Apparatus for preventing credit card loss
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a billfold including first and second sections and a hinge joining the sections for pivotal movement;
said first section having a pocket with an opening which provides access to the pocket, said pocket being adapted to receive a card through said opening;
said hinge joining the first and second sections for pivotal movement between a closed position in which the sections are in confronting relationship and an open position in which the sections are out of confronting relationship and the opening of the pocket is exposed to allow insertion into and withdrawal of the card from the pocket;
a card missing indicator coupled to the billfold; and
said indicator including a signaling element adjacent the opening, said signaling element being movable between a card-out position in which at least a portion of said signaling element is spaced from the first section and a card-in position in which said portion of the signaling element is substantially closer to the first section, said indicator including biasing means for urging the signaling element toward the card-out position, said portion of the signaling element being adapted to be held in the card-in position by the card when the card is in the pocket and to be urged by the biasing means to the card-out position when the card is out of the pocket to signal the absence of the card from the pocket.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus comprising a billfold including first and second sections and a hinge joining the sections for pivotal movement. The first section has a pocket with an opening which provides access to the pocket and the pocket is adapted to receive a card, such as a credit card, through the opening. The hinge joins the first and second sections for pivotal movement between a closed position in which the sections are in confronting, engaging relationship over major portions thereof and an open position in which the sections are out of confronting relationship and the opening of the pocket is exposed to allow insertion of the card into, and withdrawal of the card from, the pocket. A card-missing indicator is coupled to the billfold. The indicator is responsive to removal of the card from the pocket when the sections are in the open position for inhibiting pivotal movement of the first and second sections to the closed position.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a billfold including first and second sections and a hinge joining the sections for pivotal movement; said first section having a pocket with an opening which provides access to the pocket, said pocket being adapted to receive a card through said opening; said hinge joining the first and second sections for pivotal movement between a closed position in which the sections are in confronting relationship and an open position in which the sections are out of confronting relationship and the opening of the pocket is exposed to allow insertion into and withdrawal of the card from the pocket; a card missing indicator coupled to the billfold; and said indicator including a signaling element adjacent the opening, said signaling element being movable between a card-out position in which at least a portion of said signaling element is spaced from the first section and a card-in position in which said portion of the signaling element is substantially closer to the first section, said indicator including biasing means for urging the signaling element toward the card-out position, said portion of the signaling element being adapted to be held in the card-in position by the card when the card is in the pocket and to be urged by the biasing means to the card-out position when the card is out of the pocket to signal the absence of the card from the pocket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus comprising:
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a billfold including first and second sections and a hinge joining the sections for pivotal movement; said first section having a pocket with an opening which provides access to the pocket, said pocket being adapted to receive a card through said opening; said hinge joining the first and second sections for pivotal movement between a closed position in which the sections are in confronting, engaging relationship over major portions thereof and an open position in which the sections are out of the confronting relationship and the opening of the pocket is exposed to allow insertion into and withdrawal of the card from the pocket; a card missing indicator coupled the billfold; and said card missing indicator including means responsive to the removal of the card from the pocket when said sections are in said open position for inhibiting pivotal movement of the first and second sections to the closed position.
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8. A card-missing indicator comprising:
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a base; means for attaching the base to a supporting surface; a signaling element coupled to the base and movable between a card-out position in which a portion of the signaling element is spaced from the base and a card-in position in which said portion of the signaling element is substantially closer to the base; biasing means for urging said portion of the signaling element away from the base; a strut extending between said portion of said signaling element and said base and cooperating with the base to inhibit movement of said portion of the signaling element against the biasing means and toward the base; and the card-missing indicator being sized and adapted to be received in a billfold. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification