BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates, in general, to packaging for well-known prepaid debit cards. Such debit cards are associated with a prepaid metered account, and the account is debited as purchases are made by a consumer. In particular, the present invention relates to a package for holding a data-encoded card associated with a metered account and a method of using the package and card combination to activate the metered account with a certain predetermined value at the time of purchase of the card and package combination.

2. Information Disclosure Statement:

Prior art prepaid metered accounts associated with debit cards are well-known for providing access to goods and services, e.g., telephone services. Typically, a card having a personal identification number ("PIN") thereon is sold at a retail outlet for a certain price. This PIN number is associated with an already-activated metered account that is pre-credited with a certain predetermined value representing the value of services, e.g., telephone services, being purchased. Then, as the cardholder uses the telephone services, the cardholder provides the PIN number and the account is successively debited for the services provided until the value of the card is exhausted. Often, the predetermined value credited to the metered account may be more than the actual purchase price of the debit card because of promotional pricing, etc.

However, theft of services is a problem when such a scheme is used because unfettered access to the metered account is available to anyone who obtains knowledge of the PIN number for the pre-activated metered account, necessitating the storage of such cards under lock and key by the retail merchant until the moment the cards are sold, thereby preventing the stocking of such cards on store shelves freely accessible by prospective purchasers.

A preliminary patentability search in Class 206, subclass 439.5, and Class 40, subclass 312, produced the following patents, some of which may be relevant to the present invention: Guttman, U.S. Patent No. 2,616,612, issued November 4, 1952; Tripodi, U.S. Patent No. 3,695,422, issued October 3, 1972; Price et al.. U.S.

Patent No. 4,345,393, issued August 24, 1982; Sano, U.S. Patent No. 4,887,763, issued December 19, 1989; Betheil, U.S. Patent No. 5,181,744, issued January 26, 1993; Litt, U.S. Patent No. 5,399,021, issued March 21, 1995; and Longtin, U.S. Patent No. 5,427,832, issued June 27, 1995.

Additionally, applicants are aware of a package of unknown date manufactured by the GE Capital Company and sold under the service mark "GE EXCHANGE" (part number 992439) , holding a Montgomery Ward prepaid calling card for telephone services. The package appears to have a magnetic strip thereon for use in activating a metered account at the cash register where the card is purchased, and the prepaid calling card has a hidden PIN number, observable upon opening the package, for use in accessing the activated metered account. The card also has an identification number visible through an opening in the package. However, this prepaid calling card package scheme has problems because a particular card must be matched to a particular package' s magnetic strip, and this correlation between card and package is difficult to ensure during manufacture.

None of these references, either singly or in combination, disclose or suggest the present invention.

It is therefore desirable to have a package for holding a data-encoded card and a method of using same to activate a metered account associated with said card at the time of purchase of the card.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a method of activating a metered account that is associated with a personal identification number ("PIN"), where the PIN number is displayed on a first card and the metered account is activated at the time of sale of the first card, and the invention further comprises a package adapted for holding the first card so that the method of the present invention can be practiced. The first card includes an exposed data-encoded strip and the first card preferably has the PIN number displayed thereon. The package includes a first panel and retaining means for securing the first card to the first panel so that, when the first card is secured to the first panel, the data-encoded strip is exposed and laterally displaced remote from the first panel. When the first card is secured to the first panel, the data-encoded strip can be read directly from the first card without removing the card from the package, and the metered account is activated at the time of sale of the first card.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of activating a metered account associated with a PIN number that is displayed on a first card, where the metered account is activated at the time of sale of the first card, where the first card need not be removed from its package to activate the account, and where a particular first card does not have to be correlated with a particular package.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of activating a first metered account together with at least one second metered account, the first metered account being associated with a first PIN number that is displayed on a first card, and each of the second metered accounts being associated with a respectively different particular PIN number from the first PIN number and respectively different from each other PIN number that is displayed on each other second card, where the cards are sold together in a single package, where the plurality of metered accounts are all activated at the time of sale of the cards, where the cards need not be removed from their package to activate the accounts, and where a particular first card does not have to be correlated with a particular package.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a package for holding a first card so that, when the first card is held by the package, a data-encoded strip on the first card is exposed and laterally displaced remote from the package so as to allow reading of the data-encoded strip by an appropriate reading apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a package that obscures from view a PIN number displayed on a prepaid debit card and includes a tamper evident device to indicate whether someone has attempted to view the PIN number on the card.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a package that provides for inclusion of instructions and/or advertising.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a package for holding a first card and at least one second card so that, when the first and second cards are held by the package, a data-encoded strip on the first card is exposed and laterally displaced remote from

the package so as to allow reading of the data-encoded strip by an appropriate reading apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a rear view of a first embodiment of the present invention showing a package secured to a first card having an exposed data-encoded strip.

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of a first card showing a data-encoded strip, a personal identification number and an obscuring sticker thereover.

Fig. 4 is a front view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a front view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention taken substantially

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along the line 10-10 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a front view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a rear view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention taken substantially along the line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a partial sectional view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention taken substantially along the line 14-14 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a front view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a partial sectional view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention taken substantially along the line 16-16 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention taken substantially along the line 17-17 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a somewhat schematic diagram showing the method of the present invention being used to activate a metered account.

Fig. 19 is a front view of a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 20 is a rear view of the sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 21 is a rear view of a first card showing a data-encoded strip, a personal identification number and

an obscuring sticker of the sixth preferred embodiment thereover.

Fig. 22 is a sectional view of the sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention taken substantially along the line 22-22 of Figs. 19 and 20.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figs. 1-22, the present invention is seen to comprise a package for holding a data-encoded card associated with a metered account, and a method of using the package and card combination to activate the metered account, at the time of purchase of the card and package combination, with a certain predetermined value. The metered account is associated with a personal identification number ("PIN") P displayed on a first card C. Once activated, the metered account is credited with a certain predetermined balance, and any person having the correct PIN number P can subsequently be provided with goods or services having a total value up to the value of the certain predetermined balance simply by providing the PIN number each time a transaction is desired.

Referring to Figs. 1-3, a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is seen to comprise a package 30 adapted for holding the first card C. If desired, package 30, like all embodiments of the package of the present invention, may have an opening 31 therethrough for hanging package 30 upon a display rack in a retail store. The package 30 is constructed so that the package 30 can be separately manufactured without including the first card C and so that a subsequent manufacturing step can secure the first card C to the package 30. As shown in Fig. 3, the first card C has an exposed data-encoded strip S. The data-encoded strip can be a well-known magnetic strip encoding the data into magnetic flux reversals, a strip of well-known bar codes,

a strip of well-known machine-readable optical characters, or any other well known manner of encoding data into machine-readable form as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it shall be understood that these and other varieties of data-encoded strips could be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

First card C may also have a PIN number P displayed thereon. The PIN number P, represented schematically in Fig. 3 by a dashed rectangle portion, can comprise any sequence of the digits 0-9, for example, the six digit sequence 987654, or may additionally or instead have a sequence of characters such as the six character sequence ABCDEF. Preferably, the PIN number P would be a very long sequence of digits and/or characters to ensure uniqueness and to inhibit guessing of the PIN number by a thief who otherwise could gain unauthorized access to the funds in the metered account.

The package 30 includes a first panel 32 and retaining means 34 for securing the first card C to the first panel 32 so that, when the first card C is secured to the first panel 32, the data-encoded strip S is exposed and laterally displaced remote from the first panel 32. Such a structure enables the data-encoded strip S on the first card c to be read by a well-known data-encoded strip reader 70 (see Fig. 18) while the first card C is still secured to the first panel 32 and without first necessitating removal of the first card C from the package 30. Retaining means 34 preferably removably secures the first card C to the first panel 32 so that, after purchase, a purchaser could easily remove the first card C from the package 30 and store the first card C in a convenient place such as a wallet or purse. Because the metered account is not activated until the card and package combination is purchased, theft of the card and package combination by a shoplifter does not

result in access to funds in the metered account.

While retaining means 34 could comprise a well-known rubberized glue so that card C could be peelably removed from card C, instead, referring to Fig. 2, retaining means 34 preferably comprises one or more rivets 36. The rivet 36 preferably extends through a hole in the first card C, but may extend through a notch (not shown) on one or more side edges of the first card C. For example, two rivets 36 may be used with each one respectively extending through a notch on an opposite edge of the first card C. The cross section of the rivet 36 is preferably circular, but may be rectangular, polygonal, or any other shape as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. The rivet 36 is preferably constructed from synthetic resin materials such as, for example, well-known poly vinyl chloride ("PVC") materials, but can be made from plastic or metal or other suitable well-known equivalent substantially-rigid material as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

When the first card C has a PIN number P displayed thereon, it is desirable to obscure the PIN number P from view because any person knowing the PIN number P will have access to the metered account once the account has been activated. For example, if a thief were able to collect the PIN numbers for several metered accounts before purchase activation of those accounts, the thief would simply have to wait until the card and package combination was purchased by an unsuspecting purchaser and the account was activated, and then the thief could surreptitiously drain the account of its funds by using its associated PIN to purchase goods and services. Accordingly, retaining means 34 preferably secures the first card C to the first panel 32 so that the PIN number P is obscured from view while the first card C is secured to the first panel 32. Preferably, the rivet 36 and the

first card C are positioned so that, when the rivet 36 secures the first card C to the first panel 32, the PIN number P is held against the first panel 32 and is thereby obscured from view. There is a danger, however, that the PIN number P could still be viewed by slightly prying the first card C away from the first panel 32 while the first card C remains secured to the first panel 32. Therefore, it is desirable to provide means for detecting when the PIN number P has been surreptitiously viewed so that the associated metered account can be prevented from being activated.

The rivet 36 thus preferably comprises tamper evident means 38 for indicating that a surreptitious attempt has been made to view the PIN number P when the first card C is secured to the first panel 32. Tamper evident means 38 can be constructed in many ways but preferably comprises a circumferential lip or flange 40 radially extending from one or both ends of the rivet. The outer edge of the flange 40 is preferably circular, but may be any shape, and flange 40 is constructed so that the flange 40 will permanently deform if a person surreptitiously tries to pry the first card C away from the first panel 32, thus giving an indication that an improper attempt was made to view the PIN number P.

Alternately, the card and package combination may comprise tamper evident means 38' for indicating that an attempt has been made to view the PIN number P when the first card C is secured to the first panel 32. As shown in Fig. 3, tamper evident means 38' may comprise a sticker 42 preferably obscuringly but removably attached on top of the PIN number P on the first card C. The sticker 42 is constructed so that, when an attempt is made to detach the sticker 42 to view the PIN number P, the sticker 42 will either break or crack or deform or curl or will detach from the first card C and will not be re-attachable, thus giving an indication that a surreptitious attempt was made to view the PIN number P.

Alternatively, the sticker 42 may be attached both to the back of the first card C and to the back of the first panel 32.

A second preferred embodiment is shown in Figs. 4-6. Fig. 4 shows a front view, Fig. 5 shows a rear view, and Fig. 6 shows an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4. Identifying reference designators for this second embodiment are marked similarly to the first embodiment, except with the prefix "2.". It shall be understood that many aspects of the two embodiments are substantially the same, and only the differences will be treated in detail, it being understood that similar structural features of the two embodiments perform similar functions. The second embodiment comprises a package 2.30 adapted for holding a first card C, and package 2.30 preferably includes a first panel 2.32; retaining means 2.34 for securing the first card C to the first panel 2.32 so that, when the first card C is secured to the first panel 2.32, the data-encoded strip S is exposed and laterally displaced remote from the first panel 2.32; and a second panel 2.44 adapted for attachment in congruent alignment with the first panel 2.32. The second panel 2.44 is adapted to retain the first card C between the first 2.32 and the second 2.44 panels when the first card C is secured to the first panel 2.32. The second preferred embodiment may also comprise tamper evident means as heretofore described. For example, retaining means 2.34 preferably comprises a rivet 2.36 preferably constructed integral, one piece with pane 2.47, hereinafter described, with rivet 2.36 being preferably formed, for example, by heating and deforming pane 2.47 through aligned apertures in card C and panel 2.32, and retaining means 2.34 preferably includes tamper evident means 2.38 comprising a flange 2.40 that extends radially from rivet 2.36 and meltingly formed therefrom, with flange 2.40 being non-restoringly deformable if panel 2.32 is pried

up from card C to surreptitiously view the PIN number that is obscured by panel 2.32 as heretofore described.

Referring to Fig. 6, the second panel 2.44 preferably comprises a substantially transparent window portion 2.46 positioned to overlap a portion of the first card C remote from the data-encoded strip 8 when the first card C is secured to the first panel 2.32. The transparent window portion 2.46 is preferably constructed of a pane 2.47 made from synthetic resin materials such as, for example, well-known poly vinyl chloride ("PVC") materials, but can be made from transparent plastic or any other suitable well-known equivalent material as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. The overall dimensions of pane 2.47 are greater than the dimensions of the overlapped portion of the first card C, and the non-overlapping lip or flange portion 2.88 of pane 2.47 is preferably glued between the first 2.32 and second 2.44 panels. Preferably, first and second panels 2.32 and 2.44 are coated on their inner surfaces with glue, such as, for example, well-known PVC glue, and first panel 2.32 is gluingly sealed to second panel 2.44 in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art by the application of heat and pressure, causing the PVC glue to meltingly join the two panels and pane 2.47 together. Alternatively, panels 2.32 and 2.44 could be pre-coated with a well-known polyethylene coating, which is then similarly heated to bond the panels together under pressure in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art. As heretofore noted, rivet 2.36 is preferably constructed integral, one-piece with the pane 2.47, as, for example, by being heatedly and deformably formed from the PVC pane 2.47.

A third preferred embodiment is shown in Figs. 7-10. Fig. 7 shows a front view, Fig. 8 shows a rear view, Fig. 9 shows an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig 8, and Fig.

10 shows an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 10-10 of Fig. 8. Identifying reference designators for the third embodiment are marked similarly to the other embodiments, except with the prefix "3." . It shall be understood that many aspects of all embodiments are substantially the same, and only the differences will be treated in detail, it being understood that similar structural features of all the embodiments perform similar functions.

The third preferred embodiment comprises a package 3.30 adapted for holding a first card C, and package 3.30 includes: a first panel 3.32, retaining means 3.34 for securing the first card C to the first panel 3.32 so that, when the first card C is secured to the first panel 3.32, the data-encoded strip S is exposed and laterally displaced remote from the first panel 3.32, and a second panel 3.44 adapted to be attached in congruent alignment with the first panel 3.32. The first panel 3.32 may comprise a door panel 3.48 movably attached to the first panel 3.32. The door panel 3.48 is preferably constructed integral, one-piece with the first panel 3.32. While door panel 3.48 may include perforations along all four edges so that the door panel 3.48 would be removably attached to the first panel 3.32, door panel 3.48 is instead preferably constructed as shown to include perforations 3.50 along three edges and a formed hinge 3.52 along one edge, hingedly attaching the door panel 3.48 to the first panel 3.32. Referring to Figs. 8 and 10, the door panel 3.48 may include a finger recess cutout 3.54 to assist in opening the door panel 3.48 by permitting the insertion of a person' s finger therewithin for better grip of the upper edge of door panel 3.48. Printed material, such as advertisements, coupons, instructions, etc. , located on or between the second panel 3.44 and the door panel 3.48, may be accessed once the door panel 3.48 is opened. The package 3.30 may comprise a transparent window portion 3.46 as previously

described in the discussion of the second preferred embodiment.

Referring to Fig. 9, the third preferred embodiment preferably includes a transparent window portion 3.46 and retaining means 3.34 comprising a rivet 3.36. The transparent window portion 3.46 is preferably constructed of a pane 3.47 made from synthetic resin materials such as, for example, well-known poly vinyl chloride ("PVC") materials, but could be made from transparent plastic or any other suitable well-known equivalent material as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. The overall dimensions of pane 3.47 are greater than the dimensions of the overlapped portion of the first card C, and the non-overlapping lip or flange portion 3.88 of the transparent window portion 3.46 is preferably glued between the first 3.32 and second 3.44 panels. Preferably, first and second panels 3.32 and 3.44 are coated on their inner surfaces with glue 3.82, such as, for example, well-known PVC glue, and first panel 3.32 is gluingly sealed to second panel 3.44 in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art by the application of heat and pressure, causing the PVC glue to meltingly join the two panels and pane 3.47 together. The rivet 3.36 is preferably constructed integral, one-piece with the pane 3.47, as, for example, by being heatedly and deformably formed in the PVC pane 3.47, and preferably includes tamper evident means 3.38 comprising a flange 3.40 that extends radially from rivet 3.36, with flange 3.40 being non-restoringly deformable if panel 3.32 is pried up from card C to surreptitiously view the PIN number that is obscured by panel 3.32 as heretofore described.

A fourth preferred embodiment is shown in Figs. 11-14. Fig. 11 shows a front view, Fig. 12 shows a rear view, Fig. 13 shows an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 13-13 of Fig. 12, and Fig.

14 shows an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially along the line 14-14 of Fig. 12. Identifying reference designators for the fourth preferred embodiment are marked similarly to the other embodiments, except with the prefix "4." . It shall be understood that many aspects of all embodiments are substantially the same, and only the differences will be treated in detail, it being understood that similar structural features of all the embodiments perform similar functions.

The fourth preferred embodiment comprises a package 4.30 adapted for holding a first card C. The package 4.30 includes a first panel 4.32, retaining means 4.34 for securing the first card C to the first panel 4.32 so that, when the first card C is secured to the first panel 4.32, the data-encoded strip β is exposed and laterally displaced remote from the first panel 4.32, and a second panel 4.44 adapted to be attached in congruent alignment with the first panel 4.32. The first 4.32 and second 4.44 panels are preferably constructed to have nearly identical outer dimensions and are preferably hingedly connected along their top edges 4.86. After the first card C is secured to the first panel 4.32, the first 4.32 and second 4.44 panels are attached, preferably with glue 4.82 in a manner similar to the previously-described embodiments. The outer dimensions of the fourth embodiment are preferably 6 inches (15.2 cm) wide by 9 inches (22.9 cm) tall.

Referring to Fig. 13, which shows the dimensions exaggerated for clarity, the second panel 4.44 is seen to comprise a retaining portion 4.56 adapted to secure at least one second card C to the package so that the at least one second card C is laterally displaced from the first card C. The retaining portion 4.56 is preferably transparent for viewing of the cards C therethrough and preferably has a circumferential lip or flange 4.60 that

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16 can be secured, preferably with PVC glue 4.82, between the first 4.32 and second 4.44 panels in a manner heretofore described. The retaining portion 4.56 is preferably constructed from synthetic resin materials such as, for example, well-known poly vinyl chloride ("PVC") materials, but can be made from plastic or any other suitable well-known equivalent material as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Referring to Figs. 12-14, retaining means 4.34 preferably comprises a rivet 4.36 and two apertures 4.84 within first panel 4.32. Each aperture 4.84 secures a respective top corner of the first card C when the corners are inserted into the apertures 4.84. The rivet 4.36 is preferably constructed from a 1 inch by 1 inch (2.5 cm by 2.5 cm) sheet 4.80 made from synthetic resin materials such as, for example, well-known poly vinyl chloride ("PVC") materials, but can be made from plastic or any other suitable well-known substantially rigid equivalent material as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. The first card C is positioned against the first panel 4.32 with the upper corners of the first card C inserted into the apertures 4.84, and the sheet 4.80 is placed on top of the first card C so that the rivet 4.36 extends through the first card C and through the first panel 4.32. If desired, the tip 4.37 of rivet 4.36 could be deformably formed into a flange (not shown) entrapping first panel 4.32, in a similar manner to that heretofore described with the second and third embodiments, so as to provide similar tamper evident means for the fourth embodiment as well. Fig. 14 shows the rivet 4.36 securing the first card C to the first panel 4.32 with the dimensions exaggerated somewhat for clarity.

A fifth preferred embodiment is shown in Figs. 15-17. Fig. 15 shows a rear view, Fig. 16 shows an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially along

the line 16-16 of Fig. 15, and Fig. 17 shows an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 17-17 of Fig. 15. Identifying reference designators for the fifth embodiment are marked similarly to the other embodiments, except with the prefix "5." . It shall be understood that many aspects of all embodiments are substantially the same, and only the differences will be treated in detail, it being understood that similar structural features of all the embodiments perform similar functions.

The fifth preferred embodiment comprises a package 5.30 adapted for holding a first card C, and package 5.30 includes a first panel 5.32 and retaining means 5.34 for securing the first card C to the first panel 5.32 so that, when the first card C is secured to the first panel 5.32, the data-encoded strip S is exposed and laterally displaced remote from the first panel 5.32. The package 5.30 further includes a second panel 5.44 adapted to be attached in congruent alignment to the first panel 5.32 and adapted to entrap a third panel 5.62 between the first 5.32 and second 5.44 panels. The first panel 5.32 preferably includes a male flange or protuberance 5.66 and the second panel 5.44 preferably includes a mating female channel or protuberance 5.68 constructed so that the male 5.66 and female 5.68 protuberances can be matingly engaged to attach the first 5.32 and second 5.44 panels in congruent alignment. The protuberances 5.66, 5.68 may be discontinuous but preferably are continuous and act to entrap a third panel 5.62 between the first 5.32 and second 5.44 panels. Figs. 16 and 17 exaggerate the dimensions of the protuberances 5.66, 5.68 so that they are clearly shown.

Referring to Fig. 16, the retaining means 5.34 preferably comprises a rivet 5.36 deformably extending from the second panel 5.44 and through the first card C to the first panel 5.32 and preferably being meltingly

bonded thereto for securing the first card C to the first panel 5.32 so that the data-encoded strip S is exposed and laterally displaced remote from the first panel 5.32. When the first card C is secured to the first panel 5.32, the rivet 5.36 extends through the first card C and the first panel 5.32, and the rivet 5.36 is heat sealed to the first panel 5.32, thereby also providing tamper-evident means for this fourth embodiment by providing evidence, by the breaking of the heat sealed bond of rivet 5.36 to panel 5.32, of a surreptitious attempt to view the PIN number on card C. Referring to Fig. 15, the protuberances 5.66, 5.68 preferably also secure the first card C to the package 5.30 by preventing the first card C from rotating about the rivet 5.36.

Referring to Fig. 15, the second panel 5.44 has window means 5.64 for viewing the third panel 5.62 therethrough. The window means 5.64 may comprise an opening in the second panel 5.44, but preferably comprises the second panel 5.44 being constructed from a substantially transparent material. The third panel 5.62 may be imprinted with advertising, coupons, instructions, or other information as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The first 5.32 and second 5.44 panels are preferably constructed from substantially transparent synthetic resin materials such as, for example, well-known poly vinyl chloride ("PVC") materials, but can be made from plastic or any other suitable well-known equivalent material as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art, and are preferably joined together as by meltingly heating or welding panels 5.32 and 5.44 one to the other. The first 5.32 and second 5.44 panels can be constructed in any size, but preferably are constructed to be 6.44 inches (16.4 cm) tall by 4.75 inches (12.1 cm) wide.

The second panel 5.44 preferably includes a transparent

window portion so that the first card C can be viewed therethrough. When the first 5.32 and second 5.44 panels are constructed from PVC materials, a transparent window portion will be formed on both panels 5.32, 5.44 located adjacent the first card C and between the protuberances 5.66, 5.68. Fig. 15 shows the first panel 5.32 including a transparent window portion 5.46. Tamper evident means 5.38 preferably also comprises a sticker 5.42 which is placed on top of the PIN number P to obscure the PIN number from view.

A sixth preferred embodiment is shown in Figs. 19-22. Fig. 19 shows a front view, Fig. 20 shows a rear view, and Fig. 22 shows an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 22-22 of Figs. 19 and 20. Fig. 21 shows a rear view of a first card C having a data-encoded strip 8, a personal identification number P and an obscuring sticker of the sixth preferred embodiment thereover. Identifying reference designators for the sixth embodiment are marked similarly to the other embodiments, except with the prefix "6.". It shall be understood that many aspects of all embodiments are substantially the same, and only the differences will be treated in detail, it being understood that similar structural features of all the embodiments perform similar functions.

The sixth preferred embodiment comprises a package 6.30 adapted for holding a first card C, and package 6.30 includes: a first panel 6.32, retaining means 6.34 for securing the first card C to the first panel 6.32 so that, when the first card C is secured to the first panel 6.32, the data-encoded strip S is exposed and laterally displaced remote from the first panel 6.32, and a second panel 6.44 adapted to be attached in congruent alignment with the first panel 6.32. Preferably, first and second panels 6.32 and 6.34 are formed as a single piece of cardboard folded in the middle so as to cause panels 6.32

and 6.34 to be hingedly attached to each other along their left and right bottom edge portions 6.33 and 6.35. The first panel 6.32 may include a door panel 6.48 movably attached to the first panel 6.32. The door panel 6.48 is preferably constructed integral, one-piece with the first panel 6.32. While door panel 6.48 may include perforations along all four edges so that the door panel 6.48 would be removably attached to the first panel 6.32, door panel 6.48 is instead preferably constructed as shown to include perforations 6.50 along three edges and a formed hinge 6.52 along one edge, hingedly attaching the door panel 6.48 to the first panel 6.32. Referring to Fig. 20, the door panel 6.48 may include a finger recess cutout 6.54 to assist in opening the door panel 6.48 by permitting the insertion of a person' s finger therewithin for better grip of the upper edge of door panel 6.48. Printed material, such as advertisements, coupons, instructions, etc., located on or between the second panel 6.44 and the door panel 6.48, may be accessed once the door panel 6.48 is opened.

Referring to Figs. 19 and 22, the sixth preferred embodiment 6.30 preferably includes a transparent window portion 6.46 similar to that previously described for the second and third embodiments. The transparent window portion 6.46 is preferably constructed of a pane 6.47 made from synthetic resin materials such as, for example, well-known poly vinyl chloride ("PVC") materials, but could be made from transparent plastic or any other suitable well-known equivalent material as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. The overall dimensions of pane 6.47 are greater than the dimensions of the overlapped portion of the first card C, and the non-overlapping lip or flange portion 6.88 of the transparent window portion 6.46 is preferably glued between the first 6.32 and second 6.44 panels and, as in the second and third embodiments, lip or flange portion 6.88 extends between first and second panels 6.32 and

6.44 at the upper, left, and right edges of card C. Preferably, first and second panels 6.32 and 6.44 are coated on their inner surfaces with glue 6.82, such as, for example, well-known PVC glue, and first panel 6.32 is gluingly sealed to second panel 6.44 in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art by the application of heat and pressure, causing the PVC glue to meltingly join the two panels and pane 6.47 together. If desired, glue 6.82 could be masked from the area between door panel 6.48 and second panel 6.44 so that the printed material, such as advertisements, coupons, instructions, etc., located on or between the second panel 6.44 and the door panel 6.48, could be more readily viewed, or preferably glue 6.82 could cover the entire inner surface of first and second panels 6.32, 6.44 and door panel

6.48, with glue 6.82 being substantially transparent so that printed material on the interior of door panel 6.48 and/or second panel 6.44 could be viewed through the thin surface coating of glue 6.82 thereon.

The significant difference between the sixth embodiment of the present invention and the other embodiments is in the structure of the retaining means 6.34, hereinafter described, for securing the first card C to the first panel 6.32 so that, when the first card C is secured to the first panel 6.32, the data-encoded strip β is exposed and laterally displaced remote from the first panel 6.32. No rivet is used in the sixth embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to Figs. 21 and 22, the PIN number P on the reverse of card C is obscured by a peel-off label or sticker 6.42, with sticker 6.42 preferably being one inch (2.54 cm) by four inches (10.2 cm) in height and width, respectively, and having a substantial exposed surface area. Sticker 6.42 has a well-known adhesive with a well-known peel-off backing thereover so that removal of the peel-off backing allows sticker 6.42 to be

adhesively attached to card C as shown in Fig. 21, with PIN number P obscured. Additionally, on its exposed side remote from card C, label 6.42 preferably has a heat-meltable glue coating such as, for example, a well-known PVC glue similar to that on the inner surfaces of first and second panels 6.32 and 6.44. As first and second panels 6.32 and 6.44 are heatedly bonded together by co-melting the PVC glue 6.82 on their inner surfaces, the heat-meltable glue coating on the exposed side of sticker 6.42 remote from card C is also co-melted with PVC glue 6.82 and adhesively mixed therewith, thereby bonding panels 6.32 and 6.44 together and simultaneously bonding sticker 6.42, and therefore also card C to which sticker 6.42 is adhesively secured, to panel 6.32. Thus, in this sixth embodiment, the sticker 6.42 performs the double structural function of obscuring the PIN number P and also, by means of glue 6.82, retaining card C to first panel 6.32. Tamper evident means 6.38 is thus seen to include sticker 6.42 affixed to card C and obscuring PIN number P from view, and retaining means 6.34 is thus seen to include the glue 6.82 bonding sticker 6.42, and thus card C, to first panel 6.32.

Tests of prototypes of the sixth embodiment 6.30 indicate that pane 6.47 presses card C against first panel 6.32, thereby tightly securing card C to first panel 6.32 because of the substantial shearing forces parallel to the surface of first panel 6.32 necessary to break the adhesive strength of glue 6.82 bonding to the substantial surface area of sticker 6.42. However, if panel 6.32 is pried away from card C in an attempt to view the PIN number P, or if card C is similarly pried away from panel 6.32 in an attempt to view PIN number P, the adhesive bond between sticker 6.42 and glue 6.82 breaks because of the prying, rather than shearing, forces being applied, and this broken glue bond provides clear evidence of tampering with the package. Similarly, if an attempt is made to lift sticker 6.42 from card C to

view the PIN number P, clear evidence will be left that the package has been tampered with, whether the evidence is the deformation, tearing, and/or lifting of sticker 6.42 from card C, or whether the evidence is the breaking of the adhesive bond between sticker 6.42 and glue 6.82 that also occurs during such tampering. Of course, a legitimate purchaser of the card C can simply pry card C from panel 6.32 and remove sticker 6.42 after the card has been activated in a manner herein described, thereby allowing the card C to be used in its intended manner. It shall also be understood that the sixth embodiment could also be adapted to include a retaining portion, not shown, for holding at least one second card and preferably a plurality of second cards in a manner similar to retaining portion 4.56 of the fourth embodiment heretofore described in detail. Like all embodiments, the sixth embodiment 6.30 preferably has an opening 6.31 therethrough for hanging the package on a display rack in a retail store.

Now that various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, the method of the present invention, and its differences from the prior art, can now be explained and understood.

A metered account is associated with the secret PIN number on the card C, and anyone knowing the PIN number will be provided with goods or services, e.g., telephone services or other goods or services, having a value up to the amount of the certain predetermined balance. The certain predetermined balance will be debited for the amount of goods or services provided as they are purchased. The secret PIN is provided by selling card C having a PIN thereon, and the purchaser/cardholder causes transactions to be debited against the metered account by providing the PIN number to a merchant.

Prior art methods of providing the metered account

associated with a card' s PIN involve the activation and crediting of the metered account before the card is distributed to a retail merchant for resale. However, a prior art scheme using such pre-activated accounts necessarily requires that such cards be stored under lock and key by the retail merchant until the moment the cards are sold because, if the cards are stolen or the PIN numbers surreptitiously discovered, the pre-activated metered accounts can be drained of funds. The method of the present invention avoids such problems by not activating the metered account until the time of purchase of the card.

Referring to Figs. 1-3 and 18, the first preferred method of the present invention uses a first card C having an exposed data-encoded strip S. The data-encoded strip is encoded with a unique first identification number comprising a "control number" . The first card C also has a unique second identification number thereon, and this second identification number is the PIN P that allows access to the funds in a metered account. The method also uses a package 30 which includes a first panel 32 and retaining means 34 securing the first card C to the first panel 32 so that the data-encoded strip S is exposed and laterally displaced remote from the first panel 32. When the first card C is secured to the package 30, the PIN P is obscured from view. The package 30 preferably includes tamper evident means 38 or 38', heretofore described in various embodiments, to indicate when a surreptitious attempt to view the PIN P has been made. The control number and the PIN P are associated with a metered account. The control number is preferably a different number from the PIN P so that knowledge of the PIN P can not be obtained by reading the control number using a data-encoded strip reader 70 or by observing the exposed control number on card C.

A single company can manufacture the first card c and the package 30, secure the first card C to the package 30,

and correlate, as, for example, by a correspondence table, the control number to the PIN P so that both numbers can be properly and uniquely associated with a metered account. Alternatively, one company can manufacture the package 30, and a second company can manufacture the first card C, then the second company or the provider of goods and services can secure the first card C to the package 30 and correlate the control number with the PIN P. Once the first card C is secured to the package 30 and the control number is correlated with the PIN P, the provider of goods or services can uniquely associate the control number and PIN P with a metered account. A representation of the control number, the PIN P, and the associated metered account are entered into a remote data processing apparatus, such as a digital computer 72 with attached data storage memory, in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art. Any well known computer programming technique, such as preferably a correspondence table, can be used to associate the control number and PIN P with a metered account as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. The digital computer 72 can then be linked to data-encoded strip readers 70 located at many different retail stores so that, when a data-encoded strip S is read as the card and package combination is purchased, a characterization of the control number can be transmitted to the digital computer 72. Preferably, modems 74, 76 will be used to transmit the characterization of the control number over telephone lines, but any method of data transmission could be used, as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. After the first card C is secured to the package, and the control number and PIN P are associated with a metered account within the digital computer 72, the first card C can be sent to a retail store for purchase by and distribution to the public.

Many first card C and package 30 combinations can then be openly stocked on the shelves or racks of a

retail store. A customer can select a first card C and package 30 combination and bring the first card C and package 30 combination to a cashier or clerk. If the tamper evident means indicates that the PIN number may have been compromised, then the metered account corresponding to the tampered card should not be activated and another card and package combination should instead be purchased. After the customer has paid for the card and package combination, a clerk will then pass the data-encoded strip S through a data-encoded strip reader 70 to initiate the activation of the metered account for the just-purchased card.

Referring to Fig. 18, the control number is read from the data-encoded strip S by a data-encoded strip reader 70. A nearby modem 74, connected to the reader 70, transmits a characterization of this control number to a receiving modem 76 at the location of the digital computer 72. The receiving modem 76 is connected to the digital computer 72 and forwards the characterization of the control number to the digital computer 72. The digital computer 72 uses this characterization of the control number to identify the associated metered account in a manner now understood by those skilled in the art, and then activates that particular associated metered account. The metered account may have been credited with a certain predetermined balance when the metered account was entered into the digital computer 72, but, if not, the digital computer 72 will now credit the metered account with a certain predetermined balance. The customer can now remove the first card C from the package 30 and store the first card C in any convenient place such as, for example, a wallet or purse. To obtain goods or services, e.g., to obtain telephone service, the cardholder customer could, for example, dial a certain telephone number and connect to the digital computer 72. The customer preferably then enters the PIN P onto the telephone keypad, but the PIN P could instead be entered

into a personal computer which is connected to the digital computer 72 by modems or the PIN P could be entered using another well-known data entry device as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. A characterization of the PIN P is then transmitted to the digital computer 72, the digital computer 72 uses the characterization of the PIN P to identify the associated metered account, the digital computer 72 provides the customer with access to goods or services, for example, telephone services, and the digital computer 72 then debits the balance of the metered account. When the balance has been debited to zero, goods or services can no longer be obtained by use of that particular PIN P and the first card C can be discarded.

A second preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention can be used to simultaneously activate a plurality of metered accounts, namely, a first metered account together with at least one second metered account, using the multi-card and package combination 4.30 heretofore described in detail as the fourth embodiment combination of the present invention.

Each particular PIN P on cards C, C is associated with a different particular metered account, and each of the cards C, C in the package 4.30 preferably has a different PIN from each other card in the package and also unique from every other card in every other package. A first identification number which comprises a unique control number is encoded onto the data-encoded strip S on the first card C. The control number is preferably a different number from any of the PINs P so that knowledge of any of the PINs P can not be obtained by surreptitious access to the control number.

A single company can manufacture the first card C, the second card(s) C, and the package 4.30, secure the first C and second C cards to the package 4.30, and

correlate the control number to the several PINs P within the package so that the control number and each particular PIN P can be properly and uniquely associated or correlated with a different particular metered account.

Alternatively, one company could manufacture the package 4.30 and a second company could manufacture the first C and second C cards. Then the second company or the provider of goods and services could secure the first C and second C cards to the package 4.30 and correlate the control number with the plurality of PINs P on the cards C, C within the package 4.30. Once the first C and second C cards are secured to the package 4.30 and the control number is correlated with the several PINs P, the provider of goods or services can associate the control number with each different particular PIN P within the package, each different particular PIN P corresponding to a different particular metered account.

A representation of the control number, of each PIN P and of the metered account associated with each PIN P are entered into a remote data processing apparatus, such as a digital computer 72 with attached data storage memory, in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art. Any well known computer programming technique, such as preferably a correspondence table, can be used to associate the control number with the plurality of PIN and metered account pairs as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. The digital computer 72 can be connected to data-encoded strip readers 70 located at many different retail stores so that, when a data-encoded strip S is read, a characterization of the control number will be transmitted to the digital computer 72. Preferably, modems 74, 76 will be used to transmit the characterization over telephone lines, but any method of data transmission can be used, as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. After the first C and second

C cards are secured to the package 4.30 and the control number and each PIN P has been associated with a metered account within the digital computer 72, the package 4.30 can be sent to a store for purchase by and distribution to the public.

This second preferred method of the present invention activates the metered accounts upon purchase of the multi-card and package combination similarly to the first preferred method, heretofore described, except that the reading of the characterization of the control number from the data-encoded strip 8 is used to activate a plurality of different metered accounts, one for each card within the package 4.30, in a manner that will now be understood. It is the activation of the plurality of metered accounts, one for each card in the package 4.30, rather than the activation of only a single metered account, that is the substantial difference between the first and second preferred methods of the present invention.

After purchase of the multi-card and package combination 4.30 and activation of the plurality of metered accounts, a customer-purchaser could then remove the first card C and the one or more second cards C from the package 4.30 and could then store the cards C, C in one or more convenient places such as, for example, wallets or purses. The customer could retain the cards C, C for personal use or could distribute any of the cards C, C among family members, friends, or employees. To obtain goods or services, for example, to obtain telephone service, the possessor of a particular card uses that card in a manner similar to that heretofore described.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment and a preferred use therefor, it is not to be so limited since modifications and changes can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention.