Credit card transaction form set

Abstract: A credit card transaction form set (10) provides a customer copy form (13) which is attached to any and all carbon sheets (30, 51) in the set in a readily detachable manner so that the complete carbon sheets can be removed from the customer copy if desired. The customer copy overlays a bottom, OCR bond form (12), and preferably is a CF carbonless sheet. The set may be either three part or four part, with the top form (11) a SCCB carbonless sheet, and the four part (42) -- if provided -- a CFB carbonless sheet. A S/F carbon sheet (30) disposed between the customer copy and the OCR bond is attached to the customer copy by permanent adhesive (33) adjacent an edge (26) of the customer copy opposite its attachment (16, 17) to the other forms of the set, and the customer copy is connected by perforations (34) to the carbon sheet.

Description: BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the major design considerations for modern credit card transaction form sets is to minimize the possibility of credit card fraud. A number of approaches have been taken to this problem in the past, none of which are entirely acceptable from both the fraud prevention and maximum utility standpoints. One prior art approach is to utilize all carbonless sheets in the form set. While this means that there are no carbon sheets from which a criminal might obtain a credit card number, such an approach is not acceptable if the bank copy of the form set must be OCR readable. A second prior art approach is to provide as the only carbon in the form a carbon backing to the customer copy. While this does allow use of an OCR bank copy, the carbon backing on the customer copy can smudge the customer's clothing, wallet, or other papers. Also, it is a disincentive to the customer retaining the customer copy since, if unfolded, the carbon coating may smudge other papers retained with the form. The third prior art approach, disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,403,793, shows a set in which any carbon sheets are perforated at a mid-point of the expected card number imprint thereon, so that when the carbon sheets are detached from the set, neither the retained copy nor the carbon provided to the customer will have a complete credit card number. With such construction, a perforating operation in the carbon sheets is required, and special instructions are necessary to the establishment personnel using the form sets for the first time regarding how detachment is to occur and to whom various components of the set are to be given, two detaching actions commonly being required. Also, since the customer is typically handed the carbon sheets independent of a customer copy of the form, many customers have a tendency to merely leave the carbon sheets at the establishment. If the employee conducting the transaction is dishonest, this allows the employee to defeat the fraud-minimizing intent of the form set by picking up the discarded carbon sheets, and combining them with the carbon sheet portion retained with the establishment copy of the form. In both the arrangement of US-A-4403793 (which is regarded as the closest prior art), and in the disclosure of WO-A-87/04981, the or each transfer sheet is secured to all the other sheets at the closed edge of the set. It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an effective credit card transaction form set which is capable of producing an OCR readable bank copy, minimizes the chances of credit card fraud, and minimizes the chances of smudging by retained carbon sheets. Accordingly the present invention, provides a credit card transaction form set comprising at least top, bottom, and a first middle transaction forms each having edges; first attachment means for operatively attaching said forms together adjacent first overlying edges of each; first ready detachment means comprising perforations formed in each form on the opposite side of said first attachment means from said first edges thereof; a transfer sheet disposed between said first middle and bottom forms for transferring information impressed on said top form to said bottom form; said transfer sheet being attached to the first middle form by second attachment means adjacent a second edge thereof, opposite said first edge and including second ready detachment means for allowing ready detachment of said transfer sheet from the first middle form, said second ready detachment means comprising perforations formed in said first middle form adjacent said second attachment means and on the opposite side of said second attachment means from said second edge; characterised in that the transfer sheet is smaller than said first middle form and has a first edge located on the opposite side of said first attachment means from the first edges, said edge being unconnected to the edges of the top and bottom forms and located adjacent the first ready detachment means. The form set according to the invention provides detachment of all carbon sheets associated with the set with the customer copy of the form. Yet, because the carbon is not integral with the customer copy of the form, and can be readily detached therefrom, the customer can dispose of the carbon at his or her convenience. For example, when originally presented with the customer copy of the form with the carbon sheet on the back thereof, the customer may fold the form in half so that the carbon is facing inside, and take the form away from the establishment at which the transaction has occurred. Later, when the customer seeks to file the form, the customer can remove the carbon and discard it. At the same time, the form set provides an OCR readable bank copy. The attachment means preferably comprise permanent adhesive, and the ready detachment means preferably comprise perforations. The bottom form is preferably 11 to 13 kg (24-28 lb.) OCR bond, and the transfer sheet is a S/F OCR carbon sheet. Preferably, the top form is a self-contained CB carbonless sheet, while the first middle form is a CF carbonless sheet. If a four-part set is provided, a second middle form -- disposed between the top form and first middle form -- preferably comprises a CFB carbonless sheet. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a side schematic view illustrating a first embodiment -- a three-part construction -- of an exemplary credit card transaction form set FIGURE 2 is a top perspective view of the form set of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a top view of the customer copy and detached carbon sheet of the form set of FIGURES 1 and 2; FIGURE 4 is a view like that of FIGURE 1 for a second exemplary form set construction -- four-part -- according to the present invention; and FIGURE 5 is a view like that of FIGURE 1 for a third exemplary embodiment of a form set according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An exemplary credit card transaction form set according to the present invention is shown generally by reference numeral 10 in FIGURES 1 and 2. The form set comprises at least top 11, bottom 12, and a first middle 13 forms. The forms are preferably quadrate, having four perpendicular edges. At first side edges 15 are provided first attachment means, such as permanent glue strips 16, 17 for attaching the forms 11-13 together. The glue strip 16 attaches the forms 11, 13, and the glue strip 17 attaches the forms 13, 12 together, in overlying relationship. The forms 11-13 are preferably of approximately identical size. The form set 10 also comprises first ready detachment means formed in each form 11-13 for allowing detachment thereof from the rest of the set. Such ready detachment means preferably comprise perforations 18 through 20, respectively, formed in each of the forms on the opposite side of the first attachment means 16, 17 as first overlapping edges of the forms 11-13. The first overlapping edges are indicated by reference numerals 21-23 in FIGURE 1. Each of the forms 11-13 also include second edges opposite the first edges (and parallel thereto), the second edges being denoted by reference numerals 24 through 26 in FIGURES 1 and 2. Another significant element of the form set 10 comprises the transfer sheet 30. The transfer sheet 30 has a first edge 31 thereof, and a second edge 32. The transfer sheet 30 preferably has slightly smaller dimensions than the middle form 13, at least in the longitudinal dimension of the form (between the first and second edges thereof). For example, the edge 31 terminates short of the perforations 19, 20 and a second edge 32 terminates just short of the second edges 25, 26 of the forms 12, 13, respectively. Associated with the transfer sheet 30 is a second attachment means 33, preferably comprising a permanent adhesive, for attaching the transfer sheet 30 to the middle form 13 adjacent the second edge 26 thereof. Second ready detachment means are also provided, preferably in the form of perforations 34, for allowing ready detachment of the main body of the form 13 from the second edge 26 thereof, and the transfer sheet 30. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom form 12 comprises the bank copy of the set 10, and is of 11 to 13 kg (24-28 lb.) OCR bond. The transfer sheet 30 preferably is single faced (S/F) OCR carbon paper, which is capable of transferring OCR readable characters to the form 12 when the characters are written on the top form 11. The top form 11 preferably comprises a self-contained face with coated back (CB) carbonless sheet, while the first middle form 13 comprises a coated face (CF) carbonless sheet. The top form 11 typically is the establishment copy of the form, while the first middle form 13 is the customer copy. In use of the form set 10, when a purchase is to be charged at an establishment, e.g. a restaurant, a customer's credit card is imprinted on the form, including a credit card number, customer's name, etc. The appropriate cost of the goods or services purchased is indicated on the appropriate part of the top form 11, which is transferred to the middle form 13 by the CB/CF coatings, and is transferred in OCR readable characters to the bottom form 12 by the carbon sheet 30. After the transaction has been completed and the customer has signed his or her name to the form set, the middle form 13 is grasped adjacent the second edge 26 thereof, and, by a pulling or tearing action, the middle form 13 is detached from the rest of the form set 10. To facilitate this function, the perforation line 34 can be stronger than the perforation line 19. Once the middle form --customer copy 13 -- has been detached, with the carbon sheet 30 connected thereto, it may be folded up so that the carbon sheet 30 faces come in contact with each other, and then transported by the customer to another location. Once at another location, and/or when it is desirable for the customer to file the form 13, the customer detaches the carbon sheet 30 from the form 13 along the perforation line 34, and discards the sheet 30. Thus, the possibility of credit card fraud is minimized, and the utility of the form is maximized, while the probability of smudging by the carbon is minimized. FIGURE 4 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the form set 40, which is essentially identical to the form set 10 except that it is a four-part form set. The same structures as illustrated in the FIGURES 1 through 3 embodiment are illustrated by the same reference numerals in FIGURE 4. In FIGURE 4, the form set 40 contains a second middle form 42 which has first and second edges 43, 44 thereof. As part of the first attachment means, a permanent adhesive strip 45 is provided for connecting the second middle form 42 to the first middle form 13, while the glue strip 16 connects the top form 11 to the second middle form 42. A perforation 46 in the second middle form 42 is in alignment with the perforations 18 through 20. The form 42 preferably is a CFB carbonless sheet. A third exemplary embodiment of credit card transaction form set 50 according to the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 5. The form set 50 is essentially identical to the form set 10 except that instead of transfer of data from the top form 11 to the middle form 13 being accomplished by a CB/CF coating system, another transfer sheet 51 is provided, having first and second edges 52, 53 thereof. The transfer sheet 51 is essentially identical to the sheet 30 in size and construction, and it is attached to the form 13 by the permanent adhesive strip 54 outside of the perforation 34. In this way, when the customer copy 13 is detached from the form set 50, all and complete transfer (carbon) sheets associated with the form set are detached with the customer copy 13. They may then subsequently be readily detached therefrom and discarded, merely by separation along the perforation line 34.

Claims: A credit card transaction form set (10) comprising at least top (11), bottom (12), and a first middle (13) transaction forms each having edges; first attachment means (16, 17) for operatively attaching said forms together adjacent first overlying edges (21, 22, 23) of each; first ready detachment means (18, 19, 20) comprising perforations formed in each form on the opposite side of said first attachment means from said first edges thereof; a transfer sheet (30) disposed between said first middle and bottom forms for transferring information impressed on said top form to said bottom form; said transfer sheet being attached to the first middle form by second attachment means (33) adjacent a second edge (26) thereof, opposite said first edge (23) and including second ready detachment means (34) for allowing ready detachment of said transfer sheet from the first middle form, said second ready detachment means comprising perforations (34) formed in said first middle form (13) adjacent said second attachment means (33) and on the opposite side of said second attachment means from said second edge (26); characterised in that the transfer sheet (30) is smaller than said first middle form and has a first edge (31) located on the opposite side of said first attachment means from the first edges (21, 22, 23), said edge (31) being unconnected to the edges (21, 22) of the top and bottom forms and located adjacent the first ready detachment means (18, 19, 20). A set as recited in Claim 1 characterised in that said bottom form (12) is constructed of OCR paper, and wherein said transfer sheet is capable of transferring OCR readable characters to said bottom form. A set as recited in Claim 2 wherein said bottom form comprises 11 to 13 kg (24-28 lb.) OCR bond, and wherein said transfer sheet comprises S/F OCR carbon. A set as recited in any of Claims 1 to 3 characterised in that said top form comprises a SCCB carbonless sheet, and said first middle form comprises a CF carbonless sheet. A set as recited in any of Claims 1 to 4 characterised by a second middle form (42) between said top and first middle forms. A set as recited in Claim 5 characterised in that said second middle form comprises a CFB carbonless sheet, and wherein said top form comprises a SCCB carbonless sheet, and wherein said first middle form comprises a CF carbonless sheet. A set according to any of Claims 1 to 4 characterised by including a second transfer sheet (51) similar to the first transfer sheet (30) and arranged to be detached from the set with the first middle form (13) and being readily separable thereafter from said first middle form. A set as recited in any of Claims 1 to 7 characterised in that said attachment means comprise permanent adhesive. A set as recited in any of Claims 1 to 8 characterised in that the first edge (31, 52) of the or each transfer sheet is located on the opposite side of said first ready detachment means from said first attachment means. A set as recited in any of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the or each transfer sheet second edge (32, 53) is located closer to said second ready detachment means (34) than the second edge (26) of said first middle form (13).

Inventors: MCCARTNEY LARRY G, MCCARTNEY, LARRY G.
Applicants: MOORE BUSINESS FORMS INC, MOORE BUSINESS FORMS, INC.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B41L1
IPC codes: B42D15, B41L1, B42D11