CREDIT-CARD-SIZED CARRIER OF BOTH STANDARD AND MICRO FORM-FACTOR FLASH-MEMORY CARDS

• US 20100258459A1
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• 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 9,033,143 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;

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 micro flash cards includes a notch; and

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.

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 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 each of the micro flash cards includes a notch; and

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.

19. The wallet flash and carrier of claim 18 which includes 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.