Message card with transaction card holder

[00002] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/293,476, entitled GREETING CARD WITH GIFT CARD HOLDER, filed Nov. 14, 2002, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[00003] The present invention is directed to a message card having an integrated holder for presenting a transaction card upon opening the message card.

[00004] Gift certificates to various stores or restaurants are a popular gift idea for birthdays or the holidays. They allow the sender to give a gift from a store at which the sender knows the recipient enjoys shopping, while relieving the sender of the burden of selecting a specific item of the right size or according to the tastes of the recipient. A gift certificate to a restaurant enables the recipient to enjoy a meal at the selected restaurant with whomever the recipient chooses. Gift certificates may be purchased in incremental amounts as determined by the vendor, or in any amount desired by the purchaser.

[00005] In the prior art, gift certificates were essentially a paper-based, printed IOU issued by the store, and coming in a variety of different shapes and sizes, according to the preferences of the vendor. Typically, the gift certificate was presented to the recipient in a matching envelope from the vendor, along with a greeting card appropriate for the occasion as selected by the sender.

[00006] Recently, the gift certificates issued by many retailers, merchants, service providers, etc. have evolved into a form similar to debit cards, having a magnetic stripe, bar code, or other read/write capability. The new generation of gift certificates are more uniformly sized and shaped similarly to credit/debit cards and are “refillable,” so as to be reusable by the recipient as an access card for a pre-paid, declining balance-type account. Moreover, the capability to automatically update the value of the card enables the vendor to avoid having to issue a new or replacement certificate, or to cash out any remainder if the recipient does not use the whole amount at once.

[00007] The present invention provides a message card which includes a first leaf hingedly connected to a second leaf so as to be openable and closable like a book or in a flip-top manner. The message card includes a transaction card holder, preferably sized to hold a credit card sized or similarly sized card, and a cover which covers a portion of the transaction card holder. The transaction card holder is movable between a first position relative to the cover when the message card is in a closed state, and,a second position relative to the cover when the message card is in an opened state. When a transaction card is placed in the transaction card holder, at least a substantial portion of the transaction card is displayed to a recipient from behind the cover when the message card is opened.

[00008] In a first preferred application of the invention, the message card is a greeting card containing a message suitable for a particular holiday, event or situation, and the transaction card holder may be used to present a gift card to a recipient in a convenient, efficient, and attractive manner. The greeting card with integrated gift card holder thus eliminates the need to obtain and present the recipient with both a greeting card and also a separate envelope or other holder or container for a gift card.

[00009] In a second preferred application of the invention, the message card is a promotional item such as a brochure, advertisement, flyer, etc. containing information regarding a product, service, merchant, brand, restaurant, etc., while the transaction card which may be inserted into the transaction card holder may provide temporary free access or use or a discount for the product, service, merchant, restaurant, brand, etc. being promoted. The provider of the subject matter being promoted may display a plurality of the promotional items for free distribution to potential consumers at public locations, or distribute them through other means, such as through the U.S. Postal Service.

[00022] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an integrated message card and transaction card holder 10 in accordance with the present invention. As seen in FIG. 1, the integrated card 10 includes a message card portion 12 and an optional hangar portion 14. Message card portion 12 includes a front panel 16, which is provided with words, images, and/or patterns, etc. The message content 15 may contain words or images appropriate for a greeting card to acknowledge a particular holiday, situation or occasion, i.e., birthday, Christmas, Hanukah, thank you, congratulations, graduation, wedding, new baby, etc. Alternatively, the message content 115 may include commercial or advertising content for promoting a product, service, restaurant, store, brand, etc. As seen in FIG. 2, front panel 16 is connected to rear panel 24 along central fold line 30. Rear panel 24 may optionally also contain printed matter, such as may be found in standard greeting cards, or additional information or directions for using the transaction card (described below), product, service, or brand being promoted by the message card.

[00023] Inside left panel 18, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is aligned with front panel 16 and forms the rear surface of front panel 16 and is visible when message card 12 is opened. Inside left panel 18 may also contain additional printed text, images, patterns, etc. 17, as determined by the theme of the message card content. Opposite the inside left panel 18 is a pocket 40 formed by inside right panel 20 and rear panel 24. Inside right panel 20 is aligned over rear panel 24 at their respective right edges, as seen in the drawings, and has a left edge 22 significantly short of reaching center fold line 32, to allow room for presentation of a transaction card between the left edge 22 of inside right panel 20 and the central fold line 30, as will be described further below. As with inside left panel 18, inside right panel 20 may also contain text, images, patterns, etc. 19 related to the message content 15 provided on the front panel 16. When the message card is embodied as a greeting card, sufficient blank space is preferably provided on inside left panel 18 and/or inside right panel 20 for a handwritten salutation or message from the sender to the recipient.

[00024] In this exemplary embodiment, hangar 14 is attached to inside right panel 20 along the top edge thereof Hangar 14 includes a tab portion 34 with a cutout hole 36 formed therein for hanging the message card on a display rack at the retail or vendor location, and may be detachable from message card 12 by tearing along perforated line 38 die cut along the top edge of inside right panel 20. A removable hangar 14 is preferably provided when message card 12 is a greeting card, so that a consumer/sender of the card can remove the hangar 14 after purchase of the card 12 and before giving the card 12 to a recipient. Optionally however, hangar 14 may be omitted entirely from the integrated card and holder 10.

[00025] A transaction card panel 26 is connected to inside left panel 18 along interior fold line 32, and is cut away slightly along its top and bottom edges so that transaction card panel 26 has a smaller height dimension than that of the inside left panel 18, front panel 16, rear panel 24 and inside right panel 20. The reduced height of transaction card panel 26 allows it to easily fit into and slide in and out of pocket 40. Similarly with the other panels, transaction card panel 26 may contain decorative or informative print, especially on the portion thereof which remains exposed when the message card 12 is opened. Transaction card panel 26 includes a transaction card holder 28, which in this embodiment is formed by a pair of slits cut into transaction card panel 26. As can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 6 and 11, the slits are cut in a manner such that a transaction card 44 can be inserted into the slits without slipping through and falling completely behind transaction card panel 26.

[00026] The interior fold line 32 connecting transaction card panel 26 to inside left panel 18 is offset from the central fold line 30 toward the left edge of inside left panel 18. With this configuration, when a transaction card 44 is inserted into the holder 28 of the transaction card panel 26, most of the transaction card 44 will be inserted behind edge 22 and into the pocket 40 when the message card 12 is closed. Furthermore, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 showing the message card 12 in a partially opened state, a gap is formed between rear panel 24 and transaction card panel 26 due to the offset distance 42 along front panel 16 between center fold line 30 and interior fold line 32.

[00027] Optionally, an adhesive strip 46 may be provided for holding the message card 12 closed. Other materials or mechanisms may alternatively be used to maintain closure of the message card 12 until desired to be opened. Examples include any of various types of light, resealable and/or removable adhesives spot applied on one or both of inside left and right panels 18, 20 near the peripheral edge thereof, and fasteners such as Velcro®, snaps, etc.

[00028] FIG. 4 shows a message card 12 containing a transaction card 44 in a partially opened state. As the message card 12 is opened by rotating front panel 16 and inside left panel 18 about the axis of central fold line 30, the offset distance 42 of the interior fold line 32 from the central fold line 30 causes the transaction card panel 26 to slide partially out of pocket 40. The transaction card 44 thus “pops out” from behind the edge 22 of inside right panel 20 so that a significant portion of the transaction card 44 is displayed upon opening the card 12, as seen in FIG. 5. The movement of the transaction card 44 out of the pocket 40 as the message card 12 is opened provides an eye-catching effect and serves similarly to an “unwrapping” of the gift. In the illustrated embodiment, at least about half of the transaction card 44 extends outward and is exposed to the recipient or consumer when the message card is opened, although the exposed amount may be greater or lesser as desired by the manufacturer. This relationship is important because it provides the desired balance between providing a sufficient amount of the card 44 to be recognized, while keeping enough of the card 44 in the pocket 40 to provide stability. Similarly, upon closing the message card 12, the transaction card panel 26, and hence transaction card 44, slides back into pocket 40.

[00029] Transaction card 44 is preferably a credit-card sized card having a magnetic stripe, bar code, or other information storage medium on a surface thereof and/or an account number or other access information printed thereon or imprinted therein. Of course, the transaction cards 44 may be formed to have any size and shape desired, as long as the holder formed in transaction card panel 26 is formed accordingly to accommodate the transaction card 44.

[00030] In a preferred application of the invention, transaction card 44 may be a gift card to be given to a recipient in conjunction with a message card 12 embodied as a greeting card. As discussed above, the gift card may have a prepaid value, purchased by the sender, “stored” in the magnetic stripe, bar code or other storage medium, or associated with the account information provided on the card. The gift card thus provides access to a declining balance account, wherein the value is deducted based on purchases or use by the bearer of the card, and may be “refillable.”

[00031] In another environment of use, the transaction card 44 may be used to promote, introduce, or encourage consumer patronage for a particular product, service, restaurant, brand, store, etc. Here, the content of the message card 12 corresponds specifically with the subject matter promoted by the transaction card 44. Examples of applications for transaction cards 44 include, but are not limited to, free minutes for a telecommunication service or internet access service, coupons or discounts for retail goods or services; and passwords for temporary or “free trial” access to a subscription service. Message cards 12 embodied as such promotional items and the associated transaction cards 44 may be distributed to members of the public or selected target consumer groups through displays at public locations, insertions in newspapers, magazines, etc., or through mailings via the U.S. Postal Service, for example.

[00032] Next, a description will be provided of the integrated message card and transaction card holder 10 of the present invention in an unassembled state, and a process for assembling the integrated message card and transaction card holder 10 from a blank 50, shown in FIG. 6.

[00033] Blank 50 is preferably made from a cardboard or paperboard material, such as those typically used for making greeting cards, or from a light plastic material, and includes transaction card panel 26 adjoining a first side of inside left panel 18 along interior fold line 32; a first side of front panel 16 adjoining a second side of inside left panel 18 along a front exterior fold line 52; a first side of rear panel 24 adjoining a second side of front panel 16 along central fold line 30; a first side of inside right panel 20 adjoining a second side of rear panel 24 along a rear exterior fold line 62; first and second flaps 54 and 56 adjoining third and fourth sides of rear panel 24, respectively, along first and second flap fold lines 58 and 60, respectively; and hangar tab 34 adjoining a second side of rear panel 24 along perforated line 38.

[00034] In this exemplary embodiment, transaction card panel 26, inside left panel 18, front panel 16, rear panel 24, and inside right panel 20 are arranged linearly, as seen in FIG. 6. With this configuration, only one side of the blank 50 needs to be printed to provide text, images, etc. on the viewable sides of all the panels of the assembled product. For example, with a linear configuration, the printed matter 15, 17 and 19 on panels 16, 18 and 20, respectively, can all be printed on the same side of the blank 50.

[00035] Other configurations are possible, however, and are within the scope of the present invention. For example, inside left panel 18 (and hence front exterior fold line 52) may be formed to adjoin front face panel 16 along either the top edge or the bottom edge of the latter, according to the orientation shown in the drawing, instead of along the left side thereof. With such an alternative configuration, transaction card panel 26 would adjoin inside left panel 18 along the right side of the latter, so as to be oriented properly upon assembly of the blank 50.

[00036] In another alternative configuration, inside right panel 20 may be formed to adjoin rear panel 24 along either the top edge or the bottom edge of the rear panel 24, according to the orientation shown in the drawing, instead of along the right side thereof. As such, one of first and second flaps 54, 56 would be formed to adjoin either rear panel 24 along the right edge thereof, as seen in the drawing, or inside right panel 20 along any available edge thereof, other than edge 22. Moreover, hangar tab 34 may be formed to adjoin any available edge of inside left panel 18, front panel 16, rear panel 24, or inside right panel 20 other than edge 22.

[00037] Further alternative configurations may be provided in which first and second flaps 58, 60 may be formed to adjoin any combination of edges among the top and bottom edges of rear panel 24 and inside right panel 20, according to the orientation shown in FIG. 6, and/or hangar tab 34 may be formed to adjoin an available upper or lower edge of any of panels 16, 18, 20, and 24. Further still, other combinations of the configurations described hereinabove may be used, as especially where the blank can be assembled into the integrated message card and transaction card holder 10 shown in FIG. 1, with the same functional aspects described above.

[00038] When starting with the blank 50 shown in FIG. 6, the integrated message card and transaction card holder 10 is formed by first folding along front exterior fold line 52 to bring inside left panel 18 into contact with front panel 16, as shown in FIG. 7. As seen in FIG. 8, inside left panel 18 and front panel 16 are aligned along the front exterior fold line 52, and their upper and lower edges. The right edge of front panel 16 corresponds with central fold line 30, and extends past the right edge of inside left panel 18, which corresponds with the interior fold line 32. Optionally, the two panels may be sealed together with an adhesive applied to one or both confronting surfaces of the two panels 16 and 18.

[00039] Next, with the transaction card panel 26 overlapped onto rear panel 24, flaps 54 and 56 are folded along flap fold lines 58 and 60, respectively, so as to overlap the corners of transaction card panel 26, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. An adhesive is then applied to the surfaces of flaps 54, 56 which face away from transaction card panel 26 (FIG. 9).

[00040] Inside right panel 20 is then folded toward transaction card panel 26 along rear exterior fold line 62, as shown in FIG. 10, and is secured in place upon contact with the adhesive-coated flaps 54 and 56, to thereby form pocket 40. Assembled in this manner, the blank 50 is transformed into the integrated message card and transaction card holder 10. Similar assembly operations are performed with the various alternative collapsed configurations to obtain similar integrated message card and transaction card holders in accordance with the present invention.

[00041] As mentioned above, transaction card panel 26 is smaller in height than adjoining inside left panel and rear panel 24 such that transaction card panel 26 appears to have been cut away along both its top and bottom edges thereof. Also, the width of transaction card panel 26 is substantially less than the width of rear panel 24, such that when the message card 12 is in a closed position, only approximately one-half of transaction card panel 26 is inserted behind the flaps 54 and 56, and edge 22 of pocket 40. The reduced height and width of the transaction card panel 26 allows the panel 26 to move with relative ease back and forth in the pocket 40 upon opening and closing the card 12, by reducing the potential for the edges of transaction card panel 26 being hindered by frictional resistance in the creases along fold lines 58 and 60.

[00042] Transaction card panel 26 is not necessarily permanently retained inside pocket 40 during the assembly of the invention. Optionally, pocket 40 may be formed while the transaction card panel 26 is positioned outside thereof, and may be later inserted into the pocket at the time a transaction card is to be placed in the holder 28. Similarly, depending on the dimensions of the transaction card panel 26 relative to the depth of pocket 40 as well as the ease of insertion of a transaction card into holder 28, the transaction card panel 26 may be removed from pocket 40 for inserting a transaction card therein, and then reinserted into the pocket thereafter. Removal of the transaction card panel 26 from the pocket 40 or providing an assembled message card and transaction card holder with the transaction card panel 26 outside the pocket 40, however, is more feasible when the dimensions of transaction card panel 26 are such that the transaction card panel 26 extends only shallowly into the pocket 40 when inserted therein.

[00043] In the preferred embodiment, transaction card holder 28 is formed in transaction card panel 26 as a pair of slits die cut through the panel 26. As can be seen in FIG. 6, inter alia, the slits are formed as a pair of substantially parallel cuts having a portion 28a spaced apart to the same width as or slightly wider than the width of a standard credit card-sized transaction card, and then tapering together to a second parallel portion 28b which is spaced apart to a width narrower than the width of the transaction card. FIG. 11 shows a transaction card 44 inserted into the slits of holder 28, with the lower corners of the card 44 placed behind the narrower second portion 28b, and the remainder of the card 44 positioned on the front surface of panel 26. The transaction card crosses from being behind the transaction card panel 26 to being on the front surface of the panel 26 at the ends of the slits at portion 28b. Thus, transaction card 44 is prevented from slipping completely through the slits to fall behind the transaction card panel 26.

[00044] The slits forming holder 28 may be formed according to other shapes, as desired. For example, the holder may be formed as a pair of short diagonal cuts through which the bottom corners only of a transaction card 44 can be inserted. Alternatively, holder 28 may be formed as other embodiments entirely, such as a shallow pocket or transparent sleeve attached to the surface of transaction card panel 26.

[00045] In the exemplary embodiment described herein, the pocket 40 is formed at the right side of the opened message card. This is the preferred arrangement for a typical message card in which the front panel opens like a book toward the left, because it produces a dynamic effect which is more noticeable to the recipient or consumer when the message card is opened. However, the integrated message card and transaction card holder of the present invention also encompasses variations of the disclosed embodiment in which the pocket and transaction card holder is provided on the left side of the opened card. The present invention further encompasses message cards which open vertically, in which the pocket and transaction card holder is provided preferably in the upper portion, but alternatively in the lower portion of the opened card. Of course, for each of these variations, corresponding changes to the unassembled blank may be made, while still preserving the function of a “pop-out” display of a transaction card. Further still, although the embodiment discussed herein is shown in the drawings as a message card which is substantially square in shape, the message card may be formed to be of other shapes and sizes as designed, with the unassembled blank designed accordingly to be assembled in a similar manner and to function as described herein.

[00046] Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.