Account application product, associated package and method for processing an associated application

• US 8,322,619 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Inventors: Schumann, Timothy D., Bowar, Jenna, Sullivan, Christopher, Holm, Maria S., McDougall, Rachell Ann, Choi, Kristin Watnemo
• Primary Examiner(s): Trail, Allyson
• Application Number:
  US12/572,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20100088168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/493, 235/487, 235/494, 705/14.17, 705/35, 705/38
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/06 Arrangements on packages concerning bar-codes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 27/00 Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of contents with shock-absorbing properties B65D81/03; letter-cards B42D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/366 and forming one compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/22 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/00 Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials B65D71/00, B65D83/00 take precedence; hand implements or travelling equipment A45C; cosmetic or toiletry equipment A45D; packages for surgical knives, scalpels or blades therefor A61B17/3215; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; paint cans B44D3/12; oil cans F16N3/04; containers for carrying small arms F41C33/06; packaging of ammunition or explosive charges F42B39/00; containers for record carriers, specially adapted for cooperation with the recording or reproducing apparatus G11B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

An account application product includes a package, an account identifier and a terms sheet. The package includes a first panel extending from a free edge to a first fold line, a second panel extending away from the first fold line to a second fold line, and a third panel extending away from the second fold line. The first panel is folded back along the first fold line toward a first surface of the second panel to define a storage area between the first panel and the second panel. The third panel is folded forward along the second fold line toward a second surface of the second panel. The account identifier indicates an account associated with the account application product and is configured to be machine readable. The terms sheet is selectively stored in the storage area and includes printed terms for the account. Associated packages and method are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An account application product comprising:

a package comprising;

a first panel extending from a free edge to a first fold line,

a second panel extending from the first fold line away from the first panel to a second fold line, and

a third panel extending from the second fold line away from the second panel,

wherein the first panel is folded back along the first fold line toward a first surface of the second panel to define a storage area between the first panel and the second panel, and the third panel is folded forward along the second fold line toward a second surface of the second panel;

an account identifier indicating an account associated with the account application product, wherein the account identifier is configured to be machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal; and

a terms sheet selectively stored in the storage area, wherein the terms sheet includes printed terms for the account associated with the account application product;

wherein the account identifier is included on the terms sheet, the free edge defines a cutout extending into the first panel, and the terms sheet is positioned within the storage area such that the account identifier aligns with and is visible through the cutout.

2. The account application product of claim 1, wherein the account identifier is one of a bar code, a magnetic strip, and a radio frequency identification device.

3. The account application product of claim 1, wherein the account identifier is configured to automatically initiate an electronic application process at the point-of-sale terminal when the account identifier is read by the point-of-sale terminal.

4. The account application product of claim 1, wherein the third panel defines a cavity spaced from and opposite the second fold line.

5. The account application product of claim 1, wherein the account is a credit card account.

6. An account application product comprising:

a package comprising;

a first panel extending from a free edge to a first fold line,

a second panel extending from the first fold line away from the first panel to a second fold line, and

a third panel extending from the second fold line away from the second panel,

wherein the first panel is folded back along the first fold line toward a first surface of the second panel to define a storage area between the first panel and the second panel, and the third panel is folded forward along the second fold line toward a second surface of the second panel;

an account identifier indicating an account associated with the account application product, wherein the account identifier is configured to be machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal; and

a terms sheet selectively stored in the storage area, wherein the terms sheet includes printed terms for the account associated with the account application product;

wherein the third panel defines a cavity spaced from and opposite the second fold line, and the opening of the storage area and an opening of the cavity extend in directions substantially perpendicular to one another.

7. An account application product comprising:

a package comprising;

a first panel extending from a free edge to a first fold line,

a second panel extending from the first fold line away from the first panel to a second fold line, and

a third panel extending from the second fold line away from the second panel,

wherein the first panel is folded back along the first fold line toward a first surface of the second panel to define a storage area between the first panel and the second panel, and the third panel is folded forward along the second fold line toward a second surface of the second panel;

an account identifier indicating an account associated with the account application product, wherein the account identifier is configured to be machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal; and

a terms sheet selectively stored in the storage area, wherein the terms sheet includes printed terms for the account associated with the account application product;

wherein;

the third panel defines a cavity spaced from and opposite the second fold line,

the third panel defines a first portion extending from the second fold line, a second portion extending from the first portion opposite the second fold line, and a third portion extending from the second portion opposite the first portion, and

the third portion is folded relative to the second portion to define the cavity between the second portion and the third portion.

8. The account application product of claim 7, wherein a tab extends from the third portion opposite the second portion, the tab is folded relative to the third portion and is coupled directly to the second portion.

9. The account application product of claim 7, wherein the cavity extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to an extension of the storage area.

10. A package for an account application, the package comprising:

a substantially planar panel;

a pocket defining an opening, which is accessible from a first surface of the substantially planar panel, and a chamber longitudinally extending from the opening;

a flap coupled with the substantially planar panel along a fold line, the flap being folded with respect to the substantially planar panel along the fold line to extend substantially directly over a second surface of the substantially planar panel, wherein the second side of the substantially planar panel is opposite the first surface, the flap defines a sleeve opposite the fold line, and the sleeve defines a longitudinally extending opening and a cavity extending laterally from the opening.

11. The package of claim 10, wherein the sleeve is coupled to a remainder of the flap along a perforated line such that the sleeve is readily removable from the remainder of the flap without the use of tools.

12. The package of claim 10, wherein the sleeve is sized similarly to a credit card.

13. The package of claim 10, wherein the substantially planar panel is a first panel, the package comprises a second panel coupled to the first panel opposite the flap, and the second panel is folded over the first surface of the first panel to define the pocket such that the chamber is defined between the first panel and the second panel.

14. The package of claim 13, wherein the second panel is shorter than the first panel such that the opening to the pocket is spaced from the fold line between the first panel and the flap.

15. The package of claim 10, wherein the second panel defines an edge opposite the first panel, the edge at least partially defines the opening, and the edge defines a cutout extending into the second panel.

16. The package of claim 15, wherein the cutout extends along over half of a lateral width of the edge.

17. The package of claim 10, in combination with a booklet of terms associated with a credit card account, the booklet including an account identifier associated with the credit card account, wherein the booklet is placed within the pocket such that the account identifier is accessible to be read by a point-of-sale terminal while the booklet is placed in the pocket.

18. The package of claim 17, wherein the account identifier includes a code configured to instruct the point-of-sale terminal to begin an electronic application process for the credit card account.

19. A method of promoting and processing an account application, the method comprising:

providing a product including a package, account terms and a machine-readable identifier, the account terms are selectively maintained within a pouch defined by the package and indicate terms associated with an individual financial account, and the machine-readable identifier identifies the individual financial account and includes data configured to substantially automatically initiate an electronic application process at a point-of-sale terminal when the machine-readable identifier is read by the point-of-sale terminal; and

displaying the product in a retail display in proximity to other for-sale merchandise.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing the point-of-sale terminal configured to substantially automatically initiate the electronic application process when the point-of-sale terminal reads the machine-readable identifier.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein providing the product includes defining the pouch on a first side of a substantially planar member of the package and defining a sleeve on a second side of the substantially planar member, and the second side is opposite the first side.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein providing the product includes providing the pouch to define a pouch opening and extend away from the pouch opening in a first direction, the sleeve defines a sleeve opening and extends away from the sleeve opening in a second direction, and the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein providing the product includes defining the sleeve near a first end of a flap, wherein the second end of the flap is coupled to the substantially planar member such that the flap is configured to rotate relative to the substantially planar member.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the financial account is a credit card account.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein providing the product includes providing the machine-readable identifier on the account terms in a position allowing the machine-readable identifier to be viewed while the account terms are in the pouch.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein displaying the product includes promoting an incentive for applying for the individual financial account.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein providing the product includes providing the package folded from a blank formed from a single contiguous piece of material.

28. A method of providing and processing an account application, the method comprising:

receiving an application product from a consumer at a point-of-sale terminal within a retail store, the application product including a listing of terms associated with a financial account;

reading a machine-readable identifier from the application product at the point-of-sale terminal;

substantially automatically initiating an electronic application process for the financial account following reading the machine-readable identifier without providing additional prompting to the point-of-sale terminal;

consulting one or more databases to determine information about the consumer;

determining whether to approve the consumer for the financial account; and

communicating results from determining whether to approve the consumer to the consumer.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the application product includes a package defining a pocket, and reading the machine-readable identifier includes reading the machine-readable identifier from the listing of terms while the listing of terms is maintained within the pocket of the package.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the package additionally includes a sleeve, the method further comprising:

providing the consumer with a temporary card associated with the financial account and instructing the consumer that the temporary card can be placed in the sleeve for safe keeping.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein providing the consumer with the temporary card includes printing the temporary card at the point-of-sale terminal.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising gathering personal information from the consumer at the point-of-sale terminal.

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising displaying the application product near for-sale merchandise within the retail store prior to receiving the application product at the point-of-sale terminal.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising tracking where in the retail store the application product was displayed in the retail store, wherein tracking is performed after reading the machine-readable identifier at the point-of-sale terminal.