Foldable transaction card systems for non-traditionally-sized transaction cards

• US 7,347,360 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2003
• 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: Thomas, Tracey R., Gandel, Priscilla, Webb, Lisa Ann Morrill, Lasch, Ellen
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US10/862,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20050205665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/492, 235/439, 235/381, 235/441, 235/379, 235/380, 455/558, 361/737, 320/107, 283/107, 283/102, 283/82, 283/72, 283/904, 439/500, 379/433, 206/37, 206/39.7, 206/39, 206/425, 150/131, 150/147
• US Class Current: 235/380
• 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 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence

Abstract

Transaction cards having one or more folds therein for compact and easily stored transaction cards are provided. Moreover, foldable transaction cards are provided having one or more holes or apertures therein for holding key chains, or other devices for attaching the transaction cards to other items, such as sets of keys, wallets, or other items. Other embodiments include spring-loaded clips on the foldable transaction cards and protective sleeves, housings or cases for full-sized and smaller-sized cards. Still further, transaction card systems are provided comprising a case or housing for holding and/or storing foldable transaction cards therein, such as foldable transaction cards having a dimension, such as a length dimension or a width dimension, that is smaller than traditionall-sized transaction cards.

Claims

1. A transaction card system comprising:

a foldable transaction card having a folded state and an unfolded state wherein said foldable transaction card comprises a first section and a second section wherein a hinge is disposed between the first and second sections and further comprising a magnetic stripe comprising stored encoded data wherein the transaction card has at least one dimension selected from the group consisting of a length and a width that is smaller than a corresponding dimension of a traditionally-sized transaction card when the transaction card is in the unfolded state; and

a holder for holding the transaction card having a first section and a second section, and further comprising a biased hinge between the first section and the second section,

wherein said holder holds said transaction card in the folded state when said holder is closed and further wherein the second section of the foldable transaction card unfolds outside the housing when the housing is opened.

2. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the transaction card is removably attached to the holder.

3. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein at least the first section of the transaction card is attached to the holder.

4. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the holder is a housing that surrounds the transaction card when the transaction card is in the folded state.

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

6. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the holder comprises an attaching means and the transaction card is attached to the holder via the attaching means.

7. The transaction card system of claim 6 wherein the attaching means comprises a track, wherein the transaction card is disposed within the track.

8. The transaction card system of claim 7 wherein the first section of the transaction card is removably disposed within the track.

9. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the holder comprises a releasing means for releasing the transaction card from the holder.

10. The transaction card system of claim 4 wherein the housing further comprises an opening means for opening the housing and accessing the foldable transaction card contained therein wherein the opening means comprises an actuator whereby actuating the actuator allows the housing to open.

11. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the biased hinge of the housing is spring-loaded.

12. The transaction card system of claim 11 wherein the spring-loaded hinge of the housing allows the housing to spring open when opened.

13. The transaction card system of claim 4 further comprising a releasing means for releasing the second section of the transaction card from the holder to allow the transaction card to unfold.

14. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic stripe is readable with a magnetic stripe reader.

15. The transaction card system of claim 14 wherein the magnetic stripe is readable by the magnetic stripe reader without removing the transaction card from the holder.

16. The transaction card system of claim 14 wherein the magnetic stripe is readable by the magnetic stripe reader after the transaction card is removed from the holder.

17. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the hinge between the first and second sections of the transaction card comprises a fold line in said transaction card.

18. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the hinge comprises a strip of material interconnected to both the first and second sections.

19. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the dimensions of the card are in the range of 1 inch by 1 inch to 1⅞

inches by 3 inches, and the length of the magnetic stripe is in the range of 1 inch to 3 inches.

20. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic stripe is positioned parallel to an edge of the card.

21. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic stripe is positioned perpendicular to a largest dimension of the card.

22. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic stripe comprises at least two tracks for storing the encoded data.

23. The transaction card system of claim 22 wherein the encoded data on a first of the two tracks is encoded at a density of greater than 210 bits per inch.

24. The transaction card system of claim 23 wherein the encoded data on the first of the two tracks is encoded at a density of 260 bits per inch.

25. The transaction card system of claim 22 wherein the encoded data on a second of the two tracks is encoded at a density of greater than 75 bits per inch.

26. The transaction card system of claim 25 wherein the encoded data on the second of the two tracks is encoded at a density of 100 bits per inch.

27. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the encoded data is encoded using two frequency encoding.

28. The transaction card system of claim 1 further comprising a core comprising polyester.

29. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the dimensions of the card are 1 9/16 inches by 2 9/16 inches.

30. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the card is devoid of raised lettering.

31. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the card further comprises a computer chip.

32. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the card further comprises an integrated circuit chip.

33. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the card further comprises a microprocessor.

34. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the card can be read by a magnetic stripe reader configured to read magnetic stripes compliant with ISO/IEC 7811.

35. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the largest dimension of the card is 2 9/16 inches and the lengthwise dimension of the magnetic stripe is in the range of 1 inch to 2 9/16 inches.

36. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the card further comprises an angled edge.

37. The transaction card system of claim 36 wherein the magnetic stripe is positioned parallel to the angled edge.

38. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the length of the card is in the range of 1⅞

inches to 3 inches, and the length of the magnetic stripe is in the range of 1 inch to 3 inches.

39. The transaction card system of claim 1 wherein the holder comprises an aperture for connecting with a securing mechanism.

40. A foldable transaction card having a folded state and an unfolded state wherein said foldable transaction card comprises a first section and a second section wherein a biased hinge is disposed between the first and second sections, said biased hinge between said first and second sections of said foldable transaction card biases said card into the unfolded state, and further comprising a memory comprising stored encoded data wherein the transaction card has at least one dimension selected from the group consisting of a length and a width that is smaller than a corresponding dimension of a traditionally-sized transaction card when the transaction card is in the unfolded state.

41. The foldable transaction card of claim 40 wherein the memory comprises a magnetic stripe.

42. The foldable transaction card of claim 40 wherein the memory comprises an embedded microchip.