Coins Holder with slots according to face value

Abstract

 A coins holder with different slots according to face value is described, comprising circular slots corresponding to the coins' denominations both by the number and by the diameter, wherein each slot has an opening of a slightly smaller diameter and equipped with a flexible rim that allows the introduction in a smooth way of the coin, and said rim holds back the coin in its position and by bending itself lets it out at the moment of use. In one of its preferred embodiments, the case consists of a useful, inexpensive, comfortable, practical and of compact size compartmentalized coins holder, comprising two half shells equipped with internal compartments for the coins' slot, made of a plastic material having a controlled deformability, tied by a hinge that allows to fold the two shell's halves one over the other in the closed position.

Description

[0001] The present invention is about a coins holder that offers separate and different slots according to the respective coin's face value.

[0002] With the coming into force of the single European currency there is a certain difficulty of adjustment to the new coins in all the participating nations, even more for those countries like Italy that have been used to paper bills for a long time.

[0003] Specifically, because the Euro coins are being put into circulation in eight different denominations or face values, the ordinary coin holders or purses, where the coins are kept helter-skelter, turn out to be completely inadequate to handle these fresh new coins.

[0004] For this reason a card shaped case has been created, easy to hold in the pocket, which has eight slots to arrange the coins in a selective way according to their face value. Since each denomination corresponds to a coin of different diameter, each one of the eight slots' diameter corresponds to one of the eight denominations, therefore only those coins of designated denomination will be able to match exactly the hole's size, the smaller ones will not be held back, while the bigger ones will not have access to that hole, so that the coins will be able to be kept in an exactly matching fashion.

[0005] Although this case fulfils its duty fairly well, it still causes some inconveniences, due to the stiffness of the material that forces to insert and to pull out the coins through a side slit, otherwise the coins would have the freedom to come out of their slots that are instead equipped with a narrower opening in order to prevent their escape.

[0006] The current invention brilliantly solves this problem, because it uses a plastic material of such flexibility that allows to bend the rim of the slots' opening enough to insert the coins smoothly into the slots, and seemingly in order to extract the coins effortlessly at the moment of their use.

[0007] The case can take up the shape of a card or a compartmentalized coins holder and its essential features are indicated in claim 1, while further details are reported in the appended claims.

[0008] The characteristics, advantages and objects of the coins holder according to the present invention will be clear and obvious from the following detailed description, made with reference to the figures of the illustrative drawings' annexed sheets, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a frontal side view of the case in its card embodiment;

Fig. 2 is its back side view;

Fig. 3 is its section drawn along the line 3-3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is its section drawn along the line 4-4 of Fig.1;

Fig. 5 is a matching table of the denominations' signs expressed in Arabic numerals and those expressed in Braille for the sight-impaired people;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the case's inner side in its embodiment as a compartmentalized coins holder in the opened position;

Fig. 7 is its section drawn along the line 2-2 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is its perspective view from the outer side in the closed position.

[0009] Making reference at first to the figures 1-5 of the drawings, the case is made of a card 10 its size similar to that of a common credit card, which has eight circular slots 11-18 corresponding to the eight denominations of the Euro coins. Each slot's diameter is equal to that of the coin that has to be arranged in it, but its opening 20 on the front side is slightly narrower having a rim 22, while the bottom hole 21 on the back side is quite narrower. In this manner, the coin, once it is introduced into the slot, can be pulled out just by pushing it from the back side through the hole 21 and slightly bending the rim 22 of the opening 20, thanks to the flexibility of the plastic rubber-like material utilized for the case's production. On the front side the eight denominations' signs in Arabic numerals will be provided, while such numbers' Braille symbols for the sight-impaired people will be printed in relief on the back side.

[0010] Clearly, such signs of the denominations' value can also be arranged on the case in a different manner, likewise the slots' order can also be different. Furthermore, one or more spaces 23 are provided on each side for adding words, symbols, commercial ads or more, being that this case is perfectly suitable for a promotional item.

[0011] Making reference now to figures 6-8 of the drawings, the case is embodied as a compartmentalized coins holder constituted by two symmetrical half shells 30, 31 preferably of plastic material having a kind of controlled deformability, tied by a hinge 32 made in a single piece molded together with the two half shells, having a central weakened strip 33 of reduced thickness that allows to fold the two shell's halves one over the other in the closed position as shown in figure 8.

[0012] Each half shell 30, 31 has four internal compartments 34, each one having the diameter equal to that of one of the eight coins that could then be pressed inside the respective compartment and be pulled out from it thanks to some degree of elasticity of the material, pushing them out by pressing on them with a finger through the proper hole 35 provided on the bottom of the compartments 34 and accessible from the outside of the coins holder, which is completed by a small locking hook on the edge of the half shell constituted by a small peg 36 equipped with a hooking finger 37 that goes to insert itself into a matching housing 38 provided on the head edge of the opposite half shell. At last, next to each compartment on the outer side and/or on the inner one, the symbols for the sight-impaired people of the coins' value contained in said compartment would be provided.

[0013] It thus seems clear that the invention's compartmentalized coins holder of figures 6-8 brilliantly solves the previously described problems and provides a useful, inexpensive, comfortable and practical product to safely keep the coins separated according to their value, without the danger of a coming out of the compartments but at the same time effortlessly removable from them, everything contained in a very compact space fit to be easily held in any pocket, breast-pocket, purse or similar everyday use objects.

[0014] Obviously the size, material, shapes of the case might vary endlessly, it being understood that the original invention's concept consisting in the slots' flexible rim, which allows the entrance of the coins in a smooth way, holds back the coins in their position and bending itself it lets them out at the moment of use.

Claims

1. A coins holder with slots according to face value, comprising circular slots corresponding to the coins' denominations both by the number and by the diameter, characterized in that each slot has an opening of a slightly smaller diameter and equipped with a flexible rim that allows the effortless introduction of the coin by pressing it, and said rim holds back the coin in its position and by bending itself lets it out at the moment of use.

2. The coins holder according to claim 1, characterized in that each slot, on the bottom side opposite to that of the opening, has a narrow hole accessible from the outside for pushing the coins with the fingers when they have to be pulled out for their use.

3. The coins holder according to claims 1-2, characterized in having eight slots matching the eight denominations of the Euro coins.

4. The coins holder according to the preceeding claims, characterized by having similar size to that of a credit or calling card.

5. The case according to one or more of claims from 1 to 3 embodied as a compartmentalized coins holder, characterized by comprising two half shells equipped with internal compartments for the coins' slot, made of plastic material having a controlled deformability, tied by a hinge that allows to fold the two shell's halves one over the other in the closed position.

6. The case in the shape of a compartmentalized coins holder according to claim 5, characterized in that the hinge is made of a single piece molded together with the two half shells and is equipped with a central weakened strip of reduced thickness that allows its folding.

7. The case in the shape of a compartmentalized coins holder according to claims 5 or 6, characterized in that one half shell is equipped with a locking hook constituted by a small peg with a hooking finger that inserts itself into a matching housing provided on the opposite half shell.

8. The coins holder according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized by having the symbols for the sight-impaired people of the coins' value, arranged each one next to the slot or compartment containing the coins of a value matching that of the indicated symbol.

Drawing