File stiffener

A file stiffener for stiffening a file of the type having a pair of opposed covers hinged to and spaced apart from one another by a spine, the file stiffener comprising at least one rigidifying spacer element, and mounting means for mounting the spacer element between the opposed covers, the spacer element having substantially the same rectangular dimensions as the file spine so as to hold the covers apart in a rigid parallel configuration and to form a rigid rectangular open-ended cylinder, and including a planar rigidifying flap having a hinged end arranged to be mounted to a free edge of the one file cover, and a flap engagement formation arranged to be mounted to a free edge of the other file cover, and fastening means for fastening a free edge of the rigidifying flap detachably to the flap engagement formation, the fastening means comprising locating and stop means arranged to prevent longitudinal shear movement of the rigidifying flap relative to the other file cover in a direction parallel to the free edge of the rigidifying flap;

• and in which the fastening means includes at least one clip formation extending from the rigidifying flap and a corresponding clip-receiving groove defined in the flap-engaging element with which the clip formation is engageable in a snap fit.

A file stiffener for stiffening a file of the type having a pair of opposed covers hinged to and spaced apart from one another by a spine, the file stiffener comprising at least one rigidifying spacer element, and mounting means for mounting the spacer element between the opposed covers, the spacer element having substantially the same rectangular dimensions as the file spine so as to hold the covers apart in a rigid parallel configuration and to form a rigid rectangular open-ended cylinder, and including a planar rigidifying flap having a hinged end arranged to be mounted to a free edge of the one file cover, and a flap engagement formation arranged to be mounted to a free edge of the other file cover, and fastening means for fastening a free edge of the rigidifying flap detachably to the flap engagement formation, the fastening means comprising locating and stop means arranged to prevent longitudinal shear movement of the rigidifying flap relative to the other file cover in a direction parallel to the free edge of the rigidifying flap;

• and in which the locating and stop means comprises at least one tongue and at least one corresponding tongue-locating groove, with the groove being substantially the same length as the tongue and terminating in webs defining stop formations against which opposed minor ends of the tongue are arranged to abut.

A file according to claim 12 in which the fastening means includes locking means for detachably locking the free edge of the rigidifying flap to the flap engagement formation in a snap fit.

A file comprising first and second planar covers hinged to and spaced apart from one another by a rigid spine, a rigidifying flap hinged to a free edge of the first cover remote from and parallel to the spine, and flap fastening means comprising a flap engagement formation located on an opposed free edge of the second cover and a flap fastening formation located towards a free edge of the rigidifying flap, the flap fastening formation being engageable with the flap engagement formation for fastening the flap detachably to the second cover, so as to form a rigid rectangular open-ended cylinder with the first and second covers being opposed and parallel to one another and the file spine and the flap being opposed and parallel to one another, the flap fastening means further comprising locating and stop means arranged to prevent longitudinal shear movement of the rigidifying flap relative to the second cover in a direction parallel to the free edge of the rigidifying flap;

• and in which the fastening means includes at least one clip formation extending from the rigidifying flap and a corresponding clip-receiving groove defined in the flap-engaging element with which the clip formation is engageable in a snap fit.

A file comprising first and second planar covers hinged to and spaced apart from one another by a rigid spine, a rigidifying flap hinged to a free edge of the first cover remote from and parallel to the spine, and flap fastening means comprising a flap engagement formation located on an opposed free edge of the second cover and a flap fastening formation located towards a free edge of the rigidifying flap, the flap fastenings formation being engageable with the flap engagement formation for fastening the flap detachably to the second cover, so as to form a rigid rectangular open-ended cylinder with the first and second covers being opposed and parallel to one another and the file spine and the flap being opposed and parallel to one another, the flap fastening means further comprising locating and stop means arranged to prevent longitudinal shear movement of the rigidifying flap relative to the second cover in a direction parallel to the free edge of the rigidifying flap;

• and in which the locating and stop means comprises at least one tongue and at least one corresponding tongue-locating groove, with the groove being substantially the same length as the tongue and terminating in webs defining stop formations against which opposed minor ends of the tongue are arranged to abut.