Abstract:
A tamperproof package for gift cards utilizes a laminate of at least two panels for encasing a card in a durable package which is tamper evident when opened. The surface of one of the panels includes information desirable for merchandising and activating the gift card.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/896,999 entitled PREPAID CARD SECURITY PACKAGE, filed on Mar. 26, 2007, and Application No. 60/912,185 entitled PREPAID CARD SECURITY PACKAGE, filed on Apr. 17, 2007, by Eric A. Rosendall, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a package for securing gift and prepaid cards against tampering. Retail stores frequently offer gift or other prepaid cards in the nature of a plastic credit card sized card with a prepaid amount which can be used for a specific purpose, such as a telephone card, or for general use. 
         [0003]    Recently, it has been discovered that gift and other prepayable cards have been removed from their packaging and their unique numbers recorded by the thief. Such cards typically are packaged in a fiberboard package with a plastic window showing the card. These packages have been removed and taken to, for example, the restroom of a retail establishment where the cards are removed by slitting an edge of the window. The information on the card is recorded by the perpetrator, who then reseals the packaged card and returns the card to the display area of the retail establishment. Upon subsequent sale of the card and authorization of the card value or a credit amount by the merchant when purchased by a bona fide purchaser to use as a gift, the thief has time to subsequently utilize the code information contained on the unactivated card. These transactions are usually through the Internet, where the thief can make purchases until the credit limit on the card has been reached. 
         [0004]    There exists a need, therefore, for packaging to protect against such fraud and yet allow merchandisers to be able to merchandise gift and prepaid cards to its customers in an attractive and inviting manner. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The packaging of the present invention provides such tamperproof protection for gift and prepaid cards by utilizing a folder comprising a laminate of at least two and preferably three panels for encasing the card in a durable package which is clearly tamper evident when opened. An outer display surface of at least one of the panels includes information desirable for merchandising the gift cards. The panels define a pocket for encasing a gift card. In one embodiment, three panels are provided, including a front, rear, and center panel, with a die cut opening defining a card-holding pocket. In one embodiment, the prepaid card is placed within the pocket and the panels are folded and adhesively bonded together to seal the card in place. In one embodiment, a perforation extends through each panel and communicates with the pocket to allow the folder to be snapped open for authorized access to the prepaid card. Once so opened, the package cannot be resealed without the tampering being evident. 
         [0006]    These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description thereof together with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is plan view of one embodiment of the present invention, shown prior to insertion of a card therein; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the packaging of the present invention with the card enclosed therein; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the package taken along section line III-III of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, shown prior to the insertion of a card therein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0011]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a die cut blank card-enclosing package  10  which includes three panels  12 ,  14 , and  16 . Panel  12  becomes a central panel once panels  14  and  16  are folded over the rear surface  13  of panel  12  and, subsequently, the front surface  15  of panel  12 , which is covered by panel  16 . Panel  12  includes a die cut opening  20  defining a pocket for receiving therein a gift or other prepaid card  50  (shown in phantom lines in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The panels  12 ,  14 , and  16  are adjoined by perforated fold lines  17  and  19 , respectively, to allow the panels to be folded together, as shown in  FIG. 3 . An adhesive  35  is applied to the rear and front surfaces  13  and  15 , respectively, of card-holding central panel  12 , and a card  50  is mounted into pocket  20  during assembly. The hybrid styrene material of each of the panels is a relatively thick, from about 0.020 inches to about 0.025 inches and preferably from about 0.022 inches to about 0.024 inches. The white, printable material is commercially available from Witt Plastics, Inc. The adhesive  35  extending between the rear surface  21  of panel  14  and the rear surface  23  of panel  16  permanently bonds panels  14  and  16  into a laminate structure covering center panel  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The adhesive employed is preferably a cyanoacrylate adhesive, although other polyurethane reactive adhesives can be employed. The bonding of panels  12 ,  14 , and  16  and, therefore, the sealing of a card  50  within pocket  20  can be achieved by other means, such as ultrasonic welding or heat-staking as well. 
         [0012]    Each of the panels  12 ,  14 , and  16  include a hang tag slot  25 ,  27 , and  29 , respectively, which align, as seen in  FIG. 2 , once the outer panels are laminated to the center panel  12  with card  50  contained therein. One of the panels, such as panel  12 , has a downwardly depending extension  22  which allows an activating magnetic strip  26  to be printed thereon. Alternatively, a bar code could be imprinted on tab  22  or an exposed surface of the package  10 . It is anticipated that the front surface  30  of panel  16  will include information as to the enclosed card and may include photos or designs, such as a holiday motif or other printed indicia  32  ( FIG. 2 ) relating to the store, the card, or the occasion for use of the card. It will not include the code numbers associated with the unique card which is subsequently used in connection with its activation for a purchase amount. The card is activated by a merchant that scans the magnetic or bar code  26  while the card remains in the package  10  with the value amount of the card, which information is forwarded to the billing company as a credit against this uniquely identified card. 
         [0013]    Gift card  50  is of normal credit card size and is positioned within pocket  20  will not include an adhesive inasmuch as the card  50  must be easily removed upon opening of the package  10 . Panel  16  covers the front surface  15  of panel  12  and it is anticipated that during the assembly, the edges  17  and  19  will be folded, such that a three-layer laminate is formed with the card being held in pocket  20  in panel  12  and between panels  14  and  16 . 
         [0014]    In order to open the package  10  and gain access to card  50 , horizontally extending perforated lines  42 ,  44 , and  46  are formed through the upper section of panels  12 ,  14 , and  16 , respectively, and intersect the area of the card-holding opening  20  near one edge thereof. The package  10 , shown in  FIG. 1 , is opened by deflecting the panels  12 ,  14 ,  16  at perforation lines  42 ,  44 ,  46 , which breaks the package open, allowing access to the card once a bona fide purchaser has made the purchase at the cashier&#39;s counter for activation of the card. It prevents, however, access to the card itself by an unauthorized purchaser and provides a tamper evident system since, once the package has been opened, it is separated into two sections, with the top halves of panels  12 ,  14 , and  16  being separated from the card-holding lower halves of the panels. The perforations  42 ,  44 , and  46  are deeper than the perforations  17  and  19  to allow the user to in effect “snap-open” the package to gain access to card  50 . The material and its thickness makes it virtually impossible to reseal once opened. Thus, if package  10  is stolen with a card  50  therein and access to the card is necessary for obtaining the card identification information, it will be readily apparent that it has been opened upon an attempted return of the package  10  with a card  50  therein. 
         [0015]    Although the preferred embodiment of the invention employs three panels with a die cut window  20  holding a card  50  therein, it is anticipated that a two-panel lamination could also be employed in which a recessed area such as  20  is provided in each panel  14  and  16 , which are then adhesively attached to one another around the peripheral edges surrounding pocket-forming area  20  into which the card  50  can be placed. No adhesive is employed in the area of pocket  20 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 4  shows an alternative embodiment of the security package  110 , which has a first or inner panel  112  with a laterally extending slotted opening  120  defining a pocket for receiving a card, such as card  50  shown in the previous embodiment. Panel  112  includes a hanging slot  125  and is joined by a perforated fold line  117  to a second or rear panel  114  which also includes a hanging slot  127  which aligns with slot  125  and slot  129  in the third or front panel  116 . The front panel is hinged at perforated junction  119  to panel  114  and includes a tab  122  which can be imprinted at  126  with a magnetic reading strip, similar to tab  26  in the first embodiment and may include, as can the remaining exposed panels  114  and  116 , printed indicia thereon as to the store, the card, the occasion, and the like. A perforation  142  at the edge of inner panel  112  aligns with the pocket-defining opening  120  for receiving a card, as do breakaway perforations  144  in panel  114  and  146  in panel  116 , such that upon the activation of a card  50  by the merchant, the purchaser can snap the package apart at fold lines  142 ,  144 , and  146 , to gain access to the pocket  120  for removing the card  50  for use. 
         [0017]    As in the first embodiment, an adhesive, such as adhesive  35  shown in  FIG. 3 , extends between panels  114  and  116  and middle panel  112  in areas other than the pocket  120  with the exception that the edges of panels  116  and  114  include adhesive which seals the edge  121  adjacent pocket  120  such that access to a card  50  held therein can only be obtained by the breaking open of the security package along perforated lines  142 ,  144 , and  146 . The same material as used in the first embodiment can be used in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , as can the same adhesive. 
         [0018]    It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that these and various modifications to the preferred embodiment of the invention as described herein can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.