Storage device with a hanging file folder storage space

Abstract

A file storage device has an exterior shell with an outer surface and an openable panel defining part of the exterior shell. The openable panel has a bottom edge, a forward facing surface, and a rear facing surface. The openable panel is pivotable about its bottom edge outward from the exterior shell between a retracted condition at which the forward facing surface is generally flush with the outer surface of the exterior shell and an open condition away from the outer surface of the exterior shell. A file support structure has a file storage area, an open top for insertion, access to, and removal of files from the file storage area, and a file suspension device provided to suspend files within the file storage area. The file support structure is disposed adjacent to the rear facing surface of the openable panel and is movable in concert with the openable panel. The open top is accessible when the openable panel is in the open condition. The file support structure is disposed within the exterior shell when the openable panel is in the retracted condition.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A file storage device comprising: 
 an exterior shell having an outer surface;    an openable panel defining part of the exterior shell, the openable panel having a bottom edge, a forward facing surface, and a rear facing surface, the openable panel being pivotable about the bottom edge outward from the exterior shell between a retracted condition at which the forward facing surface is generally flush with the outer surface of the exterior shell and an open condition away from the outer surface of the exterior shell; and    a file support structure having a file storage area, an open top for insertion, access to, and removal of files from the file storage area, and a file suspension device provided to suspend files within the file storage area, the file support structure disposed adjacent to the rear facing surface of the openable panel and being movable in concert with the openable panel,    wherein the open top is accessible when the openable panel is in the open condition and wherein the file support structure is disposed within the exterior shell when the openable panel is in the retracted condition.    
     
     
         2 . A file storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior shell further comprises: 
 a pair of opposed side panels; and    a front panel defined at least in part by the openable panel.    
     
     
         3 . A file storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the file support structure further comprises: 
 a pair of suspension surfaces on laterally spaced apart and opposed sides of the top opening.    
     
     
         4 . A file storage device according to  claim 3 , wherein the pair of suspension surfaces are arranged to present files suspended in the file storage area in a forwardly and downwardly cascading arrangement.  
     
     
         5 . A file storage device according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the pair of suspension surfaces is an arched surface.  
     
     
         6 . A file storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior shell further comprises: 
 a top panel providing a generally horizontal support surface.    
     
     
         7 . A file storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior shell is in the form of a table when the openable panel is in the retracted condition.  
     
     
         8 . A file storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior shell and the openable panel combine to form a configuration that hides the file storage purpose of the storage device when the openable panel is in the closed condition.  
     
     
         9 . A file storage device comprising: 
 an exterior shell having an outer surface;    an openable panel defining part of the exterior shell, the openable panel having a bottom edge, a forward facing surface, and a rear facing surface, the openable panel being pivotable about the bottom edge outward from the exterior shell between a retracted condition and an open condition, the openable panel being generally flush with the outer surface of the exterior shell in the retracted condition, and the openable panel being positioned away from the outer surface of the exterior shell in the open condition; and    a file support structure having a file storage area, an open top for insertion, access to, and removal of files from the file storage area, and a file suspension device provided to suspend files within the file storage area, the file support structure disposed adjacent to the rear facing surface of the openable panel and being movable in concert with the openable panel,    wherein the file support structure is arranged to present files suspended in the file storage area in a forwardly and downwardly cascading arrangement.