Abstract:
A package is configured to hold an information carrying card. The package includes a first panel connected to a second panel via a first fold line. The first panel includes a first opening. A third panel is connected to the second panel via a second fold line, the third panel includes a second opening. In a state where the first panel has been folded to overlap the second panel via the first fold line and the second panel has been folded to overlap the third panel via the second fold line, the first opening at least partially overlaps the second opening. The package may include a card on which data is stored. The data is exposed through the first and second opening to an environment outside the package.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/187,208 filed Aug. 6, 2008 which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/954,471, filed Aug. 7, 2007, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to multi-panel package, typically used to hold a card readable by a scanning device. In one example, the invention relates to a displayable package holding a card such as a prepaid phone or gift card. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Various packages are available for displaying or holding cards used to carry magnetic or barcode information. Often, previous packages required removal of the card from the package prior to scanning In some cases, the conventional packages allowed one type of scanning by a scanning device, but not another type, even if the card contained in the package included two types of scannable information. 
         [0006]    There is a desire for a package in which the card may be scanned via a barcode reader when the package is completely closed, and the card may also be magnetically scanned as with a magnetic strip reader when the card is still attached to the package. Additionally, there is a need for a package that may be refolded and closed again without removing the card, after the card is scanned via a magnetic card reader. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Accordingly, one aspect of the invention includes a package configured to hold an information carrying card. The package includes a first panel connected to a second panel via a first fold line. The second panel includes a first opening passing through the second panel. The package includes a third panel connected to the second panel via a second fold line. The package also includes a fourth panel connected to the third panel via a third fold line. The fourth panel includes a second opening. In a state where the first panel has been folded to overlap the second panel via the first fold line, the second panel has been folded to overlap the third panel via the second fold line, and the fourth panel has been folded to overlap the third panel via the third fold line, the first opening at least partially overlaps the second opening. 
         [0008]    For example, one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention can provide a package configured to hold an information carrying card including a first panel connected to a second panel via a first fold line. The first panel includes a first opening. The package includes a third panel connected to the second panel via a second fold line. The third panel includes a second opening, which, in a state where the first panel has been folded to overlap the second panel via the first fold line and the second panel has been folded to overlap the third panel via the second fold line, the first opening at least partially overlaps the second opening. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the invention includes a package system including a package holding a card on which information is recorded. The package includes a first panel connected to a second panel via a first fold line. The first panel includes a first opening. The package includes a third panel connected to the second panel via a second fold line. The third panel includes a second opening. The card on which information is recorded is removably attached to the first panel. While the package is in a folded state where the first panel has been folded to overlap the second panel via the first fold line and the second panel has been folded to overlap the third panel via the second fold line, the first opening at least partially overlaps the second opening. Information on the card is exposed to an environment outside the package system through the first opening while the package is in the folded state. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the information on the card is recorded in the form of a barcode. The barcode is exposed from inside the package to an environment outside the package through the openings in the panels when the openings are aligned with each other. 
         [0011]    Various modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    These and other advantages of the invention will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings where: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1   a  shows an embodiment of the invention with a card and folded terms before attaching to the package, which includes four panels; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1   b  shows an embodiment of the invention with a card and folded terms before attaching to the package, which includes three panels; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 1   a  with the card and folded terms attached to the package when the package is in a completely unfolded state; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3   a  shows the package of  FIG. 2  with panel A folded upon panel B; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3   b  shows the package of  FIG. 1   b  with the card attached to panel B; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  shows the package of  FIG. 3   a  with panel B folded upon panel C; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  shows the package of  FIG. 4  in a completely folded state with panel D folded upon panel C after the package is folded as shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  shows another example of a package according to the invention; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  shows a back view of the example shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]      FIG. 1   a  describes one embodiment of a package designed for display and easy activation of a functional card, such as a phone or prepaid gift card by dual methods. One application of this embodiment includes the containment of secure open loop prepaid cards displayed in a retail environment. 
         [0023]    The first method of card activation is via scanning a barcode on the card. The barcode is accessible through multiple die cut aligned windows in the package. The windows are aligned and oriented in such a way that the card can be scanned and activated while still securely held inside the package. This provides for a fast and easy checkout experience. 
         [0024]    The second method of card activation includes opening the package and unfolding the panels to reveal a magnetic stripe on the card which can then be swiped to activate the card. The method to access the card involves: 
         [0025]    1) breaking horizontal perforations and folding a rear panel of the package open from right to left; 
         [0026]    2) breaking horizontal perforations on an interior panel and rolling the panel open from left to right, revealing the card itself affixed to an additional interior panel of the package; 
         [0027]    3) swiping the card while it is still affixed to the package panel, and then rolling the panels closed to return it to the guest; and 
         [0028]    4) resealing the package via tabs, which are attached to or are part of the package. 
         [0029]    This embodiment of the package provides a solution for retail outlets that activate cards by either barcode or magstripe, thereby eliminating the need for maintaining an inventory of multiple package types. This embodiment also provides tamper evidence. By keeping the card securely glued to a package&#39;s panel up to, and through the process of activation, it is extremely difficult to compromise the package and remove the card without making the removal obvious and evident. 
         [0030]    Various glues may be used, and the package itself may be made of paper, cardboard, tagboard, plastic, or foil, for example. 
         [0031]    In the example of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1   a  a card  100  is attached to the right-most portion of the paperboard package  200 . The card  100  partially overlaps the package  200  and extends rightward away from the package  200  so as to expose a portion of the card  100  to a magnetic reader (not shown), which reads a magnetic strip disposed on the card  100 . The paperboard package  200  folds as shown in  FIG. 1   a  about fold line  1  such that a barcode  50  disposed on the card  100  aligns with opening  10  formed in panel B. Thus, panel A is folded against panel B, and the card is partially exposed through the opening  10 . 
         [0032]    Panel B typically includes a “sombrero”  8  or hanger opening through which a peg may extend in order to support the paperboard package. As shown in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b , panels C and D may also include sombreros ( 8 ′ and  8 ″) so that, upon folding completely, the three sombreros overlap each other and allow a peg to extend through the completely folded paperboard package. In one non-limiting embodiment, the sombreros are sized so as to put forth a smaller sombrero for viewing by a potential customer while the package is hanging on a peg and to partially hide interior sombreros from view by making the interior sombreros larger than the exterior-most sombrero. 
         [0033]    Panel B, after panel A is folded onto panel B, is itself folded onto panel C across fold line  2 . Typically, the sombrero  8  in panel B will align with the sombrero  8 ′ in panel C. Panel D will fold against panel C along fold line  3 , and after folding is complete, only panel C will be visible from one side, and only panel D will be visible from the opposite side. Typically, the sombrero  8 ″ will align with the sombreros  8  and  8 ′. A through-hole passing through panels B and D will be formed by the opening  20  and the opening  10  such that a portion of the card  100  (preferably the bar code  50 ) will be visible from the exterior when the package  200  is in the completely folded position. Preferably, the opening  20  in panel D will substantially overlap opening  10  in panel B in the folded condition. The term substantially overlap means that a majority of one hole is overlapped by the other hole such that the majority of the hole faces the area on the opposite side of the panel that defines the other hole. Thus, the information disposed on the card  100 , such as a barcode  50 , will be scannable from the card  100  even when the package  200  is in a completely closed position. 
         [0034]    Panel B typically includes two elongated slots  11  through which tabs  12  disposed on panel D may be tucked when the package is in the folded condition so as to maintain the paperboard package in a folded position even after the perforated portions on panel D are torn away from the majority portion of panel D. In other words, the paperboard package may be maintained in a closed position after opening by using tabs  12  on panel D inasmuch as the tabs  12  can be tucked into the elongated slots on panel  2 . 
         [0035]    Typically, a contract or license agreement or perhaps instructions (Folded Terms) are attached to the interior surface of panel C via one or more glue dots as shown in  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b ,  2 ,  3   a , and  3   b . Various adhesives or other conventional bonding techniques may be used to attach the contract, license agreement, or instructions to the interior side of panel C, and the glue dot or dots used to adhere the Folded Terms can be of the same type as those used to adhere the card  100 . 
         [0036]    Various decorative or informative designs may be printed on individual panels. For example, on the exterior surface of panel C, pricing information or other instructions regarding use of the card may be displayed. Alternatively, or in addition to a display on panel C, the exterior surface of panel D may include attractive advertising designs. 
         [0037]    One benefit of the above-noted arrangement is that the card  100  may be scanned via a barcode reader when the package  200  is completely closed, and the card  100  may be magnetically scanned as with a magnetic strip reader when the card  100  is still attached to the paperboard package. Additionally, the package  200  may be refolded and closed again without removing the card, once the card  100  is scanned via a magnetic card reader. 
         [0038]    Although panel A is shown in  FIG. 1   a  to be smaller than the panels C-D, other sizes of panels are possible. Furthermore, it is not necessary for the openings  10  and  20  to be identically sized. Rather, as discussed above regarding the sombreros  8 ′- 8 ″, it is possible to size one of the openings smaller than the other, such as for example, opening  20 , so that the opening  10  will not unattractively overlap the opening  20  and expose an edge to a viewer of the closed paperboard package. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  shows the card  100  attached to panel A. Typically, the card  100  is attached to panel A via one or more glue dots  13 . The glue dots  13  are typically made with a semi-permanent gel, rubber cement, or wax in order to allow a user to easily remove the card  100  without damaging it. 
         [0040]    The fold lines  1 - 3  may be made via perforation or scoring, for example. Other methods are available. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b , and  4  show locations of a permanent adhesive  9 , which is applied during the initial folding of the package  200 . 
         [0042]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show one example of the variation of the invention depicted in  FIG. 1   b  in which only three panels are provided, B′, C′, and D′. The panels B′, C′, and D′ generally correspond to panels B, C, and D in  FIG. 1   a . Other reference numbers shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  correspond to the reference numbers used for the same items described with respect to  FIG. 1   a.    
         [0043]    As shown in  FIGS. 1   b ,  6 , and  7 , the card  100  is attached to panel B′ rather than to a panel connected to panel B′ on a side opposite panel C′ as is the case in the example shown in  FIG. 1   a.    
         [0044]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1   b ,  6 , and  7 , the card  100  is removably attached to panel B′ with a barcode  50  at least partially aligned with the opening  10  so that at least a portion of the barcode is exposed through the opening  10 . 
         [0045]    In a manner similar to the example shown in  FIG. 1   a ,  2 ,  3   a ,  4 , and  5  , the panels B′, C′, and D′ shown in  FIGS. 1   b ,  6 , and  7  fold together such that the opening  10  at least partially overlaps the opening  20  on panel D′. The barcode  50  on the card  100  is then exposed through the overlapping openings  10  and  20  to allow a user to scan the barcode  50  with an appropriate scanner. 
         [0046]    Although only certain embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiment without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.