Transaction card package assembly having enhanced security

• US 8,251,285 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackhawk Network Incorporated (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Blackhawk Network Incorporated (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Kingsborough, Donald, Roche, Talbott, Petersen, Amie, Llach, Teri
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US12/794,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20100237153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/375, 235/449, 235/383
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/045 Multi-part cards or sheets, i.e. combined with detachably mounted articles
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/40 with a foldable or removable part
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/08 Alphanumerical data
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/16 Bars or lines
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/20 characterised by a particular use or purpose
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/285 Gift cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/369 Magnetised or magnetisable materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/005 the record carrier comprising an arrangement to facilitate insertion into a holding device, e.g. an arrangement that makes the record carrier fit into an etui or a casing ticket holders A45C11/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03

Abstract

A transaction card package assembly comprising a transaction card connected to a first panel via a releasable interface, wherein the first panel is affixed to a second panel such that upon releasing the interface, the first panel remains affixed to the second panel and the transaction card is released from the package assembly.

Claims

1. A transaction card package assembly comprising:

a transaction card connected to a first panel via a first releasable interface, wherein the first panel is affixed to a second panel such that upon releasing the interface, the first panel remains affixed to the second panel and the transaction card is released from the package assembly;

a third panel connected to the transaction card via a second releasable interface; and

at least three unique identifiers thereon such that the transaction card may be activated at a point of sale by either a one-step or two-step activation process.

2. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one identifier is present on the transaction card or first panel and is visible through a window in the second panel.

3. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the three unique identifiers comprise a vendor product identification code contained an EAN/UCC-12 bar code, an issuer account code contained in a magnetic stripe or an issuer bar code, and a combination vendor product identification and issuer account code contained in an EAN/UCC-128 bar code.

4. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the first panel comprises an EAN/UCC-128 bar code and the transaction card comprises a magnetic stripe, an issuer bar code, or both.

5. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the third panel further comprises a magnetic stripe.

6. The package assembly of claim 5 wherein the magnetic stripe on the third panel contains an activation code for activating an account associated with the transaction card, wherein the activation code is not the same as the account number.

7. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the first releasable interface is a snap and break interface.

8. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the second releasable interface is a snap and break interface.

9. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the first releasable interface is a perforated interface.

10. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the second releasable interface is a perforated interface.

11. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the transaction card and the first panel comprise a molded sheet of plastic and the interface is a score or break line there between.

12. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the transaction card and the first panel comprise a rigid paper or cardboard and the interface is a series of perforations there between.

13. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the second panel is a rack hanger having an opening for receipt of a rack or shelf rod.

14. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein a width of the first panel is less than half a width of the transaction card.

15. The package assembly of claim 14 wherein a length and width of the rack hanger is greater than a length and width of the transaction card affixed to the first panel.

16. The package assembly of claim 13 further comprising a window such that information on the back of the transaction card, the first panel, or both is visible from the back of the rack hanger.

17. The package assembly of claim 16 wherein an EAN/UCC-128 bar code is located on the back of the first panel and is visible through the window.

18. The package assembly of claim 17 wherein the EAN/UCC-128 bar code spans the interface between the transaction card and the first panel, thereby providing a security code for the package assembly.

19. The package assembly of claim 17 wherein a numeric portion of the EAN/UCC-128 bar code spans the interface between the transaction card and the first panel, thereby providing a security code for the package assembly.

20. The package assembly of claim 1 further comprising a security code spanning the transaction card and the card holder such that upon removal of the transaction card from the card holder, the security code is broken and a portion of the security code is present on the transaction card and a portion of the security code is present on the card holder.

21. The package assembly of claim 20 wherein the security code is a unique sequence of letters, numbers, characters, symbols, pictures, designs, graphics, or combinations thereof.

22. The package assembly of claim 20 wherein the broken security code provides a visual indication of potentially fraudulent activity.

23. The package assembly of claim 20 wherein the broken security code provides a tactile indication of potentially fraudulent activity.

24. A transaction card package assembly comprising:

a transaction card connected to a first panel via a first releasable interface, wherein the first panel is affixed to a second panel such that upon releasing the interface, the first panel remains affixed to the second panel and the transaction card is released from the package assembly; and

a third panel connected to the transaction card via a second releasable interface.

25. The package assembly of claim 24 wherein the third panel further comprises a magnetic stripe.

26. The package assembly of claim 25 wherein the magnetic stripe on the third panel contains an activation code for activating an account associated with the transaction card, wherein the activation code is not the same as the account number.

27. The package assembly of claim 24 wherein the first releasable interface is a snap and break interface.

28. The package assembly of claim 24 wherein the second releasable interface is a snap and break interface.

29. The package assembly of claim 24 wherein the first releasable interface is a perforated interface.

30. The package assembly of claim 24 wherein the second releasable interface is a perforated interface.

31. The package assembly of claim 24 wherein the transaction card and the first panel comprise a molded sheet of plastic and the interface is a score or break line there between.

32. The package assembly of claim 24 wherein the transaction card and the first panel comprise a rigid paper or cardboard and the interface is a series of perforations there between.

33. The package assembly of claim 24 wherein the second panel is a rack hanger having an opening for receipt of a rack or shelf rod.

34. The package assembly of claim 24 wherein a width of the first panel is less than half a width of the transaction card.

35. The package assembly of claim 33 wherein a length and width of the rack hanger is greater than a length and width of the transaction card affixed to the first panel.

36. The package assembly of claim 33 further comprising a window such that information on the back of the transaction card, the first panel, or both is visible from the back of the rack hanger.

37. The package assembly of claim 36 wherein an EAN/UCC-128 bar code is located on the back of the first panel and is visible through the window.

38. The package assembly of claim 37 wherein the EAN/UCC-128 bar code spans the interface between the transaction card and the first panel, thereby providing a security code for the package assembly.

39. The package assembly of claim 38 wherein a numeric portion of the EAN/UCC-128 bar code spans the interface between the transaction card and the first panel, thereby providing a security code for the package assembly.

40. The package assembly of claim 24 further comprising a security code spanning the transaction card and the card holder such that upon removal of the transaction card from the card holder, the security code is broken and a portion of the security code is present on the transaction card and a portion of the security code is present on the card holder.

41. The package assembly of claim 40 wherein the security code is a unique sequence of letters, numbers, characters, symbols, pictures, designs, graphics, or combinations thereof.

42. The package assembly of claim 40 wherein the broken security code provides a visual indication of potentially fraudulent activity.

43. The package assembly of claim 40 wherein the broken security code provides a tactile indication of potentially fraudulent activity.

44. The package assembly of claim 24 further comprising at least three unique identifiers thereon such that the transaction card may be activated at a point of sale by either a one-step or two-step activation process.

45. The package assembly of claim 44 wherein at least one identifier is present on the transaction card or first panel and is visible through a window in the second panel.

46. The package assembly of claim 45 wherein the three unique identifiers comprise a vendor product identification code contained an EAN/UCC-12 bar code, an issuer account code contained in a magnetic stripe or an issuer bar code, and a combination vendor product identification and issuer account code contained in an EAN/UCC-128 bar code.

47. The package assembly of claim 24 wherein the first panel comprises an EAN/UCC-128 bar code and the transaction card comprises a magnetic stripe, an issuer bar code, or both.

48. A transaction card package assembly comprising:

a transaction card connected to a first panel via a first releasable interface, wherein a width of the first panel is less than half a width of the transaction card, and wherein the first panel is affixed to a second panel such that upon releasing the interface, the first panel remains affixed to the second panel and the transaction card is released from the package assembly; and

a third panel connected to the transaction card via a second releasable interface.

49. The package assembly of claim 48 further comprising a security code spanning the transaction card and the card holder such that upon removal of the transaction card from the card holder, the security code is broken and a portion of the security code is present on the transaction card and a portion of the security code is present on the card holder.

50. The package assembly of claim 49 wherein the broken security code provides a tactile indication of potentially fraudulent activity.

51. The package assembly of claim 48 further comprising at least three unique identifiers thereon such that the transaction card may be activated at a point of sale by either a one-step or two-step activation process.

52. The package assembly of claim 51 wherein at least one identifier is present on the transaction card or first panel and is visible through a window in the second panel.

53. The package assembly of claim 52 wherein the three unique identifiers comprise a vendor product identification code contained an EAN/UCC-12 bar code, an issuer account code contained in a magnetic stripe or an issuer bar code, and a combination vendor product identification and issuer account code contained in an EAN/UCC-128 bar code.

54. The package assembly of claim 48 wherein the third panel further comprises a magnetic stripe.

55. The package assembly of claim 53 wherein the magnetic stripe on the third panel contains an activation code for activating an account associated with the transaction card, wherein the activation code is not the same as the account number.