Presentation instrument package arrangement

• US 8,430,298 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2006
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Union
• Original Assignee: Western Union
• Inventors: Martinez, Larry A., Cameron, Jennifer R., Bowden, Adam L., Aquino, Angelita I.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US11/353,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20070187488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,633 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/435, 235/379, 235/380, 235/492, 235/493, 235/486, 235/487, 229/71, 705/14.3, 705/41, 206/459.5, 206/461
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

A presentation instrument package is constructed of a carrier having a package identifier. The package defines an enclosure into which is held a presentation instrument having a human readable presentation instrument identifier such that the human readable information is hidden from view.

Claims

1. A presentation instrument package comprising:

a carrier having a package identifier, the package identifier comprising a barcode, and the barcode comprising an account identifier, a SKU number, a service fee charged at the point of purchase, and an activation amount representing a value attributable to an account associated with the account identifier, wherein the barcode is readable by a point of sale device to permit the account identifier, the SKU number and the activation amount to be transmitted, at the time of purchase of the presentation instrument at the point of sale device, along with confirmation of payment for the presentation instrument, to a host computer to place the account associated with the account identifier in a sold status; and

a presentation instrument comprising a presentation instrument body and a human readable presentation instrument identifier and an access code on the body, wherein the presentation instrument further includes a peel-off sticker removably coupled to the presentation instrument body, wherein the peel-off sticker includes instructions for activating the account associated with the account identifier by providing the presentation instrument identifier and the access code to the host computer, wherein the account associated with the account identifier is activated upon providing the presentation instrument identifier and access code to the host computer only if the account has been earlier placed in the sold status, and wherein the presentation instrument further includes a machine readable medium on the card body which includes the presentation instrument identifier;

wherein the presentation instrument is coupled to the carrier so as to hide the presentation instrument identifier from human view; and

wherein the presentation instrument is usable to make purchases by reading the presentation instrument identifier from the machine readable medium on the card body after the account has been both placed into the sold status and activated at the host computer using the presentation instrument identifier and the access code.

2. A package as in claim 1, wherein the barcode further comprises a UPC symbol, the UPC symbol including information selected from a group consisting of a dollar amount for the presentation instrument and a fee associated with the presentation instrument.

3. A package as in claim 2, wherein the machine readable medium comprises at least one of a barcode and a magnetic stripe having the presentation instrument identifier.

4. A package as in claim 1, wherein the human readable presentation instrument identifier is thermally printed on the body.

5. A package as in claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises at least one piece of a paper product.

6. A package as in claim 1, wherein the carrier defines an enclosure, and wherein the presentation instrument is disposed in the enclosure so as to be fully enclosed by the carrier.

7. A package as in claim 6, wherein the carrier further includes a flap formed by score lines that is openable by tearing the flap along the score lines to reveal at least a portion of the presentation instrument, and further comprising a set of terms and conditions that are coupled to an inner side of the flap such that the entire sheet of terms and conditions are coupled to the flap so as to be adjacent the presentation instrument when the flap is closed and so as to be entirely accessible for removal from the flap when the flap is opened.

8. A package as in claim 1, wherein the carrier includes an aperture to permit the carrier to be hung from a hook.

9. A package as in claim 1, wherein the carrier includes a personalization region where sender or recipient information may be written.

10. A presentation instrument package, comprising:

a carrier having a package identifier, the package identifier comprising one piece of machine readable data that includes a UPC symbol encoded to include an account identifier, a SKU number, an activation amount, and a separate service fee, wherein the carrier further defines an enclosure and an openable flap defined by score lines to provide access into the interior;

a presentation instrument comprising a presentation instrument body and a human readable presentation instrument identifier on the body and an access code, wherein the presentation instrument further includes a peel-off sticker removably coupled to the presentation instrument body, wherein the peel-off sticker includes instructions to use the presentation instrument identifier and access code for activating an account associated with the account identifier, and wherein the access code comprises a portion of the presentation instrument identifier and ensures proper input of the presentation instrument identifier during activation;

a sheet of terms and conditions coupled to an inner surface of the flap such that the entire sheet of terms and conditions are coupled to the flap so as to be adjacent to the presentation instrument when the flap is closed and so as to be entirely accessible for removal from the flap when the flap is opened;

wherein the presentation instrument is held within the enclosure so as to hide the presentation instrument identifier from human view.

11. A package as in claim 10, wherein the carrier comprises adjacent portions of card stock that define the enclosure.

12. A package as in claim 10, wherein the presentation instrument further includes a machine readable medium on the card body which includes the presentation instrument identifier.

13. A package as in claim 12, wherein the machine readable medium comprises at least one of a barcode and a magnetic stripe having the presentation instrument identifier.

14. A package as in claim 10, wherein the presentation instrument body comprises a rectangular piece of plastic.

15. A presentation instrument package comprising:

a carrier having a package identifier that comprises a machine readable symbol; and

a presentation instrument comprising a presentation instrument body and a human readable presentation instrument identifier and a human readable access code on the body, wherein the presentation instrument further includes a machine readable medium on the body which includes the presentation instrument identifier;

wherein;

the presentation instrument is coupled to the carrier so as to hide the presentation instrument identifier from human view; and

the machine readable symbol contains a product code, a service fee charged to purchase the presentation instrument, an activation amount representing a value attributable to the presentation instrument, and an account identifier, wherein the machine readable symbol is readable by a point of sale device to permit the account identifier, the activation amount and the product code to be transmitted to a host computer, along with confirmation of payment for the presentation instrument, to place an account associated with the account identifier in an sold state; and

the account identifier is associated with the presentation instrument identifier in a database such that the presentation instrument identifier can be determined from the account identifier;

wherein the presentation instrument further includes a peel-off sticker removably coupled to the presentation instrument body, wherein the peel-off sticker includes instructions for activating the account associated with the account identifier by providing the presentation instrument identifier and the access code to the host computer;

wherein the access code comprises a portion of the presentation instrument identifier;

wherein providing the access code ensures proper input of the presentation instrument identifier during activation; and

wherein the presentation instrument is usable to make purchases by reading the presentation instrument identifier from the machine readable medium on the card body only after the account has been both placed into the sold status and activated at the host computer using the presentation instrument identifier and the access code.

16. A presentation instrument package as in claim 15, wherein the product code is a SKU number.

17. A presentation instrument package as in claim 15, wherein the product code is a UPC symbol.