Transaction Card Carrier with Extended Scan Bar Access

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gift card packaging requires manipulation to access the scan bar for swiping at a register, making the transaction process inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A transaction card carrier design where the transaction card is secured such that at least one scan bar on the back surface extends beyond the bottom edge of the carrier, allowing for easy swiping without manipulating the carrier.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the transaction card is fully enclosed in the carrier for protection and display, then the card is protected and presentable, but the scan bar is not accessible without manipulating the carrier

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAccessibility of scan barVSAvoidCarrier structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier is segmented into distinct functional zones: a display area for the front of the card and an extended area at the bottom that exposes the scan bar. This segmentation allows the card to be both protected within the carrier and accessible for scanning without requiring manipulation of the carrier structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The scan bar is positioned to extend beyond the bottom edge of the carrier in a vertical dimension, creating an accessible interface that protrudes from the otherwise enclosed card structure. This dimensional extension allows the scan bar to be accessible while the rest of the card remains protected.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the scan bar is positioned on the back surface of the card, then the card design is flexible, but the scan bar requires manipulation of the carrier to access

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTransaction speedVSAvoidTime to access scan bar

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The scan bar is pre-positioned to extend beyond the carrier bottom edge during card mounting, so that it is immediately accessible when the card is inserted into the carrier. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for post-insertion manipulation to access the scan bar, thereby reducing transaction time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the card width matches the carrier width for secure mounting, then the card is securely held, but the scan bar cannot extend beyond the carrier edge

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCard mounting stabilityVSAvoidScan bar accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier structure has different dimensional characteristics at different locations: the sides and top maintain a width that securely holds the card, while the bottom edge has an extended opening that allows the scan bar to protrude. This local variation in structural properties enables both secure mounting and scan bar accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8540160B2Card carrier having extended transaction card

Publication Date: 2013.09.24 APPLE INC

AI summary

A transaction card carrier is disclosed. The transaction card carrier may include a transaction card having substantially the same width as the transaction card carrier. The transaction card may also be secured on the transaction card carrier such that at least one scan bar positioned on the back surface of the transaction card is visible and accessible without manipulating the transaction card carrier.