Tamper resistant presentation instruments and methods

• US 20060243791A1
• Filed: 04/27/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Newbrough, Keith, Harte, Kevin, McGee, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,404,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking

Abstract

In one embodiment, a presentation instrument comprises a card body having machine readable information stored thereon. A protective device is coupled to the card body so as to be disposed over at least a portion of the machine readable information such that the machine readable information is incapable of being read by a machine when the protective device is in place and the machine readable information is readable by a machine when the protective device is removed.

Claims

1. A presentation instrument comprising:

a card body having a magnetic stripe having machine readable account information stored thereon; and

a protective device removably coupled to the card body by an adhesive so as to be disposed over at least a portion of the machine readable account information such that the machine readable account information is incapable of being read by a machine when the protective device is in place and the machine readable account information is readable by a machine when the protective device is removed and wherein the protective device is removable by separating the protective device from the card body at the adhesive.

3. A presentation instrument as in claim 1, wherein the protective device comprises a sheath that is secured to the card body at opposite sides of the machine readable account information.

4. A presentation instrument as in claim 1, wherein the protective device comprises a strip of material that covers the machine readable account information.

2. (canceled)

5. A method for producing a presentation instrument comprising:

encoding on a magnetic stripe of the presentation instrument machine readable account information; and

covering at least a portion of the account information with a protective device, wherein the protective device is removably coupled to the presentation instrument with an adhesive so as to be removable without dismantling or disfiguring the presentation instrument.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the protective device comprises a sheath, and wherein the covering step comprises securing the sheath to the card body at opposite sides of the machine readable information.

7. A method as in claim 5, wherein the protective device comprises a strip of material that covers the machine readable information, and wherein the covering step comprises adhering the strip across the account information.

8. A method for activating a financial account, the method comprising:

providing a presentation instrument that comprises a card body having account information stored thereon, and a protective device removably coupled to the card body so as to be disposed over at least a portion of the account information;

removing the protective device to enable reading of the account information, wherein the protective device comprises a piece of material that covers at least a portion of the account information, and wherein the removing step comprises peeling or tearing the piece of material from the presentation instrument so as to expose the account information without dismantling or disfiguring the card body;

reading the account information with a reader; and

transmitting the account information to an account activation system to activate the account.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the account information is stored on a magnetic stripe, and wherein the reading step comprises swiping the presentation instrument through the reader.

10. A method as in claim 8, wherein the account information is stored in the form of a bar code, and wherein the reading step comprises reading the bar code with the reader.

11. A method as in claim 8, wherein the wherein the protective device comprises a sheath that is secured to the card body at opposite sides of the account information, and wherein the removing step comprises pulling the sheath from the presentation instrument.

13. A method as in claim 8, further comprising associating a value with the account information.

14. A method as in claim 13, further comprising collecting a payment prior to associating the value.

12. (canceled)

15. A presentation instrument comprising:

a card body having machine readable account information disposed thereon;

an authentication indicia formed on the card body, wherein the authentication indicia is selected from at least one of a human readable verification information disposed over the machine readable account information and a human identifiable stripe formed in the card body; and

a magnetic stripe formed on the card body, and wherein the verification information and the machine readable account information are stored on and within outer edges of the magnetic stripe.

17. A presentation instrument as in claim 15, wherein the verification information is formed using one of a shifting ink and an ink visible under certain light conditions.

16. (canceled)