Money and Card Carrier Assembly

Abstract

A money and card carrier assembly includes a first component having a first portion, wherein the first portion includes a plurality of pockets formed therein. Each of the plurality of pockets is sized to allow a credit card to be releasably retained therein. The assembly also includes a second portion, with a first hinge connecting the first portion and the second portion. A second component has a sleeve sized to allow the second portion of the first component to be removably inserted therein and a plurality of pockets located on either side of the sleeve. Each of the plurality of pockets is sized to allow a credit card to be releasably retained therein. A third component has a first generally planar portion, a second generally planar portion, and a second hinge connecting the first generally planar portion to the second generally planar portion. Each of the first and second generally planar portions is sized to be removably insertable into the sleeve.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/916,466, filed on Oct. 17, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an assembly that is used to carry money and cards. The assembly is modular and can be releasably attached to a cell phone case.

Description of the Related Art

[0003] Money and credit/identification cards are typically stored in a standard wallet, which can become quite bulky. With cell phones being ubiquitous these days, people need to carry around both a wallet and a cell phone, which can be cumbersome.

[0004] It would be beneficial to provide a money and card carrier that is smaller than a wallet and, if desired, can also be releasably attached to a cell phone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0006] In one embodiment, the present invention is a money and card carrier assembly that includes a first component having a first portion, wherein the first portion includes a plurality of pockets formed therein. Each of the plurality of pockets is sized to allow a credit card to be releasably retained therein. The assembly also includes a second portion, with a first hinge connecting the first portion and the second portion. A second component has a sleeve sized to allow the second portion of the first component to be removably inserted therein and a plurality of pockets located on either side of the sleeve. Each of the plurality of pockets is sized to allow a credit card to be releasably retained therein. A third component has a first generally planar portion, a second generally planar portion, and a second hinge connecting the first generally planar portion to the second generally planar portion. Each of the first and second generally planar portions is sized to be removably insertable into the sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention. In the drawings:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the components of a money and card carrier assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first component of the money and card carrier assembly of FIG. 1 inserted into a second component of the money and card carrier assembly of FIG. 1;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the first component of the money and card carrier assembly of FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the second component of the money and card carrier assembly of FIG. 1

[0012] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the money and card carrier assembly of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first component of the money and card carrier assembly of FIG. 1 inserted into the sleeve of a cell phone cover; and

[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the third component of the money and card carrier assembly of FIG. 1 partially inserted into the second component of the money and card carrier assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout. Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. The embodiments illustrated below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. These embodiments are chosen and described to best explain the principle of the invention and its application and practical use and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

[0016] Reference herein to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarily mutually exclusive of other embodiments. The same applies to the term "implementation."

[0017] As used in this application, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion.

[0018] Additionally, the term "or" is intended to mean an inclusive "or" rather than an exclusive "or". That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, "X employs A or B" is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then "X employs A or B" is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles "a" and "an" as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean "one or more" unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.

[0019] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each numerical value and range should be interpreted as being approximate as if the word "about" or "approximately" preceded the value of the value or range.

[0020] The use of figure numbers and/or figure reference labels in the claims is intended to identify one or more possible embodiments of the claimed subject matter in order to facilitate the interpretation of the claims. Such use is not to be construed as necessarily limiting the scope of those claims to the embodiments shown in the corresponding figures.

[0021] The present invention is used to provide a slim carrier assembly 100 ("assembly 100") for money and/or cards, such as credit cards, driver's licenses, and work identification cards, resulting in a slimmer carrier, without the bulk of a standard wallet. Assembly 100 is provided in three separate pieces that can be used separately or combined in various combinations as a user sees fit.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows the three pieces 110, 160, 180 of assembly 100, which will each be described in detail. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first component 110 is a sleeve 112 having magnetically attractive elements so that two opposing ends of the sleeve 112 can be removably magnetically attached to each other. Sleeve 112 includes a first portion 114 having a plurality of pockets 116, 118, 120, 122 formed therein. Pockets 116-122 are sized with an internal width sufficiently large to allow a credit card 50, 52 or other similarly sized card to be inserted at least partially therein, with an exposed portion of card 50, 52 above its respective pocket 116-122 to allow a user to grasp and remove card 50, 52 from pocket 116-120. Pockets 116 and 118 are on an outside 124 of first portion 114 and pockets 120, 122 are on an opposing, inside 125 of first portion 114.

[0023] A central internal strip 126 is inserted between pockets 116, 118 and pockets 120, 122 and defines outside 124 and inside 125 of first portion 114. Central internal strip 126 can be formed from a first external fabric 127 that is attached to a second internal fabric 129.

[0024] A first fabric 128 wraps around central internal strip 126 and cooperates with central internal strip 126 to form outside pocket 116 and inside pocket 120. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, first fabric 128 is a single piece fabric that is connected with an inside seam 130 on the inside 125 of first fabric portion 114. The location of seam 130 hides seam 130 from view when first portion 114 is folded over onto a second portion 146 and also avoids edge stitching, which allows first component 110 to be a minimum width while still being able to receive cards 50 therein.

[0025] Similarly, a second fabric 132 wraps around first fabric 128, but slightly below first fabric 128, so that a portion of first fabric 128 is visible. Second fabric 132 cooperates with first fabric 126 to form outside pocket 118 and inside pocket 122. Similar to first fabric 128, second fabric 132 is a single piece fabric that is connected with an inside seam 134 on the inside 125 of first fabric portion 114. The location of seam 134 hides seam 134 from view and also avoids edge stitching, which allows first component 110 to be a minimum width while still being able to receive cards 50, 52 therein.

[0026] Both first fabric 128 and second fabric 132 are attached to central internal strip 126 by a stitched seam 135 that extends along a free end 136 of first portion 114. A shielded magnet 138 is embedded inside pocket 122.

[0027] A connected end 137 of first portion 114 is connected to a living hinge 140. Living hinge 140 is constructed from first external fabric 127 and second internal fabric 129, with a separation between first external fabric 127 and second internal fabric 129 so that a money clip 142 (shown in FIG. 2) can be removably slid between first external fabric 127 and second external fabric 129. Numerous types of money clips can be used, as long as money clip 142 includes a portion that can be slid between first external fabric 127 and second external fabric 129.

[0028] Living hinge 140 is connected to a connected end 144 of a second portion 146. Second portion 146 has an internal portion 148 that includes two pockets 150, 152. Pockets 150, 152 are constructed from a single piece of fabric 154 that cooperates with an extension of central internal strip 126 such that central internal strip 126 and a first part 156 of fabric 154 form pocket 150 and first part 156 of fabric 154 and a second part 157 of fabric 154 form pocket 152. Pockets 150, 152 are sewn to each other and to central internal strip 126 at free end 158 of second portion 146. Additionally, first part 156 of fabric 154 is sewn to central internal strip 126 above free end 158 along a seam 159 so that a card 54 inserted into pocket 150 extends above a card 56 (shown in FIG. 3) inserted into pocket 152 and can be easier grasped and removed. Optionally, fabric 154 and central internal strip 126 can be a unitary piece of fabric that is cut in a "T" to allow the left and right arms of the "T" (first part 156 and second part 157) to be folded over the stem of the "T" (central internal strip 126). The trunk (bottom) of the T is folded up at seam 158 to form pocket 150. The right and left arms of the "T" are then folded onto each other, over top of pocket 150. The arms are adhesively connected to each other to maintain structure, and a magnetically attractive member 161 is sandwiched between the two pieces of fabric of the two arms. Finally, pocket 150 and pocket 152 are secured by a single stitch along free end 158. This feature eliminates the need for stitching along the sides of pockets 150, 152, allowing the width of assembly 100 to remain as close to the width of a credit card as possible.

[0029] With magnetically attractive member 161 inserted between the arms of fabric 154 that form pocket 152, when second portion 146 is folded toward first portion 114 at living hinge 140, magnet 138 releasably magnetically attaches to magnetically attractive member 161 to releasably keep first portion 114 and second portion 146 together until pulled apart by a force stronger than the magnetic force between magnet 138 and magnetically attractive member 161. Magnetically attractive member 161 can be a metal plate.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, first component 110 is shown without money clip 142. This configuration allows a card 50 in pocket 120 or pocket 150 to extend into the space occupied by the money clip 142. This results in the top edges of cards from both pockets 120, 150 only being a few mm away from each other so that first component 110 closes tightly without a loose, floppy hinge, which is important for minimalism when not using the money clip 142, and can be especially important when attaching first component 110 to a phone 60, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, second component 160 provides a central sleeve 162 for second portion 146 to be optionally inserted into so that first component 110 is removably inserted into second component 160. Second component 160 includes an inside portion 162 having pockets 164, 166 that are sized to allow cards 50, 52 to be releasably inserted thereinto. Pockets 164, 166 can be staggered so that a card 52 inserted into pocket 166 is partially exposed, while a card 50 inserted into pocket 164 is less exposed. Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize that other configurations and numbers of pockets can be provided.

[0032] Similarly, second component 160 includes an outside portion 172 having pockets 174, 176 that are sized to allow cards 54, 56 to be releasably inserted thereinto. Pockets 174, 176 are staggered so that a card 54 inserted into pocket 176 is partially exposed, while a card 56 inserted into pocket 174 is less exposed.

[0033] A magnetically attractive material 178 can be embedded in either the front of pocket 166 or pocket 176 (magnetically attractive material 178 is shown in FIG. 4 as being embedded in the front of pocket 166) so that, when second portion 146 of first component 110 is inserted into sleeve 162 and first component 110 is folded onto second component 160, magnet 138 is attracted to magnetically attractive material 178 to releasably retain second portion 146 of first component 110 against second component 160.

[0034] Third component 180 includes a first generally planar portion 182 attached to a second generally planar portion 184 by a living hinge 186. Similar to living hinge 140, living hinge 186 can be constructed from a first external fabric 188 and a second internal fabric 190. Money clip 142 can be inserted between first external fabric 188 and second internal fabric 190 as shown in FIG. 1, so that third component 180 can be used simply as a money clip.

[0035] First generally planar portion 182 can include a magnet 192, while second generally planar portion 184 can include a magnetically attractive member (not shown), such as a metal plate. First and second generally planar portions 182, 184 are each sufficiently narrow so that either one of first and second generally planar portions 182, 184 can be inserted into central sleeve 162 so that third component 180 (with money clip 142) can be used together to hold money and cards.

[0036] Different combinations of pieces 110, 160, 180 and a cell phone case 60 are shown in FIGS. 2, 6, and 7. In FIG. 2, second portion 146 of first component 110 is inserted into sleeve 162 in second component 160. In FIG. 6, second portion 146 of first component 110 is inserted into a sleeve 62 in a cell phone case 160. In FIG. 7, money clip 142 is inserted into third component 180 and second generally planar portion 184 of third component 180 is inserted into sleeve 162 of second component 160.

[0037] It will be further understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

Claims

1. A money and card carrier assembly comprising: a first component having: a first portion, wherein the first portion includes at least a first pocket formed therein, each of the at least first pocket being sized to allow a credit card to be releasably retained therein; a second portion; and a first hinge connecting the first portion and the second portion.

2. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least first pocket of the first portion comprises an inside pocket and an outside pocket.

3. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 2, wherein the inside pocket and the outside pocket are formed from a single piece of fabric.

4. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 3, wherein the single piece of fabric is joined to itself by an inside seam.

5. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a central internal strip extending between the at least first pocket and the second portion and being attached to the first hinge.

6. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 5, wherein the at least first pocket attached to the central internal strip by a single stitched seam.

7. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 6, wherein the stitched seam extends along a free end of the first portion.

8. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the first hinge and the second hinge comprises a first fabric and a second fabric.

9. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 8, wherein a separation is provided between the first fabric and the second fabric.

10. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 9, further comprising a money clip adapted to be inserted in the separation between the first fabric and the second fabric.

11. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a magnet attached to the first portion of the first component and a first magnetically attractive member attached to the second portion of the first component.

12. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a second component having: a sleeve sized to allow the second portion of the first component to be removably inserted therein; and at least a second pocket located on either side of the sleeve, each of the at least second pocket being sized to allow a credit card to be releasably retained therein.

13. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 12, wherein the second portion comprises at least a third pocket.

14. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 13, wherein the at least third pocket is constructed from a single piece of fabric.

15. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a second magnetically attractive member attached to the second component.

16. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a third component having: a first generally planar portion; a second generally planar portion; and a second hinge connecting the first generally planar portion to the second generally planar portion, wherein each of the first and second generally planar portions is sized to be removably insertable into the sleeve.

17. The money and card carrier assembly according to claim 16, wherein the first generally planar portion comprises a magnet.

18. A money and card carrier assembly comprising: a first component having: a first portion, wherein the first portion includes at least a first pocket formed therein, each of the at least first pocket being sized to allow a credit card to be releasably retained therein; a second portion; and a first hinge connecting the first portion and the second portion; and a second component having: a sleeve sized to allow the second portion of the first component to be removably inserted therein; and at least a second pocket located on either side of the sleeve, each of the at least second pocket being sized to allow a credit card to be releasably retained therein.

19. A money and card carrier assembly comprising: a first component having: a first portion, wherein the first portion includes at least a first pocket formed therein, each of the at least first pocket being sized to allow a credit card to be releasably retained therein; a second portion; and a first hinge connecting the first portion and the second portion; and a second component having: a sleeve sized to allow the second portion of the first component to be removably inserted therein; and at least a second pocket located on either side of the sleeve, each of the at least second pocket being sized to allow a credit card to be releasably retained therein; and a third component having: a first generally planar portion; a second generally planar portion; and a second hinge connecting the first generally planar portion to the second generally planar portion, wherein each of the first and second generally planar portions is sized to be removably insertable into the sleeve.

20. A money and card carrier assembly comprising: a pocket component having: a central sleeve; at least one pocket located on either side of the sleeve, each of the at least one pocket being sized to allow a credit card to be releasably retained therein, each of the at least one pocket having an outer surface; and a magnet embedded in the outer surface of one of the at least one pocket; and a hinged component having: a first generally planar portion having a magnet embedded therein; a second generally planar portion having a magnetically attractive material embedded therein; and a second hinge connecting the first generally planar portion to the second generally planar portion, wherein each of the first and second generally planar portions is sized to be removably insertable into the central sleeve.