# US 7,607,575 B2 · Transaction card package assembly having enhanced security

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- Number: US 7,607,575 B2
- Document ID: US7607575B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/380,881
- Filed: 2006-04-28
- Published: 2007-11-01
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2006-04-28
- Assignees: Blackhawk Network, Inc.
- Inventors: Donald Kingsborough; Talbott Roche; Amie Petersen; Teri Llach
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607575B2

## CPC

- B42D 25/369: Magnetised or magnetisable materials
- B42D 15/045: {Multi-part cards or sheets, i.e. combined with detachably mounted articles}
- B42D 25/00: Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof (printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14)
- B42D 25/20: characterised by a particular use or purpose
- G06K 19/005: {the record carrier comprising an arrangement to facilitate insertion into a holding device, e.g. an arrangement that makes the record carrier fit into an etui or a casing (ticket holders A45C11/18)}
- G06K 19/073: Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory (protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14)
- G06K 19/07798: {part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers (electronic seals G09F3/03)}
- B42D 25/285: {Gift cards}
- B42D 2033/40
- B42D 2035/08
- B42D 2035/16
- 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

## Abstract

A transaction card package assembly comprising a transaction card held by a card holder and having a security code spanning the transaction card and the card holder such that upon removal of the transaction card from the card holder, the security code is broken and a portion of the security code remains on the transaction card and a portion of the security code remains on the card holder.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A transaction card package assembly comprising a transaction card held by a card holder and having a security code spanning the transaction card and the card holder such that upon removal of the transaction card from the card holder, the security code is broken and a portion of the security code remains on the transaction card and a portion of the security code remains on the card holder, wherein the broken security code disables activation of the card and provides a visual or tactile indication of potentially fraudulent activity, wherein the security code is an EAN/UCC-128 bar code, and wherein the EAN/UCC-128 bar code is broken along a longitudinal axis of the bar code.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The package assembly of claim 1 where the security code is randomly generated during manufacture.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the tactile indication comprises an embossed security code.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The package assembly of claim 1 wherein upon breaking of the bar code, a first longitudinal portion of the bar code remains with the transaction card and a second longitudinal portion of the bar code remains with the card holder.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis runs through a numeric portion of the EAN/UCC-128 bar code.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the transaction card and the card holder comprise a snap and break assembly.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the security code is printed across an interface between the transaction card and the card holder.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The package assembly of claim 6 wherein the security code is printed across a score or break line defining an interface of the snap and break assembly.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the security code is on a sticker spanning the transaction card and the card holder.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The package assembly of claim 9 wherein the sticker is serrated.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the security code is integral with the transaction card and the card holder.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the security code is external to the transaction card and the card holder.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the security code is visible through a window in the card holder.

### Claim 14

A transaction card package assembly comprising a transaction card held by a card holder and having a security code spanning the transaction card and the card holder such that upon removal of the transaction card from the card holder, the security code is broken and a portion of the security code remains on the transaction card and a portion of the security code remains on the card holder; wherein the package assembly further comprises at least three unique identifiers thereon such that the transaction card may be activated at a point of sale by either a one-step or two-step activation process; and wherein the three unique identifiers comprise a vendor product identification code contained an EAN/UCC-12 bar code, an issuer account code contained in a magnetic stripe and/or an issuer bar code, and a combination vendor product identification and issuer account code contained in an EAN/UCC-128 bar code.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The package assembly of claim 14 wherein the transaction card comprises the magnetic stripe and/or an issuer bar code.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The package assembly of claim 14 wherein the security code is integral with the transaction card and the card holder.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The package assembly of claim 14 wherein the security code is external to the transaction card and the card holder.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The package assembly of claim 14 wherein the security code is visible through a window in the card holder.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The package assembly of claim 14 wherein the transaction card and the card holder comprise magnetic stripes containing the same issuer account code.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The package assembly of claim 14 wherein the card holder comprises the magnetic stripe and/or an issuer bar code.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The package assembly of claim 20 wherein the bar code comprises an EAN/UCC-12 bar code.

### Claim 22

A transaction card package assembly system comprising:
a first package assembly comprising a first transaction card held by a first card holder and having a first security code spanning the first transaction card and the first card holder such that upon removal of the first transaction card from the first card holder, the first security code is broken and a portion of the first security code is present on the first transaction card and a portion of the first security code is present on the first card holder; and
a second package assembly comprising a second transaction card held by a second card holder and having a second security code spanning the second transaction card and the second card holder such that upon removal of the second transaction card from the second card holder, the second security code is broken and a portion of the second security code is present on the second transaction card and a portion of the second security code is present on the second card holder,
wherein upon placement of the first transaction card in the second card holder, or vice-versa, the security codes do not match, thereby providing an indication of possible tampering or fraudulent activity.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The package assembly system of claim 22 wherein the first security code comprises a unique sequence of letters, numbers, characters, symbols, pictures, designs, graphics, or combinations and/or the second security code comprises a unique sequence of letters, numbers, characters, symbols, pictures, designs, graphics, or combinations.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The package assembly system of claim 22 wherein the first security code is randomly generated during manufacture and/or the second security code is randomly generated during manufacture.

### Claim 25 (depends on 22)

The package assembly system of claim 22 wherein the broken first security code provides a visual indication of potentially fraudulent activity and/or the broken second security code provides a visual indication of potentially fraudulent activity.

### Claim 26 (depends on 22)

The package assembly system of claim 22 wherein the broken first security code provides a tactile indication of potentially fraudulent activity and/or the broken second security code provides a tactile indication of potentially fraudulent activity.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The package assembly system of claim 26 wherein the tactile indication comprises an embossed security code.

### Claim 28 (depends on 22)

The package assembly system of claim 22 wherein the broken first security code disables activation of the card and/or the broken second security code disables activation of the card.

### Claim 29 (depends on 22)

The package assembly system of claim 22 wherein the broken first security code disables activation of the card and provides a visual or tactile indication of potentially fraudulent activity and/or the broken second security code disables activation of the card and provides a visual or tactile indication of potentially fraudulent activity.

### Claim 30 (depends on 22)

The package assembly system of claim 22 wherein the first security code is an EAN/UCC-128 bar code and/or the second security code is an EAN/UCC-128 bar code.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The package assembly system of claim 30 wherein the EAN/UCC-128 bar code is broken along a longitudinal axis of the bar code.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The package assembly system of claim 31 wherein upon breaking of the bar code, a first longitudinal portion of the bar code remains with the transaction card and a second longitudinal portion of the bar code remains with the card holder.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The package assembly system of claim 31 wherein the longitudinal axis runs through a numeric portion of the EAN/UCC-128 bar code.

### Claim 34 (depends on 22)

The package assembly system of claim 22 wherein the first transaction card and the first card holder comprise a snap and break assembly and/or the second transaction card and the second card holder comprise a snap and break assembly.

### Claim 35 (depends on 22)

The package assembly system of claim 22 wherein the first security code is printed across an interface between the first transaction card and the first card holder and/or the second security code is printed across an interface between the second transaction card and the second card holder.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The package assembly system of claim 35 wherein the first security code is printed across a score or break line defining an interface of the snap and break assembly and/or the second security code is printed across a score or break line defining an interface of the snap and break assembly.

### Claim 37 (depends on 35)

The package assembly system of claim 35 wherein the first security code comprises an EAN/UCC-128 bar code spanning the interface of the snap and break assembly and/or the second security code comprises an EAN/UCC-128 bar code spanning the interface of the snap and break assembly.

### Claim 38 (depends on 22)

The package assembly system of claim 22 further comprising at least three unique identifiers on the first package assembly such that the first transaction card may be activated at a point of sale by either a one-step or two-step activation process and/or at least three unique identifiers on the second package assembly such that the second transaction card may be activated at a point of sale by either a one-step or two-step activation process.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The package assembly system of claim 38 wherein the three unique identifiers comprise a vendor product identification code contained an EAN/UCC-12 bar code, an issuer account code contained in a magnetic stripe and/or an issuer bar code, and a combination vendor product identification and issuer account code contained in an EAN/UCC-128 bar code.

### Claim 40 (depends on 22)

The package assembly system of claim 22 wherein the first transaction card comprises a magnetic stripe, an issuer bar code, or both and/or the second transaction card comprises a magnetic stripe, an issuer bar code, or both.

### Claim 41 (depends on 22)

The package assembly system of claim 22 further comprising the first security code on a sticker spanning the first transaction card and the first card holder and/or the second security code on a sticker spanning the second transaction card and the second card holder.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The package assembly system of claim 41 further comprising a serrated sticker.