Abstract:
A method of activating a gift card at a retail entity is provided. The method includes performing a first transaction based on first data obtained from a closed, empty product; retrieving the gift card from a secure location in the retail entity; reading second data from the gift card through a reader; and transmitting the second data and a value to be assigned to the gift card to a financial database platform. The financial database platform assigns the value to an account resident on the financial database platform associated to the gift card so that the gift card is activated.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/226,550, filed on Oct. 20, 2008, which is related to, and claims priority in, International Patent Application No. PCT/US2006/015144 filed on Apr. 21, 2006, the disclosures of which are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to gift cards and, more particularly, to gift card activation methods and gift card products for displaying and holding such gift cards. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    It is has become common to give a paper gift certificates, purchased from a particular store, restaurant or any other retail entity (hereinafter individually and collectively referred to as a “retail entity”), as a gift idea for a birthday or other special occasion. Typically, paper gift certificates are printed with a predetermined monetary value requiring the entity to carry an inventory of such paper gift certificates, which was costly, inconvenient, and the certificates needed to be safeguarded. In addition, since the paper gift certificates had a preset dollar value, purchases of less than that dollar value required the retail entity to pay the surplus back to the user, which is also undesired. 
         [0006]    Paper gift certificates can be replaced with a gift card, purchased from the retail entity. The gift card can be loaded or charged with any desired monetary amount, removing the necessity to carry a large inventory of such cards. Moreover, since the gift card has a variable dollar value, the card can be debited for the actual amount of the purchase, allowing the remaining dollar value on the gift card for later use in that retail entity. 
         [0007]    Unfortunately, prior gift cards have generally been limited to use at the retail entity that issued the card. Since gift cards are typically gifted by the purchaser to another person, the card is inserted or given in a greeting card or other suitable product (hereinafter “product”). Thus, in addition to the gift card itself, the purchaser also purchases the product to hold the gift card. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, there is a need for gift card activation methods and products so as to overcome, mitigate, and/or alleviate one or more of the above mentioned and other deleterious effects of the prior art methods and products. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention provides methods of gift card activation, gift card products, and kits for such gift cards. 
         [0010]    A method of activating a gift card at a retail entity is provided. The method includes performing a first transaction based on first data obtained from a closed, empty product; retrieving the gift card from a secure location in the retail entity; reading second data from the gift card through a reader; and transmitting the second data and a value to be assigned to the gift card to a financial database platform. The financial database platform being configured to assign the value to an account resident on the financial database platform associated to the gift card so that the gift card is activated. 
         [0011]    A gift card product for a gift card is also provided. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the gift card product includes a card holding section having a slit adapted to receive the gift card; an overleaf section secured to the card holding section by a first hinge, the overleaf section having at least one panel hinge so as to envelop the card holding section by folding the overleaf section about the at least one panel hinge; and at least one hanger portion removably attached to the overleaf section, the at least one hanger portion being configured to be separated from the overleaf section. 
         [0013]    In other embodiments, the gift card product includes a card holding section having a slit for receipt of the gift card; an overleaf section secured to the card holding section by a first hinge; a panel hinge separating the overleaf section into a first panel and a second; a first hanger depending from and removably attached to the first panel; and a second hanger depending from and removably attached to the second panel, wherein the gift card holding section and overleaf section are held in a folded position by said first and second hangers but are movable to an unfolded position upon removal of the first and second hangers from the first and second panels, respectively. 
         [0014]    In still other embodiments, the gift card product includes an activated gift card associated with a value resident on a financial database platform, said activated gift card being associated only to a consumer bearing the card; a card holding section having a slit in which the activated gift card is received; and an overleaf section secured to the card holding section by a first hinge, the overleaf section having at least one panel hinge so that the activated gift card and the card holding section are enveloped by the overleaf section by folding the overleaf section about the at least one panel hinge. 
         [0015]    Further, a kit for gift cards is provided. The kit includes an unactivated gift card and an empty gift card product. The gift card product including a card holding section having a slit adapted to receive the gift card and an overleaf section secured to the card holding section by a first hinge, the overleaf section having at least one panel hinge so that the overleaf section envelops the card holding section when folded at the at least one panel hinge. 
         [0016]    The above-described and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of a gift card activation method according to the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates a plan view of a first embodiment of a greeting card product according to the present disclosure in an open position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates the greeting card product of  FIG. 2  in a first folded position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates the greeting card product of  FIG. 2  in a closed, empty position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  illustrates the greeting card product of  FIG. 2  in an open position after removal of the hangers and insertion of a gift card; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  illustrates the greeting card product of  FIG. 5  in a first folded position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  illustrates the greeting card product of  FIG. 5  in a closed, full position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  illustrates a plan view of a second embodiment of a greeting card product according to the present disclosure in an open position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  illustrates the greeting card product of  FIG. 8  in a first folded position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  illustrates the greeting card product of  FIG. 8  in a second folded position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  illustrates the greeting card product of  FIG. 8  in a closed, empty position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  illustrates the greeting card product of  FIG. 8  in an open position after removal of the hangers and insertion of a gift card; 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  illustrates the greeting card product of  FIG. 12  in a first folded position; 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  illustrates the greeting card product of  FIG. 12  in a second folded position; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  illustrates the greeting card product of  FIG. 5  in a closed, full position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    Referring to the drawings and in particular to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a method for activating a gift card according the present disclosure is generally represented by reference numeral  10 . 
         [0033]    Method  10  allows the consumer to select a gift card having a predetermined value or amount and/or allows the consumer to select any desired value or amount to be loaded onto the gift card. In addition, method  10  provides the gift card in a product that also can be used as a greeting card. 
         [0034]    Importantly, method  10  can, in some embodiments, provide a gift card that is not limited to any particular retailer. Rather, method  10  provides a gift card that, much like a typical credit card, is associated only to the consumer bearing the card. 
         [0035]    Method  10  includes a product display step  12 , a product selection step  14 , a product presentation step  16 , a purchase step  18 , and a gift card activation step  20 . 
         [0036]    During product display step  12 , the retail entity displays a closed, empty product in the store. The closed product is empty in that it does not yet include the gift card therein. Rather, the gift card is available at the point-of-sale (POS) as will be described below. As such, the product displayed within the retail entity is inherently valueless, which is useful in preventing loss due to theft. 
         [0037]    In one embodiment where the product is used to present gift cards of a predetermined monetary value, the closed product includes printed indicia on an exterior of the product, which indicates to the consumer the predetermined monetary value. In this manner, method  10  allows the consumer to select the desired empty, closed product during product selection step  14 . In another embodiment where the product has no preset monetary value, the product can include indicia on the product, which allows the monetary value assigned to the gift card to be filled in by the consumer and/or the retail entity. 
         [0038]    In addition, the closed product preferably includes indicia printed on the exterior and/or an interior of the product can be used as a greeting card. For example, the indicia can include information that represents, for example, a particular holiday or occasion. Thus, method  10  allows the product to also be used as a greeting card. 
         [0039]    Once selected, the consumer presents the empty product to the retail entity&#39;s cash register and/or point-of-sale (POS) during purchase step  18 . During purchase step  18 , the retail entity scans a universal product code (UPC) present on an exterior of the product. The retail entity&#39;s computer system associates the UPC with the price of the product, which typically represents the predetermined value of the gift card plus any retailer markup and product value (e.g., as a greeting card). The retail entity receives payment from the consumer for the resultant price. 
         [0040]    Next, the retail entity activates a gift card during gift card activation step  20 . More particularly, the retail entity retrieves  22  a blank or valueless gift card from a secure location, such as the cash register located at the point-of-sale. The retailer then activates the gift card by, for example, swiping  24  the magnetic strip on the valueless gift card through a credit card reading device typically present at the point-of-sale. The credit card reading device transmits  26  the transaction data (i.e., a unique code present on the swiped gift card and the amount to be loaded on the gift card) to a financial database platform in a known manner. 
         [0041]    It should be recognized that the swiping step  24  is disclosed above by way of example only as swiping a magnetic strip on the valueless gift card through a credit card reading device. Of course, it is contemplated by the present disclosure for the gift card to include any machine readable element, such as but not limited to, a magnetic strip, a printed bar code, a radio frequency ID tag, and any combinations thereof. 
         [0042]    Upon receipt of the transaction data, the financial database platform activates an account associated with the gift card in the requested amount. Method  10  is described above by way of example in use with a gift card having a predetermined value. 
         [0043]    Of course, it is contemplated by the present disclosure for method  10  to find equal use when allowing the consumer to select any desired monetary value or amount to be loaded onto the gift card. Here, during purchase step  18 , the retail entity scans the UPC code, which is associated in the retail entity&#39;s computer system with the price of the product and any mark-up, but allows the retail entity to add the consumer desired value of the gift card. 
         [0044]    After activation step  20 , method  10  can include an enveloping or wrapping step  28 . During wrapping step  28 , the retailer or consumer can insert or place the gift card back into the product and close the product around the gift card. Here, the product now advantageously functions as a greeting card for subsequent gifting of the gift card. 
         [0045]    The consumer or person to whom the consumer gives the gift card can make purchases using the card by simply using the gift card as a credit or pin-less debit card. More particularly, the consumer can make a transaction request by simply swiping the gift card at any store or entering the account number present on the gift card into any Internet payment program. Transaction requests are approved by the financial database platform when sufficient funds are present in the account corresponding to the gift card. The purchase amount is transferred by the financial database platform from the gift card account to the store at which the purchase occurred and the account associated with the gift card platform is decremented. 
         [0046]    In some embodiments, the monetary value present on the gift card can be recharged or increased by, for example, returning to a participating retail outlet. 
         [0047]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2-7 , a first embodiment of a gift card product  30  according to the present disclosure for use with method  10  is shown. Advantageously, gift card product  30  is used during product display step  12  to allow the retail entity to display the closed, empty product for use at product selection step  14 . In addition, gift card product  30  is configured for use during purchase step  18 , wrapping step  28 , and can function as a greeting card for subsequent gifting of the gift card. 
         [0048]    Product  30  includes a card holding section  32  and an overleaf section  34 . Card holding section  32  is secured to overleaf section  34  by a first hinge  36 . Overleaf section  34  can include one or more panel hinges  38  (only one shown) so as to envelop a gift card when inserted in the card holding section. In the illustrated embodiment, overleaf section  34  includes one panel hinge  38  separating the overleaf section into a first panel  40 - 1  and a second panel  40 - 2 . 
         [0049]    As discussed above with respect to method  10 , product  30  is displayed empty. Thus, for purposes of display, product  30  is first folded about first hinge  36  as shown in  FIG. 3 , then folded about panel hinge  38  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0050]    Overleaf section  34  includes one or more hangers defined thereon to allow product  30  to be displayed in the retail entity. In the illustrated embodiment, first panel  40 - 1  includes a hanger  42  including an aperture  44  defined therein, while second panel  40 - 2  includes a hanger  46  including an aperture  48  defined therein. Product  30  includes a score or tear line  50  defined through overleaf section  34  to allow the hangers  42 ,  46  to be easily separated from the product. Preferably, tear line  50  represents a weakened area of overleaf section  34 , which allows the hangers to be removed from the panels. In the folded position of  FIG. 4 , apertures  44 ,  48  are substantially co-axial to one another. 
         [0051]    Product  30  is secured in the folded position of  FIG. 4  using an adhesive  52 . Preferably, adhesive  52  is positioned between hanger  42  and hanger  46 . In this manner, product  30  can be opened (i.e., unfolded about panel hinge  38  then first hinge  36 ) by simply removing hangers  42 ,  46  along tear line  50 . In some embodiments, adhesive  52  is a permanent adhesive that does not allow opening of product  30  without separation of the hangers from the panels along tear line  50 . 
         [0052]    In a preferred embodiment, product  30  is die cut made of from a single sheet, such as of paper or cardboard. In this embodiment, hinges  36 ,  38  are living hinges and tear line  50  is a score line, all of which are defined in the single sheet. 
         [0053]    Product  30  can include indicia disposed on any surface of card holding section  32 , overleaf section  34 , and any combinations thereof. Preferably, product  30  includes indicia so that the product is suitable for use as a greeting card, particularly after removal of hangers  42 ,  46 . In addition, it is preferred that product  30  includes a universal product code (not shown) printed on an exterior of the folded product so that the product can easily be used with method  10 . 
         [0054]    In use with method  10 , the folded empty product  30  is displayed in a retail outlet or entity by suspending the empty product from a peg (not shown) through apertures  44 ,  48 . The consumer selects product  30  and brings the empty product to the point-of-sale within the retail outlet, where the gift card is activated in the manner discussed above. 
         [0055]    Next, product  30  is opened by removing hangers  42 ,  46  and unfolding the product about panel hinge  38  then first hinge  36  and a gift card  56  is inserted into the product as shown in  FIG. 5 . Card holding section  32  includes a slit  54  defined therethrough to allow receipt of a gift card  56 . Slit  54  traverses only a portion of the length section  32  so that portions  58  remain to ensure gift card  56  is restrained by the section. 
         [0056]    Of course, it should be recognized that product  30  is configured so that gift card  56  can be inserted into slit  54  by unfolding the product about panel hinge  38 , and without unfolding the product about first hinge  36 . 
         [0057]    After gift card  56  is positioned in card holding section  32 , product  30  is first folded about first hinge  36  as shown in  FIG. 6 , then folded about panel hinge  38  to result as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0058]    Product  30  is secured in the folded position of  FIG. 7  using a re-sealable adhesive  60  seen in  FIG. 6 . Preferably, adhesive  60 , in the folded position is positioned between card holding section  32  and a portion of overleaf section  34 , sich as second panel  40 - 2 . In this manner, product  30  can be opened (i.e., unfolded about panel hinge  38  then first hinge  36 ) without damage to either card holding section  32  or overleaf section  34 . 
         [0059]    Advantageously, product  30  allows method  10  of the present disclosure to display the product empty, yet allows the product to be opened, the gift card to be inserted and held in place, allows the folded product to then be given as a greeting card. 
         [0060]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8-15 , another embodiment of a greeting card product  130  according to the present disclosure for use with method  10  is shown. In this embodiment, component parts performing similar and/or analogous functions to those of the embodiment of  FIGS. 2-7  are labeled in multiples of one hundred. 
         [0061]    Product  130  includes a card holding section  132  and an overleaf section  134 . Card holding section  132  is secured to overleaf section  134  about a first hinge  136 . In this embodiment, overleaf section  134  includes two panel hinges  138 - 1  and  138 - 2  so as to envelop or wrap a gift card when inserted in the card holding section. In the illustrated embodiment, overleaf section  134  includes two panel hinges  138 - 1 ,  138 - 2  separating the overleaf section into a first panel  140 - 1 , a second panel  140 - 2 , and a third panel  140 - 3 . 
         [0062]    As discussed above with respect to method  10 , product  130  is displayed empty. Thus, for purposes of display, product  130  is first folded about first hinge  136  as shown in  FIG. 9 , folded about panel hinge  138 - 1  as shown in  FIG. 10 , then folded about panel hinge  138 - 2  as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0063]    Overleaf section  134  includes one or more hangers defined thereon to allow product  130  to be displayed in the retail entity. In the illustrated embodiment, first panel  140 - 1  includes a hanger  142  including an aperture  144  defined therein, second panel  140 - 2  includes a hanger  146  including an aperture  148  defined therein, and third panel  140 - 3  includes a hanger  174  including an aperture  178  defined therein. In the folded position of  FIG. 11 , apertures  144 ,  148 ,  178  are substantially co-axial to one another. 
         [0064]    Product  130  includes a score or tear line  150  defined through overleaf section  134  to allow the hangers to be easily separated from the product. Preferably, tear line  150  represents a weakened area of product  130 , which allows the hangers to be removed from the panels. 
         [0065]    Product  130  can be secured in the folded position of  FIG. 11  using an permanent adhesive  152  on at least hangers  142 ,  174  so that the product can be opened by simply removing the hangers along tear line  150 . 
         [0066]    Product  130  can also be secured in the folded position of  FIG. 11  using a tab and slot arrangement. For example, first panel  140 - 1  can include a slot  180  defined therein and third panel  140 - 3  can include a tab  182  defined thereon. Slot  180  and tab  182  are positioned so that, in the folded position, at least a portion of the tab is received in the slot. 
         [0067]    In a preferred embodiment, product  130  is die cut made of from a single sheet, such as of paper or cardboard. In this embodiment, hinges  136 ,  138  are living hinges and tear line  150  is a score line, all of which are defined in the single sheet. 
         [0068]    Product  130  can include indicia disposed on any surface of card holding section  132 , overleaf section  134 , and any combinations thereof. Preferably, product  130  includes indicia so that the product is suitable for use as a greeting card, particularly after removal of hangers  142 ,  146 ,  174 . 
         [0069]    In use with method  10 , the folded empty product  130  is displayed in a retail outlet by suspending the product from a peg through apertures  144 ,  148 ,  178 . The consumer selects product  130  and brings the empty product to the point-of-sale, where the gift card is activated in the manner discussed above. 
         [0070]    Next, product  130  is opened by removing hangers  142 ,  146 ,  174 , removing tab  182  from slot  180  and unfolding the product about hinges  136 ,  138  as shown in  FIG. 12 . Once opened, a gift card  156  can be inserted into a slit  154  defined through section  132 . Slit  154  traverses only a portion of the length section  132  so that portions  158  remain to ensure gift card  156  is restrained by the section. 
         [0071]    After gift card  156  is positioned in section  132 , product  130  is first folded about first hinge  136  as shown in  FIG. 13 , folded about panel hinge  138 - 1  as shown in  FIG. 14 , then folded about panel hinge  138 - 2  as shown in  FIG. 15 . Product  130  is secured in the folded position of  FIG. 15  by inserting at least a portion of tab  182  is received in slot  180 . In this manner, product  130  can be re-opened without damage to either card holding section  132  or overleaf section  134 . 
         [0072]    In addition, product  130  can, in some embodiments, also be secured in the folded position of  FIG. 15  using a re-sealable adhesive  160  seen in  FIGS. 10 and 14 . Preferably, adhesive  160 , when product  130  is in its folded position, is positioned between first panel  140 - 1  and third panel  140 - 3 . 
         [0073]    Advantageously, product  130  allows method  10  of the present disclosure to display the product empty, yet allows the product to be opened, the gift card to be inserted and held in place, allows the folded product to then be given as a greeting card. 
         [0074]    It is contemplated by the present disclosure for the unactivated gift card and the gift card product to be sold together in kit form. 
         [0075]    It should also be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “upper”, “lower”, and the like may be used herein to modify various elements. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated. 
         [0076]    While the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.