Electronic transaction card with stylus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9242503-B2
Application number	US-201414289695-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2014
Priority date	Jan 31, 2013
Publication date	Jan 26, 2016
Grant date	Jan 26, 2016

Abstract

An electronic transaction card for completing a transaction is provided, the card includes an integrated stylus that can be used to sign paper receipts. In some embodiments the stylus is constructed to have a metal alloy tip that leaves an indelible mark when abraded on paper and does not require replacement or replenishing like an ink pen or pencil. In one embodiment a transaction card is provided that is substantially rectangular and at least one of the corners is shaped to define a mount that is configured to engage a stylus of the above construction for signing paper receipts. In another embodiment a transaction card is provided with a stylus for signing paper receipts having a stylus arm that is integrated into the base of the transaction card and a stylus tip of the above construction for signing paper receipts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic transaction card, comprising:
a base constructed from a substantially rectangular material having a front and back face defining a first thickness therebetween, and at least four corners, wherein at least a first corner of the at least four corners has a shape which differs from the other corners;
a stylus disposed at the first corner and extending away from the base to a stylus tip, wherein the shape of the base at the first corner defines at least a first portion of the stylus, and wherein a second portion of the stylus is constructed from a metal alloy of the type which leaves an indelible mark when the metal alloy is abraded on a paper substrate; and
an electronic storage medium bearing information presentable to consummate a financial transaction.

2. The electronic transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the stylus tip is rounded in at least two dimensions thereby defining an apex of the stylus tip.

3. The electronic transaction card of claim 2 , wherein the stylus tip is rounded in at least three dimensions.

4. The electronic transaction card of claim 2 , wherein the stylus includes a stylus arm, wherein the shape of the base at the first corner defines the stylus arm and at least a portion of the stylus tip such that the base, the stylus arm and the at least a portion of the stylus tip are integrally formed of the same material.

5. The electronic transaction card of claim 4 , wherein the stylus tip includes the metal alloy, and wherein the metal alloy comprises a coating over a surface of the at least a portion of the stylus tip.

6. The electronic transaction card of claim 4 , wherein the shape of the base at the first corner defining the stylus has a curvature that is one of: a parabola shape, a spade shape and a hook shape.

7. The electronic transaction card of claim 2 , wherein the radius of curvature of the stylus tip is in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm.

8. The electronic transaction card of claim 2 , wherein the stylus tip has a varying thickness which is greater than the first thickness at a base of the stylus tip and is less than the first thickness at the apex of the stylus tip.

9. The electronic transaction card of claim 2 , wherein the stylus tip has a varying thickness which is equal to the first thickness at a base of the stylus tip and is less than the first thickness at the apex of the stylus tip.

10. The electronic transaction card of claim 2 , wherein the stylus tip is generally cone shaped.

Assignees

• Mastercard International Inc

Inventors

• Branca Jr Frederick F

Classifications

• G06K19/07737 Primary

  the record carrier consisting of two or more mechanically separable parts · CPC title

• G06K19/0772

  Physical layout of the record carrier · CPC title

• B43K31/00

  Writing implement receptacles functioning as, or combined with, writing implements (other writing implement receptacles A45C11/34, A45C11/36) · CPC title

• B43K23/001 Primary

  Supporting means (bracelets with means for attaching a writing instrument or a memo pad A44C5/0046) · CPC title