Flash memory card carrier

• US 8,446,728 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2011
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wade S. Mcdonald
• Original Assignee: Wade S. Mcdonald
• Inventors: McDonald, Wade S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edmonds, Lisa Lea
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US13/041,560
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 439/945, 439/946
• US Class Current: 361/737
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• 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

Abstract

A multi-standard flash-memory-card carrier includes a carrier chassis and bay to accept flash-memory cards. Embodiments provide flexible hinges or covers allowing use of the card within the chassis or release there from, and adaptable chassis to include additional flash-memory storage within the chassis and data transfer through connected wires within the flexible hinge. All micro and standard flash-memory cards can be carried in the disclosed flash-memory-card carrier, and all embodiments of the carrier can be sized for easy placement in plastic sleeves for credit cards in a person'"'"'s wallet.

Claims

1. A flash-memory card carrier comprising:

a chassis;

a uniformly deep chassis bay portion;

at least one flexible hinge element comprising one end affixed to the chassis at one end of the chassis bay portion;

a clip assembly on a second end of the at least one flexible hinge element, the clip assembly sized to receive and releasably hold a non-contact end of a flash memory card;

wherein the at least one flexible hinge element, clip assembly and releasably attached flash memory card are sized to be received and reside within the chassis bay portion for transport or storage to prevent inadvertent loss of the flash memory card, and wherein the flash memory card may be deployed from the chassis bay portion on the at least one flexible hinge element to be detached for use or used while connected to the carrier.

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

a rectangular, uniformly deep chassis bay portion centered on a planar rectangular chassis side surface providing a storage of the at least one flexible hinge element, the clip assembly and the releasably attached flash memory card within the bay portion below the planar rectangular chassis side surface.

3. The flash-memory card carrier of claim 2 wherein the chassis, the at least one flexible hinge element, and the clip assembly further comprise plastic.

4. The flash-memory card carrier of claim 3 wherein the at least one flexible hinge element is operable and deformable to allow the second end of the at least one flexible hinge element and corresponding clip assembly and flash-memory card to reach a position orthogonal to the planar rectangular chassis side surface.

5. The flash-memory card carrier of claim 1 wherein the chassis bay portion comprises a solid chassis backing.

6. The flash-memory card carrier of claim 5 wherein the chassis bay portion comprises a translucent chassis backing.

7. A flash-memory card carrier comprising:

a chassis;

a uniformly deep chassis bay portion;

at least one flexible hinge element comprising one end affixed to the chassis at one end of the chassis bay portion;

a second end of the at least one flexible hinge element affixed to a non-contact end of a flash memory card;

wherein the at least one flexible hinge element and attached flash memory card are sized to be received and reside within the chassis bay portion for transport or storage to prevent inadvertent loss of the flash memory card, and wherein the flash memory card may be deployed from the chassis bay portion on the at least one flexible hinge element for use or used while connected to the carrier.

8. The flash-memory card carrier of claim 7 further comprising:

a rectangular, uniformly deep chassis bay portion on an upper corner of a planar rectangular chassis side surface providing a storage of the at least one flexible hinge element and the attached flash memory card within the bay portion below the planar rectangular chassis side surface.

9. The flash-memory card carrier of claim 8 further comprising at least one flash memory card embedded inside the chassis.

10. The flash-memory card carrier of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of conductive wire leads within the at least one flexible hinge element electronically linking the flash memory card on the hinge element to the at least one flash memory card embedded inside the chassis.

11. The flash-memory card carrier of claim 10 wherein the chassis and the at least one flexible hinge element further comprise plastic.

12. The flash-memory card carrier of claim 11 wherein the at least one flexible hinge element is operable and deformable to allow the second end of the at least one flexible hinge element and corresponding flash-memory card to reach a position orthogonal to the planar rectangular chassis side surface.

13. A flash-memory card carrier comprising:

a chassis;

a rectangular, uniformly deep chassis bay portion sized to receive and releasably hold a non-contact end of a flash memory card, the chassis bay portion centered on a planar rectangular chassis side surface;

a flexible cover element comprising one end affixed to one end of the planar rectangular chassis surface and extending over the chassis bay portion to the other end of the planar rectangular chassis surface; and

attachment means within the chassis bay to releasably hold the flash memory card;

wherein the flash memory card is sized to be received and reside within the chassis bay portion for transport or storage to prevent inadvertent loss of the flash memory card, and wherein the flash memory card may be deployed from the chassis bay portion for use by lifting the flexible cover element and detaching the flash memory card from the attachment means within the chassis bay.

14. The flash-memory card carrier of claim 13 wherein the attachment means within the chassis bay comprises a vertical adhesive strip running the entire height of the chassis bay.

15. The flash-memory card carrier of claim 13 wherein the chassis bay portion comprises a solid chassis backing.

16. The flash-memory card carrier of claim 13 wherein the chassis bay portion comprises a translucent chassis backing.