BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a package for securing gift and prepaid cards against tampering. Retail stores frequently offer gift or other prepaid cards in the nature of a plastic credit card sized card with a prepaid amount which can be used for a specific purpose, such as a telephone card, or for general use.
Recently, it has been discovered that gift and other prepayable cards have been removed from their packaging and their unique numbers recorded by the thief. Such cards typically are packaged in a fiberboard package with a plastic window showing the card. These packages have been removed and taken to, for example, the restroom of a retail establishment where the cards are removed by slitting an edge of the window. The information on the card is recorded by the perpetrator, who then reseals the packaged card and returns the card to the display area of the retail establishment. Upon subsequent sale of the card and authorization of the card value or a credit amount by the merchant when purchased by a bona fide purchaser to use as a gift, the thief has time to subsequently utilize the code information contained on the unactivated card. These transactions are usually through the Internet, where the thief can make purchases until the credit limit on the card has been reached.
There exists a need, therefore, for packaging to protect against such fraud and yet allow merchandisers to be able to merchandise gift and prepaid cards to its customers in an attractive and inviting manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The packaging of the present invention provides such tamperproof protection for gift and prepaid cards by utilizing a folder comprising a laminate of at least two and preferably three panels for encasing the card in a durable package which is clearly tamper evident when opened. An outer display surface of at least one of the panels includes information desirable for merchandising the gift cards. The panels define a pocket for encasing a gift card. In one embodiment, three panels are provided, including a front, rear, and center panel, with a die cut opening defining a card-holding pocket. In one embodiment, the prepaid card is placed within the pocket and the panels are folded and adhesively bonded together to seal the card in place. In one embodiment, a perforation extends through each panel and communicates with the pocket to allow the folder to be snapped open for authorized access to the prepaid card. Once so opened, the package cannot be resealed without the tampering being evident.
These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description thereof together with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is plan view of one embodiment of the present invention, shown prior to insertion of a card therein;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the packaging of the present invention with the card enclosed therein;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the package taken along section line III-III of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, shown prior to the insertion of a card therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is shown a die cut blank card-enclosing package 10 which includes three panels 12, 14, and 16. Panel 12 becomes a central panel once panels 14 and 16 are folded over the rear surface 13 of panel 12 and, subsequently, the front surface 15 of panel 12, which is covered by panel 16. Panel 12 includes a die cut opening 20 defining a pocket for receiving therein a gift or other prepaid card 50 (shown in phantom lines in FIGS. 1 and 2). The panels 12, 14, and 16 are adjoined by perforated fold lines 17 and 19, respectively, to allow the panels to be folded together, as shown in FIG. 3. An adhesive 35 is applied to the rear and front surfaces 13 and 15, respectively, of card-holding central panel 12, and a card 50 is mounted into pocket 20 during assembly. The hybrid styrene material of each of the panels is a relatively thick, from about 0.020 inches to about 0.025 inches and preferably from about 0.022 inches to about 0.024 inches. The white, printable material is commercially available from Witt Plastics, Inc. The adhesive 35 extending between the rear surface 21 of panel 14 and the rear surface 23 of panel 16 permanently bonds panels 14 and 16 into a laminate structure covering center panel 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The adhesive employed is preferably a cyanoacrylate adhesive, although other polyurethane reactive adhesives can be employed. The bonding of panels 12, 14, and 16 and, therefore, the sealing of a card 50 within pocket 20 can be achieved by other means, such as ultrasonic welding or heat-staking as well.
Each of the panels 12, 14, and 16 include a hang tag slot 25, 27, and 29, respectively, which align, as seen in FIG. 2, once the outer panels are laminated to the center panel 12 with card 50 contained therein. One of the panels, such as panel 12, has a downwardly depending extension 22 which allows an activating magnetic strip 26 to be printed thereon. Alternatively, a bar code could be imprinted on tab 22 or an exposed surface of the package 10. It is anticipated that the front surface 30 of panel 16 will include information as to the enclosed card and may include photos or designs, such as a holiday motif or other printed indicia 32 (FIG. 2) relating to the store, the card, or the occasion for use of the card. It will not include the code numbers associated with the unique card which is subsequently used in connection with its activation for a purchase amount. The card is activated by a merchant that scans the magnetic or bar code 26 while the card remains in the package 10 with the value amount of the card, which information is forwarded to the billing company as a credit against this uniquely identified card.
Gift card 50 is of normal credit card size and is positioned within pocket 20 will not include an adhesive inasmuch as the card 50 must be easily removed upon opening of the package 10. Panel 16 covers the front surface 15 of panel 12 and it is anticipated that during the assembly, the edges 17 and 19 will be folded, such that a three-layer laminate is formed with the card being held in pocket 20 in panel 12 and between panels 14 and 16.
In order to open the package 10 and gain access to card 50, horizontally extending perforated lines 42, 44, and 46 are formed through the upper section of panels 12, 14, and 16, respectively, and intersect the area of the card-holding opening 20 near one edge thereof. The package 10, shown in FIG. 1, is opened by deflecting the panels 12, 14, 16 at perforation lines 42, 44, 46, which breaks the package open, allowing access to the card once a bona fide purchaser has made the purchase at the cashier's counter for activation of the card. It prevents, however, access to the card itself by an unauthorized purchaser and provides a tamper evident system since, once the package has been opened, it is separated into two sections, with the top halves of panels 12, 14, and 16 being separated from the card-holding lower halves of the panels. The perforations 42, 44, and 46 are deeper than the perforations 17 and 19 to allow the user to in effect “snap-open” the package to gain access to card 50. The material and its thickness makes it virtually impossible to reseal once opened. Thus, if package 10 is stolen with a card 50 therein and access to the card is necessary for obtaining the card identification information, it will be readily apparent that it has been opened upon an attempted return of the package 10 with a card 50 therein.
Although the preferred embodiment of the invention employs three panels with a die cut window 20 holding a card 50 therein, it is anticipated that a two-panel lamination could also be employed in which a recessed area such as 20 is provided in each panel 14 and 16, which are then adhesively attached to one another around the peripheral edges surrounding pocket-forming area 20 into which the card 50 can be placed. No adhesive is employed in the area of pocket 20.
FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the security package 110, which has a first or inner panel 112 with a laterally extending slotted opening 120 defining a pocket for receiving a card, such as card 50 shown in the previous embodiment. Panel 112 includes a hanging slot 125 and is joined by a perforated fold line 117 to a second or rear panel 114 which also includes a hanging slot 127 which aligns with slot 125 and slot 129 in the third or front panel 116. The front panel is hinged at perforated junction 119 to panel 114 and includes a tab 122 which can be imprinted at 126 with a magnetic reading strip, similar to tab 26 in the first embodiment and may include, as can the remaining exposed panels 114 and 116, printed indicia thereon as to the store, the card, the occasion, and the like. A perforation 142 at the edge of inner panel 112 aligns with the pocket-defining opening 120 for receiving a card, as do breakaway perforations 144 in panel 114 and 146 in panel 116, such that upon the activation of a card 50 by the merchant, the purchaser can snap the package apart at fold lines 142, 144, and 146, to gain access to the pocket 120 for removing the card 50 for use.
As in the first embodiment, an adhesive, such as adhesive 35 shown in FIG. 3, extends between panels 114 and 116 and middle panel 112 in areas other than the pocket 120 with the exception that the edges of panels 116 and 114 include adhesive which seals the edge 121 adjacent pocket 120 such that access to a card 50 held therein can only be obtained by the breaking open of the security package along perforated lines 142, 144, and 146. The same material as used in the first embodiment can be used in the embodiment of FIG. 4, as can the same adhesive.
It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that these and various modifications to the preferred embodiment of the invention as described herein can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080237317
