Abstract:
A credit card shredding device for use in automated teller machines (ATMs) that can cut stolen bank cards into crosscut pieces.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    The following application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/042,609, filed Apr. 4, 2008, the complete contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to the field of bank security devices, specifically an ATM card shredder that cuts a credit or debit card into crosscut pieces when it is detected that the card is stolen. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    In our modern society, automated teller machines (ATMs) are the primary means by which one takes money out of a personal bank account. However, in the absence of face-to-face interaction with a live bank teller, who can verify the identity of a person withdrawing money, the chance of an unauthorized user succeeding in taking cash from someone else&#39;s account increases. Currently, most ATMs are able to detect when a reportedly stolen card has been inserted in the machine. Upon detection, an ATM equipped with a manual card reader retains the stolen card and does not allow the unauthorized user to access the bank account linked to the card. The retained card is usually dropped into a bin within the ATM, but it is still possible for the card to be stolen from the bin either by an employee of the financial institution operating the ATM or by other persons who damage the ATM and gain access. 
         [0006]    Some ATMs are equipped with dip readers instead of manual card readers. In contrast to a manual card reader, which does not return a bank card until the user is finished with all transactions, a dip reader enables a user to quickly insert and remove a card before proceeding with any transactions. For purposes of security and preventing illegal transactions, though, this method is undesirable because even if the ATM recognizes that a card is stolen, the unauthorized user can still hold on to the card and possibly use it at other ATMs or for making purchases elsewhere. 
         [0007]    Therefore, what is needed is a device for installation in a manual card reader-equipped ATM which can shred a stolen bank card into pieces such that it can no longer be used. It is further desirable for the shredding device to be capable of cutting a bank card in a crosscut fashion, thereby preventing someone from successfully gluing the card back together or obtaining the card number. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  depicts a side cross-section view of the present device in an open configuration prior to receiving a bank card. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts a side cross-section view of the present device in a closed, in-use configuration. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  depicts a side cross-section view of the present device in an open-jaw configuration after cutting a bank card. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  depicts a top view of one embodiment of the cutting plates of the present device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present device. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of a cut bank card. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side cross-section view of a shredding device  100  in an open position. A shredding device  100  can have at least two plates  102 , each plate having interior and exterior surfaces. The interior surface of plates  102  can be substantially parallel to each other and can have a space between them when a shredding device  100  is in a position ready to accept a bank card  110 . The interior surface of at least one plate  102  can be coupled with a set of cutting blades  104 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , plates  102  can each have a set of cutting blades  104  positioned along their respective interior surfaces such that when the interior surfaces face each other, each set of cutting blades  104  can be oriented in opposing directions. 
         [0015]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , plates  102  can be coupled with a stationary surface  108  within an ATM via at least one hinge mechanism  106 , such that plates  102  can move toward and away from a central plane between plates  102 . A shredding device  100  can be coupled with the interior of an ATM such that when a bank card  110  is fed through a manual card reader  112 , a shredding device  100  can receive the bank card  110  if the ATM&#39;s computer system determines it is stolen. A shredding device  100  can further comprise a disposal bin  302 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , coupled with or proximate to plates  102 . 
         [0016]    Plates  102  can be made of metal, ceramic, or any other known and/or convenient material with sufficient strength and durability to support sets of cutting blades  104 . Although plates  102  are depicted as wedges ( FIG. 1 ) and cuboids ( FIG. 5 ), plates  102  can have any other known and/or convenient geometry. Sets of cutting blades  104  can be made of metal, ceramic, or any other known and/or convenient material with sufficient strength and durability to cut through bank cards. In some embodiments, at least one set of cutting blades  104  can be coated with Teflon®, ceramic, titanium alloys, or any other known and/or convenient material for providing strength, durability, and/or increased life of the blades  104 . In  FIG. 4 , cutting blades  104  are positioned in diagonal orientations, but in other embodiments cutting blades  104  can have any other known and/or convenient orientation such that a bank card  110  can be cut into crosscut pieces  114  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  depicts a side cross-section view of a shredding device  100  in a closed, in-use position. In use, the computer system of a manual card reader  112  can determine whether a bank card  110  is stolen and whether it should be retained and shredded by a shredding device  100 . After determination that a bank card  110  should be cut, a shredding device  100  can receive the bank card  110  via a manual card reader  112 , as shown in FIGS.  1 , 2 . Plates  102  can then move toward each other while remaining substantially parallel, via at least one hinge mechanism  106 . Plates  102  can move toward each other such that each set of cutting blades  104  can be in contact with a bank card  110 . Thereafter, blades  104  can apply force to the bank card  110  such that the bank card  110  can be cut into crosscut pieces  114 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , in an alternate embodiment a shredding device  100  can comprise an upper plate  102  and a lower plate  102 , positioned substantially parallel to each other and in substantially horizontal positions. The interior surface of an upper plate  102  can be coupled with a plurality of protrusions  502 . A lower plate  102  can have a blade grid  504 , wherein the lines of the blade grid  504  can be oriented orthogonally to each other and to the edges of a lower plate  102 . In alternate embodiments, a blade grid  504  can have any other known and/or convenient orientation. Protrusions  502  can be made of metal, ceramic, polymer, glass, or any other known and/or convenient material with sufficient strength to withstand the force required to push a bank card  110  through a blade grid  504 . A blade grid  504  can be made of metal, ceramic, or any other known and/or convenient material adapted to cut through a bank card  110 . 
         [0019]    In use, the shredding device  100  in  FIG. 5  can receive a bank card  110 . An upper plate  102  can move toward a stationary lower plate  102  such that protrusions  502  can press a bank card  110  against a blade grid  504  of the lower plate  102 . The upper plate  102  can exert force on a bank card  100  such that it is forced through a blade grid  504 , thereby cutting the bank card  110  into crosscut pieces  114 . Crosscut pieces  114  can subsequently fall through a lower plate  102  and into a disposal bin  302 . 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, a shredding device  100  can be designed to cut a bank card  110  only partially. As shown in  FIG. 6 , a shredding device  100  can cut out a portion  602  of a bank card  110  that contains important numbers, such as a card or account number. This portion  602  can be cut into crosscut pieces  114 , as shown. 
         [0021]    Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention as described and hereinafter claimed is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.