Stored-value card assembly with a plurality of stored-value cards

• US 20060186196A1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Dennis R., Schultz, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,614,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/18 Ticket-holders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/229 Hierarchy of users of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A stored-value card assembly includes a plurality of stored-value cards and a package. The plurality of stored-value cards each include an account identifier linking the respective stored-value card to a different financial account or record. The package is configured to maintain the plurality of stored-value cards such that the account identifier of each of two of the plurality of stored-value cards is visible for scanning. Other stored-value card assemblies and associated methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A stored-value card assembly, comprising:

a plurality of stored-value cards each including an account identifier linking a respective stored-value card to a different financial account or record; and

a package configured to maintain the plurality of stored-value cards such that the account identifier of each of two of the plurality of stored-value cards is visible for scanning.

2. The stored-value card assembly of claim 1, wherein the package includes a sleeve at least partially enclosing the plurality of stored-value cards and defining two apertures configured to respectively expose the account identifiers of the two stored-value cards.

3. The stored-value card assembly of claim 2, wherein the package includes a wrapper coupling each of the plurality of stored-value cards to the other of the plurality of stored-value cards, and wherein the wrapper is at least partially enclosed in the sleeve.

4. The stored-value card assembly of claim 1, wherein the package includes a wrapper coupling each of the plurality of stored value cards to the other of the plurality of stored-value cards.

5. The stored-value card assembly of claim 4, wherein the wrapper maintains the plurality of stored-value cards in a linear array.

6. The stored-value card assembly of claim 4, wherein the wrapper defines a plurality of pouches, and each of the plurality of pouches encloses one of the plurality of stored-value cards.

7. The stored-value card assembly of claim 4, wherein the wrapper includes a tear area configured to be torn to open at least one of the plurality of pouches and allow removal of the stored-value card therefrom.

8. The stored-value card assembly of claim 4, wherein the wrapper includes a tear area between each of the stored-value cards to facilitate removal of one or more of the stored-value cards from the linear array.

9. The stored-value card assembly of claim 4, wherein the wrapper is folded in alternating directions to stack the stored-value cards.

10. The stored-value card assembly of claim 9, wherein the account identifiers of two of the stored-value cards are viewable from atop the stack of stored-value cards.

11. The stored-value card assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an external wrapper enclosing the package, wherein the external wrapper is one of translucent and transparent.

12. The stored-value card assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of backers maintained within the package, wherein each of the plurality of backers are configured to support one of the plurality of stored-value cards for presentation to a recipient.

13. The stored-value card assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of greeting cards each configured to accompany one of the plurality of stored-value cards for presentation to a recipient, wherein the plurality of greeting cards are maintained within the housing.

14. The stored-value card assembly of claim 1, wherein the account identifiers of the plurality of stored-value cards are in a range, and wherein all of the plurality of stored-value cards are configured to be activated by scanning a first account identifier and a last account identifier in the range of account identifiers.

15. The stored-value card assembly of claim 14, wherein the first account identifier is included on a first stored-value card and the last account identifier is included on a last stored-value card of the plurality of stored-value cards.

16. A financial transaction card product, comprising:

a plurality of financial transaction cards each including means for linking the respective financial transaction card to a different financial account or record,

means for maintaining the plurality of financial transaction cards as a unit, the means for maintaining including means for exposing two of the means for linking; and

means for activating the plurality of financial transaction cards within the unit.

17. The financial transaction card product of claim 16, further comprising:

means for coupling the plurality of financial transaction cards into a chain of financial transaction cards.

18. The financial transaction card product of claim 16, wherein the means for activating the plurality of financial transaction cards within the package includes means for activating a range of financial transaction cards.

19. A method of activating a plurality of stored-value cards, the method comprising:

providing a stored-value card assembly including a plurality of stored-value cards including a first stored-value card and a last stored-value card, each of the plurality of stored-value cards including an account identifier linking the respective stored-value card to a financial account or record, and wherein the account identifiers are a sequential range of account identifiers;

entering the account identifier of the first stored-value card;

entering the account identifier of the last stored-value card; and

activating the plurality of stored-value cards based on the account identifier of the first stored-value card and the account identifier of the last stored-value card.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

entering an expected number of stored-value cards in the stored-value card assembly;

wherein activating the plurality of stored-value cards includes;

comparing the account identifier of the first stored-value card to the account identifier of the second stored-value card to determine a calculated number of stored-value cards in the stored-value card assembly;

comparing the expected number to the calculated number; and

activating the plurality of stored-value cards if the expect number is equal to the calculated number.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

entering a monetary value to be added to each financial account or record linked to the plurality of stored-value cards upon activation of the plurality of stored-value cards.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of stored value cards are maintained in a housing, and wherein entering the account identifier of the first stored-value card includes scanning the account identifier of the first stored-value card through the housing, and entering the account identifier of the last stored-value card includes scanning the account identifier of the last stored-value card through a second aperture in the housing.