File drawer and assembly for supporting differently sized hanging file folders

Abstract

According to the present invention, there are provided a convertible bottomless file drawer and a file folder support assembly adapted to the bottomless file drawer for storing hanging file folders of different predetermined sizes. The bottomless file drawer includes a rectangular frame that includes a plurality of outside walls and a middle wall that includes a u-shaped channel having a bottom, and a first wall and a second wall dividing the frame into a plurality of compartments of a first predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a first predetermined size. The file folder support assembly including an inverse u-shaped channel having an inner tubular member disposed centrally therein, the tubular member of the inverse channel being adapted to seat in the u-shaped channel of the middle wall and the u-shaped channel of the middle wall being adapted to seat in the inverse channel, and a first projection extending horizontally from a first lower edge of the inverse channel, the projection having an outer wall, the top of which is coplanar with the plurality of outside walls of the frame, the outer wall reducing the first predetermined dimension of a first compartment to a second smaller predetermined dimension for supporting hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Technical Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention generally relates to file drawers for storing hanging file folders. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a bottomless file drawer eliminating the need for box drawer construction and reducing the overall clearance dimensions required to store hanging file folders, and an assembly adapted thereto for converting the bottomless file drawer from storing hanging file folders of a first predetermined size to storing hanging file folders of a second predetermined size. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] Business desks, cabinets or other similar type units generally provide at least one file folder drawer, having a box drawer construction (four walls and bottom), adapted to store hanging files folders for retaining documents of different sizes, e.g., legal, letter and the like. The file folder drawers generally vary in their dimensions to accommodate the hanging ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The present invention is directed to a bottomless file drawer that eliminates the need for box drawer construction and reduces the overall clearance dimensions required to store hanging file folders, and an assembly adapted thereto for converting the bottomless file drawer from storing hanging file folders of a first predetermined size to storing hanging file folders of a second predetermined size.

Problems solved by technology

However, as file drawers having box drawer construction have to be high enough to accommodate the file folders stored therein as described above, they may not be advantageous for other applications / cabinets that accommodate low file drawer constructions and that have limitations as to the overall clearance allotted to the file drawer construction.

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