Slim Wallet with Attached Elastic Band

Abstract

This device is a billfold and credit card carrier engineered for minimum thickness. Whereas most wallets have compartments for currency and vertically stacked compartments for plastic ID and credit cards, this wallet has singular pockets on either side holding cards stacked one directly on top of the other (versus the usual offset stacking). Paper currency, business cards and other paper items are, held securely by an attached elastic band which closes over the other side of the wallet when folded. This omission of a separate pouch dedicated to paper currency or other hardware allows the wallet a very thin profile, which offers users a lighter, smaller, more comfortable wallet in their pocket.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional application 61/531,559 filed on Sep. 6, 2011.

REFERENCES CITED

• U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,258 Morehead Jun. 18, 1991
• U.S. Pat. No. 1,761,976 Barnes Jun. 3, 1930
• U.S. Pat. No. 1,635,976 M. Kanzel Jul. 12, 1927
• U.S. Pat. No. 2,277,103 Herbener Mar. 24, 1942
• U.S. Pat. No. 1,772,891 P A Gardner Jr Aug. 12, 1930
• U.S. Pat. No. 2,629,419 L. Klein Feb. 24, 1950 (billfold)
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,019 Yancey Sumner III Oct. 25, 1994
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,376 Jean-Pierre Rousseau Feb. 27, 1990
• U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,916 Joeseph Margolis Feb. 7, 1974

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This art was created after the inventor was unable to find a commercially available billfold, wallet or cardholder that suited his desire for a thin wallet that did not protrude from his back pocket and cause discomfort when sitting down. In his research he discovered that many people had desired the same and had abandoned wallets altogether in favor of rubber bands around stacks of cards and cash. Deciding that this was not an acceptable solution, he set out to design a slim, attractive wallet that holds together belongings such as currency, cards and receipts in an innovative way. Prior art attempting to create smaller wallets seem to result in unnecessarily complex design with unnecessary hardware such as magnets and the like. This invention employs an elastic band which stretches around the back of the wallet to hold it together, eliminating the need for a separate section for currency. Not having an additional section allows for a more compact wallet designed for minimal thickness but that allows for a protective leather cover over identification and credit cards.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to create a slim wallet that does not protrude from the pocket causing wallet sciatica or other discomfort or displeasure, which can result from an overly large wallet or billfold. The resulting art is a wallet engineered for minimum thickness. The design employs three separate pieces of material (a rectangle and two quadrangles) and an elastic stitched together to create a new kind of small, compact wallet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 Dollar bill, variable used to create the wallet concept.

FIG. 2 Credit card, variable used to create the wallet concept

FIG. 3 The outline and dimensions of the wallet using the FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 as guidelines.

FIG. 4 Inner pockets, made from a rectangular piece of material and dimensions and cut in half.

FIG. 5 Inside view of the open wallet with the inner pockets in place and credit card size documents inserted.

• • 1. Credit or ID card

FIG. 6 Back view of the open wallet with the attached elastic band

• • 1. Attached elastic band
  • 2. Exterior of wallet

FIG. 7 Inside view of the open wallet empty.

• • 1. Right pocket of wallet
  • 2. Left pocket of wallet
  • 3. Interior of wallet

FIG. 8 Side view of the closed wallet secured with the attached elastic band.

• • 1. Elastic band

FIG. 9 Top view of the closed wallet secured with the attached elastic band.

• • 1. Elastic band
  • 2. Closed area where folded currency and paper items are held.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The art is a wallet or billfold with the functionality of a money clip and the protective material offered by a large wallet or billfold, but in a small, streamlined, compact wallet. The art is created with the simplest construction, created from one, single rectangular piece of material, sometimes lined, sometimes not, two quadrilateral pieces that form pockets on the left and right sides, and one elastic, stitched together in a linear fashion. The plastic ID and credit cards are stacked directly on top of one another in a clean stack, vertically in two separate sections at the opposite left and right ends, which keeps size of the art and the amount of materials to a minimum. These pockets open towards the center of the wallet to avoid the accidental loss of cards. The result is an extra-slim wallet or billfold which can be so due to an attached elastic band that holds the wallet closed without adding weight or heft as well as the absence of the usual separate section dedicated to holding paper currency.

The elastic band serves two functional purposes, firstly to hold the wallet closed when empty or nearly so and secondly to stretch to accommodate a larger amount of currency, papers or receipts when needed. The size of the wallet is not arbitrary, it is the size of currency and credit cards to keep the size of the art to a minimum. The thinness of the wallet or billfold provides a clean line on the trousers when worn in pockets and can help alleviate wallet sciatica, a condition which is caused by sitting on overly bulky wallets placed in the back pocket of pants.

Claims

1. A wallet or billfold (a holder for card-like items and currency) with the functionality of a money clip and the protective material offered by a large wallet or billfold, but in a small, streamlined, compact wallet.

2. A wallet of the simplest construction, created from one, single rectangular piece of material, sometimes lined, sometimes not, two quadrilateral pieces that form pockets on the left and right sides, and one elastic, stitched together in a linear fashion.

3. An extra slim wallet or billfold which is so because of its absence of the usual separate section dedicated to holding paper currency.

4. A wallet or billfold of minimal proportions and construction, held closed by a stitched-in elastic band.

5. A wallet or billfold which holds paper currency, which is folded and placed in the center, secure with said elastic band.

6. An elastic band which can hold the wallet closed when empty or nearly so, or stretch to accommodate a larger amount of currency, papers or receipts in the center.

7. A wallet or billfold that is approximately the size of currency and credit cards to keep the size of the art to a minimum.

8. A wallet, designed for minimum thickness, which provides a clean line on the trousers when worn in pockets.

9. An wallet, designed for minimum thickness, which can help alleviate wallet sciatica, a condition which is caused by sitting on overly bulky wallets placed in the back pocket of pants.

10. A wallet or billfold with cards stacked directly on top of one another in a clean stack, vertically in two separate sections at opposite ends, which keeps size of the art and the amount of materials to a minimum.

11. A wallet or billfold which card pocket openings are towards the center of wallet to avoid accidental loss of cards.