Carbon transaction card

ES 2 394 075 T3

DESCRIPTION

Carbon transaction card

Background

The present invention relates to transaction cards, such as credit cards and debit cards, which are used as a substitute for cash.

Description of Related Art

The vast majority of transaction cards used today are constructed of plastic. These cards tend to be flimsy and wear out or break easily.

Background technique

JP 2007/069493, against which claim 1 is delimited, discloses a card with an integrated circuit having carbon fiber manifested on a surface of two base materials. It is used, for example, for an ATM card or as a magnetic stripe card.

An IC card with a piezoelectric transducer and a display device is known from US 2003/169574. By folding the card, energy is produced to supply the display medium. The base material of the IC consists of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (short fibers in a polycarbonate resin).

US 5,214,566 describes an IC card reinforced by a carbon graphite and a boron fiber sheet.

US 2006/038014 addresses a magnetically encodable card with a non-magnetic substrate having a high-density, high-coercivity magnetic material and a hard protective coating (eg, a diamond-like hard carbon DLC).

Summary

The invention is defined by claim 1.

Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

The preferred embodiments of the present carbon transaction card have several characteristics, none of which alone is responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the present embodiments as expressed in the following claims, their salient features will now be briefly discussed. After considering the present disclosure, and particularly after reading the section entitled "Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments," it will be understood how the features of the present embodiments provide benefits, including increased strength and durability, increased rigidity, increased strength and durability. reduced weight, longer life, improved feel, and a state-of-the-art look.

One embodiment of the present carbon transaction card comprises a substantially flat sheet having a front surface, a rear surface, and a continuous peripheral edge. At least a portion of the flat sheet is carbon.

Brief description of the drawings

The preferred embodiments of the present carbon transaction card will now be discussed in detail with emphasis on highlighting the advantageous features. These embodiments show the transaction card that is novel and not apparent in the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. These drawings include the following figures, in which like numbers indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the present carbon transaction card; and Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the carbon transaction card of Figure 1.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the present transaction card 10 is a substantially flat sheet 11 having a front surface 12 and a rear surface 14. The card 10 includes a continuous peripheral edge 16, which in the illustrated embodiment is substantially rectangular. However, those of a normal level of skill in the art will appreciate that card 10 could be of virtually any shape, such as square, round, or hexagonal. The scope of the present card 10 is not limited to any particular form.

ES 2 394 075 T3

In the illustrated embodiment, the transaction card 10 has a number 18 (Figure 1) that identifies that the card 10 is associated with a particular account. In the illustrated embodiment, the account number 18 has sixteen digits. However, in alternative embodiments the card 10 may have more or fewer digits. The card 10 also has the name 20 of the cardholder and an expiration date 22. In certain embodiments, the card 10 may also have a year 24 or a date that the cardholder first obtained the card 10. The information represented on the card 10 may be applied in a conventional way, such as by stamping and / or printing.

Referring to Figure 2, the rear surface 14 of the present transaction card 10 includes a magnetic stripe 26. The magnetic stripe 26 stores information that is readable by a magnetic reader. For example, the magnetic stripe 26 may contain a series of digits from which the magnetic card reader can obtain information about the account associated with the card 10 and / or the cardholder. The rear surface 14 of the present transaction card 10 further includes a signature panel 28.

Although not shown in the figures, other embodiments of the present transaction card 10 may include additional features, such as an embedded microchip, a holographic image, and the like. Card 10 may further include one or more transparent portions. Such transparent portions may include one or more optically recognizable layers or infrared radiation blocking ink to allow the transparent portion (s) to be recognized by an optical card reader. These additional features may allow the transaction card 10 to function more easily, efficiently, and / or more securely.

With reference to Figure 1, the flat sheet 11 is constructed at least in part of carbon. Carbon can be in any of a variety of forms, such as carbon graphite and / or carbon fiber. In carbon fiber embodiments the carbon portion may comprise a carbon flat weave, which gives the card 10 the woven appearance shown in Figure 1. In certain embodiments sheet 11 can be entirely carbon, and in certain other embodiments sheet 11 can include multiple layers, at least one of the layers being carbon. In multilayer embodiments, the additional layers can be, for example, of one or more polymeric materials. For example, the outer layers of card 10 can be polymeric, while the inner layers of card 10 are carbon, or vice versa. The percentage of carbon and / or carbon graphite on card 10 can vary and can be up to 100%. Adaptable embodiments are not limited to any particular percentage or ratio of carbon / carbon graphite or the type and form of carbon.

The vast majority of today's transaction cards are constructed of plastic. The present carbon transaction card 10 is advantageously stronger and more durable than such plastic cards. It is also stiffer, lighter, and has a longer life. In addition to these benefits, carbon gives the card 10 a unique feel and a high-tech look. Therefore, the card 10 is also more desirable for its distinction from a typical plastic card.

Scope of the disclosure

The previous description presents the best mode contemplated to carry out this carbon transaction card, and the form and procedure of manufacturing and using it, in such complete, clear, concise, and exact terms as to allow any expert in the technique to which it belongs make and use this transaction card. However, this transaction card is susceptible to modifications and alternative constructions to those set out above that are completely equivalent.