Abstract:
A radio frequency blocking pouch for the transport and use of a remote keyless system such as a wireless key fob or key, includes a sealable pouch configured to securely retain a wireless key fob in an inverted position and selectively permit radio transmission by unsealing the container, while permitting the use of additional keys and other small articles which may be bundled with the wireless key fob.

Description:
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates generally to radio frequency shielding and more specifically to a secure carrier for a wireless key fob. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A Remote keyless system (RKS) use radio frequency to control access to a building or vehicle, and performs as a conventional physical key without physical contact with a lock or ignition. A RKS is essentially a limited range radio transmitter which sends an encrypted signal to a receiver or transceiver located in the vehicle. The transmitter may take the form of a key fob, or be embedded in the head of a physical key. RKSs may include both a remote keyless entry system and a remote keyless ignition system. So called “smart keys” are a subset of RKSs that includes a proximity sensor which enables a user to unlock a vehicle without pressing a button on the wireless key fob or key. 
         [0003]    Despite widespread adoption of RKSs, security is a concern. In the past it has proved possible for car thieves to use amplification devices to boost the signal of keyless entry fobs in order to unlock vehicles beyond the designated range of the key. As of Aug. 06, 2015, Wired Magazine reported on a device which employs a radio hack to record and store a usable signal for later use. In response to various exploits, some individuals have opted to carry their wireless keyfob or key within a pouch that includes radio frequency (RF) shielding material. Still, such pouches representing previous attempts to improve vehicle security are not very user friendly, are typically stored separately from a user&#39;s other keys and require the user to be especially careful when removing a key fob from the pouch or placing it back in the pouch. 
         [0004]    It would be desirable to provide a RF blocking pouch for a RKS that includes features that ease deployment of a wireless key fob or key by a user, and lessens the likelihood that the shield will be compromised, or the wireless key fob or key is misplaced. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one general embodiment, a RF blocking pouch for shielding wireless key fobs and the like includes an invertable pouch with a top side having a mouth, a closure for the mouth, and a cavity for securely housing and retaining a wireless key fob or key when the pouch is inverted and the closure opened. 
         [0006]    In one aspect of the present invention in accordance with a general embodiment, a RF blocking pouch includes at least one RF blocking material. 
         [0007]    A second aspect combinable with any other aspect includes an inner tether connected at its proximal end to an inner surface of the cavity, and extendable from a collapsed position at a bottom of the cavity to the mouth. 
         [0008]    A third aspect combinable with any other aspect includes a key fob attachment at a distal end of the inner tether. 
         [0009]    A fourth aspect combinable with any other aspect includes a key ring tether and attachment member at an end of the pouch opposite the closure. 
         [0010]    In various embodiments, the pouch may include collapsible inner or outer tethers, portions of which may be elastic or non-elastic. 
         [0011]    In various embodiments, the pouch may include an outer pliant layer and an inner pliant layer, or, an outer rigid layer and an inner pliant layer. 
         [0012]    In various embodiments, the pouch may include an inner tether that is displaced by gravity when the pouch is inverted. 
         [0013]    In various embodiments, the pouch may include an inner tether that may be lengthened or shortened as desired. 
         [0014]    While in various embodiments depicted herein, the RF blocking pouch is made of a RF blocking fabric with a grid of interlaced conductive strands, it should be understood that other RF blocking materials such as metallic substrates, or metallic coatings will suggest themselves to those having skill in the art and benefit of this disclosure. 
         [0015]    The foregoing general and specific embodiments may be implemented using a device, system or method, or nay combinations of devices, systems, or methods. Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures wherein the scale depicted is approximate. Exemplary implementations, embodiments and examples that follow are non-exhaustive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front plan view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a front plan view of an embodiment shown in ( FIG. 1 ) with flap ( 200 ) raised and hook and loop fasteners (F 1 , F 2 ); 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view with exaggerated dimensions for clarity, taken along lines  3 - 3  of ( FIG. 2 ); 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a front plan view of an embodiment shown in ( FIG. 1 ) with flap ( 200 ) raised and inner tether ( 320 ,  330 ) extended above mouth ( 312 ); 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a front plan view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a gather ( 360 ) about body ( 310 ); 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a front plan view of an embodiment shown in ( FIG. 5 ), shown carrying a key fob which is connected to inner tether ( 330 ) via ring ( 340 ); 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a front plan view of an embodiment shown in ( FIG. 5 ), shown attached to a key fob which is connected to extended inner tether ( 330 ) via ring ( 340 ); 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention, with a rigid body ( 410 ), and closure ( 412 ); 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a front elevation of the embodiment shown in ( FIG. 1 ), employing magnetic snaps for flap fasteners (F 1 , F 2 ).; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a back plan view of another embodiment with a pocket  315  for small articles such as credit cards (C); 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  11 - 11  of ( FIG. 10 ), with card (C) omitted for clarity. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     REFERENCE LISTING 
       [0000]    
       
           100  RF blocking pouch 
           200  RF shielding material 
           210  flap 
           310  body 
           312  mouth 
           314  invertable cavity 
           315  article pocket 
           320  inner tether proximal member 
           330  inner tether distal member 
           340  fob or key attachment member 
           360  gather 
           410  rigid shell 
           412  cap 
           414  cap lip 
           416  rigid body lip 
           420  cap tether 
           440  cap fob or key attachment member 
           500  outer tether 
           125   510  outer tether attachment member 
         F 1 , F 2  fastener(s) 
         S sewline 
         C credit card or RFID card 
       
     
       Definitions 
       [0049]    In the following description, the term “pouch” refers to a small container configured to hold a wireless key fob and wherein the container is configured to attach to a key ring. The term “conductive fabric” refers to textiles made in part with metal strands, or fibers that are either embedded with, or coated with a conductive material such as carbon, nickel, stainless steel, gold or silver. The term “Faraday cage” refers to a shield comprising a conductive material used to block or attenuate specific radio frequencies or a range of radio frequencies. The singular terms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word “or” is intended to include “and” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of this disclosure, suitable methods and materials are described below. The term “comprises” means “includes.” All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. In case of conflict, the present specification, including explanations of terms, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. 
         [0050]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-4 , a general embodiment includes a pouch with a flap closure. The pouch ( 100 ) includes a body ( 310 ) and flap closure ( 210 ) constructed of a conductive fabric ( 200 ), and wherein the grid/mesh size of the conductive fabric is sized to block radio frequencies most commonly used with RKSs; e.g., ˜315 MHz for Domestic vehicles, or ˜433 MHz for European, or Japanese vehicles. Inner tether ( 320 ), which is shown as a liner sewn into the pouch, is extendable up to and past a mouth ( 312 ) of the pouch ( 100 ). Distal member ( 330 ) of the tether is configured to retain a wireless key fob ( 700 ) when attached to the distal end of the liner. The liner is collapsible, and may be pushed with the key fob to the bottom of the cavity ( 314 ) of the body ( 310 ). Typically, a user will attach a key ring to the outer tether ( 500 ) so that when the pouch is inverted, the fob will be retained and partially exposed past the mouth of the pouch. Inner tether ( 320 ) may be manufactured to a fixed length, or, the tether or parts thereof may be lengthened or shortened by a user as desired. The flap closure may be secured to occlude the mouth of the pouch by any suitable fastening means such as the hook and loop fasteners depicted, snap fasteners, magnetic catches, etc. 
         [0051]      FIGS. 5-7  show an embodiment similar to that in ( FIGS. 1-4 ), except including a transversely positioned gather ( 360 ), which may include an elasticized band circumferentially sewn about the body of the pouch and configured to retain key fob ( 700 ) in a position within the body ( 310 ) of the pouch ( 100 ). The gather may be positioned medially as shown or at any transverse position relative to the body. When a key fob is extended from the body via tether ( 320 ,  330 ) past the gather, the body ( 310 ) is constricted somewhat and serves to retain the key fob in the extended position. Conversely, when the key fob is girdled by the gather, it is held in a fixed position in the body when the pouch is inverted unless manually displaced. 
         [0052]      FIG. 8  is another embodiment wherein the pouch includes a rigid outer shell ( 410 ) and a pliant inner tether ( 320 ,  330 ) similar to the embodiments shown in ( FIGS. 1-7 ). In this case, the closure is a cap ( 412 ) that reversibly couples with lip ( 416 ). Cap ( 412 ) may be secured to the pouch body by an elasticized tether ( 420 ), and may include an additional loop for attachment to a key, key ring or other portable article. 
         [0053]      FIG. 9  depicts the embodiment similar to that of ( FIG. 7 ) with a snap closure and a circumferential transverse elasticized gather ( 360 ) to prevent the slippage of a key fob ( 700 ) out of position as shown, within cavity ( 314 ) unless manually pushed through and past the gather. 
         [0054]      FIGS. 10 and 11  depict an embodiment possessing a pocket  315  sewn into the back panel of pouch ( 100 ) and adjacent cavity ( 314 ) for small articles such as credit cards or RFID entry cards. The RF blocking of the pouch may be augmented by lining pocket ( 315 ) with additional RF blocking conductive material. Pocket ( 315 ) may include a gathered top lip with elastic, or a separate flap cover in addition to flap ( 210 ). The back plan view  10  depicts one exemplary storage arrangement for card (C) relative to pocket ( 315 ). 
         [0055]    Construction materials of any portion of the RF blocking pouch, whether the outer panels of the pouch or the inner cavity or pockets, can be any RF blocking conductive material alone, or a combination with any other RF blocking conductive material, metallic foils, conductive coatings, natural or synthetic materials. While in the embodiments herein, the inner tether as shown includes an invertable liner sewn onto or otherwise attached circumjacent the inner surface of the pouch cavity, the inner tether may be a collapsible member attached to the bottom of the pouch that is extendable towards the mouth of the pouch if displaced by gravity when the pouch is inverted. It is conceivable that the inner tether may be adjusted for length. For example, the inner tether may include a cable or banding (not shown) that passes through a loop, buckle or cinch, attached to the bottom of the pouch or cavity ( 314 ) with a free end that may be pulled to shorten the end having the key fob attachment member, and conversely, the end having the key fob attachment member may be pulled in order to lengthen the tether. Other adjustment means will suggest themselves to persons having skill in the art and benefit of this disclosure, and may be employed with various embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0056]    It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive manner, and are not intended to be limiting to the particular forms and examples disclosed. Exemplary features and objects of the embodiments described herein can be combined or not combined with one another. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited to the particular forms set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.