Nested storage box and retrofit for hanging file folders

Abstract

A storage box for hanging file folders, which has an outer carton and an inner carton. The inner carton has a pair of removable reinforcing strips, which attach to opposing upper edges of the inner carton. Each hanging file folder is suspended by a pair of hangers that engage the reinforcing strips. The outer carton extends above the level of the file folders and their hangers, in order to engage a removable lid without interference from the hangers, the hanging file folders, or any index tabs that may be attached to the file holders. Optionally, the outer carton may have one or more handles.

1 . A support insert for a file box used for hanging folders having end hooks comprising: 
 a. first and second pairs of opposing sidewalls formed at fold lines to create a self supporting box shaped perimeter of sidewalls, each sidewall having an upper edge and an outer surface, said insert being sized to be received within the inner dimension of the file box;    b. at least one of said sidewall pairs including at least one integral spacer tab extending outwardly therefrom toward the inner surface of the file box, and when inserted therein creating a spacing gap between the inner surface of the file box and the outer extent of the insert, said gap being large enough to accommodate file folder end hooks supported by said upper edge but without providing support from said file box.    
   
   
       2 . The insert of  claim 1  wherein said sidewalls are formed of a single sheet with fold lines and joined end to end to form a substantially non-collapsing structure.  
   
   
       3 . The insert of  claim 1  wherein said tab length is just greater than the extent which the hooks extend beyond the outer edge of the insert sidewalls.  
   
   
       4 . The insert of  claim 1  wherein said tab length is equal to the extent which the hooks extend beyond the outer edge of the insert sidewalls.  
   
   
       5 . The insert of  claim 1  further including a pair of substantially non-deformable protective strips applied over at least two of said upper edges, so that the hooks do not deform under the pressure of said hooks.  
   
   
       6 . The insert of  claim 5  wherein said strips include a top surface, two side surfaces defining a space for said upper surface of said sidewall, and at least one barb extending from a side surface and extending into the defined space.  
   
   
       7 . The insert of  claim 6  wherein sad barb extends into said space toward said top surface.  
   
   
       8 . The insert of  claim 1  wherein said spacer tab extends from one sidewall at a fold line and is taken from a portion of an adjacent sidewall on the opposite side of that fold line.  
   
   
       9 . The insert of  claim 1  wherein said spacer tabs extend from each of said four sidewalls so that said insert is spaced from said file box on all sides, whereby hanging folders may be hung on either pair of sidewalls.  
   
   
       10 . A file box for supporting hanging folders having end hooks comprising: 
 a. an outer box having four sides and a bottom and inner surfaces to said sides;    b. an insert sized to be received within said outer box; including: 
 i. first and second pairs of opposing sidewalls formed at fold lines to create a self supporting box shaped perimeter of sidewalls, each sidewall having an upper edge and an outer surface, said insert being sized to be received within the file box;  
 ii. said sidewall pairs each including at least one integral spacer tab extending outwardly therefrom toward the inner surface of the file box, and when inserted therein creating a spacing gap between the inner surface of the file box and the outer extent of the insert at each file box sidewall, said gap being large enough to accommodate file folder end hooks, so that hanging files may be supported from either pair of insert sidewalls but without the hooks being supported by said outer box.  
   
   
   
       11 . A method of constructing a self supporting file box insert, for an outer file box, with an integral spacer tab to prevent hanging file hooks suspended from said insert from being supported by the outer file box, comprising the steps of: 
 a. cutting a sheet into a rectangular shape;    b. identifying fold lines at points along one extent to create adjacent panels;    c. cutting tab shapes into said adjacent panels at said fold lines to create extensions out of an adjacent panel;    d. folding the panels at the fold lines without folding the tabs    e. connecting first and last panels for form a self supporting rectangular column.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said cutting step includes cutting tabs in every panel so that every panel has a portion taken from an adjacent panel thereby creating spacing tabs on every corner of the insert.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  further including the step of making the upper surface of at least two opposing sidewalls resistant to deformation from hanging file hooks.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said deformation resistance is formed by applying a deformation resistant edge on the upper surface.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the deformation resistant edge includes providing a one-way barb to maintain the edge in place.