GB2277482A

GB2277482A - Data card with implements for manual tasks and other accessories.

Info

Publication number: GB2277482A
Application number: GB9308950A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ignacio Bautista Gimenez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-04-30
Filing date: 1993-04-30
Publication date: 1994-11-02
Also published as: GB9308950D0

Abstract

A data card, e.g. a credit or identity card, having a magnetic strip 12, includes rulers 14 and 18, comb or saw 20, mirror 22, nail file 28, letter opener 30, cutter 32, and a protractor and drawing compass 34. Other functions envisaged include a biological stress gauge, bottle or can opener, calculator, clock, compass, computer, data bank, game, key, magnifying glass, pager, personal attack alarm, playback device, radio receiver or transmitter, television, tracking device, voice recorder, and writing instrument. A medicinal patch can be included. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPLEMENTS This invention relates to implements of a convenient pocketable size, for use in performing light manual tasks such as measuring, marking, cutting or opening.

A well-known pocketable implement is the folding penknife or pocketknife, in which one or more knife blades can be folded out of a handle. Penknives have been developed to a remarkable degree, to the extent that, in multi-functional penknives, the knife blade is just one of numerous tools which can be stowed within the handle. Such multi-functional penknives can be very useful but, as tools are added, the knife becomes heavier, bulkier, more complex, and costlier.

Few among us have not searched in vain for a suitable implement when faced with a routine task. So, it cannot be denied that penknives, particularly multi-functional penknives, are useful things to carry. Yet, very few people carry a penknife on a regular basis; why should this be? Certainly, the aforementioned bulk, complexity and cost of the most useful penknives militates against people acquiring them or carrying them around. However, it must also be observed that most people's pockets and handbags are already cluttered with various day-to-day essentials such as keys, wallets or purses. Seemingly, there is a desire not to add to this clutter with an implement of only occasional usefulness. If this involves a risk of being without the implement on an occasion when it is badly needed, then, apparently, so be it.

In view of the foregoing, I have identified a need for an implement that is cheap, compact, simple and, above all, very convenient to carry in one's pocket, wallet, handbag or purse and thus available whenever required.

In my efforts to satisfy this need, I have noted how people have become fully accustomed to carrying data cards such as credit cards, which are usually of plastics material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Many people happily carry several data cards in their wallets or purses.

Accordingly, my invention, in its broadest sense, resides in an implement suitable for use in performing light manual tasks, wherein the implement is of pocketable size and has a substantially flat, card-like form. An implement having a card-like form is convenient to carry around, and so is easily kept to hand. Also, a card-like form is extremely cheap, compact and simple.

As people are accustomed to data cards, and as wallets and purses often contain compartments devoted to such cards, it is highly advantageous that the implement should fit within an outline substantially of standard data card size. Further, to maximise the implement's resemblance to a standard data card and thus to make it more acceptable to the public, I prefer that at least a part of the implement's outline is shaped generally to follow the outline of a standard-size data card. By 'standard size', I mean a 2.125" x 3.375" generally rectangular card which may or may not have radiused corners.

The term 'data card' includes credit cards, bank ATM cards, discount cards, privilege cards, club membership cards, identity cards, and licence cards. Data cards usually carry at least some information invisibly (e.g. on a magnetic databearing strip) as well as visible information in the form of text or pictures. However, some data cards bear only visible information or only invisible information.

I greatly prefer that the implement is capable of functioning as a data card; for example, the implement may have data carrying means such as a magnetic strip. Although not essential to the invention in its broadest sense, this feature saves the user having to add to the stock of cards that he or she carries. Of course, the resulting implement may also be expressed as a data card adapted to define an implement suitable for use in performing light manual tasks.

The implement of this invention is preferably multi-functional in order to maximise its usefulness. By way of example, the implement may act as any or all of the following tools, devices or instruments in any combination: comb, saw, ruler, scale ruler, cutter, protractor, compass, letter opener, nail file, magnifying glass, bottle opener, can opener, compasses, thermometer, temperature gauge, bio-feedback mechanism such as a stress gauge, a key fob, a mirror, a writing instrument such as a ball-point pen, and an identity card (e.g. with a picture of the card user's face).

Other devices of facilities that may be provided by the implement are: a microprocessor-based device such as a calculator, computer, game or data bank, which data bank may be used as a telephone directory, calendar or diary; a clock (optionally with an alarm facility), a radio, a television, a pager (optionally with an alphanumeric message screen), or a tracking device which transmits a beacon indicating the location of the card; a personal security alarm for vulnerable persons, which may emit an alarm sound or a security marking chemical; and a voice recorder employing a microphone, sound storage means and, optionally, a replay device or a transmitter capable of transmitting a recorded message to a remote recording or replay station.

To provide these tools, devices or instruments, the implement may have any or all of the following features: a serrated edge or a sharp cutting edge, either of which may be reinforced; sets of holes angularly and/or linearly spaced from one another, the holes being dimensioned snugly to receive the point of a typical pencil or pen; portions having abrasive, reflective or refractive properties; graduations at one or more edges; and one or more cut-outs, preferably at edge portions, shaped to perform a specialised task such as bottle opening or, in conjunction with a suitable lock, to act as a key.

Embodiments of this invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevational view depicting a preferred embodiment of the invention, namely an implement capable of functioning as a data card and providing a combination of several tools, devices, or instruments; Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the implement shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of the implement shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, an implement 10 is generally in the form of a standard-size data card of 2.175" x 3.375" x 0.030" in thickness. The implement 10 illustrated is substantially of plastics material, although this is not essential.

In order that the implement 10 can function fully as a data card, it has a magnetic data-bearing strip 12 on its rear face as shown in Figure 2. Again, the strip 12 is disposed in standard fashion for use in existing card-reading devices.

Thus, the strip 12 connects the two short edges 14, 16 and extends close to and parallel to one of the long edges 18.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the otherwise standard data-card outline of the implement 10 is interrupted by a serrated edge 20 which extends along one long edge of the implement 10. The serrated edge 20 has a sawtooth pattern of about 0.5 cm depth, intended for use as a comb or, with suitable reinforcement of the teeth (such as a metallic insert), as a multi-purpose saw.

Figure 1 shows a flat reflective surface 22 measuring about 3 cm x 1.5 cm, disposed near-centrally on the front face of the implement 10. Some data cards carry reflective holograms as a security measure but, in the implement 10, the reflective surface 22 is plain and unobscured. This provides a handy mirror, which may, for example, be used in the application of cosmetics. The mirror may also be used for signalling purposes, e.g. in the event that the user is lost and wishes to attract the attention of rescuers.

Referring now to Figure 1, the long edge 18 is provided on its front face with graduations 24 for use as a measuring ruler.

Metric graduations are shown (with a resolution of 1 mm) but imperial graduations in inches and fractions thereof may be used as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, the metric graduations.

Figure 1 also shows a scale ruler 26 provided on the short edge 14 of the implement 10. The illustrated scale is 1:100 (in metres) but various scales (e.g. 1:50, 1:200 and 1:400) may be used, as can either or both of the metric and imperial systems.

Referring now to Figure 2, the implement 10 has a 2.5 cm x 0.6 cm rectangular abrasive surface 28 on its rear face adjacent the short edge 16. The abrasive surface 28 serves as a file suitable for shaping the fingernails.

A letter opener 30 is provided at the corner of the implement 10 adjacent the abrasive surface 28 and the serrated edge 20.

Essentially, the letter opener 30 is the final, enlarged, tooth of the serrated edge 20.

A small writing instrument such as a pen or pencil may be incorporated in the card 10. It is preferred that the nib, tip or point of the writing instrument is situated at a corner of the card 10. For optimum simplicity, the nib, tip or point of the writing instrument (not shown) is situated at the tip of the letter opener 30.

A cutter 32 is provided at the other corner of the implement 10 adjacent the abrasive surface 28 (i.e. the upper right corner as illustrated in Figure 2). If the material of which the implement 10 is made is suitably hard, the cutting edge of the cutter 32 may be defined by bevelling or chamfering the edge of the implement. If, on the other hand, the material of which the implement 10 is made is insufficiently hard, an insert of suitably hard material may be used instead.

The implement 10 is pierced by several holes 34 dimensioned closely to receive the point of a pencil or pen, allowing the point to reach a piece of paper by extending through the implement. One hole 34' (situated at the top left corner of the implement 10 as shown in Figure 2), which may be enlarged slightly as shown, is a vertex hole.

A first set of holes 34'' are disposed in a straight linear array which includes the vertex hole 34', and which extends parallel to the long edge 18 of the implement 10. The holes 34't of the linear array are equally spaced from one another, in the example at 10mm intervals although other spacings are possible. The regularity of the spacing is also inessential, though preferred.

By inserting the point of a pencil into a selected one of the holes 34'' and by inserting a pivot axle (suitably another pencil) into the vertex hole 34', the implement 10 can be used to draw circles around the vertex hole 34'. The radius of the circle depends upon which among the first set of holes 34't is selected.

A second set of holes 34''' are situated at angularly spaced locations with respect to the vertex hole 34'. In the example, as shown in Figure 2, the holes 34''' define the following angles in turn with respect to the line on which the first set of holes 34'' lies: 900, 600, 500, 450, 400, 300, 200 and 100.

Other angles may be catered for simply by providing additional holes 34 or by using the existing holes 34tut to build up the desired angle (e.g. 450 plus 100 will produce an angle of 550).

This second set of holes 34''' is intended for the construction of lines at desired angles to an existing line, with the vertex hole 34' being placed at the desired point of intersection and the set of holes 34'' being placed over the existing line. However, it will also be noted that the holes 34''' are at different respective distances from the vertex hole 34' and so could be used for drawing circles of the appropriate radii, in the manner already described.

Considerable changes can be made to the embodiment described, without departing from the concept of the invention. The following variants are examples illustrative of other embodiments of the invention.

The implement can be constructed of metal, ceramics or other non-plastics materials. Plastics other than PVC may be used.

The shape and dimensions of the serrated edge 20 may be varied as desired. If the serrated edge is primarily intended as a comb, the teeth may be longer, thinner, more numerous and closer-spaced. The ends of the teeth may be rounded. Further, the serrated edge may be located on any edge, or more than one edge, of the implement.

The cutter 32 may have a sharp point rather than a rounded edge. This sharp point can be achieved by squaring off a corner of the implement 10 to form a right angle where the edges meet at the corner.

The measuring ruler and scale ruler can be located on any edge and either face of the implement 10.

The reflective surface 22 may be made concave or convex if it is desired to modify the reflected image. The reflective surface may, of course, take any size, shape or position (on either or both faces of the implement) and may even extend substantially completely across a face of the implement.

The reflective surface could be replaced or supplemented by a refractive portion, suitably a lens permitting the transmission of light through the implement. Preferably, such a lens is convex or multi-prismatic to form a magnifying glass. This magnifying glass can be used to magnify images or to light a fire by magnifying the sun's rays.

The magnetic strip may be positioned on either or both faces of the implement. There may be more than one magnetic strip on a given face. Of course, it is not essential to have a magnetic strip: any suitable data-carrying means can be used.

Several such means are presently known and include chip-based storage systems and optical data carriers.

Still further features could be added to the embodiment illustrated. An example is a strip-type thermometer in which colours change in response to temperature. A stress gauge activated by finger temperature could also be employed, suitably incorporated in any corner of the implement for easy access by a user's fingers. A further possibility is to apply one or more peel-off medicinal patches to the implement, for example patches of light nitroglycerine for emergency use in staving off heart attacks.

By making suitably-shaped cut-outs within the periphery of or in any edge of the implement, specialised tools such as bottle openers or can openers can be created. If necessary, the cutout can be reinforced by, for example, lining the cut-out with a strengthening insert.

A display screen may be provided on one or both faces of the card. The display screen may act as a display for facilities provided by the card (such as the aforementioned computer game facility), or as a television. The display may also display paged message information or information relating to the card user, such as a picture of his or her face.

It is envisaged that the display screen could react to touch, thereby providing a control interface enabling control of the various aforementioned facilities of the card. Thus, for example, touching certain portions of the screen may select a desired facility (such as a radio) and then, once selected, that facility may be controlled as desired, for example by adjusting the volume of the radio.

Although I greatly prefer that the implement of this invention is of one-piece construction, it is possible to provide a cover adapted to cover one or more edges of the implement and thus to protect the user from injury by any sharp edges. The cover may be movably attached to the implement but is preferably entirely removable therefrom. For optimum protection, the cover is adapted to embrace an edge of the implement and so is of U- or C-shaped section.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An implement suitable for use in performing light manual tasks, wherein the implement is of pocketable size and has a substantially flat, card-like form.

2. An implement according to claim 1, and fitting within an outline substantially of standard data card size.

3. An implement according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least a part of the implement's outline is shaped generally to follow the outline of a standard-size data card.

4. An implement according to any preceding claim, and capable of functioning as a data card.

5. An implement according to claim 4, and having a datacarrying means such as a magnetic strip.

6. An implement according to any preceding claim, and being substantially of one-piece construction.

7. An implement according to any preceding claim, and having a serrated edge.

8. An implement according to any preceding claim, and having a sharp cutting edge.

9. An implement according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the serrated edge and/or the sharp cutting edge are reinforced.

10. An implement according to any preceding claim, and having sets of holes angularly and/or linearly spaced from one another, the holes being dimensioned closely to receive the point of a typical pencil or pen.

11. An implement according to claim 10, and having a first set of linearly spaced holes and a second set of angularly spaced holes, at least one vertex hole being shared between the first and second sets.

12. An implement according to any preceding claim, and having portions of abrasive, reflective and/or refractive properties.

13. An implement according to claim 12, wherein the portion is reflective and is flat.

14. An implement according to claim 12, wherein the portion is reflective and is concave or convex.

15. An implement according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the portion extends substantially across at least one face of the implement.

16. An implement according to claim 12, wherein the portion is refractive and acts to magnify images viewed through the implement.

17. An implement according to any preceding claim, and having ruler graduations at one or more edges.

18. An implement according to any preceding claim, and having cut-outs within its periphery and/or on one or more edges, the cut-out being shaped to perform a specialised manual task such as bottle opening, letter opening or can opening.

19. An implement according to any preceding claim, in combination with an edge cover.

20. An implement according to any preceding claim, and having a thermometer.

21. An implement according to any preceding claim, and having a stress gauge.

22. An implement according to any preceding claim, and having a removable medicinal patch.

23. An implement according to claim 1, and capable of acting as one or more of the following: comb, saw, ruler, scale ruler, cutter, protractor, compass, letter opener, nail file, magnifying glass, bottle opener, can opener, compasses or mirror.

24. A data card adapted to define at least one implement suitable for use in performing a light manual task.

25. An implement or a data card, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.