REPLACEMENT CARD PACKAGING
A package for distributing a presentation instrument includes a shipping indicator comprising a shipping destination address and an envelope that has a first substantially clear window and contains the presentation instrument and the shipping indicator. The shipping destination address is visible through the first substantially clear window. The package also includes a shipping container that has a second substantially clear window and contains the envelope. The shipping destination address is visible through the second substantially clear window. A method for assembling a package for a presentation instrument includes providing the presentation instrument, a shipping indicator, an envelope, and a shipping container. The presentation instrument and the shipping indicator are inserted into the envelope and the envelope is inserted into the shipping container. The shipping destination address is visible through the first and second substantially clear windows.
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This application is related to application Ser. No. ______ (attorney docket number 020375-087800US), entitled “Emergency card replacement” and, application Ser. No. ______ (attorney docket number 020375-088000US), entitled “System and method for preparing card replacement”, all three applications being filed on the same day and having a common assignee.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCredit cards, debit cards, and other kinds of presentation instruments have become a very popular means of making purchases. In a typical credit card transaction, a consumer presents the card at the time of a purchase. Account information is read from the card and the transaction details are transmitted to the card issuer, who has extended credit to the consumer. Upon approval, the purchase is completed, the issuer pays the merchant for the purchase, and the consumer is billed by the issuer for the purchase during the next regular billing cycle. A typical debit card transaction proceeds similarly at the point of sale, but payment is made from funds in an account associated with the debit card, rather than by the issuer. Both consumers and merchants benefit from the speed and convenience of transactions made with these kinds of presentation instruments.
Consumers also may find that such instruments are more secure than paying with cash. Many transactions require the person presenting the card to be authenticated as the rightful account holder, making it difficult for the card to be used fraudulently. Furthermore, the cardholder's liability for fraudulent charges may be limited by law. These kinds of presentation instruments are especially convenient for use when the cardholder is traveling. The cardholder need not risk carrying large amounts of cash, and currency conversions are handled automatically by the systems administering the accounts.
Because of these beneficial aspects, consumers may become dependent on their cards, especially when traveling. If a card is lost or stolen, the cardholder may be left without other means for making purchases. Even though the risk of liability for any fraudulent charges may be small, the inconvenience of a lost card may be enormous. Some card issuers recognize this problem, and provide emergency card replacements. Some advertise their card replacement speed and convenience as a way to differentiate their cards from those of other issuers.
There is accordingly a need to provide replacement presentation instruments quickly, accurately, and at low cost.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment, a package for distributing a presentation instrument comprises shipping indicator comprising a shipping destination address, and an envelope comprising a first substantially clear window and containing the presentation instrument and the shipping indicator. The shipping destination address is visible through the first substantially clear window. The package further comprises a shipping container comprising a second substantially clear window and containing the envelope, and the shipping address is visible through the second substantially clear window.
In some embodiments, the presentation instrument is affixed to the shipping indicator. In some embodiments, the shipping indicator comprises a tri-fold carrier made of paper. In some embodiments, the envelope is the size of a number ten business envelope. In some embodiments, the shipping container is substantially flat and measures approximately 9 by 12 inches in width and length. In some embodiments, the package further comprises means for constraining movement of the envelope within the shipping container such that the shipping destination address and tracking indicium remain visible through the second substantially clear window. In some embodiments, the means for constraining the movement of the envelope comprises a bead of adhesive joining front and back walls of the shipping container. In some embodiments, the bead of adhesive is continuous. In some embodiments, the shipping information further comprises a tracking indicium, and the tracking indicium is visible through the first and second substantially clear windows.
In another embodiment, a method for assembling a package for a presentation instrument comprises providing the presentation instrument, providing a shipping indicator that comprises shipping destination address, providing an envelope comprising a first substantially clear window, and providing a shipping container comprising a second substantially clear window. The presentation instrument and the shipping indicator are inserted into the envelope such that the shipping destination address is visible through the first substantially clear window, and the envelope is inserted into the shipping container such that the shipping destination address is visible through the second substantially clear window.
In some embodiments, the shipping information further comprises a tracking indicium that is visible through the first and second substantially clear windows when the envelope has been inserted into the shipping container. In some embodiments, the method further comprises obtaining the tracking indicium from a shipper. In some embodiments, the tracking indicium comprises a tracking number. In some embodiments, the tracking indicium comprises a bar code. In some embodiments, the method further comprises printing the shipping destination address on the shipping indicator. In some embodiments, the shipping indicator is a folded carrier made of paper. In some embodiments, the presentation instrument is a card comprising a magnetic strip. In some embodiments, the method further comprises affixing the presentation instrument to the shipping indicator. In some embodiments, the method further comprises printing account information on the shipping indicator, the account information relating to the presentation instrument. In some embodiments, the method further comprises constraining the envelope within the shipping container such that the shipping destination address remains visible through the second substantially clear window. In some embodiments, the method further comprises personalizing the presentation instrument with a first set of account information, printing a second set of account information on the shipping indicator, and associating the presentation instrument and the shipping indicator. In some embodiments, the presentation instrument is hidden from view.
Most households in the United States now hold at least one credit card, and millions of new cards are issued annually. In order to meet this demand, highly-automated systems and processes have been developed for manufacturing and distributing new cards rapidly and in large quantities. New cards are typically distributed to consumers through first class mail or similar channels. This kind of mail often takes several days to reach its destination, and is often presented in pre-sorted high-volume mailings in order to reduce the cost to the sender.
Relatively few cards require emergency replacement, and it is not possible to predict which cards will need replacement. The mail channels used for new cards are therefore inappropriate for emergency replacement cards. Replacement cards are preferably shipped by overnight courier. Previous emergency replacement procedures have required significant manual processing, including the manual association of cards, card carriers, and shipping labels produced and printed separately. This extensive manual processing is expensive and prone to error.
Embodiments of the present invention provide automated systems and methods for providing emergency replacements for credit cards, debit cards, and other presentation instruments.
In the process of
The communication from issuer 101 to controller 102 may include account and customer information to be used in producing and distributing the presentation instrument. For example, the communication may indicate the name of the customer to whom the presentation instrument will be issued, a shipping destination address to which the presentation instrument will be shipped, and an account number that will be assigned to the presentation instrument. Alternatively, controller 102 may have a pre-assigned list of account numbers to be used for presentation instruments distributed by process 100, in which case the communication from issuer 101 need not contain an account number.
Controller 102 sends the account information to a personalization machine 103, which produces a unique presentation instrument 104. Personalization refers to the process of making each presentation instrument unique by recording account information on the presentation instrument. In one example process, the presentation instruments are plastic cards, each comprising a magnetic strip on which information may be recorded magnetically. Until the cards are personalized, they do not contain any account or customer name information. During personalization of a card having a magnetic strip, the account number, customer name, expiration date, and other information may be recorded on the card by embossing the information onto the plastic card, and may also be recorded magnetically on the magnetic strip. During personalization of a smart card or a radio-frequency enabled payment device, account information may be recorded electronically in a memory on the presentation instrument. Personalization machine 103 may be, for example, a Maxsys, MX6000, or model 9000 machine available from Datacard Corporation, of Minnetonka, Minn., USA, or an other suitable personalization machine. After personalization, each card is uniquely identifiable and is associated with a particular account at the issuer of the card. In the example of
Controller 102 also communicates with a shipper 105 over a communication link 112. Shipper 105 may be, for example, a company that provides overnight courier service. Controller 102 may provide to shipper 105 information such as where a presentation instrument will be shipped from and the shipping destination. Shipper 105 may provide to controller 102 a tracking number and other identifying information for a particular package.
Controller 102 then communicates with a printer 106, which is configured to print a shipping indicator 107. Printer 106 may be, for example, a laser printer, an inkjet printer, or another kind of printer. In the example of
Preferably, but not necessarily, presentation instrument 104 is affixed to shipping indicator 107, forming a unit 108. For example, presentation instrument 104 may be attached to shipping indicator 107 using an adhesive that is secure yet leaves presentation instrument 104 readily removable from shipping indicator 107. Or corners of presentation instrument 104 may be tucked into cutouts or slots cut into shipping indicator 107. Preferably, personalization machine 103 and printer 106 are in close proximity, so that presentation instrument 104 and shipping indicator 107 can be associated with each other relatively early in the process, in order to avoid errors that may occur of presentation instrument 104 and shipping indicator 107 become separated from each other. A unit such as unit 108 contains all of the account and shipping information necessary to provide a replacement presentation instrument. A more detailed view of one example shipping indicator 107 is shown in
Presentation instrument 104 and shipping indicator 107 (which may be associated into a unit 108) are inserted, using a first automated inserter 113, into an envelope 109. Envelope 109 comprises a substantially clear window of sufficient size that the shipping information printed on shipping indicator 107 is visible when shipping indicator 107 and presentation instrument 104 are inserted into envelope 109. In one example embodiment, envelope 109 is a number ten envelope approximately 4.125 by 9.5 inches, and the clear window is approximately 3.125 by 8.5 inches, covering approximately 67 percent of the frontal area of envelope 109. Of course, other dimensions may be used, so long as the shipping information printed on shipping indicator 107 remains visible through the clear window. The clear window is preferably covered by a substantially clear plastic sheet adhered to the inside of envelope 109. A more detailed view of one example envelope 109 is shown in
Envelope 109, containing shipping indicator 107 and presentation instrument 104, is then inserted, using a second automated inserter 114, into a shipping container 110, forming package 111. Shipping container 110 comprises a second substantially clear window of sufficient size that, when envelope 109 is inserted into container 110, the shipping information printed on shipping indicator 107 is visible through both the first clear window in envelope 109 and the second clear window in container 110. In some embodiments, a bead of adhesive is placed between the front and back faces of shipping container 110, dividing the interior of container 110 and constraining the movement of envelope 109 inside shipping container 110 so that clear windows in envelope 109 and container 110 remain aligned and the shipping information remains visible through both. The bead of adhesive may be continuous or may be interrupted, comprising a plurality of shorter beads or spots of adhesive. Other means may be used for constraining the movement of envelope 109 inside shipping container 110. For example, the front and back of shipping container 110 may be joined, either continuously or intermittently, along a line by stapling, sewing, heat welding, or by any other suitable means. A more detailed view of an example shipping container 110 is shown in
Shipping container 110 may then be automatically sealed, and package 111 shipped to the shipping destination address using shipper 105. The process of
While envelope 109 and container 110 may be specially made to comprise the aligning clear windows 301 and 401, they need not be printed or labeled in any way. All of the required information for shipping package 111 is printed on shipping indicator 107 and associated with presentation instrument 104 early in the process. No additional labels need be printed, associated with other items, or manually affixed to a shipping package. As such, the assembly of package 111 may be automated, and errors may be avoided.
In the example embodiment shown in
Feeder 501 may be one of a variety of envelope feeders known in the art, and in some embodiments may be a stream feeder. A stream feeder is one that moves sheets or envelopes in an overlapping flow, rather than moving them with space between.
System 500 also comprises a supply 502 of shipping containers, of which shipping container 110 is an example. Each shipping container comprises a second clear window. The shipping containers in
System 500 also comprises a first transport mechanism 503 that transports shipping containers from the supply 502 of shipping containers, and places each in position for the feeder to insert an envelope into it. Each envelope is inserted such that once the envelope is inside the shipping container, the shipping destination address and any tracking indicium are visible through the clear window in the shipping container. Preferably, first transport mechanism 503 comprises an intermittently-moving feed belt 504 that draws shipping containers from the supply 502 of containers. The motion of feed belt 504 may be started and stopped by a clutch and brake system. In some embodiments, a set of vacuum cups 512 operate to hold open shipping container 110 during insertion of envelope 109.
System 500 further comprises a second transport mechanism 505 that accepts the filled shipping containers from the first transport mechanism and passes each received container through a sealing mechanism. Preferably, second transport mechanism 505 comprises a continuously-moving feed belt 506. Once a shipping container has received an envelope, no further coordination with other feed streams is necessary, and the shipping container can be safely moved by a continuously-moving transport mechanism. In the example of
During transport of the shipping containers by one or both of first and second transport mechanisms 503 and 505, a rotating brush 509 may remove the liner from the adhesive of each container, in preparation for sealing of the container. In the example of
The invention has now been described in detail for the purposes of clarity and understanding. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A package for distributing a presentation instrument, the package comprising:
- a shipping indicator comprising a shipping destination address;
- an envelope comprising a first substantially clear window and containing the presentation instrument and the shipping indicator, wherein the shipping destination address is visible through the first substantially clear window; and
- a shipping container comprising a second substantially clear window and containing the envelope, wherein the shipping destination address is visible through the second substantially clear window.
2. The package of claim 1, wherein the presentation instrument is affixed to the shipping indicator.
3. The package of claim 1, wherein the shipping indicator comprises a tri-fold carrier made of paper.
4. The package of claim 1, wherein the envelope is the size of a number ten business envelope.
5. The package of claim 1, wherein the shipping container is substantially flat and measures approximately 9 by 12 inches in width and length.
6. The package of claim 1, further comprising means for constraining movement of the envelope within the shipping container such that the shipping destination address and tracking indicium remain visible through the second substantially clear window.
7. The package of claim 6, wherein the means for constraining the movement of the envelope comprises a bead of adhesive joining front and back walls of the shipping container.
8. The package of claim 7, wherein the bead of adhesive is continuous.
9. The package of claim 1, wherein the shipping information further comprises a tracking indicium, and wherein the tracking indicium is visible through the first and second substantially clear windows.
10. A method for assembling a package for a presentation instrument, the method comprising:
- providing the presentation instrument;
- providing a shipping indicator, the shipping indicator comprising a shipping destination address;
- providing an envelope comprising a first substantially clear window;
- providing a shipping container comprising a second substantially clear window;
- inserting the presentation instrument and the shipping indicator into the envelope such that the shipping destination address is visible through the first substantially clear window; and
- inserting the envelope into the shipping container such that the shipping destination address is visible through the second substantially clear window.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the shipping information further comprises a tracking indicium that is visible through the first and second substantially clear windows when the envelope has been inserted into the shipping container.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising obtaining the tracking indicium from a shipper.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the tracking indicium comprises a tracking number.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the tracking indicium comprises a bar code.
15. The method of claim 10, further comprising printing the shipping destination address on the shipping indicator.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein the shipping indicator is a folded carrier made of paper.
17. The method of claim 10, wherein the presentation instrument is a card comprising a magnetic strip.
18. The method of claim 10, further comprising affixing the presentation instrument to the shipping indicator.
19. The method of claim 10, further comprising printing account information on the shipping indicator, the account information relating to the presentation instrument.
20. The method of claim 10, further comprising constraining the envelope within the shipping container such that the shipping destination address remains visible through the second substantially clear window.
21. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
- personalizing the presentation instrument with a first set of account information;
- printing a second set of account information on the shipping indicator; and
- associating the presentation instrument and the shipping indicator.
22. The method of claim 10, wherein the presentation instrument is hidden from view.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 21, 2008
Publication Date: Sep 24, 2009
Applicant: First Data Corporation (Greenwood Village, CO)
Inventors: Ronald L. Prchal (Plattsmouth, NE), Mary E. Arch (Council Bluffs, IA)
Application Number: 12/053,432