JP2784691B2 - Document retainer - Google Patents

Abstract

A document retainer (10) having receptacles (14) is provided. The retainer is equipped with clip switch contact sensors (46, 50) in the retainer receptacles. Documents (12) held in the receptacles maintain the clip switch contact faces in a spaced relationship by being interposed therebetween. When a document is withdrawn, the contact faces spring into engagement, closing the contacts and thereby energizing an alarm circuit that has audible and inaudible alarms (20, 18) to facilitate indication of the document withdrawal. A resettable timing device is provided to suppress the audible alarm for a period considered sufficient for a card transaction. Preferably, the retainer is in the form of a compact module that can be inserted into a receptacle in a wallet or can be attached to another object by use of a provided releasable attachment device. The attachment device is equipped with a detector to sense if the retainer has become detached from the object to which it was originally attached and energizes the alarm circuit in a manner to circumvent any alarm suppression timers thereby energizing the alarms (20, 18) immediately.

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a system for holding a document in which removal and retraction of the document is sensed by using electrical circuitry and contacts incorporated therein. More particularly, the present invention relates to protection against the loss of a credit card using a paper compartment or purse so equipped.

BACKGROUND ART Currently, the most common document retainers are:
File cabinets, briefcases, holders, wallets and paper compartments. These retainers are used to organize and store and physically protect documents and are intended to provide a variety of storage, capacity, transportability and security. However, with these retainers, it is very common for the user to forget to return the document to the retainer after using it. As a result, especially credit cards, bank cash cards or personal IDs
Cards are often forgotten after documents have been used, especially where they are likely to be lost, stolen or misused.

Conventionally, various attempts have been made to solve this problem. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,789 discloses a credit card case which holds a credit card and has contacts attached to the inner surface of the separator to detect the absence of the card. However, in the case of this prior art, the case itself is very bulky,
There is a problem in that a single outer spring clip is used to bias a number of pairs of separator contacts. The use of a single spring clip spreads the contact pressure too widely, reducing the sensitivity of the device to the point where the reliability of the detection capability is compromised.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,250 discloses a credit system in which a series of clip switches bridges the hinged or back portion of a pair of folded flaps and a common conductor strip respectively disposed on each side flap. A card carrier or credit card compartment is disclosed. If the edges of either card are not retained between the contacts of their assigned clip switch when the flaps are folded back on each other, the magnetic proximity switch on the outer edge of each flap shall close. Will give a warning. However, in the case of this conventional technique, there is a problem that the configuration of holding the cards from edge to edge causes inconvenience in terms of space and area required for each card. Further, no means or method is considered to guide the card into position between the clip switch contacts or to prevent the card from falling out of position. Furthermore, magnetic proximity switches are fragile and inaccurate, and difficult to align if the cardholder is flexible.
Also, magnetic switches can endanger the common magnetic code strip of most modern credit and bank cards.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,865 discloses a credit card holder comprising a partially transparent pocket having a conductive strip and / or disk-shaped magnetic contacts mounted opposite the inner surface of said pocket. Have been. This strip or contact detects the removal of the credit card and electrically activates an alarm system consisting of a battery, a buzzer and a timer. In one embodiment, a leaf spring is disposed inside the double-layered pocket wall to press together the wall and attached contacts as disclosed in another embodiment. I have. In another embodiment, the pockets are formed in an accordion-like or bellows-like shape on each page of the book or folded edge-to-edge. However, in the case of this device, there is a problem that the use of the magnetic contacts may endanger the magnetic card coding portion provided on the credit card or the bank card. Moreover, the leaf springs located between the lining layers of the pockets inflate the pockets and are not firmly fixed or supported, so they generate enough force to exert satisfactory sensor contact pressure and sensor function Can not do.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,745 discloses a credit card holder with an alarm circuit which is triggered by removing the card from the card compartment and thereafter closing the holder. A light sensitive switch is used to prevent current from flowing into the alarm circuit when the holder is in the open position. With each set of card contacts attached to a separate bracket, the holder is somewhat bulky. The holder is not completely closed,
And if the light sensor is exposed when there is no card, the alarm device does not emit an audible alarm, and various scenarios can be imagined that would impair the function of the intended device and result in the loss of the card. .

U.S. Pat.No. 4,719,453 includes U.S. Pat.
A paper compartment with an alarm device that operates in a manner similar to that disclosed in US Pat. No. 2,745 is disclosed.
The card sensing means comprises a plurality of clip switches arranged in parallel connection with the plate portion of the card.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,948 discloses a paper compartment with a credit card holder using a flat flexible magnetic strip having two flat conductors mounted in parallel and insulated thereon. . A close pocket located above the conductor has an opening so that a gap can be provided in the chip so that a conductive iron chip having a mutual attraction force magnetically attracts and contacts the conductor when the credit card is taken out. As with the wall, it is mounted inside the opposing and remote pocket wall. The tip bridges the conductor, closing the alarm circuit. The function of the sensor depends entirely on the magnetic attraction of the iron tip to the magnetic strip. Similarly, there is a problem that the magnetic code provided on the card may be damaged by magnetism. Furthermore, the material of the iron tip is susceptible to oxidation and therefore has reduced conductivity.

Australian Patent No. AU-B-46568 / 85 discloses a credit card safety holder with an alarm that senses the absence of a card from a storage provided with a clip switch. Each housing has a separate and structurally independent clip switch contact pair. The electric circuit disclosed in this patent specification includes a serially connected timer having a hand-held pressure sensor having a function of suppressing a circuit function and a holder holding sensor, in addition to the sensor in the storage section. However, this device states that if the sensors are arranged such that all pairs overlap each other as disclosed, the resulting holder is very bulky and complicated to assemble. The problem exists. Also, the user must carefully fit the card between the exposed plate-like ends of the clip switch since no consideration is given to means for guiding the card without resistance between the clip switch contacts.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel document retainer.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, a plurality of storage sections each for receiving and holding a document therein, and each of the plurality of storage sections for detecting the presence or absence of a document in the storage section. A sensing means provided in connection with the storage part, and an electronic circuit responsive to the detection means, and supplied from a power supply when the detection means detects the absence of a document from the storage part, wherein the electronic circuit is A non-audible alarm means having a function of supplying a non-audible signal when power is supplied to the electronic circuit; a audible alarm means having a function of supplying a audible signal; and A time delay unit having a function of connecting the audible alarm unit to the power supply after a lapse of a predetermined time after energization; and a time delay unit connected to the time delay unit and sounding the audible alarm unit Switch means that can be manually operated to reset the time delay means so as not to cause the document delay.

Advantageously, the time delay means comprises a counter which starts counting when the circuit is energized and which emits an audible alarm when a predetermined value is reached. It is also convenient for the switch means to return the count value to 0 and for the count to start when the switch means is operated and then released.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a receptacle for receiving a document, and sensing means having first and second electrical contacts disposed in the receptacle, wherein the contacts are engagable with each other. And a pair of parallel disposed surfaces that are spring-biased with each other so that they make electrical contact, said surfaces comprising:
The documents are inserted into the storage section, and are kept separated from each other. Each of the contacts is fixed at one end thereof so as to be electrically insulated from the board. Wherein the surface is held in the aligned position and the spring biasing force is maintained, and the front wall portion and the rear wall portion of the storage portion have guide means for inserting a document into the storage portion and between the surfaces. Wherein each of the wall portions is provided with at least one hole, and each of the holes allows one of the surfaces to pass through the hole and reach the inside of the storage portion. Extending laterally to form laterally spaced peripheral edges for attaching the substrate to adjacent edges of the storage portion to maintain alignment of the substrate with respect to the storage portion and to provide Is maintained in the storage section, and the storage A document retainer is provided, further comprising means for operatively connecting the contacts to the alarm circuit to trigger an alarm circuit upon removal of the document from the unit.

It is advantageous if the document retainer has a plurality of storages, each having a function of receiving a document. Also, the first
Are formed on a first conductive plate and a second contact is formed on a second conductive plate, and the two plates are attached to a substrate so as to maintain the positional relationship of the contacts on the plate. It is convenient if it is done.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper case or cover provided with a storage unit, comprising an opening for receiving a take-out sensor mechanism having an alarm unit and a modular document retainer, wherein the storage unit has a front wall. Part and a rear wall part are provided, the wall part has a hole formed so that the sensor mechanism can be used when being housed in the storage part, and a manual part provided in the sensor mechanism is provided. In addition to facilitating the use of controlled switches and functionally sensing the audible and non-audible alarms, allowing insertion and removal of the document from the sensor mechanism; and A paper case or cover is provided wherein the sensor mechanism is securely housed in the housing and includes closing means for limiting lateral misalignment between the hole and the sensor mechanism. It is.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of storage sections for receiving and holding documents respectively, and for detecting the presence or absence of a document therein in relation to each of the storage sections. A sensor means, an electronic circuit responsive to the sensor means and powered by a power supply upon detecting that a document has been removed from any of the bins, provided to enable attachment to a separate object. And a detachable attachment means.

Advantageously, said attachment means is in the form of a spring clip or a hook-shaped loop of cloth. Detecting means associated with the attaching means and having a function of sensing that the document retainer has been removed from an object; and alarm means powered by a power supply in response to the detecting means. It is convenient to prepare. Advantageously, said detection means has the form of a pair of electrical contacts.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the document retainer of this invention, the advantage that an alarm means starts operation | movement when a document is taken out from a retainer for a long time, or the said retainer is moved from the object which fixes a retainer. This reduces the possibility of losing documents and document retainers. In addition, such a configuration of the document retainer facilitates the storage and removal of the document and assures the correct storage of the document as detected by the document sensing element of the document retainer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below using embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paper container.

 FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the wallet.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the document retainer-sensor assembly.

 FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a substrate-sensor assembly.

 FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a document retainer-sensor assembly.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the document retainer-sensor assembly.

 FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a board-sensor assembly.

 FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a document retainer-sensor assembly.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the document retainer-sensor assembly.

 FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a board-sensor assembly.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a document retainer-sensor assembly.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view showing a document retainer having an alarm device.

 FIG. 16 is an electric circuit diagram.

 FIG. 17 is an electric circuit diagram.

 FIG. 18 is a schematic electric circuit diagram.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows a paper cassette 10 holding a plurality of credit cards 12 each held in a separate storage unit 14. The bin is sold with a blank card that can be replaced with a more useful card if needed. Each storage unit is provided with a pair of contacts that close when the card is removed and detect that there is no card. When any of the contact pairs is closed, the functionally connected alarm circuit is energized, thereby immediately energizing the warning light 20 so that documents are no longer in the storage compartment and the battery in the paper compartment is removed. Indicates that it is working.

The alarm circuit is provided with a timing device in the form of a timer to limit the battery from energizing the audible alarm device 18 for a time considered sufficient to complete the handling or processing of the card. Works like that. If it is found that the processing of the card takes time, the timer reset switch 16 is pressed to release it, and the timing device is reset so that the audible alarm device 18 is restricted for another processing time. The operation of resetting the alarm timer can be repeated as many times as necessary to complete the processing of the card. The contact is opened again by re-inserting the removed document into the storage, whereby the power supply to the ram arm circuit is stopped and the timer is automatically reset.

FIG. 2 shows a modular document retainer mechanism having an alarm device 22 shown in an aligned position above the open storage compartment 24 of the paper compartment 10 prior to insertion therein. The drawer 10 allows the document retainer to be used when stored in the drawer.
Openings 26, 28, 30, and 32 are provided in the wall of the paper compartment to provide gaps for inserting and removing cards from the compartment 14 of the document retainer, and to touch the reset switch 16 or to set an alarm device. Eighteen warning sounds can be heard and the indicator 20 can be visually recognized. In the accompanying drawings, the alarm circuit module 34 is operatively connected to the housing-sensor assembly so as to form a modular document retainer mechanism with the alarm 22.

3 to 6 show one preferred embodiment of a storage-sensor assembly. The exploded view of FIG. 3 shows its components. A rear contact plate, each carrying one contact of each contact pair, on the substrate 36
38 and the front contact plate 40 are attached. Substrate 36
Secures the contacts except for the contact surfaces in an electrically insulated manner such that the contact surfaces are held in opposing positions and spring biased to move to engage. Protrusions 42 are provided on the peripheral edges of the contact plates 38 and 40 so as to engage with slots 44 formed in the substrate 36 as mounting means. The substrate 36 is provided with a hole 48 to form a gap between the rear plate contacts 46 formed on the contact plate 38 so that the rear contact plate
And can engage with the front plate contacts formed on the contact plate 40. A storage lining 52 is provided and is formed of a single sheet of suitably flexible material that is suitably folded to define a plurality of storages as shown, and The part is provided with a hole 54 at its lower part, so that a gap can be formed so that the contact surface can penetrate and protrude into the storage part.

FIG. 4 shows the contact plate assembled to the substrate 36. Contact plates 38, 40 as shown in FIG.
Is pre-curved to ensure that the contact plate conforms to the substrate at the same height regardless of the reaction caused by the tension of the built-in spring that integrally biases the contacts formed on the contact plate. It has become. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. 4, in which a contact 46 formed on a rear contact plate 38 protrudes through the hole formed on the substrate 36 to form a front contact plate. 40 contacts
48 shows a state of engagement.

FIG. 6 shows a housing-sensor assembly formed by fitting the housing lining 52 of FIG. 3 to the contact plate-substrate assembly of FIG. Each lining
After the 52 has been inserted between the respective contact pairs in alignment with them, it is attached to the substrate 36 along the peripheral edge 56.
Although a heat-pressure bond is depicted in the accompanying figures, it will be readily understood that the bond can be made using sutures, adhesives or staples as well. Electrical connection to the installed alarm circuit module can be made from the back of the assembly.

7 to 10 show a second preferred embodiment of the housing-sensor assembly. FIG. 7 shows each component by its exploded view. As in the first embodiment, a rear contact plate 64 and a front contact plate 66 each carrying one contact of each contact pair are mounted on a substrate. However, in this embodiment, the substrate comprises a front substrate layer 60 and a rear substrate layer 58 that sandwich the contact plate therebetween. An insulating layer 62 is provided which insulates the two contact plates from each other except for the contact surfaces. The insulating layer 62 is provided with a hole 68 that forms a gap for the rear contact, such that the rear contact protrudes through the insulating layer and engages the front contact. The front substrate layer of the substrate is provided with a hole 70 so that the contact pair can be exposed when fitted into the storage portion lining 72.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a contact plate-substrate assembly. The two substrate layers 58, 60 are integrally joined, and the contact plate and the insulating layer 62 are accommodated and fixed between them,
The spring tension for aligning the contacts and engaging the contact surfaces is maintained. Although a heat-pressure bond is shown as a means for joining the front substrate layer 58 and the back substrate layer 60, it is understood that staples, sutures or adhesives may be used as well. On both sides of the lower peripheral portion of the front contact plate and the rear contact plate, the protrusions are alternately provided.
74 and 76 are provided. These projections extend from the substrate layer to the lower peripheral portion of the substrate as electrodes exposed for electrical connection to the alarm circuit module. This electrode can be bent 180 degrees upwards and is slidingly fitted and snap-fitted into slots provided in the alarm circuit module as a means to facilitate electrical and structural connections It can be formed as follows. One such example is the fifteenth
It is shown in the figure.

FIG. 10 shows a storage-sensor assembly. The fitting and attachment of the housing lining 72 to the contact plate-substrate assembly 78 are the same as in the first embodiment. It is contemplated that two or more of the modular document retainers described above may be used in the paper compartment. 1 provided in the paper compartment
Conductors can be built into the paper compartment so that several retainer-sensor assemblies can be connected in parallel so that one alarm module can be triggered. This conductor is advantageously exposed in each bin to match the corresponding exposed electrode of each retainer-sensor assembly so that electrical connections can be made without resistance and can be easily assembled or removed. is there.

FIGS. 11-15 show a preferred embodiment of a conventional document retainer having an alarm with removable mounting means for mounting the retainer to another object such as a paper compartment, wallet, briefcase, pocket or book. Is shown. Also,
FIG. 5 shows detection means connected to the alarm circuit to generate an alarm when the document retainer is removed from the originally attached article.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing each component of the retainer-sensor assembly. This structure is similar to the second embodiment described above, but has the following different features.
In this embodiment, the insulating layer 84 and the front contact plate 88 each have extensions 90, 94 at the upper periphery. An additional contact plate 92 is provided and arranged to be coplanar with the rear contact plate 86, but spaced and electrically isolated. The front contact plate extension 94 protrudes from between the substrate layers through the upper peripheral edge, and curves toward the rear of the retainer to form a clip and closes toward itself. Spring. It is contemplated that this bending process can be performed after assembling the retainer-sensor assembly.

To reinforce the tension of the spring, a reinforcing spring clip can be externally mounted on top of the detector clip. Reinforcing means may also be provided to ensure attachment to another object such as a safety pin or a hook-and-loop cloth. An extension 90 and an additional contact plate 92 provided on the insulating layer are inserted into the clip such that the rear surface of the additional contact plate engages the inner surface of the clip formed by the extension of the front contact plate. Is done.
A hole is formed in the rear substrate layer 80 to provide a gap for engaging the inner surface of the clip with the rear surface of the additional contact plate.
96 are provided. With this additional contact plate,
A signal is generated to the alarm circuit when the electrical contact surface of the mounting means is engaged. This signal bypasses the file time delay means provided in connection with the card sensing means, so that the owner can hear a beep, for example, if the document retainer comes off and falls to the ground. The alarm device is activated before walking too far away.

To facilitate connection to the alarm module, the additional contact plate has a peripheral extension providing a third electrode protruding from a lower edge of the substrate. This corresponds to a third alarm module formed in the alarm module.
In the slot.

FIG. 15 shows an alarm circuit module 100 having a slot 102 aligned and in place with a connecting projection 104 for structurally and electrically connecting the module to a retainer-sensor assembly 106. The state before sliding engagement with the projection to be formed is shown. As shown, the projections are bent 180 degrees as described above and partially cut off at their respective centers and raised nails. The pawl is provided as a means for snap-fastening the alarm circuit module to the retainer-sensor assembly. Alarm module
100 is in the form of a cassette as shown. The outer case can be formed of two injection molded parts that house all the parts inside. The injection molded part is held together with removable clips for battery replacement. The reset switch 16 is provided slightly recessed in the case so as to easily prevent resetting of the alarm limiting timer due to an error.

16 and 17 show an embodiment of two electrical circuits suitable for use in a document retainer. FIG.
2 is a basic document retainer circuit with an alarm device. As shown in the figure, a document sensor 108 connected in series to a storage battery 110 is shown. The sensor controls the current to two parallel paths in the circuit. A flash LED 112 is incorporated in one of the paths, and an audible alarm device 116 and an audible alarm suppression timer 114 are provided in the other path.
Is incorporated. The audible alarm timer reset switch 118 operates only on the timer 114 without interfering with the operation of other parts of the circuit function.

FIG. 17 shows a circuit for a document retainer having a detachable mounting means with a detection function for detecting that the document retainer has come off the originally attached object and an alarm device. This circuit is similar to the circuit of FIG. 16, except that as an alternative to energizing the alarm device, a parallel control path is provided which is opened and closed by a detachment detector 120. different. This control path bypasses the audible alarm suppression timer and connects the audible alarm device directly to the power supply without any delay. This also supplies power to the flash LED 112 via the small signal diode 122 to prevent the audible alarm suppression timer from being disabled when the card is removed. As mentioned above, this circuit allows the owner to hear or view the warning by delaying the warning, for example, if the document retainer has been removed and dropped from the owner's pocket to the ground. This is desirable because of the fact that you may be away from the area where you can

FIG. 18 shows an electric circuit showing the basic circuit in more detail. Reference numeral 108 indicates a normally closed document retainer contact pair that is maintained open by documents held therebetween. The three retainer modules mounted on the bin shown in FIG. 1 allow current to flow from the small battery 110 into the circuit by the removal of any document and the closing of any resulting contact pair. Are connected in parallel to obtain. This causes a flash
The LED 112 is powered and a timing cycle is initiated, at the end of which the piezoelectric audible alarm 116 is energized. The timer is reset by depressing its reset switch 118, or by returning the entire document and opening all contacts. A 555 timer integrated circuit 124 is connected to a bipolar PNP transistor 126, a capacitor 128, and resistors 130 and 132 as shown. The small signal diode 134 prevents damage to the circuit if the battery is inadvertently installed backwards.

It is contemplated that many different circuit configurations are possible, particularly those using specially designed dedicated integrated circuits that have been designed for the specific purpose of the present invention and have specific applications.

Further, the document retainer of the present invention can be used for the following applications.

1) Storage of documents in large index files. LE mounted on the front of the cabinet and / or on the dividing means
The D-panel indicates that the document has been removed from the cabinet and / or the dividing means. The signal can be provided to a central safety monitoring device. In addition, the position of the document holding the LED can be immediately turned on and indicated by the connected computer.

2) Installation of a card retainer suitably arranged inside the vehicle and protected by a key or a special code. If the card is not returned before the vehicle is started, the instrument panel in the driver's seat is turned on / displayed with a message, an audible warning is issued, and / or the interlocking means for stopping the operation is operated.

3) Retainers with alarms provided on books to hold appropriate data storage media and / or computer software.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention can be embodied with the various modifications and changes described above within the technical scope described in the claims.

Claims (20)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of storage sections each for receiving and holding a document therein, and associated with each of the storage sections for detecting the presence or absence of a document in the storage section. A sensing means; and an electronic circuit responsive to the sensing means and powered by a power supply when the sensing means detects the absence of a document from the storage, wherein the electronic circuit is non-powered when the electronic circuit is powered. A non-audible alarm means having a function of supplying an audio signal; an audio alarm means having a function of supplying an audio signal; connected to the audio alarm means, after a predetermined time has elapsed after the electronic circuit is energized. A time delay unit having a function of connecting the audible alarm unit to the power supply; and a time delay unit connected to the time delay unit so as not to sound the audible alarm unit. Documents retainer and having a manually operable switch means to reset the stage. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said time delay means includes counting means for starting counting when said electronic circuit is supplied with power, said audible alarm means being connected to said power supply when said count number reaches a predetermined value. 2. A document retainer according to claim 1, wherein said switch resets said count when activated. 3. The document according to claim 2, wherein said count is returned to 0 by each operation of said switch means, and said count is started at the time of reset by said switch means and at the time of subsequent cancellation. Retainer. 4. The document retainer according to claim 3, wherein said counting is performed when said predetermined value is reached in a time required for normal credit card processing. 5. A housing for receiving a document and sensing means having first and second electrical contacts disposed in said housing, said contacts being engagable with each other and being electrically connected. A pair of side-by-side arranged surfaces that are spring-biased with each other so as to contact each other, said surfaces being maintained apart by inserting a document into said storage, wherein each said contact is At one end thereof, the substrate is fixed in an electrically insulated state with respect to the substrate, the surface of the substrate is held at an alignment position and the spring biasing force is maintained, The front wall portion and the rear wall portion constitute guide means for inserting a document into the storage portion and between the surfaces,
At least one hole is provided in each of the wall portions, and each of the holes allows one of the surfaces to pass through the hole to reach the inside of the storage portion. Forming a laterally spaced peripheral edge for attaching the substrate to an adjacent edge of the storage portion to maintain an aligned position of the substrate with respect to the storage portion and to store the surface in the storage portion. A document retainer, maintained within the compartment, further comprising means for operatively connecting the contacts to the alarm circuit to trigger an alarm circuit when the document is removed from the storage. 6. The document according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality of storage sections each having a function of receiving and holding the document therein, and each of which has the sensing means. Retainer. 7. The plurality of first contacts are provided on a first conductive plate, and the plurality of second contacts are provided on a second conductive plate, wherein the first and second plates are:
7. The document of claim 6, wherein the surface is mounted on the substrate so as to align the surfaces in opposing positions, and the contacts are laterally spaced on the first and second plates, respectively. Retainer. 8. A projection is provided on a peripheral portion of the plate,
8. A document retainer according to claim 7, wherein said substrate is provided with holes for receiving said protrusions and thereby attaching said plate to said substrate. 9. The substrate, wherein the substrate is formed of an insulating material and is sandwiched between the first and second plates and one of the surfaces juxtaposed at each of the first and second contacts. 10. The document retainer of claim 8, further comprising a passage formed therethrough for moving said surfaces into engagement and for making electrical contact therewith. 10. The document retainer according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of storage portions are arranged in a stepped manner. 11. The first substrate is formed from a pair of layers, the first and second plates are sandwiched between the layers, and the first and second plates are sandwiched between the first and second plates.
And insulating means disposed between the second plate and at least one of the layers has a hole formed so as to allow the contact pair to protrude therethrough; and bonding the layers, 8. A document retainer according to claim 7, further comprising means for securely holding said plate and insulating means therebetween to limit lateral misalignment between the surfaces. 12. A paper case or cover provided with a storage portion, comprising an opening for receiving a take-out sensor mechanism having alarm means and a modular document retainer, wherein the storage portion has a front wall portion, a rear wall portion, Wherein the wall portion has a hole formed so that the sensor mechanism can be used when housed in the storage portion, and the use of a manually controlled switch provided in the sensor mechanism. In addition to facilitating and functionally sensing the audible and non-audible alarms, it allows insertion and removal of the document from and to the sensor mechanism, and wherein the sensor mechanism is within the housing. And a closing means for securely holding the hole and the sensor mechanism to limit lateral misalignment. 13. A plurality of storage sections for receiving and holding documents respectively, sensor means for detecting the presence or absence of a document in each of the storage sections, and the sensor. An electronic circuit powered by a power supply in response to the means and detecting removal of a document from any of the bins, and a detachable mounting provided to permit mounting to a separate object. And a document retainer. 14. A document retainer according to claim 13, wherein said attachment means is in the form of a spring clip. 15. A document retainer according to claim 13, wherein said attachment means is in the form of a hook-shaped loop of cloth. 16. A sensing means associated with said mounting means and having a function of sensing removal of said document retainer from said another object; and responsive to said sensing means and from said another object to said document. An alarm circuit that is supplied with power from the power supply when the retainer comes off.
Document retainer as described in claim 13. 17. A non-audible alarm means having a function of supplying a non-audible signal when the electric circuit is energized; and said non-audible alarm means being connected to said audible alarm means, and after a predetermined time has passed from energization of said electronic circuit. A time delay means operative to connect the audible alarm means to the power source; connected to the time delay means, manually operable to reset the time delay means so that the audible alarm means does not sound. 14. The document retainer according to claim 13, further comprising a switch means. 18. Sensing means associated with said mounting means and operable to sense removal of said document retainer from said another object; and responsive to said detecting means and from said another object to said document. An alarm circuit characterized in that power is supplied from the power supply when the retainer is released; and an audible alarm and a non-audible alarm when the document retainer is released from the another object, avoiding the time delay means. 18. The document retainer according to claim 17, further comprising: means for supplying power to the means. 19. The document retainer according to claim 18, wherein said attachment means is in the form of a spring clip. 20. A document retainer according to claim 16, wherein said sensing means is in the form of a pair of electrical contacts.