# US 10,121,305 B2 · Soft touch resin and transaction card comprising the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,121,305 B2 - Document ID: US10121305B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/720,061 - Filed: 2017-09-29 - Published: 2018-06-14 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-09 - Assignees: Capital One Services, LLC - Applicants: Capital One Services, LLC - Inventors: Om J Suthar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10121305B2 ## CPC - G07F 7/0806: {Details of the card (record carriers per se G06K)} - B42D 25/29: Securities; Bank notes - B42D 25/40: Manufacture - G06K 19/0772: {Physical layout of the record carrier} - G06K 19/07724: {the record carrier being at least partially made by a molding process (molding in general B29C45/14)} - B29K 2995/0073: smooth - B32B 2274/00: Thermoplastic elastomer material - B32B 2425/00: Cards, e.g. identity cards, credit cards - C08K 2201/009: Additives being defined by their hardness - C08L 2207/04: Thermoplastic elastomer - G06Q 20/357: {Cards having a plurality of specified features} - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - B42D: BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09) - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Apparatuses and methods are provided for manufacturing a transaction card. The disclosed apparatuses and methods may be used to form a transaction card frame configured to house a data storage component. The card frame may be formed of a resin mixture comprising a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The card frame may also have a Shore D hardness in the range of 20-80. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transaction card, comprising: a card frame configured to house a data storage component, wherein: the card frame is formed of a resin mixture comprising a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and acetal homopolymer with a ratio of TPE to acetal homopolymer between 30:70 and 70:30; and the card frame has a Shore D hardness in the range of 20-80. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the TPE is a polyester elastomer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the resin mixture further comprises polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The transaction card of claim 3, wherein the PBT has a flexural modulus in the range of 1600-8500 MPa and a flexural strength in the range of 50-200 MPa. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the card frame has a Shore D hardness in the range of 40-60. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the TPE has a flexure modulus in the range of 500-1150 MPa. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the TPE has a Shore A hardness greater than 15 and a Shore D hardness less than 85. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the TPE has a Shore D hardness in the range of 70-85. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the acetal homopolymer has a Rockwell M hardness in the range of 18-94 and a Rockwell R hardness in the range of 102-122. ### Claim 10 A method of manufacturing a transaction card, comprising: providing a resin mixture comprising a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and acetal homopolymer with a ratio of TPE to acetal homopolymer between 30:70 and 70:30; forming a card frame from the resin mixture, wherein the card frame has a Shore D hardness in the range of 20-80; and disposing a data storage component in the card frame. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the TPE is a polyester elastomer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the resin mixture further comprises polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the PBT has a flexural modulus in the range of 1600-8500 MPa and a flexural strength in the range of 50-200 MPa. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the card frame has a Shore D hardness in the range of 40-60. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the TPE has a flexure modulus in the range of 500-1150 MPa. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the TPE has a Shore A hardness greater than 15 and a Shore D hardness less than 85. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the TPE has a Shore D hardness in the range of 70-85. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the acetal homopolymer has a Rockwell M hardness in the range of 18-94 and a Rockwell R hardness in the range of 102-122.