US4897533A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Credit card and method of making the same
Assignee: QUALTEQ Inc
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Filing: 1987-07-31
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Granted: 1990-01-30
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Expires: 2007-07-31
Abstract
Abstract An improved credit card having a clear, unbroken metallized surface with printed graphics thereon which is scratch resistant and a method of making the same are disclosed. The method involves heat transferring a metallized foil to a first surface of a plastic substrate, silk-screen printing over the metallized foil with ultraviolet curable ink, drying the ink with ultraviolet light and overlaminating the printed foil with a clear polyester film coated with a heat-activated adhesive or coating it with an ultraviolet curable varnish which is cured by applying ultraviolet light to the coating. The plastic substrate is in the form of a large sheet from which a plurality of cards are die cut after the printing and application of the transparent film. A magnetic tape is then applied to the back of each card.
Inventors
- 👤 John L. Lyszczarz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:26
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/30; B42D25/36; B42D25/373; G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06009; G06K19/06046; B42D25/369; B42D25/378; B42D25/387; B42D25/40; B42D25/405; B42D25/41; B42D2033/04; B42D2033/10; B42D2033/16; B42D2033/18; B42D2033/30; B42D2033/32; B42D25/45; B42D25/455; B42D25/46; B42D25/465; B42D25/47; B42D25/475; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A credit card comprising a plastic substrate in the form of a card, a metal containing layer in the form of a metallic foil overlayed on at least substantially all of a first surface of said plastic substrate and having printed ink graphics thereon formed of an ultraviolet curable ink, and a transparent film located on said metallic foil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A credit card comprising a plastic substrate in the form of a card, a metal containing layer in the form of a metallic foil overlayed on at least substantially all of a first surface of said plastic substrate and having printed ink graphics thereon formed of an ultraviolet curable ink, and a transparent film located on said metallic foil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A credit card according to claim 1, further comprising identifying information means located on said card.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A credit card according to claim 2, wherein said identifying information means is a magnetic tape which is attached to said card on a second surface of said plastic substrate opposite said first surface of said substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A credit card according to claim 1, wherein said metal containing layer is bonded to said first surface of said substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A credit card according to claim 1, wherein said metal containing layer covers the entire first surface of said substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A credit card according to claim 1, wherein said transparent film is bonded to said metal containing layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A credit card according to claim 6, wherein said transparent film is formed of an ultraviolet curable varnish.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A credit card according to claim 6, wherein said transparent film is a polyester film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A credit card according to claim 1, wherein said card comprises a transparent plastic film overlayed on a second surface of said substrate opposite said first surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A credit card according to claim 1, wherein said metal containing layer is a reflective, smooth, continuous layer which has printed ink graphics provided thereon.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of making a credit card with a scratch resistant metallic surface comprising the steps of providing a plastic substrate, applying a metal containing layer in the form of a metallic foil to at least substantially all of a first surface of said plastic substrate, printing ink graphics with an ultraviolet curable ink on said metal containing layer, curing the ink graphics by applying ultraviolet light thereto and providing said printed metal containing layer with a transparent film over it to protect said metal containing layer without breaking said layer.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of making a credit card with a scratch resistant metallic surface comprising the steps of providing a plastic substrate, applying a metal containing layer in the form of a metallic foil to at least substantially all of a first surface of said plastic substrate, printing ink graphics with an ultraviolet curable ink on said metal containing layer, curing the ink graphics by applying ultraviolet light thereto and providing said printed metal containing layer with a transparent film over it to protect said metal containing layer without breaking said layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said metal containing layer is bonded to said first surface of said plastic substrate during said applying step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein said foil is initially adhered to a carrier film via a release agent, the surface of said foil to be bonded to said first surface of said plastic substrate being coated with a heat-activated adhesive, and wherein said foil is bonded to said first surface of said plastic substrate under the application of heat and pressure to adhesively bond said foil to the first surface of said plastic substrate and release the foil from said carrier film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said metal containing layer covers all of said first surface of said credit card.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein said graphics are silk-screen printed on said metal containing layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 12, including eliminating static electricity from said layer and plastic substrate during said printing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said transparent film is an ultraviolet curable varnish which is applied to said metal containing layer having printed graphics thereon and is cured by application of ultraviolet light.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said transparent film is a clear polyester film which is coated with a heat-activated adhesive on one surface thereof for bonding to said metal containing layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein said heat-activated adhesive is heated and said clear polyester film is bonded to said metal containing layer of said plastic substrate by conveying said substrate and film between opposed nip rollers to press said film against said layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of printing a second surface of said plastic substrate opposite said first surface and applying a layer of clear vinyl over said printed second surface prior to applying said metal containing layer to said first surface of said plastic substrate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said plastic substrate is in the form of a large sheet containing a plurality of credit cards, individual credit cards being die cut to card size from said sheet after said step of providing the metal containing layer with a transparent film.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 21, wherein a magnetic tape is applied to a second surface of each card which is opposite said first surface after the credit cards are die cut from said large sheet.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 11, including press polishing said first surface of said substrate before providing said metal containing layer thereon.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
10 words
A credit card made by the method of claim 11.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-29 | 1993-07-31 | 1994-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-29 | 1997-07-31 | 1998-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-29 | 2001-07-31 | 2002-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |