Methods and Apparatus for Prepaid Card Packaging

• US 20100224516A1
• Filed: 03/01/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEMIA America Corp. (Advent International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oberthur Technologies of America Corporation (Advent International Corporation)
• Inventors: Abell, David Garland
• Granted Patent: US 7,987,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/307
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/045 Multi-part cards or sheets, i.e. combined with detachably mounted articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/06 Arrangements on packages concerning bar-codes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/20 in sheets or blanks doubled around contents and having their opposed free margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/807 Tamper proof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/904 Credit card
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1051 by folding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1062 Prior to assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0341 Processes

Abstract

Techniques for providing cost effective and tamper evident prepaid card packaging are described. By forming a cutout in a panel of the prepaid card packaging, covering the cutout with a material such as red glassine, and aligning an activation bar code or other indicia on the card with the cutout when mounting the card within the packaging, the security of the activation indicia can be better maintained. After purchase, the bar code can be scanned through the red glassine but prior to purchase, the red glassine prevents photocopying.

Claims

1. A tamper evident card carrier comprising:

a bi-panel having a fold line with a first panel to one side of the fold line and a second panel to the other side of the fold line, the first panel having an area reserved for a product literature insert on an inside face and the second panel having an area reserved for a card located within a region on an inside face;

a glue area extending inward from the edges of the second panel, wherein a cutout strip is formed in the second panel; and

material covers the cutout with optical properties which allow bar code scanning therethrough, but prevents photocopying therethrough.

2. The tamper evident card carrier of claim 1 wherein the fold line is scored.

3. The tamper evident card carrier of claim 1 wherein the glue area is at least 0.5″

wide.

4. The tamper evident card carrier of claim 1 wherein a gift card is attached to the area for a card with fugitive glue;

and

a product literature insert is attached to the area for a product literature insert.

5. The tamper evident card carrier of claim 4 wherein glue is applied to the glue area, the bi-panel is folded about the fold line, and the glue is activated to form a tamper evident seal which is at least 0.5″

wide.

6. The tamper evident card carrier of claim 1 wherein a card has an activation indicia which is aligned with the cutout when it is mounted on the second panel within the area reserved for the card and which is accessed for purposes of activating the card by scanning with a bar code scanner through the material and the cutout.

7. The tamper evident card carrier of claim 1 wherein said material is red glassine.

8. A method for making a tamper evident card carrier comprising:

forming a bi-panel having a fold line with a first panel to one side of the fold line and a second panel to the other side of the fold line, the first panel having a cutout and an area reserved for a product literature insert on an inside face and the second panel having an area reserved for a card located within a region on an inside face;

establishing a glue area extending inward from the edges of the second panel; and

covering the cutout with a material with optical properties which allow barcode scanning therethrough, but prevent photocopying therethrough.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

scoring the fold line.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

applying glue to the glue area and wherein the glue area is at least 0.5″

wide.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

gluing a gift card to the area for a card with fugitive glue; and

gluing a product literature insert to the area for a product literature insert with fugitive glue.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

applying glue to the glue area;

folding the bi-panel about the fold line; and

activating the glue to form a tamper evident seal which is at least 5″

wide.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

aligning an activation indicia on a gift card with the cutout and mounting the gift card on the gift card carrier in the area reserved for the card.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein said material is red glassine.