Foldable Transaction Card with Rotatable Magnetic Stripe

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Solution Overview

Problem

Standard transaction cards are often too large, necessitating a reduction in size while maintaining functionality.

Innovation Solution

A transaction card design featuring a body with two rotatably coupled sections, including a chip on one section and a magnetic stripe on the other, allowing the magnetic stripe to extend parallel or perpendicular to the card's perimeter depending on configuration, with a locking mechanism to maintain the open configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If standard transaction card dimensions are used, then functionality is maintained, but card size becomes large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecard sizeVSAvoidcompatibility with reading devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The card body is divided into two rotatably coupled sections: a first section containing the chip and a second section containing the magnetic stripe. This segmentation allows the card to be stored in a compact folded state while maintaining full functionality when deployed, resolving the contradiction between reduced card size and compatibility with standard reading devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The card incorporates a rotatable joint between the two sections, enabling dynamic transformation between a compact folded configuration for storage and an extended configuration for use. This dynamic capability allows the card to adapt its size while maintaining compatibility with standard chip and magnetic stripe readers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Area of moving object

If card size is reduced, then space requirements are minimized, but functionality may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecard sizeVSAvoidtransaction functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the chip and magnetic stripe onto different rotatably coupled sections, the design ensures that both functional elements are preserved and can be properly positioned during transactions, maintaining reliability while enabling compact storage when folded.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The card maintains multiple transaction capabilities (chip-based and magnetic stripe-based) within a single compact structure, ensuring broad compatibility and reliable functionality across different transaction systems while minimizing space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11977939B2Compact transaction card with foldable magnetic stripe

Publication Date: 2024.05.07 CAPITAL ONE SERVICES LLC

AI summary

Provided are compact transaction cards. In some approaches, a body of the card includes first and second sections rotatably coupled together, wherein the first and second sections define a first main side opposite a second main side, an insertion end perimeter opposite a second end perimeter, and a first side perimeter opposite a second side perimeter. The body may include a chip along the first main side, the chip being located on the first section of the body. A magnetic stripe may be provided along the second main side of the body, wherein the magnetic stripe is located on the second section, wherein the magnetic stripe extends parallel to the insertion end perimeter when the first and second sections are in a first configuration, and wherein the magnetic stripe extends perpendicular to the insertion end perimeter when the first and second sections are in a second configuration.