Insertable and removable magnetic stripe reader head protection device

An insertable and removable reader head protection device for a magnetic stripe reader is provided including a thin, non-ferromagnetic insertable panel that is disposed between the reader head and the magnetic stripe card, as the magnetic stripe card is inserted and swiped. The insertable and removable panel is adapted to protect the reader head from dirt, oil, and the like when inserted in the magnetic stripe reader and is adapted to be manually removable from this dirt-shielding position for manual cleaning. The reader head protection device provided includes embodiments both for use as an add-on accessory with existing types of magnetic stripe readers and for use during the initial manufacture of new magnetic stripe readers. When using the magnetic stripe reader head protection device the magnetic stripe reader owner will reduce downtime due to non-operational readers and reduce the cost of cleaning cards and service costs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of electronic devices and equipment used in the processing of financial and security transactions using existing magnetic cards (such as credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, access cards, driver's licenses, etc.) having information recorded on a stripe recording medium and more particularly, to an insertable and removable reader head protection device for a magnetic stripe reader.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In twenty-first century America, the vast majority of businesses must accept credit and/or debit cards to accommodate the expectations of their paying customers and to remain competitive. While customers pay the same price for goods or services whether they use cash, credit or debit, certain types of payment represent additional costs to merchants. For example, it is well known that merchants must pay a processing fee each time that a credit card is used to make a purchase. Merchants also must acquire equipment to process credit or debit card purchases. Generally referred to as point of sale (POS) terminals, this equipment can perform a variety of functions depending on the needs of a particular business. All POS terminals, regardless of design and business-specific functions, must have a device with ferromagnetic material that can read the magnetic stripes on credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, access cards, driver's licenses, and other types of cards required for various types of transactions. This device, which may be external to the POS terminal or may be integrally attached to the POS terminal, is referred to as a magnetic stripe reader or MSR.

Although MSR's come in various designs, including swipe, insert, and motorized MSR's, they all function the same way. The MSR is configured with a small “head”—approximately ¼ of an inch—that reads the card's magnetic stripe. A magnetic stripe card has a magnetic stripe (magstripe) along one edge which contains coded data that is encoded into one or more of three tracks, each of which is used for different purposes, as specified by ANSI/ISO standards. The magstripe is positioned so that as it is moved across the MSR reader head the data coded into the magstripe is decoded by the MSR.

In the swipe-type MSR, the user fits the magnetic stripe card into a narrow card swipe track of the MSR and slides the card in a particular direction. The reader head is located on the side of the card swipe track and “reads” or decodes the data from one or more tracks of the card's magnetic stripe. Conventionally, on MSR's this reader head is enclosed within the card swipe track, which cannot be opened by the merchant who has purchased or rented the POS terminal and its corresponding MSR. The insert-type MSR functions in a similar manner, with the totality of the card being inserted into the MSR, positioned so that the magnetic stripe can be read by the head of the MSR. As in the swipe-type MSR, the head is enclosed and cannot be opened by the merchant. The movement of the card, either in the swipe or insert type MSR may additionally be motorized.

As cards are repeatedly swiped through the card swipe track to close out sales or for other transactions, the card swipe track—and, more importantly, the reader head inside the card swipe track—becomes dirty. In order to maintain MSR's at top performance levels (i.e., to avoid reader failures and machine malfunctions), they must be cleaned regularly, with the frequency of cleaning generally proportional to the frequency of usage of the MSR. Unfortunately, due to the narrowness of the space in the card swipe track that must be cleaned, this currently necessitates the purchase of disposable magstripe cleaning cards, increasing the cost to the merchant. There are currently several different kinds of disposable magstripe reader cleaning cards available on the market. These cleaning cards are the same size and shape as a credit card and typically come pre-saturated and individually packaged. They clean the reader head and card swipe track, as well as any frequent contact points, removing dirt and oil buildup and any other contamination deposits in the machines. Most of these cleaning cards may be used in all types of machines including swipe, insert, and motorized readers.

However, there are several problems with these cleaning cards that result in higher costs for merchants. First, these cleaning cards are limited to one-time use only. For example, such currently available cleaning cards such as the Happ Mag Stripe Reader Cleaning Card and KIC Cleaning Card must be disposed of after one use. Having to purchase these cleaning cards routinely can be costly for merchants. Larger businesses that operate numerous locations and that contain hundreds or thousands of POS terminals experience very high costs for these disposable cleaning cards. Additionally, if the MSR head and card swipe track are very dirty, more than one disposable card may need to be required to clean a single card swipe track, increasing expenses.

Second, the cleaning cards often do not fully clean the reader head and, therefore, fail to prevent the types of machine malfunctions for which they are intended. The reason for this failure is due to the nature of the head itself. As a user slides a card through one type of MSR's card swipe track, the card will trigger the reader head which is on a small spring system. The reader head then moves with the card as it is swiped in order to read accurately the information on that card's magnetic stripe. When a merchant slides a cleaning card through the card swipe track, the reader head reacts the same way—it moves with the cleaning card. The movement of the reader head as the cleaning card passes over it ensures that the head will not be fully cleaned (for better removal of the dirt, grease or grime that builds up on the head, the head would need to remain in place so that some friction or abrasion would occur). The failure of the cleaning card to completely clean the head ultimately results in additional costs to merchants and other users of MSR's in the form of service costs. Typically, when the service worker is called to “repair” an MSR that is not working properly, the “repair” is nothing more than a full cleaning of the head. The service worker is able to open the card swipe track on the MSR, which give him full access to the head. The worker then simply cleans the head in a complete manner—something that the cleaning card is unable to do.

It would be advantageous to provide a device that protected the MSR head from dust, dirt, grease or any other substance likely to impede the reader's functioning, but could be easily removed and cleaned by the merchant. It would also be advantageous if this removable MSR head protection device could be utilized in both new MSR designs and in existing magnetic stripe readers, as well as with swipe-type MSR's, insert-type MSR's, manual swipe MSR's, and motorized swipe MSR's. Thus the merchant would not have to purchase disposable cleaning cards. Additionally, merchants would avoid the costs of having to call service workers to clean/repair MSR's that are not working properly due to the failure of the cleaning cards. Furthermore, with a device that could be used with existing MSR models, merchants could maximize cost savings, for example by avoiding having to purchase or rent new equipment plus by reducing cleaning card and service costs on their existing systems.

Accordingly, there is an established need for an efficient reader head protection device that is readily insertable and removable and cleanable, that provides shielding and protection to the reader head, that is usable with a variety of currently existing and future designs of MSR's, and that reduces expenditures for MSR cleaning cards and for MSR service costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a practical, money-saving insertable and removable reader head protection device for a magnetic stripe reader that is capable of protecting the reader head from dirt, oil, and the like, thus improving the accuracy of reading the information contained on the stripe recording medium provided on a magnetic stripe card, and is also capable of being removed for manual cleaning to keep the magnetic stripe reader (MSR) in peak operating condition.

The insertable and removable reader head protection device for a magnetic stripe reader provided includes a thin, non-ferromagnetic insertable generally vertical insert panel disposed between the reader head and the magnetic stripe card, as the magnetic stripe card is inserted and swiped through a card swipe track in the MSR.

The reader head protection device provided can be used with MSR's of a wide variety of different types and designs, including being usable as an add-on accessory for use with existing types of magnetic stripe readers and usable in the initial design and manufacture of new magnetic stripe readers.

When using the magnetic stripe reader head protection device the magnetic stripe reader owner will reduce downtime due to non-operational readers and reduce the cost of cleaning cards and service costs, as the insertable and removable magnetic stripe reader head protection device can easily be removed for cleaning with a generic household cleaning product.

An object of the present invention is to provide an insertable and removable reader head protection device for a magnetic stripe reader that is configured to protect the reader head from dirt, oil, grime, and the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an insertable and removable reader head protection device for a magnetic stripe reader that is configured for easy and convenient removal of the reader head protection device from the magnetic stripe reader.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an insertable and removable reader head protection device for a magnetic stripe reader that is configured for easy and convenient cleaning of the reader head protection device once removed from the magnetic stripe reader.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an insertable and removable reader head protection device for a magnetic stripe reader that can be adapted for use with a wide variety of types of existing magnetic stripe readers.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an insertable and removable reader head protection device for a magnetic stripe reader that reduces the costs to the merchant for currently available disposable reader head cleaning cards and for MSR service calls.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Shown throughout the figures, the present invention is directed toward a convenient insertable and removable reader head protection device for a magnetic stripe reader that is capable of protecting the reader head from dirt, oil, and the like, thereby improving the accuracy of reading the information contained on the stripe recording medium provided on a magnetic stripe card, and is also capable of being removed for manual cleaning to keep the magnetic stripe reader (MSR) in optimum operating condition. The removable reader head protection device provided includes a thin, generally vertical, non-ferromagnetic insertable panel disposed between the reader head and the magnetic stripe card, as the magnetic stripe card is inserted and swiped through a card swipe track in the MSR.

The insertable and removable reader head protection device includes a first embodiment illustrating a reader head protection device suitable for incorporation into a newly manufactured MSR, a second embodiment illustrating an alternate design of a reader head protection device to be incorporated into a newly manufactured MSR, a third embodiment illustrating a reader head protection device embodied as an add-on accessory that can be utilized with existing types of external MSR's, and a fourth embodiment illustrating a reader head protection device embodied as an add-on accessory that can be utilized with existing types of MSR's that are integrated into point of sale terminals.

The removable magnetic stripe reader head protection device provided can be used with MSR's of a wide variety of types, such as, for example, the following MSR's: external, integrated, manual swipe, mechanized swipe, vertical swipe, horizontal swipe, in and out swipe, gliding reader head, stationary reader head, open card swipe track, and partially closed card swipe track.

Referring now toFIG. 1toFIG. 3, an insertable and removable reader head protection device for a magnetic stripe reader, shown generally as reference number10, is illustrated in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a reader head protection device incorporated into a newly manufactured MSR20, with the MSR generally divided into two longitudinal sections (a first longitudinal section20aand a second longitudinal section20b) by a card swipe slot or track27into which a magnetic stripe card44is inserted and swiped to conduct a transaction. The reader head30(FIG. 2,FIG. 3) for reading the information contained on the magstripe42on a magnetic stripe card44is located in a generally central area of the first longitudinal section20a.

As shown, the insertable and removable reader head protection device10includes a thin, flat, substantially flat protective vertical insert panel11aof a non-ferromagnetic material. The insert panel11acomprises an inner surface18(FIG. 2), an outer surface19(FIG. 2), a first end14(FIG. 3), a second end15(FIG. 3), and an upper edge17(FIG. 2). The vertical insert panel11ais disposed between the reader head30and the magnetic stripe card44, as it is swiped in the card swipe track27. Specifically, the inner surface18of the insert panel11ais positioned adjacent to wall21of first longitudinal section20awith the outer surface19facing outward toward the card swipe track27. Thus the insert panel11ais located in a position to protect and shield the reader head30from dirt, dust, oil, or other contaminants that might soil the reader head30or might serve to obscure the information contained on magstripe42of magnetic stripe card44. When the insertable and removable reader head protection device10is being utilized the insert panel11ais held in this dirt-shielding position by any suitable mechanical holding means. One such holding means is illustrated as a channel29formed at the base of first longitudinal section20aof the MSR20. Channel29is configured to secure the reader head protection device10when in use, and configured to allow the user to manually remove the reader head protection device when cleaning is desired by sliding the insert panel11atoward one end of channel29.

Any non-ferromagnetic material may be used for insert panel11a, such as, for example, a polymer, a paper, or a non-ferromagnetic sheet metal.

FIG. 4illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the insertable and removable reader head protection device of the present invention, generally referred to by the reference numeral10. The second exemplary embodiment of the reader head protection device10functions in a similar manner to the first exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 1toFIG. 3. The reader head protection device10of the second embodiment provides a second design that can be incorporated into a newly manufactured MSR20.

As shown, the second embodiment of the reader head protection device10includes a protective, thin, generally semi-circular vertical insert panel11bof a non-ferromagnetic material, as opposed to the flat vertical insert panel11aof the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the semi-circular vertical insert panel11bis disposed between the reader head30and the magnetic stripe card44, as it is swiped in the card swipe track27.

When the insertable and removable reader head protection device10is being utilized the semi-circular vertical insert panel11bis held in its dirt-shielding position by any suitable mechanical holding means. One such holding means is illustrated as a channel28formed as a generally semi-circular vertically-extending channel within first longitudinal section20aof the MSR20, being complementary to the shape of semi-circular vertical insert panel11b. Channel28is configured to secure the reader head protection device10when in use, and configured to allow the user to manually remove the reader head protection device when cleaning is desired by sliding the semi-circular vertical insert panel11bupward and out the top of channel28. Preferably semi-circular vertical insert panel11bwill extend slightly above the level of the top surface22of first longitudinal section20a, for ease of grasping for removal for cleaning.

While two embodiments of the insertable and removable reader head protection device10for incorporating into two specific new designs of MSR's, other variations for other types of MSR's are within the scope of the invention. For example, either the flat insert panel of the first embodiment or the semi-circular insert panel of the second embodiment could be used in a MSR in which the card44is inserted totally into a slot in the MSR and then mechanically ejected after the transaction is completed, as opposed to the more typical manual swipe action type MSR.

FIG. 5,FIG. 6, andFIG. 7illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of the insertable and removable reader head protection device of the present invention, generally referred to by the reference numeral10. The third exemplary embodiment of the reader head protection device10functions in a similar manner to the first exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 1toFIG. 3, but illustrates the use of the reader head protection device embodied as an add-on accessory that can be utilized with existing types of external MSR's20, advantageously allowing the owner of an existing MSR to inexpensively retrofit his or her current MSR.

As shown, the third embodiment of the reader head protection device10includes a protective, thin, generally flat vertical insert panel11c(FIG. 7) of a non-ferromagnetic material. As in the first embodiment, the flat vertical insert panel11cis disposed between the reader head30and the magnetic stripe card44, as it is swiped in the card swipe track27. The flat vertical insert panel11cis adapted to fit in the card swipe track27with its inner surface positioned alongside the outward facing wall21of first longitudinal section20ato protect the reader head30. A first end of the flat vertical insert panel11cextends generally to the first end of the card swipe track27and a second opposite end of the flat vertical insert panel11cextends generally to the opposite second end of the card swipe track27. The flat vertical insert panel11cis adapted to be manually insertable into the card swipe track27, where it remains in that dirt-shielding position when a magnetic stripe card44is swiped along the outer surface19of the flat vertical insert panel11c, and, further, the flat vertical insert panel11cis adapted to be manually removable from the card swipe track27for manual cleaning.

When the insertable and removable reader head protection device10is being utilized, the flat vertical insert panel11cis preferably held in its dirt-shielding position by the addition of substantially flat, thin panels, as follows: a horizontal panel32adapted to be positioned over top22of the first longitudinal section20a, a vertical side panel33adapted to be positioned over side23of the first longitudinal section20a, a first vertical end panel34adapted to be positioned over first end panel24of the first longitudinal section20a, and a second vertical end panel35adapted to be positioned over second end panel25of the first longitudinal section20a, which together form a generally open box shape or cuboidal shape. The open cuboidal-shaped insertable and removable reader head protection device10formed is sized and configured to be manually placed over the top of the first longitudinal section20aof the specific type of existing MSR for which it is designed. Preferably the panels32,33,34,35, and11care formed unitarily during manufacture, of a non-ferromagnetic material. Panels32,33,34, and35may, alternatively, be composed of a material that varies from the non-ferromagnetic material of flat vertical insert panel11c.

A first longitudinal edge of horizontal panel32is attached generally perpendicularly to the upper edge of the flat vertical insert panel11c, with a first lateral edge of horizontal panel32attached generally perpendicularly to first vertical end panel34, and a second lateral edge of horizontal panel32attached generally perpendicularly to second vertical end panel35, and with a second longitudinal edge of horizontal panel32attached roughly perpendicularly to the upper edge of the vertical side panel33, at an angle determined by the shape of the first longitudinal section20aof said magnetic stripe reader20. As the open cuboidal-shaped reader head protection device10is adaptable to fit over the top of the first longitudinal section20aof any of a variety of particular types of existing MSR's, the particular angles of attachment will vary somewhat.

Thus the open cuboidal shape of the insertable and removable reader head protection device10serves to hold the flat vertical insert panel11cin a dirt-shielding position between the reader head30and the magnetic stripe card44as it is swiped.

FIG. 9illustrates a fourth exemplary embodiment of the insertable and removable reader head protection device of the present invention, generally referred to by the reference numeral10. The fourth exemplary embodiment of the reader head protection device10functions in a similar manner to the third exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 5,FIG. 6, andFIG. 7, but illustrates the use of the reader head protection device embodied as an add-on accessory that can be utilized with MSR's20that are integrated into existing types of point of sale terminals. An existing type of point of sale terminal having an integrated MSR is illustrated inFIG. 8. Additionally, the fourth embodiment illustrates the use of the current invention with a partially closed card slide track27, as opposed to the open card slide track27of the first three embodiments. Advantageously, the fourth embodiment allows the owner of an existing MSR integrated into a point of sale terminal to inexpensively retrofit his or her current MSR, instead of requiring the purchase of new equipment.

As shown, the fourth embodiment of the reader head protection device10includes a protective, thin, generally flat vertical insert panel11dof a non-ferromagnetic material. As in the other embodiments, the flat vertical insert panel11dis disposed between the reader head and the magnetic stripe card44, as it is swiped in the card swipe track27, the partially closed card swipe track of this embodiment having a closed upper end with a slightly larger opening to allow insertion of the card44and an open lower end.

The flat vertical insert panel11dis adapted to fit in the card swipe track27with its inner surface positioned alongside the outward facing wall21of first longitudinal section20ato protect the reader head30. A first end of the flat vertical insert panel11dextends generally to the first end of the outward facing wall21and a second opposite end of the flat vertical insert panel11dextends generally to the opposite second end of the outward facing wall21, forming the side of card swipe track27. The flat vertical insert panel11dis manually insertable into the card swipe track27, where it remains in that dirt-shielding position when a magnetic stripe card44is swiped along the outer surface of the flat vertical insert panel11d. Additionally, the flat vertical insert panel11dis adapted to be manually removable from the card swipe track27for manual cleaning.

When the insertable and removable reader head protection device10is being utilized, the flat vertical insert panel11dis held in its dirt-shielding position by the addition of a substantially flat, thin horizontal panel32, and a vertical side panel33. A first longitudinal edge of horizontal panel32is attached generally perpendicularly to the upper edge of the flat vertical insert panel11d, with the second longitudinal edge of horizontal panel32attached roughly perpendicularly to the upper edge of the vertical side panel33, at an angle determined by the shape of the first longitudinal section of said magnetic stripe reader.

To install the insertable and removable reader head protection device10of the fourth embodiment, it is slid from a position above the partially open card swipe track27downward to fit over the top22of first longitudinal section20awith the flat vertical insert panel11dprotecting the reader head.

As the reader head protection device10is adaptable to fit over the top of the first longitudinal section20aof any of a variety of particular types of existing MSR's, the particular angles of attachment will vary somewhat. The specific shape of the insertable and removable reader head protection device10, therefore, varies somewhat, as it is sized and configured to fit over the top22of the first longitudinal section20aof the specific type of existing MSR for which it is designed. Preferably the panels32,33, and11dare formed unitarily during manufacture, of a non-ferromagnetic material, though panels32and33may, alternatively, be composed of a material that varies from the non-ferromagnetic material of flat vertical insert panel11d.

Thus by utilizing any of the various embodiments of the insertable and removable reader head protection device10, the MSR owner will reduce downtime due to non-operational readers and reduce the cost of cleaning cards and service costs required to clean MSR's, as the insertable and removable magnetic stripe reader head protection device keeps the reader head clean while being easily removable for cleaning with a generic household cleaning product.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the insertable and removable reader head protection device10of the current invention is configured to protect the reader head from dirt, oil, grime, and the like when installed, is configured for easy and convenient removal when cleaning is necessary, is configured for easy and convenient cleaning once removed, is adapted for use with a wide variety of types of existing magnetic stripe readers as well as new designs of magnetic stripe readers, is adapted for use with magnetic stripe readers in which either the reader head is held stationary within the MSR or in which the reader head glides with the card swipe action, is adapted for use with either the swipe-type or insert-type of MSR, is adapted for use with either a manual card swipe or a motorized card swipe, and is economically advantageous to use compared to currently available disposable reader head cleaning cards.