TRANSACTION CARD WITH OSCILLATING MEMBER

• US 20100325038A1
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Inventors: ALBERS, Chad, LEDSINGER, David, JENSEN, Stacy M., SMITH, Dennis R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,038,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0806 Details of the card record carriers per se G06K
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A transaction card includes a base member, an auxiliary member, and an account identifier. The base member defines a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a spiral cut extending through the base to define a spiral portion. The spiral portion is stretched to extend in a conic helical form in front of a portion of the first surface defined by a remainder of the base member. The auxiliary member is coupled to the spiral portion opposite the portion of the first surface defined by the remainder of the base member. The account identifier is fixedly connected to one of the base member and the auxiliary member. The account identifier links the transaction card to at least one of an account and a record and is machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal. Other cards, combinations and associated methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A transaction card comprising:

a base member defining a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a spiral cut extending through the base member from the first surface to the second surface to define a spiral portion, wherein the spiral portion is stretched to extend in a conic helical form in front of a portion of the first surface defined by a remainder of the base member;

an auxiliary member coupled to the spiral portion opposite the portion of the first surface defined by the remainder of the base member; and

an account identifier fixedly connected to one of the base member and the auxiliary member, wherein the account identifier links the transaction card to at least one of an account and a record and is machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal.

2. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the account identifier is a bar code.

3. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the account identifier includes at least one of a bar code, a magnetic strip, a smart chip, and a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.

4. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the first surface is substantially planar.

5. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member is spaced from the portion of the first surface defined by the remainder of the base member.

6. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member is coupled to a center of the spiral portion with a fastener.

7. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the spiral portion supports the auxiliary member in a manner allowing oscillating movement of the auxiliary member relative to the base member following application of an external force to one of the spiral portion and the auxiliary member.

8. The transaction card of claim 7, wherein the base member defines a first portion of a scene and the auxiliary member defines a second portion of the scene such that oscillating movement of the auxiliary member relative to the base member appears as animated movement of the second portion of the scene relative to the first portion of the scene.

9. The transaction card of claim 7, wherein the oscillating movement continues even after the external force is no longer applied to the one of the spiral portion and the auxiliary member.

10. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the account identifier is fixedly connected to the base member.

11. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member extends beyond an outer perimeter of the base member in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction the spiral portion extends from the portion of the first surface defined by the remainder of the base member.

12. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein an entirety of the base member is cut from a single piece of sheet material.

13. The transaction card of claim 12, wherein the sheet material includes plastic.

14. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the spiral portion is continuously and integrally formed with the remainder of the base member and is formed through an internal portion of the base member.

15. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein an opening is defined through the base member when the spiral portion is stretched.

16. A stored-value card comprising:

a substantially planar member;

means for supporting means for linking the stored-value card with at least one of an account and a record having a value associated therewith such that the stored-value can be used as payment toward a purchase of one or more of goods and services; and

coiled means for extending between the substantially planar member and the means for supporting, wherein the coiled means is connected with each of the substantially planar member and the means for supporting, and the coiled means is integrally formed from a single piece of material with the means for supporting.

17. The stored-value card of claim 16, wherein the substantially planar member depicts a first portion of a graphic, and the means for supporting depicts a second portion of the graphic such that movement of the substantially planar member relative to the means for supporting appears as animated movement of the first portion of the graphic relative to the second portion of the graphic.

18. The stored-value card of claim 16, wherein the coiled means includes an outer perimeter defined by a spiral cut through the means for supporting.

19. The stored-value card of claim 16, wherein the means for supporting is substantially planar and an opening is formed through the means for supporting where the coiled means connects to and extends from the means for supporting.

20. A method of assembling a transaction product, the method comprising:

providing a first member and a second member;

adding an account identifier to one of the first member and the second member, wherein the account identifier links the transaction product to an account or a record such that the transaction product can be used during a purchase transaction to apply at least a portion of a balance of the account or the record toward a price of a purchase;

cutting a spiral cut through an internal portion of the first member to define a spiral portion of the first member;

coupling the second member to a center of the spiral portion; and

stretching the spiral portion away from a remainder of the first member such that the center of the spiral portion and the second member are each spaced from the first member and the spiral portion acts as a spring allowing wobbling movement of the second member relative to the first member when an external force is applied to the second member.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein providing the first member and the second member includes providing the first member to depict a first portion of a graphic, and providing the second member to depict a second portion of the graphic such that the second member and the second portion of the graphic share at least a substantial portion of an outer perimeter.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein stretching the spiral portion creates an opening through the first member.

23. A method of encouraging purchase and facilitating use of a stored-value card linked to a record or an account, the method comprising:

displaying the stored-value card to a potential consumer, the stored-value card including a base member, an auxiliary member coupled to the base member, and an account identifier coupled with one of the base member and the auxiliary member, wherein;

the base member defines a substantially planar front surface and an integral spring cut from an internal portion of the base member,

the integral spring is stretched to extend forwardly from the substantially planar front surface defined by the base member,

the auxiliary member is coupled to the integral spring opposite the substantially planar front surface such that the auxiliary member is spaced from the substantially planar front surface,

the auxiliary member wobbles relative to the base member when an external force is applied thereto due to energy from the external force imparted to the integral spring, and

the account identifier links the stored-value card to the record or the account having a value associated therewith; and

activating the record or the account linked to the stored-value card to permit subsequent deductions from the value associated with the record or the account for application toward one of a purchase and a use of one or more of goods and services.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein displaying the stored-value card to the potential consumer includes allowing the potential consumer to induce and witness movement of the auxiliary member relative to the base member about the integral spring while the stored-value card is displayed and before the stored-value card is purchased.