The present invention relates to secure packages having an improved edge for reducing undesired tampering. The invention is particularly apt for packaging utilized for point-of-sale (P-O-S) activated transaction cards to reduce incidents of fraud via unintended third-party access to packaged transaction cards prior to purchase.
The sale of debit cards, gift cards, telephone cards and other transaction cards at retail locations is widespread and increasing. Typically, such transaction cards are packaged, distributed and displayed at point-of-sale (P-O-S) locations in an inactive state. In turn, in conjunction with a purchase transaction, a corresponding transaction card is activated at a P-O-S location. Typically, activation entails reading a machine-readable card activation marking on the transaction card and/or packaging therefor, correlating the read data with an account that corresponds with the card, and activating the card for use.
Unfortunately, third-party tampering with transaction cards and packaging therefor has presented continuing design challenges. In one tampering scheme, third-parties obtain proprietary account data from transaction cards at a P-O-S location, which proprietary account data may then be fraudulently employed after purchase and activation of the cards to access account funds corresponding with the transaction cards. By way of primary example, third-parties may gain access to an enclosed card through an edge portion of card packaging that is re-closeable in a manner that renders detection of such tampering problematic.
As may be appreciated, such package tampering problem also exists with a variety of other situations in which an item of value is contained by a package at a P-O-S location.
In view of the foregoing, a primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved secure package and method for secure package production that reduces tampering with contents located in the secure package.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide an improved secure package in a relatively simple to produce manner.
Yet a further objective of the present invention is to provide an improved secure package that is particularly apt for utilization with transaction cards in a secure card package product.
In addressing the above-noted objectives, the present inventor has recognized the desirability of providing a secure package with an enclosed region having at least an edge portion that is defined in a manner so that any attempt to access the enclosed region through such edge portion will visibly alter the package in an unconcealable manner, thereby reducing incidents of tampering and/or purchases of packages that have been tampered with. In this regard, the present inventor has further recognized the desirability of adjoining opposing first and second panels of a package in a manner that realizes the above-noted functionality.
In one approach, an improved secure package comprises a first panel and a second panel disposed in opposing relation to the first panel to define at least a portion of an enclosed region therebetween. Of note, the first panel and second panel may be impressed together to define at least a plurality of raised impressions adjoining the first and second panels along at least an edge portion of the enclosed region. The raised impressions yield an edge portion in which the first panel and second panel may not be separated (e.g., via use of a razor blade or the like) with causing readily discernable and non-concealable damage to the package. The edge portion may extend along one, a plurality of sides, or the entirety of the enclosed region.
In one non-limiting implementation, a transaction card may be disposed within the enclosed region of the package to yield a secure card package product. By way of example, such secure card packages may be displayed for purchase at a point of sale (P-O-S) location, wherein a given transaction card may be activated in conjunction with the purchase of a secure card package at a check-out station within the P-O-S. In such implementations, a card activation field (e.g., a machine-readable marking) may be provided on an outside surface of the package for reading input at a check-out station.
In one aspect, a secure package may be provided in which the plurality of raised impressions may be located to extend along and adjacent to a first peripheral edge portion of the package. Additionally, the package may further include a separable portion for selectively accessing the enclosed region. By way of example, the separable portion may comprise a perforated panel portion or a pull strip panel portion.
In one approach, a plurality of perforations formed in at least one of the first panel and second panel, wherein the plurality of perforations define a separable portion in the at least one first panel and second panel. The separable portion may be provided to be manually manipulatable for separating in the at least one of the first panel and second panel to provide for selective access to the enclosed region, e.g. by a purchaser after purchase at a P-O-S location.
In one embodiment, the plurality of perforations may be formed along and adjacent to a first peripheral edge portion of the package with the plurality of raised impressions located therebetween. In conjunction with such embodiment, the plurality of perforations may include a first plurality of perforations formed in a first panel, and a second plurality of perforations formed in a second panel in opposing, aligned relation to the first plurality of perforations. In this regard, the plurality of raised impressions may define an adjoinment region between the aligned first and second pluralities of perforations and the first peripheral edge portion of the package, wherein the adjoinment region may be selectively removed along the first and second pluralities of perforations to define an edge opening to access the enclosed region. By way of example, a purchaser may simply grasp, or pinch, and pull the adjoinment region with one hand, while anchoring the balance of the package with another hand so as to tear open the packaging.
In another aspect, the first panel and second panel of a package may be integrally connected along a second peripheral edge portion of the package. That is, a single substrate may be folded to define the opposing first and second panels, wherein the folded edge portion defines an edge portion of the enclosed region that is inaccessible without severing the substrate in a readily detectible and non-concealable manner.
In yet another aspect, at least one of the first panel and second panel may have at least one and preferably first and second flaps integrally interconnected thereto, wherein said flap(s) may be folded over within the enclosed region. In turn, the folded flap(s) define(s) a corresponding edge portion(s) of the enclosed region that is inaccessible without severing the substrate in a readily detectible and non-concealable manner.
Such an arrangement is particularly apt for a secure card package comprising a transaction card. In this regard, the transaction card may be disposed in an enclosed region having a first edge portion integrally defined by a fold between a first panel and a second panel, opposing second and third edge portions integrally defined by a first flap and second flap, respectively, each integrally interconnected to one of the first panel and the second panel, and a fourth edge portion defined by said plurality of raised impressions. In that arrangement, the transaction card may be located immediately adjacent to the panel integrally adjoined to the flap(s), wherein the flap(s) may be folded over the transaction card.
In other arrangements, one or more edge portions of an enclosed region of a package, other than the edge portion having raised impressions, may be established by adhesively interconnecting opposing panel portions. For example, an adhesive interconnection may be employed so that the opposing panel portions are not separable without damaging at least one of the panels in a readily discernable manner.
As may be appreciated, an improved method for providing a secure package may include the steps of positioning a first panel and a second panel in opposing relation, and impressing a region of the first panel and a region of the second panel together to define a plurality of raised impressions adjoining the first panel and the second panel along at least a first edge portion of an enclosed region of the package within which an item of value may be disposed. As previously noted, the raised impressions yield an adjoinment region in which the first and second panels are not separable without damaging the panels in a manner that is readily discernable.
In one aspect, the first panel and the second panel may be integrally defined by a single substrate. In turn, positioning of the first panel and the second panel in opposing relation may entail folding the first panel and second panel into face-to-face relation, wherein a second edge portion of the enclosed region (e.g. opposing the first edge portion) may be integrally defined.
In another aspect, a single substrate may integrally define at least a first end flap adjoined to one of the first panel and the second panel, wherein the method may further include pivoting of the first end flap over at least a portion of the adjoined one of the first panel and the second panel, wherein another edge portion of the enclosed region may be integrally defined. Further, the substrate may integrally define a second end flap adjoined to one of the first panel and the second panel, wherein the method may further include the step of pivoting the second flap over at least a portion of the adjoined one of the first panel and second panel, wherein yet another edge portion of the enclosed region may be integrally defined.
In one approach, the impressing step may comprise the sub-steps of locating the first panel region and second panel region between opposing first and second impressing members, and advancing at least one of the first and second impressing members relative to the other so as to deform, or crimp, or emboss, the first panel region and second panel region therebetween to define the plurality of raised impressions. In this regard, the first and second impressing members may include corresponding first and second surfaces, respectively, configured to matingly engage so as to define the plurality of raised impressions therebetween.
In a further aspect, the method may include the step of defining a separable portion of the package employable for selectively accessing the enclosed region. For example, the method may include the step of perforating at least one of the first panel and the second panel to define a plurality of perforations. The plurality of perforations may define a separable portion in one of the first panel or the second panel, wherein the separable portion is manually manipulatable for separating such panel to access the enclosed region.
In one approach, both the first panel and the second panel may be perforated to define a first plurality perforations in the first panel and a second plurality of perforations in the second panel, respectively, wherein the first and second plurality of perforations are located in opposing aligned relation. In turn, the plurality of raised impressions may be located to define an adjoinment region between the aligned first and second plurality perforations and a first peripheral edge portion of the package. Such adjoinment region may be selectively removed by a user (e.g., a purchaser) along the first and second pluralities of perforations to define an edge opening to access the enclosed region. By way of example, a user may grasp the adjoinment region and tear open the package along the first and second plurality of perforations.
As may be appreciated, the method may be readily implemented to provide a secure card package. In this regard, the method may include the further step of locating a transaction card between the first panel and the second panel within the enclosed region. In such an arrangement, a machine-readable marking may be located on an outward-facing surface of one of the first panel and second panel. In turn, the method may include the further step of reading the machine-readable marking at a P-O-S location of said secure card package so as to automatically activate the transaction card upon purchase.
Numerous additional aspects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the further description that follows.
As shown in
In one embodiment, the first panel 10 and second panel 20 may be integrally defined by a single substrate (e.g. paperboard substrate) folded along a side edge portion 2a. As may be appreciated, the integrally defined side edge portion 2a cannot be severed or otherwise opened to access the enclosed region 50 without substantial damage to the package 1 that would be readily detectable.
Adhesive regions 60 may be optionally provided between the first panel 10 and second panel 20 along a top edge portion 3a and bottom edge portion 3b. In certain embodiments, such adhesive regions 60 may employ an adhesive that bonds to the first panel 10 and second panel 20 in a manner that precludes separation without detectable damage to the panels. Optionally, an adhesive region (not shown) may also be provided between the first panel 10 and second panel 20 at locations along a side edge portion 2b.
Side edge portion 2b includes a plurality of raised impressions 30. Such raised impressions 30 may be defined by a corresponding plurality of opposing first panel portions and second panel portions that are impressed, or embossed, or crimped, together. In this regard, each of the raised impressions 30 may be defined to extend outwardly away from a surrounding, adjoined surface region of one of the first panel 10 and second panel 20.
By way of example, in the secure card package 1 shown in
One example of a raised impression 30a is shown in
The utilization of raised impressions 30 reduces fraudulent tampering risks since any unintended separation of the first panel 10 and second panel 20 along side edge portion 2b will result in a readily detectable tampered package. Stated differently, any attempt to separate the first panel 10 and second panel 20 along the side edge portion 2b will result in a degree of damage to the side edge portion 2b that is readily noticeable by a potential purchaser and/or checkout personnel at a P-O-S location. In turn, any potential purchase and associated fraudulent activity may be averted.
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, and as shown in
In yet other embodiments, the card activation data field 70 may be located within a concealed region of the package 1. In this regard, numerous approaches may be utilized for defining a selectively accessible concealed region for access at the time of purchase and card activation at a P-O-S location.
One or more human readable marking(s) may be provided on the secure card package 1 to alert purchasers and/or sales personnel that the enclosed region 50 should not have been accessed prior to sale. For example, in the embodiment shown in
Numerous additional features may be included in the secure card package 10. For example, an aperture 90 may be provided through the first panel 10 and second panel 20 to facilitate removable placement on display a hook or hanger at a point of sale location. Additional optional features may include foil stamping and various printing features that make the secure card package 1 more attractive to prospective purchasers.
Reference is now made to
In this regard, a single substrate may be initially cut into a configuration such as that shown in
As may be appreciated, the secure package 100 is particularly apt for containing a transaction card 140 therewithin, as shown in
As shown in
Reference is now made to
In
As shown in
As further shown in
The embodiment descriptions provide hereinabove are for purposes of illustration. various additional embodiments and extensions of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are intended to be within the scope of the claims which follow.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/250,422, filed Oct. 9, 2009, entitled “SECURE PACKAGING EDGE”, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61250422 | Oct 2009 | US |