GB2459137A

GB2459137A - Tags or key fobs with magnetic strip

Info

Publication number: GB2459137A
Application number: GB0806694A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Andrew Hesketh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-04-12
Filing date: 2008-04-12
Publication date: 2009-10-14
Also published as: GB0806694D0

Abstract

A dual data tag assembly comprises two fully key-tags or key fobs that may be personalized that are provided upon a secure webbing body that further comprises an ISO sized swipe card. The key-tags are arranged on the webbing so as to allow them to be personalized at the same time, before being detached from the main webbing body, creating two personalized key-tags. Once separated, the key-tags are compatible with point of sale equipment designed to read barcodes and magnetic tape products that conform to ISO standards for payment cards. The key-tags can be printed upon using conventional printing methods.

Description

Descrhtion: Dual Integrated Key-Tags with Magnetic Tape This invention relates to a device that enables operators of membership or loyalty schemes to issue two identical key-tags that contain as much information as a loyalty or membership card to the customer for the same cost as issuing one key-tag.

The Nitecrest Dual Data Tag' has been specifically designed to enable two key tags to be supplied as part of a product or in webbing of any thickness or material. The purpose of the invention is to enable scheme providers (including, but not limited to, loyalty or membership schemes, for example) to provide their customers/members with a more convenient way to carry their own unique details, in replacement of a credit card or any other traditional media.

The key-tags can feature magnetic encoding (compressed) and barcode(s), as well as human readable information, including, but not limited to, account holder details. The Dual Data Tag features two key-tags which can both contain the same information, or alternatively, can contain unique information, depending on the requirement of the issuer.

The key-tag enables issuers to send two key-tags to each customer/member at one time, whilst personalising them both at the same time, drastically reducing the cost of production and removing the requirement to re-issue more key-tags if the user loses or damages one.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Drawing 1; Dual Data Tags) This diagram displays the key-tags as part of a standard credit card sized product (86mm x 54.5mm). The main features listed in the drawing are; a) Webbing: The purpose of the webbing is to hold the two key-tags in a uniform position, providing required durability during the personalisation process, enabling the magnetic tape to be encoded and barcodes to be applied.

b) Keyring Aperture: This feature enables the key-tags to be fixed onto a standard keyring once separated from the webbing.

c) Die-cuts: ease the ability to separate the key-tags from the webbing by hand without having to use scissors or other cuffing equipment.

d) Magnetic Tape: This can be either HiCo or LoCo magnetic tape and is situated in the standard ISO position. The magnetic tape is encoded on both key-tags in one pass using compressed encoding.

e) Bridges: The bridges secure the key-tag to the webbing.

Drawing 2; Dual Data Tags & Combined Card) This diagram provides an additional example of how the key-tags can be combined with other card products in order to ease the personalisation process when to be issued in conjunction with a membership, loyalty, gift or other type of card;

a) Dual Data Tags: As description above

b) Combined Card: This card can be separated from the attached Dual Data Tags, creating two separate, but commonly personalised products c) Magnetic Tape: This can be either HiCo or LoCo magnetic tape, is situated in the standard ISO position and is personalised at the same time as the Dual Data Tags.

d) Score: The score line enables the card and Dual Data Tags to be separated by bending along it until it breaks.

The magnetic tape is compatible to all ISO magnetic tape readers and complies to all ISO requirements. The Dual Data Tag is made as a standard ISO credit card using laminated PVC, but can also be made from laminated Teslin. The complete product can carry unique data, such as barcodes, user names, PIN(s), serial and batch numbers, which can be printed using most personalisation formats, including Thermal printing, MEK inkjet, Drop On Demand lnkjet, Indent printing and Laser Engraving. The key-tags can also have a scratch panel laid onto them to cover secure information or data, if required.

The key tags can be made to any shape or size and are die-cut using a steel-rule die and ram-punch, or can also be cut using a male and female compound die.

Claims

Claims: Dual Integrated Key-tag with Magnetic Strip 1) Dual Data Tags comprising of two fully personalisable key-tags.
2) Dual Data Tags according to claim 1, in which the magnetic tape spans both of the integrated key-tags in the ISO position.
3) Dual Data Tags according to claim 1, in which the magnetic tape spanning both tags is able to be encoded using compressed encoding in one pass.
4) Dual Data Tags according to claim 1, in which the surface can accept an inkjet or thermally printed image, such as a barcode or alphanumeric characters.
5) Dual Data Tags according to claim 1, in which two integrated key-tags are held into the surrounding webbing by bridges or a score, or a mixture of the two.
6) Dual Data Tags according to claim 1, in which the two integrated key-tags can be removed from the surrounding webbing by hand, without the aid of cutting equipment.
7) Dual Data Tags according to claim 1, in which the two integrated key-tags are both able to be personalised with thermal or inkjet print in the same pass as the encoding.