US 7,726,565 B1Granted

Insertable and removable magnetic stripe reader head protection device

OwnerJi Taninventor

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Abstract

An insertable and removable reader head protection device for a magnetic stripe reader is provided including a thin, non-ferromagnetic insertable panel that is disposed between the reader head and the magnetic stripe card, as the magnetic stripe card is inserted and swiped. The insertable and removable panel is adapted to protect the reader head from dirt, oil, and the like when inserted in the magnetic stripe reader and is adapted to be manually removable from this dirt-shielding position for manual cleaning. The reader head protection device provided includes embodiments both for use as an add-on accessory with existing types of magnetic stripe readers and for use during the initial manufacture of new magnetic stripe readers. When using the magnetic stripe reader head protection device the magnetic stripe reader owner will reduce downtime due to non-operational readers and reduce the cost of cleaning cards and service costs.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A removable protection device to protect a reader head of a magnetic stripe reader, where the magnetic stripe reader has a first longitudinal section and a second longitudinal section divided by a card swipe track for swiping magnetic stripe cards, with said reader head located in said first longitudinal section, comprising:

a substantially flat, thin vertical insert panel being a non-ferromagnetic material and having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end, a second end, and an upper edge wherein said vertical insert panel is adapted to fit in said card swipe track with said inner surface positioned alongside said first longitudinal section to protect said reader head, having said first end extending generally to a first end of said card swipe track, and having said second end extending generally to a second end of said card swipe track, wherein said vertical insert panel is adapted to be manually insertable into said card swipe track, is adapted to remain in position when said magnetic stripe card is swiped along said outer surface of said vertical insert panel, and is adapted to be manually removable from said card swipe track for cleaning;
a substantially flat, thin horizontal panel having a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a first longitudinal edge, and a second longitudinal edge, wherein said first longitudinal edge of said horizontal panel is attached generally perpendicularly to said upper edge of said vertical insert panel, and wherein said horizontal panel is sized to fit over a top side of said first longitudinal section of said magnetic stripe reader;
and
a substantially flat, thin vertical side panel attached at an angle to said second longitudinal edge of said horizontal panel, with said angle determined by the shape of said first longitudinal section of said magnetic stripe reader, wherein said horizontal panel, said vertical side panel, and said vertical insert panel form a shape generally similar to the shape of said first longitudinal section of said magnetic stripe reader, and wherein said horizontal panel and said vertical side panel assist in securing said vertical insert panel in position in said card swipe track.

1 more element

A removable protection device to protect a reader head of a magnetic stripe reader, where the magnetic stripe reader has a first longitudinal section and a second longitudinal section divided by a card swipe track for swiping a magnetic stripe card, with said reader head located in said first longitudinal section, comprising:

a generally thin protective vertical insert panel being a non-ferromagnetic material, said protective vertical insert panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a lower edge, wherein said protective vertical insert panel is disposed between said reader head and said card swipe track in a dirt-shielding position with said inner surface of said protective vertical insert panel adjacent to said reader head and with said outer surface of said protective vertical insert panel facing said magnetic stripe card when said magnetic stripe card is swiped, wherein said protective vertical insert panel is adapted to protect said reader head when in said dirt-shielding position, and wherein said protective vertical insert is adapted to be manually removable from said dirt-shielding position for manual cleaning;
and
an insert panel securing means to secure said protective vertical insert panel in said dirt-shielding position while allowing said protective vertical insert panel to be manually removable.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.