PROTECTIVE COATINGS FOR MAGNETICALLY CODABLE CREDIT CARD

• US 3,838,252 A
• Filed: 02/22/1972
• Issued: 09/24/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John E. Hynes, Joseph F. Braca
• Original Assignee: John E. Hynes, Joseph F. Braca
• Inventors: Hynes, John E., Braca, Joseph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cook, Daryl W.
• Application Number:
  US05/227,960
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 235/61.12M,61.7B 360/2 340/149A
• US Class Current: 360/131
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/04 Transparent material
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/16 Magnetic or magnetisable material
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/30 Plastic material
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/369 Magnetised or magnetisable materials
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/45 Associating two or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/455 using heat
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/46 using pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06196 Constructional details

Abstract

The magnetically encoded stripe of a plastic credit card is protected from abrasion and wear by precisely coating the stripe in a manner which does not adversely affect the readability of the magnetically encoded stripe. The coating is a vinyl polymer such as polyvinylchloride applied in a thickness of about 0.1 mills. The polymer is suspended or dissolved in a carrier liquid which is a substantial non-solvent for the material of the magnetic stripe on which it is applied. The magnetic stripe is pre-coated and then applied to the credit card.

Claims

2. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said plastic material comprises a polyvinyl chloride and said protective coating comprises a polymeric material which is at least dispersible in a carrier liquid which is substantially a non-solvent for polyvinyl chloride.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein said plastic material is polyvinyl chloride and said protective layer comprises polyvinyl chloride.

4. The article of claim 3 wherein said polyvinyl chloride copolymer is a film former at a temperature in excess of 200* F.

5. A magnetically codeable article comprising:

a generally rectangular polyvinyl chloride substrate;

a magnetic tape stripe extending intermediate two sides of said substrate, said stripe comprising a backing layer of polyvinyl chloride fused to said substrate and a layer of magnetic material coating on said backing layer; and

a tape stripe protective layer having a thickness of 0.1 to 0.2 mils coated on said magnetic layer, said protective layer being a polyvinyl chloride bonded to said magnetic layer.

6. The article of claim 1 wherein said protective layer is substantially flush with the surface of said base member.