Card carrying case

Abstract

A card carrying case for one or more credit cards consisting of a first member hingedly connected to a second member, each of the first member and the second member having an exterior panel, an interior panel and a dividing panel, the exterior panel and the interior panel being mateably connected to the dividing panel to form a pair of cavity sections, the cavity sections having dimensions to receive at least one credit card. Each of the dividing panels is disposed between and mateably connected to the exterior panel and the interior panel. Each of the exterior panels and the interior panels consisting of an inner surface having a pair of rib portions extending generally therefrom, and wherein each of the dividing panels consisting an upper surface and a lower surface, each of said upper surface and said lower surface having a pair of channel portions extending therefrom. Each of the rib portions formed on the exterior panels and the interior panels register and mateably connect with each of the corresponding channel portions formed on the dividing panels.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a card carrying case for containing credit cards, identification cards, debit cards, ATM cards. More particularly, the present invention relates to a compact, lightweight case capable of containing and protecting at least two cards from physical damage and demagnetization.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, the use of credit cards, smart cards, identification cards, ATM cards and the like (hereinafter referred to as “cards” or “credit cards”) to purchase products or services and to complete financial transactions has increased considerably. This increase in the usage of credit cards is, in part, due to the convenience of completing financial transaction without having to make frequent visits to a financial institution to withdraw cash funds. Also, many individuals are concerned for their personal safety and do not wish to carrying large sums of cash funds in their wallets.

Conventionally, wallets for men and women have been designed to enable individuals to easily and quickly access their cash and coins. These wallets were often formed with pouches or sleeves for receiving and containing credit cards. Given that credit cards were traditionally used on an infrequent basis, the sleeves and pouches were positioned in a less accessible portion of the wallet. The increased reliance upon credit cards to complete purchases and financial transaction necessitates a wallet design that enables the frequent removal and insertion of the cards from the wallet. As presently designed, the traditional wallet is not conveniently designed from a modern individual who may require frequent access to their credit cards instead of their cash.

Furthermore, many traditional wallets, particular those used by women, often include metallic clasps which may damage the surface of the credit card, or demagnetize the information encoded in the magnetic strip along the card. Moreover, many wallets are designed to carry metallic coins in close proximity to the credit card pouches or sleeves. Both of these configurations can cause damage to the credit cards within the wallet, and may result in the cards being rendered unusable.

In view of the inconvenient design of traditional wallets, many individuals opt to carry their credit cards loosely in their pocket. Carrying the cards in this fashion may also result in the credit cards being damaged or lost, and may inconvenience the individual when trying to use a particular card or a combination of cards.

Several attempts have been made to manufacture a card carrying case that is adapted to be inserted into the pouch or sleeve portion of a traditional wallet to permit quicker access to the cards. Due to the limited space available for such cases in traditional wallets, individuals must often continue to excess cards loosely in their pocket. Moreover, existing carrying cases are also costly to manufacture, lack the capacity to hold a sufficient number of cards required by individuals on a day-to-day basis, and are unable to adequately prevent damage to the cards contained therein.

Accordingly, there is a need for the present invention relates to a compact, lightweight case capable of removably containing and protecting at least two cards from physical damage and demagnetization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention is directed to a card carrying case for one or more credit cards. The card carrying case includes a first member hingedly connected to a second member, each of the first member and the second member having an exterior panel, an interior panel and a dividing panel. The exterior panel and the interior panel being mateably connected to the dividing panel to form a pair of cavity sections. The cavity sections have dimensions to receive at least one credit card. Each of the dividing panels is disposed between and mateably connected to the exterior panel and the interior panel.

Each of the exterior panels and the interior panels include an inner surface having a pair of rib portions extending generally therefrom. Each of the dividing panels includes an upper surface and a lower surface formed with a pair of channel portions extending therefrom. Each of the rib portions formed on the exterior panels and the interior panels register and mateably connect with each of the corresponding channel portions formed on the dividing panel. The shape of each of the channel portions corresponds to the shape of each of the rib portions. Each of the channel portions is dimensioned to extend a pre-determined distance outwardly from the upper surface and the lower surface of the dividing panel to maintain sufficient space within the cavity sections.

In a second aspect, the invention is directed to a card carrying case for one or more credit cards. Each of the exterior panels and the interior panels have an inner surface, and wherein each of the dividing panels have an upper surface and an upper surface. Each of the upper surfaces and the lower surfaces have a pair of ledge portions extending therefrom. At least a portion of each of the inner surface of the exterior panels and the interior panels register and mateably connect with each of the corresponding ledge portions on the dividing panels. The shape of each of the ledge portions corresponds to the shape of at least a portion of the exterior panels and the interior panels.

The dividing panels in the first and second aspects of the invention may be mateably connected to the exterior panel and the interior panel by friction fit, sonic welding or by solvent. The first and second members are hingedly connected together about a hinge. A cooperating gap means may be provided to maintain sufficient space within the cavity sections to receive the one or more credit cards. The cooperating gap means may further include a stop means and a limiting means, wherein the stop means being provided on the inner surface of the exterior panel, and wherein the limiting means being provided on each of the upper surface and the lower surface of the dividing panel. The stop means is adapted to engage with the limiting means to maintain sufficient space within the cavity sections to facilitate the insertion and removal of the one or more credit cards. A loop means for receiving a key chain for carrying the card carrying case may also be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a card carrying case made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is front perspective view of an exterior panel of the card carrying case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a second member of the card carrying case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a first member of the card carrying case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the interior panels of the card carrying case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side, sectional view of the interior panels of the card carrying case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the card carrying case along the section A-A in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the card carrying case along the section B-B in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the rib portions of the exterior and interior panels and the channel portions of the dividing panel in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the exterior and interior panels mateably connected with the dividing panel in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the exterior and interior panels and the ledge portions of the dividing panels in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-section view of the exterior and interior panels matably connected with the dividing panel in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of the card carrying case having an optional loop means;

FIG. 14 is a side perspective view of the optional loop means of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a sectional side view of the open top edge of the card carrying case along section C in FIG. 6;

FIG. 16 is a sectional side view of the open top edge of the card carrying case along section c in FIG. 6;

FIG. 17 is a sectional side view of the stop means of the optional cooperating gap means;

FIG. 18 is a sectional top view of the limiting means of the optional cooperating gap means;

FIG. 19 is a side perspective view of the stop means of the optional cooperating gap means of FIG. 17; and

FIG. 20 is a side perspective view of the limiting means of the optional cooperating gap means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made to FIGS. 1-10 which illustrate a card carrying case 10 made in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The card carrying case 10 is adapted to protect at least two credit cards 12 from being scratched, marred, demagnetized or otherwise damaged when being contained therein. The term credit cards is used generically to describe credit cards, debit cards, ATM cards, identification cards, security cards, or any other like-sized cards which may be commonly carried together by an individual. The card carrying case may be manufactured from any suitable material such as, for example, plastic, leather or metal.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the card carrying case 10 comprises of a first member 14 and a generally identical second member 16 which are pivotally connected about a hinge 18. The hinge 18 may be any suitable metallic or plastic piano-type hinge. Any other means known in the art may be employed to pivotally, permanently or removably connect the members 14 and 16 together. The dimensions of the first and second members 14 and 16, and the card carrying case 10 generally, are designed to be at least greater than the dimensions of a standard credit card or identification card. Moreover, the card carrying case 10 is sized to be conveniently and comfortably received within the hand of a user when inserting and removing the credit cards 12.

Reference is made to FIGS. 6-8 which illustrate the first and second members 14 and 16 in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The first member 14 is generally rectangular in shape and consists of a generally open top edge 20, a closed bottom edge 22 and a pair of opposite closed side edges 24 and 26. Similarly, the second member also has a generally rectangular shape and consists of a generally open top edge 120, a closed bottom edge 122 and a pair of opposite closed side edges 124 and 126. The hinge 18 is provided along the side edges 24 and 124 of the first and second members 14 and 16, respectively.

Each of the first and second members 14 and 16 are comprised of an exterior panel 26, 126, an interior panel 28, 128, and a dividing panel 30, 130, that is disposed between the exterior panels 26, 126 and the interior panel 28, 128. As will be discussed in greater detail, the exterior and interior panels 24 and 28 of the first member 14 are adapted to be mateably connected to the dividing panel 30 to form a pair of card cavity sections 32. Similarly, the exterior panels 126 and 128 of the second member 16 are mateably connected to the dividing panel 130 to form a further pair of card cavity sections 132. Each of the card cavity sections 32 and 132 are dimensioned to receive at least one standard sized credit card or identification card therein.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a viewing window 34 may be provided through one or both of the exterior panels 26, 126 to enable the user to visually identify the type and position of the credit cards 12 within the card carrying case 10. It should be understood that the viewing window 34 may also be adapted to enable the user to remove the credit card 12 from the carrying card case 10 by applying finger pressure to the exposed portion of the card 12 within the viewing window 34 and sliding the card 12 out through the generally open top edge 20, 120 of the card carrying case 10.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, a central opening 36 may be provided through one or both of the interior panels 28, 128 of the first and second members 14 and 16. The central opening 36 is adapted to enable the user to easily and quickly display their photo identification card, for example, without having to remove the card 12 from the card carrying case 10. The central opening 36 is dimensioned to permit a sufficient portion of the card 12 contained within the card carrying case 10 to be displayed, such as, for example, the serial number and photograph portion of a typical driver's license.

Reference is made to FIGS. 7-10 which illustrate the mateable connection between the corresponding exterior panels 26, 126, the interior panel 28, 128 and the dividing panels 30, 130 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 8, each of the exterior panels 26, 126 and the interior panels 28, 128 are formed with a generally flat inner surface 38, 138 having a rib portion 40, 140 extending therefrom. The rib portions 40, 140 projects from the inner surfaces 38, 138 and extends generally along the closed edges 24, 124 and side edges 26, 126 of each of the first and second members 14 and 16.

The dividing panels 30, 130 are formed with an upper surface 42, 142 and a lower surface 44,144. Each of the upper and lower surfaces 42, 142, 44 and 144, respectively, is formed with a pair of channel portions 46 and 146 which extend generally along the closed edges 24, 124 and side edges 26, 126 of each of the first and second members 14 and 16. As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the channel portions 46 and 146 are designed to project a predetermined distance 48, 148 outwardly from the upper and lower surfaces 42, 142, 44 and 144, respectively, of the dividing panels 30, 130 to maintain sufficient space within the card cavity sections 32, 132 to receive the desired number of credit cards 12. The shape of the channel portions 46 and 146 corresponds to the shape of the rib portions 40, 140 formed on the exterior and interior panels 26, 126, 28 and 128, respectively. Preferably, the shape of each channel portion 46 and 146 is generally rectilinear.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the first member 14 is formed by mating the exterior and interior panels 26 and 28 to the dividing panel 30 so that the rib portions 40 registers within the channel portions 46 on the dividing panel 30. The second member 16 is similarly formed by mating the exterior and interior panels 126 and 128 to the dividing panel 130 so that the rib portions 140 register with the channel portions 146 on the dividing panel 130. Once the first and second members 14 and 16 have been assembled, each of the mateable connections between the exterior panels 26 and 126, the interior panels 28 and 126, and the dividing panels 30 and 130 can be connected together by friction fit or bonding in a permanent manner using any suitable solvent. Sonic welding may be utilized to permanent bond the exterior, interior and dividing panels together. It should be understood that the panels may be mateable connected using any suitable method as is known by persons skilled in the art.

Reference is made to FIGS. 11 and 12 which illustrate the mateable connection between the corresponding exterior panels 26, 126, the interior panel 28, 128 and the dividing panels 30, 130 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. To improve the durability and strength of the card carrying case 10, each of the upper and lower surfaces 42, 142, 44 and 144, respectively, of the dividing panels 30, 130 may be formed with a pair of ledge portions 50, 150 which extend generally along the closed bottom edges 22, 122 and side edges 24, 124 of each of the first and second members 14 and 16. The ledge portions 50 and 150 present a larger contact surface 51 and 151 to increase the mateable connection between the dividing panels 30, 130 and each of the exterior and interior panels 26, 126, 28 and 128, respectively. By this design, the inner surfaces 38, 138 of each of the exterior and interior panels 26, 126, 28 and 128 are bonded directly to the ledge portions 50, 150 of the dividing panels 30, 130.

In a further embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a loop means 52 may be provided along one or more of the side edges 24, 124 to facilitate the use of the card carrying case 10. By this design, the user may secure the card carrying case 10 to their key chain or necklace to minimize the likelihood of the card carrying case 10 being stolen or misplaced. It should be understood that the card carrying case 10 may also include a latch means 54 (not shown) to releaseably secure the case 10 in a closed position when desired. Any suitable latch means 54 may be utilized as is known by persons skilled in the art, including, but not limited to, clasps or spring-biased latches.

In a further embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the exterior panels 26, 126, the interior panels 28, 128 and the dividing panels 30, 130 may be formed with tapered side walls 56, 156 adjacent to the open top edge 20, 120 to facilitate the insertion and removal of the one or more credit cards 12 in the cavity sections 32, 132. As best shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the tapered side walls 56, 156 are angled outwardly to create a wider open top edge 20, 120.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the dividing panel 30, 130 of the first and second members 14 and 16 may be designed to extend slightly beyond the exterior panels 26, 126 and the interior panels 28, 128 adjacent to the open top edge 20, 120 to facilitate and guide the one or more credit cards 12 into the cavity sections 32, 132 of the first and second members 14 and 16, respectively.

In a further embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 17, 18, 19 and 20, the card carrying case 10 may be provided with a cooperating gap means 58, 158 which is adapted to maintain each of the card cavity sections 32, 132 of the first and second members 14 and 16 in a substantially open condition. The cooperating gap means 58, 158 comprises a stop means 60, 160 provided on the inner surface 38, 138 of the exterior panels 26, 126 adjacent to the open edge 22, 122 of the first and second members 14 and 16. The stop means 60, 160 is adapted to engage with a limiting means 62, 162 provided on the dividing panel 30, 130 in the event that the exterior and/or interior panels 26, 126 and 28, 128, respectively, of the card carrying case 10 are pinched or collapsed inwardly towards the dividing panel 30, 130. By this design, the cooperating gap means 58, 158 will prevent the credit cards 10 contained within the card carrying case 10 from being damaged when the case is subjected to loading conditions.

The stop means 60, 160 may also be adapted to provide the user with an audible and/or tactile indication that a card 12 has been removed or inserted into the card carrying case 10. This type of indication would be expected when the card carrying case 10 is utilized with credit cards 12 having either raised or embossed information on the surface of the cards 12, such as the cardholder's name or account number. The audible and/or tactile indication is generated by the raised or embossed portions coming into contact with the stop means 60, 160 as the credit cards 12 are being removed or inserted into the case.

While what has been shown and described herein constitutes a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, it should be understood that various modifications and adaptions of such embodiment can be made without departing from the present invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A card carrying case for one or more credit cards, comprising:

a first member hingedly connected to a second member, each of said first member and said second member having an exterior panel, an interior panel and a dividing panel, said exterior panel and said interior panel being mateably connected to said dividing panel to form a pair of cavity sections, said cavity sections having dimensions to receive at least one credit card.

2. A card carrying case according to claim 1, wherein each of said dividing panels is disposed between and mateably connected to said exterior panel and said interior panel.

3. A card carrying case according to claim 1, wherein each of said exterior panels and said interior panels comprising an inner surface having a pair of rib portions extending generally therefrom, and wherein each of said dividing panels comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, each of said upper surface and said lower surface having a pair of channel portions extending therefrom.

4. A card carrying case according to claim 3, wherein each of said rib portions formed on said exterior panels and said interior panels register and mateably connect with each of the corresponding said channel portion formed on said dividing panels.

5. A card carrying case according to claim 3, wherein the shape of each of said channel portions corresponding to the shape of each of said rib portions.

6. A card carrying case according to claim 3, wherein each of said channel portions are dimensioned to extend a pre-determined distance outwardly from said upper surface and said lower surface of said dividing panel to maintain sufficient space within said cavity sections.

7. A card carrying case according to claim 1, wherein each of said exterior panels and said interior panels having an inner surface, and wherein each of said dividing panels comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, each of said upper surface and said lower surface having a pair of ledge portions extending therefrom.

8. A card carrying case according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of each of said inner surface of said exterior panels and said interior panels registers and mateably connects with each of the corresponding said ledge portions on the said dividing panels.

9. A card carrying case according to claim 8, wherein the shape of each of said ledge portions corresponding to the shape of at least a portion of said exterior panels and said interior panels.

10. A card carrying case according to claim 2, wherein said dividing panels are mateably connected to said exterior panel and said interior panel by friction fit.

11. A card carrying case according to claim 2, wherein said dividing panels are mateably connected to said exterior panel and said interior panel by sonic welding.

12. A card carrying case according to claim 2, wherein said dividing panels are mateably connected to said exterior panel and said interior panel by a solvent.

13. A card carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said first member and said second member are hingedly connected together about a hinge.

14. A card carrying case according to claim 1, further comprising a cooperating gap means to maintain sufficient space within said cavity sections to receive said at least one credit card.

15. A card carrying case according to claim 14, said cooperating gap means further comprising a stop means and a limiting means, wherein said stop means being provided on said inner surface of said exterior panel, and wherein said limiting means being provided on each of said upper surface and said lower surface of said dividing panel, whereby said stop means being adapted to engage with said limiting means to maintain sufficient space within said cavity sections to facilitate the insertion and removal of said one or more credit cards.

16. A card carrying case according to claim 1, further comprising a loop means for receiving a key chain for carrying the card carrying case.