IP Library Granted Patent US 11,845,297
Granted Patent B2
US 11,845,297 · App. 17/714,706 · Granted Dec 19, 2023

Rods for use with hanging file holders

Inventors: Andrew Goodfellow (Phoenix, AZ); David Gruza (Phoenix, AZ); Christopher Holman (Mesa, AZ); Candie Harris (Brookville, NY); Braden Jones (Phoenix, AZ)
Assignee: TOPS Products LLC
B42F15/0064A47B63/00B42F15/0035
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,845,297
App. No.
17/714,706
Granted
Dec 19, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Rods for use in a filing system are disclosed. An example file folder rod includes a first end, a second end and an elongated body extending between the first end and the second end, the elongated body having a longitudinal axis. The example rod also includes a hook coupled to the first end of the rod. The example hook includes a longitudinal portion extending along the longitudinal axis, an elongated hook portion coupled to an end of the longitudinal portion with the elongated hook portion extending from the longitudinal portion a first distance, and a first extension extending from the longitudinal portion with the first extension extending from the longitudinal portion a second distance, the second distance less than the first distance.

Claims (41)

1. A file folder comprising:

a first folder wall;

a second folder wall;

a line of weakness between the first folder wall and the second folder wall; and

a hook and rod assembly including:

a rod including:

a first end;

a second end opposite the first end; and

an elongated body extending between the first end and the second end, the elongated body having a longitudinal axis; and

a hook coupled to the rod, the hook including:

a longitudinal portion extending along the longitudinal axis;

an elongated hook portion coupled to an end of the longitudinal portion, the elongated hook portion extending from a first side of the longitudinal portion;

a hook support wall extending from the first side of the longitudinal portion; and

an abutment surface extending from a second side of the longitudinal portion, an end of the elongated body stamped around a portion of the longitudinal portion of the hook, the hook support wall and the abutment surface extending from an end of the elongated rod.

2. The file folder of claim 1 , wherein the abutment surface is positioned between the elongated hook portion of the hook and the elongated body of the rod.

3. The file folder of claim 1 , further including a rounded end coupled to the elongated hook portion, the rounded end having a first width, and a center portion of the elongated hook portion having a second width, the second width less than the first width.

4. The file folder of claim 3 , wherein the rounded end curves into a flat end surface of the elongated hook portion, the flat end surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

5. The file folder of claim 1 , further including a radiused portion between the elongated hook portion and the hook support wall.

6. The file folder of claim 1 , wherein the abutment surface is aligned with the hook support wall on opposite sides of the longitudinal portion.

7. The file folder of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal portion includes a first top surface and a second top surface, the first top surface separated from the second top surface by the abutment surface.

8. The file folder of claim 7 , wherein the hook support wall has a first end coupled to the longitudinal portion and a second end distal to the longitudinal portion, the first top surface is a first distance from the second end of the hook support wall and the second top surface is a second distance from the second end of the hook support wall.

9. The file folder of claim 8 , wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

10. The file folder of claim 7 , further including a radiused portion between the elongated hook portion and the hook support wall, the radiused portion beneath the second top surface.

11. The file folder of claim 1 , wherein the hook is a first hook coupled to the first end of the rod, the longitudinal portion is a first longitudinal portion, the elongated hook portion is a first elongated hook portion, the hook support wall is a first hook support wall, and the abutment surface is a first abutment surface, the hook and rod assembly further including:

a second hook coupled to the second end of the rod, the second hook including:

a second longitudinal portion extending along the longitudinal axis;

a second elongated hook portion coupled to an end of the second longitudinal portion, the second elongated hook portion extending from a first side of the second longitudinal portion;

a second hook support wall extending from the first side of the second longitudinal portion; and

a second abutment surface extending from a second side of the second longitudinal portion.

12. The file folder of claim 11 , wherein the hook and rod assembly is a first hook and rod assembly

coupled to a first end of the first folder wall, the file folder including

a second hook and rod assembly of claim 11 coupled to a second end of the second folder wall.

13. The file folder of claim 12 , wherein the first folder wall is positioned between the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface of the first hook and rod assembly and the second folder wall is positioned between the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface of the second hook and rod assembly.

14. The file folder of claim 1 , wherein the hook and rod assembly is

a first hook and rod assembly coupled to a first end of the first folder wall, the file folder including

a second hook and rod assembly of claim 1 coupled to a second end of the second folder wall.

15. The file folder of claim 14 , wherein the first longitudinal portion of the first hook and rod assembly includes a first top surface and a second top surface, the first top surface separated from the second top surface by the first abutment surface,

wherein the second longitudinal portion of the second hook and rod assembly includes a third top surface and a fourth top surface, the third top surface separated from the fourth top surface by the second abutment surface, and

wherein the first folder wall covers at least a portion of the first top surface, and the second folder wall covers at least a portion of the third top surface, the second top surface and the fourth top surface exposed.

16. The file folder of claim 1 , wherein the hook support wall includes a first flat side orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the abutment surface includes a second flat side orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the longitudinal portion includes a third flat side parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the end of the elongated body of the rod extends along the third flat side between the first flat side and the second flat side.

17. The file folder of claim 16 , wherein the end of the elongated body of the rod is slidable along the third flat side.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2024
From: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC
To: LSC COMMUNICATIONS LLC; LSC COMMUNICATIONS BOOK LLC; LSC COMMUNICATIONS MCL LLC; LSC COMMUNICATIONS TRANSPORT LLC; TOPS PRODUCTS LLC; PHOENIX COLOR LLC
Reel/Frame 068964/0868 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2022
From: LSC COMMUNICATIONS US, LLC
To: TOPS PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 061376/0087 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2022
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY
To: LSC COMMUNICATIONS US, LLC
Reel/Frame 060027/0499 →
MERGER Recorded May 24, 2022
From: TOPS PRODUCTS, LLC
To: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY
Reel/Frame 059995/0418 →
MERGER Recorded May 19, 2022
From: TOPS SLT, INC.
To: TOPS PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 059959/0874 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2022
From: LSC COMMUNICATIONS LLC; LSC COMMUNICATIONS BOOK LLC; LSC COMMUNICATIONS MCL LLC; LSC COMMUNICATIONS TRANSPORT LLC; CONTINUUM MARKETING SERVICES LLC; TOPS PRODUCTS LLC; PHOENIX COLOR LLC
To: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 059855/0257 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 25, 2022
From: ESSELTE CORPORATION
To: TOPS SLT, INC
Reel/Frame 059941/0682 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2022
From: GOODFELLOW, ANDREW; GRUZA, DAVID; HARRIS, CANDIE; HOLMAN, CHRISTOPHER; JONES, BRADEN
To: ESSELTE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059678/0962 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17156111 · Jan 22, 2021
Continuation 16785178 · Feb 7, 2020
Continuation 15800487 · Nov 1, 2017
Continuation 15407688 · Jan 17, 2017
Continuation 11877045 · Oct 23, 2007
Related Publication 20220227162A1 · Jul 21, 2022