초록 ▼

A transaction product includes a housing, an article and an account identifier. The article is selectively maintained within the housing. Following removal of the article from the housing, the article is configured to self-inflate upon activation of the article by a bearer of the transaction product

A transaction product includes a housing, an article and an account identifier. The article is selectively maintained within the housing. Following removal of the article from the housing, the article is configured to self-inflate upon activation of the article by a bearer of the transaction product. The account identifier is associated with the housing and links the transaction product to an account or record having a value configured to be used toward one or more of a purchase and a use of goods or services.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A transaction product comprising: a housing; an article selectively maintained within the housing, wherein following complete removal of the article from the housing, the article is configured to self-inflate upon activation of the article by a bearer of the transaction produ

What is claimed is: 1. A transaction product comprising: a housing; an article selectively maintained within the housing, wherein following complete removal of the article from the housing, the article is configured to self-inflate upon activation of the article by a bearer of the transaction product; and an account identifier associated with the housing and linking the transaction product to an account or record having a value configured to be used toward one or more of a purchase and a use of goods or services. 2. The transaction product of claim 1, wherein the account identifier is at least partially machine readable and includes one or more of a bar code, a magnetic strip, a smart chip or a radio frequency identification (RFID) device. 3. The transaction product of claim 1, wherein the article is configured to fully inflate upon bearer application of a single impact to the article. 4. The transaction product of claim 1, wherein the article includes chemical reactants maintained within a sealed enclosure such that at least one of the chemical reactants is initially separated from another of the chemical reactants, and wherein upon activation of the article, the chemical reactants all interact with one another producing a gas, which inflates the article. 5. The transaction product of claim 4, wherein the chemical reactants include a basic reactant and an acidic reactant, and wherein the gas includes carbon dioxide. 6. The transaction product of claim 4, wherein the article is sealed to substantially maintain the gas within the article. 7. The transaction product of claim 4, wherein one of the chemical reactants is maintained within a bag positioned within the article, and activation of the article is configured to break the bag. 8. The transaction product of claim 1, wherein the article is folded over itself to fit within the housing. 9. The transaction product of claim 1, further comprising a package enclosing the article, wherein the package and the article are each maintained within the housing. 10. The transaction product of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a first housing member and a second housing member configured to be selectively coupled with one another to selectively close the housing and configured to be entirely separated from one another to selectively open the housing, wherein the article is maintained between the first housing member and the second housing member when the housing is closed. 11. The transaction product of claim 1, wherein the housing is one of transparent and translucent, and the article can be at least partially viewed through the housing. 12. A transaction product comprising: a housing; an article selectively maintained within the housing, wherein following removal of the article from the housing, the article is configured to self-inflate upon activation of the article by a bearer of the transaction product; and an account identifier associated with the housing and linking the transaction product to an account or record having a value configured to be used toward one or more of a purchase and a use of goods or services; wherein the housing is substantially rigid and configured to protect the article from undesired activation while the article is maintained within the housing. 13. A stored-value card comprising: a balloon including a first member and a second member; means for automatically expanding a distance between the first member and the second member upon application of a force to the balloon; means for linking the stored-value card with an account or record having a value associated therewith such that the stored-value card can be applied toward one of a payment and a use of one or more of goods and services; and means for defining a storage compartment, wherein the balloon is folded over itself and selectively maintained within the storage compartment to prevent undesired expansion of the balloon while the balloon is maintained within the storage compartment. 14. The stored-value card of claim 13, wherein the means for defining the storage compartment is one of transparent and translucent such that at least a portion of the balloon can be viewed through the means for defining the storage compartment when the balloon is maintained therein. 15. The stored-value card of claim 13, wherein the means for automatically expanding the distance between the first member and the second member includes an acidic component and a basic component configured to produce a gas when combined with one another. 16. The stored-value card of claim 15, further comprising means for initially maintaining the acidic component separate from the basic component within the balloon, wherein the means for initially maintaining is configured to be compromised upon application of a force to the balloon by a bearer of the stored-value card in a manner allowing the acidic component to contact the basic component. 17. The stored-value card of claim 13, wherein the means for defining the storage compartment is formed of a substantially rigid material. 18. A method of providing and supporting use of a financial transaction card, the method comprising: displaying the financial transaction card to potential consumers, the financial transaction card including a casing, a deflated article, chemical components and a barrier initially maintaining at least two of the chemical components separate from one another, wherein: the deflated article and chemical components are fully enclosed within the casing, the transaction card is configured such that upon complete removal of the deflated article from the casing and application of a force to a portion of the deflated article near the barrier, the barrier is compromised and the chemical components interact with one another producing a gas, which inflates the deflated article, and displaying the financial transaction card includes indicating to potential consumers that the deflated article is configured to inflate upon application of the force to the financial transaction card; activating the financial transaction card to permit value deductions from a financial account or record linked to the financial transaction card via an account identifier included on the financial transaction card; and receiving the financial transaction card as payment for one or more of goods and services, the value of the one or more of goods and services being deducted from the financial account or record. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein displaying the financial transaction card includes displaying the financial transaction card such that the deflated article is viewable through the casing, which houses the deflated article and is one of transparent and translucent. 20. A method of assembling a transaction product, the method comprising: providing a housing defining a chamber therein and including an account identifier linking the housing to an account or record; assembling a balloon enclosing chemical components such that the chemical components are initially separated from one another within the balloon, wherein, upon contact with one another, the chemical components are configured to produce a gas to inflate the balloon; enclosing the balloon in a flexible packaging independently from the housing; placing the balloon and the flexible packaging within the chamber; and closing the chamber such that the balloon and the flexible packaging are enclosed within the housing. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein enclosing the balloon in the flexible packaging includes folding the balloon over itself and placing the folded balloon into the flexible packaging.