DE29914038U1 - Magnetic card - Google Patents

Description

Spitz, Klinger & Partner GbR

Lawyers ♦ Auditors · Tax advisors

Spitz, Klinger & Partner GbR · Bavariaring 20 · D-80336 Munich

Dr. jur. Volker Spitz, LL.M. Dr. jur. Alfred N. Klinger Alexander Gaul
Johannes M. Krüger Attorneys at Law

Dipl.-Kfm. Robert Thalhauser Auditor ■ Tax advisor

Telephone: (089) 544 25 40 Fax: (089) 543 90 40 e-mail: skpmuc@aol.com

Your Reference / Your Ref.

Our Ref.

7034 G 1097 EN

Date

11.08.1999

Applicant: Friedrich Knapp, Höxter Weg 5, 38124 Braunschweig Andreas Czech, Campestraße 7, 38102 Braunschweig Hans-Joachim Ahrens, Minslebenerstraße 83, 38855 Wernigerode Franz Schmitt, Wachholtzstraße 17, 38106 Braunschweig

Magnetic card

Office Bavariaring 20

D-80336 Munich

Bank details / Bank Account Reuschel & Co. Munich

Bank code 700 303 00 Account no. / Account 11 38625

VAT number

VAT Registration No.

DE 811 901 653

Description

The invention relates to magnetic cards and composite cards which can be assigned to a customer account, an additional device for connection to a payment device, an electronic cash register and a check card or credit card reading device.

Magnetic cards are known which are essentially made of a relatively rigid plastic material, have an essentially rectangular shape and have a magnetic strip on one side in the lengthwise direction of the card. These cards are mainly used as check cards or credit cards and can therefore be assigned to a bank customer's checking account.

The known magnetic cards have a number of disadvantages which limit their application. Firstly, due to the material of the known magnetic cards, it is not without problems to carry the card without a storage container specially designed for this purpose. Firstly, there is a risk that the card will be damaged or even break. Secondly, the card also carries a considerable risk of injury due to its relatively sharp edges, which can only be avoided by storing it in an appropriate container such as a wallet. The mechanical properties of known magnetic cards therefore lead to certain inconveniences in practice and are completely unsuitable for use by children, particularly because of the risk of injury. Furthermore, known magnetic cards have a uniform shape and a more or less uniform print, so that apart from a personalized part of such a print on the card, no information inherent in the card can be read without using a magnetic card reader.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic card with improved handling and an expanded range of applications.

The magnetic card according to the invention is characterized in a first aspect of the invention in that the magnetic card is essentially made of an unbreakable, rubber-like material and has at least one magnetic strip. Such a magnetic card can be easily carried and handled without any risk, even without a special storage device. The card is completely suitable for children and can be carried in a trouser pocket, for example.

The card can be made partially or completely from a plastic material, paper, hard paper or cardboard material, with a composite material such as a paper/plastic composite being particularly suitable.

Thermoplastic elastomers such as polyurethane (PUR), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) and polyetheramides are particularly suitable as plastic materials. Such materials are available under the trade names Desmopan, Lefaflex, Pebax and Santoprene. Vulcanized rubber and silicone are also suitable.

The hardness of the latter plastic materials in particular can be measured according to ISO 868 and DIN 53505, for example. A card according to the invention can, for example, have values in the range from Shore A 40 (relatively soft) to Shore D 100 (relatively hard). The hardness is preferably in the range from Shore A 60 to Shore A 80.

Elasticity moduli (ε-modules) from the tensile test according to DIN 53457 of particularly suitable materials or cards are between 10 N/mm2 and 1 x 103 N/mm2. An ε-module in the range of 50 to 200 N/mm2 is preferred.

With the materials and material constants specified above, magnetic cards can be produced, for example, that have a format that is typical for check cards (length: approx. 86 mm, width: approx. 54 mm, thickness: approx. 0.7 - 0.8 mm, possibly with rounded corners). Surprisingly, the rigidity of such a card is still sufficient for reading and writing the magnetic stripe with a conventional magnetic card reading/writing device.

Finally, regardless of the magnetic card dimensions chosen, it is advantageous for a magnetic card according to the invention if the buckling load when clamped at any two diametrically opposite outer edges of the card is less than 5 N (Euler buckling load).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a magnetic card is provided which can be assigned to a customer account and has at least one magnetic strip, wherein at least a part of the outer edge of the magnetic card runs essentially following a rectangle, the magnetic card covers at least 50% of this rectangle, and

a) another part of the outer edge of the magnetic card deviates from the rectangle to form at least one indentation and/or at least one bulge, and/or

b) the magnetic card has at least one recess completely enclosed by card material.

The decisive factor here is that the shape of the magnetic card differs significantly from the shape that has been usual for magnetic cards to date. Thus, part of the information of the magnetic card according to the invention is already given by its special shape. This part of the information can therefore be read without using a magnetic stripe reader/writer. The shape of the card can be used to "encode" the origin, the area of application or the recipient group, for example. The indentations, protrusions or recesses can represent complete trademarks or just elements of trademarks. In the latter case, the trademark elements represented by indentations, protrusions or recesses can be supplemented to form complete trademarks by further trademark elements, e.g. formed by an imprint (directly on the card material or on a cover layer).

The magnetic card can be formed or processed using punching and/or sawing and/or cutting, in particular laser cutting or water jet cutting.

In order to ensure sufficient mechanical stability of the card, the area of the indentations should be less than 40%, preferably less than 30% of the area of the underlying rectangle. If one looks instead at the area of the bulges, this area should also be less than 40%, preferably less than 30% of the area of the rectangle. The rectangle itself preferably has essentially a format that is usual for check cards.

In all of the above-mentioned magnetic cards according to the invention, two or more magnetic strips can also be provided. These magnetic strips preferably run parallel and at a predetermined distance from a substantially straight part of the outer edge of the magnetic card. This ensures that a magnetic card according to the invention can be read and written on reliably, e.g. by conventional read/write devices. Two magnetic strips can be arranged together on one side of the magnetic card, in particular along straight outer edge sections that are opposite to one another. However, the two magnetic strips can also be provided on different sides of the magnetic card, for example congruent and at a predetermined distance from a straight part of the outer edge of the magnetic card. Preferably, however, the two magnetic strips run at a predetermined distance from opposite, straight parts of the outer edge of the magnetic card.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a composite card is provided which has at least one magnetic strip and a hinge for the collapsible connection of two composite card sections. The hinge can be designed as a film hinge, which is advantageous for manufacturing purposes. The composite card according to the invention can fulfill other functions in addition to the pure magnetic card function, which can be implemented in particular on one of the composite card sections which does not have a magnetic strip.

It is advantageous if at least one of the composite card sections is designed as a magnetic card with one of the special features described above.

Furthermore, a composite card section, a magnetic card formed thereby, or the underlying rectangle of a magnetic card formed thereby can essentially have a format that is usual for check cards. Both composite card sections can also have such a format, in which case the hinge can advantageously be arranged along adjacent narrow sides of the two composite card sections.

The composite card according to the invention can be conveniently stowed away in a folded state, wherein it is expedient if the composite card is provided with closure means for releasably holding the two composite card sections in a folded state, in particular in a state with the composite card sections lying flat against one another.

A first closure element on one of the composite card sections and a second closure element on the other of the composite card sections can work together as closure means. In order to achieve a strong holding effect, the closure elements should each be arranged near an outer edge of the corresponding composite card section that is remote from the hinge.

A locking projection such as a snap fastener and a suitably sized locking recess are suitable as cooperating fastening elements. A Velcro fastener can also be provided.

As already explained above, the magnetic or composite cards according to the invention have an expanded field of application and are particularly appealing to young users or children.
30

Of course, a magnetic card according to the invention can replace a conventional magnetic card in all conventional areas of application.

The design of a card according to the invention is particularly well suited for a completely new application, namely as a special savings card or savings account card, in particular for children and young people, as explained below.

It has been recognised that, on the one hand, the financial resources of children and young people in general are relatively limited, but on the other hand, in many cases, parents, grandparents, other relatives and friends of these persons are willing to provide financial support, and this can be used to advantage by crediting part of a payment (e.g. by an adult) to the savings account of another (e.g. a child) using a magnetic card (savings card) associated with the savings account.

Accordingly, according to a fourth aspect, the present invention provides an additional device or an additional device for connection to a payment device for processing a payment, which is designed to transfer information about a partial amount of the payment to a magnetic card. By means of such an additional device, the above-described method of transferring a partial amount can be implemented in a simple manner and in a convenient manner for the persons concerned.

The additional device can itself be provided with a magnetic stripe writing device, by means of which the information about the partial amount is transferred to the magnetic card provided for this purpose. Alternatively, the additional device can also be designed in such a way that a magnetic stripe writing device used within an existing payment device, such as an EC card reader or credit card reader, is used for this new application.

The additional device according to the invention can be designed to store the information about the partial amount on a magnetic card according to the invention and/or a composite card according to the invention. The advantages of these cards significantly increase the attractiveness of the method for transferring partial amounts.

It is advantageous if the additional device can be connected to an electronic cash register and/or to an electronic check card or credit card reader (e.g. as an additional device). An electronic cash register or a check card or credit card reader can also already contain the additional device according to the invention integrated (e.g. as a retrofit module).

The invention is further described below by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1: a perspective view of a first embodiment of a magnetic card according to the invention,

Fig. 2: a perspective view of a second embodiment of a magnetic card,
15

Fig. 3: a plan view of a third embodiment of a magnetic card,

Fig. 4: a sectional view along the line A-A in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5: a plan view of a fourth embodiment of a magnetic card,
Fig. 6: a sectional view along the line CC in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7: a plan view of a fifth embodiment of a magnetic card,
25

Fig. 8: a plan view of a sixth embodiment of a magnetic card,

Fig. 9: a plan view of a seventh embodiment of a magnetic card,

Fig. 10: a plan view of a first embodiment of a composite card according to the invention,

Fig. 11: a sectional view along the line A-A in Fig. 10, Fig. 12: a side view of the magnetic card of Fig. 10, Fig. 13: another side view of the magnetic card of Fig. 10, Fig. 14: a plan view of a second embodiment of a composite card,

Fig. 15: a side view of the composite card of Fig. 14, 10

Fig. 16: another side view of the composite card of Fig. 14, Fig. 17: a perspective view of the composite card of Fig. 14, Fig. 18: a plan view of a third embodiment of a composite card, Fig. 19: a side view of the composite card of Fig. 18,

Fig. 20: another side view of the composite card of Fig. 18, 20

Fig. 21: a plan view of a fourth embodiment of a composite card, Fig. 22: a sectional view along the line A-A in Fig. 21, Fig. 23: a side view of the composite card of Fig. 21, Fig. 24: another side view of the composite card of Fig. 21, and

Fig. 25: a perspective view of the composite card of Fig. 30

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a magnetic card 10 according to the invention, which has a format that is usual for check cards and is made of an unbreakable, rubber-like material (here: polyurethane with a hardness of Shore A 70). Due to the dimensions and the material of the card, it can be easily carried and handled without a special storage medium. In particular, the magnetic card bends even when a relatively low pressure load is applied. If a pressure load is applied to the card 10, for example in the direction of the arrows F, a force of around 4 N is sufficient to bend the card elastically.

The card 10 has two magnetic strips 12 and 12', which are arranged on different sides of the magnetic card 10. The magnetic strip 12 runs at a distance that is usual for conventional check card readers and parallel to a straight edge section 14 of the card 10. The magnetic strip 12', on the other hand, runs at the same distance and parallel to another edge section 14', which is opposite the edge section 14 and also runs straight. In the example shown, the edge sections 14 and 14' run parallel to one another. Alternatively, the magnetic strips 12, 12' could be arranged on different sides, but congruently, e.g. along the edge section 14.

Further embodiments of magnetic cards or composite cards according to the invention are described below, whereby the same reference numbers are used for analogous components, but supplemented with a lower case letter, and essentially only the differences from the embodiment(s) already described above are discussed. Otherwise, express reference is hereby made to the description of the embodiment(s) described above.

Fig. 2 shows an elastic magnetic card 10a with two magnetic strips 12a and 12'a arranged on one side of the card 10a.

Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of a magnetic card 10b according to the invention with a magnetic strip 12b. The card 10b is made of a plastic material that is usual for check cards. The outer edge of the card 10b runs for the most part essentially following a rectangle R (drawn as a dash-dot line) and the card 10b covers this rectangle by more than 90%. The upper part 14'b of the edge in Fig. 3, however, runs deviates from the rectangle R to form two indentations 20b and 20b', the area of these indentations 20b, 20b' being less than 10% of the area of the rectangle R. The special contour of the card 10b was achieved by laser beam cutting.
10

The indentations of 20b and 20 b' represent the letters "N" and "Y" and thus, as a whole, represent a sequence of letters (here: a trademark).

In the embodiment according to Fig. 5, the entire outer edge of the card runs essentially following a rectangle R (a more or less pronounced rounding of the corners, as can be seen in the figure, does not represent a significant deviation from the rectangular edge course in the sense of the invention). The card 10c has two recesses 24c and 24'c, which are completely enclosed by the material of the card 10c. The two recesses 24c, 24'c together again form a sequence of letters.

Fig. 7 - 9 show magnetic cards 10d, 10e and 10f according to the invention, each with a magnetic strip that is provided on the side of the card that is not visible in these figures and runs at a predetermined distance and parallel to the lower edge section 14d, 14e and 14f. The cards are designed as a laminated paper-plastic composite (the inner layer consists of printed laminated paper). The outer edge of the cards again essentially follows a rectangle R and the magnetic cards cover a large part of the respective rectangle R.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 7, a part 14'd of the card edge runs significantly deviating from the underlying rectangle R and forms two

Protrusions 22d and 22'd, which represent elements of a symbol and together with printed elements 26d and 26'd form a complete symbol.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 8, the entire outer edge of the illustrated card 10b essentially follows a rectangle R. The card 10e has a recess 24e in the upper half of the illustrated card 10e, which is supplemented with an imprint 26e to form a pictogram.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 9, a recess 24f is provided which represents a part of the letter "Y", the remaining part of this letter being represented by a part of an imprint 26f and the recess 24f together with the imprint 26f representing a brand term.

The magnetic cards shown in Fig. 7 - 9 have further imprints, such as those marked at 28b, 28e or 28f.

Up to this point, magnetic cards 10 according to the invention have been described, each with a number of special features with regard to

- the choice of materials,

- the number and arrangement of magnetic strips, and

- the shape and print arrangement
described.

It is readily understood that the special features explained above can be combined in almost any way, so that within the scope of the invention a large number of embodiments arise, only some of which have been illustrated above using examples. In the following, embodiments of a composite card according to the invention with two interconnected composite card sections are described and it should already be pointed out at this point that the mentioned large number of embodiments of the magnetic card 10 can also be used for a composite card 40 according to the invention insofar as each of the composite card sections can be designed as a magnetic card of a type described above.

Fig. 10-13 show a first embodiment of a composite card 40 according to the invention with two composite card sections 42 and 42', which are connected to one another by a film hinge 44 that can be folded together (folding axis X). The card 40 shown is made of a plastic material (here: rubber-elastic), which makes the design of the hinge 44 as a film hinge particularly simple in terms of manufacturing technology. However, in contrast to the example shown, another suitable hinge could be provided, for example a pin-sleeve arrangement.

The two composite card sections 42, 42' have a format that is usual for check cards and are connected to one another by the film hinge 44 along one narrow side each.

To releasably hold the two composite card sections 42, 42' in the folded state, a one-piece snap-in pushbutton 46 is provided on the card section 42, which interacts with a snap-in through hole 48 provided on the other card section 42' in the folded state. For this purpose, the diameter of the pushbutton 46 is selected to be slightly larger than the diameter of the hole 48. If the composite card, as shown, has only one magnetic strip 12, it is preferred that this magnetic strip is not exposed to the outside after the card 40 has been folded, but is located inside the card.

Fig. 14-17 show a second embodiment of a composite card 40a according to the invention, which differs from the previously described composite card 40 in that the card 40a is made of a plastic material that is usual for check cards and is therefore relatively stiff, and that a second magnetic strip 12'a is provided in addition to the magnetic strip 12a. The two magnetic strips 12a, 12'a are arranged as in the magnetic card shown in Fig. 1.
30

Fig. 18-20 illustrate a third embodiment of a composite card 40b, which differs from the embodiment according to Fig. 10-13 only in that

•1-3 ¹ ^J

differs in that both card sections 42b and 42'b each have two recesses 24, 24'b and 24"b, 24"'b respectively, which partially overlap when folded and thus provide a different impression compared to the unfolded state. In general, it can be provided that mutual complementation of trademark elements only takes place when the composite card is folded (see e.g. Fig. 21) or only when it is unfolded. For this purpose, it can also be provided that at least one of the card sections is transparent.

Figs. 21 - 25 show a fourth embodiment of a composite card 40c, which differs from the one previously described in that the card section 42'c provided with the magnetic strip 12c is provided with an imprint 26c which represents a trademark element which is completed to form a complete trademark by the recess 24 provided in the card section 42c when the card 40c is folded together and the characters 24c, 26c form a unit when viewed from the outside.

The magnetic cards or composite magnetic cards described above can be used in a variety of ways and are particularly suitable for use as savings cards, especially for children and young people. The cards according to the invention are therefore particularly suitable for carrying out the partial amount transfer method described above, according to which information about a partial amount of a payment is transferred to a savings account card.

Claims (29)

1. Magnetic card assignable to a customer account, characterized in that the magnetic card is essentially made of an unbreakable, rubber-like material and has at least one magnetic strip ( 12 ). 2. Magnetic card according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic card is at least partially formed from a plastic material, in particular from a thermoplastic elastomer and/or vulcanized rubber and/or silicone. 3. Magnetic card according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the magnetic card is at least partially formed from paper, hard paper or cardboard. 4. Magnetic card according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the material of the magnetic card has a hardness in the range of Shore A 40 to Shore D 100, preferably in the range of Shore A 60 to Shore A 80. 5. Magnetic card according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the material of the magnetic card has a modulus of elasticity of less than 1 × 10 ³ N/mm ² , in particular less than 5 × 10 ² N/mm ² and preferably in the range of 50 to 200 N/mm ² . 6. Magnetic card according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the buckling load of the magnetic card for a compressive load (F) at any two diametrically opposed outer edges is less than 5 N. 7. Magnetic card which can be assigned to a customer account and has at least one magnetic stripe ( 12 ), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least a part ( 14 ) of the outer edge of the magnetic card runs essentially following a rectangle (R), the magnetic card covers at least 50% of this rectangle (R), and a) another part ( 14 ') of the outer edge of the magnetic card deviates from the rectangle to form at least one indentation ( 20 ) and/or at least one bulge ( 22 ), and/or b) the magnetic card has at least one recess ( 24 ) completely enclosed by card material. 8. Magnetic card according to claim 7, wherein the area of the indentations ( 20 ) is less than 40%, preferably less than 30% of the area of the rectangle (R). 9. Magnetic card according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the area of the bulges ( 22 ) is less than 40%, preferably less than 30% of the area of the rectangle (R). 10. Magnetic card according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the magnetic card is formed using punching and/or sawing and/or cutting, in particular laser cutting or water jet cutting. 11. Magnetic card according to one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the indentations ( 20 ), bulges ( 22 ) or recesses ( 24 ) represent elements of trademarks or complete trademarks. 12. Magnetic card according to claim 11, wherein the elements of trademarks represented by indentations ( 20 ), protrusions ( 22 ) or recesses ( 24 ) are supplemented to form complete trademarks by further elements of the trademarks, in particular formed by an imprint ( 26 ) on the card material. 13. Magnetic card according to one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the rectangle (R) has essentially a format customary for check cards. 14. Magnetic card according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic card has two magnetic strips ( 12 , 12 ') each running parallel and at a predetermined distance from a straight part of the outer edge of the magnetic card. 15. A magnetic card according to claim 14, wherein the two magnetic stripes ( 12 , 12 ') on one side of the magnetic card extend at the predetermined distance from opposite, straight parts ( 14 , 14 ') of the outer edge of the magnetic card. 16. A magnetic card according to claim 14, wherein the two magnetic strips ( 12 , 12 ') on different sides of the magnetic card extend at the predetermined distance from opposite, straight parts ( 14 , 14 ') of the outer edge of the magnetic card. 17. A composite card which can be assigned to a customer account and has at least one magnetic strip ( 12 ), the composite card having a hinge ( 44 ), in particular a film hinge, for the foldable (X) connection of two composite card sections ( 42 , 42 ') of the composite card. 18. Composite card according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the composite card sections ( 42 ') is designed as a magnetic card according to one of claims 1 to 16. 19. Composite card according to claim 17 or 18, wherein both composite card sections ( 42 , 42 ') essentially have a format customary for check cards and are connected to one another by the hinge ( 44 ) along a respective narrow side of the composite card sections in a foldable manner (X). 20. Composite card according to one of claims 17 to 19 with closure means ( 46 , 48 ) for releasably holding the two composite card sections ( 42 , 42 ') in a folded state. 21. Composite card according to claim 20, wherein the closure means are formed by a first closure element ( 46 ) on one ( 42 ) of the composite card sections and a second closure element ( 48 ) cooperating with the first closure element ( 46 ) on the other ( 42 ') of the composite card sections, and wherein the closure elements ( 46 , 48 ) are each arranged in the vicinity of an outer edge of the corresponding composite card section ( 42 , 42 ') remote from the hinge. 22. Composite card according to claim 21, wherein the first closure element is a snap-in push button ( 46 ) and the second closure element is a snap-in recess dimensioned for snap-in holding of the push button, in particular a snap-in through hole ( 48 ). 23. Additional device for connection to a payment device for processing a payment, characterized in that the additional device is designed to transfer information about a partial amount of the payment to a magnetic card. 24. Additional device according to claim 23, wherein the information can be stored on a magnetic stripe of the magnetic card. 25. Additional device according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the information can be stored on a magnetic strip ( 12 ) of a magnetic card ( 10 ) and/or a composite card ( 40 ) according to one of claims 1 to 16 or 17 to 22. 26. Additional device according to one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the additional device can be connected to an electronic cash register. 27. Additional device according to one of claims 23 to 26, wherein the additional device can be connected to an electronic check card or credit card reader. 28. Electronic cash register with an additional device according to one of claims 23 to 27. 29. Check card or credit card reading device with an additional device according to one of claims 23 to 27.