Abstract:
A wallet for retaining a plurality of cards. The wallet includes a wallet case having two slit openings. The wallet also includes an insert which is removably attached to the wallet casing. The insert includes several pages aligned in a photo album fashion. Each page includes at least two pockets for holding cards. The insert may include slits for accessing the interior of each pocket. The slits may include hooded corners or moveable tabs for retaining the cards in the pockets. In addition, the wallet case may include an interior pocket having a closeable opening. The wallet case and insert may also include rounded corners for ease in removing or inserting the wallet within a back pocket of the user.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of a copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/305203 by Alan Beckley entitled “WALLET FOR RETAINING A PLURALITY OF CREDIT CARDS,” filed Nov. 26, 2002 and is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Technical Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to wallets, and more particularly, to a wallet configured to retain a plurality of credits cards in a compact area.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     As discussed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/305203 to Beckley (Beckley), existing conventional wallets have been used for quite a long time for carrying currency. However, these existing wallets are not configured to provide a slim profile when carrying a plurality of credit cards. Because of the thickness and unwieldiness of the conventional wallets, the user must be resigned to a large bulge in the back pocket or simply carrying the wallet to avoid carrying such a thick object in pockets. The wallet disclosed in Beckley provided a novel configuration for carrying the cards in a thin profile. However, Beckley does not provide inserts which securely retain cards or provide ease in retrieval of the cards.  
         [0006]     A wallet is needed which carries a large number of credit cards in a compact configuration while allowing quick and simple access to the cards retained in the wallet. Thus, it would be a distinct advantage to have a wallet which may retain a plurality of credit cards in a “thin” configuration in a side by side layout and photo album fashion which securely retains the cards and allow easy access. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a device.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In one aspect, the present invention is a wallet for retaining a plurality of cards. The wallet includes a bi-fold wallet case having a lateral opening running a substantial length of the wallet case. The lateral opening leads to an interior of the wallet case. The case also includes an insert attached to the wallet case. The insert has a plurality of pages. Each page has at least two pockets. Each pocket-sized and shaped to retain at least one card. The cards are aligned in a non-overlapping and adjacent configuration. In addition, the plurality of pages are arranged in photo album fashion. The insert retains a plurality of cards and the wallet case is capable of retaining currency bills. The wallet case is sized to fit within a back pocket of a carrier of the wallet. The pockets may include slits for accessing the interior of the pockets. The slits may include hooded corners or closeable tabs to assist in retaining cards in the pockets. The wallet case and insert may include rounded corners providing ease in retrieval or insertion into the carrier&#39;s back pocket. The wallet case may also include an internal pocket.  
         [0008]     In another aspect, the present invention is a wallet for retaining a plurality of cards. The wallet includes a bi-fold wallet case having a slit opening. The wallet case is sized to fit within a back pocket of a carrier of the wallet. The wallet includes a detachable insert attached to the wallet case. The insert includes a plurality of pages originating from a spine. Each page has at least two pockets with each pocket sized and shaped to retain at least one card. The pockets are configured to hold cards in a substantially vertical orientation. The cards on each page are aligned in a non-overlapping and adjacent configuration. The plurality of pages are arranged in photo album fashion. Each card is aligned parallel to the spine when retained in the pocket. At least one insert tab is positioned within the slit opening of the wallet case to retain the insert within the wallet case. The insert is used to hold the plurality of cards. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The invention will be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, in conjunction with the accompanying specification, in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a wallet with open privacy flaps in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the wallet having an insert retaining a plurality of credit cards in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the wallet with the privacy flaps in the closed position;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the insert removed from the wallet;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the insert removed from the wallet;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front view of an insert in an alternate embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  illustrates the wallet having transparent flaps;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a front view of an insert removed from the wallet in a first alternate embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 9A  is a front view of an insert removed from the wallet with tabs in an open position in a second alternate embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9B  is a front view of the insert of  FIG. 9A  with the tabs in a closed position;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a front view of an insert removed from the wallet in a third alternate embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 10A  is an enlarged front view of the pocket with the horizontal slit of  FIG. 10 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a front view of an insert removed from the wallet in a fourth alternate embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  is a front view of an insert within a wallet in a fifth alternate embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  is a rear view of a wallet showing in phantom an internal pocket in a sixth alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     A wallet for holding a plurality of credit cards and currency in a side by side layout is disclosed.  FIG. 1  is a front view of a wallet  20  with privacy flaps  22  and  24  configured in an open position in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The wallet includes a pocket  26  and a pocket  28 . Additionally, each pocket includes a slit opening  30  and  32  located about a center axis  34 . As illustrated, the privacy flaps are opened upwardly and mounted to an upper portion  36  of the wallet. The wallet is preferably constructed of a leather or simulated leather material. However, any material may be utilized which provides a support for retaining a plurality of credit cards and currency bills. To accommodate conventional sizes of credit cards, the wallet is preferably sized with dimensions of approximately 4 inches by 10.5 inches. However, it should be understood that any size of wallet may be utilized and still be within the scope of the present invention. Each privacy flap is preferably non-transparent or nearly non-transparent to provide privacy of the retained cards held within the wallet. However, in alternate embodiments of the present invention, the flaps may be transparent.  FIG. 7  illustrates the wallet having transparent flaps  100  and  102 . In addition, although the privacy flaps are mounted to the top portion of the wallet, the flaps may be affixed on any portion of the wallet. Additionally, the flaps are optional and may not be present in alternate embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the wallet  20  having an insert  40  retaining a plurality of credit cards  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48  in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The privacy flaps  22  and  24  are shown in the open position. The insert is positioned within an opened wallet  20  and includes two pages  56  and  58 . The insert is preferably constructed of a strong, yet flexible, material such as plastic. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, four cards may be vertically aligned and placed side by side. The cards are configured to fit four adjacent to each other.  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the wallet  20  with the privacy flaps  22  and  24  in the closed position. The privacy flaps may be positioned downwardly to cover the contents of the wallet. The privacy flaps may be constructed of a material preventing viewing of the contents of the wallet. However, in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, one or both privacy flaps may be transparent. In the transparent embodiment, each flap may optionally be capable of holding photos or cards vertically or horizontally in a side by side photo album style configuration within pockets contained within the privacy flaps. In addition, the wallet may optionally include a lateral opening  50  for the retention of bills. The opening is large enough to accommodate large bills such as those found in European currency. When carrying the wallet  20 , the wallet is folded along the center axis  34 . As depicted, the wallet is open.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the insert  40  removed from the wallet  20 . The insert includes a plurality of pages  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 , and  61 . In addition, the insert includes insert tabs  62  and  64 . Preferably, the insert is configured to include a spine  70  from which the pages are held. However, in alternate embodiments of the present invention, the left aligned pages may be mounted separately from the right aligned pages. The insert tabs are constructed of a durable material and are inserted within the slit openings  30  and  32  ( FIG. 1 ). The insert tabs may be constructed from a single sheet of material which is durable yet bends easily to allow the tabs to be inserted into the wallet. Alternatively, the tabs maybe he hinged about the centerline of the insert and operating a closed/opened book-like configuration.  
         [0029]     The pages are configured in photo album style (pages with adjacently oriented cards on each page), with each card vertically aligned and laying side by side. Thus, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the insert is in the open position depicted in  FIG. 4 , two opened pages hold four cards positioned next to each other. The pages are folded about the spine  70 . The pages are sized and shaped to hold cards in the vertically aligned position. Thus, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the insert (in the open position) is ten inches wide and  4  inches tall. However, in alternate embodiments, the insert may be any size and shape to accommodate a plurality of cards. In such a preferred configuration, the tabs are slightly smaller (e.g., 3.5 inches) to allow accommodation within the slit openings. Additionally, although six pages are illustrated in  FIG. 4 , any number of pages may be utilized ranging from only one page to any plurality of pages.  
         [0030]     The insert is constructed of a durable material (preferably water resistant), such as plastic. At an upper portion  80  of the insert is located radiused edges  82  (approximately ¼ of an inch) to allow for easier removal and insertion of a card within the insert. The cards may also be aligned singularly in each pocket (two cards on one page) of the page or back to back (four cards on one page).  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the insert  40  removed from the wallet  20 . The insert includes a plurality of pockets  90 ,  92 ,  94 , and  96  (preferably four side by side). At the top of each pocket is located the radiused edges  82 . The pockets are used to hold cards (e.g., credit cards, identification, etc.) within its interior. As illustrated, the insert is a single piece of material attached at the spine  70 . But as discussed above, the insert may be one or more pieces which are attached to the wallet. To accommodate conventional credit cards, the overall length X is approximately ten inches and the width Y is approximately four inches. However, it should be understood, that the size of the insert and the wallet may be any size to accommodate the carriage of a plurality of cards.  
         [0032]     Still referring to  FIG. 5 , the cards are inserted within the top of each of the pockets  90 ,  92 ,  94 , and  96 . Unfortunately, it is possible for the cards to slide out of the pockets if the wallet is removed from the back pocket of the user of the wallet upside down. This is because, in a small-capacity configuration, the wallet does not have privacy flaps that help retain cards in the pockets. Additionally, the facing panel of the pocket is preferably shorter in height than the back panel to make removal of the cards easy, but is also makes it easy for the cards to inadvertently slide out.  
         [0033]      FIG. 8  is a front view of an insert  140  removed from the wallet  20  in a first alternate embodiment of the present invention. The insert  140  includes a plurality of pockets  190 ,  192 ,  194 , and  196  (preferably four side by side). At an upper portion  180  of each pocket is located the radiused edges  182 . The pockets are used to hold cards (e.g., credit cards, identification, etc.) within its interior. As illustrated, the insert is a single piece of material attached at the spine  170 . In this alternate embodiment, the radiused edges include hooded corners  198 . The hooded corners prevent retained cards from sliding out of the pockets.  
         [0034]      FIG. 9A  is a front view of an insert  240  removed from the wallet  20  with tabs  298  in an open position in a second alternate embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 9B  is a front view of insert  240  of  FIG. 9A  with the tabs in a closed position. The insert  240  includes a plurality of pockets  290 ,  292 ,  294 , and  296 . At an upper portion  280  of each pocket is located the radiused edges  282 . The pockets are also used to hold cards within its interior. In this alternate embodiment, the radiused edges include tabs  298  for retaining cards in the pockets (as shown in  FIG. 9B ). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tabs are scored or have natural folds aligned with the topmost edge of the pockets. The tabs may then be easily folded downwards into the pockets to retain the cards.  
         [0035]      FIG. 10  is a front view of an insert  340  removed from the wallet  20  in a third alternate embodiment of the present invention. A card  302  is shown partially inserted into a pocket  396 . The insert  340  includes a plurality of pockets  390 ,  392 ,  394 , and  396 . At an upper portion  380  of each pocket is located a horizontal slit  382 . In this embodiment, the cards are retained within a pouch-like pocket, which has the horizontal slit  382 . As depicted, the slit is positioned near the top of the pocket. However, in alternate embodiments of the present invention, the slit may be located anywhere on the pocket (e.g., mid-position of the pocket).  FIG. 10A  is an enlarged front view of the pocket  396  with the horizontal slit  382  of  FIG. 10 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 11  is a front view of an insert  440  removed from the wallet  20  in a fourth alternate embodiment of the present invention. The insert  440  includes a plurality of pockets  490 ,  492 ,  494 , and  496  (preferably four side by side). Vertical slits  450  are located for each pocket. Cards are inserted into the pockets via the vertical slits. The arrows A, B, C, and D indicated the direction in which each card is inserted into its respective pocket.  
         [0037]      FIG. 12  is a front view of an insert  540  within a wallet  520  in a fifth alternate embodiment of the present invention. The insert may include rounded corners  560 ,  562 ,  564 , and  566 . Additionally, the wallet may include rounded corners  570 ,  572 ,  574 , and  576 . The rounded corners may be used to provide ease in retrieval and insertion of the wallet from a user&#39;s back pocket. The rounded corners for the insert and/or wallet may be utilized in any embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0038]      FIG. 13  is a rear view of a wallet  600  showing in phantom an internal pocket  602  in a sixth alternate embodiment of the present invention. A billfold section  604  of the wallet may include the internal pocket  602  that is closed about the lateral and bottom line of the billfold and is opened (via a horizontal slit) at the top of the billfold section. The internal pocket may be used to hold items such as a checkbook or small pad of paper. The pocket may be optionally closed at the top portion via a closure device, such as hook and pile strips, a zipper or alternately left open. Preferably, the pocket could fill substantially the full width and height of the billfold section. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the internal pocket may only cover a portion of the billfold section. However, the internal pocket is preferably centered along a centerline Y of the folded wallet.  
         [0039]      FIG. 6  is a front view of an insert  100  in a seventh alternate embodiment of the present invention. The credit cards  42  and  44  may be aligned horizontally, one above the other. In such a configuration, the insert is folded about the center axis  102 . In addition, upon the side of each pocket  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110  is a radiused edge  112 . Cards may be inserted in one or more of the pockets  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , cards are positioned within pockets  108  and  110 . The radiused edge provides the same functionality as described for the radiused edge  82  for the insert  40 . As configured in  FIG. 6 , the insert has an approximate length of  8  inches (X axis) and  5  inches in width (Y axis). However, as discussed above, the size of the insert and the wallet may vary to accommodate various sizes of cards. The insert  100  may include insert tabs (not shown) as described above for the insert  40 . In addition, the wallet may be sized and shaped to accommodate the insert  100 . The insert  100  may include a plurality of pages (not shown) in photo album fashion.  
         [0040]     It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the device shown and described has been characterized as being preferred, it will be readily apparent that various changes and modifications could be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.