Patent Abstract:
A system for hanging a gift card includes a gift card assembly suspended from a gift card holder assembly by a looped strip of flexible material. The gift card assembly includes a removeably attached gift card and the gift card holder assembly includes a gift card holder for receiving the gift card after detachment from the gift card assembly.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the prior filed, co-pending provisional applications Ser. No. 61/347,493, filed May 24, 2010 and Ser. No. 61/441,835, filed Feb. 11, 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to gift cards and more particularly to a device for suspending or hanging a gift card from a gift card holder or greeting card. 
         [0003]    Transaction cards, stored value cards, or gift cards as they are commonly called based upon their intended use, have become popular gifts. Gift cards typically comprise a stored value card whereby a certain cash equivalent value is encoded upon a magnet strip applied to the surface of the card. This stored value may be determined by the vendor prior to packaging and display for sale or may be selected at the point of sale by the purchaser and loaded by the cashier using a magnetic card reader/writer. In some cases, the cash value is not stored upon the card itself but is associated with a card identification number and stored in a remote database. Alternatively, gift cards may be provided with a bar code or account number that links the card to a system account in which a record is stored associated with a monetary value. While popular, gift cards are typically provided with a generic and impersonal design, typically identifying only the associated merchant for which the card may be used to purchase merchandise, and therefore are not personalized in view of the intended recipient. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The purpose of this invention is to provide a means for hanging or suspending a transaction card, such as a conventional gift card, mounted on a backer card or panel from a greeting card or gift card holder. The gift card holder typically includes indicia for indicating both the name of the sender and recipient of the gift card, decorations of various styles or themes, and one or more slots for inserting a gift card into the holder or other means such as adhesive for holding the gift card to or within the hold structure. The holder may be mounted on a first backer panel that includes a peg hole for hanging the first backer panel and attached holder upon a display rack peg. The holder may include electronics for recording and playing sound such as music and/or a message from the gift giver. The electronics may include a sound speaker, a power source such as one or more commonly available watch batteries, a control circuit, a memory chip for storing sound recordings, and record and playback buttons. 
         [0005]    The gift card is typically mounted on a second backer panel that is also provided with a peg hole for either hanging the second backer panel upon a display rack peg or for use within the system disclosed herein. The gift card may be disposed upon the second backer panel so that the magnetic strip of the gift card projects below the lower margin of the second backer panel, or the second backer panel may be provided with a fold line, either structure thereby enabling the gift card magnetic strip to be scanned at the point of sale. Alternatively, in the case of a gift card provided with a bar code or other optically scannable indicia on the back of the gift card, the second backer panel may include a window in alignment with the scannable indicia so that the indicia may be scanned without removing the gift card from the second backer panel. 
         [0006]    A strip or tab of acetate, plastic, paper or the like projecting from the lower margin of the first backer panel is looped through the peg hole of the second backer panel and then affixed via adhesive or equivalent means (e.g. hook and loop fasteners) to a surface of the first backer panel to form a loop by which the second backer panel and attached gift card may be hung or suspended from the first backer panel and/or gift card holder. 
         [0007]    After purchase of the assembly comprising the gift card holder and gift card, the gift card may be removed from the second backer panel and installed within or upon the gift card holder. In certain embodiments, the gift card holder may then be detached from the first backer panel prior to giving the gift card holder bearing the gift card to a gift recipient. 
         [0008]    An embodiment of a transaction card hanger system includes a transaction card assembly attached to a transaction card holder assembly by suspending the card assembly from the holder assembly via a looped tab secured at either end to the holder assembly. The transaction card assembly may include a panel bearing an attached transaction card. The transaction card holder assembly may include a panel bearing a transaction card holder. 
         [0009]    Another embodiment of a transaction card hanger system includes a transaction card holder assembly. The transaction card holder assembly comprises a transaction card holder and a tab extending from the transaction card holder assembly. The tab has a free end for passing through an aperture in a transaction card assembly, which comprises a transaction card mounted upon a transaction card backer panel. The transaction card assembly is suspended from the transaction card holder assembly by passing the fee end of the tab through the aperture to attach to a surface of the transaction card holder assembly. 
         [0010]    A gift card hanger system according to the present invention may include a gift card assembly attached to a gift card holder assembly by suspending the gift card assembly from the holder assembly by a looped tab secured at either end to the gift card holder assembly. The gift card assembly may include a panel bearing an attached gift card. The gift card holder assembly may include a panel bearing a gift card holder. 
         [0011]    A gift card holder system according to the present invention may include a gift card holder assembly including a first backer panel, a detachable gift card holder attached to a face of the first backer panel, an elongated tab extending from a lower portion of the first backer panel, the tab including a free end, and a second backer panel including means for temporarily holding a gift card, the second backer panel including an aperture for accepting the free end therethrough, the first backer panel including means for attaching the free end to the first backer panel. The holder may include two hingedly connected panels and a means for holding a gift card. The holder may include three hingedly connected panels and a means for holding a gift card. The holder may include a container including a flap closure. 
         [0012]    Other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a gift card mounted upon a gift card backer panel prior to installation upon a gift card holder backer panel. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a gift card holder backer panel showing the tab projecting from the lower margin of the holder backer panel and partially bent upward and rearward. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of a holder backer panel. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front view of a gift card backer panel suspended from a holder backer panel via a looped tab. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a front view of second backer panel. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the second backer panel of  FIG. 5  showing a fold line. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the second backer panel of  FIG. 6  showing the lower portion of the second backer panel lifted upward and rearward and away from the lower portion of the gift card. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a second backer panel showing the gift card mounted to project below the bottom edge of the panel. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of the second backer panel of  FIG. 8  showing the gift card magnetic strip. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a rear view of a second backer panel provided with a window for exposing a gift card bar code. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a front view of a gift card assembly suspended from a gift card holder assembly and showing the upper flap of a gift card holder lifted to show interior details. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a gift card holder assembly having a tab formed integrally from the gift card holder backer panel. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a rear view of the gift card holder assembly of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a gift card hanger system showing a gift card assembly suspended from a gift card holder assembly by a looped tab integral to the gift card holder backer panel. 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a rear view of the hanger system of  FIG. 14 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    As required, one or more detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , there is shown an embodiment of a system for hanging a transaction card, such as a gift card, as indicated generally by the reference numeral  100 . The system  100  includes a gift card holder assembly  105  and a gift card assembly  110 . The holder assembly  105  and gift card assembly  110  are attached to one another by suspending the gift card assembly  110  from the holder assembly  105  via a strip or tab  115 . 
         [0030]    The holder assembly  105  includes a gift card holder  120  for holding, retaining or storing a gift card  125  after removal of the gift card  125  from the gift card assembly  110 . The holder  120  is typically formed of one or more relatively planar panels of cardstock or the like and typically includes indicia thereon for indicating both the names of the sender and recipient of a gift card  125 , indicia for indicating a message thereon from the sender to the recipient, decorations of various styles or themes, and one or more slots for inserting a gift card  125  into the holder  120 , or other means for holding the gift card  125  to, or within, the holder structure. When presented for sale, the holder  120  is typically mounted on a first backer panel  130  typically formed of card stock or the like. The first backer panel  130  includes a front surface  130 a, rear surface  130   b , top edge  130   c , bottom edge  130   d , left edge  130   e  and right edge  130   f . A peg hole  135  is typically provided proximate the top edge  130   c  for hanging the first backer panel  130  and attached holder  120  upon a display rack peg (not shown). The holder  120  may include electronics for recording and playing sound such as music and/or a message from the gift giver. The electronics may include a sound speaker, a power source such as one or more commonly available watch batteries, a control circuit, a memory chip for storing sound recordings, and record and playback buttons. 
         [0031]    A gift card  125 , typically provided with a magnetic strip, bar code and/or ID number associated with one or more monetary values or monetary accounts, is mounted on a second backer panel  140  using temporary or removable adhesive  155  or other operable means. In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a strip of removable adhesive  155  (shown in phantom lines) is interposed between the gift card  125  and the front surface  140   a  of the second backer panel  140  to adhere the gift card  125  to the second backer panel  140 . 
         [0032]    The second backer panel  140  includes a front surface  140   a , rear surface  140   b , top edge  140   c , bottom edge  140   d , left edge  140   e  and right edge  140   f . The second backer panel  140  is also typically provided with a peg hole  145  proximate the top edge  140   c  that may be used either for hanging the second backer panel  140  upon a display rack peg or for use within the system  100  disclosed herein. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 , the second backer panel  140  may be provided with a fold line  150  that extends transversely across the second back panel  140  between the left edge  140   e  and right edge  140   f . The fold line  150  and gift card  125  are positioned relative to each other so that the portion of the second backer panel  140  bearing the adhesive  155  (or other means of retaining or attaching the gift card  125  to the second backer panel  140 ) lies above the fold line  150 . Typically, the fold line  150  will traverse the lower portion of the second backer panel  140 . At the point of purchase of a device according to the system  100 , the gift card  125  is typically scanned by the cashier to activate the gift card  125  or load it with a monetary or other value. To facilitate scanning, the bottom edge  140   d  of the second backer panel  140  is lifted upward, in the direction of arrow A, as shown in the side view of the second backer panel  140  in  FIG. 7 . The lower portion  140   g  of the second backer panel  140  that pivots about the fold line  150  may be referred to as a flap  140   g . After the flap  140   g  is lifted, the magnetic strip  127  of the gift card  125  may be inserted into the slot of a magnetic card reader or scanner (not shown) without interference from or obstruction by the lower portion of the second backer panel  140 . 
         [0034]    Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the gift card  125  may be disposed upon the second backer panel  140  so that the magnetic strip  127  of the gift card  125  projects below the bottom edge  140   d  of the second backer panel  140 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a shortened version of the second backer panel  140  may be used to expose the lower portion of the gift card  125  while retaining the same space above the gift card  125  on the front surface  140   a  of the second backer panel  140 . Alternatively, the gift card  125  may simply be positioned further down upon the second backer panel  140 . In such case, the fold line  150  may be omitted. Either structure enables the magnetic strip  127  to be readily scanned at the point of sale by passing exposed lower portion of the gift card  125 , including the magnetic strip  127 , through a card reader (not shown) without the need for removing the card  125  from the second backer panel  140 . 
         [0035]    Alternatively, in the case of a gift card  125  provided with a bar code or other optically scannable indicia on the back of the gift card  125 , the second backer panel  140  may include an opening, aperture or window  165  in alignment with the bar code so that it may be scanned (typically at the point of sale) without removing the gift card  125  from the second backer panel  140 .  FIG. 10  provides a rear view of a second backer panel  140  showing the rear surface  140   b  and a window  165  in the lower portion of the second backer panel  140  disposed to align with a bar code  167  (visible through the window  165 , see  FIG. 10 ) on a rear surface of a gift card  125 . The gift card  125 , which is mounted on the front surface  140   a , is indicated in phantom lines. 
         [0036]    The gift card holder assembly  105  is provided with a strip or tab  115  projecting from the bottom edge  130   d  of the first backer panel  130 . The tab  115  may be formed of acetate, plastic, paper or the like. Any operable material may be selected of appropriate flexibility and strength. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the upper portion of the tab  115  may be sandwiched and secured between front and back cooperating panels that form the first backer panel  130 . Alternatively, and particularly when the first backer panel  130  is formed from a single sheet of material, the tab  115  may simply be attached to the front surface  130   a  or more preferably the rear surface  130   b  of the first backer panel  130 . 
         [0037]    In order to assemble an apparatus according to the system  100 , the tab  115  is looped through the peg hole  145  of the second backer panel  140  and then affixed via adhesive  160  (such as a section of double stick tape) or equivalent means to a surface of the first backer panel  130 , preferably but not necessarily the rear surface  130   b , to form a loop  117  (see  FIG. 4 ) by which the gift card assembly  110  may be suspended from the gift card holder assembly  105 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lower portion of the tab  115  is lifted upward in the direction of arrow B to generally pivot around line  115   b  to thereafter contact a target surface  130   g  of the rear surface  130   b  of the first backer panel  130  (as indicated by phantom lines  130   g  in  FIG. 1 ) to form loop  117 . It should be appreciated that the lower portion  115   c  of the tab  115  is first passed through the peg hole  145  of the gift card assembly  110  prior to attachment to the target surface  130   g  so that the tab  115  forms a loop  117  holding the second backer card  140  to the first backer card  130  and, therefore, the gift card assembly  110  to the gift card holder assembly  105 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0038]    In certain embodiments of the system  100 , the lower portion of the tab  115  (typically the rearward surface) is provided with a strip of adhesive  115   a  that contacts and adheres to the target surface  130   g  when the lower portion of the tab  115  is lifted to meet the first backer panel  130 . In the other embodiments, the tab  115  is adhered to a section of double stick tape  160  located on the target surface  130   g  after the tab  115  is passed through the peg hole  145 . 
         [0039]    After purchase of a device according to the system  100 , the gift card  125  may be removed from the second backer  140  and installed within or upon the gift card holder  120 . In certain embodiments, the gift card holder  120  may then be detached from the first backer  130  card prior to giving the gift card holder  120  bearing the gift card  125  to a gift recipient. In further embodiments, an envelope is included with the system  100  and the gift card holder  120  is inserted into the envelope after it is detached from the second backer  140 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 11  illustrates an example of a gift card holder  120 A comprising two flaps of cardstock or the like defined from one another by a hinge or fold line  120   a . Typically, as when presented for sale, the upper flap  180  lies flat against the lower flap  185 , however, in this illustration the upper flap  180  is shown lifted upward to expose interior details, namely, slits  190   a  and  190   b  in the upper flap  180 , to/from indicia  195   a  and  195   b  and message indicia  197 . After purchase of a device according to the system  100 , the gift giver (typically the buyer) may indicate the name of the gift recipient as prompted by the “To:” indicia  195   a , the name of the gift giver as prompted by the “From:” indicia  195   b , provide a written message as prompted by the “Message” indicia  197 , and remove the gift card  125  from the second backer panel  140  and install it in the holder  120 A as generally indicated by arrow C. The gift card  125  may be attached to or installed in the holder  120 A by slipping diagonally opposing corners of the gift card into slits  190   a  and  190   b  as indicated in phantom lines  125 A in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0041]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 12 through 15 , an alternative embodiment of the system  100 A includes a first backer panel  130 A with an integral strip  115 A formed from the same piece of material (typically card stock, thin plastic, paper or the like) as the first backer panel  130 A.  FIG. 12  is a front view of a gift card holder assembly  105 A having a tab or strip  115 A formed integrally from the gift card holder backer panel (first backer panel  130 A). The strip  115 A may be scored  116  to facilitate bending it in the general direction indicated by arrow D after looping it through the second backer panel  140  peg hole  145 . Notches  170  and  175  in the first backer panel  130 A, separate and define an upper portion of the strip  115 A from the adjacent portions of the backer panel  130 A. 
         [0042]    The notches  170  and  175  allow the second backer panel  140  to be drawn further upward and in overlapping engagement with the first backer panel  130 A after the free end of the strip  115 A is passed through the peg hole  145  and secured to the rear surface of the first backer panel  130 A using adhesive  160 , such as double stick tape or the like. As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the upper portion of the second backer panel  140  slides into the notches  170  and  175  as the second backer panel  140  drawn upward by fastening the free end of the looped strip  115 A to the back of the first backer panel  130 A. Note that as indicated in  FIG. 13 , which shows a rear view of the first backer panel  130 A, the adhesive may be placed near the free end of the strip  115 A or on the rear surface of the first backer panel  130 A at the point where the free end of the strip  115 A will meet when secured to form a loop  117 A.  FIG. 14  is a front view of the gift card assembly  110  suspended from the gift card holder assembly  105 A by the looped tab  115 A integral to the gift card backer panel  130 A.  FIG. 15  is a rear view of the gift card assembly  110  suspended from the gift card holder assembly  105 A via loop  117 A.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1