Patent Grant
7918335
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to carrying cases, and more specifically to wallet-sized electromagnetic shielding carrying cases for holding personal articles such as credit cards, contactless smartcards, licenses, identification cards, paper currency, receipts, tickets, and the like.
2. Prior Art
Contactless smartcards are wallet-sized cards that are being marketed to consumers as an alternative to magnetic strip cards as a convenient way for storing financial and personal data. By virtue of their ability to store relatively large amounts of data on an embedded microchip, and the convenience of not having to swipe the card through a scanner or hand it to a cashier, it is projected that these cards will only continue to multiply in the coming years in the fields of banking, transportation, healthcare, insurance, social security, and other personal data. The chips used in contactless smartcards can be manufactured in a form called an RFID chip, wherein RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. Contactless smartcards may also be referred to as RFID enabled cards.
In order to obtain the personal information contained on a smartcard, an RFID reader or sensor needs to be present. The RFID reader provides power to the embedded microchip via a modulated magnetic field, allowing the information to be obtained from the card. Assuming that the smartcards are not shielded by an electromagnetic-shielding enclosure, the smartcards can be powered up and accessed without the card owner's knowledge. This can typically occur in two different scenarios. In one scenario, the unauthorized scanning of an RFID enabled card can be accidental, wherein the card owner is unaware that they have come within range of an active RFID reader. In the second scenario, the scanning of the card might be intentionally executed by a party who is interested in obtaining the card owners personal information without their consent. This said party may have their own RFID reader which they use for this purpose. The latter scenario is an example of what has become known as RFID theft, a new and rapidly growing form of identity theft. In both of these scenarios, however, the user can no longer take a proactive role in securing information on their cards.
There are some who have invented methods of proactively securing the information on a smartcard. U.S. Pat. No. 6,121,544 issued to Petsinger describes an electromagnetic shield to prevent unauthorized access to contactless smartcards. The smartcard is inserted into an opaque sleeve that covers the majority of the cards surfaces. A sheet of electromagnetic-shielding material in the form of a soft magnetic alloy is embedded within the sleeve. While in the sleeve, a contactless smartcard is shielded from being powered up by an RFID reader. While it does provide a secure RFID shielding body in the form of the sleeve, the disadvantage of this device is that it is specifically made for a very small quantity of cards (typically one or two). The sleeve is meant to be carried in a users pocket or wallet, but this is unfavorable because it adds complication and time to removing RFID cards from a user's wallet. Moreover, because of the opaque nature of the electromagnetic-shielding material and its plastic shells, one cannot see through it. This prevents the user from seeing which card is stored inside the sleeve. Lastly, the sleeve does not have the capability to carry any additional personal items, such as paper currency, photographs, receipts, or other cards, making it a separate item that needs to be carried in addition to ones regular wallet.
Other solutions have been presented for shielding smartcards in the form of conventional leather and fabric bi-fold wallets with one or more liners of electromagnetic-shielding material embedded somewhere within or attached to their outer panels. One particular reference that describes this common solution is U.S. Pat. No. 7,482,925 issued to Visa U.S.A. (herein Visa). Visa discloses several methods and apparatuses for shielding portable consumer devices such as contactless smartcards, which include envelopes with metalized coatings, electromagnetic shielding stickers attached to smartcards, and a conventional bi-fold wallet with an “RF shield liner” that is configured to be integrated with the wallet to shield smartcards contained inside it. While most of the embodiments that Visa describes are temporary security measures to protect and shield newly issued smartcards during transport through the mail to their owners, Visa also teaches a fairly standard bi-fold wallet with an “RF shield liner” integrated with the outer panels of the wallet, and a holding pocket inside for containing smartcards. Visa states that the “RF shield liner” is configured to attenuate RF signals within the operation frequency range of the smartcard contained inside the holding pocket when the wallet is folded closed.
There are several serious issues with Visa's solution and with other RF shielding wallets that use this same method. First, it is evident that these electromagnetic shielding wallets are made to be carried in ones pocket or handbag. However, while these traditional bi-fold type wallets are in ones pocket or handbag they have a tendency to pivot open slightly as a result of the user walking, running, or being jolted. When these wallets fold open even the slightest bit, the RF shield liner on the outside of the wallet also spreads open, and a breach is created in the RF shielding effect of the wallet, making the smartcards prone to accidental or unauthorized scanning.
A second disadvantage of these RF blocking wallets is the fact that the card pockets within them are not closed off in any way, even when the wallet is folded closed. Again, as a result of the user walking, running, or being jolted in some way, the smartcards within the wallet are prone to sliding out of the sleeves, and even the slightest exposure of these smartcards outside of the RF shield liner can risk unauthorized and accidental scanning of the smartcard.
A third disadvantage to these RF blocking wallets is that the RF shielding liner inside needs to be flexible and is often substantially thin and flimsy, using materials such as aluminum foil. As a result of repeatedly folding open and closed with use, and being subjected to various forces while in ones pocket or bag, these RF shielding liners can easily crumple, tear, or crack, which can lead to a creation of a hole or gap in the electromagnetic shielding effect of the wallet.
A fourth disadvantage to these RF blocking wallets is the added labor and cost of manufacturing and constructing them. The RF shielding liner becomes a costly appendage to the wallet instead of being an efficient, integral component. Not only does the leather or fabric have to be cut down to size and sewn together, but sheets of electromagnetic-shielding material have to be fabricated and cut down to size as well, only to be concealed within the outer panels of the wallet. It is an added cost and step in the manufacturing process that is often reflected in the retail price for these wallets.
Hence, there exists a need for a portable electromagnetic-shielding wallet or case that holds and shields a plurality of smartcards in more than one sleeve or pocket and is prevented from accidentally pivoting open while closed in ones pocket or bag. Moreover, smartcards contained inside the proposed electromagnetic-shielding wallet or case must not be able to slide or fall out when the wallet or case is closed.
In addition to being able to hold a plurality of smartcards or regular wallet-sized cards, the proposed wallet/carrying case must also be able to hold paper currency, receipts, tickets, and the like. Lastly, the materials used to create the electromagnetic shielding elements for the wallet or case must be substantially rigid, durable, and configured in a way so as to protect them from being folded, bent or broken over time with use.
The present invention is directed towards an improved electromagnetic shielding carrying case for contactless smartcards and personal articles that is meant to be carried in ones pocket, bag, or purse, 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 piece of fabric is attached to a portion of the outer surfaces of the first and second shielding members and also has a folded portion that wraps onto a portion of the inner surfaces of the shielding members, defining a paper currency pocket into which paper currency, receipts, tickets, and the like can be inserted. A releasable locking means keeps the first shielding member pivoted closed over top of the second shielding member so the case cannot accidentally open, thus shielding contactless smartcards contained inside the card pocket assemblies from being powered up by an RFID reader, and preventing the cards from falling out of the case.
It is a primary objective of this invention to provide an electromagnetic shielding carrying case that shields a plurality of contactless smartcards contained within from being powered up and read by an RFID reader when the case is closed, and also prevent accidental opening while contained in ones pocket or bag by providing a releasable locking means that allows a user to quickly and easily lock the case shut.
It is another objective of this invention to provide electromagnetic shielding members that are durable and resilient, and to configure them in a way so as not to bend, tear, or degrade over time with normal use, which could consequently create a breach in the electromagnetic shielding effect.
It is another objective of this invention to provide an urging means to allow the carrying case to automatically pivot itself open when the releasable locking means is disengaged to hold itself open for the user while they sort through cards or hold a smartcard up to an RFID sensor.
It is another objective of this invention to provide a separate compartment within the electromagnetic shielding carrying case to store paper currency, receipts, tickets, and the like.
It is still another objective of this invention to provide several card pockets within the carrying case that allow a user maximum visibility of and better access to the cards contained in each card pocket.
As used herein, the term “contactless smartcards” is meant to include any wallet-sized card, such as license, credit, check, ATM, or membership cards that are approximately 8.5 cm long by 5.5 cm wide and 1 mm or less thick and contain an RFID microchip within them that stores personal data. The electromagnetic shielding carrying case which is the preferred embodiment of the present invention is broadly denoted by the numeral 300 and is shown in its closed state in
Front Panel Assembly
Front panel assembly 100, as seen in part of
Front panel wall members 110 are generally parallel to each other and sit on top of the inner surface of first shielding member 102. Front panel wall members 110 each have a projecting tab 114 projecting over top of the inner surface of first shielding member 102. Ramp members 112 are protruding from the ends of front panel wall members 110 and align with a portion of front edge plate 104. Torsion spring 26 sits in between hinge members 108 as a hinge pin 20 is inserted through all of the same.
A first card pocket 116 is defined on its sides by front panel wall members 110, its back by hinge members 108, its front by ramp members 112, its bottom by first shielding member 102, and its top by projecting tabs 114. First card pocket 116 is shaped and sized to removably contain a plurality of contactless smartcards 302 or any wallet-sized cards which are slidably inserted and removed in a direction parallel to front panel wall members 110 when electromagnetic shielding carrying case 300 is in a first open position. Ramp members 112 are meant to prevent plurality of contactless smartcards 302 from accidentally sliding out of first card pocket 116. A user may easily slide a card out from first card pocket 116 with their thumb in a direction towards and against ramp members 112 to remove it from electromagnetic shielding carrying case 300 when the case is in its open position (
Rear Panel Assembly
It should be noted that front panel assembly 100 and rear panel assembly 200 each share a portion of fabric piece 150 to complete their assembly. Rear panel assembly 200, as shown in
Hinge members 206, latch member pivot stops 208, and first spring boss 210 are all upstanding from the inner surface of rear edge plate 204 and all pass through cutouts 212 in fabric piece 150 and cutouts 214 in second shielding member 202, as seen in
A second card pocket 236, seen in
Moreover, as rear panel assembly 200 is hingedly connected to front panel assembly 100, a paper currency pocket 160 (seen in
Thus, it will be observed that electromagnetic shielding carrying case 300 has two basic states:
(i) Closed State (
In the closed state, plurality of contactless smartcards 302 which are contained in first card pocket 116 and second card pocket 236 are sandwiched between first shielding member 102 and second shielding member 202 (seen
Also in this closed state, fabric piece 150 wraps tightly around the outer surfaces of first shielding member 102, second shielding member 202, and the ends of rear panel wall members 228, causing paper currency pocket 160 to close up (see
(ii) Open State (
Materials and Manufacturing
In the preferred embodiment, first shielding member 102 and second shielding member 202 are preferably laser cut from a flat sheet of uniform thickness of aluminum alloy. As would be obvious to one skilled in the art, aluminum alloy inherently has strong electromagnetic signal blocking properties, good strength and rigidity, is very lightweight, and readily available at a reasonable price. It is also one of the most readily recycled metals, making it a greener material. The lightness of the material is also favorable because carrying case 300 is meant to be carried in ones pocket or bag comfortably. Hinge members 108 on first shielding member 102 would initially be flat when the whole part is laser cut, but post-laser cutting they are easily bent or formed upwards at a 90 degree angle to the rest of first shielding member 102. As discussed earlier, it's important that shielding members 102 and 202 are made from a durable, resilient sheet of metal instead of a specialized, expensive electromagnetic shielding foil or film in order to eliminate the threat of the shielding material bending, flaking, or tearing over time with use, which is one of the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art.
Also in the preferred embodiment, front panel wall members 110, front edge plate 104, rear panel wall members 228, rear edge plate 204, latch member 216, and rear panel ramp member 224 are all injection molded out of a durable, lightweight, and resilient plastic such as polypropylene or ABS plastic. This again helps to add to the lightness of carrying case 300 so it can be comfortably carried in ones pocket or bag. Also in the preferred embodiment, hinge pin 20 is preferably made from a lightweight, semi-rigid and durable machine plastic that has good abrasion resistance, such as nylon, to better endure the rotational friction of opening and closing the carrying case 300.
As opposed to fabric piece 150 taking all the stress from being the main connective component that holds carrying case 300 together, front panel assembly 100 and second panel assembly 200 pivot with each other on an actual machine hinge to handle the majority of the rotational stress, which helps to prevent the fraying, stretching and tearing of the fabric that traditional wallets undergo over time with use. This is why fabric piece 150 is preferably made from a very thin, comfortable fabric material such as nylon, cotton, or a thin resilient rubber in the preferred embodiment. As would be obvious to one skilled in the art, fabric piece 150 can also be easily and cheaply laser cut to precisely fit into front panel assembly 100 and rear panel assembly 200, and could also be made of different colors to change the outer appearance of the carrying case 300 and satisfy new trends, tastes, and demands of the market.
Accordingly, the reader will see that electromagnetic shielding carrying case for contactless smartcards and personal articles can be used to prevent unauthorized or accidental access to the contents of a plurality of contactless smartcards contained within it, and will not accidentally pivot open while contained in ones pocket or bag. Furthermore, the electromagnetic shielding carrying case has additional advantages in that:
The releasable locking means on the front of the carrying case can be easily unlocked by pushing the latch member down with ones finger, which instantly forces the carrying case to automatically pivot itself open, allowing the user to open the carrying case with minimum effort. Moreover, a user can scan a contactless smartcard without ever removing it from inside the carrying case by disengaging the locking means and allowing the case to flip itself open and hold itself open for them while they hold it up to an RFID sensor or scanner;
A plurality of wallet-sized cards, which may include contactless smartcards, can be contained in more than one card pocket, and are physically prevented from accidentally falling or sliding out of the electromagnetic shielding carrying case when it is in a closed state;
The card pockets within the electromagnetic shielding carrying case are minimal, gripping only a small portion of the edges of the topmost card, which allows a user greater visibility of the topmost card in each card pocket, and is helpful for sorting through cards in dimly lit environments or for people with poor vision. Moreover, this feature can also allow a user to display their driver's license or other cards without ever removing it from the carrying case;
The electromagnetic shielding members within the carrying case also help to prevent the magnetic strips on cards from being demagnetized by external magnetic sources such as speakers, magnets, cell phones and the like when the carrying case is in its closed state;
In addition to holding and shielding a plurality of contactless smartcards, the electromagnetic shielding carrying case has a paper currency pocket for storing paper currency, receipts, tickets, and the like;
Instead of using thin, flimsy electromagnetic shielding foil like some of the prior art, the shielding members within the proposed electromagnetic shielding carrying case are rigid, durable, and hingedly connected to each other, and can cleanly pivot open from one another as opposed to being folded over itself and cracking or breaking with use;
The outer fabric piece can be made in different colors, textures, and prints to meet the current trends, demands, and tastes of the market;
The market for contactless smartcards could be expanded by this invention by assuaging a card owners concerns over privacy and security by giving them the ability to protect the information on their contactless smartcards, which may include RFID enabled debit, credit, or building entry cards.
It will be appreciated that still further embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particular constructions herein disclosed and/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
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