WO2007073510A2

WO2007073510A2 - Adapter for receiving a transaction card

Info

Publication number: WO2007073510A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/060379
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jussara Esparza; Percival Jatoba
Original assignee: Visa International Service Association
Priority date: 2005-10-31
Filing date: 2006-10-31
Publication date: 2007-06-28
Also published as: WO2007073510A3

Abstract

An adapter for a transaction card is disclosed. The adapter may include a top portion, a bottom portion, two sides and a top surface. The top surface may include a pocket for receiving a transaction card. The adapter may complement the size of the received minicard allowing it to emulate a transaction card having a standard form factor when inserted into a receiving device, such as a transaction card reader. Accordingly, the pocket on the adapter may be positioned such that a processor on a received minicard may be operably accessed upon insertion into a receiving device designed to receive a chip card having a standard form factor.

Description

A. TITLE: ADAPTER FOR RECEIVING A TRANSACTION CARP

B, CLAIM OF PRIORITY AND RELATED APPLICATIONS fθOOl] This application claims priority to pending U.S. Provisional Application Serial ^"No. 60/731 JSB. entitled "Adapter for Use with a Transaction Card Comprising a Processor*" and filed October 31, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

C-E. NOT APPLICABLE

F. BACKGROUND

|OΘO2] A variety of transaction cards are presently in use. For example, a transaction card can include a credit card, a debit card, a loyalty card, a smart card, a stored value card, and/or other similar cards. Such cards can be used to complete a transaction between a possessing party and, for example, a merchant.

IOOΘ3| Transaction cards having a reduced form factor have been made available for use by consumers. Such cards are typically known as "mimcards⁵" or ""data cards." An exemplary minicard is described in U.S, Patent No. 6,471 J 27_* which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A mύήeard can provide enhanced accessibility because it can be more easily stored than a conventional transaction card. For example, a minicatd may be stored oa a key-chain or similar device, In addition, a minicard often includes means for processing and storing information, such as a processor and processor-readable storage medium. However, due to its smaller form factor, a minϊcard cannot presently be used at electronic terminals equipped with a reader designed to receive standard sized chip cards. £0004] Proper functioning of a processor on a mimcard is critical. For example, a processor on a mimcard that performs credit and/or debit transactions can be encoded with specific account information, such as the transaction card number, cardholder identifying information, a card expiration date, and 'or a personal identification code. However, if a card reader cannot access such account information, transactions cannot be completed by using the mini card.

[0005] If an access device, such as an electronic terminal, cannot properly read the stored account information, a cardholder and/or a vendor must enter the information manually, such as by using a keypad, telephone, or other similar device. Manually entering the encoded information can add indirect and direct costs to the vendor. For example, the additional time necessary to enter the information manually can. increase the need for register operators and decrease the vendor's ability to attend to other customer matters. In addition, vendors are frequently charged increased transaction ifees by the card issuer for a manually entered transaction. Moreover, the additional time required to perform a transaction might discourage consumers from using a mmieard for the transaction.

[0006] Systems for enabling a minkard to be used with a standard chip card reader would be desirable.

G. SUMMARY

[0007} Before the present embodiments, methods, and materials are described, it is to

be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments, methodologies, and materials described, as these may vary, ϊt is also to be understood that the terminology used

~1~ in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope. fβOOS] It must also be nσied that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a,'' "an,"' and ^<4the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a "card" is a reference to one or more cards and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms mcd herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Although any methods, materials, and devices similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments, the preferred methods, materials, and devices are now described. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entireties. Nothing herein ϊs to be construed as an admission that the embodiments described herein are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of

prior invention. As used herein, ih& term "comprising^*' means 'including, but not limited to,^"1

[0009] In ari embodiment, an adapter for ia transaction card may include a pocket adapted to hold the transaction card and include a top portion, a bottom portion and two sides. The adapter may include polypropylene and may be approximately 75 mm long and approximately 53 mm wide. The pocket may be approximately 5 mm deep and approximately 35 tarn wide. In addition, the bottom portion of the adapter may include one of a V-shape, a U- shape, a triangle and a square.

a BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[Θ010J Aspects, features, benefits mά advantages of the present invention will be apparent with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings, of which: j^ββtl] FIG, 1. depicts a perspective, vkw of. &i exemplary adapter according to an embodiment,

[OO 12] MQ. 2 depicts the use of a transaction card in conjunction vήih an exemplary adapter at an electronic terminal, equipped with a full sized chip card reader according to an embodiment,

[6013] EICJS. 3A-D depict perspectiv views, of exemplary adapters having alternatively shaped .button*, portions according to embodiments.

L DETAILED DESCRIPTION

|βU14j Flø- i depicts a perspective view of an. exemplary adapter according to an eϊahodiiήent; The adapter: 10 may include a top portion: ll_^ a bottom portion 12_> and two sides 13, Ϊ4> A top surface 15 of theadapter 10 may include a pocket 16 for receiving a transaction card.18. which may include^ processor, (not sho^vii). A first side_:13 of the adapter 10 may bt approximately 75 mm_. long, and a second side 14 of the adapter may be approximately 62 mm

long.

[00i5] l^"he wldtli of the bottom portion 12 may vary based on the shape of iht bottom portioϊ] 12. In an. embodiment, the bottom ppιtioii^:12 of the adapter 10 may. be approximately S3 mniwide. ^'Fhe top sarface 15 of thebottbiia portion.12 ■^'•may have one or more raised surfaces 17 to enable. more secure hand and/or finger contact (I.e.,

I0l$l In some cases, the combination of the. adapter 10 and a received card 18 may be- too Mck to fit into a card reader. Accordingly,, the top portion Il of the ..apparatus iO may irictode a cut-oάt p6.rtion.19.oi^' approximately 28 mm in width and approximately 13 rø i length. [0017] The pocket H m&y be located, for example, at or near the center of the top

surface IS of the apparatus 10. The pocket 16 may be approximately 5 mm deep and approximately 35 mm wide. Iu an embodiment the pocket 16 ma.} be positioned such that an edge 20 of a second side 21 of a received card 18 may be substantially rø line with an edge 22 of the second side 14 of the adapter 10 when the received card is inserted into the pocket. Inserting the received card 18 into the pocket 16 in this manner may enable a portion of the adapter 10 near the first side 13 to extend laterally from the received card such that the card may be properly positioned in the slot of a receiving terminal, such as 30 in FIG. 2, designed to access standard sized transaction cards. This may permit a processor, if any, on the received card 18 to bo made accessible to a receiving terminal 30 when the adapter 10 and the card are introduced to the

receiving terminal

[0OtS| FIGS. 3A-D depict perspective views of exemplary adapters having alternative!} shaped bottom portions according to embodiments, As shown in FIG_* 3A, the bottom portion 12 of the apparatus 10 may comprise a V-shape. Jn an alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 3B₅ the bottom portion 12 of the apparatus 10 may comprise a U -shape. In another alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 3C, the bottom portion 12 of the apparatus lθ may comprise a

triangle, in yet another alternate embodiment, shown in FlG. 3D, the bottom portion 12 of the apparatus 10 may comprise a square. f 01)19] In an embodiment, an adapter 10 may be manufactured via a molding process snd/or an extrusion process. In an embodiment an adapter 10 may comprise, for example, polypropylene. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other methods of manufacturing may be USQU to produce an adapter W and other materials may be used to provide rigid support for an adapter within the scope of this disclosure. pB20| ϊh an embodiment, a.. received transaction card.18 may inelude.a processor. In an embodiment, the received ^transaction card 18 may be approximately 44 mm by approximately 66 ΓΏΓH;

[0021] It ^"will be a|jpre.Gxated that various of the above-disciosfed and other features and._, ^■functions, or atternatives thereolViήay be desirably eombiried into maiiy pther different systems, or apjplicatioHs. Also, it. will be appreciated that various presently, miibreseen or: unanticipated alternatives, modiSeations;, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently: made.by tiose skilled in the art that Such alternatives, modifications, variations arid improvements are

also intended to be encompassed by Che following claims_*

Claims

h CLAIMSWhat Is Claimed Is:

1. An adapter for a transaction card, the adapter comprising: a top portion; a bottom portion; two sides; and a top surface, wherein the top Surface comprises a pocket for receiving a transaction card

2. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the adapter is operable to introduce a received transaction card into a receiving device.

3. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the pocket is positioned such that the received, transaction card can be operably inserted into a receiving device designed to receive a chip card having a standard form factor.

4. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the adapter comprises polypropylene.

5. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion of the adapter comprises one of a V-

shapeΛ a U-shape, a triangle, and a square.

6. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the received transaction card is approximately 44 mm long and approximately 66 nun wide.

1, The adapter of claim 1 wherein the pocket is approximately 5 mm deep and approximately 35 mm wide.

8. The adapter of claim I wherein the adapter is approximately 75 mm long and approximately 53 mm wide.

9. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the top surface further comprises one or more raised surfaces for providing a gripping interface.

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