Method and apparatus for holding identification cards

Abstract

An apparatus for holding identification cards includes a first pouch, a second pouch, and a hands-free carrying mechanism. The first pouch is of a size sufficient to hold a boarding pass. The second pouch is of a size sufficient to bold a government-issued identification card. The hands-free carrying mechanism is coupled to the apparatus to allow a person to carry the apparatus without using hands.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates generally to travel accessories, and more particularly to an apparatus for holding identification cards.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Travel has become more complex in recent years. Travelers face an increased number of security checkpoints and require additional documentation to pass each such checkpoint. Airline travelers often carry airline tickets, boarding passes, credit cards, airline club lounge membership cards, frequent flyer club membership cards, rental car club membership cards, a passport or other government issued identification card such as a drivers license, and many other cards and documents.

[0005] These cards are generally of various sizes and aspect ratios. Consequently, commercial airline passengers often carry bulky “travel wallets” to hold all the documents necessary for air travel. As travelers are frequently asked by airport security personnel to present identification, many airline travelers must frequently fumble to pull out identification documents demanded by security personnel. Also, to board a commercial flight, a traveler often must stand in a line at a boarding gate in a crowded airport concourse, surrounded by luggage, and search for a boarding pass or airline ticket.

[0006] Many people are familiar with traditional identification badge holders, since many large corporations require employees to wear a company-issued identify badge while at work. Traditional identification badge holders do allow a wearer to display an identification card to airport security personnel. While a traditional identification badge holder would serve to hold an individual identification card, when the individual identification card is a drivers license or other card that is small enough to fit in the identification badge holder, traditional identification badge holders are not large enough to hold all of the documents modern travelers generally carry. Boarding passes, for example, generally do not fit in a traditional identification badge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an apparatus for holding identification cards, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 2 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 3 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 4 shows a reverse of the apparatus for holding identification cards of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an apparatus 22 for holding identification cards in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 22 includes a frame portion 24, a first pouch 26, a second pouch 28, and a hands-free mechanism 30.

[0012] In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the frame portion 24 is fabricated of metal-free materials, or of materials that are not detectable by a metal detector, and is approximately 8 inches by 4 inches in size. For example, the frame portion 24 is fabricated of a plastic material that is inexpensive to manufacture, yet provides durability and long life. If desired, a small quantity of metal may be used. If desired, the frame portion 24 is fabricated of other materials, such as cloth, cotton, or leather. The apparatus 22 may be disposable, and may be fabricated of paper, plastic, cardboard, or other inexpensive material.

[0013] The first pouch 26 is of a size sufficient to hold a boarding pass. For example, the first pouch 26 may include a rectangular plastic sheet that is approximately 8 inches by 4 inches, sewn in a longitudinal orientation into the frame portion 24 along three edges of the rectangular plastic sheet. When the frame portion 24 is held in a vertical orientation, the first pouch 26 is also in a vertical orientation; the edges of the first pouch 26 coincide with the edges of the frame portion 24. One of the shorter sides (i.e., one of the 4 inch sides) is left open, allowing a slot through which contents of the first pouch 26 may be inserted. For example, a boarding pass may be inserted through the slot.

[0014] Sewing is merely one example of a means for attaching the first pouch 26 to the frame portion 24. If desired, the first pouch 26 may be hooked, snapped, taped, glued, tied, or held by a hook-and-loop system (e.g. Velco).

[0015] The rectangular plastic sheet of the first pouch 26 is see-through to provide that an item such as a boarding pass is visible while inside the first pouch 26. Gate attendants, security personnel, and other passengers may see the boarding pass within the first pouch 26.

[0016] At an airport boarding gate, a gate attendant standing at an appropriate distance from a passenger wearing the apparatus 22 can clearly see the boarding pass, and if the boarding pass is inserted into the first pouch 26 properly, the gate attendant can quickly ascertain the passenger's destination. At a security checkpoint, security personnel can quickly ascertain that the passenger is a ticketed passenger. Many airports allow only ticketed passengers to pass through certain security checkpoints; the passenger wearing the apparatus 22 may have an easier time passing through such security checkpoints.

[0017] Internationally, or wherever a passenger might not speak a local language, a passenger can communicate more effectively with a gate attendant and with security personnel where the gate attendant and security personnel can determine information concerning the passenger without needing to attempt verbal communication. Also, if a passenger accidentally waits at an incorrect gate or wanders down an incorrect concourse, airport personnel are able to notice the passenger's mistake, and can stop the passenger and volunteer information necessary to redirect the passenger to an appropriate gate, concourse, or other destination. Also, where groups of travel companions can become separated in a crowded waiting area, service personnel might be more able to help passengers find travel companions.

[0018] Before leaving home for the airport, the transparency of the first pouch 26 also allows an absent-minded or flustered passenger to ascertain that the passenger is in possession of all necessary travel documents. If the passenger is in a hurry, the passenger might otherwise accidentally go to the airport without the necessary travel documents.

[0019] Some passengers do not wish to reveal their destinations to other passengers. If desired, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, the first pouch 26 includes a face having at least one slot through which the boarding pass is visible while inside the first pouch 26. The slot allows a portion of the boarding pass, but not all the boarding pass, to be visible. The passenger may remove the boarding pass to show the passenger's destination to a gate agent, but need not reveal the passenger's destination to other travelers. The slot may be replaced with a transparent region.

[0020] In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, the first pouch 26 is partially see-through. The boarding pass is not visible while inside the first pouch 26 when carefully examined from a close distance. Accordingly, gate agents, security personnel, and others with a “need to know” may ascertain the passenger's destination while fellow passengers are not able to do so.

[0021] In accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the first pouch 26 is not see-through. The boarding pass is not visible while inside the first pouch 26. The passenger must remove the boarding pass from the first pouch 26 to allow airport personnel to view the boarding pass.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the second pouch 28 is substantially smaller than the first pouch 26, and is located in front of the first pouch 26. If the second pouch 28 were not transparent, the second pouch 28 would partially obstruct a view of the contents of the first pouch 26 even when the second pouch 28 is empty. Since the second pouch 28 is transparent, the boarding pass (or other item) contained in the first pouch 26 is visible through the second pouch 28 when no government-issued identification card is located within the second pouch 28. If desired, a face of the second pouch 28 includes at least one hole, gap, or other opening through which the government-issued identification card is visible while inside the second pouch 28.

[0023] The second pouch 28 is of a size sufficient to hold a government-issued identification card. For example, the second pouch 28 includes a rectangular plastic sheet that is approximately 3 inches by 2 inches in size, sewn in a horizontal orientation into the first pouch 26 along three edges of the rectangular plastic sheet. When the frame portion 24 and the first pouch 26 are held in a vertical orientation, the second pouch 28 is held in a horizontal orientation. The upper edge of the second pouch 28 (i.e., one of the 3 inch sides) is not sewn, allowing a slot through which contents of the second pouch 28 may be inserted. For example, a driver's license may be inserted through the slot.

[0024] Sewing is merely one example of a means for attaching the second pouch 28 to the frame portion 24. If desired, the second pouch 28 may be hooked, snapped, taped, glued, tied, or held by a hook-and-loop system (e.g. Velco).

[0025] The rectangular plastic sheet of the second pouch 28 is see-through to provide that the government-issued identification card is visible while inside the second pouch 28. Gate attendants, security personnel, and other passengers may see the government-issued identification card within the second pouch 28. Since the second pouch 28 is see-through, the government-issued identification card is visible while inside the second pouch 28.

[0026] In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the second pouch 28 is substantially smaller than, and is located in front of, the first pouch 26. Since the second pouch 28 is see-through, contents of the first pouch 26 are visible through the second pouch 28 when no government-issued identification card is located within the second pouch 28.

[0027] The second pouch 28 has an upper lip that is sufficiently taut to securely retain the government-issued identification card, while allowing the government-issued identification card to be easily accessible.

[0028] In accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention, the second pouch 28 includes a see-through portion rather than being completely see-through. The presence of the government-issued identification card remains visible while inside the second pouch 28, although only a portion of the government-issued identification card is visible through the see-through portion. If desired, the second pouch 28 may be opaque, concealing the contents of the second pouch 28.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which the first pouch 26 is located alongside the second pouch 28. When a government-issued identification card is located within the second pouch 28, the government-issued identification card does not obstruct view the boarding pass in the first pouch 26.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus 22 also includes a hands-free mechanism 30. The hands-free carrying mechanism 30 is coupled to the apparatus to allow a person to carry the apparatus without using hands. For example, the hands-free mechanism 30 is a cord fabricated of cotton. Each end of the cord is sewn to the frame portion 24. When the cord is worn around the neck and allowed to hang from of a passenger's torso, the first pouch 26 and the second pouch 28 are oriented to retain the contents of the first pouch 26 and the second pouch 28. If desired, the hands-free mechanism 30 is a cord fabricated of a synthetic material such as polyester. Where the apparatus 22 is washable, the hands-free mechanism 30 may be fabricated of an unshrinkable synthetic material such as polyester.

[0031] If desired, the apparatus may also include an opaque flap 36 operative to cover the second pouch 28. When the opaque flap 36 is in an open position, the government issued identification card is visible through the second pouch 28. When the opaque flap 36 is in a closed position, the government issued identification card is not visible through the second pouch 28.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention, in which the hands-free mechanism 30 includes at least one clip that is attached to a portion of the frame portion 24 and may be worn clipped to clothing of a passenger wearing the apparatus 22. For example, a clip allows the apparatus 22 to be clipped to a hem or to a pocket of a garment, such as a jacket or overcoat, worn by the passenger.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a reverse of the apparatus of FIG. 1. The apparatus 22 also includes a third pouch 32. The third pouch 32 is of a size sufficient to hold a credit card, and is coupled to a reverse side of the apparatus 22. The third pouch 32 is not generally visible to others, unless the apparatus 22 flips over while being worn by the passenger, and so can be used to store valuable cards such as credit cards that are not necessarily presented to airport personnel.

[0034] If desired, the apparatus may also include a large claspable fourth pouch 34 for holding valuables, such as a cell phone or a pen. The large claspable fourth pouch 34 includes a second frame portion 38, sewn to the frame portion 24 along three edges (i.e., the edges to which the edges of the first pouch 26 is sewn). The large claspable fourth pouch 34 may be coupled to the reverse side of the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding identification cards, the apparatus comprising:

a first pouch of a size sufficient to hold a boarding pass;

a second pouch of a size sufficient to hold a identification card; and

a hands-free carrying mechanism coupled to the apparatus to allow a person to carry the apparatus without using hands.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first pouch is see-through to provide that the boarding pass is visible while inside the first pouch.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second pouch is see-through to provide that the identification card is visible while inside the second pouch.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first pouch is substantially larger than the second pouch and is located behind the second pouch such that, when no identification card is located within the second pouch, the boarding pass is visible through the second pouch.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes metal-free materials that are not detectable by a metal detector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second pouch is operative to securely retain the identification card.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second pouch is sufficiently taut to securely retain the identification card.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second pouch has an upper lip that is sufficiently taut to securely retain the identification card and is easily accessible.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first pouch is located alongside the second pouch such that, when a identification card is located within the second pouch, the identification card does not obstruct the view of the boarding pass in the first pouch.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a hands-free mechanism.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the hands-free mechanism is a cord that is attached to the apparatus and may be worn around the neck of a person wearing the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the hands-free mechanism is at least one clip that is attached to a the apparatus and may be worn clipped to clothing of a person wearing the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first pouch includes a see-through portion to provide that the boarding pass is visible while inside the first pouch.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a face of the first pouch includes at least one slot through which the boarding pass is visible while inside the first pouch.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a face of the second pouch includes at least one hole through which the identification card is visible while inside the second pouch.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an opaque flap for covering the second pouch such that, when the opaque flap is in an open position, the government issued identification card is visible, and when the opaque flap is in a closed position, the government issued identification card is not visible.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first pouch is not see-through to provide that the boarding pass is not visible while inside the first pouch, and

the second pouch is see-through to provide that the identification card is visible while inside the second pouch.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third pouch of a size sufficient to hold a credit card, the third pouch being coupled to a reverse side of the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a claspable fourth pouch for holding valuables, the claspable fourth pouch being coupled to a reverse side of the apparatus.