CA1241746A - Credit card provided with coded security means - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A credit card including a credit card body bearing the usual information representing the type of card as well as raised encoded symbols on the card for identifying the card owner the card having a plurality of foldable tabs with each of the tabs being provided with a different code associated therewith. Folding of selective ones of the tabs by the card user provides an additional encoded identification for determining the authenticity of the individual when presenting the card to a vendor.

Description

7~i CREDIT CARD PROVIDED WITH CODED SFCURITY ~EANS

BACKG~OUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to credit cards, and more particularly to credit cards having an additional code to verify the authenticity of the user of the card.

The use of credit cards has become commonplace among purchasers. Banks or credit companies issùing the cards ~enerally provide on each card a specific identi-fication number assigned to the particular card owner.
ln The cards usually also include the name of the card owner, and other information such as the expiration date, the day of joining the credit plan, etc.

When presented with a credit card, a vendor initially verifies that the credit card number is right-fully assigned to the name on the card and also checks on the limit of credit of that particular card. This checking c~n be done manually by means of comparin~ same against a list, or by telephoning a control checking agency and read-ing the credit card I.D. number to an operator who checks

2~ th~ number at the central agency. Automatic verif;catiorl e~uipment is also available for automatically reading the credit card I.D. number, and through telephone lines trans-mitting the number, whereas computerized check is made of the credit card I.D. number.

Upon receiving authorization to proceed with the ~ale, the vendor then inserts the card into an imprinting ~2~

machine where ~he numbers on the credit card are imprinted onto a sales slip. The credit card user will then sign the sales slip, and the signature is checked with the user's or owner's signature on the back of the credit card.
The user is given one copy of the sales slip while the other copies are retained by the vendor ~or his records and for transferring to the credit card company for paymen~.
thereof.

Since numerous copies of the sales slip are re-quired, the sales slip ;s usually a multi-part form having carbon paper between the various parts~ The credit card I.D. number and tlle user's name are generally formed of raised letters, and the imprinting machine causes the information to be imprinted onto the multi-part sales slip.
I~hen the parts of the sales slip are then separated, the carbon paper contains an imprint of the credit card user's name and number. In many cases, it will also contain a copy of the signature of the cred;t card user.

Although the carbon paper is intended to be dis-carded, it has been found that some people obtain the dis-~arded carbon paper and wrongfully utulize the information to imprint counterfeit credit cards. ~y transferring the card number and the name of the credit card owner 9 and by know;ng the user's signature, an unauthorized person can present a counterfe;t credit card, and since the number is properly associated with the corresponding name, when a ~endor checks the card, it will check out properly without detection.

In addition to gaining thP credit card informa-tion from the discarded carbon paper, unauthorized in-dividuals can also gain this information from other sources. For example, lending a credit card will provide other individuals with this information. Vendors can also gain this information directly from the sales slips.
Li~ewise, waiters, repairmen, or,anyone else having custody of or access to the credit card will be able to n~ke an imprint of the card and obtain al~ of the ;nforma-1~ tion in order to fabricate a counterfeit card.

Accordingly, there is a need for providing an additional level of security for credit cards in order to be sure that the user or the individual presenting the credit card i5 actually authorized to do so either by being the owner himself, or throu~h authorization from the owner.

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SU~tilARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a credit card which avoids the aforementioned problems of the prior art credit cards.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a credit card with an addi~ional level of security, in addition to the standard credit card identification nunlber .

A further object of the present invention is to 1~ provide a credit card which can be used to verify the authenticity of the card user, not just the card o~ner.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a credit card which can be used to detect whether or not the individual presenting the card is or is not authori2ed to do so by the owner.

~ further object of the present invention is to prnvide a credit card which will prevent the use of counter-feit credit cards~

AnGther object of the present invention is to pro-vide a credit card verifier which can be used to read encoded information described ~/ith the credit card and verify that the individual presenting the card is authorlzed to do so.

Briefly, in accordance with the present ;nvention, there is provided a credit card having a card body bearing ~ 7 ~ ~

the usual information identifying the type of credit card.
The card also includes the usual raised encoded symbols which identifies the card owner. A plurality of foldable tabs are provided on the card body. Each tab has a d;f-ferent symbol on it, whereby the fold;ng of selected ones of the tabs by tne card user provides an encoded identification which can be checked to ensure the authen-ticity of the card user.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the 1~ four corners of the card are hinged and can be bent at right angles to the card. Each of the corners has an identifying symbol, such as a number, letter or color.
The particular selected ones of the corners that are folded down in a particular sequence provides the additional level of security. Checking the corners that are folded verifies thc authenticity of the user of the card.

The present invention also contemplates a credit card verifier hav;ng a hous;ng provided with a receiving e1~ ber in wh;ch the cred;t card can be ;nserted. Slots ~re positioned about the rece;ving chamber for receiv;ng the selected bent tabs on the credit card. A decoder in the verifier determines the particular ones of the tabs which are bent to thereby decode the identificat;on informa-tion provided by the selection of these tabs. A suitable reading mechanism for reading the raised symbols on the card ident;fies the card owner. The raised symbols, as well as the decoded ;nformat;on from the folded tabs, are checked to determ;ne the authenticity of the card user.

~RIEF DESCRIPTION OF ~HE DRAl~INGS

With the above and additional objects and advan-tages in view as will hereinaf~er appear this invention comprises the devices combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described by way of example and illus-trated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embod-iment in which:

F;g. 1 is a front vie~l of a credit card in accor-dance with the present invention~

1~ Fig. 2 is a side vie~ of the credit card showing the first and third tabs bent downward at right angles to the credit card body;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line

3-3 of Fig. 1 sho~ing the hinged relationship of the tab to the credit card body;

Fi~. 4 is a perspective view showing a credit card v~ri~ier for use with the credit card of the present in~ention; and Fi~. 5 is a schematic block diagra~ of the credit 2~ c~rd verifier.

In the various figures of the drawings like reference characters designate like parts.

~, DESCRIPTI()N t~F THC PREFERRED E~1B(!DI~lE~lT
. . . ~

Referring now to Figs. 1-3, there is shown a credit card lG having a substan~ially rectangular credit card body 12, generally formed of plastic material. Qn the credit card body 12 there is provided information 14 which ;dentifies the par-ticular type of credit card. This infor-mation 14 may include the name of the card company or the n~me of the particular bank issuin~ the card, as well as particular colors and color scheme arrangements which uniquely 1~ identifies the card as a particular type of credit card.
This information 14 is normally printed directly on the card.

In addition to the imprinted information 14, there is also provided specific informat;on relating to the par-t;cular card owner. Normally, this specific ;nformation in-cludes a particular credit card ;dentification number 16 raised above the front surface 18 of the cred;t card body ~he specific ;nformation generally also includes the name 20 of the owner of the card, as well as an exp;rat;on date 22.
nther specif;c ;nformat;on could also be ;ncluded, w;th all th~ specific informat~on ra;sed above the front surface 18 of the card.

On the back of the card there ;s usually provided room for verifying signature of the card owner, as well as other informat;on pr;nted by the credit card company relat-ing to loss of the cred;t card company relating to loss of the card, responsibil;ties of the credit card company, etc.

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With typical credit cards, when the user of the card presents the card for purchasing, the vendor will place the card in a verifier. The veri-fier will transmit the spec~fic in~ormation of the raised nunlber 16 and the nanle 20 to a central verifying agency. Verification is usually made by means of a telephone hook-up connection.
The central agency checks the number 16 against the name 20 t~ verify that the number belongs to the individual ~hose name is imprinted on the credit card. They also 1~ check the credit available at that time, i3y means of tllis verification, it is not possible for unauthorized individuals to provide counterfeit credit cards having arbitrary numbers and any corresponding name.
Upon verification of a counterfeit card, the veri~ying agency will recognize that the number and name do not correspond and will notify the vendor of the fraud. How-ever, if the unauthorized individual has a number and the corresponding correct name, the verifying agency will not be able to detect the fraud.

Accordingly, an unauthorized individual must only obtain the name of a credit card owner and his correspondingly assigned number. This information can be obtained by means of the carbcn paper on any sales slip, obtaining temporary custody of the credit card, or through wrongful acts of a vendor, waiter or any other individual coming in contact with the credit card, The credit card 10, sho~n in Figs. 1 and 2 however, includes a further encoding providing an additional level of security. Specifically, the corners are each separated from the main portion 30 of the credit card by means of a hinge 26 to provide corner tabs 2~. As shown in Fig. 3, the particular hi1lge 2~ can be fornled by m~arls of a reduced tllic~ness ~)ortioll 2~ on the front and bacl~ surface of the card to separate the mail- body portion 30 from the corner tabs 24. It is understood that other types of hinge ar-ran9emellts Cdn also be provid~d.

By means of the hinged arrangement, the corner tabs ~4 can be bent in a down~lard direction, substantially 1~ perpendicular to the carcl body portion 30. The card itself is made of p~astic or other similar rigid material, whereby once the corner tabs 24 have been bent downwardly, they ~il1 remain substantially perpendicular until such time as they are returned back to their original coplanar position.
Eacll of the corner tabs 24 has a particular unique symbol on it, which is different from the symbols on the other corner tabs. For example, a separate color can be provided on each of the four corners. Alternatively, alpha numeric designations such as the designation 32 can be provided on ~d ~ch of the four corners. Other distinguishing identifying symbols such as letters can also be included. The particular symb~ls included should preferably be coplanar with the front sllrf~c~ of the card so as not to be raised above the front surface of the card Furthermore, the coded information on each of the corner tabs 24 could be provided by altering the length, size or configuration of each tab, ~Jhich can be used with or ~ithout the above mentioned identifying symbols on each tab.
Alternatively, the coded information on each of the tabs 24 3~ could be provided thereon so that it is invisible to the ~ 2 ~ >

human eye. This unseen coded information, by way of example, could be implanted electrical contacts or printed circuits, or could be electronically readable inks or colors provided with a metallic content. This unseen coded information would be read by a scanning device in the verifier as set forth below. Accordingly, other such unseen information can also be provided in this manner. It is noted, that the above mentioned identifying symbols, such as the numbers, letters and colors, can be provided on the tabs 1~ ~4 as an alias to ùisguise the actual unseen coded informa-tion ~hich is actually being used by the card owner A protocol is then establislled by the card company whereby one particular corner will always represent the first corner and the others will continue in clockwise or counter-clock~ise direction in a predetermined format. For examplel the corner tab designated as 24a can be utilized as the first enrner, ~ith the subsequent corner tabs 24b, 24c and 24d representing a proper sequence.

Only the card owner will know in which direction ~a his card is to be read for a proper code sequence. Thereby, this arbitrarily assignment of clockwise or counter-clockwise codes to the card owners would help confuse a potential thief.
Furthermore, the reading of the card in opposite directions provides additional different code possibilities and thus increases the number of combination codes for each card.

In the present situation, the numbers assigned to the four corners are the numbers 1-2-3-4. In the example sho~n ;n Fig. 2, the numbers 1 and 3 have been selected.

These nun1bers are produced by bending downward of the opposing corner tabs 24a and 24c.

~ y means of the use of the four numbers, as shown, each card o~Yner could be assigned a particular combination of the numbers in a particular seguence. For example, only one of the numbers 1, 2, 3 or 4 could be assigned to the owner. Alternately, the combination of two numbers 1-2, 1-3, or 1-4 could be assigned. Similarly, the combination of the other two numbers 2-3, 2-4, or 3-4 could be used. Three num-13 bers could also be ass;gned such as 1-2-3, 1-2-4, 1-3-4, or 2-3-4. Likewise, all four numbers 1-2-3-4 could also be assigned. Thus, there are fifteen combinations for each card.
Therefore, by changing the numbers for different cards~ or using different letters, colors, etc., the encoding possibil-ities of the present invention are unlimited for use by the card company to increase the level of security.

~ ccordingly, when the owner is given the card, he is also notif;ed which particular one of the fifteen listed combination codes has been ass;gned to him. He will remember this combination code a~d will not transmit the information td anyone else. l~hen the owner presents the card to a vendor, he bends down the corner tabs corresponding to his particular assigned code. The vendor places the card in a suitable verifier. The verifier will check the corner tabs which are bent down and will also check the information imprinted in raised letters on the card. It will then transmit both the raised information, as well as the encoded information of the bent corner tabs to the verifying agency. The agency will then check not only the raised imprinted informat;on, ~ 2 ~ 3 but will cross check this information against the encoded information from the bent corner tabs. '~Jhen the encoded inforll7ation provided nn the bent corner tabs corresponds to the nullber assigned to the particular owner of -the card, it will indic~te to ~he vendor that the card can be accepted.

Should an unauthor;zed individual present a counter,eit c~rd, altl~ugh tbe card number ~ l corresp~ncl tD t~le owner's name ir,lprinted nn -thc card, the unauthori~ed in~ividual will not know which one of the many comhinatinns o~ bent corner tabs is the one assiQned to the owner. If he b~nds do~n th~ lron~ corner tabs, and then presents the c~rd to the vendor, when the vendor inserts the card into the verifier, it l~ill give an indication that the user ;s not authorized to use this particular card, The vendor will then know that the card is a counterfeit or a stolen card.

For convenience, the card owner can he assigned numbers or letters that might be particularly relevant to him in order to facilitate remembering his cocle. For e.Y~mple, the particular sequence could provide part of the nwncr's social security number, his birth date, or other information that he Iqould not tend to forget.

It is noted, that more than one number, letter or color code sequence can be given to each card owner to further reduce the opportunities for fraud. For example, a ~irst purchase in a given day would require the card owner to use two tabs for a proper code sequence. Accordingly, a second purchase made on the same given day would require only one tab for a proper code sequence. A third purchase on the given day, would require the card owner to use the first code sequence of two tabs aga;n. This procedure can ~e repeated for making purchases on the same dayg and would curtail wild spending sprees by thieves or unauthorized persons ~Yho illegally obtain the card ownerls card after learning ti-e first code sequence.

Referring now to Fig. 4, there is shown a verifier 40 which includes a housing 42 having four ra;sed side guide rails 44 for defining a chamber 46 in which the credit card is inserted. At the four corners, there are slots 48. When 1~ a credit card is inserted into the chamber 46, it positions itself between the four guide rails 44. Whichever corner tabs haYe been bent downward will fit into the slots 48.
A cover portion SO, including a suitable reading mechanism 52, is then lowered onto the credit card. The reading mechanism 52 will read the raised pnrtions of the credit card including the card number, the name, and the other raised informdtion. Contained within the housing 42, there can be proYided tlle necessary decoding information for reading and decoding the particular information or code presented by the ~a b~nt corner tabs, Such decoding information could be optical ~letectors ~hi Cil can detect the presence of a bent corner tab ~nd r~ad same. Electric contacts could also be utilized, which will s~parat~ upon insertion of a bent corner tab.

Other types of detectors and readers could be utilized, as is well known in the art. For example, an electronic measuring device can be used in the verifier to measure the differences in the length, size or configuration of each tab, readin9 either in a clockwise or counter-cloc~\~ise direction. Furthermore, electronic devices could 3~ be used to read the implanted electronic contacts or printed circuits in each of the tabs, as well as the electronically ~ 2 ~

readable ln~s or colors provided on each of the tabs9 the reading sequence bein~ either in the clockwise or counter-clock1~ise direction.

Verifiers of the aforementioned type for check-in~ raised indicia on credit cards are well ~nown in the art. The use of the slots to c~eck the bent corner tabs can be added to existing verifiers. nnce the inFormation from the credit cards has been read by the verifier the informatiorl is transmitted along a cable 5'1 to a suitable 1~ telep11one apparatus 56 for transmitting to the verifying agency where verification of the information on the credit card is made. Such transmission of the information is well known in the art.

As shown in Fig. 5 a verifier housing 58 will be utili2ed for receiving the credit card. Thè information fro~m the reader 60 rcading the raised information on the credit card as well as the information from the decoder 62 concerning the bent down corner tabs are both sent to a c1leckin~ circuit ~4. The checking circuit 64 can either be 2a ~ lncal check or can be sent through the telephone line as h~retofore shown in Fig. 4 It should be appreciated that the vendor at no time writes down the additiona'1 encoded information provided ~y the bent corner tabs of the present invention This in-tormation i5 read only by the verifier withou-t ever being ~ritten down. Once verification is made the credit card is the1~ placed in the normal imprint;ng mechanism. The bent corner tabs will pop un and become straiaht ~'~ith the card -l4-~ody as t!~e imprintirg r;echanisr~ i11 onl~ imprint thc raised inclicia ~ccordingly even if a carbon copy of the raised indicia is picked up b~y an unauthorized in-dividual he will still not kno~ the extra information rcquired concernillg the bcnt corner tab data provided by tlle presellt invention.

~ lumcrnus alterations of the structure herein ~3isclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the ~rt. ~owever it is to be understood that the present 1~ disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of the inven-tion which is for purposes of illustrat;on only and is not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A credit card comprising:
a card body bearing information representing a type of credit card, and raised encoded symbols on said card identifying said card's owner; and a plurality of foldable tabs on said card, each of said tabs having a different code means associated therewith to provide an encoded identification for check-ing authenticity of a user of said card when selected ones of said tabs are folded by said card user.
2. A credit card as in Claim 1, wherein said tabs are hinged corners provided on said card body.
3. A credit card as in Claim 2, wherein a reduced thickness portion is provided at a boundary of said hinged corners to define hinges for said tabs.
4. A credit card as in Claim 2, including means for folding said tabs in a direction perpendicular to said card body.
5. A credit card as in Claim 4, wherein said tabs are fabricated from a rigid material so that said tabs remain folded in said perpendicular direction until unfolded.
6. A credit card as in Claim 1, wherein said code means of said tabs include alpha numeric indicia.
7. A credit card as in Claim 1, wherein said code means of said tabs include different colors.

8. A credit card as in Claim 1, wherein said code means are provided onto said tabs without being raised above an outer surface of said tabs.

8. A credit card as in Claim 1, wherein said code means of said tabs are invisible to a human eye.

10. A credit card as in Claim 1, wherein said tabs are integrally connected with said card body.
11. A credit card as in Claim 19 wherein a sequence of said folded tabs provides said encoded identi-fication.

12. A credit card as in Claim 1, wherein length, size and configuration of said folded tabs provides said encoded identification.

13. A credit card verifier comprising:
a housing;
a receiving chamber on said housing for receiving a credit card therein;
slots positioned about said chamber for receiving foldable tabs provided on the credit card when selectively bent at right angles to remaining credit card body by a card user;
decoding means for determining particular ones of the tabs which are bent to thereby obtain decoded identi-fication information provided by a selection of the tabs;
reading means for reading raised symbols provided on the card for identifying card owner; and checking means for checking both the raised symbols and the decoded information to determine authenticity of the card user.

14. A credit card verifier as in Claim 13, wherein said decoding means determines sequence of the tabs which are bent.

15. A credit card verifier as in Claim 13, wherein said slots are provided at each corner of said receiving chamber.

16. A credit card verifier as in Claim 15, wherein said receiving chamber is substantially rectangular, and wherein said slots are angled across each corner of said chamber.

17. A credit verifier as in Claim 13, wherein said checking means is coupled to a telephone for remote checking of the authenticity of the card user.

18. A credit verifier as in Claim 13, wherein said decoding means reads code information on the selected tabs which is invisible to a human eye.

19. A credit verifier as in Claim 18, wherein said decoding means reads code information of an unseen type including implanted electrical contents and printed circuits, and electronically readable inks and colors.

A credit verifier as in Claim 13, wherein said decoding means reads length, size and configuration of the selected tabs to obtain the decoded identification information.