초록 ▼

A protective case (10) for securing and protecting a plurality of different sized memory cards (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) includes a rigid exterior container (12) having a first shell (14) and a second shell (16). First and second resilient inserts (26, 28) are dimensioned to nest within the first

A protective case (10) for securing and protecting a plurality of different sized memory cards (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) includes a rigid exterior container (12) having a first shell (14) and a second shell (16). First and second resilient inserts (26, 28) are dimensioned to nest within the first and second shells (14, 16) and the inserts (26, 28) each define five memory card securing means (30, 42, 56, 72, 84) for securing differing sized memory cards (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) against unassisted removal from the case. Abutment edges (36, 48A, 48B) are defined to contact a peripheral edge of a memory card secured by the securing means. Extraction cavities (38A, 38B, 50A, 50B) are also defined on opposed edges of the secured cards for facilitating removal of the memory cards from the case.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A protective case (10) for securing and protecting a plurality of different sized memory cards (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) having exterior dimensions of length, width and thickness distinct from each other, the case comprising: a. a rigid exterior container (12) having a fir

What is claimed is: 1. A protective case (10) for securing and protecting a plurality of different sized memory cards (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) having exterior dimensions of length, width and thickness distinct from each other, the case comprising: a. a rigid exterior container (12) having a first shell (14) and a second shell (16) including latch means for securing the first shell (14) to the second shell (16) to define a containment chamber (24) between the first and second shells (14, 16); b. at least one resilient insert (26) dimensioned to nest within one of the first or second shells (14, 16); c. wherein the at least one resilient insert (26) defines a first of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (30) for securing a first sized memory card (31) against unassisted removal from the case (10), a second of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (42) for securing a second sized memory card (54) against unassisted removal from the case (10), a third of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (56) for securing a third sized memory card (66) against unassisted removal from the case (10), a fourth of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (72) for securing a fourth sized memory card (77) against unassisted removal from the case (10), and a fifth of the plurality of different sized memory card securing (84) means for securing a fifth sized memory card (90) against unassisted removal from the case (10); d. wherein five border alignments (40, 52, 70, 80, 94) defined by the five memory card securing means (30, 42, 56, 72, 84) each define at least one abutment edge (36, 48A, 48B, 64A, 64B, 74A, 74B, 86A, 86B) dimensioned to abut in intimate contact at least one-quarter of a length of a peripheral edge of a memory card (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) secured by the securing means to secure the memory card against unassisted removal from the securing means; e. wherein the five border alignments (40, 52, 70, 80, 94) defined by the five memory card securing means (30, 42, 56, 72, 84) each define extraction cavities (38A, 38B, 50A, 50B, 68A, 68B, 78A, 78B, 92A, 92B) on opposed edges of the border alignments for facilitating removal of the memory cards from the memory card securing means; and, f. wherein the first of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (30) includes a first shelf (32), a first pair of crush ribs (34A, 34B) above and adjacent the first shelf (32), a first abutment edge (36) above and adjacent the first shelf (32) opposed to the first crush ribs (34A, 34B) and configured so that the first pair of crush ribs (34A, 34B) and the first abutment edge (36) contact opposing sides of the first sized memory card (31) whenever the first sized memory card (31) sits on the first shelf (32) in the first memory card securing means (30), and the first pair of extraction cavities (38A, 38B) between the first pair of crush ribs and first abutment edge, being defined within the insert (26) to form the first border alignment (40), and wherein the first of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (30) overlies the second, third, fourth and fifth memory card securing means (42, 56, 72, 84). 2. The protective case (10) for securing and protecting a plurality of different sized memory cards (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) of claim 1, wherein the second of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (42) includes a first shoulder pair (44A, 44B) and an opposed second shoulder pair (46A, 46B) defined within the insert (26) upon a first shelf (32), and split abutment edges (48A, 48B) upon one of the first or second shoulder pairs (44A, 44B, 46A, 46B) and a second pair of extraction cavities (50A, 50B) extending between the first and second shoulder pairs (44A, 44B, 46A, 46B) to form the second border alignment (52). 3. The protective case (10) for securing and protecting a plurality of different sized memory cards (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) of claim 1, wherein the third of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (56) includes a first pair of facing crush ribs (58A, 58B) that face each other from opposed sides of a first securing slot (59), a second pair of facing crush ribs (60A, 60B) that face each other from opposed sides of a second securing slot (62) defined within the insert (26) above a first shelf (32), the third abutment edges (64A, 64B) extending across the opposed first and second securing slots (59, 62), and a third pair of extraction cavities (68A, 68B) extending between the first and second securing slots (59, 62) to form the third border alignment (70). 4. The protective case (10) for securing and protecting a plurality of different sized memory cards (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) of claim 1, wherein the fourth of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (72) includes a first pair of opposed abutment edges (74A, 74B) defined adjacent a first shelf (32) of the insert (26) and a second pair of opposed abutment edges (76A, 76B) extending between the first pair (74A, 74B), and a fourth pair of extraction cavities (78A, 78B) defined along one of the first or second pair of opposed abutment edges (74A, 74B, 76A, 76B) to form the fourth border alignment (80). 5. The protective case (10) for securing and protecting a plurality of different sized memory cards (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) of claim 1, wherein the fifth of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (84) includes a third pair of opposed abutment edges (86A, 86B), a fourth pair of opposed abutment edges (88A, 88B) extending between the third pair of opposed abutment edges (86A, 86B) defined adjacent a first shelf (32) of the insert (26), and a fifth pair of extraction cavities (92A, 92B) defined along one of the third or fourth pair of opposed abutment edges (86A, 86B, 88A, 88B) to form the fifth border alignment (94). 6. A protective case (10) for securing and protecting a plurality of different sized memory cards (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) having exterior dimensions of length, width and thickness distinct from each other, the case comprising: a. a rigid exterior container (12) having a first shell (14) and a second shell (16) including latch means for securing the first shell (14) to the second shell (16) to define a containment chamber (24) between the first and second shells (14, 16); b. a first resilient insert (26) dimensioned to nest within the first shell (14) and a second resilient insert (28) dimensioned to nest within the second shell (16); c. wherein the first and second resilient inserts (26, 28) each define a first of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (30) for securing a first sized memory card (31) against unassisted removal from the case (10), a second of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (42) for securing a second sized memory card (54) against unassisted removal from the case (10), a third of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (56) for securing a third sized memory card (66) against unassisted removal from the case (10), a fourth of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (72) for securing a fourth sized memory card (77) against unassisted removal from the case (10), and a fifth of the plurality of different sized memory card securing (84) means for securing a fifth sized memory card (90) against unassisted removal from the case (10); d. wherein five border alignments (40, 52, 70, 80, 94) defined by the five memory card securing means (30, 42, 56, 72, 84) each define at least one abutment edge (36, 48A, 48B, 64A, 64B, 74A, 74B, 86A, 86B) dimensioned to abut in intimate contact at least one-quarter of a length of a peripheral edge of a memory card (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) secured by the securing means to secure the memory card against unassisted removal from the securing means; e. wherein the five border alignments (40, 52, 70, 80, 94) defined by the five memory card securing means (30, 42, 56, 72, 84) each define extraction cavities (38A, 38B, 50A, SOB, 68A, 68B, 78A, 78B, 92A, 92B) on opposed edges of the border alignments for facilitating removal of the memory cards from the memory card securing means; and f. wherein the first of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (30) includes a first shelf (32), a first pair of crush ribs (34A, 34B) above and adjacent the first shelf (32), a first abutment edge (36) above and adjacent the first shelf (32) opposed to the first crush ribs (34A, 34B) and configured so that the first pair of crush ribs (34A, 34B) and the first abutment edge (36) contact opposing sides of the first sized memory card (31) whenever the first sized memory card (31) sits on the first shelf (32) in the first memory card securing means (30), and the first pair of extraction cavities (38A, 38B) between the first pair of crush ribs and first abutment edge, being defined within the insert (26) to form the first border alignment (40), and wherein the first of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (30) overlies the second, third, fourth and fifth memory card securing means (42, 56, 72, 84). 7. The protective case (10) for securing and protecting a plurality of different sized memory cards (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) of claim 6, wherein the border alignments (40, 52, 70, 80, 94) defined by the five memory card securing means (30, 42, 56, 72, 84) of the first resilient insert (26) overlie the five border alignments 40, 52, 70, 80, 94) defined by the five memory card securing means (30, 42, 56, 72, 84) of the second resilient insert (28) whenever the latch means secures the first shell (14) to the second shell (16). 8. The protective case (10) for securing and protecting a plurality of different sized memory cards (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) of claim 7, wherein the second of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (42) includes a first shoulder pair (44A, 44B) and an opposed second shoulder pair (46A, 46B) defined within the inserts (26, 28) upon the first shelf (32), and split abutment edges (48A, 48B) upon one of the first or second shoulder pairs (44A, 44B, 46A, 46B), and a second pair of extraction cavities (50A, 50B) extending between the first and second shoulder pairs (44A, 44B, 46A, 46B), to form the second border alignment (52). 9. The protective case (10) for securing and protecting a plurality of different sized memory cards (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) of claim 8, wherein the third of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (56) includes a first pair of facing crush ribs (58A, 58B) that face each other from opposed sides of a first securing slot (59), a second pair of facing crush ribs (60A, 60B) that face each other from opposed sides of a second securing slot (62) defined within the inserts (26, 28) above the first shelf (32), third abutment edges (64A, 64B) extending across the opposed first and second securing slots (59, 62), and a third pair of extraction cavities (68A, 68B) extending between the first and second securing slots (59, 62) to form the third border alignment (70). 10. The protective case (10) for securing and protecting a plurality of different sized memory cards (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) of claim 9, wherein the fourth of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (72) includes a first pair of opposed abutment edges (74A, 74B) defined adjacent the first shelf (32) of the inserts (26, 28) and a second pair of opposed abutment edges (76A, 76B) extending between the first pair of opposed abutment edges (74A, 74B), and a fourth pair of extraction cavities (78A, 78B) defined along one of the first or second pair of opposed abutment edges (74A, 74B, 76A, 76B) to form the fourth border alignment (80). 11. The protective case (10) for securing and protecting a plurality of different sized memory cards (31, 39, 54, 66, 77, 82, 90) of claim 10, wherein the fifth of the plurality of different sized memory card securing means (84) includes a third pair of opposed abutment edges (86A, 86B), a fourth pair of opposed abutment edges (88A, 88B) extending between the third pair of opposed abutment edges (86A, 86B) defined adjacent the first shelf (32) of the inserts (26, 28), and a fifth pair of extraction cavities (92A, 92B) defined along one of the third or fourth pair of opposed abutment edges (86A, 86B, 88A, 88B) to form the fifth border alignment (94).