Non-cash media card and process of dispensing from automated teller

• US 6,006,988 A
• Filed: 07/15/1997
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Better ATM Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bry E. Behrmann, Douglas S. Oberan, Stephen Lloyd Oberan
• Inventors: Oberan, Stephen Lloyd, Oberan, Douglas S., Behrmann, Bry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US08/893,171
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/487, 902/13, 902/14, 283/51, 283/58, 283/59, 283/117
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered

Abstract

A non-cash media card which is dispensable through automated teller machines (ATM'"'"'s) and a process for dispensing a non-cash media card from an automated teller machine, by which a non-cash media card is dispensed through the same mechanism as cash is dispensed. The non-cash media card can have separable portions, or be redeemable for goods or services, or may allow the bearer entry to an event or a location. One version of this type of card has a removable portion which is credit card size and can contain memory storage media. Information on the memory storage media can be later read, modified, and have its value reduced or augmented by subsequent uses.

Claims

1. A non-cash media card for use in an automated teller machine configured for use with a selected currency, comprising:

a non-cash media card which includes a credit card size separable portion and information and storage media with information encoded on the information storage media which the user utilizes for subsequent transactions, in) which said non-cash media card is configured for storage in a currency dispensing tray of an automated teller machine, and dispensation by said automated teller machine, and which has the same dimensional tolerances as the currency dispensed by the automated teller machine, and which has value to the user and is used by the user in exchange for goods and services.

2. The non-cash media card of claim 1 which further has the same side edge characteristics as the selected undamaged currency.

3. The non-cash media card of claim 1 which further has the same flex and stiffness tolerances as the selected undamaged currency.

4. The non-cash media card of claim 1 which further has the same roughness tolerances as the selected undamaged currency.

5. The non-cash media card of claim 1 which further has the same thickness tolerances as the selected undamaged currency.

6. The non-cash media card of claim 1 which further has the same weight tolerances as the selected undamaged currency.

7. The non-cash media card of claim 1 which further has the same tear tolerances as the selected undamaged currency.

8. The non-cash media card of claim 1 which further has the same length and width tolerances as the selected undamaged currency.

9. The non-cash media card of claim 1 which further has the same porosity tolerances as the selected undamaged currency.

10. The non-cash media card of claim 1 which further has the same contrast ratio opacity tolerances as the selected undamaged currency.

11. The non-cash media card of claim 1 in which said card comprises a ticket allowing entry to an event or location.

12. The non-cash media card of claim 1 in which said card is a collectible card.

13. The non-cash media card of claim 1 in which said card further comprises punch outs for subsequent purchase of goods or services.

14. The non-cash media card of claim 1 which further comprises information storage media with information encoded on the information media.

15. The non-cash media card of claim 1 in which said card can be utilized to pay for telephone charges for use of a telephone, with use of the telephone reducing the remaining value chargeable to the card.

16. The non-cash media card of claim 1 in which said card can be utilized to pay for gas purchases, with gas purchases reducing the remaining value chargeable to said card.

17. The non-cash media card of claim 1 in which said value chargeable to said card can be augmented by a subsequent transaction in an ATM machine.

18. A process for dispensing a non-cash media card from an automated teller machine which is configured for use with a selected currency, comprising the steps of:

loading said automated teller machine with one or more selections of a non-cash media card with a separable portion, in which said separable portion of said non-cash media card contains information storage media with information encoded on the information storage media which the user utilizes for subsequent transactions, with subsequent transactions reducing or augmenting the remaining value chargeable to the card, each of which are within the dimensional and physical tolerances as the currency dispensed by the automated teller machine, including side edge characteristics, flex and stiffness tolerances, roughness tolerances, same weight tolerances, tear tolerances, length and width tolerances, porosity tolerances, and contrast ratio opacity tolerances as selected on damage currency, and which has value to the user and is used by the user in exchange for goods and services;

selecting by a customer from a user interface of said automated teller machine a desired output in the form of cash or non-cash media card or cards; and

dispensing to said customer either cash or non-cash media card from the same output mechanism.

19. The process of claim 18 in which said non-cash media further comprises a card with a separable portion.

20. The process of claim 18 in which said non-cash media card contains information storage media with information encoded on the information storage media which the user can utilize for subsequent transactions.

21. A non-cash media card for use in an automated teller machine configured for use with a selected currency, comprising:

a non-cash plastic media card which is dispensed by a currency dispensing tray of the automated teller machine, and which has the same dimensional tolerances, side edge characteristics, flex and stiffness tolerances, roughness tolerances, thickness tolerances, weight tolerances, tear tolerances, length and width tolerances, porosity tolerances, contrast ratio opacity tolerances, as the currency dispensed by the automated teller machine, and which has value to the user or is used by the user in exchange for goods and services, and comprises a card with a credit card sized separable portion and information storage media with information encoded on the information storage media which the user can utilize for subsequent transactions.

22. The non-cash media card of claim 21 in which said value chargeable to said card can be augmented by a subsequent transaction in an ATM machine.

23. A non-cash media card for use in an automated teller machine configured for use with a selected currency, comprising:

a non-cash media plastic card which is dispensed by a currency dispensing tray of the automated teller machine, and which is 65 to 90 mm in width, 120 to 170 mm in length, with a tabor stiffness in the cross direction of 0.8 to 2.4 and in the machined direction is 1.2 to 4.0, has a bendsden roughness of 200 to 1200 ml per minute, is 8 to 30 mils in thickness, has a bendsden velocity of 150 mils per minute, has a single tear in the machined direction of at least 230 mN, and in the cross direction has a single tear of at least 270 mN, has a contrast ratio opacity including inking is a minimum of 79%, and has a weight of 65 to 95 grams per square meter, and which has value to the user or is used by the user in exchange for goods and services, and comprises a card with a credit card sized separable portion and information storage media with information encoded on the information storage media which the user can utilize for subsequent transactions.

24. The non-cash media card of claim 23 in which said value chargeable to said card can be augmented by a subsequent transaction in an ATM machine.

25. A process for dispensing a non-cash media card from an automated teller machine which is configured for use with a selected currency, comprising:

loading said automated teller machine with one or more selections of a non-cash media plastic card, which is 65 to 90 mm in width, 120 to 170 mm in length, with a tabor stiffness in the cross direction of 0.8 to 2.4 and in the machined direction is 1.2 to 4.0, has a bendsden roughness of 200 to 1200 ml per minute, is 8 to 30 mils in thickness, has a bendsden velocity of 150 mils per minute, has a single tear in the machined direction of at least 230 mN, and in the cross direction has a single tear of at least 270 mN, has a contrast ratio opacity including inking is a minimum of 79%, and has a weight of 65 to 95 grams per square meter and which has value to the user or is used by the user in exchange for goods and services;

selecting by a customer from a user interface of said automated teller machine a desired output in the form of cash or non-cash media card or cards; and

dispensing to said customer either cash or non-cash media card from currency trays in the ATM machine, through the same ATM output mechanism.