IP Library Granted Patent US 9,346,311
Granted Patent B2
US 9,346,311 · App. 14/803,915 · Granted May 24, 2016

High capacity pocket file folder

Inventors: Michael D. Leonard (Woodbury, MN); Scott Leonard (Excelsior, MN)
Assignee: Smead Manufacturing Company
B42F7/06B31B1/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,346,311
App. No.
14/803,915
Granted
May 24, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pocket folder with increased document capacity and method of manufacturing same is disclosed. The folder has two cover panels 14 - 16 , joined along a longitudinal joint or score line, a pair of pocket flaps 40 a - 40 b and a top flap 70 . Top flap 70 folds along a score line 72 a - 72 b and a midline score 74 and a plurality of parallel scores 78 to accommodate expansion. At the pockets, a v-shaped notch 52 between the pockets prevents bunching and a circular cut away 90 a - 90 b provides greater access to the documents.

Claims (26)

1. A method of minimizing waste in forming making a blank of web material into a plurality of pocket folders each having a pair of pockets on either side of a center fold line and having a retainer flap, comprising the steps of:

a. cutting and scoring a blank having left and right edges and left and right portions and upper and bottom edges and a central longitudinal score forming a center line defining left and right portions and a lateral score line orthogonal to the central longitudinal score line located a predetermined distance from the bottom of the blank defining a fold line to create left and right pockets;

b. defining a portion of the blank at its top edge orthogonal to the central score line, a semicircular protrusion foldable into a flap , and defining an upper longitudinal edge of the blank, excluding the protrusion;

c. scoring said blank along the upper edge to define a fold line between the protrusion and the upper edge;

d. cutting the blank into first and second identical blanks, each forming a separate folder, the cutting occurring along line parallel with the upper and bottom edged except adjacent the central fold line where the cut line follows a semicircle on either side of said fold line, thereby forming said flap protrusion on said top edge and a semicircular recess in said bottom edge, wherein said flap protrusion and said semicircular recess have identical curvatures, so that there is no waste material therebetween;

e. scoring a protrusion fold line in said flap protrusion, said protrusion fold line being co-axial with said blank fold line;

f. cutting a v-shaped notch into the bottom edge from at the central score line to said predetermined distance from the bottom-edge;

g. folding along the said blank along said lateral score line to form a pair of side by side pockets;

h. folding said protrusion along said protrusion flap fold line to create a top retaining flap;

i. cutting away a section of the blank on the left and right portions adjacent the bottom of the blank and side scoring the blank on the left and right portions longitudinally spaced a predetermined distance from the left and right edges;

j. folding said blank along said at said side scoring, and

k. affixing said side scoring portions to said pockets.

2. A method of minimizing waste in forming making a blank of web material into a plurality of pocket folders each having a pair of pockets on either side of a center fold line and having a retainer flap, comprising the steps of:

a. cutting and scoring a blank having left and right edges and left and right portions and top and bottom edges and a central longitudinal score forming a center line defining left and right portions and a lateral score line orthogonal to the central longitudinal score line located a predetermined distance from the bottom of the blank defining a fold line to create left and right pockets;

b. defining a portion of the blank at its top edge orthogonal to the central score line, a semicircular protrusion foldable into a flap, and defining an top longitudinal edge of the blank, excluding the protrusion;

c. scoring said blank along the top edge to define a fold line between the protrusion and the top edge;

d. cutting the blank into first and second identical blanks, each forming a separate folder, the cutting occurring along line parallel with the top and bottom edged except adjacent the central fold line where the cut line follows a semicircle on either side of said fold line, thereby forming said flap protrusion on said top edge and a semicircular recess in said bottom edge, wherein said flap protrusion and said semicircular recess have identical curvatures, so that there is no waste material therebetween:

e. scoring a protrusion fold line in said flap protrusion, said protrusion fold line being co-axial with said blank fold line;

whereby successive folders may be cut from a continuous web of material, each folder having a retaining protrusion flap and an arcuate pocket wall having a semi-circular recess, with no waste material between successful folders cut from the web.

3. A method of minimizing waste in forming making a blank of web material into a plurality of pocket folders each having a pair of pockets on either side of a center fold line and having a retainer flap, comprising the steps of:

a. cutting and scoring a blank having left and right edges and left and right portions and top and bottom edges and a central longitudinal score forming a center line defining left and right portions and a lateral score line orthogonal to the central longitudinal score line located a predetermined distance from the bottom of the blank defining a fold line to create left and right pockets;

b. defining a portion of the blank at its top edge orthogonal to the central score line, a semicircular protrusion foldable into a flap, and defining an top longitudinal edge of the blank, excluding the protrusion;

c. scoring said blank along the top edge to define a fold line between the protrusion and the top edge;

d. cutting the blank into first and second identical blanks, each forming a separate folder, the cutting occurring along line parallel with the top and bottom edges except adjacent the central fold line where the cut line follows a non-linear path on either side of said fold line, thereby forming said flap protrusion on said top edge and a non-linear recess in said bottom edge, wherein said flap protrusion and said non-linear recess have identical non-linear shape, so that there is no waste material therebetween:

e. scoring a protrusion fold line in said flap protrusion, said protrusion fold line being co-axial with said blank fold line;

whereby successive folders may be cut from a continuous web of material , each folder having a retaining protrusion flap and a pocket wall having a non-linear recess, with no waste material between successful folders cut from the web.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 28, 2025
From: THE SMEAD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 072272/0097 →
ENTITY CONVERSATION Recorded Jul 16, 2025
From: THE SMEAD MANUFACTURING COMPANY
To: THE SMEAD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 071979/0916 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2019
From: LEONARD, MICHAEL D.; LEONARD, SCOTT
To: SMEAD MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 049896/0356 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14536861 · Nov 10, 2014
Continuation 13484717 · May 31, 2012
Related Publication 20150321500A1 · Nov 12, 2015