CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/253,279 filed on October 7, 2021, the contents of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

FIELD

[0002] The present teachings generally relate to prepaid cards, and more particularly, to prepaid cards having an integrated tag.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Various industries utilize monetary transaction cards, such as prepaid cards, gift cards, or other monetized cards. These transaction cards are frequently attached to a card carrier which enables a retailer to display the transaction cards in an ordered manner. The carriers may often include an opening to hang the transaction cards attached to the carriers on a display rack for customers to select for purchase. Similarly, the transaction cards may include one or more features that facilitates display of the transaction cards in a manner other than hanging.

[0004] Transaction cards have become a very popular item to purchase as a gift. As a result, customers may often purchase the transaction (e.g., gift) cards for another person to use when purchasing items in a desired store or retail establishment. When presenting the transaction cards as a gift, a person may often want to utilize packaging or wrapping other than a conventional card carrier containing the transaction card. Similarly, a person may also want to incorporate the transaction card into an additional gift, such as a plant, package, food item, other gift item, etc.

[0005] However, often times it is difficult to display a gift card on an additional gift to ensure a gift recipient sees the gift card. Similarly, these additional gifts may also include packaging or information display cards of their own, thereby resulting in difficulty packaging the gift and the gift card together, creating visual clutter between the gift card and information display cards, or both. As a result, those seeking to give the gift card and gift may often be required to convey the gift card and gift separately. [0006] Therefore, there remains a need for improved gift card packaging. What is needed is a gift card that may be easily joined or otherwise added to a gift. Additionally, there remains a need for a prepaid card that remains unobscured from informational display cards of a gift. What is needed is a gift card that may be integrated with a display tag of a gift. Similarly, there remains a need for more robust gift card packaging to facilitate additional packaging and/or display of the gift card with a gift. Thus, what is needed is a gift card having a stake or other means to facilitate display in plants, food items, etc.

SUMMARY

[0007] The present teachings meet one or more of the present needs by providing: a card assembly comprising: (1) a prepaid card; and (2) a tag connected to the prepaid card, wherein the tag is adapted for insertion into an item to display the prepaid card, the tag, or both.

[0008] The prepaid card and the tag may be integrally formed, and the prepaid card and the tag may be connected by a score line therebetween. The prepaid card may be connected to the tag along a short edge of the prepaid card. The tag may include an upper portion and a stake, and the stake may be inserted into the item while the upper portion remains above an upper surface of the item. The stake may include one or more grooves extending longitudinally along the stake between the tip and the upper portion of the tag. The stake and the upper portion of the tag may be separated by an insertion line, and the insertion line may provide a visual indicator as to what depth to insert the stake into an item. The upper portion may further include one or more protrusions adjacent to the insertion line that provide a physical stopping point upon insertion. Additionally, the upper portion may include text, images or both pertaining to the item. The upper portion may include a QR code. The upper portion may include a first set of protrusions positioned on opposing sides of the insertion line along edges of the upper section. The insertion line may extend transversely to a longitudinal axis of the card assembly between opposing sides of the upper portion of the tag.

[0009] The prepaid card may be separable from the tag along the score line. The prepaid card and the tag may be formed from the same material. Moreover, the upper portion may include a second set of protrusions on opposing sides of the upper section and located longitudinally above the first set of protrusions. The first set and the second set of protrusions may provide physical stopping points of the stake during insertion.

[0010] The item may be a plant. The stake may be inserted into soil of the plant until the insertion line is aligned with an upper surface of the soil. The upper portion may be a flowerpot shape. The upper portion may include textual or graphic details and a QR code along a front side and additional textual or graphic details along a back side, and the textual or graphic details on the front side and the back side may relate to the item.

[0011] The present teachings meet one or more of the present needs by providing: improved gift card packaging; a gift card that may be easily joined or otherwise added to a gift; a prepaid card that remains unobscured from informational display cards of a gift; a gift card that may be integrated with a display tag of a gift; more robust gift card packaging to facilitate additional packaging and/or display of the gift card with a gift; and a gift card having a stake or other means to facilitate display in plants, food items, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG.l is a front side of a card assembly in accordance with the present teachings.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a card assembly inserted into a flowerpot.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a front side of a card assembly in accordance with the present teachings.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a back side of the card assembly of FIG. 3.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a separated view of the card assembly of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The present teachings generally relate to a card assembly for a prepaid card. The card assembly may function to secure a prepaid card to one or more items. The packaging may function to visually display the prepaid card in a retail establishment. The packaging may also function to secure the prepaid card to one or more items intended to be given as a gift. The packaging may be a single piece of may be a plurality of pieces interconnected. For example, the packaging may be monolithically formed or may include a plurality of layers.

[0018] As described herein, it is envisioned that the card assembly may facilitate both display and/or purchasing of a prepaid card. Similarly, the card assembly may provide a customer alternative means for displaying and/or packaging the prepaid card without the need for additional gift packaging. Therefore, the card assembly may beneficially decrease a cost incurred by a customer purchasing the card assembly with the intention of gifting the prepaid card. Similarly, the card assembly may be connected easily to an additional item intended as a gift, thereby further eliminating the need for additional gift packaging.

[0019] The prepaid card may be a transaction card, gift card, other loadable and/or scannable item, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, while prepaid cards are discussed in further detail herein with respect to the card assembly, an item other than a prepaid card may also be utilized with such a card assembly. For example, membership cards, voucher cards, advertisements, or a combination thereof may be secured by the card assembly. Thus, the card assembly may be highly customizable to properly package various sizes and/or shapes of items. As a result, the card assembly may also vary dimensionally.

[0020] The card assembly may include a tag. The tag may function to connect the prepaid card to an item. The tag may provide an insertion means for inserting the card assembly into an item. The item may be a plant, baked item (e.g., birthday cake, cupcake, etc.), or other gifted item that may be easily penetrable by the tag along one or more surfaces. Similarly, any other gift item that may include an insertion point for receiving the tag may allow for connection to the card assembly.

[0021] The tag and the prepaid card may be integrally formed of the same material or different materials. The tag and the prepaid card may be formed from a single layer or a plurality of layers. The tag and the prepaid card may be otherwise connected to form the card assembly. For example, the tag and the prepaid card may be connected or defined by a score line therebetween. The score line may extend along a width of the card assembly transversely to the length of the card assembly. However, any position length, or size of score line may be utilized. That is, the score line may be a cut partially or completely through a thickness of the card assembly, such as one or more perforations, punctures, etches, or a combination thereof.

[0022] The tag may include one or more interconnected portion. The tag may include an upper portion. The upper portion may function as a visual aid for the prepaid card, the item, or both. The upper portion may include textual and/or graphic details pertaining to the prepaid card, the item, or both. For example, if the card assembly is connected to a potted plant, the upper portion may provide a textual description of the plant, maintenance and care instructions, or both. Similarly, the upper portion may include one or more scannable images, such as a barcode or QR code to provide additional details about the item, the prepaid card, or both.

[0023] It is envisioned that the upper portion may remain above a surface of the item after connection so that the upper tag remains visible to a gift recipient and/or gift giver. To ensure proper placement of the tag during insertion, the upper portion may include an insertion line. The insertion line may function as a visual indicator during insertion as to how deep the tag should be inserted to ensure the upper portion remains unobstructed. The insertion line may be printed onto the tag or may be scored or otherwise cut along the tag. The insertion line may be any size, shape, length, or a combination thereof. The insertion may extend transversely relative to a length of the card assembly (i.e., a longitudinal axis extending along the longest dimension of the card assembly). The insertion line may terminate at one or more edges of the tag or may terminate somewhere therebetween. A plurality of insertion lines may exist to provide additional insertion depths based upon a given application.

[0024] The upper portion may also include one or more protrusions. The protrusions may function as a mechanical or physical stopping point during insertion of the tag into an item. The protrusions may be positioned along one or more edges of the upper portion to contact the item during insertion. The protrusions may be defined in pairs. The pairs may include a first protrusion and a second protrusion, and the first and second protrusions may be positioned on opposing sides of the tag. The protrusions may contact the upper surface of an item (e.g., soil of a potted plant) during insertion substantially simultaneously or near a time where the insertion line contacts the upper surface of the item. That is, the protrusions may provide a physical indicator of proper insertion depth while the insertion line provides a visual indicator for the same.

[0025] The protrusions may be positioned anywhere along the tag. The protrusions may provide more than one insertion or stopping point during insertion if different configurations are desired based upon a given application or item. The protrusions may be a step, bump-out, undulation, projection, peak, finger, extension, or a combination thereof along the tag. The protrusions may be positioned anywhere along the tag. The protrusions may act as a transition between portions of the tag, between the tag and the prepaid card, or both. The protrusions may also help form a shape of the tag. For example, the upper portion may include one or more protrusions and the upper portion may be in the shape of a pot, a birthday cake, etc.

[0026] The upper portion of the tag may be connected or otherwise formed with a stake of the tag. The stake may function to aid with insertion of the tag into an item. That is, the stake may provide a portion of the tag that decreases the force needed to insert the tag into the item. To decrease the force for insertion, the stake may include one or more tapered edges. The tapered edges may converge towards a point or tip near a terminal or proximal end of the stake that initially contacts the item for insertion. As such, the converging edges along with the tip may form a rounded or sharp point to initially penetrate the item’s surface, thereby decreasing the force needed for insertion. Similarly, one or more grooves may be located along the stake to decrease friction between the stake and the item during insertion, further aiding with insertion of the stake.

[0027] Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a front side 10A of a card assembly 10. The card assembly 10 includes a prepaid card 12 connected to a tag 14. The prepaid card 12 may be integrally (i.e., monolithically) formed with the tag 14 or may otherwise by connected to the tag 14. The prepaid card 12 may be any transaction card configured for loading of funds. However, it should also be noted that the any type of card may be used in card assemblies herein, such as a membership card, loyalty rewards program card, or other card that may include user information or a monetary amount.

[0028] Similarly, the prepaid card 12 may include details 30 disposed on the front side 10A of the prepaid card 12. For example, the details 30 may be a text description of a merchant, manufacturer, brand, item, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the details 30 may also include designs or images to help identify the prepaid card 12. It should be noted that while the details 30 are centrally located on the front side 10A of the prepaid card 12, the details 30 may be positioned anywhere along the prepaid card 12. For example, the details 30 may be positioned near one or more terminal edges of the prepaid card 12, thereby leaving a central region of the prepaid card 12 free of text or images.

[0029] The prepaid card 12 may be connected to the tag 14 by one or more score lines 16. As shown, a score line 16 may extend along a width of the connecting region between the prepaid card 12 and the tag 14. That is, the score line 16 may extend to opposing terminal edges of the card assembly 10 transversely to a longitudinal axis of the card assembly 10. As a result, the prepaid card 12 and the tag 14 may be separated from one another along the score line 16.

[0030] As discussed above, the prepaid card 12 and the tag 14 may be integrally formed with one another. As such, the score line 16 may be formed within the material of the card assembly 10 to separate the prepaid card 12 and the tag 14. For example, the score line 16 may be one or more perforations or cuts that extend either partially or completely through a thickness of the card assembly 10. As a result, the score line 16 may provide a visual indicator to a consumer as to where the prepaid card 12 and the tag 14 may be separated. Similarly, the score line 16 my decrease a force needed to separate the prepaid card 12 and the tag 14 when compared to separation without any score line 16.

[0031] The stake 14 may be integrated with the prepaid card 12 to beneficially provide additional information with respect to an item (e.g., a gift), the prepaid card 12 itself, or both. Additionally, the stake 14 may provide a means to secure the prepaid card 12 to an additional item, such as a gift (see, e.g., FIG. 2). To secure the prepaid card 12 to an item, the tag 14 may include a stake 20 positioned near a bottom region of the tag 14. The stake 20 may include a tip 26 that may be inserted into an item so that the prepaid card 12 may stand upright and be easily viewed by a gift recipient. For example, as discussed in further detail below, the stake 26 may be inserted into the soil of a plant (FIG. 2), into a food item (e.g., a birthday cake, other baked good, fruit, vegetable, etc.), or into any item that may allow for penetration of the tip 26 into the surface of the item. As such, the tag 14 may beneficially provide a mounting or securing means for the prepaid card 12 to facilitate connection of a prepaid card 12 to conventional gifts that may often be unable to easily secure a prepaid card 12. Moreover, the card assembly 10 as discussed herein may advantageously provide a securement means for a gift give without requiring additional packaging materials to secure the prepaid card 12 to the gift.

[0032] Furthermore, the tag 14 may also include details 32 disposed on a front side 10A of the tag 14. The details 32 may be similar to the prepaid card details 30 or may provide additional or different information. The tag details 32 may provide information about a gift in which the card assembly 10 is connected to while the prepaid card details 30 may provide information about the prepaid card 12 itself. For example, card assembly 10 may be inserted into a plant so that the tag details 32 provide information specifically about the plant while the prepaid card details 30 may provide information specifically about the prepaid card 12.

[0033] To further ease connection between the card assembly 10 and a gift, the tag 14 may include an upper portion 22 configured to be positioned above an upper surface of the gift. The upper portion 22 may include the tag details 32. The upper portion 22 may also include a plurality of the protrusions 18 that extend outward along the outer edges of the tag 14. The protrusions 18 may be any bump-out, extension, projection, step, lip, ledge, peak, undulation, or a combination thereof. Beneficially, the protrusions 18 may be defined in sets. A first set of protrusions 18A may be positioned near an insertion point of the tag 14 into an item to help define a stopping point for insertion of the tag 14. Similarly, a second set of protrusions 18B may provide an additional stopping point for insertion or may otherwise extend a width of the upper portion 22 for the tag details 32. It should also be noted that while various shapes and designs of the tag 14 may be utilized, it is envisioned that the overall shape of the upper portion 22, the stake 20, or both may be tapered toward the tip 26 to further ease insertion of the tag 14 into a gift item.

[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a card assembly 10 connected to a flowerpot 50. As shown, the tag of the card assembly 10 may be inserted into the soil 52 within the flowerpot 50 so that an upper portion 22 of the tag and a prepaid card 12 connected thereto is visible above the soil 52. Advantageously, as discussed above, the stake of the card assembly 10 may include one or more protrusions that help stop the stake at a desired depth within the soil 52 upon insertion, thereby positioning the card assembly 10 at the proper height.

[0035] It should also be noted that while a flowerpot 50 is shown as the item or gift receiving the card assembly 10, any additional gifts may also be used in connection with the card assembly 10. For example, a food item such as a birthday cake or other baked good may also facilitate insertion of the stake to properly secure the card assembly 10. Thus, it may be gleaned from the present teachings that the card assembly 10 may advantageously be configured for connection to a variety of gifts, thereby providing gift givers a simple and effective way of securing a card assembly 10 to an item.

[0036] Similarly, it is envisioned that the card assembly 10 and the gift item, such as the flowerpot 50, may come as a pre-packaged assembly offered for purchase by a merchant. As such, the card assembly 10 may provide an already connected prepaid card 12 for gift giving. Additionally, the upper portion 22 of the stake may beneficially include detailed information about the flowerpot 50 or other pre-assembled gift item, thereby eliminating the need for an additional stake within the flowerpot 50 to provide a customer information, such as plant care, plant type, etc.

[0037] FIG. 3 illustrates a front side 10A of a card assembly 10. The card assembly 10 includes a prepaid card 12 connected to a tag 14. As shown, the prepaid card 12 may be integrally formed with the tag 14 and separated by a score line 16 therebetween. It should be noted that while the prepaid card 12 and the tag 14 are separated along a short edge of the prepaid card 12, the prepaid card 12 may also be connected to the tag 14 along a long edge.

[0038] To facilitate insertion of the stake 14 into a gift, such as a plant (see FIG. 2), the tag 14 may include a stake 20 having a tip 26. The stake 20 may have one or more tapered edges to further improve insertion into the gift, such as into soil of a plant. Similarly, the tip 26 may provide a rounded or sharp point that more easily penetrates an upper surface of the soil or upper surface of any other gift. Moreover, the stake 20 may include one or more grooves 24 extending longitudinally along the stake 20 between the tip 26 and an upper portion 22 of the tag 14. Such grooves 24 may further aid in proper insertion of the stake 20 by decreasing friction between the stake 20 and the item (e.g., soil). [0039] The upper portion 22 of the tag 14 and the stake 20 may beneficially be separated by an insertion line 28 extending transversely along a length of the tag 14. The insertion line 28 may extend an entire width of the tag 14 or may terminate prior to reaching opposing edges of the tag 14. The insertion line 28 may advantageously provide a visual indicator as to how deep or far the stake 20 should be inserted into an item, (e.g., soil). It is envisioned that the stake 20 may be inserted into the item up until the insertion line 28 reaches an upper surface of the item. For example, the stake 20 may be inserted into the soil of a potted plant until the insertion line 28 reaches the top surface of the soil.

[0040] The insertion line 28 may be used in conjunction with a first set of protrusions 18A for proper insertion into an item. For example, the protrusions 18 within the first set of protrusions 18A may provide a structural stopping point during insertion to ensure a proper depth of the stake 20 within the item. Additionally, a second set of protrusions 18B may be positioned along the upper portion 22 of the tag 22 to provide a user a secondary insertion depth indication. For example, if no details 32 or QR code 34 is present on the upper portion 22, a gift giver may prefer inserting the stake 20 further into the item, thereby only exposing the prepaid card 12 so that the score line 16 rests at or near the upper surface of the item.

[0041] Additionally, as a result of proper insertion of the stake, the upper portion 22 of the tag may remain unobstructed by the item an remain above the upper surface of the item. As a result, tag details 32 and/or a scannable image, such as a QR code 34 may still be visible and easily read by a gift giver or gift recipient.

[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates a back side 10B of the card assembly 10 of FIG. 3. As shown, the prepaid card 12 may contain information, such as a barcode, pin number, further text, a magnetic strip, or a combination thereof along a back side. Similarly, the tag 14 may contain an additional tag description 36 written on the upper portion 22 of the tag. It should also be noted that the stake 20 may be free of text or images.

[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates a separate view of the card assembly 10 of FIG. 3. As discussed above, the card assembly 10 includes a prepaid card 12 connected to a tag 14 by a score line 16. A stake 20 of the tag 14 may be inserted into an item, such the soil of a plant or cake, by inserting a tip 26 of the stake 20 into the item, which may be further aided during insertion by one or more grooves 24 of the stake 20. The stake 20 may be inserted up until a first set of protrusions 18A and/or an insertion line 28 abut an upper surface of the item. As a result, the prepaid card 12 and an upper surface 22 of the tag 14 may remain above the upper surface of the item to easily display the prepaid card 12 and details and/or a QR code 34 along the upper portion 22 of the tag 14.

[0044] As a result, the item and card assembly 10 may be given as a gift. The gift recipient may then separate the prepaid card 12 from the tag 14 for use. As a result, the tag 14 may then remain in the item if information about the item is disposed on the tag 14.

[0045] ELEMENT LIST

[0046] 10 Card Assembly

[0047] 10A Front Side of the Card Assembly

[0048] 10B Back Side of the Card Assembly

[0049] 12 Prepaid Card

[0050] 14 Tag

[0051] 16 Score Line

[0052] 18 Protrusion

[0053] 18A First Set of Protrusions

[0054] 18B Second Set of Protrusions

[0055] 20 Stake

[0056] 22 Upper Portion of the Tag

[0057] 24 Groove

[0058] 26 Tip [0059] 28 Insertion Line

[0060] 30 Prepaid Card Details

[0061] 32 Tag Details

[0062] 34 QR Code

[0063] 36 Tag Description

[0064] 50 Flowerpot

[0065] 52 Soil

[0066] Any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component or a value of a process variable such as, for example, temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. are expressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are less than one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner.

[0067] Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of "about" or "approximately" in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, "about 20 to 30" is intended to cover "about 20 to about 30", inclusive of at least the specified endpoints.

[0068] The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The term "consisting essentially of' to describe a combination shall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified, and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms "comprising" or "including" to describe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of the elements, ingredients, components or steps. By use of the term “may” herein, it is intended that any described attributes that “may” be included are optional.

[0069] Unless otherwise stated, a teaching with the term “about” or “approximately” in combination with a numerical amount encompasses a teaching of the recited amount, as well as approximations of that recited amount. By way of example, a teaching of “about 100” encompasses a teaching of 100 +/- 15.

[0070] Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps. The disclosure of "a" or "one" to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components or steps.

[0071] It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as many applications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the teachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in the following claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it be regarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to be part of the disclosed inventive subject matter.