MULTI CARD HOLDER

Abstract

A card holder is provided. The card holder includes at least two housing members that are configured to be folded and stacked. Each housing members includes at least one opening for entry into and exit from the housing member, at least one housing member configured to accommodate at least one card and a size of the opening is equal or greater than a size of the at least one card. Each housing member also includes at least one through-hole such that access to the interior of the housing member can be made and a card contained in the housing member can be manipulated. The card holder also includes at least one coupling member that connects the two housing members to one another.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a holder, and more particularly to a multiple card holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, business cards or credit cards are held in receptacles designed to hold a multiple number of business cards or credit cards for a person to whom the business and credit cards belong. If the business card owner wishes to share his card with another individual, such as his/her client, the owner generally finds and removes his business card from a business card holder or a wallet and passes it to the other individual. If a credit card owner desires to use his/her credit card, the owner usually searches for his/her credit card in his/her wallet, removes it and uses it.

Nowadays, it is more common to retain a multiple number of credit cards and business cards together in one place e.g., a wallet or a holder. However, people often find themselves having a hard time to find a particular card among the multiple number of cards. This is because a receptacle of a card holder accommodates a plurality of cards together, but it fails to provide a tool to organize the cards. Sometimes, because a plurality of cards are placed and stuck together, pulling out one of the plurality of cards is not easy.

Thus, there is a need to organize these various cards in a more efficient and retrievable way and a structural modification thereof to help to pull out a targeted card.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to a present disclosure, a card holder is provided with at least two interconnected housing members, at least one of which is configured to accommodate at least one card. Each of the housing members has an interior cavity therein and an opening for entry into and exit from the interior cavity. The opening has a size that is at least slightly greater than the size of the card to be accommodated within said housing member so that the card can be easily inserted and withdrawn therefrom, but not so much greater so that the card will not inadvertently fall out. A hole is provided in at least one side of the housing so that access to a card that is in the interior cavity can be reached and manipulated so as, for example, to extract it from the housing member. There is also a coupling member connecting the two housing members to each other. In one embodiment, the coupling member connects the housing members together so that one can be foldable therealong the other and thereby stacked on each other. In another embodiment the first housing member shares its bottom with the top of the second housing member and the two housing members are not separable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplifying embodiments thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a card holder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in which a plurality of housing members are depicted.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged perspective view of a housing member according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 illustrates a folded card holder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A, 4B, 5A-5G, 6A, and 6B illustrate another embodiment of card holder according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout the several views. In this regard, the present embodiments may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, the embodiments are merely described below, by referring to the figures, to explain aspects of the present description. Terms used herein are for descriptive purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” are used to specify the presence of stated elements, steps, operations, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements, steps, operations, and/or components. The terms “first,” “second,” and the like may be used to describe various elements, but do not limit the elements. Such terms are only used to distinguish one element from another.

With particular reference to at least FIG. 1 a card holder 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is disclosed. Card holder 1 is devised to accommodate a plurality of cards, including business cards and/or credit cards, etc. Card holder 1 provides a plurality number of housing members for receiving the cards, and thus a user can put his/her cards separately into a particular one of the housing members as categorized as the user desires. For example, the user can put the credit cards together into one housing; put important business cards into another housing; and put less important business cards into the other one. Card holder 1 is devised to provide a structural convenience for carrying multiple cards together and pulling out a target card therefrom.

As depicted in FIG. 1, card holder 1 includes housing members 100, 200, 300, and 400, and three coupling members 10, 20, and 30. The number of housing members are described herewith for exemplary purpose only and thus, the number of housing members are not limited thereto. The number of coupling members depicted in FIG. 1 is one less than the number of housing members.

Each of housing members 100, 200, 300, and 400 may have a similar shape and structure as one another with or without slight modifications. For example, each housing member 100, 200, 300, and 400 can have a rectangular parallelepiped shape elongated in one direction or a rectangular plate-shape. The slight modifications of housing members 100, 200, 300, and 400 are described below.

All of first, second, third, and fourth housing members 100, 200, 300, and 400 are configured to be stacked one upon another and in the embodiment of FIG. 1 have a flat top and a flat bottom. First housing member 100 and second housing member 200 are connected to one another by first coupling member 10. Third housing member 300 and fourth housing member 400 are connected to one another by second coupling member 20. Second housing member 200 and third housing member 300 are connected by third coupling member 30.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, first housing member 100 is depicted in further detail. First housing member 100 includes at least one housing 100A and 100B, at least one hole 111 and 112, and at least one slot or opening 121 and 122. Each of first housing 100A and second housing 100B is configured to accommodate a first card C1 and a second card C2, respectively. Although each of first housing 100A and second housing 100B is configured to accommodate more than one card, for exemplary purpose only, it will be described that first housing 100A receives one (1) first card C1, but it is not limited thereto. First hole 111 and second hole 112 are a through-hole. Each of first opening 121 and second opening 122 is defined for entry into and exit from first housing 100A and second housing 100B, respectively. The size of at least one opening 121 and 122 is equal or greater than a size of card C1 and C2 so that card C1 and C2 can pass through opening 121 and 122.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, first hole 111 and second hole 112 are a through-hole and have enough size to show the contents of the cards C1 and C2. For instance, a user can see a part of first card C1 through the first hole 111 and can identify whether first card C1 is the one the user is looking for. Thus, although card holder 1 contains a plurality of cards, the user can unfold the card holder 1 and easily identify which housing member contains a targeted card through the holes in the plurality of housing members.

As depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, first hole 111 in first housing 100A has an elongated shape along a Y-axis and first opening 121 is located ahead or in front of first hole 111 in the Y-axis direction. Thus, a user can touch first card C1 located in first housing 100A and push it along the Y-axis so that first card C1 can be easily ejected from first housing 100A.

As depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, second hole 112 in second housing 100B has an elongated shape in the X-axis and second opening 122 is located ahead or in front of second hole in the X-axis direction. Thus, a user can touch second card C2 located in second housing 100B and push toward along X-axis so that second card C2 can be easily ejected from second housing 100B.

The direction in which each of first and second holes 111 and 112 extends relates to the location of each of first and second openings 121 and 122, respectively, as explained above. That is so a user can touch and push each of the cards C1 and C2 in first and second housings 100A and 100B along a direction that each of first and second holes 111 and 112 is extended. Each of first and second openings is located in reply to a direction that each of first and second holes 111 and 112 is extended. Each hole 111, 211, 311, and 411 of respective housing members 100, 200, 300, and 400 can have its own direction. For instance, referring to FIG. 1, first hole 311 of third housing member 300 and first hole 211 of second housing member 200 are extended in a different direction from one another.

First opening 121 is defined to face in a first direction and second opening 122 is defined to face in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction can be the same. The first direction and the second direction can be also different as well, such as at an angle to each other or orthogonal to each other.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, for the exemplary purpose only, each of first hole 111 and second hole 112 is extended in a different direction. However, the embodiment according to the present description should not be limited thereto. For example, first hole 111 and second hole 112 can be extended in the same direction. First hole 111 and second hole 112 can have the same shape or different shapes. Also the number housings per housing member is not limited to two and may have more than three (3) housings (not shown). If first housing member 100 has more than three (3) housings (not shown), the interposed housing may have an elongated through-hole on a side or may not have such hole.

Each coupling member 10, 20, and 30 is configured to connect at least two housing members 100, 200, 300, and 400 to one another. Housing members 100, 200, 300, and 400 are configured to be folded and stacked there between. First coupling member 10 is configured to connect first housing member 100 and second housing member 200. Second coupling member 20 is configured to connect third housing member 300 and fourth housing member 400. Third coupling member 30 is configured to connect second housing member 200 and third housing member 300. Coupling members 10, 20 and 30 can be the same or similar or can be entirely different. For example, coupling members 10, 20 and 30 can be a traditional hinge or a thin elastic member made from for example a plastic material. In addition, under some circumstances a coupling member can be made from a metal, such as aluminum, a paper type material, or a leather type material.

Referring again to FIG. 1, first housing member 100 and second housing member 200 can be rotatably folded by first coupling member 10 as shown by an arrow F1. Third housing member 300 and fourth housing member 400 can be rotatably folded by second coupling member 20 as shown in an arrow F2. Second housing member 200 and third housing member 300 can be rotatably folded by third coupling member 30 as shown in an arrow F3.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B, each housing member 100, 200, 300, and 400 has a flat planar top and a spaced apart flat planar bottom connected together by at least a first side and a second side. Thus a slot or opening is provided between the top and bottom of each housing member 100, 200, 300, and 400.

FIG. 3 illustrates a folded card holder 1′ that has been folded as described above with respect the description of the folding of first, second, third and fourth housing members 100, 200, 300, and 400. Second hole 312 of third housing member 300 is depicted on the top of the folded card holder 1′.

Card holder 1 can be made of a thin metal material, such as aluminum\ or steel, or from a hard plastic material. Card holder 1 can be also made of flexible materials, such as leather or a flexible plastic material.

FIG. 4A illustrates another embodiment of card holder 2 according to the present description. Referring to FIG. 4A, at least two housing members include a first housing member 100 and a second housing member 200. First housing member 100 and second housing member 200 have a substantially similar rectangle shape. For exemplary purpose only, first housing 100 has a longer side “a” (i.e. the length) and a shorter side “b” (i.e. the width) so that a>b. Also, side a and side b can have the same length and thus first housing member would be a square. First housing member 100 and second housing member 200 are connected to one another in a longitudinal direction by a first coupling member 10. Thus, shorter side b of first housing 100 is adjacent to second housing 200.

FIG. 4B illustrates another embodiment of card holder 3 according to the present description. At least two housing members include first housing member 100 and second housing member 200. First housing member 100 and second housing member 200 are connected to one another in a lateral direction by the first coupling member 10. Thus, the longer side “a” of first housing 100 is adjacent to second housing 200.

FIG. 5A illustrates another embodiment of a card holder 4 according to the present description. Referring to FIG. 5A, four housing members, as an example only, housing members 100, 200, 300, and 400. First, second, third, and fourth housing members 100, 200, 300, and 400 are sequentially, respectively connected to one another in a longitudinal direction by coupling member 10, 20, and 30.

FIG. 5B illustrates another embodiment of a card holder 5 according to the present description. Housing members 100, 200, 300, and 400 are sequentially connected to one another in a lateral direction by a coupling member.

FIG. 5C illustrates another embodiment of a card holder 6 according to the present description. Referring to FIG. 5C, each one of housing members 100, 200, 300 and 400 has the same shape or substantially same and are configured to be stacked one upon another. First housing member 100 and second housing member 200 are connected to one another in a longitudinal direction by first coupling member 10. Third housing member 300 and fourth housing member 400 are connected to one another in a longitudinal direction by second coupling member 20. First housing member 100 and third housing member 300 are connected to one another in a lateral direction by third coupling member 30.

FIG. 5D illustrates another embodiment of a card holder 7 according to the present description. Housing members 100 and 200 are connected to one another in a lateral direction by first coupling member 10. Third housing member 300 and fourth housing member 400 are connected to one another in a lateral direction by second coupling member 20. First housing member 100 and third housing member 300 are connected in a longitudinal direction by third coupling member 30.

FIG. 5E illustrates another embodiment of a card holder 8 according to the present description. Housing members 100, 200 and 300 are connected in a sequential order in a longitudinal direction by first and the second coupling members 10 and 20 there between. Fourth housing member 400 is connected to first housing member 100 in a lateral direction by third coupling member 30.

FIG. 5F illustrates another embodiment of a card holder 9 according to the present description. Housing members 100, 200 and 300 are connected in a sequential order in a lateral direction by first and second coupling members 10 and 20 there between. Fourth housing member 400 is connected to first housing member 100 in a longitudinal direction by third coupling member 30.

FIG. 5G illustrates another embodiment of a card holder 10 according to the present description. Housing members 100, 200 and 300 are connected in a sequential order by first and second coupling members 10 and 20 there between. Fourth housing member 400 is connected to second housing member 200 by third coupling member 30. Fourth housing member 400 may be connected to any one of first, second, or third housing members 100, 200, and 300 by third coupling member 30.

FIG. 6A illustrates another embodiment of a card holder 11 according to the present description. Housing members 100 and 200 are connected to one another by first coupling member 10. Third housing member 300 is connected to first housing member 100 by second coupling member 20.

FIG. 6B illustrates another embodiment of a card holder 12 according to the present description. First, second, and third housing members 100, 200 and 300 are connected to one another in a longitudinal direction by first and the second coupling members 10 and 20.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may be exaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly. the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

Claims

1. A card holder comprising:

at least two interconnected housing members, at least one of which is configured to accommodate at least one card, each one of said housing members having an interior cavity therein and an opening for entry into and exit from said interior cavity, said opening having a size at least slightly greater than the size of the card to be accommodated within said housing member; at least one through-hole; and

at least one coupling member connecting the two housing members to each other,

wherein each of the two housing members has a shape and size and both housing members are configured so as to be foldable along said coupling member and thereby stacked on each other.

2. The card holder of clam 1, wherein at least one housing member comprises a first housing and a second housing, wherein a separation plate is interposed between the first housing and the second housing, and wherein the first housing and the second housing can contain a first card and a second card, respectively.

3. The card holder of claim 1, wherein each housing member has an elongate shape and the coupling member connects the first housing member and the second housing member to one another in a longitudinal direction.

4. The card holder of claim 1, wherein each housing member has an elongate shape and the coupling member connects the first housing member and the second housing member to one another in a lateral direction.

5. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the card holder comprises a first housing member, a second housing member, a third housing member, and a fourth housing member, wherein the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members are sequentially connected to one another in a longitudinal direction by a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and a third coupling member.

6. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the card holder comprises a first housing member, a second housing member, a third housing member, and a fourth housing member, wherein the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members are sequentially connected to one another in a lateral direction by a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and a third coupling member.

7. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the card holder comprises a first housing member, a second housing member, a third housing member, and a fourth housing member,

wherein each of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members has substantially the same shape,

wherein all of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members are configured to be stacked one upon another;

and comprises a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and a third coupling member,

wherein the first coupling member connects the first housing member and the second housing member to one another,

wherein the second coupling member connects the third housing member and the fourth housing member to one another, and

wherein the third coupling member connects the first housing member and the third housing member to one another.

8. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the card holder comprises a first housing member, a second housing member, a third housing member, and a fourth housing member,

wherein each of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members has the same shape,

wherein all of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members are configured to be stacked one upon another;

and comprises a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and a third coupling member,

wherein the first coupling member connects the first housing member and the second housing member to one another in the longitudinal direction,

wherein the second coupling member connects the third housing member and the fourth housing member to one another in the longitudinal direction, and

wherein the third coupling member connects the first housing member and the third housing member to one another in a lateral direction.

9. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the card holder comprises a first housing member, a second housing member, a third housing member, and a fourth housing member,

wherein each of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members has the same shape,

wherein all of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members are configured to be stacked one upon another;

and comprises a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and a third coupling member,

wherein the first coupling member connects the first housing member and the second housing member to one another in the lateral direction,

wherein the second coupling member connects the third housing member and the fourth housing member to one another in the lateral direction, and

wherein the third coupling member connects the first housing member and the third housing member to one another in the longitudinal direction.

10. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the card holder comprises a first housing member, a second housing member, a third housing member, and a fourth housing member,

wherein each of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members has the same shape,

wherein all of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members are configured to be stacked one upon another;

and comprises a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and a third coupling member,

wherein the first, the second, and the third housing members are connected in a sequential order in a longitudinal direction by the first and the second coupling members there between, and

wherein the fourth housing member is connected to the first housing member in a lateral direction by the third coupling member.

11. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the card holder comprises a first housing member, a second housing member, a third housing member, and a fourth housing member,

wherein each of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members has the same shape,

wherein all of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members are configured to be stacked one upon another;

and comprises a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and a third coupling member,

wherein the first, the second, and the third housing members are connected in a sequential order in a lateral direction by the first and the second coupling members there between, and

wherein the fourth housing member is connected to the first housing member in a longitudinal direction by the third coupling member.

12. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the card holder comprises a first housing member, a second housing member, a third housing member, and a fourth housing member,

wherein each of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members has the same shape,

wherein all of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members are configured to be stacked one upon another;

and comprises a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and a third coupling member,

wherein the first, the second, and the third housing members are connected in a sequential order by the first and the second coupling members there between,

wherein the fourth housing member is connected to the second housing member by the third coupling member.

13. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the card holder comprises a first housing member, a second housing member, a third housing member, and a fourth housing member,

wherein each of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members has the same shape,

wherein all of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth housing members are configured to be stacked one upon another;

and comprises a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and a third coupling member,

wherein the first, the second, and the third housing members are connected in a sequential order by the first and the second coupling members there between, and

wherein the fourth housing member is connected to one of the first, the second, and the third housing members by the third coupling member.

14. The card holder of claim 1, the card holder comprises an elongate first opening and an elongate second opening, wherein the first opening is located to face in a first direction and the second opening is located to face in a second direction.

15. The card holder of claim 13, wherein the first direction and the second direction are the same.

16. The card holder of claim 13, wherein the first direction and the second direction are different.

17. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the at least one hole comprises a first through hole and a second through-hole, wherein the first through-hole is defined to elongate to a first direction and the second through-hole is defined to elongate to a second direction.

18. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the card holder comprises a first housing member, a second housing member, and a third housing member,

wherein each of the first, the second, and the third housing members has the same shape,

wherein all of the first, the second, and the third housing members are configured to be stacked one upon another,

and wherein the card holder further comprises a first coupling member and a second coupling member,

wherein the first coupling member connects the first housing member and the second housing member to one another, and

wherein the second coupling member connects the third housing member to the first housing member.

19. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the at least two housing members comprise a first housing member, a second housing member, and a third housing,

wherein each of the first, the second, and the third housing members has the same shape,

wherein all of the first, the second, and the third housing members are configured to be stacked one upon another,

wherein the at least one coupling member comprises a first coupling member and a second coupling member,

wherein the first, the second, and the third housing member are connected to one another in a longitudinal direction by the first and the second coupling members.

20. The card holder of claim 1, wherein the card holder comprises a first housing member, a second housing member, and a third housing member,

wherein each of the first, the second, and the third housing members has the same shape,

wherein all of the first, the second, and the third housing members are configured to be stacked one upon another,

wherein the card holder further comprises a first coupling member and a second coupling member,

wherein the first coupling member connects the first housing member and the second housing member to one another, and

wherein the second coupling member connects the first housing member to the third housing member.