Abstract:
A device for storing and organizing business cards. The device comprises a loop such as a ring and a plurality of protective members, each member defining a hole and comprising two sheets of plastic material. A business card is inserted in the space formed between the two sheets of plastic material either before or after the protective member is retained on the loop. The present invention facilitates the management and access of a plethora of business cards.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to devices and methods for facilitating the organization and storage of planar goods, such as business cards, name cards, credit cards, and the like.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The use of business or name cards (hereinafter “business cards”) is ubiquitous and wide-spread. Any entities, including companies, enterprises, and individuals (hereinafter “entities”) can easily make business cards and distribute them to its customers, acquaintances, and others to succinctly convey essential contact information. Business cards are a fact of modern life, and for any entities, it is important to be able to keep track of numerous business cards and be able to easily and quickly retrieve a particular business card.  
         [0003]     There are numerous electronic devices designed to allow easy retrieval of the information one receives via a business card. The use of the electronic devices requires one to type or enter the information written on a business card on to an electronic storage device. Many times information on a particular business card may not be useful to the recipient thereof. In such a case, it is inefficient to type or enter the information on a business into an electronic device. In addition, the operation of electronic devices can fail depending on a variety of factors and cannot replace the printed form of ordinary business cards.  
         [0004]     There are also numerous non-electronic methods and devices for storing and organizing the business cards, including such as the use of a ROLADEX® index card system and a notebook having divided and protective plastic sheets. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,056 to Ristuccia, Sr. discloses adapting a ROLADEX® index card system to store a business card. These conventional methods, however, are cumbersome to use and do not facilitate easy organization, storage, and access of the information on a number of business cards. As an example, when a business card is attached to an index card in a ROLADEX® system, the index card system becomes bulky. As another example, when a notebook having a plurality of divided plastic sheets is used, one needs to re-arrange the business cards as she accumulates more cards, because it is often the case that one acquires a business card that needs to be placed between two business cards placed contiguously without an additional space between them.  
         [0005]     The present invention overcomes disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods for storing, organizing and accessing a plurality of business cards.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a holder for business cards, comprising a loop and a protective element defining a hole. In the preferred embodiment, the loop can be adaptively open or closed, and the protective member can attach or hang from, or retained on the loop. Typically, the protective element comprises two sheets of plastic joined together so as to provide a covering to a planar item, such as a business card. The protective element may define a slit or an opening that can be adaptively opened or closed so that a business card can be inserted into the space formed by the two sheets of plastic. In the preferred embodiment, the plastic sheets are transparent, so that the users thereof can read information on the planar item enclosed therein. However, the plastic member can also be tinted with various colors. In general, the protective member is rectangular, but it can be square or other desired shapes.  
         [0007]     The loop is generally circular but it can be any shape as long as it forms a loop from which a protective member can hang. The loop can be made of metal, plastic and other material. For example, the loop may be a large metal ring with two abutted ends, which ends can be pulled apart so that one of the ends can be slid into the hole defined by the protective member. In another embodiment, the loop can be a ring that comprises a groove, a catch and a lever. The user opens the ring manipulating the lever, which unlocks the catch from the groove. The user then slides one end of the ring through the hole of the protective member and locks the ring by manipulating the lever. When the ring is locked, the catch rests within the corresponding groove and the lever is in a resting position. Any open-and-close means can be used to allow users of the present invention to manipulate the loop and adaptively open and close the loop.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates loop  11  having two abutting ends.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  shows another embodiment for loop  11 .  
         [0011]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  show still different embodiments for loop  11 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  shows a first embodiment for protective member  12 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  shows another embodiment for protective member  12 .  
         [0014]      FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  show still different embodiments for protective member  12 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  illustrates a board accommodating a plurality of devices shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment  10  for a business card holder according to the present invention comprising a loop  11  and a plurality of protective members  12 , each member defining a hole  13  thereon so that each member can attach or hang from loop  11 .  
         [0017]     In the preferred embodiment, loop  11  can be manipulated to be adaptively open or closed. For example, in  FIG. 2 , the loop  11  has two ends  20  and  21 , which normally abut each other and form a closed loop  11 . When loop  11  is in a closed position, the plurality of the plastic members  12  are safely retained on the loop and can be rotated about the loop so that the user of the present invention can easily find and access a particular protective member  12  containing desired information. Loop  11  is generally circular; however, it can be shaped elliptical, oval or any desired shape as long as it can be used to retain a plurality of the protective members  12 . Loop  11  can be made of metal, plastic, wood, or the like flexible and relatively hard material.  
         [0018]     When the user wishes to add an additional protective member  12  containing a new business card, she determines the appropriate position for the additional protective member  12  and opens the loop  11  so that the additional protective member  12  can be inserted at the desired position. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , two ends  20 ,  21  can be forced apart, so that one end of the loop  11  can be slid through the hole defined by the protective member  12 . Accordingly, the present invention eliminates the need to re-arrange accumulating business cards, which is often necessary when one uses a notebook with a plurality of divided, protective sheets. Furthermore, the present invention provides for space to store additional business cards, and its structure easily accommodates modular use. For example, a plurality of loops  11  can be used to provide ample storage space for and efficient organization of a number of business cards. (Discussed more in detail in connection with  FIG. 8 ).  
         [0019]     In another embodiment, loop  11  comprises an open-and-close means to allow the user to easily open and close the loop. In  FIG. 3 , loop  11  has lever  30 , catch  31 , and groove  32 . Loop  11  can be opened using lever  30 , and then the protective member  12  can be slid on loop  11 . When catch  31  is placed on groove  32  and is locked using lever  30 , the loop is in a closed position, which is the normal position for loop  11 . In  FIG. 3 , loop  11  comprises a hanging element  33  having a chain  34  so as to facilitate the hanging of the loop  11  on devices such as hooks and nails. In  FIG. 4   a , loop  11  has a screw element  40  which allows the user to open the ring by turning the screw element one way and close the loop by turning the screw element in the opposite way. In  FIG. 4   b , a hinge  42  is used to facilitate opening and closing of loop  11 . Various other devices, such as locking balls and latches, can be used as the open-and-close means.  
         [0020]     Protective member  12  comprises two sheets forming a protective cover for the business card  55  inserted therein. The two sheets are preferably made of plastic; however, any material that provides transparency and protection to the business card enclosed between the two sheets can be used. The protective member  12  is generally rectangular, but can be square or other desired shapes. In  FIG. 5 , three sides  50 ,  51  and  52  are closed permanently so that the business card  55  cannot slide and fall through any of them. Side  54  is open so that the card  55  can be slid into the space formed by sheets  56  and  57 . Protective member  12  defines hole  58 , which can be used to retain the protective member  12  on loop  11 . Hole  58  can be defined on one or both of sheets  56  and  57 . Alternatively, hole  58  can be defined on a protruding member attached to one side of the member as shown in  FIG. 6 . The color of sheets  56  and  57  is preferably clear so that the information on the business card  55  can be read through the sheets. The color of sheets  56  and  57  can also be tinted.  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment for the protective member  12 . In this embodiment, the protective member  12  comprises two plastic sheets that form four closed sides,  61  through  64 . Tab  60  is attached to side  61  so as to facilitate the organization of the plurality of business cards that can be accommodated on loop  11 . Tab  60  can accommodate any indicia, including any alphanumeric or other desired notation. If preferred, tab  60  can also be attached to side  62 . In  FIG. 6 , a second tab  66  protrudes from side  63  and defines a hole  68 , which adaptively engages with loop  11 . When hole  68  engages with loop  11 , protective member  12  is attached or retained on loop  11 . In  FIG. 6 , slit  67  is defined on one of the sheets  69   a  or  69   b , so as to allow business card  65  to slide into the space formed between plastic sheets  69   a  and  69   b.    
         [0022]      FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  illustrate yet another embodiment for protective member  12 . In this embodiment, two sheets of plastic form a protective cover for business card  75  and comprises three closed sides,  72 ,  73  and  74 , and one side  71  that can be adaptively opened or closed. In particular, along the side  71  a locking-and-opening means, which is employed to allow a user to open apart sheets  76  and  77  when she wishes to insert or pull out business card  75 . In normal use, sheets  76  and  77  are closed together to retain the business card  75  inside protective member  12 . Locking-and-opening means can be such well known mechanism as a zip-lock  78   a  or  a  snap button device  78   b.    
         [0023]      FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment  80  comprising a board  81 , a plurality of indicia  82  and a plurality of hanging hooks  83 . The hanging hooks are spaced apart so as to be aesthetically pleasing and accommodate a plurality of devices  84 , each comprising a loop  11  and a plurality of plastic members  12 . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  allows a user to keep, for example, business cards relating to one type of business on one loop, a second type of business on a second loop, and etc.  
         [0024]     Numerous modifications to and alternative embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. Details of the embodiment may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved.