Credit-Card-Sized Carrier of Both Standard and Micro Form-Factor Flash-Memory Cards

• US 20090301909A1
• Filed: 06/05/2008
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kingston Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kingston Technology Corporation
• Inventors: SHIU, George K.L., Tang, Choon Tak
• Granted Patent: US 7,757,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/307.100
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/18 Ticket-holders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/182 Credit card holders
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/188 Media card holders, e.g. memory cards, SIM cards

Abstract

A multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier is about the same size as a thick credit card and fits into a wallet. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier has bays that accept flash-memory cards. Larger bays on one side receive SD cards and a Memory Stick Duo card, while micro bays on another side of the carrier receive microSD cards and Memory Stick Micro cards. A carrier spine sandwiched between top and bottom covers has openings forming the bays. Spring-clip tabs on spring-clip fingers fit into notches on the side of the flash-memory cards to secure the flash-memory cards into the multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier to prevent loss. The spring-clip fingers are movable parts of the carrier spine that are deformed during insertion of the flash-memory cards. Both micro and standard flash-memory cards can be carried in the same multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier that can be placed in plastic sleeves for credit cards in a person'"'"'s wallet.

Claims

1. A multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier comprising:

a top cover;

a bottom cover;

a carrier spine, situated between the top cover and the bottom cover;

wherein the top cover and the bottom cover are fixed to the carrier spine;

a plurality of larger openings formed on the carrier spine, the larger openings for receiving larger flash cards; and

a plurality of micro openings formed on the carrier spine, the micro openings for receiving micro flash cards;

wherein each of the larger openings is larger than each of the micro openings;

wherein the micro openings are not able to receive the larger flash cards;

wherein the carrier spine, the top cover, and the bottom cover, when assembled into the multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier, are sized to fit in a plastic sleeve for receiving credit cards in a wallet,

whereby both micro flash cards and larger flash cards are carried in the wallet by the multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier.

2. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 1 further comprising:

spring-clip tabs, formed on the carrier spine, for fitting into notches on edges of the micro flash cards,

wherein the spring-clip tabs secure the micro flash cards into the carrier spine to prevent inadvertent loss.

3. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 2 further comprising:

spring-clip fingers, supporting the spring-clip tabs and formed on the carrier spine at edges of the plurality of micro openings, for moving the spring-clip tabs during insertion of the micro flash cards and for forcing the spring-clip tabs into the notches of the micro flash cards when the micro flash cards are fully inserted into the carrier spine.

4. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 3 wherein the spring-clip fingers are deformable portions of the carrier spine that are situated on edges of the plurality of micro openings and are deformed away from the plurality of micro openings by the micro flash cards during insertion.

5. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 4 further comprising:

larger spring-clip tabs, formed on the carrier spine, for fitting into notches on edges of the larger flash cards, for securing the larger flash cards when inserted.

6. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 5 further comprising:

spring sides, formed on the carrier spine, the spring sides supporting the spring-clip tabs at edges of the plurality of larger openings, for moving the spring-clip tabs during insertion of the larger flash cards and for forcing the spring-clip tabs into notches of the larger flash cards when the larger flash cards are fully inserted into the carrier spine.

7. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 6 wherein the spring sides surround an oval cavity in the carrier spine, the spring sides being deformed inward to reduce a size of the oval cavity during insertion of the larger flash cards.

8. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 7 wherein the spring-clip fingers are each connected to the carrier spine at only one end of each of the spring-clip fingers, while the spring sides are connected to the carrier spine at two ends of each of the spring sides.

9. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 3 further comprising:

micro gripping cutouts formed on the bottom cover and on the top cover over the plurality of micro openings, for allowing a person to grip the micro flash cards for removal from the multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier.

10. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 3 wherein the micro flash cards comprise a micro-SecureDigital (microSD) card,

wherein the plurality of micro openings are sized to receive the microSD card.

11. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 3 wherein the micro flash cards comprise a Memory Stick Micro card,

wherein the plurality of micro openings are sized to receive the Memory Stick Micro card.

12. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 3 wherein the micro flash cards comprise a micro-SecureDigital (microSD) card, and a Memory Stick Micro card;

wherein the plurality of micro openings are sized to receive the microSD card and receive the Memory Stick Micro card,

whereby the multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier is able to carry both the microSD card and the Memory Stick Micro card.

13. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 12 wherein the plurality of micro openings comprises:

a microSD bay that is sized to receive a microSD card;

a Memory Stick Micro (M2) bay that is sized to receive a Memory Stick Micro card.

14. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 13 wherein the plurality of larger openings comprises:

a SD card bay that is sized to receive a SD card;

a Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo bay that is sized to receive a Memory Stick Duo card.

15. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 14 wherein the plurality of micro openings further comprises:

a second microSD bay that is sized to receive a second microSD card;

a second Memory Stick Micro (M2) bay that is sized to receive a second Memory Stick Micro card,

wherein the multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier is able to carry two microSD cards and two Memory Stick Micro cards at a same time.

16. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 3 wherein the plurality of larger openings are formed along a first edge of the multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier;

wherein the plurality of micro openings are formed along a second edge of the multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier, wherein the second edge is opposite the first edge,

wherein larger openings and micro openings are on opposite edges of the multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier.

17. The multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier of claim 16 wherein the first edge and the second edge are longer than all other edges of the multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier,

wherein the plurality of larger openings are formed on a longest edge of the multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier.

18. A multi-standard flash-memory-card wallet carrier comprising:

a carrier spine having a length and a width approximating a length and a width of a credit card that fits within credit-card holders in a person'"'"'s wallet;

a top plate that covers a top of the carrier spine;

a bottom plate that covers a bottom of the carrier spine;

a first micro opening formed by the carrier spine, the first micro opening being sized to receive a micro-SecureDigital (microSD) card;

a first spring-clip finger, formed by the carrier spine at an edge of the first micro opening, the first spring-clip finger being deformable by a side of the microSD card when being inserted into the first micro opening;

a first spring-clip tab, formed on the first spring-clip finger, for fitting into a notch on the side of the microSD card, wherein the first spring-clip finger has reduced deformation when the first spring-clip tab fits into the notch;

wherein the first spring-clip finger provides a deformation force to lock the first spring-clip tab into the notch on the microSD card;

a second micro opening formed by the carrier spine, the second micro opening being sized to receive a micro-SecureDigital (microSD) card;

a second spring-clip finger, formed by the carrier spine at a side of the second micro opening, the second spring-clip finger being deformable by an edge of the microSD card when being inserted into the second micro opening;

a second spring-clip tab, formed on the second spring-clip finger, for fitting into a notch on the side of the microSD card, wherein the second spring-clip finger has reduced deformation when the second spring-clip tab fits into the notch;

wherein the second spring-clip finger provides a deformation force to lock the second spring-clip tab into the notch on the microSD card;

a first larger opening formed by the carrier spine, the first larger opening being sized to receive a larger SecureDigital (SD) card;

wherein the larger SecureDigital (SD) card is larger in size than the microSD card;

a first spring side, formed by the carrier spine at an edge of the first larger opening, the first spring side being deformable by a side of the larger SD card when being inserted into the first larger opening; and

a first larger spring-clip tab, formed on the first spring side, for fitting into a notch on the side of the larger SD card, wherein the first spring side has reduced deformation when the first spring-clip tab fits into the notch;

wherein the first spring side provides a deformation force to lock the first spring-clip tab into the notch on the larger SD card;

whereby the multi-standard flash-memory-card wallet carrier carries two microSD cards and one larger SD card.

19. The multi-standard flash-memory-card wallet carrier of claim 18 further comprising:

a second larger opening formed by the carrier spine, the second larger opening being sized to receive a larger MemoryStickDuo card;

a second spring side, formed by the carrier spine at an edge of the second larger opening, the second spring side being deformable by a side of the larger MemoryStickDuo card when being inserted into the second larger opening;

a second larger spring-clip tab, formed on the second spring side, for fitting into a notch on the side of the larger MemoryStickDuo card, wherein the second spring side has reduced deformation when the second spring-clip tab fits into the notch;

wherein the second spring side provides a deformation force to lock the second spring-clip tab into the notch on the larger MemoryStickDuo card;

a third micro opening formed by the carrier spine, the third micro opening being sized to receive a Memory Stick Micro card;

a third spring-clip finger, formed by the carrier spine at a side of the third micro opening, the third spring-clip finger being deformable by an edge of the Memory Stick Micro card when being inserted into the third micro opening;

a third spring-clip tab, formed on the third spring-clip finger, for fitting into a notch on the side of the Memory Stick Micro card, wherein the third spring-clip finger has reduced deformation when the third spring-clip tab fits into the notch;

wherein the third spring-clip finger provides a deformation force to lock the third spring-clip tab into the notch on the Memory Stick Micro card.

20. A wallet flash-card carrier comprising:

a carrier spine;

a top cover situated above the carrier spine;

a bottom cover situated below the carrier spine;

a plurality of larger openings formed on the carrier spine, the larger openings for receiving larger flash-memory cards that are Secure Digital SD cards and MemoryStickDuo cards;

a plurality of micro openings formed on the carrier spine, the micro openings for receiving micro flash-memory cards including microSD cards and Memory Stick Micro cards;

wherein the micro openings are smaller than the larger openings and are not able to receive the larger flash-memory cards;

wherein the carrier spine, the top cover, and the bottom cover, when assembled into the wallet flash-card carrier, are sized to fit in a plastic sleeve for receiving credit cards in a wallet;

spring-clip tabs means, formed on the carrier spine, for fitting into notches on edges of the micro flash-memory cards, and for securing the micro flash-memory cards into the carrier spine;

spring-clip finger means, supporting the spring-clip tabs means and formed on the carrier spine at edges of the plurality of micro openings, for moving the spring-clip tabs means during insertion of the micro flash-memory cards and for forcing the spring-clip tabs means into the notches of the micro flash-memory cards when the micro flash-memory cards are fully inserted into the carrier spine; and

micro gripping cutout means, formed on the bottom cover and on the top cover over the plurality of micro openings, for allowing a person to grip the micro flash-memory cards for removal from the wallet flash-card carrier,

whereby both micro flash-memory cards and larger flash-memory cards are carried in the wallet by the wallet flash-card carrier.