BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first exemplary embodiment of a point of sale card package, with a card attached thereto, in accordance with the invention;
FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, are plan views of first and second opposite faces of an intermediate sheet of the exemplary embodiment of the card package shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, respectively, sequentially illustrate the manner in which the intermediate sheet, of FIGS. 2 and 3, is sequentially folded and sealed to form the exemplary embodiment of the card package illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6A is a partial, foreshortened, cross-sectional view, taken along line 6A-6A in FIG. 1, illustrating the stacked nature and location of adhesive sealing patterns along an L-shaped segment of the outer periphery of the completed exemplary embodiment of the point of sale card package shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate alternate embodiments of hanging features, according to the invention; and
FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an alternate embodiment of a completed point of sale card package, according to the invention, having a circular peripheral profile, prior to folding, and a pie shape, following completion of the alternate embodiment of the point of sale card package.
While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, in the form of a point of sale card package 100, including a credit-card-like card 102 sealed within a point of sale package 104 formed from a twice-folded intermediate 106. As shown sequentially in FIGS. 4-6, the intermediate 106, of the exemplary embodiment 100, is a rectangular sheet of paper material, illustrated in standard letter size of 8½″ wide by 11″ long. The intermediate sheet 106 defines a first face 108 thereof, as shown in FIG. 2, and a second face 110 thereof, as shown in FIG. 3. It will be understood, by those having skill in the art, that FIG. 3 illustrates the obverse side of the sheet 106 illustrated in FIG. 2, rotated about a vertical axis, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.
As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the intermediate sheet 106 of the exemplary embodiment of the point of sale package 104 is V-folded a first time, as shown in FIG. 5, about a first fold line 112, with the first face 108 of the intermediate sheet 106 disposed inside of the first V-fold formed about the first fold line 112, to form the resultant construction illustrated in FIG. 6. The resultant once V-folded intermediate sheet 106, in the form illustrated in FIG. 6, is then V-folded a second time about a second fold line 114 extending orthogonally to the first fold line 112, in the manner illustrated by the arrow in FIG. 6, to form a completely folded card package, substantially as illustrated in FIG. 1.
As a result of this folding operation, the completed point of sale card package 100 is formed from four stacked panels 128, 130, 132, 134, defined and connected at the fold lines 112, 114, in a manner described in greater detail below, such that each of the four panels 128, 130, 132, 134 has at least one first or second face 108, 110 thereof juxtaposed with a first or second face 108, 110 of an adjacent panel of the four stacked panels 128, 130, 132, 134, in the manner generally illustrated in FIG. 6A. As further indicated in FIG. 6A, and described in greater detail herein below, in the completed exemplary embodiment of the point of sale card package 100, the card 102 is disposed between the juxtaposed surfaces of two adjacent ones of the stacked panels 128, 130, 132, 134 and is attached to one of the two juxtaposed faces of the adjacent stacked panels 128, 130, 132, 134.
As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the first face 108 of the intermediate sheet 106 is adapted to form the majority of an interior 116 of the card package. The portion 118 of the second face 110 of the intermediate sheet 106, located above the first fold line 112, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 is likewise adapted to form part of the interior 116 of the card package 104, following completion of both the first and second V-folds. The portion 120 of the second face 110, located below the first fold line 112, as shown in FIG. 3, forms the exterior 122 of the card package 104, as indicated in FIG. 1, when the card package 104 has been constructed.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the intermediate sheet 106 includes an outer periphery 124 thereof, centered and extending symmetrically about the intersection 126 of the first and second fold lines 112, 114 of the intermediate sheet 106, such that each of the first, second, third, and fourth panels 128, 130, 132, 134 of the intermediate sheet 106 includes a respective part of the first and second faces 108, 110 of the intermediate sheet 106. The first and second panels 128, 130 are joined to one another along the second fold line 114. The third and fourth panels 132, 134 are also joined to one another along the second fold line 114. The first and third panels 128, 132 are joined to one another along the first fold line 112. The second and fourth panels 130, 134 are also joined to one another along the first fold line 112.
A line of weakness, in the form of a pattern of perforations 136, is disposed adjacent the periphery 124 of the intermediate sheet 106, and extends substantially completely along the periphery 124, to thereby define a margin 138, extending along the periphery 124, between the perforations 136 and the periphery 124 of the intermediate sheet 106. Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the pattern of perforations 136 substantially follows the rectangular-shaped periphery 124 of the intermediate sheet 106, with the exception that the pattern of perforations 136 includes four segments 140 thereof, along the long sides of the rectangle, extending substantially parallel to the second fold line 114 from the remainder of the pattern of perforations to the top and bottom edges of the intermediate sheet 106, as oriented in FIGS. 2 and 3.
As shown in FIG. 2, a first elongated pattern 142 of adhesive is disposed in the margin 138 on the first face 108 of the intermediate sheet 106, and extends substantially entirely around the rectangular portion of the pattern of perforations 136.
In similar fashion, as shown in FIG. 3, a second elongated pattern 144 of adhesive is disposed in the margin 138 on the second face 110 of the intermediate sheet 106, but extends substantially entirely only along the upper half, as shown in FIG. 3, of the rectangular portion of the pattern of perforations 136, along the first and second panels 128, 130.
In the exemplary embodiment 100, the first and second patterns of adhesive 142, 144 are illustrated as substantially continuous bands of adhesive, but in practicing the invention, the adhesive need not be a continuing band. The patterns 142, 144 of adhesive may be made up of a series of discontinuous adhesive segments.
As will be seen through comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3, the first elongated pattern 142 of adhesive is substantially rectangular shaped, in the exemplary embodiment 100, while the second elongated pattern 144 of adhesive, on the second face of the intermediate sheet 106 is substantially U-shaped. By virtue of this orientation of the first and second patterns 142, 144 of adhesive, it will be understood, by those having skill in the art, that when the intermediate sheet 106 is first V-folded about the first fold line, the portion of the first elongated pattern 142 of adhesive extending along the peripheries of the first and second panels 128, 130 is brought into juxtaposition with the portion of the first elongated pattern 142 of adhesive extending around the third and fourth panels 132, 134 of the intermediate sheet 106. In similar fashion, due to the U-shaped configuration of the second elongated pattern 144 of adhesive, when the second V-fold is made about the second fold line 114, the portion of the second elongated pattern 144 of adhesive extending around two sides of the first panel 128 are brought into juxtaposition with the remaining portion of the second elongated pattern 144 of adhesive, extending along two sides of the second panel 130.
In the exemplary embodiment of the point of sale package 104, the adhesive on both the first and second elongated patterns 142, 144 of adhesive is a pressure activated cohesive, such as the product sold under the trade name Fastbond® Pressure Sensitive Adhesive 4224NF by the 3M® Company of St. Paul, Minn. or another appropriate cohesive, so that once the first and second V-folds have been completed, the point of sale card package 104 may be sealed by applying pressure to the L-shaped portion 146 of the margins 138 of the stacked panels 128, 130, 132, 134, for sealing the point of sale package 104.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the intermediate sheet 106, of the exemplary embodiment of the point of sale package 104, includes a hanging feature, in the form of a through hole 148, in each of the panels 128, 130, 132, 134, with the holes 148 being symmetrically disposed about the first and second fold lines 112, 114 in such a manner that the holes 148 and the individual panels 128, 130, 132, 134 will be substantially aligned with one another when the sheet is V-folded a first time about the first fold line 112, and then V-folded a second time about the second fold line 114. By virtue of this arrangement, the completed point of sale card package 100 may be displayed on a peg hook, or other hook of a display apparatus, passing through the aligned holes 148 in the point of sale package 104.
As will be understood, from a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 7, the relative distances A from the second fold line, and B from the first fold line 112, to the center of the respective holes 148 in the intermediate sheet 106 can be altered, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7, so that the completed point of sale card package 100 hangs from a long edge thereof, as shown in FIG. 7, rather than a short edge thereof as shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, those having skill in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the particular shape of a hanging feature, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, but can also be formed in other configurations, such as the outwardly opening notch shown in FIG. 8, or multiple notches, holes, etc. for use in holding the completed point of sale card package in a desired orientation on a peg hook, or other support device. It will be further understood, that the invention may also be practiced without the use of a hanging feature, according to the invention.
In an exemplary embodiment of a process for manufacturing the exemplary embodiment of the completed point of sale card package 100, the card 102 is attached to the first face of the fourth panel 134 with an appropriate adhesive, or with double-sided tape, for example, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2, while the intermediate sheet 106 is still basically in a flat condition. In some embodiments of the invention, it may be desirable to pre-score the intermediate sheet 106 along one or both of the first and second fold lines 112, 114, to facilitate formation of the first and second V-folds. Once the card 102 is attached to the fourth panel 134, of the exemplary embodiment 100, the intermediate sheet 106 is twice folded, in the manner described hereinabove and illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, and then sealed along the L-shaped portion 146 of the margin 138 to complete construction of the point of sale card package 100.
In some embodiments of the invention, the first and/or second faces of the intermediate sheet 106 may be pre-printed with text and/or graphics prior to attachment of the card 102. In some forms of the invention, the intermediate sheet 106 may alternatively, or additionally, be dynamically printed with text and/or graphics substantially contemporaneously with attachment of the card 102 to the first face 108 of the intermediate sheet 106. The dynamically printed text and/or graphics may be uniquely linked to information on, or encoded into, the card 102, in some embodiments of the invention. For example, the text and/or graphics printed onto the intermediate sheet 106, may include personalized information, such as the name and address, of a particular vendor of the completed point of sale card package. As another example, activation instructions, unique to the particular card 102, such as a phone number to be called for activation of the card 102, may be linked to a particular card number, or information magnetically encoded into the card 102, or through an RFID or product bar code imprinted onto the card.
It will be understood, by those having skill in the art, that although the invention has been described and illustrated herein using representative exemplary embodiments, the invention may be practiced in a wide variety of other forms. For example, although the intermediate sheet 106 of the exemplary embodiment was a rectangular-shaped, substantially letter-sized piece of paper material, in other embodiments of the invention, the intermediate sheet and the point of sale package may take other forms. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 and alternate embodiment of an intermediate sheet 206 of a second exemplary embodiment of a point of sale card package 200 may have a non-rectangular periphery, such as a square, a diamond, or a fully or partially rounded periphery, for example, an intermediate 206 having a circular periphery as shown in FIG. 9, such that the resulting completed point of sale card package 200 has a pie-shape, as shown in FIG. 10. It will also be noted, that although the card 102 in the first exemplary embodiment 100, of the invention described hereinabove, was attached to the first face 108 of the fourth panel 134, the card 102 could also have been attached to the first face of any of the first through fourth panels 128, 130, 132, 134, or to the second face of either the first or second panels 128, 130 and still be completely enclosed within the completed point of sale card package 100. It will be further noted that the point of sale card package 100 may include multiple cards, or other inserts attached to the various faces of the completed card package, or enclosed within the completed card package.
In some embodiments of the invention, it may be desirable to attached cards, or other elements to the exterior surfaces of the completed point of sale card package, in addition to, or in place of having the cards located inside. It is further noted, that a point of sale card package, according to the invention, may also include openings therethrough, or transparent portions thereof, for viewing the front and/or back side of a card, insert, or other item attached to or disposed within the interior of the point of sale card package, in accordance with the invention. For maximum security, however, it will generally be preferred that the card be fully enclosed within the interior of the card package, so that tampering is essentially precluded, so long as the seal along the edge of the card package remains unbroken and the remainder of the card package remains in tact.
Those having skill in the art will recognize that the card package of the present invention provides considerable enhancements in security, as compared to prior point of sale card packages. Damage to the sealed card package, or attempts to open the seal to gain access to the card are readily visually apparent to a seller or perspective buyer or user of a card enclosed within a point of sale card package, according to the invention.
It will be noted, by those having skill in the art, that the invention provides an improved point of sale card package, which is compatible with high speed manufacturing, utilizing commonly available paper material sizes, such as an 8½″×11′ letter size, for example, on standard equipment in the industry such as a Datacard® 9000S Series Card Issuance System. In one embodiment of a method, according to the invention, for using such a card issuance system, an intermediate sheet 106 having the pressure sensitive adhesive applied thereto, in accordance with the invention, and including any holes or other hanging elements may be inserted into the machine along with the cards, for encoding of the cards, any related dynamic printing onto the intermediate sheet, attachment of the card to the intermediate sheet, and formation of the first V-fold and the intermediate sheet. The once-folded intermediate sheet 106, with the card attached thereto may then be moved to a second folding station, or another automated folding machine for formation of the second V-fold, and application of pressure to the pressure sensitive cohesive, through a pressure roller, for example, to seal and complete construction of the point of sale card package. In various embodiments of the invention, such commonly available machinery may be utilized for performing any and all of the steps of a method, according to the invention, described herein, or any additional steps within the scope of the invention.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventor for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
Patent Application
20080034624
