# US 7,743,982 B2 · Transaction product with generator

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- Number: US 7,743,982 B2
- Document ID: US7743982B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/931,961
- Filed: 2007-10-31
- Published: 2009-04-30
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2007-10-31
- Assignees: Target Brands, Inc.
- Inventors: Adam W. Reynolds; Erin M. Borkowski; Timothy P. Clegg; Primoz Samardzija
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743982B2

## CPC

- G07F 7/02: by keys or other credit registering devices
- G06Q 20/3433: {the counter having monetary units}
- G06Q 20/347: {Passive cards}
- G07F 7/0806: {Details of the card (record carriers per se G06K)}
- 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})
- 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

A transaction product includes an electro-mechanical circuit and an account identifier. The circuit includes a mechanical drive member, a generator in mechanical communication with the drive member, and an electrically driven device in electrical communication with the generator. The circuit is configured such that when a bearer moves the drive member, motion from the drive member is transferred to the generator, the generator uses the motion from the drive member to create an electrical voltage, and the electrical voltage is transferred to the electrically driven device to selectively power activation of the electrically driven device. The account identifier links the transaction product to an account or record and is machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal such that value can be added to or deducted from the account or record using the account identifier. Other cards, products, assemblies and methods of using such cards, products and assemblies are also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A transaction product, comprising:
an electro-mechanical circuit including a mechanical drive member, a generator in mechanical communication with the mechanical drive member, and an electrically driven device in electrical communication with the generator, wherein the electro-mechanical circuit is configured such that when a bearer of the transaction product moves the mechanical drive member, motion from the mechanical drive member is transferred to the generator, the generator uses the motion from the mechanical drive member to create an electrical voltage, and the electrical voltage is transferred to the electrically driven device to selectively power activation of the electrically driven device; and
an account identifier linking the transaction product to an account or record, the account identifier being machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal such that value can be added to or deducted from the account or record using the account identifier.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The transaction product of claim 1, wherein the account identifier is a bar code.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The transaction product of claim 1, wherein the account identifier includes at least one of a bar code, a magnetic strip, a smart chip and a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The transaction product of claim 1, wherein the mechanical drive member is a crank configured to be wound by the bearer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The transaction product of claim 4, further comprising a housing at least partially enclosing the electro-mechanical circuit; wherein the crank extends at least partially outside the housing and is configured to transition relative to the housing between a storage position and an operable position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The transaction product of claim 5, wherein the crank includes a protrusion, which nests within a recess defined by the housing when the crank is in the storage position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The transaction product of claim 5, wherein the housing defines a first primary panel, a second primary panel spaced from the first primary panel, and a side wall extending between the first primary panel and the second primary panel, and wherein the crank extends through the side wall of the housing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The transaction product of claim 1, further comprising a housing at least partially enclosing the electro-mechanical circuit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The transaction product of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of gears maintained within the housing, wherein motion from the mechanical drive member is transferred to the generator via the plurality of gears.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The transaction product of claim 8, wherein the housing includes a base and a cover coupled to the base to enclose a portion of the electro-mechanical circuit therebetween.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The transaction product of claim 1, wherein the electrically driven device is a light.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The transaction product of claim 11, further comprising a housing at least partially enclosing the electro-mechanical circuit; wherein the light extends through an aperture defined by the housing, and the aperture is tapered outwardly at an outermost portion thereof.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The transaction product of claim 1, further comprising a capacitor in electrical communication with the generator and the electrically driven device, wherein the capacitor stores the electrical voltage created by the generator for future use to power activation of the electrically driven device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The transaction product of claim 13, further comprising a housing at least partially enclosing the electro-mechanical circuit, and a switch accessible via an external portion of the housing, wherein bearer interaction with the switch starts and stops transfer of the electrical voltage from the capacitor to the electrically driven device to selectively activate and deactivate the electrically driven device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The transaction product of claim 1, wherein the generator is a dynamo generator.

### Claim 16

A stored-value product comprising:
means for linking the stored-value product with at least one of an account and a record having a value associated therewith such that the stored-value product can be used as payment toward a purchase of one or more of goods and services;
means for introducing mechanical movement to the stored-value product;
means for receiving the mechanical movement from the means for introducing mechanical movement and for using the mechanical movement to generate electricity;
means for storing the electricity for future use to drive an electrical device; and
means for substantially enclosing the means for receiving and using mechanical movement and the means for storing.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The stored-value product of claim 16, further comprising the electrical device extending through an aperture defined by the means for substantially enclosing.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The stored-value product of claim 17, further comprising means for selectively starting and stopping flow of the electricity between the means for storing the electricity and the electrical device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The stored-value product of claim 16, wherein the electrical device is means for emitting light from the means for substantially enclosing.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The stored-value product of claim 16, further comprising means for transferring the mechanical movement from the means for introducing to the means for receiving and for using mechanical movement, wherein the means for introducing and the means for receiving and for using mechanical movement are spaced from one another within the means for substantially enclosing.

### Claim 21

A method of encouraging purchase and facilitating use of a stored-value card linked to a record or account, the method comprising:
displaying the stored-value card to a potential consumer including visually displaying a support member, a handle coupled with the support member, and a light coupled with the support member, wherein the handle is configured to allow a bearer to introduce mechanical movement to the stored-value card, and the stored-value card is configured to convert the mechanical movement into electrical energy to illuminate the light; and
activating the record or account linked to the stored-value card to permit subsequent deductions from a value associated with the record or account for application toward one of a purchase and a use of one or more of goods and services.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the support member is part of a housing, and during displaying of the stored-value card the handle is at least partially embedded within the housing.

### Claim 23

A method of using a transaction card, the method comprising:
winding a crank of the transaction card to activate an electrically driven device, wherein the electrically driven device one of extends through, extends from, and is viewable through a housing of the transaction card; and
presenting the transaction card as tender toward payment of one or more of goods and services, wherein the transaction card is linked to an account or record storing an associated value available toward payment or one or more of goods and services.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein winding the crank introduces mechanical movement to a generator stored in the housing, and the generator uses the mechanical movement to create electrical voltage, which powers activation of the electrically driven device.