Method of distributing and activating gift cards

• US 20070187487A1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilopen Products LC
• Original Assignee: Wilopen Products LC
• Inventors: Wilen, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,602,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3437 the counter having non-monetary units, e.g. trips
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a method of distributing and activating gift cards. The method is performed by attaching a non-activated gift card to an article and selling the article to a consumer. The article may be sold at a retail store, or ordered over a telephone line or online and delivered to a home of a consumer. After the consumer receives the gift card, the consumer may activate the gift card from the consumer'"'"'s home or any other remote location. During activation, the consumer allocates a dollar valve to the gift card and then sends the gift card to a specific person as a gift. The gift card may also come with a greeting card and an envelope.

Claims

1. A method of distributing and activating gift cards comprising the steps of:

i. attaching a non-activated gift card to an article;

ii. selling the article; and

iii. activating the gift card from a remote location.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 whereby the step of selling includes the step of:

allowing a consumer to buy the article at a retail store.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 whereby the step of selling includes the steps of:

allowing a consumer to buy the article over a telephone line, and

delivering the article to a home of the consumer.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 whereby the step of selling includes the steps of:

allowing a consumer to buy the article over an internet connection, and

delivering the article to a home of the consumer.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 whereby the article is sold to a consumer at a specific point of purchase.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 whereby the specific point of purchase is at a store.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 whereby the store is a retail store or a virtual store

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 whereby the step of activating the gift card is performed by the consumer.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6 whereby the step of activating the gift card is performed at a location remote from the store.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 whereby the consumer allocates a dollar valve to the gift card.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9 whereby said method is a convenient way to buy and send a gift.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9 whereby the method is an easy way to set a gift amount.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9 whereby the method is an easy way to pay for and send a gift.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

attaching a greeting card and an envelope to the article.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1 whereby a plurality of gift cards are attached to the article.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13 whereby the greeting card and envelope is personalized for a specific occasion.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13 whereby the greeting card and envelope is personalized for a non-specific occasion.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15 whereby the personalized nature of the greeting card and envelope acts as a third party endorsement for a specific brand name.

19. The method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising the step of:

allowing the consumer to select and write a unique code for security identification for the activation.

20. The method as claimed in claim 13 whereby the gift card may be redeemed at the store.

21. The method as claimed in claim 1 whereby the gift card is mailed to a home of the consumer and/or inserted into newspapers, catalogs and other such print marketing.