Portable electronic music devices with convenient or foldable transaction cards

• US 7,278,584 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Webb, Lisa Ann Morrill, Lasch, Ellen, Gandel, Priscilla
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US11/284,008
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/487, 235/379, 235/380, 283/74, 428/43, 428/126, 428/130
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/20 characterised by a particular use or purpose
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/22 for use in combination with accessories specially adapted for information-bearing cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/23 Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/346 Perforations
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/369 Magnetised or magnetisable materials
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 1/00 Cardboard or like show-cards of foldable or flexible material
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0288 Labels or tickets consisting of more than one part, e.g. with address of sender or other reference on separate section to main label; Multi-copy labels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/15 Sheet, web, or layer weakened to permit separation through thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24231 At opposed marginal edges
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24264 Particular fold structure [e.g., beveled, etc.]

Abstract

Convenient transaction cards are provided that may be attached or interconnected with portable electronic music devices, such as MP3 players, the iPod™ digital music device, and other like portable electronic music devices. The transaction cards may be foldable to provide for convenient storage and access of the transaction card when utilized. In addition, the transaction cards may be provided within a case or a housing that may be removable from the electronic device.

Claims

1. A foldable transaction card system comprising:

a portable electronic music device;

a housing interconnected with the portable electronic music device; and

a foldable transaction card for conducting a monetary transaction interconnected with the housing,

wherein said foldable transaction card comprises a first section and a second section wherein at least the first section of the transaction card is interconnected with the housing, and further wherein the second section of the transaction card unfolds outside the housing when the housing is opened.

2. The foldable transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the housing surrounds the transaction card when the transaction card is in a folded state, wherein the housing comprises a hinge for opening or closing said housing.

3. The foldable transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the transaction card is removably attached to the housing.

4. The foldable transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the foldable transaction card comprises a hinge wherein the hinge of the transaction card is disposed between the first and second sections.

5. The foldable transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises at least a first section and a second section and a hinge disposed between the first and second sections of the housing, and further wherein at least the first section of the transaction card is attached to the first section of the housing.

6. The foldable transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the first section of the transaction card is attached to the housing.

7. The foldable transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the foldable transaction card is removably attached to the housing.

8. The foldable transaction card system of claim 7 wherein the foldable transaction card is removably attached to the housing via a track, wherein the foldable transaction card is disposed within the track.

9. The foldable transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises an opener for opening the housing to access the transaction card disposed therein.

10. The foldable transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the foldable transaction card comprises an electronic memory for storing information on the transaction card that is readable with an electronic memory reader.

11. The foldable transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the housing is removable from the portable electronic music device.

12. The foldable transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the foldable transaction card is removable from the housing and the housing is removable from the portable electronic music device.

13. The foldable transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the foldable transaction has a folded state and an unfolded state, and wherein the foldable transaction card has at least one dimension smaller than a traditional transaction card when in an unfolded state.

14. A foldable transaction card system comprising:

a portable electronic music device;

a housing interconnected with the portable electronic music device; and

a foldable transaction card interconnected with the housing,

wherein the foldable transaction card comprises a first section and a second section wherein at least the first section of the transaction card is interconnected with the housing, and further wherein the first section of the transaction card is attached to the housing and the second section of the transaction card unfolds outside the housing when the housing is opened.