Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/468,933, filed Mar. 29, 2011, and titled “Apparatus Having Removable Member and Carrier for Same”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to the field of cards and card carriers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Businesses today may utilize a variety of cards. For example, a hotel may provide to each guest a magnetic key card to allow the guest to access a particular room. Or, a restaurant may provide to its customer a customer loyalty card, to track the number of times the customer has eaten at the restaurant. And for another example, business cards are often used to provide contact information and memorialize interactions. 
     Often, it is desirable for the business to provide to each customer more than one card. For example, a hotel may wish to provide each guest with two magnetic key cards, so that the guest may share access to his room or obtain entry even if one of his key cards stops functioning. 
     It is not uncommon for customers to temporarily misplace or lose a card provided to them by a business. For example, a hotel guest may leave one of his key cards inside his room, and then, when attempting to open his room, realize that his second key card is no longer functioning properly. To access his room, thus, the guest may be forced to obtain a replacement card from the hotel&#39;s reception desk, which may cause the guest unnecessary distress. 
     Businesses (e.g., hotels), to help ensure that their customers are able to securely retain their cards, may provide their customers with card carriers. Businesses may procure these card carriers and cards from separate sources, and may store these cards and card carriers separately. This may unnecessarily increase the storage space occupied by these card carriers and cards, which, ultimately, may be provided to the customer together. 
     SUMMARY 
     Systems and methods for carrying and transporting cards are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a carrier for transporting cards includes a central area, a top area above the central area, and a bottom area below the central area. The top area is separated from the central area by an upper horizontal border and the bottom area is separated from the central area by a lower horizontal border. A first side area is laterally adjacent the central area and is separated from the central area by a first vertical border. The central area, the top area, the bottom area, and the first side area are initially of a unitary construction. A first card is coupled to or formed by the first side area and is configured to be detached from the central area. The top area is configured to be folded inward towards the central area along the upper horizontal border and the bottom area is configured to be folded inward toward the central area along the second horizontal border to form a pocket. The pocket is configured to retain the first card. 
     According to another embodiment, a card with carrier includes a sheet of material having a central area, a bottom area lowerly adjacent and foldable relative to the central area, and another area adjacent and foldable relative to the central area. The central area, the bottom area, and the another area are initially of a unitary construction. The card is coupled to or formed by the another area and is separable from the central area. Folding the bottom area inward towards the central area forms a pocket configured to retain the card. 
     According to yet another embodiment, a carrier for transporting cards includes a central area, a top area atop the central area, and a bottom area below the central area. The top area is separated from the central area by an upper horizontal border, and the bottom area is separated from the central area by a lower horizontal border. A first side area is laterally adjacent the central area and is separated from the central area by a first vertical border. The first vertical border comprises perforations. A second side area is laterally adjacent the central area and is separated from the central area by a second vertical border. The second vertical border, like the first vertical border, also comprises perforations. The central area, the top area, the bottom area, the first side area, and the second side area are initially of a unitary construction. Adhesive is used to couple a first card to the first side area and a second card to the second side area. The first card is configured to be detached from the central area along the first vertical border and the second card is configured to be detached from the central area along the second vertical border. The top area is configured to be folded inward towards the central area along the upper horizontal border and the bottom area is configured to be folded inward towards the central area along the lower horizontal border to form a pocket. The pocket is configured to retain the first card and the second card. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a card carrier in an initial unfolded position according to one embodiment of the current invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the card carrier of  FIG. 1  having cards secured to a left side area and a right side area; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the card carrier of  FIG. 1  having a top area and a bottom area folded inward toward a central area; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the card carrier of  FIG. 1  having the left side area and the right side area folded inward; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the card carrier of  FIG. 1  showing a back face of the central area; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the card carrier of  FIG. 1  in a folded position; 
         FIG. 7  shows a top view of a pocket in the card carrier of  FIG. 1  after the left side area and the right side area have been detached from the central area; 
         FIG. 8  shows two cards being slid into opposing end openings of the pocket; 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the card carrier of  FIG. 1  in a folded position; and 
         FIG. 10  shows various indicia on the card carrier of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide an all-in-one card carrier and methods of making same. In this document, references are made to directions such as front, back, left, right, and the like. These references are exemplary only and are used to describe the disclosed invention in a typical orientation or operation, but are not independently limiting. 
       FIG. 1  shows a top view of one embodiment  100  of an all-in-one card carrier in accordance with the teachings of the current invention. The card carrier  100 , which is shown in an unfolded position in  FIG. 1 , may be of a unitary construction. The carrier  100  may be made of paper, cardboard, or other desirable materials. 
     The carrier  100  may have a central area  102 , a foldable top area  104  atop the central area  102 , and a foldable bottom area  106  beneath the central area  102 . The carrier may also have a removable left side area  108  to the left of the central area  102 , and a removable right side area  110  to the right of the central area  102 . Each of the central area  102 , the foldable top area  104 , the foldable bottom area  106 , the removable left side area  108 , and the removable right side area  110 , may have a front face  102 F,  104 F,  106 F,  108 F, and  110 F (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), and a back face  102 B,  104 B,  106 B,  108 B,  110 B respectively. The foldable top area  104  may have an outer (i.e. top most) edge  105 E, the foldable bottom area  106  may have an outer (i.e., bottom most) edge  107 E, the removable left side area  108  may have an outer (i.e., left most) edge  109 E, and the removable right side  110  area may have an outer (i.e., right most) edge  111 E. 
     The foldable top area  104  and the central area  102  may be separated by an upper horizontal border  112 H that extends below and generally parallel to the outer edge  105 E of the foldable top area  104 . The upper horizontal border  11211  may be perforated or creased, or a dotted line (or other indicia or physical property) may delineate the upper horizontal border  112 H. The foldable bottom area  106  may similarly be separated from the central area  102  by a lower horizontal border  114 H, which may be perforated, creased, or otherwise delineated, and which may extend above and generally parallel to the outer edge  107 E of the foldable bottom area  106 . 
     A left vertical border  116 V may extend to the right of and generally parallel to the outer edge  109 E of the removable left side area  108 . The left vertical border  116 V may be perforated, and may separate the removable left side area  108  from the central area  102 . Similarly, a right vertical border  118 V, which may be perforated, may separate the removable right side area  110  from the central area  102 . The right vertical border  118 V may extend to the left of and generally parallel to the outer edge  111 E of the removable right side area  110 . 
     The central area  102 C may also include a central vertical border  120 V. The central vertical border  120 V may be creased or otherwise marked. As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , the central vertical border  120 V may extend above the central area  102  to the outer edge  105 E of the foldable top area  104 , and may separate the top area  104  into a left portion  122 L and a right portion  124 R. The central vertical border  120 V may also extend beneath the central area  102  to the outer edge  107 E of the foldable bottom area  106 , and may separate the bottom area  106  into a left portion  126 L and a right portion  128 R. 
     The central area  102  may have a height  130 H and a width  130 W. The top side area  104  may have a height  13611  and the bottom side area  106  may have a height  138 H. The height  136 H of the top side area  104  may or may not be equal to the height  138 H of the bottom side area  106 , and the height  130 H of the central area  102  may be equal to, or preferably greater than, the sum of the heights  136 H,  138 H of the top side area  104  and the bottom side area  106  respectively. 
     The removable left side area  108  may have a width  132 W and the removable right side area  110  may have a width  134 W. The width  132 W of the removable left side area  108  may or may not be equal to the width  134 W of the removable right side area  110 , and the width  130 W of the central area  102  may preferably be greater than or equal to the sum of the widths  132 W,  134 W of the removable left ( 108 ) and right side ( 110 ) areas respectively. 
     The left portion  126 L and the right portion  128 R comprising the foldable bottom area  106  may each include a slit or cut  140 . Embodiments where only the left portion  126 L or the right portion  128 R includes the slit  140  are also contemplated. 
     Attention is now directed to  FIG. 2 . As can be seen, a first card  142  may be adhered to the front face  108 F ( FIG. 1 ) of the removable left side area  108 , and a second card  144  may be adhered to the front face  110 F of the removable right side area  110 . The cards  142 ,  144  may be adhered to the removable left and right side areas  108 ,  110  by a variety of methods, such as via adhesives or mechanical fasteners, et cetera. The first card  142  and the second card  144  may, but need not be adhered to the removable left side area  108  and the removable right side area  110  respectively in the same manner. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the cards  142 ,  144  may be magnetic cards having a magnetic strip  146 M (e.g., magnetic key entry cards for hotels). It will be appreciated, however, that other types of cards may also be used. For example, the cards  142 ,  144  may be business cards, customer loyalty cards, gift cards, coupons, et cetera. 
     The cards  142 ,  144  may, but need not be constructed of the same material(s) as the carrier  100 , and the first card  142  may or may not be the same as the second card  144 . Suitable materials for constructing the cards  142 ,  144  may include, for example, paper, plastic, composite, and metal. Where the cards  142 ,  144  are magnetic, it may be desirable to adhere the cards  142 ,  144  to the removable left and right side areas  108 ,  110  such that the magnetic strip  146 M face away from the front faces  108 F,  110 F of the removable left and right side areas  108 ,  110  respectively. 
     Attention is now directed to  FIG. 3 . The foldable top area  104  may be folded along the upper horizontal border  112 H such that its front face  104 F is adjacent the front face  102 F of the central area  102 , and the outer edge  105 E of the foldable top area  104  faces the foldable bottom portion  106 B. The foldable bottom area  106 B may similarly be folded along the lower horizontal border  114 H such that is front face  104 F is adjacent the front face  102 F of the central area  102 , and the outer edge  107 E of the foldable bottom area  106 B faces the foldable top portion  104 . As can be seen, because the height  130 H of the central area  102  exceeds the sum of the heights  13611 ,  138 H of the foldable top side area  104  and the foldable bottom side area  106 , that, when so folded, the outer edge  105 E of the foldable top side area  104  and the outer edge  107 E of the foldable bottom side area  106  are spaced apart by a vertical distance  148 . This vertical distance  148  may act as a finger slide, allowing contents in the pocket formed by the central area  102 , the top area  104 , and the bottom area  106  to be easily removed without unfolding the top area  104  or the bottom area  106 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the left side area  108 , to which the card  142  is now adhered, may be folded inward along the left vertical border  116 V such that the card  142  is adjacent the folded back faces  104 B,  106 B of the top and bottom side areas  104 ,  106  respectively, and the outer edge  109 E of the left side area  108  faces the right side area  110 . Similarly, the right side area  110 , to which the card  144  is secured, may be folded inward along the right vertical border  118 V such that the card  144  is adjacent the folded back faces  104 B,  106 B of the top and bottom side areas  104 ,  106  respectively, and the outer edge  111 E of the right side area  110  faces the outer edge  109 E of the left side area  108 . 
     The central area  102  (and the top area  104  and the bottom area  106 , which are folded inward towards the central area  102 ) may now be folded along the central vertical border  120 V (see  FIG. 1 ). Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the central area  102  may be folded along the central vertical border  120 V such that the back face  108 B of the left side area  108  and the back face  110 B of the right side area  110  (see  FIG. 4 ) are adjacent each other. In this way, the all-in-one card carrier  100  may be folded into a compact unit (see  FIG. 6 ). The card carrier  100  may be sold or otherwise provided to a business in this form (i.e., inclusive of cards  142 ,  144 ). Or, a business may procure only the carrier  100  and thereafter adhere the cards  142 ,  144  to the carrier  100 . The business, instead of having to provide to its customers separate cards and a card carrier, may now offer its customers the all-in-one carrier  100  that includes the cards  142 ,  144 . 
     When the customer wishes to use the cards  142 ,  144  (e.g., to open his hotel room), the customer may first unfold carrier  100  along the central vertical border  120 V, as shown in  FIG. 4 , so that the back face  108 B of the left side area  108  is no longer adjacent the back face  110 B of the right side area  110 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the customer may unfold the left side area  108  (to which the card  142  is adhered) along the left vertical border  116 V, and the right side area  110  (to which the card  144  is adhered) along the right vertical border  118 V, such that the cards  142 ,  144  are no longer adjacent the folded back faces  104 B,  106 B of the top and bottom side areas  104 ,  106  respectively. 
     The customer may now detach the removable left side area  108  (along with the card  142 ) from the carrier  100  by tearing or cutting along the left vertical border  116 V. The customer may similarly detach the removable right side area  110  (along with the card  144 ) from the carrier  100  by tearing or cutting along the right vertical border  118 V. It will be appreciated that the customer may also detach only the left side area  108  along with the card  142  and leave the right side area  110 /card  144  intact, or vice versa. And, in some embodiments, the cards  142 ,  144  may be separated from the side areas  108 ,  110  (e.g., by overcoming the adhesive), and the side areas  108 ,  110  may remain intact with the central area  102 . 
     Once the card  142  and the card  144  have been separated from the carrier  100  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ), the cards  142 ,  144  may be retained in a receiving area or pocket  150 . Specifically, the folded top side area  104 , whose front face  104 F faces the front face  102 F of the central area  102 , and the folded bottom side area  106 , whose front face  106 F faces the front face  102 F of the central area  102 , in conjunction with the front face  102 F of the central area  102 , form the pocket  150  for retention of the cards  142 ,  144 . The cards  142 ,  144  may simply be slid into the pocket  150  via end openings  152 ,  154  (see  FIG. 8 ), and the central area  102  may then be folded inward along the central vertical border  120 V (see  FIG. 9 ) to securely retain the cards  142 ,  144 . 
     Alternatively, instead of sliding the cards  142 ,  144  into the pocket  150  via end openings  152 ,  154  before folding the central area  102  inward along the central vertical border  120 V, the cards  142 ,  144  may be secured within the slits  140  in the left portion  126 L and the right portion  128 R of the bottom area  106 . Retention of the cards  142 ,  144  in the slits  140  may help prevent the cards  142 ,  144  from inadvertently slipping out of the carrier  100 . In this way, the all-in-one carrier  100  abates the need for businesses to separately store both cards and card carriers. 
     The all-in-one carrier  100  may also include various indicia  156  (e.g., on the front ( 102 F) and/or back ( 102 B) faces of the central area  102 , on the front ( 104 F) and/or back  104 B) faces of the top side area  104 , on the front ( 106 F) and/or back ( 106 B) faces of the bottom side area, on the back face  108 B of the left side area  108 , and/or on the back face  110 B of the right side area  110 ). The indicia  156  may be used for targeted advertising. For example, where the all-in-one carrier  100  is being used by a hotel, the carrier  100  may include a map of the hotel&#39;s surrounding areas and offers from nearby restaurants and other shops. Or, the indicia  156  may comprise facts, quotes, or puzzles, et cetera. Particularly if the cards  142 ,  144  are business cards, the indicia  156  may be directed to information about the user&#39;s business, background, or associates. The indicia  156  may be added to the carrier  100  before the cards  142 ,  144  are coupled to the carrier  100 , or the indicia  156  may be added at a later time (e.g., by the business using the carrier  100 , in line with current promotional offers). 
     While the disclosure above suggests that the customer detaches the cards  142 ,  144 , it will be appreciated that a business may detach the cards  142 ,  144 , before providing the card carrier  100  to the customer. For example, where the carrier  100  is being used by a hotel to store key cards, the hotel staff may detach the cards  142 ,  144  to input information necessary to allow a guest to access his room, store the cards  142 ,  144  in the pocket  150  (or slits  140 ) as described herein, and then provide the carrier  100 /cards  142 ,  144  to the customer. 
     As noted above, where the cards  142 ,  144  are magnetic, it may be desirable to adhere the cards  142 ,  144  to the removable left and right side areas  108 ,  110  such that the magnetic strip  146 M face away from the front faces  108 F,  110 F of the removable left and right side areas  108 ,  110  respectively. Such a configuration may allow businesses (e.g., hotels) to input information on the magnetic strips  146 M of the cards  142 ,  144  without having to first detach the cards  142 ,  144  from the central area  102 . 
     While the cards  142 ,  144  are generally described above as being initially separate from the carrier  100 , and then being coupled to the carrier  100 , in some embodiments, the cards  142 ,  144  may be initially unitary with the carrier  100 . For example, the carrier  100  and the cards  142 ,  144  may be made of a single piece of appropriate paper (having magnetic strips if desired), and the cards  142 ,  144  may be distinguished from the central area  102  by perforations. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the cards  142 ,  144  may be coupled to, or formed by, the top area  104  and/or the bottom area  106  as well as the side areas  108 ,  110 . 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.

Technology Category: 3