US3609895A

US3609895A - Credit cards

Info

Publication number: US3609895A
Application number: US825710A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nicholas Wyckoff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-05-19
Filing date: 1969-05-19
Publication date: 1971-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-05

Abstract

THIS INVENTION PERTAINS TO CREDIT CARDS, EACH OF WHICH CONSISTS OF AT LEAST TWO SEPARABLE PORTIONS. THE PORTIONS ARE IRREGULARLY SHAPED IN A PRES-SELECTED MANNER TO PROVIDE NUMEROUS COMBINATIONS OF INTERFITTING PARTS SO THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO PRODUCE CREDIT CARDS NO TWO OF WHICH ARE DUPLICATED.

Description

Q. 5, 19?'1 N, WYCKQFF 3,0995

CREDIT CARDS Filed May 19, 1969 ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,609,895 Patented Oct. 5, 1971 3,609,895 CREDIT CARDS Nicholas Wyckoff, Rapid City, S. Dak. (6823 Avenida El Alba, Paradise Valley, Ariz. 85253) Filed May 19, 1969, Ser. No. 825,710 Int. Cl. G09f 3/02 U.S. Cl. 40-2.2 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention pertains to credit cards, each of which consists of at least two separable portions. The portions are irregularly shaped in a pre-selected manner to provide numerous combinations of interitting parts so that it is possible to produce credit cards no two of which are duplicated.

The present invention relates to credit cards and more particularly to a credit card composed of separable portions having conforming irregularly shaped edges adapted to be assembled in interlitting relation. More specifically the credit card includes a at base sheet having an opening which is notched in a pre-selected manner and a separable key-shaped member having protuberances which intert with the notches in the base member, the key-shaped member being detachable from the base sheet.

It has been recognized that unauthorized persons frequently use credit cards, obtaining them either through loss or theft. In order to obyiate such use it is the purpose of the present invention to formthe card in separable portions and to shape these portions in such a manner that they are not easily duplicated to register with each other.

It is a further object of the invention to shape the separable portions with irregular edges, such, for instance, as conforming notches and teeth, the spacing of which is subject to an unlimited combination of intertting parts making it diicult to `duplicate one portion to conform to the other portion.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description thereof taken with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. l in top view of one form of a credit card made in accordance with the basic invention;

FIG. 2 is another forrn of the credit card;

FIG. 3 is a section taken through line 3 3 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective of still another form of the invention.

Referring to the several figures in the drawings the credit card is composed of a base sheet portion 10 which is formed from a suitable substantially stiff or rigid paper or plastic. The base sheet is provided with an irregularly shaped opening 11, best shown in FIG. 4. The edges of the opening are indented or notched at 12, these notches being spaced from each other in a pre-selected manner so that the notches and the spacing therebetween in one credit card will differ from those in other cards. In this way it will be apparent that an unlimited combination of a plurality of indentations and the spacing therebetween can be obtained.

Designed to cooperate and frictionally intert with the notched irregular shaped opening in the base sheet is a key-shaped portion f13 having a plurality of spaced protuberances or teeth 14 which conform with the notches and spacing therebetween in the opening 11. The keyshaped portion of the credit card may be made of the same material as that from which the base sheet is produced or may be made of another material such as metal. It is only necessary that the portions conform to each other and cooperate to form a closely fitting assembly. The prime purpose of the key portion is that it is intended to be carried separately from the base by the owner of the card and to be assembled with the base only when a purchase is made. In the event that the owner wishes to carry the key on a holder with other keys, an aperture 15 is provided adjacent the end of the key which, incidentally, protrudes 'beyond the edge 16 of the base, the opening 11 extending to this particular edge. The protruding end of the key permits more ready assembly of the card portions.

Referring again to the spacing of the indentations and protuberances it will be seen in FIG. 2, for instance, that the spacing `between adjacent notches 12a and 12b is less than that between notches `12a and 12e. It `will also be evident that the spacing between other adjacent notches are unequal. Hence, it is possible to produce numerous combinations of the interiitting portions no two of which are duplicates.

As seen in FIG. 4 it is contemplated that not only is the spacing between notches variable but the depths of the notches differ from each other.

In the preferred form of the invention the thickness of the `key-shaped portion is the same as that of the base sheet so that when the two portions are assembled in intertting relation the opposite faces of the base and key lie in the same planes. This permits more facile recording in the conventional type of printing miachine in use in stores, gas stations and other establishments which recognize credit cards.

It is of course intended that certain identification matter be associated with the two portions of the credit cards. Numerical data, such as Social Security numbers or other figures, which may be in the form of embossments, as shown at 17, are contemplated, as well as signatures, addresses and the like.

While preferred forms of the invention have been illustrated and described it is intended that such modifications `as fall within the scope of the appended claims form part of the invention.

I claim:

*1. A credit card comprising a relatively rigid flat base portion having an irregularly shaped opening therein, a separable 4key-shaped portion having lan irregular outline conforming to the shape of said opening, said key-shaped portion being insertable in and in interfitting relation with said opening when said base portion and said key-shaped portion are in assembled relation, opposite edges of said opening each being provided with a plurality of spaced indentations and the opposite edges of the key-shaped portion being provided with a plurality of protuberances, spaced to yconform with the spacing of said indentations, the spacing between indentations on one side of said opposite edges differing from the spacing between indentations on the opposite edge, the spacing between one of said indentations and an adjacent indentation differing from the spacing between said one indentation and another adjacent indentation.

2. A credit card as defined in claim 1 in Whieh the 3,478,683 11/1969 Hopkins etal 10i-368 depth of one of said indentations differs from the depth 3,505,954 4/'1970 Projansky 40--2.2 X of another of said indentatiorls. 3,511,181 5/ 1970 McGien et al. 40-2.2 X

References Cited 5 ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner 3,283,713 11/1966` Wooster 40-2-.2 3,350,000 11/'1967 Wm et a1. 283-7, U-S- C1' XR 3,407,524 10/1968 Schladermundt 40-2 IOL- 368