U.S. patent application number 10/158538 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-05 for file storage box.
Invention is credited to Aron, Charles M..
Application Number | 20020179476 10/158538 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26855125 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020179476 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Aron, Charles M. |
December 5, 2002 |
File storage box
Abstract
Files or file folders are held in an upright position within a
partially filled storage box that is constructed of corrugated
paper stock or similar sheet material by providing a plurality of
stops, or file supports, that extend inwardly from either the box
ends or the box sides or both box ends and sides. The file support
stops may be formed from a panel that is partially cut out from a
box wall leaving one end of the panel attached to the wall through
a folded hinge. The other panel end is provided with a tab that
locks into a tab slot in the box wall to provide a folded panel
face that extends generally perpendicularly to the box wall to
thereby engage and support files that are placed within the
box.
Inventors: |
Aron, Charles M.; (Laramie,
WY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Roland H. Shubert
Post Office Box 2339
Reston
VA
20195-0339
US
|
Family ID: |
26855125 |
Appl. No.: |
10/158538 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60295793 |
Jun 5, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/425 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/5021
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/425 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. In a storage box for files that is constructed of corrugated
paper board and is assembled by the user, the improvement
comprising: means for holding files placed in a partially filled
box in a generally upright attitude, said means including at least
one pair of stops positioned on opposite box walls and extending
inwardly from said walls, each of said stops being constructed from
a portion of the box wall as a partial cut-out to form a panel that
is hinged at one end from its respective box wall and having a
vertical fold line intermediate its ends, said cut-out panel having
an outwardly extending tab at the end opposite the hinge, said tab
arranged for insertion into a tab slot formed in said box wall at a
location whereat the panel segment between said hinge and fold line
is caused to form a stop face that is generally perpendicular to
said box wall when said tab is positioned within said slot.
2. The storage box of claim 1 wherein said box is of rectangular
shape having side walls and end walls, the width of said box sized
to accommodate a letter-size file and the length sized to
accommodate a legal-size file.
3. The storage box of claim 2 wherein said stops are positioned on
opposite side walls.
4. The storage box of claim 2 wherein said stops are positioned on
opposite end walls.
5. The storage box of claim 2 wherein at least two pairs of stops
are positioned on opposite box walls.
6. The storage box of claim 2 wherein at least one pair of stops is
provided on said side walls and at least one pair of stops is
provided on said end walls.
7. The storage box of claim 1 wherein said stops are positioned in
the upper portion of said box walls.
8. The storage box of claim 1 wherein the walls of said box
comprise two layers of corrugated paper board and wherein said
stops are formed from the inner one of said layers.
9. The storage box of claim 1 wherein said stops are positioned in
the upper part of the box walls.
10. The storage box of claim 9 wherein said stops are positioned at
a height that is about two-thirds to three-quarters of the distance
from the bottom of the box to the top of the box wall.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] This invention relates generally to a storage box for files.
More specifically, this invention relates to means for holding
files upright in a partially filled file storage box.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Boxes constructed of cardboard or similar sheet stock are
routinely used for packaging business records during moves and for
providing a convenient means for records storage either on a
temporary or on a permanent basis. Such boxes, commonly called
"Banker's Boxes," are rectangular in cross-section and are
dimensioned to hold both letter size and legal size document files.
The boxes typically are packaged and shipped in a flat, unassembled
state and are folded by the user to form the finished box.
[0005] Files that are placed in a single box for storage or
transport to another location are typically sorted, and relate to a
single case or other matter. That circumstance will often result in
boxes that are only partially filled. The files in such partially
filled boxes will tend to slide down and lie flat on the box bottom
rather than remaining upright where file labels or other
identifying indicia are visible. Also, files that fall over tend to
spill their contents as the boxes are transported from one place to
another.
[0006] This invention avoids and overcomes the problems encountered
when using or transporting partially filled record boxes of the
prior art by providing means to maintain files in an upright
position within the box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A record storage box is provided with one or more stops or
supports extending inwardly from opposite side box walls. Each stop
comprises a pair of panel members that are arranged symmetrically
on opposite box walls, either sides or ends, to provide vertical
support to files placed within the box.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0008] This invention will be described in relation to the
following drawing figures in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top oblique view of the storage box of this
invention showing the construction and arrangement of the
stops;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the storage box of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a detail view of a stop means panel member that is
formed as a partial cut-out from a box wall; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is an oblique view of another embodiment of the stop
means panel member that is formed from separate sheet stock.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The invention will be described with particular reference to
the drawing figures. Referring now to FIG. 1, the file storage box
of this invention is shown generally at 10. The box is rectangular
in shape having a bottom member 12, two end members 14 and 15, and
two side members 18 and 19. The length of end members 14 and 15
preferably is slightly greater than the width of a letter-size
file, and the length of the side members 18 and 19 preferably is
slightly greater than the width of a legal-size file. Those
dimensions allow fitting letter-size files parallel to the end
members, and fitting legal-size files parallel to the side
members.
[0014] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 as well as FIG. 1, a first
pair of stops or supports, formed by panel members 21a and 21b, is
positioned along side members 18 and 19 at a location that is about
one third of the distance from one end of the side members to
another. A second set of stops or supports, 22a and 22b, may be
positioned at a location that is about midway between the first
pair of stops and the distant box end. The stops function best when
located in the upper part of the box walls, preferably at a height
about two-thirds to three-quarters of the distance from the bottom
of the box to the top of the box wall. Each of the panel members
21a, 21b, and 22a, 22b, may be formed as a partial cut-out from its
respective wall member. The wall member may be deeply scored but
not entirely cut through around three sides, 23, 24 and 25, of the
panel member to form the stop 21a, 21b or 22a, 22b while the fourth
side remains securely attached to the wall member through folded
hinge 27. Placing pressure on the panel member along the score
lines frees the panel from the wall member. Side 23 of each panel
member 21a, 21b includes an outwardly extending tab 29 that is
arranged to mate with and to lock in tab slot 31. A vertical fold
line 33 is positioned at an intermediate point along each panel
member so that a face 35 is formed between fold lines 27 and 33,
and that face 35 is held generally perpendicular to the box side by
diagonal brace portion 37 when tab 29 is locked within slot 31.
[0015] The function of the stops is best illustrated by FIG. 2. As
shown in that drawing figure, a group of file folders 41 fill about
one-third of a storage box 10. Those file folders are held in an
upright position between box end member 14 and face 35 of stops 21a
and 21b much as if the file folders were positioned between
bookends. Were it not for the support provided by the faces 35, the
file folders 41 would slide into a generally flat attitude along
the bottom of the box. As more file folders are added to box 10 the
second set of stops 22a and 22b may be put into place to hold those
additional file folders upright. The stops are shown in the drawing
figures as being positioned along the side members 18 and 19 so as
to accommodate letter size files or folders. It is also possible,
and in many instances preferred, to also provide similar stops
spaced along the box end members 14 and 15 to accommodate legal
size files placed within the box parallel to the box sides. As is
illustrated in FIG. 2, the walls of box 10 may be formed from a
single layer of corrugated stock 18 or a double layer 19, 20 of
that same corrugated stock. When the box walls comprise a double
layer it is preferred that the stops be formed from the inner layer
19 only.
[0016] The stops 21 and 22 are shown in the drawing figures as
being formed from cut-outs or segments of the box walls. It is also
possible, and is within the scope of this invention, to provide
stops formed from cardboard or other sheet stock separate and apart
from the box walls in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. In that
embodiment of the invention, the box sides or the box ends or both
box sides and ends are formed with a plurality of tab slots 31.
Stop members 45 may be generally rectangular in shape and are
provided with one or more tabs 47 on each end 48, 49 of the stop
member. A vertical fold line 51 is provided intermediate ends 48
and 49 at a location that will cause face 53 to be held generally
perpendicular to the box wall or end member when the tabs 47 are
inserted into the tab slots 31.
[0017] The embodiments of this invention that have been described
in the specification of this patent application are those that are
presently preferred, and are not to be considered limiting.
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