US20020148740A1

US20020148740A1 - Storage of coins

Info

Publication number: US20020148740A1
Application number: US10/087,177
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack Sorland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-08-31
Filing date: 2002-02-28
Publication date: 2002-10-17
Also published as: NO994208D0; EP1214692A1; NO310219B1; NO994208L; WO2001016893A1; AU7324900A

Abstract

The device comprises a card (10) for storage of coins (12), characterised by that the storage card (10) is shaped with at least one hole (12) or area to receive and fasten at least a coin (12) in a way that the coin (12) can be repeatedly taken out and fixed in the hole.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention regards a card for storage of coins, pogs and the like. More specific the invention concerns a card preferably of common bank and credit card size for fastening of coins, pogs or the like.

In connection with the present invention the terms token and pog will be used interchangeable and are synonymous with coins and circular articles.

The background for the present invention is the steady increasing use of bank cards and payment cards, and the simultaneous decreasing use and availability of coins. Despite this fact, there are still many fields where coins have to be used. Coins are e.g. used during shopping and retail purchasing in kiosks and shops, parking meter, toll roads and the like.

Another important field is for using a shopping trolley (cart) in a shopping center. To ensure that the customer carries the shopping trolley back to the shop after use, some shopping centers have introduced a kind of deposit on the trolley. To utilize a shopping trolley, the customer has to insert a coin (10-kr or 20-kr) into a particular lock mounted on the shopping trolley. This coin is refunded to the customer when the trolley is brought back to the shop.

A frequently occurring problem is that the customers often do not have the relevant coins and have to ask the employees of the shop to exchange another monetary unit. This can sometimes be irritating for the customer and disturbing for the employee.

The present invention is also directed to another field, where today coins are used. This is in connection with luggage trolleys (carts) to be used by the passengers for transportation of suitcases and bags on airports, railway stations and other traffic junctions.

The prior art describes different cardholders for fastening of coins, keys and the like items.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,716 describe a card with a die-cutted area for insertion of keys and coins. An adhesive transparent layer covers the die-cutted area with a gripping edge along one side for opening and closing.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,398 describe a card with a magnetic strip and a hole for mounting coins. It is important that the die-cutted hole has an exact dimension to remove the coin or secure it in the hole.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,247 describe a card with die-cutted areas for spare keys, which is mounted in the areas by means of friction between the key and the card. On the backside of the card is an adhesive layer of the same size as the card, with possibility for advertising or information.

These US patents have in common that they are complicated regarding manufacturing and structure, with peculiar pockets for keys and complex closing mechanisms.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention has a simpler configuration and consists of fewer components and is thus simpler and thus inexpensive in production.

The primary object of the present invention is to increase the availability of coins, pogs and tokens especially for use in connection with shopping trolleys and luggage trolleys. The object of the invention is preferably achieved with a card of common credit card or bank card size, wherein there are one or more die-cutted holes for insertion of coins, pogs or tokens.

More specific, the invention is directed to a device comprised of a card for keeping tokens, pogs or coins wherein the storage card has at least one hole, area or die-cutting to receive and fasten at least a token, pog or coin, wherein the token, pog or coin is circular and shaped with a groove, in a way that the token can be picked out and inserted into the hole several times.

The card is intended to every day use. The card will be produced according to methods and technique of prior art. The card according to the invention may be made of one or more layers of PVC, the layers together constitute the required thickness, preferably 0.7-1 mm. PVC is used as it is a very applicable plastic which is well known from a plurality of products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further explained with the aid of drawings, wherein [0016]
FIG. 1 is a view of a card with an oval hole, [0017]
FIG. 2 is a view of token/pog with a groove which runs circular along the edge seen from above and from one side, [0018]
FIG. 3 is a view of a card with a cutted side for mounting of a token/coin, [0019]
FIG. 4 is a view of a token/pog to be fastened to the card in FIG. 4, [0020]
FIG. 5 is a view of a card with hole and a transverse groove for mounting of a token/coin, [0021]
FIG. 6 is a view of the card according to FIG. 5 with a mounted pog/token, [0022]
FIG. 7 is a view of a card with a hole which is exact adjusted to a token/pog to be mounted by means of frictional forces. [0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As can be seen from the drawings the card according to the invention preferably has a size as the known payment, credit or bankcards. The well known dimension of the card is: height 5.40 cm and length 8.57 cm, with tolerance limits in both directions +/−0.040 cm. The thickness of the card is 0.7-1 mm. The cards are produced in a suitable flexible material, preferably plastic as e.g. PVC. [0024]
FIG. 1 is a [0025] card 10 with an oval hole 12. The hole can be provided during production e.g. by die cutting. The hole 10 is located in the lower part of the card, but it can have an arbitrary placing on the card. It is also possible to have more than one hole in the card.
FIG. 2 displays the circular token/[0026] pog 11 with the groove 14 running circular along the edge. The groove is extending continuously around the circumference of the token and has a thickness that corresponds to the thickness of the card 10, that is about 0.7-1 mm. The depth of the groove is also about 1 mm. The token with the groove 14 seen from one side, and the token seen from above is not depicted in the same scale.
The oval hole is adjusted to fit the [0027] token 11. The hole 12 in the card has an oval shape, as the smallest diameter is equal the diameter of the circular groove 14 of the token, and the larger diameter is larger than the diameter of the token. The token 11 is fitted in the card by pressing into the oval hole in a way that the groove gets in contact with the edges 15, 16 of the card. When the token is to be removed, the card is carefully bent and the token is picked out with a finger grip. The token is thus ready for use for instance in connection with a shopping- or luggage trolley. The empty card is then put into the wallet or other storage, to be used again when the utilization of the token is terminated. In this way the user will always have a token to be used during shopping or transportation.
The token is preferably manufactured in plastic, but it can also be manufactured in another material as for instance a metal or an alloy. [0028]
FIG. 3 depicts a [0029] card 10 with a cutted or die-cutted side section 17. The section is in the figure provided along one short side 18, but an equivalent section can also be placed along the long side 19, or both on the short side and the long side.
The token/pog which is adjusted to this shaping is shown in FIG. 4. The circular token is provided with a [0030] center groove 20 extending from the outside towards the center of the diameter of the token. The depth of the groove 20 equals the radius of the token, and the width of the groove is in such a way that the token and the card is connected by means of frictional forces. The adjustment between token and card shall be such that the token can be removed and mounted without any problems. FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment wherein the hole 12 is divided with a transverse pole 21. This embodiment of the card uses a token/pog as shown in FIG. 6, that includes a transverse groove, preferably being diametrical. To further ensure that the token does not fall off, this diametrical groove has a cut with a wide bottom and a narrow top. In this way it is possible to obtain a snap locking between token and card. The hole 12 in FIG. 5 is depicted circular, but can be oval as well.
FIG. 7 depicts a card provided with a pressed-out [0031] hole 25 for perfect adjustment for a token. The hole 25 is not through and is dependent on friction forces between the token and the card in a secure manner.

Claims

1. Device comprised of a card (10) for keeping tokens (12), pogs or coins characterised by that the storage card (10) is shaped with at least one hole, area or die-cutting to receive and fasten at least a token (12), pog or coin, in a way that the token (12) can be repeatedly taken out and inserted into the hole.

2. Device according to claim 1,

characterised by that the coin (12) preferably is circular and shaped with a groove.

3. Device according to claims 1-2,

characterised by that the groove in the coin (12) runs circular along the edge (14).

4. Device according to claims 1-3,

characterised by that the groove in the coin is running transverse, preferably diametrically.

5. Device according to claim 4,

characterised by that the transverse groove in the coin (12) is cutted in a way to ensure fastening to a corresponding pole which extends diametrically in the card (10).

6. Device according to claim 4,

characterised by that the groove in the token (12) extends from the outside towards the middle of the diameter of the token and the depth of the groove corresponds to the radius of the token.

7. Device according to claims 1-6,

characterised by that the card (10) has a pressed-out hole for perfect adjustment to a token that possibly can be formed without a groove (14).

8. Device according to claim 1,

characterised by that the hole (12) in the card is oval in a way that the smallest diameter is equal the groove (14) of the coin, and the largest diameter is larger than the diameter of the token (11).

9. A device comprised of a card for keeping tokens, pogs or coins comprising a storage card having at least one of a hole, area and die-cutting shaped to receive and fasten at least one of a token, pog, and coin, wherein the token can be repeatedly taken out and inserted into the hole.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein said storage card is configured to receive and fasten the coin being circular and shaped with a groove.

11. The device according to claim 10 wherein the groove in the coin runs circular along an edge of said coin.

12. The device according to claim 10 wherein the groove in the coin runs diametrically transverse.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein said hole is divided with a transverse pole and said transverse groove in the coin is cut in a way to ensure fastening to corresponding said transverse pole which extends diametrically in the card.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the groove in the token extends from the outside towards the middle of the diameter of the token and the depth of the groove corresponds to the radius of the token.

15. The device according to claim 9 wherein the card has a pressed-out hole for perfect adjustment to a token formed without a groove.

16. The device according to claim 9, wherein the hole in the card is oval in a way that the smallest diameter is equal to the groove of the coin, and the largest diameter is larger than the diameter of the token.