US 5,982,736 A · Trading card optical compact disc and methods of using and forming same

Abstract

A trading card optical compact disc and method of using and forming the compact disc are provided which are compatible with a disc reader having a centrally located spindle and a seating ring for supporting and rotating a compact disc positioned thereon. The trading card optical compact disc according to an embodiment of the invention preferably has at least a first plastic rectangular layer having a width of about 2.5 inches and a length of about 3.5 inches and having a pattern of digital data encoded thereon. A second metallic layer is formed on at least portions of the first plastic layer, and a third protective layer is formed on at least the second layer for protecting the metallic layer. An indicia bearing fourth layer is formed on the third layer and has a generally planar upper surface for displaying indicia therefrom. An opening extends through the first, second, third, and fourth layers in a medial portion thereof. A trading card interface seat is preferably integrally formed in at least the first layer for seating the trading card onto a loading tray of a disc reader so as to interface with only portions of the seating ring of the disc reader and to read digital data stored thereon from the trading card optical compact disc.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A trading card optical compact disc compatible with a disc reader which includes a centrally located spindle and a recess in a loading tray thereof defining a seating ring for supporting and rotating a trading card optical compact disc positioned thereon, the trading card optical compact disc comprising;

at least a first plastic rectangular layer having a width of about 2.5 inches and a length of about 3.5 inches and having a pattern of digital data encoded thereon;
a second metallic layer formed on at least portions of the first plastic layer;
A third protective layer formed on at least the second layer for protecting the metallic layer;
an indicia bearing fourth layer formed on the third layer and having a generally planar upper surface for displaying indicia therefrom;
an opening extending through the first, second, third, and fourth layers in a medial portion thereof;
and
trading card interface seating means integrally formed in at least the first layer for seating the trading card onto the loading tray of the disc reader so as to interface with only portions of the seating ring of the disc reader and to read digital data stored thereon from the trading card optical compact disc.

4 more elements

A trading card optical compact disc compatible with a disc reader which includes a centrally located spindle and a seating ring for supporting and rotating a compact disc positioned thereon, the trading card optical compact disc comprising:

at least a first polycarbonate rectangular layer having a width of about 2.5 inches and a length of about 3.5 inches and having a pattern of digital data encoded thereon, said first polycarbonate layer including a major elevational portion having a first predetermined height and a minor elevational portion having a second predetermined height so that the major elevational portion interfacingly seats the trading card onto a loading tray of the disc reader so as to interface with only a portion of the seating ring of the disc reader and to read digital data stored thereon from the trading card optical compact disc, the major elevational portion having the encoded digital data thereon and the minor elevational portion being devoid of the encoded digital data, the major elevational portion being formed in a medial portion of the trading card and having first and second pairs of spaced-apart outer side peripheries defining outer boundaries of the major elevational portion, each of the first pair of spaced-apart outer side peripheries arcuately extending between each of the second pair of spaced-apart outer side peripheries, and each of the second pair of spaced-apart outer side peripheries extending generally linearly between each of the first pair of spaced-apart outer side peripheries;
a second metallic layer formed on at least portions of the first polycarbonate layer;
at least a third layer formed on at least the second layer for protecting the metallic layer and for displaying indicia therefrom;
and
an opening extending through the first, second, and third layers in a medial portion thereof.

2 more elements

A trading card optical compact disc comprising:

at least a first plastic rectangular layer having a width of about 2.5 inches and a length of about 3.5 inches so as to define a rectangular outer perimeter and having a pattern of digital data encoded thereon, said first plastic layer including a major elevational portion and a minor elevational portion, the major elevational portion having the encoded digital data thereon and the minor elevational portion being devoid of the encoded digital data, the major elevational portion being formed in a medial portion of the trading card and having first and second pairs of spaced-apart outer side peripheries defining outer boundaries of the major elevational portion, each of the first pair of spaced-apart outer side peripheries arcuately extending between each of the second pair of spaced-apart outer side peripheries, and each of the second pair of spaced-apart outer side peripheries extending generally linearly between each of the first pair of spaced-apart outer side peripheries;
a second metallic layer formed on at least portions of the first plastic layer;
at least a third layer formed on at least the second layer for protecting the metallic layer and for displaying indicia therefrom;
an opening extending through the first, second, and third layers in a medial portion thereof;
a first non-metallic zone surrounding and extending outwardly a predetermined distance from the medial opening;
and
a second non-metallic zone extending inwardly from the rectangular outer perimeter of the trading card optical compact disc a predetermined distance.

4 more elements

A trading card optical compact disc having a width of about 2.5 inches and a length of about 3.5 inches, the trading card optical compact disc comprising:

at least a first plastic layer having a pattern of digital data encoded thereon, said first plastic layer including a major elevational portion having a first predetermined height and a minor elevational portion having a second predetermined height, the major elevational portion having the encoded digital data thereon and the minor elevational portion being devoid of the encoded digital data, the major elevational portion being formed in a medial portion of the trading card and having first and second pairs of spaced-apart outer side peripheries defining outer boundaries of the major elevational portion, each of the first pair of spaced-apart outer side peripheries arcuately extending between each of the second pair of spaced-apart outer side peripheries, and each of the second pair of spaced-apart outer side peripheries extending generally linearly between each of the first pair of spaced-apart outer side peripheries;
a second metallic layer formed on at least portions of the first plastic layer;
at least a third layer formed on at least the second layer for displaying indicia therefrom;
an opening extending through the first, second, and third layers in a medial portion thereof;
a first non-metallic zone surrounding and extending outwardly a predetermined distance from the medial opening;
and
a second non-metallic zone extending inwardly from a rectangular outer perimeter of the trading card optical compact disc a predetermined distance.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Trading card optical compact disc and methods of using and forming same

Life of this patent

Trading card optical compact disc and methods of using and forming same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26