Abstract:
Disclosed is a card and money holder for simultaneously holding paper money and wallet sized cards, such as those containing credit or identification information. Said card and money holder comprises a generally rectangular prism shaped card and money holder, and a compression plate inside the rectangular shaped card and money holder. The card and money holder may hold one or a plurality of cards with said cards being held securely in place. The design allows for a unique rotation method of inserting cards into the card and money holder while card removal can be achieved one handed by sliding a card through the retrieval slot.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a pocket or purse organizer and, in particular, to a device for holding paper money and wallet sized cards, such as those containing credit or identification information. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is often desirable for individuals to maintain their paper money and cards (i.e., credit cards, debit cards, identification cards, smartcards, and the like) in a convenient location other than a traditional wallet or billfold. Oftentimes, individuals don&#39;t need a full-sized traditional wallet and would prefer a card and money holder which can conveniently hold a few cards and/or some bills. 
     Traditional wallets are usually placed in a purse or the rear pocket of pants or skirt. Sometimes, an individual may not want to carry a purse and/or carry a wallet in a rear pocket. In many instances, modern day fashions often incorporate close fitting pants or skirts, many without back pockets, which cannot accommodate a traditional wallet. Moreover, when carried in a rear pocket, traditional wallets are often visually apparent because of their bulk. In addition to being fashionably undesirable, they are susceptible to lifting by a pickpocket. In such cases, many individuals prefer to carry their paper money and cards in a front pocket in order to hide the money and cards. The front pocket is a location that makes lifting of its contents less likely. However, with paper money and several cards, the contents of a pocket may become quite disorganized. It would be convenient to have compact holder for cards and/or paper money which is simple and convenient to use. 
     The related art has recognized this need and includes a variety of card and money holding devices. Conventional practice is to employ a holder having a spring clip on one side for retaining a quantity of folded money, such as bills and the like, and on the opposite side a receptacle for holding a quantity of business cards and/or credit cards, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,019; U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,080; U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,627; and the references contained therein. 
     However, problems and difficulties have been encountered with such money clip and card holders which stem from the fact that the clip has a permanent bias which becomes weakened after use and, therefore, over time renders the clip unsuitable for holding folded bills. One of the difficulties with traditional card holders is that they require two hands to search through so as to eventually retrieve the desired card form the contained grouping. Card holders with a sliding drawer design, so that individual cards may be retrieved, may be bulky and have parts that may become lost or broken. 
     There continues to be a need in the art for a card and money holder that stores, protects, and allows easy retrieval of an individual card in a compactly-designed case, with no separate components to lose or break. Further, it would be advantageous if the card holder included a structure which functionality aided in the retention of a plurality of cards while facilitating their remove, one at a time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention of a card and money holder for releasably holding one or more rectangular cards comprising: (A) a generally rectangular shaped card and money holder having generally flat planar rectangular bottom and top, each of the top and bottom having a longest length dimension and a shorter width dimension, and four generally flat planar rectangular sidewalls that determine the card and money holder height dimension, the top, bottom and sidewalls of the card and money holder having generally flat inside surfaces that define a rectangular shaped card-holding space for one or more rectangular cards, wherein: (1) the top has an insertion aperture extending across its width centered at or near midpoint of the length dimension, which insertion aperture receives the width dimension of a rectangular card that is placed with its flat surface generally parallel to the card and money holder top but at a 90 angle thereto and (2) the length dimension sidewalls both have (a) edge apertures that allow a card to be received into and remain flat when it is received in the top surface aperture and (b) receiving apertures that permit the card to be rotated 90 degrees relative to the card and money holder and slide edgewise through the apertures and inserted into the interior of the card and money holder; (B) a compression plate inside the card and money holder, said compression plate having a flat upper surface that is generally parallel to and, when no cards are retained, adjacent to the flat inside surface of the card and money holder top and that provides compression against one or more flat inserted cards and presses the inserted cards in the card-holding space against the inside surface of the card and money holder top, the compression plate able to be decompressed away from the inside surface of the card and money holder top by human finger pressure when (i) a card is being received into the top surface aperture and rotated through the sidewall apertures into the card and money holder or (ii) a card is being removed from the card and money holder. 
     In another embodiment of the card and money holder described herein above, one or both of the width dimension sidewalls has a slit aperture that allows a retained card to be removed by decompression of the compression plate and sliding the card lengthwise out of the card and money holder through the slit aperture. 
     In another embodiment of the card and money holder described herein above, the bottom outside surface comprises an attached elastic retaining band wherein one or more card and/or folded paper money may be retained by the elastic retaining band against the outside surface of the card and money holder bottom. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is a card and money holder for releasably holding one or more rectangular cards comprising: an essentially rectangular shaped base with a inside surface for retaining one or more card and an opposing substantially planar outside surface, said base comprising: (a) first and second opposed longitudinally extending side edges adjoined at corners with first and second opposed transversely extending end edges, the first end edge has a first sidewall and the second end edge has a second sidewall, wherein the sidewalls retain said card(s), each sidewall has an inside surface, an outside surface, a height, a top surface, and a bottom surface being the outside surface of the base, the first sidewall on the first end edge extends the full length of the end edge having a first end at a first side edge and a second end at the second side edge which extends around the corner to form a partial sidewall on the adjoining second side edge, the second sidewall on the second end edge extends the full length of the end edge having a first end at a second side edge and a second end at the first side edge which extends around the corner to form a partial sidewall on the adjoining first side edge, wherein the partially extended sidewalls are at corners positioned diagonally from one another and are spaced wide enough apart so as to be able to receive a card in the direction perpendicular to the side edges and allow for rotation of said perpendicularly oriented card 90 degrees into the base to have an orientation parallel to the side edges, optionally, one or both sidewalls comprise one or more compression plate alignment tab guide and (b) optionally, one or more recess for accepting a compression means, (ii) one or more compression means each having a first surface and a second surface wherein each said first surface is in contact with the base, (iii) a compression plate, said compression plate is essentially a flat, rigid rectangular plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, first and second opposed longitudinally extending side edges adjoined at corners with first and second opposed transversely extending end edges, and optionally one or more aligning tab guides on one or both end edges, the compression plate is elastically positioned within the sidewalls of the base and the bottom surface of the compression plate is in contact with the second surface of the one or more compression means, when sufficient pressure is applied to the top surface of the compression plate, the compression means compress and the compression plate move towards the base, when pressure is released, the compression means decompress and the compression plate moves away from the base, and (iv) two top plates, comprising: (a) a first top plate, said first top plate is essentially a flat, rigid rectangular plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing first and second short side edges adjoined at corners with opposing first and second long end edges, wherein the bottom surface of the first top plate is connected to the top surface of the first sidewall and (b) a second top plate, which be identical to or different from the first top plate, said second top plate is essentially a flat, rigid rectangular plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing first and second short side edges adjoined at corners with opposing first and second long end edges, wherein all mating edges and corners of the base and the top plates are flush. Preferably the second sidewall comprises a notch in its top surface wide and deep enough for a card to slide through in the direction parallel to the side edges wherein the bottom surface of the second top plate is connected to the top surface of the second sidewall, the bottom of the second top plate and the notch on the top surface of the second sidewall form a slot from which a card may be removed from the card and money holder. More preferably, the base (i) further comprises: (c) a longitudinal tab section, having a width and a first, second, and third edge, said tab section is essentially rectangular in shape and defines a U-shaped slot that extends through the base, said tab section comprises a groove, having a depth and width, extending the length of the tab section and a retaining lip, having a width, wherein the groove is on the inside surface of the base wherein said retaining lip is located between the edge formed by the U-shaped slot and the groove, the width of the groove is the width of the tab section minus the width of the retaining lip, said groove is wide and deep enough to accommodate an elastic retaining band, said retaining lip maintains the elastic retaining band in the groove and (d) an elastic retaining band formed in a continuous loop, said band is fitted through the U-shaped slot fitted into the grove of the tab section and held in place by the retaining lip so as to encircle the tab section such that part of the elastic retaining band is against the inside surface of the base and part of the elastic retaining band against the outside surface of the base wherein one or more card and/or folded paper money may be retained between the elastic retaining band and the outside surface of the base. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is a card and money holder which is compact when filled with varying amounts of cards and money. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is a card and money holder which can retain a plurality of cards equally as well as it can retain a single card. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is a card and money holder which provides radio frequency identification (RFID) shielding for one or more smartcard retained therein. 
     Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a card and money holder which has no sharp edges that may snag and tear clothing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective top view of a card and money holder in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, with a plurality of cards shown in phantom lines. 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective bottom view of a card and money holder in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, with a plurality of cards and paper money shown in phantom lines. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the various components in accordance with the embodiments of the card and money holder of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is a top plan view of a base in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  is another top plan view of a base in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of a base in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is a first cross-sectional view of a base in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is a first cross-sectional view of a base comprising an elastic retaining band in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is a second cross-sectional view of a base in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6B  is a second cross-sectional view of a base comprising an elastic retaining band in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a first side plan view of a base in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a first end plan view of a base in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a second end plan view of a base in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9A  is a magnification of a cut-away section A of a second end plan view of a base in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective bottom view of a card and money holder in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view of a compression plate in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view of a first top plate in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view of a second top plate in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective top view of a card and money holder in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a plan top view of a card and money holder A, sequence of steps for card insertion into a card and money holder B-D, and card removal E from a card and money holder in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The principal object of the present invention is to provide a holder for cards and/or paper money which is simple and convenient to use. Preferably, the card and money holder of the present invention can accommodate various quantities of cards and folded paper currency, will provide many years of maintenance-free use, is small and compact and can easily fit into a front pocket without any noticeable bulge, has no sharp protruding edges and will not snag or tear clothing, allows for the insertion and extraction of either cards or money easily and without disturbing the other, and may provide RFID shielding for smartcards retained therein. 
     As used herein, the term “rectangular cards” or “cards” is meant to include any card typically carried in a wallet or billfold, such as license, credit, fuel, check, ATM, and membership cards, that are approximately 8.5 cm long by 5.5 cm wide and a thickness of 1 mm or less. Of course, as would be obvious to one skilled in the art, the case of the present invention may be made to dimensions that are suitable for carrying various numbers of cards as well as cards of other dimensions, for example, business cards. The present invention may also utilize accessory cards adapted to provide general utility functions, such a reflective surface, a magnifying glass, displaying a photograph, holding a nail file, spare key, or the like. 
     In the broadest sense, the card and money holder of the present invention is a card and money holder for releasably holding one or more rectangular cards comprising (A) a generally rectangular prism shaped card and money holder, herein after referred to as “rectangular shaped card and money holder” and (B) a compression plate inside the rectangular shaped card and money holder. 
     The generally rectangular shaped card and money holder has a generally flat planar rectangular bottom and top, each of the top and bottom having a longest length dimension and a shorter width dimension, and four generally flat planar rectangular sidewalls that determine the card and money holder height dimension, the top, bottom and sidewalls of the card and money holder having generally flat inside surfaces that define a rectangular shaped card-holding space for one or more rectangular cards. The edges and/or corners formed between the top, bottom, and sidewalls may be sharp, rounded, or a combination thereof. 
     The top of the card and money holder has an insertion aperture extending across its width centered at or near midpoint of the length dimension, which insertion aperture receives the width dimension of a rectangular card that is placed with its flat surface generally parallel to the card and money holder top but at a 90 degree angle thereto. 
     The length dimension sidewalls both have (a) edge apertures that allow a card to be received into and remain flat when it is received in the top surface aperture and (b) receiving apertures that permit the card to be rotated 90 degrees relative to the card and money holder and slide edgewise through the receiving apertures and inserted into the interior of the card and money holder and retained therein by the edge apertures. 
     Said compression plate inside the card and money holder, has a flat upper surface that is generally parallel to and, when no cards are retained, adjacent to the flat inside surface of the card and money holder top. The compression plate provides compression against one or more flat inserted cards and presses the inserted cards in the card-holding space against the inside surface of the card and money holder top. The compression plate can be decompressed away from the inside surface of the card and money holder top, for example by human finger pressure, when a card is being received into the top surface aperture and rotated through the sidewall apertures into the card and money holder or when a card is being removed from the card and money holder. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, one or both of the width dimension sidewalls of the rectangular shaped card and money holder has a slit aperture that allows a retained card to be removed by decompression of the compression plate and sliding the card lengthwise out of the card and money holder through the slit aperture. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the bottom outside surface of the rectangular shaped card and money holder comprises an attached elastic retaining band wherein one or more cards and/or folded paper money may be retained by the elastic retaining band against the outside surface of the card and money holder bottom. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in perspective in  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1B , and  FIG. 2 . The card and money holder  10  comprises a base  20  comprising any material that can be milled, cast, carved, or molded into the desirable shape. Suitable base materials include, but are not limited to, wood; glass; ceramic; metal, for instance aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, and the like; more preferably the material is a plastic material, such as a thermoset polymer such as an epoxy polymer or a rigid polyurethane, or even more preferably a thermoplastic polymer. Suitable thermoplastics include, but are not limited to, polycarbonate (PC); acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene terpolymers (ABS); blends of PC/ABS, polyacrylates, filled or non-filled thermoplastic olefins (TPOs), and the like. In one embodiment, the thermoplastic polymer may comprise a conductive material, such as metal fibers, metal coated fibers, or metal flake to provide radio frequency interference (RFI) shielding. The thermoplastic polymer may be colorless (clear), black, white, or any desired color, it may be transparent, translucent, or opaque. For stylistic considerations, the base may have sharp corners and/or edges, preferably the edges and/or corners of the base are rounded. 
     The dimensions of the base are selected to accommodate typical cards which are approximately 8.5 cm long by 5.5 cm wide and having a thickness of 1 mm or less. 
     The height of the base will determine the number of cards that the card and money holder can hold. The card and money holder of the present invention holds at least one card, preferably it can hold from 1 to 10 cards, more preferably from 1 to 7 cards, and most preferably from 1 to 4 cards. 
     The card and money holder  10  further comprises two top plates  100  and  110  and a compression plate  90  which is elastically positioned between the base and the top plates. The top plates and compression plate are fabricated from a generally flat sheet of rigid material. The compression plate and the top plates may comprise the same material or independently comprise different material; preferably they are made from the same material. Suitable materials from which to choose to make the compression plate and/or top plates are, but not limited to, wood; glass; ceramic; carbon fiber; plastic materials as described herein above; and preferably metal, for instance aluminum, stainless steel, brass, titanium, and the like. The compression plate and top plates may be naturally colored (e.g., the color of the material from which they are made) or colored as desired, and depending on the material from which they are made, they may be transparent, translucent, or opaque. One or both surfaces of the compression plate and top plates may be smooth or textured as desired. 
     Metal, such as aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, and the like, is the preferred material of choice for the compression plate and top plates. From an aesthetics view point, metal is considered stylish and affords a rich appearance. From a performance stand point, metal affords the strength and stiffness needed so as to remain flat and not bend during use. 
     Furthermore, a card and money holder of the present invention comprising a compression plate and top plates made of metal may provide electromagnetic shielding for radio frequency RFID (radio frequency identification) smartcards and/or contactless smartcards. Such shielding can be used to prevent wireless communications with the smartcards, such as in order to prevent unauthorized wireless access to data stored on the smartcards including, but not limited to, credit cards, security identification cards, ATM cards, and payment cards, such as those used for public transit, public phones, and electronic toll collection, among others. 
     Preferably, the compression plate and top plates are contoured to match in a flush manner with the base, in other words if the base has sharp corners and edges so well the longer edges of the compression plate and edges and corners of the top plates; however, preferably the edges and corners of the base, compression plate, and top plates are rounded. 
     In one embodiment, one or both top plates of the card and money holder of the present invention may comprise a unique and/or artistic design such as a message, picture, logo, or the like applied by any suitable means, such as imprinting, embossing, engraving, etc. 
     The top plates may be permanently or reversibly attached to the base by any suitable attachment means, such as snap fits, adhesives, heat staked, rivets, welds, and the like. Preferably the top plates are attached to the base by screws. 
     Cards are retained securely in place within the card and money holder of the present invention by sidewalls of the base and compressive force against one or more inserted cards pressing the inserted cards in the card-holding space against the inside surface of the top plates. The positive pressure is provided by a compression means between the base and the compression plate such that the compression means may be compressed when pushed upon but will return to its original shape when the pressure is released, for example an elastic-compressive material such as a foam, preferably a spring, for example, but not limited to compression springs, torsion springs, leaf springs, flat springs, and the like. Preferably the compression means is one or more compression spring, more preferably a coiled metal spring. There may be one or more compression means in the card and money holder of the present invention, preferably 2, more preferably 3, more preferably 4, more preferably 5, more preferably 6, up to and including as many as 20 compression means. The compressive means has a first surface or end that contacts the base and a second surface or end that contacts the compression plate. 
     In one embodiment of the card and money holder of the present invention, there are alignment means (one for each compression means) in the base to align and help retain the compression means, for example a recession within which a compression means such as a spring fits into, preferably, when sufficient pressure is applied to the compression plate to press it against the base, each spring is fully compressed and contained within its respective recession. 
     Optionally, the card and money holder of the present invention has an elastic retaining band for securing folded money and/or additional cards that are not retained within the card holding space of the card and money holder. 
     The manner of using the card and money holder of the present invention is relatively simple requiring a simple press and twist to insert the card and a sliding motion to remove. Additional cards and/or money, such as folded bills, can be retained between the base of the card and money holder and the elastic retaining band. 
     Referring now to the drawings, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, this is only one embodiment of the present invention and the invention may be practiced without these specific particulars. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense. 
     A card and money holder  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown holding a plurality of cards C and money M in  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B . Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the card and money holder  10  comprises a base  20 , an optional elastic retaining band  70 , a compression plate  90  and two top plates  100 ,  110 , each of which are in contact with, and held in engagement to, the base  20  by screws  120 . Compression coil springs  80  are intra-connectedly disposed between the compression plate  90  and the base  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B , and  FIG. 4 , the base  20  is essentially rectangular in shape having a first inside surface  21  for supporting and retaining cards and an opposing second substantially planar outside surface  22 , optionally for supporting money and/or additional cards. Base  20  has first and second opposed longitudinally extending side edges (longest length dimensions),  23 ,  24 , adjoining first and second transversely extending end edges,  26 ,  27 , at corners  46 . The first and second opposed longitudinally extending side edges,  23 ,  24 , extend parallel to each other in a first direction  25  and the adjoining first and second transversely extending end edges (shorter width dimensions),  26 ,  27 , are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first and second opposed longitudinally extending side edges,  23 ,  24 . The width of the base  20  is the distance from side edge  23  to side edge  24  and the length of the base  20  is the distance from end edge  26  to end edge  27 . 
     The base  20  has sidewalls  48 ,  49 , which extend the full length of end edges,  26  and  27 , respectively. Sidewall  48  has a first end which is a leg  48 A, having a thickness  50 , extending partially along the side edge  24  and a second end  48 D, having a thickness of  50 , extending to side edge  23 . Side wall  49  has a first end which is a leg  49 A, having thickness  50 , extending partially along the side edge  23  and a second end  49 D, extending to side edge  24 . Partially extended sidewalls  48 A and  49 A are at corners positioned diagonally from one another and act as retaining walls for cards held within the card and money holder  10 . Preferably, the base  20  comprising sidewalls  48  and  49  is a one piece unit. In one embodiment, the base  20  comprising features, such as the U-shaped slot,  29 , and/or recessions  47 , is made by milling or injection molding. Alternatively, a blank base (not shown in the drawings) not having said features may be milled or injection molded and additional feature, for example, the U-shaped slot,  29 , and/or recessions  47 , may, if desired, added subsequently. Preferably, the base  20  is injection molded so as to comprise features such as U-shaped slot,  29 , and/or recessions  47 . 
     Leg  48 A extends partially along the side edge  24  to a point  52  where the arc  42  intersects the side edge  24 . Optionally, side edges  23  and  24  have a curved section in the shape of an arc  42 ,  43  having their apex,  44 ,  45 , respectively at the perpendicular centerline  35  of the base  20 . Leg  49 A extends partially along the side edge  23  to a point  51  where the arc  43  intersects the side edge  23 . The distance in the longitudinal direction  25  between  51  and  52  (e.g., the insertion aperture) is at least the width of a card, typically equal to or greater than 5.5 cm. Sidewall  48  has an outside surface along end edge  26  and part of side edge  24 , and an inside surface  48 B. Sidewall  49  has an outside surface along end edge  27  and part of side edge  23 , and an inside surface  49 B. Sidewall  49  has an inside surface  49 B which does not have to be, but preferably is in the shape of an arc, wherein the thickness of the sidewall  49  at the centerline  34  is the thinnest section of the sidewall  49 . The arc for the inside surface  49 B continues from a distance  50  from end edge  24  at  49 E to the inside surface of  49 A (which is also has a thickness of  50 ). Sidewall  48  has an inside surface  48 B which does not have to be, but preferably is in the shape of an arc having the same radius as the arc of  49 B, wherein the thickness of the sidewall  48  at the centerline  34  is the thinnest section of the sidewall  48 . The arc for the inside surface  48 B continues up to a section  48 D along side edge  23  having a thickness of  50  and to the inside surface of  48 A (which is also has a thickness of  50 ). Preferably, the radius for the arc of the inside surface  48 B is equal to the radius of the arc on the inside surface  49 B and the radius is at least large enough to allow for a card to rotate into the card and money holder  10 . 
     Optionally, one or both sidewalls  48 ,  49  of the base  20  comprise one or more compression plate alignment tab guide  48 C,  49 C and the compression plate  90  comprises one or more alignment tab  97 ,  98  on each end  95 ,  96 ,  FIG. 11 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , sidewalls  48  and  49  each comprise a compression plate alignment tab guide  48 C and  49 C, respectively, on their inside surfaces  48 B and  49 B, respectively. The compression plate alignment tab guides  48 C and  49 C locate and retain the compression plate  90  within the body of the card and money holder  10 . 
     One or more receptors  53 , such as holes, to accept screws  120 , are located in sidewalls  48  and  49 . 
     The base  20  contains an essentially rectangular longitudinal tab section  28  having a first, second, and third edge defining a U-shaped slot  29  said slot extends entirely through the base  20 , wherein its corners may be square or rounded. The U-shaped slot  29  has a width,  30  and the tab section  28  has length,  31 , in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the tab section  28  is centered on the base  20 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , the centerline  34  of the base  20  which is parallel to the first direction  25  bisects the U-shaped slot  29 . The centerline  35  of the base  20  perpendicular the first direction  25  bisects the tab section  28 . 
     The tab section  28  has a groove  36  on the inside surface of the base  21  for receiving the elastic retaining band  50  which is a continuous elastic loop. The groove  36  extends the full length of the tab section  28 . The groove  36  has a width  37  wide enough to accommodate the elastic retaining band  70  and a depth  38  wherein the depth  38  of the groove  36  in the tab section  28  is less than the thickness of the nominal thickness  41  of the base  20 ,  FIG. 5A ,  FIG. 6A , and  FIG. 7 . Preferably, the groove  36  is deep enough so that when the elastic retaining band  70  is positioned in the groove  36  the elastic retaining band  70  does not extend above the inside surface  21  of the base  20 ,  FIG. 5B , and  FIG. 6B . There is a retaining lip  39  for holding the elastic retaining band  70  in place, along the second edge of the tab section  28  with one side formed by the groove  36  and the other side formed by the edge of the longer longitudinally extending slot  29 , the retaining lip has a width  40 , preferably the retaining lip  39  extends the full length of the tab section  28  as shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B . The thickness of the retaining lip  39  is the nominal thickness  41  of the base  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , sidewall  49  has a top surface  54  and a height  55  from the outside surface of the base  22  to the top surface  54 . Referring to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 9A , leg  48 A and end  48 D of sidewall  48  have top surfaces  56 A and  56 D, respectively, both having the same height  55 . Sidewall  48  comprises a notch  57  having a depth  58 , a width  59 , a top surface  57 C, and ends  57 A and  57 D extending transversely across side wall  48 . The distance from the notch end  57 A to the side edge  24  is  50  and the distance from the notch end  57 D to the side edge  23  is  50 , which corresponds to the inside surface of leg  48 A and end  48 D, respectively. The notch  57  is wide and deep enough to accommodate the width and thickness of a card. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5B ,  FIG. 6B , and  FIG. 10 , the elastic retaining band  70  formed in the shape of a continuous loop is fitted through the U-shaped slot  29 , into grove  36  of the tab section  28  so as to encircle the tab section  28  with part of the elastic retaining band  70  on the inside  21  of the base  20  and part of the elastic retaining band  70  on the outside  22  of the base  20 . The elastic retaining band  70  may be used to hold cards, paper money, a coin, a key, or the like. 
     Preferably, the corners  46  of the base  20  are rounded, each having a radius. Four recessions  47  are formed on the inside of the base  21  and are configured to receive the coil springs  80 . 
     Each spring  80  has a first end  81  and a second end  82 . The first end  81  of a spring is located in recessions  47  and in contact with the base  20 . The recession  47  is deep enough so that when a spring  80  is fully compressed, the second end  82  is flush with the inside surface  21  of the base  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the compression plate  90  is essentially a flat, rigid rectangular plate having a top side  91 , a bottom side  92 , a first longitudinally extending side edge  93 , a second longitudinally extending side edge  94 , a first transversely extending end edge  95 , a second transversely extending end edge  96 , a first aligning tab  97 , and a second aligning tab  98 . Preferably, the contour of side edges  93  and  94  match the contour of side edges  23  and  24  of the base  20 . The contour of end edges  95  and  96  match the contour of inside surfaces of the sidewalls  48  and  49  of the base  20 . The contour of edges  95  and  96  matches arc of the inside side surfaces  48 B and  49 B of sidewalls  48  and  49 , respectively. The compression plate  90  fits within the sidewalls  48 ,  49  of the base  20  with its bottom side  92  facing the base inside surface  21 . The bottom side  92  is in contact with the second end  82  of each of the four springs  80  with alignment tabs  97  and  98  fit within the alignment tab guides  49 C and  48 C, respectively, and edge  93  near the inside surface of leg  49 A and edge  94  near the inside surface of the leg  48 A. When the compression plate  90  is fully compressed (e.g., by applying sufficient pressure) the springs  80  compress, with enough force, the bottom surface  92  of the compression plate  90  may fully contact the inside surface  21  of the base  20  because the elastic retaining band  70  and the second springs ends  82  are flush with the inside surface  21  (the springs are compressed within recesses  47 ). When pressure is released, the compression means  80  decompress and the compression plate  90  moves away from the base  20 . When the compression plate  90  is fully compressed, the edges  93  and  94  are essentially flush with edges  23  and  24 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 13 , and  FIG. 14 , a first top plate  100  and a second top place  110  are shown. The first top plate  100  may be the different from the second top plate  110 , preferably the first and second top plates are the same. Each top plate  100 ,  110 , has a top surface  101 ,  111 , a bottom surface  102 ,  112 , a first short side,  103 ,  113 , a second short side,  104 ,  114 , a first long side  105 ,  115 , and a second long side,  106 ,  116 . Each top plate  100 ,  110 , has three holes  107 ,  117 , through which screws  120  pass to join each top plate  100 ,  110 , to the base  120 . Preferably, the corners of top plate  100  between sides  103  and  106  and sides  104  and  106  have a radius which is preferably the same as the radius on the corners  46  of the base  120 . Preferably, the corners of top plate  100  between sides  103  and  105  and sides  104  and  105  have enough of a radius so that the corners are not sharp. Preferably, the corners of top plate  110  between sides  113  and  116  and sides  114  and  116  have a radius which is the same as the radius on the corners  46  of the base  120 . The corners of top plate  110  between sides  113  and  115  and sides  114  and  115  have enough of a radius so that the corners are not sharp. Optionally, one or both top plates,  100 ,  110 , may have located on the top surface  101 ,  111 , a design, such as a logo  108 ,  118 , the design may be the same or different for each top plate. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , each of top plates  100  and  110  are held in engagement to the base  20  (comprising the elastic retaining band  70 , springs  80 , located in recessions  47 , which are in contact with the compression plate  90 ) by three screws  120  by engaging the base at receptors  53  such the bottom surface  102  of top plate  100  contacts the top surface of sidewall  49  and the bottom surface  112  for top plate  110  contacts the top surface of sidewall  48 . When there is no pressure on compression plate  90 , e.g., the springs  80  are fully extended, the top side  91  of the compression plate  90 , when (1) there are no cards in the holder, contacts the bottom side  102  surface of top plate  100  and bottom side  112  surface of top plate  110  or (2) there are one or more card in the holder the card(s) are sandwiched between the compression plate  90  and the top plates  100 ,  110 . When the top plate  100  is attached to the base  120 , preferably the sides  103 ,  106 ,  104 , of the top plate  100  are flush with the sides  23 ,  26 ,  24 , of the base  120 , respectively. When the top plate  110  is attached to the base  120 , preferably the sides  113 ,  116 ,  114 , of the top plate  110  are flush with the sides  24 ,  27 ,  23 , of the base  120 , respectively. 
     When the bottom surface  102  of top plate  100  is affixed to the top surface  56 A and  56 D of sidewall  48 , the bottom surface  102  of the top plate  100  and the top surface  57 C of the notch form a slot  109  from which a card can be removed from the card and money holder  10 . The depth  58  of the notch  57 , from the top surface  56 A and  56 D of sidewall  48  to the top surface of the notch  57 C is, at minimum, a distance large enough to allow removal of a card from the card and money holder  10 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 15 , the manner of using the card and money holder of the present invention A is relatively simple. To insert a card C into the card and money holder, position the card C perpendicular to the card and money holder B, while pushing the card C down on the compression plate, rotate the card C 90 degrees clockwise until the card C is held securely in place by sidewalls of the base B to D, then remove pressure from the card C. The card C is then securely held in the card and money holder. Removal of a card C from the card and money holder may be accomplished by using one or two hands. To remove a card C from the card and money holder, hold the card and money holder by the sides, apply pressure to the top card C with a thumb or finger(s) and slide it lengthwise out the slot on the end of the card and money holder, then grasp the card C and remove it E. 
     While only one particular and preferred embodiment is described, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art, how alternative embodiments may implement the purposes of the present invention. As such, the invention can only be construed and limited in its breadth by the scope of the claims that follow.