locating plates also permitting the locating of the front and rear outer panels relative to the front and rear inner panels, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1993Date of Patent: August 30, 1994Inventor: Thomas J. Corey
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Patent number: 5292300Abstract: An enclosure such as a letter envelope, a casing, shipping pouch, file for, or the like, is made of paper or similar suitable material to have a front portion (3) and a back portion (4) as well as side flaps (6) and (7). The enclosure may be provided with a closure flap (23) that is either part of the front portion (3) or part of the back portion (4). A bottom portion (5) is arranged between the back portion (4) and the front portion (3), whereby the bottom portion is preferably an integral component of the front and back portions. The side flaps (6, 7) are provided with respective folding creases extending longitudinally and foldable bottom side tongues (18, 19) are provided at the bottom end of the side flap (6, 7). These basic features are common to a plurality of different enclosures which provide a substantially larger enclosed volume than heretofore.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1992Date of Patent: March 8, 1994Assignee: Winkler & Duennebier Maschinenfabrik und Eisengiesserei KGInventor: Martin Bluemle
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Patent number: 5171202Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic machine for making accordion data pockets, especially an automatic machine which is capable of bonding the inner leaf members, side cover members, and bottom member of an accordion data pocket together in one step. The machine is characterized by a fixed and a movable die seats, a top press die, two side press dies, two side boards, etc. The movable die seat has a plurality of cavities formed on its top surface, allowing index holders provided on each inner leaf member of the data pocket to insert in, and a plurality of properly and equally spaced partition plates vertically erected thereon. The fixed die seat has a plurality of properly and equally spaced positioning plates vertically erected thereon and each of the positioning plates has chamfers formed at its one vertical side and its top horizontal side.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 1992Date of Patent: December 15, 1992Inventor: Ken J. Su
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Patent number: 4973298Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing containers such as envelope wallets and folders or the like, which comprise at least two outer wall components (4,6) margins of which are bonded on three sides of the wall components to edges of a flexible extruded plastics material strip (12) which in the example given is polyvinyl chloride, and which has a V-cross-section or a W-cross-section and forms an insertor gusset. The container may have at least one interior wall component provided with adjacent inserts (12) bonded to neighboring wall components. Dielectric heating may be used for the bonding step and suitable apparatus is also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1989Date of Patent: November 27, 1990Assignee: Ferguson Scot LimitedInventor: Ronald A. Ferguson
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Patent number: 4764159Abstract: The present invention is drawn to an improved method of making a document file which has a pair of covers and a plurality of file elements laminated one upon another between the covers. The file elements are hot-sealed together and to the covers. The covers each have an auxiliary sheet hot-sealed to the cover body. The outermost file elements are hot-sealed to the auxiliary sheets of the covers. Thus, no dents or recesses are formed on the cover by hot-sealing the outermost file elements to the respective covers.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 1987Date of Patent: August 16, 1988Inventor: Masuhiro Mitsuyama
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Patent number: 4557715Abstract: A tuck assembly for automatically inverting the gussets of a pocket file folder as the file folder is moved through a cutting and folding line, the assembly includes a tuck section having a plurality of a V-type tuck rolls of decreasing depth for opening the folded gusset, a guide section for supporting the edges of the file folder pocket and a compression section for folding the open gusset into the edge of the pocket.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1983Date of Patent: December 10, 1985Assignee: Kempsmith Machine CompanyInventor: Daniel T. Robinson
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Patent number: 4540390Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for forming notches at a fold for the corner portion of an expandable gusset envelope, such as a file pocket. A pleated gusset member is placed on a ridged upper surface of a table structure of the apparatus, thereby initiating operation of the apparatus. The bottom portion of the pleated gusset member is clamped against the top of the table. Pressing rolls bend the end portion of the clamped gusset member downwardly against a ridged side surface of the table. The pressing rolls then are rolled upwardly with respect to the pleats of the end portion and form notches adjacent the fold at the clamped bottom portion of the gusset member. A plurality of stacked and gusset members can be notched at one time.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 1983Date of Patent: September 10, 1985Assignee: Acebee Manufacturing Co.Inventor: Donald Thorschmidt
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Patent number: 4498591Abstract: A thin flexible pouch-packet is disclosed which has concave deformations in the side wall to enhance opening of the packet.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1980Date of Patent: February 12, 1985Assignee: Drug Concentrates, Inc.Inventor: George B. Smith, II
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Patent number: 4425111Abstract: The invention concerns expanding files. A flat strip of flexible material (12) is progressively folded longitudinally to form a U-shaped channel. A length of the material equivalent to the developed width of a gusset is drawn forward. A precut partition with glued tabs (113) is placed at the rear of the drawn forward section of material. A fold is formed by pushing the three edges of the channel inwardly. This sequence of operations is repeated to form a multiplicity of pockets, comprising a plurality of parallel partitions joined along three edges to constitute respective filing pockets by the flexible material which is concertina-folded to constitute respective gussets. This multiplicity of pockets may be sectioned to provide separate expanding files. The invention comprises the manufacturing method and the machine for implementing same.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1981Date of Patent: January 10, 1984Inventor: Andre Chazelas
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Patent number: 4294400Abstract: The non-gusseted, side seamed expansible envelope of the present invention comprises a back panel, front panel and closure flap prepared from a single blank of paper or the like. The side seams are formed from a first pair of flaps foldably attached to the ends of the back panel and a second pair of flaps foldably attached to the ends of the front panel. Each of the side seam flaps are applied with diagonally oriented perforated lines that are located equidistant from the score line separating the front and back panels, and the second pair of side seam flaps are also applied with longitudinally oriented perforated lines which together with the diagonally oriented perforated lines provide the expansion characteristics of the envelope.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1980Date of Patent: October 13, 1981Assignee: Westvaco CorporationInventor: Wilfred H. Gendron