DIGITAL CARD ORGANIZER AND STORAGE MEANS

Abstract

A digital card holder for organizing and storing camera, cell phone or other digital memory cards and flash drives and other items sized to be retained by the product. The memory card holder includes a transparent static-free plastic sheet divided into sections. Each section has a heat sealed top loadable open-access pocket with a large overhanging flap in the front for storing the memory chips/cards. Each section has a top loadable open-access end such that each memory card can have a date, description and location information file to back up the memory card data. Pictures can also be stored in the individual pockets for each memory card for quick data access. The plastic sheet further includes a binding portion having a plurality of binding holes. Each sheet is formed from a polypropylene heavy-weight plastic (3.1 mil-3.9 mil). Each sheet has a clarity of clear standard, is PVC-free, latex-free, acid-free, moisture-free and archival-safe. Each storage sheet may have different sizes of pockets to comply with the various sizes of memory cards and flash drives.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of organizers, and more particularly, to digital card holders and storing means.

2. Description of Related Art

With the proliferation of digital cameras, the need to secure as well as organize the digital cards, that go into these cameras, in a meaningful way is highly desirable. Typically, consumers do not re-use their digital cards once they have taken a multitude of photographs. It is burdensome for many consumers to save the photographs on another medium (e.g., a CD or flash drive, etc.) after they have filled the digital card and then erase the photographs on that digital card in order to re-use it. Instead, consumers will usually remove the digital card and then insert a new digital card. The problem then remains: how to safely store the filled digital card and how to identify what photographs on stored thereon; there is little room for a consumer to place a sticker or other writing surface on the digital card to identify what set of photographs are on the digital card (e.g., “summer vacation in the Netherlands July 2010” cannot physically be placed on the digital card, no matter how small one writes). One solution is to provide storage cases that protect the digital cards, SIM cards or CDs from damage, such as those shown in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2006/0099855 (Richter, et al.); 2006/0124747(Rathbun, et al.); 2006/0144751 (Tsang); 2004/0245128 (MacColl, et al.); 2003/0062275 (Rochelo); 2002/0177362 (Chang); 2009/0014344 (Altman, et al.); and U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D592,667 (Sheba); D593,561 (Sheba); D595,056 (Pettersson); D613,293 (Sheba); D613,744 (Sheba, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 7,099,190 (Noguchi, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 7,325,744 (Porter).

Another solution involves the use of sheet protectors that can store a digital card or other items using transparent sheets which can secured within an album binder such as those shown in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2004/0007866 (Warriner, et al.); 2005/0180811 (Workman, et al.); 2010/0115810 (Morera) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,714 (Bradley, et al.). However, even these fail to provide a compact, easy to use and easy to visualize organizer of digital cards.

Thus, there remains a need for a compact, easy-to-use and easy-to-visualize digital card organizer and storage means.

All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A holder of digital cards (e.g., digital memory cards (including digital camera memory cards), flash memory sticks, cell phone or SIM (subscriber identity module) cards, etc. and any other item that contains content in an electronic/optical format which can be printed out) is disclosed. The holder comprises: a plurality of transparent sleeves (e.g., polypropylene) formed on a transparent layer (e.g., polypropylene) and wherein each one of the plurality of transparent sleeves comprises respective openings; a respective plurality of transparent pockets (e.g., polypropylene) is fixed on top of the plurality of sleeves, wherein each one of the pockets comprises an opening to receive a digital card therein; and wherein indicia (e.g., notes, photographs or any other kind of information or data on some sort of stock (e.g., paper, index card, photograph, etc.) pertaining to content stored within each digital card) is positioned within the sleeve through the opening in the sleeve to form a background to each one of the plurality of transparent pockets so as to identify the contents of the digital card positioned within each one of the plurality of transparent pockets.

A method for organizing a plurality of digital cards (e.g., digital memory cards (including digital camera memory cards), flash memory sticks, cell phone or SIM (subscriber identity module) cards, etc. and any other item that contains content in an electronic/optical format which can be printed out) is disclosed. The method comprises: providing a plurality of transparent sleeves (e.g., polypropylene) secured to a transparent layer (e.g., polypropylene) and wherein the sleeves have respective openings; fixing a respective plurality of transparent pockets (e.g., polypropylene) on top of the sleeves and wherein each of the transparent pockets have respective openings; inserting a respective digital card into respective pockets; and inserting respective indicia (e.g., notes, photographs or any other kind of information or data on some sort of stock (e.g., paper, index card, photograph, etc.) pertaining to content stored within each digital card) into respective sleeves wherein said respective indicia is pertinent to information stored on its respective digital card, and wherein the respective indicia forms a background to its respective digital card.

An organizer of digital cards (e.g., digital memory cards (including digital camera memory cards), flash memory sticks, cell phone or SIM (subscriber identity module) cards, etc.

and any other item that contains content in an electronic/optical format which can be printed out) is disclosed. The organizer comprises: a plurality of holders that are releasably bound within a binder (e.g., or using prong fasteners, tang fasteners, etc.) and wherein each of the holders comprises: a plurality of transparent sleeves (e.g., polypropylene) formed on a transparent layer (e.g., polypropylene) and wherein each one of the plurality of transparent sleeves comprises respective openings; a respective plurality of transparent pockets (e.g., polypropylene) fixed on top of the plurality of sleeves, each one of the pockets comprises an opening to receive a digital card therein; and wherein indicia (e.g., notes, photographs or any other kind of information or data on some sort of stock (e.g., paper, index card, photograph, etc.) pertaining to content stored within each digital card) is positioned within the sleeve through the opening in the sleeve to form a background to each one of the plurality of transparent pockets so as to identify the contents of the digital card positioned within each one of the plurality of transparent pockets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a holder of digital cards of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the holder of the present invention shown with digital cards, of different sizes, inserted and with an exemplary indicia, stored on a particular digital card, forming the background of that particular sleeve;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, of the holder of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an exemplary organizer comprising a plurality of the inventive holders.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a novel way of storing and organizing digital cards. It should be understood that the term “digital card” is meant to be construed in its broadest sense and includes, but is not limited to, digital memory cards (including digital camera memory cards), flash memory sticks, cell phone or SIM (subscriber identity module) cards, etc. and any other item that contains content in an electronic/optical format which can be printed out.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 1, the invention 20 comprises a holder 20 for securing a plurality of digital cards. The holder 20 comprises a plurality of transparent sleeves (e.g., four, by way of example only) 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D and each of which comprise a respective transparent pocket 24A, 24B, 24C and 24D. As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, the pockets 24A-24D receive a respective digital card (DC1-DC4, with digital cards DC1-DC2 showing a first size digital card and DC3-DC4 showing a second size digital card, by way of example only). To identify what is stored on the respective digital cards located within the pockets 24A-24D, a picture, or other indicia, stored on the respective digital card has been printed out and then disposed within the corresponding sleeve 22A-22D. Thus, for example, digital card DC1 may contain photographs of a vacation in the mountains and therefore indicia 26A comprises a photograph of those mountains stored on digital card DC1. Digital card DC2 may contain documents/or files regarding someone's home and therefore indicia 26B may comprise a photograph of the home, or a sketch, or simply a note or text that explains what is on the digital card DC2. Digital card DC3 may contain documents and/or photographs or other electronic/optical files pertaining to a business trip to a city and therefore indicia 26C may comprise a photograph of that city skyline, or a sketch, or simply a note (e.g., a date, description and location information, etc. which may be hand-written or typed, etc. on a stock piece such as paper, index card, etc.) that explains the business trip. Similarly, digital card DC4 may contain e.g., family photographs from a particular holiday and therefore indicia 26D may include one of the photographs stored on the digital card DC4. It should be noted that the term “indicia” is used in its broadest sense and includes notes, photographs or any other kind of information or data on some sort of stock (e.g., paper, index card, photograph, etc.) pertaining to content within each digital card.

One of the key features of the present invention 20 is that the indicia (26A-26D), pertinent to the content stored on the digital card (DC1-DC4) stored in the pocket (24A-24D), forms the background (in the corresponding sleeve, 22A-22D) of that pocket. Thus, the user of the holder 20 can immediately determine what is stored on the digital card by looking at the background/margin.

To further secure the digital card within its respective pocket, flaps 28A-28D are provided. These flaps, as will be discussed in detail later, can close on the pocket by its own weight, or may be releasably secured to the pocket using, by way of example only, hook and pile means (e.g., VELCRO®), low tack adhesive, etc. FIG. 3 shows two of the flaps, namely, 28B and 28D, in a closed condition with the digital cards DC2 and DC4 enclosed therein. The flaps also provide a moisture seal to prevent moisture from entering the pocket and generally maintain the digital card free from dirt and debris.

The holder 20 itself comprises a pair of transparent plastic sheets (e.g., polypropylene with a heavy weight thickness, or gauge, of approximately 3.1 mil-3.9 mil that is plastic-fusible) 30A and 30B that are secured (e.g., heat sealed) together along one edge 32 via a binding portion 34 and secured along an opposite edge 36 to form strong and durable edging.

The binding portion may comprise apertures 37 to facilitate securing the holders within a binder 122 (see FIG. 4). The sheets 30A/30B are also secured along a bottom edge 38. A seam 40 (e.g., heat sealed) is formed vertically between the sheets 30A and 30B. A second seam 43 is formed horizontally between the sheets 30A and 30B. As a result, upper sleeves 24A and 24B are formed and sleeve openings 42A and 42B are also formed. On each side of the vertical seam 40 and just beneath the horizontal seam 43, the sheet 30A is severed to form openings 42C and 42D for the lower sleeves 22C and 22D. Each of the pockets 24A-24D are heat-sealed onto the sheet 30A for a corresponding sleeve 22A-22D. In particular, each pocket 24A-24D comprises strong heat sealed welds on its bottom and sides for repeatedly accessing stored items DC1-DC4 without disengaging from its respective sleeve 22A-22D. It should be understood that each of the seams 40 and 43 are formed as strong, durable tear-resistant seams.

Each pocket comprises a flap 28A-28D that is integrally formed with the pocket. Each flap may comprise a heavy weight, tear-resistant, transparent plastic that covers respective pocket openings in order to prevent the stored items from falling out. Each flap is formed with a living hinge to the pocket body portion. During use, the weight of the flap (e.g., comprising a heavyweight plastic) can be used to maintain the flap in a closed position over the respective openings 44A-44D in the pockets 24A-24D. Alternatively, the flaps 28A-28D may comprise hook and pile configurations, or low-tack adhesive, etc. to releasably secure the flap to the pocket body, as shown in FIGS. 2-3. The flaps 28A-28D are sufficiently long to close off the openings 44A-44D and thereby secure the digital card therein when the flaps 28A-28D are releasably secured against the pocket body. These flaps 28A-28D lay flat when closed on the pocket body.

As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 3, there are no pockets/sleeves formed in the sheet 30B. This is desirable when a plurality of holders 20 are assembled into an organizer 120, e.g., binder 122. The binder 122 includes separable rings 123 that pass through the apertures 37 in the holders 20 to releasably secure the holders 20 within the binder 122. Furthermore, because there are no pockets/sleeves on sheet 30B, the holders 20, when secured within the binder 122, make a more compact presentation and thus can accommodate more holders 20. The edging 36, including edging 38, is reinforced and may support index tabs (not shown) to help organize the holders 20 when they secured in the binder 122 or if they are stored separately, e.g., in a drawer storage configuration. It should be understood that the binder 122 is shown by way of example and that the organizer 120 may comprise any other type of securing means (e.g., prong fasteners, tang fasteners, etc.) that secures a plurality of holders 20 together such that a user of the holders 20 can examine the plurality of holders 20 in an orderly fashion.

It should be understood that both sheets 30A and 30B, as well as sleeves 22A-22D, pockets 24A-24D and flaps 28A-28D comprise a heavy-gauge plastic of transparent quality, are PVC-free, latex-free, acid-free, moisture-free and archival-safe.

It should be understood that the attached figures show pockets of identical size by way of example only. It is within the broadest scope of the present invention to include pockets of different size within a single holder for holding digital cards of various sizes.

By way of example only, the sheets 30A/30B may comprise 8½ inch by 11 inch plastic transparent sheets. Furthermore, it should be noted that because layer 30B is transparent, any indicia inserted into the sleeves 22A-22D can be visible from the back of the holder 20. Thus, for example, if the indicia inserted into the sleeve is a photograph, the contents of the photograph are located to form the background of the sleeve with the pocket. The backside of the photograph may contain further indicia (names, dates, or any other information pertinent to the content of the digital card secured within the corresponding pocket) that is visible through the layer 30B.

By way of example only, the figures show the pockets 24A-24D being positioned proximate one another in a side-by-side arrangement. Alternatively, the arrangement of the pocket/sleeves may be a stacked arrangement.

The sleeve size can be arranged to hold photographs of standard size, e.g., 3×5 inches, 4×6 inches, 5×7 inches, or 6×10 inches, etc.

It should be further understood that the securement of the edges 30A/30B, or securement of the seams 40/43, or securement of the pockets 24A-24D to the sleeves 22A-22D could also be achieved using strong adhesives, or mastics rather than heat seals.

It should be understood that the use of four sleeves and four respective pockets is by way of example only and other configurations of the holder 20 may comprise different numbers of the sleeve/pocket feature. For example, a holder 20 may comprise only two sleeve/pockets where only a horizontal seam is formed across the holder 20, thereby having an upper and lower sleeve/pocket configuration.

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims

1. A holder of digital cards, said holder comprising: a plurality of transparent sleeves formed on a transparent layer and wherein each one of said plurality of transparent sleeves comprises respective openings;a respective plurality of transparent pockets fixed on top of said plurality of sleeves, each one of said pockets comprising an opening to receive a digital card therein; andwherein indicia is positioned within said sleeve through said opening in said sleeve to form a background to each one of said plurality of transparent pockets so as to identify the contents of said digital card positioned within each one of said plurality of transparent pockets.

2. The holder of claim 1 wherein each of said pockets comprises a flap associated therewith, said flap forming releasable closure to said opening of said pocket.

3. The holder of claim 1 wherein one of said digital cards is a digital camera memory card and wherein said indicia comprises a printed photograph from a photograph stored within said digital camera memory card.

4. The holder of claim 2 wherein said opening of each transparent sleeve and said opening of its respective pocket are oriented in the same direction.

5. The holder of claim 4 wherein said opening of each transparent sleeve and said opening of its respective pocket are located on a respective upper edge of said transparent sleeve and said transparent pocket.

6. The holder of claim 1 wherein said transparent sleeves comprise one size from a group of sizes of 3×5 inches or 4×6 inches or 5×7 inches or 6×10 inches.

7. The holder of claim 1 wherein said transparent layer, said transparent sleeves and said transparent pockets comprise plastic fusible material.

8. The holder of claim 7 wherein said plastic fusible material comprises polypropylene.

9. The holder of claim 7 wherein said holder comprises a size of approximately 8½×11 inches.

10. The holder of claim 2 wherein said flap is transparent and comprises polypropylene.

11. A method for organizing a plurality of digital cards, said method comprising: providing a plurality of transparent sleeves secured to a transparent layer and wherein the sleeves have respective openings;fixing a respective plurality of transparent pockets on top of said sleeves and wherein each of said transparent pockets have respective openings;inserting a respective digital card into respective pockets; andinserting respective indicia into respective sleeves wherein said respective indicia is pertinent to information stored on its respective digital card, said respective indicia forming a background to its respective digital card.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing a flap adjacent said opening of said pocket to form a releasable closure to said opening.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said digital card is a digital camera memory card and wherein said step of inserting respective indicia comprises inserting a printed photograph from a photograph that is stored within said digital camera memory card.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of fixing a respective plurality of transparent pockets comprises orienting said opening of each transparent sleeve and said opening of its respective pocket in the same direction.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said step of orienting said opening of each transparent sleeve and said opening of its respective pocket comprises locating said opening at a respective upper edge of said transparent sleeve and of said transparent pocket.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of providing a plurality of sleeves comprises: sealing a pair of transparent layers along three sides;forming a first seam between any opposite sides of said pair of transparent layers;severing a portion of one of said transparent layers in parallel to said first seam and closely adjacent said first seam to form at least two sleeves on either said of first seam; andsecuring a respective pocket to each one of at least two sleeves.

17. The method of 16 wherein said step of securing a respective pocket to each one of said at least two sleeves is performed before said step of severing a portion of one of said transparent layers.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of forming at least one seam comprises: forming a second seam, orthogonal to said first seam, across said pair of transparent layers;severing another portion of said one of said transparent layers in parallel to said first seam and closely adjacent said first seam to form another two sleeves on either said of first seam; andsecuring a respective pocket to each one of said another two sleeves.

19. The method of 18 wherein said step of securing a respective pocket to each one of another two sleeves is performed before said step of severing a portion of one of said transparent layers.

20. An organizer of digital cards, said organizer comprising: a plurality of holders that are releasably bound within a binder and wherein each of said holders comprises: a plurality of transparent sleeves formed on a transparent layer and wherein each one of said plurality of transparent sleeves comprises respective openings;a respective plurality of transparent pockets fixed on top of said plurality of sleeves, each one of said pockets comprising an opening to receive a digital card therein; andwherein indicia is positioned within said sleeve through said opening in said sleeve to form a background to each one of said plurality of transparent pockets so as to identify the contents of said digital card positioned within each one of said plurality of transparent pockets.