Metal-containing transaction card and method of making the same

• US 7,588,184 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Gandel, Priscilla, Lasch, Ellen, Webb, Lisa Ann Morrill
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze, Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US11/044,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20060102729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/375, 235/492, 235/487, 235/488, 235/449, 235/451
• US Class Current: 235/380
• 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 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/067 Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components

Abstract

Metal-containing transaction cards, useful for the purchase of goods and/or services, and methods of making the same are provided. The metal-containing transaction card may have a magnetic stripe, an embedded microchip, a signature panel, a holographic image, or any other feature typically contained on or within a transaction card. The transaction cards have at least one layer of metal with, optionally, other layers of substrates, such as thermoplastic polymers, other metals or adhesives. In addition, the metal-containing transaction card may be anodized, coated, or laser-engraved. Preferably, the metal is titanium or stainless steel.

Claims

1. A transaction card comprising:

a first surface and a second surface;

at least one layer comprising metallic titanium;

a pocket disposed in the at least one layer comprising metallic titanium,

wherein the pocket has four side surfaces and a bottom surface; and

embossed characters punched into the transaction card within the pocket and protruding from the second surface of the transaction card.

2. The transaction card of claim 1 further comprising an inset fill panel adhered within the pocket.

3. The transaction card of claim 1 further comprising a transaction card feature disposed within the pocket.

4. The transaction card of claim 3 wherein the transaction card feature is selected from the group consisting of a signature panel, a magnetic stripe, a microchip, and a holographic image.

5. The transaction card of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive material disposed within the pocket.

6. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of metallic titanium has a thickness of between about 6 mils and about 30 mils.

7. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of metallic titanium has a thickness of about 30 mils.

8. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the pocket is continuous.

9. The transaction card of claim 8, wherein the pocket is disposed across a substantial portion of the at least one layer.

10. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the layer has a thickness of greater than about 6 mils.

11. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein each of the four side surfaces are integral with the bottom surface.

12. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein a signature panel is disposed within the pocket, the signature panel configured to act as a writing surface.

13. A method of making a transaction card having a first surface and a second surface, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one layer comprising metallic titanium; and

disposing a pocket in the at least one layer comprising metallic titanium,

wherein the pocket has four side surfaces and a bottom surface;

punching characters within the pocket so as to protrude from the second surface of the transaction card as embossed characters.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of adhering an inset fill panel within the pocket.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of disposing a transaction card feature within the pocket wherein the transaction card feature is selected from the group consisting of a signature panel, a magnetic stripe, a microchip and a holographic image.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising a transaction card feature disposed with the pocket wherein the transaction card feature is coplanar with the first surface of the transaction card.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of disposing an adhesive material within the pocket.

18. The transaction card of claim 13, wherein each of the four side surfaces are integral with the bottom surface.

19. The transaction card of claim 13, further comprising adhering a signature panel within the pocket, the signature panel configured to act as a writing surface.

20. A transaction card comprising:

a first surface and a second surface;

at least one layer of a metal; and

,

a pocket disposed in the at least one layer of metal in the first surface of the transaction card,

wherein the pocket has four side surfaces and a bottom surface;

embossed characters punched in the transaction card; and

embossed characters punched in the transaction card within the pocket and protruding from the second surface of the transaction card.

21. The transaction card of claim 20, further comprising an inset panel adhered within the pocket.

22. The transaction card of claim 21, wherein the inset panel is adhered within the pocket by means of an adhesive.

23. The transaction card of claim 20, wherein each of the four side surfaces are integral with the bottom surface.

24. The transaction card of claim 20, further comprising adhering a signature panel within the pocket, the signature panel configured to act as a writing surface.