Card file

Abstract

A card file is described herein including a base and a lid hingedly joined together. The base includes a base panel, front, back and side walls. Likewise, the lid includes a lid panel, front, back and side walls. The front, back, and side walls, of both the base and lid extend away from respective ones of the base and lid panels. The front and back walls diverge away from one another moving away from the base or lid panel. Likewise, the side walls diverge away from one another moving away from the base or lid panel. A first storage space is defined between the base panel and respective front back and side walls of the base. Similarly, a second storage space is defined between the lid panel, and respective front, back and side walls of the lid. Thus, both the first and second storage spaces are generally smaller in cross-sectional area near respective base or lid panels than near the exposed edges of the front, back and side walls of the base and lid. The card file is stackable with like card files in a nested configuration.

1 . A card file comprising: 
 first and second portions hingedly joined together, each portion including a base panel, front and back walls extending away from the base panel and side walls extending away from the base panel;    a first storage space defined generally between the front, back and side walls of the first portion; and    a second storage space defined generally between the front, back and side walls of the second portion,    wherein the front and back walls of the first portion diverge away from one another in a direction from the base panel of the first portion towards exposed edges of the front and back walls of the first portion, forming a first storage space that is wider in a direction away from the base panel of the first portion than near the base panel of the first portion,    wherein the front and back walls of the second portion diverge away from one another in a direction from the base panel of the second portion towards exposed edges of the front and back walls of the second portion, forming a second storage space that is wider away from the base panel of the second portion than near the base panel of the second portion.    
   
   
       2 . The card file of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are hingedly attached to one another along a portion of the exposed edges of back walls of the first and second portions.  
   
   
       3 . The card file of  claim 1 , wherein the base panel of the first portion includes a groove along a portion thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The card file of  claim 3 , wherein the groove is of sufficient length to accommodate supporting a card in a generally upright orientation.  
   
   
       5 . The card file of  claim 1 , wherein the front wall of the first portion includes a generally scalloped region therein.  
   
   
       6 . The card file of  claim 5 , wherein the front wall of the second portion includes a tongue disposed along a first edge thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The card file of  claim 6 , wherein the tongue overlays a portion of the scalloped region when the card file is in a closed position.  
   
   
       8 . The card file of  claim 1 , further including at least one rib disposed on a first surface of the base panel of one of the first and second portions.  
   
   
       9 . The card file of  claim 8 , further including a plurality of ribs disposed on the first surface.  
   
   
       10 . The card file of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of ribs is generally oriented perpendicularly to the base panel of the one of the first and second portions.  
   
   
       11 . The card file of  claim 1 , further including a flange attached to a first surface of the base panel of one of the first and second portions.  
   
   
       12 . The card file of  claim 11 , further including a plurality of flanges attached to the first surface.  
   
   
       13 . The card file of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of flanges prevents frictional locking between like card files when like card files are stacked in a nested configuration.  
   
   
       14 . The card file of  claim 11 , wherein the flange is attached to both the first surface and the front wall of the one of the first and second portions.  
   
   
       15 . The card file of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are attached by a living hinge.  
   
   
       16 . The card file of  claim 1 , wherein in a first, open position, the card file is nestable with a like card file such that a first card file is partially disposed within the first and second storage spaces of a second card file.  
   
   
       17 . The card file of  claim 16 , wherein the base panels of the of the first and second portions first card file partially rest on a plurality of flanges disposed on the base panels of the first and second portions of the second card file.  
   
   
       18 . The card file of  claim 17 , wherein the volume of space occupied by the nested first and second card files is less than the sum of the volumes of the first and second storage spaces of the first and second card files.  
   
   
       19 . The card file of  claim 1 , wherein the side walls of the first and second portions taper.  
   
   
       20 . The card file of  claim 19 , wherein the side walls taper from the front wall of the first portion towards the front wall of the second portion when the card file is in an open position.  
   
   
       21 . The card file of  claim 1 , wherein the back wall of the first portion and the back wall of the second portion are substantially the same height and allow the base panel of the first portion and the base panel of the second portion to lie in substantially the same plane when the card file is in an open position.  
   
   
       22 . A method of stacking a storage container comprising: 
 providing a plurality of storage containers, each storage container comprising: 
 first and second portions hingedly joined together, each portion including a base panel, front and back walls extending from the base panel and diverging away from one another and side walls extending from the base panel and diverging away from one another,  
 wherein a first storage space is defined between the front, back and side walls of the first portion and a second storage space is defined between the front, back and side walls of the second portion;  
   placing each storage container in the plurality of storage containers in an open position; and    creating a stack of storage containers by partially inserting a first storage container into the first and second storage spaces of a second storage container,    wherein the stack of storage containers occupies a volume less than the sum of volumes of the first and second storage spaces of the first and second storage containers.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein at least one flange is disposed on one of the base panel of the first portion and the base panel of the second portion of the second storage container.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of creating the stack of storage containers includes inserting the first storage container until one of the base panel of the first portion and the base panel of the second portion of the first storage container contacts a surface of the at least one flange.