Abstract:
A card formed with a cavity located within the card. The cavity is used to hold one or more liquid chemicals. Additional hollow regions abut the visual and magnetic versions of the sensitive data and are normally separated from the chemicals. When the card is sharply folded, the chemicals are released from the cavity and flow in the hollow regions abutting the stored data. The chemicals render the data unreadable, such as by obscuring the visual display with an opaque film. Additionally, in at least some embodiments, the magnetic strip on the credit card is implemented in such a way that there are two separate portions, with the encoded data divided in such a way that both portions are required in order to be decoded.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to credit cards and related types of cards and to a means to effectively destroy the information they contain. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Financial cards, such as credit cards and debit cards typically contain account information such as the account number, owner&#39;s name, and expiration date. This information is generally found in at least two different formats. In the first format, the text is embossed into the plastic for use visually and with older paper systems. The second format uses a magnetic strip containing the information in a computer-readable form; the magnetic strip may also include a personal identification number. When the card is no longer useful, such as after the card is expired or is cancelled, it is desirable to destroy the information recorded on the card for security reasons. The current recommendation is to cut the card into a number of small pieces so that it is difficult or impossible to reconstruct the data from the pieces. However, this method of destruction is not foolproof and the concern over theft necessitates an alternate, and more reliable, manner of information destruction. Thus, it would be desirable to have a method to destroy the recorded information without the need to physically cut up the card. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A card is formed with a cavity located within the card. The cavity is used to hold one or more liquid chemicals. Additional hollow regions abut the visual and magnetic versions of the sensitive data and are normally separated from the chemicals. When the card is sharply folded, the chemicals are released from the cavity and flow in the hollow regions abutting the stored data. The chemicals render the data unreadable, such as by obscuring the visual display with an opaque film and interfering with the magnetically stored information. Additionally, in at least some embodiments, the magnetic strip on the card is implemented in such a way that there are two separate portions, with the encoded data divided in such a way that both portions are required in order to be decoded. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1A  is a view of the front of a card according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  is a view of the back of a card according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2A  is a cross-section of the layers used to create a card according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2B  is an exploded view of the layers of  FIG. 2A , according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section of the layers used to create a card according to an alternate exemplary embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows the back of a card made according to  FIG. 3 , after the liquid chemicals have been released in patterned channels in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section of the layers used to create a card according to a further alternate exemplary embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a cross-section of the layers used to create a card containing an integrated circuit according to an exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section of the layers used to create a card according to an alternate exemplary embodiment in which liquid is introduce into the card from an exterior source when destruction of the data is desired. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    With reference now to the figures and with particular reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , an embodiment of the invention will now be discussed.  FIG. 1A  is a view of the front of card  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment. The main portion  106  of the front of card  100  is generally opaque and may contain, for example, a logo, an identification of the provider of the card, and/or graphic art. The visual account information lies in a shallow recessed area and is covered by a clear window  110 . Exemplary window  110  displays account number  112 , name of account owner  114 , and expiration date  116 . Window  110  can also contain additional information, such as a holographic validity indicator, a fingerprint, or a photographic identification. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1B  shows the back of card  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As on the front, the main portion  120  of the back of card  100  is generally opaque and contains signature line  122 . Clear window  124  covers a shallow recess containing magnetic strip  126 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2A  shows an edge-wise cross-section through exemplary card  100 , while  FIG. 2B  shows the same layers in an exploded view. These exemplary figures contain multiple, thin layers of plastic, such as polyvinylchloride, which are laminated or otherwise fused together, forming a flattened body for card  100  (i.e., the card is significantly thinner than it is long or wide). The card can alternatively be formed of any new materials utilized in the industry, either presently in use or replacing plastic in its current form. It should be understood that the thicknesses of the layers depicted have been chosen for clarity of the drawing and do not represent the actual relative thicknesses of the layers. 
         [0019]    Top layer  202  and bottom layer  222  are clear, solid layers that completely cover the upper and lower surfaces of card  100 , respectively. Layer  204  and layer  220  are each seen in cross-section as two distinct sections on the outer edges of their respective layer. As better seen in  FIG. 2B , these layers are patterned with respective, generally rectangular openings that form empty cavities  206  and  218  in card  100 . Magnetic strip  208  is affixed to a wall of cavity  206  by means known in the art and corresponds to magnetic strip  126  in  FIG. 1B . 
         [0020]    Layer  212  in the center of the cross-section also contains opening  214 , which is filled with the liquid chemicals in the finished card. Cavities  206  and  218  are separated from cavity  214  by solid layers  210  and  216 . Layers  210  and  216  each form breakable barriers between the liquid chemical(s) and the information. As breakable barriers, layers  210  and  216  prevent the migration of the liquid chemicals toward the stored information unless a specific force is applied to card  100 . 
         [0021]    Layers  210  and  216  are chosen to be of a stiffness and a thickness that will withstand the normal, minor bending that a card can receive in use, but that will break apart or fail in a manner that allows a liquid to pass through the layers when a specific force is applied to card  100 . In a preferred embodiment, the force is applied by bending the card beyond a pre-determined angle. In an exemplary embodiment, bending the card to a ninety degree angle is sufficient to cause the breakable barriers to fail. In alternate embodiments, the degree of bending necessary to destroy layers  210  and  216  can be designed to fall in the range of sixty to one hundred twenty degrees. This breakage allows the liquid in cavity  214  to move into cavities  206  and  218 , respectively through breaks or failures in layers  210  and  216 . In these examples, outer layers  202  and  222 , although shown as the same thickness as layers  210  and  216 , are chosen to have a thickness and makeup that will bend without breaking or cracking under the same stress that is necessary to break layers  210  and  216 . In these examples, outer layers  202  and  222  are selected such that these layers fail with a greater amount of bending. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows an alternate embodiment of the cross-section of exemplary card  100  of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . This embodiment is identical to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A , except for the region containing the magnetic strip. 
         [0023]    In this illustrative embodiment, layer  304  contains steps  304 A,  304 B,  304 C, and  304 D. Segments  308 A-H of magnetic tape lie on different levels, with segments  308 A,  308 C,  308 E, and  308 G of the tape being on raised steps  304 A,  304 B,  304 C, and  304 D, respectively, while segments  308 B,  308 D,  308 F, and  308 H have cavities  306 A,  306 B,  306 C, and  306 D, respectively, immediately above them. 
         [0024]    The magnetic tape can still be read from a ninety degree angle, even when segmented. When this card is sharply bent, the released chemicals will only contact the surface of those segments of the magnetic tape that have a cavity above them. However, the identifying information is spread across the magnetic strip, so the destruction of a portion of the magnetic strip will keep identity thieves from recovering the necessary information. When this embodiment is utilized, there is an option to deliberately shape the channel into which the liquid(s) are released on bending. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  demonstrates an embodiment of card  100  in which the channels  428  overlying the magnetic strip  426  are shaped so that when the channel is filled, the word “VOID” is spelled out in a color contrasting to the magnetic strip  426 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  demonstrates an alternate embodiment of card  100 . In this embodiment, a single inner layer  510  provides support for magnetic tape  508  on one side and for a visual display on the opposite side. Along with layers  502 ,  504 ,  520 , and  522 , layer  510  defines cavities  506 ,  518 . Cavity  514  containing the destructive liquid is not positioned between cavities  506  and  518 . Instead, cavity  514  is defined by a wall or membrane  538  on one side and by portions of layers  502 ,  504 ,  510 ,  520 , and  522  on the other sides. Bending card  100  in this embodiment causes wall or membrane  538  to break or rupture, allowing its content to enter both cavity  506  and cavity  518 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  demonstrates a further embodiment of card  100  in which the card contains an integrated circuit. In this embodiment, layers  602  through  616  are identical to the corresponding layers in  FIG. 2A . However, integrated circuit  630  is affixed to layer  616  as is known in the art and contacts  632  are embedded in layer  622 . This figure shows integrated circuit  630  lying within a cavity  618  corresponding to the cavity in which text information is displayed in  FIG. 2A , but the text information and integrated circuit  630  can also be laterally displaced from each other and be contained in separate cavities. Likewise, liquid  614  can be chosen to destroy all of the different forms of stored information (e.g., magnetic strip, text, and integrated circuit) or alternatively two or more liquids can be contained within separate cavities in card  100  and each be tailored to optimally destroy a specific type of storage device. 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  shows yet another possible embodiment of card  100 . A single cavity  706  is formed by transparent layer  702  and layers  704  and  710 . All information is affixed to layer  710 , such as magnetic strip  708 . In this embodiment, however, no liquid is stored within card  100 . Transparent layer  702  is formed of two sections  702 A and  702 B. Layer  702  is formed in such a manner that sections  702 A and  702 B form a tight seal at their intersection  740  while card  100  is in normal use. However, when card  100  is bent beyond a predetermined angle, sections  702 A and  702 B separate at intersection  740 , allowing a liquid to be introduced into cavity  706 . In this embodiment, the user bends card  100 , then places card  100  under a running stream of water, which destroys the information stored in cavity  706 . 
         [0029]    Various options can be utilized for the chemical combination used to destroy information on the card. Examples of some possible solutions include:
       Water, or a water-based combination, to dissolve text, which is written in a water soluble ink or dye and to cause the integrated circuit to separate from its board;   An ink or dye to form an opaque barrier over the text;   A liquid bearing magnetic properties to render the magnetic strip unreadable;   A liquid epoxy and a hardener, stored in separate compartments, to block the view of the text when mixed and to interfere with reading of magnetic strip while preventing the card from being taken apart;   A mild acid or alkaline solution to etch the surfaces of the text and the magnetic tape. This latter solution is less desirable because of possible adverse effects if the liquid leaks from the card, or   A semiconductor etchant to etch the integrated circuit;   Combinations of any of the above liquids.       
 
         [0037]    Although the descriptions of exemplary cards have been directed to credit cards, it will be understood that embodiments of the inventive card can also be utilized as debit cards or as cards containing any other type of sensitive information, such as membership cards, gift cards, check cards, driver&#39;s licenses, and identification cards. 
         [0038]    Additionally, the card has been described in term of layers of plastic material fused together, but some or all of the layers can also be molded or shaped by other means to create a card as described in the claims below. 
         [0039]    In summary, the disclosed invention provides an addition to a card carrying sensitive information, such as financial information. The card contains a cavity that is filled with a liquid, the liquid chosen to destroy at least some of the sensitive information on contact. The liquid is normally separated from the media carrying the sensitive information by a breakable barrier. Upon bending of the card to a designed degree, the barrier is broken and the liquid released to perform its destruction of information. 
         [0040]    The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.