File portfolio pocket with attachment hinge

Abstract

A file portfolio includes a spine with attached front and back covers. A file pocket is provided for holding a plurality of documents. A hinge is attached to a bottom edge of the file pocket. The hinge flexibly joins the file pocket to the spine of the file portfolio.

1 . A file pocket comprising: 
 a front panel having opposing top and bottom edges and two opposing side edges;    a rear panel having opposing top and bottom edges and two opposing side edges;    two side panels, each panel having opposing top and bottom edges and two opposing side edges, one of the side edges joined to one of the side edges of the front panel and the other of the side edges joined to one of the side edges of the back panel;    a bottom panel having opposing front and back edges and two opposing side edges, the front edge joined to the bottom edge of the front panel and the back edge joined to the bottom edge of the back panel; and    a hinge panel having opposing front and back edges and two opposing side edges, the back edge flexibly joined to the bottom edge of the front panel and the front edge of the bottom panel.    
   
   
       2 . The file pocket of  claim 1  further comprising a flap panel joined to the top edge of the rear panel except at a tab portion of the rear panel such that the tab portion extends above the flap panel when the flap panel is secured to the front panel to close the file pocket.  
   
   
       3 . The file pocket of  claim 2  wherein the flap panel includes a tongue and the front panel includes a slot, the tongue cooperative fitting into the slot to secure the flap panel to the front panel to close the file pocket.  
   
   
       4 . The file pocket of  claim 1  wherein each of the side panels has a generally trapezoidal shape with the top edge being substantially longer than the bottom edge.  
   
   
       5 . The file pocket of  claim 1  wherein each of the side panels is folded such that the file pocket is expandable.  
   
   
       6 . The file pocket of  claim 1  wherein the bottom panel is folded such that the file pocket is expandable.  
   
   
       7 . The file pocket of  claim 1  wherein the front panel, the hinge panel, the bottom panel, the back panel, and the two side panels are formed from a single sheet of material, the front panel joined to the hinge panel along a first fold, the bottom panel joined to the hinge panel along a second fold, the hinge panel being folded such that a third fold forms the front edge of the hinge panel, and the first and second folds are adjacent to one another to form the back edge of the hinge panel.  
   
   
       8 . A file portfolio comprising: 
 a spine having opposing front and back edges;    a front cover joined to the front edge of the spine;    a back cover joined to the back edge of the spine;    a file pocket including, 
 a front panel having opposing top and bottom edges and two opposing side edges;  
 a rear panel having opposing top and bottom edges and two opposing side edges;  
 two side panels, each panel having opposing top and bottom edges and two opposing side edges, one of the side edges joined to one of the side edges of the front panel and the other of the side edges joined to one of the side edges of the back panel;  
 a bottom panel having opposing front and back edges and two opposing side edges, the front edge joined to the bottom edge of the front panel and the back edge joined to the bottom edge of the back panel; and  
 a hinge panel having opposing front and back edges and two opposing side edges, the back edge flexibly joined to the bottom edge of the front panel and the front edge of the bottom panel;  
   wherein the hinge panel is joined to the spine between the front and back edges.    
   
   
       9 . The file portfolio of  claim 8  wherein the file pocket further comprises a flap panel joined to the top edge of the rear panel except at a tab portion of the rear panel such that the tab portion extends above the flap panel when the flap panel is secured to the front panel to close the file pocket.  
   
   
       10 . The file portfolio of  claim 9  wherein the flap panel of the file pocket includes a tongue and the front panel of the file pocket includes a slot, the tongue cooperative fitting into the slot to secure the flap panel to the front panel to close the file pocket.  
   
   
       11 . The file portfolio of  claim 8  wherein each of the side panels of the file pocket has a generally trapezoidal shape with the top edge being substantially longer than the bottom edge.  
   
   
       12 . The file portfolio of  claim 8  wherein each of the side panels of the file pocket is folded such that the file pocket is expandable.  
   
   
       13 . The file portfolio of  claim 8  wherein the bottom panel of the file pocket is folded such that the file pocket is expandable.  
   
   
       14 . The file portfolio of  claim 8  wherein the front panel, the hinge panel, the bottom panel, the back panel, and the two side panels of the file pocket are formed from a single sheet of material, the front panel joined to the hinge panel along a first fold, the bottom panel joined to the hinge panel along a second fold, the hinge panel being folded such that a third fold forms the front edge of the hinge panel, and the first and second folds are adjacent to one another to form the back edge of the hinge panel.  
   
   
       15 . A file portfolio comprising: 
 a spine having opposing front and back edges;    cover means joined to the spine for closing the portfolio;    file pocket means for holding a plurality of documents, the file pocket means including, 
 hinge means for flexibly joining the file pocket means to the spine along a bottom edge of the file pocket means.  
   
   
   
       16 . The file portfolio of  claim 15  wherein the file pocket means further comprises flap means for closing the file pocket means, and tab means for identifying the file pocket means when the flap means is closed.  
   
   
       17 . The file pocket portfolio of  claim 16  wherein the flap means includes a tongue means and the front panel includes a slot means, the tongue and slot means securing the flap panel to close the file pocket means.  
   
   
       18 . The file portfolio of  claim 15  wherein the file pocket means is expandable.  
   
   
       19 . The file portfolio of  claim 15  wherein the file pocket means expands a first amount adjacent the spine and a larger second amount further from the spine.  
   
   
       20 . The file portfolio of  claim 15  wherein the file pocket means is formed from a single sheet of material.