Electromagnetic shielding carrying case for contactless smartcards and personal articles

• US 7,918,335 B1
• Filed: 03/01/2010
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Kitchen
• Original Assignee: Michael Kitchen
• Inventors: Kitchen, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, LUAN KIM
• Application Number:
  US12/660,561
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 206/1.5, 206 37- 39, 206/449, 150/131, 150/132, 150/147, 150/149, 174/350, 174/353, 174/372, 174/377, 174/386, 235/380, 235/382, 235/486, 361/757, 361/800, 361/816, 361/818
• US Class Current: 206/38
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/18 Ticket-holders or the like

Abstract

An electromagnetic shielding carrying case comprising a substantially rigid first and second shielding member hingedly connected to one another and each having an inner and outer surface. Each shielding member comprises a card pocket assembly affixed to their respective inner surfaces into which a plurality of contactless smartcards or regular wallet-sized cards can be slidably inserted and removed. A paper currency pocket is disposed along the outer surfaces of first and second shielding members, and a releasable locking means keeps the first shielding member pivoted closed over top of the second shielding member so the case cannot accidentally open, and shields contactless smartcards contained inside the card pocket assemblies from being powered up by an RFID reader, while also preventing the cards from sliding out of the case.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic shielding carrying case for contactless smartcards and personal articles, the electromagnetic shielding carrying case comprising:

(a) a substantially rigid first electromagnetic shielding member that is generally rectangular in shape having an area that substantially covers a contactless smartcard, and has first, second, third, and fourth sides as well as an outer surface and an inner surface, said first and third sides being substantially parallel to one another and said second and fourth sides being substantially parallel to one another;

(b) a first card holding means affixed to said inner surface of said first electromagnetic shielding member and being adapted to removably contain a plurality of contactless smartcards and other wallet-sized cards;

(c) a substantially rigid second electromagnetic shielding member that is generally rectangular in shape having an area that substantially covers a contactless smartcard, and has first, second, third, and fourth sides as well as an outer surface and an inner surface, said first and third sides being substantially parallel to one another and said second and fourth sides being substantially parallel to one another;

(d) a second card holding means affixed to said inner surface of said second electromagnetic shielding member and being adapted to removably contain a plurality of contactless smartcards and other wallet-sized cards;

(e) hinge means for rotatably linking said first electromagnetic shielding member to said second electromagnetic shielding member along their respective said second sides;

(f) a paper currency holding means for storing paper currency, receipts, and the like having means for attachment to a portion of said outer surfaces of said first and second electromagnetic shielding members;

(g) a releasable locking means for selectively maintaining said first electromagnetic shielding member pivoted closed and over top of said second electromagnetic shielding member allowing them to sandwich said plurality of contactless smartcards that may be contained in said first and second card holding means, whereby said smartcards are shielded from being scanned by a radio frequency identification reader or sensor, and further whereby said releasable locking means consistently keeps said electromagnetic shielding carrying case in a closed state so as to prevent a gap from forming in the electromagnetic shielding effect;

(h) an urging means having a constant force against a portion of said inner surface of said first electromagnetic shielding member whereby upon disengaging said releasable locking means said first electromagnetic shielding member will automatically pivot itself open and away from said second electromagnetic shielding member and hold itself open allowing said electromagnetic shielding carrying case to be in an open state to assist a user in accessing cards and paper currency.

2. The electromagnetic shielding carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said paper currency holding means further comprises:

(a) a length of material spanning across and substantially covering said outer surfaces of said first and second electromagnetic shielding members, said length of material further comprising a front edge having means for attachment to a portion of said outer surface of said first electromagnetic shielding member adjacent to its said fourth side wherein a front seal is formed, and a rear edge having means for attachment to a portion of said outer surface of said second electromagnetic shielding member adjacent to its said fourth side wherein a rear seal is formed;

(b) said length of material further comprising a folded portion that wraps around said first sides of said first and second electromagnetic shielding members and has means for attachment to a portion of said inner surfaces of said first and second electromagnetic shielding members;

(c) wherein a pocket is defined by said length of material, said outer surfaces of said first and second electromagnetic shielding members, said front and rear seals, and said folded portion whereby said pocket has an opening along said third sides of said first and second electromagnetic shielding members and is able to contain paper currency, receipts, tickets, and the like.

3. The electromagnetic shielding carrying case according to claim 2, wherein said length of material is made from a lightweight, durable fabric such as nylon, cotton, polyester, rubber, or leather.

4. The electromagnetic shielding carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said releasable locking means further comprises:

(a) a generally rectangular notch in said fourth side of said first electromagnetic shielding member;

(b) a front edge member shaped to wrap around said rectangular notch comprising a pair of protruding tongues that extend into said rectangular notch, said front edge member having means for attachment to a portion of said outer surface of said first electromagnetic shielding member along said fourth side of said first electromagnetic shielding member;

(c) a rear edge member having means for attachment to a portion of said outer surface of said second electromagnetic shielding member along said fourth side of said second electromagnetic shielding member, said rear edge member further comprising a latch receiving base portion that protrudes through a hole portion of said second electromagnetic shielding member and is upstanding from said inner surface of said second electromagnetic shielding member adjacent to its said fourth side;

(d) a latch member hingedly connected to said latch receiving base portion, said latch member further comprises tongue overlapping portions that suppress said projecting tongues when said carrying case is in said closed state, said latch member further comprises a finger engaging surface which sits within said rectangular notch when said carrying case is in said closed state;

(e) a compression spring held in place by a portion of said latch receiving base portion which urges against the underside of said latch member and keeps it in a locked position;

(f) whereby a user is able to disengage said releasable locking means by pushing down on said finger engaging surface causing said latch member to temporarily pivot forwards and remove said tongue overlapping portions from on top of said projecting tongues allowing said electromagnetic shielding carrying case to pivot itself open to an open state by virtue of said urging means.

5. The electromagnetic shielding carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said hinge means further comprises:

(a) at least one hinge member affixed to said second side of said first electromagnetic shielding member, said at least one hinge member having a hole defined therethrough;

(b) at pair of hinge members protruding from said second side of said second electromagnetic shielding member, said pair of hinge members each having a counter-bored hole on an inner portion;

(c) and a hinge pin inserted through said hole of said at least one hinge member and is received within said counter-bored holes of said pair of hinge members to rotatably link said first and second electromagnetic shielding members along their respective said second sides.

6. The electromagnetic shielding carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said first and second card holding means further comprises:

(a) a pair of wall members affixed along said first and third sides of said first and second electromagnetic shielding members on their respective said inner surfaces, said wall members each comprising a projecting tab that extends over top of said inner surfaces of said first and second electromagnetic shielding members that suppress said plurality of contactless smartcards against said inner surfaces of said first and second electromagnetic shielding members;

(b) a barrier element at the rear of said card holding means to stop cards from being inserted any further;

(c) and a ramp element at a front opening of said first and second card holding means that prevents cards from accidentally sliding out while said electromagnetic shielding carrying case is in said open state, and whereby a user can slidably remove a card with their thumb by sliding it towards and against said ramp element.

7. The electromagnetic shielding carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said urging means comprises a torsion spring inserted around said hinge pin, said torsion spring further comprising a first leg which pushes against a portion of said inner surface of said first electromagnetic shielding member and a second leg which pushes against a portion of said inner surface of said second electromagnetic shielding member.

8. The electromagnetic shielding carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said first and second electromagnetic shielding members are made from a substantially rigid sheet of metal alloy with inherent electromagnetic shielding properties such as aluminum, steel, tin, silver, or copper.