Method and apparatus for providing multiple transaction cards in assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A transaction card assembly comprising:
- at least a first transaction card having a first machine readable feature that is useable in a transaction involving the first transaction card, the first machine readable feature including information representing a first account associated with the first transaction card, the first transaction card useable only in a transaction with a first issuer of the first transaction card for the purchase of products and/or services sold by the first issuer; and
at least a second transaction card having a second machine readable feature that is useable in a transaction involving the second transaction card, the second machine readable feature including information representing a second account associated with the second transaction card, the second transaction card useable in a transaction with an entity other than the first issuer to purchase products and/or services sold by the entity, the transaction with the entity being completed without any involvement of the first issuer;
wherein the first and second transaction cards are connected together and arranged for selective separation by a user at or before a time of using the first or second transaction cards, and wherein a line of weakness is provided between the first and second transaction cards.
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Abstract
A transaction card assembly and method for forming a transaction card assembly. The transaction card assembly may include two or more transaction cards that are each useable with different issuers. A first transaction card may be useable only with a first issuer, and the second transaction card may be useable with one or more entities other than the first issuer. The transaction card assembly may be formed from a same piece of material and may include one or more machine-readable features, such as a barcode, magnetic strip or electronic device. The transaction cards may meet ANSI and ISO specifications, e.g., after the cards are separated from each other without the use of tools.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A transaction card assembly comprising:
- at least a first transaction card having a first machine readable feature that is useable in a transaction involving the first transaction card, the first machine readable feature including information representing a first account associated with the first transaction card, the first transaction card useable only in a transaction with a first issuer of the first transaction card for the purchase of products and/or services sold by the first issuer; and
at least a second transaction card having a second machine readable feature that is useable in a transaction involving the second transaction card, the second machine readable feature including information representing a second account associated with the second transaction card, the second transaction card useable in a transaction with an entity other than the first issuer to purchase products and/or services sold by the entity, the transaction with the entity being completed without any involvement of the first issuer;
wherein the first and second transaction cards are connected together and arranged for selective separation by a user at or before a time of using the first or second transaction cards, and wherein a line of weakness is provided between the first and second transaction cards. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- at least a first transaction card having a first machine readable feature that is useable in a transaction involving the first transaction card, the first machine readable feature including information representing a first account associated with the first transaction card, the first transaction card useable only in a transaction with a first issuer of the first transaction card for the purchase of products and/or services sold by the first issuer; and
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19. A method for forming a transaction card assembly having at least first and second transaction cards, comprising:
- providing a single sheet of material;
cutting at least one transaction card assembly including at least first and second transaction cards from the sheet of material;
providing a line of weakness between the first and second transaction cards so that the first and second transaction cards are separable from each other without the use of tools and so that once separated, the first and second transaction cards cannot be reconnected to form the single sheet transaction card assembly;
providing a machine readable feature for each of the transaction cards, the machine readable features including indicia unique from each other;
wherein the first transaction card is useable only in a transaction with a first issuer of the first transaction card for the purchase of products and/or services sold by the first issuer; and
a second transaction card is useable in a transaction with at least one entity other than the first issuer, the at least one entity selling products and/or services to be purchased using the second transaction card and without any involvement of the first issuer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- providing a single sheet of material;
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30. A method of providing transaction card assemblies, comprising:
- providing a transaction card assembly having at least first and second transaction cards connected to each other and including a line of weakness between the first and second transaction cards, the first transaction card having a first machine readable feature that is useable in a transaction involving the first transaction card, the first machine readable feature including information representing a first account associated with the first transaction card, the first transaction card useable only in a transaction with a first issuer of the first transaction card for the purchase of products and/or services sold by the first issuer, and the second transaction card having a second machine readable feature that is useable in a transaction involving the second transaction card, the second machine readable feature including information representing a second account associated with the second transaction card, the second transaction card useable in a transaction with an entity other than the first issuer, the entity selling products and/or services to be purchased using the second transaction card in the transaction, which is completed without any involvement of the first issuer, where the first and second transaction cards are arranged for selective separation by a user at or before a time of using the first or second transaction cards;
reading one of the first and second machine readable features to obtain information representing the first or second account;
electronically transmitting the information; and
activating the first and second accounts so as to render the first and second transaction cards useable in one or more transactions. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
- providing a transaction card assembly having at least first and second transaction cards connected to each other and including a line of weakness between the first and second transaction cards, the first transaction card having a first machine readable feature that is useable in a transaction involving the first transaction card, the first machine readable feature including information representing a first account associated with the first transaction card, the first transaction card useable only in a transaction with a first issuer of the first transaction card for the purchase of products and/or services sold by the first issuer, and the second transaction card having a second machine readable feature that is useable in a transaction involving the second transaction card, the second machine readable feature including information representing a second account associated with the second transaction card, the second transaction card useable in a transaction with an entity other than the first issuer, the entity selling products and/or services to be purchased using the second transaction card in the transaction, which is completed without any involvement of the first issuer, where the first and second transaction cards are arranged for selective separation by a user at or before a time of using the first or second transaction cards;
Specification