Abstract:
The present invention is a flexible non-bulky, metal-minimizing card holder for credit cards, debit cards and identification cards, including an alarm for identifying removal of a card from a holder after a predetermined duration using flexible contact points, comprising a holder for a card; non-rigid flexible electrical contact means located in the interior of the holder for triggering an alarm adapted to be held apart by a card in the holder; an intrinsic power source and an audible alarm after a predetermined delay after removal of the card from the holder.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/063,965, filed May 30, 2002 now abandoned. 

   FIELD OF INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a card holder in general, and more specifically to mechanism that holds a card and sounds an alarm when a card has been removed from a holder for a predetermined period of time. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Credit and debit cards are widely used in purchasing goods and services in society today. Their use is pervasive as people can use them at a variety of locations, practically obviating the need to carry cash. Unfortunately, sometimes a card owner will inadvertently leave a credit card or other important card in a store or similar place. If an owner has several cards and carries them often, the loss may remain unnoticed for a considerable time. The longer the time such a mistake remains unnoticed, the harder it is to recall exactly where the card may have been left. The headache and waste of time suffered by the owner in replacing these cards can be a severe nuisance. Moreover, unauthorized persons may then have access to the card and run up charges or run down accounts on the card. 
   Likewise, a lost identification card can be difficult and expensive to replace when it is lost. Many identification cards are approximately the size and shape of a credit or debit card, and may be protected by means otherwise designed for the protection of credit or debit cards. 
   Card holders which incorporate alarms are well known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,520 to Hirshberg discloses a card holder with a power source and a chip programmable to a speak a human voice so that it is less obtrusive than a mechanical alarm. U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,439 to McNeely teaches the use of an electronic system with metallic switch arms and spring clips which are rigid in nature. U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,745 to Simonowitz demonstrates a dual trigger alarm system requiring the opening or closing of a briefcase or outer wallet to trigger the alarm on the card holder. U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,094 to Kopel discloses a bulky accordion-style folding credit card holder that uses dielectric sheets as contacts for the alarm system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,444 to Wittmer et al. teaches an alarm system for multiple cards using bulky flexible conductive ribbon to conduct electricity to the alarm. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,095 to Cook illustrates a complicated alarm system with components remote from the card holder in triggering the alarm. U.S. Pat. No. 6,184,788 to Middlemiss et al. Discloses an electronic system for a hard shell credit card holder with a visible as well as audible alarm that sounds when a card has been taken out. U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,724 to Tone teaches a multi-part alarm system in which the cards are located in a hard plastic holder. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,453 to Beck et al. discloses a multiple card carrier using metal parts at both the electrical contacts and the flanges. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,283 to Maharshak teaches another accordion-style credit card case which incorporates conductor strips in the contacts for triggering the alarm. 
   These devices all have either bulky mechanisms or require an unnecessary amount of metal in them. Furthermore, these devices have the disadvantage that if the device slips from a person&#39;s wallet, then the card as well as the alarm are lost, and the alarm function in the holder is rendered moot. 
   Thus, a reliable, non-bulky, easy to manufacture credit card holder having an alarm is needed which has a minimum of metallic parts. Not only is such a device more comfortable to wear for the user, but in light of current events, airport security is tight, and carrying unnecessary metal can delay a person&#39;s travel. 
   There is also a need for a credit card holder with an alarm that has a minimum of rigid parts so that unsightly lines are not pressed into a card carrier&#39;s clothes when used. 
   There is also a need for a credit card alarm with conductive gel for contacts to minimize the amount of metal that a person carries and ptrovide a credit card holder that will not slip from a person&#39;s wallet. 
   Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a credit card holder that has non-rigid contacts held apart by the credit card. 
   What is also needed in the art is a card holder with conductive gel contacts so that the credit card holder will not slip from a person&#39;s wallet. 
   What is also needed in the art is a card holder with conductive silicone gel contacts to minimize the amount of metal within the card holder having an alarm. 
   It is, therefore, to the effective resolution of the aforementioned problems and shortcomings of the prior art that the present invention is directed. 
   However, in view of the prior art in at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is an apparatus which comprises a flexible non-bulky, metal-minimizing card holder for credit cards, debit cards and identification cards including an alarm for identifying removal of a card from a holder after a predetermined duration using flexible contact points. The invention includes a holder for a card including a recess adapted for holding a card, a non-rigid flexible electrical contact means located in the recess of the holder for triggering an alarm adapted to be held apart by the card in the holder, an intrinsic power source in electronic communication with the contact means, and electronic means for providing an audible alarm after a predetermined delay after the removal of the card from the holder. 
   Preferably the contact means are made of an electrically conductive high carbon base gel, and are in electronic communication through a line of conductive silicone. Also, it is preferred that the power source is not in electronic communication with the contact means until the alarm has been triggered. 
   The card holder may be attached to the interior of a wallet. The exterior of the card holder is preferred to be a non-slip silicone case. The exterior of the card holder may be heat sealed to the electronic contact means, or attached to the electronic contact means with an adhesive. 
   The power source may be inaccessible to the user, or may be accessible to facilitate battery replacement. 
   The present invention uses a minimum of metal in its construction, has a small, lightweight internal power source, is easy to manufacture, and resists slippage from a person&#39;s clothing or wallet. 
   The present invention is made from materials currently available in the art, and its shape, described herein as generally rectangular, may be of other shapes that do not affect the function of the apparatus. 
   The power source may be accessible through the non-slip casing, or it may be sealed within the apparatus. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a credit card holder with non-rigid contacts held apart by the credit card. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a credit card holder that will resist slipping from a person&#39;s wallet or pants. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and together with the general description, serve to explain principles of the present invention. 
   These and other important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become clear as this description proceeds. 
   The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the description set forth hereinafter and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side plan view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention with the card removed. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective bottom view of an alternate embodiment of the invention with the card inserted. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective top view of an alternate embodiment with the card inserted. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective top view of the interior surface of the back portion of an alternate embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1  shows the inventive credit card holder apparatus including an alarm, shown generally at  10 . The apparatus  10  is generally rectangular in shape. It comprises a recess for card holding  12  and an exterior surface  14 . It is preferred that the card holding recess  12  comprises a pocket shape  12  within the apparatus  10 . The surface of the recess comprises two bowed inwardly biased contacts having a minimum of metal content. Preferably, the apparatus has a top electrically conductive silicone pad  16  and a bottom electrically conductive silicone pad  18 . It is preferred that these silicone pads are made from a silicone, high carbon base gel, such as that made by Hitek, Inc. or Sarnoff Corporation, both from Princeton, N.J. The top pad  16  and the bottom pad  18  are situated so that they are in electronic communication for a completed circuit only when there is no card in the recess  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the recess  12  is approximately 5.5 centimeters deep and 9 centimeters wide for optimal placement of the card to be inserted in the recess  12 . Also, the edges of the top pad  16  and the bottom pad are preferably approximately 1.5 millimeters apart. It is preferred that the apparatus is shaped so that it fits within a typical section for holding a credit card or identification in a typical wallet. However, other dimensions may be used. 
   The exterior  14  of the apparatus  10  is preferably a flexible silicone case  20  made from a silicone gel. It is preferred that the silicone case  20  have nonskid properties. Thus, if the apparatus is placed in a wallet, then the apparatus will not fall out of the wallet. The top pad  16  and the bottom pad  18  are attached to the silicone case  20  by an adhesive, such as an epoxy resin, or may be heat-sealed to the silicone case  20 . However, the pads  16 ,  18  may also be formed as an intrinsic part of the silicone case  20 . The card holder preferably has a waffle texture on the outer surface of the silicone case  20  to give added protection against slippage. 
   The top pad  16  and the bottom pad  18  are in electronic communication with each other. A conductive silicone line  22  is preferably located within the silicone case  20 , electronically communicating the top pad  16  with the bottom pad  18 , as shown in FIG.  1 . However, other means for electronically communicating the top pad  16  and the bottom pad  18  are known in the art, such as metal wires or other electric conductors. The pads are situated so that a circuit is not completed when a card is located between them, and is completed when the card is removed. 
   A power source is also in electronic communication with the contacts  16 ,  18 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the preferred power source is an electronic battery  24 . The preferred battery is a 3 volt battery, such as the Rayovac model 2016 battery. However, other power sources may be used instead of a battery  24  or in conjunction with a battery  24 . For example, a solar panel may placed on the exterior  14  of the apparatus  10  and used to power the apparatus or to charge the battery  24  used to power the apparatus  10 . In addition, in the preferred embodiment, the battery  24  is placed on the apparatus  10  in a slit in the exterior  14  adapted for entry and proper placement of the battery  24 . The battery  24  may be accessible through the case  20  so that the battery  24  may be replaced. However, it may alternatively be preferred that the battery  24  is encased within the case  20  so that the apparatus  10  is disposable when the battery  24  runs out. 
   The power source  24  is also in electronic communication with a miniature electronic circuit  26  which would sound an alarm when the contacts  16 ,  18  have been in electronic communication for a predetermined duration. In the preferred embodiment, the duration is approximately 1 minute. The circuit  26  provides for the resetting of the alarm function when the card is replaced within the recess  12 . The circuit  26  is preferably programmed into one or more integrated circuit chips, however, other miniature electronic devices may also hold the circuit  26 . The circuit is placed within the silicone case  20 . The circuit  26  may be inserted within the case  20 , or it alternatively may be placed within the case  20  as the case  20  is manufactured. In the preferred embodiment, the alarm would be a beeping signal. Other signals such as buzzers, messages or songs may be programmed into the circuit  26 . 
   The alarm triggered by the circuit  26  is made audible by one or more small speakers  28  in electronic communication with the circuit  26 . In the preferred embodiment, a single speaker is used, and the preferred model is a Sony Model No. 2045. However, other appropriate speakers  28  by other manufacturers are also known in the art. The speaker  28  is located at least partially within the silicone case  20 , as shown in FIG.  2 . 
   As described, the apparatus  10  does not draw power from the power supply until the contacts  16 ,  18  are in electronic cooperation. Thus, this apparatus  10  can be used for a substantial period of time without needing a change of power supply. 
   In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus  10  can be inserted in to a wallet of a man or woman for the special identification of the card to be used. The exterior surface  14  of the apparatus would thus have a non-slip surface which would prevent the cardholder, and thus the card, from accidentally falling out of the wallet when the wallet is opened. The apparatus may also be attached to a fanny pack, handbag, briefcase, or any other type of bag that might hold one or more credit cards or credit card sized identification. 
   Another alternate embodiment is shown in FIG.  3 . As shown, the apparatus  40  is a thin, protective, easy to use card carrier capable of being inserted in the wallet. The card  42  fits within the apparatus  40  as shown in FIG.  4 . In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus  10  is made of a rigid, non-conductive plastic material. It is preferred that the apparatus is 90 mm in length, 60 mm in width and 5.5 mm in height. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , in the preferred embodiment, on the back side  44  of the apparatus  40  has at least one aperture  46  improving the sound characteristics for an alarm. 
   In  FIG. 6 , the interior surface of the back portion  44  of the card carrier  40  is revealed. As shown, the speaker  48  is located in a recess within the back portion  44 . It is preferred that the speaker is soldered to the back portion  44  and the audio output lever is approximately 65 db. The power supply  52  is in electronic communication with a microprocessor  50 . It is preferred that the power supply is a 3.0V battery located in a second recess within the back portion  44 . The microprocessor  50  is a programmable interrupt controlled device as is known in the art. The microprocessor  50  is in electronic communication with a power supply  52 . The microprocessor  50  is activated when power is supplied from the power supply  52 . In the preferred embodiment contact is made between the microprocessor  50  and the power supply  52  through a leaf spring contact  54 . The contact  54  is designed to connect with the power supply  52  when the card is removed from the card carrier  40 . Thus, no power is supplied to the system while the card is within the carrier  40  and the alarm is activated after the card is removed. 
   Furthermore, the preferred embodiment includes a c-shaped guide  56  for the card. The c-shaped guide helps ensure that the card sits properly within the card carrier  40 . As shown, the c-shaped guide  56  and the spring contact  54  are integrally constructed and attached to the back portion  44 . In the preferred embodiment the c-shaped guide  56  and the leaf spring  54  are constructed of metal. However, they may be made of other material so long as the spring contact  54  is conductive and creates a circuit with the microprocessor  50 . 
   A front portion  64  is attached fixedly to the back portion  44  to protect the card  44 . The front can be attached frictionally, snapped on, or annealed, or other methods know in the art. 
   As also shown in  FIG. 6 , the interior of the card carrier  40  preferably includes one or more elongated guides  58  extending from the near portion  60  of the carrier  40 . Preferably, the elongated guides  58  guide the card to proper orientation within the apparatus  40 . In addition, the elongated guides  58  also served to protect the surface of the card within the apparatus  40 . In the preferred embodiment, the elongated guides  58  are formed integrally with the back portion  44  of the apparatus  40 . However, there may also be glued on or attached by other means known in the art. In addition, guides may be located on the interior of the front portion  64 . 
   Also, it is preferred that the apparatus  40  has an indentation  62  as shown in  FIGS. 3 through 5 . The indentation  62  enables the user to easily insert or remove the card  42  from the carrier  40 . Preferably, the indentation  62  is of a size which allows a person&#39;s fingers to tightly grip the card located inside the carrier  40 . 
   It will be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
   It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. Now that the invention has been described,