U.S. patent application number 10/437703 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-20 for easy access credit card holder.
Invention is credited to Nagel, Richard R..
Application Number | 20050011776 10/437703 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34061830 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050011776 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nagel, Richard R. |
January 20, 2005 |
Easy access credit card holder
Abstract
A card case which will make credit card selection easy while
providing for neat card storage and reducing the likelihood of
dropping cards on the floor or onto a counter top.
Inventors: |
Nagel, Richard R.; (Lombard,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RICHARD R. NAGEL
15750 VISTA
LOMBARD
IL
60148
US
|
Family ID: |
34061830 |
Appl. No.: |
10/437703 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/39 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 11/182
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/039 |
International
Class: |
A45C 011/18 |
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A fold over card case comprising: a. a folded over case having
two opposing openings therethrough and a post which is inserted
through said openings b. a case cover may be made of leather,
plastic, heavy cloth or such other materials, which when folded,
will be stiff enough to hold the basic shape of the case while
remaining resilient enough to be comfortable in a persons pant or
shirt pocket
2. A notch in any card, photo, or sample designed to hold items
such as the following in a case as described in claim 1: a. Such
articles as a credit card, a paint swatch, a building siding
sample, a carpeting sample, a photograph, a wallpaper sample, a
clear plastic sleeve into which any of the foregoing items could be
inserted, All such items having a notch in one edge which is
constructed in such a manner that the notch, which when one of the
aforementioned objects is inserted into any of the afore mentioned
cases, said notch will embrace the post in said case in such manner
as to hold the object firmly enough to prevent its falling out of
said case unless intentionally pulled off the post by the user b. A
notch in the approximate shape of a key hole is believed to be the
best notch configuration for the applications tested although it is
recognized that other shapes may be better for certain
applications, such determination to be made for future applications
as they come into being.
3. A punch to cut the notch in such items as credit cards,
photographs, identification cards, drivers licences, and Social
Security cards and other items as described in claim 1. A hand
punch similar in design to those used by train conductors to punch
railroad tickets will be suitable with some modification
comprising: a--The cutting die will be in the shape of a key hole
b--The handle grips should be lengthened to give increased leverage
to the user.
4. A punch press with a key hole shaped punching die will enable
more rapid and less physically tiring work than a hand punch
5. Keyhole shaped posts can be utilized in the basic manufacturing
of the credit card itself so that no additional labor would then be
required to create a card with the key hole molded into it at the
factory
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a simple method of keeping such
varied items as credit cards, identification cards, drivers
licences, membership cards and many other cards plus such items as
photographs, paint color samples, and paper samples, among a
potential multitude of other items, in a neat package easily
carried in a pants pocket, an ordinary shirt or blouse pocket, a
purse or similar carrying device. Using this device permits a
person to carry a large number of cards in a case from which any
individual card can be easily extracted without removing the entire
contents of the case, and at the same time the remaining cards are
firmly held within the case and will not fall out onto the floor or
on to a counter top. After a card is withdrawn and used, it is a
simple matter to reinsert that card into the case with little
effort.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] About three years ago I entered a hospital for a series of
tests and a subsequent brain tumor removal. At the admitting desk I
was required to furnish at least the following cards--Social
Security, Medicare, Supplemental Insurance Card, Drivers License, a
previously issued Hospital ID card and several more items which
have slipped my memory. About the only thing they did not ask for
was a copy of my Army Discharge Papers! In the process of finding
all this material it was necessary to empty my wallet, a separate
case for my drivers license and insurance cards and one or two
other things that were carried loosely in my pockets. Getting out
what was required resulted in a large pile of documents on the
admitting desk and inverted pockets around the periphery of my
body. It took considerable time to reallocate all the cards to
their usual resting place. The experience was so annoying that my
search for a simple solution to the problem began shortly after my
recovery from surgery.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
[0003] A patent search found many patents issued for carrying cards
and similar items. Among the items found were wallets, purses,
business card cases, photograph albums, swatch books for various
products such as paint color chips, building siding samples,
roofing samples, carpeting samples and many other items which could
be easily displayed using the principle or this proposed credit
card holder. That search resulted in only one item that remotely
resembles the subject of this patent application and that item is
the ROLODEX card filing system. A Rolodex does have the ability to
insert or remove a card which has properly spaced and properly
designed holes in one edge, but it would hardly be appropriate for
carrying in a persons pocket. Most credit card cases are simple
fold over items directly related to business card cases where the
user must remove a group of cards from the case, thumb through them
to find the correct card, use it, and then stuff the utilized card
back into the case. A second current method of carrying credit
cards is in a compartment of an ordinary wallet or an ordinary
purse. The same problem persists, namely sorting through a stack of
cards possibly located in several different wallets or trouser
pockets, and trying to find the correct card. A third common method
of carrying credit cards is in a wallet or folder which contains a
long plastic sleeve divided into individual pouches which fold up
somewhat like an accordion, each pouch holding a separate card. We
have all witnessed some of our brethren dangling a long receptacle
of this type, struggling to find the correct card and upon occasion
depositing more than one card on the counter top or even on the
floor and then collecting the debris and trying to reinsert it into
appropriate pouches.
[0004] It is apparent to most users of credit cards that a need
exists for making the storage and selection of such items easier
than what we have in the present state of affairs. Examination of
the cited patents makes it obvious that none of them offer the
simplicity and neatness of storage and retrieval of cards that this
patent application offers.
[0005] The following patent numbers constitute a range of
significant prior art:
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,698--of Oct. 6, 1987--Holdener
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,926--of Aug. 13, 1991--van der Toorn
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,253--of Apr. 4, 1989--Harmatuik
[0009] D312,532--of Jul. 20, 1987--Prey; Kuno
[0010] D376,257--of Dec. 10, 96--Broussalian
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,419of Dec. 6, 1994--Takayama
[0012] These inventions are typical of a very large body of card
holding prior art that in their use would be even more aggravating
than stuffing all of ones cards into a wallet pocket or securing a
group of cards with a rubber band. The ideas are workable but
decidedly awkward and inconvenient.
[0013] Among the multitude of patents for an item suitable for
carrying credit cards these are merely representative of a large
mass of patents in this particular field. I do not list more since
I am sure that the field will be examined by your office in great
detail and perhaps with greater incite than I possess.
[0014] There is one new item now being introduced to the market
place and that is a credit card being offered by the issuers of the
DISCOVERY credit card. Some of the characteristics of this card are
as follows:
[0015] 1. This new card is somewhat oval in shape.
[0016] 2. The card is a bit smaller that the common credit cards
now in use.
[0017] 3. The card has a hole in one edge of the card.
[0018] 4. The card is also encased in what appears to be a plastic
case which conforms closely to the shape of the card itself.
[0019] 5. A key chain is, or can be threaded through the edge of
this case.
[0020] 6. The issuers pitch for the card is that a user will no
longer have to search through his or her wallet, purse or other
carrying device to locate the credit card.
[0021] 7. It is suggested by the issuer that this configuration
will make it easier to locate the card in ones pocket or purse.
True, if you have only one card. If you have many cards you would
have a pocket full of key chains to sort out in order to find the
one you need!
[0022] 8. The hard plastic case also has a metal clip attached to
it for use in attaching the case to ones belt or necklace or
something of that nature. A mental picture of a user carrying ten
or twelve such cases on his or her belt once more indicates that
the `Discover` configuration of a credit card holder would be quite
inconvenient for anyone carrying more than one or two credit cards
plus insurance cards plus a drivers license
[0023] If I were to have such a device for each card I carry you
would hear the jangle of a dozen hard plastic cases in my pocket
with every step I took!In addition this design does not appear to
permit the use of the card in an ATM machine. Such ATM use is
workable with the device described in this patent application.
Those statements are also true of "Pay at the Pump" gas station
usage.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0024] Combining and modifying certain features of present practice
into a new concept can aid materially in the ability to carry the
multiplicity of cards that most of us find essential in this modern
world and to carry those cards in an organized, neat, easily
retrievable manner.
[0025] Present practice often utilizes a case the approximate size
of a credit card. This practice will also be utilized by this
invention. A particular addition to the present practice is to
allow the cards in the card case to be examined quickly by merely
fanning them out. With the proposed configuration this fanning can
be accomplished without the danger of spilling the cards out of the
case onto the floor or counter top because the cards are securely
held in the case by a post as shown in the drawings. Once the cards
are fanned out the user can select the desired card, pull it off
the post that holds it in the case, utilize the card and then
replace the card in the case by snapping it back onto the post.
[0026] Existing cards will have to be modified before they will fit
into the newly designed card case. That modification will be a key
hole shaped notch cut into the edge of a presently configured
credit card issued as shown in the drawings. This notching can be
accomplished in several ways-
[0027] One way would be to design a hand punch similar to a punch
used by conductors on a train to punch tickets. Instead of a plain
hole or a star or some other configuration, the cutting die would
be in the proper sized configuration of a key hole. A base must be
designed to hold each credit card in exactly the same position when
the key holes are punched. Otherwise the location of the key hole
would vary from card to card and the contents of the case would be
uneven. Such a punch could be utilized by individuals to modify
their existing cards. In making a prototype of this case I utilized
a hand punch similar to the punches used by train conductors to
punch train tickets. It took a good deal of effort to do this but a
slight redesign of the punch, namely making the handles a bit
longer to increase the leverage will alleviate that problem. The
use of a standard punch also made only a round hole in the cards.
It was necessary to cut a channel from the edge of the card into
the punched hole, such channel being slightly smaller at its point
of entry into the punched hole than the diameter of the hole
itself. This is necessary to allow the card to snap onto and off of
the post in the case and not allow it to be put or taken off the
post without a slight bit of pressure being exerted by the
user.
[0028] A second method would be to design a sturdier device with
heavier hardware to be utilized by issuers of credit cards should
they elect to supply the card case of this patent to their
customers for a small fee, as perhaps a promotional venture. As
part of the card issuer procedure they would punch the customers
cards at their place of business as part of their promotional
effort. Such a device could be similar to punches currently used to
punch two holes near the top of a form to allow such a form to be
held in place in a file folder or to punch three holes in papers to
be inserted into a three ring binder.
[0029] Issuers of new credit cards could have the cards produced by
the card manufacturer with the key hole notch molded into the
corner of the card during the regular card production process. This
would not be difficult nor would it be costly, at least in the
opinion of a manufacturer of credit cards who currently makes some
credit cards with a tab hinged to one end of the base card, said
tab having a hole molded into it, said hole being there to
accommodate a key ring. Large issuers of credit cards might go in
this direction, first in an effort to increase their client base by
using some tie in of a convenient card case with an initial signing
of by a new customer or with a renewal of presently held cards. A
further modification could be the cutting of a right angle notch in
the card rather than a key hole shaped notch. Such an arrangement
may work as well as the keyhole notch but the better of the two
systems will be determined by practice and experience. Basically a
large number of notch configurations may be developed which are
workable.
[0030] The foregoing 2 pages give a brief idea of the preferred
embodiment of this invention. There are however several different
uses requiring different configurations of parts of the invention,
among them are the following-
[0031] 1. Photograph albums varying in size from those as small as
a credit card to 8.times.10 inches or even larger. In such a use,
the photos could be laminated and then punched to form a notch or
pre-notched clear sleeves could be made, into which, the photos
could be inserted. Once again merely fanning out the contents of
the album would enable a person to select one or more photos of
particular interest and extract them from the album for more
convenient viewing. Such a usage would probably increase the life
of the photos because they would be protected by either lamination
or by plastic sleeves.
[0032] 2. Paint color chips could be fit into an appropriate sized
cover and utilized to actually place sample color swatches on a
given surface to give a better feeling for what the finished job
may look like.
[0033] 3. Actual samples of vinyl siding or of roofing shingles
could be snapped in and out of a cover similar to the cases and/or
albums previously discussed and would also enable a potential user
to get a better idea of what the finished job might look like than
if that user picked out a color from a display of materials at a
contractors place of business.
[0034] 4. A strap of material made of plastic or in some uses even
made of sturdy types of cloth can be used in place of a case which
covers the entire contents. This embodiment would not protect the
cards, photos or samples as well as a case covering the entire
contents being held by the post but for some applications it might
be quite suitable.
[0035] 5. A post with no cover and no strap could be effective for
certain applications where protection of the displayed product is
of no consequence.
[0036] There can be variations in design based upon different uses
but the basic concept of the product being held in place by a post
and the product having a notch in it to enable that product to be
snapped on and off the retaining post are the common elements which
makes this application unique and patentable.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
[0037] Several objects and advantages of this invention are:
[0038] a. To allow a multiplicity of cards to be carried in a small
case.
[0039] b. To make it more convenient to extract and reinsert cards
from and into said case than is true of present practices.
[0040] c. To allow a user to carry 9 or 10 cards in a case the
approximate length and width of a credit card and a thickness of
approximately 1/2 inch. Should a user requirement be that he or she
carry 15 cards , a case 3/4 inches thick will accommodate that many
cards. Should a person have to carry 20 cards, a case 1 inch thick
will hold that quantity. Even a case 1 inch thick is small enough
to be carried in the shirt pocket of an ordinary dress shirt.
[0041] d. To provide a case that does not permit any card to
accidentally fall out if inserted properly.
[0042] e. To allow the contents of the case to be scrutinized for
proper card selection without removing any of the cards reviewed
except the card required.
[0043] f. To be able to allow presently issued cards to be modified
to fit the case.
[0044] g. To be able to supply future cards in a configuration
which does not require modification.
[0045] h. To provide a configuration where the use of a card in an
ATM machine is workable even though the card itself is physically
modified.
[0046] i. To provide a configuration where the card can be used for
"Pay at the Pump" services.
[0047] j. To provide means for constructing photograph albums of
various sizes utilizing the same basic concept as that utilized for
credit cards and I.D. cards.
[0048] k. To provide means for constructing swatch books for
various products utilizing the same basic principle as that
utilized for credit cards and I.D. cards.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0049] Figure Number and View
[0050] FIG. 1. Top View of credit card case showing contents of
case fanned out.
[0051] FIG. 2. View a--Typical credit card case shown in flat open
position.
[0052] FIG. 2. View b--Top view of typical credit card case
closed.
[0053] FIG. 3. Partially open, empty credit card case illustrating
how a card holding post would be assembled into the credit card
case.
[0054] FIG. 4. View a--End view of assembled credit card case
empty.
[0055] FIG. 4. View b--End view of assembled credit card case
filled with cards.
[0056] FIG. 5. View a--Typical credit card--reverse side showing
position of a magnetic strip in relation to a notch in the edge of
the card.
[0057] FIG. 5. View b--Typical credit card--front side showing
approximate position of the notch in the edge of the card.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0058] FIG. 1. Credit Card Case Showing Cards Fanned
Out.backslash.
[0059] 1 Credit Card Case
[0060] 2 Post To Hold Cards In Place
[0061] 3 Cards In Fanned Out Position
[0062] FIG. 2. Credit Card Case
[0063] View A--Case Cover Laid Out Flat
[0064] 1A Credit Card Case Laid Flat
[0065] 4 Holes In Cover To Accommodate Post Part 2
[0066] View B Closed Credit Card Case
[0067] 1 Credit Card Case--Closed--Top View
[0068] 4 Hole In Cover To Accommodate Post 2
[0069] FIG. 3--Credit Card Cover Partially Open
[0070] 1C Partially Open Credit Card Cover
[0071] 2A Male Portion Of Post 2
[0072] 2B Female Portion Of Post 2
[0073] 4 Holes to accommodate Post 2
[0074] FIG. 4--Credit Card Holder--Empty
[0075] View A--Closed, Empty Credit Card Cover
[0076] 1B End View Of Closed, Empty Credit Card Cover
[0077] 2 Post
[0078] 2A Male Portion Of Post 2
[0079] 2B Female Portion Of Post 2
[0080] View B--Closed, Full Credit Card Cover
[0081] 1B End view of Closed, Full Credit Card Cover
[0082] 2 Post
[0083] 3a End View Of a Stack Of Credit Cards Being Held In Place
By Post 2
[0084] FIG. 5. Single Credit Cards
[0085] View A--Back Of A Typical Credit Card
[0086] 3B Back Of Credit Card Showing Location Of Magnetic
Strip
[0087] 5 Notch in Card Edge To Accommodate Post 2
[0088] View B--Front Of Typical Credit Card
[0089] 3C Front Of Credit Card
[0090] 5 Notch In Edge Of Card To Accommodate Post 2
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0091] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
ways, there is shown in the drawings and will be described here in
detail rhe preferred embodiment with the understanding that the
present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the
principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad
aspects of the invention to the embodiment illustrated.
[0092] FIG. 1 shows the general outward appearance of what the
preferred embodiment would look like. Most embodiments could well
be similar in outward appearance, although a considerable range of
sizes can be utilized for certain uses such as:
[0093] Photograph Albums
[0094] Roofing Samples
[0095] Carpeting Samples
[0096] Paint Samples
[0097] Business Card Cases
[0098] (Other than cases for carrying ones own business cards)
[0099] The configuration of the post or the notch may also be
modifies to allow for differing uses but it will become apparent
that most of these changes will be mere modifications of the
concept out lined in this application.
[0100] Certain changes would be obvious were one to utilize this
basic idea to disply carpeting samples, for example.
[0101] Many carpeting outlets have samples of carpeting about
24.times.32 inches in size which they stack together in about a
four inch thick display case. The individual pieces of carpet have
holes near their upper edge. These holes are fit over posts in a
carrying display case somewhat like a briefcase in size, but having
no front panel. The case has a carrying handle along the top edge.
A sales person can take such a case with him or her to show
potential customers what the varioius samples might look like in
their home or place of business, To adequately display these
samples and lay them flat on a client's floor necessitates opening
the case at the top, removing as many samples as necessary to get
the desired piece and the to repeat the process again when
returning the sample to its carrying case. A modification of the
idea proposed in this application could easily solve this
problem.
[0102] It would be a simple thing to do to cut or punch an inverted
"J" shaped notch near the top of each carpet sample then instead of
removing a bunch of samples to select the one your customer wishes
to view you merely lift the particular sample off its inverted `J`
hook, place it on the floor and replace it when done by simply
hooking it back into its correct place in the carrying case. This
same type of reasoning would solve similar problems with paint
samples, siding samples and many other applications yet to be
thought of.
[0103] A quite different use would also apply to business cards.
Not necessarily ones own cards but cards of customers, family
members, emergency cards and other often needed addresses or phone
numbers where it is not convenient to use a phone book or the
internet!
EXAMPLE
[0104] Use a case similar to the proposed credit card case but
merely drill a hole in the cards you want to carry and slip those
cards over a post similar to the post proposed in this application.
You wont wear them out, but they will always be easily available if
you need them.
[0105] The possible applications may be very large.
Conclusions and Ramifications
[0106] Examination of prior art shows a multitude of patents issued
in this field. None of them provide the compact, neat, easily
utilizable method and hardware that this application offers.
[0107] Will this device make it easy to select a needed
card?--YES!
[0108] Will this device keep one from dropping a hand full of loose
cards on the floor?--Yes
[0109] Will this device allow one to select a needed card without
having to look thorough every card in ones purse, wallet or
pocket?--YES
[0110] Is this device cumbersome or difficult to use?--No
[0111] Can this basic principle be utilized in a variety of
ways?--Yes
[0112] Is the device simple and economical to produce?--Yes
[0113] Applicant believes that this simple concept is much superior
to wallets, rubber bands, paper clips, plastic sleeve accordion
like devices or anything else he has been ab le to find.
[0114] It is Cheap. It works. It is easy to use. It helps prevent
aggravation.
* * * * *