TRANSACTION CARD PACKAGE ASSEMBLY HAVING ENHANCED SECURITY

• US 20070251995A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackhawk Network Incorporated (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Blackhawk Marketing Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Kingsborough, Donald, Roche, Talbott, Petersen, Amie, Llach, Teri
• Granted Patent: US 7,607,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/045 Multi-part cards or sheets, i.e. combined with detachably mounted articles
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/40 with a foldable or removable part
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/08 Alphanumerical data
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/16 Bars or lines
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/20 characterised by a particular use or purpose
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/285 Gift cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/369 Magnetised or magnetisable materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/005 the record carrier comprising an arrangement to facilitate insertion into a holding device, e.g. an arrangement that makes the record carrier fit into an etui or a casing ticket holders A45C11/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03

Abstract

A transaction card package assembly comprising a transaction card held by a card holder and having a security code spanning the transaction card and the card holder such that upon removal of the transaction card from the card holder, the security code is broken and a portion of the security code remains on the transaction card and a portion of the security code remains on the card holder.

Claims

1. A transaction card package assembly comprising a transaction card held by a card holder and having a security code spanning the transaction card and the card holder such that upon removal of the transaction card from the card holder, the security code is broken and a portion of the security code remains on the transaction card and a portion of the security code remains on the card holder.

2. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the security code is a unique sequence of letters, numbers, characters, symbols, pictures, designs, graphics, or combinations thereof.

3. The package assembly of claim 2 where the security code is randomly generated during manufacture.

4. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the broken security code provides a visual indication of potentially fraudulent activity.

5. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the broken security code provides a tactile indication of potentially fraudulent activity.

6. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the tactile indication comprises an embossed security code.

7. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the broken security code disables activation of the card.

8. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the broken security code disables activation of the card and provides a visual or tactile indication of potentially fraudulent activity.

9. The package assembly of claim 8 wherein the security code is an EAN/UCC-128 bar code.

10. The package assembly of claim 9 wherein the EAN/UCC-128 bar code is broken along a longitudinal axis of the bar code.

11. The package assembly of claim 10 wherein upon breaking of the bar code, a first longitudinal portion of the bar code remains with the transaction card and a second longitudinal portion of the bar code remains with the card holder.

12. The package assembly of claim 10 wherein the longitudinal axis runs through a numeric portion of the EAN/UCC-128 bar code.

13. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the transaction card and the card holder comprise a snap and break assembly.

14. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the security code is printed across an interface between the transaction card and the card holder.

15. The package assembly of claim 13 wherein the security code is printed across a score or break line defining an interface of the snap and break assembly.

16. The package assembly of claim 15 wherein the security code comprises an EAN/UCC-128 bar code spanning the interface of the snap and break assembly.

17. The package assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least three unique identifiers thereon such that the transaction card may be activated at a point of sale by either a one-step or two-step activation process.

18. The package assembly of claim 17 wherein the three unique identifiers comprise a vendor product identification code contained an EAN/UCC-12 bar code, an issuer account code contained in a magnetic stripe and/or an issuer bar code, and a combination vendor product identification and issuer account code contained in an EAN/UCC-128 bar code.

19. The package assembly of claim 17 wherein the transaction card comprises the magnetic stripe and/or an issuer bar code.

20. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the security code is on a sticker spanning the transaction card and the card holder.

21. The package assembly of claim 20 wherein the sticker is serrated.

22. A transaction card package assembly system comprising:

a first package assembly comprising a first transaction card held by a first card holder and having a first security code spanning the first transaction card and the first card holder such that upon removal of the first transaction card from the first card holder, the first security code is broken and a portion of the first security code is present on the first transaction card and a portion of the first security code is present on the first card holder; and

a second package assembly comprising a second transaction card held by a second card holder and having a second security code spanning the second transaction card and the second card holder such that upon removal of the second transaction card from the second card holder, the second security code is broken and a portion of the second security code is present on the second transaction card and a portion of the second security code is present on the second card holder,

wherein upon placement of the first transaction card in the second card holder, or vice-versa, the security codes do not match, thereby providing an indication of possible tampering or fraudulent activity.