IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0038018
(2005-01-18)
|
등록번호 |
US-7290714
(2007-11-06)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Halbur,Ted C.
- Smith,Dave B.
- Clegg,Timothy P.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Ingrassia Fisher & Lorenz, P.C.
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
23 인용 특허 :
20 |
초록
▼
A stored-value card includes a housing and a light circuit. The housing defines a first primary panel and a second primary panel spaced from the first primary panel. The first primary panel defines an account identifier signifying a financial account linked to the stored-value card. A side is defin
A stored-value card includes a housing and a light circuit. The housing defines a first primary panel and a second primary panel spaced from the first primary panel. The first primary panel defines an account identifier signifying a financial account linked to the stored-value card. A side is defined between the first primary panel and the second primary panel. The light circuit includes a light and a switch and is generally enclosed within the housing but for the light. The light extends from the side of the housing and is configured to be illuminated upon application of a force to the switch. Stored-value card assemblies and methods of using a stored-value card are also disclosed.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A stored-value card comprising: a housing including a first primary panel and a second primary panel spaced from the first primary panel, wherein the first primary panel defines an account identifier signifying a financial account linked to the stored-value card, and wherein
What is claimed is: 1. A stored-value card comprising: a housing including a first primary panel and a second primary panel spaced from the first primary panel, wherein the first primary panel defines an account identifier signifying a financial account linked to the stored-value card, and wherein a side is defined between the first primary panel and the second primary panel; and a light circuit including a light and a switch, the light circuit being generally enclosed within the housing but for the light, wherein the light extends from the side of the housing and is configured to be illuminated upon application of a force to the switch, wherein the housing includes an aperture generally aligned with the switch of the light circuit, and the stored-value card further comprises: a button placed at least partially within the aperture of the housing and configured to interface with the switch, wherein the button and the switch are adapted such that depressing the button applies the force to the switch to illuminate the light. 2. The stored-value card of claim 1, further comprising: a face panel coupled to the first primary panel of the housing and including decorative indicia, wherein the decorative indicia depict a first portion of a subject, and the light is positioned to represent a second portion of the subject adjacent to the first portion of the subject. 3. The stored-value card of claim 2, wherein the decorative indicia generally relate to at least one of a brand identifier, a store identifier, an occasion, a holiday, a season, and media format indicia. 4. The stored-value card of claim 2, wherein the face panel includes a button indicator instructing a user where to press the stored-value card to illuminate the light. 5. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein a face panel is adhered to and extends over a portion of the housing and an end wall of the button. 6. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the housing includes: a base; and a cover coupled to the base; wherein the light circuit is generally disposed between the base and the cover. 7. The stored-value card of claim 6, wherein the base is a first color and the cover is a second color. 8. The stored-value card of claim 1, in combination with a carrier releasably supporting the stored-value card. 9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the carrier includes a window adapted to display the account identifier for viewing external to the carder. 10. The combination of claim 8, wherein the carrier includes indicia representing that the store-value card includes the light configured to be illuminated upon user contact with the button. 11. The combination of claim 8, wherein the carrier 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. 12. A stored-value card comprising: a housing including a first primary panel and a second primary panel spaced from the first primary panel, wherein the first primary panel defines an account identifier signifying a financial account linked to the stored-value card, and wherein a side is defined between the first primary panel and the second primary panel; and a light circuit including a light and a switch, the light circuit being generally enclosed within the housing but for the light, wherein the light extends from the side of the housing and is configured to be illuminated upon application of a force to the switch; wherein the housing includes a base and a cover coupled to the base, and the light circuit is generally disposed between the base and the cover, and wherein the cover defines the first primary panel and the base defines the second primary panel, the cover and the base each including a plurality of side walls extending from the respective primary panel, wherein the plurality of side walls of the cover abut the plurality of side walls of the base. 13. The stored-value card of claim 12, further comprising: a face panel coupled to the first primary panel of the housing and including decorative indicia, wherein the decorative indicia depicts a first portion of a subject, and the light is positioned to represent a second portion of the subject adjacent to the first portion of the subject. 14. The stored-value card of claim 13, wherein the decorative indicia generally relate to at least one of a brand identifier, a store identifier, an occasion, a holiday, a season, and media format indicia. 15. The stored-value card of claim 13, wherein the face panel includes a button indicator instructing a user where to press the stored-value card to illuminate the light. 16. The stored-value card of claim 12, wherein the housing includes an aperture aligned with the switch of the light circuit, and the stored-value card further comprises a button placed at least partially within the aperture of the housing and configured to interface with the switch, wherein the button and the switch are adapted such that pressing the button applies the force to the switch to illuminate the light. 17. The stored-value card of claim 16, further comprising a face panel adhered to and extending over a portion of the housing and an end wall of the button. 18. The stored-value card of claim 12, wherein the base is a first color and the cover is a second color. 19. The stored-value card of claim 12, further including a spacer enclosed within the housing configured to prevent the housing from collapsing at a position near to the spacer. 20. The stored-value card of claim 12, in combination with a carrier releasably supporting the stored-value card. 21. The combination of claim 20, wherein the carrier includes a window adapted to display the account identifier for viewing external to the carrier. 22. The combination of claim 20, wherein the carrier includes indicia representing that the store-value card includes the light configured to be illuminated. 23. The combination of claim 20, wherein the carrier 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. 24. A stored-value card comprising: a housing including a first primary panel and a second primary panel spaced from the first primary panel, wherein the first primary panel defines an account identifier signifying a financial account linked to the stored-value card, and wherein a side is defined between the first primary panel and the second primary panel; and a light circuit including a light and a switch, the light circuit being generally enclosed within the housing but for the light, wherein the light extends from the side of the housing and is configured to be illuminated upon application of a force to the switch; wherein the housing defines a side wall extending between and about a perimeter of each of the first primary panel and the second primary panel, and wherein the light extends from the housing through the side wall. 25. A gift card having a generally planar primary surface and a side wall extending about and generally perpendicular to the generally planar primary surface, the gift card including: means for providing decorative indicia to the primary surface; means for providing illumination to at least a portion of the side wall; means for at least partially housing the means for providing illumination, the means for at least partially housing including a first panel and a second panel spaced from one another to define a cavity between the first panel and the second panel, the means for at least partially housing including a side wall extending between the first panel and the second panel about the perimeter of the first panel and the second panel to enclose the cavity, wherein the means for providing illumination is at least partially housed within the cavity; means for linking the gift card to a financial account or a financial record; and means for illuminating the means for providing illumination upon a demand to collectively provide a visual presentation with the decorative indicia. 26. The gift card of claim 25, further including means for associating the gift card with at least one of a product brand, a store, a holiday, a season, an occasion, and media format indicia. 27. The gift card of claim 25, in combination with means for removably supporting the gift card for display in a retail setting including means for facilitating activation of the gift card through the means for removably supporting the gift card. 28. A method of promoting sales of a stored-value card, the method comprising: providing a stored-value card including a light circuit with a light, a housing substantially enclosing the light circuit, and a link to a financial account or record, wherein the housing defines an aperture; providing the stored-value card with indicia, wherein the light and the indicia collectively define a visual presentation of one of a subject and a scene; and providing a button formed separately from the housing and positioned within the aperture of the housing, wherein when a user presses the button, the button moves relative to the housing and interacts with the light circuit such that the light is illuminated for a period of time. 29. The method of claim 28, further comprising: using the stored-value card in payment of goods or services, the value of the goods or services being deducted from the financial account or the financial record. 30. The method of claim 28, further comprising: activating the stored-value card by scanning an account identifier on the stored-value card through an opening in a package that houses the stored-value card. 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising: adding additional value to the stored-value card, wherein the adding includes scanning the account identifier.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.