Abstract:
An identification assistance card system is disclosed for assisting in obtaining identification information from an identification card having an identification card shape. The identification assistance card system includes an identification assistance card having an assistance card shape based at least in part on the identification card shape of the identification card. An identification information window is disposed in the identification assistance card for displaying the identification information from the identification card when the identification assistance card is substantially aligned with the identification card. The identification information window is disposed in the identification assistance card at a location based at least in part on where the identification information is disposed on the identification card.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to provisional application No. 61/225,711 filed Jul. 15, 2009 entitled Apparatus for Assistance in Reading Information from Identification Cards, the entire contents being incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This invention relates to the field of identification cards. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for assisting one checking identification cards to focus on the most relevant information. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Employees and identification checkers encounter numerous distractions and pressures while determining whether a particular customer requesting purchase of alcohol or tobacco products is of the legal age for doing so. Other situations in which employees or law enforcement officials check identification cards to determine that a holder of the identification card is of proper age to perform a particular activity include bouncers at a night club checking to make sure someone is allowed to enter the establishment or movie vendors checking to make sure a patron&#39;s are of the required age to see films having particular ratings. For this and other reasons, a tool aiding in checking a patron&#39;s identification for authenticity and appropriate age is needed. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the invention described herein pertain to an identification assistance card that focuses a person&#39;s attention on areas of specific interest when reading and analyzing information from an identification card such as a driver&#39;s license. In one embodiment of the invention, an identification assistance card system is disclosed for assisting in obtaining identification information from an identification card having an identification card shape. The identification assistance card system includes an identification assistance card having an assistance card shape based at least in part on the identification card shape of the identification card. An identification information window is disposed in the identification assistance card for displaying the identification information from the identification card when the identification assistance card is substantially aligned with the identification card. The identification information window is disposed in the identification assistance card at a location based at least in part on where the identification information is disposed on the identification card. 
     According to some embodiments of the invention, the identification information includes a birth date of a holder of the identification card and the identification assistance card includes an age reminder disposed on the assistance card adjacent the identification information window for assisting in identifying a latest birth date for which the holder of the identification card is allowed to perform an activity. In some embodiments of the invention, the activity performed includes purchasing at least one of alcohol and tobacco. The identification assistance card system may include a plurality of identification assistance cards each representing identification cards issued by at least one of a plurality of states. The plurality of identification assistance cards each include the identification information window being disposed in the identification assistance card at the location based at least in part on where the identification information is disposed on identification cards issued by at least one of the plurality of states. 
     The identification assistance card may also include a second identification information window disposed in the identification assistance card for displaying the identification information from the identification card, the second identification information window being disposed in the identification assistance card at a second location based at least in part on where the identification information displayed by the second identification information window is disposed on the identification card. In some embodiments, the identification assistance card includes a first identification information window and a second identification information window and the identification information includes a birth date of a holder of the identification card and an expiration date of the identification card, and the first identification information window displays the birth date of the holder of the identification card and the second information window displays the expiration date of the identification card. In other embodiments, the identification information includes a birth date of a holder of the identification card and a duplicate indicator identifying whether the identification card is a duplicate, and the first identification information window displays the birth date of the holder of the identification card and the second information window displays the duplicate indicator. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, an identification assistance card system is disclosed for assisting in obtaining identification information including a birth date of a holder of an identification card having an identification card shape. The identification assistance card system includes a plurality of identification assistance cards each representing the identification card issued by at least one of a plurality of states. The plurality of identification assistance cards each include an assistance card shape based at least in part on the identification card shape of the identification card that the identification assistance card represents. An identification information window is disposed in each of the plurality of identification assistance cards for displaying the birth date of the holder of the identification card when the identification assistance card is substantially aligned with the identification card that the assistance card represents. An age reminder is disposed on each of the plurality of identification assistance cards adjacent the identification information window for assisting in identifying a latest birth date for which the holder of the identification card is allowed to purchase at least one of alcohol and tobacco. 
     The identification information may include at least one of an expiration date of the identification card, a duplicate indicator identifying whether the identification card is a duplicate, and an underage identifier. In this embodiment, the identification assistance card includes a second identification information window disposed in each of the plurality of identification assistance cards for displaying at least one of the expiration date, the duplicate indicator, and the underage identifier from the identification card. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a method is disclosed for determining whether a holder of an identification card having identification information and an identification card shape is allowed to perform an activity. The method includes the following steps: providing an identification assistance card having an assistance card shape based at least in part on the identification card shape of the identification card and an identification information window disposed in the identification assistance card for displaying the identification information, the identification information window being disposed in the identification assistance card at a location based at least in part on where the identification information is disposed on the identification card; aligning the identification assistance card with the identification card so that the identification information window displays the identification information from the identification card; and obtaining the identification information displayed in the identification information window to determine whether the holder of the identification card is allowed to perform the activity. 
     According to some embodiments, the identification information includes a birth date of the holder of the identification card and the activity includes purchasing at least one of alcohol and tobacco. The method may also include providing a plurality of identification assistance cards each representing identification cards issued by at least one of a plurality of states and wherein the identification information window of each of the plurality of identification assistance cards is disposed in the identification assistance card at the location based at least in part on where the identification information is disposed on identification cards issued by one of the plurality of states; and choosing an appropriate identification assistance card from the plurality of identification assistance cards based at least in part on which state issued the identification card of the holder. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages of the invention are apparent by reference to the detailed description in conjunction with the figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an identification assistance card according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of an identification assistance card according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a representative figure of a Tennessee issued identification card; and 
         FIG. 4  is a representative figure of an identification assistance card coupled with the identification card of  FIG. 3  such that the windows of the assistance card reveal the most relevant information of the identification card. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an identification assistance card  10  is shown. A state identifier  11 , or any other identifier  11  that identifies the entity that issued the identification assistance card  10 , is printed in a prominent location on the assistance card  10  so that the person checking the identification card (“ID checker”) can easily determine which assistance card  10  should be used to assist the ID checker in the analysis of an identification card  12  submitted by a patron. The state identifier  11  may include the name of the particular state that issued the card and/or the state flag of the particular state. In some embodiments of the invention, the ID checker has available a plurality of identification assistance cards where each identification assistance card represents, or is designed to be compatible with, an identification card issued by a particular state, jurisdiction, entity, etc. that distributes identification cards such as drivers licenses and passports. In some applications, the assistance cards available are only those corresponding to geographically proximate states. For example, in eastern Tennessee, an ID checker may have a group of assistance cards including the following states nearby to eastern Tennessee: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Virginia, in addition to a Tennessee assistance card  10 . The assistance card  10  in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4  also includes a supplemental reminder  13  that reminds the ID checker to consult an identification card book if a license for a state or territory other than Tennessee is submitted. Likewise, if the ID checker is located in another state or territory, such as Washington state, the supplemental reminder  13  reminds the ID checker to consult an identification card book if a license other than a Washington state license is submitted. The supplemental reminder  13 , in embodiments where the ID checker has various other state assistance cards  10  at his disposal, may properly refer the ID checker to the other assistance cards  10 . 
     In one application the assistance card  10  provides assistance to an ID checker, such as a bartender, who is checking a patron&#39;s identification card  12  (see  FIG. 3 ). The assistance card  10  defines one or more windows  14 A,  14 B and  14 C cut from the card  10  from locations corresponding to the locations of the most relevant identification information printed on a typical identification card  12  such as a drivers&#39; license. As shown in  FIG. 3 , relevant identification information may include such information as the expiration date  15  of the identification card  12 , a duplicate indicator  16  identifying whether the identification card  12  is a duplicate, an underage identifier  17 , and a birth date  18 . The person checking the identification card  12  places the assistance card  10  over the top of the identification card  12  so that they are aligned properly. The assistance card  10  and identification card  12  are generally the same height and width such that the ID checker can easily couple the cards  10  and  12  so that they are substantially aligned.  FIG. 4  illustrates use of the identification assistance card  10  that has been placed over the top of the identification card  12  of  FIG. 3  such that the most relevant identification information on the identification card  12  is perceived through the windows  14  of the assistance card  10 . In  FIG. 4 , the assistance card  10  represents the Tennessee-issued drivers&#39; license as shown in  FIG. 3 . However, various embodiments of the assistance card  10  allow it to correspond to any state&#39;s drivers&#39; license or other identification card  12 . 
     In some embodiments of the invention, any assistance card  10  can be used to check the identification information by placing the one or more windows  14 A,  14 B and  14 C over the information regardless of where it is located on the license. In this embodiment, the ID checker just has to align the windows  14  with the desired information without having to align the assistance card  10  with the identification card  12 . 
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the identification card  10  from its front side. The three identification information windows  14 A- 14 C are cut from the card  10  to correspond with the most relevant identification information on a Tennessee driver&#39;s license  12 . Window  14 A corresponds to the underage identifier  17  that includes an “under 21 until MM/DD/YYYY” branding on the identification card  12 . Window  14 B corresponds to the location of several fields of the Tennessee driver&#39;s license  12 . Specifically, window  14 B corresponds with the expiration date  15  that includes the words “Expires MM/DD/YYYY”, an issued field  19  including the words “Issued MM/DD/YYYY”, and a birth date field  18  including the words “Birthdate MM/DD/YYYY”. Printed on the assistance card  10  proximate window  14 B, or proximate whichever window displays the birth date field  18 , an age reminder or verbiage for assisting the ID checker in identifying a latest birth date for which a holder of the identification card  12  is allowed to perform the activity in which the ID checker is obtaining identification information for. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the verbiage includes an alcohol reminder  20  that may state something similar to the following: “Alcohol: Born on or before today&#39;s date YYYY”. The alcohol reminder  20  reminds the person checking the identification card  12  that a patron must have been born on or before today&#39;s date in a given year in order to legally purchase alcohol products. Similarly, the tobacco reminder  22  is printed proximate window  14 B and includes something similar to the following words: “Tobacco: Born on or before today&#39;s date YYYY”. The tobacco reminder  22 , similar to the alcohol reminder  20 , serves to remind the person checking the identification card  12  that a person must have been born on or before today&#39;s date in a given year in order to legally purchase tobacco products. 
     To help the person checking the identification card  12 , a bracketed arrow  24  couples the alcohol reminder  20  and the tobacco reminder  22  together and indicates the relationship with window  14 B. 
     Window  14 C corresponds to the location of the duplicate indicator  16  of the Tennessee driver&#39;s license  12 . If the driver&#39;s license has been duplicated, such as because of a “lost” license, the new, duplicate license will indicate this by printing the duplicate indicator  16 , which includes the letters “DUP”. Associated with the third window  14 C is the duplicate reminder including the words “DUP Short for ‘Duplicate’. Is ID borrowed?”, which reminds the ID checker to take special care in inspecting the identification card  12  if the letters “DUP” are printed on the card  12 . This may indicate that a license of a sibling or friend was reported “lost” so that the issued duplicate could be used by someone other than the person identified by the card  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the back of the assistance card  10  is shown. The back includes the codes of carding field  30  including a header  30 A having the words “Know the C.O.D.E.S. of Carding”. “C.O.D.E.S.” is an acronym useful for effectively checking identification cards  12  for authenticity and appropriate age. The codes of carding field  30  includes the following five codes: Condition, Ownership, Date of Birth, Expiration Date, and Security Features and Signature. The codes of carding field  30  also includes the manager reminder including the words “If there is any question, get a manager.” The manager reminder, of course, reminds the ID checker to get a manager if the ID checker has any question whether the identification card  12  presented by a patron is authentic or satisfies the age requirements for the intended purchase or activity. 
     The identification assistance card  10  is made from laminated card stock in some embodiments and in others it is printed on credit card type plastics. 
     The foregoing description of preferred embodiments for this invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.