Abstract:
A stored value card jacket and counter device is disclosed that includes a jacket and a counter disposed on the jacket and functions to receive and protect a stored value card and to display information, through a counter display region, pertaining to the stored value card such as a monetary value, including the remaining balance, that is associated with the stored value card.

Description:
APPLICATION DATA 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/095,782 filed on Sep. 10, 2008, incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The instant invention is related to a stored value card jacket and counter device that functions to protect a stored value card and to also display a monetary value, such as the remaining balance, in a display region that is associated with the stored value card. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A stored-value card represents money on deposit with the issuer, and is similar to a debit card. Debit cards are usually issued in the name of individual account holders, while stored value cards are usually anonymous. Examples of stored-value cards include transit fare cards, gift cards, phone cards, meal plan cards and pre-paid credit cards. A stored value card may often be used by simply swiping the card through a reader, such as in the case of transit cards. However, the remaining balance on the card may not be readily apparent to the user except at the time of swiping the card, where a digital readout from the point of sale shows the user the balance remaining. It is difficult for a user to remember exactly how much remains on the card, especially if the card is not used frequently. 
         [0004]    Thus it would be useful to provide a device that allows a user to keep track of the balance of a stored value card or a debit card. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with the present invention a stored value card holder device is provided that displays the remaining balance of a stored-value card or debit card held within the holder. 
         [0006]    One embodiment of the present invention includes a jacket for a stored value card, and a counter operable to indicate the amount of value remaining on the stored value card. The jacket may include a top and bottom surface, a slot and an opening. The slot and opening of the jacket may be sized and shaped to receive an object, for example, a stored value card. The jacket may also be sized and shaped to receive only a portion of a stored value card such that a remaining portion, such as a portion including a magnetic strip, on the stored value card is exposed or otherwise accessible. In yet another embodiment the invention may include a jacket that is operable to permit a user of the card to swipe the stored value card through a reader without removing the jacket. In accordance with this and other embodiments, the jacket may not envelop the entire stored value card. In another embodiment the jacket is transparent in at least the region of the magnetic strip to be read by the reader. 
         [0007]    The counter may be any type of counter such as but not limited to an analog or digital counter, automatic or manual, and may employ dials, slides, electronics or the like. As such the counter may include at least one counter display region having one or more openings that show indicia corresponding to a monetary value related to the stored value card. In one embodiment the counter may be disposed on the jacket at any suitable location. 
         [0008]    In one or more embodiments the invention may include a hanger for receiving a lanyard, chain or the like, a clip for attaching the stored value card holder device to a wallet, credit card slot, a pocket or the like, and a cover to obscure the counter. 
         [0009]    In still a further embodiment the invention may include a plurality of jackets, one or more of such jackets having a counter, such as but not limited to a plurality of jackets contained in a book or wallet form. 
         [0010]    In yet another embodiment the invention may include a device where one or more stored value cards are permanently integrated with the device. 
         [0011]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art when the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention herein is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    For the purposes of illustrating the various aspects of the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms that are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a stored value card jacket with a counter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A 1  of the stored value card jacket with a counter of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a dial device for a counter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a stored value card jacket with a counter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a stored value card jacket with a counter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6A  is a top plan view of a stored value card jacket with a counter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6B  is a top plan view of the stored value card jacket of  FIG. 6A  with an example of a stored value card; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of a stored value card jacket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of a stored value card jacket with a counter and cover flap in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a is top perspective view of a holder for containing a plurality of stored value card jackets in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a top view of a holder for containing a plurality of stored value card jackets in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the holder of  FIG. 10  containing a plurality of stored value card jackets with counters in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    In this document, for the purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art, that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known features may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the present invention. Furthermore, reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearance of the phrase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0026]    The stored value card holder devices in accordance with the present invention are described herein. 
         [0027]    Now referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  in accordance with one embodiment a stored value card holder device  2  includes a stored value card jacket  10  and counter  20 . The jacket  10  includes a top surface  13  and a bottom surface  14  that may be joined along their peripheries to form a slot  17 . The jacket  10  may take the form of different shapes including a square, rectangle, trapezoid, circle, oval or curvilinear. Access to the slot  17  may be provided by an opening  12 . The opening  12  may be formed and/or located in any suitable region of the jacket  10  for receiving an object that may fit in the slot  17 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the opening  12  may be along the periphery of one side of the rectangular shaped jacket  10 . The opening  12  is sized and shaped to receive an object that may fit in the slot  17 , such as one or more stored value cards, debit cards, transit fare cards, gift cards, phone cards, meal plan cards, pre-paid credit cards or the like. The opening  12  may be shaped to allow easy access to the object inserted in the slot  17 . For example, the opening  12  may be shaped with a cut-out that is sized to allow a user to drag his or her finger across the stored value card in order to push the stored value card out of the slot  17 . The jacket  10  may be constructed of any suitable material such as but not limited to plastic, leather, cloth, rubber, silicone, metal or combinations thereof. 
         [0028]    Typically the jacket  10  may be between about ¼ inch to 6 inches in length, ¼ inch to about 6 inches in width and have a thickness of between about 1/32 to about 5/32 of an inch so that the resulting slot  17  may accommodate any stored value card. One skilled in the art will recognize the jacket  10  may be sized and shaped to accommodate various objects, such as but not limited to a stored value card having the dimensions of about 3⅛ inches by 2⅛ inches, and about 1/32 inch in thickness. 
         [0029]    In another embodiment the jacket  10  may further include a hanger  16  for receiving a lanyard, chain or the like. 
         [0030]    The counter  20  includes a counter display region  30  and indicia  32 . The counter display region  30  may areas  31  in which the indicia  32  may be viewed The counter  20  may be disposed on any suitable surface of the jacket  10 . For example, the counter  20  may be disposed on the top surface  13  of the jacket  10 , and may be so disposed and oriented in any suitable manner such as but not limited to formed integrally therewith, adhered, either permanently or temporarily, or the like. The counter  20  is preferably thin, or low profile, for example in the range of about 1/32 to about 4/32 of an inch in thickness, but it will be understood the thickness of the counter  20  may vary depending on the type of counter  20  employed and the particular application. 
         [0031]    The counter  20  may be any type of counter useful for displaying indicia  32 . Indicia  32  may be numbers, letters, characters, symbols or the like. For example, the counter  20  may display indicia  32  corresponding to a record or tally of the remaining monetary value on the stored value card and may be but is not limited to an analog or digital counter, electronic or manual, and may employ dials, slides or the like. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the counter  20  may include a counter display region  30  with six areas  31  through which indicia  32  may be viewed. Each of the indicia  32  may correspond to different denominations of monetary value, such as dollar and cent amounts. In this embodiment, areas  31  are openings as described further hereinbelow with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0032]    The indicia  32  may be presented through various means. Now referring also to  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment the indicia  32  may be presented as numbers on a dial  33 . For example, a counter  20  may include a dial  33  underlying each opening  31 , and a low profile endless tread member  34 , optionally having tabs  35 , upon which indicia  32  may be disposed. In one embodiment the indicia  32  may be monetary values, listed sequentially 0 to 9, corresponding to the remaining monetary balance on a stored value card. The tabs  35  may protrude slightly from the tread member  34  to facilitate ease of use by a user, who may “thumb” the tab  35  through the opening  31  to advance the dial  33 . Each tread member  34  may be disposed on and travel over axles  36 , and preferably be adapted to “click” into place with each passing number via a ratchet mechanism or other mechanism as is known in the art. The amount remaining on the stored value card may be preferably manually dialed in on the counter  20  by the user, however it will be recognized by the skilled artisan that one or more embodiments may include automatic balance updating at the point of sale or elsewhere. 
         [0033]    Now referring to  FIG. 4 , an alternate embodiment may include indicia  32  of the counter  20  in a display region  30  that is an electronic digital display  37 . In this embodiment, the counter  20  further includes a keypad  38  having one more keypad buttons  39 . The electronic digital display may be a liquid crystal display, a light emitted display or other electronic display as is known in the art. The indicia  32  corresponding to monetary values in the electronic display region  30  may be manually increased or decreased by a user using the keypad buttons  39 . The amount remaining on the stored value card may be preferably manually input using the keypad buttons  39  on the counter  20  by the user, however it will be recognized by the skilled artisan that one or more embodiments may include automatic balance updating at the point of sale or elsewhere. For example, an electronic signal may be received by the counter  20  corresponding to the amount remaining on the card and may change the amount shown in the electronic digital display  37  accordingly. 
         [0034]    Now referring to  FIG. 5 , yet another embodiment of presenting the indicia  32  may include a plurality of counters  20 , each counter  20  further including a display region  30 , indicia  32 , a pointer  40  and a track  42 . In one embodiment the counters  20  may be of the slide type known in the art such that the pointer  40  may slide through multiple positions along the track  42 , each position corresponding to one indicia  32 . For example, plural counters  20  may be disposed on the top or bottom surface,  13  and  14 , of the jacket  10 . Each of the plural counters  20  may represent a different denomination of a monetary amount remaining on a stored value card, e.g., one counter  20  may represent cents wherein the indicia  32  is numbered x (equaling no value), 25, 50 and 75 cents (or as fractions of one dollar), another counter  20  may represent a dollar amount ranging from x (equaling no value) to 9 dollars, another counter  20  may represent a dollar amount as multiples of ten ranging from x (equaling no value), 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 dollars, and yet another counter  20  may represent a dollar amount as multiples of one hundred ranging from x (equaling no value), 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 dollars. The amount remaining on the stored value card may be preferably manually set by positioning the pointers  40  on the corresponding number indicia  32  on the counters  20  by the user, however it will be recognized by the skilled artisan that one or more embodiments may include automatic balance updating at the point of sale or elsewhere. Slide-type counters  20  as shown may include a ratchet or stop mechanism to retain the pointer  40  in position. 
         [0035]    In one embodiment the jacket  10  and counter  20  may be sized and shaped to accommodate only a portion of an object. Now referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the jacket  10  and slot  17  may be smaller than a stored value card  70  with which it can be used. In this and other embodiments the slot  17  of the jacket  10  may receive only a portion of the card  70  through an accordingly modified opening  12 , and holds the card securely, intentionally exposing a portion of the card, such as a magnetic strip  72  of the card  70 . Such a configuration may permit the jacket  10  to remain on the card during use. As can be seen from  FIG. 6B , a transit card or other stored value card  70  may be secured in jacket  10  such that the magnetic strip of the card is exposed, allowing a user to hold the device  2  while swiping the card  70  through a corresponding card reader. 
         [0036]    In another embodiment the jacket  10  may be transparent to permit the user to view the card held within the device  2 . 
         [0037]    Now referring to  FIG. 7  the bottom surface  14  may include a clip  15  for attaching the device  2  to a wallet, pocket, or the like. It is contemplated that the device  2  may include various other attachment means including but not limited to a hook and loop fastening strap, button, pin etc. for attaching to a belt, clothing, backpack, inside briefcase, pocketbook, hat, etc. 
         [0038]    Now referring to  FIG. 8  in another embodiment the device  2  may further include a cover  60 . In this embodiment the cover  60  may function to conceal the display region  30  and to prevent inadvertent changing of the indicia  32  displayed through the opening  31 . It is contemplated that the cover  60  may be attached to the jacket  10  or counter  20  by a hinge mechanism or other suitable means known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0039]    Now referring to  FIGS. 9-11  in another embodiment, one or more devices  2  may be combined. For example, a plurality of devices  2  may be combined as a book  50  containing a plurality of jackets  10 , one or more of such jackets  10  having a counter  20 . In this form a collection of gift or other stored value cards may be stored conveniently. The book  50  may further include top and bottom cover pieces,  52  and  54 , respectively, and a spine  56 . The plurality of devices  2  may be attached to the spine  56  by various binding methods known to those skilled in the art. The top  52  and bottom  54  cover pieces, may be bound to the spine by various binding methods known to those skilled in the art. For example, a flexible material such as but limited to paper, plastic, fabric, silicone, latex or nylon, may be adhered to both the spine  56  and the device  2  and/or top and bottom cover pieces,  52  and  54 , to form a flexible connection. In another embodiment a hinge mechanism, a spiral coil or the like may be used to bind the book  50 . 
         [0040]    In another embodiment, one or more stored value cards may be permanently integrated with the device  2 . For example, the one or more stored value cards may be encased in the jacket  10 . In such an embodiment the opening  12  would not be needed or present. The one or more stored valued cards may be completely covered by the jacket  10  or may be partially exposed such that the magnetic strip of the card is exposed, allowing a user to hold the device  2  while swiping the card  70  through a corresponding card reader. 
         [0041]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.