Problems with current commercial versions:
- Most are significantly bulky.
- They only hold 2 credit cards, when most people have 5 + cash.
- Most of these cases have poorly done styling and there are only 2-3 to choose from.
- They don't fit most android phones, only iphone.
- Using plastic/leather in the case ads about 1/8th of an inch, which is significant.
Product Implementation: Rather than creating a cell phone case that includes a wallet, create a low profile, simplistic, metal, durable credit card holder which adheres to any case/phone of your choosing, for both android and iphone.
- Stamped stainless steel case.
- Adds only 0.2 inches to height of cell phone.
- Adhesive backing is just a few mills thick.
Ideally, this is so thin people don't even notice, but it expands to hold all of their credit cards and cash when necessary.
Prototype:
I built a quick prototype to test it out. There are a good number of items that can be improved, but it is a fun/quick example showing that a better solution is possible.
1. I bought a metal money clip for a few dollars. The one below is the thinnest profile one I could find.
2. I cut off the dollar bill side, leaving the credit card side, using strong steel wire snippers. I cut it as small as possible, but in hind site, I should have left the tab coming up on the back so that it was easier to slide credit cards in. They hit the end of the metal for the first card that is added.
3. I added very strong adhesive to the back side of the metal to adhere it to the iPhone case.
4. And the final case, with the money clip attached.
5. Trimming down the money clip width to minimize percieved volume and remove the pointed edges which stick out in the pocket.
6. Final prototype without credit cards.
Changes for a second version:
- The money clip that folds over from the bottom is the full width of the credit card, so it has square edges. Making it narrower would make it smoother in the pocket.
- It fits 7+ credit cards. Maybe having one that only fits 5 cards would be good to shave off 0.05 - 0.1 inches of height and make the profile lower.
- It could be possible to narrow the width of the tab on the outside so it isn't a triangle, but instead a 1/2 inch or 1 inch bar coming out. This, again, could save volume.
- To fit on a curved back of a phone, such as many androids, the back plate needs to be allowed to flex separate from the front to contour to the back of the phone.
To be a full product:
- Custom stamping and bending to use less mass than current implementation.
- Shrink height slightly to hold 1-2 fewer cards.
- Narrower top spring tab. 1 inch wide, so that the back case can flex around angled phones (androids).
- The side tabs on the metal to hold the cards in could be replaced with either an elastic band to lower girth or bent slightly inwards. They need to be there so the cards don't fall out, but they are a lot of the size of the product.
- The finish of the metal should come in specific colors to match cases:
- Flat anodized/gun blue black to match most dark cases.
- White gloss paint for brighter cases.
- Stainless steel. This version doesn't look bad.
- Possibly others, but fewer is better.
