Financial Card Visual Distortion Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional financial transaction cards lack an engaging feature that encourages their use and promotion, failing to effectively enhance consumer interaction and retailer visibility.
Innovation Solution
A financial transaction card incorporating a translucent or transparent visual distortion member, positioned to alter the viewer's vision, combined with a substrate and rim for secure alignment, providing an entertaining experience while maintaining payment functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional financial transaction card is used, then the card maintains simple structure and manufacturing ease, but the card lacks consumer engagement and promotional effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies visual distortion members that create optical effects including color changes and image distortion when viewed from different angles or positions. This transforms a plain transaction card into an engaging promotional tool that captures consumer attention through dynamic visual effects while maintaining the card's basic functionality and manufacturing feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The visual distortion member acts as an intermediary element between the card substrate and the viewer's eye. This intermediate optical element creates the engaging visual effects without requiring complex mechanical or electronic systems, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while adding promotional effectiveness
2Adaptability or versatility
If a visual distortion member is added to the card, then consumer amusement and promotion are enhanced, but the card structure and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The card is segmented into distinct functional layers: a substrate layer containing the account identifier and a separate visual distortion member layer. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using standard processes, then assembled together, reducing overall complexity while maintaining engagement capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The visual distortion member is positioned within a recess or aperture in the substrate, creating a nested structure where the optical element is housed within the card body. This nesting approach integrates the additional functionality into the existing card form factor without significantly increasing external dimensions or assembly complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If a visual distortion member is incorporated into the card, then consumer amusement is enhanced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The visual distortion effects are concentrated in specific local areas of the card where the distortion members are positioned, rather than requiring uniform precision across the entire card surface. The account identifier and other critical elements can be placed in areas unaffected by the optical effects, allowing standard manufacturing tolerances to be maintained in those regions
Solution Approach 2:
The visual distortion members are designed to self-align or self-position within their designated areas through optical properties or mechanical features such as snap-fits or adhesive zones. This self-service capability reduces the need for high-precision manual alignment during assembly, maintaining manufacturing feasibility while achieving the desired visual effects
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The card's visual distortion feature enhances consumer amusement, promoting its sale and use, while the payment functionality ensures its utility as a gift card or stored-value card, encouraging repeat visits and brand remembrance.
Implementation Method 1
a translucent or transparent visual distortion member, positioned to alter the viewer's vision
Data Source
AI summary
A financial transaction card includes a substrate, a member, and a rim. The substrate is formed of a first material and defines a first major surface and an aperture extending though the substrate. The substrate further includes an account identifier linking the financial transaction card to at least one of a financial account and a financial record and is configured for use a payment toward a purchase. The member is formed separately from the substrate and defines a perimeter edge. The rim extends around at least a portion of the perimeter edge of the member and is coupled with the first major surface of the substrate adjacent the aperture in a manner at least partially coupling the member to the substrate such that the aperture and the member align with one another. Other products and methods are also disclosed.