초록 ▼

A protective case (10) for six different sized memory cards (20, 34, 50, 62, 75, 90) having distinct exterior dimensions of length, width and/or thickness includes a base (12) and a top (14) hinged to the base (12) for opening and closing. The base (12) includes securing means (18, 32, 48, 60) for s

A protective case (10) for six different sized memory cards (20, 34, 50, 62, 75, 90) having distinct exterior dimensions of length, width and/or thickness includes a base (12) and a top (14) hinged to the base (12) for opening and closing. The base (12) includes securing means (18, 32, 48, 60) for securing a first small sized memory card (20) and first, second and third large sized memory cards (34, 50, 62). The top (14) includes a second small sized memory card securing means (74) for securing second and third small sized memory cards (75, 90). The securing means define rectangular alignments (26, 42, 56, 70, 80) approximating exterior length and width dimensions of the six cards (20, 34, 50, 62, 75, 90) and the rectangular alignments (26, 42, 56, 70, 80) overlie each other resulting in a very small case (10).

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A protective case (10) for securing and protecting six different sized memory cards (20, 34, 50, 62, 75, 90) having exterior dimensions of length, width and thickness distinct from each other, the case (10) comprising: a. a base (12) including a first small sized memory card

What is claimed is: 1. A protective case (10) for securing and protecting six different sized memory cards (20, 34, 50, 62, 75, 90) having exterior dimensions of length, width and thickness distinct from each other, the case (10) comprising: a. a base (12) including a first small sized memory card securing means (18) for securing a first small sized memory card (20) within the base (12) against unassisted removal from the case (10), a first large sized memory card securing means (32) for securing a first large sized memory card (34) within the base (12) against unassisted removal from the case (10), a second large sized memory card securing means (48) for securing a second large sized memory card (50) within the base against unassisted removal from the case, a third large sized memory card securing means (60) for securing a third large sized memory card (62) within the base (12) against unassisted removal from the case (10); b. a top (14) hinged to the base (12) by a plastic hinge (16) integral with the base (12) and top (14) so that the base (12), hinge (16) and top (14) form a single molded plastic case (10), the top (14) including a second small sized memory card securing means (74) for securing a second small sized memory card (75) and a third small sized memory card (90) within the top (14) against unassisted removal from the case (10); c. latch means (92) secured to the case (10) for securing the base (12) to the top (14) for selectively opening and closing the case (10) by securing the top (14) to the base (12) to protect one or more memory cards secured within the case (10); d. wherein rectangular alignments (26, 42, 56, 70, 80) defined by the five memory card securing means (18, 32, 48, 60, 74) overlie each other whenever the latch means (92) secures the base (12) to the top (14); and e. wherein a maximum of three memory cards may be simultaneously secured against unassisted removal from the case (10). 2. The protective case (10) of claim 1, wherein the first small sized memory card securing means (18) comprises two opposed pyramid posts (22, 24) secured to the base (12) and disposed to face each other from opposed length sides of a first rectangular alignment (26) and two inverse "L" shaped posts (28, 30) secured to the base (12) and disposed to face each other from opposed width sides of the first rectangular alignment (26) so that the two pyramid posts (22, 24) and two inverse "L" shaped posts (28, 30) are secured to four sides of the first rectangular alignment (26), the pyramid posts (22, 24) being dimensioned to engage and guide two opposed length edges of the first small sized memory card (20), and the two inverse "L" shaped posts (28, 30) being flexible and dimensioned to flex away from the first rectangular alignment (26) to permit the first small sized memory card (20) to pass under the posts (28, 30) and to flex back so that the posts overlie and secure the first sized memory (20) card within the first small sized memory card securing means (18). 3. The protective case (10) of claim 1, wherein the first large sized memory card securing means (32) comprises a first support shelf (36) secured to the base (12) and dimensioned to support the first large sized memory card (34) above the first small sized securing means (18) in a direction away from the base (12) toward the top (14), a first pair of crush ribs (38A, 38B) and an opposed second pair of crush ribs (40A, 40B) secured to the base (12) and extending above the first support shelf (36) and disposed so that the first and second pairs of crush ribs (38A, 38B, 40A, 40B) face each other from opposed length sides of a second rectangular alignment (42) and the opposed pair of crush ribs (38A, 38B, 40A, 40B) are positioned so that the crush ribs (38A, 38B, 40A, 40B) deform and apply an elastic friction force to the first large sized memory card (34) whenever the first large sized memory card (34) is positioned between the opposed pairs of crush ribs (38A, 38B, 40A, 40B). 4. The protective case (10) of claim 1, wherein the second large sized memory card securing means (48) comprises a first support shelf (36), the first and second opposed pairs of crush ribs (38A, 38B, 40A, 40B), and a first pair of edge posts (52A, 52B) and an opposed second pair of edge posts (54A, 54B) secured to the base (12) and disposed so that the first and opposed second pair of edge posts (52A, 52B, 54A, 54B) face each other from opposed width sides a third rectangular alignment (56) and the opposed pairs of edge posts (52A, 52B, 54A, 54B) are positioned to contact at least one width edge of the second large sized memory card (50). 5. The protective case (10) of claim 1, wherein the third large sized memory card securing means (60) comprises a second support shelf (64) secured to the base (10) and dimensioned to support the third large sized memory card (62) above the first small sized securing means (18) in a direction away from the base (12) toward the top (14), a first pair of alignment ribs (66A, 66B) and a second pair of alignment ribs (68A, 68B) secured and extending above a first support shelf (36) and disposed so that the first and second pairs of alignment ribs (66A, 66B, 68A, 68B) face each other from opposed length sides of a fourth rectangular alignment (70), at least one crush rib (44) and at least one blocking rib (72) secured to the base (12) and disposed so that the crush rib (44) and blocking rib (70) face each other from opposed width sides of the fourth rectangular alignment (70), the crush rib (44) positioned so that the crush rib (44) deforms and applies an elastic friction force to the third sized memory card (62) whenever the third sized memory card (62) is positioned between the opposed pairs of alignment ribs (66A, 66B, 68A, 68B, blocking rib (72) and crush rib (44). 6. The protective case (10) of claim 1, wherein the second small sized memory card securing means (74) comprises a first pair of pyramid posts (76A, 76B) secured to the top (14), and an opposed second pair of pyramid posts (78A, 78B) secured to the top (14) and disposed to face each other from opposed width sides of a fifth rectangular alignment (80), a first pair of inverse "L" shaped posts (82A, 82B) and opposed second pair of inverse "L" shaped posts (84A, 84B) secured to the top (14) and disposed to face each other from opposed length sides of the fifth rectangular alignment (80), the opposed pairs of pyramid posts (76A, 76B, 78A, 78B) being dimensioned to engage and guide two opposed width edges of the second small sized memory card (75), and the opposed pairs of inverse "L" shaped posts (82A, 82B, 84A, 84B) being flexible and dimensioned to flex away from the fifth rectangular alignment (80) to permit the second small sized memory card (75) to pass under the posts (82A, 82B, 84A, 84B) and to flex back so that the posts overlie but do not contact the second small sized memory card (75) permitting unassisted movement of the second sized memory (75) card toward and away from the top (14) but not out of the second small sized memory card securing means (74), the first and second opposed pairs of inverse "L" shaped posts (82A, 82B, 84A, 84B) being also dimensioned to flex away from the fifth rectangular alignment (80) to permit the third small sized memory card (90) to pass under the posts (82A, 82B, 84A, 84B) and to flex back so that the posts overlie and contact the third small sized memory card (90) so that the third small sized memory card (90) is secured against unassisted movement toward and away from the top (14) and out of the second small sized card securing means (74). 7. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the first small sized memory card securing means (18), the second small sized memory card securing means (74) and the first, second and third large sized memory card securing means (32, 48, 60) are cooperatively dimensioned so that a combination of the first small sized memory card (20) and either the second small sized memory card (75) or the third small sized memory card (90), and the first, second or third large sized memory card (34, 50, 60) may be simultaneously secured against unassisted removal from the case (10). 8. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the latch means (92) includes an elastic biased hinge shoulder (92) secured to the case (10) having a pair of tensile pillars (98A, 98B) secured adjacent opposed edges of and integral with the shoulder (94), the tensile pillars (98A, 98B) being dimensioned to increase a total strength and elastic memory of the shoulder (94) so that the shoulder (94) may exert a biasing force away from the first securing means (18) to assist in keeping the case (10) closed, and to prolong an elastic memory of the hinge shoulder (94). 9. A protective case (10) for securing and protecting six different sized memory cards (20, 34, 50, 62, 75, 90) having exterior dimensions of length, width and thickness distinct from each other, the case (10) comprising: a. a base (12) including a first small sized memory card securing means (18) for securing a first small sized memory card (20) within the base (12) against unassisted removal from the case (10), a first large sized memory card securing means (32) for securing a first large sized memory card (34) within the base (12) against unassisted removal from the case (10), a second large sized memory card securing means (48) for securing a second large sized memory card (50) within the base against unassisted removal from the case, a third large sized memory card securing means (60) for securing a third large sized memory card (62) within the base (12) against unassisted removal from the case (10); b. a top (14) hinged to the base (12) by a plastic hinge (16) integral with the base (12) and top (14) so that the base (12), hinge (16) and top (14) form a single molded plastic case (10), the top (14) including a second small sized memory card securing means (74) for securing a second small sized memory card (75) and a third small sized memory card (90) within the top (14) against unassisted removal from the case (10); c. latch means (92) secured to the case (10) for securing the base (12) to the top (14) for selectively opening and closing the case (10) by securing the top (14) to the base (12) to protect one or more memory cards secured within the case (10); d. wherein rectangular alignments (26, 42, 56, 70, 80) defined by the five memory card securing means (18, 32, 48, 60, 74) overlie each other whenever the latch means (92) secures the base (12) to the top (14); and, e. wherein the first small sized memory card securing means (18), the second small sized memory card securing means (74) and the first, second and third large sized memory card securing means (32, 48, 60) are cooperatively dimensioned so that a maximum of the first small sized memory card (20) and either the second small sized memory card (75) or the third small sized memory card (90), and the first, second or third large sized memory card (34, 50, 60) may be simultaneously secured against unassisted removal from the case (10). 10. The protective case (10) of claim 9, wherein the first small sized memory card securing means (18) comprises two opposed pyramid posts (22, 24) secured to the base (12) and disposed to face each other from opposed length sides of a first rectangular alignment (26) and two inverse "L" shaped posts (28, 30) secured to the base (12) and disposed to face each other from opposed width sides of the first rectangular alignment (26) so that the two pyramid posts (22, 24) and two inverse "L" shaped posts (28, 30) are secured to four sides of the first rectangular alignment (26), the pyramid posts (22, 24) being dimensioned to engage and guide two opposed length edges of the first small sized memory card (20), and the two inverse "L" shaped posts (28, 30) being flexible and dimensioned to flex away from the first rectangular alignment (26) to permit the first small sized memory card (20) to pass under the posts (28, 30) and to flex back so that the posts overlie and secure the first sized memory (20) card within the first small sized memory card securing means (18). 11. The protective case (10) of claim 10, wherein the first large sized memory card securing means (32) comprises a first support shelf (36) secured to the base (12) and dimensioned to support the first large sized memory card (34) above the first small sized securing means (18) in a direction away from the base (12) toward the top (14), a first pair of crush ribs (38A, 38B) and an opposed second pair of crush ribs (40A, 40B) secured to the base (12) and extending above the first support shelf (36) and disposed so that the first and second pairs of crush ribs (38A, 38B, 40A, 40B) face each other from opposed length sides of a second rectangular alignment (42) and the opposed pair of crush ribs (38A, 38B, 40A, 40B) are positioned so, that the crush ribs (38A, 38B, 40A, 40B) deform and apply an elastic friction force to the first large sized memory card (34) whenever the first large sized memory card (34) is positioned between the opposed pairs of crush ribs (38A, 38B, 40A, 40B). 12. The protective case (10) of claim 11, wherein the second large sized memory card securing means (48) comprises the first support shelf (36), the first and second opposed pairs of crush ribs (38A, 38B, 40A, 40B), and a first pair of edge posts (52A, 52B) and an opposed second pair of edge posts (54A, 54B) secured to the base (12) and disposed so that the first and opposed second pair of edge posts (52A, 52B, 54A, 54B) face each other from opposed width sides a third rectangular alignment (56) and the opposed pairs of edge posts (52A, 52B, 54A, 54B) are positioned to contact at least one width edge of the second large sized memory card (50). 13. The protective case (10) of claim 12, wherein the third large sized memory card securing means (60) comprises a second support shelf (64) secured to the base (10) and dimensioned to support the third large sized memory card (62) above the first small sized securing means (18) in a direction away from the base (12) toward the top (14), a first pair of alignment ribs (66A, 66B) and a second pair of alignment ribs (68A, 68B) secured and extending above the first support shelf (36) and disposed so that the first and second pairs of alignment ribs (66A, 66B, 68A, 68B) face each other from opposed length sides of a fourth rectangular alignment (70), at least one crush rib (44) and at least one blocking rib (72) secured to the base (12) and disposed so that the crush rib (44) and blocking rib (70) face each other from opposed width sides of the fourth rectangular alignment (70), the crush rib (44) positioned so that the crush rib (44) deforms and applies an elastic friction force to the third sized memory card (62) whenever the third sized memory card (62) is positioned between the opposed pairs of alignment ribs (66A, 66B, 68A, 68B, blocking rib (72) and crush rib (44). 14. The protective case (10) of claim 13, wherein the second small sized memory card securing means (74) comprises a first pair of pyramid posts (76A, 76B) secured to the top (14), and an opposed second pair of pyramid posts (78A, 78B) secured to the top (14) and disposed to face each other from opposed width sides of a fifth rectangular alignment (80), a first pair of inverse "L" shaped posts (82A, 82B) and opposed second pair of inverse "L" shaped posts (84A, 84B) secured to the top (14) and disposed to face each other from opposed length sides of the fifth rectangular alignment (80), the opposed pairs of pyramid posts (76A, 76B, 78A, 78B) being dimensioned to engage and guide two opposed width edges of the second small sized memory card (75), and the opposed pairs of inverse "L" shaped posts (82A, 82B, 84A, 84B) being flexible and dimensioned to flex away from the fifth rectangular alignment (80) to permit the second small sized memory card (75) to pass under the posts (82A, 82B, 84A, 84B) and to flex back so that the posts overlie but do not contact the second small sized memory card (75) permitting unassisted movement of the second sized memory (75) card toward and away from the top (14) but not out of the second small sized memory card securing means (74), the first and second opposed pairs of inverse "L" shaped posts (82A, 82B, 84A, 84B) being also dimensioned to flex away from the fifth rectangular alignment (80) to permit the third small sized memory card (90) to pass under the posts (82A, 82B, 84A, 84B) and to flex back so that the posts overlie and contact the third small sized memory card (90) so that the third small sized memory card (90) is secured against unassisted movement toward and away from the top (14) and out of the second small sized card securing means (74).