AU2016202939A1 - A package for storing an item such as money - Google Patents

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention relates to a package for storing an item such as, but by no means limited to a banknote. The package ideally has a polymeric body including two 5 oppositely disposed side walls, the side walls being configured to define a receptacle therebetween for receiving money. The receptacle has an opening that allows an item such as a banknote to be loaded into (and contained wholly or completely within) the receptacle by being pushed through the opening. The receptacle is adapted to prevent the banknote from being released from the receptacle inadvertently, and at least one of the side walls includes a 10 preformed line of weakness that can be broken by hand to allow the banknote to be removed. The package can be used a gift card. Figure. 1 77173221 (GHMatters) P103025.AU 6/05/16 x13 7717322_1 (GHMatters) P103025.AU 6/05/16

Description

1 2016202939 06 May 2016

A PACKAGE FOR STORING AN ITEM SUCH AS MONEY FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a package for storing an item such as money and a method for making the package. For example, the package can be used as a gift card containing 5 money that can be given to a recipient. The package can store items such as money of any form, including but by no means limited to bank notes, coins, cheques, cash cards or any other forms of legal tender. The items that can be stored in the package may be any object of interest or value, including computer codes, logon information such as part of a password or part of password, or other security information.

10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gifts vouchers or gift cards are very popular as a present from one person to another to recognise a birthday or some other celebration. A disadvantage with gift cards is that they can usually only be redeemed from the particular supplier from which the gift card has been purchased. The recipient may not however, at the time of receiving the gift card or at some 15 later time, have a need for the goods or services from the particular supplier. In addition, some gift cards have a "used by date", and after the expiry of the "used by date" the monetary value of the card may not be recognised by the supplier gift card, thereby provided a win fall to the retailer.

Some gift cards can also have an awkward shape and size that does not allow them to be 2 0 conveniently placed in a purse or wallet, and are therefore prone to being lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a package for storing money that can be used as a gift card or as a repository for storing money until required, for example, for use in an emergency situation. 25 In particular, the present invention relates to a package having a polymeric body including two oppositely disposed side walls, the side walls being configured to define a receptacle therebetween for receiving money, wherein the receptacle has an opening that allows an item such as money to be loaded into (and contained wholly or completely within) the receptacle 7717322J (GHMatters) P103025.AU 6/05/16 2 2016202939 06 May 2016 by being pushed through the opening, wherein the receptacle is adapted to prevent the item loaded into the receptacle from being released therefrom, and at least one of the side walls includes a preformed line of weakness that can be broken by hand to allow the item to be removed from the receptacle. 5 In one example, the receptacle may be sized to frictionally receive the item, thereby preventing the item from being discharged from the open. The receptacle may be sized to frictionally receive the item when in a compacted formation in which the item is curled or folded on itself.

The opening of the receptacle may also frictionally receive the item. 10 For example, the opening of the receptacle may have width in the range of 35 to 45 mm and a depth/height in the range of 0.3 to 1.0mm. Suitably, the opening has a width of approximately 40mm and a depth of approximately 0.5mm.

The receptacle may have a length in the range of 65 to 85mm and a width in the range of 40 to 55mm. Suitably, the receptacle has a length of approximately 72mm and a width of 15 approximately 42mm.

The receptacle may also have a depth or height, between inside faces of the side walls, in the range of the 0.3 to 1.0mm. The depth or height of the receptacle may be approximately the same as the depth as the opening.

In another example, the opening may be sized to allow the item, such as a bank note, when in 2 0 a compacted formation such as curled or folded, to be pushed through the opening, and once having passed through the opening and into the receptacle, the receptacle may be sized to allow the money to relax into a more expanded formation so that it is unable to be discharged from the receptacle by passing back through the opening. In other words, the area of the opening may be smaller than a cross-sectional area of the receptacle. 25 Ideally, the opening for loading the item into the receptacle is located at an end of the body at which the side walls terminate. 7717322J (GHMatters) P103025.AU 6/05/16 3 2016202939 06 May 2016

In any event, one of the advantages of the package is that it may have a length and a width that is similar to standard credit card and can therefore be placed in compartments of a purse or wallet designed for credit cards.

In one embodiment, the line of weakness may extend across both side walls and when the 5 package is flexed, the package will have a tendency to break along the line of weakness.

The side wall(s) having the line of weakness may be made of any polymeric material that is sufficiently brittle to allow the line of weakness to break when intentionally flexed about the line of weakness. However, the line of weakness will ideally be capable of withstanding incidental flexing, for example while the package is being handled or being placed in a bag, 10 purse or wallet.

The line of weakness may be preformed so as to be more frangible than other portions of the side walls. For example, the line of weakness may include a perforated line or a serrated line including frangible bridging sections that interconnect main sections of the side wall and in which the bridging sections are separated by gaps or openings. In another example, the line of 15 weakness may also include line of reduced thickness in the side wall. Surrounding portions of the side wall may have an increased thickness.

In yet another example, the line of weakness may include a tear strip have a pull tab that forms part of, or is connected to, at least one of the side walls of the package.

In another embodiment, the line of the weakness of the package may extend across one side 2 0 wall only of the package. In this instance, the other side wall can remain essentially intact and flex, for example, along an axis parallel to the axis of the line of weakness. In this embodiment, the side wall having the line of weakness may be more brittle than the other side wall that does not have the line of weakness such that when the package is flexed about the line of weakness, the line of weakness will have a tendency to break while the other side 25 wall, being less brittle and more flexible, will allow the package to be opened.

Although it is preferred that the item to be stored in the package may be money, it will be understood that the item may be any item of value or interest. Ideally, the item is flexible so that it can flex so as not to break when the line of weakness if the package is broken. In one 7717322J (GHMatters) P103025.AU 6/05/16 4 2016202939 06 May 2016 example, the item is a banknote and may for example be a polymeric banknote or a paper banknote.

The side walls may be made separately and attached together. For example, the side walls may be attached together using an adhesive. In another example, the side walls may be 5 welded together using suitable polymeric welding techniques.

At least one of the side walls may have an opaque surface to which ink can adhere. The opaque surface can be used to allow an image or indicia to be applied thereon. For instance, the name of the recipient and a message can be written onto the opaque surface when the package is being used a gift card. In another instance, a graphical image can be applied to the 10 opaque surface by means of a printer.

At least one of the side walls may have a non-opaque portion, such as a transparent or translucent portion, that allows the item in the receptacle to be seen. The non-opaque portion may enable the value of the item stored in the package to be observed without breaking open the package. 15 Alternatively, all of the side walls may be non-transparent so that the item loaded in the receptacle cannot be seen.

At least one of the side walls may have a decorative image thereon. In the embodiment in which the package has a line of weakness on one side wall only, the decorative image may be provided on the side wall not having the line of weakness. The decorative image may also be 2 0 provided on the side wall having the line of weakness.

The present invention also relates to a method of making a package for storing an item such as money, the method including the steps of: forming two polymeric panels, at least one of the panels including a preformed line of weakness; and 25 joining the polymeric panels in an assembled position to form oppositely disposed side walls of the package, and the side walls being configured to define a receptacle therebetween for storing the item, and an opening that allows the item to be loaded into and contained wholly (completely) within the receptacle by being pushed through the opening, wherein the 7717322J (GHMatters) P103025.AU 6/05/16 5 2016202939 06 May 2016 receptacle is adapted to prevent the item loaded into the receptacle from being released therefrom, and the line of weakness can be broken by hand to allow the money to be removed from the receptacle.

The step of forming the polymeric panels may include moulding the panels. The panels may 5 be injection moulded.

In one embodiment, the panels may be symmetrical about a longitudinal axis, so that the panels that form the oppositely disposed side walls are the same.

In another embodiment, the step of forming the polymeric panels may include moulding two types of panels, namely a first panel and a second panel. 10 At least one of and preferably both of the first and second panels may have an inner recessed portion, which define the receptacle when the panels are joined together and a raised portion extending about at least part of the panels. The raised portion may extend about all, save for one, of the edges of the first and second panels.

Ideally, the first and second panels have four edges, three of which include a raised portion 15 and the fourth edge, free of the raised portion, defines an opening to the receptacle. Ideally, the fourth edges of the panels face each other when located in the assembled position.

The step of joining the panels may include engaging formations that contact each other to hold the panels together in frictional engagement by pressing the panels together. The formations may include the first panel having a first protrusion and the second panel having a 2 0 second protrusion and the first and second protrusions are configured to frictionally engage.

The first and second protrusions may be configured so that the second protrusion is captivated by the first protrusion.

In one example, the first protrusion is in the form of a first rib that extends in a U-shape configuration, and the second protrusion engages an inwardly facing surface of the first 25 protrusion. 7717322J (GHMatters) P103025.AU 6/05/16 6 2016202939 06 May 2016

Ideally, the second protrusion is in the form of a second rib that extends in a U-shape configuration in which an outwardly facing surface of the second rib frictionally engages an inwardly facing surface of the first rib.

In one embodiment, the formations may be the only means by which the first and second 5 panels are held together in the assembled position.

In another embodiment, the step of joining the panels may include welding the panels together.

Ideally, the first and second panels may be held together by both the frictional engagement of the formations and welding. In this instance formations may assist in retaining the first and 10 second panels together in the assembled position while the first and second panels are being welded together.

The method may also include any one or a combination of the features of the package described herein. Similarly, the package may also include any one or a combination of the features of the method described herein.

15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a schematic front end and side perspective view of the package for storing an item such as money, the packaging include two oppositely disposed side walls that define a inner 2 0 receptacle and an opening at the front end thereof for loading the item into the receptacle;

Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic view of the front end of the package shown in figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic longitudinal view of the package in which the package has been flexed in the direction of the arrows and broken along a frangible line of weakness extending through the package; 2 5 Figures 4 and 5 are schematic perspective views of inner surfaces of a first side wall and a second side wall respectively that forms part of the package shown in Figures 1 to 3; and 7717322_1 (GHMatters) P103025.AU 6/05/16 7 2016202939 06 May 2016

Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating the steps for making the package shown in figures 1 to 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in the following text 5 with reference to the figures. The following description includes reference numerals to help identify the corresponding features in the figures. However, in order to maintain the clarity of the figures not all of the reference numerals have been included in each figure.

With reference to the figures, a preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to a package 9 having a polymeric body with two oppositely disposed side walls 12, 13 having a 10 rectangular profile. The side walls 12, 13 are configured to define a receptacle 14 therebetween for receiving and item such as money and at least one of the side walls 12, 13 includes a preformed line of weakness 15 that can be broken by hand to allow the item to be removed from the package 9.

Ideally the package 9 has overall dimensions similar to a credit card, allowing the package 9 to 15 be easily stored in the compartments of a purse or wallet. Specifically, the package 9 ideally has an overall length of approximately 85 mm, a height of approximately 55 mm and a thickness of approximately 3mm.

As can be seen in figures 2, 4 and 5, an inner surface of at least one, and preferably both, of the side walls 12,13 includes a raised portion 16 extending about three of four of the edges of 2 0 the side walls 12,13 and a central recessed portion 17. As can best be seen in figure 2, the side walls are assembled together with the raised portion extending around the perimeter in a face-to-face relationship and the central recessed portion 16 defining the receptacle 14.

As can be seen in figures 1 and 2, an opening 18 for the receptacle 14 extends across a front end of the package 9 which allows an item such as money to be loaded into and contained 25 wholly or completely within the receptacle 14 by being pushed through the opening 18. The side walls 12, 13 are specifically configured to allow money, for example in the form of a banknote to be folded widthwise and lengthwise and then pushed into the opening 18 of the receptacle 14. The width and length of the opening 18 is specifically sized and the dimensions of the receptacle 14 are specifically sized to allow the banknote to be fractionally received 7717322J (GHMatters) P103025.AU 6/05/16 8 2016202939 06 May 2016 within the receptacle 14. As such, once a banknote (not shown in figures 1, 2, 4 and 5) is loaded into the receptacle 14, the banknote is prevented from inadvertently slipping out of the package 9 through the opening 18.

By way of example, the opening 18 of the receptacle 14 ideally has a width of approximately 5 40mm and a depth of approximately 0.5mm. The receptacle 14 ideally has a length of approximately 72mm, a width of approximately 42mm, and a depth or height, between inside faces of the side walls, in the range of the 0.3 to 1.0mm.

But as can be seen in figures 1, 4 and 5, the side walls 12, 13 of the package 9 include a line of weakness 15 in the form of a serrated line including bridging sections that interconnect 10 opposite halves of each side walls 12 and 13, the bridging sections being separated by gaps defining the line of weakness 15. Although not shown in the figures, the line of weakness 15 may also have a reduced thickness compared to surrounding segments of the side walls 12, 13. In another example, the bridging sections may have a reduced thickness compared to the main segments of the side walls 12,13. 15 At least one of the side walls 12,13 may be decorated with an image, identified by the dashed line labelled by reference numeral 10. The image may be representing a particular theme, such as Christmas, an anniversary, the recipient's birthday and so forth.

At least one of the side walls may also include a transparent or translucent area, identified by the dashed line labelled by reference numeral 11. The transparent area may enable the item 2 0 loaded into the receptacle to be observed through a transparent portion.

At least one of the side walls 12,13 may also include an opaque area on which ink adheres, so as to allow indicia such as a recipient's name and a message to the recipient to be a handwritten. A person using the package to giving an item such as a banknote to someone else, namely a 25 recipient, can fold the banknote lengthwise and widthwise and push the banknote through the opening 18 into the package 9. The recipient can observe the value of the banknote contained within the package 9 through the transparent area 11 and the banknote is retained in the receptacle 14 by means of friction between the banknote and the inner surface of the side walls 12, 13. 7717322J (GHMatters) P103025.AU 6/05/16 9 2016202939 06 May 2016 A recipient of the package 9 can remove the item stored in the package 9 by flexing or bending the package 9 along an axis of the line of weakness 15. The side walls 12,13 of the package 9 are ideally constructed of any brittle polymeric material such as polystyrene which snaps or breaks the package 9 into two halves when the package 9 is intentionally flexed. Once the 5 package 9 has been flexed, the item stored in the receptacle 14 can thereafter be readily withdrawn from the receptacle 14 along the fragmented line of weakness 15. According to the preferred embodiment, both of the side walls 12, 13 include the line of weakness 15.

The package 9 may be made of any polymeric material including thermoset and thermoplastic polymeric materials. 10 Figures 4 and 5 illustrate inner surfaces of two panels 12A, 13A that form the side walls 12, 13 of the package 9. As described above the panels 12A, 13A include raised portions 16 that extend about the perimeter of the panels 12A, 13A and sit in face-to-face relationship when the panels 12A, 13A are assembled together, as best seen in figure 2. The panels 12A, 13A also include formations, shown in figures 4 and 5, extending from an inner surface of the 15 panels 12A, 13A that engage when the panels are located in the assembled position. In the case of the preferred embodiment, the formations also act as a guide for locating the panels 12A, 13A in the assembled position with the perimeters of the panels essentially in alignment. The first and second panels 12A, 13A illustrated in the figure 4 and 5 respectively have first and second ribs spaced inwardly from the perimeter of the panels. Either one or both of the 2 0 first and second ribs 19, 20 are configured to extend further away from recessed central portion 14 than the raise portion 16 about the perimeter of the panels 12 and 13.

The first rib 19 is located by a first distance from the edge of the first panel 12A, and the second rib 20 is located by a second distance from the edge of the second panel 13A, in which the second distance is larger than the first distance by approximately the width of the first rib 25 19. As such when the first and second panels 12A, 13A are located in the assembled position, the first and second ribs 19 and 20 are arranged so that an inner wall of the first rib 19 frictionally engages an outer wall of the second rib 20 so as to connect the panels 12A, 13A together. In other words, the second rib 20 fits inwardly of the first rib 19 and engages the first rib 19. The ribs 19 and 20 may have any suitable profile, such as tapering, notches, teeth, 30 and so forth to facilitate frictional engagement therebetween. 7717322J (GHMatters) P103025.AU 6/05/16 10 2016202939 06 May 2016

As can be seen in figures 4 and 5, the first and second ribs 19 and 20 extend lengthwise and widthwise in a U-shaped formation. The lenghtwise axis of the ribs 19 and 20 has a gap at the line of weakness 15 so as not to reinforce the line of weakness 15.

The engagement between ribs 19 and 20 may be operative to hold the panels 12A, 13A 5 together. For example, engagement between ribs 19 and 20 may hold the panels 12A, 13A together while the package is being flexed and the line of weakness 15 is broken. According to the preferred embodiment, the panels 12A, 13A are also fixed together by an additional means, such as an adhesive, bonding or welding.

Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating steps of a method for making the package 9 according 10 to a preferred embodiment. These steps include forming two polymeric panels 12A, 13A such as those illustrated and described herein with reference to figures 4 and 5. At least one and preferably both of the panels 12A, 13A have a preformed line of weakness 15 in the form of a serrated line. The panels 12A, 13A may be made using any suitable process and are ideally made using a mould injection step. 15 The panels 12A, 13A can then be joined together in a preliminary step in which the formations of the first and second panels frictionally engage to hold the panels together at least sufficiently until the secondary step is completed. The preliminary step includes coarsely aligning the perimeters of the panels 12A, 13A and consequently the formations of the first and second panels 12A and 13A, namely the first and second ribs 19 and 20, and pressing the 2 0 panels 12A, 13A together so that the ribs 19 and 20 frictionally engage and secure the panels 12A and 13A in an assembled position. The profile and configuration of the ribs 19 and 20 may provide a finer level of alignment of the panels 12A and 13A.

Following the preliminary step, ideally the connection between the first and second panels 12A and 13A is also strengthened by welding the junction formed between the raised portions 25 of the panels.

The method may also include applying a decorative image to an outer face of one or both of the side walls.

There are numerous advantages that can be provided by the embodiment described herein.

For instance: 7717322J (GHMatters) P103025.AU 6/05/16 11 2016202939 06 May 2016 i) The package is constructed of a plastic material which is a relatively indestructible compared to paper gift certificates. ii) The package is approximately the same size and shape as a conventional credit card which enables the package to be conveniently held in the compartments of a purse or wallet. iii) Rather than purchasing a gift card from a particular store, which has been the conventional practice, the preferred embodiment enables a banknote or cheque to be placed within the receptacle, as in turn the recipient is not constrained as to where and how they spend the money. 10 15 iv) When money in the form of banknote is loaded into the package, the value of the money will not expire by a particular "used by date", which is common to some conventional gift cards. v) The package can be used with money of any currency, but that is particularly suitable for banknotes, including polymeric banknotes and paper-based banknotes. vi) The value of money loaded into the card can be of any denomination. vii) The package can be decorated using any image which is not restricted to any particular theme, for example a birthday, Christmas, anniversary and so forth. viii) The package may also have a surface to which ink can adhere, allowing the recipient's name and message to be written on the package.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made to the embodiment described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example in another embodiment, both of the side walls may also be completely non-25 transparent so that the contents of the package cannot be observed. This embodiment allows the package to be used for storing items containing security information such as logon information.

Although it is not shown in the drawings, the package may also include a circuit or chip connected to a power source and an output device, wherein the power source operates the 7717322J (GHMatters) P103025.AU 6/05/16 2016202939 06 May 2016 12 circuit or chip which transmits a signal to the output device which in turn outputs an audio message. 7717322J (GHMatters) P103025.AU 6/05/16

Claims (20)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. A package for storing an item such as money, the package having a polymeric body including two oppositely disposed side walls, the side walls being configured to define a receptacle therebetween for receiving the item, wherein the receptacle has an opening that allows the item to be loaded into the receptacle by being pushed through the opening, wherein the receptacle is adapted to prevent the item loaded into the receptacle from being released therefrom, and at least one of the side walls includes a preformed line of weakness that can be broken by hand to allow the item to be removed from the receptacle.
2. 2. The package according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is sized to frictionally receive the item, thereby preventing the item from being discharged from the open.
3. 3. The package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening of the receptacle may have width in the range of 35 to 45 mm and a depth/height in the range of 0.3 to 1.0mm.
4. 4. The package according to any one of claim 1 to 3, wherein the receptacle has a length in the range of 65 to 85mm, a width in the range of 40 to 55mm, and a depth or height, between inside faces of the side walls, in the range of the 0.3 to 1.0mm.
5. 5. The package according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the opening for loading the item into the receptacle is located at an end of the body at which the side walls terminate.
6. 6. The package according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the line of weakness extends across both side walls and is in the form of a serrated line including frangible bridging sections that interconnect main sections of the side wall and in which the bridging sections are separated by gaps.
7. 7. The package according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one of the side walls has an opaque surface to which ink can adhere, and the name of a recipient and a message can be written onto the opaque surface when the package is being used a gift card.
8. 8. The package according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one of the side walls has a transparent or translucent portion that allows the item in the receptacle to be seen.
9. 9. The package according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the side walls are made separately and thereafter joined together.
10. 10. The package according to claim 9, wherein the side walls include engaging formations that frictionally engage each other by the side walls being pressed together.
11. 11. The package according to claim 10, wherein the engaging formations include a first protrusion on the first wall and a second protrusion on the second wall, and the first and second protrusions are configured to frictionally engage by the second protrusion being captivated by the first protrusion.
12. 12. The package according to claim 11, wherein the first protrusion is in the form of a first rib that extends in a U-shape configuration and the second protrusion engages an inwardly facing surface of the first protrusion.
13. 13. A method of making a package for storing an item such as money, the method including the steps of: forming two polymeric panels, at least one of the panels including a preformed line of weakness; and joining the polymeric panels in an assembled position to form oppositely disposed side walls of the package, wherein the panels formed are configured to define a receptacle therebetween for storing the item, and an opening that allows the item to be loaded into the receptacle by being pushed through the opening, wherein the receptacle is adapted to prevent the item loaded into the receptacle from being released therefrom, and the line of weakness can be broken by hand to allow the money to be removed from the receptacle.
14. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of forming the polymeric panels includes moulding the panels.
15. 15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the step of forming the polymeric panels includes moulding first and second panels having an inner recessed portion, which defines the receptacle when the panels are joined together and a raised portion extending about at least part of the panels, the raised portion defining an opening of the receptacle.
16. 16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 14, wherein the step of joining the panels includes pressing together the first and second panels that causes engaging formations of the first and second panels to frictionally engage.
17. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the engaging formations include a first protrusion on a first panel and a second protrusion on the second panel, and the first and second protrusions are configured to frictionally engage by the second protrusion being captivated by the first protrusion.
18. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first protrusion is in the form of a first rib that extends in a U-shape configuration and the second protrusion engages an inwardly facing surface of the first protrusion.
19. 19. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein the step of joining the panels includes welding the panels together.
20. 20. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein the method include applied a decorative image to at least on the panels of the package.