Credit card gripper clip

Abstract

A clip having opposing legs and open ends is adapted to be slid onto a card and frictionally grip the card without the use of adhesive. The clip remains on the card while the card is stored in a slot in a billfold, wallet, purse, or cellphone case. When a user needs to use the card, the user grips the clip between their thumb and finger and easily pulls the card out of the slot to use at a point-of-sale transaction. The legs of the clip are biased towards one another so as to pinch the card between the legs. The clip may have exterior ridges to enhance gripping by a user.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a clip for use on a plastic card to make the card easier to remove from a billfold or wallet.BACKGROUND

[0002] Plastic cards, such as credit cards, a driver's license, bank debit cards, insurance cards, and other identification cards, are often stored in slots in a billfold, wallet, or purse. This storage of the card leaves only a small edge visible, which can be difficult to grip for removal of the card from the billfold, wallet, or purse. People with limited hand strength and / or dexterity often struggle to grab and remove the card from the slot. One solution to this problem is the addition of a piece of tape or a small tab adhered to the card so as to provide an enlarged area for gripping. However, such tabs that are glued to the card have only a one-time use. If the tab fails, such as by tearing or release of the adhesive, the tab cannot be re-used, but rather must be thrown away. When the tape or tab is removed, an adhesive residue often remains on the card, which may be hard to remove, sticks to other cards, or gets stuck in the wallet, billfold or purse. Also, such adhesive tabs require the card to sit after the tab is positioned on the card, until the adhesive dries, which delays use of the card. Other types of tabs are bulky and not conducive to use in a wallet, billfold or purse.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for improved device with which can be quickly, easily, and repeatedly mounted onto a plastic card to simplify removal of the card from a storage slot, such as in a billfold, wallet, or purse.

[0004] Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a clip which attaches to a plastic card without the use of adhesive.

[0005] Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a plastic, resilient clip which can be quickly and easily mounted on the card multiple times, without damage to the card or to the clip.

[0006] A further objective of the present invention is a provision of a method of quickly and easily removing a card from a storage slot in a billfold, wallet, or purse, by gripping a clip on one edge of the card.

[0007] Another objective of the present invention is of a clip mountable on a credit card, debit card, driver's license, or other identification card, for gripping by a user to remove the card from the storage slot.

[0008] Yet another objective of the invention is the provision of a method of storing and removing a card from a storage slot utilizing a clip attached to one edge of the card.

[0009] These and other objectives become apparent from the following description of the invention.SUMMARY

[0010] A device for pulling a card, such as a credit card, debit card, driver's license, or other identification card, facilitates removal of the card from a storage slot in a billfold, wallet, purse, or cellphone case. The device includes a clip having a top or upper portion, with opposite sides or legs converging toward one another from the top to a lower edge of the legs, thereby defining a gap between the legs. The clip is adapted to mount onto the card which slides between the opposite sides or legs and is gripped there between, without the use of adhesive. When the card is residing within the storage slot, the clip can be easily gripped between a user's thumb and finger to pull with clip and card out of the store slot. The opposite sides or legs are resilient such that the card is pinched between the sides or legs. The clip may also frictionally grip the card for retention on the card.

[0011] The method of storing and removing a card from a storage slot includes the step of sliding the clip laterally onto and edge of the card so that the clip extends beyond an edge of the card, whereby the card is retained in the clip, without adhesives. Then, the card can be pushed into the storage slot with the clip extending beyond the slot. When needed, a user can grip the clip and pull the card from the slot for use of the card, such as at a point-of-sale purchase.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a clip for use on plastic cards, in accordance with the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the clip shown in FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a view showing the clip of FIG. 1 being mounted onto a plastic card.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a view showing the clip of FIG. 1 fully mounted on the card.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a view showing the card and clip being pulled out of a store slot in a billfold, wallet, purse, or cellphone case.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the clip for use on a plastic card.

[0018] FIG. 7 is an end elevation view of the clip shown in FIG. 6.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 7.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a view of the clip shown in FIG. 6 mounted on a plastic card.

[0021] FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of a clip for mounting onto a card.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a view of the clip shown in FIG. 10 with one leg raised for insertion of the card.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] A device is provided for mounting onto a plastic card, such as a credit card, bank card, driver's license, insurance card, or other ID, to facilitate removal of the card from a storage slot in a billfold, wallet, purse, cell phone case, or similar container. The device is preferably in the form of a clip 10 and having a top 12 and opposite sides or legs 14 extending from the top and converging toward one another so as to define a gap 16 between the legs 14. The clip 10 is formed of a resilient material, such that the legs 14 are biased against one another. For example, the clip 1 is preferably made of plastic, but can also be made of a composite material or of metal. Each end of the clip 10 is open, such that the clip is adapted to be slid longitudinally onto one edge of a card 18. The legs 14 are shown to be concave or curve outwardly with respect to one another, though it is understood that the legs could be convex or curve inwardly toward one another, or could be straight and angled toward one another, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0024] In use, the clip 10 is slid longitudinally onto the card 18, from one end or corner of the card 18, as shown in FIG. 3. The clip 10 can be positioned anywhere along an edge of the card 18, for example, adjacent one end of the card, as shown in FIG. 4. When the clip 10 is fully mounted on the card 18, the top 12 of the clip 10 is adjacent the edge of the card 18. Thus, in the embodiment of the clip 10 shown in FIGS. 1-2, the clip 10 is pushed fully onto the card 18 such that the edge of the card is adjacent the top 12 of the clip 10. The card 18 can then be easily slid into a slot 20 in a billfold, wallet, purse, or cell phone case 22 for storage. When a user needs to use the card 18, the user grips the clip 10 between their thumb and a finger, and easily pulls the card 18 out of the slot 20.

[0025] The clip 10 is mounted to the card 18 without the use of adhesive. The clip 10 is retained on the card 18 solely by friction, and the pressure of the legs 14 on the opposite sides of the card 18. The clip 10 can be quickly and easily removed from the card 18 simply by pulling upwardly on the clip or sliding the clip longitudinally along the card until the clip is disengaged from the card. The clip 10 is reusable on the same card or a different card.

[0026] An alternative embodiment of the clip 10A is shown in FIGS. 6-9. The clip 10A functions similarly as clip 10. The legs 14A of the clip 10A each have an interior notch 24 adapted to receive the edge of the card 18. Thus, contrary to clip 10, the clip 10A does not slip fully onto the card 18, but rather, the card 18 only extends between the legs 14A in the notches 24. Alternatively, the clip 10A may be pushed further onto the card 18 such that the edge of the card is at or near the inside top of the clip 10A. The inside walls of the clip 10A may also include ribs or ridges to enhance gripping of the card 18. The clip 10A may be made of a soft material, such as rubber or silicone, for frictional retention on the card 18, without the use of adhesive.

[0027] Clip 10A includes one or more ribs or ridges 26 on the exterior surface of each leg 14A, so to enhance the grip by the user on the clip 10A. The ribs or ridges 26 may have a variety of shapes. For example, as best seen in FIG. 6, the ribs or ridges 26 are horizontally disposed. In an alternative embodiment, the ribs or ridges 26 may be curved or wavy or may be disconnected dots or dashes projecting outwardly from the surface of the legs 14A. It is understood that the ribs, ridges 26 may also be used on the clip 10 shown in FIGS. 1-5.

[0028] FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the clip 10B, which has opposite sides 14B with a gap or space therebetween for receiving the card 18. The legs 14B are substantially parallel to one another. The inner surface of one or both legs 14B may include one or more projections 28 to enhance gripping of the card 18. The clip 10B may be made of a flexible material with a frictional gripping surface, such as silicone or rubber, such that one of the legs 14B can be flipped up or open so as to permit the card 18 to be slid into the clip 10B. Then the raised leg 14B is lowered to the neutral or normal position so that the card 18 is frictionally retained between the legs 14B, without adhesive.

[0029] The clips 10, 10A 10B may have a flat top 12 (as seen in FIG. 2) or a curved or rounded top 12A (as seen in FIG. 7). The length of each clip 10, 10A, 10B may vary, though preferably the clip has a shorter length than the edge of the card 18 to which the clip is mounted.

[0030] The clips 10, 10A, 10B may be made of any material wherein the legs 14, 14A, 14B exert a holding, gripping, or frictional force on the card 18. The clips may be different colors so to be color coordinated, and thereby indicate different cards to the user. Indicia may be provided on the clip 10, 10A, 10B such as an emoji or a small photo, to identify each card, since the visible edge of the card in the slot is minimal.

[0031] The clips 10, 10A, 10B can also be used as a bookmark. The clip can be slid onto one or more pages of a book, magazine, or the like, as a place holder, thereby making it easy for the use to find where they left off.

[0032] From the foregoing, it can be seen that the clips 10, 10A, 10B accomplish at least all of the stated objectives.

[0033] The “scope” of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The scope of the disclosure is further qualified as including any possible modification to any of the aspects and / or embodiments disclosed herein which would result in other embodiments, combinations, subcombinations, or the like that would be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A device for pulling a card out of a storage slot of a billfold, a wallet, a purse, or cell phone case, the device comprising:a clip having a top and opposite legs each having an upper edge connected to the top and a lower edge;a gap between the legs above the lower edges;the gap being adapted to receive a card whereby the lower edges frictionally grip the card without the use of adhesive; andthe clip being adapted to be gripped by a user's thumb and finger to pull the clip and card from the storage slot.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the clip has a length shorter than a length of the card.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the legs are biased towards one another.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the legs angle inwardly from the upper edge to the lower edge.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the clip is adapted to be removably mounted on the card.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the clip has opposite lateral edges, and is open at each lateral edge.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the clip is adapted to slide laterally onto the card.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the legs converge together from top to bottom.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the legs are resilient.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the lower edges are adapted to pinch the card.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the top of the clip resides adjacent an edge of the card.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the legs of the clip include an internal projection to enhance gripping.

13. A method of storing and removing a card from a storage slot, comprising:placing a clip onto the card so that the clip extends beyond an edge of the card, whereby the card is retained in the clip without adhesive; thensliding the card into the storage slot with the clip extending beyond the slot for storage of the card; thengripping the clip; andpulling the card out of the slot for use of the card.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the clip is gripped between a user's thumb and finger.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the card is slid into an open lateral side of the clip.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the card extends into a gap between resilient front and back legs of the clip.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the card is retained by lower edges on the front and back legs of the clip, with the lower edges being biased towards one another.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the slot is in a container.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the container is selected from a group comprising a billfold, a wallet, a purse, and a cell phone case.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the clip has a top and opposite legs, and the clip mounts onto the card such that the top of the clip is adjacent to an edge of the card.

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