The present invention relates to a smart card holder. More especially, the invention relates to a multiple smart card holder that protects the card data from being remotely accessed during storage and which provides a simple way of exposing a section of a particular card when required for data to be read, while maintaining the main body of that card within the holder.

By "smart card" it is meant a card that has internal memory storing data, for example microchip cards, integrated circuit cards and those embodying contactless technology.

Smart cards are becoming the preferred medium for carrying data relating to the card owner which can be read to allow the owner to carry out everyday tasks such as travelling on public transport and accessing money.

There is an increasing requirement for card data to be read quickly and efficiently without delaying the card owner from carrying out the tasks at normal pace. This is not necessarily problematic when only one smart card (for example an Oyster card ¹ ") is used. However, as the use smart card technology increases across different applications (for example in bank applications or applications relating to personal identity) then it will become increasingly difficult to select, retrieve and swipe the correct card for a particular purpose without significant delay.

Moreover, tne use or smart cara tecnnoiogy requires increased security measures to prevent ctata ceing remotely accessed oy unauthorised parties. Various types of hand held data readers are available, with increasing efficiency and improving technology to access data from cards. Consequently protection of data while the cards are being carried around but not being used is becoming ever important.

WO 2005102099 discloses a three-dimensional card case including a cavity surrounded by two sidewalls a rear wall and an opening on the side opposite the rear wall. The cards are inserted into slots at the opening of the cavity until they flush with an ejector tab at the rear wall. Each ejector tab is aligned with a pair of cards, allowing both cards to be ejected by the tab mechanism through the actuation of buttons located on the exterior of the case.

The present invention seeks to alleviate the aforementioned problems by providing an ergonomically designed multiple smart card holder that includes at least one layer which acts as a barrier to data readers while the cards are fully retained within the holder and means to partially expose only part of one selected card to allow data to be accessed by a data reader at required point in time. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a smart card holder comprising a housing, the housing retaining therein a plurality of frames each capable of holding, in use, a single smart card, and means to selectively move any one frame relative to the housing from a first position whereby the card held within said frame is retained entirely within the housing and second position wherein only part of the card is exposed outside the housing to thereby allow data to be read from the card. Preferably the housing includes a layer of material acting as a barrier to data readers to prevent data being accessed from cards held fully within the housing. Preferably still the layer consists of an aluminium foil. Preferably layers of aluminium foil extend across the front and back surfaces of the housing.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures in which :

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a card holder constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the card holder of Figure 1 with the lid on;

Figure 3 is a side perspective view of the card holder of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a view in cross-section through A-A of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through B-B of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a view showing the assembly of the various components of the card holder;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a card holder of a second embodiment constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 8 is side view of the card holder of figure 7; Figure 9 is a view of the bottom edge of the card holder of figures 7 and 8;

Figure 10 is an internal view of the second embodiment;

Figure 11 is an exploded end view of the card holder of the second embodiment;

Figure 12 is a view of the top divider section of the card holder of the second embodiment;

Figure 13 is view of the internal cage of the card holder of the second embodiment; Figure 14 is an exploded view of a top corner of figure 13;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of a card holder of the second embodiment during use; Figure 16 illustrates a a card holder constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 17 is a side view fo the card holder of figure 16; and Figure 18 is a perspective view of the card holder of the third embodiment in use.

Referring first to figures 1 to 3, the card holder comprises a main housing 10 having front and back walls 12, 14 and a hinged lid 16.

The housing walls 12, 14 are made from a thermoplastic material, for example from copolymer ABS. The lid 16 is made, for example, from a polycarbonate ABS blend material and is transparent to allow the cards to be viewed when the lid 16 is closed. The lid 16 is connected along length of the one side wall 14 via a hinge.

The front wall 12 has a plurality of apertures 18 spread equally along its length near to the base. Buttons 20 capable of being depressed extend through the apertures 18. In the embodiment shown, four buttons 20 are provided.

The top edge of the front wall 12 is formed with a semicircular recess 22. The lid 16 is provided with a corresponding semi-circular projection 24 such that, when the lid 16 is closed, the projection completes the front wall 12 of the housing 10.

The back wall 14 has a vertical slot 26 (see figure 4) through which also extends a reset button (not shown) . This button is pushed to reset a card 28 back within the housing 10, as will be explained later.

Four separate frames 30A-D are retained within the housing 10. Each frame 30 is designed to hold a single smart card 28 in use. Although the embodiment described shows four frames 30, it will be appreciated that any number of frames may be retained within the housing 10. The width of the housing 10 can be varied to accommodate more or less cards 28.

The various components of the housing 10 will now be described initially with reference to Figure 6.

Layers of aluminium foil 32 are located against the internal surface the front and back walls 12, 14. The foil layers 32 are designed to provide an effective barrier against unauthorised attempts to access the data on the cards located within the housing 10. Although the embodiment described refers to the barrier layer being aluminium foil it is clearly envisaged that many other suitable material may be used for this purpose. It is also envisaged that, rather than the provision of a separate layer the housing may itself may be made of a material having the appropriate properties to prevent data access, or the housing wall may be otherwise embedded with such material.

The card frames 30A-D are located adjacent each other within an inner casing 34 in the housing 10.

The casing 34 includes a top section 36 that is also formed with a semi-circular recess 38 such that a section of the smart cards 28 located in the frames 30 are unobstructed by the frames 30.

The casing 34 is retained within the housing 10 by a further frame 40 secured to the raised corners of the top section of 36 of the casing 34 and to the housing 10 by standard screws 42.

The card frames 30 are retained within the casing 34 via elastic blocks 44A-D along the edges of each frame 30A-D.

During normal use, when the cards 28 are retained fully within in the housing 10 the frames 30 are held fully within the housing 10 under tension by the elastic blocks 44. Each individual frame 30A-D extends at one end through a slot 46A-D in a block member 48A-D extending along the base of the housing 10. Each block member 48A-D is attached at one end of a respective button 20A-D and abuts at the other end a sheet spring 50 located against the back wall 14 of the housing 10.

The end of each frame 30A-D has a protruding stop portion 52A- D which abuts against the underside of the block member 48A-D to prevent the each frame 30A-D from being pulled upwardly by the respective elastic blocks 44A-D when the respective buttons 20A-D are in their non-depressed state.

Depression of button 20A, for example, acts against a corresponding section of the sheet spring 50 and pushes block 48A which disengages the frame 30A from the slot 46A. As the frame 30A is held under tension, once disengaged, the frame 30A raises upwardly within the housing 10 to expose a section of the associated smart card 28A to allow a data reader (for example an Oyster™ card) reader to access the data on the card.

Once the card has been read the frame 30A is lowered back into position within the housing 10 by lowering of the reset button within the slot 26. All the cards 28 are now back within the confines of the housing 10 ready for another card to be selected at a required time.

The smart card 28A is raised to a position where a proportion of the card 28A is unobstructed by the front wall 12 of the housing 10 (through the recess 36) to allow the data on that card to be read by a card reader. In use, the required button 20A-D is depressed for a desired card 28A-D to be raised and the card holder is then placed across the reader to allow data on the card 28A-D to be read. The lid 16 remains closed at all times during scanning so that the card 28A-D does not leave the housing 10. At all times, ^' the card 28A-D remains within the housing 10. This avoids delays in taking the card out of the housing to be used, and placing it back in afterwards (often while on the move) . It also avoids the possibility of the card not being placed back in the housing 10 after use and, in some cases, being subsequently lost.

Figures 7 to 15 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment does not have a lid, nor does the front wall have a recess.

As can be seen in Figures 7 and 8, the housing comprises front and rear walls 50, 52 that are connected together using screws located within recessed apertures 54. The front and rear walls have a metal plate or sheet 56 attached to their inner surfaces. The metal plates engage with each to form a faraday cage (see figure 13) which provides a barrier to unauthorised attempts to access data on the cards located within the housing during use.

Referring to Figure 9, recessed buttons 58 are formed in the bottom edge of the housing. The buttons 58 can be slid from side to side in order to activate the internal release card mechanism. Two buttons may move in a direction opposite to the other two buttons.

Each card is located in a frame or carrier 60. The embodiment shows the holder having four carriers. This is regarded as providing the optimum ergonomic and aesthetic design. It will appreciated that any number of carriers 60 may be incorporated into the housing. As can be seen in Figures 10 and 11, the card release mechanism includes two springs 62 per carrier 60 which slide up and down on individual rods 64.

The spring mechanism aids assembly of the carriers 60 as the springs are first mounted on the respective rods and then are inserted all together in one assembly step.

Each carrier 60 comprises a single piece of plastic and includes a sprung finger 66 which helps to keep the cards in place within the carrier 60 and maintains the card in position within the carrier 60. This allows a gap in which the card is received which has sufficient width to receive cards with raised surface characters as well as ones with entirely flat surfaces .

Referring now to Figure 12, a top divider section 68 is formed with three flat divider pieces 70 held together with end caps 72. It will be appreciated that the number of divider pieces 70 needed is dependent on the number of carriers 60. The end caps 72 fit onto bosses formed in the housing to retain the top divider section 68 securely in place.

Turning to Figure 14, the metal plates 56 forming the metal cage are connected together in such a way as to provide an overlap 74 over the side of one metal plate. This is to provide a full shielding effect. As an alternative to metal sheets, a coating of RFID paint may be applied to the housing. In such a case an overlap may not be required. The metals plates 56 are attached to the inside of the front and rear walls 50, 52 via small bosses. Figure 15 shows the apparatus in use with a card partially exposed from the housing.

The outer surface of the front plate 50 may include a recessed area 76 in which a corporate logo or the like may be applied.

Figures 16 to 18 illustrate another embodiment of the invention .

In this embodiment, the card housing takes the form of a wallet 78 having a plurality of sleeves or pockets 80. The sleeves are welded together at one end (see Figure 17) and that end is in turn welded to an inside cover 82 of the wallet 78. One pocket 84 in or close the middle of the plurality of pockets 80 includes an aluminium sheet secured within the pocket such that it cannot easily be removed. The aluminium sheet acts as barrier to unauthorised attempts to access date on the cards located within the wallet during use.

In a similar embodiment (not shown in the figures) the card housing takes the form of a simple wallet (such as a leather one for example) which has an integral central divider coated with, or otherwise including, a material which acts as a barrier to the access of data from, contained on cards within the wallet.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing are merely examples of embodiments of card holders and just some examples of their use. The skilled reader will readily understand that modifications can be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.