WO2007021165A1

WO2007021165A1 - Prepay card comprising an access code protection mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2007021165A1
Application number: PCT/MX2005/000069
Authority: WO
Inventors: César Enrique RUIZ AMADOR; Jorge Alberto Ruiz Amador
Original assignee: Ruiz Amador Cesar Enrique; Jorge Alberto Ruiz Amador
Priority date: 2005-08-19
Filing date: 2005-08-19
Publication date: 2007-02-22

Abstract

The invention relates to a prepay card comprising a mechanism for protecting the access code thereof. The inventive card consists of a body having one part comprising a fold section and a folding section, said fold section being defined by an imaginary line which is not printed on the card and by a bending mark which separates the two sections. The fold section contains a printed card access code which takes the form of fragmented Arabic numbers that are represented by lines or points. The folding section comprises a T-shaped area which serves as a detachable label and which contains a space in which complementary fragments of the numbers of the access code are printed. In addition, a permanent adhesive agent is applied to areas adjacent to the aforementioned T-shaped area in order to join the folding section to the fold section along the bending mark, such as to create a series of identical characters and, in this way, to produce a visual effect that protects the card access code.

Description

PREPAID CARD WITH MECHANISM THAT PROTECTS YOUR CODE

ACCESS

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a prepaid card, such as cell phone, Internet, long distance telephone service, etc., which incorporates a mechanism to protect your access code.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Within the field of protection of access codes on prepaid cards, one of the most used solutions is to cover the numbers that make up said code with a layer of opaque material adhered to the surface of the card; material that must be removed by the user to obtain the access code number. This material can be removed by scraping it using a coin or some other metallic object. This system is a practical inconvenience for the user to have an object suitable for scraping and a firm surface to support the card during the process.

Another solution currently used incorporates an adhesive label that fulfills the function of removing the layer of opaque material facilitating the user access to the code; but requiring a greater number of components for its manufacture making the production process more expensive and complicated.

Another method to mention, incorporates a label with a holographic image on the label that removes the layer of opaque material and a third transparent label on the holographic image. Each of these labels must be removed one at a time by the user, and at the end of this process certain characteristic marks appear that demonstrate that the card has already been used. This method offers a high level of security for code protection. But it requires a considerable amount of materials for its manufacture, as well, as a more complicated process for it.

With the purpose of eliminating all the aforementioned inconveniences, a prepaid card was developed that has a mechanism that protects your access code in a reliable way, allows faster and easier access, is simple and economical in its construction. Which I want to protect and describe below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, the present is complemented by a series of figures of an illustrative and non-limiting nature.

Brief description of the figures:

Figure 1 is a front view of the prepaid card of the present invention, where the folding and folding sections are appreciated.

Figure 2 is a front view of the prepaid card, where the folding section placed on the folding section can be seen.

Figure 3 is a front view of the prepaid card, with the exposed code, once it has been used. Figure 4 is a front view of the folding and folding sections of the prepaid card.

Figure 5 is a front view of the folding section once superimposed on

The folding section.

With reference to figures 1, 2 and 3, the prepaid card that includes a mechanism for the protection of its access code basically consists of a body (1), in which a folding section (2) and a folding section (3). As in any conventional card, the body (1), can be used to display advertising, instructions for use, product brand etc., and in a part of said body (1), are the folding sections (2), and folding (3).

The folding section (2), is delimited by an imaginary line (4) that is not printed on the card, and by a fold mark (5), which is located by dividing the folding (2) and folding sections (3 ). In this folding section (2), the access code numbers of the card (6) are printed, which are represented in Arabic numbers fragmented in lines, (they can also be fragmented into points).

For its part, the folding section (3) is delimited by a line (7), where a cut is made, which allows the upper part of said folding section (3) to be separated from the body of the card (1). Within the folding section (3) there is a "T" shaped area (8) in a horizontal position, which is delimited by a pair of horizontal lines (9), where segmented (pre-cut) cuts are made and vertical (10), where cuts are made. In the "T" shaped area (8) there is a space (11) where complementary fragments (12), represented in lines, (also representable in dots) are printed, in the same way as the code numbers of access (6). Said complementary fragments are the complement of the numbers of said code. The upper part (13), of the "T" (8), serves as a tongue to facilitate the detachment of the rest of the area in the form of "T" (8). Adjacent to the "T" shaped area (8), there are two areas (14) and (15), in which a layer of permanent glue is applied, these areas are presented in white in Figures 1 and 2, and in gray in Figure 3, in order to better illustrate the way in which the areas (14), and (15), are attached to the folding section, once the card has been used , (see figure 3).

The way in which the card is presented for use is the following: the upper part of the folding section (3) is separated, by means of the cutting line (7), to place this section (3) on the folding section (2) by means of the fold mark (5); such that both sections are perfectly aligned with each other and joined by means of the glue applied to the areas

(14) and (15). It is important to note that the printing of the access code numbers (6), and of their complementary fragments (12), has a location that allows an exact match when placing the section (3), on the section (2), in order to create a series of characters equal to each other, as shown in Figure 5, whose visual effect prevents identifying the nature of each of the access code number (6) of the prepaid card (see figure 2).

Therefore, it is evident that to know what the access code of said card is, it is enough to detach the area in the form of "T" (8), by pulling the tab (13), done this, thanks to the segmented cuts (9), and the cuts (10), as illustrated in Figure 3.

Example

In Figures 4 and 5, an example of the manner in which the aforementioned visual effect is achieved is illustrated; in which the folding section (2) contains the access code numbers (6), constituted in this case by the consecutive numbers from 0 to 9. And the folding section (3), contains the complementary fragments (12), located within a series of ovals (17 '), (18'), (19 '), (20'), (21 '), (22'), (23 '), (24'), (25 ' ) and (26 '), corresponding the number 0 of the access code (6), to the oval (17 ^' ), the number 1 corresponds to the oval (18 ^' ), and thus in this order, in order to facilitate the understanding in the manner in which each group of complementary fragments is added to complement a particular number by placing the folding section (3), on the folding section (2), by means of the fold mark (5), to obtain a series of characters equal to each other, as illustrated in Figure 5. It is noted that there are no complementary fragments within the oval (25 ^' ), corresponding to the number eight, this is due to the fact that the shape of the said number coi It depends on the design presented, with the exact form obtained from the union of any of the other numbers of the access code (6), with their corresponding complementary fragments (12), so that locating the complementary fragments (12), in a suitable way to complement their corresponding access code numbers (6) , a series of characters equal to each other is obtained (see figure 5), which lack any guide or pattern that allows to deduce or determine the nature of the numbers represented in each of these characters, allowing the access code numbers to be hidden ( 6), without the need to cover it with a layer of opaque material and in turn allowing the use of a section of the body of the card itself as a removable label represented by the area in the form of "T" (8), eliminating the need to use a material other than the card for the elaboration of the label.

It is considered important to point out the following essential requirements for the correct operation of the prepaid card and the mechanism that protects your access code. Mentioned below: The printing of both the access code numbers (6) and its complementary fragments (12), in an ink of the same type, color and tone. The lines or points that form the access code numbers (6) and the complementary fragments (12) will be equal in size and density.

The location of the printing of the numbers of the access code (6), and of their complementary fragments (12), should be such that it allows the creation of a series of characters equal to each other (see figure 5). Achieved this together with the absolute precision of the fold made in the fold mark (5), to place the folding section (3), on the folding section (2), since the inadequate alignment of the access code numbers ( 6) with respect to its complementary fragments (12), it does not allow the creation of the visual effect illustrated in Figure 5, as a series of characters equal to each other (Figure 5).

It has been avoided to mention or suggest any specific material for the elaboration of the card, given that the nature of the card and the mechanism that protects your access code allows the use of any material that can be printed, folded accurately, and permanently pasted on itself, even in the case of a transparent material.

The shape, arrangement and location of its folding sections (2), folding (3), and "T" shaped area (8), can be modified depending on the design required for the prepaid card.

Both the access code numbers (6), and their complementary fragments (12), can be represented in fragmented lines or points.

The access code numbers (6), and their complementary fragments (12), can be located interchangeably in the folding sections (2), and folding (3).

Claims

CLAIMS Having described my invention sufficiently, I consider it as a novelty and therefore as much as my exclusive property, the content of the following clauses.

one . A prepaid card that includes a mechanism for the protection of your access code, which are basically constituted of a conventional body that contains advertising, instructions for use, product brand etc., characterized in that in a part of the body of the Card are found:

i) a folding section, delimited by an imaginary line that is not printed on the card, and by a fold mark, which is located by dividing the folding section of a folding section. In this folding section an access code of the card is printed, which is represented in fragmented Arabic numerals, which can be represented in lines or points; and ii) the folding section that is delimited by a line (7), where a cut is made, which allows the upper part of said folding section to be separated from the body of the card. Within the folding section there is a "T" shaped area, preferably in a horizontal position, which is delimited by a pair of horizontal lines (9), where segmented (pre-cut) and vertical cuts have been made ( 10), where cuts have also been made. In the "T" shaped area there is a space in which complementary fragments of the access code numbers are printed, which can also be represented in lines or points. The upper part of the "T" serves as a tongue to facilitate the detachment of the rest of the area in the form of "T", which fulfills the function of a removable label. Finally, some areas adjacent to the "T" shaped area to which a permanent type glue layer is applied, so that they adhere to the folding section, by placing the folding section on the folding section, by means of Ia fold mark, to create a series of characters similar to each other and thus achieve a visual effect that protects the access code of the card.

2. A prepaid card that includes a mechanism for the protection of your access code, according to clause 1, characterized in that the access code numbers and their complementary fragments can be located interchangeably in the folding and folding sections.

3. A prepaid card that includes a mechanism for the protection of its access code, according to clauses 1 and 2, characterized in that the folding and folding sections can have different positions with respect to the body of the card.

4. A prepaid card that includes a mechanism for the protection of your access code, according to the previous clauses, characterized in that the "T" shaped area can acquire a different shape and position.