Patent Application
20070284871
Stored value cards and other financial transaction cards come in many forms, according to the embodiments of the invention. A gift card, for example, includes pre-loaded monetary value. In one example, a customer provides consideration in the amount of the card value, or is offered the gift card as an incentive to make a purchase, and then either keeps the card for use or provides the card as a gift to a recipient. The gift card, like other stored value cards can be re-loaded. The balance associated with the gift card declines as the card is used. The card remains in the user's purse or wallet, serving as an advertisement, or reminder to revisit the associated merchant. Gift cards according to the embodiments of this invention provide a number of advantages to both the customer and the merchant.
Other stored value cards according to embodiments of the invention include, merchandise return cards; pre-paid cards, such as phone cards; and other types of cards associated with or representing purchasing power or monetary value. Other forms of financial transaction cards according to embodiments of the invention include credit cards and debit cards.
Front side 12 of card 10 provides a writing surface 18 within card body 16. In one embodiment, writing surface 18 can be a blank area. In other embodiments as shown in
Writing surface 18 can consist of a number of materials facilitating press on lettering, raised lettering, writing instruments including markers, pens, pencils, and the like. Card 10 may be coated with a matted surface or a coating that allows for an ink impregnable surface or may be manufactured with a coarse surface suitable for writing instead of the shiny surface found on most gift cards. The writing surface is thus personalized when the marking material is released upon direct contact between writing implement 28 and writing surface 18. Writing implement 28 can be a marker such as Sharpie brand marker or another type of permanent ink marker.
In one embodiment, the invention can be sold individually as a personalized payment card 10. In another embodiment, the invention can be sold as a kit and contain materials for personalization on writing surface 18, such as pens, markers, stickers 30, raised lettering 32 and stamps.
According to a method of the invention, a method of personalizing card 10 comprises providing card 10 with front side 12 and back side 14, as well as permanent writing implement 28. For example, a gift giver desires to purchase a birthday present for a recipient but does not know what the recipient wants or what size will fit correctly. The gift giver first purchases a blank, no value, gift card and writing implement from a first retail outlet without having to purchase a separate birthday card. The gift giver then takes card 10 home and personalizes it with marking implement 28 or in any way set forth by the present invention. Thereafter, the gift giver may go to a favorite store that the recipient may like and load a monetary value into the card. Alternatively, the gift giver may load value on blank card 10, and then personalize the card with marking implements as set forth by the invention.
Once loaded, the gift giver presents the value added personalized gift card to the recipient without having to purchase a separate birthday card and without the risk of having the card being detached from the gift. In this way, card 10, which is provided with a predetermined value as determined by a vendor or retailer and contains writing surface 18, may be personalized utilizing ink impregnable by writing implement 28 with the gift giver's name and desired message. Accordingly, the user releases the permanent marking ink from writing implement 28 onto writing surface 18 thereby leaving a permanent mark on card 10.
In another embodiment, front side 12 is coated with a coating so that marking ink from writing implement 28 may be released throughout the entire surface of gift card 10. In another embodiment, stickers, stamps, raised lettering and the like may also be applied by the user to writing surface 18 for personalization, the writing surface 18 being either coated or non-coated. In this way, when the consumer presents the personalized gift card to the vendor, the consumer facilitates a consumer exchange by purchasing a desired item from the vendor's inventory and wherein vendor debts the cost of the desired item from the personalized gift card.
Thus, a novel transaction card that allows a cardholder to independently customize the card has been presented. Although the invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments, such embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered to limit the invention.
This application is related to and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/813308 filed on Jun. 13, 2006, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60813308 | Jun 2006 | US |
