Abstract:
A wallet including a single strip of material including a plurality of oppositely folded and integrally attached panels which extend in directions opposite the adjacent panels to provide a series of outwardly opening paper currency receiving compartments. A closure, integral with at least one of the panels, is detachably coupled to one of the endmost panels in the stack.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to a multiple compartment wallet and more particularly to a wallet formed with a single strip of material having a plurality of oppositely opening compartments and a pair of closures for detachably, selectively closing the compartments.  
           [0003]    2. Background of the Invention  
           [0004]    Wallets have been provided heretofore, such as that illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,455,515, issued to Samuel Miller on Dec. 7, 1948, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,544, issued to B. L. Snyder on Aug. 16, 1966, each of which discloses the concept of a plurality of compartments for holding currency of differing denominations.  
           [0005]    The prior art wallets are generally fabricated from a plurality of individual panels which are assembled in stacked relation. The stacking and assembly of individual panels adds to the expense of manufacture. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel multi-compartment wallet having a plurality of stacked panels that are integral.  
           [0006]    For various reasons, it is desirable to have the capacity to detachably close selected compartments of the wallet. Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide a new and novel wallet including new and novel closures for precluding the inadvertent separation of adjacent stacked panels forming money receiving compartments.  
           [0007]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a wallet of the type described which includes a pair of end panels on opposite ends of a plurality of intermediate panels and a closure on one of the end panels detachably coupled to the opposite end panel to inhibit spreading movement of the end panels.  
           [0008]    It has been found desirable to sometimes fasten one of the intermediate panels to one of the end panels. Accordingly, it is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multiple compartment wallet of the type described which includes a pair of end panels, a plurality of intermediate panels sandwiched between the end panels, and a closure coupled to one of the intermediate panels detachably coupled to one of the end panels.  
           [0009]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a wallet of the type described including a closure flap integrally with, but partially cut from, one of the intermediate panels and including a cooperating fastener mechanism on the flap and one of the end panels for detachably coupling one of the intermediate panels to one of the end panels.  
           [0010]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-compartment wallet of the type described including a pair of new and novel closures.  
           [0011]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a one-piece multi-compartment wallet of the type described, one of which includes an integral closure extension tab of one of the end panels detachably coupled to the other end panel and a second closure which is integrally coupled to one of the intermediate panels and detachably coupled to the other end panel.  
           [0012]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece multi-compartment wallet of the type described in which the second closure is integral with the intermediate panel next adjacent to the one end panel having the integral closure tab.  
           [0013]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel one-piece multi-compartment wallet formed from a single elongate sheet which is alternately oppositely folded along its length at a plurality of folded junctions to provide a plurality of stacked sheet sections and cooperating fasteners on one of the upstream sheet sections detachably coupled to the endmost downstream sheet section.  
           [0014]    These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent as the description thereof proceeds.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    A wallet comprising a one-piece elongated sheet of material extending in a zig-zag course to provide a plurality of sheet sections integrally joined to adjacent sheet sections at a plurality of folded junctions to define a plurality of open-ended bill compartments which are open-ended alternately in opposite directions for receiving stacks of folded currency therein; the plurality of sheet sections include two opposite end sheet sections and a plurality of intermediate sheet sections sandwiched there-between; and detachably coupled cooperating fastener mechanism on one of the upstream sheet sections detachably and the endmost down stream sheet section.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The invention may more readily be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a wallet constructed according to the present invention; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the wallet illustrated in FIG. 1 in a rolled out flattened condition prior to assembly as illustrated in FIG. 1; 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    A wallet, generally designated  10 , constructed according to the present invention, comprises an elongate single sheet, generally designated  12 , of flexible leather having an upstream end, generally designated  11 , and a down stream end, generally designated  13 . The elongate sheet or strip  12  includes a plurality of longitudinally disposed integral panels or sheet subsections  20 ,  22 ,  24  and  26 . The panels  20 ,  22 ,  24  and  26  include upstream ends  20 A,  22 A,  24 A and  26 A, respectively, and down stream ends  20 B,  22 B,  24 B and  26 B, respectively. As illustrated, the down-stream end  20 B,  22 B and  24 B of each panel  20 ,  22 ,  24 , respectively, is integrally coupled to the upstream end  22 A,  24 A and  26 A, respectively, of an immediately adjacent down-stream panel  22 ,  24  and  26 , respectively, via fold junctions  14 ,  16  and  18 , respectively. When asembled, the upstream front endmost panel  20  and the down-stream rearmost end panel  26  are disposed on opposite ends of the wallet  10  and sandwiched there-between are the intermediate panels  22  and  24 . The sheet  12  when folded to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 extends in a zig zag course.  
         [0020]    Each of the fold junctions  14 ,  16  and  18  are held together in the folded positions illustrated in FIG. 1 via a U-shaped channel, generally designated  28 , having a base  29  mounting a pair of confronting leg  30  and  32  which grip or clamp opposite sides of the fold junctions  14 ,  16  and  18  and hold the fold junctions in the positions illustrated in FIG. 1. The channels  28  are typically formed of bendable metal such that the legs  30  and  32  are clamped to opposite sides of the folds  14 ,  16  and  18  to hold them in the positions illustrated in FIG. 1 clamping the confronting upstream portion, such as  22 A, to the down-stream portion  20 B of the adjacent upstream panel  12 . The channel bases  29  are spaced from the fold junctions  14 ,  16  and  18  to provide transverse opening or passages  34  laterally outwardly beyond the fold junctions  14 ,  16  and  18 . Each transverse passage  34  receives receiving one leg  36  of a U-shaped or hairpin shaped money clip, generally designated  38 , that has an integral opposing confronting leg  39  disposed laterally inwardly beyond the fold junctions  14 ,  16  and  18 .  
         [0021]    The confronting panels  20 ,  22 ,  24  and  26  cooperate, when folded to the positions illustrated in FIG. 1, to define longitudinally spaced apart, transversely outwardly opening, bill receiving compartments  21 ,  23  and  25 , respectively, which are open ended alternately in opposite directions for receiving stacks of folded paper currencies in different denominations such as, for example, $1.00, $5.00 and $10.00. The currency is received between the legs  39  of the money clips, which are received in the bill receiving compartments  21 ,  23  and  25 , and the confronting folds  14 ,  16  and  18  to detachably hold the folded currency there-between. The money clip  38  is constructed of yieldable material to allow the leg  39  to spring outwardly relative to the opposing money clip leg  36  to receive and hold any selected number of folded bills.  
         [0022]    The sheet  12  includes a first down-stream closure designated  40 , having an upstream end  40 A integrally formed with the down-stream end  26 B of panel  26  to provide an extension thereof which extends around the next succeeding panel  24  and the remaining panels  20  and  22  and includes a terminal end  40 B which will be disposed in confronting relation with the upstream end  20 A of the upstream panel  20 . The down-stream terminal end  40 B mounts a male closure button fastener  42  which is detachably received in a complimentary formed female fastener  44  fixed to one face  47  of the upstream panel  20 .  
         [0023]    A second closure flap  48  is provided on the intermediate panel  24  next adjacent the down-stream end panel  26 . The closure flaps  48  is formed by a U-shaped cut out or opening  46  provided in the panel  24  along all but one end  49  which remains integral with the panel  24 . The second closure flap  48  includes a free terminal end  51  which is of sufficient length as to pass around the opposite ends of the next succeeding upstream panel  22  and the endmost upstream panel  20  to be disposed in confronting relation with the down-stream end  20 B of the face  47  of panel  20 . The terminal end  21  mounts a female fastener  50  which is detachably coupled to a complimentary formed male fastener  52  fixed to the face  47  of the upstream panel  20 .  
       THE OPERATION  
       [0024]    To utilize the wallet, the male fastener  42  of flap  40  is detached from the female fastener  46  of flap  12  to provide access to money compartments  21  and  25 . Folded bills of different denominations can be placed in compartments  21  and  25  and received by the bail or yieldable leg  39  of the money clip disposed in compartments  21  and  25 . If access is desired to compartment  23 , the second fastener  50  on flap  48  is detached from the male fastener  52  to allow access to the compartment  23  and money held by the yieldable leg  39  of the money clip.  
         [0025]    After money is suitably inserted into the compartments or removed therefrom, the flaps  40  and  48  are again restored to positions in which the male fasteners  42  and  52  are detachably received by the female fasteners  46  and  50  respectively.  
         [0026]    It is to be understood that the drawings and descriptive matter are in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it is contemplated that various changes may be made in various elements to achieve like results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.