GB2301063A - Suspension file folder having distinguishable interior and exterior surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

A folder 1 for a suspension filing system has an interior surface 2 which is sensorily distinguishable from the exterior surface 3. The interior surface may be visually or texturally distinguishable from the exterior surface by the use of colours, patterns, indentations or projections.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A FOLDER The present invention relates to a folder and more particularly to a folder useful within a filing system.

A folder is often used to file documents or papers within a filing system. The folder usually consists of a piece of card folded in half to create a pocket into which papers may be placed. The pocket may be adapted for use in a suspension filing system, the opposed sides of the pocket each having a suspension strip at the free edge thereof.

Often a plurality of folders are arranged adjacent to each other in a filing cabinet. However, this leads to the disadvantage that the interior of a folder cannot clearly be distinguished from the exterior of a folder. The reason for this is that the opposed surfaces of the material forming a typical pocket of the type described have the same appearance. Thus, on separating two adjacent sides of the plurality of folders one is never certain whether the two sides of a single folder have been separated, or two sides of two separate, but adjacent, folders have been separated. In the latter case, if papers are inserted between the two separated sides they will not be received in a pocket, but will fall between the pockets to the bottom of the filing cabinet drawer. This may be inconvenient.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide an improved folder in use of which the disadvantage of the present folder is reduced or obviated.

According to this invention there is provided a folder, the interior surface of which is sensorily distinguishable from the exterior surface.

The interior surface of the folder may be visually distinguishable from the exterior surface by the interior surface being of a different colour to that of the exterior surface, or by one of the surfaces having a pattern, or by the interior and exterior surfaces having contrasting patterns.

The interior surface of the folder may be texturally distinguishable from the exterior surface.

At least a region of one surface may be provided with indentations or projections to provide a degree of roughness, whilst at least a corresponding region of the other surface may be substantially smooth.

The folder may be adapted for use in a suspension filing system, wherein the free edges of opposed sides of the folder are each provided with a substantially rigid strip, the ends of each strip projecting beyond the folder, for use in suspending the folder, for example, from parallel supports within a filing cabinet drawer. The projecting ends of the strips may each be provided with a recess which is lined with a material having low-frictional properties, to ease movement of the folder along parallel supports within a filing cabinet drawer.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folder, showing the interior and exterior surfaces, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a suspension filing system comprising a plurality of folders of the type shown in Figure 1 Referring initially to Figure 1 a folder (1), in accordance with the invention, comprises a piece of card folded in half, creating a pocket for the filing of articles, the pocket having an interior surface (2) and an exterior surface (3). The free edges (4) of opposed sides of the folder (1) are each provided with a substantially rigid suspension strip (5). The ends (6) of each strip (5) project beyond the lateral edges (7) of the folder (1).

The projecting ends (6) of the strip (5) each have a recess (8), which is lined with a low-friction material.

As shown in Figure 1 the recess (8) at each end of the strips (5) may sit on a bar (9), or raised edge, provided at the sides of a filing cabinet drawer (10). A plurality of folders (1) are arranged in this way, in a filing cabinet drawer (10).

The interior surface (2) of each folder (1) is sensorily distinguishable from the exterior surface (3).

Preferably, the interior surface (2) is visually distinguishable from the exterior surface (3). The interior surface (2) may be of a different colour to the exterior surface (3). For example, the interior surface (2) may be yellow, and the exterior surface (3) red.

Alternatively, the interior surface (2) of the folder (1) may be visually distinguishable from the exterior surface (3) by the use of contrasting patterns. For example, a region of one of the surfaces may be striped, with the corresponding region on the other surface being plain.

Alternatively, the corresponding region of the other surface may have a different pattern, for example it may be spotted.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the interior surface (2) of the folder (1) may be texturally distinguishable from the exterior surface (3). One surface of the folder may be provided with indentations or protruberances to provide a degree of roughness, whilst the other surface may be smooth.

Alternatively, at least a region of one surface may be rough, while at least a corresponding region of the other surface may be substantially smooth.

For those examples in which the distinguishing features between the interior (2) and exterior (3) surfaces of the folder (1) reside in a region of the surfaces of the folder (1), preferably this region is adjacent to the suspension strips (5) at the free edges (4) of opposed sides of the folder (1), so as to be readily visible or touchable when two adjacent suspension strips (5) are separated thus indicating if the space between the separated strips is a space between two adjacent pockets, or, alternatively, the interior of a pocket.

Claims (13)

1. A folder, comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface being sensorily distinguishable from the exterior surface.

2. A folder according to Claim 1, wherein at least a region of the interior surface is visually distinguishable from the exterior surface.

3. A folder according to Claim 2, wherein at least a region of the interior surface is of a different colour to the exterior surface.

4. A folder according to Claim 2, wherein at least a region of the surfaces of the folder are visually distinguishable by the use of a pattern on one of the surfaces, or contrasting patterns on each of the surfaces.

5. A folder according to Claim 1, wherein at least a region of the interior surface is texturally distinguishable from the exterior surface.

6. A folder according to Claim 5, wherein at least a region of one surface is provided with indentations or projections to provide a degree of roughness, whilst at least a corresponding region of the other surface is substantially smooth.

7. A folder according to any of Claims 1 to 6, for use in a suspension filing system, the free edges of the folder being provided with respective substantially rigid strips, the ends of each strip projecting beyond the folder for use in suspending the folder from parallel supports within a filing cabinet drawer.

8. A folder according to any of Claim 7,wherein the projecting ends of each strip are each provided with a recess lined with a material having low-frictional properties.

9. A folder according to Claims 7 or 8 as dependent upon any one of Claims 2 to 6 wherein each said region is at least partly adjacent to one of said rigid strips.

10. A filing system comprising a folder according to any of Claims 1 to 8.

11. A method of filing comprising the steps of establishing the interior of a folder, by use of a folder with sensorily distinguishable surfaces, and inserting papers in the folder.

12. A folder substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.