U.S. patent application number 14/034111 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-27 for card retention device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Aaron W. Moore. Invention is credited to Aaron W. Moore.
Application Number | 20140083578 14/034111 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50337698 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140083578 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moore; Aaron W. |
March 27, 2014 |
Card Retention Device
Abstract
The invention disclosed herein comprises a wallet, cardholder,
billfold, purse, phone cover or enclosure, passport cover,
identification card cover, backpack or other personal bag or
container which includes a pocket created by forming an enclosure
with three corners with an opening or slot sized as appropriate for
the card, currency, papers or other documents as desired. The user
inserts one end of the card into the slot and pushes the card into
position whereby the three corners of the card are positioned in
substantial alignment with the three corners of the pocket and
retained in relative proximity. As one or more cards are inserted
and removed from the pocket, the remaining cards are retained in
the pocket by the resistance imparted by the three-corner structure
of the pocket.
Inventors: |
Moore; Aaron W.;
(Carrollton, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Moore; Aaron W. |
Carrollton |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50337698 |
Appl. No.: |
14/034111 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61704740 |
Sep 24, 2012 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
150/147 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 11/182 20130101;
A45C 2001/065 20130101; A45F 2005/006 20130101; A45F 2200/055
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
150/147 |
International
Class: |
A45C 11/18 20060101
A45C011/18 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: a card pocket comprising a flexible
front flap connected to a stiff back piece wherein the front flap
includes an angled portion forming a pocket with a slot between the
front flap and back piece and the formed pocket includes at least
three corners which act to retain a card inserted into the card
pocket via the slot.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the front flap is selected from
the following group of materials comprising a leather, a nylon, a
plastic and a metal.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the card pocket is formed as
part of a wallet.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the card pocket is formed as
part of a checkbook cover, a card case, an identification badge
holder, or a money clip.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the card pocket is formed as
part of a backpack, a purse, a phone case, a laptop case, a
computer tablet case.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the card pocket is capable of
securing multiple cards.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a second card pocket is formed
by a second slot in the front flap.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the card inserted into the
pocket is substantially secured by a friction force imparted on the
card by at least three corners of the formed pocket.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the card inserted into the
pocket is substantially secured by a compressive force imparted on
the card by at least three corners of the formed pocket.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/704,740, filed on Sep.
24, 2012, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a card retention
device and method for wallets, passport holders, purses, handbags,
backpacks, and cases, and more specifically to an apparatus for
retaining credit cards, business cards and other cards integrated
therewith.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Men and women have carried wallets and purses for many years
for purposes of collecting and holding myriad objects such as paper
currency, coin currency and various personal items such as
identification cards and related papers. Although wallets and
purses come in a variety of shapes and sizes, most of them will
typically rely on a series of small pockets cut or stitched into
the wallet, bill fold or purse in which an identification card,
driver's license or credit card may be inserted and kept for
retrieval by the user as necessary. The card is typically kept in
place by the frictional force imparted on to opposing sides of the
card by the opposing sides of the pocket or by a side of the pocket
and the surface of an opposing card inserted into the pocket or
pockets.
[0004] Such cardholders are still in wide use today, but are not
without drawbacks. For instance, as the user inserts additional
cards into one or various pockets, the pocket dimensions are
stretched incrementally and repeatedly as the user inserts and
withdraws cards from the pocket or pockets. As a result, the
frictional force imparted to a card or multiple cards is decreased
over time as the pocket compartments expand and stretch. When the
user retrieves a card for use the remaining cards in the pocket
become loose without sufficient friction or axial compressive force
to keep them secured in the pocket thereby resulting in additional
cards potentially falling out of the user's purse, wallet or
billfold and becoming lost or easily stolen by a third party.
[0005] As such, a need exists for an improved cardholder retention
device which safely secures a credit card, identification card,
business card or other card size object which may be easily and
repetitively accessed by a user and which will continue to retain
cards inserted into the device, while allowing a user to easily
withdraw one or more cards as desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention disclosed herein comprises a wallet,
cardholder, billfold, purse, phone cover or enclosure, passport
cover, identification card cover, backpack or other personal bag or
container which includes a pocket created by forming an enclosure
with three corners with an opening or slot sized as appropriate for
the card, currency, papers or other documents as desired. The user
inserts one end of the card into the slot and pushes the card into
position whereby the three corners of the card are positioned in
substantial alignment with the three corners of the pocket and
retained in relative proximity. As one or more cards are inserted
and removed from the pocket, the remaining cards are retained in
the pocket by the resistance imparted by the three-corner structure
of the pocket.
[0007] Other technical advantages of the present invention will be
readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following
figures, descriptions and claims. While specific advantages and
embodiments have been enumerated above, various embodiments may
include all, some, or none of the enumerated advantages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Various aspects of the invention, as well as an embodiment,
are better understood by reference to the following detailed
description. The detailed description, given by way of examples and
not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will be
better understood when read in conjunction with the drawings
wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and parts in
which:
[0009] FIGS. 1A and 1B front and rear view, respectively, of one
embodiment of the invention disclosed herein integrated a bi-fold
wallet with a money clip;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a front view of the interior of one embodiment of
the invention disclosed herein integrated into a typical mobile
phone cover;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front view of the interior of one embodiment of
the invention disclosed herein integrated into a typical check book
cover; and,
[0012] FIG. 4 is a front view of one embodiment of the invention
disclosed herein integrated into and identification badge
holder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] For purposes of teaching and discussion, it is useful to
provide some overview as to the way in which the invention
disclosed herein operates. The following information may be viewed
as a basis from which the present invention may by properly
explained. Such information is offered for purposes of explanation
only and, accordingly, should not be construed to limit the broad
scope of the present invention and its potential applications.
[0014] The present invention can take many forms and be utilized on
a variety of apparatuses, including but not limited to a backpack,
a purse, a billfold, a mobile phone cover, a passport cover, a
laptop case, a computer tablet case, a checkbook cover, or an
identification badge holder. The various embodiments disclosed
herein will be discussed in detail, although it is readily known to
one of ordinary skill in the art that the same teachings will apply
to the vast array of bags, checkbook covers, wallets,
identification badge holders, mobile phone covers, purses, and
other personal articles which a user may utilize to transport his
or her currency, cards and other personal property.
[0015] Turning to FIG. 1, a front view of a bi-fold wallet with
money clip 10 embodiment disclosed herein is shown. The wallet 10
includes a card pocket 12 that is formed by sewing a front flap 14
on to a back piece 16. Front flap 14 includes an angled portion
forming a slot 18 that forms card pocket 12 with corners 20, 22,
24. The user may insert one or more credit cards, identification
cards, business cards or other similarly dimensioned object into
the card pocket 12 by inserting the card into slot 18 and pushing
the card into an orientation where three corners of the card are in
relative proximity to corners 20, 22, 24. In this embodiment, the
user's card or cards are securely restricted from movement by three
corners 20, 22, 24 that prevent the card or multiple cards from
sliding out of card pocket 12. If card pocket 12 is stretched or
otherwise expanded by the addition of multiple cards, the removal
of multiple cards will not affect the operation of the three
corners 20, 22, 24 in retaining the remaining cards in card pocket
12, even if the frictional force and/or compressive force between
the cards and the card pocket 12 is diminished or completely
removed. A currency holder 30 forms the opposing portion of the
wallet 10 which may include a pocket 30 with a backing surface 34
and which is sewn or otherwise attached to pocket 12 as is known in
the art. FIG. 1B illustrates the backside of folding wallet 10 that
includes a clear window 40 in which one may place a driver's
license or other form of identification that may be viewed through
window 40 without the need for removal for viewing purposes. A
money clip 44 may be attached or otherwise incorporated on to back
piece 16 as known in the art.
[0016] FIG. 2 depicts one embodiment of a cell phone case or cover
50 that includes cover 52 connected via webbing 72 to phone holder
74. Phone holder 74 includes phone retainers 78, 80 that are
operable to retain a phone in proximity to phone holder 74. As
depicted, cover 52 includes openings or slots 56 with rounded
corners 58, 60, which forms card pocket 54. Slots 56 are sized to
allow the user to insert and remove a card 55 or multiple cards,
including but not limited to credit cards, identification cards,
business cards, identification cards and drivers license cards and
similar sized items into the card pockets 54. As described herein,
a user inserts a card 55 or multiple cards into slots 56 that open
into card pocket 54. The user orients the corners of the card 55 or
cards into proximity with card pocket corners 58, 62, 64. In this
embodiment, the user's card 55 or cards are securely restricted
from movement by three corners 58, 62, 64 that prevent the card 55
or multiple cards from sliding out of card pocket 54. If card
pocket 54 is stretched or otherwise expanded by the addition of
another card 55 or multiple cards, the removal of a card 55 or
multiple cards will not affect the operation of the three corners
58, 64, 64 in retaining the remaining card 55 or cards in card
pocket 54, even if the frictional force and/or compressive force
between the card 55 or cards and the card pocket 54 is diminished
or completely removed.
[0017] FIG. 3 depicts one embodiment of the invention disclosed
herein comprising a checkbook cover 90. Checkbook cover 90 includes
card cover 92 and checkbook cover 108 for holding checkbook 106 as
is known in the art. As depicted, card cover 92 includes openings
or slots 96 with rounded corners 98, 102, 104 that form card pocket
or multiple card pockets 94. Slots 96 are sized to allow the user
to insert and remove cards, including but not limited to credit
cards, identification cards, business cards, identification cards
and drivers license cards and similar sized items into the card
pocket 94. As previously described herein, a user inserts a card or
multiple cards into slots 96 that open into card pocket 94. The
user orients the corners of the card or cards into proximity with
card pocket corners 98, 102, 104. In this embodiment, the user's
card or cards are securely restricted from movement by three
corners 98, 102, 104 that prevent the card or multiple cards from
sliding out of card pocket 94. If card pocket 94 is stretched or
otherwise expanded by the addition of multiple cards, the removal
of multiple cards will not affect the operation of the three
corners 98, 102, 104 in retaining the remaining cards in card
pocket 94, even if the frictional force and/or compressive force
between the cards and the card pocket 94 is diminished or
completely removed.
[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the invention disclosed
herein comprising an identification or badge holder 120. As
depicted, badge holder 120 is comprised of back piece 122 and front
piece 124 that form card pocket 126 with card slot 128 and corners
130, 132, 134. Slot 128 is sized to allow the user to insert and
remove credit cards, identification cards, business cards and
similar sized items into the card pocket 126. As described herein,
a user inserts a card 125 or multiple cards into slot 128 that open
into card pocket 126. The user orients the corners of the card 125
or cards into proximity with card pocket corners 130, 132, 134. In
this embodiment, the user's card 125 or cards are securely
restricted from movement by three corners 130, 132, 134 that
prevent the card 125 or multiple cards from sliding out of card
pocket 126. If card pocket 126 is stretched or otherwise expanded
by the addition of another card 125 or multiple cards, the removal
of a card 125 or multiple cards will not affect the operation of
the three corners 130, 132, 134 in retaining the remaining card 125
or cards in card pocket 126, even if the frictional force and/or
compressive force between the card 125 or cards and the card pocket
126 is diminished or completely removed. A lanyard 136 may be
attached to the holder 120 as shown to keep the holder 120 secured
on or about the user's person.
[0019] The wallets, covers, and other personal articles disclosed
herein may be constructed of various materials such as leather,
plastic, nylon, cordura or as is otherwise known by those of
ordinary skill in the art. While the invention has been
particularly shown and described with reference to a various
embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
various changes in form and detail may be made therein without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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