Registers – Records
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-24
2001-11-13
Pitts, Harold I. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Records
C235S380000, C283S061000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315206
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to packaging and more particularly to a package for wallet cards such as phone cards, bank cards, credit cards, and debit cards.
Wallet cards are well known and widely used for a variety of purposes. For example, wallet cards have long been used as credit cards, debit cards, rental cards and bank cards. Wallet cards are also used to represent a variety of pre-paid services. Prominent examples of this are pre-paid phone cards, which are offered by a number of leading phone service providers, and pre-paid gift cards, which are available from a wide range of companies. To reduce the risk of theft, pre-paid cards are typically shelved, or displayed, in an inactive status. As a result, pre-paid cards usually require activation before they will function. Typically, activation is performed at the time of purchase by reading a unique identification number encoded on the card. This method is widely referred to as “point-of-sale activation.” The identification number is generally stored on a magnetic strip or encoded into a bar code printed or attached to the rear of the card. The identification number is read by a card reader (e.g. a magnetic card reader, bar code scanner, or the like) and then transmitted to a central computer which activates the card. Once activated, the card entitles the holder to redeem the associated goods or services in the amount of the value assigned to the card. Each time the card is used, the central computer is notified and the value of the goods or services purchased are deducted until the card's value has been depleted.
A variety of phone card packages are commercially available that facilitate point-of-sale activation of the pre-paid card by packaging the card so that the identification number is accessible for reading without removing the card from the package. One such type of phone card package
200
includes front
202
and rear (not shown) panels that sandwich the upper portion
204
of the card
206
(See FIG.
1
). The lower portion
208
of the card
206
(to which the magnetic strip is attached) protrudes from the package
200
so that it can be passed through a card reader without removing the card from the package
200
. The front panel
202
includes a transparent plastic window
210
that covers the top of card
206
and permits viewing of graphics printed thereon. To prevent the card
206
from being pulled out of the package
200
, the card
206
is secured to the package
200
. In a particularly advantageous construction, the card
206
is secured to the panels by a layer of peelable adhesive (not shown). In other constructions, the card is secured to the panels by adhesive tape or by a portion of the window that extends through a hole in the card. The plastic window significantly increases the cost of this package. Also, because the identification number is always accessible, it is difficult to determine if the card has been tampered with, for example, if it has previously been activated. Further, because the portion of the card carrying the identification number extends freely from the card, the identification number can be intentional or inadvertently damaged during shipping, handling and display, for example, by scratching the magnetic strip. Additionally, after the card is purchased, it is relatively difficult to remove the card from the package because the front and rear panels must be separated to gain access to the card.
A second type of point-of-sale phone card package
300
includes panels that can be folded about the card
302
to provide access to the identification number (See FIGS.
2
and
3
). The card
302
is sandwiched between front
304
and rear (not shown) panels, and includes a magnetic strip (not shown) extending across the top, rear of the card
302
. The rear panel covers the rear of the card and includes a fold line (not shown) that permits it to fold backward at a point below the magnetic strip. The front panel defines a card-sized opening
306
that receives the card
302
. A transparent window
308
is positioned in the opening
306
to help retain the card. Because the upper portion of the package
300
is required to fold away from the card
302
, the window
308
extends through only a portion of the opening
306
and its upper extent
312
coincides with the fold line in the rear panel. The front panel
304
also includes a line of perforations
310
that coincides with the fold line in the rear panel and the upper extent
312
of the window
308
. The perforations
310
permit the front panel
304
to tear apart when the package
300
is folded to provide access to the magnetic strip (See FIG.
3
). This makes it easier to fold the package
300
and prevents the rear panel from buckling or creasing when folded. Although this construction protects the card prior to activation, the transparent window increases the cost of the package. Further, the presence of only a partial window may be aesthetically unpleasing to customers. Also, because the front panel is torn apart at the line of perforations, the integrity and aesthetic appearance of the package is compromised when the card is exposed. Additionally, once the package has been folded open, the panels hang limply providing little or no protection for the card. Further, after the card is purchased, it is relatively difficult to remove the card from the package because the front and rear panels must be separated to gain access to the card.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned problems are overcome by the present invention wherein a wallet card package is provided with a card flap that permits the wallet card to flip out from between the front and rear panels for point-of-sale activation while remaining secured to the package. The package includes front and rear panels that enclose the card. The rear panel includes a card flap that can be selectively swung out from the rear of the package. The wallet card is secured to and carried by the card flap such that the wallet card moves with the flap.
In a preferred embodiment, the card flap extends only partially up the rear surface of the card such that the identification number is exposed when the card flap is swung out from the package. The rear panel preferably includes a cover flap that covers the portion of the wallet card not covered by the card flap when the card flap is closed. The card and cover flaps are preferably defined by a series of cuts, perforations or other weakened lines in the rear panel. This permits the card flap to be opened simply by applying a rearward force on the front surface of the card.
In another preferred embodiment, the front panel defines an opening that permits viewing of the front surface of the packaged card. The opening is slightly smaller than the card so that it provides maximum viewing area while preventing the card and flap from being folded forwardly.
In an alternative embodiment, the card flap can be configured to permit the card to be flipped out in a forward direction rather than rearward direction. In this embodiment, the front panel is either eliminated or is provided with a card opening that is large enough to permit passage of the card.
The present invention provides a simple, inexpensive wallet card package that protects the rear surface of the wallet card until the card flap is opened for activation. At the time of activation, access to the identification number is easily achieved by applying a rearward force to the front surface of the card and swinging the card into a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the package. When perforations or partial cuts are included in the package, they provide the package with a tamper-evident seal because the perforations or partial cuts must be broken to open the card flap. The present invention is also relatively inexpensive to manufacture and assemble in part because a transparent window is not required. Further, because a complete tear through the front panel is not required, the overall structural integrity of the present invention is not co
Hansen Roger P.
Malone Nicholas J.
Barry Fiala, Inc.
Norris McLaughlin & Marcus P.A.
Pitts Harold I.
LandOfFree
Wallet card package does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Wallet card package, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Wallet card package will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2573843