Electronic missing card alert case

• US 6,184,788 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1999
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Randolph Rodrique, Raymond Bradley Middlemiss
• Original Assignee: Randolph Rodrique, Raymond Bradley Middlemiss
• Inventors: Rodrique, Randolph, Middlemiss, Raymond Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/453,496
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.7, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/522, 340/692, 340/600, 340/570
• US Class Current: 340/568.7
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/184 with a reminding device, e.g. when the card is not returned into its holder reminder alarms in general G08B21/00

Abstract

This invention relates to a novel electronic case for carrying credit cards and the like. More particularly, this invention pertains to a novel electronic case which accounts for the credit cards held in the case and sounds an alarm and activates an alert light if one or more of the cards is missing from the case. A portable electronic card carrying case comprising: (a) a case which can be opened to reveal the interior of the case, and closed to conceal the interior of the case; (b) at least one card receptacle housed in the interior of the case; (c) a power supply associated with the case; (d) a microprocessor associated with the case, the microprocessor being powered by the power supply; (e) an electronic sensor powered by the power supply and monitored by the microprocessor, and adapted to detect the presence or absence of a card in the card receptacle; and (f) an alarm which is activated when a card is not returned to its card receptacle, and the case is closed.

Claims

1. A portable electronic card carrying case comprising:

(a) a hollow case which can be opened to reveal the interior of the case, and closed to conceal the interior of the case, wherein the case is comprised of a base section and a top section, which top section is hinged to the base section, the top section when moved away from the base section, revealing the contents of the case, and when moved to the base section, closing the case and concealing the contents of the case;

(b) at least one card receptacle housed in the interior of the case;

(c) a pop-up mechanism which, when activated, lifts the card receptacle from the base section of the case;

(d) a power supply associated with the case;

(e) a microprocessor associated with the case, the microprocessor being powered by the power supply;

(f) an electronic sensor powered by the power supply and monitored by the microprocessor, for detecting the presence or absence of a card in the card receptacle; and

(g) an alarm which is activated by the microprocessor when a card is absent from its card receptacle, and the case is closed.

2. A case as claimed in claim 1 wherein the case has at least six card receptacles in its interior, and each card receptacle is equipped with an electronic sensor which is electronically connected to the microprocessor and detects the presence or absence of a card in the specific electronic card receptacle.

3. An case as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alarm comprises a piezoelectric alarm and an LED illumination light.

4. A case as claimed in claim 3 including at least six card receptacles arranged in series, and a corresponding number of electronic sensors which detect the presence or absence of cards in each of the six specific card receptacles, and when the sensor of a specific card receptacle senses a card is missing from the receptacle, and the case is closed, the sensor communicates with the microprocessor to activate the alarm and the LED indicating a missing credit card.

5. A case as claimed in claim 4 wherein the microprocessor is associated with an electronic circuit which, when the case is closed, functions in a minimum electricity drain mode, and when the case is opened, functions in an operating electricity drain mode.

6. A case as claimed in claim 5 wherein the circuit, when in an operating mode, scans the sensors and detects a card missing from the receptacle and when the card is returned to the receptacle and the case is closed, the circuit scans the sensors, and if all cards are present, causes the alarm to sound twice and the LED to illuminate twice in succession.

7. A case as claimed in claim 1 including a case sensor associated with the microprocessor, said case sensor detecting when the case is opened or closed.

8. A case as claimed in claim 1 including a holding catch which holds the case in a closed position, and when moved, enables the case to be opened to reveal the card receptacle.

9. A case as claimed in claim 1 including an electronic timer connected to the microprocessor, said timer determining according to a program the length of time that the alarm is sounded.

10. A case as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pop-up mechanism lifts the card receptacle from the base section of the case when manually activated by a pop-up button.

11. A case as claimed in claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to instruct the alarm to emit a favourable sound when the case is closed and a card is present in the case card receptacle.

12. A case as claimed in claim 1 including an electronic low voltage detector which detects when the available power in the power supply has reached a predetermined minimum level.

13. A case as claimed in claim 1 wherein the card is a credit card and the microprocessor is programmed to account for the length of time the card is absent from the receptacle and if the time is exceeded, causes the alarm to sound.