U.S. patent application number 12/405194 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-16 for storage card case and kit.
This patent application is currently assigned to PIONEER PHOTO ALBUMS, INC.. Invention is credited to Tiffany BOXER, Sheldon PLUTSKY, Todd PLUTSKY.
Application Number | 20100230304 12/405194 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42729819 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100230304 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PLUTSKY; Sheldon ; et
al. |
September 16, 2010 |
STORAGE CARD CASE AND KIT
Abstract
A case for organizing and storing media cards having individual
compartments which fit media such as, but not limited to, SD cards,
memory sticks pro duo, XD memory cards, compact flash cards, memory
sticks, mini SD cards, micro SD cards or any other portable media
card or device that is developed in the future comprises a
plurality of compartments having individual closeable doors to
securely lock a single media card or device into the compartment.
The door of each case further comprises an area thereon onto which
information can be written to identify the contents. In addition,
the cases further comprise means for stacking multiple cases onto
each other. A kit containing at least one case and removable
identification devices which can be placed directly onto the media
cards and/or mini envelopes into which the media devices can be
placed onto which the contents of each media card can be
written.
Inventors: |
PLUTSKY; Sheldon;
(Chatsworth, CA) ; PLUTSKY; Todd; (Chatsworth,
CA) ; BOXER; Tiffany; (Chatsworth, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JEFFER, MANGELS, BUTLER & MARMARO, LLP
1900 AVENUE OF THE STARS, 7TH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90067
US
|
Assignee: |
PIONEER PHOTO ALBUMS, INC.
Chatsworth
CA
|
Family ID: |
42729819 |
Appl. No.: |
12/405194 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/307 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 2200/05 20130101;
A45C 11/18 20130101; A45C 2011/188 20130101; A45C 13/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/307 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A storage card case comprising: at least first and second
individual compartments, wherein each compartment can fit a media
device, first and second closeable doors to securely lock the media
device in the first and second compartments, wherein the first and
second doors include a date area and a memo area thereon onto which
identifying information can be placed to identify the media device
in the respective compartment, a central member disposed between
the first and second compartments, wherein the first and second
closeable doors are hingedly connected to the central member such
that they are opposed to one another, a plurality of writable
devices having a top and a bottom, wherein the writable devices
include adhesive on the bottom thereof such that they can be
adhered directly to the media device enclosed in each compartment,
wherein the first and second compartments contain first and second
media devices respectively therein, wherein the first media device
has a first writable device adhered thereto that includes
identifying information about the first media device, wherein the
second media device has a second writable device adhered thereto
that includes identifying information about the second media
device, wherein the identifying information about the first media
device is different than the identifying information about the
second media device, wherein the memo area of the first door
includes identifying information thereon, and wherein the
identifying information on the memo area of the first door is
similar to the identifying information on the first writable
device.
2. The storage card case of claim 1, wherein the date area and the
memo area on each of the doors include an area therebetween that is
transparent.
3. The storage card case of claim 1, further comprising means for
nesting, wherein when multiple storage card cases are stacked onto
each other, they nest securely onto each other.
4. The storage card case of claim 1 further comprising means to
lock each door on its respective compartment.
5. The storage card case of claim 1, further comprising plastic
grooves on each compartment, whereby the corresponding doors of
each compartment lock into the corresponding plastic grooves.
6. The storage card case of claim 1, wherein each compartment is
color coded.
7. The storage card case of claim 1 wherein the doors are
transparent.
8. The storage card case of claim 1, wherein the memo and date
areas are silk screened.
9. The storage card case of claim 1, further comprising first
dimples on the top of the storage card case and second dimples on
the bottom thereof, wherein when multiple storage card cases are
stacked onto each other, the second dimples of each case fit into
the first dimples of another case.
10. The storage card case of claim 1 further comprising third and
fourth compartments and third and fourth respective closeable
doors, wherein the central member extends between the third and
fourth compartments, wherein the third and fourth closeable doors
are hingedly connected to the central member such that they are
opposed to one another, and wherein the first compartment is
adjacent the third compartment and the second compartment is
adjacent the fourth compartment.
11. A storage card case kit comprising: at least one storage card
case, comprising at least first and second individual compartments,
wherein each compartment can fit a media device, wherein the first
and second compartments include first and second closeable doors
respectively to securely lock the media device into the
compartment, wherein the first and second doors include a date area
and a memo area thereon onto which identifying information can be
placed to identify the media device in the respective compartment;
and at least first and second writable devices having a top and a
bottom, wherein the writable devices include adhesive on the bottom
thereof such that they can be adhered directly to the media device
enclosed in each compartment, wherein the first writable device is
adapted to be adhered to a first media device in the first
compartment and to include identifying information about the first
media device, wherein the second writable device is adapted to be
adhered to a second media device in the second compartment and to
include identifying information about the second media device,
wherein the identifying information about the first media device is
different than the identifying information about the second media
device, wherein the memo area of the first door is adapted to
include identifying information thereon, and wherein the
identifying information on the memo area of the first door is
similar to the identifying information on the first writable
device.
12. The storage card case kit of claim 11, further comprising
multiple storage card cases.
13. (canceled)
14. The storage card case kit of claim 12, further comprising means
for nesting each of the storage card cases together, wherein when
the multiple storage card cases are stacked onto each other, they
fit securely on top of each other.
15. The storage card case kit of claim 11, wherein each storage
card case further comprises plastic grooves on each compartment,
whereby the corresponding doors of each compartment lock into the
corresponding plastic groove.
16. The storage card case kit of claim 12, wherein each compartment
of each storage card case is color coded.
17. (canceled)
18. The storage card case kit of claim 11, wherein the areas on
each compartment door are silk screened.
19. The storage card case kit of claim 12, further comprising first
dimples on the top of each of the storage card cases and second
dimples on the bottoms thereof, wherein when multiple storage card
cases are stacked onto each other, the second dimples of each case
fit into the first dimples of another case.
20. The storage card case kit of claim 11, wherein each compartment
has a top and wherein at least some of the doors of the
compartments open from the top.
21. A method of storing a digital media device, the method
comprising the steps of: providing a kit that includes a storage
card case that comprises a bottom portion that includes at least
first and second individual compartments, wherein each compartment
can fit a digital media device, first and second doors hingedly
connected to the bottom portion, wherein the first and second doors
are adapted to secure a media device in the first and second
compartments, and at least a first label, removing the digital
media device from a camera, placing the first label on the digital
media device, writing information on the first label, placing the
digital media device into the first compartment, and closing the
first door.
22. The storage card case of claim 1 wherein the memo area is
larger than the date area.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to apparatus for the storage
of, a plurality of portable media within a case.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Currently there are a plurality of different types of
portable media. By way of example and not limitation, there are SD
cards, memory sticks pro duo, XD memory cards, compact flash cards,
memory sticks, mini SD cards, micro SD cards. New media devices are
constantly being developed all of the time. The one characteristic
that all of these devices have in common is that they are all
portable and compact. Thus, there is a need for storage devices
that are capable of securely storing all of these different types
of media. (As used herein, media and media devices shall be used
interchangeably.)
[0003] As more and more media cards are accumulated, there is a
need to organize them without having to put them into a computer to
determine what is contained on each card. This can be a time
consuming process. Therefore, there is also a need for a storage
case in which the contents of all of the media can be easily and
quickly ascertained without the use of a computer.
SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0004] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a
storage case is provided that comprises at least two compartments,
wherein each compartment can fit a media device, the compartment
comprising a closeable door to securely lock the media device into
place. In a preferred embodiment, the door of each compartment
further comprises an area thereon onto which information can be
placed to identify the contents of that individual compartment. In
a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each storage card
case has dimples on the top of the storage card case and dimples on
the bottom thereof. In one preferred embodiment, the dimples of
each case are configured such that when multiple storage card cases
are stacked onto each other, the top dimples of each case fit into
the bottom, dimples of another case. In another preferred
embodiment of the invention, each case is configured such that when
multiple storage card cases are stacked onto each other, they nest
one on top of the other. The storage card case of the present
invention also includes a means to lock each door of each
compartment to secure the media device inside. In a preferred
embodiment, the locking means comprise plastic grooves on each
compartment, whereby the corresponding doors of each compartment
lock into the corresponding plastic grooves. However a notch or
other means known in the art for locking the doors of each
compartment mechanically can be used.
[0005] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the storage card cases are put together into a kit which has at
least one storage card case having at least two individual
compartments, wherein each compartment can fit a media device, the
compartment comprising a closeable door to securely lock the media
device into place; and at least two of writable devices which can
be removably applied directly to the media device enclosed in each
compartment. In another preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the kit further comprises multiple storage card cases.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, each
compartment of each storage card case is color coded. In a further
preferred embodiment of the present invention, some of the doors of
each storage card case open from the top, while other doors open
from the bottom. Alternatively, some of the doors of each storage
card case may open from the left side or from the right side.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The detailed description of the invention will be made with
reference to the accompanying drawings, where like numerals refer
to like parts and in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment storage
card case of the present invention showing a compartment door open
in phantom.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment shown in
FIG. 1 with two compartment doors open for compartments containing
media devices.
[0009] FIG. 3 is an exploded side view showing the storage card
cases of FIG. 1 stacked onto each other.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] In the following descriptions of the invention, terms such
as "front," "back," "top," "bottom," "side," and the like are used
herein merely for ease of description and refer to the orientation
of the components as shown in the Figures.
[0011] Generally, the present invention may be briefly described as
follows. Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment
of the storage case 10 of the present invention is shown comprising
at least two or more compartments 12. Each compartment has a
corresponding individual closeable door 14 that can securely lock
the storage media device that is to be placed into each
compartment. In a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism
comprised a plastic groove 16 into which the edge 18 of the door 14
fits, thereby snap locking the door into place, however, any
mechanical locking mechanism known in the art can be used. In each
case, 10, each compartment 12 preferably can snuggly fit any type
of portable storage medium such as, but not limited to, an SD card,
memory stick pro duo, XD memory card, compact flash card, memory
stick, mini SD card, micro SD card. Further, as additional small
media devices are developed, these too can fit into the
compartments, provided that they are of suitable size.
[0012] In one embodiment, the doors 14 of each compartment are
hinged such that they open either from the top or from the bottom
as shown in FIG. 2. However, in other embodiments of the storage
card case, all of the compartments may open only from the top or
only from the bottom, or may alternate between opening from the top
and from the bottom, or may open from either side or may open from
a combination of the left side and the right side.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each door
has a silk screened area 20 thereon so that the user may write
information thereon such as the date, content and ID # of the media
device contained in that compartment. In the same and other
embodiments, each storage compartment may be color coded. Further,
in some embodiments of the present invention, the doors 14 of each
compartment may be clear so that the media device within each
compartment may be viewed.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of
the storage card cases has dimples thereon. In one preferred
embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the case has small inward dimples 22
on the top thereof and small outward dimples on the bottom thereof
(not shown) for stacking multiple card cases as shown in FIG. 3.
However, in other embodiments, the cases may have the dimples
reverse such that the bottom has small inward dimples and the top
has small outward dimples. In addition, in other embodiments the
dimples may be within any of the other areas of the card and may
comprise corresponding inward and outward notches. Thus, any type
of nesting mechanism known in the art may be used.
[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the storage
card cases may come as part of a kit. The kit includes at least one
storage card case 10 and removable stickers, sticky notes, static
cling friction stickers or any other removable labeling device
known in the art (not shown) which can be applied directly onto the
portable media devices. Thus, in addition to placing identifying
information on the door of the compartment, a user can place
identifying and other information about each media device directly
on the media device. In addition to or lieu of the removable
labeling devices, mini envelopes (not shown) may be provided in the
kit, such that each media device may be placed into a mini envelope
onto which identifying information may be written. Also, in other
embodiments of the kit, multiple storage cases 10 are provided.
[0016] The presently disclosed embodiments are to be considered in
all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the
invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the
foregoing description, and all changes which come within the
meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore
intended to be embraced therein. The embodiments and methods
described above are exemplary embodiments and methods of the
present invention. Those skilled in the art may now make numerous
uses of, and departures from, the above-described embodiments and
methods without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed
herein. Thus, the construction of the embodiments and the steps of
the methods disclosed herein are not limitations of the invention.
Accordingly, the present invention is to be defined solely by the
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *