IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0038011
(2005-01-18)
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등록번호 |
US-7290713
(2007-11-06)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Dean,Gaye B.
- Halbur,Ted C.
- Smith,Dave B.
- Clegg,Timothy P.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Ingrassia Fisher & Lorenz, P.C.
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
15 인용 특허 :
23 |
초록
▼
A stored-value card includes an electrical assembly, a housing, and decorative indicia. The electrical assembly stores an audio file and includes at least one light and a speaker. The housing generally encloses the electrical assembly and includes an account identifier and an activation area. The a
A stored-value card includes an electrical assembly, a housing, and decorative indicia. The electrical assembly stores an audio file and includes at least one light and a speaker. The housing generally encloses the electrical assembly and includes an account identifier and an activation area. The account identifier signifies a financial account or record linked to the stored-value card. Decorative indicia correspond with the audio file and the at least one light. The activation area and the electrical assembly are adapted such that depressing the activation area activates the electrical assembly to play the audio file via the speaker and to illuminate the at least one light to provide an audio and visual presentation. Stored-value card assemblies, methods of promoting sales of stored-value cards, methods, of using a stored-value card and other embodiments are also disclosed.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A stored-value card, comprising: an electrical assembly configured to store an audio file and including at least one light and a speaker; a housing generally enclosing the electrical assembly, the housing including: an account identifier signifying a financial account or reco
What is claimed is: 1. A stored-value card, comprising: an electrical assembly configured to store an audio file and including at least one light and a speaker; a housing generally enclosing the electrical assembly, the housing including: an account identifier signifying a financial account or record linked to the stored-value card, and an activation area; a base, and a cover coupled to the base, wherein the electrical assembly is disposed between the base and the cover; decorative indicia corresponding with the audio file and with the at least one light; wherein the activation area and the electrical assembly are adapted such that depressing the activation area both plays the audio file via the speaker and illuminates the at least one light to provide an audio and visual presentation; and wherein the cover and the base each include a primary panel and a side wall extending therefrom, the side wall of the cover being positioned to abut the side wall of the base. 2. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the audio and visual presentation is configured to amuse and promote sales of the stored-value card to potential consumers. 3. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the decorative indicia are printed to a face panel adhered to an outer surface of the housing. 4. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the decorative indicia relate to at least one of a brand identifier, a store identifier, a holiday, a season, an occasion, and media format indicia. 5. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the decorative indicia include a character, the light illuminates a portion of the character, and the audio file includes an audible expression readily associated with the character. 6. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a plurality of apertures generally aligned with the speaker to facilitate transfer of sound from the speaker out of the stored-value card. 7. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the housing defines an aperture generally aligned with the at least one light to permit illumination of the light to be visible from a point external to the housing. 8. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the base is a first color and the cover is a second color. 9. The stored-value card of claim 1, further including at least one of a color filter, a light diffuser, and a light directing device positioned to generally align with the at least one light such that the at least one light emits light towards the at least one of the color filter, the light diffuser, and the light directing device when the at least one light is illuminated. 10. The stored-value card of claim 1, further including a single button corresponding with the activation area, wherein the single button, the activation area, and the electrical assembly are adapted such that depressing the activation area depresses the single button that in turn plays the audio file and illuminates the at least one light. 11. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the electrical assembly includes a recording element. 12. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the audio file is a personalized message for a recipient of the stored-value card. 13. The stored-value card of claim 1, in combination with a backer releasably coupled to the stored-value card. 14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the decorative indicia of the stored-value card includes a first decorative indicia depicting a portion of a larger scene and the backer includes a second decorative indicia depicting a portion of the larger scene, and wherein the first decorative indicia and the second decorative indicia are adapted to collectively depict the larger scene. 15. The combination of claim 13, wherein the backer is adapted to be transitioned between a first position in which the account identifier of the stored-value card is hidden by the backer and a second position in which the account identifier of the stored-value card is viewable. 16. The combination of claim 13, wherein the backer is adapted to be selectively foldable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration is adapted to display the stored-value card in a retail setting, and the second configuration is adapted to wrap the stored-value card for presentation to a recipient. 17. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the cover and base are each a separate injection molded piece. 18. A financial transaction card comprising: means for linking the financial transaction card with a financial account or a financial record; means for storing a sound file to the financial transaction card; means for selectively illuminating at least a portion of the financial transaction card; a single means for effectuating both playing the sound file and illumination of the means for selectively illuminating upon demand by a bearer of the financial transaction card to provide an audio and visual presentation; and means for associating the financial transaction card with at least one of a product, a brand, a store, a holiday, a season, an occasion, and a media format indicia; and a housing defining an aperture and enclosing the means for storing the sound file and the means for selectively illuminating, wherein the means for selectively illuminating includes a first light and a second light, the first light and the second light each being directed toward the aperture and positioned opposite one another relative to the aperture. 19. The financial transaction card of claim 18, in combination with means for removably supporting the financial transaction card for display in a retail setting. 20. The combination of claim 19, further comprising: means for visually linking the financial transaction card to the means for removably supporting. 21. The combination of claim 18, further comprising: means for recording the sound file. 22. The financial transaction card of claim 18, further comprising a housing for maintaining the means for storing the sound file and the means for selectively illuminating therein, wherein the housing includes a first primary panel, a second primary panel opposite the first primary panel, and a side wall extending between the first primary panel and the second primary panel. 23. A method of encouraging purchase of a stored-value card linked to a financial record or a financial account, the method comprising: displaying a stored-value card to a potential consumer, wherein the stored-value card includes a housing, decorative indicia, and at least two lights and stores an audio file related to the decorative indicia, wherein the housing defines an aperture, the at least two lights include a first light and a second light, which are each enclosed within the housing and are each positioned on opposite ends of the aperture; and playing the audio file and illuminating the at least two lights on a demand by the potential consumer; wherein playing the audio file and illuminating the at least two lights provides an audio and visual presentation configured to encourage the potential consumer to purchase the stored-value card. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein playing the audio file and illuminating the at least two lights farther includes communicating the demand of the potential consumer to the stored-value card, and communicating the demand includes the potential consumer depressing one area of the stored-value card configured to effectuate both illumination of the at least two lights and playing of the audio file. 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising coupling the stored-value card to a backer, wherein displaying the stored-value card includes displaying the stored-value card to the backer. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the backer is coupled to the stored-value card while playing the audio file and illuminating the at least two lights. 27. The method of claim 23, wherein the decorative indicia and the audio file each relate to at least one of a life event, a holiday, a media scene, and a media character. 28. The method of claim 23, wherein playing the audio file and illuminating the at least two lights includes amusing the potential consumer. 29. The method of claim 23, wherein illuminating the at least two lights includes illuminating a first portion of a subject, and the decorative indicia depicts a second portion of the subject. 30. The method of claim 23, wherein the stored-value card includes a cover and a base coupled with the cover, wherein each of the cover and the base includes a primary panel and a side wall extending therefrom, and wherein the side wall of the cover abuts the side wall of the base. 31. A method of using a card linked to a financial account or a financial record, the method comprising: providing a card including decorative indicia, a light configured to illuminate a portion of the decorative indicia, and a memory configured to store an audio file relating to the decorative indicia; activating the card to permit deductions from the financial account or the financial record; playing the audio file and illuminating the light upon user demand to enhance the overall audio and visual presentation of the card; and receiving the card as payment for good or services, the value of the goods or services being deducted from the financial account or the financial record; wherein the light is a first light, and the card includes a second light, a light filter, and a housing defining an aperture, each light is enclosed by the housing and positioned near the aperture opposite one another with the light filter extending across the aperture between the first light and the second light, wherein playing the audio file and illuminating the light upon user demand includes illuminating the first light and the second light for viewing through the aperture and the light filter. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein playing the audio file and illuminating the light occurs prior to activating the card, and wherein playing the audio file and illuminating the light includes promoting sales of the card to potential consumers. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the card includes a single button, an integrated circuit, at least one battery, and a speaker, and wherein playing the audio file and illuminating the light are both effectuated by depressing the single button, which causes increased current to flow from the at least one battery to the integrated circuit to drive the speaker to produce sound waves corresponding to the audio file and to provide current to the light to illuminate the light. 34. The method of claim 32, wherein providing a card includes providing the card coupled to a backer. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the card is coupled to the backer during playing the audio file and illuminating the light upon user demand. 36. The method of claim 31, wherein providing the card includes providing a recording element configured to record the audio file. 37. The method of claim 31, wherein providing a card includes providing a card housing including: a base defining a base planar member and a plurality of base side walls extending from the base planar member, and a cover defining a cover planar member and a plurality of cover sides walls extending from the cover planar member, wherein the plurality of base side walls are coupled to the plurality of cover walls to at least partially enclose the light and the memory within the housing. 38. The method of claim 31, wherein the card includes a housing defining a cover primary panel, a base primary panel opposite the cover primary panel, and a side wall extending therefrom such that the housing encloses the light and the memory between the cover primary panel and the base primary panel. 39. A stored-value card, comprising: an electrical assembly configured to store an audio file and including at least one light and a speaker; a housing generally enclosing the electrical assembly, the housing including: an account identifier signifying a financial account or record linked to the stored-value card, and an activation area; decorative indicia corresponding with the audio file and with the at least one light; wherein the activation area and the electrical assembly are adapted such that depressing the activation area both plays the audio file via the speaker and illuminates the at least one light to provide an audio and visual presentation; and wherein the housing defines an aperture and the at least one light includes a first light and a second light, the first light and the second light each being positioned near the aperture of the housing opposite one another and are each directed toward the aperture. 40. The stored-value card of claim 39, wherein the housing includes: a base, and a cover coupled to the base, wherein the electrical assembly is disposed between the base and the cover. 41. The stored-value card of claim 40, wherein each of the base and the cover includes a planar member and a plurality of side walls extending from the planar member, further wherein the plurality of side walls of the base are coupled with the plurality of side walls of the cover. 42. The stored-value card of claim 39, wherein the housing defines a cover primary panel, a base primary panel positioned opposite the cover primary panel, and a side wall extending between the cover primary panel and the base primary panel. 43. The stored-value card of claim 39, wherein depressing the activation area illuminates the first light and the second light. 44. The stored-value card of claim 39, farther comprising a diffuser positioned to extend across the aperture between the first light and the second light to visually alter illumination from the first light and the second light as viewed through the aperture and the diffuser.
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