Purse or wallet with a chip for payment and / or location function

Abstract

The invention relates to a wallet (1) comprising an outer surface (2) made of a flexible material, with a wall thickness and an interior (3) for holding cards and / or cash, characterized in that a chip (4) is integrated into the wall of the outer surface (2) in such a way that it can be used as a wireless contact payment and / or as a tracking chip.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a purse or wallet with a payment chip according to the features in claim 1.

[0002] It is known from the state of the art to use purses or wallets to carry cash or credit cards or ID cards for daily use.

[0003] Such wallets are also called bifold or trifold wallets, meaning they can be folded out once or twice. The trend is increasingly shifting toward wallets that store cards inside the wallet, for example, with a hard case made of plastic or aluminum, into which several cards can be inserted. These cards can then be gradually ejected via a dispensing mechanism.

[0004] Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, electronic payment transactions have increasingly ceased on all continents. Electronic payment transactions are made easier, particularly by the fact that credit cards or payment cards only need to be held contactless in front of a corresponding reader. The cards no longer need to be inserted into the reader. However, this also presents an opportunity for fraudsters to read cards without authorization. So-called RFID protection has become established for this purpose. The credit cards or payment cards are protected from unauthorized access by a shielding film or shielding net inside the wallet.

[0005] EP 4 079 183 A1 discloses a wallet for accommodating a tracker. The wallet has a cutout so that the tracker is held in a pocket, directly visible from the outside.

[0006] A wallet with an RFID protective film is known from CN 111 904 123 A.

[0007] CN 205 671 679 U discloses a wallet with a chip in a front pocket that can be connected to a computer via a USB port, for example. The chip can be removed from the front pocket and connected to a computer's USB port.

[0008] The invention therefore has the object of providing a payment option that offers the consumer more security and at the same time more convenience compared to the prior art, and alternatively or additionally provides a location function for a corresponding purse or wallet.

[0009] The above-mentioned object is achieved according to the invention in a purse or wallet having the features in claim 1.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] The purse or wallet has an exterior. This exterior is made of a flexible material, particularly leather. This leather can be animal leather, synthetic leather, or even a microfiber material. Inside the purse or wallet, there is an interior compartment for cards and / or cash. There may be various card slots. The wallet may also have a hard case inside to hold credit cards.

[0012] According to the invention, a chip is now integrated into the outer wall in such a way that it can be used for wireless contact payment, for example as a payment chip. Alternatively or additionally, this is a tracking chip, which can also be called a tag or tracker. Two chips can therefore be used: a tracking chip and a payment chip. However, both technologies with the payment function and tracking function can also be combined in one chip and this chip can be integrated accordingly into the outer wall. The chip is therefore an electronic component, which can also be referred to as an electrical circuit board. The chip is programmable within the meaning of the invention. The chip can also be referred to as a tracking chip or payment chip below. Both functions, i.e. tracking and payment, can also be fulfilled together by one chip.

[0013] The chip is incorporated into a leather or artificial leather or other flexible material on the outside in such a way that the chip is covered by the outside in relation to the environment, and is therefore covered or covered by the leather.

[0014] The chip is preferably based on NFC or RFID technology; in particular, it is a passive chip. The chip is particularly formed from a microchip and antenna. The chip can also be referred to as a board or module. A battery can also be present to supply power to the chip and / or its antennas.

[0015] The payment chip can be individually loaded by the user with a specific amount of currency, or a credit card could be mirrored onto the payment chip. If a user now wants to pay for an item on-site, for example, in a restaurant, bakery, or even a store, they simply pull out their wallet and hold it with the payment chip against the payment terminal, usually a card reader. The payment chip is programmed so that the predetermined currency is debited from the payment chip, similar to the function of an EC card or credit card.

[0016] The key advantage of the present invention is that it's no longer necessary to remove individual cards or cash from the wallet; instead, the wallet is simply held in front of the card reader or payment terminal. The wallet doesn't even need to be opened. This is significantly more convenient, especially for multiple individual payments, especially for smaller amounts. For example, this involves picking up a few rolls from a bakery every day, where a few euros are needed to buy a few rolls. This eliminates the need to remove the credit card from the wallet.

[0017] Another security factor is that the payment chip can be loaded with a predefined limit. Even if the payment chip were fraudulently read, the maximum amount debited will be the amount up to the limit, but not the entire amount, such as the balance on an EC card or the limit on a credit card.

[0018] Another significant advantage is that if the purse or wallet has RFID protection, so that the cards inside are protected from unauthorized reading, the chip is located outside the RFID protection, in environmental terms. This means that the purse or wallet can also be used to pay using the payment chip without opening the wallet, while at the same time the cards inside the wallet are protected from further access. RFID protection is the flat incorporation of an RFID grid or RFID film into the outer shell or underneath the outer shell. This RFID grid or RFID film then surrounds the interior of the purse or wallet. In the case of a wallet, RFID protection can also be the case, for example, made of a light metal, in which the credit cards are located. The chip is then located outside the case.

[0019] If the chip is a tracking chip, it is also located outside or above the RFID protection, and the tracking function is not restricted or disrupted by the RFID protection. The tracking chip also offers the advantage that a separate tracking device, such as an additional tag or tracker, or even an additional tracking card, i.e., a credit card-sized tracking chip, is not required, as it is already present in the wallet.

[0020] The chip can be charged with money, but in the case of a tracking chip, it can also be charged with electrical energy, for example, through inductive charging. While current battery technology allows for a tracking chip with a lifespan of two or three years, this lifespan can be extended even further through inductive charging.

[0021] In particular, the outer skin is designed with a wall thickness of more than 1 mm, in particular with a wall thickness of 1.5 mm to 5 mm and very particularly advantageously from 2 mm to 3 mm. The payment chip itself has a construction height of less than 3 mm, preferably less than 2 mm, preferably less than 1 mm and can thus be integrated seamlessly and almost invisibly, in particular without adding any additional thickness to the outer skin. For this purpose, either the outer side or outer skin is designed with a single layer. This can then be cut at least partially along its plane. The two parts of the outer skin thus created, also referred to as skin flaps, are folded open, the payment chip is inserted and then glued and / or sewn together. In the case of a two-layer or multi-layer outer side, the payment chip can be arranged between layers. Furthermore, a recess is particularly preferably provided in which the chip is arranged.This eliminates the need to increase the thickness of the outer wall. The payment chip is then positioned almost invisibly beneath the exterior, at least away from visual access. Furthermore, if the interior of the wallet is filled, causing it to bulge outward, the payment chip would not be unnecessarily stretched or damaged due to tension. To this end, the payment chip is still positioned near a corner of the wallet, rather than centrally in the middle of the exterior.

[0022] To ensure the payment chip has the highest possible success rate when placed on a payment terminal, a logo, emblem, or pattern can be placed on the outside of the purse or wallet. The payment chip is then positioned in the wall directly below this logo. This provides the user with a guide and allows them to place the purse or wallet directly on the payment terminal. The payment process is thus highly likely to always work on the first attempt, increasing user satisfaction.

[0023] In a further preferred embodiment, the chip is positioned relatively centrally. If the chip and / or a corresponding antenna has a corresponding dimension greater than 1 cm x 1 cm, the central position of the chip ensures that it is positioned in the wallet in such a way that a credit card is inserted, in particular, on the inside. The credit card provides the wallet with inherent stability in this area, reliably preventing accidental bending and thus damage to the chip or the antennas surrounding the chip.

[0024] Further advantages, features, properties, and aspects of the present invention are the subject of the following description. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the following figures. These serve to facilitate understanding of the invention. They show: Figure 1a purse or wallet which has an outer side with a payment chip, Figure 2an analogous design variant to Figure 1 with marking, Figure 3 a cross section according to between the line AA from Figure 1 , Figure 4 an alternative design variant and Figure 5 another alternative design variant

[0025] In the figures, the same reference symbols are used for identical or similar components, even if a repeated description is omitted for reasons of simplification.

[0026] Figure 1 shows a purse or wallet 1, which has an outer side 2. This is a classic purse with an interior 3. The

[0027] Wallet 1 is constructed of two foldable parts. Credit cards or cash (not shown in detail) are arranged in the interior 3. A payment chip 4, represented by a dashed line, is integrated into the outer side 2. The payment chip 4 is thus integrated into the outer side 2 and thus located below a surface 5 of the outer side. The payment chip 4 is located in an upper right corner, relative to the image plane, i.e., in the area of ​​a corner of the wallet.

[0028] According to the Figure 2 The payment chip 4 is arranged below a logo or coat of arms, thus a marking 6. The marking 6 is arranged in or on the surface 5 so that a user can easily locate the payment chip 4, thus increasing user-friendliness.

[0029] Figure 3 now shows a cross section according to between the line AA from Figure 1The chip 4 is arranged beneath a surface 5 of the outside of the wallet. The outside 2 here is constructed in multiple layers with an outer layer 7. Furthermore, beneath the outer layer 7, relative to an environment U, an RFID film or an RFID grid 8 is incorporated flatly. Furthermore, a lining 9 or an inner layer is incorporated in the region of an inner side. The chip 4 is now arranged beneath the surface 5, in particular in a space between the outer layer 7 and the lining 9. For this purpose, a recess 10 is particularly preferably arranged, with the chip 4 being within the recess 10. In particular, as can be clearly seen in the image, this also prevents any outward curvature of the outer layer 7, so that the chip 4 is not crushed or clamped and is necessarily not visible from the outside.

[0030] Figure 4shows an alternative design variant. Here, the outer side 2 is formed as a single layer consisting of an outer layer 7. The outer layer 7 itself has an incision 11 coming from one side and present in its longitudinal plane in order to arrange the chip 4 in a space or recess 10. After the chip 4 has been positioned, this incision 11 is again glued. Optionally, an RFID film 8 is then arranged here too with respect to an interior space 3. For example, an outer layer 2 in the form of a wax layer 12 or the like can optionally be applied to the outside. Furthermore, a lining 9 can again be arranged on an inner side.

[0031] Figure 5shows another alternative design variant. Here, too, an outer layer 7 is provided. The recess can, for example, be designed in the form of a specific milled recess, thus enabling optimal positioning of the chip 4. A stabilizing layer 13, for example, a hard case for credit cards (not shown in detail), can be arranged beneath the inner side of the lining 9.

[0032] Figure 6shows a design variant of a purse or wallet 1. It is a classic bifold wallet. Here, with reference to the folded state of the purse 1, the chip 4 is arranged centrally on one outer side 2. From the inner side 14, i.e. on the back of the chip 4 (not shown in detail here), it is possible to directly insert a credit card 15. This credit card 15 is thus arranged on the back of the chip 4 and gives the chip 4 its own inherent stability, so that damage to or destruction of the chip 4 due to bending or kinking of the wallet is avoided as far as possible.

[0033] The layer structure is in Figure 7shown according to the section line BB. The outer side 2 in turn has an outer layer 7 with a surface 5. Below the outer layer 7, relative to an environment U, an RFID film or an RFID grid 8 is incorporated over a large area. The chip 4 is arranged below the surface 5, in particular in a recess 10 between the RFID film 8 and the outer layer 7, so that the overall wall thickness is not completely increased or thickened by the chip 4, but only to a justifiable extent. An inner lining or lining 9 is arranged below the RFID film 8. The individual layers can optionally be glued together. A pocket 16 for a credit card 15 is then shown directly on the inner side 14. The credit card 15 is thus located on the inner side 14 or on the back of the chip 4 and thereby provides the outer side 2, in which the chip 4 is mounted, with inherent stability, so that unintentional damage to the chip 4 is reliably avoided. Reference symbol:

[0034] 1 -Purse or wallet 2 -Outside 3 -Inside 1 4 -Payment chip or chip 5 -Surface 2 6 -Marking 7 -Outer layer 8 -RFID layer 9 -Lining 10 -Recess 11 -Cut 12 -Wax layer 13 -Stabilization layer 14 -Inside 2 15 -Credit card 16 -Pocket U -environment

Claims

1. Purse or wallet (1), having an outer side (2) made of a flexible material, with a wall thickness and an inner compartment (3) for holding cards and / or cash, wherein a chip (4) is integrated into the wall of the outer side (2), such that it can be used for wireless-contact payment and / or as a tracking chip, characterized in that the outer side (2) is made of artificial leather or animal leather material, wherein the outer side (2) covers or conceals the chip (4) on the outside with respect to the environment (U).

2. Purse or wallet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer side (2) has a wall thickness of at least 1 mm, preferably between 1.5 and 5 mm, particularly preferably between 2 and 3 mm.

3. Purse or wallet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an RFID protective film (8) is incorporated, wherein the chip (4) is arranged outside the RFID protective film (8) relative to the environment.

4. Purse or wallet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer side (2) has a marking (6), in particular a brand logo or a position logo, wherein the chip (4) is arranged below the marking (6).

5. Purse or wallet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chip (4) is arranged in the region of a corner or in that the chip (4) is arranged centrally when the purse (1) is closed.

6. Purse or wallet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer side (2) is configured as two layers, wherein the chip (4) is arranged in a depression, in particular in a recess (10).

7. Purse or wallet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer side (2) is configured as a single layer, wherein the outer side (2) is cut from a corner in such a way that the chip (4) is stored in the wall.

8. Purse or wallet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one credit card (15) is arranged on an inner side (14) in the region where the chip (4) is arranged.

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