Patent Application
20100224516
The present invention relates generally to improvements in prepaid card packaging and activation, and more particularly to advantageous aspects of packaging of prepaid cards in a tamper evident manner to reduce fraud.
As prepaid cards have become more and more prevalent, techniques for cost effectively packaging such cards in a tamper evident manner are highly desirable. While a wide variety of previous approaches have been tried, many such approaches have failed to provide the right balance of features. For example, a highly secure package may be too hard to open by a legitimate customer after purchase, too expensive or both. A very cost effective package may be too susceptible to fraud.
Additionally, according to one aspect of many prepaid card systems, a bar code is scanned utilizing a bar code scanner at the time of sale of the card as part of the activation process for the card. Where the bar code is externally on the card packaging it is publicly accessible and potentially subject to attack. Similarly in another prepaid card system, the bar code is on the card and is visible through an aperture in the card packaging as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,777,305, for example. In such an approach, the bar code is again publicly visible and accessible and is potentially subject to fraud attempts.
To such ends, as well as to address other issues addressed further below, one aspect of the present invention addresses a card package which may suitably comprise bi-panel having a fold line with a first panel to one side of the fold line and a second panel to the other side of the fold line, the first panel having an area which may suitably be employed to support a product literature insert on an inside face, and the second panel having an area reserved for a card located within a no glue region on an inside face; and a glue area between the no glue area and the edges of the second panel. The card has a magnetic stripe and a bar code or other indicia on the back surface which faces the second panel. Alternatively, two separate panels may be pressed together to form the package.
As discussed in greater detail below, the second panel advantageously employs a cutout covered with red glassine. The cutout aligns with an activation bar code on the gift card and prevents photocopying of that bar code as the red glassine photocopies as solid black on a standard black and white copier and as solid red on a color photocopier. Thus, one intent on fraud is blocked from photocopying the activation bar code on one package and then applying it to a second package. The activation bar code can still be scanned by a typical checkout bar code scanner as part of the activation process as the red glassine passes infrared from the scanner.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, as well as other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.
First panel 110 has a rectangular area 112 where a terms and condition pamphlet or other product literature insert 10 may be suitably attached with fugitive glue, for example, which allows the pamphlet or insert to be readily removed by a customer that purchases the gift card upon opening the carrier 100. First panel 110 also includes a first smaller hangtag cutout 114.
Second panel 120 has a first rectangular area 122 where a gift card 20 is suitably attached with fugitive glue, for example, allowing the gift card to be readily detached from the carrier once a customer has purchased the gift card and opened the carrier 100. A second area 124 is a tolerance area within which the gift card may be acceptably mounted. In
In this embodiment, glue is adhered or otherwise applied around the edges of both panels 110 and 120. In one approach, the glue is applied, in a glue zone 132 which in one embodiment is everywhere except the glue free zones, with a glue applicator as part of the process of printing the card carrier with any text, such as the manufacturer's name or logo, the card company, name, logo and the like, or any other printed text, advertising materials and the like that are desired to be printed on the carrier 100.
Then, the gift card 20 is attached to the panel 120, and the pamphlet or product literature insert 10 is attached to panel 110. The panels are folded together about centerfold line 130 like a clamshell so that the cutouts 114 and 128 form a hangtag opening for hanging the gift card sealed in the carrier 100 for display. Where glue applied during printing is utilized, heat and pressure are applied to activate the glue and to seal the panels 110 and 120 together The seal formed is preferably at least 0.5″ wide and even more preferably is approximately 0.625″ wide which is the case when glue is applied everywhere except the glue free zones. In a second approach, after the booklet and card are attached, hot melt glue is applied to one or both of the panels 110 and 120 in a bead or in dots with a pressure gun applicator. Where hot melt glue is employed, the closed carrier is rolled between rollers as the glue cools and sets so that the glue is applied uniformly and a wide area seal is formed.
Aspects of a second embodiment of a card carrier in accordance with the present invention are illustrated in
Second panel 420 has a first area 422 reserved for attaching a terms and conditions pamphlet or other product literature insert. No product literature is shown in
In this second embodiment, glue is applied around the edges of second panel 420 in either of the two ways described above in connection with
First panel 510 has a rectangular area 512 where a terms and conditions pamphlet or other product literature insert 10 may be suitably attached with fugitive glue, for example, which allows the booklet to be readily removed by a customer that purchases the gift card upon opening carrier 500. Second panel 520 has a cutout area 550 covered by red glassine 560, and an area 522 where gift card 20 is suitably attached with fugitive glue. In this third embodiment glue is adhered round the edges of either of the two panels 510 and 520. The two panels are aligned together and the glue is activated as discussed above.
In step 604, the fold line is optionally scored for the bi-fold approach. In step 505, glue is applied to the glue area. In step 606, red glassine is applied over the cutout.
In step 608, a gift card is glued to the area for the card with fugitive glue. The placement of the card aligns a barcode or other activation indicia on the card with the cutout. In step 610, a product literature insert is glued to the area for a product literature insert with fugitive glue.
In step 612, the bi-panel is folded about the fold line, or the two separate panels are put together. In step 614, the glue is activated to form a tamper evident seal which is preferably at least 0.5″ wide.
In an optional step 616, a UPC bar code is formed on an outside face of either the first or second panel.
After purchase, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the prepaid gift card is activated by scanning the activation bar code by store personnel, such as a checkout clerk, using a bar code scanner. While the bar code cannot be photocopied as a result of the red glassine, infrared from a standard bar code scanner will still read it. The card activation information is communicated to a remote processing center. This communication may be encrypted. The card activation information is processed and the card is activated.
In systems and processes, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,777,305 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, the bar code is publicly visible and can be readily photocopied. This photocopied bar code can be used in a number of fraud schemes which will not be detailed herein in the interest of not propagating them further. However, the approach of the present invention negates a number of fraud schemes used to attack such cards by providing a bar code activation indicia which can be readily scanned with a bar code scanner, but not readily photocopied.
While the present invention has been disclosed in the context of various aspects of presently preferred embodiments, it will be recognized that the invention may be suitably varied and applied to other environments consistent with the teachings above and the claims which follow. By way of example, while the present invention is described in connection with embodiments for standard credit card sized cards, it will be recognized that the present teachings may be adapted to other shapes and sizes of cards, such as key fob or key chain cards, smart cards, and the like. Further, while the present invention is described in connection with embodiments in which paper and red glassine are employed, it will be recognized that various other types of materials, such as plastics and the like, may be suitably employed so long as that material can be employed consistent with the teachings herein. Additionally, while presently preferred approaches to gluing panels together have been described, variations thereon will be readily adapted to the demands of a particular environment or context.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61157222 | Mar 2009 | US |
