SINGLE MATERIAL HANGING FILE FOLDER
A hanging file folder assembly includes a folder body having a front leaf and a rear leaf, joined along a lower fold line, a pair of flaps folded downwardly from an upper edge of the front leaf and the rear leaf along an upper fold line, the flaps defining a pair of open channels extending the length of the front leaf and rear leaf below the upper fold line, and at least one hook member integrally formed at an upper edge of each leaf and including at least two plies of the leaf folded upon itself. The folder assembly further includes a reinforcing strip disposed in each of the channels to reinforce the upper edges of the folder body.
1 . A hanging file folder assembly, comprising:
a folder body having a front leaf and a rear leaf, said front leaf and said rear leaf joined along a lower fold line;
a pair of flaps folded downwardly from an upper edge of said front leaf and said rear leaf along an upper fold line, said flaps defining a pair of open channels extending the length of said front leaf and said rear leaf below said upper fold line; and
at least one hook member integrally formed at an upper edge of each said leaf and including at least two plies of each said leaf folded upon itself.
2 . The hanging file folder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a reinforcing strip disposed in each of said channels.
3 . The hanging file folder assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
said reinforcing strip is formed from high density paperboard.
4 . The hanging file folder assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
said folder body and said reinforcing strips are formed from the same material.
5 . The hanging file folder assembly of claim 4 , wherein:
said material is paper.
6 . The hanging file folder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an integral wrapping tab on said at least one hook member;
wherein said wrapping tab is folded over all said plies and adhered to an inside face of said file folder assembly.
7 . The hanging file folder of claim 1 , wherein:
said at least one hook member is four hook members for hanging said file folder assembly from rails of a hanging file folder cabinet.
8 . The hanging file folder of claim 1 , wherein:
said folder body and said reinforcing strips are formed from a materials that can be recycled using the same process.
9 . A method of manufacturing a hanging file folder, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a generally rectangular sheet of material with a tab protrusion adjacent each corner of said sheet;
folding said sheet about a lower fold line to define a folder body having a front leaf and a rear leaf joined along said fold line;
folding an upper portion of each said leaf towards an inside of said folder body along an upper fold line to define a pair of open channels, said channels extending a length of said folder body;
wherein said step of folding said upper portion of each leaf causes said tab protrusions to be folded in half to create a hook member adjacent upper corners of each said leaf.
10 . The method of manufacturing a hanging file folder of claim 9 , further comprising the step of:
securing a reinforcing strip to an inside face of each said leaf just below said upper fold line prior to said step of folding said upper portion of each said leaf such that subsequent to said step of folding said upper portion, said reinforcing strips are disposed within said channels.
11 . The method of manufacturing a hanging file folder of claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
folding a wrapping tab over all thicknesses of each said leaf; and
securing said wrapping tab to said inside face of each sheet.
12 . The method of manufacturing a hanging file folder of claim 10 , wherein:
said reinforcing strips are secured to said inside face of each said leaf with an adhesive.
13 . The method of manufacturing a hanging file folder of claim 10 , wherein:
said sheet of material and said reinforcing strips are formed from the same material.
14 . The method of manufacturing a hanging file folder of claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
securing said upper portion of each said leaf to an inside of each said leaf to fully enclose said reinforcing strips within said channels.
15 . A method of assembling a hanging file folder, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a folder body with a front leaf and a rear leaf, said front leaf and said rear leaf being joined along a lower fold edge;
securing a reinforcing spine adjacent an upper portion of each said leaf; and
folding an upper portion of each said leaf to enclose said reinforcing spine and to form a plurality of hook members for engaging rails of a hanging file folder cabinet.
16 . The method of assembling a hanging file folder of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
folding a wrapping tab over a portion of said hook members; and
securing said wrapping tab to an inside face of each said leaf.
17 . The method of assembling a hanging file folder of claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
providing said folder body with a generally T-shaped protrusion adjacent top corners of each said leaf prior to said step of folding said upper portion.
18 . The method of assembling a hanging file folder of claim 15 , wherein:
said hook members are integrally formed with said folder body.
19 . The method of assembling a hanging file folder of claim 15 , wherein:
said reinforcing strips and said folder body are formed of the same material.
20 . The method of assembling a hanging file folder of claim 15 , wherein:
said reinforcing strips are secured to said upper portion of each said leaf using an adhesive.