Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Bale and package ties – hose clamps – Packet holders
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-02
2001-03-27
Sandy, Robert J. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Bale and package ties, hose clamps
Packet holders
C024S0170AP, C059S079100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205622
ABSTRACT:
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to money clips and, more particularly, to an expansion band that provides two rows of continuous members that are interlinked to provide longitudinal displacement of the links relative to one another to receive and hold various amounts of money, such as paper currency and credit cards.
II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In the past two adjacent rows of interlinked members have been used as a bracelet for watches to permit the bracelet to expand to receive a person's hand and then contract to surround the person's wrist to support the watch.
Various types of linkage designs have been used in expandible bracelets for watches and are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,406 to Ripley entitled “Expansible Linkage For Use In Making a Watchband or Similar Article”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,688 to Rieth entitled “Expansible Linkage For Wrist Watch Bracelets, Identification Bracelets and The Like”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,629 to Rieth entitled “Expansible Linkage For Use In Making a Watchband or Similar Article”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,625,001 to Levinger entitled “Link For Use In Making a Linkage For a Watch Bracelet or Similar Article and Expansible Linkage Made Therefrom”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,587,226 to Rieth entitled “Expansible Linkage For Use In Making a Watch Band or Similar Article of Jewelry”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,416,305 to Rieth entitled “Adjustable Section For a Watch Bracelet”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,307,348 to Vanover entitled “Expansible Linkage For Use In Making a Watch Band or Similar Article of Jewelry”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,307,347 to Christoff entitled “Expansible Band”; U.S. Pat. No. 2,941,351 to Dolansky entitled “Elastic Bands Having Pivotally Connected Links and Clearance Openings For the Biasing Spring”; U.S. Pat. No. 2,799,135 to Dolansky entitled “Expansible Bracelet With Recessed Connecting Links”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,689,450 to Stiegele entitled “Expansible Bracelet.”
Applicant referes to the linkage design of the bracelet as disclosed in the U.S. patents listed in the above paragraph. Although Applicant's invention uses a linkage design like those disclosed in the issued patents, the prior art does not teach or suggest that such a linkage design is useful as a money holder.
Money clips have long been used to hold paper currency or credit cards in an organized fashion. The typical money clip consists of a single piece of metal bent or folded at its midpoint. The ends folded about the midpoint are placed flush against one another to form a gap between the folded ends and the midpoint. The currency or credit cards are inserted between the folded ends into the gap and held in place through the pinching of the folded ends on the currency or credit cards. A shortcoming of this money clip is that this money clip defines the thickness of the gap at its folded midpoint and, therefore, this money clip limits the sizes and thicknesses of money that may be held by the money clip. Furthermore, if the ends of the money clip are spread apart too far, the money clip is permanently deformed making it unusable to hold smaller sizes and thicknesses of money. Another shortcoming is that this money clip is susceptible to breaking at its midpoint if the folded ends are displaced far enough from one another. Another shortcoming is that a portion of the money remains exposed and not completely secured within the money clip and, therefore, the money is vulnerable to undesired removal from the money clip.
The shortcoming of the previous money clip that relates to the undesired removal of money due to the money clip not completely securing the money was solved in U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,019 to Knickle entitled “Credit Card And Money Carrying Device” which discloses a carrying device that uses a band of elastic material that is flexible and permits expansion to completely secure money within the band. The elastic material is formed into a band when the free ends of the band are fastened together. The ends of the band are held in place and protected by a metal cover plate that is crimped around the band where the ends are attached. A shortcoming of this carrying device is that the band has a weakness where the free ends of the band are fastened. As a consequence, the band is susceptible to easy breaking after continued use or wear and tear. Another shortcoming of this device is that the cover is required to protect the band where the free ends are fastened together. Another shortcoming is that the length of the cover limits the thickness of how much money may be held by the carrying device. Furthermore, the band may not slide easily into the user's pocket due to friction between the band and the cloth pocket.
Thus, there is a need and there has never been disclosed an expansion band that uses an interlinking system of members for use as a money clip to correspondingly expand to the size and thickness of the money inserted into the band to efficiently hold the money.
III. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a linkage system that is designed for use as a money clip. A related object of the present invention is to provide a money clip that is expandable to hold all variations and quantities of paper currency.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a money clip that is designed to be carried in a pants pocket, jacket pocket, or in any other manner suitable by the user. A related object of the present invention is that the money clip is designed with a surface that is amenable to contact with the lining of a pants pocket, jacket pocket, or in any other manner suitable by the user.
Still another related object of the present invention is to provide a money clip that is easy and convenient to use. Another object is to provide a flexible money clip that is reversible so that either side can act as the exposed side.
Yet another object is to provide an expansion money clip that can accommodate a solid extended length link on which may be placed an engraved design or decorative gems.
Other objects of the present invention will become more apparent to persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a device that uses a continuous band with a linkage system to securely hold all sizes and amounts of money in an organized and efficient manner. The band consists of two rows of members interconnected through the use of links to form a continuous expandable loop.
The two rows of members are separated into an outer row and an inner row. Each member of the outer row is connected through two links to two corresponding members on the inner row. Likewise, each member of the inner row is connected through two links to two corresponding members on the outer row. The links permit the members of the outer row and the members of the inner row to expand in a longitudinal direction away from its adjacent member to receive and hold the inserted money. The links also allow the continuous band to be turned around so that either of the two rows of members can become the exposed surface. Thus, the continuous band is reversible.
REFERENCES:
patent: 463380 (1891-11-01), Dixon et al.
patent: 1006584 (1911-10-01), Millsaps
patent: 1037086 (1912-08-01), Tusten
patent: 1960690 (1934-05-01), Blair
patent: 2689450 (1954-09-01), Stiegele
patent: 2790302 (1957-04-01), Minematsu
patent: 2799135 (1957-07-01), Dolansky
patent: 2941351 (1960-06-01), Dolansky
patent: 3119249 (1964-01-01), Goldstein
patent: 3307347 (1967-03-01), Christoff
patent: 3307348 (1967-03-01), Vanover
patent: 3416305 (1968-12-01), Rieth
patent: 3587226 (1971-06-01), Rieth
patent: 3625001 (1971-12-01), Levinger
patent: 3786629 (1974-01-01), Rieth
patent: 3798729 (1974-03-01), Tanaka
patent: 3994126 (1976-11-01), Rieth
patent: 4096688 (1978-06-01), Rieth
patent: 4723406 (1988-02-01), Ripley
patent: 5279019 (1994-01-01), Knickle
patent: 5367752 (1994-11-01), Petty
patent: 1684 (1859-07-01), None
Knechtel Demeur & Samlan
Sandy Robert J.
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