IP Library Granted Patent US 10,538,123
Granted Patent B1
US 10,538,123 · App. 16/116,241 · Granted Jan 21, 2020

Folder pocket divider and method of construction

Inventors: Jeffrey Kirk (St. Paul, MN); GinAnn Matsch (Hastings, MN); Scott Wiegrefe (Apple Valley, MN)
Assignee: Smead Manufacturing Company
B42F7/06B31D5/0004B42F7/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,538,123
App. No.
16/116,241
Granted
Jan 21, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

Installable and removable inserts for pocket folders and their method of manufacturer are shown and described. Inserts have spaced part divider panels which are anchored to a base plate or form a base plate. In one embodiment, a single plate divider also forms the base and one upright divider while another element with two dividers is bonded to the base. In another embodiment two separate upright dividers are bonded together at a common upright wall and the pair is then bonded to a base. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims (15)

1. A method of forming a unitary web material into a divider system for insertion into a pocket folder, comprising the steps of:

a. cutting a blank of web material defining right and left edges and a center dividing line therebetween thereby defining left and right divider panels;

b. forming first fold lines in said web material spaced from and parallel with said center dividing line on both left and right divider panels;

c. forming second fold lines in said web material spaced from and parallel with said second fold line, on both left and right divider panels and thereby defining a portion between said first and second fold line and defining a foot region between first fold lines on right and left panels;

d. folding said web material on said first and second fold lines to fold said portion onto foot region and adhering said portion to said region on both left and right panels;

e. folding said second fold line to permit said left and right panels to be generally oriented orthogonally to said foot portion.

2. A method of forming a unitary web material into a divider system for insertion into a pocket folder, comprising the steps of:

a. cutting a blank of web material into a unitary sheet, having right and left edges and a center dividing line therebetween thereby defining left and right divider panels and a central foot panel;

b. upwardly folding said divider panels vertically with respect to the foot panel, thereby defining first fold lines at the intersection between the divider and foot panel;

c. inwardly folding said foot panel along a second fold line spaced from but parallel to the first fold line to create an overlapping portion between said first and second fold lines and adhering said overlapping panel to said foot panel thereby creating a double web portion;

d. upwardly folding said on both left and right divider panels at said second fold line, thereby defining a pair of upright divider panels with a spaced therebetween, all made from a unitary web.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of adhering includes gluing.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein folding includes first scoring and then folding.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein scoring including scoring a center fold line and a scoring a line on either side of the central fold line.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the scores on either side of the central fold line score are sharper than the central fold line score.

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 12, 2019
From: KIRK, JEFFREY; MATSCH, GINANN; WIEGREFE, SCOTT
To: SMEAD MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 049743/0875 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15187981 · Jun 21, 2016
Provisional Application 62182981 · Jun 22, 2015