Abstract:
A card holder is provided, having at least one compartment that holds at least one card. When the compartment is slid open, at least one card is made accessible. There are preferably multiple compartments that make up the card holder, each compartment revealing a different card when slid to an open position.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present U.S. Utility patent application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/931,597 entitled “Multi Directional Sliding Card Holder” filed Jan. 25, 2014, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility application for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This application relates to wallets and card-holders, specifically ones that can store, organize, and eject wallet-sized cards (like driver&#39;s license ID&#39;s, credit cards, debit cards, and RFID passes). Wallets and card-holders typically store numerous cards in a stack, a single sleeve, stacked sleeves, or in a cascading set of sleeves. These methods for organizing cards do not lend to the quick ejection or removal of individual cards because they rely on precise and tedious finger work to extract individual cards. Existing wallets and card holders that do employ ejection mechanisms often do not allow for selective removal of specific cards, and if they do, it is achieved through bulky designs that rely on buttons, springs, and thick sleeves—all elements that add thickness to the design and result in discomfort to the user. These limitations have led to the need for a card-storage design that speeds up the process of card extraction without compromising on organization or adding to thickness. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention relates to a card holder that slides open to permit access to a card stored therein. In some embodiments, the card holder slides open in multiple directions to provide access to various different cards stored therein. The aim of this invention is to improve on the storage and retrieval of wallet-sized cards. 
         [0004]    The invention is made up of elements, features and components that are assembled to interlock in a manner that the components slide with respect to one another to expose cards stored inside. This sliding motion can happen in multiple directions to expose separate cards and allow for their easy retrieval. 
         [0005]    The invention is made up of multiple layered components. A base component can hold a sliding component on a top side, a bottom side, or both sides thereof. These sliding components on either side of base component can also hold an additional sliding component on the side opposite the base component. Each sliding component is shaped to store a card therein. All of these components are preferably connected in a manner that allows for the components to slide with respect to one another. The Additionally, stoppers, resilient features and folded features in each component keep the card in place and prevent the sliding components from sliding beyond their necessary limits. The card holder functions such that one, several, or all, of its components can be slid open to reveal one, multiple or all of the cards at once. The components can, in some embodiments, all slide autonomously in a way that does not prohibit the sliding action of any of the other components. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the card holder can include a cover that protects the surface of the outermost components. If desired, this cover can incorporate another slot for a card. This cover would, in some embodiments, have no inherent ejection mechanism associated with it and would be used to store less frequently used cards like RFID cards that can be scanned with proximity and not swiping, for example. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a top perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in closed configuration. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a front elevation of the shorter edge of the embodiment of the invention in  FIG. 1  in its closed configuration. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a side elevation of the longer edge of the embodiment of the invention in  FIG. 1  in its closed configuration. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded perspective of the individual elements of the embodiment of the invention in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows an exploded perspective of the elements from  FIG. 4  assembled into distinct components. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows the embodiment of the invention in  FIG. 1  assembled and fully expanded with arrows indicating the direction in which the components slide to open. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows the embodiment of the invention in  FIG. 1  assembled and fully opened with a schematic illustration of placement and direction of insertion of the cards. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8A  shows a top perspective view of the embodiment of the invention in  FIG. 1  in its closed position with the location of the first card (from the top) called out with dashed lines. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8B  shows a first component (from the top) of the embodiment of the invention in  FIG. 1  slid open to its full extents with the first card ejected from it. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8C  shows the first component of the embodiment of the invention in  FIG. 1  returned to its closed position after having ejected the first card. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9A  shows a perspective view (identical to that of  FIG. 8A ) of the embodiment of the invention in  FIG. 1  in its closed position with the location of the second card (from the top) called out with dashed lines. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9B  shows the second component (from the top) slid open to its full extents with the second card ejected from it. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9C  shows the second component returned to its closed position after having ejected the second card. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10A  shows a perspective view (identical to that of  FIG. 8A ) of the embodiment of the invention in  FIG. 1  in its closed position with the location of the third card (from the top) called out with dashed lines. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10B  shows the third component (from the top) slid open to its full extents with the third card ejected from it. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10C  shows the third component returned to its closed position after having ejected the third card. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11A  shows a perspective view (identical to that of  FIG. 8A ) of the embodiment of the invention in  FIG. 1  in its closed position with the location of the fourth card (from the top) called out with dashed lines. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11B  shows the fourth component (from the top) slid open to its full extents with the fourth card ejected from it. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11C  shows the fourth component returned to its closed position after having ejected the fourth card. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention in  FIG. 1  with the cover piece card partially exposed to indicate how it can be inserted and removed from the cover piece. 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention with the cover piece card having a money clip thereon. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    Embodiments of the card holder of the present invention are generally referred to throughout  FIGS. 1-13  by the reference numeral  1 .  FIG. 5  shows one embodiment of the invention where card holder  1  has four sliding card storage compartments made from the assembly of components  6 , 7 , 8 , 7 A, and  6 A as well as two static card storage components in the outermost sliding components  6 / 6 A. These components are, in turn, made up of the elements and features depicted in  FIG. 4 .  FIGS. 2 and 3  show a front and side view of the card holder  1 , respectively, to demonstrate the thickness of a card holder with four sliding components, as well as how the various features and elements come together. 
         [0029]    The main components  6 , 7 , 8 , 7 A, and  6 A shown as distinct assemblies in  FIG. 5  are shown in an exploded view in  FIG. 4 , where second top sliding component  6  is made up of elements  2 ,  3 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13  and feature  20 ; first top sliding component  7  is made up of elements  4 ,  11 A,  12 A,  15  and features  21 ,  23  and  14 ; base component  8  is made up of element  5  and features  14 A,  22 , and  24 ; first bottom sliding component  7 A is made up of the joined elements  4 A,  11 B,  12 B,  15 A and features  21 A,  23 A and  14 ; and second bottom sliding component  6 A is made up of the joined elements  2 A,  3 A,  10 A,  11 C,  12 C,  13 A and feature  20 A; with each of these components, elements and features being more fully described below. 
         [0030]    In second top slider component  6 , cover piece  2  is the topmost piece of the card holder  1 . The two riser elements  10  connect the cover piece  2  to the outermost surface of storage element  3  of the second top sliding component  6 , and in doing so creates a cavity for card C 5  (see  FIGS. 7 and 12 ). Sliding edge  20  is formed in one embodiment as a folded tongue feature of storage element  3  that fits into the groove  21  of storage feature  4  to allow the second top sliding component  6  to slide along the width of the first top sliding component  7  ( FIGS. 6 and 8 ) and reveal card C 1 . Stop element  11  and retention element  12  are disposed on sliding edge  20  to restrict the movement of sliding edge  20  through groove  21  ( FIG. 4 ). In particular retention element  12  mates with positioning element  14  in one of two positions on groove  21  ( FIG. 4 ) corresponding to an closed position shown in  FIG. 8A  and an open position shown in  FIG. 8B . Additionally, stop element  11  prevents sliding edge  20  from sliding through the groove  21  in the direction opposite to the desired direction for card ejection (seen in  FIG. 8B ). Finally, pusher element  13  is disposed within the cavity of storage element  3  and provides a surface that acts upon card C 1  to push card C 1  to an accessible position where a user can access the card C 1  when the second top slider component  6  is slid to an open position (as depicted in  FIGS. 8A-8C ). 
         [0031]    In first top slider component  7 , sliding edge  23  of storage element  4  corresponds to groove  24  extending from the top surface of base body  5  of base component  8  in a similar tongue and groove fashion to that described immediately above. Retention element  12 A on sliding edge  23  mates with the positioning elements  14 A of groove  24  in one of two positions, namely a closed position shown in  FIG. 9A  and an open position shown in  FIG. 9B . Stop element  11 A prevents sliding edge  23  from sliding through the groove  24  in the direction opposite to the desired direction for card ejection. Pusher element  15  is disposed within the cavity of storage element  4  and provides a surface that acts upon card C 2  to push card C 2  to an accessible position where a user can access the card C 2  when the first top slider component  7  is slid to an open position (as depicted in  FIGS. 9A-9C ). 
         [0032]    Base component  8  is the center piece of the invention below which components  6  and  7  are mirrored and appear as components  6 A and  7 A. Groove  22  extends from the bottom surface of base body  5  and receives the sliding edge  23 A of the first bottom sliding component  7 A in the same way that sliding edge  23  first top sliding component  7  corresponds to groove  24  of base component  8 . 
         [0033]    First bottom sliding component  7 A is similar to first top sliding component  7  but is located below base component  8 . In particular, first bottom slider component  7 A has sliding edge  23 A of storage element  4 A that corresponds to groove  22  extending from the bottom surface of base body  5  of base component  8 . Retention element  12 B on sliding edge  23 A mates with the positioning elements  14 A of groove  22  in one of two positions, namely a closed position shown in  FIG. 10A  and an open position shown in  FIG. 10B . Stop element  11 B prevents sliding edge  23 A from sliding through the groove  22  in the direction opposite to the desired direction for card ejection. Pusher element  15 A is disposed within the cavity of storage element  4 A and provides a surface that acts upon card C 3  to push card C 3  to an accessible position where a user can access the card C 3  when the first top slider component  7 A is slid to an open position (as depicted in  FIGS. 10A-10C ). 
         [0034]    Second bottom sliding component  6 A is identical to second top sliding component  6  but is located below component  7 A. In particular, second bottom slider component  6 A has cover piece  2 A is the bottom-most piece of the card holder  1 . The two riser elements  10 A connect the cover piece  2 A to the outermost surface of storage element  3 A of the second bottom sliding component  6 A, and in doing so creates a cavity for a card similar to the way card C 5  is stored in second top sliding component  6 . Sliding edge  20 A is formed as a folded tongue feature of storage element  3 A that fits into the groove  21 A of storage feature  4 A to allow the second bottom sliding component  6 A to slide along the width of the first bottom sliding component  7 A and reveal card C 4 . Stop element  11 C and retention element  12  are disposed on sliding edge  20  to restrict the movement of sliding edge  20 A through groove  21 A. In particular retention element  12 C mates with positioning element  14  in one of two positions on groove  21  corresponding to an closed position shown in  FIG. 11A  and an open position shown in  FIG. 11B . Additionally, stop element  11 C prevents sliding edge  20 A from sliding through the groove  21 A in the direction opposite to the desired direction for card ejection (seen in  FIG. 11B ). Finally, pusher element  13 A is disposed within the cavity of storage element  3 A and provides a surface that acts upon card C 4  to push card C 4  to an accessible position where a user can access the card C 4  when the second top slider component  6  is slid to an open position (as depicted in  FIGS. 11A-11C ). 
         [0035]    Elements  12  and  12 A are depicted in  FIG. 4  as having square edges, but their optimal shape would be one such that  12  and  12 A engaged the cut-out features  14  and  14 B in a way that produced enough friction for them to register in open and closed positions but not stifle the sliding action of the components to which they are connected. Those skilled in the art would be able to make changes to the specific design of the retention elements  12  and  12 A and the positioning elements  14  and  14 B within the scope of the invention to improve its function as it is depicted here. 
         [0036]      FIG. 13  shows a money clip  30  on the cover piece  2 . The money clip can be formed integrally with the cover piece  2 , or can be otherwise affixed to cover piece  2  via adhesives, rivets, welding, or other known method of affixing parts together. 
         [0037]    While a card holder with four separate sliding components has been the predominant embodiment described herein, any number of sliding components can be used to offer a card holder with the desired thickness and utility. For example, in one embodiment, two sliding components can be attached to a base component such that two selectively accessible cavities are formed. Furthermore, the base component could provide an outermost surface for a cover instead of the outermost surface of a sliding component. 
         [0038]    As used herein, the term “card” can mean any type of substantially planar articles, including credit cards, business cards, transportation cards, identification cards, photographs, computer-readable storage cards, or similar. 
         [0039]    The covers  2  and  2 A could be made out of a variety of materials (such as leather, wood, carbon fiber, and plastics) that give aesthetic value and the option of customization to the card holder, or can be made of a material that allows for the transmission of RFID or similar radio signals so that it can be used without removal from the storage cavity. 
         [0040]    While described herein predominantly as folded tongues and grooves, a sliding motion between the various components can be accomplished through various known structural configurations, such as tracks and riders, tracks with bearings, grooves and edges, etc. The sliding can be limited by the use of a stop or impediment that prevents the movement. Stops can be formed as integral parts of the components or can be added in a separate manufacturing step, such as by welding, adhesives, riveting, or other known permanent or temporary bonding method. 
         [0041]    The components can be made of any suitably rigid material or combination of materials. Such materials can be metal, plastic, wood, etc. The outermost layer can include a cover piece that includes non-rigid materials such as leather, fabric, etc. 
         [0042]    The articles “a” and “an” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to include the plural referents. Claims or descriptions that include “or” between one or more members of a group are considered satisfied if one, more than one, or all of the group members are present in, employed in, or otherwise relevant to a given product or process unless indicated to the contrary or otherwise evident from the context. The invention includes embodiments in which exactly one member of the group is present in, employed in, or otherwise relevant to a given product or process. The invention also includes embodiments in which more than one or the entire group members are present in, employed in or otherwise relevant to a given product or process. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention encompasses all variations, combinations, and permutations in which one or more limitations, elements, clauses, descriptive terms, etc., from one or more of the listed claims is introduced into another claim dependent on the same base claim (or, as relevant, any other claim) unless otherwise indicated or unless it would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art that a contradiction or inconsistency would arise. Where elements are presented as lists, (e.g., in Markush group or similar format) it is to be understood that each subgroup of the elements is also disclosed, and any element(s) can be removed from the group. It should be understood that, in general, where the invention, or aspects of the invention, is/are referred to as comprising particular elements, features, etc., certain embodiments of the invention or aspects of the invention consist, or consist essentially of, such elements, features, etc. For purposes of simplicity those embodiments have not in every case been specifically set forth in so many words herein. It should also be understood that any embodiment or aspect of the invention can be explicitly excluded from the claims, regardless of whether the specific exclusion is recited in the specification. The entire contents of all of the references (including literature references, issued patents and published patent applications and websites) cited throughout this application are hereby expressly incorporated by reference. 
         [0043]    Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the present invention. Details of the structure may vary substantially without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and exclusive use of all modifications that come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved. Within this specification embodiments have been described in a way which enables a clear and concise specification to be written, but it is intended and will be appreciated that embodiments may be variously combined or separated without parting from the invention. It is intended that the present invention be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the applicable rules of law.