GB2471197A

GB2471197A - A durable wallet

Info

Publication number: GB2471197A
Application number: GB201010078A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stewart Morley
Original assignee: VIIG Ltd
Current assignee: VIIG Ltd
Priority date: 2009-06-16
Filing date: 2010-06-16
Publication date: 2010-12-22
Also published as: GB0910344D0; GB201010078D0

Abstract

A wallet comprises first and second frames 11, 12, each formed of a rigid material, and a hinge member 13 formed of a resilient material. First and second body members 14, 15 are also formed of resilient material, and are mounted to each of the rigid frame members 11, 12, e.g. by press-fitting. Preferably the resilient body members 14, 15 are made of the same material as the hinge member 13. The hinge member 13 may be press-fitted into a slot 21 in the frame members 11, 12. Alternatively the hinge member 13 and the pair of body members 14, 15 may be provided as a unitary component. A card support 16 may be mounted in the cavity formed by the body members 14, 15.

Description

A WALLET AND A METHOD OF WALLET MANUFACTURE

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention is concerned with a wallet and a method of manufacture of the wallet. In particular, the present invention is concerned with providing a wallet of high quality and durability.

[0002] Reference herein to a wallet is to be understood as reference to any small portable container suitable for use in holding personal items most commonly, but not limited to, paper money, business cards, credit cards and debit cards. Thus, use of the term wallet herein is to be understood as encompassing pocketbooks, billfolds, card cases, purses and other small bags.

Backciround of the invention [0003] The structure of and the materials used in the manufacture of wallets has changed little in recent times. The conventional structure for a wallet is that of one or more elongate slots or pockets folded in half and optionally held closed by means of an overlapping strap or clasp. Following the introduction of credit and debit cards, modern wallets now usually additionally include one or more smaller slots shaped to hold credit I debit cards which are provided on one or both inner halves of the wallet. Traditionally, woven fabric or leather has been used in the manufacture of wallets with layers of the fabric or leather being stitched together to form the slots or pockets. UK design registration no. 4008198 is an example of a typical fabric wallet. The edges of such flexible materials tend to wear easily especially at corners and to address this problem some wallets are provided with metallic corner protectors.

[0004] Cigarette and card cases made of precious metals such as silver and gold also exist. However, such items are generally handmade and the precious metals used in the manufacture of the cases wear over time.

Summary of the invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of manufacture of a wallet and a wallet produce by the method which is durable and of high quality.

[0006] A further object of the present invention is to provide a method which combines a plurality of different types of materials in the manufacture of the wallet. In this regard an object of the present invention is to provide a wallet having a high level of durability whilst still providing soft contact surfaces.

[0007] A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method of wallet manufacture which dispenses with the need for the stitching of different fabric layers together.

[0008] Thus, the present invention provides a method of construction of a wallet comprising the steps of: providing a pair of substantially rigid wall members each having a hinge edge and an opposed opening edge; providing at least one hinge member; providing a pair of resilient main body members shaped so as to define a cavity therebetween; and mounting each resilient main body member to a respective wall member.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment each wall member includes at least one slot extending into the wall member from the hinge edge and the at least one hinge member is mounted in a respective slot in each one of the pair of wall members by press-fitting a portion of the hinge member into each slot.

[0010] In a further preferred embodiment the at least one hinge member and the pair of main body members are integrally moulded as a unitary component.

[0011] In a yet further preferred embodiment the present invention further comprises the step of mounting at least one co-operating pair of magnetic elements in the opening edges of the pair of main body elements.

[0012] Ideally the rigid wall members are providing by cutting the wall members from a metallic blank and the resilient main body elements are provided by moulding the main body elements in a former.

[0013] Also, a card support may be mounted in the cavity formed by the pair of main body members.

[0014] Each wall member may in the form of a frame having a window into which the resilient main body member is press fitted whereby an exterior surface of each main body member forms in combination with the exterior surface of its respective frame an outer surface of the wallet. In this way the wallet may be constructed without the permanent attachment of any of the individual elements of the wallet.

[0015] In a separate aspect the present invention provides a wallet comprising: a pair of substantially rigid wall members each having a hinge edge and an opposed opening edge; at least one hinge member; and a pair of resilient main body members shaped so as to define a cavity therebetween each one of the pair of main body members being mounted to a respective wall member, and wherein the opening edge of each rigid wall member is chamfered so as to define a space between the two opening edges when the wallet is closed.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment each wall member includes a slot extending in from the hinge edge of the wall member and opposing edges of the hinge member are mounted in respective slots in the pair of wall members.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment the at least one hinge member and the pair of main body members are integrally moulded as a unitary component.

[0018] Ideally, one or more pairs of co-operating magnetic elements may be provided adjacent the opening edge of each rigid wall member for holding the wallet closed.

[0019] Also, a card support having one or more slots for receiving a credit or debit card may be provided in the wallet.

[0020] Each wall member may be in the form of a frame having a window into which the resilient main body member is press fitted whereby an exterior surface of each main body member forms in combination with the exterior surface of its respective frame an outer surface of the wallet. Alternatively, each wall member may include a blind recess in its exterior surface for receiving a resilient laminar material.

Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a wallet in accordance with the present invention when closed; Fig. 2 illustrates the wallet of Fig. 1 when open; Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the wallet of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the wallet of Fig. 1 taken along the line A-A; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a wallet in accordance with the present invention when closed; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the wallet of Fig. 5 when open; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a still further alternative embodiment of a wallet in accordance with the present invention when open.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0022] The wallet 10 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 generally comprises the following constructional elements: first and second frames 11, 12 each formed of a substantially rigid material; a hinge member 13 formed of a resilient material; first and second main body members 14, 15 each formed of a resilient material; and a multiple card support 16. Preferably, the first and second frames 11, 12 are formed of a hard-wearing metallic material such as, but not limited to, polished steel and the pair of frames 11, 12 are preferably identical in shape and construction. The first and second main body members 14, 15 are preferably formed of a rubber material which is capable of flexure under manually applied forces and the pair of main body members 14, 15 are also preferably identical in shape and construction whereby the number of different individual parts required in the construction of the wallet can be minimised.

[0023] As shown in Figs 1 to 4, each frame 11, 12 is a unitary, substantially rectangular member having a substantially planar inner surface and a curved exterior surface with the exterior surfaces of the end regions of the two opposing short outer edges being chamfered or bevelled as a decorative feature. Each frame 11, 12 has a substantially rectangular window 17 and an internal shoulder 19 provided around the window edge 18 of the frame, the function of which will be described in greater detail later.

[0024] The two opposing long outer edges of the frame 11, 12 provide respectively a hinge edge 20 and an opening edge 22. The hinge edge 20 includes a slot 21 that extends into the frame from the hinge edge 20, which may be open or blind and which preferably does not extend the full length of the hinge edge 20. A region of the inner surface 23 extending from the opposing opening edge 22 is chamfered so that the inner surface 23 describes an acute angle with respect to the plane of the inner surface of the remainder of the frame. As is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 when the inner surfaces of the first and second frames 11, 12 are brought together, i.e. the wallet is closed, the effect of the chamfering of the inner surfaces 23 at the opening edges of the two frames 11, 12 is to provide a generally V-shaped space between the opposing opening edges of the two frames 11, 12.

[0025] The hinge member 13, which is best illustrated in Fig. 3, is preferably formed of a rubber material and is capable of elastic deformation. The hinge member 13 has a generally U-shaped cross-section and is responsive to manual flexure along its longitudinal axis of symmetry. The base 24 of the hinge member 13 is sized so as to bridge across the two slots 21 in the first and second frames whereas each arm 25 of the hinge member 13 is sized so as to form an interference fit within their respective slots 21 in the first and second frames.

[0026] The first and second main body members 14, 15 are preferably formed of the same material as the hinge member 13 and are thus capable of elastic deformation. Each of the two main body members 14, 15 is formed in the shape of a shallow tray comprising a substantially rectangular base 26 and a peripheral lip 27, preferably using a common moulding so as to minimise the number of different parts. Although a common moulding for the two main body members is preferred, embodiments in which the two main body members are asymmetric are also envisaged and the illustrated embodiment is an asymmetric design. The first and second main body members 14, 15 are sized so as to form an interference fit with the windows 17 in their respective frames 11, 12 and with the peripheral lip 27 of each main body member engaging with the internal shoulder 19 of its respective frame. The base 26 of the main body member is curved, preferably with a curvature that substantially matches or follows the curvature of the outer surface of the frames 11, 12, so that the outer, exposed surface of the main body member 14, 15 lies substantially flush with the outer surface of its respective frame.

Preferably that curvature substantially corresponds to the natural curvature of a human palm. On the other hand, the peripheral lips 27 of the two main body members project beyond the inner surface of their respective frames so that when the wallet 10 is closed only the edges of the peripheral lips 27 of the main body members 14, 15 are in contact and a small gap is maintained between the planar interior surfaces of the frames 11, 12. This is best illustrated in Fig. 1.

[0027] As can be seen clearly in Fig. 4, the peripheral lips 27 of the first and second main body members 14, 15 may include co-operating projections and recesses 28 to ensure accurate alignment of the main body members and the frames when the wallet 10 is closed. Also, the peripheral lip 27 adjacent the opening edge 22 of the frame includes a closure device 29 for holding the two halves of the wallet in its closed configuration. The closure device 29 is preferably in the form of one or more pairs of co-operating permanent magnets the attractive force of which is sufficiently weak that it can be overcome manually. Ideally, the magnets are arranged so that there is negligible field strength penetrating the interior 30 of the wallet 10. The strength and position of the magnets is selected to control the closing force of the wallet. Also, ideally, the closure device 29 is unitary with the first and second main body members 14, 15 and is in the form of one or more blind apertures each sized to receive one magnet with the opening of the aperture facing towards their respective frames.

[0028] The interior surfaces 28 of the first and second main body members 14, 15 define the enclosed space 30 when the wallet 10 is closed. Within this space a multiple card support 16 is provided. The card support 16 is preferably formed of the same material as the first and second main body members 14, 15 and comprises a single wide slot 31 having a width corresponding to the conventional width of a credit I debit card so that the sides of the slot 31 lightly hold the opposing side edges of a conventional credit I debit card. The depth of the slot 31 is sized so as to receive a plurality of credit I debit cards. The base of the slot 31 describes a downwardly depending acute angle to the plane of the wallet frame, so that with a credit I debit card in the slot 31 and the wallet open, the credit I debit card is tipped by the sloping base of the slot away from the plane of the wallet frame and is thus more easily accessible. The card support 16 extends the full length of the interior surface 28 of the main body member and it is either attached to, for example by means of adhesive bonding, or forms an interference fit with one or other of the main body members 14, 15. A small gap is formed between the back of the card support 16 and the main body member which is sized to accommodate a single credit I debit card or a travel permit such as an Oyster TM card or other card having remotely readable magnetic data. With the wallet the magnetic data remains readable through the wallet thereby avoiding the necessity of removing the readable card from the wallet when the readable card is used. In an alternative construction a plurality of blind slots 31 may be provided each sized to receive loosely the thickness of a single conventional credit I debit card.

[0029] The wallet described above and as illustrated combines durability and a high quality finish through the use of a rigid metallic frame with a softer rubber material on the contacting surfaces of the wallet providing a more pleasing tactile surface to a user. Also, the combination of the softer contacting surface and the curvature of the frames and main body members ensures that any surface the wallet is placed on is protected from the rigid metallic edges of the wallet.

[0030] Furthermore, the V-shaped opening formed by the chamfering on the opening edges of the rigid frames of the wallet provides both a decorative detail and a manual leverage point when opening the wallet. Also, both the frames and the main body members can be manufactured to a high degree of tolerance ensuring flush outer surfaces.

[0031] To manufacture the wallet, a pair of identical metallic frames 11, 12 are cut out from a metallic blank using conventional milling techniques. A pair of identical or asymmetric main body members 14, 15 are moulded along with an elongate U-shaped hinge member 13, using conventional rubber moulding technology. Each main body member is then fitted into a window aperture 17 in its respective metallic frame and the two elongate arms of the U-shaped hinge member 13 are inserted into their respective slots in the hinge edges of the two frames. Either before or after being fitted to the frames, the main body members have one or more closure magnets mounted into their peripheral lip 27 and the card support 16 is positioned within the wallet space 30. The wallet is constructed without any stitching: ideally all elements of the wallet are press-fitted into position. Despite the simplicity of construction, the resultant wallet is of high quality and finish with all elements of the wallet being easily manufactured to very fine levels of tolerance, for example tolerances in the region of 0.3 to 0.05 mm, preferably 0.1 mm.

[0032] In an alternative version of the wallet illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the first and second frames are replaced with first and second rigid walls 11', 12'.

In each wall the window is replaced by an outwardly facing blind recess with a peripheral gutter on the inner edge of the recess. A resilient laminar material in the form of a layer of flexible material such as a rubber material or leather etc which provides a soft contacting surface is mounted in the recess and attached to the wall by means of an adhesive or other bonding material provided in the peripheral gutter. By attaching the flexible material using adhesive in the gutter, the risk of edge-peel of the flexible material can be minimised. The first and second rigid walls are attached together by means of the same hinge member. As an alternative to bonding the resilient laminar material to the wall, a separate frame element (not shown) sized to form an interference fit with the periphery of the recess is provided and is used to trap the peripheral edge of the resilient laminar material in the recess.

[0033] In this alternative embodiment, the first and second flexible main body members 14', 15' are mounted with an interference fit or by bonding on the interior surfaces of their respective first and second rigid walls and form the enclosing surfaces to the wallet interior space. The first and second main body members 14', 15' may include all of the optional features described previously with respect to the illustrated embodiment for example, but not limited to, the card support 16' and the co-operating projections and recesses (not shown).

[0034] Unlike the first embodiment, a pair of closure devices 29' may be provided on one or both of the shorter outer wallet edges which bridge between the hinge edge 20' and the opening edge 22'. In this alternative arrangement of the closure devices, greater control of the strength of the wallet closing action is achievable through appropriate selection and positioning of the permanent magnets.

[0035] In Fig. 7 a further alternative wallet is illustrated generally comprising the following constructional elements: first and second frames 11", 12" each formed of a substantially rigid material; and an inner purse 32 formed of a resilient material. Like the first embodiment of Figs 1-4, the first and second frames 11", 12" are formed of a hard-wearing metallic material such as, but not limited to, polished steel and the pair of frames 11", 12" are preferably identical in shape and construction. The inner purse 32, which defines the walls of the wallet space 30, is preferably formed of a rubber material which holds its shape as moulded but is capable of flexure under manually applied forces. The inner purse 32 is a single moulded element comprising first and second purse sides connected together by an integrally moulded hinge 33.

The interior of the inner purse 32 includes an opposing pair of card holder slots 34 integrally moulded with the inner purse 32.

[0036] Each frame 11", 12" is a unitary, substantially rectangular member having an aperture extending through the frame with the aperture shaped so as to receive a respective one of the two sides of the inner purse 32. Also, the peripheral surface of each frame 11", 12" adjacent the hinge 33 of the inner purse is shaped to accommodate the integral hinge 33 which interconnects the two purse sides. Thus in this third embodiment the wallet is constructed from only three elements: the pair of frames and a single inner purse with an integral hinge. Other features of this further alternative embodiment are similar to those described previously and the method of construction is similar to that of the embodiment of Figs. 1-4 but without the need to separately mount the hinge in the frames.

[0037] It will, of course, be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific illustrated details of the shape and construction of the wallet and that changes to the shape and construction are envisaged. Larger and smaller wallets are envisaged. Moreover, the wallet is not limited to the shape of the frame illustrated in the figures. In particular, the frame need not be symmetric and may have one or more curved or discontinuous edges.

Similarly, the outer surface of the frame may not be shaped or polished as illustrated but may bear alternative decorative features. Also, instead of a single elongate hinge member, the wallet may have a plurality of smaller hinge members spaced at intervals along the hinge edge of the frame.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment not illustrated herein, it is envisaged that decorative fabric covers be provided which overly the exterior surface of each of the main body elements and are held in position, visible through the windows of the metallic frames, when the main body elements are press-fitted into the frames.

-10 - [0039] Also, although the wallet described herein includes a card support 16 for holding a plurality of credit I debit cards, the card support 16 is only one of various options for furnishing the interior of the wallet. A resilient clip or pair of biased fingers (illustrated in Fig. 6) for holding folded bills (paper money) may be provided in the wallet interior either in replacement of the card support 16 or additional to the card support 16. Similarly in a larger wallet or purse a resilient clip or resilient fingers may be provided for holding a lipstick or similar sized personal items. The wallet may additionally contain a mirror mounted on the interior surface of the one of the main body elements and it is envisaged that in one embodiment lighting in the form of one or a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED5) may be mounted in the interior surface of one of the main body elements and connected to a battery power supply which includes a short circuit to disconnect the LEDs from the power supply when the wallet is closed.

[0040] Further and alternative embodiments additional to those described above are also envisaged without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims. -11-

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of construction of a wallet comprising the steps of: providing a pair of substantially rigid wall members each having a hinge edge, and an opposed opening edge; providing at least one hinge member; providing a pair of resilient main body members shaped so as to define a cavity therebetween; and mounting each resilient main body member to a respective wall member.
2. A method of construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein each wall member is in the form of a frame having a window into which the resilient main body member is press fitted whereby an exterior surface of each main body member forms in combination with the exterior surface of its respective frame an outer surface of the wallet.
3. A method of construction as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein each of the substantially rigid walls members includes a slot extending into the wall member from the hinge edge; the step of providing at least one hinge member comprises providing at least one hinge member separate from the resilient main body members; and the method further comprises the step of mounting the at least one hinge member in a respective slot in each one of the pair of rigid wall members by press fitting a portion of the hinge member into the slot.
4. A method of construction as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the at least one hinge member and the pair of resilient main body members are provided as a unitary component.
5. A method of construction as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising the step of mounting at least one co-operating pair of magnetic elements in opposing edges of the pair of main body elements.

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6. A method of construction as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the rigid wall members are providing by cutting the wall members from a metallic blank.
7. A method of construction as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the resilient main body elements are provided by moulding the main body elements in a former.
8. A method of construction as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising mounting a card support in the cavity formed by the pair of main body members or integrally moulding a card support with the pair of main body members.
9. A wallet comprising: a pair of substantially rigid wall members each having a hinge edge, an opposed opening edge; at least one hinge member; and a pair of resilient main body members shaped so as to define a cavity therebetween each one of the pair of main body members being mounted to a respective wall member, and wherein the opening edge of each rigid wall member is chamfered so as to define a space between the two opening edges when the wallet is closed.
10. A wallet as claimed in claim 9, wherein each wall member is in the form of a frame having a window into which the resilient main body member is press fitted whereby an exterior surface of each main body member forms in combination with the exterior surface of its respective frame an outer surface of the wallet.
11. A wallet as claimed in either of claims 9 or 10, wherein each of the substantially rigid walls members includes a slot extending into the wall member from the hinge edge, the at least one hinge member being mounted in a respective slot in each one of the pair of rigid wall members.

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12. A wallet as claimed in either of claims 9 or 10, wherein the at least one hinge member and the pair of resilient main body members are integrally moulded as a unitary component.
13. A wallet as claimed in claim 9, wherein each wall member includes a blind recess in its exterior surface for receiving a resilient laminar material.
14. A wallet as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, further comprising one or more pairs of co-operating magnetic elements provided adjacent at least one edge of each rigid wall member for holding the wallet closed.
15. A wallet as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14, further comprising a card support having one or more slots for receiving at least one credit or debit card.
16. A method of construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, 5 to 6 or 7 of the accompanying figures.
17. A wallet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, 5 to 6 or 7 of the accompanying figures.