US3242959A - Means for carrying and displaying cards - Google Patents

Description

March 29, 1966 GLASS 3,242,959

MEANS FOR CARRYING AND DISPLAYING CARDS Filed May 2, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. HENRY SL455 March 29, 1966 H. P. GLASS.

MEANS FOR CARRYING AND DISPLAYING CARDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1963 m6 y H UnitedStatcs Patent 3,242,959 MEANS FORCARRYING AND D P AY N CARDS Henry P. Glass, 666 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Ill. Filed May 2, 1963, SenNo. 278,519 1 Claim. (Cl; 150-'-39) The present application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 258,319 filed February 13, 1963, now-abandoned. p

This invention. relates generally to means for carrying and displaying credit cards and the like. More particularly, it relates to card carrying and display devices which permit individual cards to' be readily displayed without removal therefrom and which permits cards to be added or removed as desired.

, Various kinds of card carrying devices and wallets are presentlyemployed to carry and display credit cards, membership cards;.passes, drivers licenses, and so forth. One well known type; of device comprises a relatively rigid rectangular backing member, usually of leather, on which a plurality of cardhol'ding transparent, open-ended envelopes are stacked and attached at one end by a rivet. The rivet serves to close on'e'en'd of each of the transparent envelopes and also permits the envelopes to be fanned out so that a card in an individual envelope can be displayed. The .aforedescribed device is usually adapted to be inserted in a pocket. of a billfold, wallet or purse. Although such a device is useful for its intended purpose, it' does have .several disadvantages. For example, it is somewhat inconvenient to insert or remove a card from its envelope. Furthermore, the number of envelopes available to'hold cards is predetermined during manufacture and frequently, therefore, as additional cards are acquired, more than one card must be inserted in a single envelope. This'requires anyone card to be removed in order for both sides to be visible. It is desirable, therefore, to provide improved card carrying and displaying devices which overcome the aforesaid disadvantages and have other important advantages.

',Accordingly,.it is an object of the present invention to provide improved card carrying and displaying devices which are adapted to carry an indeterminate number of cards, which permit both sides of any individual card to be readily displayed; and which permit cards to be conveniently removed'or attached as desired.

Another object is to provide an improved card for use with improved devices of the aforesaid character.

Another object is to provide improved devices of the aforesaid character which are relatively economical to fabricate. v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear. p 7 I g A card carrying and display device incorporating the present invention comprises a spindle having card retaining means at each end thereof. The card retaining means are of greater diameter than the spindle. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, at least one of the card retaining means'is relatively movable with'respect to the other. Biasing means are provided tending to urge one of the card retaining means toward the other. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, neither card retaining means is movable. The card carrying means is adapted for use with cards which have been constructed in accordance with the invention. Each card is fabricated of flexible material, such as plastic or heavy paper, and is provided with a hole near one edge which is slightly greater than the diameter of the spindle and with a slot between' thehole and the edge of the card for accommodating passage of the spindle. The slot has a portion which is narrower than the diameter of the spindle. Each card is attached to the spindle by locating the spindle in the slot and forcing the card toward the spindle so that its hole engages the spindle. The card retaining means on the spindle prevent the card from: slipping off the ends of the spindle and if one or both of the card retaining means are movable, also tend to clamp the cards together. Each card can be rotated 011' the spindle for display purposes and can be removed by pulling it in the opposite direction whereby it was at-'1 tached. The amount of card area displayed when a card is rotated out from beneath another can beincreased by locating its hole near a corner of the card rather than by locating it near the center of an edge of the card. If the card retaining means associated withthe spindle are relatively movable and spring biased, the device adjusts itself to accommodate a variable number of cards that are disposed thereon. v The accompanying drawings illustrate several preferred embodiments of the present invention, but it is to be understood that the embodiments illustrated are suscepti ble to modification with respect to details thereof with-' out departing from the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings: v I p p FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a card carrying and display device incorporating the present invention and shows its cover member opened to accommodate display, insertion or removal of cards fabricated in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1 and shows the cover member folded over; FIG. 2a is a section taken along line 2a2a in FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of asecond embodiment of a device incorporating the present invention; I

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a device incorporating the present invention and shows how a card fabricated in accordance with the present invention is employed therewith; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a device incorporating the present invention andshows cards fabricated in accordance with the present invention associated therewith; I p p FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 6; H

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a fifth ern 'bodiment of a device incorporating the presentinvention; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is an exploded FIGS. 8 and 9. v I 7 Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 10 designates a card carrying and display device incorporating the present invention. Device 10 comprises a foldable cover member 12 having two portions, namely, a back porview of the device shown in tion 14 and a front portion 16 bendable at point 18.

Cover member 12 may, for example, be fabricated of a single piece of leather, plastic, cloth or the like. Or, if preferred, cover member 12 could be fabricated of suitable material in two separate portions and hinged at point 18. I, 7

Device 10 further comprises a card attaching member 20 which is rigidly secured to back portion 14 of cover member 12. Card attaching member 20 comprises a spindle 22, best seen in FIG. 2, which has a cylindrical crosssection and which has card retaining means, such as a member 24, rigidly attached at one end thereof. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, member 24 takes the form of the male portion of a well-known type of snap fastener. Member 24 is adapted to mate with and engage the female portion 26 of the snap fastener which is attached to front portion 16 of cover member 12. If preferred, however, members 24 and 26 could be interchanged or some other type of releasable snap fastener than that depicted could be employed.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention spindle 22 of card attaching member 20 is provided at its other end with card retaining means, such as housing or sliding member 28, which is adapted to be biased along the spindle toward card retaining means 24 as by biasing means such as a compression spring 27 which is disposed within housing 28.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention spindle 22 of card attaching member 20 is merely firmly secured to back portion 14 of cover member 12 as by housing member 28 and the latter is not spring biased or otherwise movable along the spindle.

Card attaching member 20 of device is adapted to have one or more cards, such as a card 30, removably attached thereto. In accordance with the present invention, card 30 is provided with a circular hole 32 spaced inwardly from an edge 34 thereof. Hole 32 in card 30 has a diameter which is only slightly larger than the diameter of the spindle with which it is employed. Hole 32 in card 30 communicates with edge 34 by means of a slot 36. In the embodiment shown, slot 36 is tapered so that the distance across its narrowest portion is less than the diameter of hole 32 and of the spindle with which it is employed. It is contemplated that the invention be employed with cards which are fabricated of plastic, Celluloid, heavy paper or cardboard, or other slightly flexible material. Thus, the edges of slot 36 are able to flex sufiiciently to afford passage for the spindle through the slot. As FIG. 1 shows, hole 32 in card 30 is located near a corner of the card so that a relatively large area of the card surface will be displayed when the card is rotated out from under an overlying card for display purposes.

Device 10 is employed with cards, such as card 30, as follows: Cover member 12 of device 10 is opened as shown in FIG. 1, and one or more cards 30 are attached to spindle 22 of card attaching member as aforedescribed. If housing or member 28 is spring biased, it urges the cards against card retaining means 24 and holds them firmly but not tight enough to prevent outward rotation when such is desired. However, if spindle 22 is not provided with a movable spring biased housing member 28, any looseness of the cards on the spindle is overcome when cover member 12 is folded over and the cards are enclosed. The cards 30 are aligned and front portion 16 of cover member 12 is folded over to enclose the cards. The mating portions 24 and 26 of the snap fastener are then snapped together. Cover member 12 can be opened to display the cards 30, which can be fanned out as shown in FIG. 1, or to permit the removal or insertion of a particular card.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the numeral 40 designates another embodiment of a card carrying and display device incorporating the present invention. It is to be understood that device 40 is intended to employ cards which are similar in construction to the cards 30 hereinbefore described. Device 40 comprises a rigid support or back portion 42 which may be fabricated of metal or plastic, for example. Back portion 42 is dished to accommodate a layer of resilient material, such as a sponge rubber pad 44, over which lies-a movable plate 46 which bears against the flanged edge 48 of back portion 42. Plate 46 and pad 44 are provided with holes 50 and 52, respectively, for accommodating a spindle 54 and biasing means such as a spring 56. Spindle S4 is provided at one end with card retaining means such as a member 58 which is rigidly attached thereto. The card retaining means at the other end of spindle 54 comprises plate 46 which is adapted to be biased along the spindle toward card retaining means 58 by compression spring 56 and resilient pad 44. FIGS. 3 and 4 show that with no cards in place, plate 46 is biased against flange 48 of back portion 42, However, as cards are attached to spindle 54,

. with device 40 can be attached, detached or displayed in the same manner as those employed with device 10 hereinbefore described. Device 40 with cards attached can be inserted in the users pocket, wallet or purse as can device 10.

Referring to FIG. 5, the numeral 60 designates another embodiment of a card carrying and display device incorporating the present invention. Device 60 comprises a generally U-shaped unitary member. 62 having a spindle 64 rigidly secured thereto. One leg 66 of member 62 serves as a card retaining means and has one end of spindle 64 rigidly attached thereto as by riveting or welding, for example. The other leg 68 of member 62 is provided with a hole 70 for accommodating the other end of spindle 64. It is to be understood that member 62 is fabricated of resilient material, such as spring steel or plastic, and that it is constructed so that the legs 66 and 68, which both serve as card retaining means, are biased toward each other. In use, cards attached to spindle 64 are urged together by the biasing action of the legs 66 and 68 of U-shaped member 62, but the cards can be rotated or removed, as desired, and cards may be added until the capacity of the spindle 64 is exceeded.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the numeral 72 designates another embodiment of a card carrying and display device incorporating the present invention. Device 72 comprises a unitary member 74, which is fabricated of resilient material such as rubber and has a spindle portion 76 and card retaining portions 78 and at the extreme ends of the spindle portion. It is to be understood that since member 74 is fabricated of resilient material, its spindle 76 is extendable and its portions 78 and 80 are relatively movable with respect to each other. A helically shaped tension spring 82, shown in cross-section in FIG. 7, is embeded in spindle portion 76 of member 74 to serve as a biasing means and tends to urge the card retaining portions 78 and 80 towards each other. Device 72 is adapted to have cards 30 employed therewith and attached to its spindle portion 76 as hereinbefore described.

Referring to FIGS.v 8, 9 and 10, the numeral 84 designates another embodiment of a card carrying and display device incorporating the present invention. Device 84 comprises an upper member 86which is fabricated of rigid material such as metal or plastic and has a card retaining portion 88 and an integrally formed spindle portion 90. In the embodiment shown, spindle portion 90 comprises three legs 90a, 90b and 900 which are spaced apart from each other at regular intervals and have a slightly curved cross-section, as FIG. 9 shows.

Device 84 further comprises a lower member 92 which is fabricated of rigid material such as metal or plastic and has a card retaining portion 94 and an integrally formed spindle portion 96. Spindle portion 96 is hollow and has a generally cylindrical shape with indentations, such as at 98a, 98b and 98c, to accommodate the legs 90a, 90b and 900, respectively, of spindle portion 90 of upper member 86, as FIGS. 8 and 9 show. As FIG. 9 shows, the outer circumference of spindle portion 90 is substantially the same as the outer circumference of spindle portion 96, and those portions cooperate when fitted together to define a spindle having an outer surface of substantially uniform circumference.

Device 84 further comprises biasing means such as a helically shaped tension spring 100 which is disposed within spindle portion 90 of upper member 86 and within the hollow interior of spindle portion 96 of lower member 92. It is to be understood that the ends of spring 100 are attached by suitable means to the interiors of the upper and lower members 86 and 92,*respectively, of device 84 and that the spring tends to draw the members together in the direction of the arrows 102 shown in FIG. 8. Thus, the spindle is expandable.

Device 84 is adapted to be employed with cards, such as the cards 30, hereinbefore described. Cards are attached and removed from device 84 in the manner hereinbefore described and are urged together by the card retaining portions 88 and 94 due to the biasing action of spring 100. As additional cards are added and the members 86 and 92 are forced apart to accommodate them, spindle circumference as regards the diameter of hole 32 in card 30 does not change and the cards fit snugly whether disposed on spindle portion 90 or 96.

Having now described my invention with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, I do not wish to be limited thereto, but what I desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States of America is set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

In a card carrying and display device, in combination, a foldable cover member having a back portion and a front portion, a spindle connected to said back portion at one end and projecting therefrom, a snap fastener connected to the other end of said spindle, a sliding member disposed on said spindle, biasing means disposed between said sliding member and said back portion of said cover member for urging said sliding member toward said snap nested .to said front portion of said cover member and adapted to re-leasably engage with said snap fastener on said spindle when said cover member is folded.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 385,083 6/1888 Yund -315 1,196,757 9/1916 Bennett 24-213 1,256,311 2/1918 Hartwig 24-213 1,613,380 1/1927 Broomhall -39 1,705,455 3/1929 Grifiiths 24-213 2,046,007 6/1936 Unger 129-13 2,283,125 5/1942 Powell 24--213 2,506,290 5/ 1950 Bishop 2 129-13 2,756,525 7/1956 Greenberger 40-315 2,871,901 2/1959 Nash 150-39 3,029,854 4/1963 Burniski 150-39 FOREIGN PATENTS 110,703 7/ 1899 Germany GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, JOSEPH R. LECLAIR,

Examiners.

I. F. McNULTY, D. F. NORTON, Assistant Examiners.

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