US 9,314,074 B2Granted

Wallet with rolling O-ring hinge

AssigneeObstructures LLC

InventorsBrian R. Johnson, Matthew S. Hall, Nathan J. Matteson

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A wallet for securely holding one or more documents having a first band plate and a second band plate connected together using a stationary O-ring and a rolling O-ring . Each plate includes a top edge, side edges, and a pivot edge. A notch is located in each of the side edges adjacent the pivot edge that receives and holds the stationary O-ring . At least one of the plates includes a channel located in each of the side edges between the notch and the top edge that receives and holds the rolling O-ring . The rolling O-ring is typically located at the top of the channel near the top edge. The O-ring s bias the plates to a closed. The stationary O-ring allows the plates to be stretched apart while keeping the pivot edge together. The rolling O-ring rolls down the channel to release tension holding the plates together.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for securing documents using an O-ring wallet, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a stationary O-ring ;
providing a rolling O-ring having a round cross section;
providing a first and second rigid plate, each plate comprising:
a top edge, side edges, a pivot edge, a first notch disposed in each of the side edges adjacent the pivot edge and sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the stationary O-ring , and wherein at least one of the plates further comprises an elongate channel disposed in each of the side edges between the first notch and the top edge, the channel sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the rolling O-ring and the channel having a first end proximate the top edge and a second end proximate the notch of the at least one plate;
stacking the first and second plates together such that the first notches in the side edges of the first plate are aligned with the first notches in the side edges of the second plate;
wrapping the stationary O-ring around outward facing surfaces of both the first and second plates and seating a portion of the stationary O-ring into the first notch on both sides of both plates;
and
wrapping the rolling O-ring around outward facing surfaces of both the first and second plates and seating a portion of the rolling O-ring proximate the first end of the channel,
opening the wallet by separating the top edges of the plates to transition the wallet from a closed position where the sides of the plates are substantially parallel to one another and the rolling O-ring is located proximate the first end of the channel to an open position where the pivot edges of the plates are held together by the stationary O-ring, the top edges of the plates are separated and the rolling O-ring is located proximate the second end of the channel, wherein separating the top edges of the plates causes the rolling O-ring to roll from the first end of the channel to the second end of the channel;
placing a document between the first and second plates;
closing the wallet so that the sides of the plates are substantially parallel to one another and the document is secured between the plates;
and
rolling the rolling O-ring from the second end of the channel to the first end of the channel.

10 more elements

A wallet for securely holding one or more documents, the wallet comprising:

a first band plate and a second band plate, each plate comprising:
a top edge, side edges, a pivot edge, a notch disposed in each of the side edges adjacent the pivot edge and sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a stationary O-ring, and wherein at least one of the plates further comprises an elongate channel disposed in each of the side edges between the notch and the top edge, the channel sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a rolling O-ring and the channel having first end proximate the top edge and a second end proximate the notch of the at least one plate;
the stationary O-ring sized and configured for placement into the notches of both the first and second plates;
and
the rolling O-ring sized having a round cross section and configured for placement into the channel and to roll along the side edges of the at least one plate in the channel and to stop rolling once it reaches either the first end or the second end of the channel,
wherein the wallet is configured to transition from a closed position where the sides of the plates are substantially parallel to one another and the rolling O-ring is located proximate the first end of the channel to an open position where the pivot edges of the plates are held together by the stationary O-ring, the top edges of the plates are separated and the rolling O-ring is located proximate the second end of the channel, wherein separating the top edges of the plates causes the rolling O-ring to roll from the first end of the channel to the second end of the channel.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.