CHECK CARRIER

• US 20100170945A1
• Filed: 03/18/2010
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Cantley, Kerry M., Vasquez, Teresa J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,272,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 7/025 made of transparent material
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2201/04 for securities, e.g. bonds, banknotes, stock certificates
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2201/12 for mailing, transporting, dispatching documents
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2221/02 with indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 27/04 with apertures or windows for viewing contents
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

The check carrier consists of an envelope of translucent material that is dimensioned to closely conform to the dimensions of a standard check. The back of the check carrier includes an endorsement window through which a bank or other financial institution can apply its endorsement stamp directly to the check. The bottom of the check carrier may be provided with an area for receiving the MICR printing such that the MICR can be read directly off of the carrier. The MICR area can be removed. The open end of the check carrier can be sealed closed using a repositionable adhesive. The adhesive can also be used interior of the check carrier such that the adhesive contacts the check to fix the check within the carrier.

Claims

1. A check carrier for securing a check in a manner such that the check can be processed by automated processing equipment, the check carrier comprising:

a front panel and a back panel defining a space therebetween for receiving a check; and

an area for receiving MICR printing, the area for receiving MICR printing being releasably connected to the check carrier such that the area for receiving MICR printing is manually removable from the check carrier while the check is able to be secured in the space between the front panel and the back panel.

2. The check carrier according to claim 1, wherein the check carrier and the area for receiving MICR printing are sized such that an external dimension of the check carrier is substantially equal to a length or a width of the check when the area for receiving MICR printing is removed and such that the check carrier is able to be aligned with the automated processing equipment so as to facilitate processing by the automated process equipment.

3. The check carrier of claim 1, further comprising:

a perforated connection for releasably attaching the area for receiving MICR printing to the check carrier such that the area for receiving MICR printing is manually removable from the check carrier while the check is able to be enclosed in the space.

4. The check carrier of claim 1, further comprising:

a closure mechanism for enclosing the check in the space between the front panel and the back panel.

5. The check carrier of claim 1, further comprising:

a window formed in the back panel for allowing access to a back of the check.

6. The check carrier of claim 1, further comprising:

a repositionable adhesive that is adhered to the check and to the check carrier so as to secure the check inside of the check carrier.

7. The check carrier according to claim 6, wherein the repositionable adhesive is adhered to an inside surface of the front panel or the back panel.

8. The check carrier according to claim 7, wherein the repositionable adhesive secures the check in the check carrier by adhering directly to the check and thereby adhering the check to the inside surface of at least one of the front panel and the back panel.

9. The check carrier according to claim 6, wherein the repositionable adhesive is configured to be repositionable such that the repositionable adhesive can be adhered anywhere on the inside surface of at least one of the front panel and the back panel so as to accommodate various sizes of checks.

10. A check carrier for securing a check having a front and a back in a manner such that the check can be processed by automated processing equipment, the check carrier comprising:

a front panel and a back panel defining a space therebetween for receiving a check;

an opening allowing access to the space between the front panel and the back panel;

the back panel being slightly longer than the front panel such that an extended portion of the back panel extends beyond a free edge of the front panel at the opening;

the extended portion of the back panel facilitates the insertion of the check into space between the front panel and the back panel; and

an area for receiving information about the check, the area for receiving information about the check being releasably connected to the check carrier such that the area for receiving information about the check is manually removable from the check carrier while the check is able to be enclosed in the space between the front panel and the back panel.

11. The check carrier of claim 10, further comprising:

a repositionable adhesive adhered to the check and to the check carrier so as to secure the check inside of the check carrier;

12. The check carrier of claim 10, further comprising:

a closure mechanism for enclosing the check in the space between the front panel and the back panel.

13. The check carrier of claim 10, further comprising:

a window formed in the back of the check carrier for allowing access to the back of the check.

14. The check carrier of claim 10, further comprising

a perforated connection for releasably attaching the area for receiving information about the check to the check carrier such that the area for receiving information about the check is manually removable from the check carrier while the check is able to be enclosed in the space.

15. The check carrier of claim 10, wherein the information about the check is MICR printing.

16. A method of using a check carrier to secure a check in a manner such that the check can be processed by automated processing equipment, the method comprising:

providing the check carrier having a front and a back and an interior space between the front and the back for receiving the check;

providing an area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing, wherein the area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing is manually removable from the check carrier while the check is able to be enclosed in the interior space between the front and the back of the check carrier;

determining if MICR printing is needed on the area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing; and

if MICR printing is not needed, removing said area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing before sending the check to be processed by the automated processing equipment.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein removing the area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing makes an external dimension of the check carrier substantially equal to a length or a width of the check and thereby facilitates operation of the automated processing equipment.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

inserting the check into the space between the front and the back of the check carrier.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

enclosing the check in the space between the front and the back of the check carrier.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

sending the check carrier and the check to the automated processing equipment.