DECORATIVE MINIATURE SLED GIFT CARD HOLDER

Abstract

A decorative miniature sled gift card holder includes a deck, runners positioned beneath the deck, a gift card retention device, and a hanging device, with which the holder may be hung. The use of various types of sleds, such as sleds and sleighs with runners attached to the underside of the deck, as well as toboggans which incorporate wood runners on the underside of the deck, is contemplated. The gift card retention device includes at least a pair of vertical extensions affixed to opposite sides of the upper surface of the deck, which provide lateral alignment of a gift card on the deck. It may also include a stop attached to the upper surface at one end of the deck and horizontal extensions coupled directly to the vertical extensions, which provides longitudinal positioning of the card in one direction and within a horizontal plane overlying the deck, respectively.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates, generally, to gift card holders and, more particularly, to decorative gift card holders shaped like miniature snow sleds.

2. History of the Prior Art

Magnetic stripe plastic cards are extensively used for credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, hotel room access and a host of other functions. Credit cards, in particular, are subjected to tremendous abuse. When carried in wallets, they are subject to constant bending, friction and abrasion. In addition, they are frequently swiped through magnetic readers. A sophisticated and complex manufacturing process has resulted in credit cards that have an expected life span of three to four years. Credit cards typically range in thickness from 0.25 mm to 0.76 mm and are typically made up of two or three layers of PVC-related polymers. Usually, one of the layers is screen printed, then a clear PVC layer is laminated on top. The printed surface, sandwiched between the two plastic sheets, typically acts as an adhesive. Solvent-based inks, though widely used, are gradually being replaced by ultraviolet-cure inks. The magnetic stripe on the back of a credit card is often called a magstripe. The magstripe is made up of tiny iron-based magnetic particles embedded in a plastic film. Each particle is really a tiny bar magnet about 20-millionths of an inch long. There are three one-tenth-inch wide tracks on the magstripe: Track one is 210 bits per inch (bpi), and holds 796-bit plus parity bit read-only characters; track two is 75 bpi, and holds 40 4-bit plus parity bit read-only characters; and track three is 210 bpi, and holds 107 4-bit plus parity bit readable and writable characters. Most banks utilize only the first two tracks. The information encoded in track one includes the primary account number, the country code, the card holder's name, and the card expiration date. The information in track two includes a repeat of the primary account number, country code and expiration date.

A smart card resembles a credit card in size and shape, but inside it is completely different. Embedded in the plastic layers of a typical smart card is an entire computer system, including an 8-bit microprocessor, up to 1 kilobyte of random-access memory (RAM), 24 kilobytes of read-only memory (ROM), and 16 kilobytes of programmable ROM. The function of the microprocessor on the smart card is to limit access to data on the card. Through a card reader, a host computer communicates with the embedded computer system. The smart card uses a serial interface and receives its power from external sources like a card reader. The processor uses a limited instruction set for applications such as cryptography. The microprocessor is under a gold contact pad on one side of the card. Although in widespread usage in other parts of the world, the popularity of smart cards is just now beginning to take off in the United States. The most common smart card applications are: credit cards, electronic cash, computer security systems, wireless communication, loyalty systems (e.g., frequent flyer points), banking, satellite TV, and government identification. Smart cards incorporating a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device may be interrogated by queried by a transmitting and receiving interrogator system that is not in intimate contact with the card. The RFID device is usually passive (having no on-board power source, such as a battery) and generally includes an on-board antenna and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The RFID device receives its operational energy from the interrogator system, which must be in relatively close proximity. Within what is termed the surveillance zone, the interrogator system generates sufficient radio frequency power to excite, or interrogate, the RFID device. When radio frequency energy emanating from the interrogator antenna impinges on the RFID device, a current is induced in on-board antenna. This induced current is routed to the ASIC, which then performs an initialization sequence. When the interrogator ceases transmitting its energy transmitting interrogation signal, the ASIC begins to broadcast its identity and any other requested information over the on-board antenna. The transmission process utilizes low-energy transmission technology that selectively reflects the electromagnetic energy back to the interrogator at the same fundamental frequency as it was received, using the board antenna as an energy radiator. The transmit/receive frequency employed is generally application dependent. Commonly available proximity interrogation systems operate at frequencies within a range of 60 kHz to 5.8 GHz, and typically employ frequency modulation for data transmission. Information reflected by RFID device is decoded by the reader.

Gift cards, whether in the form of a magnetic card or a smart card, have become immensely popular among retailers and the buying public. Gift cards function like a debit card. Purchased by a donee using cash or credit, an account is set up in the retailer's computer system for the amount tendered by the donee. The retailer then issues a card, which identifies the account and the tendered amount. After the card is transferred to a beneficiary, the beneficiary can pay for purchases, up to the account total, using the gift card. The purchase of a gift card is the equivalent of a zero-interest loan made to the retailer by the donee. If the beneficiary loses or forgets about the card, the purchase of the gift card effectively becomes a gift to the retailer!

Although a gift card may represent any amount of tendered value—up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars in value, the card does not, in an of itself, make a very impressive gift. In the first place, a 3.375-inch×2.125-inch×0.030-inch thick piece of plastic is not particularly impressive. It also, most likely, represents a last minute gift decision on the part of the donee. In response to this phenomenon, the packaging industry has created a plethora of impressive gift boxes and holders for the gifting, presentation and storage of the gift cards. The present invention expands the scope of available decorative gift card holders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an attractive holder for presenting and displaying laminar rectangular gift cards. The gift cards may be of the magnetic stripe, smart card type, or other type as long as they are laminar and generally rectangular in shape. The gift card holder is shaped like a snow sled, but in miniature, and includes a deck which, on a full-size sled, supports the riders, runners positioned beneath the deck, a gift card retention device, and a hanging device, such as a wire or string, from which the gift card holder may be hung, for example, on a Christmas tree, as an ornament. The use of various types of sleds, such as sleds and sleighs with runners attached to the underside of the deck, as well as toboggans which incorporate wood runners on the underside of the deck, is contemplated. The gift card retention device includes at least a pair of vertical extensions affixed to opposite sides of the upper surface of the deck. The vertical extensions provide lateral alignment of a gift card on the deck. The gift card retention device may also include a stop attached to the upper surface at one end of the deck. The stop provides longitudinal positioning of the gift card in one direction. The gift card retention device may also include horizontal extensions coupled directly to the vertical extensions. The horizontal extensions position the gift card within a horizontal plane overlying the sled deck.

The deck of the sled may be carved or machined from a single piece of wood, may be built up from multiple pieces of wood, or it may be a single piece or multiple assembled pieces, each of which is injection molded from a structural thermoplastic resin. Useable thermoplastic resins include acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyacrylates, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene copolymer (PPC), polyvinylchloride (PVC). Alternatively, the deck may be cast or otherwise formed from a thermosetting resin.

A first embodiment of the sled gift card holder is a miniature sled having a deck mounted on a metal assembly, which includes a frame, spaced apart runners, and a steering bar mount. A steering bar, which is secured to the steering bar mount, is equipped with a piece of twine, which simulates a tow rope. Each end of the tow rope is connected to one end of the steering bar. The tow rope can be used to hand the sled on a Christmas tree as an ornament. The deck is equipped with a pair of parallel rails of generally inverted L-shaped cross section through a major portion of their lengths, which extend longitudinally along opposite upper outer edges of the deck, thereby forming a pair of opposed grooves into which a laminar gift card the size of a standard credit card can slide. An end portion of each rail has a generally rectangular cross section, thereby providing a stop which locates the gift card, and prevents the card from sliding out from between the grooved rails when the sled gift card holder is hung in a vertical orientation as an ornament.

A second embodiment of the sled gift card holder is a miniature toboggan having a deck with an upwardly curved front portion. A plurality of lateral braces, which are attached to the upper surface of the deck, are slotted to slidably receive a laminar gift card, which is thereby maintained adjacent the upper surface of the deck. A single lateral brace, positioned most closely to the curved front portion, is unspotted so as to act as a card positioning stop which limits travel of the card in the forward direction. Simulated control ropes, which can be made of twine or wire, connect the curved front panel to each succeeding lateral brace. The left control rope is connected to the right one via a loop which extends from one side of the rearmost brace to the other. The loop may be used to hang the toboggan sled as an ornament on, for example, a Christmas tree.

A third embodiment of the sled gift card holder is a miniature sleigh having a deck mounted on a metal assembly, which includes a frame and spaced apart runners. Generally vertical and parallel sides attached to the deck provide a narrow slot into which a laminar gift card may be slid so that it is sandwiched between the parallel sides. A narrow shim which interconnects both sides at the rear end of the sleigh, limits aft movement of an installed gift card. A cord, both ends of which are attached to a single or different sides, enables the miniature sleigh to be hung as an ornament.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front-left-side isometric view of the first embodiment sled gift card holder, the front-right-side view thereof being a mirror image of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a front-left-side isometric view of the first embodiment sled gift card holder after a laminar gift card has been installed thereon;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the first embodiment sled gift card holder;

FIG. 4 is a rear-left-side isometric view of the second embodiment sled gift card holder;

FIG. 5 is a rear-left-side isometric view of the second embodiment sled gift card holder after a laminar gift card has been installed therein;

FIG. 6 is a front-right-side isometric view of the third embodiment sled gift card holder; and

FIG. 7 is a front-right side isometric view of the third embodiment sled gift card holder after a laminar gift card holder has been installed therein.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a decorative gift card holder in the form of a miniature sled, for presenting and displaying laminar gift cards which are of generally rectangular shape. The miniature sled gift card holder includes a deck which, on a full-size sled, supports the riders, runners positioned beneath the deck, a gift card retention device, and a hanging device, such as a wire or string, from which the gift card holder may be hung, for example, on a Christmas tree, as an ornament. The use of various types of sleds, such as sleds and sleighs with runners attached to the underside of the deck, as well as more simple sleds, such as toboggans, which incorporate wood runners on the underside of the deck, is contemplated. A common feature of the various types of gift card holders contemplated by this disclosure is that the gift card retention device includes at least a pair of vertical extensions affixed to opposite sides of the upper surface of the deck. The vertical extensions provide lateral alignment of a gift card on the deck. The gift card retention device may also include a stop attached to the upper surface at one end of the deck. The stop provides longitudinal positioning of the gift card in one direction. The gift card retention device may also include horizontal extensions coupled directly to the vertical extensions. The horizontal extensions position the gift card within a horizontal plane overlying the sled deck. The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawing figures, which depict the various embodiments of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a first embodiment miniature sled gift card holder 100 is in the shape of a sled of the type on which a rider lies in a prone, headfirst position on a deck 101 made from wood slats 101-A, 101-B and 101-C while grasping a steering bar 102. The first embodiment sled gift card holder has a metal frame 103, which supports the deck 101. The steering bar 102 is attached to a forward portion 103-F of the metal frame 103. A hanging device 104, which may be made of wire, string, cord, or monofilament line is attached to opposite ends of the steering bar 102. It will be noted that a pair of vertical extensions 105-A and 105-B are affixed to opposite sides of the upper surface 106 of the deck 101. In addition, a horizontal extension 107-A and 107-B is directly coupled to each vertical extension 105-A and 105-B, respectively, with both horizontal extensions 107-A and 107-B extending towards one another. Together, the vertical extensions (105-A, 105-B) and horizontal extensions (107-A, 107-B), along with the upper surface 106 of the deck 101, form a pair of opposed longitudinal grooves 108-A and 108-B that extend nearly the entire length of the deck 101. It will be further noted that at the end of each groove 108-A and 108-B, there is a stop 109-A and 109-B (not visible in this view) that blocks the rearmost end of each groove 108-A and 108-B.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the first embodiment sled gift card holder 100 is shown after a laminar, generally rectangular gift card 201 has been installed thereon. It will be noted that the vertical extensions 105-A and 105-B laterally align the gift card 201 on the deck 101, the stops 109-A and 109-B limit longitudinal movement of the gift card 201 in a rearward direction, and the horizontal extensions 107-A and 107-B position the gift card 201 within a horizontal plane overlying the sled deck 101.

Referring now to FIG. 3, this bottom view of the first embodiment miniature sled gift card holder 100 shows additional details of the metal frame 103. It can be seen how a curved front portion 103-C of the metal frame 103 joins right and left portions 103-R and 103-L, respectively. A pair of lateral braces 301-F and 301-R, which support the deck 101, interconnect the right and left portions 103-R and 103-L of the metal frame 103. Right and left runners 302-R and 302-L, respectively, are rigidly attached to the right and left portions 103-R and 103-L, respectively, of the metal frame 103. It will be noted that an overhand knot 303 secures each end of the hanging device 105 within the steering bar 102.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a second embodiment miniature sled gift card holder 400 is in the shape of a primitive type of sled usually referred to as a toboggan. A toboggan is fabricated from at least one generally laminar slat 401 having a generally planar rear portion, or deck, 401-R, and an upwardly curved front portion 401-F. For ease of manufacture, and because this miniature toboggan 400 is subjected to little, if any, stress, the curved front portion 401-F and the planar rear portion 401-R of this miniature model may be made from separate pieces which are bonded together. A plurality of lateral braces 402-A, 402-B, 402-C, 402-D and 402-E are attached to the upper surface of the deck 401-R. On a full-size toboggan, the lateral braces are used to tie multiple slats 401 together and reinforce the deck 401-R. On the miniature second embodiment model 400, the last four lateral braces 402-B, 402-C 402-D and 402-E are equipped with slots 403, thereby enabling them to slidably receive a laminar gift card, which is thereby maintained adjacent the upper surface of the deck. A first lateral brace 402-A, which is positioned most closely to the curved front portion 401-F, is unslotted so as to act as a card positioning stop which limits travel of the card in the forward direction. A simulated right control rope 404-R, which can be made of string, twine, wire, or monofilament line, is secured through an aperture in the uppermost right corner 405 of the curved front portion 401F with an overhand knot 406, and connects the right corner 405 with the right ends of each of the lateral braces 402-A, 402-B, 402-C, 402-D and 402-E, in succession. Likewise, a simulated left control rope 404-L, is secured through an aperture in the uppermost left corner 407 of the curved front portion 401-F, and connects the left corner 407 with the left ends of each of the lateral braces 402-A, 402-B, 402-C, 402-D and 402-E, in succession. The right and left control ropes 404-R and 404-L, respectively, are interconnected via a loop 408, which extends from one side of the rearmost brace 402-E to the other side thereof. The loop 408, which forms a hanging device, may be used to hang the second embodiment toboggan sled 400 as an ornament on, for example, a Christmas tree.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the second embodiment toboggan sled gift card holder 400 is shown after a laminar, generally rectangular gift card 201 has been installed thereon. It will be noted that the slots 403 of the lateral braces 402-B, 402-C, 402-D and 402-E have vertical and horizontal extensions, although the horizontal extensions, represented by the uppermost portion 501 of each slotted brace 402-B, 402-C, 402-D and 402-E, are interconnected. The unspotted lateral brace 402-A acts as the stops 109-A and 109-B of FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a third embodiment of the sled gift card holder is a miniature sleigh 600 having a deck 601 mounted on front and rear lateral metal braces 602-F and 602-R, respectively. Spaced-apart right and left runners 603-R and 603-L, respectively, are attached to the metal braces 602-F and 602-R with spirally-shaped support structures 604. Generally vertical and parallel, spaced-apart sides 605-R and 605-L are attached to the deck 601 and, between themselves, form a narrow slot 606 into which a laminar gift card may be slid so that it is sandwiched between the parallel sides 605-R and 605-L. A shim 606, having a thickness not much greater than the thickness of a laminar gift card, interconnects both sides 605-R and 605-L at the rear end 607 of the sleigh 600, and limits aft movement of an installed gift card. A hanging device 608, which can be made of string, twine, wire, or monofilament line cord, can be attached to a single side (605-R or 605-L) or both sides (605-R and 605-L), thereby enabling the miniature sleigh 600 to be hung as an ornament. It will be noted that the ends of the hanging device 608 pass through apertures in the sides 605-R and 605-L, and each is secured with an overhand knot 609.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the third embodiment miniature sled gift card holder 600 is shown after a laminar, generally rectangular gift card 201 has been installed within the narrow slot 606. It will be noted that the vertical sides 605-R and 605-L laterally align the gift card 201 on the deck 601, and the narrow shim 606, which functions as a stop, limits rearward longitudinal travel of the gift card 201 within the narrow slot 606.

Although only several embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter may be claimed.

Claims

1. A decorative miniature sled gift card holder comprising:

a deck;

runners positioned beneath the deck;

a gift card retention device; and

a hanging device, from which the gift card holder may be hung.

2. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 1, wherein said hanging device is selected from the group consisting of wire, string, cord and monofilament line.

3. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 1, wherein said gift card retention device comprise at least a pair of vertical extensions affixed to opposite sides of an upper surface of the deck.

4. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 3, wherein The vertical extensions provide lateral alignment of a gift card on the deck.

5. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 3, wherein said gift card retention device further comprises at least one stop attached to said upper surface at one end of the deck.

6. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 5, wherein said at least one stop limits longitudinal movement of a gift card in a single direction.

7. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 3 which further comprises a horizontal extension directly coupled to each vertical extension, said horizontal extensions extending towards one another from said vertical extensions.

8. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 7, wherein said horizontal extensions position a gift card within a horizontal plane overlying the sled deck.

9. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 1, which further comprises a metal frame which supports said deck, and wherein said runners are also made of metal, and are securely affixed to a frame.

10. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 9, which further comprises a steering bar affixed to a forward portion of said frame.

11. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 1, wherein said runners are unitary with deck.

12. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 1, wherein said deck is made of wood.

13. A decorative miniature sled gift card holder comprising:

a deck;

runners positioned beneath the deck;

a gift card retention device which maintains at least an edge of a laminar gift card generally in contact with the deck; and

a hanging device, from which the gift card holder may be hung.

14. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 13, wherein said hanging device is selected from the group consisting of wire, string, cord and monofilament line.

15. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 13, wherein said gift card retention device comprise at least a pair of vertical extensions affixed to opposite sides of an upper surface of the deck, said vertical extensions providing lateral alignment of a gift card on the deck.

16. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 15, wherein said gift card retention device further comprises at least one stop attached to said upper surface at one end of the deck, said at least one stop limiting longitudinal movement of a gift card in one direction.

17. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 15, which further comprises a horizontal extension directly coupled to each vertical extensions, said horizontal extensions extending towards one another from said vertical extensions, and providing positioning of a gift card within a horizontal plane overlying the sled deck.

18. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 13, which further comprises a metal frame which supports said deck, and wherein said runners are also made of metal, and are securely affixed to a frame.

19. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 18, which further comprises a steering bar affixed to a forward portion of said frame.

20. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 13, wherein said runners are unitary with deck.