Stored-value card with light
AssigneeTarget Brands, Inc.
InventorsTed C. Halbur, Dave B. Smith, Timothy P. Clegg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stored-value card includes a housing and a light circuit. The housing defines a first primary panel and a second primary panel spaced from the first primary panel. The first primary panel defines an account identifier signifying a financial account linked to the stored-value card. A side is defined between the first primary panel and the second primary panel. The light circuit includes a light and a switch and is generally enclosed within the housing but for the light. The light extends from the side of the housing and is configured to be illuminated upon application of a force to the switch. Stored-value card assemblies and methods of using a stored-value card are also disclosed.
Claims31
A stored-value card comprising:
- a housing including a first primary panel and a second primary panel spaced from the first primary panel, wherein the first primary panel defines an account identifier signifying a financial account linked to the stored-value card, and wherein a side is defined between the first primary panel and the second primary panel;
- and
- a light circuit including a light and a switch, the light circuit being generally enclosed within the housing but for the light, wherein the light extends from the side of the housing and is configured to be illuminated upon application of a force to the switch, wherein the housing includes an aperture generally aligned with the switch of the light circuit, and the stored-value card further comprises:
- a button placed at least partially within the aperture of the housing and configured to interface with the switch, wherein the button and the switch are adapted such that depressing the button applies the force to the switch to illuminate the light.
A stored-value card comprising:
- a housing including a first primary panel and a second primary panel spaced from the first primary panel, wherein the first primary panel defines an account identifier signifying a financial account linked to the stored-value card, and wherein a side is defined between the first primary panel and the second primary panel;
- and
- a light circuit including a light and a switch, the light circuit being generally enclosed within the housing but for the light, wherein the light extends from the side of the housing and is configured to be illuminated upon application of a force to the switch;
- wherein the housing includes a base and a cover coupled to the base, and the light circuit is generally disposed between the base and the cover, and wherein the cover defines the first primary panel and the base defines the second primary panel, the cover and the base each including a plurality of side walls extending from the respective primary panel, wherein the plurality of side walls of the cover abut the plurality of side walls of the base.
A stored-value card comprising:
- a housing including a first primary panel and a second primary panel spaced from the first primary panel, wherein the first primary panel defines an account identifier signifying a financial account linked to the stored-value card, and wherein a side is defined between the first primary panel and the second primary panel;
- and
- a light circuit including a light and a switch, the light circuit being generally enclosed within the housing but for the light, wherein the light extends from the side of the housing and is configured to be illuminated upon application of a force to the switch;
- wherein the housing defines a side wall extending between and about a perimeter of each of the first primary panel and the second primary panel, and wherein the light extends from the housing through the side wall.
A gift card having a generally planar primary surface and a side wall extending about and generally perpendicular to the generally planar primary surface, the gift card including:
- means for providing decorative indicia to the primary surface;
- means for providing illumination to at least a portion of the side wall;
- means for at least partially housing the means for providing illumination, the means for at least partially housing including a first panel and a second panel spaced from one another to define a cavity between the first panel and the second panel, the means for at least partially housing including a side wall extending between the first panel and the second panel about the perimeter of the first panel and the second panel to enclose the cavity, wherein the means for providing illumination is at least partially housed within the cavity;
- means for linking the gift card to a financial account or a financial record;
- and
- means for illuminating the means for providing illumination upon a demand to collectively provide a visual presentation with the decorative indicia.
A method of promoting sales of a stored-value card, the method comprising:
- providing a stored-value card including a light circuit with a light, a housing substantially enclosing the light circuit, and a link to a financial account or record, wherein the housing defines an aperture;
- providing the stored-value card with indicia, wherein the light and the indicia collectively define a visual presentation of one of a subject and a scene;
- and
- providing a button formed separately from the housing and positioned within the aperture of the housing, wherein when a user presses the button, the button moves relative to the housing and interacts with the light circuit such that the light is illuminated for a period of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.