GB2451576A

GB2451576A - Separable card assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2451576A
Application number: GB0813872A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kathryn Diane Doran; Ian Doran
Original assignee: Haynes Chorley & Co Ltd T
Current assignee: Haynes Chorley & Co Ltd T
Priority date: 2007-08-03
Filing date: 2008-07-30
Publication date: 2009-02-04
Also published as: GB0715118D0; GB0813872D0

Abstract

A gift or credit card which is separable into first and second segments of card, has a first segment of card carrying a means for redemption such as a magnetic stripe, barcode or integrated circuit chip and a second segment of card adapted for use as an accessory such as a bookmark, luggage tag or key fob. The cards may alternatively be right-angled triangles in shape connected along their hypotenuses. The segment of card adapted for use as an accessory acts as a useful memento of the gift for the recipient. The giver and the recipient may keep the separate segments such that the giver may use the retained segment to top-up the account associated with the recipient's segment at a later date and from a remote location.

Description

I Card

The invention is concerned with cards such as credit cards, debit cards and gift cards, in the form of plastic cards, suitable to be stored in a wallet with credit or debit cards. In particular, the invention is concerned with a card which includes a redemption means and further includes a separable card segment adapted to be useful as an accessory.

Gift tokens were traditionally paper vouchers which could be redeemed for a monetary value, printed on the face of the vouchers, at certain retailers.

Examples are book tokens, record tokens or store-specific tokens.

Recently, in efforts to overcome difficulties with forgeries, theft and stock-keeping of paper vouchers, which had to be effectively treated as currency, it has become more common to provide gift tokens in the form of laminated plastic cards. These typically have a size and appearance similar to conventional credit or debit cards, and fit into the user's wallet or purse in the section adapted for such cards.

Such gift cards, may be provided with a face currency value, with validation on use being carried out by means of a code printed on the cards as a bar code or alphanumeric code, possibly hidden by a scratch- off masking panel (to validate whether the card was previously redeemed).

However, many cards are now provided with an electronically read validation code, such as a magnetic stripe or an integrated circuit chip. Such cards are used to access monetary accounts on redemption. The purchaser of the gift card effectively opens the anonymous account and pays for a currency value to be credited to the account. The recipient of the gift card can then access that account when redeeming the gift card at a retailer that accepts the gift card for transactions.

In some cases, the gift card is used once and then discarded by the recipient.

Some gift cards are adapted for multiple uses, as rechargeable gift cards, so that the user can continue to use the account after the original deposited gift has been spent. The recipient will need to top up or recharge the account with further funds.

A problem with this type of gift card is that once the card has been redeemed, the recipient has no memento, other than the purchase made with the gift card, by which to remember the giver of the gift card or the occasion of the gift. Although it may be possible to write a message from the giver on the gift card, it is unlikely that the recipient will save the card, which would clutter their wallet.

As for the re-use of the card, the advantage of this for the recipient is only really achieved if the recipient carries the card as an atemative to having to carry a wallet or cash. Carrying the card as another item cluttering their wallet may deter further use, and so the rechargeable cards effectiveness as a loyalty card is lost.

Hence there is a need for a gift card, which provides a useful accessory that will be kept by the recipient after redemption of the gift card. There is also a need for a rechargeable gift card that has a secondary use as an accessory such that the recipient is likely to want to carry it even when they are not carrying their wallet.

There is also a need for a credit or debit card which has a secondary use as an accessory such that the recipient is likely to want carry it even when they are not carrying their wallet.

A first aspect of the invention provides a card which is separable into first and second segments of card, the first segment of card carrying a redemption means and the second segment of card adapted for use as an accessory.

This gives the advantage for a gift card that once the first segment of the card has been redeemed, the second segment, which is in the form of a useful accessory, may be retained by the recipient as a useful item, and may act as a memento of the gift. Alternatively, the second segment may be retained by the giver and for instance may be used to add further redemption value to the account accessed by the first segment.

Preferred features of the invention will now be detailed. Unless otherwise specified, these different preferred features may be used in any suitable combinations. Where appropriate, it is intended that the scope of the invention is not limited to gift cards, but also includes credit or debit cards.

The redemption means may be any suitable means for indicating a monetary value to the redeeming retailer, such as a face currency value printed on the card, possibly with further validation on use being carried out by means of a code printed on the cards as a bar code or alphanumeric code, possibly hidden by a scratch-off masking panel (to validate whether the card was previously redeemed). However, the redemption means is preferably a means for debiting and/or crediting a monetary account. The means can be read by the retailer, using suitable apparatus, and the balance of the monetary account used as payment for goods.

Suitably, the means for debiting and/or crediting the monetary account is a magnetic stripe, a bar code or an alphanumeric sequence, optionally hidden under a scratch-off layer, or an integrated circuit chip, but other means may be

suitable.

A preferred means for debiting and/or crediting the account is a magnetic stripe along the length of the first segment of card.

Preferably, the second segment of card carries a further means for crediting and/or debiting the monetary account, more preferably for both crediting and debiting the monetary account.

This gives the advantage that the recipient of the card is likely to carry the card, for instance when using it as a key fob, and have it available even when not carrying a wallet. For a gift card, this means the recipient is likely to maintain loyalty to the retailer. For a credit or debit card, the user is more likely to use the card in the form of a key fob because of its ready accessibility, even when not carrying a wallet.

Another advantage of including the for crediting and/or debiting the monetary account, more preferably for both crediting and debiting the monetary account, on the second segment is that the second segment may be kept by the giver of the card whilst the first segment is retained by the recipient of the card. This enables the giver to remotely add money to the account of the recipient of the card at a later date than the original gifting date. This is convenient when the recipient is at a geographic location remote from that of the giver. For instance the card could be given to an offspring by parents for use when the offspring is at college or university. The parent can thus top up the account serviced by the card remotely whilst the offspring is still at university.

Hence, a technical solution is provided, by this aspect of the invention, to the problem of allowing a second person to add funds to an account accessible by a first person at a remote location.

Suitably, the first and second segments of card are connected to each other directly by means of one or more breakable links or indirectly, by means of one or more breakable links to one or more connecting card segments.

Preferably, the first and second segments are substantially rectangular in shape, and are connected to a connecting card segment, or to each other, by one or more breakable links along their long edges.

Even more preferably, the connecting card segment is a substantially rectangular strip of card and the first and second segments are connected to opposed long edges of the rectangular strip of card by breakable links.

Suitably, the card is suitably substantially the same size and shape as a conventional credit card, particularly when the card is a gift card.

By this is meant that the card is typically less than 2mm, preferably less than 1mm, more preferably less than 0.5mm in thickness. Suitably, the large upper and lower surfaces of the card have a substantially rectangular shape, preferably with rounded corners, with the longest edge being from 84 to 86, preferably about 84mm in length, and the shorter edge being from 53 to 55, preferably about 54 mm in length.

This provides the advantage that the gift card can be conveniently carried in the wallet of the recipient or giver the card. After the gift has been redeemed, the first segment may be discarded, and the second segment kept as a useful accessory by the recipient.

Alternatively, the first segment of card may be substantially the same size and shape as a conventional credit card, such that the first segment of card may be kept in the recipients wallet, and used to continue accessing the monetary account, with the second segment of card also carried by the user as a useful accessory, acting as a memento for a gift card, and possibly also useable as an alternative route for crediting and debiting the monetary account by either the recipient or the giver.

Suitably, the card is a laminated card comprising a base layer, a central layer adhered to the base layer and a top layer adhered to the central layer.

Preferably, in order to provide greater durability for the card, the base layer and the top layer are of polyester polymeric sheet, such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

When the first segment of card and the second segment of card are both provided with a means for debiting and/or crediting the monetary account, the means may be the same or may be different. For instance the means on the first segment of card may be a magnetic stripe, and may be a bar code on the second segment of card. A plurality of means for debiting and/or crediting the monetary account may be provided.

Suitably, the one or more breakable links are connecting bridges of card remaining where one or more intermittent score lines have been cut through the card.

This gives the advantage that the card can be easily formed by a die-cutting process, where the breakable links are formed concurrently with the cutting of card blanks from a sheet comprising an array of card blanks. This allows for efficient processing. Suitably, the bridges are 2mm or less in width, separated by at least 1 cm or more along the score lines to allow easy breakage by repeated flexing along the axis of the score line. Although closer separations and wider bridges may be used, this makes breakage of the breakable links more difficult to achieve.

Preferably the first segment of card has rounded corners. Preferably, the second segment of card has rounded corners. Rounding the corners with a radius suitably of 0.5mm to 4 mm, preferably 0.8mm to 1.8 mm, leads to a reduction in risk of the user cutting themselves with the corners of the segments of the card.

By accessory is meant a useful accessory, which can be made by adaptation of a flat sheet of card such as the second segment of card. A mere souvenir or a segment of card merely showing information is not considered as a useful accessory -by accessory is meant an accessory having a technical use. For instance, holes or cuts may be made in the second segment of card that adapt it to a certain technical use. Alternatively, an electronic chip and power source could be incorporated into the second segment of card, which could then act as a clock calendar, calculator, etc. A rectangular piece of card, without any adaptation for a specific purpose, is not considered as a useful accessory in the context of this application.

The second segment of card may be adapted to be a bookmark. Suitably, the second segment comprises an arcuate score line cutting through a central surface of the second segment of card to form a flap suitable for hooking over a page of a book, adapting the second strip for use as a bookmark.

The second segment of card may be adapted for use as a key fob or luggage tag. Suitably, the second segment may comprise a hole cutting through a central surface of the second strip, preferably towards a short edge of the strip, adapting the second strip for use as a key fob or luggage tag.

The second segment of card may also be adapted for use as a second means for debiting and/or crediting the same monetary account as the first segment of card.

These different useful features of the second segment may be used separately or in any suitable combination with each other. These features may also be applied to the first segment of card where appropriate.

When the card is a gift card, the second segment of card is preferably in the form of an accessory which is related in some way to the nature of the gift card. For instance where the card is for a book token or a book retailer, the accessory is suitably a bookmark. For a car-related gift, the accessory is suitably a key fob.

For a holiday or travel-related gift, the accessory is suitably a luggage tag.

Suitably, for a gift card, the second segment of card may be provided with a region on which a message can be left by the giver. This may be simply a region of card which is of uniform colour such as a white region, or is preferably a material adapted to be written on, such as a writeable matt ink screen which is printed onto the surface of the second segment of card.

A second aspect of the invention provides a method for forming a card which is a laminated card comprising a base layer, a central layer adhered to the base layer and a top layer adhered to the central layer.

comprising the sequential steps: a) forming a laminated sheet comprising an array of card blanks, b) die cutting the sheet to form a plurality of cards from the card blanks, c) separating the cards from waste laminated sheet.

The advantage of this method for forming the cards is that the breakable links needed for the card may be formed by intermittent score lines, cutting through the full depth of the card and leaving bridges of card to form the breakable links during the die cutting process forming the cards.

A third aspect of the invention provides a method for providing the ability to debit or credit a monetary account by a first person, and providing the ability to credit the account to a second person, comprising the steps of: a) providing a card which is separable into first and second segments of card, the first segment of card carrying a first means for debiting a monetary account and the second segment of card carrying a second means for crediting the monetary account, b) separating the card into the first and second segments of card and providing the first person with the first segment of card and the second person with the second segment of card, whereby the first person may debit the monetary account at a first location and the second person may credit the monetary account at a second location, and whereby the second location may be geographically remote from the first location.

Preferably, the first means for debiting the monetary account is a magnetic stripe, a bar code or an integrated circuit chip, and the second means for crediting the monetary account is a magnetic stripe, a bar code or an integrated circuit chip.

The first means may also be adapted to atlow crediting of the monetary account in addition to debiting of the account, so that the recipient may also add mony to the account as well as the giver. Similarly, the second means may also be adapted to allow the giver to debit the account as well as being able to credit the account.

Commercial networks such as the PayPointTM network or Post Office � may be used for topping up the monetary account associated with the card segments.

The preferred aspects of the first aspect of the invention are also applicable to this third aspect of the invention.

For instance, the means for debiting and/or crediting the monetary account may be a magnetic stripe, a bar code or an alphanumeric sequence, or an integrated circuit chip. Further security measures, such as a password or personal identification number (PIN), may also be linked to the monetary account in order to prevent the account from being accessed by non-authorised persons.

Examples

The invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view first embodiment of a card according to the first aspect of the invention, Figure 2 shows a detailed plan view of the region marked A on figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of a card according to the first aspect of the invention and for use in the method of the third aspect of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of a third embodiment of a card according to the first aspect of the invention and for use in the method of the third aspect of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a plan view of a fourth embodiment of a card according to the first aspect of the invention and for use in the method of the third aspect of the invention.

All of the embodiments shown are made by the process of the second aspect of the invention.

Turning to Figures 1 and 2, in this first embodiment of the invention, the card has two card segments. The first segment of card I carries a magnetic stripe 2 and is connected by breakable links 5, spaced on an intemiittent score line 4 along its long edge, to a long edge of connecting card segment 3, which is a rectangular strip of card. The opposing long edge of the connecting card segment 3 is connected by further breakable links 5 spaced on a second intermittent score line 4 to a second segment of card 6. The second segment of card 6 has an arcuate score line 7 cutting entirely through the depth of the second segment of card 6 to form a flap 10. A wnteable mall ink is screen which is printed onto the surface of the second segment of card 6. The corners 9 of the first I and second 6 segments of card are rounded.

The card is formed, according to the second aspect of the invention, from polyester base and top layers, with a pre-printed layer sandwiched between them to form a laminated sheet 0.4mm in thickness. The magnetic stripe 2 is inlaid into the top layer at the polyester film manufacturing stage and the wnteable mali ink is screen printed onto the surface. A plurality of gift card blanks are formed in an array on a laminated sheet, then cut out of the laminated sheet using die cutting.

The breakable links 5 are formed at the same time using intermittent score lines die cut through the sheet. The outer dimensions of the card are 85mm x 54mm.

In use, as a gift card, the card is sold by a retailer to the giver as shown in figure 1, with the appearance of a conventional credit or debit card, suitable for storage in a wallet or purse. At purchase, the giver has money loaded by the seller into the monetary account referenced by the magnetic stripe 2 on the first segment of card 1.

The giver may then write a personalised message on the strip of writeable mall ink on the second segment of card 6 before giving the gift card to the recipient.

The recipient then takes the card to an outlet where the card can be redeemed, where the retailer can access the money stored on the account using the magnetic stripe 2. In this embodiment, the card is a single use card, and so the first segment of card I and the connecting card segment 3 can be separated from the second segment of card 6 by folding repeatedly along the intermittent score lines 4 until the breakable connecting bridges 5 snap. The first segment of card 1 and the connecting card segment 3 are then discarded, and the recipient keeps the second segment of card as a useful memento of the gift. The flap 10 on the second segment of card 6 can be used to grip a page of a book when the second segment of card 6 is used as a bookmark, and the strip of writeable matt ink displays the personalised message from the giver.

Turning to Figure 3, in this second embodiment of the invention, the card has two card segments. The first segment of card I is substantially triangular in shape, in the form of a right-angled triangle, and carries a magnetic stripe 2 along its long edge (hypotenuse). The hypotenuse of the first segment of card I is connected by breakable links 5, spaced on an intermittent score line 4 along its long edge, to a long edge of connecting card segment 3, which is a substantially rectangular strip of card. The opposing long edge of the connecting card segment 3 is connected by further breakable links 5 spaced on a second intermittent score line 4 to the hypotenuse of a second segment of card 6 substantially in the form of a right-angled triangle. Details of the score line 4 and breakable links 5 are as shown in Figure 2. The second segment of card 6 is also substantially triangular in shape such that the connected card segments 1,6 form a conventional credit-card rectangular shape. The second segment of card 6 also carries a magnetic stripe 11 along its hypotenuse. The vertices 9 of the first I and second 6 segments of card are rounded. Each segment 1, 6 has a through-hole 12 near the right-angled vertex. The magnetic stripes 2, II each are each adapted to reference the same monetary account.

Turning to Figure 4, in this third embodiment of the invention, the card has two card segments. The first segment of card I is substantially rectangular in shape.

The first segment of card I is connected by breakable links 5, spaced on an intermittent score line 4 along its long edge, to a long edge of connecting card segment 3, which is a substantially rectangular strip of card. The opposing long edge of the connecting card segment 3 is connected by further breakable links 5 spaced on a second intermittent score line 4 to the long edge of a second segment of card 6 having substantially the same rectangular shape as the first segment of card 1. Details of the score line 4 and breakable links 5 are as shown in Figure 2. The connected card segments 1, 6 form a conventional credit-card rectangular shape. A magnetic stripe 2, 11 extends along one of the long edges of the card formed by the connected segments 1, 6, crossing the connecting segment 3, such that each segment 1, 6 will have its own respective magnetic stripe 2, 11 after the segments have been disconnected. The vertices 9 of the first 1 and second 6 segments of card are rounded. Each segment 1, 6 has a through-hole near one corner. The magnetic stripes 2, 11 each are each adapted to reference the same monetary account.

Turning to Figure 5, in this fourth embodiment of the invention, the card has two card segments. The first segment of card I is substantially rectangular in shape.

The first segment of card 1 is connected by breakable links 5, spaced on an intermittent score line 4 along its long edge, to a long edge of connecting card segment 3, which is a substantially rectangular strip of card. The opposing long edge of the connecting card segment 3 is connected by further breakable links 5 spaced on a second intermittent score line 4 to the long edge of a second segment of card 6 having substantially the same rectangular shape as the first segment of card 1. Details of the score line 4 and breakable links 5 are as shown in Figure 2. The connected card segments 1, 6 form a conventional credit-card rectangular shape. Each segment of card 1, 6 is provided with a magnetic stripe along the long edge opposite its respective connected edge, such that each segment 1, 6 will have its own respective magnetic stripe 2. 11 after the segments have been disconnected. The vertices 9 of the first 1 and second 6 segments of card are rounded. Each segment 1, 6 has a through-hole near one corner. The magnetic stripes 2, 11 each are each adapted to reference the same monetary account.

For each of the second to fourth embodiments, the card is formed from polyester in substantially the same manner as the first embodiment, according to the second aspect of the invention. Again, the outer dimensions are 85mm x 54 mm for each of the embodiments.

In use, according to the method of the third aspect of the invention, for the second to fourth embodiments described above, the card is sold by a retailer to the giver in connected form as shown in Figures 3 to 5, with the appearance of a conventional credit or debit card, suitable for storage in a wallet or purse. At purchase, the giver may have money loaded by the seller into the monetary account referenced by the magnetic stripes 2, 11 on the first and second segments of card 1, 6.

Prior to, or upon, giving the card to the recipient, the segments 1, 6 are separated, by folding repeatedly along the intermittent score lines 4 until the breakable connecting bridges 5 snap. The connecting card segment 3 may be discarded. The giver retains the second segment 6 whilst the recipient retains the first segment 1.

The recipient then takes the card segment 1 to a retailer where the money on the account may be accessed by the retailer magnetic stripe 2 on the card segment I can be redeemed and used to pay for goods.

Rather than discarding the first card segment 1 after initial use, the recipient retains it and the giver may add further funds to the account using the magnetic stripe 11 on the second segment of card 6 which was retained by the giver. For instance the giver might be a parent living in a home location whilst the recipient is their offspring living in a university location. By adding funds to the account accessed by the recipient's card, rather than giving money directly to the recipient, the giver can ensure that the funds are used for the purpose intended (for instance if the funds can only be redeemed at certain retail outlets - such as food shops or clothes shops)

Claims

Claims 1. A card which is separable into first and second segments of card, the first segment of card carrying a means for redemption and the second segment of card adapted for use as an accessory.
2. A card according to claim 1 wherein the means for redemption is a means for debiting and/or crediting a monetary account.
3. A card according to claim 2 wherein the means for debiting and/or crediting the monetary account is a magnetic stripe, a bar code or an alphanumeric sequence, optionally hidden under a scratch-off layer, or an integrated circuit chip.
4. A card according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the means for debiting and/or crediting the account is a magnetic stripe.
5. A card according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the second segment of card carries a means for crediting and/or debiting, preferably for both crediting and debiting, the monetary account.
6. A card according to any preceding claim wherein the first and second segments of card are connected to each other directly by means of one or more breakable links or indirectly, by means of one or more breakable links to one or more connecting card segments.
7. A card according to any preceding claim wherein the first and second segments are substantially rectangular in shape, and are connected to a connecting card segment, or to each other, by one or more breakable links along their long edges.
8. A card according to any preceding claim wherein the first and second segments are substantially right-angled triangles in shape, and are connected to a connecting card segment, or to each other, by one or more breakable links along their hypotenuses.
9. A card according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the connecting card segment is a substantially rectangular strip of card and the first and second segments are connected to opposed long edges of the strip of card by breakable links.
10. A card according to any preceding claim wherein the card is substantially the same size and shape as a conventional credit card.
11. A card according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the first segment of card is substantially the same size and shape as a conventional credit card
12. A card according to any preceding claim wherein the card is a laminated card comprising a base layer, a central layer adhered to the base layer and a top layer adhered to the central layer.
13. A card according to claim 12 wherein the base layer and top layer are of polyester polymeric sheet.
14. A card according to any preceding claim wherein the one or more breakable links are connecting bridges of card remaining where one or more intermittent score lines have been cut through the card.
15. A card according to any preceding claim wherein the first segment of card has rounded corners.
16. A card according to any preceding claim wherein the second segment of card has rounded corners.
17. A card according to any preceding claim wherein the second segment of card is adapted to be a bookmark
18. A card according to claim 16 comprising an arcuate score line cutting through a central surface of the second segment of card to form a flap suitable for hooking over a page of a book, adapting the second strip for use as a bookmark.
19. A card according to any one of claims Ito 16 wherein the second segment of card is adapted for use as a key fob or luggage tag.
20. A card according to claim 19 comprising a hole cutting through a central surface of the second strip, preferably towards a short edge of the strip, adapting the second strip for use as a key fob or luggage tag.
21. A card substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
22. A method for forming a card according to any preceding claim comprising the sequential steps: a) forming a laminated sheet comprising an array of card blanks, b) die cutting the sheet to form a plurality of cards, C) separating the cards from waste laminated sheet.
23. A method for providing the ability to debit or credit a monetary account by a first person, and providing the ability to credit the account to a second person, comprising the steps of: a) providing a card which is separable into first and second segments of card, the first segment of card carrying a first means for debiting a monetary account and the second segment of card carrying a second means for crediting the monetary account, b) separating the card into the first and second segments of card and providing the first person with the first segment of card and the second person with the second segment of card, whereby the first person may debit the monetary account at a first location and the second person may credit the monetary account at a second location, and whereby the second location may be geographically remote from the first location.
24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the first means for debiting the monetary account is a magnetic stripe, a bar code or an integrated circuit chip, and wherein the second means for crediting the monetary account is a magnetic stripe, a bar code or an integrated circuit chip.