Patent Application
20070022647
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
The present invention relates generally to a card having a pocket, and more specifically to a substantially planar laminated plastic card, such as a financial card, gift card, luggage tag, etc., having an integral pocket and a method for manufacturing the same.
Financial and gift cards are well known in the art. Standard financial and gift cards generally comprise a plurality of substrates and films laminated together. While such financial and gift cards according to the prior art provide a number of advantageous features, they nevertheless have certain limitations. The present invention seeks to overcome certain of these limitations and other drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features not heretofore available. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present invention generally provides a multi-layered card having a pocket for removably placing items, such as pictures, therein, and a method for manufacturing the multi-layered card.
According to one embodiment, the pocket card comprises a first plastic substrate having a first surface and a second surface, and a second plastic substrate having a first surface and a second surface. A portion of the perimeter of the first surface of the first plastic substrate is laminated to a portion of the perimeter of the first surface of the second plastic substrate to define a cavity therebetween. The card also has an opening that extends from a side of the first and second substrates and provides access to the cavity.
According to another embodiment, a first covering is secured to the second surface of the first substrate, and a second covering is secured to the second surface of the second substrate. In a preferred embodiment the first and second coverings comprise a substantially transparent PVC film.
According to another embodiment, a first substantially laminating-free mask is provided on a portion of the first surface of the first substrate, and a second substantially laminating-free mask provided on a portion of the first surface of the second substrate, opposing the first mask, the first and second masks extending into the opening of the card. The masks provide for substantially preventing the masked-surfaces from connection together.
According to another embodiment, printing is provided on the card. In one embodiment, the printing is provided on a portion of a perimeter of one of the first substrate and the second substrate to thereby define a frame. In a preferred embodiment the frame is provided on the second substrate, and defines a window providing viewing into the cavity through the window.
According to another embodiment, a third plastic substrate having a first surface and a second surface is provided. The third substrate is positioned between the first substrate and the first covering. In one embodiment, a portion of the first surface of the third plastic substrate is connected to the second surface of the first plastic substrate to define a second cavity therebetween. The second cavity also has a second opening extending from a side of the first and third substrates to provide access to the second cavity. In such an embodiment the first covering is secured to the second surface of the third substrate.
According to another embodiment, a substantially planar card with a pocket is provided comprising a first plastic substrate having a plurality of sides defining a perimeter, and a second plastic substrate secured to the first substrate adjacent at least a portion of the perimeter of the first substrate. A cavity is formed between a portion of opposing surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate interior of the perimeter of the first and second substrates. A non-secured area is provided adjacent at least a portion of one of the sides of the first substrate facing the second substrate. The non-secured area forms an opening providing access to the cavity.
According to another embodiment, a removable core is provided in the cavity. In one embodiment the removable core has a coating of non-laminating mask on first and second surfaces thereof.
According to another embodiment, a notch is provided in the card adjacent the opening for assisting in providing access to the cavity.
According to another embodiment, a machine readable member, such as a magnetic strip, is connected to the card.
According to another embodiment, a substantially planar card having a pocket is provided. The card comprises a first substrate secured to a second substrate, the second substrate having a generally clear portion and a generally opaque portion. The generally opaque portion is adjacent a perimeter of the second substrate and defines a frame, and the generally clear portion is interior of the frame and defines a window.
According to another embodiment, a flap extends transversely from one of the first and second substrates. The flap comprises a portion of the substrate from which it extends, and operates as a stand for the card.
According to yet another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a pocket card is provided.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
Referring now to the Figures, there are shown various embodiments of a card 10 having at least one cavity or pocket 12. In general, the card 10 comprises a plurality of layers of material joined at their periphery to create the cavity or pocket 12, and an opening 14 provided at one side of the card 10 providing access to the cavity 12. As such, removable inserts, such as pictures, can be placed into the cavity 12 through the opening 14 in the card 10. In one embodiment the card 10 takes the form of a financial card, bank card, gift card, etc., and has a size which meets CR80 specifications. After the card 10 is formed and cut it is substantially planar (i.e., generally flat) and rigid (i.e., it is able to maintain its form and shape, but can still be flexed and bent to a degree without breaking and will return to its original shape). These meanings of planar and rigid are utilized throughout. While various embodiments of the card are shown as having a generally rectangular shape, it is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that any other shape may be employed for the card without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
In one embodiment, referring specifically to
The first substrate 16 is generally made of a generally rigid plastic material (the term plastic and plastic material herein universally refers to any polymeric material), and is substantially planar in its finished form. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment the first substrate 16 is generally opaque. This may be accomplished through material properties, or through a coating, such as a printing on its surface to appear non-transparent. Alternatively, the first substrate 16 could be transparent. In a preferred embodiment, the first substrate 16 is made of an 8 mil. solid core white PVC material, however, it is understood that thinner or thicker substrates, as well as different materials, may be utilized. The material may be provided in sheet or roll form.
The first substrate 16 has a first surface 28 and a second surface 30 opposing the first surface 28. The first substrate 16 also has a plurality of sides. In one embodiment wherein the card 10 is generally rectangular or square, the first substrate 16 has a first side 32, a second side 34 opposing the first side 32, a third side 36 and a fourth side 38 opposing the third side 36. The sides 32, 34, 36 and 38 of the first substrate 16 define a perimeter.
Like the first substrate 16, the second substrate 18 is also generally made of a generally rigid plastic material, and is substantially planar in its finished form. In one embodiment, however, instead of being generally opaque like the first substrate 16, the second substrate 18 is generally clear or transparent. Alternatively, the second substrate 18 could also be opaque. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment the second substrate 18 is made of an 8 mil. solid core PVC material, however, it is understood that thinner or thicker substrates, as well as different materials, may be utilized. The material may be provided in sheet or roll form.
The second substrate 18 has a first surface 40 and a second surface 42 opposing the first surface 40. The second substrate 18 also has a plurality of sides. In one embodiment wherein the card 10 is generally rectangular or square, the second substrate 18 has a first side 44, a second side 46 opposing the first side 44, a third side 48 and a fourth side 50 opposing the third side 48. The sides 44, 46, 48 and 50 of the second substrate 18 define a perimeter thereof.
As shown in
A notch 19 may be provided in the card 10 adjacent the opening 14 to assist in inserting and removing items from the cavity 12. The notch 19 is typically provided in each layer of the card 10 during die cutting thereof, however, it is understood that the notch 19 may be provided in less than all the layers without departing from the scope of the present invention. An additional aperture 21 may also be provided in the card 10 to allow a strap or other component to be inserted therethrough, such as for a luggage identifier.
In one embodiment, the portion of the perimeter (i.e., adjacent the sides of the substrates 16, 18) of the first and second substrates 16, 18 that are connected extends from approximately the edge of the sides and extends a distance inward. For example, the portion of the perimeter may extend approximately 0.125″ or 0.250″ inward from the edge of the side, however, the range of the portion of the surfaces that are connected may be from less than 0.100″ wide to at least 0.375″ wide, and any distance therebetween, however it is understood that the distance of the portion of the surfaces that are connected may be narrower or wider without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Referring to
As shown, in this embodiment the first substrate 16 has a first mask 24 on a portion of the first surface 28 thereof, and the second substrate 18 has a second mask 26 on a portion of the first surface 40 thereof. Alternatively, a single mask may be provided on the first surface of one of the first or second substrates 16, 18. In one embodiment the masks 24, 26 do not extend to the edge of the first, second or third sides, (32, 24, 36 of the first substrate 16 and 44, 46 and 48 of the second substrate 18), thereby shielding only the interior portion 52 to define the cavity 12 of the card 10. Additionally, as shown in
The mask can be applied in a variety of processes, including various printing processes. Two such processes which may be utilized are litho printing, including using an offset litho process and/or a silkscreen process. Additionally, a flexographic process may be utilized. In a preferred embodiment, a gloss antistatic top-coat 16442 mask coating from Northwest Coating is applied utilizing a lithographic process.
As explained above, in various embodiments the card 10 also has first and second coverings or overlays 20, 22. The first covering 20 is generally connected to the first substrate 16, and the second covering 22 is generally connected to the second substrate 18. Typically, the coverings have the same shape and size as the substrate they are connected to, respectively. Accordingly, the sides of the coverings are adjacent the sides of the appropriate substrate.
The first covering 20 has a first surface 54 and a second surface 56. In one embodiment the second surface 56 of the first covering 20 is secured via a lamination process to the second surface 30 of the first substrate 16, and the first surface 54 of the first covering 20 generally provides an outer layer or barrier for the card 10. Unlike the connection between the first and second substrates 16, 18 at the perimeters thereof, substantially the entire portion of the second surface 56 of the first covering 20 is generally secured to the second surface 30 of the first substrate 16, however, alternate embodiments may provide for alternate connections. Additionally, adhesives may be utilized for any connection of any layer described herein.
Similarly, the second covering 22 has a first surface 58 and a second surface 60. In one embodiment the second surface 60 of the second covering 22 is secured via a lamination process to the second surface 42 of the second substrate 18, and the first surface 58 of the second covering 22 generally provides an opposing outer layer or barrier for the card 10. Unlike the connection between the first and second substrates 16, 18 at the perimeters thereof, substantially the entire portion of the second surface 60 of the second covering 22 is generally secured to the second surface 42 of the second substrate 18, however, alternate embodiments may provide for alternate connections.
The first and second coverings 20, 22, also referred to as overlays or over-laminating film in certain processes, are generally made of a plastic material, typically a clear or transparent plastic material, and preferably is made of clear PVC. In a preferred embodiment, the coverings 20, 22 are approximately 2 mil. thick, however, it is understood that thinner or thicker overlays, as well as different materials, may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the thickness of the film for the coverings 20,22 may be within the range of from 1 mil. to about 6 mil. The overlay material preferably has properties of being heat-sealable, durable, low permeability to oxygen, carbon dioxide and gases in general, and is a material that has strength and flexibility at both room temperature and low temperatures. The overlay material may be provided in sheet or roll form. Alternatively, the overlay may be provided in a printing or silk screen process, or any equivalent process.
Additionally, prior to the connection of the different layers of components, various layers and surfaces thereof may be printed (see the embodiment of
Another embodiment of the pocket card 10 is provided in
Like the first substrate 16 and the second substrate 18, the third substrate 70 is also generally made of a generally rigid plastic material and is substantially planar in its finished form. The third substrate 70 may be clear and transparent, or it may be opaque and have some color thereto. In a preferred embodiment, the third substrate 70 is substantially clear, similar to the second substrate 18. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment the third substrate 70 is made of an 8 mil. solid core PVC material, however, it is understood that thinner or thicker substrates, as well as different materials, may be utilized. The material may be provided in sheet or roll form.
As shown in
In one embodiment, like the attachment configuration in one embodiment described in connection with
Similar to various descriptions relating to other embodiments, in a preferred embodiment the portion of the first and third substrates 16, 70 that are connected together is that portion that is exterior of a mask. As previously explained, the mask is generally a component that shields a surface from the effects of any bonding or lamination process, should that surface be subject to any such processes. In the embodiment of
As shown, in this embodiment the first substrate 16 has a third mask 84 on a portion of the second surface 30 thereof, and the third substrate 70 has a fourth mask 86 on a portion of the first surface 72 thereof. Alternatively, a single mask may be provided on either the second surface 30 of the first substrate 16 or the first surface 72 of the third substrate 70. In one embodiment the masks 84, 86 do not extend to the edge of the first, second or third sides of either the first substrate 16 or the third substrate 70, thereby shielding only the interior portion 52′ to define the second cavity 12′ of the card 10. Like that shown in
Additionally, in this embodiment the first covering or overlay 20 would be connected to the third substrate 70, instead of being connected to the first substrate 16. More specifically, in one embodiment the second surface 56 of the first covering 20 is secured via a lamination process to the second surface 74 of the third substrate 70 to allow the first surface 54 of the first covering 20 to provide an outer layer or barrier for the card 10. Unlike the connection between the first and second substrates 16, 18 or between the first and third substrates 16, 70 at the perimeters thereof, substantially the entire portion of the second surface 56 of the first covering 20 is generally secured to the second surface 74 of the third substrate 70, however, alternate embodiments may provide for alternate connections.
It is understood that any printing on the card of
In a further alternate embodiment, shown in
Yet another alternate embodiment is shown in
Referring to the embodiment of
The flow diagram of
After the desired layers are provided, the next step is generally a printing step. Thus, in step 102 the appropriate layers are printed as desired. For example, the second substrate 18 may be printed with a frame 62 on its first surface 40, and the first substrate 16 may be printed with a background on its first surface 28 and with any indicia on its second surface 30. After the printing is completed, in step 104 the mask is applied to the appropriate layers. At step 105, a machine readable member (not shown) such as a magnetic strip, may be applied to the appropriate layer of the card 10. The layers are then collated in step 106 to be placed in the appropriate order. After the layers are collated the sheets are connected in step 108. In a preferred embodiment the connection step is accomplished through a lamination process in a platen press under controlled conditions. For example, in one lamination process the layers are laminated at 340° F. at 145 PSI for approximately 16 minutes. The layers are then cooled for an additional 16 minutes at 192 PSI. It is understood that different materials and layer combinations will require different lamination process parameters. After the layers are connected, at step 110 the connected sheets are cut into individual cards, preferably in a die cutter, to the desired card size, typically that which meets CR80 specifications. In step 110, the notch and the stand 96 may also be formed. With respect to the stand 96, in one exemplar process step, one component of the die cutter may cut through the entire thickness of the card to create the individual card, but another component of the die cutter may create the stand 96 by only cutting through the appropriate layers of the card. In step 112 the individual cards 10 are inspected for defects and non-conformance, and moved to the hot-stamp department. Any signature panels, holograms or other decorations, if desired, may be applied to the card 10 at that point. The finished cards are then counted and packed according to customer specifications.
Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. Additionally, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and “fourth” as used herein are intended for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the embodiments in any way. Further, the term “plurality” as used herein indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number.
It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. Accordingly, while the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.
