Check carrier

• US 7,717,329 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Cantley, Kerry M., Vasquez, Teresa J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US11/739,303
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/487, 235/488, 235/486, 283/57, 283/116, 283/58, 229/71, 229/68.1, 229/67.4, 229/313, 229/92.3, 229/57, 224/227
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 7/025 made of transparent material
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2201/04 for securities, e.g. bonds, banknotes, stock certificates
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2201/12 for mailing, transporting, dispatching documents
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2221/02 with indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 27/04 with apertures or windows for viewing contents
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

The check carrier consists of an envelope of translucent material that is dimensioned to closely conform to the dimensions of a standard check. The back of the check carrier includes an endorsement window through which a bank or other financial institution can apply its endorsement stamp directly to the check. The bottom of the check carrier may be provided with an area for receiving the MICR printing such that the MICR can be read directly off of the carrier. The MICR area can be removed. The open end of the check carrier can be sealed closed using a repositionable adhesive. The adhesive can also be used interior of the check carrier such that the adhesive contacts the check to fix the check within the carrier.

Claims

1. A method of using a check carrier to secure a check in a manner such that the check can be processed by automated processing equipment, the method comprising:

providing the check carrier, said check carrier having a translucent front and a back defining an interior space therebetween for receiving the check such that both the front of the check and the back of the check are optically accessible, said interior space having a dimension that closely corresponds to a dimension of the check, and a closure mechanism for sealing the check in the space;

providing an area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing, said area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing being manually removable from said check carrier while the check is able to be sealed in said space;

determining if the MICR printing is needed on the area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing;

if MICR printing is not needed, removing said area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing before sending the check to be processed by the automated processing equipment, said removing said area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing makes an external dimension of the check carrier similar to an external dimension of the check and thereby facilitates operation of the automated processing equipment;

inserting a check into said space;

sealing said check in said space using said closure mechanism; and

sending said check carrier and said check to the automated processing equipment where the check is optically accessed through either said front or said back.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said area for receiving MICR printing is attached at a perforated connection.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the closure mechanism comprises a repositionable adhesive.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the repositionable adhesive is positioned on either the front or the back of the check carrier such that it contacts the check when the check is in said space to fix position of the check relative to the check carrier.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the back of the check carrier is a back panel having a window formed therein for allowing access to the back of the check.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the window is covered by a removable cover that is attached to the check carrier by a repositionable adhesive.

7. A method of using a check carrier to secure a check in a manner such that the check can be processed by automated processing equipment, the method comprising:

providing the check carrier, said check carrier having a translucent front and a back defining an interior space therebetween for receiving the check such that both the front of the check and the back of the check are optically accessible, said interior space having a dimension that closely corresponds to a dimension of the check;

providing an area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing, said area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing being manually removable from said check carrier while the check is able to be sealed in said space;

determining if the MICR printing is needed on the area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing; and

if said MICR printing is not needed, removing said area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing before sending the check to be processed by the automated processing equipment, said removing said area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing makes an external dimension of the check carrier similar to an external dimension of the check and thereby facilitates operation of the automated processing equipment;

inserting a check into said interior space; and

sending said check carrier and said check to the automated processing equipment.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said area for receiving MICR printing is attached at a perforated connection.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein said check carrier comprises a closure mechanism for sealing the check in the space.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the closure mechanism comprises a repositionable adhesive.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the repositionable adhesive is positioned on either the front or the back of the check carrier such that it contacts the check when the check is in said space to fix position of the check relative to the check carrier.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the back of the check carrier is a back panel having a window formed therein for allowing access to the back of the check.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the window is covered by a removable cover that is attached to the check carrier by a repositionable adhesive.

14. A method of using a check carrier to secure a check having a front and a back in a manner such that the check can be processed by automated processing equipment, the method comprising:

providing a check carrier having a translucent front and a back defining a space therebetween for receiving the check such that both the front of the check and the back of the check are optically accessible, said interior space having a dimension that closely corresponds to a dimension of the check, and a closure mechanism for sealing the check in the space;

providing an area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing, said area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing being manually removable from said check carrier while the check is able to be sealed in said space;

determining if the MICR printing is needed on the area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing; and

if MICR printing is not needed, adjusting a dimension of the check carrier such that the dimension of the check carrier is similar to a dimension of the check by removing said area of the check carrier that is configured for receiving MICR printing;

inserting said check into said space;

sealing said check in said space using said closure mechanism; and

sending said check carrier and said check through an automated process where the check is optically accessed through either said front or said back.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein said area for receiving MICR printing is attached at a perforated connection.

16. The method according to claim 14 wherein the closure mechanism comprises a repositionable adhesive.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the repositionable adhesive is positioned on either the front or the back of the check carrier such that it contacts the check when the check is in said space to fix position of the check relative to the check carrier.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the back of the check carrier is a back panel having a window formed therein for allowing access to the back of the check.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the window is covered by a removable cover that is attached to the check carrier by a repositionable adhesive.