Point of Sale Activation Card Unit

• US 20150269564A1
• Filed: 03/19/2014
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Printed Specialties Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Printed Specialties Incorporated
• Inventors: Kearns, Matthew Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,418,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/354 Card activation or deactivation

Abstract

A point of sale activation unit that includes a first wallet portion, a second wallet portion and an activation card portion. The first wallet portion defines a first opening that has a shape corresponding to a machine readable code and includes a security tab affixed thereto with two nicks. The security tab obscures a second opening. The second wallet portion is coupled to the first wallet portion. The activation card portion is narrower than the second opening. The machine readable code is printed on an exterior side and an activation code is printed on an interior side of the activation card portion, which extends from the second wallet portion. The first walled portion, the second wallet portion and the activation card portion are all cut from a single flat sheet and are folded and glued together so that the machine readable code is exposed through the first opening.

Claims

1. A point of sale activation unit, comprising:

(a) a first wallet portion having an exterior side and an opposite interior side, the first wallet portion defining a first opening therethrough, the first opening having a shape corresponding to a machine readable code, the first wallet portion including a security tab affixed thereto with at least two nicks, the security tab obscuring at least part of a second opening defined by the first wallet portion;

(b) a second wallet portion having an exterior side and an opposite interior side, the second wallet portion coupled to the first wallet portion; and

(c) an activation card portion having an exterior side, an opposite interior side and a width that is less than the second opening defined by the first wallet portion, the machine readable code printed on the exterior side and an activation code printed on the interior side, the activation card portion extending from the second wallet portion and coupled thereto with at least one nick,

wherein the first walled portion, the second wallet portion and the activation card portion are all cut from a single flat sheet, the activation card portion folded against the interior side of the second wallet portion, the interior side of the first wallet portion folded against the interior side of the second wallet portion so as to define a space therebetween and so that the activation card portion is disposed in the space, wherein the first opening is positioned so that the machine readable code is exposed through the first opening, the first wallet portion being glued to the second wallet portion so as to prevent access to the activation code, the security tab configured to be opened by tearing at least one nick thereby allowing the activation card portion to be removed through the second opening so as to expose the activation code.

2. The point of sale activation unit of claim 1, wherein the flat sheet comprises material selected from a list consisting of:

paperboard, plastic, and combinations thereof.

3. The point of sale activation unit of claim 1, wherein the machine readable code comprises a barcode.

4. The point of sale activation unit of claim 1, further comprising a graphic printed on the exterior side of at least one of the first wallet portion and the second wallet portion.

5. The point of sale activation unit of claim 1, wherein the first walled portion, the second wallet portion and the activation card portion are die cut from the single flat sheet.

6. The point of sale activation unit of claim 1, wherein the first wallet portion defines a first hang tab opening passing therethrough and the second wallet portion defines a second hang tab opening passing therethrough and aligned with the first hang tab opening, thereby defining a passage receptive to a display peg so as to facilitate displaying the point of sale activation unit.

7. The point of sale activation unit of claim 1, wherein the glue used to secure the first walled portion to the second wallet comprises a material that makes tampering with the point of sale activation unit evident.

8. The point of sale activation unit of claim 1, further comprising a transparent plastic film applied to the first wallet portion so as to cover the machine readable code.

9. A method of making a point of sale activation unit, comprising the steps of:

(a) printing an exterior graphic on a first side of a flat sheet, the graphic including machine readable code;

(b) cutting the flat sheet so as to have three adjacent portions, including;

(i) a first wallet portion defining a first opening therethrough, the first opening having a shape corresponding to the machine readable code, the first wallet portion also defining a second opening having a width, a security tab defined by the first wallet portion and held in place by at least two nicks so as cover a portion of the second opening;

(ii) a second wallet portion extending from the first wallet portion; and

(iii) an activation card portion extending from a selected one of the first wallet portion and the second wallet portion and coupled thereto with at least one nick, the activation card portion having a width less than second opening, the machine readable code disposed on the activation card portion;

(c) printing an activation code on a second side of the flat sheet in an area of the activation card portion;

(d) folding the activation card portion against the second wallet portion;

(e) folding the first wallet portion against the second wallet portion so that the activation card portion is disposed therebetween and so that the machine readable code is exposed through the first opening defined by the first wallet portion; and

(f) coupling a peripheral portion of the first wallet portion to the second wallet portion so as to prevent access to the activation code.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of printing an exterior graphic is performed before an order is received for point of sale activation unit and wherein the step of printing an activation code is performed after the order is received.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the cutting step comprises die cutting.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the flat sheet comprises material selected from a list consisting of:

paperboard, plastic, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the machine readable code comprises a barcode.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of cutting a first hang tab opening through the first wallet portion and cutting a second hang tab opening through the second wallet portion so that the second hang tab opening is aligned with the first hang tab opening after the first wallet portion is folded against the second wallet portion, thereby defining a passage receptive to a display peg so as to facilitate displaying the point of sale activation unit.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the coupling step comprises applying an adhesive to the second side of a peripheral portion of at least one of the first wallet portion and the second wallet portion

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the adhesive comprises a material that cause an observable change when the point of sale activation unit has been tampered with.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the observable change occurs as a result of fiber tear.

18. A method of using a point of sale activation unit, comprising the steps of:

(a) presenting the point of sale activation unit, having an exterior machine readable code printed thereon, to a cashier for purchase and activation of the point of sale activation unit;

(b) opening a security tab on a wallet portion of the point of sale activation unit, thereby exposing a first opening in the wallet portion and exposing a part of an activation card portion that is disposed inside of the wallet portion, an activation code being printed on an interior side of the activation card portion, wherein the activation code is hidden from view by the wallet portion;

(c) removing the activation card portion from the wallet portion; and

(d) entering the activation code into an electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the flat sheet comprises material selected from a list consisting of:

paperboard, plastic, and combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the machine readable code comprises a barcode.