Foldable transaction card

• US 20040089724A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Gandel, Priscilla, Webb, Lisa Ann Morrill, Lasch, Ellen
• Granted Patent: US 7,213,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/321 combined with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/323 with key hangers
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/042 Foldable cards or sheets B42D15/045 and B42D15/08 take precedence
• 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 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06196 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0719 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for application selection, e.g. an acceleration sensor or a set of radio buttons application selection on smart cards using pure software control, see G07F7/10

Abstract

A transaction card having one or more folds therein to provide a compact and easily stored transaction card is provided. Moreover, a foldable transaction card having one or more holes or apertures therein for holding a keychain, or other device for attaching the transaction card to another item, such as a set of keys, a wallet, or other item is provided. Other embodiments include spring-loaded clips on the foldable transaction cards and protective sleeves, housings or cases for full-sized and smaller-sized cards. In addition, methods of making foldable transaction cards are provided.

Claims

1. A foldable transaction card comprising:

a transaction card comprising at least one fold line for folding the transaction card wherein said transaction card comprises a folded state and an unfolded state.

2. The foldable transaction card of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one aperture in the transaction card for holding a securing means to the transaction card.

3. The foldable transaction card of claim 2 wherein said securing means is a ring.

4. The foldable transaction card of claim 1 further comprising:

a track disposed in said transaction card for holding said securing means.

5. The foldable transaction card of claim 1 further comprising:

a second fold line in said transaction card for folding the transaction card a second time.

6. The foldable transaction card of claim 1 wherein said fold line comprises a plurality of apertures contained therein.

7. The transaction card of claim 1 wherein said fold line is disposed parallel to said edge of said transaction card.

8. The transaction card of claim 1 wherein said fold line is disposed at an angle greater than about 0°

and less than about 90°

relative to an edge of said transaction card.

9. The transaction card of claim 5 wherein said first fold line and said second fold line are disposed parallel to an edge of said transaction card.

10. The transaction card of claim 5 wherein said first fold line and said second fold line are each disposed at an angle greater than about 0°

and less than about 90°

relative to an edge of said transaction card.

11. The transaction card of claim 5 wherein said first fold line and said second fold line are disposed perpendicular to each other.

12. The transaction card of claim 1 further comprising:

means for holding said transaction card in the folded state.

13. The transaction card of claim 11 wherein said means for holding said transaction card in the folded position comprises a clip.

14. The transaction card of claim 11 wherein said means for holding said transaction card in the folded state comprises a snap.

15. The transaction card of claim 11 wherein said means for holding said transaction card in the folded state comprises a ring.

16. The transaction card of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing surrounding said transaction card wherein said housing comprises at least one fold line for folding said housing when said transaction card is disposed within the housing.

17. The transaction card of claim 16 wherein said transaction card is removable from said housing.

18. The transaction card of claim 1 further comprising:

electronic storage means for storing information on said transaction card that is readable with an electronic storage means reader.

19. The transaction card of claim 18 wherein said electronic storage means is a magnetic stripe.

20. The transaction card of claim 18 wherein said electronic storage means is a microchip.

21. The transaction card of claim 18 wherein said electronic storage means is readable by the reader when the transaction card is in the unfolded state.

22. The transaction card of claim 18 wherein said electronic storage means is covered when the transaction card is in the folded state.

23. The transaction card of claim 1 further comprising:

a foldable case wherein said foldable transaction card is disposed within the foldable case.

24. The transaction card of claim 23 wherein said foldable transaction card is removable from the case.

25. The transaction card of claim 1 further comprising:

a holder attached to a side of said foldable transaction card.

26. The transaction card of claim 25 further comprising:

a clip on said holder wherein said foldable transaction card is openable when said clip is actuated.

27. The transaction card of claim 26 wherein said clip is spring-loaded.

28. A method of making a foldable transaction card comprising the steps of:

providing a transaction card; and

disposing at least one fold line in said transaction card for folding said transaction card to a folded state or unfolding state transaction card to an unfolded state.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the steps of:

scoring said transaction card to form said fold line in said transaction card.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said fold line is scored via a focused laser beam.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein said fold line is scored via a blade.

32. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of:

providing said transaction card having a first section and a second section, wherein said fold line is disposed between said two section; and

hinging said first section to said second section.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said hinge comprises a reinforcing material between said first section and said second section.

34. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

disposing said fold line in said transaction card parallel to an edge of said transaction card.

35. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

disposing said fold line in said transaction card at an angle greater than about 0° and

less than about 90°

relative to an edge of said transaction card.

36. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

disposing a second fold line in said transaction card.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of:

disposing said first fold line and said second fold line parallel to an edge of said transaction.

38. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of:

disposing said first fold line and said second fold line at an angle greater than about 0° and

less than about 90°

relative to an edge of said transaction card.

39. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of:

disposing said first fold line and said second fold line perpendicular to each other.

40. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

providing means for holding said transaction card in the folded state.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said means for holding said transaction card in the folded state comprises a snap.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein said means for holding said transaction card in the folded state comprises a ring.

43. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

inserting said transaction card into a housing; and

providing a fold line in said housing for folding said housing when said transaction card is disposed within said housing.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising the step of:

providing a clip on said housing wherein the housing and the transaction card can be unfolded when the clip is actuated.

45. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

providing an electronic storage means for storing information on said transaction card wherein said electronic storage means is readable with an electronic storage means reader.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein said electronic storage means is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic stripe and a microchip.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein said electronic storage means is readable by the reader when the transaction card is in the unfolded state.

48. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

enclosing the transaction card in a protective case.

49. The method of claim 48 further comprising the step of:

removably attached the transaction card to the case on an inside of said case.

50. The method of claim 48 further comprising the step of:

providing a clip on the protective case wherein the case is openable when the clip is actuated.