Holder for an identification card

• US 7,228,651 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Megalock Oy (Kone Oyj)
• Original Assignee: Megalock Oy (Kone Oyj)
• Inventors: Saari, Simo
• Primary Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US10/069,170
• Time in Patent Office: 2,496 Days
• Field of Search: 40/15, 40/16, 406/01, 406/610.4, 406/66, 24/31.1, 24/31.2, 24/31.3, 242/371, 242/379, 242/379.2, 242/400, 242/378, 242/378.1, 242/378.2, 224/162, 403/348, 403/349, 403/DIG.4
• US Class Current: 40/1.5
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/055 Thin, flat, rectangular articles, e.g. ID badges or cards
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/004 with an automatic spring reel
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/20 for adjustable, removable, or interchangeable labels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1394 Article held by clip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1397 Article held by flexible connector [e.g., chain]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7005 Lugged member, rotary engagement

Abstract

An identification card holder, on the front side of which a replaceable identification card can be placed. A spring-loaded yo-yo is fastened and positioned on the reverse side of the holder, such that the yo-yo remains partially or completely invisible as the card, along with its holder, is viewed from the front side. As the yo-yo is integrated with the holder, the result will be a small-sized, readily portable, and easy-to-handle assembly, which can be distanced from a bearer to the proximity of a code reader for an electric lock without releasing the suspension.

Claims

1. A holder, comprising an identification card, a front side and a reverse side and provided with holding or gripping elements for the identification card for placing the identification card removably on the front side of the holder, a suspension clip for suspending the holder to a necklace or directly to a bearer'"'"'s garment, and a yo-yo, engageable with the reverse side of the holder and comprising a spring-loaded string winder and a string to whose end the suspension clip is attached, wherein the yo-yo is fastened and positioned on the reverse side of the card holder, such that the yo-yo is partially or completely masked by the holder and/or the card as the card with the holder is viewed from the front side.

2. A holder as set forth in claim 1, wherein the card holder and the yo-yo have there between a clamp element, which is releasably insertable in a locking aperture present in the card holder and which is designed for accommodating the yo-yo and provided with fastening lugs taking hold of the yo-yo.

3. A holder as set forth in claim 2, wherein the clamp element is provided with two clamp protrusions taking a hold behind collars of the locking aperture present in the card holder.

4. A holder as set forth in claim 3, wherein the locking aperture has collars constituting an annular recess on the front side of the card holder, and that the clamp protrusions are flat clamp tongues located in said annular recess.

5. A holder as set forth in claim 4, wherein the locking aperture has the collars provided with two slots of unequal widths for accommodating therethrough the clamp tongues of respectively unequal widths.

6. A holder as set forth in claim 1, wherein the yo-yo is fastened as an integral part of the card holder.

7. A holder as set forth in claim 1, wherein a microchip containing an identifier code is attached to the holder or the identification card.

8. A holder for an identification card, comprising a front side and a reverse side and provided with holding or gripping elements for the identification card for placing the identification card removably on the front side of the holder, a suspension clip for suspending the holder to a necklace or directly to a bearer'"'"'s garment, and a yo-yo that is engageable with the reverse side of the holder and comprising a spring-loaded string winder and a string to whose end the suspension clip is attached, wherein the yo-yo is fastened and positioned on the reverse side of the card holder, such that the yo-yo is partially or completely masked by the holder and/or the card as the card with the holder is viewed from the front side;

wherein the card holder and the yo-yo have there between a clamp element, which is releasably insertable in a locking aperture present in the card holder and which is designed for accommodating the yo-yo and provided with fastening lugs taking hold of the yo-yo, the clamp element is provided with two clamp protrusions taking a hold behind collars of the locking aperture present in the card holder, the locking aperture has the collars constitute an annular recess on the front side of the card holder, and that the clamp protrusions are flat clamp tongues located in said annular recesses, the collars have a side facing the front of the holder which is provided with a wedge surface, and the clamp tongues include a first clamp tongue and a second clamp tongue, wherein the first clamp tongue has a smaller width than the second clamp tongue, said first clamp tongue being forcible thereover by turning the clamp element relative to the card holder, and that alongside the wedge surface is a stepped border, the clamp tongue colliding therewith, thus impeding a turn-back of the clamp element.

9. A holder as set forth in claim 8, wherein the collars have a side facing the front of the holder which is provided with another border surface, the first clamp tongue colliding therewith after turning the clamp element about 90°

from the position in which the first clamp tongue has collided against the stepped border.

10. A holder as set forth in claim 9, wherein the locking aperture collar has its reverse side, upon which the clamp element is set along with the yo-yo, provided with a retainer pin, and the clamp element has the side thereof, which comes against the card holder, provided with two retainer slots at a 90°

angular distance from each other.

11. A holder as set forth in claim 8, wherein the locking aperture collar has its reverse side, upon which the clamp element is set along with the yo-yo, provided with a retainer pin, and the clamp element has the side thereof, which comes against the card holder, provided with two retainer slots at a 90°

angular distance from each other.

12. A holder for attaching an identification card to a garment, comprising:

a front side;

a reverse side;

gripping elements for the identification card for placing the identification card removably on the front side of the holder;

a yo-yo, attached to the reverse side of the holder and comprising a spring-loaded string winder and a string, the string comprising a first end, attached to the yo-yo and a second free end; and

a suspension clip adapted to connect directly to the garment and connected to the free end of the string,

wherein the yo-yo is fastened and positioned on the reverse side of the holder, such that the yo-yo is partially or completely masked by the holder and/or the card as the card with the holder is viewed from the front side.

13. A holder as set forth in claim 12, wherein the card holder and the yo-yo have there between a clamp element, which is releasably insertable in a locking aperture present in the card holder and which is designed for accommodating the yo-yo and provided with fastening lugs taking hold of the yo-yo.

14. A holder as set forth in claim 13, wherein the clamp element is provided with two clamp protrusions taking a hold behind collars of the locking aperture present in the card holder.

15. A holder as set forth in claim 14, wherein the locking aperture has collars constituting an annular recess on the front side of the card holder, and that the clamp protrusions are flat clamp tongues located in said annular recess.

16. A holder as set forth in claim 15, wherein the locking aperture has the collars provided with two slots of unequal widths for accommodating therethrough the clamp tongues of respectively unequal widths.

17. A holder as set forth in claim 12, wherein a microchip containing an identifier code is attached to the holder or the identification card.