Abstract:
A folding data card has two parts connected at a common edge such that the two parts can rotate relative to each other. A data encoded strip on one of the parts is spaced inwardly from the common edge a standard distance. When the card is folded with the strip facing out, the strip can be read by a standard card reader. When the card is folded with the strip facing in, the strip is protected. A removable third part is provided for retail display.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/594,642 filed Apr. 26, 2005. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to data cards and more particularly to a folding data card with a data encoded strip.  
       BACKGROUND ART  
       [0003]     Data cards have many uses, such as credit cards, debit cards, phone cards, gift cards and card keys. Data on these data cards is generally encoded on a data encoded strip, such as a magnetic stripe.  
         [0004]     The International Organization for Standardization, known as ISO, provides standards that define the characteristics of data cards, including the size and thickness of the cards, and the positioning and format of magnetic stripes. Standardization of the data card size, of the data card thickness and of the distance from a reference edge to the magnetic stripe all facilitate machine reading and writing of the magnetic stripe.  
         [0005]     The ID-1 format that is defined in ISO 7810 is commonly used for banking cards and has a size of 85.60×53.98 mm, or 3.375×2.125 inches, and a thickness of 0.76 mm or 0.030 inches. The magnetic stripe extends across one face of the card, parallel to the reference edge. The magnetic stripe is spaced inwardly a standard distance of 0.218 inches from the reference edge of the card, and is typically 0.375 to 0.500 inches wide.  
         [0006]     Magnetic stripes have two varieties, low coercivity and high coercivity. Low coercivity magnetic stripes are more easily written than high coercivity magnetic stripes. Low coercivity magnetic stripes are generally used for gift cards, phone cards and card keys. High coercivity magnetic stripes are generally used for credit cards. The magnetic stripe can be damaged. The magnetic stripe can also be accidentally read or written. It is desirable to provide a data card that provides protection for the magnetic stripe.  
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     A data card includes generally rectangular first, second and third portions. The first and second portions are generally rectangular with rounded corners, each having a first edge and a second edge spaced from the first edge. The first portion is the size of a standard card and has a first thickness. The second portion has a second thickness, with the combined first and second thicknesses equaling the thickness of a standard card. The first and second portions are pivotally connected along the first edges so that the second portion can be folded against either face of the first portion. A data encoded strip on the second portion is spaced from the first edge by the standard distance and spaced from the second edge by a distance greater than the standard distance. The third portion is removably connected to the second edge of the first portion and includes a display aperture for retail display of the card. Another card has the data coded strip on the first portion instead of the second portion.  
         [0008]     When the second portion is folded against the first portion with the data encoded strip facing outwardly, the data encoded strip can be read by a card reader. When the second portion is folded against the first portion with the data encoded strip facing inwardly, the data encoded strip is protected. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Details of this invention are described in connection with the accompanying drawings that bear similar reference numerals in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a data card embodying features of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevation view of the card of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged, partial sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation of the card of  FIG. 1  with the second portion folded forwardly and the third portion removed.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of the card of  FIG. 1  with the second portion folded forwardly and the third portion removed.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view of the card of  FIG. 1  with the second portion folded rearwardly and the third portion removed.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a rear elevation view of another card embodying features of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     Referring now to FIGS.  1  to  6 , a data card  12  embodying features of the present invention is generally made of plastic, or a laminated plastic or paper like material, and the card  12  can be made by die cutting methods. The card  12  includes a first portion  14 , a second portion  15  and a third portion  16 . The first portion  14  is flat and generally rectangular with rounded corners. The first portion  14  is a standard card size, such as the ID-1 format. The first portion  14  includes a first edge  18  and a second edge  19  spaced a first distance d 1  from the first edge  18 . The first portion  14  has a first thickness t 1 , that is less than the standard thickness ts of a data card.  
         [0018]     Describing the specific embodiments herein chosen for illustrating the invention, certain terminology is used which will be recognized as being employed for convenience and having no limiting significance. For example, the terms “front” and “rear” refer to the illustrated embodiment as referenced to the first portion  14 . Further, all of the terminology above-defined includes derivatives of the word specifically mentioned and words of similar import.  
         [0019]     The first portion  14  has tab  20  near the second edge  19 . The tab  20  shown is a semi-circular cut through the first portion  14 , with the convex side towards the first edge  18 . The tab  20  is spaced substantially a second distance d 2  from the first edge, with the second distance d 2  being less than the first distance d 1 .  
         [0020]     The second portion  15  is flat and generally rectangular with rounded corners. The second portion  15  includes a first edge  22  and a second edge  23  spaced the second distance d 2  from the first edge  22 . The second portion  15  has a second thickness t 2 . The first and second thicknesses t 1  and t 2  combined equal the standard thickness ts. The first and second thicknesses t 1  and t 2  shown are equal, but the first and second thicknesses t 1  and t 2  can differ. The first and second portions  14  and  15  are pivotally connected along the first edges  18  and  22 , such that the second portion  15  can be folded against the first portion on either side.  
         [0021]     As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , in the card  12  shown, two spaced kiss cuts  24  are made between the first edges  18  and  22  of the first and second portions  14  and  15 , leaving three uncut, spaced hinge portions  30  connecting the first edges  18  and  22  of the first and second portions  14  and  15 . Kiss cuts generally are die cuts that extend through only a portion of the thickness of the material, and the kiss cuts  24  shown extend into the card  12  about one third of the thickness of the card  12 . When the card  12  is folded, the kiss cuts  24  break apart while the hinge portions  30  flex and remain intact. Other methods and structure can be used to pivotally connect the first edges  18  and  22  of the first and second portions  14  and  15 . The tab  20  on the first portion  14  holds the second edge  23  of the second portion  15 , to secure the second portion  15  against the first portion  14 .  
         [0022]     A data encoded strip  25 , shown as a magnetic stripe  26 , on the second portion  15 , extends parallel to the first edge  22  and spaced from the first edge  22  by the standard distance ds. The distance from the magnetic stripe  26  to the second edge  23  of the second portion  15  is greater than standard distance ds. The magnetic strip  26  can only be read by a standard magnetic card reader when the second portion  15  is folded against the first portion  14 , with the magnetic stripe  26  facing outwardly. When the second portion  15  is folded against the first portion  14 , with the magnetic stripe  26  facing inwardly, the magnetic strip  25  is protected from accidental reading and physical damage.  
         [0023]     The third portion  16  shown is flat and generally rectangular with rounded corners. The third portion  16  can be other shapes. The third portion  16  is removably connected to the second edge  19  of the first portion  14 . In the card  12  shown, a kiss cut  24  extends along the second edge  19  of the first portion  14 . The kiss cut  24  extends into the card  12  about one third of the thickness of the card  12 . When the card  12  is folded, the kiss cut  24  breaks apart, separating the third portion  16  from the first portion  14 . The third portion  16  is provided for display purposes only. A display aperture  28  extends through the third portion  16 , for hanging the card  12  on a retail display.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows the card  12  with the magnetic stripe  26  on the first portion  14 , instead of the second portion  15 . The magnetic stripe  26  extends parallel to the first edge  18  and spaced from the first edge  18  by the standard distance ds. The distance from the magnetic stripe  26  to the second edge  19  of the first portion  14  is greater than standard distance ds. The magnetic strip  26  can only be read by a standard magnetic card reader when the second portion  15  is folded against the first portion  14 , with the magnetic stripe  26  facing outwardly. When the second portion  15  is folded against the first portion  14 , with the magnetic stripe  26  facing inwardly, the magnetic strip  25  is protected from accidental reading and physical damage.  
         [0025]     Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.