Patent Publication Number: US-2023161992-A1

Title: Methods For Placing An EMV Chip Onto A Metal Card

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of U.S. Pat. Application No. 17/233,338, filed Apr. 16, 2021, which is a divisional of and claims the benefit of U.S. Pat. Application No. 15/883,858, filed on Jan. 30, 2018, which is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of U.S. Pat. Application No. 15/422,784, filed on Feb. 2, 2017, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The invention relates to methods for placing an EMV chip onto a metal card and more particularly, to methods for removing an EMV chip from a plastic credit card or debit card and placing the removed EMV chip onto a stainless steel metal card or debit card. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Credit cards and debit cards were originally developed using a magnetic stripe or mechanical imprint to read and record account data, with the customer’s signature being used for verification. Under this system, the customer handed their card to the clerk at the point of sale, who either swiped the card through a magnetic reader or made an imprint from the raised text on the card. With the magnetic reader, the system verified the account information and printed a slip for the customer to sign. For the imprinted text, the transaction details were filled in and the customer signed the imprinted slip. In both cases, the clerk verified that the customer’s signature matched the signature on the back of the card. While being convenient and useful, this system has a number of security flaws, including the ability to copy the card’s information, or by reading and writing the magnetic stripe of the card during a transaction, making these cards easy to duplicate and use without the owner’s knowledge. 
     To address this problem, smart cards (also called chip cards or IC cards) were developed, which have the ability to store a user’s account data on an integrated circuit. EMV, which stands for Europay, MasterCard, and Visa, was developed as a technical standard for smart cards and for payment terminals and automated teller machines that can accept them. EMV cards store their data on integrated circuits as well as on magnetic stripes for backward compatibility. These cards can be physically inserted into a card reader or can be read over short distances using radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology. Payment cards that comply with the EMV standard are often called Chip and PIN or Chip and Signature cards, depending on the authentication methods employed by the card issuer. 
     Most plastic credit cards and debit cards issued by banks and credit card companies are boring and unimpressive to look at for the average consumer. These institutions sometimes offer cards with various sports team designs or “cute” animal designs that may liven up the plastic card’s look and appeal however, the standard bank or credit card company logo is usually included on the card issued to the owner. As such, there is nothing that distinguishes an affluent, sophisticated card holder from an average card holder. Therefore, there remains a need in the art for new types of credit cards and debit cards that are more appealing to the average consumer. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an embodiment, an electronic payment card includes a payment card substrate having opposed top and bottom faces. An EMV chip is disposed at a location on one of the top and bottom faces of the payment card substrate. The EMV chip is a donor EMV chip removed from a donor electronic payment card on which the donor EMV chip was previously disposed. 
     In an embodiment, an electronic payment card includes a payment card substrate having opposed top and bottom faces. One or more EMV chips are disposed at one or more locations on either the top or bottom faces of the payment card substrate. The one or more EMV chips are one or more donor EMV chips removed from one or more donor electronic payment cards on which the one or more donor EMV chips were previously disposed. 
     In an embodiment, an electronic payment card includes a payment card substrate having opposed top and bottom faces. An EMV chip is disposed at a location on the payment card substrate. The EMV chip is a donor EMV chip removed from a donor electronic payment card on which the donor EMV chip was previously disposed. 
     The above provides the reader with a very brief summary of some embodiments described below. Simplifications and omissions are made, and the summary is not intended to limit or define in any way the disclosure. Rather, this brief summary merely introduces the reader to some aspects of some embodiments in preparation for the detailed description that follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring to the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates an embodiment for removing an EMV chip from a plastic credit card or debit card and placing the removed EMV chip onto a metal card by first heating the plastic credit or debit card containing the EMV chip in order to loosen the EMV chip; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an embodiment for removing an EMV chip from a plastic credit card or debit card and placing the removed EMV chip onto a metal card by removing the loosened EMV chip from the plastic credit or debit card; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates an embodiment for removing an EMV chip from a plastic credit card or debit card and placing the removed EMV chip onto a steel metal card by bending the four sides of the removed EMV chip towards the downward bottom face of the EMV chip; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates an embodiment for removing an EMV chip from a plastic credit card or debit card and placing the removed EMV chip onto a metal card by applying an adhesive coating to the bottom face and the bended four sides of the EMV chip; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates an embodiment of two EMV chips taken from a plastic credit card or debit card which have been placed into a top face of a metal card; 
         FIG.  6    illustrates an embodiment of two EMV chips taken from a plastic credit card or debit card in which one EMV chip has been placed into a top face of a metal card and the other EMV chip has been placed into the bottom face of a metal credit card; 
         FIG.  7    illustrates an embodiment of three EMV chips taken from a plastic credit card or debit card, in which one EMV chip has been placed into a top face of a metal card and the other two EMV chip have been placed into the bottom face of a metal credit card; and 
         FIG.  8    illustrates an embodiment of four EMV chips taken from a plastic credit card or debit card; in which two EMV chips have been placed into a top face of a metal card and the other two EMV chips have been placed into the bottom face of a metal credit card. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference now is made to the drawings, in which the same reference characters are used throughout the different figures to designate the same elements. Briefly, the embodiments presented herein are preferred exemplary embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of all possible embodiments, but rather to provide an enabling description for all possible embodiments within the scope and spirit of the specification. Description of these preferred embodiments is generally made with the use of verbs such as “is” and “are” rather than “may,” “could,” “includes,” “comprises,” and the like, because the description is made with reference to the drawings presented. One having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes may be made in the structure, arrangement, number, and function of elements and features without departing from the scope and spirit of the specification. Further, the description may omit certain information which is readily known to one having ordinary skill in the art to prevent crowding the description with detail which is not necessary for enablement. Indeed, the diction used herein is meant to be readable and informational rather than to delineate and limit the specification; therefore, the scope and spirit of the specification should not be limited by the following description and its language choices. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an embodiment  101  for removing an EMV chip  102  from a plastic credit card or debit card  103  and placing the removed EMV chip onto a metal card. In order to loosen the EMV chip, the plastic credit or debit card containing the EMV chip is first heated. In an embodiment, heating the plastic credit or debit card includes heating a front face and/or a back face of the card with a heat source such as a heat gun  104 , and the like. In an embodiment, the heat source can be set between 350° F. to 400° F. and applied to the front and/or back face of the card for 5 seconds to about 60 seconds. In other embodiments, the heat source can be set at about 370° F. and applied to the front and/or back face of the card for about 10 seconds to 30 seconds. In an embodiment, the EMV chip can be substantially square and planar, the EMV chip having an upward top face, a downward bottom face, and four sides. 
     In embodiments, the metal card can be made of stainless steel or any other suitable metal or alloy. Further, the metal card can be of any desired colored including but not limited to black, gold (rose, white or yellow gold), titanium, and the like or any combinations thereof. In addition, the metal card can include imprinted information including but not limited to the user’s name, account information, and any desired ornamental design. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates an embodiment  201  for removing an EMV chip from a plastic credit card or debit card  202  and placing the removed EMV chip onto a metal card by removing the loosened EMV chip from the plastic credit or debit card. In an embodiment, a pick and/or tweezers or other similar instruments  203 , can be used to loosen or pry off the EMV chip from the plastic credit or debit card. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates an embodiment  301  for removing an EMV chip  302  from a plastic credit card or debit card and placing the removed EMV chip onto a metal card by bending the four sides of the removed EMV chip towards the downward bottom face of the EMV chip by tweezers or other similar instruments  303 . In an embodiment, the four sides of the EMV chip can be bent towards the downward bottom face of the EMV chip. In another embodiment, the four sides can be bent towards the downward face of the EMV chip, wherein each of the bended four sides are substantially perpendicular to the downward bottom face. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates an embodiment  401  for removing an EMV chip  402  from a plastic credit card or debit card  403  and placing the removed EMV chip onto a metal card by applying an adhesive coating to the bottom face and the bended four sides of the EMV chip. In an embodiment, the adhesive coating can be a cyanoacrylate adhesive coating, for example, ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate. In other embodiments, the adhesive can be one more an epoxy adhesives. 
       FIGS.  1 - 4    illustrate various embodiments for removing an EMV chip from a plastic credit card or debit card and placing the removed EMV chip onto a metal card by placing the adhesive coated bottom face and bended four sides of the EMV chip into a holding cavity  404  of the metal card. In an embodiment, the holding cavity in the metal card has sufficient length, width, and depth to hold the EMV chip. In an embodiment, suitable pressure can be applied on the EMV chip in the holding cavity of the metal card for about 10 to about 30 seconds to cure the adhesive. In other embodiments, the EMV chip in the holding cavity of the metal card and the metal card itself can be cleaned with a solution of isopropanol and water to remove any excess adhesive. 
     The various embodiments described herein for removing an EMV chip from a plastic credit card or debit card and placing the removed EMV chip onto a metal card, can be extended to providing a metal card with more than one EMV chip. For example, the technology allows for the production of a metal card having two EMV chips, in which the two EMV chips may be on the same side of the card, or on opposite sides; a metal credit card having three EMV chips, in which two EMV chips may be on the same side of the card, and the third EMV chip on the opposite side; and a metal credit card having four EMV chips, in which two EMV chips may be on the same side of the card, and the other two EMV chips on the opposite side. 
     For example,  FIG.  5    illustrates an embodiment  501  of two EMV chips  502  taken from a plastic credit card or debit card, which have been placed into a top face of a metal card  503 . Also shown is the back of the metal card  504  optionally including magnetic strips  505  and a signature space  506 . 
     In another example,  FIG.  6    illustrates an embodiment  601  of two EMV chips  602  taken from a plastic credit card or debit card, in which one EMV chip  602  has been placed into a top face of a metal card  603  and the other EMV chip  602  has been placed into the bottom face of a metal credit card  604 . 
     In another example,  FIG.  7    illustrates an embodiment  701  of three EMV chips  702  taken from a plastic credit card or debit card, in which one EMV chip  702  has been placed into a top face of a metal card  703  and the other two EMV chips  702  have been placed into the bottom face of a metal credit card  704 . Alternatively, two EMV chips can be placed into a top face of a metal card and the other EMV chip can be placed into the bottom face of a metal credit card. 
     In another example,  FIG.  8    illustrates an embodiment  801  of four EMV chips  802  taken from a plastic credit card or debit card, in which two EMV chips  802  have been placed into a top face of a metal card  803  and the other two EMV chips have been placed into the bottom face of a metal credit card  804 . 
     Thus, in another embodiment the disclosure provides methods for removing one or more EMV chips from one or more plastic credit cards or one or more debit cards and placing the removed one or more EMV chips onto a metal card, which includes heating the one or more plastic credit cards or the one or more debit cards containing the one or more EMV chips to loosen the one or more EMV chips, each of the one or more EMV chips being substantially square and planar, each of the one or more EMV chips having an upward top face, a downward bottom face, and four sides; removing each of the loosened one or more EMV chips from the one or more plastic credit cards or the one or more debit cards; bending the four sides of each of the one or more EMV chips towards the downward bottom face of each of the one or more EMV chips; applying an adhesive coating to the bottom face and the bended four sides of each of the one or more EMV chips; and placing the adhesive coated bottom face and bended four sides of each of the one or more EMV chips into a separate holding cavity of the metal card. 
     In other embodiments, the disclosure provides methods for removing one or more EMV chips from one or more plastic credit cards or one or more debit cards and placing the removed one or more EMV chips onto a metal card, which further include heating a front face, and a back face of the one or more plastic credit cards or the one or more debit cards containing the one or more EMV chips with a heat gun to loosen each of the one or more EMV chips. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosure provides methods for removing one or more EMV chips from one or more plastic credit cards or one or more debit cards and placing the removed one or more EMV chips onto a metal card, which further includes heating the front face and the back face of the one or more plastic credit cards or the one or more debit cards containing the one or more EMV chips with a heat gun from between about 350° F. to about 400° F. 
     In other embodiments, the disclosure provides methods for removing one or more EMV chips from one or more plastic credit cards or one or more debit cards and placing the removed one or more EMV chips onto a metal card, which further includes heating the front face and the back face of the one or more plastic credit cards or the one or more debit cards containing the one or more EMV chips with a heat gun at about 370° F. for about 10 seconds to about 30 seconds. 
     In other embodiments, the disclosure provides methods for removing one or more EMV chips from one or more plastic credit cards or one or more debit cards and placing the removed one or more EMV chips onto a metal card, which further includes removing the loosened one or more EMV chips from the one or more plastic credit cards or the one or more debit cards using a pick. 
     In other embodiments, the disclosure provides methods for removing one or more EMV chips from one or more plastic credit cards or one or more debit cards and placing the removed one or more EMV chips onto a metal card, which further includes bending the four sides of each of the one or more EMV chips towards the downward bottom face of each of the one or more EMV chips, each of the bended four sides being substantially perpendicular to the downward bottom face. 
     In other embodiments, the disclosure provides methods for removing one or more EMV chips from one or more plastic credit cards or one or more debit cards and placing the removed one or more EMV chips onto a metal card, which further includes applying a cyanoacrylate adhesive coating to the bottom face and the bended four sides of each of the one or more EMV chips in each of the separate holding cavities of the metal card. 
     In other embodiments, the disclosure provides methods for removing one or more EMV chips from one or more plastic credit cards or one or more debit cards and placing the removed one or more EMV chips onto a metal card, wherein the cyanoacrylate adhesive coating comprises ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate. 
     In other embodiments, the disclosure provides methods for removing one or more EMV chips from one or more plastic credit cards or one or more debit cards and placing the removed one or more EMV chips onto a metal card, which further includes applying pressure on each of the one or more EMV chips in the separate holding cavity of the metal card for about 10 to about 30 seconds to cure the adhesive. 
     In other embodiments, the disclosure provides methods for removing one or more EMV chips from one or more plastic credit cards or one or more debit cards and placing the removed one or more EMV chips onto a metal card, which further includes cleaning each of the one or more EMV chips in the separate holding cavities of the metal card and the metal card with a solution of isopropanol and water to remove any excess adhesive. 
     In other embodiments, the disclosure provides methods for removing one or more EMV chips from one or more plastic credit cards or one or more debit cards and placing the removed one or more EMV chips onto a metal card, wherein the metal card is a stainless-steel metal card. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosure provides a metal credit card or a metal debit card, which includes two or more EMV chips arranged on a top face or a bottom face of the metal credit card or the metal debit card. 
     In other embodiments, the disclosure provides a metal credit card or a metal debit card, wherein one of the two or more EMV chips is arranged on the top face of the metal credit card or metal debit card, and another of the two or more EMV chips are arranged on the bottom face of the metal credit card or metal debit card. 
     In other embodiments, the disclosure provides a metal credit card or a metal debit card, wherein one of the two or more EMV chips is arranged on the top face of the metal credit card or metal debit card, and two of the two or more EMV chips are arranged on the bottom face of the metal credit card or metal debit card. 
     In other embodiments, the disclosure provides a metal credit card or a metal debit card wherein one of the two or more EMV chips is arranged on the bottom face of the metal credit card or metal debit card, and two of the two or more EMV chips are arranged on the top face of the metal credit card or metal debit card. 
     In other embodiments, the disclosure provides a metal credit card or a metal debit card, wherein two of the two or more EMV chips are arranged on the top face of the metal credit card or metal debit card, and two of the two or more EMV chips are arranged on the bottom face of the metal credit card or metal debit card. 
     In other embodiments, the disclosure provides a metal credit card or a metal debit card, wherein the metal card and the metal debit card is a stainless-steel metal credit card or a stainless-steel metal debit card. 
     The subject matter described herein can be embodied in systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles depending on the desired configuration. The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above can be directed to various combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and sub-combinations of several further features disclosed above. In addition, the logic flows depicted in the accompanying figures and/or described herein do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other implementations may be within the scope of the following claims. 
     A preferred embodiment is fully and clearly described above so as to enable one having skill in the art to understand, make, and use the same. Those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications may be made to the description above without departing from the spirit of the specification, and that some embodiments include only those elements and features described, or a subset thereof. To the extent that modifications do not depart from the spirit of the specification, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.