Credit/service card with expanded surface area

• US 5,503,434 A
• Filed: 08/12/1994
• Issued: 04/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert T. Gunn
• Original Assignee: Robert T. Gunn
• Inventors: Gunn, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, FRANCES CHIN
• Application Number:
  US08/290,341
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 283/99, 283/67, 283/100, 283/106, 283/900, 283/904
• US Class Current: 283/67
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/042 Foldable cards or sheets B42D15/045 and B42D15/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/40 with a foldable or removable part
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/23 Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/305 Associated digital information record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/309 Photographs
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/369 Magnetised or magnetisable materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/90 Medical record
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/904 Credit card

Abstract

A credit/service card with expanded surface area comprises a first card member, a second card member and a hinge connecting the two card members. The credit/service card also comprises a fastener for holding the first and second card member together when the credit/service card is in the closed position.

Claims

1. A method of using a credit/service card comprising:

a) providing a credit/service card with increased surface area which comprises a first card member and a second card member;

b) hinging the first card member to the second card member wherein in a closed position the first card member is releasably fastened to the second card member; and

c) using the credit/service card in a machine which reads conventional credit/service cards so as to read information from the card.

2. A method of using a credit/service card of claim 1 in which the card is used in a machine by scanning and reading magnetic information on the card.

3. A credit/service card comprising:

a first card member;

a second card member; and

a self-closing and self-securing hinge means connecting the first card member to the second card member.

4. The credit/service card of claim 3 wherein the first card member and second card member have a combined thickness in a closed position approximately equal to that of a conventional credit/service card.

5. The credit/service card of claim 3 wherein the self-closing and self-securing hinge means is formed from a shape memory plastic.

6. The credit/service card of claim 3 wherein the first card member, the second card member, and the self-closing and self-securing hinge means are all formed from a single piece of shape memory plastic.

7. The credit/service card of claim 3 wherein the first card member and the second card member have different thicknesses.

8. The credit/service card of claim 7 wherein the first card member has a thickness of about 20 mm and the second card member has a thickness of about 10 mm.

9. The credit/service card of claim 3 further comprising at least one additional card member attached at the hinge of the first card member to the second card member.

10. The credit/service card of claim 3 further comprising at least one additional card member attached to the first card member or the second card member or to an additional card member.

11. The credit/service card of claim 3 further comprising a means for housing and securing a photograph or identification means within a card member.

12. The credit/service card of claim 3 further comprising an identification means which includes a voice chip, a photograph chip, a finger- or other digit-print chip, or an eye or retina information chip for scanning.