Card Caddy

Abstract

The invention is a card caddy for holding cards such as, but not limited to, credit cards and business cards, alone or in combination. In one preferred embodiment the card caddy is a right handed card caddy comprising a plurality of transparent pouches arranged in a single column format with a predetermined amount of overlap between each adjacent pouch. The column of connected pouches defines front and rear sides of the card caddy. Each pouch has a side opening to allow a user to insert or retract cards. A pouch overlap corresponding to ¼ of a pouch provides a card caddy with five pouches which can fit in a person's purse or wallet; a pouch overlap of ⅛ of a pouch provides a card caddy with nine pouches. A left handed card caddy is also provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to devices for holding cards. More specifically, the invention is directed to a card caddy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,207 discloses a credit card or a holder for a similar object formed from panels of transparent plastic sealed along at least two opposite edges to form a pocket. One side is open to insert and receive the card. The opposite side is notched so the user can apply manual force to an edge of a contained card to partially extend it from the pocket. The card holder may be included in an organizer, wallet or pocketbook and may be part of an assembly of card holders joined together.

Foreign Patent Number WO2008094423 discloses 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 holds 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.

U.S. Patent Publication No. 20030037851 describes a card holder for plastic cards with readable data unit such as credit cards and/or smart cards, with externally hinged covers made of a rather rigid material constituting the walls of the card holder as each of the covers at or near the ends which are not hinged together, has at least one mutually conjunctive locking mechanism to hold the card holder locked when it is not being used. The card holder has, two paired, mainly identical, holding devices at opposite sides, the holding devices, preferably, being hinged together with the covers, and having a number of paired, opposing holding surfaces to enclose an area along the side edges of cards of the above mentioned type. The holding surfaces are mainly parallel to each other both when the card holder is open and closed. The card holder preferably comprises a spring mechanism, which exerts pressure outwards on the hinged covers when closed, and which assists in the opening of the card holder when the locking mechanism, which keeps the card holder closed, is released.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a card caddy for holding cards such as, but not limited to, credit cards and business cards, alone or in combination. In one preferred embodiment the card caddy is a right handed card caddy comprising a plurality of generally rectangular pouches configured as a single column of connected pouches made up of bottom and top pouches and a plurality of middle pouches between the top and bottom pouches. The column of connected pouches defines: a front side, a rear side, and a right side of the card caddy. Each pouch has a right side opening to allow a user to insert or retract cards.

The bottom pouch is fully visible, and only the top parts of each middle pouch and top pouch are visible. As viewed from the front side of the right handed card caddy the visible parts of each middle and top pouch are hereinafter referred to as: “a display strip”, “the display strip” and “display strips”, alone or in combination. A predetermined amount of pouch overlap between each adjacent pouch results in a display strip of predetermined width with respect to the middle pouches and the top pouch.

A pouch overlap corresponding to ¾ of a pouch results in a display strip of ¼ of the width of a pouch and provides a right handed card caddy with five pouches and with the bottom pouch fully visible, and the top ¼ of the remaining four pouches visible, i.e., the width of the resulting display strip is ¼ of the width of a pouch. A pouch overlap of ⅞ of the width of a pouch results in a display strip of ⅛ of the width of a pouch and provides a right handed card caddy with nine pouches with the bottom pouch fully visible.

The term “right side opening” is from the perspective of a user holding the card caddy in front of the user with the bottom end pouch (which can be first or second end pouches from the perspective of the front and rear sides, respectively as shown in FIG. 2) fully visible and the openings on the right side of each pouch. The right side openings allow a right handed user to insert one or more cards into the front facing sides of the card caddy using their right hand, and turning the card caddy top over bottom reveals the rear side of the caddy whereupon a user can insert further cards right-way-up with the bottom card fully visible with just the top part of each of the remaining cards visible, and an opening in the right side of each pouch to allow a right handed user to insert cards through the right side opening using their right hand while holding the card caddy with their left hand.

The left handed version of the present invention is the same as the right handed version except that the side openings in the pouches are on the left side of each pouch. The card caddy solves three problems: (1) the card caddy obviates the prior art need to place a card in the front of the caddy upside down and front side back; (2) there is no requirement to move to the front of the caddy to remove a card to see the back of the caddy typically hidden in prior art card holders; and (3) a user does not need to remember the location of a card in the back of the caddy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a right handed card caddy, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the right handed card caddy of FIG. 1 turned top over bottom.

FIG. 3 shows a card being inserted into the right handed card caddy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the right handed card caddy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a top plan view of the right handed card caddy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of a right handed card caddy, according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a left handed card caddy, according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the left handed card caddy of FIG. 7 turned top over bottom.

FIG. 9 shows a card being inserted into the left handed card caddy of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of the left handed card caddy of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 shows a top plan view of the left handed card caddy of FIG. 7.

FIG. 12 shows a top plan view of a left handed card caddy, according to the present invention.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show a table (Table 1) that lists reference numbers and their associated descriptions.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is directed to a right handed card caddy 100 and a left handed card caddy 500 for holding cards such as, but not limited to, credit cards and business cards, alone or in combination. FIGS. 13A and 13B show a table (Table 1) that lists drawing reference numbers and their associated descriptions.

It is to be understood that the terms “top”, “bottom”, “side”, “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “height”, “width”, “length” and the like are used herein merely to describe points of reference and do not limit the present invention to any specific orientation or configuration.

FIGS. 1 through 6 show one embodiment in which the card caddy 100 is a right handed card caddy. The right handed card caddy 100 comprises a plurality of generally rectangular pouches 120 configured as a single column of connected pouches 140; the pouches 120 can be connected by any suitable means such as spots of glue which upon curing keep adjacent pouches attached to each other. The single column of connected pouches 140 defines a left side 148 and a right side 150, and includes first and second end pouches 120i and 120s; therefore, the first and second end pouches 120i and 120s in turn define the opposite ends of the single column of connected pouches 140. A plurality of middle pouches 120m is located between the first and second end pouches 120i and 120s.

The single column of connected pouches 140 defines front and rear sides 160 and 180, respectively. Each pouch 120 in the column of connected pouches 140 has a right side opening 200 to allow a user to insert or retract cards 210. As viewed from the front side 160 the amount of pouch overlap 145 is such that the first end pouch 120i is fully visible, with only the upper parts 147 of each middle pouch 120m and second end pouch 120s are visible. As viewed from the front side 160 of the right handed card caddy 100, the visible top parts 147 of pouches are hereinafter referred to as: “a display strip”, “the display strip” and “display strips”, alone or in combination; display strips are represented by the numeric label “146”. A predetermined amount of pouch overlap 145 between each adjacent pouch results in a display strip 146 of predetermined width with respect to the middle pouches 120m and the top pouch (corresponding to the second end pouch 120s with respect to the front side 160; and corresponding to the first end pouch 120i with respect to the rear side 180 as shown in FIG. 2 wherein the right handed card caddy 100 is shown turned top over bottom).

In one embodiment, a strip display width corresponding to 1/n of the width of a pouch (where n is an integer between 3 and 10) results in a right handed card caddy 100 made up of (n+1) pouches (i.e., between 4 and 11 pouches), in turn comprising of a fully visible bottom pouch (which can be 120i or 120s from the perspective of the front and rear sides 160 and 180, respectively as shown in FIG. 2), and n remaining pouches made up of (n−1) middle pouches and one top pouch (which can be second end pouch 120s from the perspective of the front side 160, or the first end pouch 120i with respect to the rear side 180). For example, a pouch overlap 145 corresponding to ¾ of the width of a pouch provides a right handed card caddy 100 with five pouches of which the bottom pouch is fully visible with the remaining four pouches having a display strip of ¼ of the width of a pouch; wherein the bottom pouch is the first end pouch 120i with respect to the front side 160, or the second end pouch 120s with respect to the rear side 180). For example, a pouch overlap 145 corresponding to ⅞ of the width of a pouch provides a right handed card caddy 100 with nine pouches with the bottom pouch (which can be 120i or 120s from the perspective of the front and rear sides 160 and 180, respectively) fully visible with the remaining eight pouches having a display strip of ⅛ of the width of a pouch. In one embodiment the number of pouches 120 is between 4 and 10.

The term “right side opening” is from the perspective of a user holding the card caddy in front of the user with the bottom pouch fully visible (see FIG. 2) and the right side openings 200 on the right side of the right handed card caddy 100. The right side openings 200 allow a right handed user to insert one or more cards 210 into the pouches 120 through the right side openings 200 using their right hand while holding the right handed card caddy 100 with their left hand; turning the right handed card caddy 100 top over bottom causes the rear side 180 to face the user in the correct orientation, i.e., with the right side openings 200 on the right side 150 of the single column of pouches 140 whereupon a user can insert further cards into the pouches 120 through the right side openings 200 using, e.g., their right hand.

As observed in FIG. 2, the first end pouch 120i and the second end pouch 120s are respectively located at the bottom and top of the single column of pouches 140 when the right handed card caddy 100 is orientated with the front side 160 facing a user (not shown) and the right side openings 200 on the right side 150 of the single column of pouches 140.

As observed in FIG. 2, the first end pouch 120i and the second end pouch 120s are respectively located at the top and bottom of the single column of pouches 140 when the right handed card caddy 100 is orientated with the rear side 180 facing a user (not shown) and the right side openings 200 on the right side 150 of the single column of pouches 140.

The pouches can be made out of any suitable material such as plastic. The end pouches 120i and 120s, though not essential, are preferably made out of transparent plastic. In one embodiment all of the middle pouches 120m between the first end pouch 120i and second end pouch 120s are optionally made out of opaque, translucent or transparent plastic, but transparent plastic is preferred. In another embodiment all of the pouches including middle pouches 120m between the first end pouch 120i and second end pouch 120s, first and second end pouches 120i and 120s are optionally all made out of opaque, translucent or transparent plastic, but transparent plastic is preferred.

Each right side opening 200 allows a user to insert cards right way up into the front and rear sides 160 and 180, respectively. More specifically, a user can hold the right handed card caddy 100 with the front side 160 facing the user right side up. For a right handed person the term “right side up” means the right side openings 200 are on the right side rendering them accessible to a user's right hand to insert or withdraw cards from the pouches 120.

FIGS. 7 through 12 show a left handed caddy 500; part numbers and their meanings are listed in Table 1 (see FIGS. 13A and 13B).

The invention being thus described, it will be evident that the same may be varied in many ways by a routineer in the applicable arts. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A right handed card caddy, comprising:

a single column of inseparably connected generally rectangular pouches that are overlapping and made up of first and second end pouches with middle pouches located between said first and second end pouches, wherein said inseparably connectedness occurs in an overlapping region,

said single column having front and rear sides and further defining a left side and a right side of said single column,

said pouches each having a right side rectangular shaped pouch opening for accommodating cards,

said right side pouch openings being readily accessible from said front or rear side of said single column such that cards can be inserted into said pouches regardless of whether said single column is front or rear side up, and wherein

adjacent pouches have a predetermined amount of overlap and are rigidly affixed to each other, wherein

said first end pouch is fully visible only on said front side of said single column, and

said second end pouch is fully visible only on said rear side of said single column.

2-3. (canceled)

4. The right handed card caddy of claim 1, wherein

said single column of connected pouches defines a strip display width corresponding to 1/n of the width of a pouch to provide a card caddy having (n+1) pouches,

where n is an integer between 3 and 10,

said card caddy comprising of a fully visible bottom pouch.

5. A left handed card caddy, comprising:

a single column of inseparably connected generally rectangular pouches that are overlapping and made up of first and second end pouches with middle pouches located between said first and second end pouches, wherein said inseparably connectedness occurs in an overlapping region,

said single column having front and rear sides and further defining a left side and a right side of said single column,

said pouches each having a left side rectangular shaped pouch opening for accommodating cards,

said left side pouch opening being readily accessible from said front or rear side of said single column such that cards can be inserted into said pouches regardless of whether said single column is front or rear side up, and wherein

adjacent pouches have a predetermined amount of overlap and are rigidly affixed to each other, wherein

said first end pouch is fully visible only on said front side of said single column, and

said second end pouch is fully visible only on said rear side of said single column.

6-7. (canceled)

8. The left handed card caddy of claim 5, wherein

said single column of connected pouches defines a strip display width corresponding to 1/n of the width of a pouch to provide a card caddy having (n+1) pouches, where n is an integer between 3 and 10,

said card caddy comprising of a fully visible bottom pouch.

9. The right handed card caddy of claim 1, further comprising:

a predetermined amount of glue, applied such that said inseparably connectedness occurs in the overlapping region.

10. The left handed card caddy of claim 1, further comprising:

a predetermined amount of glue, applied such that said inseparably connectedness occurs in the overlapping region.