US3659640A

US3659640A - Credit card wallet and method of making same

Info

Publication number: US3659640A
Application number: US869139A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nathan Fenster; Theodore H Schiffman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-10-24
Filing date: 1969-10-24
Publication date: 1972-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-02

Abstract

A multicompartment wallet includes a pair of transversely spaced first panels superimposed on and integrally formed with a backing panel and having depending medial tongues. A set of longitudinally offset superimposed second panels having transverse slits, proximate their lower edges is superimposed on each first panel with the corresponding tongue engaging each slit. The panels have overlapping side tabs heat-sealed to each other. A rear panel underlies the backing panel and is provided with integrally formed front panels overlying the lowermost of the second panels, and side flaps overlying and heat-sealed to the outer side edges of the first, second and front panels. The wallet is produced by jig-positioning a first blank including the front and rear panels, a plurality of preformed scond blanks including the second panels, and a preformed third blank including said first and backing panels, and simultaneously heatsealing and severing the blanks to form and join the various panels.

Description

United States Patent Fenster et al.

[ 1 May 2, 1972 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves [57] ABSTRACT A multicompartment wallet includes a pair of transversely spaced first panels superimposed on and integrally formed with a backing panel and having depending medial tongues. A set of longitudinally offset superimposed second panels having transverse slits, proximate their lower edges is superimposed on each first panel with the corresponding tongue engaging each slit. The panels have overlapping side tabs heat-sealed to each other. A rear panel underlies the backing panel and is provided with integrally formed front panels overlying the lowermost of the second panels, and side flaps overlying and heat-sealed to the outer side edges of the first, second and front panels. The wallet is produced by jig-positioning a first blank including the front and rear panels, a plurality of preformed scond blanks including the second panels, and a preformed third blank including said first and backing panels, and simultaneously heat-sealing and severing the blanks to form and join the various panels.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Shoots-Shut l Patented May 1972 CREDIT CARD WALLET AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to improvements in receptacles, and it relates more particularly to an improved multicompartment wallet or the like, and to an improved method for producing the same.

With the advent and extensive use of credit cards, it is a common practice for one to carry a large number of credit cards about and these are generally held in a wallet so as to be readily available. Since the credit card when employed must be inserted into an apparatus for transferring information therefrom, it must be individually removed from the wallet. In the conventional wallet the selection and removal of the desired credit card from a plurality thereof, and its insertion into the wallet, are awkward, inconvenient and time-consuming procedures. Many types and structures of credit card holders and wallets have been available and proposed, but these possess numerous drawbacks and disadvantages. They are generally expensive, bulky and unattractive devices of low durability, awkward and inconvenient to use, and otherwise leaving much to be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved receptacle, and an improved method of producing the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved multicompartment wallet and an improved method of producing the same.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved wallet for holding a plurality of credit cards and the like, for ready individual access thereto for selective removal and reinsertion.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved multi-compartment wallet of the above nature, characterized by its low cost, attractive appearance, high durability, ease and convenience of use, versatility and adaptability, and the improved method of producing the same.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof.

' In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of a multicompartment receptacle, comprising a first panel, a

plurality of superimposed longitudinally vertically offset second panels superimposed on said first panel, and having transversely extending openings formed therein proximate their lower edges, said panels being joined at points along their side edges, and a tongue extending from the lower edge of said first panel and engaging said transversely extending openings.

The preferred embodiment of the improved receptacle is in the form of a wallet, which includes a pair of transversely spaced first panels overlying and integrally formed with a backing panel and having medial depending tongues. A set of longitudinally offset superimposed second panels having transverse slits proximate their lower edges is superimposed on each first panel, a corresponding tongue engaging each set of slits. The panels have overlapping vertically offset side tabs heat sealed to each other along their coinciding outer edges. A rear panel underlies the backing panel, and is provided with integrally formed front panels overlying the lowermost of the second panels and sealed thereto along the upper side edges, and side flaps overlying and heat sealed to the outer side edges of the first, second and front panels to make a unitary wallet.

The improved method for producing the improved multicompartment wallet comprises the steps of jig-positioning a first blank including the rear panel and a pair of transversely spaced front panels; superimposing on the upper section of the first blank containing the front panels, a plurality of longitudinally offset preformed second blanks, each of which includes a pair of transversely spaced second panels, each containing a transverse slit, and connected at their upper inner corners by an integral bridge, and provided at their upper outer comers with outwardly projecting wings; and superimposing on the uppermost second blank a preformed third blank, including the. backing. panel and second panels. The tongues are then inserted through corresponding sets of slits in the second panels, and the assembly simultaneously heatsealed and severed so as-to form the various panels to their final shapes, and to heat-seal the bridges and wings along vertical lines proximate the second panels, and sever those portions of the wings and bridges along lines proximate the lines of sealing thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preformed blank employed in forming a wallet embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of another preformed blank;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an arrangement of blanks in a positioning jig attendant to the production of the improved wallet according to the present method;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 in FIG. 3 and showing a platen in position;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the heat-sealed and shaped blank assembly;

FIG. 6 is an inside perspective view of the finished wallet shown in an open condition;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, particularly FIGS. 6 to 9 thereof, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention as applied to a wallet or the like, the improved wallet is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and is formed of thermoplastic, flexible, synthetic organic polymer sheet material which is heat-scalable and may be decorated and embossed as desired. Suitable materials are saran, polyvinyl chloride and the like. Wallet I0 is of general rectangular configuration in its fully open condition, and may be folded in the usual manner about its medial vertical axis fo pocketing.

Wallet 10 includes an outer or rear wall 11, and an inner flap 12, substantially the width of and superimposed on the inner face of wall 11. Wall 11 and flap I2, are integrally formed along their upper edges and are further joined by a heat-seal line 13 shortly below their upper edges, with flap 12 extending downwardly to a point intermediate the top and bottom of wall 11. A multipocket front or inner wall assembly 14 is secured along its side and bottom edges to the corresponding edges of rear wall 11, and delineates therewith a main open-topped pocket 35 extending for the full length and width of wallet 10. v

The front wall assembly 14 includes a backing panel I6 having joined to and integrally formed with the upper edge thereof a pair of transversely spaced first compartment panels 17, which are of substantially rectangular configuration, being less than half the width of backing panel 16 and approximately half the height thereof. Integrally formed with and depending from the bottom edge of each panel 17 is downwardly inwardly tapered tongue 18, which extends substantially to the bottom edge of backing panel 16 in assembled position. Superimposed upon each of the first panels 17 are a plurality of successively equally downwardly offset, mutually superimposed second panels 19, each being of rectangular configuration and of a height and width approximate that of first panel 17.

Tabs and

wings

20 and 21 are integrally formed with and project laterally from the opposite upper corners of

panels

17 and 19, respectively.

Wings

20 and 21 are in vertically offset overlapping positions, and are of a height greater than the vertical ofl'set between successive panels 19, and less than twice such offset, so that each wing overlaps only the wing of the next

upper panel

20 or 21. It should be noted that the lowermost panels 19 and rear wall 11 are integrally joined along their bottom edges. Formed in each of panels 19, except for the lowermost of these panels, is a transverse slit 15, located slightly above the bottom edges of the corresponding panel 19 to provide two transversely offset sets of slits, with a tongue 18 passing successively through each slit 15 of a respective set from the rear to the front of each panel 19, and terminating proximate the bottom of lowermost panel 19.

A liner 42 formed of a suitable decorated unitary sheet of flexible thermoplastic material is folded along a medial longitudinal axis to form front and

rear liner panels

22 and 23, respectively; liner panel 23 being coextensive with and secured to the front face of backing panel 16. A pair of laterally spaced liner panels 22 are provided, their confronting vertical edges coinciding with the corresponding edges of

panels

17 and 19 and being heat-sealed thereto. Panels 22 delineate with panels 23 a pair of pockets having confronting laterally spaced vertical access openings 43.

integrally formed with rear wall 11 are a pair of side flaps 24, which are folded forwardly and over the outer side borders of

panels

17 and 19, and are secured thereto by heat-sealing lines 26, which overlie the

outer wings

20 and 21 and effect the heat sealing of the wings to each other and to the corresponding borders of rear wall 11 and to flaps 24. The overlapping sections of the

inner wings

20 and 21 are heat-sealed to each other by a pair of laterally spaced vertical heat seal lines 27. A line 28 of heat-sealing extends along the lower borders of rear wall 1 1 and lowermost panels 19.

The confronting faces of successive panels 19 and the confronting faces of uppermost panel 19 and panel 17 delineate a plurality of vertically offset compartments or pockets 30 preferably dimensioned to releasably slideably receive credit cards of conventional dimensions. Tongues 18 extend across the bottoms of these compartments to define stops and limit the downward movement of the cards positioned therein. Moreover, the upper edges of the pocketed cards are vertically offset to provide easy selective access to the cards for their ready individual removal.

In producing the improved wallet in accordance with the present process, and referring particularly to FIGS. 1-5, a lower positioning jig 32 is employed and includes a rectangular base plate 33 located on the bottom platen of a hydraulic press. A pair of low upright end walls 34 are integrally formed with the end edges of base plate 33. A horizontal upper platen 36 is supported by the bottom of a piston rod 37 associated with the press hydraulic cylinder. A cutting and sealing die 38 is mounted on the under-face of platen 36, and is shaped in the known manner to form the shaped and sealed assembly shown in FIG. 5, as will be hereinafter described. Die 38 is connected to the ungrounded electrode of a suitably controlled, conventional dielectric heating, high frequency generator, not shown.

The wallet is produced from a bottom rectangular blank 39, a plurality of preformed compartment blanks 40, a preformed top blank 41, and a liner blank 42. The bottom blank 39 contains rear wall 11, flaps l2 and 24, lowermost panels 19, and their respective wings 21. Each blank 40 includes a pair of laterally spaced panels 19 having slits 15 formed therein and provided with tabs projecting outwardly from their upper outer comers containing wings 21, and a bridge 25 connecting their upper inner comers and containing inner wings 21. Blank 41 comprises an upper rectangular section including backing panel 16, a pair of laterally spaced sections defining panels 17, provided with depending medial tongues 18. Liner 42 includes an upper rectangular section including the liner panels 23 of backing panel 16, and a depending section of lesser width than the top section and including liner panels 22.

Bottom blank 39 is laid on jig base 33 with its lower edge abutting the inside face of lower end wall 34. A blank 40 is laid across the upper section of blank 39 with the lower borders of wings 21 overlapping the upper border of blank 39 and being medially disposed thereon with blank sections 19 overlying the upper section of blank 39. A plurality of blanks 40 are superimposed in longidutinally offset positions with the lower border of wings 21 of a blank 40 overlapping the upper borders of wings 21 of the next successively lower blank 40, and the slits 15 being exposed. Blanks 40 are suitably positioned by elements, such as pins (not shown) on jig 32. Blank 41 is then laid on jig 32 with its upper edge abutting theupper inner face of end wall 34, and each tongue 18 is passed through successively lower slits 15 of respective sets thereof. Tongues 18 may be inserted through slits 15 in a subsequent stage as noted below. Liner 42 is then superimposed on

upper blanks

41 and 40 and extends slightly below the lower edges of lowermost panels 19.

Platen 36 and die 38 are then depressed and the high frequency current applied to form the sealed assembly illustrated in FIG. 5. Specially, the upper sections of blank 41 and liner 42 are cut and mutually heat-sealed to each other along their upper edges a and upwardly converging side edges b, and are sealed to each other along bottom fold line 0 to delineate the lined backing panel 16. The outer borders of outer wings 21 are trimmed and sealed to each other by vertical heat-sealing lines d, and the borders of inner wings 21 are trimmed and sealed by laterally spaced heat-seal lines 2, which seal the lower section of liner 42 thereto, and together with upper and lower heat seal lines f delineate a generally rectangular opening. Blank 39 is formed by upper and lower heat embossed fold lines 3 and h, and side fold lines It into rear wall 11, by outer trim lines 1 into flaps 24, and by fold lines and side and bottom trim lines m and n into flaps 12.

Thereafter flap 12 is folded along line It to overlie the inner face of wall 11, panel 16 is folded to overlie the inner faces of panels 19, and the thus folded sections folded into a superimposed condition along fold line 3. Tongue 18 may be inserted through slits 15 at this time. Flaps 24 are then folded to embrace the exposed faces of outer wings 21 and are joined thereto by heat-sealing lines 26, and heat-seal lines are applied to the upper and lower borders of the assembled wallet.

It is clear from the above that the improved wallet is produced in accordance with the present method in a simple, convenient and economic manner requiring a minimum of skill and hand labor.

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-compartment receptacle, comprising a first panel, a plurality of superimposed longitudinally vertically offset second panels superimposed on said first panel and having transversely extending openings formed therein proximate their lower edges, and a tongue extending from the lower edge of said first panel and engaging said transversely extending openings, opposite tabs integrally formed with and projecting transversely from the upper comers of each of said panels and being of heights less than that of said respective panels, the upper section of each of said tabs being superimposed on and sealed to the lower section of the corresponding tab of the next successive upper panel.

2. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said tabs are sealed to each other along their outer vertical edges.

3. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein said second panels are similarly shaped, and said panels and tabs are vertically offset distances between one half and the full height of said tabs along the side edges thereof.

4. The receptacle of claim 1, including a backing panel underlying and at least coextensive with said first and second panels and joined along its upper edge to the upper edge of said first panel.

5. The receptacle of claim 4, including a rear panel underlying said backing panel and a front panel joined along its lower edge to the lower edge of said rear panel and superimposed on the lowermost of said second panels with its upper edge being downwardly offset relative to the upper edge of said lowermost second panel, and sealed at its upper comers to the tabs projecting from said lowermost second panel.

6. The receptacle of claim 5, including a side flap extending from a side edge of said rear panel and overlying and sealed to the corresponding side edges of said tabs and said front panel.

7. The receptacle of claim 1, including a pair of transversely spaced sets of said first and second panels, said second panels being similarly shaped, and the panels and tabs of each set being vertically ofi'set distances between one half and the full height of said tabs along the side edges thereof, a backing panel underlying said first and second panels and extending between the outer edges of said sets of panels and integrally fonned along its upper edge with the upper edges of said first panels, a rear panel underlying said backing panel, a pair of transversely spaced front panels integrally formed along their lower edges with the lower edge of said rear panel and superimposed on the lowermost of said second panels with their upper edges being downwardly offset relative to the upper edges of the respective lowermost second panel, and side flaps extending from the side edges of said rear panel and overlying and sealed to the side edges of respective outer tabs and the outer side edges of said front panels.

8. The method of producing the receptacle of claim 1, including the steps of superimposing a plurality of preformed longitudinally ofi'set thermoplastic partition blanks including said transversely slit second panels, provided with laterally projecting wings integrally formed at their upper edges, superimposing a preformed second blank on the uppermost of said partition blanks, said second blank comprising said first panel and said tongue, and thereafter heat sealing the overlapping sections of said wings to each other along points inwardly offset from the outer edges of said wings, and severing the outer portions of said wings at points outwardly of and proximate the corresponding heat sealing points.

9. The method of producing the receptacle of claim 8 including the steps of positioning in a lay flat condition a first blank containing said front and rear panels and said side flaps, superimposing on said first blank in longitudinally offset relationships a plurality of longitudinally offset similar second thermoplastic blanks, each including a pair of transversely spaced second panels provided with said transverse openings, and a transversely extending bridge integrally formed with and joining the upper side edges of said second panels, and wing members integrally formed with and projecting transversely from the upper outer side edges of said second panels, superimposing on the uppermost of said second panels a preformed third thermoplastic blank comprising said backing panel and a pair of transversely spaced depending first panels provided with medially depending tongues, inserting each of said tongues through a correspondinglset of said transverse slits, simultaneously heat-sealing and securing said blanks to heat-seal respective overlapping bridges and overlapping wings along vertical lines proximate the side edges of said second panels, severing said wings and bridges along lines proximate to and outside said lines of heat-sealing and severing said third blank to form said backing panel, rear panel and side flaps, folding said backing panel to underlie said first and second panels, folding said rear panel to underlie said backing panel, folding said flaps to overlie the outer side edges of said first, second and front panels, and heat-sealing said flaps to said first, second and front panel outer side edges.

I I I k

Claims

1. A multi-compartment receptacle, comprising a first panel, a plurality of superimposed longitudinally vertically offset second panels superimposed on said first panel and having transversely extending openings formed therein proximate their lower edges, and a tongue extending from the lower edge of said first panel and engaging said transversely extending openings, opposite tabs integrally formed with and projecting transversely from the upper corners of each of said panels and being of heights less than that of said respective panels, the upper section of each of said tabs being superimposed on and sealed to the lower section of the corresponding tab of the next successive upper panel.

5. The receptacle of claim 4, including a rear panel underlying said backing panel and a front panel joined along its lower edge to the lower edge of said rear panel and superimposed on the lowermost of said second panels with its upper edge being downwardly offset relative to the upper edge of said lowermost second panel, and sealed at its upper corners to the tabs projecting from said lowermost second panel.

7. The receptacle of claim 1, including a pair of transversely spaced sets of said first and second panels, said second panels being similarly shaped, and the panels and tabs of each set being vertically offset distances between one half and the full height of said tabs along the side edges thereof, a backing panel underlying said first and second panels and extending between the outer edges of said sets of panels and integrally formed along its upper edge with the upper edges of said first panels, a rear panel underlying said backing panel, a pair of transversely spaced front panels integrally formed along their lower edges with the lower edge of said rear panel and superimposed on the lowermost of said second panels with their upper edges being downwardly offset relative to the upper edges of the respective lowermost second panel, and side flaps extending from the side edges of said rear panel and overlying and sealed to the side edges of respective outer tabs and the outer side edges of said front panels.

8. The method of producing the receptacle of claim 1, including the steps of superimposing a plurality of preformed longitudinally offset thermoplastic partition blanks including said transversely slit second panels, provided with laterally projecting wings integrally formed at their upper edges, superimposing a preformed second blank on the uppermost of said partition blanks, said second blank comprising said first panel and said tongue, and thereafter heat sealing the overlapping sections of said wings to each other along points inwardly offset from the outer edges of said wings, and severing the outer portions of said wings at points outwardly of and proximate the corresponding heat sealing points.

9. The method of producing the receptacle of claim 8 including the steps of positioning in a lay flat condition a first blank containing said front and rear panels and said side flaps, superimposing on said first blank in longitudinally Offset relationships a plurality of longitudinally offset similar second thermoplastic blanks, each including a pair of transversely spaced second panels provided with said transverse openings, and a transversely extending bridge integrally formed with and joining the upper side edges of said second panels, and wing members integrally formed with and projecting transversely from the upper outer side edges of said second panels, superimposing on the uppermost of said second panels a preformed third thermoplastic blank comprising said backing panel and a pair of transversely spaced depending first panels provided with medially depending tongues, inserting each of said tongues through a corresponding set of said transverse slits, simultaneously heat-sealing and securing said blanks to heat-seal respective overlapping bridges and overlapping wings along vertical lines proximate the side edges of said second panels, severing said wings and bridges along lines proximate to and outside said lines of heat-sealing and severing said third blank to form said backing panel, rear panel and side flaps, folding said backing panel to underlie said first and second panels, folding said rear panel to underlie said backing panel, folding said flaps to overlie the outer side edges of said first, second and front panels, and heat-sealing said flaps to said first, second and front panel outer side edges.