Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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1
"PACKAGE FOR CARD AND METHOD OF USING"
BACRGAO~ND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates, in general, to
packaging for well-known prepaid debit cards. Such debit
cards are associated with a prepaid metered account, and
the account is debited as purchases are made by a
consumer. In particular, the present invention relates
to a package for holding a data-encoded card associated
with a metered account and a method of using the package
and card combination to activate the metered account with
a certain predetermined value at the time of purchase of
the card and package combination.
2. Information Disclosure Statement:
Prior art prepaid metered accounts associated with
debit cards are well-known for providing access to goods
and services, e.g., telephone services. Typically, a
card having a personal identification number (PIN")
thereon is sold at a retail outlet for a certain price.
This PIN number is associated with an already-activated
metered account that is pre-credited with a certain
predetermined value representing the value of services,
e.g., telephone services, being purchased. Then, as the
cardholder uses the telephone services, the cardholder
provides the PIN number and the account is successively
debited for the services provided until the value of the
card is exhausted. Often, the predetermined value
credited to the metered account may be more than the
actual purchase price of the debit card because of
promotional pricing, etc.
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However, theft of services is a problem when such a
scheme is used because unfettered access to the metered
account is available to anyone who obtains knowledge of
the PIN number for the pre-activated metered account,
necessitating the storage of such cards under lock and
key by the retail merchant until the moment the cards are
sold, thereby preventing the stocking of such cards on
store shelves freely accessible by prospective
purchasers.
A preliminary patentability search in Class 206,
subclass 439.5, and Class 40, subclass 312, produced the
following patents, some of which may be relevant to the
present invention: Guttman, U.S. Patent No. 2,616,612,
issued November 4, 1952; Tripodi, U.S. Patent No.
3,695,422, issued October 3, 1972; Price et al., U.S.
Patent No. 4,345,393, issued August 24, 1982; Sano, U.S.
Patent No. 4,887,763, issued December 19, 1989; Betheil,
U.S. Patent No. 5,181,744, issued January 26, 1993; Litt,
U.S. Patent No. 5,399,021, issued March 21, 1995; and
Longtin, U.S. Patent No. 5,427,832, issued June 27, 1995.
Additionally, applicants are aware of a package of
unknown date manufactured by the GE Capital Company and
sold under the service mark "GE EXCHANGE" (part number
992439), holding a Montgomery Ward prepaid calling card
for telephone services. The package appears to have a
magnetic strip thereon for use in activating a metered
account at the cash register where the card is purchased,
and the prepaid calling card has a hidden PIN number,
observable upon opening the package, for use in accessing
the activated metered account. The card also has an
identification number visible through an opening in the
package. However, this prepaid calling card package
scheme has problems because a particular card must be
matched to a particular package's magnetic strip, and
this correlation between card and package is difficult to
ensure during manufacture.
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None of these references, either singly or in
combination, disclose or suggest the present invention.
It is therefore desirable to have a package for
holding a data-encoded card and a method of using same to
activate a metered account associated with said card at
the time of purchase of the card.
SOMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a method of
activating a metered account that is associated with a
personal identification number ("PIN"), where the PIN
number is displayed on a first card and the metered
account is activated at the time of sale of the first
card, and the invention further comprises a package
adapted for holding the first card so that the method of
the present invention can be practiced. The first card
includes an exposed data-encoded strip and the first card
preferably has the PIN number displayed thereon. The
package includes a first panel and retaining means for
securing the first card to the first panel so that, when
the first card is secured to the first panel, the
data-encoded strip is exposed and laterally displaced
remote from the first panel. When the first card is
secured to the first panel, the data-encoded strip can be
read directly from the first card without removing the
card from the package, and the metered account is
activated at the time of sale of the first card.
It is an object of the present invention to provide
a method of activating a metered account associated with
a PIN number that is displayed on a first card, where the
metered account is activated at the time of sale of the
- first card, where the first card need not be removed from
its package to activate the account, and where a
particular first card does not have to be correlated with
a particular package.
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It is another object of the present invention to
provide a method of activating a first metered account
together with at least one second metered account, the
first metered account being associated with a first PIN
number that is displayed on a first card, and each of the
second metered accounts being associated with a
respectively different particular PIN number from the
first PIN number and respectively different from each
other PIN number that is displayed on each other second
card, where the cards are sold together in a single
package, where the plurality of metered accounts are all
activated at the time of sale of the cards, where the
cards need not be removed from their package to activate
the accounts, and where a particular first card does not
have to be correlated with a particular package.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a package for holding a first card so that, when
the first card is held by the package, a data-encoded
strip on the first card is exposed and laterally
displaced remote from the package so as to allow reading
of the data-encoded strip by an appropriate reading
apparatus.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
a package that obscures from view a PIN number displayed
on a prepaid debit card and includes a tamper evident
device to indicate whether someone has attempted to view
the PIN number on the card.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a package that provides for inclusion of
instructions and/or advertising.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a package for holding a first card and at least
one second card so that, when the first and second cards
are held by the package, a data-encoded strip on the
first card is exposed and laterally displaced remote from
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the package so as to allow reading of the data-encoded
strip by an appropriate reading apparatus.
HRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a rear view of a first embodiment of the
5 present invention showing a package secured to a first
card having an exposed data-encoded strip.
Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention taken
substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a rear view of a first card showing a
data-encoded strip, a personal identification number and
an obscuring sticker thereover.
Fig. 4 is a front view of a second preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a rear view of the second preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of the second
preferred embodiment of the present invention taken
substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a front view of a third preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 8 is a rear view of the third preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view of the third
preferred embodiment of the present invention taken
substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.
Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the third preferred
embodiment of the present invention taken substantially
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along the line 10-10 of Fig. 8.
Fig. 11 is a front view of a fourth preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
Fig. 12 is a rear view of the fourth preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the fourth preferred
embodiment of the present invention taken substantially
along the line 13-13 of Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is a partial sectional view of the fourth
preferred embodiment of the present invention taken
substantially along the line 14-14 of Fig. 12.
Fig. 15 is a front view of a fifth preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 16 is a partial sectional view of the fifth
preferred embodiment of the present invention taken
substantially along the line 16-16 of Fig. 15.
Fig. 17 is a sectional view of the fifth preferred
embodiment of the present invention taken substantially
along the line 17-17 of Fig. 15.
Fig. 18 is a somewhat schematic diagram showing the
method of the present invention being used to activate a
metered account.
Fig. 19 is a front view of a sixth preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 20 is a rear view of the sixth preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 21 is a rear view of a first card showing a
data-encoded strip, a personal identification number and
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an obscuring sticker of the sixth preferred embodiment
thereover.
Fig. 22 is a sectional view of the sixth preferred
embodiment of the present invention taken substantially
along the line 22-22 of Figs. 19 and 20.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figs. 1-22, the present invention is
seen to comprise a package for holding a data-encoded
card associated with a metered account, and a method of
using the package and card combination to activate the
metered account, at the time of purchase of the card and
package combination, with a certain predetermined value.
The metered account is associated with a personal
identification number ("PIN") P displayed on a first card
C. Once activated, the metered account is credited with
a certain predetermined balance, and any person having
the correct PIN number P can subsequently be provided
with goods or services having a total value up to the
value of the certain predetermined balance simply by
providing the PIN number each time a transaction is
desired.
Referring to Figs. 1-3, a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention is seen to comprise a
package 30 adapted for holding the first card C. If
desired, package 30, like all embodiments of the package
of the present invention, may have an opening 31
therethrough for hanging package 30 upon a display rack
in a retail store. The package 30 is constructed so that
- the package 30 can be separately manufactured without
including the first card C and so that a subsequent
manufacturing step can secure the first card C to the
package 30. As shown in Fig. 3, the first card C has an
exposed data-encoded strip S. The data-encoded strip can
be a well-known magnetic strip encoding the data into
magnetic flux reversals, a strip of well-known bar codes,
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a strip of well-known machine-readable optical
characters, or any other well known manner of encoding
data into machine-readable form as will now be apparent
to those skilled in the art, and it shall be understood
that these and other varieties of data-encoded strips
could be substituted without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention.
First card C may also have a PIN number P displayed
thereon. The PIN number P, represented schematically in
Fig. 3 by a dashed rectangle portion, can comprise any
sequence of the digits 0-9, for example, the six digit
sequence 987654, or may additionally or instead have a
sequence of characters such as the six character sequence
ABCDEF. Preferably, the PIN number P would be a very
long sequence of digits and/or characters to ensure
uniqueness and to inhibit guessing of the PIN number by a
thief who otherwise could gain unauthorized access to the
funds in the metered account.
The package 30 includes a first panel 32 and
retaining means 34 for securing the first card C to the
first panel 32 so that, when the first card C is secured
to the first panel 32, the data-encoded strip 8 is
exposed and laterally displaced remote from the first
panel 32. Such a structure enables the data-encoded
strip 8 on the first card C to be read by a well-known
data-encoded strip reader 70 (see Fig. 18) while the
first card C is still secured to the first panel 32 and
without first necessitating removal of the first card C
from the package 30. Retaining means 34 preferably
removably secures the first card C to the first panel 32
so that, after purchase, a purchaser could easily remove
the first card C from the package 30 and store the first
card C in a convenient place such as a wallet or purse.
Because the metered account is not activated until the
card and package combination is purchased, theft of the
card and package combination by a shoplifter does not
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result in access to funds in the metered account.
While retaining means 34 could comprise a
well-known rubberized glue so that card C could be
peelably removed from card C, instead, referring to Fig.
2, retaining means 34 preferably comprises one or more
rivets 36. The rivet 36 preferably extends through a
hole in the first card C, but may extend through a notch
(not shown) on one or more side edges of the first card
C. For example, two rivets 36 may be used with each one
respectively extending through a notch on an opposite
edge of the first card C. The cross section of the rivet
36 is preferably circular, but may be rectangular,
polygonal, or any other shape as will now be apparent to
those skilled in the art. The rivet 36 is preferably
constructed from synthetic resin materials such as, for
example, well-known poly vinyl chloride ("PVC")
materials, but can be made from plastic or metal or other
suitable well-known equivalent substantially-rigid
material as will now be apparent to those skilled in the
art.
When the first card C has a PIN number P displayed
thereon, it is desirable to obscure the PIN number P from
view because any person knowing the PIN number p will
have access to the metered account once the account has
been activated. For example, if a thief were able to
collect the PIN numbers for several metered accounts
before purchase activation of those accounts, the thief
would simply have to wait until the card and package
combination was purchased by an unsuspecting purchaser
and the account was activated, and then the thief could
surreptitiously drain the account of its funds by using
its associated PIN to purchase goods and services.
Accordingly, retaining means 34 preferably secures the
first card C to the first panel 32 so that the PIN number
P is obscured from view while the first card C is secured
to the first panel 32. Preferably, the rivet 36 and the
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first card C are positioned so that, when the rivet 36
secures the first card C to the first panel 32, the PIN
number P is held against the first panel 32 and is
thereby obscured from view. There is a danger, however,
5 that the PIN number P could still be viewed by slightly
prying the first card C away from the first panel 32
while the first card C remains secured to the first panel
32. Therefore, it is desirable to provide means for
detecting when the PIN number P has been surreptitiously
10 viewed so that the associated metered account can be
prevented from being activated.
The rivet 36 thus preferably comprises tamper evident
means 38 for indicating that a surreptitious attempt has
been made to view the PIN number P when the first card C
is secured to the first panel 32. Tamper evident means
38 can be constructed in many ways but preferably
comprises a circumferential lip or flange 40 radially
extending from one or both ends of the rivet. The outer
edge of the flange 40 is preferably circular, but may be
any shape, and flange 40 is constructed so that the
flange 40 will permanently deform if a person
surreptitiously tries to pry the first card C away from
the first panel 32, thus giving an indication that an
improper attempt was made to view the PIN number P.
Alternately, the card and package combination may
comprise tamper evident means 38~ for indicating that an
attempt has been made to view the PIN number P when the
first card C is secured to the first panel 32. As shown
in Fig. 3, tamper evident means 38~ may comprise a
sticker 42 preferably obscuringly but removably attached
on top of the PIN number P on the first card C. The
sticker 4Z is constructed so that, when an attempt is
made to detach the sticker 42 to view the PIN number P,
the sticker 42 will either break or crack or deform or
curl or will detach from the first card C and will not be
re-attachable, thus giving an indication that a
surreptitious attempt was made to view the PIN number P.
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Alternatively, the sticker 42 may be attached both to the
back of the first card C and to the back of the first
panel 32.
A second preferred embodiment is shown in Figs.
4-6. Fig. 4 shows a front view, Fig. 5 shows a rear
view, and Fig. 6 shows an enlarged partial sectional view
taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.
Identifying reference designators for this second
embodiment are marked similarly to the first embodiment,
except with the prefix "2.". It shall be understood that
many aspects of the two embodiments are substantially the
same, and only the differences will be treated in detail,
it being understood that similar structural features of
the two embodiments perform similar functions.
The second embodiment comprises a package 2.30 adapted
for holding a first card C, and package 2.30 preferably
includes a first panel 2.32; retaining means 2.34 for
securing the first card C to the first panel 2.32 so
that, when the first card C is secured to the first panel
2.32, the data-encoded strip 8 is exposed and laterally
displaced remote from the first panel 2.32; and a second
panel 2.44 adapted for attachment in congruent alignment
with the first panel 2.32. The second panel 2.44 is
adapted to retain the first card C between the first 2.32
and the second 2.44 panels when the first card C is
secured to the first panel 2.32. The second preferred
embodiment may also comprise tamper evident means as
heretofore described. For example, retaining means 2.34
preferably comprises a rivet 2.36 preferably constructed
integral, one piece with pane 2.47, hereinafter
~ described, with rivet 2.36 being preferably formed, for
example, by heating and deforming pane 2.47 through
aligned apertures in card C and panel 2.32, and retaining
means 2.34 preferably includes tamper evident means 2.38
comprising a flange 2.40 that extends radially from rivet
2.36 and meltingly formed therefrom, with flange 2.40
being non-restoringly deformable if panel 2.32 is pried
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up from card C to surreptitiously view the PIN number
that is obscured by panel 2.32 as heretofore described.
Referring to Fig. 6, the second panel 2.44
preferably comprises a substantially transparent window
portion 2.46 positioned to overlap a portion of the first
card C remote from the data-encoded strip 8 when the
first card C is secured to the first panel 2.32. The
transparent window portion 2.46 is preferably constructed
of a pane 2.47 made from synthetic resin materials such
as, for example, well-known poly vinyl chloride ("PVC")
materials, but can be made from transparent plastic or
any other suitable well-known equivalent material as will
now be apparent to those skilled in the art. The overall
dimensions of pane 2.47 are greater than the dimensions
of the overlapped portion of the first card C, and the
non-overlapping lip or flange portion 2.88 of pane 2.47
is preferably glued between the first 2.32 and second
2.44 panels. Preferably, first and second panels 2.32
and 2.44 are coated on their inner surfaces with glue,
such as, for example, well-known PVC glue, and first
panel 2.32 is gluingly sealed to second panel 2.44 in a
manner well-known to those skilled in the art by the
application of heat and pressure, causing the PVC glue to
meltingly join the two panels and pane 2.47 together.
Alternatively, panels 2.32 and 2.44 could be pre-coated
with a well-known polyethylene coating, which is then
similarly heated to bond the panels together under
pressure in a manner well-known to those skilled in the
art. As heretofore noted, rivet 2.36 is preferably
constructed integral, one-piece with the pane 2.47, as,
for example, by being heatedly and deformably formed from
the PVC pane 2.47.
A third preferred embodiment is shown in Figs.
7-10. Fig. 7 shows a front view, Fig. 8 shows a rear
view, Fig. 9 shows an enlarged partial sectional view
taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig 8, and Fig.
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shows an enlarged sectional view taken substantially
along the line 10-10 of Fig. 8. Identifying reference
designators for the third embodiment are marked similarly
to the other embodiments, except with the pref ix "3.".
5 It shall be understood that many aspects of all
embodiments are substantially the same, and only the
differences will be treated in detail, it being
understood that similar structural features of all the
embodiments perform similar functions.
10 The third preferred embodiment comprises a package
3.30 adapted for holding a first card C, and package 3.30
includes: a first panel 3.32, retaining means 3.34 for
securing the first card C to the first panel 3.32 so
that, when the first card C is secured to the first panel
3.32, the data-encoded strip 8 is exposed and laterally
displaced remote from the first panel 3.32, and a second
panel 3.44 adapted to be attached in congruent alignment
with the first panel 3.32. The first panel 3.32 may
comprise a door panel 3.48 movably attached to the first
panel 3.32. The door panel 3.48 is preferably
constructed integral, one-piece with the first panel
3.32. While door panel 3.48 may include perforations
along all four edges so that the door panel 3.48 would be
removably attached to the first panel 3.32, door panel
3.48 is instead preferably constructed as shown to
include perforations 3.50 along three edges and a formed
hinge 3.52 along one edge, hingedly attaching the door
panel 3.48 to the first panel 3.32. Referring to Figs. 8
and 10, the door panel 3.48 may include a finger recess
cutout 3.54 to assist in opening the door panel 3.48 by
w permitting the insertion of a person's finger therewithin
for better grip of the upper edge of doar panel 3.48.
Printed material, such as advertisements, coupons,
instructions, etc., located on or between the second
panel 3.44 and the door panel 3.48, may be accessed once
the door panel 3.48 is opened. The package 3.30 may
comprise a transparent window portion 3.46 as previously
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described in the discussion of the second preferred
embodiment.
Referring to Fig. 9, the third preferred embodiment
preferably includes a transparent window portion 3.46 and
retaining means 3.34 comprising a rivet 3.36. The
transparent window portion 3.46 is preferably constructed
of a pane 3.47 made from synthetic resin materials such
as, for example, well-known poly vinyl chloride ("PVC")
materials, but could be made from transparent plastic or
any other suitable well-known equivalent material as will
now be apparent to those skilled in the art. The overall
dimensions of pane 3.47 are greater than the dimensions
of the overlapped portion of the first card C, and the
non-overlapping lip or flange portion 3.88 of the
transparent window portion 3.46 is preferably glued
between the first 3.32 and second 3.44 panels.
Preferably, first and second panels 3.32 and 3.44 are
coated on their inner surfaces with glue 3.82, such as,
for example, well-known PVC glue, and first panel 3.32 is
2o gluingly sealed to second panel 3.44 in a manner
well-known to those skilled in the art by the application
of heat and pressure, causing the PVC glue to meltingly
join the two panels and pane 3.47 together. The rivet
3.36 is preferably constructed integral, one-piece with
the pane 3.47, as, for example, by being heatedly and
deformably formed in the PVC pane 3.47, and preferably
includes tamper evident means 3.38 comprising a flange
3.40 that extends radially from rivet 3.36, with flange
3.40 being non-restoringly deformable if panel 3.32 is
pried up from card C to surreptitiously view the PIN
number that is obscured by panel 3.32 as heretofore
described.
A fourth preferred embodiment is shown in Figs.
11-14. Fig. 11 shows a front view, Fig. 12 shows a rear
view, Fig. 13 shows an enlarged sectional view taken
substantially along the line 13-13 of Fig. 12, and Fig.
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14 shows an enlarged partial sectional view taken
substantially along the line 14-14 of Fig. 12.
Identifying reference designators for the fourth
preferred embodiment are marked similarly to the other
5 embodiments, except with the prefix "4.". It shall be
understood that many aspects of all embodiments are
substantially the same, and only the differences will be
treated in detail, it being understood that similar
structural features of all the embodiments perform
10 similar functions.
The fourth preferred embodiment comprises a package
4.30 adapted for holding a first card C. The package
4.30 includes a first panel 4.32, retaining means 4.34
for securing the first card C to the first panel 4.32 so
15 that, when the first card C is secured to the first panel
4.32, the data-encoded strip 8 is exposed and laterally
displaced remote from the first panel 4.32, and a second
panel 4.44 adapted to be attached in congruent alignment
with the first panel 4.32. The first 4.32 and second
4.44 panels are preferably constructed to have nearly
identical outer dimensions and are preferably hingedly
connected along their top edges 4.86. After the first
card C is secured to the first panel 4.32, the first 4.32
and second 4.44 panels are attached, preferably with glue
4.82 in a manner similar to the previously-described
embodiments. The outer dimensions of the fourth
embodiment are preferably 6 inches (15.2 cm) wide by 9
inches (22.9 cm) tall.
Referring to Fig. 13, which shows the dimensions
exaggerated for clarity, the second panel 4.44 is seen to
comprise a retaining portion 4.56 adapted to secure at
least one second card C' to the package so that the at
least one second card C' is laterally displaced from the
first card C. The retaining portion 4.56 is preferably
transparent for viewing of the cards C' therethrough and
preferably has a circumferential lip or flange 4.60 that
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can be secured, preferably with PVC glue 4.82, between
the first 4.32 and second 4.44 panels in a manner
heretofore described. The retaining portion 4.56 is
preferably constructed from synthetic resin materials
such as, for example, well-known poly vinyl chloride
("PVC") materials, but can be made from plastic or any
other suitable well-known equivalent material as will now
be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Referring to Figs. 12-14, retaining means 4.34
preferably comprises a rivet 4.36 and two apertures 4.84
within first panel 4.32. Each aperture 4.84 secures a
respective top corner of the first card C when the
corners are inserted into the apertures 4.84. The rivet
4.36 is preferably constructed from a 1 inch by 1 inch
(2.5 cm by 2.5 cm) sheet 4.80 made from synthetic resin
materials such as, for example, well-known poly vinyl
chloride ("PVC") materials, but can be made from plastic
or any other suitable well-known substantially rigid
equivalent material as will now be apparent to those
skilled in the art. The first card C is positioned
against the first panel 4.32 with the upper corners of
the first card C inserted into the apertures 4.84, and
the sheet 4.80 is placed on top of the first card C so
that the rivet 4.36 extends through the first card C and
through the first panel 4.32. If desired, the tip 4.37
of rivet 4.36 could be deformably formed into a flange
(not shown) entrapping first panel 4.32, in a similar
manner to that heretofore described with the second and
third embodiments, so as to provide similar tamper
evident means for the fourth embodiment as well. Fig. 14
shows the rivet 4.36 securing the first card C to the
first panel 4.32 with the dimensions exaggerated somewhat
for clarity.
A fifth preferred embodiment is shown in Figs.
15-17. Fig. 15 shows a rear view, Fig. 16 shows an
enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially along
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the line 16-16 of Fig. 15, and Fig. 17 shows an enlarged
sectional view taken substantially along the line 17-17
of Fig. 15. Identifying reference designators for the
fifth embodiment are marked similarly to the other
embodiments, except with the prefix "5.". It shall be
understood that many aspects of all embodiments are
substantially the same, and only the differences will be
treated in detail, it being understood that similar
structural features of all the embodiments perform
similar functions.
The fifth preferred embodiment comprises a package
5.30 adapted for holding a first card C, and package 5.30
includes a first panel 5.32 and retaining means 5.34 for
securing the first card C to the first panel 5.32 so
that, when the first card C is secured to the first panel
5.32, the data-encoded strip S is exposed and laterally
displaced remote from the first panel 5.32. The package
5.30 further includes a second panel 5.44 adapted to be
attached in congruent alignment to the first panel 5.32
and adapted to entrap a third panel 5.62 between the
first 5.32 and second 5.44 panels. The first panel 5.32
preferably includes a male flange or protuberance 5.66
and the second panel 5.44 preferably includes a mating
female channel or protuberance 5.68 constructed so that
the male 5.66 and female 5.68 protuberances can be
matingly engaged to attach the first 5.32 and second 5.44
panels in congruent alignment. The protuberances 5.66,
5.68 may be discontinuous but preferably are continuous
and act to entrap a third panel 5.62 between the first
5.32 and second 5.44 panels. Figs. 16 and 17 exaggerate
the dimensions of the protuberances 5.66, 5.68 so that
they are clearly shown.
Referring to Fig. 16, the retaining means 5.34
preferably comprises a rivet 5.36 deformably extending
from the second panel 5.44 and through the ffirst card C
to the first panel 5.32 and preferably being meltingly
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bonded thereto for securing the first card C to the first
panel 5.32 so that the data-encoded strip 8 is exposed
and laterally displaced remote from the first panel 5.32.
When the first card C is secured to the first panel 5.32,
the rivet 5.36 extends through the first card C and the
first panel 5.32, and the rivet 5.36 is heat sealed to
the first panel 5.32, thereby also providing
tamper-evident means for this fourth embodiment by
providing evidence, by the breaking of the heat sealed
bond of rivet 5.36 to panel 5.32, of a surreptitious
attempt to view the PIN number on card C. Referring to
Fig. 15, the protuberances 5.66, 5.68 preferably also
secure the first card C to the package 5.30 by preventing
the first card C from rotating about the rivet 5.36.
Referring to Fig. 15, the second panel 5.44 has
window means 5.64 for viewing the third panel 5.62
therethrough. The window means 5.64 may comprise an
opening in the second panel 5.44, but preferably
comprises the second panel 5.44 being constructed from a
substantially transparent material. The third panel 5.62
may be imprinted with advertising, coupons, instructions,
or other information as will now be apparent to those
skilled in the art.
The first 5.32 and second 5.44 panels are
preferably constructed from substantially transparent
synthetic resin materials such as, for example,
well-known poly vinyl chloride ("PVC") materials, but can
be made from plastic or any other suitable well-known
equivalent material as will now be apparent to those
skilled in the art, and are preferably joined together as
by meltingly heating or welding panels 5.32 and 5.44 one
to the other. The first 5.32 and second 5.44 panels can
be constructed in any size, but preferably are
constructed to be 6.44 inches (16.4 cm) tall by 4.75
inches (12.1 cm) wide.
The second panel 5.44 preferably includes a transparent
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window portion so that the first card C can be viewed
therethrough. When the first 5.32 and second 5.44 panels
are constructed from PVC materials, a transparent window
portion will be formed on both panels 5.32, 5.44 located
adjacent the first card C and between the protuberances
5.66, 5.68. Fig. 15 shows the first panel 5.32 including
a transparent window portion 5.46. Tamper evident means
5.38 preferably also comprises a sticker 5.42 which is
placed on top of the PIN number P to obscure the PIN
number from view.
A sixth preferred embodiment is shown in Figs.
19-22. Fig. 19 shows a front view, Fig. 20 shows a rear
view, and Fig. 22 shows an enlarged sectional view taken
substantially along the line 22-22 of Figs. 19 and 20.
Fig. 21 shows a rear view of a first card C having a
data-encoded strip 8, a personal identification number P
and an obscuring sticker of the sixth preferred
embodiment thereover. Identifying reference designators
for the sixth embodiment are marked similarly to the
other embodiments, except with the prefix "6.". It shall
be understood that many aspects of all embodiments are
substantially the same, and only the differences will be
treated in detail, it being understood that similar
structural features of all the embodiments perform
similar functions.
The sixth preferred embodiment comprises a package
6.30 adapted for holding a first card C, and package 6.30
includes: a first panel 6.32, retaining means 6.34 for
securing the first card C to the first panel 6.32 so
that, when the first card C is secured to the first panel
6.32, the data-encoded strip 8 is exposed and laterally
displaced remote from the first panel 6.32, and a second
panel 6.44 adapted to be attached in congruent alignment
with the first panel 6.32. Preferably, first and second
panels 6.32 and 6.34 are formed as a single piece of
cardboard folded in the middle so as to cause panels 6.32
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and 6.34 to be hingedly attached to each other along
their left and right bottom edge portions 6.33 and 6.35.
The first panel 6.32 may include a door panel 6.48
movably attached to the first panel 6.32. The door panel
5 6.48 is preferably constructed integral, one-piece with
the first panel 6.32. While door panel 6.48 may include
perforations along all four edges so that the door panel
6.48 would be removably attached to the first panel 6.32,
door panel 6.48 is instead preferably constructed as
10 shown to include perforations 6.50 along three edges and
a formed hinge 6.52 along one edge, hingedly attaching
the door panel 6.48 to the first panel 6.32. Referring
to Fig. 20, the door panel 6.48 may include a finger
recess cutout 6.54 to assist in opening the door panel
15 6.48 by permitting the insertion of a person's finger
therewithin for better grip of the upper edge of door
panel 6.48. Printed material, such as advertisements,
coupons, instructions, etc., located on or between the
second panel 6.44 and the door panel 6.48, may be
20 accessed once the door panel 6.48 is opened.
Referring to Figs. 19 and 22, the sixth preferred
embodiment 6.30 preferably includes a transparent window
portion 6.46 similar to that previously described for the
second and third embodiments. The transparent window
portion 6.46 is preferably constructed of a pane 6.47
made from synthetic resin materials such as, for example,
well-known poly vinyl chloride ("PVC") materials, but
could be made from transparent plastic or any other
suitable well-known equivalent material as will now be
apparent to those skilled in the art. The overall
dimensions of pane 6.47 are greater than the dimensions
of the overlapped portion of the first card C, and the
non-overlapping lip or flange portion 6.88 of the
transparent window portion 6.46 is preferably glued
between the first 6.32 and second 6.44 panels and, as in
the second and third embodiments, lip or flange portion
6.88 extends between first and second panels 6.32 and
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6.44 at the upper, left, and right edges of card C.
Preferably, first and second panels 6.32 and 6.44 are
coated on their inner surfaces with glue 6.82, such as,
for example, well-known PVC glue, and first panel 6.32 is
gluingly sealed to second panel 6.44 in a manner
well-known to those skilled in the art by the application
of heat and pressure, causing the PVC glue to meltingly
join the two panels and pane 6.47 together. If desired,
glue 6.82 could be masked from the area between door
panel 6.48 and second panel 6.44 so that the printed
material, such as advertisements, coupons, instructions,
etc., located on or between the second panel 6.44 and the
door panel 6.48, could be mare readily viewed, or
preferably glue 6.82 could cover the entire inner surface
of first and second panels 6.32, 6.44 and door panel
6.48, with glue 6.82 being substantially transparent so
that printed material on the interior of door panel 6.48
and/or second panel 6.44 could be viewed through the thin
surface coating of glue 6.82 thereon.
The significant difference between the sixth
embodiment of the present invention and the other
embodiments is in the structure of the retaining means
6.34, hereinafter described, for securing the first card
C to the first panel 6.32 so that, when the first card C
is secured to the first panel 6.32, the data-encoded
strip S is exposed and laterally displaced remote from
the first panel 6.32. No rivet is used in the sixth
embodiment of the invention.
Referring now to Figs. 21 and 22, the PIN number P
on the reverse of card C is obscured by a peel-off label
or sticker 6.42, with sticker 6.42 preferably being one
inch (2.54 cm) by four inches (10.2 cm) in height and
width, respectively, and having a substantial exposed
surface area. Sticker 6.42 has a well-known adhesive
with a well-known peel-off backing thereover so that
removal of the peel-off backing allows sticker 6.42 to be
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adhesively attached to card C as shown in Fig. 21, with
PIN number P obscured. Additionally, on its exposed side
remote from card C, label 6.42 preferably has a
heat-meltable glue coating such as, for example, a
well-known PVC glue similar to that on the inner surfaces
of first and second panels 6.32 and 6.44. As first and
second panels 6.32 and 6.44 are heatedly bonded together
by co-melting the PVC glue 6.82 on their inner surfaces,
the heat-meltable glue coating on the exposed side of
sticker 6.42 remote from card C is also co-melted with
PVC glue 6.82 and adhesively mixed therewith, thereby
bonding panels 6.32 and 6.44 together and simultaneously
bonding sticker 6.42, and therefore also card C to which
sticker 6.42 is adhesively secured, to panel 6.32. Thus,
in this sixth embodiment, the sticker 6.42 performs the
double structural function of obscuring the PIN number P
and also, by means of glue 6.82, retaining card C to
first panel 6.32. Tamper evident means 6.38 is thus seen
to include sticker 6.42 affixed to card C and obscuring
PIN number P from view, and retaining means 6.34 is thus
seen to include the glue 6.82 bonding sticker 6.42, and
thus card C, to first panel 6.32.
Tests of prototypes of the sixth embodiment 6.30
indicate that pane 6.47 presses card C against first
panel 6.32, thereby tightly securing card C to first
panel 6.32 because of the substantial shearing forces
parallel to the surface of first panel 6.32 necessary to
break the adhesive strength of glue 6.82 bonding to the
substantial surface area of sticker 6.42. However, if
panel 6.32 is pried away from card C in an attempt to
view the PIN number P, or if card C is similarly pried
away from panel 6.32 in an attempt to view PIN number P,
the adhesive bond between sticker 6.42 and glue 6.82
breaks because of the prying, rather than shearing,
forces being applied, and this broken glue bond provides
clear evidence of tampering with the package. Similarly,
if an attempt is made to lift sticker 6.42 from card C to
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view the PIN number P, clear evidence will be left that
the package has been tampered with, whether the evidence
is the deformation, tearing, and/or lifting of sticker
6.42 from card C, or whether the evidence is the breaking
of the adhesive bond between sticker 6.42 and glue 6.82
that also occurs during such tampering. Of course, a
legitimate purchaser of the card C can simply pry card C
from panel 6.32 and remove sticker 6.42 after the card
has been activated in a manner herein described, thereby
allowing the card C to be used in its intended manner.
It shall also be understood that the sixth embodiment
could also be adapted to include a retaining portion, not
shown, for holding at least one second card and
preferably a plurality of second cards in a manner
similar to retaining portion 4.56 of the fourth
embodiment heretofore described in detail. Like all
embodiments, the sixth embodiment 6.30 preferably has an
opening 6.31 therethrough for hanging the package on a
display rack in a retail store.
Now that various embodiments of the present
invention have been described in detail, the method of
the present invention, and its differences from the prior
art, can now be explained and understood.
A metered account is associated with the secret PIN
number on the card C, and anyone knowing the PIN number
will be provided with goods or services, e.g., telephone
services or other goods or services, having a value up to
the amount of the certain predetermined balance. The
certain predetermined balance will be debited for the
amount of goods or services provided as they are
purchased. The secret PIN is provided by selling card C
having a PIN thereon, and the purchaser/cardholder causes
transactions to be debited against the metered account by
providing the PIN number to a merchant.
Prior art methods of providing the metered account
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associated with a card's PIN involve the activation and
crediting of the metered account before the card is
distributed to a retail merchant for resale. However, a
prior art scheme using such pre-activated accounts
necessarily requires that such cards be stored under lock
and key by the retail merchant until the moment the cards
are sold because, if the cards are stolen or the PIN
numbers surreptitiously discovered, the pre-activated
metered accounts can be drained of funds. The method of
the present invention avoids such problems by not
activating the metered account until the time of purchase
of the card.
Referring to Figs. 1-3 and 18, the first preferred
method of the present invention uses a first card C
having an exposed data-encoded strip 8. The data-encoded
strip is encoded with a unique first identification
number comprising a "control number". The first card C
also has a unique second identification number thereon,
and this second identification number is the PIN P that
allows access to the funds in a metered account. The
method also uses a package 30 which includes a first
panel 32 and retaining means 34 securing the first card C
to the first panel 32 so that the data-encoded strip 8 is
exposed and laterally displaced remote from the first
panel 32. When the first card C is secured to the
package 30, the PIN P is obscured from view. The package
preferably includes tamper evident means 38 or 38~,
heretofore described in various embodiments, to indicate
when a surreptitious attempt to view the PIN P has been
30 made. The control number and the PIN P are associated
with a metered account. The control number is preferably
a different number from the PIN P so that knowledge of
the PIN P can not be obtained by reading the control
number using a data-encoded strip reader 70 or by
observing the exposed control number on card C.
A single company can manufacture the first card C and the
package 30, secure the first card C to the package 30,
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and correlate, as, for example, by a correspondence
table, the control number to the PIN P so that both
numbers can be properly and uniquely associated with a
metered account. Alternatively, one company can
5 manufacture the package 30, and a second company can
manufacture the first card C, then the second company or
the provider of goods and services can secure the first
card C to the package 30 and correlate the control number
with the PIN P. Once the first card C is secured to the
10 package 30 and the control number is correlated with the
PIN P, the provider of goods or services can uniquely
associate the control number and PIN P with a metered
account. A representation of the control number, the PIN
P, and the associated metered account are entered into a
15 remote data processing apparatus, such as a digital
computer 72 with attached data storage memory, in a
manner well-known to those skilled in the art. Any well
known computer programming technique, such as preferably
a correspondence table, can be used to associate the
20 control number and PIN P with a metered account as will
now be apparent to those skilled in the art. The digital
computer 72 can then be linked to data-encoded strip
readers 70 located at many different retail stores so
that, when a data-encoded strip S is read as the card and
25 package combination is purchased, a characterization of
the control number can be transmitted to the digital
computer 72. Preferably, modems 74, 76 will be used to
transmit the characterization of the control number over
telephone lines, but any method of data transmission
could be used, as will now be apparent to those skilled
in the art. After the first card C is secured to the
package, and the control number and PIN P are associated
with a metered account within the digital computer 72,
the first card C can be sent to a retail store for
purchase by and distribution to the public.
Many first card C and package 30 combinations can
then be openly stocked on the shelves or racks of a
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retail store. A customer can select a first card C and
package 30 combination and bring the first card C and
package 3o combination to a cashier or clerk. If the
tamper evident means indicates that the PIN number may
have been compromised, then the metered account
corresponding to the tampered card should not be
activated and another card and package combination should
instead be purchased. After the customer has paid for
the card and package combination, a clerk will then pass
the data-encoded strip 8 through a data-encoded strip
reader 70 to initiate the activation of the metered
account for the just-purchased card.
Referring to Fig. 18, the control number is read
from the data-encoded strip 8 by a data-encoded strip
reader 70. A nearby modem 74, connected to the reader
70, transmits a characterization of this control number
to a receiving modem 76 at the location of the digital
computer 72. The receiving modem 76 is connected to the
digital computer 72 and forwards the characterization of
the control number to the digital computer 72. The
digital computer 72 uses this characterization of the
control number to identify the associated metered account
in a manner now understood by those skilled in the art,
and then activates that particular associated metered
account. The metered account may have been credited with
a certain predetenained balance when the metered account
was entered into the digital computer 72, but, if not,
the digital computer 72 will now credit the metered
account with a certain predetermined balance.
The customer can now remove the first card C from the
package 30 and store the first card C in any convenient
place such as, for example, a wallet or purse. To obtain
goods or services, e.g., to obtain telephone service, the
cardholder customer could, for example, dial a certain
telephone number and connect to the digital computer T2.
The customer preferably then enters the PIN P onto the
telephone keypad, but the PIN P could instead be entered
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into a personal computer which is connected to the
digital computer 72 by modems or the PIN P could be
entered using another well-known data entry device as
will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. A
characterization of the PIN P is then transmitted to the
digital computer 72, the digital computer 72 uses the
characterization of the PIN P to identify the associated
metered account, the digital computer 72 provides the
customer with access to goods or services, for example,
telephone services, and the digital computer 72 then
debits the balance of the metered account. When the
balance has been debited to zero, goods or services can
no longer be obtained by use of that particular PIN P
and the first card C can be discarded.
A second preferred embodiment of the method of the
present invention can be used to simultaneously activate
a plurality of metered accounts, namely, a first metered
account together with at least one second metered
account, using the multi-card and package combination
4.30 heretofore described in detail as the fourth
embodiment combination of the present invention.
Each particular PIN P on cards C, C' is associated
with a different particular metered account, and each of
the cards C, C' in the package 4.30 preferably has a
different PIN from each other card in the package and
also unique from every other card in every other package.
A first identification number which comprises a unique
control number is encoded onto the data-encoded strip 8
on the first card C. The control number is preferably a
different number from any of the PINS P so that knowledge
of any of the PINS P can not be obtained by surreptitious
access to the control number.
A single company can manufacture the first card C,
the second cards) C', and the package 4.30, secure the
first C and second C' cards to the package 4.30, and
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correlate the control number to the several PINS P within
the package so that the control number and each
particular PIN P can be properly and uniquely associated
or correlated with a different particular metered
account.
Alternatively, one company could manufacture the
package 4.30 and a second company could manufacture the
first C and second C~ cards. Then the second company or
the provider of goods and services could secure the first
C and second C' cards to the package 4.30 and correlate
the control number with the plurality of PINS P on the
cards C, C' within the package 4.30. Once the first C
and second C~ cards are secured to the package 4.30 and
the control number is correlated with the several PINs P,
the provider of goods or services can associate the
control number with each different particular PIN P
within the package, each different particular PIN P
corresponding to a different particular metered account.
A representation of the control number, of each PIN
P and of the metered account associated with each PIN P
are entered into a remote data processing apparatus, such
as a digital computer 72 with attached data storage
memory, in a manner well-known to those skilled in the
art. Any well known computer programming technique, such
as preferably a correspondence table, can be used to
associate the control number with the plurality of PIN
and metered account pairs as will now be apparent to
those skilled in the art. The digital computer 72 can be
connected to data-encoded strip readers 70 located at
many different retail stores so that, when a data-encoded
strip 8 is read, a characterization of the control number
will be transmitted to the digital computer 72.
Preferably, modems 74, 76 will be used to transmit the
characterization over telephone lines, but any method of
data transmission can be used, as will now be apparent to
those skilled in the art. After the first C and second
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C' cards are secured to the package 4.30 and the control
number and each PIN P has been associated with a metered
account within the digital computer 72, the package 4.30
can be sent to a store for purchase by and distribution
to the public.
This second preferred method of the present
invention activates the metered accounts upon purchase of
the multi-card and package combination similarly to the
first preferred method, heretofore described, except that
the reading of the characterization of the control number
from the data-encoded strip 8 is used to activate a
plurality of different metered accounts, one for each
card within the package 4.30, in a manner that will now
be understood. It is the activation of the plurality of
metered accounts, one for each card in the package 4.30,
rather than the activation of only a single metered
account, that is the substantial difference between the
first and second preferred methods of the present
invention.
After purchase of the multi-card and package
combination 4.30 and activation of the plurality of
metered accounts, a customer-purchaser could then remove
the first card C and the one or more second cards C' from
the package 4.30 and could then store the cards C, C' in
one or more convenient places such as, for example,
wallets or purses. The customer could retain the cards
C, C' for personal use or could distribute any of the
cards C, C' among family members, friends, or employees.
To obtain goods or services, for example, to obtain
telephone service, the possessor of a particular card
uses that card in a manner similar to that heretofore
described.
Although the present invention has been described
and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment
and a preferred use therefor, it is not to be so limited
since modification~_and changes can be made therein which
are within the full intended scope of the invention.
