# How to Make Reusable Plastic SIM Card Holders

> A design for a plastic card that allows users to pop out and snap back in different sizes of SIM cards without them falling out.

- **Patent:** US 12086666
- **Original title:** Layered structures with cutting lines
- **Owner:** Covestro Deutschland AG
- **Granted:** 2024
- **Status:** Active
- **Times cited:** 0
- **Field:** consumer_electronics, telecommunications, materials

## What it does

This patent describes a specialized plastic card structure designed to hold SIM cards of various sizes (2FF, 3FF, and 4FF) within a single frame. The structure uses precise cutting lines that go all the way through the material, allowing a user to manually push out a specific SIM card size and then snap it back into place. The material is a high-heat-resistant polycarbonate blend that ensures the card stays flat and holds its shape, even after being popped out and reinserted. It requires a specific amount of force (between 0.5 and 5 Newtons) to remove or reinsert the parts, ensuring they are secure but easy to use.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover cards made from non-polymeric materials like paper or metal.
- Does not cover structures that do not meet the specific Vicat softening temperature of at least 85 degrees Celsius.
- Does not cover SIM card holders that are designed for permanent removal without the ability to reinsert the card into the frame.
- Does not cover cards that require specialized tools or machinery to extract the SIM portions.

## The clever bit

The innovation lies in the specific material properties and cutting precision that allow for a 'reinsertable' fit. By balancing the material's softening temperature and thickness, the inventors created a frame that holds the SIM card securely enough to stay in place during shipping, yet allows for easy manual removal and replacement without damaging the card edges.

## Real-world examples

1. Standard plastic SIM card frames provided by mobile network operators
2. Multi-size SIM card adapters included with new mobile devices

## Why it matters

As mobile phones have evolved, SIM cards have shrunk from credit-card size to tiny chips. This invention solves the practical problem of how to provide a user with a card that can adapt to different phone slots while remaining durable enough to be handled and reused without the small pieces falling out or warping.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How to Make Reusable Plastic SIM Card Holders cover?

A design for a plastic card that allows users to pop out and snap back in different sizes of SIM cards without them falling out.

### Who owns patent US 12086666?

Covestro Deutschland AG owns this patent, granted in 2024.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent is expected to expire on September 10, 2044, when the invention enters the public domain.

### What problem does this patent solve?

As mobile phones have evolved, SIM cards have shrunk from credit-card size to tiny chips. This invention solves the practical problem of how to provide a user with a card that can adapt to different phone slots while remaining durable enough to be handled and reused without the small pieces falling out or warping.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover cards made from non-polymeric materials like paper or metal.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12086666/starship-depot-variant

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12086666

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._