Stored-value card adapted to be read by an electronic device

• US 20060118618A1
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Inventors: Schultz, Mark A., Donovan, Stacey
• Granted Patent: US 7,252,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/044 comprising galvanic contacts for contacting an integrated circuit chip thereon
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/045 the record carrier being of the non-contact type, e.g. RFID, and being specially adapted for attachment to a disc, e.g. a CD or DVD
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06018 one-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3437 the counter having non-monetary units, e.g. trips
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10

Abstract

A stored-value card including a first surface and a second surface. The first surface stores data adapted to be read by an electronic device to perform at least one interactive activity. The second surface is opposite the first surface. The second surface includes account indicia signifying a financial account linked to the stored-value card, and brand indicia relating to a retail setting configured to redeem the stored-value card. The at least one interactive activity includes displaying at least one of a character, an object, a textual passage, and a symbol associated with the retail setting. Financial transaction card assemblies, packaged stored-value cards, and methods of using such cards are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A stored-value card, comprising:

a first surface storing data adapted to be read by an electronic device to perform at least one interactive activity;

a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface including;

account indicia signifying a financial account linked to the stored-value card, and

brand indicia relating to a retail setting configured to redeem the stored-value card;

wherein the at least one interactive activity includes displaying at least one of a character, an object, a textual passage, and a symbol associated with the retail setting.

2. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the at least one interactive activity comprises a game.

3. The stored-value card of claim 2, wherein the game is related to at least one of a season, a holiday, and an occasion.

4. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the at least one interactive activity comprises two interactive activities.

5. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the account indicia comprises a bar code.

6. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the second surface includes indicia related to at least one of a holiday, a season, and an occasion.

7. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the second surface includes indicia generally identifying the at least one interactive activity.

8. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein the data is adapted to present an End-User License Agreement (EULA) to a user upon placement of the stored-value card into the electronic device.

9. The stored-value card of claim 8, wherein the data is adapted to generally prevent a user from accessing the at least one interactive activity prior to the user accepting the terms of the EULA.

10. The stored-value card of claim 1, wherein electronic device comprises an optical data reader, and the at least one interactive activity is configured to interact with a user via an optical data reader.

11. A financial transaction card assembly, comprising:

a financial transaction card defining a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface including a link associated with a financial account or record; and

a carrier including;

a backer defining a window aperture, and

a generally transparent window extending over the window aperture;

wherein the carrier is configured to house the financial transaction card while on display for retail sale of the financial transaction card, and further wherein the link to the financial account or record is viewable from outside the carrier through the transparent window.

12. The financial transaction card assembly of claim 11, wherein the financial transaction card includes interactive software relating to at least one of a brand, a store identifier, and a store mascot.

13. The financial transaction card assembly of claim 12, wherein the carrier includes indicia generally identifying the interactive software.

14. The financial transaction card assembly of claim 13, wherein the carrier includes indicia relating to the redemption of the financial transaction card for goods or services.

15. The financial transaction card assembly of claim 11, wherein the carrier includes an aperture configured for hanging the carrier from a display rod.

16. The financial transaction card assembly of claim 11, wherein the carrier is a bi-fold carrier.

17. The financial transaction card assembly of claim 16, wherein the bi-fold carrier defines a first panel and a second panel, wherein the first panel defines the window aperture, and wherein the financial transaction card is maintained between the second panel and the window.

18. The financial transaction card assembly of claim 17, wherein the second panel includes a background field partially viewable through the window around at least a portion of the financial transaction card.

19. The financial transaction card assembly of claim 17, wherein the window is adhered to the second panel at least partially about the financial transaction card, and the first panel is subsequently folded upon and adhered to the second panel.

20. A packaged stored-value card, comprising:

a stored-value card defining a first surface and second surface, the first surface including generally concentric optical memory tracks, the stored-value card further including a bar code printed on the second surface, wherein the bar code corresponds with a financial account; and

a bi-fold package including a window, wherein the stored-value card is placed within the bi-fold package such that the bar code is viewable through the window.

21. The packaged stored-value card of claim 20, wherein the generally concentric optical memory tracks are readable by at least one of a CD-ROM drive, a CD player, and a DVD player.

22. The packaged stored-value card of claim 21, wherein the generally concentric optical memory tracks store data relating to an interactive game adapted for play by a user, and further wherein the stored-value card is adapted for placement within one of the CD-ROM drive, the CD player, and the DVD player such that the interactive game is displayed to the user.

23. The packaged stored-value card of claim 20, wherein the stored-value card defines a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, a third edge extending between the first edge and the second edge, and a fourth edge opposite the third edge and extending between the first edge and the second edge, wherein the first and second edges are generally linear, and the third and fourth edges are generally convex.

24. The packaged stored-value card of claim 20, further comprising:

indicia including at least one of a store identifier indicating a retail store for which the stored-value card is acceptable as payment for goods or services.

25. A method of using a card linked to a financial account or record, the method comprising:

activating the card;

interacting with software stored on the card, wherein the software is related to at least one of a holiday, a season, and an occasion;

using the card in payment of goods or services, the value of the goods or services being deducted from the financial account or record.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the software includes at least one interactive game, and interacting with the software includes playing the at least one interactive game.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein activating the card includes scanning an account identifier on the card through a generally transparent window in a package that houses the card.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

adding additional value to the card, wherein the adding includes scanning the account identifier.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the interacting includes exposing a user to marketing messages related to a store configured to accept the card for payment of goods and services.

30. A financial transaction card product, comprising:

means for removably supporting a financial transaction card for display in a retail setting;

means for linking the financial transaction card with a financial account or record;

means for activating or loading value on the financial transaction card through the means for removably supporting the financial transaction card; and

means for providing interactive brand-related activities to a user.

31. The financial transaction card product of claim 30, further comprising:

means for visually linking the financial transaction card to the means for removably supporting the financial transaction card.

32. The financial transaction card product of claim 30, further comprising:

means for associating the financial transaction card with at least one of a holiday, a season, and an occasion.