Transaction card having internal lighting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10095969-B2
Application number	US-201715694459-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2017
Priority date	Dec 9, 2016
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

A transaction card construction and a method for making a transaction card are described. The transaction card construction comprises an inlay component and a housing component. The inlay component may comprise a light-penetrable layer and a backer layer. A light source may be disposed on or in the housing component, and the housing component and the inlay component may be joined such that light emitted by the light source passes through the inlay component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transaction card, comprising:
a housing component having a first housing surface and a second housing surface opposite the first housing surface, the housing component including a cavity having a cavity wall;
a light source; and
an inlay component having a first inlay surface, and a second inlay surface opposite the first inlay surface, the inlay component being configured to fit into the cavity, and wherein at least a portion of said inlay component is translucent;
wherein the light source is disposed between the housing component and the inlay component; and
wherein said inlay component is joined to said housing component such that the first housing surface abuts the second inlay surface, and such that light emitted by the light source passes through the translucent portion of the inlay.

2. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the housing component and the inlay component are formed of different materials.

3. The transaction card of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of light sources.

4. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein visual details are included on an outer surface of the transaction card.

5. The transaction card of claim 1 , further comprising a data storage component.

6. The transaction card of claim 5 , wherein the data storage component is one of a microchip, a communication device, a magnetic strip, a barcode, or a Quick Response (QR) code.

7. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the inlay component comprises:
a light-penetrable layer; and
a backer layer joined to the light-penetrable layer.

8. The transaction card of claim 7 , wherein visual details are included on or in the light-penetrable layer of the inlay component.

9. The transaction card of claim 7 , wherein visual details are included on or in the backer layer of the inlay component.

10. The transaction card of claim 7 , wherein the light-penetrable layer and the backer layer are formed of different materials.

11. A transaction card, comprising:
a housing component having a first housing surface and a second housing surface opposite the first housing surface, the housing component including a cavity having a cavity wall;
a light source; and
an inlay component having a first inlay surface, and a second inlay surface opposite the first inlay surface, the inlay component being configured to fit into the cavity, and wherein at least a portion of the inlay component is translucent;
wherein the light source is disposed on the cavity wall; and
wherein the inlay component is joined to the housing component such that the first housing surface abuts the second inlay surface, and such that light emitted by the light source passes through the translucent portion of the inlay component.

12. The transaction card of claim 11 , wherein the housing component and the inlay component are formed of different materials.

13. The transaction card of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of light sources.

14. The transaction card of claim 11 , wherein visual details are included on an outer surface of the transaction card.

15. The transaction card of claim 11 , further comprising a data storage component.

16. The transaction card of claim 15 , wherein the data storage component is one of a microchip, a communication device, a magnetic strip, a barcode, or a Quick Response (QR) code.

17. The transaction card of claim 11 , wherein the inlay component comprises:
a light-penetrable layer; and
a backer layer joined to the light-penetrable layer.

18. The transaction card of claim 17 , wherein visual details are included on or in the light-penetrable layer of the inlay component.

19. The transaction card of claim 17 , wherein visual details are included on or in the backer layer of the inlay component.

20. The transaction card of claim 17 , wherein the light-penetrable layer and the backer layer are formed of different materials.

Assignees

• Capital One Services Llc

Inventors

• Suthar Om J

Classifications

• G06K19/07722

  the record carrier being multilayered, e.g. laminated sheets (flat articles in general, see B32B37/00) · CPC title

• G06K19/0723 Primary

  the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs · CPC title

• G06K19/07705 Primary

  the visual interface being a single light or small number of lights capable of being switched on or off, e.g. a series of LEDs · CPC title

• G06K19/0772 Primary

  Physical layout of the record carrier · CPC title

• F21V33/00

  Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title