Transaction card with edge-glow characteristic

• US 8,061,619 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Inventors: Borkowski, Erin M., Halbur, Ted C.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US11/959,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20090159691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,434 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/487, 235/492, 235/493, 235/375, 235/380, 705/35, 705/40, 705/64, 705/65, 705/66
• US Class Current: 235/491
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/20 Coloured material; Pigments or inks
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/24 Reliefs or indentations
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/24 Colours
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/45 Associating two or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/02 characterised by the selection of materials, e.g. to avoid wear during transport through the machine

Abstract

A transaction card includes a single layer substrate and an account identifier. The single layer substrate is formed of a transparent polymer resin mixed with a fluorescent dye such that the single layer substrate exhibits an edge-glow characteristic. The single layer substrate is one of transparent and translucent. The account identifier is connected to the single layer substrate and links the transaction card to at least one of an account and a record. The account identifier is machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal. Stored-value card assemblies, methods of encouraging purchase and facilitating use of a stored-value card and other embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A transaction card comprising:

a single layer substrate formed of a transparent polymer resin mixed with a fluorescent dye such that the single layer substrate exhibits an edge-glow characteristic, the single layer substrate being one of transparent and translucent, wherein the single layer substrate defines a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and outer edges including an outside edge, wherein the edge-glow characteristic is produced by the fluorescent dye absorbing ultraviolet light and emitting the ultraviolet light reflected off internal surfaces of the single layer substrate, in longer wavelengths than when absorbed, through the outer edges of the single layer substrate;

first indicia printed to the first surface, wherein;

the first indicia are solid, opaque, and printed to the single layer substrate adjacent and directly bordering the outside edge along an entire length of the single layer substrate,

the first indicia extend continuously inwardly from the outside edge a distance greater than a thickness of the single layer substrate, and

the edge-glow characteristic is enhanced along the outside edge by the first indicia, which blocks emission of the ultraviolet light through surface portions of the single-layer substrate covered by the first indicia increasing an amount of ultraviolet light emitted through the outside edge of the single-layer substrate adjacent the first indicia;

a laminate applied to the first surface over the first indicia, wherein;

the laminate is substantially transparent and substantially planar and defines an internal surface and a external surface opposite the internal surface, and

the internal surface is positioned adjacent the first surface of the single layer substrate;

second indicia applied to the external surface of the laminate, wherein;

the second indicia are raised indicia providing a tactile effect to the external surface of the laminate,

the tactile effect is perceivable a bearer of the transaction card touching the external surface of the laminate, and

a second surface of the single layer substrate remains substantially planar as characterized by an absence of any structural altering to the second surface; and

an account identifier connected to the single layer substrate, the account identifier linking the transaction card to at least one of an account and a record, the account identifier being machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal.

2. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the account identifier includes a bar code.

3. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the account identifier includes at least one of a bar code, a magnetic strip, an electronic device and a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.

4. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent dye is a pure fluorescent dye.

5. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the transparent polymer resin is a resin of one of polycarbonate, polyester, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polybutylene terephalate.

6. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the single layer substrate has a thickness greater than about 0.5 mm.

7. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein:

the laminate covers a substantial entirety of the first surface.

8. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the account identifier is applied to the second surface.

9. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein a masked area is applied to the second surface, and the account identifier is applied to the masked area, wherein the masked area is substantially opaque and extends beyond an outer periphery of the account identifier.

10. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the raised indicia are exposed to an environment surrounding the transaction card.

11. A stored-value card comprising:

a substantially planar member that is one of translucent and transparent and defines a first substantially planar surface and a second substantially planar surface opposite the first substantially planar surface, wherein the substantially planar member is formed from a substantially transparent resin mixed with a fluorescent dye to produce an outer edge-glow characteristic when the fluorescent dye absorbs light and emits the absorbed light, as reflected off internal surfaces of the substantially planar member, through outside edges of the substantially planar member, in longer wavelengths than when the light was absorbed;

means for enhancing internal light reflection within the substantially planar member as viewed through an edge of the substantially planar member, the means for enhancing internal light reflection being applied to a portion of a first surface of the substantially planar member directly adjacent the edge of the substantially planar member to substantial block emission of the light reflected off the internal surfaces through a portion of the first surface of the substantially planar member directly adjacent the edge of the substantially planar member, which increases an amount of light emitted through the edge of the substantially planar member;

translucent or transparent means for covering and directly abutting the first substantially planar surface and the means for enhancing internal light reflection, the translucent or transparent means defining an external surface opposite the substantially planar member;

means for providing tactile elements applied to the external surface of the translucent or transparent means to provide a tactile effect to the external surface that is readily perceivable by a bearer of the stored-value card when the bearer of the stored-value card touches the external surface of the translucent or transparent means, wherein the means for providing tactile elements is characterized by a lack of structural impact on the second substantially planar surface such that the second substantially planar surface remains substantially planar; and

means for linking the substantially planar member with at least one of an account and a record having a value associated therewith such that the stored-value card can be redeemed for one or more of payment toward a purchase of goods or services and use of goods or services, the means for linking the substantially planar member being connected to the second substantially planar surface of the substantially planar member.

12. A method of providing a transaction card, the method comprising:

extruding a mixture, which includes a polymer resin and a fluorescent dye, to form a substantially planar substrate that is one of translucent and transparent, the substantially planar substrate defining an outside edge of the substantially planar substrate and producing an edge-glow characteristic along the outside edge by absorbing external light and reflecting the absorbed external light off internal surfaces of the substantially planar substrate such that the reflected light is emitted from the substantially planar substrate via the outside edge in longer wavelengths than when the external light was absorbed;

printing an opaque field to a portion of a first surface of the substantially planar substrate such that the opaque field directly borders a length of a first side of the outside edge, the opaque field extending continuously inwardly from the length of the first side of the outside edge of the substantially planar substrate a distance greater than a thickness of the substantially planar substrate to enhance an edge-glow characteristic of the substantially planar substrate by substantially preventing emission of light reflected off internal surfaces of the substantially planar substrate through the portion of the first surface of the substantially planar substrate printed with the opaque field such that an amount of light reflected off internal surfaces of the substantially planar substrate and emitted out the length of the first side of the outside edge is increased;

applying a clear laminate over the opaque field and the first surface of the substantially planar substrate;

printing raised indicia on an external surface of the clear laminate, the external surface of the clear laminate being positioned opposite the substantially planar substrate such that the second surface of the substantially planar surface remains structurally undisturbed and substantially planar after the printing of the raised indicia, wherein the raised indicia are tactilely perceivable by a bearer of the transaction card when the bearer touches the external surface of the laminate;

printing a masked area to a second surface of the substantially planar substrate, the second surface being positioned opposite the first surface of the substantially planar substrate, and the masked area being substantially opaque; and

applying an account identifier to the masked area of the transaction card, wherein the account identifier links the transaction card to an account or record.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein printing the masked area and applying the account identifier to the masked area are performed such that the masked area extends beyond an outer periphery of the account identifier.

14. A stored-value card linked to a record or account having a value available for application toward one of a purchase and a use of one or more of goods and services, the stored-value card comprising:

a substantially planar substrate being one of transparent and translucent, including a fluorescent dye, and defining a first surface and an outer edge, wherein the outer edge extends along an entire length of the substantially planar substrate,

an account identifier coupled with the substantially planar substrate to link the substantially planar substrate to the record or account, and

a substantially continuous opaque field applied to a portion of the first surface of the substantially planar substrate directly abutting the outer edge along at least the entire length of the substantially planar substrate and extending inwardly from the outer edge at least a distance greater than a thickness of the substantially planar substrate to enhance, via visual differentiation, an edge-glow characteristic of the outer edge, wherein;

the edge-glow characteristic results from the fluorescent dye absorbing ultraviolet light from an environment, reflecting at least some of the absorbed ultraviolet light off internal surfaces of the substantially planar substrate, and emitting the reflected ultraviolet light through the outer edge of the substantially planar member in longer wavelengths than when the ultraviolet light was absorbed from the environment,

the substantially continuous opaque field enhances the edge glow characteristic of the outer edge by substantially preventing the absorbed ultraviolet light reflected off internal surfaces of the substantially planar substrate from exiting the substantially planar substrate through the portion of the first surface of the substantially planar substrate having the substantially continuous opaque field applied thereto such that an amount of the absorbed ultraviolet light reflected off internal surfaces of the substantially planar substrate and emitted through the outer edge along at least the entire length of the substantially planar substrate is increased relative to a remainder of the substantially planar substrate, and

raised indicia applied to the first surface of the substantially planar substrate to form tactile features that are perceivable by a bearer of the stored-value card when the bearer touches the first surface, wherein a second surface of the substantially planar substrate is defined opposite the first surface and remains free from structural alteration by the tactile features.

15. The stored-value card of claim 14, in combination with a carrier supporting and coupled to the stored-value card, the carrier and the stored-value card collectively defining a stored-value card assembly.