Side insert card holder

Abstract

A side-insert card holder assembly for receiving a transaction card without opening is described. The side-insert card holder assembly includes an upper box, a lower box, and a box insert. The lower box configured to at least partially fit within the upper box. The lower box includes a card slit configured to receive a transaction card being inserted into the lower box while the lower box is fit within the upper box. The box insert is configured to at least partially fit within the lower box. The box insert includes a locking protrusion configured to secure the transaction card in the box insert, and a realignment protrusion configured to realign the transaction card away from the card slit after the transaction card is inserted into the box insert.

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
         1 . A side-insert card holder assembly comprising:
 an upper box;   a lower box configured to at least partially fit within the upper box;   wherein the lower box includes a card slit configured to receive a transaction card being inserted into the lower box while the lower box is fit within the upper box; and   a box insert configured to at least partially fit within the lower box,   wherein the box insert includes:
 a locking protrusion configured to secure the transaction card in the box insert, and 
 a realignment protrusion configured to realign the transaction card away from the card slit after the transaction card is inserted into the box insert. 
   
     
     
         2 . The side-insert card holder assembly of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the box insert includes a card recess into the box insert,   wherein the card recess is open on a first side to receive the transaction card being slid therein,   wherein the first side is aligned with the card slit.   
     
     
         3 . The side-insert card holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the realignment protrusion is disposed so as to push the transaction card upward when the transaction card is inserted into the box insert. 
     
     
         4 . The side-insert card holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the realignment protrusion presents an upward arcuate shape so as to allow the transaction card to pass over the realignment protrusion while the transaction card is being inserted. 
     
     
         5 . The side-insert card holder assembly of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the locking protrusion is configured to be disposed at least partially above the transaction card while the transaction card is secured within the box insert,   wherein the locking protrusion is disposed opposite the card slit.   
     
     
         6 . The side-insert card holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the box insert further comprises:
 an opening through the box insert configured to make a portion of the transaction card visible from below the box insert.   
     
     
         7 . The side-insert card holder assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the lower box further comprises:
 a window at least partially aligned with the opening of the box insert such that at least a portion of the transaction card is visible through the window from the exterior of the lower box.   
     
     
         8 . The side-insert card holder assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a lower box liner,   wherein the lower box liner is disposed between the lower box and the box insert,   wherein the window is fixed to the lower box liner.   
     
     
         9 . A side-insert card holder system comprising:
 a transaction card;   an upper box;   a lower box configured to at least partially fit within the upper box;   wherein the lower box includes a card slit configured to receive the transaction card being inserted into the lower box while the lower box is fit within the upper box; and   a box insert configured to at least partially fit within the lower box,   wherein the box insert includes:
 a locking protrusion configured to secure the transaction card in the box insert, and 
 a realignment protrusion configured to realign the transaction card away from the card slit after the transaction card is inserted into the box insert. 
   
     
     
         10 . The side-insert card holder system of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the box insert includes a card recess into the box insert,   wherein the card recess is open on a first side to receive the transaction card being slid therein,   wherein the first side is aligned with the card slit.   
     
     
         11 . The side-insert card holder system of  claim 9 , wherein the realignment protrusion is disposed so as to push the transaction card upward when the transaction card is inserted into the box insert. 
     
     
         12 . The side-insert card holder system of  claim 9 , wherein the realignment protrusion presents an upward arcuate shape so as to allow the transaction card to pass over the realignment protrusion while the transaction card is being inserted. 
     
     
         13 . The side-insert card holder system of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the locking protrusion is configured to be disposed at least partially above the transaction card while the transaction card is secured within the box insert,   wherein the locking protrusion is disposed opposite the card slit.   
     
     
         14 . The side-insert card holder system of  claim 9 , wherein the box insert further comprises:
 an opening through the box insert configured to make a portion of the transaction card visible from below the box insert.   
     
     
         15 . The side-insert card holder system of  claim 14 , wherein the lower box further comprises:
 a window at least partially aligned with the opening of the box insert such that at least a portion of the transaction card is visible through the window from the exterior of the lower box.   
     
     
         16 . The side-insert card holder system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a lower box liner,   wherein the lower box liner is disposed between the lower box and the box insert,   wherein the window is fixed to the lower box liner.   
     
     
         17 . A method of utilizing a side-insert card holder assembly, the method comprising the following steps:
 acquiring the transaction card;   inserting the transaction card into a card slit presented on a side of the side-insert card holder assembly;   opening the side-insert card holder assembly after the transaction card is within the side-insert card holder assembly;   inserting a finger behind the transaction card; and   extracting the transaction card from within the side-insert card holder assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 selecting the side-insert card holder assembly from a set of available side-insert card holder assemblies; and   selecting the transaction card from a set of available transaction cards.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 pressing, during said step of inserting the transaction card, the transaction card past at least one realignment protrusion,   wherein upon full insertion of the transaction card the realignment protrusion pushes the transaction card upward which prevents the withdrawal of the transaction card.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claims 17 , further comprising:
 scanning the transaction card after the transaction card has been inserted into the card slit so as to activate the transaction card.