Abstract:
An encased stored value card for decoratively presenting is provided comprising an electronic light and/or audio circuit with a switch and a lighting element and/or a speaker; and a housing for holding the electronic circuit permanently as well as the card removably. The housing may have different opening schemes including an upper shell and a lower shell joined by one or more hinge connections and a lock to allow the shells to swivel between a closed position where the upper shell mates with the lower shell temporarily and an open position for retrieval of the card. The electronic circuit is generally embedded in the housing but for the lighting element and speaker so that the lighting element is partially exposed through the housing and is configured to illuminate upon activation of the switch and at the same time the speaker propagates sound at perforations locally formed through the housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    A. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to stored-value cards. More particularly, the present invention relates to electronic multisensual cases for carrying and presenting credit or cash cards and the like. 
         [0003]    B. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    The gift card is a consumer product that is favorable to both the retailer and the shopper. For the retailer, gift cards guarantee huge profit advantages each year. For the customer, gift cards make both shopping and gift giving easy. Gift cards can be small plastic cards that look like traditional credit cards. Like credit cards, gift cards may have a barcode or magnetic strip that is processed through a standard electronic credit card machine. They may be issued by credit card companies, retail stores, banks, restaurants, or other institutions. The gift card recipient uses the card as a form of currency to make purchases at the issuing company&#39;s locations. 
         [0005]    Gift cards have no value until they are purchased and activated at checkout, which creates no significant financial loss for the retailer if the cards are stolen. The card obtains value only when the customer purchases the card or when the cashier enters the amount the customer wishes to place on the card. Gift cards can be purchased in stores and through catalogues. However, they can also be purchased online, in which case, an electronic gift card would be issued via email. Electronic gift cards allow gift recipients to receive the card instantly and also eliminates shipping and handling charges. Once purchased, the card&#39;s value is saved in the store&#39;s database which is then crosslinked to the card&#39;s ID. Gift cards are usually available in set amounts such as $25, $50, $100, $500. They could also be purchased for any random amount depending on the individual issuing company. For example, one could purchase a gift card for $32 for someone&#39;s $32nd birthday. 
         [0006]    There is usually no extra or additional fees to purchase a gift card. However, some card providers charge maintenance fees on the cards which are absorbed by the card user. 
         [0007]    Essentially, cards depreciate usually after 2 years from the date of purchase. Particularly, some card providers charge a small fee, e.g. $2.50 a month. Some cards expire after 2 years from the date of purchase. Increasingly, card providers are eliminating maintenance fees and expirations. Therefore, unused balances on the card remains until the card is spent. Most cards can be re-loaded after the balance on the card is spent. 
         [0008]    Traditionally, gift cards can be redeemed only at the issuing company. However, some companies are expanding their business by seeking the multi-channel route in the form of a segmented gift card. This type of card allows one to use the card at a number of unrelated retailers, thereby reducing the number of cards one has to carry around. Gift cards issued by credit card companies like VISA, MasterCard and American Express also function in a similar fashion. For example, a VISA gift card can be redeemed at any location where a VISA credit card is accepted. 
         [0009]    Accessorizing cards such as stored-value gift cards and other financial transactions cards are disclosed in a wide variety of patents and patent applications. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,639 and application Ser. No.: 11/038,018 filed Jan. 18, 2005 under Stored-Value Card with Light; Ser. No. 11/038,011 filed Jan. 18, 2005 under Stored-Value Card with Sound and Light; Ser. No. 11/037,385 filed Jan. 18, 2005 under Stored-Value Card with Sound; Ser. No. 11/404,367 filed Apr. 14, 2006 under Stored-Value Card with Bubble Wand; Ser. No. 11/404,584 filed Apr. 14, 2006 under Stored-Value Card with Housed Object; Ser. No. 11/437,462 filed May 19, 2006 under Stored-Value Card with Manufactured Article; Ser. No. 11/510,264 filed Aug. 25, 2006 under Stored-Value Card with Chemical Luminescence; Ser. No. 11/592,713 filed Nov. 3, 2006 under Inflatable Financial Transaction Product; Ser. No. 11/592,759 filed Nov. 3, 2006 under Financial Transaction Card Assembly with Packaged Goods; Ser. No. 11/604,016 filed Nov. 22, 2006 under Financial Transaction Product with Media Player; Ser. No. 11/645,143 filed Dec. 22, 2006 under Transactional Card with Visual Effect; Ser. No. 11/615,861 filed Dec. 22, 2006 under Financial Transaction Card with Pop-Up Member; Ser. No. 11/592,760 filed Jan. 11, 2007 under Financial Transactional Card with Storage Chamber; Ser. No. 11/687,280 filed Mar. 16, 2007 under Stored-Value Pedometer and Clip; Ser. No. 11/697,271 filed Apr. 5, 2007 under Stored-Value Product with Housed Article; Ser. No. 11/697,462 filed Apr. 6, 2007 under Transaction Card with Beads; Ser. No. 11/753,854 filed May 25, 2007 under Mechanically Convertible Transaction Product; Ser. No. 11/843,855 filed Aug. 23, 2007 under Transaction Product with Gelatinous Substance; Ser. No. 11/843,844 filed Aug. 23, 2007 under Transaction Product with Removable Articles; and Ser. No. 11/843,856 filed Aug. 23, 2007 under Transaction Card with Sound and Transformative Playback Feature all provide for a wide variety of different features relating to a stored value card. These features include all kinds of modifications of a lighted and sound producing stored value card. The above-identified patent and applications are incorporated herein by reference. In some cases, the references show a good way of attracting a customers attention. 
         [0010]    Stored-value cards and other financial transactions cards come in many forms. A gift card, for example, is a type of stored-value card that includes pre-loaded or selectively loaded monetary value. In one example, a customer buys a gift card having a specified value for presentation as a gift for another person. In another example, a customer is offered a gift card as an incentive to make a purchase. A gift card, like other stored-value cards, can be “recharged” or “reloaded” at the direction of the bearer. The balance associated with the card declines as the card is used, encouraging repeated visits to the retailer or other provider issuing the card. Additionally, the card generally remains in the user&#39;s purse or wallet, serving as an advertisement or reminder to revisit the associated retailer. Gift cards provide a number of advantages to both the consumer and the retailer. 
         [0011]    For higher valued gift cards and such of this kind, there is also a need for an alternative way to deliver the respective multisensory enhancements in separate packages to retain the exact same material and feel of conventional plastic cards that can be dispensed from the associated package. 
         [0012]    The main drawback of the ingenious gift cards has been having to imprint the account identifier on a front or back side of the gift card housing. In this manner, the gift card is difficult to disguise as a gift. Also, the account identifier is visible before purchase. 
         [0013]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide multisensory cases that maintain the extra enhancements associated with stored-values in card member while providing a secure temporary encasement of a broad range of existing commercial value cards. 
         [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to provide multisensory cases that maintain the extra card enhancements while providing a decorative housing to hold the card member in an attractive and concealed manner. 
         [0015]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide durable card cases that maintain the extra card enhancements even after the card member is transferred to an owner&#39;s possession, when the case can be converted to a universal card case with its stored audio message or statement continues to reminiscent of the card issuer. 
         [0016]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a reference foundation for making different case designs for stored-value cards that have various aesthetic and functional openings to fit diverse transactional needs. 
         [0017]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a universal multisensory light/sound circuit module that combines with different case designs for cards. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    An encased stored value card for decoratively containing stored-value cards according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: an electronic light and/or audio circuit with a switching means and a lighting element and/or a speaker; and a housing for holding the electronic circuit permanently as well as the card removably. The housing includes an upper shell and a lower shell joined by one or more hinge connections and a locking means to allow the shells to swivel between a closed position where the upper shell mates with the lower shell temporarily and an open position for retrieval of the card. The electronic circuit is generally embedded in the housing but for the lighting element and speaker so that the lighting element is partially exposed through the housing and is configured to illuminate upon activation of the switching means and at the same time the speaker propagates sound at perforations locally formed through the housing. 
         [0019]    The upper shell may form a lid member having an underneath tray fixedly secured thereto for enclosing the electronic circuit and the lower shell has a seat member for holding the card at an elevated position for an easy retrieval. The upper shell is dimensioned to wrap around the lower shell along vertical peripheral walls formed on the lower shell and the locking means may be a slight protrusion toward the upper shell to have the closed position maintained until a manual force releases the upper shell over the protrusion. Alternatively, the upper shell may form a lid member having an integrally formed tray covered by an outer shell fixedly secured thereto for enclosing the electronic circuit and the lower shell may have floor surfaces contoured to seat the card at an elevated position for an easy retrieval. The upper shell and the lower shell may have a horizontal meeting face and the locking means may comprise an eyelet section integrally formed on the lower shell and a hook fastened to the upper shell to protrude resiliently into the eyelet until the hook is pushed away manually from the eyelet section. The upper shell may form a lid member coupled by the hinge connections to the lower shell forming a tray, the lid member including decorative indicia, wherein the decorative indicia depict the respective positions of the switching means, lighting element and speaker. 
         [0020]    The electronic circuit in the lid member further includes a slide switch having a pair of contacts connected in parallel to the switching means and a tongue member having one end held slidable between the contacts to make and break the circuit and the opposite end attached to the tray close to its swivel connection with the lid member, whereby opening motion of the lid member automatically activates the electronic light and/or audio circuit to operate the lighting element and/or speaker. The slide switch may be is automatically activated by opening the case while the push switch is intentionally activated by a user depressing on the case opened or closed at a button indicator of the decorative indicia to illuminate the light and/or activate the speaker. The upper shell and the lower shell may be formed of a sheet metal and the tray of the upper shell lid member may be of a plastic. Alternatively, the upper shell and the lower shell may be formed of one piece plastic with an integral living hinge between them and the outer shell is formed of a second material fixed to the lid member. The upper shell may be in a first color and the lower shell in a second color. The housing includes a lighting aperture and a face panel that holds the decorative indicia of the switch, lighting element and speaker with an illumination of the lighting element being visible through the face panel at the lighting aperture. 
         [0021]    An encased stored value card for decoratively containing stored-value cards according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises: an electronic light and/or audio circuit with a switch and a lighting element and/or a speaker; and a housing including a rectangular base having a bottom panel, a first pair of opposing side panels erected upright from the bottom panel, a second pair of opposing side panels that connect the first pair of panels and a circumferential overhang from the pairs of side panels to define a top rectangular opening in the center of the housing, which also includes two half lid sections joined to the base by two opposite hinge connections at the first or second pairs of side panels to allow the lid sections to swivel between a closed position where the lid sections are brought together at a flush meeting line where they are releasably locked onto the base and an open position for retrieval of the card. The base with a capacity to accommodate the electronic circuit has a tray insert shaped to fit into the top opening for enclosing the electronic circuit permanently and for holding the card at an elevated position for an easy retrieval. The respective hinge connections may comprise knuckle parts formed integral to the lid sections and pairs of short pintle members formed integral to the base extending through the lid sections into the knuckle parts. 
         [0022]    The two lid sections extend flush when they are closed and have a locking means including a sliding latch mounted edgewise on one of the lid sections and a mating keeper formed on the other lid section for receiving the sliding latch of the opposite lid, and a pair of pull-tabs fastened to the latch and keeper respectively for disengaging the latch from the keeper while pivotally opening the lid sections. The two half lid sections are also adapted to swivel between a locked closed position where the lid sections are brought together at a flush meeting line on the base and a locked open position where the lid sections may be pivoted to reach below the level of the bottom panel of the base and locked to erect the base for displaying the card at an elevated position until it is retrieved by a card recipient. 
         [0023]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, an encased stored value card for decoratively containing stored-value cards comprises: an electronic light and/or audio circuit with a switch and a lighting element and/or a speaker generally contained in a thin container but for the lighting element and speaker and being configured to be illuminated upon activation of the switch and at the same time propagates sound at perforations locally formed through the container; and a housing including a rectangular base having a bottom panel, a pair of elongated walls extending upwardly from two opposite edges of the bottom panel, a pair of opposing side shoulders that connect the two elongated walls and two opposite inner walls defining interior surfaces of the side shoulders to provide a top rectangular cavity in the housing. The housing also includes a lid panel extending to cover the top housing cavity, a pivoting tray affixed to the lid panel at its underside for holding the electronic circuit container permanently as well as the card temporarily, a slidingly movable hinge connection for joining the lid panel with tray pivotally to the interior surfaces of the side shoulders so that a manual opening of the lid panel moves the lid panel, tray, electronic circuit container and an optional card in unity about the hinge connection, which is guided to shift a predetermined distance along the interior surfaces of the side shoulders, thereby maintaining the card at a convenient position to observe and retrieve. 
         [0024]    Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides an encased stored value card for decoratively containing stored-value cards comprising: an electronic light and/or audio circuit with a switch and a lighting element and/or a speaker generally contained in a thin container but for the lighting element and speaker and being configured to be illuminated upon activation of the switch and at the same time propagates sound at perforations locally formed through the container; and a housing including a rectangular base having a two tiered bottom panel with two parallel guide slots maintained at its opposite sides, a pair of slidable half dome sections mounted to slide along the guide slots of the bottom panel for enclosing an appropriate space above the base to hold the electronic circuit container when the dome sections are slidingly closed together. In addition, the housing includes a pivoting tray connected to the base for holding the electronic circuit container permanently as well as the card temporarily, a slidingly movable hinge connection for joining the tray with the base pivotally so that a manual sliding of the two dome sections away from each other permits the tray, electronic circuit container and an optional card pivot in unity about the hinge connection, thereby maintaining the card at a convenient position to observe and retrieve. 
         [0025]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a multisensory case for stored-value card, according to the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a rear bottom perspective view of the multisensory card case of  FIG. 1  to show the hinge connections, according to the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, top perspective view of a lid member of the multisensory card case of  FIG. 1  showing the components of electronic circuit inside. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a multisensory case for stored-value card, according to the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the  FIG. 4  multisensory card case closed. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the multisensory card case showing a slide tongue switching mechanism in two states of operation as applied to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a multisensory case for stored-value card, according to the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of the  FIG. 7  multisensory card case closed. 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a multisensory case for stored-value card in an open stance, according to the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the  FIG. 9  multisensory card case closed. 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  is a partially exploded, perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a multisensory card case for stored-value card with an open lid, according to the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of the  FIG. 11  multisensory card case closed. 
           [0038]      FIG. 13  is a plan view of a sixth embodiment of a multisensory case for stored-value card with two slidable half-dome sections in fully open position, according to the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 14  is a front elevational view of the  FIG. 13  multisensory card case. 
           [0040]      FIG. 15  is a side elevational view of the  FIG. 13  multisensory card case with the dome sections opened and a pivoting tray tilted up for an optional card to present. 
       
    
    
       [0041]    Similar reference numbers denote corresponding features throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0042]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a multisensory case  10  for stored-value cards, according to the present invention. The case  10  may be made primarily of sheet metal such as tin, which is formed into a generally rectangular tray  12  and a slightly larger lid member  14  hinged to a longer side  16  of tray  12  by a pintle  17  threading directly through appropriate lateral holes formed on the tray  12  and lid member  14 , as is clearly shown in  FIG. 2 . The tray  12  is simple compared to the lid member  14 , which is consisted of an inner shell  18  deep drawn to have a rectangular center recess  20  and an outer shell  22  having its margins superimposed and rolled over the inner shell  18 . The tray  12  may be lined with a raised foam seat  24  made by vacuum forming in order to hold a gift/credit card  26  snugly at its bottom and four lateral sides. 
         [0043]    Therefore, there is formed a protected space in the recess  20  for holding a sound/light electronic assembly as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/038,011. The lid member  14  is dimensioned to wrap around the tray  12  along vertical peripheral walls formed on the tray  12  and a locking means of a slight protrusion  28  is formed outwardly to keep the case  10  closed until a manual force releases the lid member  14  over the protrusion  28 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded, top perspective view of an electronic sound/light circuit  30  positioned in the lid member  14  according to the present invention. Lid member  14  houses electronic circuit  30  and a button  32  between its inner shell  18  and outer shell  22 . Electronic circuit  30  stores an audio file at a microprocessor  34  and includes a light  36  and a speaker  38 . Electronic circuit  30  is fixed to the bottom of recess  20  of inner shell  18  and outer shell  22  covers electronic circuit  30  except button  32  at a first hole  40 , light  36  at a second hole  42  and speaker  38  at perforations  44 . Button  32  is at least partially housed within lid member  14  and is configured to interact with electronic circuit  30 . In particular, upon depression of button  32  by a user, electronic circuit  30  is activated through a push switch member  33  to illuminate light  36  and to play the audio file via speaker  38 . The electronic circuit  30  in the lid member  14  further includes a slide switch  45  having a pair of contacts  46   a  and  46   b  connected in parallel to the switch member  33  and a tongue member  47  having one end  48  held slidable between the contacts  46   a,    46   b  to make and break the circuit  30  and the opposite end  50  attached to the tray  12  close to its swivel connection at  17  with the lid member  14 , whereby opening motion of the lid member  14  automatically activates the electronic light and/or audio circuit  30  to operate the lighting element  36  and/or speaker  38 . The slide switch  45  is automatically activated by opening the case  10  while the push switch  33  is intentionally activated by the user depressing on the case  10  opened or closed at a button indicator  80  of the decorative indicia to illuminate the light  36  and/or activate the speaker  38 . 
         [0045]    Face panel  52  is optionally coupled to outer shell  22  to provide multisensory case  10  and its matching stored-value card  26  with indicia relating to one or more of an occasion, season, store identifier, brand identifier, media format indicia, e.g. characters, logos, scenes, or other illustrations or photographs relating to at least one of a movie, television show, book, video game, and a sport, etc. 
         [0046]    Inner shell  18  of lid member  14  mounting the electronic circuit  30  resembles a tray having the recess  20  with a rectangular rim  54  that may extend outwardly and slightly downwardly. In one embodiment, of the two component shells inner shell  18  is a base for supporting electronic circuit  30 , and outer shell  22  is a cover as shown in  FIG. 1 . Inner shell  18  generally includes a primary panel  55  and sidewalls  56 ,  58 ,  60 , and  62 . Inner shell  18  is generally planar in the middle and defines an outside surface  64  and an inside surface  66 , which is opposite to outside surface  64  and permanently closed by outer shell  22  having an inwardly convoluted edge  68  that rides over rim  54  of inner shell  18  to clinch the same resulting in a unitary electronic lid member  14 .  FIG. 2  shows convoluted edge  68  generally extending about the peripheral end of outer shell  22  except two notches  70  formed on a rear side  72  of lid member  14  where integral knuckle portions  74  punched out from the tray  12 . The hinge pintle  17  is inserted through convoluted edge  68  between notches  70  and then penetrated into opposing openings of knuckle portions  74  at its opposite ends. 
         [0047]    In one embodiment, inner shell  18  resides in the lid member  14  and is generally rectangular and sized slightly larger than an identification card, a credit card, or other card sized to fit in a wallet of a user. In other embodiments, inner shell  18  resides in the tray  12  and may be otherwise shaped as a square, circle, oval, star, or any other suitable shape as long as it contains the electronic circuit  30 . 
         [0048]    Sidewalls  56 ,  58 ,  60 , and  62  each extends upright and collectively extend generally about the entire perimeter of primary panel  55 . In one embodiment, each sidewall  56 ,  58 ,  60 , and  62  extends with a generally perpendicular orientation relative to primary panel  55 . Rectangular rim  54  connects all of the four sidewalls  56 ,  58 ,  60 , and  62  extending gradually downwardly to the level of primary panel  55  and terminating with a downturn edge  72 . In one example, downturn edge  72  of inner shell  18  is pushed into the inward convolution of edge  68  of outer shell  22  to have a neat locking engagement between the two shells. In one embodiment, at least the outer shell  22  forms curved or chamfered corners around the edge  68 . 
         [0049]    Just as a conventional card of its kind, the gift/credit card  26  may include an account identifier such as a barcode, magnetic strip, a smart chip or other electronic device, a radio frequency identification device, or other suitable identifier readily readable by a point-of-sale terminal or other account access station or kiosk. The account identifier indicates a financial account or record to which stored-value card  26  is linked. The account or record of the monetary balance on stored-value card  26  optionally is maintained on a database, other electronic or manual record-keeping system, or, in the case of “smart” cards for example, on a chip or other electronics or devices on stored-value card  26  itself. Accordingly, by scanning the account identifier, a financial account or record linked to stored-value card  26  is identified and can subsequently be activated, have amounts debited therefrom, and/or have amounts added thereto. With the above in mind, the account identifier is one example of means for linking stored-value card  26  with a financial account or record. 
         [0050]    Face panel  52  of case  10  may be planar and generally cover a flat top area  74  of outer shell  14 . Panel  52  may be formed of paper, plastic, or other suitable material for printing and adhering to flat area  74  with a good flexibility to transfer manual depressions to the button  32  and brightness to pass light from the element  36 . In one embodiment, face panel  52  is sized to fit within a panel indentation  76  of outer shell  22 . On a surface of face panel  52  there may be prints of indicia such as a decorative indicium  78 , brand indicium (not shown), and a button indicator  80 . In one embodiment, decorative indicium  78  relate to a particular occasion or life event such as a wedding, new baby, graduation, holiday, season, etc., a particular character, brand identifier, media format identifier or other visual design to promote purchase of stored-value card  26 . In one particular embodiment, decorative indicia  78  include a picture or a graphic representing a character of a particular media format. 
         [0051]    Brand indicia identify a brand associated with stored-value card  26 , such as identifying a product brand, an issuer brand, and other indicia readily associated with a product or store, etc. Indicia  78  and/or the brand indicia is an example of means for associating stored-value card  26  with at least one of a product, a brand, a store, a holiday, a season, an occasion, and media format indicia. 
         [0052]    Button indicator  80  is positioned on face panel  52  to generally align with button  32  upon assembly. In this respect, button indicator  80  indicates an area or location of stored-value card  26  where the bearer, e.g. the customer or recipient, can be led to push case  10  to hear the stored audio file and illuminate light  36 , as will be further described below. Other combinations or selections of indicia to be displayed on face panel  52  are also contemplated. In one embodiment, the outside surface of face panel  52  is printed and finished in any one of a variety of manners such as matte, gloss, textured, or other effect finish. In one embodiment, the finish chosen for the outside surface of panel  52  may be chosen to match the base color of case  10  or complements the indicia included on the panel  52 . 
         [0053]    In one embodiment, face panel  52  includes a plurality of speaker apertures (not shown) formed through face panel  52  and configured to generally align with at least a portion of speaker perforations  44  of outer shell  22  upon assembly of case  10 . Thus, sound coming from electronic circuit  30  has a generally clear pathway through at least a portion of speaker perforations  44  of shell  22  and the speaker apertures of face panel  52 . 
         [0054]    With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5  showing a second embodiment of the present invention, a multisensory case  100  for stored-value cards  101  comprises a tray  102  and a lid  104 , both of which may be formed by injection molding of a plastic such as PVC or any other suitable material to define the various attributes of tray  102  and lid  104 . In addition, a hinge  106  pivotally joins tray  102  and lid  104 . The lid  104  has a deep recess  108  for the same electronic circuit  30  used with case  10  in the earlier embodiment. 
         [0055]    Alternatively, tray  102  and lid  104  may be formed of a plastic with an integral living hinge between them and outer shells are separately formed of a second material and fixed to the lid as well as tray. 
         [0056]    The lid  104  is covered by an outer shell  110  fixedly secured thereto for enclosing the electronic circuit  30  and the tray  102  has floor surfaces contoured to seat the card  100  at an elevated position for an easy retrieval. There may be four corner posts  112  integrally molded for this purpose. The tray  102  and bottom  104  may have a flat horizontal meeting surface and kept in a locking position by a locking means  114  that comprises an eyelet section  116  integrally formed on the tray  102  and a hook  118  fastened to the lid  104  to protrude resiliently into the eyelet  116  until the hook  118  is pushed away manually from the eyelet section  116 . 
         [0057]    To maintain a neat look, another outer shell  120  is attached to the exterior surface of the tray  102 . The lid  104  may include the similar component holes formed in case  10  for the circuit  30  as well as decorative indicia on outer shell  110  which depict the respective positions of the switching means, lighting element and speaker of circuit  30 . The tray  102  and lid  104  may be of the same color although it is simply a matter of design choice to use different colors. 
         [0058]      FIG. 6  clearly shows that case  100  also has the electronic circuit  30  in the lid  104  complete with slide switch  45  having tongue member  47  having one end  48  held slidable inside the lid  104  and the opposite end  50  attached to the tray  102  close to its swivel connection  106  with the lid member  104 . Therefore, opening motion of the lid member  104  pulls the tongue member  47  and automatically activates the electronic light and/or audio circuit  30  to operate the lighting element  36  and/or speaker  38 . The slide switch  45  is automatically activated by opening the case  100  while the push switch  33  is intentionally activated by the user depressing on the case  100  opened or closed at the corresponding button indicator of the decorative indicia to illuminate the light  36  and/or activate the speaker  38 . 
         [0059]    Also shown is the locking means  114  with hook  118 , which has a lip  122  pivoting about an axis  123  and urged by a resilient extension  126  to engage a sill  128  formed on tray  102  inside the eyelet section  116 . 
         [0060]      FIGS. 7 and 9  show a third embodiment of a multisensory case  300  of the present invention. In addition to the same construction of electronic circuit  30 , case  300  comprises a housing  301  including a rectangular base  302  having a bottom panel  304 , a first pair of opposing side panels  306  erected upright from the bottom panel  304 , a second pair of opposing side panels  308  that connect the first pair of panels  306  and a circumferential overhang  310  from the pairs of side panels  306 ,  308  to define a top rectangular opening  312  in the center of the housing  301 . Housing  301  also includes two half lid sections  314   a  and  314   b  joined to the base  302  by two hinge connections  316   a  and  316   b  at the second pairs of side panels  308  to allow the lid sections  314   a,    314   b  to swivel between a closed position where the lid sections  314   a,    314   b  are brought together at a flush meeting line  318  and are releasably locked onto the base  302  and an open position for retrieval of a card (not shown). The respective hinge connections  316   a,    316   b  comprise knuckle parts formed integral to the lid sections  314   a,    314   b  and pairs of short pintle members (not shown) that may be formed integral to knuckle parts or the base  302 . The two lid sections  314   a,    314   b  extend flush when they are closed and have a locking means  320  including a sliding latch  322  mounted edgewise on one of the lid sections such as  314   a  and normally urged toward the meeting line  318  with the other lid section  314   b  having a mating keeper  324  for receiving the sliding latch  322 . In addition, the lid sections  314   a,    314   b  have a pair of pull-tabs  326  fastened to the latch  322  and keeper  324  respectively for disengaging the latch  322  from the keeper  324  while pivotally opening the lid sections  314   a,    314   b.  The pull-tabs  326  may be made to resemble a gift ribbon tie for suggesting the user to pull them to open the case  300 . 
         [0061]    The base  302  has a capacity to accommodate the electronic circuit  30 . A tray insert  328  fits into the top opening  312  for enclosing the electronic circuit  30  permanently and for holding the card at an elevated position for an easy retrieval. Thus, the electronic circuit  30  may be generally embedded in the housing  301  but for the lighting element  36  and speaker  38  through holes  330  formed on the overhang  310  and the lighting element  36  is configured to be illuminated upon activation of the switch  33  appropriately positioned on one of the second pair of side panels  308 . The lid sections  314   a,    314   b  extend outwardly beyond the pivot points of hinge connections  316   a  and  316   b  and one of lid sections  314   a,    314   b  can depress the switch  33  simply by the opening motion of the case  300 . In addition, the switch  33  may be indicated by a decorative indicium on the lid section  314   b  for a manual activation of the light  36  and speaker  38  with or without opening the case  300 . 
         [0062]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show a fourth embodiment of a multisensory case  400  according to the present invention. Case  400  differs from case  300  of  FIG. 7  in the way its lid sections  424   a,    414   b  operate for a heightened level of presenting a card (not shown). 
         [0063]    Case  400  has a housing  401  with a base  402  and two half-lid sections  414   a,    414   b  adapted to cover an overhang  410  of the base  402 . Base  402  has a bottom panel  404 , a first pair of side panels  406  and a second pair of side panels  408  for supporting the lid sections  414   a,    414   b  through hinge connections  416   a,    416   b  to allow the lid sections  414   a,    414   b  to swivel between a locked closed position where the lid sections  414   a,    414   b  are brought together at a flush meeting line  418  on the base  402  and a locked open position where the lid sections  414   a,    414   b  are pivoted to reach below the level of the bottom panel  404  of the base  402  to suspend the base  402  for displaying the card at an elevated position until it is retrieved by a card recipient. 
         [0064]    The two lid sections  416   a,    416   b  extend flush when they are swiveled into closure about the hinge connections  416   a,    416   b  each having a knuckle part formed internally of side panel  408  of the base  402 , a couple of rivets  420   a - 420   a  or  420   b - 420   b  threading the lid section  414   a,    414   b  and the knuckle parts in aligned but opposite directions so that the rivets  420  corotate with the lid sections  414   a,    414   b  with respect to the knuckle parts. In addition, the lid sections  414   a,    414   b  have a locking means (not shown) including eccentric levers located interior of the base  402  and fixed to distal ends of at least two adjacent parallel rivets  420   a,    420   b  and a long spring member adapted to link the eccentric levers to pull the lid sections  414   a,    414   b  normally toward each other, whereby a user swivels the lid sections  414   a,    414   b  toward the fully open position under increasing resistance of the spring member to its threshold dead point, which must be overcome when the lid sections  414   a,    414   b  are swiveled from the closed position to the open position and vice versa. 
         [0065]    Switch  33  may be appropriately positioned to protrude from one of the side panels  408  such as at  422  near the border of bottom panel  404  and side panel  408  to permit a lid action switching by lid section  414   b  as well as a manual depression by the user. To this end, the location switch  33  may be indicated by a decorative indicium on the lid section  414   b  for a manual activation of the light  36  and speaker  38  with or without opening the case  400 . 
         [0066]      FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrates a fifth embodiment of a multisensory card  500  of the present invention wherein electronic light and/or audio circuit  30  is separately prepared with the similar switch  33  and a lighting element  36  and/or a speaker  38  generally contained in a thin container  501  but for the lighting element  36  at an indicium  502  and speaker  38  at holes  503  and being configured to be illuminated upon activation of the switch  33  at a side button  504 . 
         [0067]    Card case  500  comprises a housing  506  including a rectangular base  508  having a bottom panel  510 , a pair of elongated walls  512  extending upwardly from two opposite edges of the bottom panel  510 , a pair of opposing side shoulders  514  that connect the two elongated walls  512  and two opposite inner walls  516  defining interior surfaces of the side shoulders  514  to provide a top rectangular cavity  518  in the housing  506 . The housing  506  also includes a lid panel  520  extending to cover the top housing cavity  518 , a pivoting tray  522  affixed to the lid panel  520  at its underside for holding the electronic circuit container  501  permanently as well as a card (not shown) temporarily, a slidingly movable hinge connection  524  for joining the lid panel  520  with tray  522  pivotally to the interior surfaces  516  of the side shoulders  514  so that a manual opening of the lid panel  520  moves the lid panel  520 , tray  522 , electronic circuit container  501  and an optional card in unity about the hinge connection  524 , which is guided to shift a predetermined distance along the interior surfaces  516  of the side shoulders  514 , thereby maintaining the card at a convenient position to observe and retrieve. 
         [0068]    The electronic circuit container  501  includes a decorative indicium for the switch  33  which can be manually as well as automatically activated by the initial pivot action of the tray  522 . Upon installation of electronic circuit container  501  switch  33  at side button may be appropriately positioned to protrude from the lid panel  520  facing the side shoulder  514  to permit a lid action switching by lid panel  520  as well as a manual depression by the user. A decorative indicium  525  on the electronic circuit container  501  may be an indicator for the manual activation switch  33  to energize the light  36  and speaker  38 . 
         [0069]    The side shoulders  514  of the base  506  have toothed racks  526  extending along cross lines of the shoulders  514  with the base  506 . The hinge connection  524  is affixed externally to the pivoting tray  522  and has two opposite end pins  528  with two freely rotatable pinion gears  530  adapted to mesh with the toothed racks  526  of the shoulders  514  in order to provide a stable parallel shift of the card in tray  522 . In it fully open tilted position shown in  FIG. 11 , lid panel  520  bears the full load at its rear end  532  against the bottom panel  510 . 
         [0070]      FIGS. 13 and 14  show a sixth embodiment of a multisensory case  600  for stored-value card  601  in its initial deployment stage and  FIG. 15  shows the full presentation mode thereof. 
         [0071]    The electronic light and/or audio circuit  30  is also separately prepared in this embodiment with the similar switch  33  and a lighting element  36  and/or a speaker  38  generally contained in a thin container  602  but for the lighting element  36  at an indicium  603  and speaker  38  at holes  604  and being configured to be illuminated upon activation of the switch  33  at a side button  605 . 
         [0072]    Card case  600  comprises a housing  606  including a rectangular base  608  having a two tiered bottom panel  610  with two parallel guide slots  612  maintained at its opposite sides, a pair of slidable half dome sections  614  each having two parallel upright edges  615  mounted to slide along the guide slots  612  of the bottom panel  610  for enclosing an appropriate space above the base  608  to hold the electronic circuit container  602  when the dome sections  614  are slidingly closed together, a pivoting tray  616  connected to the base  608  for holding the electronic circuit container  602  permanently as well as the card  601  temporarily, and a hinge connection  618  for joining the tray  616  with the base  608  pivotally so that a manual sliding of the two dome sections  614  away from each other permits the tray  616 , electronic circuit container  602  and the optional card  601  pivot in unity about the hinge connection  618 . Case  600  opens first with a sliding manipulation with dome sections  614  which is enough to retrieve the card  601 . Optionally, the distinctive tilting of tray  616  may follow to maintain the card  601  at a convenient position to display and retrieve. 
         [0073]    Alternatively, the subsequent tilting of tray  616  may be automatic with the assistance of a lift bias utilizing a spring member between the bottom panel  610  and tray  616 , whereby the switching side button  605  is also triggered. 
         [0074]    The electronic circuit container  602  includes a decorative indicium for the switch  33  which can be manually as well as automatically activated by the pivot action of the tray  616 . Upon installation of electronic circuit container  602 , switch  33  at side button  605  can be appropriately positioned to protrude from the tray  616  facing a sidewall of dome section  614  to permit a swivel action switching by tray  616  as well as a manual depression by the user. A decorative indicium  625  on the electronic circuit container  601  may be an indicator for the manual activation of switch  33  to power the light  36  and speaker  38 . 
         [0075]    The hinge connection  618  may comprise two end knuckle parts  620  formed in one piece affixed to the bottom panel  610 , a cooperating middle knuckle piece  622  formed integral to the pivoting tray  616  and a pair of short pintle members  624  extending from the opposite ends of the middle knuckle piece  622  concentrically. 
         [0076]    Therefore, while the presently preferred form of the electronic card cases have been shown and described, and several modifications thereof discussed, persons skilled in this art will readily appreciate that various additional changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined and differentiated by the following claims.