US20060249234A1

US20060249234A1 - Card holding case

Info

Publication number: US20060249234A1
Application number: US11/198,344
Authority: US
Inventors: Ching-Tsun Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-06
Filing date: 2005-08-04
Publication date: 2006-11-09
Also published as: TWM289296U

Abstract

A card holding case includes a rear sheet having a first major area, and a front sheet having a second major area. The front sheet is attached to the rear sheet along a periphery such that the first and second major areas define a card receiving space for holding a plurality of cards. The front sheet is cut to form slits which are in spatial communication with the card receiving space. Each slit is configured such that once a card is inserted therethrough into the card receiving space, the card is urged toward the first major area. A bag including the card holding case is also disclosed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a card holding case, more particularly to a card holding case for a wallet, a handbag, or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional wallet 1 includes a plurality of layers 11 of different dimensions. The layers 11 have bottom ends that are stitched together, and are arranged one in front of the other in the manner as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to define a bill receiving space 112 for receiving banknotes or the like, and a plurality of card receiving spaces 111 for receiving a plurality of cards 10, such as credit cards and the like. The conventional wallet 1 is disadvantageous in that the provision of the layers 11 increases material costs, as well as fabrication costs. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, after the cards 10 are inserted into the card receiving spaces 111, the wallet 1 will be stretched in the direction of its thickness. Besides, the cards 10 cannot be easily taken out if too many cards 10 are inserted into the card receiving spaces 111.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show a conventional card holder 2, which is described in Taiwanese Utility Model Publication No. 118068. The card holder 2 includes an outer layer 21, an inner layer 22, and a liner 23 interposed between the outer and inner layers 21, 22. The outer layer 21 cooperates with the liner 23 to define a card receiving space 212, and is provided with a plurality of slit units 211 that are communicated with the card receiving space 212 and that are arranged in pairs. Each slit unit 211 has an eye-shaped opening confined by upper and lower edges 2112, 2111. Distal endpoints 2110 of the slit units 211 in each pair define a distance (I) which is longer than the width of a card 20. In use, lower left and right corners of the card 20 are respectively inserted through the openings of the slit units 211 into the card receiving space 212 to be held therein. The outer layer 21 is further provided with a semi-circular slit 213 which is in spatial communication with the card receiving space 212 and which is disposed above a middle portion of each pair of the slit units 211 such that a stop flap 214 is formed above the middle portion of the slit units 211 and such that an upper edge of the card 20 can be positioned between the flap 214 and the card receiving space 212 after the lower left and right corners of the card 20 are inserted into the corresponding slit units 211.
Although the conventional card holder 2 permits individual placement of the cards 20 so that they do not overlap, it has a relatively large size, which makes it inconvenient to carry. Moreover, the use of pairs of slit units 211 to position the cards 20 is not effective, even with the provision of the flaps 214. The flaps 214 merely obstruct insertion/removal of the cards 20 into/from the card receiving spaces 212.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a card holding case that can be fabricated using a reduced amount of material and at a lower cost.
Another object of this invention is to provide a bag incorporating the card holding case.
According to one aspect of this invention, a card holding case for accommodating multiple cards includes: a rear sheet having a first major area that extends in a longitudinal direction to terminate at a first upper edge; and a front sheet having a second major area that extends upwardly and downwardly in the longitudinal direction to terminate at second upper and lower edges, respectively, and that further extends leftward and rightward in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction to terminate at left and right edges, respectively. The front sheet is attached to the rear sheet along a periphery such that the first and second major areas define a card receiving space, and such that the second upper edge is spaced apart from the first upper edge in the longitudinal direction so as to define an access opening which is in spatial communication with the card receiving space. The front sheet is cut in the transverse direction to form a slit unit which is in spatial communication with the card receiving space, and which divides the second major area into upper and lower regions proximate to the second upper and lower edges, respectively. The slit unit is configured such that once a card is inserted therethrough into the card receiving space, the card is urged toward the first major area.
According to another aspect of this invention, a bag includes a bag body having a mouth portion confined by two opposite major walls and two opposite connecting walls that interconnect the major walls, and a card holding case for accommodating multiple cards. The card holding case is provided on one of the major walls and the connecting walls, and includes: a rear sheet having a first major area that extends in a longitudinal direction to terminate at a first upper edge; and a front sheet having a second major area that extends upwardly and downwardly in the longitudinal direction to terminate at second upper and lower edges, respectively, and that further extends leftward and rightward in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction to terminate at left and right edges, respectively. The front sheet is attached to the rear sheet along a periphery such that the first and second major areas define a card receiving space, and such that the second upper edge defines an upper boundary of the card receiving space. The front sheet is cut in the transverse direction to form a slit unit which is in spatial communication with the card receiving space, and which divides the second major area into upper and lower regions proximate to the second upper and lower edges, respectively. The slit unit is configured such that once a card is inserted therethrough into the card receiving space, the card is urged toward the first major area. The front and rear sheets are integrally formed with said one of the major walls and the connecting walls of the bag body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional wallet;
FIG. 2 is an assembled sectional view of the conventional wallet of FIG. 1 in use, showing that a plurality of cards are received in card receiving spaces;
FIG. 3 is an extended plan view of another conventional card holder;
FIG. 4 is an assembled sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the first preferred embodiment of a card holding case according to this invention;
FIG. 6 is an assembled sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an assembled sectional view similar to FIG. 6, showing that a plurality of cards are received in a card receiving space;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the second preferred embodiment of a card holding case according to this invention;
FIG. 9 is a plan view similar to FIG. 8, illustrating removal of a card from the card receiving space in a state of use;
FIG. 10 is a plan view of the third preferred embodiment of a card holding case according to this invention; and
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a bag incorporating the card holding case of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the preferred embodiment of a card holding case 100 according to this invention is adapted to accommodate multiple cards 6, such as credit cards and name cards. The card holding case 100 includes a rear sheet 3 and a front sheet 4, which are preferably made from leather or leather-like material. The rear sheet 3 has a first major area that extends in a longitudinal direction (Y) to terminate at a first upper edge 33. The front sheet 4 has a second major area that extends upwardly and downwardly in the longitudinal direction (Y) to terminate at second upper and lower edges 44, 45, respectively, and that further extends leftward and rightward in a transverse direction (X) relative to the longitudinal direction (Y) to terminate at left and right edges, respectively. The front sheet 4 is attached to the rear sheet 3 by stitching along a periphery such that the first and second major areas define a card receiving space 5, and such that the second upper edge 44 is spaced apart from the first upper edge 33 in the longitudinal direction (Y) to define an access opening 110 (see FIG. 6) which is in spatial communication with the card receiving space 5. The front sheet 4 is cut in the transverse direction (X) to form a slit unit 40 which is in spatial communication with the card receiving space 5, and which divides the second major area into upper and lower regions proximate to the second upper and lower edges 44, 45, respectively. The slit unit 40 is configured such that once the card 6 is inserted therethrough into the card receiving space 5 in the longitudinal direction (Y), the card 6 is urged toward the first major area. The slit unit 40 includes a plurality of slits 41, each having a left end 411 and a right end 412 proximate to the left and right edges of the front sheet 4, respectively. The slits 41 are spaced apart from each other and are arranged in an indented manner in the longitudinal direction (Y). As shown in FIG. 5, the left end 411 of an upper one of the slits 41 is closer to the left edge than the left end 411 of a lower one of the slits 41. Besides, each of the slits 41 has left and right enlarged portions 413 proximate to the left and right edges, respectively, to prevent ripping of the front sheet 4 at the left and right ends 411, 412 of the slit 41.
Furthermore, in the first preferred embodiment, the slits 41 are configured to extend along a curved line to facilitate insertion of the cards 6 thereinto. The slits 41 may also be configured to extend along a linear line in the transverse direction (X).
Compared with the conventional wallet 1 and the conventional card holder 2 described above, the card holding case 100 of this invention has the advantages of material and cost savings, and has a better card positioning effect.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the second preferred embodiment of a card holding case 100 according to this invention is substantially similar to the first preferred embodiment, and differs therefrom in that the front sheet 4 has a slot 42 provided in the lower region of the second major area and below the left ends 411 of the slits 41. The slot 42 is in spatial communication with the card receiving space 5 and is adapted to permit extension of a finger of the user through the slot 42 to push the card 6 upwardly, thereby facilitating removal of the card 6.
Referring to FIG. 10, the third preferred embodiment of a card holding case 100 according to this invention is substantially similar to the second preferred embodiment, and differs therefrom in that the card holding case 100 has a plurality of slots 42 which are in spatial communication with the card receiving space 5, and which are provided respectively below the left ends 411 of the slits 41.
FIG. 11 shows a bag 7 incorporating the card holding case 100 of this invention. The bag 7 includes a bag body 72 having a mouth portion 70 confined by opposite outer and inner major walls 71 and two opposite connecting walls 73 that interconnect the major walls 71, and a flap 75 superimposed on the outer major wall 71. The card holding case 100 is provided on one of the outer and inner major walls 71 and the connecting walls 73, or any other suitable parts of the bag body 72.
Referring to FIG. 11, in combination with FIG. 9, the card holding case 100 as exemplified herein is substantially based on the second preferred embodiment heretofore described, and includes a rear sheet 3 and a front sheet 4 that are integrally formed with one of the outer major walls 71 and the connecting walls 73. The rear sheet 3 has a first major area that extends in a longitudinal direction (Y) to terminate at a first upper edge 33. The front sheet 4 has a second major area that extends upwardly and downwardly in the longitudinal direction (Y) to terminate at second upper and lower edges 44, 45, respectively, and further extends leftward and rightward in a transverse direction (X) relative to the longitudinal direction (Y) to terminate at left and right edges, respectively. The front sheet 4 is attached to the rear sheet 3 along a periphery such that the first and second major areas define a card receiving space 5, and such that the second upper edge 44 defines an upper boundary of the card receiving space 5. The front sheet 4 is cut in the transverse direction (X) to form a slit unit 40 which is in spatial communication with the card receiving space 5, and which divides the second major area into upper and lower regions proximate to the second upper and lower edges 44, 45, respectively. The slit unit 40 is configured such that once a card 6 is inserted therethrough into the card receiving space 5, the card 6 is urged toward the first major area. The slit unit 40 includes a plurality of slits 41 that are spaced apart from each other and that are arranged in an indented manner in the longitudinal direction (Y). A slot 42 is provided in the lower region of the second major area and below the slits 41. In this embodiment, the card holding case 100 includes two slit units 40 that are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction (X).
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A card holding case for accommodating multiple cards, comprising:

a rear sheet having a first major area that extends in a longitudinal direction to terminate at a first upper edge; and

a front sheet having a second major area that extends upwardly and downwardly in the longitudinal direction to terminate at second upper and lower edges, respectively, and that further extends leftward and rightward in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction to terminate at left and right edges, respectively, said front sheet being attached to said rear sheet along a periphery such that said first and second major areas define a card receiving space, and such that said second upper edge is spaced apart from said first upper edge in the longitudinal direction so as to define an access opening which is in spatial communication with said card receiving space, said front sheet being cut in the transverse direction to form a slit unit which is in spatial communication with said card receiving space, and which divides said second major area into upper and lower regions proximate to said second upper and lower edges, respectively, said slit unit being configured such that once a card is inserted therethrough into said card receiving space, the card is urged toward said first major area.

2. The card holding case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slit unit includes a plurality of slits that are spaced apart from each other and that are arranged in an indented manner in the longitudinal direction.

3. The card holding case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front sheet has at least one slot provided in said lower region of second major area, said slot being in spatial communication with said card receiving space and being adapted to permit extension of a finger through said slot to push the card upwardly.

4. The card holding case as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said slits has left and right enlarged portions proximate to said left and right edges, respectively.

5. A bag comprising:

a bag body having a mouth portion confined by two opposite major walls and two opposite connecting walls that interconnect said major walls; and

a card holding case for accommodating multiple cards, said card holding case being provided on one of said major walls and said connecting walls, and including:

a front sheet having a second major area that extends upwardly and downwardly in the longitudinal direction to terminate at second upper and lower edges, respectively, and that further extends leftward and rightward in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction to terminate at left and right edges, respectively, said front sheet being attached to said rear sheet along a periphery such that said first and second major areas define a card receiving space, and such that said second upper edge defines an upper boundary of said card receiving space, said front sheet being cut in the transverse direction to form a slit unit which is in spatial communication with said card receiving space, and which divides said second major area into upper and lower regions proximate to said second upper and lower edges, respectively, said slit unit being configured such that once a card is inserted therethrough into said card receiving space, the card is urged toward said first major area,

said front and rear sheets being integrally formed with said one of said major walls and said connecting walls of said bag body.

6. The bag as claimed in claim 5, wherein said slit unit includes a plurality of slits that are spaced apart from each other and that are arranged in an indented manner in the longitudinal direction.

7. The bag as claimed in claim 5, wherein said front sheet has at least one slot provided in said lower region of said second major area, said slot being in spatial communication with said card receiving space and being adapted to permit extension of a finger through said slot to push the card upwardly.

8. The bag as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said slits has left and right enlarged portions proximate to said left and right edges, respectively.