Foldable transaction card

• US 20070158435A1
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Gandel, Priscilla, Lasch, Ellen, Webb, Lisa
• Granted Patent: US 7,398,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/321 combined with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/323 with key hangers
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/042 Foldable cards or sheets B42D15/045 and B42D15/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/02 characterised by the selection of materials, e.g. to avoid wear during transport through the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06196 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0719 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for application selection, e.g. an acceleration sensor or a set of radio buttons application selection on smart cards using pure software control, see G07F7/10

Abstract

A transaction card having one or more folds therein to provide a compact and easily stored transaction card is provided. Moreover, a foldable transaction card having one or more holes or apertures therein for holding a keychain, or other device for attaching the transaction card to another item, such as a set of keys, a wallet, or other item is provided. Other embodiments include spring-loaded clips on the foldable transaction cards and protective sleeves, housings or cases for full-sized and smaller-sized cards. In addition, methods of making foldable transaction cards are provided.

Claims

1. A foldable transaction card comprising:

a transaction card comprising at least one fold line for folding the transaction card wherein said transaction card comprises a folded state and an unfolded state.

2. The foldable transaction card of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one aperture in the transaction card for holding a securing means to the transaction card.

3. The foldable transaction card of claim 2 wherein said securing means is a ring.

4. The foldable transaction card of claim 1 further comprising:

a track disposed in said transaction card for holding said securing means.

5. The foldable transaction card of claim 1 further comprising:

a second fold line in said transaction card for folding the transaction card a second time.

6. The foldable transaction card of claim 1 wherein said fold line comprises a plurality of apertures contained therein.

7. The transaction card of claim 1 wherein said fold line is disposed parallel to said edge of said transaction card.

8. The transaction card of claim 1 wherein said fold line is disposed at an angle greater than about 0°

and less than about 90°

relative to an edge of said transaction card.

9. The transaction card of claim 5 wherein said first fold line and said second fold line are disposed parallel to an edge of said transaction card.

10. The transaction card of claim 5 wherein said first fold line and said second fold line are each disposed at an angle greater than about 0°

and less than about 90°

relative to an edge of said transaction card.

11. The transaction card of claim 5 wherein said first fold line and said second fold line are disposed perpendicular to each other.

12. The transaction card of claim 1 further comprising:

means for holding said transaction card in the folded state.

13. The transaction card of claim 11 wherein said means for holding said transaction card in the folded position comprises a clip.

14. The transaction card of claim 11 wherein said means for holding said transaction card in the folded state comprises a snap.

15. The transaction card of claim 11 wherein said means for holding said transaction card in the folded state comprises a ring.

16. The transaction card of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing surrounding said transaction card wherein said housing comprises at least one fold line for folding said housing when said transaction card is disposed within the housing.

17. The transaction card of claim 16 wherein said transaction card is removable from said housing.

18. The transaction card of claim 1 further comprising:

electronic storage means for storing information on said transaction card that is readable with an electronic storage means reader.

19. The transaction card of claim 18 wherein said electronic storage means is a magnetic stripe.

20. The transaction card of claim 18 wherein said electronic storage means is a microchip.