Credit Card Patents (Class 283/904)
  • Patent number: 6196594
    Abstract: An apparatus for replacing a data carrier on a card is provided. A tape has a length, lengthwise edges, a width, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a front face and a rear face. A replacement data carrier is permanently mounted to the front face at a predetermined position with respect to the lengthwise edges. An adhesive material is located on the front face which adhesive is adapted to bond with a surface of the card. A system and method for mounting a data carrier to a card are also provided. A means is provided for supplying a tape. The data carrier is permanently mounted to the front face at a predetermined position on the tape. A means is provided for positioning a card in a selected relationship to the tape such that the data carrier is aligned with the rear face of the card. A means is provided for fixing the tape permanently to the rear face of the card. A means is provided for delivering the card from the fixing means to a cardholder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: John A. Keller
  • Patent number: 6183017
    Abstract: A user purchases a card and uses it to make pre-paid telephone calls via a telephone service provider system associated with the issuer of the card. After the account balance on the card is depleted, the user can present the card to a merchant or other party for redemption in the manner of a discount coupon for products or services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventors: Daniel B. Najor, Fritz A. Brauer
  • Patent number: 6161870
    Abstract: A transactional control system, a promotional system, and a redemption system including a set of a card and a removable and reusable label. The removable and reusable label having a first side printed with indicia thereon, and a second side coated with a reusable adhesive layer suitable for affixing the label to either a first or a second planar side of the card. The label, printed with a registration indicia thereon, can be removed from the transaction card without leaving residue on the card and can be affixed to a registration form for registration of a holder of the transaction card. Alternatively, the label printed with a redeemable coupon indicia thereon, can be removed from a promotion card and affixed to a transaction receipt for associating a particular transaction with the redeemable coupon. In another embodiment the label is printed and scored to form individually removable segments which can be removed from the redemption card and redeemed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Arthur Blank & Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Blank
  • Patent number: 6120228
    Abstract: A wallet size pocketed booklet which has been adapted to hold a card having the dimensions of a conventional credit card, and is particularly designed to be carried in the credit card compartment of a wallet or similar size compartment holder. The use of a resin emulsion adhesive, a vinyl acetate ethylene copolymer emulsion, in the pocketed booklet makes it possible to create a properly formed pocket closed on three sides for holding and protecting the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: William Exline, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Exline
  • Patent number: 6116655
    Abstract: The frangible card with a sealed compartment has a top sheet and a bottom sheet made from a synthetic, polymeric, plastic material, both sheets being substantially rigid and being sized and shaped substantially in the form of a conventional credit card, and thus being adapted for transport on or about the person in a wallet or billfold. An information storage medium, such as paper, film, or magnetic storage media, is interleaved between the top and bottom sheets. The top and bottom sheets are sealed around their periphery, preferably by ultrasonic welding, defining a sealed compartment. The top and bottom sheets are opaque in order to preserve the information stored in the sealed compartment in privacy. The top and bottom sheets are scored along one edge, so that access to the compartment is gained by breaking the card along the scored edge. Paper money or other flat valuables may be stored in the compartment with the information storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventors: Mark E. Thouin, Kevin R. Cleghorn
  • Patent number: 6110551
    Abstract: A wallet size card book which has been adapted to hold a card having the dimensions of a conventional credit card, and is particularly designed to be carried in the credit card compartment of a wallet or similar size compartment holder. The use of an adhesive strip extending along the marginal edges between a first and second leaf in the card book makes it possible to create a properly formed pocket for holding and protecting the card. The preferred adhesives for the strip include latexes of polyvinyl ethylene, polyvinyl acetate, other acrylics, and copolymers thereof. The preferred adhesive is a polyvinyl acetate copolymer latex having a glass transition temperature (Tg) approximately room temperature or below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: William Exline, Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Exline, Michael P. Exline
  • Patent number: 6110864
    Abstract: A security card comprising a backing, a cover film, and a security image, the security image being located between the backing and the cover film, the backing and the cover film being laminated together without an intermediate adhesive layer, wherein the backing comprises an amorphous copolyester or polyvinyl chloride, and the cover film comprises the other of polyvinyl chloride or an amorphous copolyester. Also, a method for making such security cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Shih-Lai Lu
  • Patent number: 6089611
    Abstract: A transactional control system, a promotional system, and a redemption system including a set of a card and a removable and reusable label. The removable and reusable label having a first side printed with indicia thereon, and a second side coated with a reusable adhesive layer suitable for affixing the label to either a first or a second planar side of the card. The label, printed with a registration indicia thereon, can be removed from the transaction card without leaving residue on the card and can be affixed to a registration form for registration of a holder of the transaction card. Alternatively, the label printed with a redeemable coupon indicia thereon, can be removed from a promotion card and affixed to a transaction receipt for associating a particular transaction with the redeemable coupon. In another embodiment the label is printed and scored to form individually removable segments which can be removed from the redemption card and redeemed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Arthur Blank & Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Blank
  • Patent number: 6050605
    Abstract: A wallet card comprised of front and back transparent exterior surface panels, front and back core panels, and an elongate internal sleeve is disclosed. The outward-facing surfaces of the core panels bear personal medical information, and a flexible strip thermometer is stowed within the sleeve. Registering apertures are provided in the core panels, these being sized to accommodate a plurality of microfilm chips bearing further personal medical information. Thus, a display window is defined in the wallet card wherethrough the microfilm chips may be read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Inventors: Raymond J. Mikelionis, David Crego
  • Patent number: 6030001
    Abstract: A method for deterring forgeries and authenticating signatures placed on any document or other object (collectively "Item") is disclosed. A first two dimensional bar code or forgery-proof diffraction grating pattern or similar information bearing medium (Electronic Fingerprint or "EF") is issued to a person whose signature is being protected ("Principal") by a central registrar ("CR"). A personal identification number ("PIN") which has been assigned by the CR to the Principal is encoded on the EF. The PIN remains constant and is encoded on all EFs distributed to the Principal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventor: Robert J. Kruckemeyer
  • Patent number: 6025283
    Abstract: A charge card is described which is made from a rubber or plastic laminate with precious metal forming the upper surface and preferably lower surface. The precious metal layers are adhered to the rubber material by means of a suitable adhesive formulation or the plastic materially a latex adhesive. The laminated card has uniquely flexible properties which render it suitable as a credit card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: The Real Gold Card Company Limited
    Inventor: William Sherbrooke Roberts
  • Patent number: 6005691
    Abstract: The hologram card generates a hologram image in response to an illumination light beam. The hologram card comprises a substrate of a first plastic material having a first refractive index. The substrate has a contoured surface. The contoured surface is formed to include localized topological features constituting a diffractive optical element. The diffractive optical element is structured to generate a hologram image when illuminated by the illumination light beam. The hologram card also comprises a protective layer of a second plastic material having a second refractive index that differs from the first refractive index by less than 0.2. The protective layer covers the contoured surface of the substrate. The protective layer is chemically bonded to, and directly contacts, at least the topological features constituting the diffractive optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Annette C. Grot, John S. Hoch, Robert C. Taber
  • Patent number: 6000727
    Abstract: A copyproof document includes a paper document substrate, a disc having a primarily holographic first face facing away from the substrate and a second face with permanent pressure sensitive adhesive engaging the substrate, and mechanical intertwining between the substrate and disc so that they are substantially inseparable. The mechanical intertwining enables the materials thereof become substantially inseparably intertwined, the permanent adhesive also acting to insure inseparability. Typically the parameter of the disc will be a mechanically intertwined with the substrate while at the center there is little or no mechanical intertwining so that the holographic activity of the first face is not significantly occluded. Unique identifying indicia (e.g. consecutive numbers or bar coding) may also be provided on the disc, and application of the discs to a document may not be practiced without security authorization and access (by key, computer, or the like).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Moore Business Forms, Inc.
    Inventors: Sue DeRose, Gordon B. Coppoletti
  • Patent number: 5997042
    Abstract: A transactional control system, a promotional system, and a redemption system including a set of a card and a removable and reusable label. The removable and reusable label having a first side printed with indicia thereon, and a second side coated with a reusable adhesive layer suitable for affixing the label to either a first or a second planar side of the card. The label, printed with a registration indicia thereon, can be removed from the transaction card without leaving residue on the card and can be affixed to a registration form for registration of a holder of the transaction card. Alternatively, the label printed with a redeemable coupon indicia thereon, can be removed from a promotion card and affixed to a transaction receipt for associating a particular transaction with the redeemable coupon. In another embodiment the label is printed and scored to form individually removable segments which can be removed from the redemption card and redeemed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Arthur Blank & Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Blank
  • Patent number: 5992891
    Abstract: A base layer of an information storage card is coated with a first coating layer that will glow a first color under longwave ultraviolet light. A second coating is applied onto the first coating. This second coating will glow a second color under ultraviolet light. This second coating can then be printed on using standard printing techniques. An attempt to alter the card by removing the printing will damage the first and second coating in a nonuniform manner. This damage will be seen under longwave ultraviolet light, even if the card has been reprinted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Drexler Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher J. Dyball
  • Patent number: 5984363
    Abstract: A thermally imagable business record such as a form, tag, label or the like is provided in which selected areas of the record may be activated to form an image upon exposure to heat. In one embodiment, at least one selected area of a substrate surface contains a thermally imagable coating of initially colorless color formers and color developers while the remaining areas of the substrate are left uncoated. The substrate may be pre-coated to provide a smooth, non-porous base coat for the thermally imagable coating, and may also include a protective coating layer to protect the subsequently printed thermal image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: The Standard Register Company
    Inventors: Mark Dotson, Rajendra Mehta, A. Dale Lakes
  • Patent number: 5984366
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems and articles of manufacture for creating and authenticating self-verifying articles. Self-verifying articles include, for example, commercial instruments (i.e., notes, drafts, checks, bearer paper, etc.), transaction cards (i.e., ATM cards, calling cards, credit cards, etc.), personal identification documents (i.e., driver's licenses, passports, personal identification papers, etc.) and labels affixed to package surfaces for identification of the package owner or sender, which, for example, may be used for verifying imported goods by customs agents. Self-verifying article creation includes receiving recipient-specific data, encoding a first selected subset of the recipient-specific data and fixing the encoded subset along with other human-recognizable data on a surface of an article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: International Data Matrix, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis G. Priddy
  • Patent number: 5975584
    Abstract: A carrier card of standardized size has a base body with at least one cutout for receiving a value chip. The cutout has securing elements forming a snap connection for detachably securing the value chip. The cutout is positioned such on the base body of the carrier card that the value chip in the cutout is usable with standardized application devices. The value chip is removable so as to be used as a minichip card with processing devices that are smaller than the application devices. The cutout has wave-shaped edges with alternating projections and depressions. The base body has a bore for each one of the projections, wherein each one of the bores is arranged perpendicular to the respective projection such that an elastic stay is formed. A cover foil is connected to one face of the base body so as to cover the cutout. At least one of the wave-shaped edges is undercut such that the cutout widens toward the cover foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Adaptech S.A.
    Inventor: Werner R. Vogt
  • Patent number: 5972546
    Abstract: The application of Lippmann photographs as a unique security device on security documents, such as, e.g. identity cards, passports, credit cards is presented. The recording of such photographs requires a special type of photosensitive film layer in contact with a reflecting layer. Panchromatic photopolymer materials can be used and, after being recorded and processed, laminated to security documents. Lippmann photographs are almost impossible to copy and, certainly, cannot be copied by conventional photography or color copying machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Photics Corporation
    Inventor: Hans I. Bjelkhagen
  • Patent number: 5913542
    Abstract: An identification instrument such as a pocket-sized card includes both human-recognizable and machine-readable indicia. The human-recognizable material may be any combination of photographs, graphical or textual information, with the machine-readable section encoding any or all of the human-recognizable areas in their entirety. When the card is presented for verification, the machine-readable section is scanned, decompressed and/or deciphered and compared to the database used to generate the human-recognizable section or sections. Only with a substantial matching of the information may the card and its user be authenticated. Preferably, a Symbol Technologies compliant two-dimensional barcode is used as the machine-readable encoding format. Multiple levels of encryption and decryption are also described in conjunction with enhanced security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Bell Data Software Corporation
    Inventors: Barry Belucci, Eliot Charlip
  • Patent number: 5890743
    Abstract: An assembly and method for making a card intermediate in which a series of spaced apart two layer laminates are arranged with the layers in face-to-face relation with a rupturable adhesive therebetween and a first of the layers being a transparent film, advancing the laminates toward a uniting station, providing a length of imprintable material having first and second surfaces with spaced areas of release material on the first surface and advancing the length toward the uniting station, adhesively uniting in the station the first layer of the series of laminates to the length in said spaced areas with each laminate extending beyond its united areas, and diecutting the length and the first layer to provide a generally rectangular closed perimeter diecut, the diecut also having a segment terminating short of the first layer and dividing the perimeter into two equal portions with one of the portions being within the area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Wallace Computer Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald R. Garrison, Janusz Szczepaniec
  • Patent number: 5863076
    Abstract: A printed sheet product is formed by a core of printable sheet material having a pair of opposing major planar sides. At least one side bears printing. A plurality of magnetizable stripes are laid down over at least one major side of the core in spaced parallel lines extending across the one major side of the core. Scoring extending sufficiently through the sheet product including the core and each of the magnetizable stripes to define a plurality of tag elements removable from the sheet. The tag elements are of an identical shape. Each tag element bears at least part of at least one of the magnetizable stripes and part of the printing. The scoring further defines a hole extending transversely through each removable tag element of the sheet. The printing includes a unique code in characters, bar codes or both. Labels bearing the same codes can be simultaneously prepared by the printing and scoring of the core and providing a pressure sensitive adhesive layer on the sheet product behind each label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: 5856661
    Abstract: A financial transaction card for reading externally stored information includes a transparent, substantially non-foldable rigid base and a strip for carrying machine readable information. The rigid base comprises a magnifying lens. The lens is formed by machining a shallow cavity in the rigid base; partially filling the cavity with a radiation curable liquid resin; impressing a lens pattern on the surface of the resin with a die; and exposing the resin to radiation of sufficient intensity to cure the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Universal Magnifier LLC
    Inventors: Alan Finkelstein, Ron Gschwandtner
  • Patent number: 5844230
    Abstract: An improved information card having a plurality of information sets on a single, single piece card. The information card is in one preferred embodiment a single, single piece, plate member which is operable to contain two discrete sets of embossed information such as for two credit card accounts, each on a separate section of one side of the card. The information card also preferably includes two magnetic strips on the reverse side of the card, which may preferably correspond to the two sets of embossed information. In the method of the present invention, a conventional sized plate member is embossed to form two discrete information sections, with the indentations in the rear of the embossed characters optionally filled with a suitable compound before affixing two magnetic strips on the reverse side of the plastic member. In an alternative embodiment, the information card is a composite of two bonded plate members, each having an embossed section and a magnetic strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Inventor: Michael G. Lalonde
  • Patent number: 5839763
    Abstract: A security card and a method of manufacturing security cards are provided by the invention. The security card includes a peel away cover having a top film and a first transparent film adhered thereto, a card base having a substrate with a second transparent film adhered to the top surface of the substrate surface; and clean release adhesive releasably adhering the first transparent film of said peel away cover to the second transparent film of said card base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Inventor: Duncan McCannel
  • Patent number: 5830561
    Abstract: A card, such as an ID card, is composed of the following layers: at least one core layer containing at least one first core component layer of a first composition, consisting of a polypropylene block polymer and/or polyropylene homopolymer or a mixture thereof and a second core component layer provided on at least the exterior face to which an outer layer has been laminated and is made of a second composition, consisting of unoriented polypropylene or an unoriented copolymer; at least one outer layer containing at least one outer component layer made of a third composition of polypropylene homopolymer and a second outer component layer provided on at least the exterior face with which the outer layer is laminated to the core layer and which contains a fourth composition of unoriented-polypropylene or an unoriented copolymer. The first and second core component and outer component layers are solidly connected with each other by coextrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventor: Hans Hagner
  • Patent number: 5760384
    Abstract: An information storage medium has a base portion and a code storage portion. The code storage portion is disposed on the base portion and contains an infrared absorber which absorbs substantially only infrared rays within a narrow wavelength band. If a real information storage medium is produced like that, subject mediums are judged real or not by a method includes the steps of emitting rays to the subject medium, receiving rays reflected from the subject medium, detecting a first reflectance at the peak absorption wavelength and a second reflectance at a comparison wavelength near the peak wavelength, and judging if the subject medium is real or not. The rays at the comparison wavelength are not very much absorbed by the absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Itoh, Masahiko Wakana, Manabu Suzuki, Haruki Ohta
  • Patent number: 5756220
    Abstract: A large number of magnetic polymer elements are distributed at random in a base material of a object to be checked. Each magnetic polymer element includes an element main body formed of a high-molecular material, such as an acrylic resin, and magnetic metal powder contained therein. The base material is formed mainly of paper, and the magnetic polymer elements are incorporated together with wood pulp fibers in the base material. The elements and the fibers are tangled with one another in three dimensions. Indication data including figures, symbols, etc., such as post position numbers and bet numbers on betting tickets for publicly-managed gambling, are printed on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi, Masumi Yoda, Minoru Komiya, Tsugutaka Sugahara
  • Patent number: 5746451
    Abstract: The present invention consists of an overlay for the front surfaces of credit, debit, ATM and similar transaction cards. The overlay is designed in such a manner that it allows the cardholder to customize the appearance of the front surface of the cardholder's cards without affecting the operability of the card. The overlay of the present invention may be easily fabricated with a number of designs, ranging from artistic designs, to personal photographs, to political, religious, humorous, or other messages. As such, the present invention allows a cardholder to customize and personalize the appearance of the cardholder's cards as well as to use the cards as a means to communicate ideas and messages in addition to acting as a means of payment whenever a card is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: Frank M. Weyer
  • Patent number: 5748908
    Abstract: This is an expenditure data recording system using a uniquely designed classification binary code (or its equivalent) stored within the point of sale terminal system consisting of a cash register, a credit/debit card reader, and a telecommunications line. In a sales transaction, a credit/debit card passes through this reconfigured point of sale terminal not only to furnish relevant information (date/time, vendor identification, cardholder's name and account number, and transaction amount), but also to classify the expenditure by category via instant telecommunications link upon approval by the credit/debit card issuer (financial institution). Whenever there is a needed classification change at the point of sale terminal, one utilizes a unique set of color, binary-encoded cards to redefine a new expenditure category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: Mason K. Yu
  • Patent number: 5743567
    Abstract: An integral printed sheet product includes a planar core formed by first and second strips of different materials positioned side-by-side, the second core strip being printed on a first major side with a plurality variable data fields, the variable data fields being spaced apart from one another on the second core strip, each variable data field being printed with a unique code, the codes printed in all of the variable data fields of the sheet product being identical. A first cover strip is integrally secured to each of the first and second core strips holding the first and second core strips in side by side position. The first cover strip only partially covers the second major planar side of the core and at least partially covers each of the first and second core strips while extending completely across the second major side of the core and the first and second core strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Warther
  • Patent number: 5735550
    Abstract: A secure transaction card (C) accepted for transactions by a customer has usable customer identifying information (I). The card (C) has a card body (16) with an upper surface (18). The upper surface (18) has an indicator area (20) indicating that the secure transaction card (C) should not be accepted for a transaction by the customer. A layer (22) removable from the card body (16) is adapted to be superimposed over the indicator area (20) such that the secured transaction card (C) is in an acceptable state (24) when the removable layer (22) covers the indicator area (20) and in an unacceptable state (26) when the removable layer (22) is absent or damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Michael B. Hinkle
  • Patent number: 5732980
    Abstract: A copyproof document includes a paper document substrate, a disc having a primarily holographic first face facing away from the substrate and a second face with permanent pressure sensitive adhesive engaging the substrate, and mechanical intertwining between the substrate and disc so that they are substantially inseparable. The mechanical intertwining enables the materials thereof to become substantially inseparably intertwined, the permanent adhesive also acting to insure inseparability. Typically the perimeter of the disc will be a mechanically intertwined with the substrate while at the center there is little or no mechanical intertwining so that the holographic activity of the first face is not significantly occluded. Unique identifying indicia (e.g. consecutive numbers or bar coding) may also be provided on the disc, and application of the discs to a document may not be practiced without security authorization and access (by key, computer, or the like).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Moore Business Forms, Inc.
    Inventors: Sue DeRose, Gordon B. Coppoletti
  • Patent number: 5720500
    Abstract: A plastic card provided with a magnetic stripe, which is very difficult to forge or alter and, even tough subjected to forgery or alteration, enables the forgery or alteration to be easily detected in appearance. The plastic card includes a card substrate and a hologram-magnetic stripe including, provided on said card substrate in the following order, an adhesive layer, a first magnetic recording layer, a second magnetic recording layer, a transparent continuous thin film layer and a hologram forming layer. The first magnetic recording layer and the second magnetic recording layer are such that one of the magnetic recording layers has a coercive force at least twice as high as the other magnetic layer and a Curie point at least 100.degree. C. below the other magnetic layer and, when the magnetic recording layers are heated at a temperature in the range of from the lower Curie point to 30.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignees: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., JCB Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Okazaki, Yoshiki Sasaki, Koji Kitami
  • Patent number: 5700037
    Abstract: A security improved credit, debit, pass, or cash card is a colorless and transparent semirigid plastic card member with non reflective faces, with no permanent imprinting on the card member to visually identify an issuer, an owner or a card number, but with temporary identification that can be removed by the owner of the card and can be visually read only when backed by an opaque sheet. The card has a bending line across a face of the card member that is a slit through the card with a hinge of flexible plastic film attached over the slit. The card has an opening cut through the card member to allow a person's finger nail to engage the opening to pull the card from a wallet or to attach the card on a shirt button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventor: John A. Keller
  • Patent number: 5690773
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a contact-free card comprising a card body and an electronic module having an integrated circuit chip connected to an antenna, a frame is deposited on a lower thermoplastic sheet demarcating the edges of a cavity; the electronic module is positioned at the bottom of the cavity; this cavity is filled with a polymerizable resin; and the frame and the resin-filled cavity are covered with an upper thermoplastic sheet to which slight pressure is applied. The resin polymerizes, and the card is cut out within the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Gemplus Card International
    Inventors: Jean Christophe Fidalgo, Christiane Oi
  • Patent number: 5690366
    Abstract: Identification document characterized by an electroluminescence effect, the peculiarity of which consists of including a plurality of superimposed layers according to the following sequence:one transparent support, one codification layer, said codification layer being fit for having a pre-established identification code, one first electric circuit, one first insulating layer, one electroluminescence layer, a second insulating layer, a second electrical circuit, one additional insulating layer, said first and second circuits being fit for lightening said electroluminescence layer by making use of alternating current through said circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Abbatemaggio Luciano
  • Patent number: 5688738
    Abstract: A security card comprising a backing, a cover film, and a security image, the security image being located between the backing and the cover film, the backing and the cover film being laminated together without an intermediate adhesive layer, wherein the backing comprises an amorphous copolyester or polyvinyl chloride, and the cover film comprises the other of polyvinyl chloride or an amorphous copolyester. Also, a method for making such security cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Shih-Lai Lu
  • Patent number: 5667247
    Abstract: A card package assembly, and method of production, are particularly suited for use with telephone debit cards. A package is formed by folding a sheet of paper into three panels, one of which has a cutout with adhesive adjacent it. The card is held to the paper covering the cutout with identifying indicia on the card visible through the cutout from the bottom during processing, to allow verification. A tracking strip that may be readily detached from the package without opening it has tracking indicia and transfer tape on the back so that when the release sheet portion of the transfer tape is removed, adhesive is exposed which allows the tracking strip to be connected to any desired surface. The package also includes an opening-facilitating strip which is preferably reinforced, also preferably with a strip of transfer tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Moore Business Formsk Inc.
    Inventors: E. Douglas Ramsburg, Stephen R. Nassoiy, Dennis V. Zutant
  • Patent number: 5650209
    Abstract: A card package assembly and method of manufacture thereof allow simple and inexpensive production of desirable products, particularly useful for telephone debit cards. A web of card stock is imaged on both first and second faces with indicia (preferably variable and non-variable), and the faces are spot coated with plastic at spaced locations equal to the length of card package ultimately separated from the web. A card is formed from or out of each of the spot coated plastic locations, by die cutting, or with lines of weakness such as perforations. The form is narrower at the card, and adhesive patterns outside the card portions hold other panels of the package together once folded over to sandwich the card between other panels. The cards may be produced from a web one package wide, or from a web two or even more packages wide. A bang tail is preferably provided connected to the card, and of the same width, with a perforation separating the bang tail from the card and coupon indicia imaged on the bang tail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Moore Business Forms, Inc.
    Inventors: E. Douglas Ramsburg, Gerald C. Krahn, Jeffrey S. Walter, Ralph F. Irelan, Jr., John L. Wantz, Eric Patterson
  • Patent number: 5648160
    Abstract: A magnetic powder containing MnBi, in which an average particle size of the magnetic powder is from 0.1 .mu.m to 20 .mu.m; a coercive force is from 3000 to 15,000 Oe at 300 K. and 50 to 1000 Oe at 80 K. when measured with applying a magnetic field of 16 KOe; an amount of magnetization is from 20 emu/g to 60 emu/g when measured at 300 K. with applying a magnetic field of 16 KOe; a degree of decrease of an amount of magnetization is 40% or less after being maintained in an atmosphere of 60.degree. C. and 90% RH for 7 days; and a content of metal bismuth (Bi) satisfies the following equation: Metal Bi/(MnBi+metal Bi)<0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Kishimoto, Shinichi Kitahata, Hisao Kanzaki, Noriaki Ohtani, Toshinobu Sueyoshi
  • Patent number: 5618063
    Abstract: A document capable of providing multiple colors under the application of heat comprising a support having at least one surface bearing a first coating comprising a substantially colorless, heat activatable chromogenic composition capable of producing a first color under the application of heat, and a second coating comprising a localized coating of a substantially colorless, heat activatable chromogenic composition capable of producing a second color under the application of heat. Each chromogenic composition comprises a chromogenic compound and a color developer that are substantially colorless solids in physical contact prior to reaction, but which can chemically react to produce a visible colored image by application of heat at temperatures above room temperature. Under the application of heat from a thermal printer, by quickly striking the chromogenic composition with a fingernail or blunt object to produce frictional heat, or other heat application, multicolored images are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Wallace Computer Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. H. Chang, Eric B. Wendler, Vance P. Gregory, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5608203
    Abstract: A financial transaction card adapted for use in reading externally stored information includes a substantially non-foldable rigid base and a strip for carrying machine readable information, The rigid base comprises a magnifying lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Inventors: Alan Finkelstein, Donald A. Dixon, Robert H. Boede
  • Patent number: 5601931
    Abstract: A large number of magnetic polymer elements are distributed at random in a base material of a object to be checked. Each magnetic polymer element includes an element main body formed of a high-molecular material, such as an acrylic resin, and magnetic metal powder contained therein. The base material is formed mainly of paper, and the magnetic polymer elements are incorporated together with wood pulp fibers in the base material. The elements and the fibers are tangled with one another in three dimensions. Indication data including figures, symbols, etc., such as post position numbers and bet numbers on betting tickets for publicly-managed gambling, are printed on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: NHK Spring Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hoshino, Itsuo Takeuchi, Masumi Yoda, Minoru Komiya, Tsugutaka Sugahara
  • Patent number: 5582434
    Abstract: A tamper resistant label having two layers. The first layer is a patterned layer in direct or indirect contact with an adhesive layer and the second layer is a protective film with visible indicia applied over the patterned layer. A portion of the protective layer with visible indicia has no adhesion to the patterned layer which allows the protective film to readily separate from and destruct portions of the patterned layer when the film is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Flexcon Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard T. Skov, John R. Pennace
  • Patent number: 5567362
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flat molding produced by the injection molding technique, in particular an identity card, chip card or the like, characterized in that it has different volume areas containing different plastic components and formed and disposed so as to be distinguishable from one another visually and/or by measuring technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: GAO Gesellschaft fur Automation und Organisation mbH
    Inventor: Herbert Gr un
  • Patent number: 5562550
    Abstract: A computerized golf handicap system comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a touch-screen monitor, an electronic card and a card reader/writer module having proximity recognition means for transceiving data from the electronic card is disclosed. The electronic card has an antenna and a ferroelectric memory chip that is capable of storing a golfer's pertinent data and together with the card reader/writer module functions as the primary means for automatically entering such data into the CPU without making physical contact by waving the electronic card in proximity to the card reader. Any additional data not stored in the electronic card is entered manually via the touch-screen monitor. A golfer's handicap index and index month are automatically updated by the golf handicap system of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Inventor: Victor Chartrand
  • Patent number: 5538291
    Abstract: The invention is an improved credit card utilizing a die-cut removable portion which enables both visual and/or mechanical disablement of the card. The die-cut portion is preferably in the shape of a conventional key providing a visual indicator of the missing link necessary to make the card operational. The die-cut portion of the card may encompass identifying indicia such as the owner's name, the card expiration date, the numerical identification number, and/or the magnetic strip. Variations of the die-cut key allow certain aspects of the card to remain enabled should the removed key be accidentally lost. The invention requires that the key lock system be carried separately from the credit card thus frustrating pick-pockets or instances where the cards are otherwise stolen or lost. A second embodiment of the invention includes the use of the die-cut portion placed within two side surfaces of a credit card device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Inventor: Ulf Gustafson
  • Patent number: 5531482
    Abstract: A transactional control system, a promotional system, and a redemption system including a set of a card and a removable and reusable label. The removable and reusable label having a first side printed with indicia thereon, and a second side coated with a reusable adhesive layer suitable for affixing the label to either a first or a second planar side of the card. The label, printed with a registration indicia thereon, can be removed from the transaction card without leaving residue on the card and can be affixed to a registration form for registration of a holder of the transaction card. Alternatively, the label printed with a redeemable coupon indicia thereon, can be removed from a promotion card and affixed to a transaction receipt for associating a particular transaction with the redeemable coupon. In another embodiment the label is printed and scored to form individually removable segments which can be removed from the redemption card and redeemed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Inventor: Eric Blank
  • Patent number: 5514240
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for incorporating a carrier element or module in a card body. The card body is provided with a recess shaped accordingly for incorporating the carrier element. The carrier element comprises a substrate on which an integrated circuit is disposed. Before the carrier element is incorporated a contact adhesive element is first introduced into the recess by means of a suitable tool. The carrier element can then be connected firmly and permanently with the card body with the aid of the contact adhesive element under the action of pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: GAO Gesellschaft fur Automation und Organisation mbH
    Inventors: Yahya Hagiiiri-Teiirani, Renee-Lucia Barak