US20080314483A1

US20080314483A1 - Wallet

Info

Publication number: US20080314483A1
Application number: US11/661,286
Authority: US
Inventors: Mark Armstong; Henri Spaile
Original assignee: Idee Products Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Idee Products Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-08-27
Filing date: 2005-08-27
Publication date: 2008-12-25
Also published as: WO2006021042A1; US20120180917A1; EP1791449A4; EP1791449A1

Abstract

A bi fold plastics wallet (59) comprising: a first wall (62) having an inner face, an outer face and a flexible spine and which defines on one side of the spine a first compartment (64) and on another side a second compartment (65); wherein the first compartment (64) is connected to the second compartment (65) via the spine (78) such that the first and second compartment are capable of relative movement allowing one said compartments to be moved between a folded state in which the compartments oppose each other and an unfolded state wherein the compartments are unopposed.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to wallets and more particularly relates to wallets of the bifold type including compartments for holding objects such as money and the like. More particularly the present invention relates to an improved more durable wallet manufactured from a plastics material and including compartments which are sufficiently rigid to retain their volume but flexible enough to confirm as required to pockets and body shapes.
Although the invention will be described with reference to preferred configurations constructed from plastics layers, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the plastics wallet arrangements are adaptable in a wide variety of applications.

PRIOR ART

Numerous wallets are known in the prior art. Examples are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,905,881 issued to Graber; 4,570,688 issued to Williams; 5,497,818 issued to Marcarelli; and 1,298,278 issued to Bashinski.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,022 discloses a wallet including a pocket portion defining a front panel, a rear panel, a bottom, side edges, an open top, and a flap portion that extends from the rear panel for folding over the open top to engage the front panel. The wallet comprises male and female fasteners for engaging the flap portion with the front panel.
Although the prior art patents show variety of wallets, each wallet may have particular functional characteristics which allow access to various compartments. Generally the typical wallets have compartments defined by walls which define an envelope which may either have an open edge or which may be closed by a member such as a flap.
Wallets are generally made from leather layers or material backed plastics layers which are connected along edges to form compartments. Thus a three layer wallet might form two compartments which can retain objects such as money therein.
A wallet typically comprises a pocket portion defining a pocket having a front panel, a rear panel, a bottom, side edges and an open top, wherein the front and rear panels are being sandwiched and secured together along the edges thereof. Known wallets may further include a flap portion that extends from a rear panel for folding over the open top to engage the front panel. The wallet may further include a plurality of fasteners disposed on the front panel and flap portion for engaging the flap portion with the front panel.
Accordingly, wallets have a variety of configurations but they have been restricted to construction by materials which impart flexibility to the wallet. This results in any content being placed under stress by squeezing particularly in bifold wallets. U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,563 discloses a multiple bill compartment wallet A wallet including a single strip of material including a plurality of oppositely folded and integrally attached panels which extend in directions opposite the adjacent panels to provide a series of outwardly opening paper currency receiving compartments. A closure, integral with at least one of the panels, is detachably coupled to one of the endmost panels in the stack.
Wallets have been provided heretofore, such as that illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,455,515, issued to Samuel Miller on Dec. 7, 1948, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,544, issued to B. L. Snyder on Aug. 16, 1966, each of which discloses the concept of a plurality of compartments for holding currency of differing denominations.
The prior art wallets are generally fabricated from a plurality of individual panels which are assembled in stacked relation. The stacking and assembly of individual panels adds to the expense of manufacture. Leather wallets are common and are usually formed from layers of relatively soft material such as cloth layers which are enveloped by a leather outer skin. There have also been cheap wallets which are formed from soft skin plastics with a cloth backing and which are crushable so that the definition and boundaries of the inner compartments are not retained.
There has been a long felt want in the industry to provide a satisfactory alternative to the known wallets which ameliorates the disadvantages of the prior art wallets

INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an alternative to the known wallets and in particular to those of the type having a plurality of compartments.
In is one object of the present invention to provide a wallet which has a plurality of compartments, has improved durability but sufficient flexibility to conform to body contours.
In is a further object of the present invention to provide a wallet which has compartments which are more easily accessed than the known envelope type wallets and which allow improved opening and closing of the compartments. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an alternative bi fold wallet constructed from a blend of plastics materials which allow the wallet on one hand to be sufficiently rigid so that the integrity of the compartments is retained but sufficiently flexible so that its panels can deflect with elastic memory so that the wallet is capable of confirming to body contours. Accordingly, it is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multiple compartment wallet which includes a pair of end panels, a plurality of intermediate panels sandwiched between the end panels, and a closure coupled to one of the intermediate panels detachably coupled to one of the end panels. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-compartment wallet of the type described including novel closures.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent as the description thereof.
In its broadest form the present invention comprises:
a wallet comprising;
a body including a first outer compartment and an opposing second outer compartment connected to the first outer compartment such that the first and second outer compartments are capable of relative movement allowing one said compartments to be moved relative to the other compartment between a folded state in which the compartments oppose each other and an unfolded state wherein the compartments are generally in alignment;
the wallet further comprising a fold out cover which when folded opposes each said first and second outer compartments; wherein the cover is pivotally connected to said body and defines at least one other compartment;
means connecting said first and second compartments which allow said movement between said folded and unfolded state;
According to a preferred embodiment, said cover which is adapted to move between a folded state in which the cover closes one or both said compartments and un unfolded state in which the cover exposes an internal space in said compartments. The cover preferably includes a compartment having a slidable lid capable of opening and closing said cover compartment.
According to a preferred embodiment, the cover is attached to the body of said wallet via at least one hinge. Preferably a first hinge connects said cover to said first compartment and a second hinge connects said cover to said second compartment. According to another embodiment, the cover comprises separate cover elements a first of which comprises said cover compartment and lid and a second of which detachably receives and retains thereon a card holder.
In another broad form the present invention comprises:
a wallet formed by moulding from at least two plastics materials; the wallet including a first of said plastics materials forming a soft outer wall and a second of said plastics materials being semi rigid and surrounding said outer wall; the wallet further comprising a cover formed from a semi rigid plastics material and a periphery formed from a soft flexible plastics with elastic memory; wherein the cover is folded into opposing relationship with said outer wall and so that the wallet is capable of bi folding so that compartments defined by the outer wall confronts.
Preferably the wallet includes a releasable card holder and a tab which allows locking closure of said confronting compartments.
A multiple fold storage wallet comprising: a plurality of inter-coupled, compartments including a pair of outer panels and a plurality of intermediate panels sandwiched between said outer panels each of said plurality of panels having one end coupled to an adjacent end of an adjacent confronting panel on one side thereof one of said end-most panels having first fastener means thereon; one said panels having a tab integrally coupled thereto along a portion thereof and extending outwardly and around an opposite side of another panel; the wallet formed by moulding from at least two plastics materials; the wallet including a first of said plastics materials forming a soft outer wall and a second of said plastics materials being semi rigid and surrounding said outer wall; the wallet further comprising a cover formed from a semi rigid plastics material, and a periphery formed from a soft flexible plastics with elastic memory.
According to a preferred embodiment, a tab used to close the wallet is integral with the soft flexible outer wall plastics material and has sufficient extension to wrap around an opposite face of said wall.
In another broad form the present invention comprises:
a foldable wallet comprising;
a body including a first pair of compartments and an opposing second pair of compartments connected to the first compartments such that the first and second compartments are capable of relative movement allowing one said compartments to be moved relative to the other compartment between a folded state in which the compartments oppose each other and an unfolded state wherein the compartments are generally in alignment;
hinge means connecting said first and second compartments which allow said movement between said folded and unfolded state;
said second compartments also forming a cover which is adapted to move between a folded state in which the cover closes the first pair of compartments and an unfolded state in which the cover exposes an internal space in said first pair of compartments; said cover including a slidable lid capable of opening and closing said cover compartment.
According to a preferred embodiment, the cover is attached to the body of said wallet via at least one hinge. Preferably a first hinge connects said cover to said first pair of compartments. According to another embodiment, the cover detachably receives and retains thereon a card holder.
The wallet further comprises a roving module which engages the compartment formed in said cover.
Preferably, one of said first pair of compartments of said wallet body includes a tab which enables said first body and said second body to be secured in said folded state.
According to one embodiment, the first and second pair of compartments of said wallet body are manufactured from co moulded polypropylene, the lid from polypropylene, the roving module from polypropylene and the card holder from PVC.
According to an alternative embodiment, the wallet body and cover are made from a blend of soft flexible plastics and a semi rigid plastics. Preferably the semi rigid plastics forms an outer surface of the cover and an inner portion of the cover. Preferably the soft flexible rubberised plastics forms an inner surface of the first and second compartments and a peripheral rim of said cover.
In its broadest form the present invention comprises:
A bi fold plastics wallet comprising;
a first wall having an inner face, an outer face and a flexible spine and which defines on one side of the spine a first compartment and on another side a second compartment;
wherein, the first compartment is connected to the second compartment via the spine such that the first and second compartments are capable of relative movement allowing one said compartments to be moved between a folded state in which the compartments oppose each other and an unfolded state wherein the compartments are unopposed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described in more detail according to a preferred but non limiting embodiment and with reference to the accompanying illustrations; wherein

FIG. 1 shows a perspective exploded view of a wallet according to a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a plan interior surface view of the wallet of FIG. 1 in an open configuration.

FIG. 3 shows a plan outside surface view of the opposite side of the wallet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the wallet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the wallet closed.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective exploded view of a wallet according to an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a plan interior surface view of the wallet of FIG. 6 in an open configuration.

FIG. 8 shows a plan outside surface view of the opposite side of the wallet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of the wallet of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the wallet closed.

FIGS. 11 a, b, c show a wallet in three utility configurations according to an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of a wallet according to an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows an exploded view of a wallet according to an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows a plan interior surface assembled view of the wallet of FIG. 13 in an open configuration.

FIG. 15 shows a plan outside surface view of the opposite side of the wallet of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 shows a side view of the wallet of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of the wallet closed.

FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of FIG. 15

FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of FIG. 14; and

FIG. 20 shows a side view of the wallet of FIG. 17 closed.

The invention will be described with reference to the following embodiments which disclose a wallet having a stiff outer plastics shell which is flexible enough to be elastic and thereby conform to body contours such as when the wallter is placed in the pocket of a wearer. It will be appreciated however, that the invention in adopting that concept can equally be applicable to a variety of alternative embodiments other than those described herein.
Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a perspective view of a wallet 1 according to a preferred embodiment. Wallet 1 comprises an outer cover 2 having walls 3 and 4 which define inner compartments 5 and 6. Cover 2 is preferably made from a soft flexible rubber which is of sufficient stiffness to enable the wallet to retain its shape but of sufficient flexibility to accommodate deflection so that it may conform to a body shape. Wallet 1 also comprises a closure 7 defining two compartments 8 and 9. Closure 7 is pivotally attached to cover 2 via respective hinges 10 and 11 which allows closure 7 to be rotated so that it opposes cover 2. Compartment 8 is closed by a sliding lid 12 which is then fitted onto cover 2. Compartments 8 and 9 are joined by a bridge 13 which allows pivotal movement of compartment 8 relative to compartment 9 when closure 7 is folded over into opposing relationship with cover 2. Cover 2 also includes a flexible bridge 14 which allow eventual bi folding of cover 2 so a wallet like appearance is formed. Compartment 9 of closure 7 receives and retains a card holder 15 which fits neatly into compartment 9. Closure 2 further comprises a peripheral rim 16 which is formed from a semi rigid plastics material. Thus rim 16 peripherally stiffens closure 2 to provide an outer frame which supports soft flexible rubber of outer cover 2. Closure 7 on the other hand incorporates a peripheral rim 17 made of soft rubber and an inner region 18 of semi rigid plastics. The distribution of soft and semi rigid plastics materials imparts a stiffness to wallet 1 which allows the compartments when folded to substantially retain, their structural integrity under load but without discomfort to the wearer. Cover 2 further comprises closure tab 19 which engages boss 23 when cover 2 is folded about bridge 14. Bridges 13 and 14 are in apposition when closure 7 is folded over cover 2 and wallet 1 is folded about 14.
FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the wallet of FIG. 1 in an open, configuration with corresponding numbering. According to this view closure 7 is folded into cover 2 via hinges 10 and 11. Lid 12 has closed off compartment 8, FIG. 2 also shows the relationship between bridges and 14 when closure 7 is disposed over cover 2. In this configuration compartments 8 and 9 are foldable about bridge 13.
FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the opposite side of the wallet of FIG. 1 in an open configuration with corresponding numbering. According to this view the reverse side of FIG. 2 is visible. Outer surfaces 22 and 24 are shown joined by bridge 14. In this configuration compartments 8 and 9 are foldable about bridge 13.
FIG. 4 shows a side view of the wallet of FIG. 1 with corresponding numbering.
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the wallet 1 closed/folded with corresponding numbering. The wallet so formed has a plurality of compartments, has improved durability but sufficient flexibility to conform to body contours and with an elastic memory.
The wallet has compartments which are more easily accessed than the known envelope type wallets and which allow improved opening and closing of the compartments.
Referring to FIG. 6 there is shown a perspective exploded view of a wallet 29 according to an alternative embodiment. Wallet 29 comprises an outer cover 30 having walls 31 and 32 which define inner compartments 33 and 34. Cover 30 is preferably made from a soft flexible rubberised plastics which is of sufficient stiffness to enable the wallet to retain its shape but of sufficient flexibility to accommodate elastic deflection. Wallet 30 also comprises a closure 35 defining two compartments 36 and 37. Closure 35 is pivotally attached to cover 30 via respective hinges 38 and 39 which allows closure 35 to be rotated so that it opposes cover 30. Compartment 36 is closed by a sliding lid 40 Compartments 36 and 37 are joined by a bridge 41 which, allows pivotal movement of compartment 36 relative to compartment 37 when closure 35 is folded over into opposing relationship with cover 30. Cover 30 also includes a flexible bridge 42 which allows eventual bi folding of cover 30 so a wallet like appearance is formed. Compartment 37 of closure 35 receives and retains a card holder 43 which fits neatly into compartment 37. Wallet 29 also comprises an optional detachable roving module 45 insertable in compartment 37. Module 45 includes opening 51 which aligns with opening 50 in compartment 37. Closure 35 further comprises a peripheral rim 44 which is formed from a semi rigid plastics material. Thus rim 44 peripherally stiffens closure 35 to provide an outer frame which supports soft flexible rubber of outer cover 30. Closure 35 alternatively may incorporate a peripheral rim 44 made of soft rubber and an inner region 46 of semi rigid plastics. The distribution of soft and semi rigid plastics materials imparts a stiffness to wallet 29 which allows the compartments when folded to substantially retain their integrity under load but without discomfort to the wearer. Cover 30 further comprises closure tab 47 which engages boss 4S when cover 30 is folded about bridge 42. Bridges 41 and 42 are in apposition when closure 35 is folded over cover 30 and wallet 29 is folded about bridge 42.
FIG. 7 shows a plan interior surface view of the wallet of FIG. 6 in an open configuration with corresponding numbering. According to this view closure 35 is folded into cover 30 via hinges 38 and 39, Lid 40 has closed off compartment 8. FIG. 2 also shows the relationship between bridges and 14 when closure 7 is disposed over cover 2. In this configuration compartments 20 and 21 are foldable about bridge 13.
FIG. 8 shows a plan view of the opposite side of the wallet of FIG. 6 in an open configuration with corresponding numbering. According to this view the reverse side of FIG. 7 is visible, Outer compartments 33 and 34 are shown joined by bridge 42. In this configuration compartments 36 and 37 (obscured) are foldable about bridge 41. Compartment 37 includes an aperture 50 and roving module 45 also includes an aperture 51 which aligns with apertures 50 when module 45 engages compartment 37 (see FIG. 6).
FIG. 9 shows a side view of the wallet 29 of FIG. 6 with corresponding numbering.
FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the wallet closed with corresponding numbering. Tab 47 wraps around compartment 34 to engage boss 48. The wallet so formed has a plurality of compartments, has improved durability but elastic flexibility.
FIG. 11 a shows a wallet 53 in a first open utility configuration according to an alternative embodiment. FIG. 11 b shows wallet 53 in a partially folded utility configuration according to an alternative embodiment.
FIG. 11 c shows wallet 53 in a partially folded utility configuration according to an alternative embodiment. Wallet 53 shown comprises cover 55 manufactured from a soft plastics material to which is pivotally attached via hinge 56 a closure wall 54 made partially from a soft plastics and partially from a rigid plastics material. As shown in FIG. 11 c wallet 53 is folded about hinge 58 to effect complete bi fold closure.
FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of a wallet according to an alternative embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 13 there is shown a perspective view of a wallet 59 according to an alternative but preferred embodiment. Wallet 59 comprises an outer cover 61 having walls 62 and 63 which define inner compartments 64 and 65. Cover 61 in preferably made from a combination of a soft flexible rubberised plastics shown by hatched areas 66 and 67 and a semi rigid plastics material (regions 68 and 69) which is of sufficient stiffness to enable the wallet to retain its shape but of sufficient flexibility to accommodate deflection so that it may either conform to a body shape or at least deflect in response to a load. Wallet 59 also comprises a wall 70 defining two regions 71 and 72. Wall 70 engages cover 61 via aligned formations which may be rails and rail guides. Rail 74 engages recess 73 and recess 75 engages a corresponding rail obscured on the underside of wall 70. The rail recess engagements may be male female type connections or reverse gender. According to one embodiment, they may be detachably fitted by snap fit engagement. Wall 70 nests inside peripheral rims 76 and 77. Compartments 64 and 65 are joined by a bridge 78 which allows pivotal movement of compartment 64 relative to compartment 65 when cover 61 is folded about bridge 78.
Wall 70 also includes a flexible bridge 79 which allows bi folding of compartments 71 and 72 so a wallet like appearance is formed. Compartment region 71 of wall 70 receives and retains a card holder 80. Card holder 80 includes male formations 81 which engage a female recess 82 on region 71. Wall 70 of wallet 59 further comprises a peripheral rim 83 which is formed from a semi rigid plastics material. Thus rim 83 peripherally stiffens region 72 and provides an outer frame which supports soft flexible region 71. Compartment 72 is defined by cover 84 which includes formation 85 which engages corresponding formations 86 and 87 associated with rim 83. This arrangement allows cover to open and close compartment 72 by rotation of formation 85. The distribution of soft and semi rigid plastics materials imparts a stiffness to wallet 59 which allows the compartments when folded to substantially retain their integrity under load but without discomfort to the Bridges 78 and 79 are in apposition when wall engages is folded over cover 2 and wallet 1 is folded about 14.
FIG. 14 shows a plan view of the wallet 59 of FIG. 13 in an open configuration with corresponding numbering. According to this view wall 70 is engaged with cover 61 by for example, snap fit engagement.
FIG. 15 shows an opened out plan view of the external face of the wallet 59 of FIG. 13 in an open configuration and with corresponding numbering. According to this view the reverse side of that shown in FIG. 14 is visible. In this configuration compartments 8 and 9 are foldable about bridge 13.
FIG. 16 shows a side view of the wallet of FIGS. 14 and 15 with corresponding numbering. FIG. 16 also shows the relationship between bridges 78 and 79 when wall 70 is disposed over cover 61. In this configuration compartments 66 and 67 are foldable about bridge 78.
FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of the wallet closed with corresponding numbering. The wallet so formed has a plurality of compartments, has improved durability but sufficient flexibility to conform to body contours.
FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of the wallet of FIG. 15 FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of the wallet of FIG. 14; and
FIG. 20 shows a side view of the wallet of FIG. 17 closed/folded.
The wallet has compartments which are more easily accessed than the known, envelope type wallets and which allow improved opening and closing of the compartments.
It will be recognized by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the invention as broadly described herein such as altering the durometers of the plastics used without departing from the overall spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A bi fold plastics wallet comprising;

a first wall having an inner face, an outer face and a flexible spine and which defines on one side of the spine a first compartment and on another side a second compartment,

wherein, the first compartment is connected to the second compartment via the spine such that the first and second compartments are capable of relative movement allowing one said compartments to be moved between a folded state in which the compartments oppose each other and an unfolded state wherein the compartments are unopposed.

2. A wallet according to claim 1 further comprising a second wall having an inner face and an outer face, the inner face opposing the inner face of the first wall, the outer face including a recess having a boundary wall which defines one said compartments.

3. A wallet according to claim 2 wherein the second wall folds in conjunction with the first wall.

4. A wallet according to claim 3 wherein the recess receives a cover creating a compartment.

5. A wallet according to claim 4 wherein the boundary wall of the recess receives and retains the cover via a hinged connection.

6. A wallet according to claim 5 the second wall retains on its outer face a detachable panel.

7. A wallet according to claim 6 wherein the panel includes a plurality flat recesses.

8. A wallet according to claim 7 wherein, when the wallet is folded, the flat recesses of the panel oppose the cover.

9. A wallet according to claim 8 wherein the second wall engages the wall via a male and female profile parts.

10. A wallet according to claim 9 wherein the profile parts are disposed along at least one edge of each said walls.

11. A wallet according to claim 10 wherein the second wall has a male profile part and the first wall has a female profile part.

12. A wallet according to claim 10 wherein, the panel engages an outer face of the second wall via male female profile parts.

13. A wallet according to claim 10 wherein, the panel has a male profile part and the second wall has a female profile part to effect said engagement of said panel and said second wall.

14. A wallet according to claim 13 wherein the panel is constructed from at least two plastics materials.

15. A wallet according to claim 14 wherein, the first wall comprises a first plastics material having a durometer within the range of 5-95 and a second plastics material within the range of greater than 95 durometers.

16. A wallet according to claim 15 wherein the second wall comprises said first plastics material and the boundary wall comprises the second plastics material.

17. A wallet according to claim 16 wherein, the panel and cove are made the second plastics material.

18. A wallet according to claim 17 wherein the first plastics material is hard and the second plastics material is soft.

19. A wallet according to claim 18 wherein the first wall includes at one end a first rim and at its other end a second rim.

20. A wallet according to claim 19 wherein the first and second rims mutually engage to retain the wallet in a folded state.

21. A wallet according to claim 20 wherein the outer face of the first wall when the wallet is folded provides a stiff housing.

22. A wallet according to claim 21 wherein, the height of the boundary wall of the second wall determines the thickness/depth of the wallet.

23. A wallet according to claim 22 wherein the first plastics material is selected from a soft flexible plastics having a durometer within the range 5-95.

24. A wallet according to claim 23 wherein the second plastics material is a semi rigid plastics.

25. A bi fold wallet constructed from at least one plastics material which allows the wallet to be sufficiently rigid so that there is at least one compartment defined by compartment walls, the plastics compartment walls being of sufficient flexibility so that its panels can deflect with elastic memory in response to a load.

26. A wallet according to claim 25 further comprising an outer bifold cover which receives a co operating closure, the cover and closure together defining at least one wallet compartment.

27. A wallet according to claim 26 wherein the closure is hingedly attached to the cover and is capable of rotating up to 350 degrees relative to a plane of the cover.

28. A wallet according to claim 26 wherein the closure is attached to the cover by snap fit engagement.

29. A wallet according to claim 27 further comprising a second cover for closing a compartment in the closure.

30. A wallet according to claim 29 further comprising a card holder detachably fitted to an end of the closure opposite that to which the second cover is attached.

31. A wallet according to claim 30 wherein there is formed at least two compartments.

32. A wallet according to claim 31 wherein the secondary cover comprises a slidable lid capable of opening and closing said cover compartment.

33. A bi fold wallet formed by moulding from at least two plastics materials; the wallet including:

an integral outer wall forming an outer cover having a first region pivotally connected to a second region; the cover being formed from at least two plastics materials the first of which is a soft plastics and the second of which is semi rigid;

an inner wall formed predominantly of the soft plastics and including a peripheral boundary formed from the semi rigid plastics and an intermediate bridge about which said inner wall maybe folded;

the outer wall and inner wall co operating to define at least one compartment and when engaged the outer wall and inner wall each move in unison between a folded configuration and an opened out configuration;

wherein, the inner wall receives and retains a cover which engages said peripheral boundary to define an inner compartment.

34. A bi fold wallet according to claim 33 wherein the inner wall is pivotally attached to the integral outer wall.

35. A wallet according to claim 34 wherein the cover is slidably attached to the inner wall.

36. A wallet according to claim 35 wherein when the wallet is folded the cover opposes the outer wall.

37. A wallet according to claim 36 wherein the inner wall receives and retains at an opposite end to said inner compartment a card holder.

38. A bi fold wallet according to claim 33 wherein the inner wall is attached to the integral outer wall by snap fit engagement.

39. A wallet according to claim 38 wherein, the snap fit engagement of the inner wall to the outer wall is via opposite gender profile parts.

40. A wallet according to claim 39 wherein the cover is pivotally attached to the inner wall.

41. A wallet according to claim 40 wherein, when the wallet is folded the cover opposes a card holder retained by said inner wall.

42. A wallet according to claim 33 further comprising a tab which allows locking closure of said wallet.

43. A wallet according to claim 42 wherein the tab extends from one end of the outer wall and wraps about an opposite end of said outer wall, wherein the tab is integral with the soft flexible outer wall plastics material and has sufficient extension to wrap around an opposite face of said wall.

44. A multiple fold storage wallet comprising: a plurality of inter-coupled, compartments including a pair of outer panels and a plurality of intermediate panels sandwiched between said outer panels;

each of said plurality of panels having one end coupled to an adjacent end of an adjacent confronting panel on one side thereof one of said end-most panels having first fastener means thereon; one said panels having a tab integrally coupled thereto along a portion thereof and extending outwardly and around an opposite side of another panel; the wallet formed by moulding from at least two plastics materials; the wallet including a first of said plastics materials forming a soft outer wall and a second of said plastics materials being semi rigid and surrounding said outer wall; the wallet further comprising a cover formed from a semi rigid plastics material and a periphery formed from a soft flexible plastics with elastic memory.

45. A foldable wallet comprising;

a body including a first pair of compartments and an opposing second pair of compartments connected to the first compartments such that the first and second compartments are capable of relative movement allowing one said compartments to be moved relative to the other compartment between a folded state in which the compartments oppose each other and an unfolded state wherein the compartments are generally in alignment;

hinge means connecting said first and second compartments which allow said movement between said folded and unfolded state;

said second compartments also having a cover which is adapted to move between a folded state in which the cover closes the first pair of compartments and an unfolded state in which the cover exposes an internal space in said first pair of compartments;

said cover including a lid capable of opening and closing said cover compartment.

46. A wallet according to claim 1 manufactured from co moulded polypropylene and PVC.