Stored-Value Card With Removable Chemiluminescent Glow Article

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Solution Overview

Problem

Stored-value cards lack an engaging feature that encourages repeated use and promotion, relying solely on monetary value without additional entertainment or promotional elements.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a glow article within the card's housing that can be manipulated to initiate chemical luminescence, providing an entertaining aspect while maintaining the card's functionality as a financial transaction tool.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a stored-value card includes only monetary value without additional features, then the card structure remains simple, but user engagement and promotion effectiveness are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser engagementVSAvoidcard structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a financial card with a glow article (chemiluminescent toy) into a single integrated product. The glow article is embedded within the card housing, allowing the card to serve both as a financial transaction tool and as an entertaining promotional item, thereby resolving the contradiction between simplicity and user engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The card is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as a stored-value card for financial transactions and simultaneously as a glow article that can be manipulated to produce light. This multi-functionality increases user engagement without requiring separate products, addressing the contradiction between card simplicity and versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a glow article is enclosed within the card housing, then the card provides entertainment value, but the card's thickness and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentertainment valueVSAvoidcard thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The glow article is nested within the card housing, with the chemiluminescent components contained inside the card structure. This nesting approach allows the entertainment feature to be integrated without significantly increasing the overall card dimensions, as the glow article shares the same space as the financial card components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The card housing is designed with thin walls that can contain the glow article while maintaining a credit card-like thickness. The housing structure uses thin film or shell materials that enclose the chemiluminescent components without adding substantial bulk, thus preserving the card's portability while providing entertainment value.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If the glow article is selectively removable from the housing, then the card maintains functionality, but the housing structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecard functionalityVSAvoidhousing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The card housing is segmented into removable parts, allowing the glow article to be selectively taken out while leaving the financial card portion intact. This segmentation enables the user to separate the entertainment feature from the functional card, maintaining ease of operation for both purposes while using a relatively simple modular housing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 glow article enhances user experience, promoting the card's sale and reloading by adding an entertaining element, encouraging repeat visits and maintaining the card's visibility as an advertisement for the retailer.

Implementation Method 1

configured to be selectively removed from the housing and manipulated to initiate chemical luminescence of the glow article

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical luminescence: Chemiluminescence

Data Source

PatentUS7789297B2Stored-value card with chemical luminescence

Publication Date: 2010.09.07 TARGET BRANDS INC

AI summary

A stored-value card includes a housing and a glow article. The housing includes an account identifier adapted to link the stored-value card to a financial account or a financial record. The glow article is enclosed within the housing and is configured to be selectively removed from the housing and manipulated to initiate chemical luminescence of the glow article. Stored-value card assemblies, methods of promoting sales of stored-value cards, methods of using a stored-value card and other embodiments are also disclosed.