IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0965475
(2007-12-27)
|
등록번호 |
US-7784686
(2010-09-20)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Halbur, Ted C.
- Boyd, Shawn P.
- Schumann, Timothy
- Borkowski, Erin M.
- Tomczyk, John
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
28 |
초록
▼
A transaction card includes a chambered member, a cover substrate and an account identifier. The chambered member defines a rear surface, a front surface and a chamber extending from the front surface toward the rear surface. The front surface and the rear surface are sized similarly to each other.
A transaction card includes a chambered member, a cover substrate and an account identifier. The chambered member defines a rear surface, a front surface and a chamber extending from the front surface toward the rear surface. The front surface and the rear surface are sized similarly to each other. The cover substrate defines a first surface, which is securely coupled to the front surface to enclose the chamber, and a window aligned with the chamber. The window is one of translucent and transparent such that at least a portion of the chamber is viewable through the window. The account identifier is connected to the chambered member and links the transaction card to at least one of an account and a record. Other embodiments, stored-value cards and associated methods are also disclosed.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A transaction card comprising: a chambered member defining a rear surface, a front surface, which is opposite the rear surface, and a chamber extending from the front surface toward the rear surface, wherein the front surface and the rear surface are sized similarly to each o
What is claimed is: 1. A transaction card comprising: a chambered member defining a rear surface, a front surface, which is opposite the rear surface, and a chamber extending from the front surface toward the rear surface, wherein the front surface and the rear surface are sized similarly to each other; a cover substrate defining a first surface, which is securely coupled to the front surface of the chambered member to cover an opening to the chamber, and a window aligned with the chamber, wherein the window is one of translucent and transparent such that at least a portion of the chamber is viewable through the window; and an account identifier connected to the chambered member, the account identifier linking the transaction card to at least one of an account and a record, the account identifier being machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal; wherein the chamber is entirely enclosed and substantially permanently sealed within the transaction card. 2. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the account identifier includes at least one of a bar code, a magnetic strip, an electronic device and a radio frequency identification (RFID) device. 3. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the cover substrate has an outer perimeter sized similarly to an outer perimeter of the chambered member. 4. The transaction card of claim 1, further comprising an item positioned within the chamber such that the item is at least partially maintained in the chambered member by the cover substrate. 5. The transaction card of claim 4, wherein the item is loose within the chamber such that when the transaction card is moved, the item moves within the chamber. 6. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the cover substrate is formed of a material that is one of translucent and transparent and is substantially covered with printing except for a portion of the cover substrate defining the window. 7. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein indicia are included on a second planar surface of the cover substrate, which is opposite the first surface of the cover substrate, and depict a character incorporating the window as a feature of the character. 8. The transaction card of claim 7, wherein the window is positioned to visually appear as an eye of the character, and the item is positioned within the chamber to visually appear as one of a pupil and an iris of the eye. 9. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the chamber is one of two or more chambers and the window is one of two or more windows defined by the transaction card. 10. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the front surface and the rear surface of the chambered member and the first surface of the cover substrate are each substantially planar. 11. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the chamber is formed in an internal portion of the chambered member spaced from an outer perimeter of the chambered member, and the chamber is entirely enclosed between the chambered member and the cover substrate. 12. A transaction card comprising: a chambered member defining a rear surface, a front surface, which is opposite the rear surface, and a chamber extending from the front surface toward the rear surface, wherein the front surface and the rear surface are sized similarly to each other; a cover substrate defining a first surface, which is securely coupled to the front surface of the chambered member to cover an opening to the chamber, and a window aligned with the chamber, wherein the window is one of translucent and transparent such that at least a portion of the chamber is viewable through the window; and an account identifier connected to the chambered member, the account identifier linking the transaction card to at least one of an account and a record, the account identifier being machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal; wherein the chambered member includes a base substrate, which defines the rear surface, coupled with an intermediate substrate, which defines the front surface, wherein the chamber extends through the intermediate substrate, and the base substrate covers a rear side of the chamber. 13. The transaction card of claim 12, wherein the base substrate and the intermediate substrate are each substantially planar. 14. The transaction card of claim 12, wherein the intermediate substrate has a thickness about twice a thickness of either the base substrate or the cover substrate. 15. The transaction card of claim 12, wherein the base substrate is substantially opaque. 16. A method of providing a transaction card, the method comprising: securing a first layer to a second layer, the second layer defining an aperture extending therethrough, wherein securing the second layer to the first layer includes placing a portion of the first layer to extend across a first side of the aperture; placing an article within the aperture such that the article is supported by the portion of the first layer that extends across the first side of the aperture; providing as third layer with a window; securing the third layer to the second layer opposite the first layer in a manner positioning the third layer to cover a second side of the aperture, which is positioned opposite the first side of the aperture, such that the article is secured within the aperture between the first layer and the third layer, wherein upon securing the third layer to the second layer, the window aligns with the aperture of the second layer such that the article within the aperture can be viewed through the window; and applying an account identifier to the one of the first layer, the second layer and the third layer, wherein the account identifier links the transaction card to an account or record. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the third layer includes indicia depicting at least one of a character and a scene such that the window represents a feature thereof. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the indicia depict the character, the window defines an eye of the character and the article forms at least one of a pupil and an iris of the eye. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the aperture is formed in an internal portion of the second layer spaced from an outer perimeter of the second layer, and placing the article within the aperture includes positioning the article entirely within the aperture. 20. A method of encouraging purchase and facilitating use of a stored-value card linked to a record or account, the method comprising: displaying the stored-value card to a potential consumer, wherein the stored-value card includes a compartment extending between a first substantially planar surface and a second substantially planar surface, wherein the first substantially planar surface defines both a see-through portion and a non see-through portion, and the see-through portion is aligned with the compartment to allow viewing of the compartment through the see-through portion; and activating a record or account linked to the stored-value card to permit subsequent deductions from a balance associated with the record or account for application toward one of a purchase and a use of one or more of goods and services, wherein activating the record or account includes reading an account identifier included on the stored-value card to identify the record or account. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the compartment is one of two or more compartments, the see-through portion is one of two or more see-through portions each aligned with one of the two or more compartments, displaying the stored-value card includes displaying the stored-value card to have a cover substrate defining the first substantially planar surface and the two or more see-through portions thereof, a base substrate defining the second substantially planar surface, and an intermediate substrate interposed between the cover substrate and the base substrate, and wherein the intermediate substrate defines two or more openings such that the two or more compartments are formed by the two or more openings being interposed between the base substrate and the cover substrate. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein one or more item is movably maintained within each of the two or more compartments. 23. The method of claim 20, wherein the compartment is entirely spaced away from outer edges of the first substantially planar surface and the second substantially planar surface, and displaying the stored-value card includes displaying at least one item entirely enclosed within the compartment between the first substantially planar surface and the second substantially planar surface.
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