MEMORY CARD HOLDER AND ORGANIZER

Abstract

A memory card holder and organizer is disclosed providing consumers with a compact, convenient, and complete solution to organize their flash memory cards and catalog the contents of each memory card. An individual memory card holder includes a piece of paper, cardboard or other stock to which is affixed a memory card pocket for holding a memory card. The stock further includes an indexing space next to the memory card pocket, which indexing space may have lines printed on the stock for a user to provide a description of the contents of the memory card stored in the pocket. One or more individual memory card holders may be stored within pockets on a folio panel, or page. The card holders may be on a front surface of a folio page, and the back surface may have a corresponding number of pockets for storing print-outs or other information contained on or related to the contents of the memory card within the corresponding pocket on the front surface of the folio.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a memory card holder and organizer.

2. Description of the Related Art

The strong growth in demand for portable consumer electronics is driving the need for high-capacity storage devices. Non-volatile semiconductor memory devices are becoming widely used to meet the ever-growing demands on digital information storage and exchange. Such devices, referred to herein in general as memory cards, include for example an SD Card, a Pico Card, a Compact Flash, a Smart Media Card, a Mini SD Card, an MMC, an RS-MMC, an xD Card, a Transflash memory card, a Memory Stick, a Subscriber Identity Module card (SIM card), and the like. Their size, portability, and rugged design, along with their high reliability and large storage capacity, have made memory cards ideal for use in a wide variety of electronic devices, including for example digital cameras, digital music players, video game consoles, PDAs and cellular telephones. However, their size also has a drawback in that memory cards are easily misplaced. Moreover, individuals will often have several memory cards, often of the same type. Their size makes it difficult to mark individual memory cards to allow the individual to distinguish one from another and label the contents stored on each card.

There exist a number of cases in the marketplace in which a number of memory cards may be stored and carried. For example, RoadWired, a Division of Three Point Ventures, LLC markets a memory card carrying case under the product name FlashFolio®. The product is a folio including mesh pockets on one side for storing a plurality of memory cards and a page opposite the mesh pockets allowing a user to give a written description of what is on the memory cards on the opposite page. This and other known cases have certain drawbacks. First, the known carriers are integrated cases that do not allow for expansion. If a case is full, a user may not augment it to carry additional memory cards. Second, the existing solutions do not allow for exchange of individual identified cards. And third, these cases tend to be fabricated of molded plastic and/or include multiple components. In view of these drawbacks, a simple memory card holder is desired which provides for identification and exchange of individual memory cards, as well as a holder which allows for expansion to include additional memory cards in the holder as needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, roughly described, relates to a memory card holder and organizer providing consumers with a compact, convenient, and complete solution to organize their flash memory cards and catalog the contents of each memory card. Embodiments of the invention provide an individual memory card holder including a piece of paper, cardboard or other stock to which is affixed a memory card pocket for holding a memory card. The stock further includes an indexing space next to the memory card pocket, which indexing space may have lines printed on the stock for a user to provide a description of the contents of the memory card stored in the pocket.

The individual memory card holder provides greater flexibility than do currently known multiple card holders. The individual card holder provides consumers with a standalone piece that can simply be inserted into a wallet, organizer, scrapbook, business card holder, or otherwise easily shared with others. The card holder may be used with photos returned from a photo lab. In a further embodiment, the individual card holder may be a traditional business card, with a memory card pocket on its rear surface.

In a further aspect of the present invention, one or more individual memory card holders may be stored within pockets on a folio panel, or page. The card holders may be on a front surface of a folio page, and the back surface may have a corresponding number of pockets. The pocket on the back of a page may be used for storing print-outs of the contents of the memory card within the corresponding pocket on the front surface of the folio. The rear pocket may additionally or alternatively store memorabilia or other information related to or stored on the corresponding memory card.

The folio page may be provided within a bound folio, such as for example a three-ring binder. One advantage of the folio page is that any number of such pages may be bound together within a folio so that any number of memory cards may be organized and stored together within a single folio. Thus, for example, folio pages may be provided as refills to a folio to add more space in the folio for storage of additional memory cards. Additionally, the standalone index memory card holder may be provided as refills and purchased separately.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a memory card holder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a memory card holder according to an embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is front and rear views of a business card including a memory card holder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a folio page including pockets for storing a plurality of memory card holders according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a portion of the folio page shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a folio page including a plurality of memory card holders according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a page of memory card holders according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a page of memory card holders according to a further alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 8, which relate to a memory card holder and organizer. It is understood that the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the invention to those skilled in the art. Indeed, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents of these embodiments, which are included within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details.

Referring initially to the front view of FIG. 1, there is shown a memory card holder 100 including stock 102, memory card pocket 104 and indexing space 106. Stock 102 may be formed of paper, cardboard, plastic or a variety of other rigid or semi-rigid mediums, which is capable of being easily written on using a pen, pencil, marker and/or other writing instrument. Pocket 104 may be affixed to stock 102 using a known adhesive and affixation method. Pocket 104 may be formed of a clear or opaque plastic, for example vinyl, though it may be formed of other materials in alternative embodiments. For example, pocket 104 may alternatively be formed of cardboard, cloth or a mesh material.

Pocket 104 is provided to receive a memory card 110. It is understood that pocket 104 may be a generic size capable of receiving any of a variety of different sized and shaped memory cards. Pocket 104 may alternatively be sized and/or shaped to receive a particular type memory card. Any memory card format may be accommodated within the pocket 104, including but not limited to SD Card, a Pico Card, a Compact Flash, a Smart Media Card, a Mini SD Card, an MMC, an RS-MMC, an xD Card, a Transflash memory card, a Memory Stick, a Subscriber Identity Module card (SIM card). The pocket may further accommodate pre-recorded content memory cards (such as game cards, Disney® cards, etc. that are pre-loaded with music, games, etc.). The holder 100 may further be sized in embodiments to hold USB memory drives as well. Pocket 104 may include a push-up 104a and/or a pull-up 104b which are cut out sections from the vinyl (or other material from which pocket 104 is formed) to facilitate easy removal of a memory card 110 from pocket 104. Push-up 104a and/or pull-up 104b may be omitted in alternative embodiments of the present invention.

Indexing space 106 may be lines printed on the stock 102 for a user to provide a description of the contents of the memory card 110 stored in pocket 104. Indexing space 106 need not include lines in alternative embodiments. For example, the indexing space may alternatively be a box or empty space provided specifically for receiving a description.

In embodiments, holder 100 may have a length of between 2″ and 4″ and a width of between 2″ and 3″, and may in embodiments be the size of a typical U.S. or international business card. It is understood that the length and/or width of card holder 100 may be less than or greater than the dimensions set forth above in alternative embodiments.

In embodiments, the back of card holder 100 may be blank. In an alternative embodiment shown in the rear view of FIG. 2, the back of card 100 may include a pocket 114 within which a user may store print-outs of the contents of the memory card 110. Pocket 114 may additionally or alternatively store memorabilia or other information related to, or stored on, memory card 110. Pocket 114 may be formed of the same material as pocket 104 and may be affixed to stock 102 in the same manner as pocket 104. The pocket 114 shown includes a sealed or unsealed opening at a top edge for receiving the card contents, memorabilia, etc. The opening may alternatively be along a side edge of the pocket 114.

The individual memory card holder 100 provides greater flexibility than do current known multiple card holders. The stand-alone card holder 100 provides an option not provided by current systems where holders are integrated within an organizer. The individual card holder 100 provides consumers with a standalone piece that may be sized to fit within a wallet/organizer/business card holder, or otherwise easily shared with others. A memory card holder 100 may alternatively be affixed within a scrapbook, or easily mailed through the Postal Service. It is further contemplated that a card holder 100 may be dropped off with, or provided by, a photo lab. When pictures are returned, the envelope including the pictures may also include a card holder 100 including the memory card from which the pictures were printed. The individual may add a description of the pictures to the card holder 100.

In a further embodiment shown in FIG. 3, card holder 100 may also serve as a business card having business contact information on a front surface 120 of the card and a pocket 104 affixed to a rear surface 122 of the card. The rear surface 122 may or may not additionally include an indexing space 106. In accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 3, when handing out a business card, an individual may include a memory card 110 in pocket 104 having photos, documents, presentations or any other additional information the individual wishes to provide to the recipient of the business card. The business contact information on the business card may be on the same side as the pocket 104 in further embodiments. It is understood that a card holder 100 having a single card and indexing space may have a variety of other uses in alternative embodiments.

In embodiments described with respect to FIGS. 1 through 3, the card holder 100 may be sized to hold a single pocket 104 having a length slightly less than a width of the stock 102. For example, in one embodiment, the pocket 104 may have a length of between ½″ and 1¼″, and the stock may have a width with a ¼″ to ¾″ border above and below the pocket 104. The card holder 100 of FIGS. 1 through 3 may include an indexing space 106 of approximately the same width as the pocket 104 or slightly greater. For example, in one embodiment, the pocket 104 may have a width of between ½″ and 1¼″, and the indexing space 102 may include lines having a length which range between the same size as the pocket width and up to about 2½″. It is understood that the above dimensions are merely one example of the dimensions of stock 102, pocket 104 and indexing space 106, and each of these components may be larger or smaller than the ranges set forth above in alternative embodiments.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a front view of a folio panel, or page, 126 including pockets 128a, 128b and 128c. Each of pockets 128a-c may be formed on folio page 126 as is known in the art, and may have an opening for receiving a card holder 100 as described above. While three pockets 128a-c are shown in FIG. 4, it is understood that more or less than three pockets may be provided in alternative embodiments of the present invention. The folio page 126 may be 8½″ by 11″, but it may have a length and/or width that is less than or greater than that in alternative embodiments. In embodiments, a folio page 126 may have a single pocket for a single card holder 100.

FIG. 5 shows a rear view of folio page 126. The rear of folio page 126 may include a pocket 130 provided for storing print-outs (such as pictures or files) of the contents of the memory card 110 within pockets 128a, 128b and/or 128c on the front surface of folio page 126. Pocket 130 may additionally or alternatively store memorabilia or other information related to or stored on memory card 110 in the pockets 128 on the front side of folio page 126. The pocket 130 may be 4″ by 6″, but the length and width of the pocket may be less than or greater than that in alternative embodiments. The pocket 130 shown includes an opening at a top edge for receiving the card contents, memorabilia, etc. The opening may alternatively be along a side edge of the pocket. While a single pocket 130 is shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of pockets 130 may be provided on the rear surface of page 126 opposite pockets 128a-c. For example, there may be a pocket 130 for each of the pockets 128a-c. Pocket(s) 130 may be omitted from the rear side of folio page 126 in alternative embodiments. The rear side of a folio page 126 may include one or more indexing spaces instead of or in addition to one or more pockets 130 in alternative embodiments.

Folio page 126 may be provided within a bound folio. Holes 138 may be provided which allow folio page 126 to be added to or removed from a 3-ring binder. One advantage of folio page 126 is that any number of such pages may be bound together within a folio so that any number of memory cards may be organized and stored together within a single folio. Thus, for example, folio pages may be purchased as refills to a folio to add more space in the folio for storage of additional memory cards. This option provides a flexible and fully customizable organizer for a consumer. No known conventional card holder today holds more than 20 memory cards. Using the folio pages, a great many more than 20 memory cards may be stored. Embodiments may include 100 or more memory cards. Consumers may also mix and match different pages 126 within a folio to suit particular needs. Thus, in an example, a folio may include pages 126 including card pockets 128 on the front and pockets 130 on the back, pages 126 including card pockets 128 on the front and indexing space on the back, and/or pages 126 with different size pockets 128/130.

Referring now to FIG. 6, instead of a folio page having individual pockets 128 for receiving a card holder 100 as shown in FIG. 4, a folio page 136 may alternatively include one or more memory card pockets 104 affixed directly to the page and indexing spaces 106 adjacent to each of the pockets 104. The number, size and orientation of pockets 104 on folio page 136 may vary in alternative embodiments of the present invention. The backside of folio page 136 may or may not include a pocket as in pocket 130a of FIG. 5 for storage of information contained on, or related to, the corresponding memory card 110 on the front surface of folio page 136.

As described above, all memory card pockets 104 provided on a folio page may be the same size. However, as shown for example on FIG. 7, it is contemplated that a single folio page 126 includes different sized pockets 104. Each pocket 104 shown in FIG. 7 may be sized to receive a particular memory card.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a folio page 146 may include memory card pockets 104 with or without indexing spaces 106. Again, such folio pages may be inserted into or taken out of a folio to allow a user to include any desired number of memory cards and folio pages within the folio.

The foregoing detailed description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A memory card holder, comprising:

a piece of stock;

a pocket affixed to the stock capable of holding a memory card; and

an indexing space adjacent the pocket for receiving a description relating to the contents of the memory card.

2. A memory card holder as recited in claim 1, wherein the stock is one of paper, cardboard or plastic.

3. A memory card holder as recited in claim 1, wherein the pocket is one of plastic, cardboard, cloth or mesh.

4. A memory card holder as recited in claim 1, wherein the pocket is capable of holding one or more of an SD Card, a Pico Card, a Compact Flash, a Smart Media Card, a Mini SD Card, an MMC, an RS-MMC, an xD Card, a Transflash memory card, a Memory Stick, a Subscriber Identity Module card, pre-recorded content cards and USB memory drives.

5. A memory card holder as recited in claim 1, wherein the pocket is specifically sized to hold one of an SD Card, a Pico Card, a Compact Flash, a Smart Media Card, a Mini SD Card, an MMC, an RS-MMC, an xD Card, a Transflash memory card, a Memory Stick, a Subscriber Identity Module card, pre-recorded content cards and USB memory drives.

6. A memory card holder as recited in claim 1, wherein the stock has a length between 2″ and 4″ and a width between 2″ and 3″.

7. A memory card holder as recited in claim 1, the stock further including one or more additional pockets and a corresponding number of one or more additional indexing spaces.

8. A memory card holder as recited in claim 1, wherein the stock further includes business contact information.

9. A memory card holder, comprising:

a pocket;

a piece of stock on which the pocket is affixed, the stock having a width dimension aligned with a length dimension of the pocket, the stock having a slightly greater width than a length of the pocket, the pocket capable of holding a memory card;

an indexing space including lines having a length aligned with a width dimension of the pocket, the lines being the same or slightly greater in length than the width of the pocket, the indexing space provided adjacent for receiving a description relating to the contents of the memory card;

wherein the piece of stock is capable of holding no more than a single pocket and indexing space.

10. A memory card holder as recited in claim 9, wherein the pocket is capable of holding one or more of an SD Card, a Pico Card, a Compact Flash, a Smart Media Card, a Mini SD Card, an MMC, an RS-MMC, an xD Card, a Transflash memory card, a Memory Stick, a Subscriber Identity Module card.

11. A memory card holder as recited in claim 9, wherein the pocket is provided on a first side of the stock, the card holder further comprising business contact information on a second side of the stock.

12. A memory card holder and organizer, comprising:

one or more memory card holders, a memory card holder of the one or more memory card holders including: a piece of stock, and a memory card pocket affixed to the stock capable of holding a memory card; and

a folio page including a first set of one or more pockets for storing the one or more memory card holders.

13. A memory card holder and organizer as recited in claim 12, further comprising a second set of one or more pockets on a side of the folio page opposite the side including the first set of one or more pockets, the second set of one or more pockets capable of storing content stored on the memory card.

14. A memory card holder and organizer as recited in claim 12, further comprising an indexing space adjacent the pocket for receiving a description relating to the contents of the memory card.

15. A memory card holder and organizer as recited in claim 12, wherein the folio page is 8½″ by 11″.

16. A memory card holder and organizer as recited in claim 12, wherein the folio page includes holes for allowing the folio page to be added to and removed from a folio.

17. A memory card holder and organizer as recited in claim 12, wherein the set of one or more pockets comprises a plurality of pockets all of the same size.

18. A memory card holder and organizer as recited in claim 12, wherein the set of one or more pockets comprises a plurality of pockets, two or more of the plurality of pockets having different sizes.

19. A memory card holder and organizer folio, comprising:

a plurality of folio pages, each folio page of the plurality of folio pages including a front surface including a first set of one or more pockets, and a rear surface comprising a second set of one or more pockets; and

one or more memory card holders capable of being stored within the one or more pockets of the first set of pockets, a memory card holder of the one or more memory card holders including: a piece of stock, a memory card pocket affixed to the stock capable of holding a memory card, and an indexing space adjacent the pocket for receiving a description relating to the contents of the memory card;

wherein the folio pages are adapted to be added and removed from the folio.

20. A memory card holder and organizer as recited in claim 19, wherein the second set of one or more pockets is provided for storing information relating to the contents of the memory card on the corresponding pocket from the first set of one or more pockets.

21. A memory card holder and organizer as recited in claim 19, wherein the set of one or more pockets comprises a plurality of pockets all of the same size.

22. A memory card holder and organizer as recited in claim 19, wherein the set of one or more pockets comprises a plurality of pockets, two or more of the plurality of pockets having different sizes.

23. A memory card holder as recited in claim 19, wherein the stock is one of paper, cardboard or plastic.

24. A memory card holder as recited in claim 19, wherein the memory card pocket is one of plastic, cardboard or cloth.

25. A memory card holder as recited in claim 19, wherein the pocket is capable of holding one or more of an SD Card, a Pico Card, a Compact Flash, a Smart Media Card, a Mini SD Card, an MMC, an RS-MMC, an xD Card, a Transflash memory card, a Memory Stick, a Subscriber Identity Module card.

26. A memory card holder as recited in claim 19, wherein the stock further includes business contact information.