NL2033434B1 - Credit card holder having adjustable bias friction element. - Google Patents

Credit card holder having adjustable bias friction element. Download PDF

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Publication number
NL2033434B1
NL2033434B1 NL2033434A NL2033434A NL2033434B1 NL 2033434 B1 NL2033434 B1 NL 2033434B1 NL 2033434 A NL2033434 A NL 2033434A NL 2033434 A NL2033434 A NL 2033434A NL 2033434 B1 NL2033434 B1 NL 2033434B1
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NL
Netherlands
Prior art keywords
card
cards
housing
groove
stack
Prior art date
Application number
NL2033434A
Other languages
Dutch (nl)
Inventor
Johan Van Geer René
Original Assignee
Van Geer R J Beheer Bv
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Van Geer R J Beheer Bv filed Critical Van Geer R J Beheer Bv
Priority to NL2033434A priority Critical patent/NL2033434B1/en
Priority to PCT/IB2023/060953 priority patent/WO2024095147A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of NL2033434B1 publication Critical patent/NL2033434B1/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C11/00—Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00
    • A45C11/18—Ticket-holders or the like
    • A45C11/182—Credit card holders

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  • Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)

Abstract

A holder for cards, comprising a housing which tightly fits around a stack of at least three cards and has a card opening 5 for locating and removing cards, while within the housing, opposite the card opening, a card eject feature is provided such that the cards through the card.opening can be partly slid from the housing. At the inner side of the housing a friction element is located.to provide the cards a stable position inside lO the housing. The friction element (6) is associated with movementlneans of the housing to selectively generateeamovement of the friction element (6) or at least its friction surface (12) in thickness direction of the friction element (6), which is the direction in which the friction element is urged.against 15 the stack, which also is the widhtwise direction (W).

Description

Credit card holder having adjustable bias friction element.
The invention relates to a card holder provided with an internal friction element to keep the cards inside the holder while allowing the user to move the cards with his fingers, such that gravity force alone is too weak to move the cards.
Preferably the holder is also provided with a device (further also called “ejector”) to eject or dispense the cards, e.d. credit cards or bank cards, or different flat or plate like objects, from the holder. The card or cards preferably tightly fit within the holder, for which the holder has a cavity similar to the shape and slightly bigger than the card or cards stack.
The ejected cards are preferably presented as a staggered stack, preferably wherein each card is shifted at least 2 millimetre relative to the next adjacent card, partly projecting from the holder and/or stored as a neat stack, preferably wherein all cards are mutually registered and thus the stack has a completely rectangular or cuboidal shape, e.g. like a rectangular or cuboidal pad.
Preferably, for the so called credit card format the main dimensions suffice ISO 7810 and/or the thickness and corner roundings suffice ISO 7813. This format is applied for many cards with a diversity of applications: bank cards, driving licenses, membership cards, entry tickets, reduction cards, savings cards, ID-cards, etc. Typically the width is 53 - 54 and/or the length is 85 - 86 millimetre and/or a stack of 6 cards is between 5.5 and 6 millimetre thick. Preferably, the space (also called “housing”) of the holder to contain the stack of cards has one or more of the following dimensions (in millimetre): width at least 50 or 52 and/or not more than 55 or 60; length at least 80 or 83 or 84 and/or not more than 86 or 87 or 90; height at least 3 or 4.5 and/or not more than 8 or 10; height such that a maximum of 6 or 7 bank cards without embossing fits within the space without causing damage to the bank cards and/or holder while repeatedly sliding the stack in and out the holder. The cards preferably have a solid, not foldable shape and/or a smooth, slippery, low friction surface.
The holder preferably has a rigid flat box or sleeve or cuboidal shape.
A card has a top face and opposite to it a back face of equal dimension and has four sides having the same thickness as the card thickness. The top face is provided by the length and width of the card and is preferably elongated. A card stack has a top face and opposite to it a back face of equal dimension, equal to the dimension of the top face of a card. The card stack has four sides having the same thickness as the stack thickness.
The stack thickness is provided by the summed thickness of all cards of the stack.
It will be appreciated that, with the invention, the friction element directly engages the minor side, preferably the long minor side, of all cards of the stack simultaneously.
Thus the friction element engages the narrow side of each card of which the dimension is provided by the card thickness. The friction element provides a pressing force to the minor side of each card. This pressing force acts in the direction parallel to the top face of each card and perpendicular to the direction of ejecting the cards, e.g. in widthwise direction, of each card. Also, the surface of the friction element that engages the cards is facing in widthwise direction of the holder and the cards. The result is that the cards are squeezed in the widthwise direction of the holder and the cards. In the present document, the friction element is of the type “widthwise acting friction element” and this type is applied to the holder of the invention. This type is clearly different from another type of friction element (refer to, e.g., US2185624-A) that engages the top face of the upper most card of the stack and is pressed onto the cards stack and is facing in thickness direction of the cards stack, thus the cards below the upper most card have no direct engagement with the friction element and due to the friction element the cards stack is squeezed in thickness direction of the holder and the cards.
The friction element generates a friction force in the direction parallel to the top face of each card and parallel to the direction of ejecting the cards.
The thickness direction of the friction element is perpendicular to the friction surface of the friction element facing the cards stack stored within the holder, in different words parallel to the widthwise direction of the holder or the direction from the one long minor side straight to the opposite long minor side of the holder.
Advantageously, such one or more friction elements may provide that the one or more cards are gripped and/or engaged so that they are held within the housing during movement of the ejector mechanism relative to the housing. In particular, such one or more friction elements may provide that the one or more cards are more stable and safe during movement of the ejector mechanism relative to the housing. This is advantageous because the one or more cards may then be stable and safe within the housing when they are fully or partially stored within the housing.
In here, without to be exhaustive or complete, the following expressions are applied to indicate identical or functional equivalent features, possibly as genus or species: card opening or card entrance or mouth; mechanical projection or stack arresting element or arresting element or card lock or lock or locking end or locking element or distal longitudinal end; sensor or detector or probe; groove or enlargement or widening or expansion or channel or chamber; friction arm or leg shaped element or elongated support or card engaging device or leg or strip or sheet; ejector mechanism or card ejector or eject arm or ejector arm or arm or feature or ejector feature or ejector device or eject device or ejector or eject means; inward or outward or sideways or widthwise; movement or displacement or move or displace; friction element or friction means; face or side or wall; transmission means or transmission arm or transmission element or transfer element or transfer arm.
Card holders are disclosed in, e.g., US2002/074246,
Us4887739, US5718329 and JP S60-179484 U.
EP-A 0 287 532, CH702919 B1, WO2010137975 and W02014098580 disclose a pivoting ejector arm provided with a stepped profile along its length such that each card engages with a different edge at the ejector arm, the cards are simultaneously dispensed to present a staggered stack of cards, partly projecting out the card holder. These four documents also disclose a widthwise acting friction element.
The above documents provide background knowledge for the present invention and their disclosure is enclosed herein by reference. wo2010137975 addresses a problem that arises with a widhtwise acting friction element. It discloses the teaching that cards of credit card format indeed have a standardised dimension, but this has always some dispersion due to unavoidable fabrication tolerances. An against the side (the side which extends in thickness direction of the cards) of a stack of not equally wide cards pushing rigid surface, such as a blade spring type friction element, only bears against the edges of the widest cards, so not against the edges of all cards. The preferred friction element is for that reason designed such that it not only engages oversized cards in the stack, but also undersized cards, even if a card of oversized width is stacked between two cards of undersized width. With a stack of three or more cards in the holder with all a slightly different width the friction element is nevertheless sufficiently engaged with all cards individually to avoid that a card can spontaneously move from the holder. This is provided by a sufficient deformable surface, in stead of a rigid surface, of the friction element pushing against the edges of the cards.
US2014014676A1 applies a widthwise acting friction element and discloses in fig. 7 a card holder of which the external wall of one of its long minor sides is provided by a parallel to the long minor sides extending rigid pivoting arm carrying two friction pads of rubber between which the pivot point is present. Depending on the pivoted state of the pivoting arm, the one or the other friction pad engages the cards.
Pivoting of the pivoting arm causes rotation of the eject arm to eject the cards and also causes that the rubber pads are displaced to and from the cards in such manner that the one rubber pad becomes disengaged and the other rubber pad becomes engaged with the cards stack within the holder. In this manner the one rubber pad frictionally engages the cards while they are stored within the holder and the other rubber pad frictionally engages the cards while they are ejected by the eject arm. This design however has drawbacks and also is silent 5 about durability of the rubber pads.
The object of the invention is versatile. In one aspect the object is a more secure storing of the cards within the holder, in particular heavy cards, e.g. made of metal. In one aspect the object is a further improvement of the prior art in avoiding unwanted movements or jamming of the cards within the holder, e.g. at the time of ejecting the stack of cards.
Additional possible aspects are a comfortable, simple and accurate operation of the holder with long life or providing the holder with a slim profile to carry within a pants pocket.
In yet another aspect the object is error free handling or low production costs. In another aspect the object is improved durability, e.g. less wear of the friction elements engaging the cards and retaining them in position within the holder.
Other aspects can be learned from the specification, drawings or claims. Two or more aspects can be combined.
A special aspect is based on the formerly unknown phenomenon, discovered by the inventor, that with the prior art friction element sometimes a card spontaneously drops from the holder in case the same holder is used with a stack of a varying number of cards, e.g. first three cards for e.g. a month and subsequently five cards. Trying to solve this problem the inventor started experiments and to his surprise the present invention provided a convenient solution. Besides, the inventor also discovered that the present invention provides a more constant friction force during the lifetime of the holder.
The invention is preferably directed to — the subject matter of the claims and/or — at least one of, possibly combined with the subject matter of at least one of the claims: 1. a holder for cards provided with a mechanical projection located, in the locking position, in the track of the cards inside the card receiving space, provided at the distal longitudinal end of the friction arm carrying the friction element, to lock or arrest the completely inserted cards in place.
This mechanical projection preferably is integral part of the friction arm and has resilient bias, provided by biasing means of the holder, such that it can be urged out of the way to a release position by passing cards during operation of the ejector mechanism to positively eject the cards; the sideways movement of the mechanical projection from the locking to the release position is preferably over a distance of at least 1 or 2 millimetre.
2. a holder for cards provided with a mechanical sensor located in the track of the cards inside the card receiving space, which sensor is drivingly connected to the distal longitudinal end of the friction arm to cause a bias and/or displacement of the locking end towards the cards, and which sensor is designed to be directly engaged and displaced by passing cards inside the card receiving space, which displacement of the sensor provides the driving force to bias and/or displace the locking end; the sideways movement of the locking end from the locking to the release position is preferably over a distance of at least 1 or 2 millimetre.
3. a holder for cards provided with a, preferably extruded, longitudinally extending internal channel, e.g. provided by a groove, containing the friction arm, the distal longitudinal end, i.e. the end near or at the card opening, of the friction arm preferably being narrowed, preferably at least 0.5 or 1 millimetre, to inward leave the internal channel; and/or the distal longitudinal end, i.e. the end near or at the card opening, of the internal channel being widened inwardly, such that the distal longitudinal end of the friction arm is allowed, without leaving the internal channel, to move inward beyond the boundary of the non-widened part of the internal channel; and/or the internal channel has a sideways dimension along its complete length equal to the sideways dimension of the distal longitudinal end of the internal channel in case only the distal longitudinal end of the internal channel would have been widened sideways, such that the distal longitudinal end of the friction arm is allowed, without leaving the internal channel, to sufficiently move inward. The inward movement allowed preferably at least 1 or 2 millimetre. The distal longitudinal end of the friction arm could be the locking end. The internal channel is part of the card receiving space. During said movement, the distal longitudinal end of the friction arm remains inside the card receiving space. 4. a holder for cards provided with a mechanical probe located in the track of the cards, which probe is drivingly connected to the friction element to cause a bias and/or displacement of the friction element towards the cards, and which probe is designed to be directly engaged and displaced by passing cards inside the card receiving space, which displacement of the probe provides the driving force to bias and/or displace the friction element; the inward movement of the probe and/or friction element is preferably at least 1 or 2 millimetre.
Preferably, at least the inventions 2 and 3, more preferably the inventions 1, 2, 3 and 4 are all combined simultaneously in the card holder. One of the inventions 1-4 can be combined with at least one of the other inventions 1-4 and/or with any of the claims.
The probe and the projection can be the same element. In the following they are commonly referred to as “locking end” unless explicitly mentioned differently. The sensor and the friction element can be the same element. In the following they are commonly referred to as “friction element” unless explicitly mentioned differently.
A direct mechanical coupling between the actuation of the displacement of the friction element and the actuation of the eject arm is superfluous and preferably such is absent.
Preferably, according to the invention, the cards directly actuate the locking end as soon as the cards are ejected from the holder and this causes displacement of the friction element.
In this manner the pressure of the friction element against the completely inserted cards can at least be diminished or even be cancelled, increasing the life of the friction element.
If the cards partly project from the holder, the friction element can provide the desired friction due to increased force provided by deflection of the locking end caused by the partly projecting cards.
Preferably, between the locking end and the friction element a transmission means is active. Preferably there is a direct mechanical coupling and thus a direct drive between the locking element, the transmission means and the friction element. Preferably, the locking element, the transmission means and the seat of the friction element is provided by a single integrated part, e.g. plate or sheet like spring steel.
Alternatively it is provided by injection moulding of e.g. polymer material.
The invention is, according to one aspect, based on the teaching to detect the position of the cards (completely inserted or partly projecting from the holder) and to apply this information to displace or bias the friction element, preferably in the direction from the first to the second minor wall, e.g. to change its pressure and/or friction onto the stack.
The Prior Art teaches an internal extruded continuous longitudinal groove in the main walls at each minor wall, thus at the widthwise ends of the card receiving space, providing a continuous enlargement or channel of the card receiving space in the direction from the first to the second main wall, the card engaging device is located in the channel and has a width, measured from the first to the second main wall, such as to only fit inside the channel (such is illustrated in, e.g., fig. 12, 14 and 15). The dimensions of the Prior Art groove are constant over its entire length and the dimension of this known groove in the direction from the first to the second minor wall, thus the width of the groove, in other words the distance between minor wall 32 and the inward boundary 36 as illustrated by fig. 15, is 2 millimetre or 3.5% of the width of the card receiving space. The known card receiving space has a width equal to the distance between the first and second minor walls, as being 57 millimetre and the distance between the inward boundary of both grooves is 53,3 millimetre, thus a 54 millimetre wide card centred in the card receiving space projects at both its widthwise edges, e.g. illustrated in fig. 15, 0.35 millimetre or 0.65% of the card width into the channel, which means, in different words, that both the widthwise edge parts of the centred card, that are the exclusive or only parts of the card that are present inside the channel, have a width, as measured in the direction from the first to the second minor wall, of 0.35 millimetre or 0.65% of the card width.
The friction element is retained in sideways direction by the internal channel. Such retainment could alternatively be provided by e.g. fixing the friction element to the minor wall by e.g. glue or screws. Another alternative could be provided by local bridge elements, e.g. rods, spaced along the length of and provided within the card receiving space and extending from the first to the second main wall, such that a length part of the friction element is able to project at the space between two succeeding bridge elements inwards beyond the boundary (provided by the bridge elements) of the internal channel to be able to engage the stack that is located at the other side of said boundary.
One or more of the following preferably applies: the locking end is located at the card opening or within a distance of 5 or 10 millimetre; the locking end engages the rounding at the corner near the card opening of the completely inserted card; the locking end is provided at a minor side; two locking ends are provided, each at an opposite side to hold the cards between them and each associated with an individual transmission means; the friction element is located within a distance of 30 millimetre from the card opening for a proper operation of the transmission means; hinges between locking end and transmission means and friction element are absent; the transmission means operates by way of flexure and/or leverage; the transmission means comprise an S-like shaped friction arm; the locking end, the transmission means and the friction element are located in only the area of the holder extending for half the holder length from the card opening; shaped such that the locking end and the friction element move in mutual opposite directions, preferably by sharing a pivot point.
To avoid that the cards can spontaneously leave the card holder while the friction elements are retracted, the device is preferably provided with card retaining means. Such retaining means could be embodied by a lid, e.g. as disclosed in EP-A O 287 532. However, preferably, the sensor provides this feature, e.g. embodied as mechanical probe or cam.
Preferably the friction elements are one or more of: separate from the walls of the housing; spaced from the walls of the housing; not of solid metal at least for the surface facing the cards stack or the layer providing said surface and/or the opposite surface (e.g. facing the spring means or pressing means) or the layer providing said surface; fibre like or provided by fibres, at least for the surface facing the cards stack.
Preferably, according to the invention the internal friction means, e.g. friction element, has a friction surface, facing the cards stack, preferably non-rigid, e.g. non-metal.
Public prior use teaches a fibre like surface, facing the cards stack, provided by a friction pad of fibres, e.g. a felt, which friction pad is backed by a metal blade spring and between the friction pad and the metal blade spring a layer of adhesive agent having a thickness typical for glue (i.e. less than 0.2 millimetre).
The friction surface is preferably wear resistant and/or offers a high level of friction with a view to the intensive sliding contact with the cards. Wear resistant also means resistance against cutting by the engaging thin and rather sharp sides of the cards. This is preferably provided by fibres.
The friction surface can be of fibrous or fibrous like or non-fibrous nature. Fibrous or fibrous like e.g. could be a fabric or mat or web or nonwoven or woven or braided or knitted work or equivalent. Non-fibrous e.g. could be a sheet or foil or film or slab, e.g. obtained by casting or injection moulding or rolling or pressing. It also could be foam or foam like or sponge or sponge like. If fibrous or fibrous like, the fibres are preferably held together by mutual engagement or interlocking or mutual hooking or entanglement, such that a separate means, e.g. adhesive agent or matrix, is not necessary.
Preferably such means, e.g. adhesive agent or matrix, is absent.
The fibrous or fibrous like layer can be fabricated by one or more of pressing, air laying, needling, needle punching and equivalent.
The friction surface providing the face of the friction element facing the cards stack stored within the holder, is preferably provided by a varn or fibre or fibre like material, preferably of coherent nature, e.g. felt or felt like or fabric or fabric like, woven or non-woven, preferably comprising wool of e.g. sheep or hair, wool or bristles (e.g. pig) from a different mammal. However yarns or fibres from another origin, e.g. natural (e.g. cellulose or protein or mineral based) or synthetic (e.g. PA or PU or PVC or PP based) polymers or vegetal, e.g. cotton, are also feasible. However, it could be of non-fibrous nature, e.g. provided by a solid pad of rubber or silicone or elastomer.
The thickness of the friction element is preferably at least 20 or 30 or 60 denier or at least 50 or 100 dtex or at least 5 Ne or at least 0.25 or 0.5 millimetre and/or not more than 3 or 5 or 7 or 10 millimetre.
Preferably the friction element contains a backing layer having durable deformation properties, e.g. springs back to its original thickness after compression irrespective the duration of compression. Material without relaxation could suffice, e.g. rubber or rubber like, for the backing layer.
Thus, preferably, the friction element comprises a fibrous or fibrous like face in contact with the cards within the holder and elastic resilient material providing a direct or indirect backing for said face.
Preferably the friction means comprises, viewed in thickness direction, one or more of: a surface layer, e.g. felt, providing the face for engagement with the cards within the housing; a backing layer, e.g. latex; a fastening layer, e.d. glue; a supporting layer, e.g. blade spring, e.g. of metal or polymer.
The friction means can comprise a friction pad which provides the face engaging the cards within the holder to retain them against spontaneous movement and the opposite face of the pad is e.g. facing or mounted to spring means, e.g. a blade spring, to bias the friction means towards the cards within the holder.
Preferably the friction element has one or more of the following features: pad like; a surface of sufficient width/dimension to simultaneously engage all cards in the stack, thus e.g. extending substantially the complete height of the space of the card holder in which the card stack is received; a surface which is not rigid, and/or is indeed locally, preferably elastically, compressible, and/or in which preferably elastically a relief can be made, and/or in which easily, preferably elastically, one or more grooves or pits can be made, and/or which can be deformed like the surface of a wadded pillow or felt layer, and/or which easily yields locally, and/or is easily, preferably elastically, deformable, and/or easily adapts in shape to the shape, such as the relief, of the surface of the side of a card stack, which side is pressed against the surface of the friction element. Preferably with these features it is provided that the friction element and the individual edges of all cards in the stack properly connect such that the friction element engages properly each individual edge of al cards in the stack to exert sufficient friction force to hold each card of the stack without the ability to slide such that more force is required then only gravity to slide a card from the holder.
Preferably, the invention distinguishes the following situations: 1. in which the cards are completely in the housing and the friction element is released or at least partly released from the task to prevent that cards drop from the housing e.g. at moments that the card holder is stored, e.g. in a trousers pocket; 2. as soon as the cards partly project from the holder to select a card and remove it individually and the friction element given the task to prevent that cards drop from the housing.
Preferably, only if the cards partly project from the housing, the cards are in engagement or are in sufficient engagement with the friction elements and the friction element is thus effective to prevent that cards drop spontaneously from the holder,
Preferably, the invention offers the possibility for the user to, after the card stack is partly slid from the housing, select an individual card, mutually shift cards in the stack, wherein only the card against which the user pushes with the finger tips, will move, while the other cards at that time keep their position relative to the housing.
Preferably, the friction element in the housing of the card holder according to the invention, comprises a substrate with a rough fibre like surface structure, providing the friction surface which engages the cards. If fibres with a large density project from the surface, a good and intensive contact will arise between the friction element and each individual card in the bearing card stack. Even if a fibre of a smooth material, like polyamide is used, the friction between cards and friction element is sufficiently large to facilitate the above mentioned user operations.
Preferably, the level of the friction which the cards sense during sliding, is directly proportional to the normal force with which the cards push against the friction element. This normal force will during the complete service life, frequently many years, be permanently active. While the normal force at the friction element increases, also the risk increases that the fibres wear or permanent deform, thus the friction force could decrease after some time. To optimise the life it is desirable to limit the pressure of the cards at the friction element. If at given normal force the surface of the friction element is increased, the load to the individual fibres in the friction element will decrease and the life of the friction element will increase, while the friction force to the cards will stay the same. It is however preferred to design the friction element from a material type which does not relax or shows little relax at permanent load, like e.g. a fabric or felt of fibres, e.g. of metal or polymer or wool.
Preferably, a holder according to the invention comprises at the inner side of the housing straight opposite the friction element a resilient element, e.g. a blade spring, with the effect that the above mentioned normal force at the friction element will stay within determined limits, despite the tolerances of the dimensions of the housing and cards.
Alternatively, the holder according to the invention is obtained if the friction element and the resilient element are assembled, e.g. into a single resilient friction element.
Preferably, the holder comprises at the inner side of the housing two opposite friction elements, preferably one or both assembled with a resilient element, e.g. into a single resilient friction element.
If within the housing against the side opposite the resilient friction element a second, indeed or not resilient, friction element is applied, an embodiment is obtained of the holder of the invention with two advantages. First twice as much tolerance of the width dimension of the cards can be consumed, which leads to a further optimisation of the grip at each individual card. Second, while the effective friction is maintained, the pressure per friction element can be halved relative to the situation with a friction element at only one side, whereby the life of the friction element increases.
Preferably the holder is provided with a card remove feature, e.g. an eject arm or even a recess dimensioned such that, via the recess, the user can engage the cards with a finger and push them partly outward. The card remove feature offers the user the opportunity to partly slide the card stack from the housing. This is a preferred operation before the user can select a card and remove it from the housing.
Preferably one or more of the following applies to the holder: a rectangular shape, preferably elongated; fixed shape, robust, of light weight material, e.g. metal or polymer material, polyester, PP; box or sleeve shaped; the card storage space receives a cards stack with tight fit; fixed length, width and depth; an ejector mechanism of the cards, preferably at the longitudinal end of the card holder opposite the card access opening to the housing space in which the cards are stored.
Preferably the invention is directed to a card holder provided, as card remove feature, with an ejector mechanism, also called ejector device, dispensing the complete stack of cards, thus all cards of the stack are dispensed simultaneously, e.g. since the ejector mechanism simultaneously engages the complete cards stack at the time of ejecting the cards.
Preferably the cards are urged from the housing in such a manner that a staggered stack of cards, partly projecting out the card holder, is presented. This is preferably provided by the design of the ejector device. More preferably the design of the card holder or the ejector device is such that when the cards stack is completely contained within the card holder, the cards are mutually in register (in other words the cards are not staggered or the stack is neat), and preferably is partly projected from the card holder, wherein the cards are presented in a staggered fashion. By presenting the cards in staggered fashion, they can be easily individually identified and individually taken from the stack by two fingers of the hand of the user. The card holder is preferably rigid in relation to the typical loads to which the card holder is exposed during normal daily use.
In particular the holder is designed to receive and dispense credit cards (and different items with dimensions comparable to credit cards, further mentioned as “cards”), preferably wherein a stack of, e.g. at least three, four or five, cards can be housed in the holder, more preferably wherein the cards in the stack are immediately mutually superposed or adjacent, in other words no further object, e.g. spacer, is or needs be present between adjacent cards. The holder preferably has two pairs of substantially or completely closed and fixed opposite sides, one pair with length and width almost equal to the same card dimensions (also called by any of the synonyms “main sides” or “main faces” or “main walls”) and this pair spaced by the other (also called the by any of the synonyms “minor sides” or “minor faces” or “minor walls”) pair (delimiting the stack thickness) such that the card stack tightly fits between these four sides or at least between the main walls. Preferably these sides are thin walled and/or provide a rigid, sleeve like casing. Of the remaining pair of two opposite sides (typically located at the longitudinal ends of the sleeve) preferably one (also called the “bottom”) is permanently substantially or completely closed and the other (also called the “top” or “card opening”) is open but could be temporary closed, e.g. by a lid, such that the holder preferably has merely a single open side through which the cards can enter and exit the holder. Thus the holder provides a rigid sleeve with closed bottom. Typically the cards enter and exit the holder by moving parallel to their main sides. The temporary closure could comprise a pivoting lid or a flexible part, e.g. a rubber cap.
Preferably, the card ejector feature of the invention comprises a step like element, which by the user relative to the housing, e.g. by means of rotation or translation, can be moved against the cards stack, wherein the individual steps of the step like element exert at the individual cards in the stack in the direction of the card opening a force, resulting that the card stack slides outward in stepped shape. The steps have a thickness which is measured parallel to the card thickness and a spacing which is measured perpendicular to the thickness and which determines the degree wherein the cards slide mutually if they slide in stepped shape from the housing.
Above cited WO2010137975 and W02014098580, the contents of which is inserted in here by reference, provide further preferred details of the step like element.
The step like element of the card ejector is one example of an ejector element, also called “ejector arm” or simply “arm” or “ejector lever” or simply “lever”, moving between a first and second (preferably a retracted and an extended,
respectively) position inside the holder and engaging the cards stack, preferably engaging an edge of the cards, to push the cards stack out of the holder while the cards move in a plane parallel to their main faces, preferably such that the cards (with the ejector element in its extended position) partly project from the holder in a stepped or staggered manner. For the purpose of presenting or dispensing the cards in a stepped manner, the ejector arm is preferably provided with a relief, also called “stepped”, profile, preferably having some relation with the thickness of the cards, such that the element has a plurality of spaced features, preferably located along a straight line, e.g. lengthwise of the arm, a such feature designed to engage a single card from the stack, preferably such that by movement of the element within the holder, the one card is moving with the element for a further distance outward compared to another card from the same stack within the holder. Preferably, such features are projections at the arm each providing an engagement edge (also called “face” or “contact face”), wherein preferably the projections project a different distance from the element such that each engagement face is present at a different level. Preferably the arm is designed such that, in its retracted position, the cards fit within the holder such that the cards are mutually in register, in other words, present a neat stack. The spacing of the features is preferably at least 0.5 or 1 millimetre.
The features, e.g. steps, preferably each comprise a straight portion and a curved portion and/or at least partly extend across the width of the arm. Optionally, the straight portion of each of the one or more steps is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the arm and extends in the direction of the width of the arm. Optionally, the curved portion of each of the one or more steps extends from the straight portion at one end thereof and curves towards the longitudinal direction of the lever. When the ejector mechanism is moved, a card in the housing may move by initially following the curved portion. Advantageously, such an arm may provide that the ejector mechanism may be configured to translate and/or push the each of the one or more cards at least partially out of the opening of the housing. Optionally, the curved portion of each of the one or more steps is configured to engage and/or contact one of the one or more cards when the arm 1s pivoted relative to the opening of the housing.
Preferably the height (meaning the dimension normal to the housing main sides and parallel to the thickness direction of the cards or cards stack loaded into the housing) of the ejector arm stepwise increases longitudinally from the free end (in other words the distal end or the end remote from the pivot point or the end opposite the end to which the drive means engage or are mounted). This stepwise increase of height (also named: thickness) provides step shaped features or contact faces for ejecting the cards stack in a staggered fashion.
The number of steps preferably at least equals the number of cards within the stack and/or is at least 4 or 5 or 6 or 7. The steps preferably have approximately equal longitudinal spacing and/or height.
In its extended position, the ejector arm preferably extends diagonally within the holder or makes an angle between 20 and 90 degrees (90 degrees equals a right angle), preferably at least 45 or 55 or 60 degrees and/or less than 85 degrees, compared to its retracted position. In its retracted position, the ejector arm preferably extends parallel to an external side (also called “bottom”) or edge of the holder, preferably opposite the side from which the cards are dispensed from within the holder. Preferably the ejector arm rotates or swivels or turns or hinges or pivots between its first and second position, for which it is preferably provided with a hinge or pivot feature, such as a pin or hole, with which it is mounted to the holder.
In the alternative a translating movement is feasible.
Preferably the ejector arm has one or more of: non articulated; fixed shape; its length part that is provided with the complete stepped profile has a fixed shape.
To provide the movement of the eject means, e.g. ejector arm, the ejector comprises a drive means, e.g. associated with the ejector arm. This could be a motoric means however a manually operated drive means, e.g. a finger operated button, is preferred, preferably projecting or located outside the housing.
Preferably the ejector arm and the drive means are connected in a rigid manner such that the movement of the drive means is directly transferred to the ejector arm and both these members move as one, e.g. since both these members are integrated in a single, preferably rigid piece. The ejector arm and/or drive means could be injection moulded parts, e.g. of polymeric or plastic or equivalent material. The finger operated button preferably projects from a minor side of the holder, e.g. a minor side extending in lengthwise (e.g. long minor side) or transverse (e.g. short minor side) direction of the holder.
Preferably the ejector arm provides or is part of, a base or bottom of the holder, or part of it, preventing exit of the cards from the associated side of the holder.
The card ejector feature gives the user the opportunity to partly slide the card stack from the housing. This is a preferred operation before the user can select a card and remove it from the housing.
By the time the eject arm is in its extended position, the cards are partly slid from the housing as a staggered or stepped stack such that each card presents an outside the housing projecting, exposed narrow strip of its upper main side and by viewing these strips the user can see at a blink which cards are present in the holder. Also the user can easily and quickly select within the cards stack the desired card and remove it by manually sliding the cards mutually in a direction equal to or opposite the direction in which the cards are slid from the housing from their entirely inserted, i.e. stored, position
Preferably, the ejector, or part of it, e.g. the arm, as card remove feature of the card holder of the invention, is provided with or associated, e.g. coupled, with a reset means, e.g. a spring, with the effect that the ejector or the relevant part after operation will always immediately and automatically return to the initial position, e.g. move from the extended to the retracted position. Such by the reset means provided return offers the advantage such that without obstruction the user can slide cards back into the housing during making a selection from the partly exposed cards.
Preferably, the card holder of the invention has a housing made of a galvanic material, e.g. metal. The geometry of the housing of this invention lends itself for fabrication by means of metal extrusion, with which a proper Faraday cage is made.
The invention also relates to each and any combination and permutation of the above individual features.
The invention will now be further explained by way of the drawing, showing presently preferred embodiments. The drawing shows in:
Fig. 1 - 2 a card holder, in perspective view;
Fig. 3 a cross section of the fig. 1 card holder;
Fig. 4 a cross section of an alternative card holder;
Fig. 5 a back view of the fig. 1 card holder;
Fig. 6 a pivoted ejector arm engaging and ejecting a staggered cards stack;
Fig. 7 the fig. 6 ejector arm from the opposite side;
Fig. 8 the distal part of the fig. 6 ejector arm;
Fig. 9 - 10 a cross section of the fig. 1 card holder;
Fig. 11 an exploded view of a stack of cards and part of the fig. 1 card holder;
Fig. 12 an exploded view of the parts of the fig. 1 card holder;
Fig. 13 an exploded view of internal parts of the fig. 1 card holder;
Fig. 14 a detail of fig. 12;
Fig. 15 a detail of a stack of cards in the holder;
Fig. 16 a detail of the fig. 1 card holder;
Fig. 17-18 the fig. 16 detail provided with a first and second embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 19 a first embodiment of an inventive part of the card holder;
Fig. 20 a side view of the fig. 19 embodiment;
Fig. 21 a top view of the fig. 16 embodiment;
Fig. 22 a first alternative of the fig. 19 embodiment;
Fig. 23 a second alternative of the fig. 19 embodiment;
Fig. 24 a front view of the fig. 19 embodiment;
Fig. 25 a sectional view of a card holder provided with the fig. 21 embodiment;
Fig. 26 an alternative to the fig. 25 embodiment;
Fig. 27 a detail of the fig. 17 embodiment;
Fig. 28 a detail of the fig. 26 embodiment;
Fig. 29A-B an alternative of the fig. 19 embodiment in a locked or arrested position;
Fig. 30A-B the fig. 29 embodiment in an ejected or released position;
Fig. 31 a side view of the fig. 22 embodiment; and
Fig. 32A-B a side view of the fig. 27 embodiment and of a Prior Art embodiment
Fig. 1 - 2 show a perspective view of the housing 1 of the card holder which tightly fits around the shown stack 2 of at least three cards (four are shown), wherein one of the two longitudinal ends of the housing is referred to as a card opening 3 because it is opened to receive and remove cards.
The tightly fit around the card stack implicates a main shape based on a right angled brick, but it can of course, for reasons of design or ergonomics, differ, e.g. by providing chamfers, roundings, ribs, etc.
Arrow L is the long or longitudinal, arrow W the short or widthwise and arrow T the thickness direction. Arrows L,
W and T are mutually perpendicular.
Fig. 1 shows the holder 1 and a neat stack 2 of four cards in register, ready to be loaded into the holder through the cards opening 3. If completely located in the holder, the lower side of each card is in register with a relevant engagement face of the ejector arm in its first (retracted) position.
Starting from this position of the ejector arm and moving (pivoting) it to its second position, the cards will be forced by the associated engagement face such that the cards stack is partly ejected. Since each engagement face has a different distance to the pivot point of the ejector arm, each card will travel a different distance such that a staggered ejected stack 2 is obtained (shown in fig. 2 in which the ejector arm (not shown) 1s in its second position), each card presenting an exposed narrow strip of a main side as shown.
Fig. 3 shows in sectional view a holder (without cards) with a card eject feature (in the first (retracted) position) provided by the stepped element 16 which can pivot around an axis 17 if the user exerts in the pivot direction (according to the arrow B) a force through the actuator 18 outside the housing. The stepped element is made from steps providing card contact faces 19 designed to exert force against the minor side (i.e. the thin side} of the cards to be ejected. The card contact faces 19 can be regarded as the thickness of the steps in the stepped shape and the height of these faces is equal to or smaller then the nominal card thickness (approx. 0.8 milli- metre), whereby each step contacts a different card. A reset spring 20 ensures that the stepped element 16 after releasing the button 18 returns immediately and automatically to the initial (first) position shown. Friction elements 6, i.e. pads having a to the cards facing surface of rough fibre like material, e.g. felt, are located mutually opposite within the housing at the housing minor sides 32 to engage each individual minor card side to retain the cards against gravity force.
Fig. 4 shows a possible variant of fig. 3, the stepped element 16 can translate in the direction in which the cards are slid through the card opening 3 and out the housing and which by means of a reset spring 20 after releasing the operation part 18 returns immediately and automatically to the initial position.
Fig. 3 shows the connection between the button 18 and the ejector arm 16 extending through a passage in the bottom edge, meaning the edge opposite the opening 3. Alternatively such passage could be present in a side edge (long minor side 32) or even in a main side 31. The button 18 is shown adjacent the bottom edge, however could be located adjacent a side edge or even a main side 31. The bottom edge or side edge is a short minor side 32, bridging the main sides 31. These locations of the passage and button 18 are known from the prior art.
Fig. 5 shows the view from the bottom side (i.e. according to arrow A in fig. 1).
In fig. 6-7 the housing is removed such that the elements within the housing are visible. The eject arm 16 is pivoted to its second (extended) position, engaging the staggered cards stack 2 (only partly shown). Arm 16 is, by pivot 17, pivotably mounted to a fixture 10 which is fixedly located in the housing opening opposite the card opening 3, thus providing a closure at the bottom side of the housing.
As is clear from fig. 3, 4, 6 and 7, the thickness of the ejector arm stepwise decreases from the proximal (close to the pivot point 17) to the distal (free or remote) end 5. The maximum ejector arm 16 thickness equals the height of the housing determined by the clearance between the two main sides of the housing which equals the maximum thickness of a cards stack tightly fitting in the housing. The maximum ejector arm 16 thickness could be slightly thinner to allow movement of the arm 16 within the housing without undue friction with the inner faces of the opposite housing main sides along which the top and bottom side, respectively, of the arm 16 slide.
The opposite main side walls 31 have smooth, level and flat inner faces, extending mutually parallel.
Fig. 7 shows the illustration of fig. 6 from the opposite side, cards 2 removed. Fig. 8 shows at a larger scale the free or distal end part of the ejector arm 16 shown in fig. 7, to show the steps 19 more in detail to emphasize that each step 19 has an edge partly curved and partly straight, each such edge designed for engagement with the side edge of a single card 2 of the stack for pushing and staggering the stack outward.
Fig. 9 shows a section of a possible embodiment of the housing without details of the card remove feature, wherein one can see how at at least one side near card opening 3 a friction element 6 is located, which bears against a long side of the card stack in the housing. The opposite side in the housing has a resilient flexural element 7, e.g. blade spring,
providing that both the completely inward slid cards 2 and the partly outward slid cards 2 bear against the friction element 6 with substantially constant force. Fig. 10 shows a comparable embodiment according to the view of fig. 9, this time with the friction element and the resilient element at one side integrated within a single resilient flexural friction element 6. Opposite this resilient friction element 6 within the housing a typical friction element 6 can be present. At this location of the friction element 6 a resilient flexural friction element could also be located, but this embodiment is not illustrated.
Arrow T (not shown) is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.
The location of the internal friction element can vary and also its length. Fig. 9-10 only show non-limiting examples.
Fig. 11 shows the friction pad 6 providing the friction surface 12 facing the cards stack 2 and designed to engage the thin sides of each individual card. The surface 12 provides a surface of fibres for the engaged cards 2. Part of the housing 1 is also shown.
Fig. 14-15 show the mounting of the friction arms, designed as resilient flexural elongate elements 7, to the housing of the card holder, and also the spatial relation of housing parts and a stored stack of cards. Appreciate the housing internal chambers or channels 11, mutually opposite, into which an individual resilient flexural element 7, carrying an associated friction element 6, is longitudinally inserted to be retained in place within the internal chamber 11 by friction and clamping.
These internal chambers 11 boarder longitudinally the internal space of the housing 1, capturing the cards 2. Fig. 15 shows that longitudinal edges of cards 2 project into internal chambers 11 to engage resilient element 7 covered with friction element 6 (not shown).
A functional equivalent name for the internal chambers 11 is “confinement channel” or “channel”. An alternative definition is that the internal chambers 11 are provided by a dilation or dilatation or spatial expansion, preferably at least 0.2 or 0.5 millimetre, in thickness direction T of the one or both widthwise edge areas of the spacing B2 (viz. fig.
21) of the opposite main faces 31, to obtain the spacing Bl (viz. fig. 21). Appreciate that the internal chambers 11 merge with the spacing B2.
Fig. 16 shows the prior art embodiment of the internal chamber 11 and fig. 17-18 show a first and second embodiment of the design of the internal chamber 11 according to the invention. In fig. 17 and 18, at the longitudinal end at the card opening 3, the internal chamber 11 expands, preferably at least 0.5 or 1 millimetre, towards the opposite minor face 32, preferably for a distance of at least 2 or 5 and/or less than 10 or 20 millimetre. In fig. 17 the expansion 35 is smooth, in fig. 18 the expansion 35 is stepwise.
Fig. 19 shows a first embodiment of the design of the resilient flexural element 7 according to the invention, provided with a member 21 that could function as a locking end and/or mechanical probe. The member 21 has width B2 (viz. fig. 24) or less and thus can exit internal chamber 11 by passing the inward boundary 36. The resilient flexural element 7 has a width more than BZ, e.g. Bl, and thus is unable to sideways exit internal chamber 11.
In case the member 21 is a mechanical probe 21, it is biased, by the material elasticity of element 7, inward towards the opposite minor face 32 and is moved outward by the cards as soon as the cards are inserted into the holder. Cutward movement of the probe 21 is transmitted, due to the flexural rigidity of element 7, to the friction element 6 such that the friction element 6 is urged and/or moved inward towards the opposite minor face 32 and thus towards the cards inside the holder, increasing the force with which the friction element 6 engages the cards. In fig. 29-30 the transmission means operates by way of flexure and/or leverage; the transmission means comprise a Z shaped web the one leg of which is associated with the probe 21 and the other with the friction element 6; the transmission means provides two arm like elements in mutual elongation, possibly staggered, sharing a tilting means between them such that the distal end of the one arm displaces opposite to the distal end of the other arm; one of the arms is bifurcated;
the probe 21, the transmission means and the friction element 6 are located in only the area of the holder extending for half the holder length from the card opening.
In case the member 21 is a locking end 21, it engages and confines the widthwise extending card edges that face in the direction of ejection from the card holder. Preferably, the locking end 21 is moved by an actuator between a releasing position and a locking position. Preferably, the actuator is integral part of the resilient flexural element 7.
Fig. 22-23 show alternative designs of the member 21.
Fig. 25 illustrates the synchronous, oppositely directed movement in widthwise direction W of the friction element 6, e.g. functioning as mechanical card sensor, and the member 21.
During card insertion, the cards force the friction element 6 outward causing simultaneous, synchronous inward movement of member 21, however limited by the cards as long as they are not completely inserted. As soon as completely inserted, member 21 is allowed to take the maximum inward moved position, being the locking position, causing simultaneous and synchronous lowering of the force of the friction element 6 against the cards, avoiding wear of the friction element due to e.g. creep.
Fig. 26 illustrates the synchronous, oppositely directed movement in longitudinal direction L of the member 21 and a mechanical card sensor 22 designed to be engaged by the widthwise extending card edge facing in the direction of inserting the card into the card holder. By way of sensor 22, the member 21 is allowed to move from the releasing position to the locking position.
Fig. 31 illustrates a preferred locking end 21 design.
Fig. 32A illustrates the Prior Art friction arm 7, ending at the pivot area 34. Fig. 32B illustrates the inventive friction arm 7, extended beyond pivot area 34 by arm 33 and probe 21.
Also different embodiments belong to the invention.
Features of different in here disclosed embodiments can in different manners be combined and different aspects of some features are regarded mutually exchangeable. All described or in the drawing disclosed features provide as such or in arbitrary combination the subject matter of the invention, also independent from their arrangement in the claims or their referral.

Claims (6)

CONCLUSIESCONCLUSIONS 1. Fen houder voor een stapel van minimaal drie betaalkaarten waarvan de afmetingen voldoen aan de normeringen ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1 en ISO/IEC 7813, die een uit aluminium geëxtrudeerde behuizing (1) omvat die intern is voorzien van een rechthoekige, hulsvormige, platte en langwerpige kaartopneemruimte die wordt begrensd door twee tegenoverstaande, wederzijds parallelle en een afstand houdende hoofdwanden (31) die zijn bevestigd en op afstand van elkaar worden gehouden door twee lange tegenoverstaande subwanden (32) en twee korte tegenoverstaande subwanden (10), welke hoofd- en subwanden (10, 31, 32) tot de behuizing behoren en de kaartopneemruimte is ingericht voor het volledig opnemen van de kaartenstapel binnenin de behuizing, waarbij de afstand (ft) tussen de hoofdwanden (31) de maximale stapelhoogte bepaalt en de afstand (1) tussen de korte subwanden (10) bepaalt de maximum stapellengte en de afstand (w) tussen de lange subwanden (32) bepaalt de maximum stapelbreedte van de kaartenstapel die is opgenomen binnenin de kaartopneemruimte van de behuizing (1), welke kaartopneemruimte een stapel van ten minste drie kaarten (2) nauwsluitend opneemt, en de ene korte subwand heeft een kaartopening (3) voor het inbrengen en verwijderen van kaarten, zodat het door de kaartenopening (3) heen bewegen van de kaarten in en uit de kaartopneemruimte beperkt is tot een beweging van het bovenvlak evenwijdig aan de hoofdwanden (31) van de behuizing en in longitudinale (L) richting van de behuizing, en de tegenovergelegen korte subwand (10) en beide lange subwanden (32) zijn gesloten voor het vermijden dat een kaart via een dergelijke wand ontsnapt, terwijl de houder, tegenover de kaartopening (3) is uitgerust met een kaartuitwerpvoorziening zodat de kaarten via de kaartopening (3) gedeeltelijk uit de kaartopneemruimte kunnen worden geschoven, welke kaartuitwerpvoorziening een uitwerparm (16) omvat die is ingericht om te zwenken binnenin de behuizing ten opzichte van de kaartopening (3) tussen een eerste en een tweede positie en gedurende die beweging de kaarten naar buiten schuift door op alle kaarten tegelijkertijd aan te grijpen en deze te dwingen de kaartopneemruimte te verlaten waarbij de kaarten evenwijdig aan elkaar en aan de hoofdwanden (31) longitudinaal bewegen en er een naar buiten geschoven, getrapte kaartenstapel wordt gevormd waarin de kaarten longitudinaal verschoven ten opzichte van elkaar liggen, terwijl volledig ingeschoven naar binnen in de kaartopneemruimte alle kaarten wederzijds uitgelijnd in een rechthoekige blokvorm, d.w.z. netjes gestapeld, zich in de kaartenstapel bevinden,1. Fen holder for a stack of at least three payment cards, the dimensions of which comply with the ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1 and ISO/IEC 7813 standards, comprising an aluminum extruded housing (1) internally provided with a rectangular, sleeve-shaped , flat and elongated card receiving space bounded by two opposite, mutually parallel and spaced main walls (31) secured and spaced from each other by two long opposite sub-walls (32) and two short opposite sub-walls (10), which main and sub walls (10, 31, 32) belong to the housing and the card receiving space is designed to fully accommodate the card stack inside the housing, whereby the distance (ft) between the main walls (31) determines the maximum stack height and the distance (1) between the short sub-walls (10) determines the maximum stacking length and the distance (w) between the long sub-walls (32) determines the maximum stacking width of the card stack contained within the card receiving space of the housing (1), which card receiving space is a stack of at least three cards (2) snugly, and the one short subwall has a card opening (3) for inserting and removing cards, so that the movement of cards into and out of the card receiving space through the card opening (3) is limited is to move the top surface parallel to the main walls (31) of the housing and in the longitudinal (L) direction of the housing, and the opposite short sub-wall (10) and both long sub-walls (32) are closed to prevent a card escapes via such a wall, while the holder, opposite the card opening (3), is equipped with a card ejecting facility so that the cards can be partially slid out of the card receiving space via the card opening (3), which card ejecting facility comprises an ejecting arm (16) that is arranged to pivot within the housing relative to the card opening (3) between a first and a second position and during that movement slide the cards outward by engaging all the cards simultaneously and forcing them to leave the card receiving space with the cards being parallel to each other and to the main walls (31) move longitudinally to form an outwardly stepped, stepped card stack in which the cards lie longitudinally offset from each other, while fully retracted inwardly into the card receiving space all cards are mutually aligned in a rectangular block shape, i.e. neatly stacked, in the deck of cards, de uitwerparm (16) heeft een longitudinale zijde met een getrapte vormgeving met minimaal zes longitudinaal een onderlinge afstand houdende treden (19) met een hoogte tussen 0,2 and 0.6 millimeter, en iedere trede is ingericht voor het aangrijpen op een enkele kaart van de kaartenstapel binnenin de behuizing, zodat iedere kaart ten opzichte van een aangrenzende kaart een stukje verder naar buiten wordt geschoven door de uitwerparm (16) en zodoende de getrapte kaartenstapel wordt gevormd door de uitwerparm (16) met getrapt vormgegeven longitudinale zijde;the ejector arm (16) has a longitudinal side with a stepped design with a minimum of six longitudinally spaced steps (19) with a height between 0.2 and 0.6 millimeters, and each step is adapted to engage a single card of the card stack inside the housing, so that each card is pushed out a little further with respect to an adjacent card by the ejector arm (16) and thus the stepped card stack is formed by the ejector arm (16) with a stepped longitudinal side; een vingerknop (18) buiten de behuizing is verschaft waarmee de uitwerparm (16) handmatig van de eerste naar de tweede positie wordt bewogen; waarbij binnenin de behuizing nabij de kaartopening (3) en nabij beide lange subwanden (32) een wrijvingselement van vilt (6) aanwezig is welke is ingericht voor rechtstreekse aangrijping op de smalle zijrand, die de kaartdikte (T) bepaalt, van iedere individuele kaart van de kaartenstapel binnenin de behuizing om een wrijvingskracht daarop uit te oefenen zodat iedere kaart individueel zodanig stabiel in positie wordt gehouden door het wrijvingselement (6) dat deze niet door zwaartekracht alleen in lengterichting (L) verschuift maar wel door een op het kaartoppervlak aangrijpende vingertop; waarbij de houder zodanig is geconfigureerd dat het in de breedterichting (W) van de kaartenstapel gekeerde oppervlak (12) van het wrijvingselement (6) door veerkrachtig buigzame aandrukmiddelen (7) binnenin de behuizing wordt aangedrukt tegen de naar dat oppervlak (12) gekeerde zijkant van een kaartenstapel binnenin de behuizing, welke aandrukmiddelen (7) een parallel aan de hoofdwand (31) en in de breedterichting (W) gerichte aandrukkracht uitoefent op het wrijvingselement (6) dat door montagemiddelen aan de aandrukmiddelen (7) is gefixeerd; waarbij de aandrukmiddelen (7) verschaft zijn door een longitudinale (L) veerpoot (7) van strookvormig verenstaal waarvan zijn breedterichting (Bl) evenwijdig loopt aan de dikterichting (t) van de kaartenstapel en waarvan zijn breedte (Bl) groter is dan de afstand (ft) tussen de hoofdwanden {31} en welke veerpoot (7) is opgenomen in een in het aluminium geëxtrudeerde groef (11) die is gemaakt in beide hoofdwanden (31) tegen de lange subwanden (32) en waarvan de groefdiepte is aangepast aan de breedte (Bl) van de veerpoot (7) zodat de veerpoot (7) opgesloten is gehouden in de groef (ll) en de groef (11) een zodanige afmeting heeft dat het de veerpoot (7) en het daaraan gefixeerde wrijvingselement (6) toestaat zich binnen de groef (11) in de breedterichting (W) van de behuizing (1) heen en weer te bewegen; de veerpoot (7) en de groef (11) strekken zich uit over de gehele lengte (L) van de behuizing; de veerpoot heeft een dikte tussen 0.05 en 0.3 millimeter en een breedte tussen 4 en 10 millimeter; de veerpoot (7) draagt aan zijn eerste longitudinale uiteinde, dat is gesitueerd bij de kaartopening (3), een vormslot (21) dat in breedterichting (W) van de behuizing (1) beweegbaar is, door elastisch veerkrachtig verbuigen van de veerpoot (7) tussen een buitenwaarts bewogen vrijgeefstand en een binnenwaarts bewogen blokkeerstand in welke dit (21) mechanisch blokkerend aangrijpt op een in de uitwerprichting (L) wijzende rand van iedere kaart van de geheel in de houder naar binnen geschoven kaartenstapel zodat bij onbeweeglijk zich in de blokkeerstand bevindend vormslot (21) de kaartenstapel mechanisch opgesloten is in de behuizing door het vormslot (21);a finger button (18) is provided outside the housing to manually move the ejector arm (16) from the first to the second position; wherein a friction element of felt (6) is present inside the housing near the card opening (3) and near both long subwalls (32), which is designed for direct engagement with the narrow side edge, which determines the card thickness (T), of each individual card of the card stack inside the housing to exert a frictional force on it so that each card is individually held in such a stable position by the friction element (6) that it does not shift by gravity alone in the longitudinal direction (L), but by a fingertip engaging the card surface ; wherein the holder is configured in such a way that the surface (12) of the friction element (6) facing in the width direction (W) of the card stack is pressed against the side facing that surface (12) within the housing by resiliently flexible pressing means (7) of a card stack inside the housing, which pressing means (7) exert a pressing force directed parallel to the main wall (31) and in the width direction (W) on the friction element (6) that is fixed to the pressing means (7) by mounting means; wherein the pressing means (7) are provided by a longitudinal (L) strut (7) made of strip-shaped spring steel whose width direction (Bl) runs parallel to the thickness direction (t) of the card stack and whose width (Bl) is greater than the distance (ft) between the main walls {31} and which strut (7) is included in a groove (11) extruded in the aluminum which is made in both main walls (31) against the long sub-walls (32) and whose groove depth is adapted to the width (Bl) of the strut (7) so that the strut (7) is kept locked in the groove (ll) and the groove (11) has such a dimension that it fits the strut (7) and the friction element (6) fixed to it ) allows to move back and forth within the groove (11) in the width direction (W) of the housing (1); the strut (7) and the groove (11) extend over the entire length (L) of the housing; the strut has a thickness between 0.05 and 0.3 millimeters and a width between 4 and 10 millimeters; the strut (7) carries at its first longitudinal end, which is located at the card opening (3), a form lock (21) that is movable in the width direction (W) of the housing (1), by elastically resilient bending of the strut ( 7) between an outwardly moved release position and an inwardly moved blocking position, in which this (21) mechanically blockingly engages an edge of each card of the card stack completely pushed into the holder pointing in the ejection direction (L), so that when it is stationary, it remains in the form lock (21) in blocking position; the card stack is mechanically locked in the housing by the form lock (21); het vormslot (21) is geïntegreerd met de veerpoot (7);the form lock (21) is integrated with the spring strut (7); de veerpoot (7) is zodanig vormgegeven en verend buigzaam dat in breedterichting (W) van de behuizing (1)the spring strut (7) is designed and resiliently flexible in such a way that in the width direction (W) of the housing (1) buitenwaarts bewegen van het vormslot (21) van de blokkerstand naar de vrijgeefstand zorgt voor een in breedterichting (W) binnenwaarts aandrijven en voorspannen van het wrijvingselement (6) aan dezelfde veerpoot (7), waardoor de druk en daarmee de wrijvingskracht die door het wrijvingselement (6) wordt uitgeoefend op de zijkant van de kaartenstapel wordt verhoogd met minimaal 10% zodat, met het vormslot (21) in de vrijgeefstand, de kaartenstapel tijdens het uitwerpen met de uitwerparm (16) minimaal 10% meer hinder ondervindt van de tegenwerkende wrijvingskracht die afkomstig is van het wrijvingselement (6);outward movement of the form lock (21) from the blocking position to the releasing position causes an inward driving and pre-tensioning of the friction element (6) on the same spring strut (7) in the width direction (W), which increases the pressure and thus the friction force exerted by the friction element (6) is exerted on the side of the card stack is increased by at least 10% so that, with the form lock (21) in the release position, the card stack experiences at least 10% more interference from the opposing friction force during ejection with the ejector arm (16). which comes from the friction element (6); waartoe een eerste lengtedeel (33) van de veerpoot (7), dat zich uitstrekt vanaf het eerste longitudinale uiteinde en het vormslot (21) draagt, een hoek maakt, doordat op de veerpoot (7) een metaalvervormende bewerking is uitgevoerd, van minimaal 20 en maximaal 40 graden met het onmiddellijk aansluitende lengtedeel dat het wrijvingselement (6) draagt, en het overgangsgebied (34) tussen die twee onderling een hoek insluitende lengtedelen (33) steunt tegen de nabije lange subwand (32) en verschaft de veerpoot (7) daardoor een zwenkpunt (34) terwijl het eerste lengtedeel (33) weg divergeert van de nabije lange subwand (32), gezien langs de veerpoot (7) in de richting vanaf het eerste longitudinale uiteinde met het vormslot (21), in binnenwaartse richting van de kaartopneemruimte en de tegenovergelegen lange subwand (32), welk eerste lengtedeelfor which purpose a first longitudinal part (33) of the strut (7), which extends from the first longitudinal end and carries the form lock (21), makes an angle because a metal deforming operation of at least 20 has been carried out on the strut (7). and a maximum of 40 degrees with the immediately adjoining longitudinal part that carries the friction element (6), and the transition area (34) between those two mutually angular longitudinal parts (33) bears against the nearby long subwall (32) and provides the spring strut (7) thereby forming a pivot point (34) while the first longitudinal portion (33) diverges away from the nearby long subwall (32), viewed along the strut (7) in the direction from the first longitudinal end with the form lock (21), inwardly from the card receiving space and the opposite long subwall (32), which first longitudinal part (33) een lengte heeft van minimaal 2 en maximaal 15 millimeter; waarbij het vormslot (21) en het wrijvingselement (6) zich ter weerszijden van het zwenkpunt (34) aan de veerpoot (7) bevinden, longitudinaal langs de veerpoot (7)gezien, en de veerpoot (7) een convex en een concaaf lengtedeel heeft die aan het deel van de veerpoot (7) in de nabijheid van de kaartopening (3) een S-achtige vorm verschaffen, welk convexe lengtedeel het wrijvingselement (6) draagt en het concave deel gepositioneerd is tussen het convexe lengtedeel en het vormslot (21); zodat het vanuit de blokkerstand naar de vrijgeefstand bewegen van het vormslot (21) het binnenwaarts aandrijven van het wrijvingselement (6) veroorzaakt wegens een wipeffect dat is teweeggebracht door de onderlinge samenwerking van het zwenkpunt (34) en het convexe en concave lengtedeel van de veerpoot (7). (zie fig. 19, 20, 25, 31 en 3Zb).(33) has a length of at least 2 and a maximum of 15 millimeters; wherein the form lock (21) and the friction element (6) are located on either side of the pivot point (34) on the strut (7), seen longitudinally along the strut (7), and the strut (7) has a convex and a concave longitudinal part which provides an S-like shape to the part of the spring strut (7) in the vicinity of the card opening (3), which convex longitudinal part carries the friction element (6) and the concave part is positioned between the convex longitudinal part and the form lock ( 21); so that moving the form lock (21) from the blocking position to the releasing position causes the friction element (6) to be driven inwards due to a wiping effect brought about by the mutual cooperation of the pivot point (34) and the convex and concave longitudinal part of the strut (7). (see figs. 19, 20, 25, 31 and 3Zb). 2. Houder volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de groef (11) locaal minimaal 1 millimeter is verbreed door een freesbewerking na voltooien van het extruderen van de behuizing, in de richting van de ene naar de andere lange subwand (32) ter plaatse van de kaartopening (3) over een longitudinale afstand tussen 2 en 30 millimeter, gemeten vanaf de kaartopening (3), zodat een groef (11) is verschaft zodat het vormslot (21) binnenin de groef (11) zich bevindt, zowel in de vrijgeefpositie en de blokkerpositie, waarbij de slag van het vormslot (21) van de vrijgeefpositie naar de blokkerpositie groter is dan het onverbrede deel van de groef (11) zou toelaten. (zie fig. 17, 18 en 27)2. Container according to claim 1, wherein the groove (11) has been locally widened by at least 1 millimeter by a milling operation after completing the extrusion of the housing, in the direction from one long subwall (32) to the other at the location of the card opening (3) over a longitudinal distance between 2 and 30 millimeters, measured from the card opening (3), so that a groove (11) is provided so that the form lock (21) is located within the groove (11), both in the release position and the blocking position, wherein the stroke of the form lock (21) from the releasing position to the blocking position is greater than the unwidened part of the groove (11) would allow. (see fig. 17, 18 and 27) 3. Houder volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de uitsluitend door extruderen van de behuizing verschafte groef (11) langs zijn volledige lengte een constante breedte heeft, gemeten in de richting van de ene naar de andere lange subwand (32), tussen 3,5 en 8 millimeter, zodat een groef (11) is verschaft zodat het vormslot binnenin de groef (11) zich bevindt, zowel in de vrijgeefpositie en de blokkerpositie, waarbij de slag van het vormslot (21) van de vrijgeefpositie naar de blokkerpositie groter is dan een groef (11) met een breedte kleiner dan 2 millimeter zou toelaten.Container according to claim 1, wherein the groove (11) provided exclusively by extrusion of the housing has a constant width along its entire length, measured in the direction from one long subwall (32) to the other, between 3.5 and 8 millimeters, so that a groove (11) is provided so that the form lock is located within the groove (11), both in the release position and the blocking position, the stroke of the form lock (21) from the release position to the blocking position being greater than one groove (11) with a width smaller than 2 millimeters would allow. 4. Houder volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de uitsluitend door extruderen van de behuizing verschafte groef (11) langs zijn volledige lengte een constante breedte heeft, gemeten in de richting van de ene naar de andere lange subwand (32), tussen 5 en 10% van de afstand tussen de eerste en tweede lange subwand (32), zodat een groef (11) is verschaft zodat het vormslot binnenin de groef (11) zich bevindt, zowel in de vrijgeefpositie en de blokkerpositie, waarbij de slag van het vormslot (Z1) van de vrijgeefpositie naar de blokkerpositie groter is dan een groef (11) met een breedte kleiner dan 3,5% van de afstand tussen de ene en de andere lange subwand (32) zou toelaten.Container according to claim 1, wherein the groove (11) provided exclusively by extrusion of the housing has a constant width along its entire length, measured in the direction from one long subwall (32) to the other, between 5 and 10% of the distance between the first and second long subwalls (32), so that a groove (11) is provided so that the form lock is located inside the groove (11), both in the release position and the blocking position, where the stroke of the form lock (Z1 ) from the release position to the blocking position is larger than a groove (11) with a width less than 3.5% of the distance between one long subwall (32) and the other would allow. 5. Houder volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de uitsluitend door extruderen van de behuizing verschafte groef (11) langs zijn volledige lengte een constante breedte heeft, gemeten in de richting van de ene naar de andere lange subwand (32), zodat de beide op de breedte (w) betrokken randdelen van een 54 millimeter brede kaart die is gecentreerd in de behuizing, welke randdelen de enige delen zijn van de kaart die aanwezig zijn in het gegroefde deel van de behuizing, zie fig. 15, een breedte hebben tussenContainer according to claim 1, wherein the groove (11) provided exclusively by extrusion of the housing has a constant width along its entire length, measured in the direction from one long subwall (32) to the other, so that both width (w) concerned edge parts of a 54 millimeter wide card that is centered in the housing, which edge parts are the only parts of the card that are present in the grooved part of the housing, see fig. 15, have a width between 2.5% en 8% van de kaartbreedte, zodat een groef (11) is verschaft zodat het vormslot binnenin de groef (11) zich bevindt, zowel in de vrijgeefpositie en de blokkerpositie, waarbij de slag van het vormslot (21) van de vrijgeefpositie naar de blokkerpositie groter is dan een groef (11) zou toelaten met een breedte zodat de beide randdelen van een 54 millimeter brede kaart die is gecentreerd in de behuizing, welke randdelen de enige delen zijn van de kaart die aanwezig zijn in het gegroefde deel van de behuizing, een breedte hebben kleiner dan 0,65% van de kaartbreedte2.5% and 8% of the card width, so that a groove (11) is provided so that the form lock is located inside the groove (11), both in the release position and the blocking position, with the stroke of the form lock (21) from the release position to the blocking position is larger than a groove (11) would allow with a width such that both edge portions of a 54 millimeter wide card are centered in the case, which edge portions are the only portions of the card present in the grooved portion of the case housing, have a width less than 0.65% of the card width 6. Houder volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de veerpoot (7), betrokken op zijn breedterichting (Bl), locaal een versmalling (BZ) heeft van minimaal 0,4 millimeter ter plaatse van het vormslot (21) en het eerste lengtedeel (33) zodat het vormslot (21) en het eerste lengtedeel (33) de groef (11) kunnen verlaten in de richting van de ene naar de andere lange subwand (32) tijdens bewegen van het vormslot (21) van de vrijgeefstand, waarin het vormslot (21) zich binnen de groef (ll) bevindt, naar de blokkeerstand, waarin het vormslot (21) zich buiten de groef (11) bevindt. (zie fig. 19, 21 en 24).6. Holder according to claim 1, wherein the spring strut (7), based on its width direction (Bl), has a local taper (BZ) of at least 0.4 millimeters at the location of the form lock (21) and the first longitudinal part (33) so that the form lock (21) and the first longitudinal part (33) can leave the groove (11) in the direction from one long subwall (32) to the other during movement of the form lock (21) from the release position, in which the form lock ( 21) is inside the groove (ll), to the blocking position, in which the form lock (21) is outside the groove (11). (see figs. 19, 21 and 24).
NL2033434A 2022-10-31 2022-10-31 Credit card holder having adjustable bias friction element. NL2033434B1 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2185624A (en) 1935-03-08 1940-01-02 Charles W Beck Container for cards
JPS60179484U (en) 1984-05-10 1985-11-28 株式会社資生堂 card case
EP0287532A2 (en) 1987-04-14 1988-10-19 Fab Trading S.R.L. Container for cards, in particular, credit cards and similar items
US4887739A (en) 1988-05-31 1989-12-19 Parker Robert J Business card dispenser
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US20020074246A1 (en) 2000-01-05 2002-06-20 Tiscione James Allen Card holder and ejector
CH702919B1 (en) 2007-04-04 2011-10-14 Roland Iten Mechanical Luxury S A Credit card holder for use in wallet, has base comprising relief stage that corresponds to thickness of credit card and diagonally movable into holder so that card is moved out on side of holder in stepped manner
WO2010137975A2 (en) 2009-05-27 2010-12-02 Van Geer Rene Johan Holder for credit cards
US20140014676A1 (en) 2012-07-16 2014-01-16 John Minson Credit card dispenser
WO2014098580A1 (en) 2012-12-17 2014-06-26 René Johan Van Geer Credit card holder with improved card ejector / dispenser
EP3714728A1 (en) * 2019-03-27 2020-09-30 Samsonite IP Holdings S.ÀR.L. Devices for storing one or more cards
US20220079316A1 (en) * 2020-09-15 2022-03-17 Peter M. Goodwin Mechanical wallet

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