US20070284264A1 - Card carrying case - Google Patents

Abstract

A card carrying case for one or more credit cards consisting of a first member hingedly connected to a second member, each of the first member and the second member having an exterior panel, an interior panel and a dividing panel, the exterior panel and the interior panel being mateably connected to the dividing panel to form a pair of cavity sections, the cavity sections having dimensions to receive at least one credit card. Each of the dividing panels is disposed between and mateably connected to the exterior panel and the interior panel. Each of the exterior panels and the interior panels consisting of an inner surface having a pair of rib portions extending generally therefrom, and wherein each of the dividing panels consisting an upper surface and a lower surface, each of said upper surface and said lower surface having a pair of channel portions extending therefrom. Each of the rib portions formed on the exterior panels and the interior panels register and mateably connect with each of the corresponding channel portions formed on the dividing panels.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to a card carrying case for containing credit cards, identification cards, debit cards, ATM cards. More particularly, the present invention relates to a compact, lightweight case capable of containing and protecting at least two cards from physical damage and demagnetization.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• In recent years, the use of credit cards, smart cards, identification cards, ATM cards and the like (hereinafter referred to as “cards” or “credit cards”) to purchase products or services and to complete financial transactions has increased considerably. This increase in the usage of credit cards is, in part, due to the convenience of completing financial transaction without having to make frequent visits to a financial institution to withdraw cash funds. Also, many individuals are concerned for their personal safety and do not wish to carrying large sums of cash funds in their wallets.
• Conventionally, wallets for men and women have been designed to enable individuals to easily and quickly access their cash and coins. These wallets were often formed with pouches or sleeves for receiving and containing credit cards. Given that credit cards were traditionally used on an infrequent basis, the sleeves and pouches were positioned in a less accessible portion of the wallet. The increased reliance upon credit cards to complete purchases and financial transaction necessitates a wallet design that enables the frequent removal and insertion of the cards from the wallet. As presently designed, the traditional wallet is not conveniently designed from a modern individual who may require frequent access to their credit cards instead of their cash.
• Furthermore, many traditional wallets, particular those used by women, often include metallic clasps which may damage the surface of the credit card, or demagnetize the information encoded in the magnetic strip along the card. Moreover, many wallets are designed to carry metallic coins in close proximity to the credit card pouches or sleeves. Both of these configurations can cause damage to the credit cards within the wallet, and may result in the cards being rendered unusable.
• In view of the inconvenient design of traditional wallets, many individuals opt to carry their credit cards loosely in their pocket. Carrying the cards in this fashion may also result in the credit cards being damaged or lost, and may inconvenience the individual when trying to use a particular card or a combination of cards.
• Several attempts have been made to manufacture a card carrying case that is adapted to be inserted into the pouch or sleeve portion of a traditional wallet to permit quicker access to the cards. Due to the limited space available for such cases in traditional wallets, individuals must often continue to excess cards loosely in their pocket. Moreover, existing carrying cases are also costly to manufacture, lack the capacity to hold a sufficient number of cards required by individuals on a day-to-day basis, and are unable to adequately prevent damage to the cards contained therein.
• Accordingly, there is a need for the present invention relates to a compact, lightweight case capable of removably containing and protecting at least two cards from physical damage and demagnetization.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In a first aspect, the invention is directed to a card carrying case for one or more credit cards. The card carrying case includes a first member hingedly connected to a second member, each of the first member and the second member having an exterior panel, an interior panel and a dividing panel. The exterior panel and the interior panel being mateably connected to the dividing panel to form a pair of cavity sections. The cavity sections have dimensions to receive at least one credit card. Each of the dividing panels is disposed between and mateably connected to the exterior panel and the interior panel.
• Each of the exterior panels and the interior panels include an inner surface having a pair of rib portions extending generally therefrom. Each of the dividing panels includes an upper surface and a lower surface formed with a pair of channel portions extending therefrom. Each of the rib portions formed on the exterior panels and the interior panels register and mateably connect with each of the corresponding channel portions formed on the dividing panel. The shape of each of the channel portions corresponds to the shape of each of the rib portions. Each of the channel portions is dimensioned to extend a pre-determined distance outwardly from the upper surface and the lower surface of the dividing panel to maintain sufficient space within the cavity sections.
• In a second aspect, the invention is directed to a card carrying case for one or more credit cards. Each of the exterior panels and the interior panels have an inner surface, and wherein each of the dividing panels have an upper surface and an upper surface. Each of the upper surfaces and the lower surfaces have a pair of ledge portions extending therefrom. At least a portion of each of the inner surface of the exterior panels and the interior panels register and mateably connect with each of the corresponding ledge portions on the dividing panels. The shape of each of the ledge portions corresponds to the shape of at least a portion of the exterior panels and the interior panels.
• The dividing panels in the first and second aspects of the invention may be mateably connected to the exterior panel and the interior panel by friction fit, sonic welding or by solvent. The first and second members are hingedly connected together about a hinge. A cooperating gap means may be provided to maintain sufficient space within the cavity sections to receive the one or more credit cards. The cooperating gap means may further include a stop means and a limiting means, wherein the stop means being provided on the inner surface of the exterior panel, and wherein the limiting means being provided on each of the upper surface and the lower surface of the dividing panel. The stop means is adapted to engage with the limiting means to maintain sufficient space within the cavity sections to facilitate the insertion and removal of the one or more credit cards. A loop means for receiving a key chain for carrying the card carrying case may also be provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
• FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a card carrying case made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is front perspective view of an exterior panel of the card carrying case ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a second member of the card carrying case ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a first member of the card carrying case ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the interior panels of the card carrying case ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 6 is a side, sectional view of the interior panels of the card carrying case ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the card carrying case along the section A-A inFIG. 6;
• FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the card carrying case along the section B-B inFIG. 6;
• FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the rib portions of the exterior and interior panels and the channel portions of the dividing panel in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the exterior and interior panels mateably connected with the dividing panel in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the exterior and interior panels and the ledge portions of the dividing panels in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 12 is a cross-section view of the exterior and interior panels matably connected with the dividing panel in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of the card carrying case having an optional loop means;
• FIG. 14 is a side perspective view of the optional loop means ofFIG. 13;
• FIG. 15 is a sectional side view of the open top edge of the card carrying case along section C inFIG. 6;
• FIG. 16 is a sectional side view of the open top edge of the card carrying case along section c inFIG. 6;
• FIG. 17 is a sectional side view of the stop means of the optional cooperating gap means;
• FIG. 18 is a sectional top view of the limiting means of the optional cooperating gap means;
• FIG. 19 is a side perspective view of the stop means of the optional cooperating gap means ofFIG. 17; and
• FIG. 20 is a side perspective view of the limiting means of the optional cooperating gap means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Reference is made toFIGS. 1-10 which illustrate acard carrying case10 made in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Thecard carrying case10 is adapted to protect at least twocredit cards12 from being scratched, marred, demagnetized or otherwise damaged when being contained therein. The term credit cards is used generically to describe credit cards, debit cards, ATM cards, identification cards, security cards, or any other like-sized cards which may be commonly carried together by an individual. The card carrying case may be manufactured from any suitable material such as, for example, plastic, leather or metal.
• Referring toFIGS. 1-5, thecard carrying case10 comprises of afirst member14 and a generally identicalsecond member16 which are pivotally connected about ahinge18. Thehinge18 may be any suitable metallic or plastic piano-type hinge. Any other means known in the art may be employed to pivotally, permanently or removably connect themembers14 and16 together. The dimensions of the first andsecond members14 and16, and thecard carrying case10 generally, are designed to be at least greater than the dimensions of a standard credit card or identification card. Moreover, thecard carrying case10 is sized to be conveniently and comfortably received within the hand of a user when inserting and removing thecredit cards12.
• Reference is made toFIGS. 6-8 which illustrate the first andsecond members14 and16 in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Thefirst member14 is generally rectangular in shape and consists of a generally opentop edge20, aclosed bottom edge22 and a pair of opposite closed side edges24 and26. Similarly, the second member also has a generally rectangular shape and consists of a generally opentop edge120, a closedbottom edge122 and a pair of opposite closed side edges124 and126. Thehinge18 is provided along the side edges24 and124 of the first andsecond members14 and16, respectively.
• Each of the first andsecond members14 and16 are comprised of anexterior panel26,126, aninterior panel28,128, and a dividingpanel30,130, that is disposed between theexterior panels26,126 and theinterior panel28,128. As will be discussed in greater detail, the exterior andinterior panels24 and28 of thefirst member14 are adapted to be mateably connected to the dividingpanel30 to form a pair ofcard cavity sections32. Similarly, theexterior panels126 and128 of thesecond member16 are mateably connected to the dividingpanel130 to form a further pair of card cavity sections132. Each of thecard cavity sections32 and132 are dimensioned to receive at least one standard sized credit card or identification card therein.
• As shown inFIGS. 2 and 4, aviewing window34 may be provided through one or both of theexterior panels26,126 to enable the user to visually identify the type and position of thecredit cards12 within thecard carrying case10. It should be understood that theviewing window34 may also be adapted to enable the user to remove thecredit card12 from the carryingcard case10 by applying finger pressure to the exposed portion of thecard12 within theviewing window34 and sliding thecard12 out through the generally opentop edge20,120 of thecard carrying case10.
• Referring toFIGS. 2,5 and6, acentral opening36 may be provided through one or both of theinterior panels28,128 of the first andsecond members14 and16. Thecentral opening36 is adapted to enable the user to easily and quickly display their photo identification card, for example, without having to remove thecard12 from thecard carrying case10. Thecentral opening36 is dimensioned to permit a sufficient portion of thecard12 contained within thecard carrying case10 to be displayed, such as, for example, the serial number and photograph portion of a typical driver's license.
• Reference is made toFIGS. 7-10 which illustrate the mateable connection between the correspondingexterior panels26,126, theinterior panel28,128 and the dividingpanels30,130 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIGS. 8, each of theexterior panels26,126 and theinterior panels28,128 are formed with a generally flat inner surface38,138 having a rib portion40,140 extending therefrom. The rib portions40,140 projects from the inner surfaces38,138 and extends generally along theclosed edges24,124 and side edges26,126 of each of the first andsecond members14 and16.
• The dividingpanels30,130 are formed with an upper surface42,142 and a lower surface44,144. Each of the upper and lower surfaces42,142,44 and144, respectively, is formed with a pair of channel portions46 and146 which extend generally along theclosed edges24,124 and side edges26,126 of each of the first andsecond members14 and16. As best shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the channel portions46 and146 are designed to project a predetermined distance48,148 outwardly from the upper and lower surfaces42,142,44 and144, respectively, of the dividingpanels30,130 to maintain sufficient space within thecard cavity sections32,132 to receive the desired number ofcredit cards12. The shape of the channel portions46 and146 corresponds to the shape of the rib portions40,140 formed on the exterior andinterior panels26,126,28 and128, respectively. Preferably, the shape of each channel portion46 and146 is generally rectilinear.
• Referring toFIGS. 9 and 10, thefirst member14 is formed by mating the exterior andinterior panels26 and28 to the dividingpanel30 so that the rib portions40 registers within the channel portions46 on the dividingpanel30. Thesecond member16 is similarly formed by mating the exterior andinterior panels126 and128 to the dividingpanel130 so that the rib portions140 register with the channel portions146 on the dividingpanel130. Once the first andsecond members14 and16 have been assembled, each of the mateable connections between theexterior panels26 and126, theinterior panels28 and126, and the dividingpanels30 and130 can be connected together by friction fit or bonding in a permanent manner using any suitable solvent. Sonic welding may be utilized to permanent bond the exterior, interior and dividing panels together. It should be understood that the panels may be mateable connected using any suitable method as is known by persons skilled in the art.
• Reference is made toFIGS. 11 and 12 which illustrate the mateable connection between the correspondingexterior panels26,126, theinterior panel28,128 and the dividingpanels30,130 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. To improve the durability and strength of thecard carrying case10, each of the upper and lower surfaces42,142,44 and144, respectively, of the dividingpanels30,130 may be formed with a pair of ledge portions50,150 which extend generally along the closedbottom edges22,122 and side edges24,124 of each of the first andsecond members14 and16. The ledge portions50 and150 present a larger contact surface51 and151 to increase the mateable connection between the dividingpanels30,130 and each of the exterior andinterior panels26,126,28 and128, respectively. By this design, the inner surfaces38,138 of each of the exterior andinterior panels26,126,28 and128 are bonded directly to the ledge portions50,150 of the dividingpanels30,130.
• In a further embodiment of the present invention shown inFIGS. 13 and 14, a loop means52 may be provided along one or more of the side edges24,124 to facilitate the use of thecard carrying case10. By this design, the user may secure thecard carrying case10 to their key chain or necklace to minimize the likelihood of thecard carrying case10 being stolen or misplaced. It should be understood that thecard carrying case10 may also include a latch means54 (not shown) to releaseably secure thecase10 in a closed position when desired. Any suitable latch means54 may be utilized as is known by persons skilled in the art, including, but not limited to, clasps or spring-biased latches.
• In a further embodiment of the present invention shown inFIGS. 15 and 16, theexterior panels26,126, theinterior panels28,128 and the dividingpanels30,130 may be formed with taperedside walls56,156 adjacent to the opentop edge20,120 to facilitate the insertion and removal of the one ormore credit cards12 in thecavity sections32,132. As best shown inFIGS. 15 and 16, the taperedside walls56,156 are angled outwardly to create a wider opentop edge20,120.
• As shown inFIGS. 16 and 17, the dividingpanel30,130 of the first andsecond members14 and16 may be designed to extend slightly beyond theexterior panels26,126 and theinterior panels28,128 adjacent to the opentop edge20,120 to facilitate and guide the one ormore credit cards12 into thecavity sections32,132 of the first andsecond members14 and16, respectively.
• In a further embodiment of the present invention shown inFIGS. 17,18,19 and20, thecard carrying case10 may be provided with a cooperating gap means58,158 which is adapted to maintain each of thecard cavity sections32,132 of the first andsecond members14 and16 in a substantially open condition. The cooperating gap means58,158 comprises a stop means60,160 provided on the inner surface38,138 of theexterior panels26,126 adjacent to theopen edge22,122 of the first andsecond members14 and16. The stop means60,160 is adapted to engage with a limitingmeans62,162 provided on the dividingpanel30,130 in the event that the exterior and/orinterior panels26,126 and28,128, respectively, of thecard carrying case10 are pinched or collapsed inwardly towards the dividingpanel30,130. By this design, the cooperating gap means58,158 will prevent thecredit cards10 contained within thecard carrying case10 from being damaged when the case is subjected to loading conditions.
• The stop means60,160 may also be adapted to provide the user with an audible and/or tactile indication that acard12 has been removed or inserted into thecard carrying case10. This type of indication would be expected when thecard carrying case10 is utilized withcredit cards12 having either raised or embossed information on the surface of thecards12, such as the cardholder's name or account number. The audible and/or tactile indication is generated by the raised or embossed portions coming into contact with the stop means60,160 as thecredit cards12 are being removed or inserted into the case.
• While what has been shown and described herein constitutes a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, it should be understood that various modifications and adaptions of such embodiment can be made without departing from the present invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

Claims (16)

1. A card carrying case for one or more credit cards, comprising:

a first member hingedly connected to a second member, each of said first member and said second member having an exterior panel, an interior panel and a dividing panel, said exterior panel and said interior panel being mateably connected to said dividing panel to form a pair of cavity sections, said cavity sections having dimensions to receive at least one credit card.

2. A card carrying case according toclaim 1, wherein each of said dividing panels is disposed between and mateably connected to said exterior panel and said interior panel.

3. A card carrying case according toclaim 1, wherein each of said exterior panels and said interior panels comprising an inner surface having a pair of rib portions extending generally therefrom, and wherein each of said dividing panels comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, each of said upper surface and said lower surface having a pair of channel portions extending therefrom.

4. A card carrying case according toclaim 3, wherein each of said rib portions formed on said exterior panels and said interior panels register and mateably connect with each of the corresponding said channel portion formed on said dividing panels.

5. A card carrying case according toclaim 3, wherein the shape of each of said channel portions corresponding to the shape of each of said rib portions.

6. A card carrying case according toclaim 3, wherein each of said channel portions are dimensioned to extend a pre-determined distance outwardly from said upper surface and said lower surface of said dividing panel to maintain sufficient space within said cavity sections.

7. A card carrying case according toclaim 1, wherein each of said exterior panels and said interior panels having an inner surface, and wherein each of said dividing panels comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, each of said upper surface and said lower surface having a pair of ledge portions extending therefrom.

8. A card carrying case according toclaim 7, wherein at least a portion of each of said inner surface of said exterior panels and said interior panels registers and mateably connects with each of the corresponding said ledge portions on the said dividing panels.

9. A card carrying case according toclaim 8, wherein the shape of each of said ledge portions corresponding to the shape of at least a portion of said exterior panels and said interior panels.

10. A card carrying case according toclaim 2, wherein said dividing panels are mateably connected to said exterior panel and said interior panel by friction fit.

11. A card carrying case according toclaim 2, wherein said dividing panels are mateably connected to said exterior panel and said interior panel by sonic welding.

12. A card carrying case according toclaim 2, wherein said dividing panels are mateably connected to said exterior panel and said interior panel by a solvent.

13. A card carrying case according toclaim 1, wherein said first member and said second member are hingedly connected together about a hinge.

14. A card carrying case according toclaim 1, further comprising a cooperating gap means to maintain sufficient space within said cavity sections to receive said at least one credit card.

15. A card carrying case according toclaim 14, said cooperating gap means further comprising a stop means and a limiting means, wherein said stop means being provided on said inner surface of said exterior panel, and wherein said limiting means being provided on each of said upper surface and said lower surface of said dividing panel, whereby said stop means being adapted to engage with said limiting means to maintain sufficient space within said cavity sections to facilitate the insertion and removal of said one or more credit cards.

16. A card carrying case according toclaim 1, further comprising a loop means for receiving a key chain for carrying the card carrying case.

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