Combination money clip and credit card holder

Abstract

A combination paper currency holder and rigid plastic card holder which has a planar base plate and in which a first resilient clip is integrally formed along one edge of the base plate and a second resilient clip is integrally formed along an opposite edge of the base plate. The first resilient clip securely hold paper currency to one side of the base plate and the second resilient clip securely holds plastic cards, such as credit cards, to the other side of the base plate. A pair of guide members are integrally formed with side edges of the other side of the base plate and assist in retaining the plastic cards against the base plate.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims the priority of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/898,031 filed Jan. 29, 2007.

I. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to currency and credit card holders and more particularly to a holder which is designed to hold paper money on one side and credit cards and the like on the other side. Alternately, the holder can hold paper money and/or credit cards on either or both sides.

One side of the money clip is better adapted to receive and hold credit cards while the opposite side is better adapted for receiving and holding paper money. There are no sharp corners or moving parts which make the money clip easy to place in one's pocket without the fear of tearing or snagging one's clothing. Furthermore, it is very thin so that it doesn't create an unsightly bulge in the wearer's pocket.

The money clip can be made of a simple, one-piece construction. This can be manufactured from a single sheet of metal which can be bent and formed into the inventive money clip or molded from plastic.

II. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inventive combination money clip and credit card holder;

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the combination money clip and credit card holder with the left side view being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the combination money clip and credit card holder;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the combination money clip and credit card holder;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the combination money clip and credit card holder;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the combination money clip and credit card holder.

FIG. 7 is a cross section view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of an alternate embodiment in which the credit card guides are u-shaped.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning first to FIGS. 1 and 4, there is illustrated the reversible money clip 10 of the present invention. There is a base plate 12 having a width W and a height H. As illustrated, the width and height are approximately equal to but slightly greater than the width and height of a credit card. Alternately the width W may be equal to or greater than a credit card and the height H may be less than or equal to the height of a credit card. There are two opposed longitudinally extending side edges 13 and two opposed transversely extending end edges 15. The substantially flat base plate 12 has a credit card clip 14 along one edge of the width of the base plate 12. The credit card clip 14, as seen in FIG. 2, is formed by a perpendicular wall 16 extending at approximately a 90° angle from the base plate 12. The height of the perpendicular wall 16 is preferably between 0.20 and 0.40 inches and preferably 0.25 inches, which, is not too thick to be placed in one's pants pocket but which is sufficient to accommodate several credit cards. The perpendicular wall 16 then turns at an acute angle and joins with a compression plate 17 extending back over the base plate 12 to form the credit card clip 14. This forms a gap between the base plate 12 and the compression plate 17 to receive credit cards. The compression plate 17 is biased towards the base plate 12 such that when credit cards are inserted between the compression plate 17 and the base plate 12, the compression plate 17 will compress and hold the credit cards against the base plate 12. When no credit cards are place between the compression plate 17 and the base plate 12, a compression point 18 adjacent to a distal end 19 of the compression plate 17 will be biased against the base plate 12.

In the preferred embodiment there are upstanding side tabs or guide members 20 on the opposed longitudinally extending side edges 13 of the plate 12. The upstanding tabs 20 extend at approximately 90° from the base plate 12. Alternatively they may be slightly flared outward at an obtuse angle with respect to the base plate 12 away from each other so that credit cards can be easily inserted between the side tabs 20. The height of the tabs 20 should not exceed the height of the wall 16 so that the low profile of the money clip 10 is maintained. Furthermore there is no reason for the height of the side tabs 20 to exceed the height of the wall 16 as the height of the wall 16 dictates the number of credit cards that can be inserted.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the upstanding tabs 20. There are channels 22 and 23 which are on opposite edges along the height of the base plate 12. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the channels 22 and 23 extend up from the base plate 12 in a U-shaped configuration. The height H2 of the U-shaped channels 22 and 23 is approximately the same height as the perpendicular wall 16, i.e. approximately 0.25 inches. Thus, credit cards inserted into the credit card clip 14, will not only be retained against the flat perpendicular wall 16, but also guided and held in place by the U-shaped channels 22 and 23.

In FIG. 3, the opposite side of the base plate 12 is illustrated. There is a currency clip 24 which is adapted to receive and retain paper currency. As seen in FIG. 2, the currency clip 24 is formed as an extension of the base plate 12 by means of a curved bend 26 which bends back over the base plate 12 to form the currency clip 24. A distal end 27 of the currency clip 24 is biased against and engages the base plate 12 such that it securely holds paper currency between the distal end 27 and the base plate 12. When no currency is inserted, the distal end 27 is biased against and engages the base plate 12.

With this inventive design, it is possible to manufacture the entire dual sided money clip 10 from one piece of material, preferably corrosion resistant metal such as stainless steel. The credit card clip 14 and currency clip 24 can be formed from a unitary piece of metal by bending the credit card clip 14 and currency clip 24 to form these two pieces as integral extensions from the base plate 12. Similarly, the channels 20 and 22 can be bent from a singular piece of metal as an extension from the base plate 12. Alternatively the money clip 10 can be manufactured from plastic by any of several conventionally available molding operations.

Of course, the reversible money clip 10 can have paper currency inserted on either side or credit cards inserted on either side. However, the perpendicular wall 16 in conjunction with the channels 20 and 22 are better suited to receive and hold credit cards while the currency clip 24 on the opposite side is better suited to receive paper currency.

Thus, there has been provided a one-piece reversible credit card and money clip holder which is particularly well adapted to receive paper currency on one side and credit cards on the opposite side. The credit card clip and currency clip are biased against opposite sides of a common base plate to securely retain the paper currency and credit cards against opposite surfaces of the base plate 12.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A one-piece combination paper currency holder and rigid plastic card holder comprising:

a base plate having front and back substantially planar opposed surfaces;

two opposed longitudinally extending side edges;

two opposed transversely extending end edges having a width substantially equal to the width of a credit card;

the two end edges extending between opposed ends of the longitudinally extending side edges;

a first resilient retaining member integrally formed with the base plate along one of the two opposed transversely extending end edges, the first resilient retaining member being biased toward and engaging in compression the front planar surface;

a second resilient retaining member integrally formed with the base plate along the other of the two opposed transversely extending end edges, the second resilient retaining member being biased toward and engaging in compression the back planar surface; and

a pair of opposed guide members integrally formed with the base plate, one guide member formed along one of the opposed side edges and the other formed along the other of the opposed side edges, the guide members extending from the base plate and defining a credit card receiving area there between,

whereby paper currency is securely retained between the first resilient retaining member and the front surface and the rigid plastic cards are securely retained between the second resilient retaining member, back planar surface and opposed guide member.

2. The one-piece combination paper currency holder and rigid plastic card holder of claim 1 wherein the first resilient retaining member is joined to the base plate along one of the two opposed transversely extending end edges by a continuously curved joining portion.

3. The one-piece combination paper currency holder and rigid plastic card holder of claim 1 wherein the second resilient retaining member comprises an upstanding flat planar wall extending from the other of the two opposed transversely extending end edges, and a second substantially flat planar surface extending from the upstanding flat planar wall defining a gap for receiving one or more rigid plastic cards between the base plate and the second substantially flat planar surface, the rigid plastic cards securely captured between the base plate, at least a portion of the second substantially flat planar surface, and planar wall.

4. The one-piece combination paper currency holder and rigid plastic card holder of claim 3 where the upstanding flat planar wall has a height of between 0.20 and 0.40 inches.

5. The one-piece combination paper currency holder and rigid plastic card holder of claim 1 wherein the pair of opposed guide members extend at substantially 90° with respect to the base plate.

6. The one-piece combination paper currency holder and rigid plastic card holder of claim 1 wherein the pair of opposed guide members extend at an obtuse angle with respect to the base plate.

7. The one-piece combination paper currency holder and rigid plastic card holder of claim 3 wherein the guide members and the upstanding flat planar wall are substantially the same height above the base plate.

8. A one-piece combination paper currency holder and credit card holder comprising:

a rectangular base plate having front and back substantially planar opposed surfaces, the base plate having a length which is equal to or shorter than the length of a credit card and a width that is equal to or larger than the width of a credit card;

two opposed longitudinally extending side edges defining the length of the base plate;

two opposed transversely extending end edges defining a width of the base plate;

a first resilient retaining member integrally formed with the base plate along one of the two opposed transversely extending end edges and extending from the one of the two opposed transversely extending end edges over the front planar surface, the first resilient retaining member being biased toward and engaging in compression the front planar surface;

a second resilient retaining member integrally formed with the base plate along the other of the two opposed transversely extending end edges and extending from the other of the two opposed transversely extending end edges over the back planar surface, the second resilient retaining member being biased toward and engaging in compression the back planar surface; and

a pair of opposed guide members integrally formed with the base plate, one guide member formed along one of the opposed side edges and the other formed along the other of the opposed side edges, the guide members extending from the base plate and defining a credit card receiving area there between,

whereby paper currency is securely retained between the first resilient retaining member and the front surface and the credit cards are securely retained between the second resilient retaining member, back planar surface and opposed guide member.

9. The one-piece combination paper currency holder and credit card holder of claim 8 wherein the second resilient retaining member comprises an upstanding flat planar wall extending from the other of the two opposed transversely extending end edges, and a second substantially flat planar surface extending from the upstanding flat planar wall defining a gap for receiving one or more rigid plastic cards between the base plate and the second substantially flat planar surface, the credit cards securely captured between the base plate, at least a portion of the second substantially flat planar surface, and planar wall.

10. The one-piece combination paper currency holder and credit card holder of claim 9 where the upstanding flat planar wall has a height of between 0.20 and 0.40 inches.

11. The one-piece combination paper currency holder and credit card holder of claim 8 wherein the pair of opposed guide members extend at substantially 90° with respect to the base plate.

12. The one-piece combination paper currency holder and credit card holder of claim 8 wherein the pair of opposed guide members extend at an obtuse angle with respect to the base plate.

13. The one-piece combination paper currency holder and credit card holder of claim 9 wherein the guide members and the upstanding flat planar wall are substantially the same height above the base plate.