Credit card

• US 6,793,141 B1
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graham R. William
• Original Assignee: Graham R. William
• Inventors: Graham, R. William
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIZKALLAH, KIMBERLY NGUYEN
• Application Number:
  US10/201,438
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/493, 235/449
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/40 with a foldable or removable part
• 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 25/20 characterised by a particular use or purpose
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/369 Magnetised or magnetisable materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07739 comprising a first part capable of functioning as a record carrier on its own and a second part being only functional as a form factor changing part, e.g. SIM cards type ID 0001, removably attached to a regular smart card form factor

Abstract

A credit card which includes a generally planar member which is configured occupy approximately one half of a predetermined space for a conventional credit card which is 2.125 (H)×3.375 (L) inches. The card is further characterized to enable mating with a substantially identically geometrically formed card such that when so mated the two cards substantially occupy the predetermined space of a conventional credit card.

Claims

1. A credit card for use in a conventional plastic credit card device which is configured for a conventional credit card having a substantially rectangular configuration of a peripheral area P of approximately 2.125 inches height H by 3.375 inches length L, and having four generally rounded corners, two opposing sides of approximately 2.125 inch height H and two opposing sides of approximately 3.375 inches length L, the sides interconnecting the four corners and adjacent sides being disposed at approximately ninety degrees from one another and the card having a name, a credit card number and an expiration date embossed thereon and a magnetic stripe operably disposed on one side thereof, which comprises:

a plastic card which is geometrically configured to occupy approximately one half of the peripheral area P, said card having a first corner and a first side and a second side connected to said first corner at approximately ninety degrees to one another, wherein said first side is of a first height and said second side is of a first length, wherein at least one of said first height and said first length is less than the height H and length L, respectively, of the peripheral area P, and further has at least a second corner, a third corner and a fourth corner and at least a third side and a fourth side in which said first side connects said first corner and one of directly and indirectly said fourth corner, said second side connects said first corner and said second corner, said third side connects said second corner and said third corner and said fourth side connects said fourth corner and said third corner, a card holder name, a credit card number, an expiration date, and a magnetic stripe operably formed on said card, and wherein said card is further characterized to enable mating thereof with a separate and independent substantially identically geometrically formed card such that when so mated said two cards substantially occupy the peripheral area P, wherein the credit card further includes a fifth corner, a sixth corner, a fifth side and a sixth side, said fifth side connects said fourth corner and said fifth corner, said sixth side connects said fifth corner and said sixth corner and said first side connects said first corner and said sixth corner, wherein said card is L-shaped.

2. A credit card for use in a conventional plastic credit card device which is configured for a conventional credit card having a substantially rectangular configuration of a peripheral area P of approximately 2.125 inches height H by 3.375 inches length L, and having four generally rounded corners, two opposing sides of approximately 2.125 inch height H and two opposing sides of approximately 3.375 inches length L, the sides interconnecting the four corners and adjacent sides being disposed at approximately ninety degrees from one another and the card having a name, a credit card number and an expiration date embossed thereon and a magnetic stripe operably disposed on one side thereof, which comprises:

a plastic card which is geometrically configured to occupy approximately one half of the peripheral area P, said card having a first corner and a first side and a second side connected to said first corner at approximately ninety degrees to one another, wherein said first side is of a first height and said second side is of a first length, wherein at least one of said first height and said first length is less than the height H and length L, respectively, of the peripheral area P, and further has at least a second corner, a third corner and a fourth corner and at least a third side and a fourth side in which said first side connects said first corner and one of directly and indirectly said fourth corner, said second side connects said first corner and said second corner, said third side connects said second corner and said third corner and said fourth side connects said fourth corner and said third corner, a card holder name, a credit card number, an expiration date, and a magnetic stripe operably formed on said card, and wherein said card is further characterized to enable mating thereof with a separate and independent substantially identically geometrically formed card such that when so mated said two cards substantially occupy the peripheral area P, wherein the credit card further includes a fifth corner, a sixth corner, a fifth side and a sixth side, said fifth side connects said fourth corner and said fifth corner, said sixth side connects said fifth corner and said sixth corner and said first side connects said first corner and said sixth corner, wherein said card includes a tapered L-shape.

3. A credit card for use in a conventional plastic credit card device which is configured for a conventional credit card having a substantially rectangular configuration of a peripheral area P of approximately 2.125 inches height H by 3.375 inches length L, and having four generally rounded corners, two opposing sides of approximately 2.125 inch height H and two opposing sides of approximately 3.375 inches length L, the sides interconnecting the four corners and adjacent sides being disposed at approximately ninety degrees from one another and the card having a name, a credit card number and an expiration date embossed thereon and a magnetic stripe operably disposed on one side thereof, which comprises:

a plastic card which is geometrically configured to occupy approximately one half of the peripheral area P, said card having a first corner and a first side and a second side connected to said first corner at approximately ninety degrees to one another, wherein said first side is of a first height and said second side is of a first length, wherein at least one of said first height and said first length is less than the height H and length L, respectively, of the peripheral area P, and further has at least a second corner, a third corner and a fourth corner and at least a third side and a fourth side in which said first side connects said first corner and one of directly and indirectly said fourth corner, said second side connects said first corner and said second corner, said third side connects said second corner and said third corner and said fourth side connects said fourth corner and said third corner, a card holder name, a credit card number, an expiration date, and a magnetic stripe operably formed on said card, and wherein said card is further characterized to enable mating thereof with a separate and independent substantially identically geometrically formed card such that when so mated said two cards substantially occupy the peripheral area P, wherein the credit card further includes a fifth corner, a sixth corner, a seventh corner, and eighth corner, a fifth side, a sixth side, a seventh side and an eighth side, said fifth side connects said fourth corner and said fifth corner, said sixth side connects said fifth corner and said sixth corner, said seventh side connects said sixth corner and said seventh corner, said eighth side connects said seventh corner and said eighth corner, said first side connects said eighth corner and said first corner, wherein said card includes a stair step shape.

4. A method of forming credit card in a conventional plastic credit card device having a plate which is configured for receiving a conventional credit card manufacturing plate having a substantially rectangular configuration of a peripheral area P of approximately 2.125 inches height H by 3.375 inches length L, and having four generally rounded corners, two opposing sides of approximately 2.125 inch height H and two opposing sides of approximately 3.375 inches length L, the sides interconnecting the four corners and adjacent sides being disposed at approximately ninety degrees from one another and the card having a name, a credit card number and an expiration date embossed thereon and a magnetic stripe operably disposed on one side thereof, which comprises:

disposing a blank in the credit card manufacturing plate to hold a plastic card which is geometrically configured to occupy approximately one half of the peripheral area P, said card having a first corner and a first side and a second side connected to said first corner at approximately ninety degrees to one another, wherein said first side is of a first height and said second side is of a first length, wherein at least one of said first height and said first length is less than the height H and length L, respectively, of the peripheral area P, and further has at least a second corner, a third corner and a fourth corner and at least a third side and a fourth side in which said second side connects said first corner and said second corner, said third side connects said second corner and said third corner and said fourth side one of directly and indirectly connects said fourth corner and said first corner, a magnetic stripe operably formed on one side of said card; and

forming at least one of a card holder name, a credit card number and an expiration date on said card; and

wherein said formed card is further characterized to enable mating thereof with a separate and independent substantially identically geometrically formed card such that when so mated said two cards substantially occupy the peripheral area P;

wherein said credit card further includes a fifth corner, a sixth corner, a fifth side and a sixth side, said fifth side connects said fourth corner and said fifth corner, said sixth side connects said fifth corner and said sixth corner and said first side connects said first corner and said sixth corner and is L-shaped.

5. A method of forming credit card in a conventional plastic credit card device having a plate which is configured for receiving a conventional credit card manufacturing plate having a substantially rectangular configuration of a peripheral area P of approximately 2.125 inches height H by 3.375 inches length L, and having four generally rounded corners, two opposing sides of approximately 2.125 inch height H and two opposing sides of approximately 3.375 inches length L, the sides interconnecting the four corners and adjacent sides being disposed at approximately ninety degrees from one another and the card having a name, a credit card number and an expiration date embossed thereon and a magnetic stripe operably disposed on one side thereof, which comprises:

disposing a blank in the credit card manufacturing plate to hold a plastic card which is geometrically configured to occupy approximately one half of the peripheral area P, said card having a first corner and a first side and a second side connected to said first corner at approximately ninety degrees to one another, wherein said first side is of a first height and said second side is of a first length, wherein at least one of said first height and said first length is less than the height H and length L, respectively, of the peripheral area P, and further has at least a second corner, a third corner and a fourth corner and at least a third side and a fourth side in which said second side connects said first corner and said second corner, said third side connects said second corner and said third corner and said fourth side one of directly and indirectly connects said fourth corner and said first corner, a magnetic stripe operably formed on one side of said card; and

forming at least one of a card holder name, a credit card number and an expiration date on said card; and

wherein said formed card is further characterized to enable mating thereof with a separate and independent substantially identically geometrically formed card such that when so mated said two cards substantially occupy the peripheral area P;

wherein said card further includes a fifth corner, a sixth corner, a fifth side and a sixth side, said fifth side connects said fourth corner and said fifth corner, said sixth side connects said fifth corner and said sixth corner and said first side connects said first corner and said sixth corner and includes a tapered L-shape.

6. A method of forming credit card in a conventional plastic credit card device having a plate which is configured for receiving a conventional credit card manufacturing plate having a substantially rectangular configuration of a peripheral area P of approximately 2.125 inches height H by 3.375 inches length L, and having four generally rounded corners, two opposing sides of approximately 2.125 inch height H and two opposing sides of approximately 3.375 inches length L, the sides interconnecting the four corners and adjacent sides being disposed at approximately ninety degrees from one another and the card having a name, a credit card number and an expiration date embossed thereon and a magnetic stripe operably disposed on one side thereof, which comprises:

disposing a blank in the credit card manufacturing plate to hold a plastic card which is geometrically configured to occupy approximately one half of the peripheral area P, said card having a first corner and a first side and a second side connected to said first corner at approximately ninety degrees to one another, wherein said first side is of a first height and said second side is of a first length, wherein at least one of said first height and said first length is less than the height H and length L, respectively, of the peripheral area P, and further has at least a second corner, a third corner and a fourth corner and at least a third side and a fourth side in which said second side connects said first corner and said second corner, said third side connects said second corner and said third corner and said fourth side one of directly and indirectly connects said fourth corner and said first corner, a magnetic stripe operably formed on one side of said card; and

forming at least one of a card holder name, a credit card number and an expiration date on said card; and

wherein said formed card is further characterized to enable mating thereof with a separate and independent substantially identically geometrically formed card such that when so mated said two cards substantially occupy the peripheral area P;

wherein said card further includes a fifth corner, a sixth corner, a seventh corner, and eighth corner, a fifth side, a sixth side, a seventh side and an eighth side, said fifth side connects said fourth corner and said fifth corner, said sixth side connects said fifth corner and said sixth corner, said seventh side connects said sixth corner and said seventh corner, said eighth side connects said seventh corner and said eighth corner, said first side connects said eighth corner and said first corner and includes a stair step shape.