RFID-shielded articles and methods thereof

• US 9,055,798 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tumi Incorporated (Tumi Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tumi Incorporated (Tumi Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Scicluna, Paul V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weaver, Sue A
• Application Number:
  US13/756,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20140034520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 150/124, 150/134, 150/102, 190/101, 174/350
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 1/00 Purses; Money-bags; Wallets collapsible or extensible A45C7/00; convertible into other articles A45C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 1/06 Wallets devices for the prevention of theft or loss of wallets A45C13/185; for holding keys A45C11/32; Notecases
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/00 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/002 Protective covers
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/185 of purses, money-bags or wallets
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/186 with protection from unauthorised reading by remotely readable data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07327 Passive means, e.g. Faraday cages Faraday-type protection of electric circuits in general H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/526 Electromagnetic shields
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 17/00 Devices for absorbing waves radiated from an antenna; Combinations of such devices with active antenna elements or systems

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to RFID-shielded articles and methods thereof. In one embodiment, a wallet is provided that may comprise an inner layer having a foldable portion; an outer layer comprising RFID shielding material adapted to block a radio signal, the outer layer comprising a foldable portion adapted to cooperate with the foldable portion of the inner layer, the outer layer attached to the inner layer; a pocket formed between the outer layer and the inner layer, the pocket having an opening adapted to receive currency; and a card holder disposed on the inner layer, the card holder adapted to receive a card comprising an RFID tag.

Claims

1. A wallet comprising:

an inner layer having a foldable portion;

an outer layer comprising RFID shielding material adapted to block a radio signal, the outer layer comprising a foldable portion adapted to cooperate with the foldable portion of the inner layer, the outer layer attached to the inner layer;

a pocket formed between the outer layer and the inner layer, the pocket having an opening adapted to receive currency; and

a card holder disposed on the inner layer, the card holder adapted to receive a card comprising an RFID tag; and

wherein the RFID shielding material comprises a blend of polyester, copper, and nickel comprising between about 40% to about 80% polyester, between about 10% to about 40% copper; and

between about 2% to about 20% nickel.

2. The wallet of claim 1, wherein the inner layer comprises the RFID shielding material.

3. The wallet of claim 1, wherein the radio signal comprises at least one of an RFID interrogating signal from an RFID reader and an identification signal from an RFID tag.

4. The wallet of claim 1 further comprising a liner for lining the pocket between the outer layer and the inner layer, the liner comprising the RFID shielding material.

5. A bag comprising:

an outer layer surrounding a primary pocket, the outer layer having an opening formed therein adapted to allow access to the pocket;

a auxiliary pocket disposed on at least one of the outer layer and a surface inside the primary pocket, at least one of the auxiliary pocket and the outer layer comprising RFID shielding material adapted to block a radio signal; and

a handle attached to the outer layer adapted to allow the bag to be carried; and

wherein the RFID shielding material comprises a blend of polyester, copper, and nickel comprising between about 40% to about 80% polyester, between about 10% to about 40% copper; and

between about 2% to about 20% nickel.

6. The bag of claim 5, where the bag comprises a purse and the opening is disposed on a top surface of the outer layer.

7. The bag of claim 5, wherein the bag comprises at least one of a laptop case and a briefcase, and the opening is disposed around three sides of the bag.

8. The bag of claim 5, further comprising a card holder disposed on at least one of the outer layer and the primary pocket, the card holder adapted to receive a card comprising an RFID tag.

9. The bag of claim 5, wherein the radio signal comprises at least one of an RFID interrogating signal from an RFID reader and an identification signal from an RFID tag.

10. The bag of claim 5 further comprising a liner for lining the pocket, the liner comprising the RFID shielding material.

11. The bag of claim 5, wherein only the pocket liner comprises the RFID shielding material.

12. A passport cover comprising:

an outer layer comprising RFID shielding material adapted to block a radio signal, the outer layer comprising a foldable portion; and

a pocket disposed on an inner surface of the outer layer, the pocket having an opening adapted to receive a passport;

wherein the RFID shielding material comprises a blend of polyester, copper, and nickel comprising between about 40% to about 80% polyester, between about 10% to about 40% copper; and

between about 2% to about 20% nickel.

13. The passport cover of claim 12, further comprising:

a card holder disposed on the inner surface of the outer layer, the card holder comprising RFID shielding material and adapted to receive a card comprising an RFID tag.