Foldable transaction card

• US 7,398,931 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• 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): Lee, Seung H
• Application Number:
  US11/714,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20070158435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 235/486, 235/380, 235/449, 235/480, 235/487, 235/488, 235/489, 235/492, 235/493, D19/9
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/321 combined with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/323 with key hangers
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/042 Foldable cards or sheets B42D15/045 and B42D15/08 take precedence
• 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 19/041 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

Abstract

A transaction card having one or more folds therein to provide a compact and easily stored transaction card is provided. Moreover, a foldable transaction card having one or more holes or apertures therein for holding a keychain, or other device for attaching the transaction card to another item, such as a set of keys, a wallet, or other item is provided. Other embodiments include spring-loaded clips on the foldable transaction cards and protective sleeves, housings or cases for full-sized and smaller-sized cards. In addition, methods of making foldable transaction cards are provided.

Claims

1. A foldable transaction card system comprising:

a transaction card; and

,

at least one fold line for folding said transaction card wherein said transaction card comprises a folded state and an unfolded state and wherein said transaction card is configured to facilitate a purchase transaction at a point of sale when said transaction card is in said folded state.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one aperture in the transaction card for holding a securing means to the transaction card.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said securing means is a ring.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said transaction card is configured such that said ring extends through two portions of said transaction card.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a track disposed in said transaction card for holding said securing means.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic storage means is a microchip.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said transaction card further comprises a magnetic stripe.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said transaction card is configured such that said magnetic stripe is configured to be swiped through a card reader.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said first fold line is asymmetrically disposed on said transaction card.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein when said transaction card is in said folded state, said transaction card further comprises first indicia on a first surface and second indicia on a second surface.

11. A foldable transaction card system comprising:

a transaction card having at least one fold line for folding said transaction card;

wherein said transaction card comprises a folded state and an unfolded state;

wherein said transaction card is configured to facilitate a purchase transaction at a point of sale when said transaction card is in said folded state; and

wherein when said transaction card is in said folded state, said transaction card has a length which is less than standard length.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a ring; and

wherein said transaction card further comprises at least one aperture in said transaction card for holding said ring to said transaction card, wherein said transaction card is configured such that said ring extends through two portions of said transaction card when said transaction card is in said folded state.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein when said transaction card is in said folded state, said transaction card has a width which is less than standard width.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said transaction card contains a magnetic stripe.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said transaction card is configured such that said magnetic stripe is configured to be swiped through a card reader.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a ring; and

at least one aperture in said transaction card for holding said ring to said transaction card.

17. The transaction card of claim 16, wherein said transaction card is configured such that said magnetic stripe is able to be swiped through a card reader.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said transaction card is configured such that said ring extends through two portions of said transaction card when said transaction card is in said folded state.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said transaction card is configured such that said magnetic stripe is able to be swiped through a card reader while said ring extends through two portions of said transaction card.

20. A foldable transaction card system comprising:

a ring;

a transaction card;

at least one fold line for folding the transaction card;

at least one aperture in said transaction card for holding said ring to said transaction card,

wherein said transaction card comprises a folded state and an unfolded state;

wherein said transaction card is configured to facilitate a purchase transaction at a point of sale when said transaction card is in said folded state; and

wherein said transaction card is configured such that said ring extends through two portions of said transaction card when said transaction card is in said folded state.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said transaction card contains a magnetic stripe.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said transaction card is configured such that said magnetic stripe is able to be swiped though a card reader.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein when said transaction card is in said folded state, said transaction card has less than at least one of standard length and standard length.