Single unit phone card assembly and method of producing same

• US 5,785,355 A
• Filed: 11/19/1996
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bertek Systems, Inc. (Identification Multi Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kobel, Inc.
• Inventors: Main, George W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEWART, TISA L
• Application Number:
  US08/752,655
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 283/108, 283/56, 283/102, 428/40.1, 428/41.7, 428/41.8, 428/42.1, 428/42.3, 428/201
• US Class Current: 283/108
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/0093 Sheet materials
• 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 25/20 characterised by a particular use or purpose
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/46 using pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/901 Concealed data
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1057 Subsequent to assembly of laminae
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1064 Partial cutting [e.g., grooving or incising]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1069 Bonding face to face of laminae cut from single sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/108 Flash, trim or excess removal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1082 Partial cutting bonded sandwich [e.g., grooving or incising]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1085 One web only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1087 Continuous longitudinal slitting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a card structure which is a single unit phone card assembly which provides an area to provide variable information which will maintain the variable information in a hidden area until the information is exposed by the removal of an overlamination and allow the card to be detached to be used as a phone card. The phone card is comprised of two layers of material upon which a variable image printed message is applied. A pattern of silicone is positioned on the face of the top sheet and a pattern of varnish is positioned on the bottom of the top sheet. Adhesive is then used on the face of the base sheet and the sheets are slit and crossed over and laminated together. A series of die cuts and laminations are done to finish the card and extra material is stripped away. In use, the consumer will receive the card as a single unit and peel away the overlamination in order to remove the card to reveal the necessary information to make the telephone call. No additional materials or protections are necessary. A method of producing the multiple layered cards is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A single unit phone card assembly, for use in situations that require the use of a card that can be peeled apart to reveal additional information to the user without using additional materials to deliver the single unit phone card assembly to the user, comprising:

multiple sheets of material;

said multiple sheets of material having a primary sheet containing a face side and a rear side, said face side and said rear side having a plurality of printable areas for variable image printing of any desired information such as dialing information and code numbers or the like;

said multiple sheets of material further having a secondary sheet containing a face side and a rear side, the face side and the rear side having a plurality of printable areas for variable image printing of any desired information such as dialing information and code numbers or the like;

release agent means positioned in predetermined areas on said face side of said primary sheet as desired;

a pattern of varnish positioned on said rear side of said primary sheet as desired;

attaching means positioned in predetermined areas on said face side of said secondary sheet;

said primary sheet having slits cut thereon;

said primary sheet and said secondary sheet comprising a single entity by being laminated together and transferring said attaching means of said secondary sheet to said primary sheet; and

a covering layer of material positioned over said single unit phone card assembly and laminated thereon.

2. A single unit phone card assembly, according to claim 1, wherein:

said multiple sheets of material comprises a document of cellulose construction; and

said multiple sheets of material further comprises a document of plastic construction.

3. A single unit phone card assembly, according to claim 1, wherein:

said release agent means comprises the use of a silicone layer positioned on said face side of said primary sheet as desired for permitting ease of removal of said primary sheet and said secondary sheet.

4. A single unit phone card assembly, according to claim 1, wherein:

said attaching means comprises the use of an adhesive on said face side of said secondary sheet as desired for holding of said multiple sheets together.

5. A single unit phone card assembly, according to claim 1, wherein:

said slits in said primary sheets comprise areas for permitting removal of material for revealing information to the user.

6. A single unit phone card assembly, according to claim 1, wherein:

said lamination of said primary and said secondary sheets comprises pressing said sheets together forming a single entity and transferring said attaching means from one sheet to another sheet.

7. A single unit phone card assembly, according to claim 1, wherein:

said covering layer of material comprises the use of a plastic film over said single unit phone card assembly to seal said single unit phone card assembly.