|
(11) | EP 1 324 284 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | Currency holder |
| (57) A currency holder having a back wall provided with a front face (10a, 100a, 1000a)
and a rear face (10b, 100b, 1000b) and comprising at least one section for currency
(11, 111, 1110) provided with a first insertion aperture (17', 170', 1700') and with
a second holding aperture (17, 170, 1700), the said section for currency (11, 111,
1110) containing the currency in a manner such that the larger face of the currency
is substantially parallel to the said front and rear faces (10a, 100a, 1000a; 10b,
100b, 1000b), the said currency holder retaining the said currency in the said section
for currency (11, 111, 1110) by the agency of retaining means (14, 140, 1400) capable
of exerting an appropriate pressure on a portion of the said larger face of the currency. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a currency holder capable of containing currency in an organized manner.
[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a currency holder wherein the currency, either in the form of banknotes or in the form of coins, is arranged on the basis of its value so as to facilitate recognition thereof.
[0003] In general, coins and banknotes are distributed in a casual manner in pouches or cases of soft material such as, for example, hide, velvet or plastic.
[0004] However, such cases do not make it possible to select the required currency of interest quickly.
[0006] This problem is even more acutely perceived at the present time in that the changeover of currency to the euro will result in a substantial increase in the number of coins and in the size of banknotes.
[0007] Moreover, the direct contact between coins and between banknotes in the currency holders of conventional types has the further disadvantage of causing annoying jingling of the coins whenever the said currency holder is set in motion and rubbing of the banknotes.
[0008] Currency holders are also known which contain coins stacked one above the other within appropriate compartments and banknotes in appropriate compartments.
[0009] However, neither of these currency holders makes it possible to prevent the spilling of their contents caused by an accidental inversion of the said currency holder.
[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a currency holder which remedies the above disadvantages.
[0012] Further features and advantages of the currency holder forming the subject of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from the description of the preferred forms of embodiment given below by way of indication and without implying any limitation, with reference to the drawings that follow, in which:
Figure 1 shows an elevation of the front face of a currency holder in the form of a coin case according to a first form of embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 1a shows a sectional view along the line A-A of Figure 1;
Figure 1b shows an enlargement of a portion of Figure 1a;
Figure 2 shows a plan view of Figure 1;
Figure 2a shows an enlargement of a portion of Figure 2;
Figure 3 shows an elevation of the rear face of the currency holder in the form of a coin case shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a lateral view of Figure 1;
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the currency holder in the form of a coin case shown in Figures 1-4 together with a case in the opened position;
Figures 6, 6a and 6b show a perspective view of a currency holder in the form of a coin case according to a second form of embodiment of the present invention together with separate portions of a case in the opened position;
Figure 7 shows an elevation of the front face of a currency holder in the form of a coin case according to a third form of embodiment;
Figure 7a shows a sectional view along the line A-A of Figure 7;
Figure 7b shows a plan view of a currency holder in the form of a coin case shown in Figure 7;
Figure 8 shows an elevation of the front face of a currency holder in the form of a notecase according to a first form of embodiment of the present invention in the assembled state;
Figure 8a shows a sectional view along the line A-A of Figure 8;
Figure 9 shows a plan view of Figure 8;
Figure 10 shows an elevation of the rear face of the currency holder in the form of a notecase shown in Figure 8 in the assembled state;
Figure 11 shows a lateral view of Figure 8;
Figure 12 shows an elevation of the containers of the currency holder in the form of a notecase shown in Figure 8 in the non-assembled state;
Figure 13a shows a sectional view of the retaining means of the currency holder in the form of a notecase, in motion;
Figure 13b shows an elevation of the retaining means shown in Figure 13a;
Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the currency holder in the form of a notecase in the assembled state; and
Figure 15 shows an exploded perspective view of the front face of a currency holder in the form of a notecase according to a second form of embodiment of the present invention in the assembled state.
[0013] As shown in Figures 1 to 7b, the currency holder according to a first form of embodiment of the present invention is in the form of a coin case, designated as a whole by the numeral 10, provided on both the front face 10a and the rear face 10b with sections for coins 11 arranged in series.
[0014] The said sections for coins 11 comprise, as a back wall, respectively, the front face 10a and the rear face 10b of the coin case 10, a rear base 12 of the said coin case 10 from which a plurality of dividing walls 13 project, in a substantially vertical manner relative to the said base 12 and in a substantially orthogonal manner relative to the said front face 10a and rear face 10b. From the said dividing walls 13 there project, substantially in the manner of wings, retaining means 14 for coins.
[0015] The said retaining means 14 preferably have the form of a tab formed by two half-portions of a wing-shaped tab 14a, 14b.
[0016] Advantageously, each half-portion of a wing-shaped tab 14a, 14b of the said retaining means 14 is inclined towards the back wall which, in one case, is the front face 10a and, in the other, is the rear face 10b of the coin case 10. Even more advantageously, the said half-portions of a wing-shaped tab 14a, 14b of the said retaining means 14 are inclined at an angle such as to permit the introduction of the coin into the section for coins 11 and to prevent its being spilt by reason of an accidental inversion of the said coin case 10.
[0017] The said retaining means 14 is preferably made of semi-rigid or flexible material. Examples of such materials are plastic and metals such as steel, copper, aluminium and combinations thereof, such as, for example, plastic with inserts of metallic material.
[0018] In the coin case 10 according to the present invention, the coin is introduced by sliding into the section for coins 11 by positioning the said coin in a manner such that one of its larger faces is located parallel to the back wall which, in one case, is the front face 10a and, in the other, is the rear face 10b of the coin case 10, and retained within the said section for coins 11 by the agency of the pressure exerted by the inclination of the retaining means 14 on a portion of the larger face of the coin.
[0019] In the course of the present description and of the claims, the term "larger face", with reference to currency, in other words with reference to a coin or a banknote, means the opposing faces of the currency item bearing the value of the currency item and figurative material.
[0020] By the term "smaller face" of the currency is meant, with reference to a coin, the milled circular surface and, with reference to a banknote, its rectangular outline.
[0021] The sliding of the coin into the section for coins 11 is guided by the retaining means 14 and by the dividing walls 13.
[0022] As shown in Figures 1 to 7a, the sections for coins 11 have mutually different widths in a manner such that in the same section for coins 11 there are coins of the same size and in different sections for coins 11 coins of different sizes are accommodated. The said sections for coins 11 may also be of different lengths.
[0023] Advantageously, in order to be able to recognize, within each section for coins 11, the specific type of coin contained therein, markings 16 are provided such as, for example, engraved markings, indicating the value of the said coin. Preferably, the said markings 16 are on the front face 10a and/or rear face 10b in the vicinity of the zone of entry of the coin.
[0024] The coin enters and leaves the section for coins 11 via a first insertion aperture 17' positioned on the side opposite the base 12 and is accompanied by a finger of the hand operating, respectively, at the bottom of the section for coins 11, that is to say in the direction of the base 11, and at the top of the section for coins 11, that is to say towards the said first insertion aperture 17', by virtue of the presence of a second holding aperture 17 which separates the said retaining means 14 from one another.
[0025] The said second holding aperture 17 may have different outlines such as, for example, the U-shaped outline shown in Figures 1 to 7b, or, when the said retaining means 14 are not connected to one another, it may be a simple separation slit for separating the retaining means 14.
[0026] In the case where the said second holding aperture 17 has the abovementioned U-shaped outline, it is defined, laterally, by the retaining means 14 and, at the curved bottom end, by a portion of curved connecting wall 15 connecting the retaining means 14 to one another.
[0027] As shown in Figures 1 to 7b, the said second holding aperture 17 not only makes it possible to see a portion of the larger face of the coin but also allows direct contact between the tip of the finger of the operating hand and the said portion of the larger face of the coin.
[0028] Specifically, the said second holding aperture 17 facilitates the extraction and the insertion of the coins by means of manual sliding thereof into the section for coins 11 by virtue of the contact of the tip of the finger of the operating hand with the visible portion of the larger face of the coin exerting thereon the pressure necessary for the sliding thereof into the section for coins 11.
[0029] Advantageously, the said sliding of a coin into the section 11 does not influence the relative movement of the other coins positioned within the said section for coins 11 or within the neighbouring sections.
[0030] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, each front face 10a and rear face 10b of the coin case 10 comprises two parallel rows of six sections for coins 11 arranged in series. Therefore, on each face of the coin case 10 there are present twelve sections for coins 11. The coin case 10 of the present invention may also provide on each of the front face 10a and rear face 10b more than two parallel rows of sections for coins 11 or a single row on each front face 10a or rear face 10b, or one of the front face 10a or rear face 10b devoid of sections for coins 11 and the other of the front face 10a or rear face 10b comprising the rows of sections for coins 11 required.
[0031] Moreover, the type of sections for coins 11 positioned on the front face 10a may be different in number and size from those positioned on the rear face 10b.
[0032] Preferably, the coin case 10 according to the present invention is of rigid or semi-rigid material such as, for example, plastic, aluminium or copper. Even more preferably, the retaining means 14 are of a less rigid material than the other parts of the coin case 10.
[0033] As shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the coin case 10 according to the present invention provides at the lateral walls 13 at the ends of the coin case 10 the presence of a coupling means 18 capable of connecting the coin case 10 in a rotatable manner to a case 20 so that the said coin case 10 is concealed by the case 20. A preferred example of the said coupling means 18 is a seating for a peg, or a peg.
[0034] As shown in Figure 5, the case 20 according to a preferred aspect of the present invention is formed by two shells 20a, 20b connected to one another by the agency of a joining means 21 such as, for example, a hinge. Within the said shells 20a, 20b, in the vicinity of the lateral ends of the joining means 21, are pegs 28 capable of engaging with the coupling means 18 of the coin case 10 according to the present invention.
[0035] Therefore, within each shell 20a, 20b of the case 20 there may be at least one coin case 10 according to the present invention. Alternatively, the coin case 10 according to the present invention may be located within a single shell 20a and leave the other shell 20b empty for the insertion of other articles which are commonly placed in purses such as, for example, an identity card, visiting cards, or a credit card holder.
[0036] In a further alternative, the coin case 10 according to the present invention may be located within both the shells 20a, 20b, and on at least one of the said shells 20a, 20b there may be located a pocket 23 wherein the abovementioned articles may be kept.
[0037] The said pocket 23 is affixed directly within the said shell 20b and is, preferably, a bellows-type container of soft material such as, for example, leather or hide. The said pocket 23 moreover possesses, preferably, a closure means 23a of a conventional type such as, for example, a touch-and-close fastener.
[0038] Preferably, also, the case 20 is closed by the agency of a closure means 33 (shown in Figure 6b) of a conventional type such as, for example, a snap closure means operating by means of a spring, a tab and slit system or a zip.
[0039] The said case 20 may be of any rigid or semi-rigid material. In general, it will be of the same material as the coin case 10 according to the present invention.
[0040] Figures 6a, 6b show a case 30 for a coin case 10 according to a second form of embodiment of the present invention, wherein the coin case 10 is articulated in a rotatable manner, as described above, on one shell 30a of the case 30 while the other shell 30b forms with the retaining means 14 for the coins a further coin case 10 according to the present invention. In other words, the shell 30b acts as a front face 10a or rear face 10b of the further coin case 10.
[0041] The size of the said cases 20, 30 is such as to enable them to be kept in pockets or handbags.
[0042] Figures 7, 7a, 7b show a coin case 10 according to the present invention for use in conjunction with a belt or with a necklace. In this third form of embodiment, a plurality of coin cases 10 are arranged in series and comprise the sections for coins 11 on a single face, either the front face 10a or the rear face 10b, while the other face is in the form of a continuous wall devoid of any sections for coins 11.
[0043] The said series of coin cases 10 are connected to one another by the agency of joining means 19 capable of making the connection between them flexible. As shown in Figure 7b, the said joining means 19 may be simply a prolongation of the back wall, that is to say the front face 10a or rear face 10b of the coin case, or the said joining means 19 may be of the hinge type.
[0044] Attachment to a belt or to a necklace may be effected by the agency of loops 77 positioned on the front face 10a or rear face 10b of the coin case 10 that is devoid of sections for coins 11.
[0045] Each coin case 10 forming the series of coin cases 10 connected by the agency of the joining means 19 may also comprise a cover 78 having one side fixed to the base 12 in a rotatable manner and the side opposite thereto may be closed by fixing it to the back wall, that is to say the front face 10a or rear face 10b of each coin case 10, so as to conceal the contents thereof.
[0046] As shown in Figures 8 to 14, the currency holder according to a second form of embodiment of the present invention is in the form of a notecase, designated as a whole by the numeral 100, formed by a continuous wall having a front face 100a and a rear face 100b that separate, respectively, a front portion 100a' of the notecase from a rear portion 100b' of the notecase. The said front and rear portions 100a', 100b' of the notecase have in common a base 120 from which two lateral walls 131 project in a substantially orthogonal manner.
[0047] As shown in Figures 8 and 14, in the said front portion 100a' of the notecase, the said lateral end walls 131 are joined by a front wall 130' which projects in a substantially orthogonal manner from the said base 120 and which meets the said lateral end walls 131 in a substantially orthogonal manner. Between the front face 100a and the front wall 130' are present a plurality of sections for banknotes 111 formed by a plurality of dividing walls 130 parallel with one another.
[0048] The said dividing walls 130 comprise, laterally, side fins 182 which, in the assembled state, are inserted into corresponding slits 131a present on the said lateral walls 131. Advantageously, the said side fins 182 make it possible to move the dividing walls 130 either rearwards towards the front face 100a or forwards towards the front wall 130'.
[0049] Preferably, the said parallel dividing walls 130 and the said front wall 130' have a polygonal shape, ending in a projection provided with a marking 160 such as, for example, an engraved indication of the value of the banknote contained in each section for banknotes 111. Advantageously, the said markings 160 facilitate the identification of the banknote to be inserted or removed, even for visually handicapped persons. Moreover, the polygonal shape of the said dividing walls 130 and of the said front wall 130' is such as to allow the display of a portion of the larger face of a banknote contained in the said sections for banknotes 111. In a specific case, the said portion of the larger face of a banknote is its corner portion.
[0050] The said dividing walls 130 and the said front wall 130' comprise a second holding aperture 170 such that when the abovementioned walls are in the assembled state the second holding aperture 170 positioned on the front wall 130' and those positioned on the dividing walls 130 are substantially concentric.
[0051] Preferably, the second holding aperture 170 positioned on the dividing walls 130 has a substantially 0-shaped profile and that positioned on the front wall 130' has a substantially teardrop-shaped profile.
[0052] As shown in Figure 14, the banknotes contained in the appropriate sections for banknote 111 are retained in those sections by virtue of the presence of a retaining means for banknotes 140 in the form of a tab fixed to the base 120. In particular, the said retaining means 140 is fixed to a protuberance 120a projecting in a manner substantially orthogonal to the said base 120 and, in the retained position, extends substantially at the centre of the second holding aperture 170.
[0053] In other words, in the retained position of the banknotes, the said retaining means 140 is a tab positioned substantially at the centre of the second holding aperture 170 and having one part 140b thereof inclined towards the interior of the said second holding aperture 170. In this way, the said retaining means 140 retains the banknotes positioned in the sections for banknotes 111 by the pressure of the retaining means on the portion of the larger face of the banknote positioned at the second holding aperture 170. The said pressure exerted by the retaining means 140 on a portion of the larger face of the banknote thus prevents the escape of the banknotes resulting from an accidental inversion of the notecase 100.
[0054] As shown in Figures 13a, 13b, the said retaining means 140 is formed by the abovementioned inclined portion 140b inclined towards the front face 100a within the second holding aperture 170 and by a straight portion 140a resting on the front wall 130'.
[0055] Therefore, as shown in Figures 13a, 13b, when it is desired that the said retaining means 140 exert the pressure necessary to retain the banknotes within the sections for banknotes 111, the latter will be positioned substantially at the centre of the second holding aperture 170 in direct contact with the portion of the larger face of the banknotes positioned at the second holding aperture 170. When, however, it is desired to extract or introduce the banknotes from or into the respective sections for banknotes 111, in this case the said retaining means 140 will be moved away from the second holding aperture 170 until it comes into contact with the front wall 130' and the said banknote is extracted from or introduced into the section for banknotes 111 via a first insertion aperture 170' positioned on the side opposite to the base 120.
[0056] The rear portion 100b' of the notecase differs from the front portion 100a' in that it comprises a zone used for the sections for banknotes and a zone used for a container.
[0057] The zone used for the sections for banknotes differs from that shown above with reference to the front portion 100a' of the notecase in that the retaining means 140 has been replaced with a cover 780. The latter has one side fixed to the lateral walls 131 in a rotatable manner by the agency of a coupling means 780b and the side opposite thereto may be fixed to the front face 100a with traditional closure means such as, for example, a portion in the form of an engaging tab 780a so as to conceal the contents thereof.
[0058] The said zone used for the sections for banknotes 111 of the rear portion 100b' of the notecase is separated from the zone used for a container by the agency of a lateral wall 131. Between the said lateral wall 131 of the rear portion 100b' of the notecase and the said zone used for a container there is inserted, in the closed state, a lateral wall of the cover 780 (not shown), while the other lateral wall of the cover 780 rests on the lateral end wall 131 (also not shown), thus ensuring a strong attachment of the cover 780 to the actual notecase 100.
[0059] The zone used for a container is formed by an empty pocket 230 of substantially parallelepipedal shape and having as its back wall a portion of the rear face 100b, as its base a portion of the base 120, as its lateral walls a portion of the lateral wall 131 and a lateral wall of the 230a, as its front wall a front wall of the pocket 230b, and as its walls for opening from above an upper wall 230c. The said upper wall 230c is transparent and is made of plastic or glass.
[0060] The said pocket 230 is preferably filled with a means capable of generating light, such as, for example, a battery-and-bulb system which is activated by means of a switch 230d positioned on the portion of lateral wall 131 of the pocket 230. By virtue of the presence of the said pocket 230, it thus becomes possible to ascertain rapidly and discreetly whether the banknotes to be inserted in the banknote holder according to the present invention are genuine or forged. Specifically, activation of the light-generating means by means of the switch 230d and sliding a portion of the larger face of a banknote on the transparent upper wall 230c can reveal the presence or absence in the banknote of the metallic strip and the watermark.
[0061] The notecase 100, like the coin case 10, provides coupling means 180 at the lateral end walls 131, which coupling means are capable of connecting the notecase 100 in a rotatable manner to a case 200 completely similar to that described above with reference to the case 20.
[0062] As shown in Figure 15, the currency holder according to a third form of embodiment of the present invention is in the form of a notecase according to a second form of embodiment, designated as a whole by the numeral 1000, formed by a continuous wall having a front face 1000a and a rear face 1000b which separate, respectively, a front portion 1000a' of the notecase from a rear portion 1000b' of the notecase. The said front and rear portions 1000a', 1000b' of the notecase have in common a base 1200 from which projects, in a manner substantially orthogonal to the said base 1200 and to the said front face or rear face 1000a, 1000b, a lateral end wall 1310 similar to that described under reference numeral 131 and, in a manner substantially orthogonal to the said base 1200, a lateral end wall 1310'.
[0063] The said lateral end wall 1310', specifically, is detached from the said front and rear faces 1000a, 1000b.
[0064] In the said front portion 1000a' of the notecase, between the said lateral end walls 1310, a cover 7800 is provided to conceal the contents thereof.
[0065] The said cover 7800 has pegs 280 positioned laterally to engage in a rotatable manner in seatings 280a positioned in the said lateral end walls 1310 and a portion in the form of an engaging tab 7800a for fixing to the front face 1000a.
[0066] Between the front face 1000a and the cover 7800 are a plurality of sections for banknotes 1110 formed by a plurality of dividing walls 1300 parallel with one another.
[0067] At the bottom, the said dividing walls 1300 comprise bottom fins 1820 which, in the assembled state, are inserted into corresponding slots 1200a provided on the said base 1200. Advantageously, the said bottom fins 1820 make it possible to move the dividing walls 1300 either rearwards towards the front face 1000a or forwards towards the cover 7800. Advantageously, the dividing walls 1300 which will define the sections for banknotes 1110 that will contain the banknotes of a larger size are larger than those which will define the sections for banknotes 1110 that will contain the banknotes of smaller size. This, together with the forward and rearward movement of the said dividing walls 1300 described above, makes it possible to adjust the capacity of the sections for banknotes 1110 as a function of the number of banknotes of that size to be contained in the notecase 100, 1000 of the invention.
[0068] Preferably, the said parallel dividing walls 1300 have a polygonal shape, ending in a projection provided with a marking 1600 having the same function as those described previously.
[0069] The said dividing walls 1300 comprise a first insertion aperture 1700' and a second holding aperture 1700 having the features described in relation to the first and second apertures 17, 170 and 17', 170'.
[0071] As shown in Figure 15, the banknotes contained in the appropriate sections for banknotes 1110 are retained in those sections by virtue of the presence of a retaining means 1400 comprising a bridging member 1400a curved in the direction of the front face 1000a.
[0072] In particular, when the said cover 7800 is in the closed state, the said bridging member 1400a of the retaining means 1400 presents its concavity substantially at the centre and within the second holding aperture 1700. In this way, the said retaining means 1400 retains the banknotes positioned in the sections for banknotes 1110 by the pressure of the retaining means on the portion of the larger face of the banknote positioned at the second holding aperture 1700. In a similar manner to what was explained in connection with the abovementioned retaining means 14 and 140, the said retaining means 1400 exerts an appropriate pressure on a portion of the larger face of the banknote, thus preventing the escape of the banknote as a result of an accidental inversion of the notecase 1000.
[0073] As shown in Figure 15, the sections for banknotes 1110 contain the banknotes of smaller size towards the cover 7800 while those of larger size are to the rear, towards the front face 1000a. In this way, the banknotes of smaller size are completely contained within a fixed lid wall 7800b which projects in a manner substantially orthogonal to the base 1200 and in a manner substantially parallel to the front face 1000a. Moreover, in the closed position, the said lid 7800 rests on the said fixed lid wall 7800b.
[0074] As stated above, the banknotes of larger size are to the rear, towards the front face 1000a, and comprise a portion of their larger face which projects behind the lateral end wall 1310'. In the case in question, the said portion of the larger face is a portion of lateral wall.
[0075] The said projecting portion of the said larger face of the banknotes may be folded back towards the rear face 1000b by virtue of the closing of a gate 1500 hinged on the lateral end wall 1310'.
[0076] The said gate 1500 is substantially C-shaped and is thus formed by three walls 1500a, 1500b, 1500a', the wall 1500b linking the two walls 1500a, 1500a' which are arranged in a manner substantially orthogonal to the said wall 1500b and parallel to one another.
[0077] On closing of the gate 1500 on the rear face 1000b, the wall 1500a' towards which the projecting portions of the lateral wall of the banknotes face is engaged by pressure against a lateral wall 1310'' arranged in a manner substantially orthogonal to the said rear face 1000b.
[0078] The said lateral wall 1310'' defines, together with a portion of the rear face 1000b, a portion of the base 1200, a portion of the lateral wall 1310 and a front wall 2300a, a pocket 2300 positioned in direct contact with the rear face 1000b.
[0079] The said pocket 2300 is hollow and comprises, on the side opposite its base portion 1200, an aperture for the insertion of objects therein, and on its front wall 2300a, a slit 2300c to facilitate the extraction of the objects contained in the said pocket 2300.
[0080] The notecase 1000, like the notecase 100 and the coin case 10, provides at the lateral end walls 1310 of coupling means 1800 capable of connecting the notecase 1000 in a rotatable manner to a case 2000 entirely similar to that described above with reference to the case 20.
[0081] Advantageously, the currency holder according to the present invention, both in the form of a purse and in the form of a notecase, is produced by means of traditional technologies such as stamping, stitching, welding and adhesive bonding.
[0082] The advantages of the currency holder according to the present invention will be immediately apparent from what has been stated above.
[0083] A first advantage is that the sections of the currency holder according to the present invention make it possible to contain the currency in an organized manner. This facilitates the extraction and the insertion of the said currency.
[0084] Next, in the case of the currency holder in the form of a coin case, such organized sections also make it possible to eliminate the problems associated with the tiresome jingling caused by direct contact between the said coins.
[0085] In the case of the currency holder in the form of a notecase, such organized sections make it possible to eliminate rubbing of the said banknotes.
[0086] A second advantage is associated with the presence of the inclined retaining means capable of exerting an appropriate pressure on a portion of the larger face of the currency item. This specifically makes it possible to retain the currency firmly within the section, thus avoiding annoying losses resulting from the inversion of the coin case.
[0087] A third advantage derives from the fact that the currency holder according to the present invention provides the presence of markings indicating the value of the currency contained in each section. This enables the required currency to be rapidly selected.
[0088] A fourth advantage is that the sections of the currency holder according to the present invention comprise a second holding aperture. This makes it possible, in the case of the coin case, both to display externally the coin contained in the section and to insert it and extract it by means of manual sliding thereof within the section by contact between the tip of the finger and a portion of the larger face of the coin, exerting upon the coin the pressure necessary for the sliding thereof. In the case of the notecase, the presence of the said second holding aperture allows the action of the retaining means on the portion of the larger face of the banknote positioned at the said second aperture.
[0089] A further advantage is that the currency holder according to the present invention may comprise a plurality of sections. This leads to a substantial increase in the capacity of the said currency holder.
[0090] Another advantage is that the currency holder according to the present invention is made from low-cost materials and in a simple manner.
[0091] A further advantage is that the presence of coupling means at the sides of the currency holder enables the currency holder to be rotated in a manner such as to make the sections easily accessible to the operating hand.
[0092] Another advantage of the currency holder according to the present invention lies in its versatility. Specifically, it may be used in various products such as a pocket, a necklace, a handbag, a wallet or a purse.
[0093] It is clear that those that have been described are merely a selection of particular forms of embodiment of the currency holder according to the present invention, to which the person skilled in the art will be able to make any alterations necessary to adapt it to particular applications, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.
1. A currency holder having a back wall provided with a front face (10a, 100a, 1000a)
and a rear face (10b, 100b, 1000b) and comprising at least one section for currency
(11, 111, 1110) provided with a first insertion aperture (17', 170', 1700') and with
a second holding aperture (17, 170, 1700), the said section for currency (11, 111,
1110) containing the currency in a manner such that the larger face of the currency
is substantially parallel to the said front and rear faces (10a, 100a, 1000a; 10b,
100b, 1000b), the said currency holder being characterized in that the said currency is retained in the said section for currency (11, 111, 1110) by
the agency of retaining means (14, 140, 1400) capable of exerting an appropriate pressure
on a portion of the said larger face of the currency.
2. A currency holder according to Claim 1, wherein the said retaining means (14, 140,
1400) are selected from among a tab formed by two half-portions of a wing-shaped tab
(14a, 14b), a tab formed by an inclined portion (140b) and a straight portion (140a)
and a bridging member (1400a).
3. A currency holder according to Claim 2, wherein the said tab, formed by two half-portions
of a wing-shaped tab (14a, 14b), projects from dividing walls (13) substantially orthogonal
to the said front and rear faces (10a, 100a, 1000a; 10b, 100b, 1000b) and defining
with the said front and rear faces (10a, 100a, 1000a; 10b, 100b, 1000b) the sections
for currency (11).
4. A currency holder according to Claim 2, wherein the said tab formed by an inclined
portion (140b) is fixed to a base (120) of the currency holder and extends substantially
at the centre of the said second holding aperture (170).
5. A currency holder according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein markings (16, 160,
1600) indicating the value of the currency are present.
6. A currency holder according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, provided with a coupling
means (18, 180, 1800) to enable it to be connected in a rotatable manner to a case
(20; 30; 2000).
7. A case (20; 30; 2000) formed by shells (20a, 20b; 30a, 30b) connected to one another
and comprising at least one currency holder as described in the preceding Claims 1
to 6 within at least one of the said shells (20a, 20b, 30a, 30b).
8. A case (20; 30; 2000) according to Claim 7, also comprising within at least one of
its shells (20a, 20b, 30a, 30b) a pocket (23).
9. A currency holder according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, selected from among a coin
case (10) and a notecase (100; 1000).
10. A currency holder according to Claim 9, wherein the said coin case (10) comprises
at least one row of sections for coins (11) arranged in series.
11. A currency holder according to Claim 10, wherein a plurality of coin cases (10) are
arranged in series and comprise the sections for coins (11) on only one of the front
and rear faces (10a, 10b) of the coin case (10).
12. A currency holder according to Claim 11, wherein the said coin case (10) also comprises
loops (77) positioned on the front or rear face (10a, 10b) that is devoid of sections
for coins (11).
13. A currency holder according to Claim 12, wherein each coin case (10) also comprises
a cover (78) having one side fixed in a rotatable manner to a base 12 of the coin
case (10) and the side opposite the latter closable at the front and rear faces (10a,
10b).
14. A currency holder according to Claim 9, wherein the said notecase (100) also comprises
a pocket (230) provided with a transparent upper wall (230c).
15. A currency holder according to Claim 14, wherein the said pocket (230) contains a
means capable of generating light.
16. A currency holder according to Claim 9, wherein the said notecase (1000) comprises
a gate (1500) suitable for folding over a portion of the larger face of a banknote.
17. A product comprising a currency holder as described in Claims 1 to 16.
18. A product according to Claim 17, selected from among a belt, a necklace, a handbag,
a pocket, a wallet and a purse.