Wallet protection system

• US 6,400,270 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Patrick John Wills
• Original Assignee: Robert Person
• Inventors: Person, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/703,793
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 705/39, 705/44, 705/41, 705/18
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/006 the housing being a portable casing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0833 Card having specific functional components

Abstract

A wallet protection system for protecting credit cards is disclosed. The system comprises a selectively openable casing having a thickness. The casing includes a sensor means disposed within the thickness of the casing. The sensor means senses a predetermined pressure applied to the casing. Electronic circuitry is operatively connected to the sensor means for transmitting an electrical charge. Holding means are disposed in the casing. A wireless communication device is operatively associated with the sensor means for sending a wireless disabling signal to a predetermined location for deactivating the cards when the predetermined pressure is sensed by the sensor means. The communication device includes a transmitter operatively connected to an antenna for transmitting the disabling signal to the predetermined location. A power source is operatively connected to the wireless communication device and sensor means for powering the sensor means and the wireless communication device.

Claims

1. A wallet protection system for protecting credit cards, comprising:

a selectively openable casing having a thickness, said casing including sensor means disposed within said thickness of said casing, said sensor means for sensing a predetermined pressure applied to aid casing;

electronic circuitry operatively connected to said means for transmitting an electrical charge;

means for holding said cards, said holding means disposed in said casing;

a wireless communication device operatively associated with said sensor means for sending a wireless disabling signal to a predetermined location for deactivating the cards when the predetermined pressure is sensed by said sensor means, said communication device including a transmitter operatively connected to an antenna for transmitting the disabling signal to the predetermined location; and

a power source operatively connected to said wireless communication device and sensor means for powering said sensor means and said wireless communication device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said casing includes an upper portion and a lower portion hingedly connected.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said upper portion includes an inner surface and outer surface, said outer surface including an external electronic keypad for selectively opening said casing.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a keypad cover plate hingedly connected to said casing for covering said external electronic keypad, and a set of opposing locking portions for removably securing said cover place to said keypad.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising a waterproof seal disposed between said upper and upper portions, said seal including water sensing means of operatively connected to said wireless communication device for sending a wireless disabling signal to a predetermined location for deactivating the cards when the predetermined amount of water is sensed by the water sensor means.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising first and second communication devices, said first communication device disposed on said upper portion and said communication device disposed on said lower portion.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said first and second communication devices are each disposed on a set of notched guide rails disposed in said upper and bottom portions respectively, and are movable along said rails.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a main antenna disposed in a hinge of said casing and a conductive circuit operatively connecting said main antenna to said first and second communication devices for transmitting the disabling signal to said main antenna.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes an electronic sheathing embedded within said casing, said sheathing including a set of contact plates for sensing the predetermined pressure, said contact plates operably connected to said electronic circuitry for transmitting an electrical charge to said wireless communication device when said contact plates are in contact.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor means is made from a semi-fragile glass fiber optics.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said holding means including sensors for sensing the absence of the card and means for preventing said casing from locking when the card is absent from said holding means.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said holding means includes a base support, at least two card supports for supporting a credit card, each said card support including a contact sensor, said contact sensors operatively associated with a contact relay for transmitting an electrical charge to an alarm when said casing is closed and the card is not contained between said card supports.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said contact relay is operatively connected to said wireless communication device for sending a wireless communication to the predetermined location.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said holding means are operatively connected to a central processing unit for programming said holding means.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said casing is made from a high impact resistant material.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said high impact resistant material includes a honey-combed like structure.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a central processing unit, a liquid crystal display, and a keypad disposed in an internal surface of said casing for controlling communication abilities of the system.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a silent alarm panic button disposed on said casing and operatively associated with said wireless communication device for sending an alarm signal to a predetermined location upon activation of said button.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a silent alarm reset button disposed on said casing and operatively associated with said silent alarm button for resetting said silent alarm button.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power meter display light disposed on said casing and operatively associated with said power source for determining when said power source falls below a predetermined level.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising a thin lead sheathing disposed about said sensor sheathing for preventing x-ray views of contents of the system.

22. The system of claim 1, further comprising a key lock disposed on said casing for selectively opening said casing.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising an external electronic keypad operably associated with said key lock for selectively releasing said key lock when a predetermined security code is entered on said keypad.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device includes a receiver for receiver signals from the predetermined location.

25. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cell phone and interactive pager.

26. A method of protecting registered personal items, comprising the steps of:

providing a wallet protection system for housing credit cards including a wireless communication device;

registering the credit cards in a database;

linking the registered credit cards of the database by wireless communication to the wireless communication device of the wallet protection system; and

sending a disabling signal from the wireless communication device to the database upon sensing of a predetermined pressure applied to the wallet protection system thereby causing the registered credit cards to be deactivated.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

establishing a communication link between the database and designated financial institutions; and

deactivating the credit cards by notifying designed financial institutions.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of scanning personal keys into the database for duplication.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of providing a decoy card to be placed in the wallet protection system.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of sending a disabling signal from the wireless communication device to the database upon removal of the decoy card from a designated location in the wallet protection system.

31. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of issuing a secondary device for sending a disabling signal to the database.

32. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of linking the wireless communication device to a global positioning satellite.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of linking the wireless communication device to law enforcement agencies.