Extensible Folder Tab

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0001The present invention relates generally to file folder tabs and more specifically it relates to an extensible folder tab for providing a means to elevate the index tab of a currently active folder in a file cabinet, cart, or other filing system that utilizes file folders. When working with files in folders, it is often necessary to locate the same folder repeatedly. One example is when a document has been removed from the folder and will need to be returned to the same location shortly. It can be an unnecessarily cumbersome task to locate the same folder among the numerous others. By raising the index tab, an active folder can be quickly located.

0002It can be appreciated that file folder tabs have been in use for years. Typically, file folder tabs are comprised of plastic tabs with paper title card inserts that attach onto or insert into hanging folders.

0003The main problem with conventional file folder tabs is that folder tabs in a file drawer or other file storage unit all stand at the same visual height. This makes it difficult to relocate a currently active folder repeatedly. Folder tabs such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. <b>6</b>,<b>332</b>,<b>285</b>, <b>5</b>,<b>953</b>,<b>843</b>, and 5,311,685 provide means to support an index title and attachment to hanging folders of various types. However, these and other prior art folder tabs do not provide means for vertical movement of the title card to allow currently active folders to be quickly located.

0004In this respect, the extensible folder tab according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art.

SUMMARY

0005In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of file folder tab now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new extensible folder tab construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing a means to elevate the index tab of a currently active folder in a file cabinet, cart, or other filing system.

0006The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new extensible folder tab that has many of the advantages of the file folder tabs mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new extensible folder tab which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art file folder tab, either alone or in any combination thereof.

0007To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a fixed base portion and a movable title portion. The fixed base portion attaches to a file folder similar to prior art index tab designs. The movable piece, inserted through a cutout in the fixed base, slides freely within the fixed portion. The movable title portion includes a means to support a title card or other label. The fixed base portion is an elongate structure having means to attach near the top edge of a hanging folder. It includes an opening along the top elongated portion and an opening along the bottom elongated portion.

0008There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter.

0009In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.

0010A primary object of the present invention is to provide an extensible folder tab that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.

0011An object of the present invention is to provide an extensible folder tab for providing a means to elevate the index tab of a currently active folder in a file cabinet, cart, or other filing system. When working with a file system, it is often necessary to locate the same folder repeatedly. One example is when a document has been removed from a folder and will need to be returned to the same location shortly. It can be an unnecessarily cumbersome task to locate the same folder among the numerous others. By raising the index tab, an active folder can be quickly located.

0012Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.

0013To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0014Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

0015<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a front view of the invention mounted in a standard hanging file folder.

0016<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a perspective view of the fixed base portion of the invention.

0017<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows fixed base portion unfolded.

0018<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a perspective view of the movable title portion.

0019<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> shows the movable title portion unfolded.

0020<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a perspective view of the movable title portion inserted into the cutout of the fixed base portion.

0021<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a perspective view of the fixed base portion with optional crimps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

0022Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the attached figures illustrate an extensible folder tab, which comprises a fixed base portion and a movable title portion.

0023<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows extensible folder tab <b>10</b> of this invention. The ends of the fixed base portion <b>40</b> insert into folder slots <b>22</b> of hanging folder <b>20</b>. The movable title portion <b>30</b>, inserted through a cutout in the fixed base <b>40</b>, is able to slide within the fixed portion. Two positions of the movable title <b>30</b> are shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. The movable title portion <b>30</b> includes a means to support a title card <b>60</b> or other label.

0024As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> of the drawings, the fixed base <b>40</b> is preferably a folded elongate and flat structure having an upper edge <b>44</b>, lower edges <b>46</b> and <b>48</b>, and tapered ends <b>50</b>, <b>52</b>, <b>54</b> and <b>56</b>. The tapered ends <b>50</b>, <b>52</b>, <b>54</b> and <b>56</b> are shaped to fit into openings <b>22</b> in hanging folder <b>20</b> as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

0025The fixed base <b>40</b> may be constructed of a folded single sheet of thin material with a cutout <b>42</b> as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. The fixed base <b>40</b> may be constructed of various materials such as plastic, cardboard, metal or other well-known material. The chosen material should be sufficiently rigid to resist bending, but pliable enough to be folded as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. Fixed base <b>40</b> may be alternatively shaped to attach to various hanging folder designs.

0026The movable title portion <b>30</b> is shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>. Similar to existing index tabs, a title card <b>60</b> may be inserted between the two sides of the folded title portion <b>30</b>. The fold on the top of the title portion may be of large radius to provide a ridge for easy gripping.

0027As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> of the drawings, the moveable title <b>30</b> is a flat structure having a title card area <b>36</b>, narrow middle portions <b>32</b> and <b>33</b>, and vertical stops <b>34</b> and <b>35</b>. Movable title <b>30</b> is preferably constructed from the same material as the fixed base <b>40</b>. The vertical stops <b>34</b> and <b>35</b> of movable title <b>30</b> extend to a width greater than the separation of the hanging folder openings. The width of middle portions <b>32</b> and <b>33</b> is less than the separation of the hanging folder openings.

0028<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> shows the folder tab assembly comprised of folded movable title portion <b>30</b> inserted through the cutout <b>42</b> in folded fixed base <b>40</b> and extending out the bottom. The width of the bottom portion of fixed base <b>40</b>, including the vertical stops <b>34</b> and <b>35</b>, may be greater than the width of the cutout <b>42</b> in fixed base <b>40</b>. Therefore, to insert the movable title portion <b>30</b> through opening <b>42</b>, the movable title portion will need to be tilted relative to the fixed base <b>40</b>, first inserting one corner, and then the remaining bottom area of movable title <b>30</b>.

0029For additional support of title card <b>60</b>, the movable title <b>40</b> may be crimped or otherwise indented in one or more locations below the title card area. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> shows one possible orientation of crimps <b>38</b>.

0000Operation

0030Similar to existing index tabs, a title card <b>60</b> may be inserted between the two sides of the folded title portion <b>30</b>. Alternately, title card <b>60</b> may be attached to the outside of the tab using adhesive, tape, or other form of adhesion. The folder tab assembly shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is attached to a hanging folder <b>20</b> by inserting the tapered ends <b>50</b>, <b>52</b>, <b>54</b> and <b>56</b> into two of the hanging folder openings <b>22</b> as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

0031The movable title component <b>30</b> slides through the cutout <b>42</b> of fixed base <b>40</b>. Two positions of movable title <b>30</b> are illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. To operate the folder tab, the user raises movable title <b>30</b> through fixed base <b>40</b> to a desired height or until the vertical stops <b>34</b> and <b>35</b> contact the lower edges <b>46</b> and <b>48</b> of fixed base <b>40</b>. After the user releases the tab, the movable title <b>30</b> remains in the raised position due to the friction fit of movable title <b>30</b> in fixed base <b>40</b>. The user lowers the movable title <b>30</b> through fixed base <b>40</b> by pushing it down to a desired height or until title card area <b>36</b> contacts the top edge of hanging folder <b>20</b>.

0032As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

0033With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

0034The fixed base <b>40</b> may be modified in numerous ways to attach to various forms of current and future hanging folders or other file folders. The fixed base <b>40</b> and movable title <b>30</b> of this embodiment are adaptations of one existing immovable folder tab design. Other folder tab designs may be adapted similarly.

0035Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.