Patent ID: 7726565
Filing Date: 2010-06-01
Classification: G06K,G11B

Abstract:
1. A removable protection device to protect a reader head of a magnetic stripe reader, where the magnetic stripe reader has a first longitudinal section and a second longitudinal section divided by a card swipe track for swiping magnetic stripe cards, with said reader head located in said first longitudinal section, comprising: a substantially flat, thin vertical insert panel being a non-ferromagnetic material and having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end, a second end, and an upper edge wherein said vertical insert panel is adapted to fit in said card swipe track with said inner surface positioned alongside said first longitudinal section to protect said reader head, having said first end extending generally to a first end of said card swipe track, and having said second end extending generally to a second end of said card swipe track, wherein said vertical insert panel is adapted to be manually insertable into said card swipe track, is adapted to remain in position when said magnetic stripe card is swiped along said outer surface of said vertical insert panel, and is adapted to be manually removable from said card swipe track for cleaning; a substantially flat, thin horizontal panel having a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a first longitudinal edge, and a second longitudinal edge, wherein said first longitudinal edge of said horizontal panel is attached generally perpendicularly to said upper edge of said vertical insert panel, and wherein said horizontal panel is sized to fit over a top side of said first longitudinal section of said magnetic stripe reader; and a substantially flat, thin vertical side panel attached at an angle to said second longitudinal edge of said horizontal panel, with said angle determined by the shape of said first longitudinal section of said magnetic stripe reader, wherein said horizontal panel, said vertical side panel, and said vertical insert panel form a shape generally similar to the shape of said first longitudinal section of said magnetic stripe reader, and wherein said horizontal panel and said vertical side panel assist in securing said vertical insert panel in position in said card swipe track.