Abstract:
A combination wallet tool includes a pair of hinged, mating shells which define a closed chamber when closed and latched. The chamber is partitioned to provide areas in which currency, cards and papers may be kept. A money clip is built into at least one of the shells. The mating surfaces of the shells are sealed by an O-ring to keep water from entering the chamber. Recesses which serve as secret compartments are molded into one of the shells and interchangeable partitioned trays are provided for the other shell.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims benefit of provisional application 61/040435, filed Mar. 27, 2008, and is also a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 12/030456, filed Feb. 13, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a combination wallet and tool kit. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    An object of the invention is to provide a robust, durable, waterproof wallet having not only a compartment for cash, cards and papers, but also a number of removable or deployable tools such as tweezers, a knife, a key holder or the like. 
         [0004]    Another object is to provide a metal wallet which can be used as a defensive weapon. 
         [0005]    These and other objects are attained by a combination wallet tool as described below. 
         [0006]    The invention provides all in one multi-tool functionality, integrated into a wallet. The wallet allows users to incorporate various sets of tools, implements, and attachments in a portable, compact, and waterproof case. The basic wallet may a have built in compass, safety mirror, fire-starter/magnifying glass, lanyard location, and storage for four tools and could be later expanded to more tools. Internally, the wallet has structure defining positions for cash in a money clip folded fashion, and credit cards/business cards. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    In the accompanying drawings, 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded isometric view of a combination wallet tool embodying the invention, showing the outside surfaces of the open wallet; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view showing the inside surfaces of the open wallet; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the wallet when closed; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a portion of the wallet. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the invention, showing the wallet closed; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a similar view, showing the wallet partly open; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a view of the wallet fully open; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view taken from the side opposite that shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  shows the same wallet, with its floors removed; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  shows the same wallet, with its floors and trays removed. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0018]    A combination wallet tool embodying the invention includes, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , two shells  10  and  12  which are interconnected by a hinge pin  14  ( FIG. 2 ) passing through holes in protrusions  16  on either part. The mechanical hinge shown might be replaced with a molded “living” hinge as an alternative. 
         [0019]    The wallet shells may be made of plastic, metal (e.g., aluminum or titanium) and/or wood. Details of the wallet&#39;s manufacturing will be based on the material(s) selected. For example, if plastic is used, the shells could be injection molded in two pieces (or as a single piece including a “living” hinge) with an insert for the floor of the money clip side. Metal and wood versions may be manufactured as two pieces with an insert for the floor of the money clip side. 
         [0020]    We presently prefer to make the wallet of an injection moldable plastic, preferably a Delrin® acetyl resin. “Delrin” is a registered trademark of the Dupont Corporation. It provides a good combination of creep resistance, strength, stiffness, hardness, dimensional stability, toughness, fatigue resistance, solvent and fuel resistance, abrasion resistance, low wear and low friction. 
         [0021]    Alternatively, the wallet can be made of metal, to make it even more resistant to deformation and loss of sealing. The metal or alloy selection and the method of manufacture is a matter of design choice; the wallet shells can be machines out of blocks of aluminum alloy or titanium alloy so that it can be both strong and light. Other methods such as casting, forging, drawing and stamping might be used, and other metals might be selected for their strength, appearance, manufacturing ease a so forth. 
         [0022]    Regardless of the material chosen, it is contemplated that the overall dimensions of the wallet will be roughly the size of a man&#39;s conventional pocket wallet. 
         [0023]    The shells  10  and  12  have planar mating surfaces  18 ,  20  which meet when the wallet is closed ( FIG. 3 ). At least one of the planar surfaces has a peripheral groove  22  for receiving a resilient sealing element such as an O-ring  24 . At least one of the shells has a central recess surrounded by the planar mating surface so that when the wallet is closed, the components define and interior cavity protected from moisture by the sealing element. 
         [0024]    The shells are normally held together by a latch mechanism designed to insure waterproof sealing and prevent unexpected opening. Various type of latches might be used; a presently preferred latch is illustrated. It comprises structures  26 ,  28  molded into the respective components on the edges opposite the hinged edges. The latch components might, alternatively, be made separate from the wallet shells, and it is also possible that a non-mechanical latch such as a strong magnetic latch might be substituted. 
         [0025]    In the preferred form of the invention, both of the shells of the wallet are centrally recessed. A compass  30 , a mirror  32 , a fire-starter/magnifying glass  34 , and a lanyard hole  36  are built into one shell or the other. At least one shell has a partition  38  defining a space for currency, cards and papers. The partition may be rigid, or it may be a flexible mesh panel as illustrated. 
         [0026]    The types of tools which may be made and used with this invention are unlimited. Likely examples, illustrated, are a key holder  40 , tweezers  42 , a knife/can opener  44  and a screwdriver  46 . Each tool is made to include a specialized waterproof base  48  that seats neatly in one of the manufactured apertures  50  in the shells, preventing entry of water and securing the tool. The bases of the tools preferably are identical so that the tools can be interchanged or replaced by others having the same standard base. 
         [0027]    The body of each tool made for this invention must be narrow enough to be inserted through one of the apertures, into the recessed interior of the wallet. The standard base has a cross-section at least as large at, preferably larger than, the rest of the tool, so that the tool, but not the base, can pass through the aperture. 
         [0028]    We presently prefer that the apertures be undercut (see  FIG. 4 ) with their larger portion facing to the outside of the wallet. The undercut  52  defines a step at the bottom of the aperture which acts as a stop to prevent the base  48  from being pushed all the way through the aperture. A depression  54  is formed in the wallet shell at the top of each undercut, to enable a person to grasp the head of a tool, which sits almost flush with the top of the shell. 
         [0029]    The aperture and/or the base preferably have a sealing structure to prevent ambient water from entering the wallet through the apertures. The sealing structure illustrated in  FIG. 2  is an O-ring  56  seated in a groove on the base; the O-ring bears against the wall of the undercut aperture  50  when the base is fully seated. Alternative sealing means, such as a flexible rib  56 ′ ( FIG. 4 ) integrally molded on one of the components, might be substituted. Another alternative would be to provide matching slight taper angles on both the apertures and the bases, in which case the undercut would not be necessary and wedging between the base and the aperture would provide both a stop function and sealing. 
         [0030]    A further possibility is that the apertures might have neither a taper nor an undercut. This would permit one to remove a tool such as the screwdriver from its stowed position and reseat it backwards in the aperture, with the blade outside of the wallet. Then the wallet body would function as a handle. However, the stopping function of the undercut or taper would be lost and some other way of retaining the tools securely would have to be devised. 
         [0031]    The interchangeability of the tools of this invention gives the wallet some of functionality of a ‘Swiss Army’ knife, and in addition permits the owner to replace one set of tools with another. For example, he or she might ordinarily carry tools useful at the office, and then swap them out for tools useful for fishing on the weekend. 
         [0032]    A second embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 5-10 . In many respects, it is like the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 ; however, its exterior appearance ( FIG. 5 ) is slightly different, and the tool receiving apertures  150  are differently placed, having been moved near the corners of the wallet, so that they are now blind holes extending within the perimeter of the frame and not penetrating into the main compartment. The latch  126  ( FIGS. 6 and 8 ) has been redesigned, and now a money clip  160  is fastened to the inside of the rear wall of the wallet. 
         [0033]    While the money clip is shown as being made of wire, and in  FIGS. 9 and 10  is secured to the respective shells by clamping screws, we contemplate that the clip might constitute a bight of wire with plain ends which are inserted into holes formed in the shells, so that the money clip can be easily removed in order to remove the partition or substitute one tray for another. 
         [0034]    The conical protrusion  162  at one exterior corner of the wallet is a glass breaker. 
         [0035]    A hinge pin  170  is inserted through holes in the hinge knuckles to interconnect the shells  110  and  112 . 
         [0036]    In  FIG. 7 , one sees the wallet with two removable floors or partitions  172 ,  174  installed. These can be removed ( FIG. 9 ) if desired to gain access to underlying compartments. 
         [0037]    As  FIG. 9  shows, the front shell  112  of the wallet has a variety of recesses  176 - 179  molded into it. Small items such as jewels can be secreted in the recesses, and remain hidden from view when the floors and perhaps some currency are in place. 
         [0038]    The rear shell  110  of the wallet has a plain bottom, but it is designed to receive a compartmented tray. One of the several trays  180 - 183  shown in  FIG. 10  may be inserted and then covered with the corresponding floor  172 . This also forms a secret compartment or compartments. The choice of tray will depend on the type of item one expects to carry (e.g., pills, coins, fishing flies). 
         [0039]    Since the invention is subject to modifications and variations, it is intended that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as only illustrative of the invention defined by the following claims.