U.S. patent application number 11/410463 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-01 for foldable filing cabinet.
Invention is credited to Jui Yang Chang.
Application Number | 20070251897 11/410463 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38647353 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070251897 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang; Jui Yang |
November 1, 2007 |
Foldable filing cabinet
Abstract
A filing cabinet includes a housing foldable to a compact
folding structure, two side members engaged onto two side walls of
the housing and each having a hanger rail, and one or more hanger
files each having a hanging member attached to each of two lateral
edges of the hanger file for engaging with the hanger rails of the
side members and for supporting and suspending the hanger file on
the hanger rails of the side members of the housing. Four corner
members may be engaged onto the corner areas of the housing for
reinforcing the housing. The filing cabinet may be easily and
quickly assembled by the users themselves for suspending hanger
files in the outdoors.
Inventors: |
Chang; Jui Yang; (Taichung
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQ.
90 JOHN STREET
THIRD FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
38647353 |
Appl. No.: |
11/410463 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B42F 15/0094 20130101;
B42P 2241/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/046 |
International
Class: |
A47F 7/16 20060101
A47F007/16 |
Claims
1. A filing cabinet comprising: a housing foldable to a compact
folding and storing configuration, and including a front wall, two
side walls, and a rear wall, two side members engaged onto said
side walls of said housing respectively, and each including a
hanger rail provided thereon, and at least one hanger file
including at least one hanging member attached to each of two
lateral edges of said at least one hanger file for engaging with
said hanger rails of said side members and for supporting and
suspending said at least one hanger file on said hanger rails of
said side members of said housing.
2. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said side
members each include an L-shaped support member for defining said
hanger rail.
3. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 1 further comprising four
corner members each including two arms each having a channel formed
therein for receiving and for engaging onto said front and said
side and said rear walls of said housing and for reinforcing four
corner areas of said housing respectively.
4. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 3, wherein said corner
members each include an L-shaped extension extended therefrom for
reinforcing said corner members.
5. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 4, wherein said corner
members are engaged onto end portions of said side members, and
each include an L-shaped groove formed in said extension for
receiving said hanger rails of said side members and for stably
coupling and maintaining said side members and said corner members
together.
6. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 5, wherein said extension
is extended between and formed integral with said arms of said
corner member.
7. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 3, wherein said housing
includes two longitudinal members each having a channel formed
therein for engaging onto said front and said rear walls of said
housing respectively.
8. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front
wall of said housing includes two side flanges foldable relative to
said front wall for engaging with and for securing to said side
walls.
9. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing
includes an upper flap provided on each of said front and said side
and said rear walls of said housing and foldable downwardly
relative to said front and said side and said rear walls and
engageable onto said front and said side and said rear walls for
reinforcing said front and said side and said rear walls of said
housing respectively.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a filing cabinet for
suspension file folders, and more particularly to a foldable filing
cabinet including a structure foldable to a compact folding and
storing configuration and to be assembled by the users themselves
for supporting or suspending hanger books or hanger bags or hanger
files or hanger binders or the like.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical hanger books or hanger bags or hanger files or
hanger binders or the like comprise one or more hangers or hooks
attached to each of two end portions thereof for slidably engaging
onto rails or rods or the like, and for suspending and supporting
the hanger books or hanger bags or hanger files or hanger binders
on the rails or rods.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,572,867 to Cooper discloses one
of the typical hanger book assemblies for suspension file folders
also comprising two hanger rails disposed parallel to each other,
and a hanger hook element attached to each of the lateral edges of
a file folder and projected beyond the respective edge of the file
folder for slidably engaging onto the hanger rails and thus for
suspending and supporting the hanger book assemblies on the hanger
rails.
[0006] Normally, the hanger rails are normally provided and
disposed in the drawers of various kinds of tables or book shelves,
or the like that include a large volume and a heavy weight and that
may not be easily carried with the users. Accordingly, when the
hanger book assemblies or the hanger books or hanger bags or hanger
files or hanger binders are carried outdoors, there will be no
hanger rails available for suspending and supporting the hanger
book assemblies.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,734 to Scott et al. discloses another
typical hanger bag assembly comprising a longitudinal hanger rod
including notches at opposite ends thereof for engaging with a pair
of parallel hanger or support rails such as those of a filing
cabinet or drawer, and thus for suspending and supporting the
hanger bag assemblies on the hanger or support rails of the filing
cabinet or drawer.
[0008] However, similarly, the drawers are slidably engaged in
various kinds of tables or book shelves, or the like that also
include a large volume and a heavy weight and that may not be
easily carried with the users. Accordingly, when the hanger bag
assemblies or the hanger books or hanger bags or hanger files or
hanger binders or the like are carried outdoors, there will be no
hanger rails available for suspending and supporting the hanger
files or hanger bag assemblies.
[0009] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional foldable
filing cabinets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a foldable filing cabinet including a structure foldable to a
compact folding and storing configuration and to be assembled by
the users themselves for supporting or suspending hanger books or
hanger bags or hanger files or the like.
[0011] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a foldable filing cabinet including a structure to be easily
carried outdoors and to be assembled by the users themselves for
supporting or suspending hanger books or hanger bags or hanger
files or the like in the outdoors.
[0012] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a filing cabinet comprising a housing foldable to a
compact folding and storing configuration, and including a front
wall, two side walls, and a rear wall, two side members engaged
onto the side walls of the housing respectively, and each including
a hanger rail provided thereon, and at least one hanger file
including at least one hanging member attached to each of two
lateral edges of the hanger file for engaging with the hanger rails
of the side members and for supporting and suspending the hanger
file on the hanger rails of the side members of the housing.
[0013] The side members each include an L-shaped support member for
defining the hanger rail. Four corner members may further be
provided and each include two arms each having a channel formed
therein for receiving and for engaging onto the front and the side
and the rear walls of the housing and for reinforcing four corner
areas of the housing respectively.
[0014] The corner members each include an L-shaped extension
extended therefrom for reinforcing the corner members. The corner
members are engaged onto end portions of the side members, and each
include an L-shaped groove formed in the extension for receiving
the hanger rails of the side members and for stably coupling and
maintaining the side members and the corner members together.
[0015] The extension is extended between and formed integral with
the arms of the corner member. The housing includes two
longitudinal members each having a channel formed therein for
engaging onto the front and the rear walls of the housing
respectively.
[0016] The front wall of the housing includes two side flanges
foldable relative to the front wall for engaging with and for
securing to the side walls. The housing includes an upper flap
provided on each of the front and the side and the rear walls of
the housing and foldable downwardly relative to the front and the
side and the rear walls and engageable onto the front and the side
and the rear walls for reinforcing the front and the side and the
rear walls of the housing respectively.
[0017] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable filing cabinet in
accordance with the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the foldable filing
cabinet;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the foldable filing
cabinet taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the
foldable filing cabinet as shown in FIG. 3;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of the foldable
filing cabinet taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the
foldable filing cabinet as shown in FIG. 5;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a partial exploded view of the foldable filing
cabinet;
[0025] FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11 are enlarged partial perspective views of
the foldable filing cabinet;
[0026] FIG. 12 is a plan schematic view illustrating a housing of
the foldable filing cabinet in an open or unfolded
configuration;
[0027] FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the assembling
operation of the foldable filing cabinet; and
[0028] FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the folding
operation of the foldable filing cabinet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0029] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-7, a
foldable filing cabinet in accordance with the present invention
comprises a receptacle or housing 10 including a front or rear wall
11, two side walls 12, 13, and a rear or front wall 20 to be
detachably secured together with such as rivets or fasteners 80,
and the walls 11, 12, 13, each preferably include an upper flap 14,
21 provided thereon and foldable downwardly relative to the walls
11, 12, 13, 20 and engageable onto the walls 11, 12, 13, 20
respectively for reinforcing the upper portions of the walls 11,
12, 13, 20 respectively.
[0030] The walls 11, 12, 13, 20 each preferably include a bottom
flap 15, 22 (FIGS. 7, 12, 13) foldable inwardly relative to the
walls 11, 12, 13, 20 respectively and engageable or secured with
each other for forming the bottom wall 15 of the housing 10. It is
preferable that the side walls 12, 13 each include an opening 16
formed therein for engaging with the hands or the fingers of the
users and for allowing the housing 10 to be easily carried with the
users. The side walls 12, 13 and the rear or front wall 20 each
include a number of orifices 17, 23 formed therein for receiving
the rivets or fasteners 80, and for allowing the side walls 12, 13
and the rear or front wall 20 to be secured together to form the
housing 10.
[0031] For example, as shown in FIGS. 2, 7 and 13, the rear or
front wall 20 may include two side flanges 24 foldable relative to
the rear or front wall 20 for engaging with the side walls 12, 13,
and having the orifices 23 formed therein for aligning with the
orifices 17 of the side walls 12, 13 and for receiving the rivets
or fasteners 80, and thus for allowing the side walls 12, 13 and
the rear or front wall 20 to be secured together with the rivets or
fasteners 80. Alternatively, the walls 11-13, 20 may be formed
integral with each other by such as molding or mold injection
processes.
[0032] Further alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12, the side walls
12, 13 each may include a side flange 18 foldable relative to the
respective side walls 12, 13 and having the orifices 17 formed
therein for aligning with the orifices 23 of the rear or front wall
20 and for receiving the rivets or fasteners 80, and thus for
allowing the side walls 12, 13 and the rear or front wall 20 to be
secured together with the rivets or fasteners 80. The rear or front
wall 20 and the side walls 12, 13 may also be secured together with
such as detachably latches or quick release coupling devices,
adhesive materials, or by welding processes.
[0033] In operation, the front or rear wall 11 and the side walls
12, 13, and/or the rear or front wall 20 may be opened or unfolded
to a planar configuration as shown in FIGS. 12, 14, for allowing
the walls 11, 12, 13, 20 to be folded or unfolded to a compact
folding and storing configuration (FIG. 14) and to be assembled by
the users themselves such that the housing 10 may be easily carried
with the users. As shown in FIG. 13, the walls 11, 12, 13, 20 may
also be secured together to form the housing 10 as shown in FIGS.
1-3 and 5 with the rivets or fasteners 80 by the users themselves.
The walls 11, 12, 13, 20 of the housing 10 may be made with such as
paper or plastic or synthetic materials.
[0034] The housing 10 further includes two longitudinal members 30
(FIGS. 1-4, 7-8) each having a channel 31 formed therein (FIGS. 4,
8) for receiving or for engaging onto the upper portions of the
front or rear wall 11 and the rear or front wall 20 respectively.
It is preferable that the longitudinal members 30 are made of metal
or aluminum or stronger synthetic materials for reinforcing the
housing 10. The housing 10 further includes two side members 32, 33
(FIGS. 1-2, 5-7 and 9) each also having a channel 34 formed therein
(FIGS. 6, 9) for receiving or for engaging onto the upper portions
of the side walls 12, 13 respectively. It is also preferable that
the side members 32, 33 are made of metal or aluminum or stronger
synthetic materials for reinforcing the housing 10.
[0035] The longitudinal members 30 or the side members 32, 33 each
further include a hanger rail 35 formed or provided thereon or
extended therefrom and defined by an outwardly extended and
L-shaped support member 36, best shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, for
engaging with and for supporting or suspending one or more hanger
books or hanger bags or hanger binders or hanger files 40 or the
like. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1, 6-7 and 11, the hanger
files 40 each may include one or more hanging members 41 attached
to each of the lateral edges of the hanger files 40 and projected
beyond the respective edge of the hanger file 40 and each having a
hook end or portion 42 for slidably engaging onto the hanger rails
35 and thus for suspending and supporting the hanger files 40 on
the hanger rails 35.
[0036] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-7, the side
members 32, 33 may be easily and quickly engaged onto the upper
portions of the side walls 12, 13 respectively for suspending and
supporting the hanger files 40 on the hanger rails 35 and for
suitably receiving the hanger files 40 in the housing 10. The
housing 10 and the side members 32, 33 may be easily carried with
the users and may be easily and quickly assembled together and
constructed for suspending and supporting the hanger files 40 on
the hanger rails 35, particularly when the hanger files 40 are
carried outdoors.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1-7 and 10, one or more, such as four
corner members 50 may further be provided and each preferably
include an angled or V or L-shaped structure formed by two arms 51,
52 each of which includes a channel 53 formed therein (FIGS. 4, 6,
10) for receiving or for engaging onto the upper portions of the
walls 11-13, and 20 respectively and/or for engaging onto the end
portions of the longitudinal members 30 and the side members 32,
33, and for solidly securing or forming the housing 10, and for
further reinforcing the upper portions and/or the corner areas of
the walls 11, 12, 13, 20 of the housing 10 respectively.
[0038] The corner members 50 each may further include an L-shaped
extension 54 extended therefrom, such as extended from the inner
portion of the arms 51, 52 or extended between the arms 51, 52 and
preferably formed integral with the arms 51, 52 for further
reinforcing the corner members 50 and thus the housing 10, and the
corner members 50 each may further include an L-shaped groove 55
formed in the extension 54 (FIG. 10) for receiving the hanger rail
35 or the support member 36 (FIGS. 1-2, 5-6) and thus for further
stably positioning and coupling and maintaining the longitudinal
members 30 and the side members 32, 33 together with the corner
members 50.
[0039] In operation, as shown in FIG. 13, the housing 10 may be
easily and quickly unfolded or constructed into the typical
parallelepiped structure for suitably receiving the hanger files 40
in the housing 10, and the side members 32, 33 may then be engaged
onto the upper portions of the side walls 12, 13 respectively for
suspending and supporting the hanger files 40 on the hanger rails
35, and the longitudinal members 30 and/or the corner members 50
may then be engaged onto the upper portions of the side walls 12,
13 or the end portions of the longitudinal members 30 and the side
members 32, 33 respectively for reinforcing the housing 10 and for
further stably retaining the hanger files 40 in the housing 10.
[0040] It is to be noted that the walls 11-13, 20 of the housing 10
may be folded into a compact folding and storing configuration, and
the longitudinal members 30 and the side members 32, 33 and the
corner members 50 and the hanger files 40 may thus be formed into a
compact folding and storing configuration that is excellent for
both storing and transportation purposes and that may be easily
carried with the users. In addition, when it is required to be
used, the housing 10 and the longitudinal members 30 and the side
members 32, 33 and the corner members 50 and the hanger files 40
may be easily and quickly assembled and constructed together for
suspending and supporting the hanger files 40 on the hanger rails
35, particularly when the housing 10 and the hanger files 40 are
carried outdoors.
[0041] Accordingly, the foldable filing cabinet in accordance with
the present invention includes a structure foldable to a compact
folding and storing configuration and to be assembled by the users
themselves for supporting or suspending hanger books or hanger bags
or hanger files or the like, and to be easily carried outdoors and
to be easily and quickly assembled by the users themselves for
supporting or suspending hanger books or hanger bags or hanger
files or the like in the outdoors.
[0042] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *