Removably securing small contactless payment card to electronic device

• US 8,336,785 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Phillips, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M
• Assistant Examiner(s): STANFORD, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US13/269,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20120116903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2425/00 Cards, e.g. identity cards, credit cards
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/142 Laminating of sheets, panels or inserts, e.g. stiffeners, by wrapping in at least one outer layer, or inserting into a preformed pocket
• 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: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

A holder for a contactless payment card includes a substrate that has a first side and a second side that is opposite to the first side. There is an adhesive material on the first side of the substrate. The holder also includes at least one sheet that is joined to the substrate to form a pouch. The second side of the substrate faces the pouch. The pouch is shaped and sized to securely hold a contactless integrated circuit identification card that has no more than half of a planar extent defined for the standard ID-1 identification card.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

attaching a holder, by an adhesive layer formed on the holder, to an electronic device, wherein the holder includes a shield which includes (i) a pair of members and (ii) a contactless integrated circuit (IC) identification card within a pouch formed in the holder in order to secure the contactless IC identification card to the electronic device;

wherein the contactless IC identification card includes a card-shaped body, an antenna embedded in the card-shaped body, and an IC embedded in the card-shaped body and coupled to the antenna; and

moving the two members relative to each other between a first configuration and a second configuration, the two members, when in the first configuration, positioned to block signals from being received by and/or transmitted from the antenna of the contactless IC identification card;

the two members, when in the second configuration, positioned to partially overlap each other so as to unmask the antenna of the contactless IC identification card, thereby allowing the antenna to receive and/or transmit signals, wherein a degree of overlap between the two members is substantially greater in the second configuration as compared to the first configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the contactless IC identification card is a payment card.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

bringing the electronic device, with the contactless IC identification card secured thereto, into proximity with a reader component of a point of sale terminal in order to pay for a purchase transaction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the contactless IC identification card has a planar extent that is no more than half of a planar extent defined for a standard ID-1 identification card.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the holder substantially conceals all symbols printed on the contactless IC identification card.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile telephone, a portable music player, or a portable digital assistant (PDA).

7. A holder for a contactless integrated circuit (IC) identification card, the contactless IC identification card including an antenna, the holder comprising:

structure for defining a slot that is shaped and sized to receive the contactless IC identification card; and

a shield which includes a pair of members, the members supported on the structure so as to be movable relative to each other between a first configuration and a second configuration;

the two members, when in the first configuration, positioned to block signals from being received by and/or transmitted from the antenna of a contactless IC identification card located in the slot;

the two members, when in the second configuration, positioned to partially overlap each other so as to unmask the antenna of the contactless IC identification card located in the slot, thereby allowing the antenna to receive and/or transmit signals, wherein a degree of overlap between the two members is substantially greater in the second configuration as compared to the first configuration.

8. The holder of claim 7, wherein the structure has an adhesive formed on an outer surface of the structure for attaching the holder to an electronic device.

9. An apparatus comprising:

an electronic device that includes a housing;

a holder attached by adhesive to an outer surface of the housing of the electronic device; and

a contactless integrated circuit (IC) identification card inserted in the holder;

wherein the contactless IC identification card includes a card-shaped body, an antenna embedded in the card-shaped body, and an IC embedded in the card-shaped body and coupled to the antenna, and further wherein the holder includes a shield comprising two members, the members movable relative to each other between a first configuration and a second configuration;

the two members, when in the first configuration, positioned to block signals from being received by and/or transmitted from the antenna of the contactless IC identification card;

the two members, when in the second configuration, positioned to partially overlap each other so as to unmask the antenna of the contactless IC identification card, thereby allowing the antenna to receive and/or transmit signals, wherein a degree of overlap between the members is substantially greater in the second configuration as compared to the first configuration.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the electronic device is a mobile telephone, a portable music player, or a portable digital assistant (PDA).

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the contactless IC identification card is a payment card.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the contactless IC identification card has a planar extent that is no more than half of a planar extent defined for a standard ID-1 identification card.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the holder substantially conceals all symbols printed on the contactless IC identification card.