Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
HOLDER FOR CARDS OR KEYS HAVING RECHARGE MEANS FOR ONBOARD ELECTRONICS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2017/146572
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention relates to a holder for small items, e.g. house or car keys, money coins, credit cards and the like,comprising a generator means to generate galvanic energy from an electromagnetic or magnetic field, or from movement of the holder or one of its components or parts which movement could generate or move a magnetic field. Preferably, the generator means is drivingly associated with an actuator means to eject cards,to be operated by the user of the holder,which actuator means is part of the holder.The holder further has a galvanic accumulator and a galvanic energy consumer, which are in galvanic circuit with the generator means.

Inventors:
VAN GEER RENÉ JOHAN (NL)
Application Number:
PCT/NL2017/050109
Publication Date:
August 31, 2017
Filing Date:
February 23, 2017
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
VAN GEER RENÉ JOHAN (NL)
VAN GEER R J BEHEER BV (NL)
International Classes:
A45C11/18; A45C15/00
Domestic Patent References:
WO2010137975A22010-12-02
WO2010137975A22010-12-02
Foreign References:
US20150136620A12015-05-21
US5515031A1996-05-07
US20080303632A12008-12-11
EP2317626A12011-05-04
US8977569B22015-03-10
EP0287532A21988-10-19
CH702919B12011-10-14
US5718329A1998-02-17
US6823910B12004-11-30
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
ASSENDELFT, Jacobus (NL)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. A holder for small items, e.g. house or car keys, money coins, credit cards and the like, comprising a generator means (32, 33, 34) to generate galvanic energy from an electromagnetic or magnetic field, or from movement of the holder or one of its components or parts which movement could generate or move a magnetic field.

2. Holder according to claim 1, designed for cards, comprising a housing (1) which tightly fits around a stack of at least three cards (2) and has at least one card opening (3) for locating and removing cards, while opposite the card opening (3) within the housing a card eject feature is provided such that the cards through the card opening (3) can be partly slid from the housing, which card eject feature is designed to move within the housing between a first and a second position and during said movement forces the cards to partly exit the housing

3. Holder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the generator means is drivingly associated, e.g. coupled, with an actuator means (16, 18, 20), to be operated by the user of the holder or to reset the operation of the user, which actuator means is part of the holder.

4. Holder according to claim 3, wherein the generator means is drivingly associated with an actuator means (16, 18) to eject cards .

5. Holder according to any of claims 1-4, wherein it comprises a galvanic accumulator, which is in galvanic circuit with the generator means.

6. Holder according to any of claims 1-5, wherein it comprises a galvanic energy consumer which is in galvanic circuit with the generator means.

7. Holder according to any of claims 3-6, wherein one or more, preferably all of the accumulator, energy consumer (s) and generator are provided near said actuator means.

8. Holder according to claim 7, wherein one or more, preferably all of the accumulator, energy consumer (s) and generator are embedded within said actuator means.

9. Holder according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said actuator means is the ejector arm (16) .

10. Holder according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said actuator means is the reset spring (20) for urging the ejector arm (16) towards its retracted position.

11. Holder according to any of claims 1-10, wherein one or more, preferably all of the accumulator, energy consumer (s) and generator are embedded within the permanent closure (15) of the one longitudinal end of the housing.

12. Holder according to any of claims 1-11, wherein the generator means comprises an electric coil made of a galvanic conductor, and a permanent magnet, mounted to be mutually moveable, by engagement of the actuator means.

13. Holder according to any of claims 1-11, wherein the generator means comprises a part of piezo electric material, mounted to become deformed, by engagement of the actuator means.

14. Holder according to any of claims 1-11, wherein the generator means is provided by a linear generator.

15. Holder according to any of claims 1-11, wherein the generator means is provided by a dynamo

16. Holder according to any of claims 1-11, wherein the generator means is provided by a rotary generator.

17. Holder according to any of claims 1-16, for one or more of the generator, accumulator and energy consumer the following applies: located (33, 34) between a face of the ejector arm and a facing face of a stationary wall associated with the housing

18. Holder according to claim 17, located (33) between the longitudinal end face of the ejector arm, if in the retracted position, and the facing minor side wall of the housing.

19. Holder according to claim 17, located (34) between a longitudinally extending face of the ejector arm (16) and the facing main side wall (31) of the housing.

20. Holder according to any of claims 1-19, wherein at the inner side of the housing a friction element is located which exerts a friction force to the side edge of each individual card within the housing, which friction element is of sufficient width/dimension to simultaneously engage all cards in the stack and/or is not rigid.

21. Holder according to any of claims 1-20, having one or more of the following features:

the card eject feature comprises a stepped element (19), which can by the user be moved relative to the housing against the side of the within the housing present card stack, resulting that this stack in a stepped format partly moves outside the housing;

- the cards receiving space is sleeve or shaft like;

- the receiving space is designed such that the cards through the card opening parallel to their top face must be slid from this space;

- in the receiving space a stack of at least three right angled cards, mutually registered, with substantially identical dimensions and each with a first side and an opposite second side, and the friction element in retaining engagement, in the direction of sliding out the card opening, with the to the friction element facing side of each card and the card sideways preloading such that the second side of each card is pressed towards and retained by the side of the receiving space;

- the distance between the first and second side of the one card is unequal to the same distance of a different card in the stack.

Description:
Holder for cards or keys having recharge means for onboard electronics .

The invention relates to a holder for storage of credit cards, bank cards and different objects having dimensions similar to credit cards, in this specification also called "cards". Such card holder preferably is provided with a device (further also called "ejector") to eject or dispense the cards, or different flat or plate like objects, from the holder. The card or cards 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 invention also relates to a holder for house or car keys or coins for payments.

Although in the following the main attention is directed to a holder for cards, it will be appreciated that the invention is also applicable to a holder for keys or coins and it will be obvious to the skilled person how to adopt the teachings of the invention accordingly. Where in the following reference is made to "cards", "keys" or "coins" or similar items are also referred to.

For the so called credit card format the main dimensions suffice ISO 7810 and the thickness and roundings suffice ISO 7813. This format is applied for many cards with a diversity of applications: bank cards, driving licenses, ID-cards, membership cards, entry tickets, reduction cards, savings cards, etc .

The cards preferably have a solid, not foldable shape and a smooth, slippery, friction free surface.

The prior art discloses such holders for cards, designed to address the problem of easily selecting the desired card from a stack placed in the holder. Document EP-A 0 287 532 discloses a rigid holder shaped as a flat box or sleeve, in which the stack of cards tightly fits. This housing has inside a pivoting ejector arm which by means of a finger button projecting through a curved elongate opening in the holder upper main wall can be pivoted, with the effect that the stack of cards slides outwards. Since the ejector arm is provided with a stepped (also called: relief) profile such that each card engages with a different edge at the ejector arm, the cards are dispensed as a staggered stack. CH702919 Bl discloses a similar card holder. WO2010137975 (of the present inventor Van Geer) also discloses a card holder with an implement to present a staggered stack of cards, partly projecting out the card holder. US5718329 discloses an at both ends open sleeve like card holder. A card ejector is lacking. US6823910 discloses a holder assembled from a flat sleeve offering a tightly fitting storage for a stack of cards.

The object of the invention is versatile. In one aspect the object is a device with one or more of the following aspects: comfortable, simple and easy to use; error free handling; compact if filled with different numbers of items, e.g. cards; safe for clothing and skin; storing items or cards neatly during long time within the pocket of a trousers which is put on; light weight; long life; fixed shape and thus a safe protection for cards; invisible storage of items or cards; produced at low costs; attractive appearance; can store both a single card and many cards; can show the same visible message if empty and filled with cards; its appearance can be individualized. One or more of the above or somewhere else discussed or from the prior art stemming objects or drawbacks are at least partly obtained or solved by the invention. Other aspects can be learned from the specification, drawings or claims. Two or more aspects can be combined .

Preferably the invention is directed to a card holder dispensing the complete stack of cards, thus all cards of the stack are dispensed simultaneously. 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) , and preferably is partly projected from the card holder, wherein de 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.

To avoid that the cards can spontaneously leave the card holder, the device is preferably provided with card retaining means, e.g. a (preferably pivoting) removable lid associated with the access opening to open and close it, or clamping or friction means designed to engage e.g. a main side (a side defining a card face) or a minor side (a side defining the card thickness, i.e. the thin side of the card) . E.g. WO2010137975 (above cited) addresses releasably retaining the cards within the housing by friction means and the relevant disclosures are incorporated in here by reference. Retaining means to keep the cards within the holder without closing the top side with a lid, are preferred.

Preferably one or more of the following applies to the device: 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 the housing space in which the cards are stored.

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 not further object 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 the "main sides") and this pair spaced by the other (also called the "minor sides") pair (delimiting the stack thickness) such that the card stack tightly fits between these four sides. 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") 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.

Preferably the ejector comprises an ejector element (further also called "arm") 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 or thin side 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 element in its extended position) partly project from the holder, more preferably in a stepped or staggered manner. For the purpose of presenting or dispensing the cards in a stepped manner, the element is preferably provided with a stepped or relief 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, a such feature designed to engage a single card from the stack, preferably such that by movement of the ejector 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. In an embodiment such features are

projections at the element each providing an engagement edge, wherein preferably the projections project a different distance from the element such that each engagement face is present at a different level. Preferably the element 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. Preferably the thickness of the ejector arm stepwise increases 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 thickness provides step shaped features for ejecting the cards stack in a staggered fashion.

In its extended position, the ejector arm preferably extends diagonally within the holder. In its retracted position, the ejector arm preferably extends parallel to an external side 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.

To provide the movement of the ejector arm, the ejector comprises a drive means 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 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.

Preferably the ejector arm provides a base or bottom of the holder, or part of it, preventing exit of the cards from the associated side of the holder.

An embodiment of the card ejector feature of the invention comprises, among others, an arm 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 arm exerts at the individual cards in the stack in the direction of the card opening a force, resulting that the card stack slides outward . An embodiment of the moving ejector element or arm like element in the card remove feature of the card holder of the invention, is provided with a reset means, e.g. a spring, with the effect that this arm like element after operation will always immediately and automatically return to the initial position, such that without obstruction the user can slide cards back into the housing during making a selection from the partly exposed cards.

Preferably, the holder is provided with merely a single ejector element designed to simultaneously engage all cards within the holder and eject the from the housing.

THE INVENTION

The device of the invention is characterized by claim 1. Thus, the invention relates to providing the holder with a means to generate galvanic energy (also called "generator means") from an electromagnetic or magnetic (preferably alternating) field, e.g. generated by an external source, e.g. a galvanic coil supplied by AC power, or from movement of the holder or one of its components or parts which movement could generate or move a magnetic field.

In case of a positive movement, such is the result of an action by the user of the holder to operate it, e.g. to open or close the holder or to make its contents to enter or exit the holder. In case of a spontaneous movement, such is the result of movements of the user carrying the holder with him, without the intention to operate the holder, e.g. movements induced due to walking or because the user stands up or takes a seat or lies down.

The positive movement is e.g. a rotating and/or

translating movement, while the spontaneous movement is typically limited to rotation.

Thus the generator means is designed to be actuated by a positive or spontaneous movement, e.g. engages, possibly through engagement means, a part (also called "actuator means") of the card holder, e.g. a button to operate the ejector, which is actuated by the user during a predetermined operation, e.g. forcing the cards to exit the housing. As a result of the actuation the generator means, or part of it, will move or deform, preferably in a cyclic or alternating manner.

The generator means preferably comprises an electric coil, e.g. made of a galvanic conductor and possibly a permanent magnet, mounted to be mutually (preferably alternating) moveable, by engagement of the actuator means; or a part of piezo electric material, mounted to become deformed, by engagement of the actuator means; or is provided by a linear generator or a dynamo or a rotary generator.

The actuator means are preferably: the means, e.g. ejector means, or part of it, to force the cards to exit the housing; a means, e.g. a movable stop inside the housing, which is engaged and moved by the cards, e.g. the minor card side facing the permanently closed longitudinal end of the sleeve shaped housing, at the time they are pushed into the housing by the user; a means associated with a pivot of e.g. the lid for opening and closing the holder; a fly wheel like means comparable to an automatic wind up mechanism of a wrist watch.

Preferably the actuator means are directly or through engagement or transmission means, e.g. a set of gears, drivingly connected to the generator means in such a manner that the generator means, or part of it, is driven such that it makes a turning or rotating or pivoting movement.

The holder is also preferably provided with a galvanic accumulator or battery and/or a galvanic energy consumer, e.g. one or more of a light; a loud speaker; a transmitter and/or receiver, preferably of radio type, for wire less communication of data with a remote device, e.g. to track and trace the holder; a digital CPU or similar processor or data processing system; a digital memory. The accumulator, energy consumer and generator are preferably mutually galvanically connected such that external energy, e.g. from a magnetic field or force or movement provided by the user, is converted into galvanic energy by the generator means which re-charges the accumulator, which latter supplies the consumer. One or more of these parts, preferably all these parts, are preferably embedded in or near an actuator means, e.g. the ejector arm and/or the permanent closure of the one longitudinal end.

The external electromagnetic field is preferably provided by the battery charger, or associated, e.g. separate, part, of a mobile telephone. In this manner, e.g. during sleeping hours of the user, while the mobile phone is being charged, the holder is located immediately on top of the phone and the generator receives the wireless transmitted galvanic energy from the battery charged in a manner similar to the means for charging an electric toothbrush. The battery charger will likely be provided with a dedicated means, e.g. galvanic coil, to generate the required alternating electromagnetic for wireless transmission to the holder.

Preferably, for one or more of the generator, accumulator and energy consumer at least one of the following applies: coupled to and/or integrated into and/or embedded into the ejector arm or a reset means for urging the ejector arm to its retracted position; located between a face of the ejector arm and a facing face of a stationary wall associated with the housing wherein the face of the ejector arm could be a longitudinal end face thus facing a minor side wall of the housing, if in the retracted position, or a longitudinally extending face thus facing a main side wall of the housing; located near the ejector arm non-limiting EXAMPLES

The invention will now be further explained by way of the drawing .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Fig. 1 and 2 show perspective views of the card holder and the cards stack;

Fig. 3 - 5 show the operation of the ejector arm of a card holder, in perspective (fig. 4 and 5 also in side view);

Fig. 6 and 7 show in perspective view two movement possibilities of the ejector arm, mounted within a card holder which is shown in sectional view; Fig. 8 shows in perspective view an alternative to the Fig. 6 embodiment;

Fig. 9a-b show in top view the eject arm in retracted and extended, respectively, position;

Fig. 10 shows part of the fig. 5a view from a different angle ;

Fig. 11 shows an end view of the housing.

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. Fig. 1 is an exploded view and shows the neat stack 2 in the way it is stored in the housing 1 with all cards mutually registered. Fig. 2 shows the cards after operation of the ejector, partly projecting outside the housing 1 and the individual cards 4, 5 mutually staggered such that of all cards the top edge of their main face is visible.

Fig. 3 shows the empty holder and the ejector arm in the first and second position, respectively. The engagement edges at different levels projecting from the ejector arm, to eject the cards stack in staggered fashion, are clearly visible. Also visible is the finger button 18 projecting outside the holder and driving the ejector arm.

Fig. 4 shows the holder filled with four stacked cards in register, the lower side of each card 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 edge such that the cards stack is partly ejected. Since each engagement edge 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 is obtained (shown in fig. 5 in which the ejector arm is in its second position) .

Fig. 6 shows in perspective sectional view a holder with a card eject feature 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, or immediately at the operation face 18a as part of the stepped element 16. The stepped element is made from steps, wherein the by the steps provided card contact edges 19 can each exert force against the individual side of another card, which sides face the ejector arm 16. The card contact edges 19 can be regarded as the thickness of the steps in the stepped shape and the height of these edges (or in other words: faces) is equal to or smaller then the nominal card thickness (approx. 0.8 mm), 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.

Fig. 7 shows a possible variant of the embodiment of fig. 6, wherein the stepped element 16 can translate in the direction in which the cards are slid through the card opening 3 and out the housing (illustrated by the arrow B) and which by means of a reset spring 20 after releasing the operation part 18 returns immediately and automatically to the initial position. As will be appreciated, the cards stack is also staggered if completely inside the holder, in this embodiment.

As is clear from all fig. 1-7, the thickness of the ejector arm 16 stepwise decreases from the proximal (close to the pivot point 17) to the distal (free or remote) end.

The main side walls have smooth, level and flat inner faces .

The pivot shaft 17 of the embodiment of fig. 6 is drivingly associated with a generator means (not shown) such that pivoting of the arm 16 drives the generator means which thus generates galvanic energy. The accumulator is embedded in the arm 16 and thus is not visible in the drawing. The energy consumers are embedded in the wall 15 (also called "bottom") permanently closing the longitudinal housing end associated with the arm 16, thus these parts are not visible in the drawing.

In fig. 8, the generator means and the accumulator are integrated into a single component 32.

Fig. 9 shows the ejector arm and its mounting elements removed from the sleeve like housing 1. The thickness of the arm 16 decreases stepwise towards its free longitudinal tip 6. The pivot 17 is supported by a mounting wall 35 which makes an angle of 90 degrees with the associated bottom 15. If assembled with the housing 1, this wall 35 is parallel to the main side walls 31. The spring 20 could be provided as piezo element or could be coupled with a piezo element such that alternating stretching and relaxing of spring 20 generates galvanic energy caused by the piezo effect.

Fig. 10 and 11 show a possible location of components 32, 33 and 34 each containing one or more of a galvanic generator, accumulator and energy consumer. One or more of components 32, 33 and 34 could be left out from the embodiments shown. Component 32 is embedded into arm 16. If in the retracted position of the arm 16, component 33 is located between a longitudinal end face of the ejector arm 16 and the facing minor side wall of the housing 1. Also if in the retracted position of the arm 16, component 34 is located between the main side wall 31 of the housing 1 and the facing longitudinally extending face of the ejector arm 16.

The drawing, the specification and claims contain many features in combination. The skilled person will consider these also individually and combine them to further embodiments. 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.