SIM card carrier

• US 6,766,952 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quadnovation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quadnovation, Inc.
• Inventors: Luu, Daniel V. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAIK, STEVE S
• Application Number:
  US10/159,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20030085285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 235/451, 235/492, 235/375, 235/441, 235/380, 235/382, 455/451, 455/462
• US Class Current: 235/451
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07739 comprising a first part capable of functioning as a record carrier on its own and a second part being only functional as a form factor changing part, e.g. SIM cards type ID 0001, removably attached to a regular smart card form factor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0775 arrangements for connecting the integrated circuit to the antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0034 the connector being capable of simultaneously receiving a plurality of cards in the same insertion slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A carrier for at least one integrated circuit chip card or memory card, such as a plug-in sized SIM card, is preferably formed as a detachable cover fitted to or attached to the housing or battery pack of a portable electronic device. For example, the cover may be formed as a snap-on or slidably detachable cover over the back surface of a mobile telephone or the battery pack thereof. The cover includes at least one holder provided on the inwardly-facing surface of the detachable cover so that the extra chip cards are protected and hidden from view when the cover is attached to the portable electronic device. The holder(s) may be provided as a pocket, recess, hinged frame, or a contoured ridge or ridges formed on the interior surface of the cover. Alternatively, the carrier may also be formed as a carrier card having the holder(s) provided on a surface thereof.

Claims

1. A carrier for an integrated circuit chip card, comprising:

a detachable cover for engaging a housing of a portable electronic and/or communication device over a battery unit attached to the device separately and independently from the cover, the cover having a first surface which faces exteriorly when the cover is engaged on a housing of a portable electronic and/or communication device, and a second surface which faces the housing of the device when the cover is engaged on a housing of a portable electronic and/or communication device; and

at least one holder provided on the second surface of the cover, each of the at least one holder being sized and configured to passively store a chip card,

wherein neither the cover nor any of the at least one holder includes any electrical contacts for enabling electronic access to information stored on a chip card placed into any of the at least one card holder.

2. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the cover is configured to engage the housing of a mobile telephone.

3. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the cover is configured to engage the housing of a palmtop computer or handheld computer.

4. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the cover is configured to engage the housing of a laptop or notebook computer.

5. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one holder is sized and configured to hold a plug-in sized SIM card on the cover.

6. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one holder is sized and configured to hold a full-sized SIM card on the cover.

7. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one holder is formed as a pocket for receiving a chip card therein, the pocket being configured to securely hold a chip card inserted therein.

8. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one holder is formed as a recess on the second surface of the cover, each recess having dimensions substantially corresponding to the dimensions of a chip card for securely retaining a chip card on the cover.

9. The carrier according to claim 8, wherein each recess has a depth such that when a chip card is placed in the recess, the chip card lies flush with the second surface of the cover.

10. The carrier according to claim 8, wherein each recess includes a notch extending outwardly from one side of the recess for facilitating removal of a chip card inserted into the recess.

11. The carrier according to claim 8, wherein each recess includes at least one resilient retaining element formed along at least one side of the recess, each retaining element being biased toward the center of the recess so that when a chip card is placed in the recess, the chip card is securely held therein.

12. The carrier according to claim 11, wherein each recess includes at least one resilient retaining element formed along each of at least two sides of the respective recess.

13. The carrier according to claim 11, wherein each recess includes a notch extending outwardly from one side of the recess for facilitating removal of a chip card inserted into the recess, the notch being formed along a different side of the recess from the side or sides along which each of the at least one resilient retaining element are formed.

14. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one holder is formed as a frame structure pivotably mounted to the second surface of the cover, the frame structure being configured to receive and hold a chip card inserted therein.

15. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one holder includes a pair of ridges formed on the second surface of the cover, wherein the pair of ridges conform to the contour of two adjacent corners of a chip card;

and

a retaining strip affixed to the second surface of the cover at a position to span the dimension of a chip card determined by the two adjacent corners thereof corresponding to the pair of ridges, wherein the retaining strip is provided at a height above the second surface of the cover to enable insertion of a chip card into the holder and to securely hold the inserted chip card in place on the cover.

16. The carrier according to claim 15, wherein the pair of ridges conform to the contour of two adjacent corners of a SIM card, and wherein one of the ridges conforms to an angled corner of a SIM card.

17. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one holder includes

a ridge formed on the second surface of the cover, wherein the ridge conforms to the contour of two adjacent corners and the intervening side of a chip card;

and

a retaining strip affixed to the second surface of the cover at a position to span the dimension of a chip card determined by the two adjacent corners thereof corresponding to the contoured ridge, wherein the retaining strip is provided at a height above the second surface of the cover to enable insertion of a chip card into the holder and to securely hold the inserted chip card in place on the cover.

18. The carrier according to claim 17, wherein the ridge conforms to the contour of two adjacent corners and the intervening side of a SIM card, and one of the corners is an angled corner of a SIM card.

19. A carrier for art integrated circuit chip card, comprising:

a carrier card; and

at least one holder provided on a surface of the carrier card, each of the at least one holders being formed as a recess on the surface of the carrier card, each recess having dimensions substantially corresponding to the dimensions of a chip card for securely retaining the chip card on the carrier card and further having a notch extending outwardly from one side of the recess for facilitating removal of a chip card inserted into the recess.

20. The carrier according to claim 19, wherein each recess has a depth such that when a chip card is placed in the recess, the chip card lies flush with the surface of the carrier card.

21. The carrier according to claim 19, wherein each recess includes at least one resilient retaining element formed along at least one side of the recess, each retaining element being biased toward the center of the recess so that when a chip card is placed in the recess, the chip card is securely held therein, and wherein the notch is formed along a different side of the recess from the side or sides along which each of the at least one resilient retaining element is formed.

22. The carrier according to claim 19, wherein the carrier card has substantially the same dimensions as a full-sized SIM card or a credit card.

23. The carrier according to claim 19, wherein each of the at least one holders is sized and configured to hold a plug-in sized SIM card.

24. A carrier for an integrated circuit chip card, comprising:

a carrier card; and

at least one holder provided on a surface of the carrier card, wherein each of the at least one holder is formed as a frame structure pivotably mounted on the carrier card, the frame structure being configured to receive and hold a chip card inserted therein.

25. The carrier according to claim 24, wherein the carrier card has substantially the same dimensions as a full-sized SIM card or a credit card.

26. The carrier according to claim 24, wherein each of the at least one holders is sized and configured to hold a plug-in sized SIM card.

27. A carrier for an integrated circuit chip card, comprising:

a carrier card; and

at least one holder provided on a surface of the carrier card, wherein each of the at least one holder includes at least one ridge formed on a surface of the carrier card, and which conform to the contour of two adjacent corners of a chip card; and

a retaining strip affixed to the surface of the carrier card at a position to span the dimension of a chip card determined by the two adjacent corners thereof corresponding to the at least one ridge wherein the retaining strip is provided at a height above the surface of the carrier card to enable insertion of a chip card into the holder and to securely hold the inserted chip card in place in the holder.

28. The carrier according to claim 27, wherein the at least one ridge is a pair of ridges each conforming to the contour of a respective one of the two adjacent corners of a chip card.

29. The carrier according to claim 28, wherein the pair of ridges conform to the contour of two adjacent corners of a plug-in sized SIM card, and wherein one of the ridges conforms to an angled corner of a plug-in sized SIM card.

30. The carrier according to claim 27, wherein the at least one ridge is a single ridge conforming to the contour of two adjacent corners and the intervening side of a chip card.

31. The carrier according to claim 30, wherein the ridge conforms to the contour of two adjacent corners and the intervening side of a plug-in sized SIM card, and one of the corners is an angled corner of a plug-in sized SIM card.