Credit card holding device with security system

• US 8,730,043 B1
• Filed: 02/03/2011
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carl D. Guincho, Ericka C. Guincho
• Original Assignee: Carl D. Guincho, Ericka C. Guincho
• Inventors: Guincho, Carl D., Guincho, Ericka C.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US13/020,360
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.53, 340/568.7, 726/34, 726/9, 705/50, 705/67, 705/41
• US Class Current: 340/568.7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user

Abstract

A card holding device featuring a housing with a plurality of slots in the top panel that allow passage of credit cards. Card holding mechanisms are disposed in the housing, which engage the credit cards. The card holding mechanisms can store the cards or eject the cards when activated. The card holding mechanisms can be locked and unlocked via a biometric scanner. Disposed on the housing is a display adapted to display the names or icons of each credit card stored in the device. When a user presses the icon, the card holding mechanism is activated and ejects that specific credit card from the housing.

Claims

1. A card holding device comprising:

(a) a housing (110) having a front panel (113), a back panel (114), a first side panel (111), a second side panel (112), a top panel (115), and a bottom panel (116), which together form an inner cavity;

(b) a door (120) pivotally attached to the front panel (113) of the housing (110), the door (120) can pivot between at least a first position wherein the door (120) covers the front panel (113) and a second position wherein the door (120) is pivoted away from the front panel (113) such that the front panel (113) is completely visible;

(c) a first slot (130) disposed in the top panel (115) of the housing (110), the first slot (130) is sized to allow passage of a card (101) into and out of the inner cavity of the housing (110);

(d) a microprocessor (310) disposed in the housing (110);

(e) a locking plate (450) disposed in the inner cavity of the housing (110) near the first slot (130), the locking plate (450) can move between at least an open position and a closed position respectively allowing and preventing access to the inner cavity of the housing (110) via the first slot (130), the locking plate (450) is operatively connected to a motor (410) disposed in the inner cavity of the housing (110), the motor (410) being operatively connected to the microprocessor (310);

(f) a biometric scanner (150) disposed on the housing (110), the biometric scanner (150) is programmed to recognize a fingerprint of a user, the biometric scanner (150) is activated upon recognition of the fingerprint, wherein when the biometric scanner (150) is activated, the biometric scanner (150) sends an activation input signal to the microprocessor whereupon the microprocessor (310) sends a first motor output signal to the motor (410) to cause the motor (410) to move the locking plate (450) from the closed position to the open position;

(g) a first card holding mechanism disposed in the inner cavity of the housing (110), the first card holding mechanism engages a cards (101) when inserted via the first slot (130) into the inner cavity of the housing (110), the first card holding mechanism comprises;

(i) a holding bar (510), the holding bar (510) temporarily holds a card (101), the holding bar (510) is attached to a side wall (116a) of the inner cavity of the housing via a first spring (520a), the side wall (116a) being opposite the first slot (130), the holding bar (510) can move between at least a locked position positioned near or at the side wall (116a) of the inner cavity of the housing (110) and an unlocked position moved towards the slots (130) opposite the side wall (116a) of the inner cavity of the housing (110), the holding bar (510) is biased in the unlocked position caused by the first spring (520a); and

(ii) a locking mechanism (600) functioning to secure the holding bar (510) in the locked position; and

(h) a display (140) disposed in the front panel (113) of the housing (110), the display (140) is operatively connected to the microprocessor (310), the display (140) displays a name or an icon for the first slot (130), wherein when a user touches the name or the icon, the display (140) sends a display input signal to the microprocessor (310) whereupon the microprocessor (310) sends a first eject output command to the locking mechanism (600) to cause the locking mechanism (600) to release the holding bar (510) from the locked position thereby allowing the holding bar (510) to move to the unlocked position to eject a card (101) held by the holding bar (510);

wherein the locking mechanism (600) comprises a latch (550) with a latch slot (560), the latch (550) is disposed on the holding bar (510), and a hook (620) disposed on the side wall (116a) of the inner cavity of the housing (110), the hook (620) can pivot between at least an engaged position wherein the hook (620) engages the latch (550) via the latch slot (560) and a disengaged position wherein the hook (620) is pivoted away from the latch (550) and can cannot engage the latch slot (560);

when the hook (620) engages the latch (550) the holding bar (510) is secured in the locked position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a first magnet (610a) is disposed on the hook (620), and a second magnet (610b) is fixedly attached in the inner cavity of the housing (110) near the first magnet (610a), the second magnet (610b) is operatively connected to the microprocessor (310), when the microprocessor (310) receives the display input signal from the display (140), the microprocessor sends a magnet activation output command to the second magnet (610b) causing activation of the second magnet (610b), activation of the second magnet (610b) causes the first magnet (610a) and second magnet (610b) to be attracted to each other, when the magnets (610) are attracted to each other the hook (620) pivots towards the second magnet (610a) to the disengaged position and disengages the latch aperture (560) of the latch (550) on the holding bar (510).

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second magnet (610b) is activated for one second, two seconds, three seconds, four seconds, five seconds, or six seconds.