Abstract:
A credit card which includes a generally planar member which is configured occupy approximately one half of a predetermined space for a conventional credit card which is 2.125 (H)×3.375 (L) inches. The card is further characterized to enable mating with a substantially identically geometrically formed card such that when so mated the two cards substantially occupy the predetermined space of a conventional credit card.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a credit card. 
     2. Related Art 
     The traditional credit card is of a rectangular configuration of a size approximately 2.125×3.375 inches and rectangular in shape. Credit cards related to financial transactions have a magnetic stripe which runs longitudinally across the face of one side and have a plurality of numbers (card number), expiration date and a name embossed thereon. Further, the credit card includes an issuing company&#39;s identification thereon, such as Visa® or American Express® 
     While the manufacturing of such cards is governed by various international standards and banking industries, there remains a need to improve the design of such cards from both a consumer as well as card manufacturer standards while still meeting the guidelines of the current standards. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object to improve credit cards. 
     It is an object to provide a user friendly credit card design. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a novel credit card for use in conventional credit card equipment. The credit card includes a generally planar member which is configured occupy approximately one half of a predetermined space for a conventional credit card which is 2.125 (H)×3.375 (L) inches. The credit card is made of plastic. 
     Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon viewing the drawings and reading the detailed description hereafter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of a back of the embodiment in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of still embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is yet another embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, the credit card of the present invention is generally depicted by the numerals  10 ,  100 ,  1000  and  10000 . For sake of brevity, the embodiment depicting credit card  10  will be fully described with the embodiments  100 ,  1000  and  10000  to include like elements unless otherwise discussed. 
     The credit cards  10 ,  100 ,  1000  and  10000  are unique in their design. The credit cards  10 ,  100 ,  1000  and  10000  are so geometrically configured such that two like configured cards can mate with one another to substantially form the rectangular configuration of a size approximately 2.125 (H)×3.375 (L) inches which is identified as a peripheral area P, which in turn is generally the dimension of a conventional credit card size. Peripheral area P is shown in the drawings as slightly larger than its true dimension to aid in illustrating the invention. Thus, the credit cards  10 ,  100 ,  1000  and  10000  are configured to occupy approximately one half of the peripheral area P. The card  10  has one end  12  which is formed with of a height H which is substantially that of the height H of a typical credit card while its other end  14  is of a lesser height H 1 . One side  16  is of a length L 1  which is shorter than length L dimension of a typical credit card. Opposing side  16  are sides  18  and  20 . Sides  18  and  20  run generally parallel to side  16  and are interconnected by side  22  which is runs generally perpendicular thereto. Note, side  18  is of a length L 2  and side  20  of a length L 3  which collectively substantially equate to length L 1  of side  16 . 
     Thus, the configuration of the card  10  is shown here as generally L shaped. A symmetrical portion  10 ′ represents a like credit card of that of card  10  in an inverted position which when mated as shown together substantially occupy the area formed by peripheral region P. 
     The credit card  10  includes an embossed series of numbers  24  formed on a larger portion  26  of the card  10 . The numbers  24  are typically of a standardized size and length to comply with current industry standards and thus are formed on the portion  26  and length L 1  must be sufficient to accommodate this requirement. Also, the card holder&#39;s name  28 , and expiration date  30  appear on the card  10  and are also oriented to comply with industry standards. 
     A card logo  31 , such as Visa® can be provided on the face of the card  10  and is shown here on a smaller portion  32 . Also, another logo  34  can be provided, here optionally shown in an inverted manner, on the larger portion  26 . In this way, when the cards  10  and  10 ′ are mated as in the case when inserted into a wallet, the card holder can readily view the card type by the logos  31 . 
     On a back side of the card  10  is a magnetic stripe  36  having the required credit card holder&#39;s information stored thereon. The magnetic  36  spans a predetermined length in order to comply with industry standards and be able to be suitably read by industry standard credit card machines. It is important to note that the magnetic stripe  36  is operatively disposed on the card  10  in a way which is not encumbered by the embossed numbers  24 , name  28  and expiration date  30 . 
     FIGS. 3-5 reveal variations of the present invention with the function to maximize credit card holding space in a card holder&#39;s wallet remaining essentially the same. FIG. 3 depicts a card  100  having a stair-step shape whereas FIG. 4 reveals a tapered L shaped card  1000 . 
     FIGS. 1-4 depict embodiments which are not rectangular in shape and can have advantage in enabling a user to better grasp smaller end  12 ,  112 , or  1012  while swiping the magnetic stripe  36 . FIG. 5 discloses an embodiment which may also be employed as a rectangular configuration with an advantage of retaining existing length of the magnetic stripe  36 . 
     It is contemplated that a blank card, in other words, a card plate of like geometry, may be used to aid the manufacture and use of the present invention in and with conventional card manufacturing and charge equipment. Also, the blank card can be employed as part of a positioning or alignment piece for manufacturing, embossing new cards. 
     The above described embodiments are set forth by way of example and are not for the purpose of limiting the present invention. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that obvious modifications, derivations and variations can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto should be read in their full scope including any such modifications, derivations and variations.