AU2007100981A4 - Tamper-proof package for a card - Google Patents

Description

02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 11:56:22 a.mn. 09-10-2007 3/16 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 (Cth) AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT (ORIGINAL) Invention Title: TAMPER-PROOF PACKAGE FOR A CARD The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: COMS ID No: ARCS-163976 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:59 Date 2007-10-09 02 925686999 Blake Dawson Waldron1:532m.0-0207 46 11:56:32 a.m. 09-10-2007 4/16 203026455_1 17- 2 c~Kl TAMPER-PROOF PACKAGE FOR A CARD o FIELD OF THE INVENTION o The present invention broadly relates to a tamper-proof package for a card.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 00 Gift cards are typically attached to a piece of cardboard and then displayed at a point of 0 sale.

o SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a tamper-proof package for a card, the package comprising: three superimposed sheets fixed relative to one another, one of the sheets having a first flap portion covering a second flap portion of another of the sheets, the second flap portion substantially covering a card receiving surface of the remaining sheet, each of the flap portions being secured to their respective sheet by breakable or tearable fastening means.

Preferably the breakable or tearable fastening means include a pair of opposing perimeter sections of each of the flap portions arranged to promote tearing along each of the sections.

More preferably each of the perimeter sections include a line of perforations.

Preferably the first and second flap portions each include hinge means. More preferably the hinge means of the first flap portion and the hinge means of the second flap portion are located at or adjacent opposing edges of the card receiving surface. Even more preferably the hinge means include a fold line.

Preferably the card receiving surface includes attachment means being adapted to detachably secure the card. Even more preferably the attachment means includes adhesive.

Preferably the card is electronically linked to an account. More preferably the card is an unembossed card.

COMS ID No: ARCS-163976 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:59 Date 2007-10-09 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waidron1:556m 090-0756 11: 56:56 a.m. 09-10-2007 5/16 203026455_1 1 3 Preferably the second flap portion substantial covers the card. More preferably the first flap portion fully covers the card. Even more preferably the second flap portion fully covers the card.

Preferably the three superimposed sheets fixed relative to each other are fixed by adhesive placed between the sheets. More preferably the adhesive prevents separation of the sheets 00 allowing access to the card.I o Preferably one of the flap portions includes a tag member arranged to engage a slit formed in the other of the flap portions for closure, of the superimposed sheets.

Cl According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a blank for a tamper-proof package for a card, the blank comprising: three connected sheets, one of the sheets being a central sheet having a card receiving surface, the other two of said sheets each having a flap portion and being connected to opposing edges of the central sheet via respective of a pair of fold lines arranged for folding each of the flap portions over the card receiving surface.

Preferably the package includes a magnetic strip. More preferably the package also includes a barcode.

Preferably the package includes an OCR indicator printed on the card receiving surfacc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the invention a preferred embodiment of a tamper-proof package for a card will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the front face of one embodiment of a tamper-proof package for a card according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of the package of figure 1 with a flap open;, Figure 3 is a plan view of the embodiments of figures 1 and 2 with a second flap open to reveal the card; COMS ID No: ARCS-163976 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:59 Date 2007-10-09 02 925686999 Blake Dawson Waidron 11:57: 19 a.m. 09-10-2007 6/16 203026455_1 4 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the opened package of figure 3 with the flaps partially U closed; and ON Figure 5 is a plan view of a back face of a cardboard blank that may be folded and glued to form the package of the preceding figures.

00 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION o Figure 1 shows a front face of one embodiment of a tamper-proof package for a card generally indicated by the numeral 10. The package 10 may be fabricated of three o superimposed sheets of cardboard fixed to each other with adhesive. The adhesive Cl prevents separation of the sheets allowing access to a card concealed by the package The visible front sheet 12 includes a first flap portion 14 that is secured to the sheet 12 by tearahie fastening means in the form of two lines of perforations 16, 18. The perforations 16, 18 are on opposing perimeter sections 16, 18 of the first flap portion 14. The lines of perforations 16, 18 promote tearing along the perimeter sections 16, 18.

The first flap portion 14 can be drawn to the left tearing the perforations 16, 18 to formn the first flap 14 as shown in figure 2. When the first flap 14 has been opened an intermediate sheet 22 having a second flap portion 32 is revealed. A back sheet 24 is also revealed, as is an end of a credit card 34 shown in phantom line detail.

As best shown in figure 2, the second flap portion 32 substantially covers the card 34 which is fixed to a card receiving surface 36 of the back sheet 24 by adhesive. In some embodiments the second flap portion 32 fully covers the card. The first flap portion 14 preferably fully covers the card. The card 34 is exposed when the second flap portion 32 is drawn to the right causing tearing along the tearable or breakable fastening means in the form of lines of perforations 38 and 40 as shown in figure 3.

The flaps 32 and 14 each have a hinge 28 and 30 respectively that are located at or adjacent opposing edges of the card receiving surface 36. Consequently, in this embodiment the flap 14 must be fully drawn before the flap 32 can be drawn for removal of the card 34 which greatly increases the card's security.

COMS ID No: ARCS-163976 Received by 113 Australia: Time (I-tm) 11:59 Date 2007-10-09 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waidron 1:74am 91-0771 11:57:47 a.m. 09-10-2007 7/16 203026455_1 As best seen in figure 2, the flap 14 includes a tag member 42 formed by a moon-shaped incision 4 in the sheet 14. The tag 42 can be inserted into the incision 46 on the othernfap 32 so that the package can be reclosed.

As shown in figure 5, the front 12, intermediate 22 and back sheets 24 may be sections of a single cardboard or paper blank 26. The blank is folded along fold lines 28 and 30 to 00 superimpose the sheets 12, 22 and 24. The fold lines 28, 30 act as a hinge for the flaps 14 and 32 which fold over the card receiving surface 36. The front sheet 12 may be marginally larger than the back sheet 24.

O The package 10 includes a magnetic stripe 48 which is visible in the view of the blank 26 in figure 5. The magnetic stipe 48 contains information accessible at the point of sale and readable by a magnetic strip reader. In some embodiments, the package may also have one or more barcodes printed on it.

The package 26 in the preferred embodiment includes an OCR indicator printed on the card receiving surface 36 which is obscured by the card and not visible until the package is opened.

The card is preferably electronically linked to an account, such as a credit account.

Now that a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be appreciated that it has at least the following advantages: 1 the card cannot be removed without opening the first flap completely and then opening the second flap completely, and thus the card cannot be removed if only the first flap was partially opened or cut; 2. tampering with the pack is clearly visible, especially an attempt to prise the package open; 3. the extensive gluing reinforces the need to compictely open both the first and second flaps before removing the card; 4. the pack can be fully opened and the card still remains attached to the package until prised off; COMS ID No: ARCs-163976 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:59 Date 2007-10-09 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 1 1: 58:09 a 09-10-2007 8116 203026455_1 6 c1 5. the pack is reclosable; 0 O 6. side gussets allow for easier opening of the flaps and reduce the stress of glue O points, and also allow for better alignment of the package once folded and glued; and 00 5 7. the card is not visible from the outside of the package.

SIt will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiment without o departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. For example, the flaps may not be fastened via perforated lines but by adhesive tape. The blank may be fabricated of any suitable sheet material, such as plastic sheet, and the package may be constructed of welded plastic sheet. The present embodiment is, therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

COMS ID No: ARCS-163976 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:59 Date 2007-10-09

Claims (3)

1. A tamper-proof package for a card, the package comprising: o three superimposed sheets fixed relative to one another, one of the sheets having a first flap portion covering a second flap portion of another of the sheets, 00 5 the second flap portion substantially covering a card receiving surface of the ON remaining sheet, each of the flap portions being secured to their respective sheet by o breakable or tearable fastening means. o2. A tamper-proof package for a card as defined by claim 1 wherein the breakable or Cl tearable fastening means include a pair of opposing perimeter sections of each of the flap portions are each arranged to promote tearing along each of the sections.

3. A tamper-proof package for a card as defined by any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second flap portions each include hinge means.

4. A tamper-proof package for a card as defined by claim 3 wherein the hinge means of the first flap portion and the hinge means of the second flap portion are located at or adjacent opposing edges of the card receiving surf ace. A blank for a tamper-proof package for a card, the blank comprising: three connected sheets, one of the sheets being a central sheet having a card receiving surface, the other two of said sheets each having a flap portion and being connected to opposing edges of the central sheet via respective of a pair of fold lines arranged for folding each of the flap portions over the card receiving surface. Dated; 9 October 2007 Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: BLAKE DAWSON WALDRON PATrENT SERVICES COMS ID No: ARCS-163976 Received by IP Australia: Time 11:59 Date 2007-10-09