Transaction instrument

• US 10,380,476 B1
• Filed: 10/21/2016
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank NA (Wells Fargo & Company)
• Original Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank NA (Wells Fargo & Company)
• Inventors: Vittimberga, Paul, Kushner, Kristine Ing, Wright, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Mikels, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US15/299,825
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 235435, 235439, 235454, 235487, 235492
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/40 Symmetrical or sandwich layers, e.g. ABA, ABCBA, ABCCBA
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2260/025 Particulate layer layers of natural mineral fibres or particles being impregnated in a plastic substance B32B19/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2260/046 Synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2264/105 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2272/00 Resin or rubber layer comprising scrap, waste or recycling material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 23/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 23/12 next to a particulate layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 23/20 comprising esters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7163 Biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/718 Weight, e.g. weight per square meter
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/732 Dimensional properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/75 Printability
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2425/00 Cards, e.g. identity cards, credit cards
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/14 next to a particulate layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/20 using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/08 characterised by added members at particular parts layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B3/14, B32B3/18
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/30 characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/16 characterised by features of a layer formed of particles, e.g. chips, powder or granules layer formed of natural mineral particles B32B19/00; layer being formed of wood fibres, chips or particles B32B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/30 : one layer being formed of particles, e.g. chips, granules, powder
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/02 : comprising animal or vegetable substances , e.g. cork, bamboo, starch
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/045 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/048 : made of particles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/02 : characterised by the selection of materials, e.g. to avoid wear during transport through the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07722 : the record carrier being multilayered, e.g. laminated sheets flat articles in general, see B32B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 : the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card

Abstract

A transaction instrument comprising a metal-filled biodegradable polymer. The biodegradable polymer is a plant-based polymer, a protein-based polymer, or a combination thereof. The metal of the blended composite of metal and biodegradable polymer is a heavy-gravity compound. The transaction instrument is biodegradable in whole or in part. A method(s) for making a transaction instrument comprising a blended composite of metal and a biodegradable polymer is also provided.

Claims

1. A transaction instrument comprising a blended composite of metal and a biodegradable polymer selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid-polyglycolic acid (PLA-PGA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), polyhydroxy valerate (PHV), polyhydroxy hexanoale (PHH), a cellulose-based biopolymer, carboxymethylcellulose, chitin, a chitin and cellulose composite, chitosan, a protein-based polymer, a protein-based bioceramic, and a combination thereof,

wherein the transaction instrument has a total weight in a range of 10 grams to 25 grams,

wherein the metal is a high-gravity compound selected from the group consisting of tungsten, silver, zinc, bismuth, molybdenum, iron, steel, tin, copper, titanium, barium sulfate, nickel, aluminum, and a combination thereof, and

wherein the metal of the blended composite has a weight in a range from greater than 50% to 96% of the total blended composite weight.

2. The transaction instrument according to claim 1, wherein the biodegradable polymer is selected from the group consisting of cellulose-based biopolymers, carboxymethylcellulose, chitin, chitin and cellulose composite, chitosan, protein-based bioceramics, and a combination thereof.

3. The transaction instrument according to claim 1, wherein the high-gravity compound has a specific gravity in a range of 7 to 20.

4. The transaction instrument according to claim 1, wherein the transaction instrument is biodegradable in whole or in part.

5. The transaction instrument according to claim 1, wherein the transaction instrument is in a form of a card.

6. The transaction instrument according to claim 5, wherein the card is comprised of one of more layers including a central core.

7. The transaction instrument according to claim 6, wherein the central core comprises the blended composite.

8. The transaction instrument according to claim 5, wherein the one or more layers comprises at least one layer consisting essentially of a polymer.

9. The transaction instrument according to claim 5, wherein the one of more layers comprises at least one of one or more graphics layers, one or more clear protective layers, or a combination thereof.

10. The transaction instrument according to claim 5, further comprising a recess configured to receive an inset device.

11. The transaction instrument according to claim 10, wherein the inset device comprises at least one of an integrated circuit, an EMV chip, NFC chip, a magnetic strip, or conducting contact pads.

19. The transaction instrument of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable polymer comprises chitin or chitosan.

12. A method of making a transaction card, the method comprising:

providing two or more layers with each layer having a front side and a back side, wherein at least one of the two or more layers comprises a blended composite of a metal and a biodegradable polymer selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid-polyglycolic acid (PLA-PGA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), polyhydroxy valerate (PHV), polyhydroxy hexanoale (PHH), a cellulose-based biopolymer, carboxymethylcellulose, chitin, a chitin and cellulose composite, chitosan, a protein-based polymer, a protein-based bioceramic, and a combination thereof,

printing on a front side of at least one layer, and

joining together the back sides in direct contact with each other or with one or more intermediate layers,

wherein the transaction instrument has a total weight in a range of 10 grams to 25 grams,

wherein the metal is a high-gravity compound selected from the group consisting of tungsten, silver, zinc, bismuth, molybdenum, iron, steel, tin, copper, titanium, barium sulfate, nickel, aluminum, and a combination thereof, and

wherein the metal of the blended composite has a weight within a range from greater than 50% to 96% of the total blended composite weight.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein one of the layers comprises an antenna.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising using subtractive manufacturing to form a recess having an appropriate size and shape to accommodate an inset device.

15. A transaction card made according to the method of claim 12.

16. A transaction instrument comprising:

a blended composite of metal and a biodegradable polymer selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid-polyglycolic acid (PLA-PGA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), polyhydroxy valerate (PHV), polyhydroxy hexanoale (PHH), a cellulose-based biopolymer, carboxymethylcellulose, chitin, a chitin and cellulose composite, chitosan, a protein-based polymer, a protein-based bioceramic, and a combination thereof, wherein the metal is a high-gravity compound having a specific gravity of 7 to 20.

17. The transaction instrument according to claim 16, wherein the metal of the blended composite has a weight within a range from greater than 50% to 96% of the total blended composite weight.

18. The transaction instrument according to claim 16, wherein the biodegradable polymer is selected from the group consisting of cellulose-based biopolymers, carboxymethylcellulose, chitin, chitin and cellulose composite, chitosan, protein-based bioceramics, and a combination thereof.

20. The transaction instrument of claim 16, wherein the biodegradable polymer comprises chitin or chitosan.