Foldable transaction card systems

• US 7,383,989 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2006
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• 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: Gandel, Priscilla, Webb, Lisa Ann Morrill, Lasch, Ellen
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Daniel I
• Application Number:
  US11/604,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20070069034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/487, 235/492, 235/493, 902/25, 902/26, 428/126, 428/130, 428/181, 428/176, 283/904, 283/74, 283/75, 283/72, 283/76
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/182 Credit card holders
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/321 combined with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/323 with key hangers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/02 characterised by the selection of materials, e.g. to avoid wear during transport through the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06196 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0719 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for application selection, e.g. an acceleration sensor or a set of radio buttons application selection on smart cards using pure software control, see G07F7/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag

Abstract

Transaction cards having one or more folds therein to provide 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.

Claims

1. A method of using a carrying case for a transaction card comprising the steps of:

providing a carrying case comprising a rigid lid section and a rigid base section and a hinge disposed between the lid section and the base section, and further comprising a track for holding a foldable transaction card within the carrying case;

opening said carrying case;

inserting a foldable transaction card within the track;

folding said transaction card within said track of said carrying case; and

closing said carrying case to completely encapsulate said folded transaction card.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein opening said carrying case comprises the step of actuating an actuator for releasing the lid section from the base section.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein closing said carrying case comprises the step of latching said lid section to said base section.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said track comprises a first track section for holding the transaction card within the carrying case and further comprises a second track section for holding the transaction card within the carrying case, and further wherein said method comprises a step of inserting said transaction card into said first and second track sections.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the foldable transaction card comprises a first section and a second section and a hinge disposed between the first section and the second section, and further wherein said method comprises a step of inserting said first section of said foldable transaction card into the track within the carrying case.