Stored Value Card Holder

Abstract

A stored value card holder has a front panel comprising a front panel front sheet and a front panel back sheet. A first vertical folding line is disposed on the front panel. A rear panel has a rear panel front sheet and a rear panel back sheet. The rear panel joins to the front panel at the first vertical folding line. A second vertical folding line is disposed on the rear panel, and the front panel joins to the rear panel at the second vertical folding line. A stored value card is retained within either the front panel on the rear panel. The cardholder has a flat position when the front panel and rear panel are parallel to each other in a flat configuration.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of stored value card holders.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Instead of cash or a consumer product gift, gift cards are commonly given to friends and family. Instead of a card by itself, gift cards can be placed in a holder. A wide variety of different holder designs have been created for the purpose of making a gift card appear to be more thoughtful and attractive. A stored value card may be a gift card, a debit card, or any other variety of card having a linkage to a financial account. A wide variety of different types of stored value card holders have been discussed in the prior art.

A variety of different gift card holders have been created in order to provide a more appealing method of delivering a stored value card. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. D532,452 to Heng, issued Nov. 21, 2006 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, a card holder comprises an ornamental slot in which to slide the gift card. A device comprising a folding gift card with a slot is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,459 to Clark, issued May 11, 2004 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,271 to Piatt, issued Apr. 2, 1991 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, the greeting card device comprises two folding panel sleeves that slide together. A device which comprises a pull-out pocket in which to store a compact disc is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,157 to Howell, issued Oct. 26, 1999 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

A slide out card configuration comprises a presentation section which slides outward to reveal a packaged card, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,503,482 to Wilen, issued Mar. 17, 2009 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/582,226 to Geitner, issued May 1, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, an ornamental gift card holder comprises a slot with open and closed ends to retain a gift card. Also for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,482 to Price, issued Aug. 21, 1990, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, a folded card device comprises a three dimensional structure for displaying information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A stored value card holder has a front panel comprising a front panel front sheet and a front panel back sheet. A first vertical folding line is disposed on the front panel. A rear panel has a rear panel front sheet and a rear panel back sheet. The rear panel joins to the front panel at the first vertical folding line. A second vertical folding line is disposed on the rear panel, and the front panel joins to the rear panel at the second vertical folding line. A stored value card is retained within either the front panel on the rear panel. The cardholder has a flat position when the front panel and rear panel are parallel to each other in a flat configuration. In the cardholder has a deployed position when the front panel is folded on the first vertical folding line toward the user and when the rear panel is folded on the second vertical folding line away from the user so that the cardholder forms legs to allow vertical standing.

Optionally, the stored value card holder may have a window disposed on the rear panel, and also account identifying indicia printed on a face of the stored value card. The account identifying indicia is exposed through the window. A gift card includes a pair of leading edges which are adapted and sized to insert a front pocket formed on the front panel and a rear pocket formed on the rear panel. The front pocket holds a first half of the gift card and the rear pocket holds a second-half of the stored value card. The stored value card connects between the front panel and the rear panel. The front panel further comprises a front pocket tab and the rear panel further comprises a rear pocket tab. The front pocket tab is formed as an extension of the front panel back sheet and the rear pocket tab is formed as an extension of the rear panel front sheet. The front panel back sheet is at least partially connected to and laminated to the front panel front sheet. The rear panel back sheet is at least partially connected to and laminated to the rear panel front sheet. The front panel or the rear panel has unconnected regions forming a pocket for holding the stored value card. The front pocket tab is adhered to the rear pocket tab.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the present invention showing the front face of the front panel of the gift card holder.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the rear face of the rear panel of the gift card holder.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the gift card lodged within the pocket portion of the front panel.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the gift card lodged within the pocket portion of the rear panel.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the gift card removed from the gift card holder.

FIG. 6 is a stand up view of the gift card holder showing the front sheet and the back sheet of the panels.

FIG. 7 is a stand up view of the gift card holder having a cupcake design.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the present invention showing the front face of the front panel of the gift card holder.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view showing the gift card lodged within the pocket portion of the front panel.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view showing the gift card lodged within the pocket portion of the rear panel.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view showing the gift card removed from the gift card holder.

• 21 Top Profile
• 22 Top Horizontal Edge
• 23 Centerfold
• 24 Message Area
• 25 Front Left Panel
• 26 Front Right Panel
• 27 Rear Left Panel
• 28 Rear Right Panel
• 31 Gift Card Leading Edge
• 32 Rear Pocket Tab
• 33 Front Pocket
• 34 Rear Pocket
• 35 Front Pocket Tab
• 41 Rear Panel Back Sheet
• 42 Rear Panel Front Sheet
• 43 Front Panel Back Sheet
• 44 Front Panel Front Sheet
• 88 Gift Card
• 86 Score Line
• 87 Connected Portion
• 89 Pocket Portion

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The figures show that a gift card holder may have a front panel and a rear panel. The front panel preferably includes a top profile 21 cut to the shape of a design. The top profile 21 may protrude from a top horizontal edge 22. The front panel is preferably folded at a vertical centerfold line to define a right portion and the left portion of the front panel. The front right panel 26 folds at the vertical centerfold line 23 relative to the front left panel 25. The fold of the front panel is forward in a direction toward a viewer. One of the front right panel 26 or the front left panel 25 preferably has a message area 24 allowing giver and recipient notation.

The rear panel is also preferably folded at a vertical centerfold line to allow definition of a rear left panel 27 and a rear right panel 28. The fold of the rear panel is in a rearward direction away from a viewer. Therefore, the folding direction of the front panel is opposite the folding direction of the rear panel such that the front panel bottom edges form a first pair of legs and the rear panel bottom edges form a second pair of legs for supporting the gift card holder in a vertical deployed position. In a retracted position, the gift card holder has the rear panel and the front panel parallel to each other in a flat position. When a user purchases a gift card holder, the user may deploy the two pairs of legs by folding the gift card holder into deployed position.

Generally, the gift card 80 has a gift card pair of leading edges 31 which are capable of inserting into a front pocket 33 and a rear pocket 34 respectively. The front pocket 33 is formed on the front panel and the rear pocket 34 is formed on the rear panel. Preferably, the front pocket 33 holds a first half of the gift card and the rear pocket 34 holds a second-half of the gift card. The gift card 88 may connect the front panel to the rear panel.

Additionally, the front panel may have a front pocket tab 35 and the rear panel may have a rear pocket tab 32. The pocket tab can be formed from one of the front sheets or the back sheets of the front or rear panel. For example, the front pocket tab 35 can be formed as a peninsular extension of the front panel back sheet 43. Similarly, the rear pocket tab can be formed as an extension of the rear panel front sheet 42. The front panel back sheet 43 is connected to and laminated to the front panel front sheet 44. Similarly, the rear panel back sheet 41 is connected to and laminated to the rear panel front sheet 42. Preferably, all four of the sheets have graphic printing.

The pocket portion 89 can be formed as a slot opening cut into the front panel back sheet 43 and the rear panel front sheet 42. A portion of the front panel pair of sheets are not laminated together so that the unlaminated portion forms a pocket. The laminated portion is the connected portion 87 and the unlaminated portion is the pocket portion 89. Optionally, a score line 86 can be disposed on one of the inside surfaces namely the front panel back sheet 43 or the rear panel front sheet 42. The score line 86 allows a user to destructively tear open the pocket portion 89 if the front pocket tab 35 is glued to the rear pocket tab 32. If in a glued configuration, the front and rear pocket tabs can be glued together or adhered together using double-sided tape. It is preferred that the gift card holder be reassembled after initial opening by inserting the front pocket tab 35 to the rear pocket and by inserting the rear pocket tab 32 into the front pocket. During normal configuration before a deployed configuration, the rear pocket tab 32 is preferably inserted into the front pocket and the front pocket tab is preferably inserted into the rear pocket. Thus, pocket tabs may join the front and rear panels or the front and rear panels can be joined without use of tabs, but rather directly.

During use of the gift card holder, a user may detach the front pocket tab from the rear pocket and detach the rear pocket tab from the front pocket to glidingly reveal the gift card stored between the front panel and the rear panel. The gift card may be sealed between the front panel and rear panel in the pair of pockets.

The rear panel or the front panel may have an opening to allow an account identifier to be displayed. The opening 99 would be cut into a surface of one of the sheets, either the rear panel back sheet 41, the rear panel front sheet 42, the front panel back sheet 43, or the front panel front sheet 44. The account identifier opening is preferably rectangular shaped. The account identifier can be a barcode an account number, or other printed indicia on the gift card. Preferably, the account identifier 98 is printed on the back side of the gift card and includes an optically scannable and readable account identifier along with printed account information. The gift card is preferably sealed within the gift card holder.

A variety of designs may be printed on the sheet surfaces of the panels. For example, the designs could be a cupcake or a gift box. The pocket on either the front or the rear panel can be deep enough to hold the entire stored value card entirely in the front panel or the rear panel. Alternatively, the pocket can be sealed so that no noticeable slot is visible.

The present invention can also be in a tripod configuration. The front panel and rear panel can form two pairs of legs, or can form a tripod configuration where two of the four legs are glued together such that they do not separate and remain a single leg. In the tripod configuration, the card can be accessible from the pocket at the score line, which can optionally be popped out. Preferably, the front panel back sheet and front panel front sheet are made of a single sheet folded on itself such that there is a connection edge.

Another alternative construction is where the front and rear panels are made of a single sheet rather than a multiple ply sheet. It is also possible to make the front and rear panels of multiple laminate sheets which are not separable in between them. The front and rear panels have vertical folding lines which may be on connection tabs.

The foregoing describes the preferred embodiments of the invention. Modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. For example, the housing is shown as a pair of panels each formed of a front and back sheet, but each of the front and back sheets could in turn be multilayered composites such as of a card stock and a plastic printed graphic film thermally laminated to the card stock.

Claims

1. A stored card holder comprising:

a. a front panel comprising a front panel front sheet and a front panel back sheet;

b. a first vertical folding line disposed on the front panel;

c. a rear panel comprising a rear panel front sheet and a rear panel back sheet, wherein the rear panel joins to the front panel at the first vertical folding line, wherein the front panel and the rear panel are cut to a profile to represent an object;

d. a second vertical folding line disposed on the rear panel, wherein the front panel joins to the rear panel at the second vertical folding line; and

e. a stored value card retained within either the front panel or the rear panel; wherein the cardholder has a flat position when the front panel and rear panel are parallel to each other in a flat configuration; wherein the cardholder has a deployed position when the front panel is folded on the first vertical folding line toward the user and when the rear panel is folded on the second vertical folding line away from the user so that the cardholder forms legs to allow vertical standing.

2. The stored value card holder of claim 1, further comprising: a window disposed on the rear panel, and further comprising account identifying indicia printed on a face of the stored value card, wherein the account identifying indicia is exposed through the window.

3. The stored value card holder of claim 1, wherein the stored value card includes a pair of leading edges which are adapted and sized to insert a front pocket formed on the front panel and a rear pocket formed on the rear panel, wherein the front panel is secured in a reengageable tab in pocket connection to the rear panel.

4. The stored value card holder of claim 3, wherein the front pocket holds a first half of the stored value card and the rear pocket holds a second-half of the stored value card wherein the stored value card connects between the front panel and the rear panel.

5. The stored value card holder of claim 1, wherein the front panel further comprises a front pocket tab and wherein the rear panel further comprises a rear pocket tab, wherein the front panel is secured in a reengageable tab in pocket connection to the rear panel.

6. The stored value card holder of claim 5, wherein the front pocket tab is formed as an extension of the front panel back sheet and wherein the rear pocket tab is formed as an extension of the rear panel front sheet.

7. The stored value card holder of claim 1, wherein the front panel back sheet is at least partially connected to and laminated to the front panel front sheet and wherein the rear panel back sheet is at least partially connected to and laminated to the rear panel front sheet wherein the front panel or the rear panel has unconnected regions forming a pocket for holding the stored value card.

8. The stored value card holder of claim 7, further comprising: a window disposed on the rear panel, and further comprising account identifying indicia printed on a face of the stored value card, wherein the account identifying indicia is exposed through the window.

9. The stored value card holder of claim 7, wherein the stored value card and includes a pair of leading edges which are adapted and sized to insert a front pocket formed on the front panel and a rear pocket formed on the rear panel.

10. The stored value card holder of claim 9, wherein the front pocket holds a first half of the stored value card and the rear pocket holds a second-half of the stored value card wherein the stored value card connects between the front panel and the rear panel.

11. The stored value card holder of claim 7, wherein the front panel further comprises a front pocket tab and wherein the rear panel further comprises a rear pocket tab.

12. The stored value card holder of claim 11, wherein the front pocket tab is formed as an extension of the front panel back sheet and wherein the rear pocket tab is formed as an extension of the rear panel front sheet.

13. The stored value card holder of claim 12, further comprising: a window disposed on the rear panel, and further comprising account identifying indicia printed on a face of the stored value card, wherein the account identifying indicia is exposed through the window.

14. The stored value card holder of claim 12, wherein the stored value card includes a pair of leading edges which are adapted and sized to insert a front pocket formed on the front panel and a rear pocket formed on the rear panel.

15. The stored value card holder of claim 14, wherein the front pocket holds a first half of the gift card and the rear pocket holds a second-half of the stored value card wherein the stored value card connects between the front panel and the rear panel.

16. The stored value card holder of claim 12, wherein the front panel further comprises a front pocket tab and wherein the rear panel further comprises a rear pocket tab, wherein the front pocket tab is adhered to the rear pocket tab.

17. A stored value card holder comprising:

a. a front panel;

b. a first vertical folding line disposed on the front panel;

c. a rear panel, wherein the rear panel joins to the front panel at the first vertical folding line;

d. a second vertical folding line disposed on the rear panel, wherein the front panel joins to the rear panel at the second vertical folding line; and

e. a stored value card retained to either the front panel on the rear panel; wherein the cardholder has a flat position when the front panel and rear panel are parallel to each other in a flat configuration; wherein the cardholder has a deployed position when the front panel is folded on the first vertical folding line toward the user and when the rear panel is folded on the second vertical folding line away from the user so that the cardholder forms more than two legs to allow vertical standing.

18. The stored value card holder of claim 17, further comprising: a window disposed on the rear panel, and further comprising account identifying indicia printed on a face of the stored value card, wherein the account identifying indicia is exposed through the window.

19. The stored value card holder of claim 17, wherein the stored value card includes a pair of leading edges which are adapted and sized to insert a front pocket formed on the front panel and a rear pocket formed on the rear panel, wherein the front panel is secured in a reengageable tab in pocket connection to the rear panel.

20. The stored value card holder of claim 17, wherein the front panel further comprises a front pocket tab and wherein the rear panel further comprises a rear pocket tab, wherein the front panel is secured in a reengageable tab in pocket connection to the rear panel.