Abstract:
A low profile wallet may comprise a first plate, a second plate, and a substantially flat strap configured to attach around the first plate and the second plate. Different types, colors, patterns, styles, etc. of plates may be interchanged creating multiple different wallet plate combinations. The plates may include openings formed on opposite sides for retaining the strap. The shape of the openings may enable easier attachment and removal of the strap and in one example also may enable a reduction of the overall size of the plates. Separation notches may be formed on elongated upper or lower ends of the plates. The separation notches may have a substantially concave shape and/or may be offset from lateral sides of the plates.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/801,891 filed Mar. 13, 2013, entitled: LOW PROFILE WALLET, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 61/635,634, filed Apr. 19, 2012, entitled: LOW PROFILE WALLET, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/801,891 filed Mar. 13, 2013 also claims priority to Chinese Patent Application Ser. No. 201230460775.9 filed, Entitled: Wallet, filed Sep. 25, 2012 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Conventional leather wallets are bulky and comprise multiple folded over layers of leather or canvas. The thickness of the wallet, in combination with the cards and money contained within the wallet, create a thick and bulky container for personal items. Conventional wallets also have a tendency to wear out and absorb water. 
         [0003]    Hackers may use wireless Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers to unlawfully extract personal information from credit cards. The leather or organic materials used in conventional wallets typically do not provide RFID blocking and allow RFID hackers to access information from the credit cards contained within the wallets. 
         [0004]    Known metal wallets can retain personal items such as credit cards and money within a relatively low profile and may provide RFID blocking. However, known metal wallets may not securely retain personal items, may be too heavy, lack aesthetic appeal, and may be difficult to operate. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a low profile wallet. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the low profile wallet in an open position. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the low profile wallet in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of an attachment opening. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a side sectional view of the low profile wallet. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the low profile wallet with a divider plate. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the wallet in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a passport wallet. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a slim-line mini-wallet. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the low profile wallet shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the passport wallet shown in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the slim-line mini-wallet shown in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a front elevation view of a quick release mini-wallet. 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a right side elevation view for the wallet of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  is a left side elevation view for the wallet of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 16  is a top plan view for the wallet of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 17  is a bottom plan view for the wallet of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 18  is a rear elevation view for the wallet of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view for the wallet of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 20  is a front perspective view for an alternative embodiment of the wallet of  FIG. 13  containing a divider plate and having a rear view similar to the front perspective view except without a strap clasp. 
           [0025]      FIG. 21  is a front elevation view for an alternative embodiment of the quick release mini-wallet of  FIG. 13  with repositioned separation notches. 
           [0026]      FIG. 22  is a right side elevation view for the wallet of  FIG. 21 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 23  is a left side elevation view for the wallet of  FIG. 21 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 24  is a top plan view for the wallet of  FIG. 21 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 25  is a bottom plan view for the wallet of  FIG. 21 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 26  is a rear elevation view for the wallet of  FIG. 21 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 27  is a perspective view for the wallet of  FIG. 21 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 28  is a front perspective view for an alternative embodiment of the wallet of  FIG. 21  containing a divider plate and having a rear view similar to the front perspective view except without a strap clasp. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a low profile wallet  10  comprises two metal and/or carbon fiber plates  12  and  14  held together with an elastic strap  16 . Personal items, such as paper money  22 , credit cards  24 , driver&#39;s license, identification cards, membership cards, business cards, or the like, or any combination thereof may be compressively held in-between plates  12  and  14  or may be held outside of either plate  12  or  14 . 
         [0034]    Elastic strap  16  is connected at opposite ends by a relatively flat metal, plastic, leather or polyurethane leather clasp  18  and inserts into openings  25  formed in opposite ends of plates  12  and  14 . Strap  16  may have a relatively flat elongated rectangular cross-sectional shape and an elongated rectangular top profile. The flat wide profile of strap  16  and clasp  18  applies a more stable, even, and distributed compressive force against front and back sides of plates  12  and  14 , respectively. 
         [0035]    Strap  16  may hold the personal items, such as money  22  and/or credit cards  24  more securely in-between plates  12  and  14  and also may more securely retain the personal items against the front side of plate  12  or against the back side of plate  14 . Openings  25  more easily attach to strap  16  and more easily detach from strap  16  while at the same time more securely holding plates  12  and  14  in co-alignment. 
         [0036]    The easy detachment of strap  16  from openings  25  promotes easy combination of different plates  12  and  14 . For example, the user may attach a first plate  12  having a crimson color with a second plate  14  having a grey color. The user may quickly remove strap  16  from plates  12  and  14  by sliding a first end of strap  16  up and out of the upper openings  25  and sliding a second end of strap  16  down and out of the lower openings  25 . One of the plates such as the crimson colored plate  12  may be replaced with a red or white colored plate  12  or a plate with another pattern. 
         [0037]    Any combination of colors or patterns may be applied to plates  12  and  14 . For example, plate  12  may include a college logo, a geometric pattern, a floral pattern, etc. The user or a manufacturer may easily replace the plates with plates having other patterns or colors without having to disconnect opposite ends of strap  16 . 
         [0038]    Referring specifically to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , openings  25  comprise slots  26  having substantially elongated rectangular shapes and notches  28  extending from notches  28  to top and bottom ends of plates  12  and  14 . Slots  26  may comprise elongated rectangular shapes with upper and lower walls that extend in parallel with the top and bottom ends of plates  12  and  14 . Slots  26  are sized to receive the entire width of elastic strap  16  providing more contact surface area between strap  16  and plates  12  and  14 . 
         [0039]    Notches  28  may comprise a first set of two oppositely inclining side walls  40 A and  40 B extending inwardly from top ends of plates  12  or  14  to about half way between the top ends of plates  12  or  14  and slots  26 . A second set of two oppositely inclining side walls  42 A and  42 B may extend outwardly from side walls  40 A and  40 B, respectively, to slot  26 . 
         [0040]    A first end of strap  16  may be slid from top ends of plates  12  and  14  through notches  28  in a downward direction toward the center of plates  12  and  14  and seat into upper slots  26 . A second end of strap  16  may be slid upward from a bottom end of plates  12  and  14  through lower notches  28  in an upward direct toward the center of plates  12  and  14  and seat into lower slots  26 . 
         [0041]    Openings  25  in combination with strap  16  provide more even distribution of compressive force against plates  12  and  14 . For example, elongated slots  26  in combination with the flat cross sectional shape of strap  16  provides more resistance to rotational, vertical, and horizontal movements between plates  12  and  14  while at the same time allowing easy separation of plates  12  and  14  on one side as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0042]    To explain further, plates  12  and  14  may have an x-axis  30   x , a y-axis  30   y , and a z-axis axis  30   z . A user or the materials held within plates  12  and  14  may apply forces that tend to twist plate  12  in a direction  32   x  about x-axis  30 X, twist plate  12  in a direction  32   y  about y-axis  30   y , and/or twist plate  12  in a direction  32   z  about z-axis  30   z.    
         [0043]    In one example, while spreading apart plates  12  and  14 , the user may apply a force that tends to twist plate  12  in direction  32   z  about z-axis  30   z . The lateral sides of slots  26  may press against lateral sides of strap  16  preventing rotation of plate  12  in direction  32   z  about z-axis  30   z  with respect to plate  14 . 
         [0044]    In another example, materials located between plates  12  and  14  may have uneven thicknesses, such as a larger thickness at a top end of plates  12  and  14  than at a bottom end of plates  12  and  14 . The unevenness of the materials may direct compressive force in direction  32   x  about x-axis  30   x  and/or in direction  32   y  about y-axis  30   y . The elongated width of strap  16  may provide additional resistance preventing some of the rotation or tilting of plate  12  in direction  32   x  and/or direction  32   y.    
         [0045]    The distributed force of strap  16  still enables a user to easily rotate plate  12  about one side of plate  14  as shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, the user may more readily overcome the compressive force of strap  16  holding plates  12  and  14  together by levering a left side of plate  12  against plate  14  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0046]    Strap  16  in combination with openings  25  also may reduce sliding of plate  12  with respect to plate  14  in x-axis directions and/or y-axis directions along the plane defined by x-axis  30   x  and  y -axis  30   y . For example, sliding plate  12  upward along y-axis  30   y  with respect to plate  14  causes a bottom end of slot  26  on plate  12  and a top end of a top slot  26  on plate  14  to pinch against bottom and top ends of strap  16 , respectively. The pinching condition prevents further upward vertical movement of plate  12  along y-axis  30   y  with respect to plate  14 . 
         [0047]    Strap  16  in combination with openings  25  also may prevent plate  12  from sliding sideways with respect to plate  14  along x-axis  30   x  in the plane defined by x-axis  30   x  and  y -axis  30   y . For example, sliding plate  12  in a right sideways direction along x-axis  30   x  with respect to plate  14  causes a left lateral side of upper slot  26  on plate  12  and a right lateral side of upper slot  26  on plate  14  to pinch against opposite lateral sides of strap  16 . The pinching condition prevents further right sideways movement of plate  12  along x-axis  30   x  with respect to plate  14 . 
         [0048]    The elongated cross-sectional width of strap  16  applies a wider area of compressive force against personal items  21 . The elongated contact area formed between strap  16  and elongated slots  26  also creates upper and lower retention areas that prevent personal items  21 ,  22 , and/or  24  from sliding upwards or downwards along y-axis  30   y , or sideways along x-axis  30   x  and out of wallet  10 . 
         [0049]    Thus, the relatively flat elongated shape of strap  16  pressing against plates  12  and  14  may distribute compressive force more evenly and broadly against plates  12  and  14 . The distributed compressive force may more securely hold items, such as items  22  and  24  between plates  12  and  14  and/or more securely hold items  21  between against a front face of plate  12  and/or a back face of plate  14 . At the same time, strap  16  may also allow a user to relatively easily lever a first side of plate  12  against plate  14  and press apart a second opposite side of plate  12  from a second opposite side of plate  14 . For example, the user may separate plates  12  and  14  on one side as shown in  FIG. 2  like a clam shell while the opposite sides of plates  12  and  14  remain pressed against each other. 
         [0050]    A separation notch  20 A is formed on a lower right corner of plate  12  and a similar shaped separation notch  20 B is formed on an upper right corner of plate  14 . Fingers, such as thumbs, are located within separation notches  20 A and  20 B and press in opposite directions against the adjacent corners of plates  12  and  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the left side of plate  12  rotates about a front face on the left side of plate  14  separating right sides of plates  12  and  14  and elastically stretching strap  16 . 
         [0051]    Personal items  22  and  24  are inserted in-between the right sides of plates  12  and  14  and pressure is removed from the lower right corner of plate  14  and the upper right corner of plate  12  adjacent to notches  20 A and  20 B, respectively. Strap  16  then elastically pulls together the right sides of plates  12  and  14  against opposite sides of personal items  22  and  24  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0052]    Holes  29  may be formed on the upper right corner of plate  12  and/or on the lower right corner of plate  14  and align with a center of separation notches  20  on adjacent plates  12  or  14 . Holes  29  may be used for attaching a key chain, floatation device, or any other attachment apparatus. 
         [0053]    Plates  12  and  14  may provide Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) blocking. As explained above, problems currently exist with unauthorized access to personal credit card information. Malfeasance may use RFID technology to wirelessly extract information from credit cards, while the credit cards are located in the wallet of a user. 
         [0054]    Wallet  10  may use a metal material for plates  12  and  14 , such as aluminum or steel. The metal material may block RFID signals and prevent unauthorized access to the information contained on credit cards  24 . In one example, wallet  10  may use an aircraft grade aluminum  6061  with an anodized or powder coat paint finish for plates  12  and  14 . 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , wallet  10  also may use carbon fiber sheets  44 A- 44 D for plates  12  and  14 . A center metal fabric layer  46  may sandwich in-between carbon fiber sheets  44 A- 44 D to provide anti-RFID blocking. In one example, metal layer  46  may comprise an aluminum foil or any other material that provides shielding against electro-magnetic interference (EMI), radio frequency interference (RFI) microwave, and electro-static discharge (ESD). 
         [0056]    In another example, two layers of aluminum foil  46  may sandwich between any two carbon fiber layers  44 . In yet another example, aluminum foil layers  46  may sandwich between different carbon fiber layers, such as between carbon fiber layers  44 A and  44 B, between carbon fiber layers  44 B and  44 C, and/or between carbon fiber layers  44 C and  44 D. Carbon fiber plates  12  and  14  may be lighter than metal plates while also providing RFID blocking and/or preventing magnetic waves from erasing or corrupting electronically recorded information on personals items, such as cards  24 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a wallet  50  that includes a divider plate  52 .  FIG. 7  shows an exploded view of wallet  50  in  FIG. 6 . Separation notches  58 A and  58 B are located on an upper right corner and a lower right corner of divider plate  52 , respectively. Divider plate  52  may be attached in-between plate  12  and  14  and may include openings  25  similar to openings  25  formed in plates  12  and  14 . 
         [0058]    Strap  16  may insert through notches  28  into slots  26  of divider plate  52  holding divider plate  52  in-between plate  12  and  14 . In one example, the width of divider plate  52  may be slightly narrower than the width of plates  12  and  14 . For example, plates  12  and  14  may have a width of approximately 2.94 inches and divider plate  52  may have a width of 2.75 inches. In another example, all three plates  12 ,  14 , and  52  may have the same width of 2.94 inches and a same height of 4.24 inches. 
         [0059]    A compartment  54  is formed between plate  12  and divider plate  52  and a compartment  56  is formed between divider plate  52  and plate  14 . Different personal items may be inserted into each of compartments  54  and  56 . For example, money may be inserted into compartment  54  and credit cards, driver&#39;s licenses, etc. may be inserted into compartment  56 . Of course, anything may be retained within either compartment  54  or  56 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 8  shows another example of a low profile passport wallet  60 . In this example, plates  62  and  66  may be made from metal or carbon fiber as described above. However, plates  62  and  66  of wallet  60  may be longer and/or wider than plates  12  and  14  for wallet  10  in  FIG. 1  for holding a passport  68 . 
         [0061]    In one example, passport wallet  60  may include separation notches  64 A and  64 B offset from the center of the right sides of plates  62  and  66 . Notch  64 A may be located at a distance  65 A from a bottom end of plate  62  and notch  64 B may be located at a distance  65 B from a top end of plate  66 . In another example, separation notches  64 A and  64 B may be located on upper and lower right side corners of plates  62  and  66 , respectively, similar to wallet  10  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 9  shows an example of a low profile slim-line mini-wallet  70 . In this example, plates  72  and  74  also may use metal or carbon fiber as described above. However, plates  72  and  74  may be shorter and/or narrower than plates  12  and  14  for wallet  10  of  FIG. 1  or plates  62  and  66  for wallet  60  in  FIG. 8 . The shorter height and narrower width of wallet  70  may more easily insert into a wider variety of different locations. For example, slim-line wallet  70  may fit more easily into smaller shallower depth front pant pockets. 
         [0063]    Plates  72  and  74  may have a width slightly greater than the width of a conventional credit card. For example, plates  72  and  74  may have a width slightly greater than around 2.125 inches. The spacing between upper and lower slots  26  may be slightly greater than the height of a conventional credit card. For example, a vertical distance between upper and lower slots  26  may be slightly greater than 3.375 inches. 
         [0064]    In one example, wallet  70  may include separation notches  80 A and  80 B on the right side of plates  72  and  74 , respectively. Separation notches  80 A and  80 B may be located at any variety of offsets from the center line of plates  72  and  74 , respectively. In one example, notches  80 A and  80 B may be offset relatively further apart from the center line of plates  72  and  74 , respectively, than separation notches  64 A and  64 B are offset from the center-line of plates  62  and  66 , respectively, of wallet  60  in  FIG. 8 . Any of the positions of separation notches  20 ,  64 , or  80  may be used on any of wallets  10 ,  60 , or  70 . Separation notches  20  in  FIG. 1 , separation notches  64  in  FIG. 8  and separation notches  80  in  FIG. 9  may be any shape or size, but in one example, are circular, oval, or any other concave shape to more readily receive the thumbs of the user. 
         [0065]      FIGS. 10-12  show comparative relative dimensions of wallets  10 ,  60 , and  70 , respectively. In one example, wallet  10  in  FIG. 10  may have a width  92 A of approximately 2.94 inches and a height  92 B of approximately 4.24 inches. In one example, wallet  60  in  FIG. 11  may have a width  96 A of approximately 3.93 inches and a height  96 B of approximately 5.51 inches. In one example, wallet  70  in  FIG. 12  may have a width  96 A of approximately 2.45 inches and a height  96 B of approximately 3.95 inches. Of course, in other examples, any of wallets  10 ,  60 , and  70  may have different dimensions. 
         [0066]    Other wallets with different dimensions may be sized for accommodating bank notes, such as British Pounds, Euros, Japanese Yen, or the like or any combination thereof. For example, plates  12  and  14  of wallet  10  may alternatively have a width of approximately of 3.35 inches and a height of approximately 4.24 inches. 
         [0067]      FIG. 13  is a front elevation view of a quick release wallet  100 .  FIG. 14  is a right side elevation view for the wallet of  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 15  is a left side elevation view for the wallet of  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 16  is a top plan view for the wallet of  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 17  is a bottom plan view for the wallet of  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 18  is a rear elevation view for the wallet of  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 19  is a perspective view for the wallet of  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 20  is a front perspective view for an alternative embodiment of the wallet of  FIG. 13  containing a divider plate and having a rear view similar to the front perspective view except without a strap clasp. 
         [0068]    Referring to  FIGS. 13-20 , wallet  100  may comprise two plates  106  and  108  that are held together by a strap  104 . Low profile openings  102  may be formed in opposite top and bottom ends of plates  106  and  108  for holding strap  104 . Low profile openings  102  may have slots  114  and side walls  112  extending from the slots to sides of plates  106  and  108 . In one example, side walls  112  form oppositely facing protuberances  118 . 
         [0069]    Openings  102  may have a shallower depth  110  than the depth of openings  25  in  FIG. 1  allowing for a smaller overall size for plates  106  and  108 . Distance  116  between ends of slots  114  on the sides of one of plates  106  or  108  may be just longer than the length of a conventional ISO/IEC 7810 identification card. For example, an ID-1 card, such as most banking, driving license, ATM, debit, or ID card may be 85.60 mm×53.98 mm. Distance  116  between ends of slots  114  may be just more than 85.60 mm, such as 88.90 mm. 
         [0070]    The shallower depth  110  of openings  102  allow plates  106  and  108  to have a smaller outside diameter and thus take up less room in a pocket of carrying bag. The shallower depth  110  of side walls  112  of openings  102  also allow easier and quicker removal of strap  104  from plates  106  and  108 . 
         [0071]    In one example, low profile openings  102  may have a depth  110  of around 2.25 mm-4.50 mm. Openings  102  may have a spacing of around 11.70 mm between the protuberances  118  formed by side walls  112  and may have a spacing of around 12.44 mm below the protuberances formed by side walls  112 . Protuberances  118  formed on side walls  112  may have a radius of around 1.85 mm and the area on side walls  112  below protuberances  118  may have a radius of around 1.31 mm. Plates  106  and  108  also may have corners  120  with a radius of around 13.87 mm-15.39 mm. 
         [0072]    A separation notch  122 A may be formed in the upper left corner of plate  106  and a separation notch  122 B is formed in an opposite upper right corner of plate  108 . In one example, the radius of separation notches  122  may be about the same radius size as corners  120 . Holes  124 A and  124 B may be formed in plates  106  and  108 , respectively, and aligned with the center of separation notches  122  formed in the opposing plates. 
         [0073]      FIG. 20  depicts an example of a divider plate  126  located between plate  106  and plate  108 . Divider plate  126  may include a separation notch  128 A having a same shape and aligned with separation notch  122 A and a separation notch  128 B having a same shape and aligned with separation notch  122 B. 
         [0074]      FIG. 21  is a front elevation view for an alternative embodiment of a quick release mini-wallet with repositioned separation notches.  FIG. 22  is a right side elevation view of the wallet in  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 23  is a left side elevation view of the wallet in  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 24  is a top plan view for the wallet of  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 25  is a bottom plan view for the wallet of  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 26  is a rear elevation view for the wallet of  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 27  is a perspective view for the wallet of  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 28  is a front perspective view for an alternative embodiment of the wallet of  FIG. 21  containing a divider plate and having a rear view similar to the front perspective view except without a strap clasp. 
         [0075]    Wallet  140  may have substantially a same shape and size as wallet  100  in  FIGS. 13-20 . However, wallet  140  may have two separation notches  142 A and  142 A positioned more toward the middle of plates  144  and  146 , respectively. For example, separation notch  142 A may be located about half way between the right side of plate  144  and a centerline of plate  144 . Separation notch  142 B may be located about half way between the left side of plate  146  and a center line of plate  146 . 
         [0076]    In one example, separation notches  142 A and  142 B may each have a radius of around 5.23 mm. In one example, separation notch  142 A may be spaced a distance of around 24.64 mm from the right side of plate  144  and separation notch  142 B may be spaced a distance of around 24.64 mm from the left side of plate  146 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 28  shows another example of wallet  140  with a center separation plate  148 . Separation plate  148  may include a first separation notch  150 A aligned with separation notch  142 A of plate  144 . Separation plate  148  may include a second separation notch  150 B that aligned with separation notch  142 B of plate  146 . 
         [0078]    References above have been made in detail to preferred embodiment. Examples of the preferred embodiments were illustrated in the referenced drawings. While preferred embodiments where described, it should be understood that this is not intended to limit the invention to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0079]    Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the invention may be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. Claim is made to all modifications and variation coming within the spirit and scope of the following claims.