Soft touch resin and transaction card comprising the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10325438-B2
Application number	US-201816149481-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2018
Priority date	Dec 9, 2016
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods are provided for manufacturing a transaction card. The disclosed apparatuses and methods may be used to form a transaction card frame configured to house a data storage component. The card frame may be formed of a resin mixture comprising a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The card frame may also have a Shore D hardness in the range of 20-80.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transaction card, comprising:
a card frame comprising:
a first surface;
a second surface recessed a first depth from the first surface; and
a third surface recessed a second depth from the second surface, the second depth being greater than the first depth, wherein:
the card frame is formed of a resin mixture comprising thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and acetal homopolymer, with a ratio of TPE to acetal homopolymer being between 30:70 and 70:30;

a transaction component disposed on the third surface; and
a contact plate of the transaction component disposed on the second surface.

2. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the transaction component comprises at least one of a microchip, a communication device, a Near Field Communication (NFC) device, an antenna, a Bluetooth® device, or a WiFi device.

3. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of TPE to acetal homopolymer is between 40:60 to 60:40.

4. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the resin mixture further comprises polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

5. The transaction card of claim 4 , wherein the PBT has a flexural modulus in the range of 1600-8500 MPa.

6. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the TPE is a polyester elastomer.

7. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the TPE has a flexural modulus in the range of 500-1150 MPa.

8. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the card frame has a Shore D hardness in the range of 20-80.

9. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the card frame has a Shore A hardness greater than 15 and a Shore D hardness less than 85.

10. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the acetal homopolymer has a Rockwell M hardness in the range of 18-94 and a Rockwell R hardness in the range of 102-122.

11. A method of manufacturing a transaction card, comprising:
forming a card frame, the card frame comprising:
a first surface;
a second surface recessed a first depth from the first surface; and
a third surface recessed a second depth from the second surface, the second depth being greater than the first depth, wherein:
the card frame is formed of a resin mixture comprising thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and acetal homopolymer, with a ratio of TPE to acetal homopolymer being between 30:70 and 70:30;

disposing a transaction component on the third surface; and
disposing a contact plate of the transaction component on the second surface.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the transaction component comprises at least one of a microchip, a communication device, a Near Field Communication (NFC) device, an antenna, a Bluetooth® device, or a WiFi device.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the ratio of TPE to acetal homopolymer is between 40:60 to 60:40.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the resin mixture further comprises polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the PBT has a flexural modulus in the range of 1600-8500 MPa.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the TPE is a polyester elastomer.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the TPE has a flexural modulus in the range of 500-1150 MPa.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the card frame has a Shore D hardness in the range of 20-80.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the card frame has a Shore A hardness greater than 15 and a Shore D hardness less than 85.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the acetal homopolymer has a Rockwell M hardness in the range of 18-94 and a Rockwell R hardness in the range of 102-122.

Assignees

• Capital One Services Llc

Inventors

• Suthar Om J

Classifications

• B42D25/29

  Securities; Bank notes · CPC title

• G06K19/0772

  Physical layout of the record carrier · CPC title

• C08L2207/04

  Thermoplastic elastomer · CPC title

• B32B2274/00

  Thermoplastic elastomer material · CPC title

• G06Q20/357

  Cards having a plurality of specified features · CPC title