U.S. patent application number 13/295328 was filed with the patent office on 2012-09-06 for key ring cardholder.
Invention is credited to Charles Caron.
Application Number | 20120222787 13/295328 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46752548 |
Filed Date | 2012-09-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120222787 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Caron; Charles |
September 6, 2012 |
Key Ring Cardholder
Abstract
Disclosed is a card holder that protects credit cards, debit
cards, and other types of magnetic cards without causing physical
damage to the magnetic stripe or demagnetization thereof. The
device contains an aperture, allowing for attachment to a key ring.
The location of the key ring holder affords a user the option of
attaching a magnetized card to the key ring, thereby allowing the
card to rotate into and out of the holder as desired. This improves
accessibility for a user when their magnetized cards are required.
The holder can optionally include a window on the front for
displaying flat articles, such as pictures, calendars, business
cards, or advertising materials.
Inventors: |
Caron; Charles; (Lamar,
CO) |
Family ID: |
46752548 |
Appl. No.: |
13/295328 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61449326 |
Mar 4, 2011 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
150/147 ; 206/39;
206/39.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 11/182
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
150/147 ;
206/39.5; 206/39 |
International
Class: |
A45C 11/18 20060101
A45C011/18 |
Claims
1) A card holder comprising: a sleeve adapted to accepts a
rectangular card and protect a magnetized card stripe thereon from
damage, said sleeve having a front, back, four edges, and a
perimeter; said sleeve attaches to a key ring allowing for
accessibility of said card said sleeve having dimensions greater
than a standard credit card, a cavity for inserting said credit
card, a means for protecting said magnetic stripe of said credit
card and an aperture for attachment of a key ring holder.
2) A device as in claim 1, wherein said perimeter joined along at
least two adjoining edges.
3) A device as in claim 1, wherein said front side having a
transparent portion, allowing a card or photograph to be visually
identified.
4) A device as in claim 1, wherein said sleeve further comprises a
notch to allow for grasping of said card.
5) A device as in claim 1, further comprising a cover assembly
attached to said front side, thereby forming a pocket for insertion
of a flat article therein.
6) A device as in claim 1, wherein said aperture further comprises
a bearing reinforcement element to support said aperture
perimeter.
7) A card holder comprising: a sleeve to protect a magnetized card
stripe from damage, said sleeve having a front, back, four edges,
and a perimeter; said sleeve having an aperture for attachment of a
key ring holder; said card having an aperture for attachment to
said key ring holder.
8) A device as in claim 7, wherein said perimeter is joined along
at least two adjoining edges.
9) A device as in claim 7, wherein said front side having a
transparent portion, allowing a card or photograph to be visually
identified.
10) A device as in claim 7, wherein said sleeve further comprises a
notch to allow for grasping of said card.
11) A device as in claim 7, further comprising a cover assembly
attached to said front side, thereby forming a pocket for insertion
of a flat article therein.
12) A device as in claim 7, wherein said aperture further comprises
a bearing reinforcement element to support said aperture perimeter.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/449,326 filed on Mar. 4, 2011 entitled "E-Z
Cardholder."
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a card holder. More
specifically, the present invention pertains to a sleeve for
magnetized cards that protects the magnetized data and improves
access to a card when required.
[0004] A magnetized card is a type of card that stores data by
modifying the magnetic particles on a band of magnetic material on
the card. The part of the card that contains the information is
called the stripe, and is read by physical contact with a magnetic
reading head. Magnetized cards have become extremely commonplace in
recent years with the advent of digital access to banking and
identification information. Magnetic information is now stored on
credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, school identification
cards and a variety of other cards that are used on a daily
basis.
[0005] The problem with magnetized cards is their susceptibility to
damage. The increase in popularity causes many consumers to carry
less cash and to pay for a majority of their transactions with a
magnetized card. Consumers often carry their cards in their
pockets, wallets, or other places where they are afforded little
protection. If a magnetized card is not adequately protected, it is
susceptible to physical damage and demagnetization. If the magnetic
stripe is scratched or bent, it may render the card unusable in a
magnetic card reader. The strip may be physically worn away or
abraded, eliminating the stored information thereon. In addition,
many consumers find it inconvenient to carry their cards in a
wallet that is stored in a pocket, jacket or purse. This requires a
consumer to locate their wallet, select the appropriate card and
remove it for use.
[0006] The present invention allows consumers to transport credit
cards, debit cards, and other types of magnetic cards without
causing damage to the magnetic stripe. The device is designed to
securely hold a card with a magnetic strip, and features a
protective sleeve with an anti-magnetic material on the inside that
ensures the magnetized data on the stripe remains aligned. The
device attaches to a key ring, allowing the desired cards to be
easily accessed when required. The cards can be accessed with a
single hand if required, improving their accessibility over wallets
and other traditional storage means. The sleeve can additionally
include a window on the front for displaying flat articles, such as
pictures, calendars, business cards, or advertising materials.
[0007] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0008] Several carrying cases have been disclosed in the art that
attempt to protect magnetized cards from damage. These devices have
familiar designs that focus on protecting the magnetic stripe from
damage.
[0009] Riley, U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,863 discloses a protective sleeve
for the placement of credit cards or other cards bearing magnetic
strips and bar codes on a rear surface. The device places such
cards into a protective sleeve to prevent damage to the bar code
and the magnetic strip attached to the cards. The sleeve has a
front clear portion for the visual identification of the front of
the card and a rear portion having a thin non-conductive metallic
strip imbedded on the rear portion coinciding with the location of
the magnetic strip on the card, and a smooth fabric portion
coinciding with the location of the printed bar code on the card,
the bar code and magnetic strip being generally provided on the
rear surface of the card. Similarly, Mangan, U.S. Pat. No.
4,141,400 discloses a pair of plates that are releasably held
together to define a thin pocket for cards having a magnetic strip
on one face. One of the plates has ribs between which the magnetic
strip slides to protect that strip from abrasion and edge ribs in
the pocket prevent the card from bending, curling or folding. Such
card holders adequately protect a magnetized card, but do not
include a means of attaching the holder to a key ring for improved
access to the desired card.
[0010] Other devices in the prior art utilize devices that fold
into sections to protect the magnetized cards. Godfrey, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,288,942 discloses a device that incorporates keepers into the
cardholders, in the form of sheets of magnetically soft
ferromagnetic material with high resistance. The benefit of the
invention is obtained when devices are placed with the reading
surface of their magnetized stripes in close contact with the
surface of the ferromagnetic material which, making use of known
properties of the material, then acts as keeper of the magnetic
patterns. Devices such as these contain many pockets and require
folding, making them cumbersome to use when accessing a desired
card.
[0011] Several devices use an adhesive material to keep the
magnetized cards positioned in the device. Drexler, U.S. Pat. No.
4,711,347 discloses a protective envelope having an adhesive flap
which lifts open to expose a data storage area of a data card,
allowing data to be read while the card remains protected in the
envelope. The flap may be then closed over and re-adhered to the
card. The envelope comprises a base and a cover panel bonded at
three edges to form a pocket for card storage. The cover panel is
made up of a pair of fixed edge stripes bonded to respective
opposed side edges of the base and a liftable flap bonded to a back
edge of the base. Envelope materials are preferably a transparent,
flexible plastic, but only the flap need be flexible. The flap may
extend beyond and fold over a front edge of the base and adhere to
an underside of the base. Such devices lose their adhesive
properties over time, leading to the potential loss of magnetized
cards.
[0012] The present invention improves upon magnetized card holders
by allowing users better access to their magnetized cards. The
device includes an anti-magnetic material to protect the data
stored on the stripe. In addition the device attaches to a key ring
holder by an aperture, allowing the desired cards to be easily
accessible when required. The location of the key ring holder
affords a user the option of adding an aperture to their credit
cards, thereby allowing the card to rotate into and out of the
holder as desired. The present invention substantially diverges in
design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear
that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing
magnetized card holder devices. In this regard the instant
invention substantially fulfills these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of magnetized card holders now present in the prior art, the
present invention provides a new magnetized card holder wherein the
same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when
requiring access to their magnetized cards.
[0014] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a new and improved magnetized card holder device that has
all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the
disadvantages.
[0015] Another object of the present invention to provide a holder
for magnetized cards that protects against damage to the magnetic
stripe of a magnetized card.
[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
protective holder for magnetized cards that allows easy removal of
the magnetic cards.
[0017] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
protective holder for magnetized cards that attaches to a key ring
for convenient access.
[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
protective holder for magnetized cards that affords a user the
option of adding an aperture to their credit cards, thereby
allowing the card to rotate into and out of the holder as
desired.
[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
protective holder for magnetized cards that contains a window on
the front of the device for displaying various flat articles, such
as photographs, calendars, business cards, or advertising
materials.
[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
protective holder for magnetized cards that is inexpensive to
produce.
[0021] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] Although the characteristic features of this invention will
be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and
manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood
after a review of the following description, taken in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are
provided throughout.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment
of the present invention, including a sleeve, a magnetized card,
and an aperture for attachment of a key ring holder and a
notch.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the present invention,
including the open sides of the sleeve, the anti-magnetic material,
the interior cavity, an aperture and a notch.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment
of the present invention with a window for displaying a flat
article and an opening along the sleeve's breadth.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment
of the present invention with a window for displaying a flat
article and an opening along the sleeve's length.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view
of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, including a
sleeve 11, a magnetized card 12, an aperture 13 for attachment of a
key ring holder 14 and a notch 18. The sleeve 11 has a front, back,
opposed sides, and a perimeter. The sleeve 11 is made of a flexible
material, and has dimensions greater than a standard credit card.
This allows for placement therein of a standard sized magnetized
card 12, such as a credit card, drivers license, school
identification card or other type of card.
[0028] The key improvement in the present invention is the
inclusion of an aperture 13 for attachment of the device to a key
ring holder 14. Consumers often carry magnetized cards inside their
wallets, purses, or other places that make for limited
accessibility of such cards, which is inconvenient. The aperture 13
functions to attach the sleeve 11 to a key ring 14. In addition, a
user can add an aperture to a magnetized card 12, allowing the card
12 to attach to the key ring holder 14 as well. This prevents a
card 12 from accidentally falling out of the sleeve 11. The
perimeter of the aperture may be reinforced with a bearing
reinforcement element to increasing the bearing strength of the
hole and prevent tearing or pull-through of the key ring. The
reinforcement may include a grommet, eyelet or similar bearing
reinforcement structure.
[0029] To allow for use of a card 12 that is attached to the key
ring holder 14, at the aperture 13 the sleeve 11 is joined along
the perimeter at two adjoining sides. This creates two open sides
to slide a card 12 out of the sleeve 11 and rotate the card 12 and
sleeve 11 with respect to one another about the aperture 13. To
access a card 12 attached at the aperture 13, the desired card 12
is rotated about the aperture 13, and accessed through the open
sides of the sleeve 11, thereby allowing for access to the
magnetized stripe on the card 12.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view
of the present invention, including the open sides of the sleeve
11, the anti-magnetic material 16, the interior cavity 17, an
aperture 13 and a notch 18. The flexible nature of the sleeve 11
allows a user access to a card 12 within the cavity 17. This is
accomplished by separating the sleeve 11 at the two open sides and
removing a card 12 that is freely inserted in the cavity 17, or by
rotating the card 12 about the aperture 13 as shown in FIG. 1.
Grasping a card 12 from inside the sleeve 11 is facilitated by a
notch 18 cut into the body of the sleeve 11. The notch 18 exposes
the end of a card 12, and gives a user a convenient way to remove
the card 12 from within the sleeve 11.
[0031] To protect the magnetize stripe on the card 12, the cavity
17 contains an anti-magnetic or non-ferric material, such as a thin
foil aluminum or other alloy that is adhered to the interior of the
cavity 17. This anti-magnetic material prevents the information
stored on the stripe from being erased if the sleeve 11 is exposed
to a magnetic field. In addition to protecting the stripe from
magnetic fields, the anti-magnetic material also prevents friction
between the card 12 and the sleeve 11.
[0032] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view
of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, with a
window 19 for displaying a flat article and an opening along one
end of the sleeve 20. The window 19 is formed by a transparent
material on the front cover of the sleeve 11. The window 19 is
separated from the cavity 17, thereby creating a pocket for
inserting a flat article, such as a picture, calendar, business
card, or advertising material.
[0033] A further alternative embodiment joins the sleeve 11 along
the perimeter at three sides. The sleeve 11 contains an aperture 13
for attaching to a key ring 14, but in this embodiment, the cards
12 are not attached at the aperture 13 and key ring holder 14.
Instead, the cards 12 are securely held within the sleeve 11 and
are completely removed from the sleeve 11 when required. The
opening to access a card 12 from within the cavity 17 is located
along the end of the sleeve 20. The sleeve 11 also contains a notch
18 for grasping a card 12.
[0034] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a perspective view
of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, with a
window 19 for displaying a flat article and an opening along the
sleeve length 21. Similar to the embodiment in FIG. 3, the sleeve
11 is joined along the perimeter at three sides, and contains an
aperture 13 for attaching to a key ring 14. The cards 12 do not
attach at the aperture 13 or key ring holder 14, and are completely
removed when required. The opening in the sleeve 11 for accessing a
card 12 within the cavity 17 is located along the length 21 of the
sleeve, and similarly contains a notch 18 for grasping a card
12.
[0035] In use the device serves as an magnetic shield for
magnetized cards, a convenient card holder that provides easy and
swift access and a device that protects the magnetic strips of
cards housed therein from physical damaged while transported. A
window along the exterior of the sleeve can be utilized for holding
pictures, graphics or business cards, if desired, while a set of
keys may be tethered to the device via a key ring aperture.
Together, the elements of the device provide a convenient card
carrying device that can be utilized to combine cards, keys and
credit cards without requiring the user to carry a wallet or loose
articles in his or her pockets.
[0036] To this point, the instant invention has been shown and
described in what is considered to be the most practical and
preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures
may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious
modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With
respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that
the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,
function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed
readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present invention.
[0037] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *