Mailing Apparatus For Powered Cards

• US 20080156690A1
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brightvolt, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Solicore Incorporated
• Inventors: Landau, Steven, Taylor, Teresa
• Granted Patent: US 8,181,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/723
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/182 Credit card holders
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/186 with protection from unauthorised reading by remotely readable data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/05 maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents B65D81/022, B65D81/025, B65D81/03 take precedence

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for packaging electronically powered cards are provided for maintaining electronically powered cards in a deactivated state. In an embodiment, a housing having a face panel and two side panels attached to the face panel at opposite sides is configured to provide an offset distance between an activation device on the card and the housing so that the activation device is prevented from being activated by a force exerted on the housing. Annular or circular devices can also be provided for establishing an offset distance between activation devices on the card and planar substrates.

Claims

1. A mailing apparatus for maintaining an electronically powered card in a deactivated state, comprising:

a housing having a face panel and two side panels attached to the face panel at opposite sides of the face panel, the side panels extending from the face panel in a direction generally perpendicular to the face panel;

an electronically powered card having an activation device on a surface thereof; and

an offset mechanism,

wherein the offset mechanism establishes an offset distance between the electronically powered card and the face panel so that a force exerted upon the face panel in a direction generally perpendicular to the face panel is resisted by the face panel and prevented from causing activation of the activation device of the card.

2. The mailing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is made of one of ABS plastic and PVC plastic.

3. The mailing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the offset mechanism comprises slots disposed in each of the two side panels, the slots retaining edges of the electronically powered card.

4. The mailing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the offset mechanism comprises protrusions extending from each of the two side panels and the electronically powered card comprises slots along edges thereof, the protrusions being configured to slide within the slots in the edges of the electronically powered card.

5. The mailing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the offset mechanism comprises at least one protrusion formed on an undersurface of the face panel, the at least one protrusion extending in a direction toward the electronically powered card and contacting the electronically powered card to establish the offset distance between the face panel and the electronically powered card.

6. The mailing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the offset mechanism comprises protrusions extending from each of the two side panels, the protrusions contacting the electronically powered card and establishing the offset distance between the electronically powered card and the face panel.

7. The mailing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the offset mechanism comprises at least one protrusion that simultaneously extends from both an undersurface of the face panel and a side panel at a junction between the face panel and the side panel, the at least one protrusion contacting the electronically powered card and establishing the offset distance between the electronically powered card and the face panel.

8. The mailing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the offset mechanism comprises an adhesive disposed on an edge of each of the two side panels opposite to the face panel, the adhesive fastening the housing to a surface of the electronically powered card with the activation device of the card being located between the two side panels and offset from the face panel.

9. A mailing apparatus for maintaining an electronically powered card in a deactivated state, comprising:

an electronically powered card having an activation device on a surface thereof;

a prevention element attached to the surface, the prevention element disposed adjacent the activation device and raised above the surface of the electronically powered card,

wherein the prevention element has a thickness sufficient to prevent the activation of the activation device when a force is applied to a planar substrate disposed over the prevention element in a direction generally perpendicular to the planar substrate.

10. The mailing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the prevention element is a bumped annular projection adhered to the surface of the card in an area surrounding the activation device.

11. The mailing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the prevention element is a compressible release liner that is adhered to the surface of the card and disposed over the activation device.

12. The mailing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the compressible release liner is made of one of a foam and gel.

13. The mailing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the compressible release liner is a chamber filled with one of a liquid and gas.

14. A method of packaging and maintaining an electronically powered card in a deactivated state during transport, comprising:

providing a housing having a face panel and two side panels attached to opposite sides of the face panel;

inserting an electronically powered card into the housing so that an offset distance is established between the face panel and an activation device located on a surface of the card facing the face panel; and

mailing the housing with the electronically powered card inserted therein, the housing and the card having an interface that establishes the offset distance between the face panel and the activation device during transport so that the activation device is not activated by a force exerted on the face panel in a direction generally perpendicular to the face panel.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising making the housing of one of ABS plastic and PVC plastic.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming slots in each of the two side panels, the slots retaining edges of the electronically powered card.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming protrusions in each of the two side panels and forming slots in the electronically powered card along edges thereof the protrusions being configured to slide within the slots in the edges of the electronically powered card.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming at least one protrusion on an undersurface of the face panes the at least one protrusion extending in a direction toward the electronically powered card to establish the offset distance between the face panel and the electronically powered card.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming protrusions on each of the two side panels, the protrusions establishing the offset distance between the electronically powered card and the face panel.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming at least one protrusion simultaneously extending from both an undersurface of the face panel and a side panel, at a junction thereof, the at least one protrusion establishing the offset distance between the electronically powered card and the face panel.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising an adhesive disposed on one edge of each of the two side panels, on an opposite end from the face panel, and fastening the housing to a surface of the electronically powered card with the adhesive so that the activation device of the electronically powered card is located between the two side panels and offset from the face panel.

22. A method of packaging and maintaining an electronically powered card in a deactivated state, comprising:

adhering a prevention element onto an electronically powered card, the electronically powered card having an activation device on a surface thereof the prevention element being disposed adjacent the activation device;

inserting the electronically powered device and adhered prevention element into an envelope or mailing container; and

mailing the envelope or mailing container with the electronically powered card and adhered prevention element inserted therein, wherein the prevention element has a thickness sufficient to prevent the activation of the activation device when a force is applied to a container disposed over the prevention element during transport in a direction generally perpendicular to the activation device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising forming the prevention element as a bumped annular projection adhered to the surface of the card in an area surrounding the activation device.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising forming the prevention element as a compressible release liner that is adhered to the surface of the card and disposed over the activation device.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising forming the compressible release liner as made of one of a foam and gel.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising forming the compressible release liner as a chamber filled with one of a liquid and gas.