Abstract:
A wallet having hardened reinforcing plates, as well as a dust-tight and water impervious cover. The wallet also has two Styrofoam layers.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to wallets, and in particular, to a wallet reinforced to protect the contents from external forces such as crushing, dust, dirt, water and the like. 
   Nearly all men carry some type of wallet on their person. Such wallets are used to carry money, identification papers, credit cards, bank cards and the like. Although prior art wallets are adequate for this purpose in most instances, they are not adequate for people in certain fields or endeavors, such as the construction trades, firemen, camping, hunting, etc. In these fields and endeavors, people carrying the wallets are subject to often hostile environments containing, dirt, water, dust, and physical bumps and other external forces. The result of these hostile environments on prior art wallets are damaged and often ruined wallet contents, especially to credit and bank cards. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a reinforced wallet with the ability to protect the wallet&#39;s contents from hostile external forces. The present invention does this by providing a wallet having one or more reinforcing plates, as well as a dust-tight and water impervious cover. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the invention in a closed position. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the invention in an open position. 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  showing the addition of a floatation layer. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown a wallet  1  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The wallet  1  has a standard internal arrangement  10  containing pockets  11  and transparent picture and card holders  12 . The internal arrangement  10  could be any desired arrangement without affecting the principles of the present invention. 
   The wallet  1  has a generally rectangular wallet structure  20  with a top  21 , a bottom  22 , a hinged side  23  and a connector side  24 . The wallet structure  20  is comprised of two halves  25 ,  26  each pivotally joined along one edge, said joined edges forming the wallet structure hinged side  23 . The two halves  25 ,  26  are adapted to being folded about the hinged side  23  against each other and enclosing the wallet internal arrangement  10 . When closed the wallet  1  presents an exterior surface  27 . The halves  25 ,  26  each have four edges  21 ′,  22 ′,  23 ′, and  24 ′ which are adapted to forming a water-tight seal when the wallet  1  is closed. 
   Each wallet half  25 ,  26  forms a wallet wall  30  with an exterior side  31  forming a portion of the wallet exterior surface  27  and an interior side  32  supporting the wallet internal arrangement  10 . Each wallet wall  30  is comprised of a plurality of layers. The first layer  33  forms the wall exterior side and is comprised of a water impervious material. This layer  33  may be transparent as well. The second layer  34  is comprised of leather or other decorative material, said second layer  34  being adjacent said first layer  33 . The first and second layers  33 ,  34  may be combined and made of a material which is both decorative and water impervious. The third layer  35  is made from a hardened material such as stainless steel, hard rubber, hard plastic, or the like. The fourth layer  36  is made from the same material as the second layer  34 . The fourth layer  36  forms the interior side  32  supporting the wallet internal arrangement  10 . In another embodiment of the invention, a fifth layer  37  is added to make the wallet floatable. The fifth layer  37  would me made from some type of floatation material, such as sold under the trademark, Styrofoam, or the like. Preferably, the fifth layer would be positioned adjacent the third layer  35 . 
   The wallet halves&#39; first layer  33  and water tight seal provides a water impervious and dust tight enclosure about the wallet internal arrangement  10 . The hard material in the wallet third layer  35  protects the wallet internal arrangement from external forces and crushing. The decorative aspect of the halves&#39; second and fourth layers  34 ,  36 , combined with the transparent first layer  33 , hides the reinforcing aspects of the invention. Use of a fifth floating layer  37  makes the present invention functional for fishermen, dock workers, and the like. The wallet  1  may be contoured to provide a better fit when placed into a wearer&#39;s rear pocket. 
   It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.