Tamper Resistant Gift Card Carrier

Abstract

A tamper evident gift card carrier or package that includes a card attached to a carrier and with an encapsulating label positioned over the card. The label features a periphery coated with an adhesive and that surrounds a middle section positioned over the card. One or more sets of die cuts or perforations allow easy removal and indicate tampering. The middle section can also feature embossing on the surface that directly faces and/or contacts the label. A second set of perforations or tamper marks is die cut into the periphery of the label such that if that entire label is peeled away from the carrier to which it is attached, the periphery of the label will separate into more than one section making tampering evident. The label can be made of a water-soluble material such as PVOH (polyvinyl alcohol).

Claims

1. A tamper evident gift card carrier comprising: a gift card with a first surface that is adhered to a first side of the gift card carrier; a label with a first side and a second side wherein the first side has a periphery that completely surrounds a middle section of the label; wherein the periphery of the first side of the label is completely coated with an adhesive and is attached to the first side of the carrier such that the middle section is positioned over the gift card and every edge of the gift card is completely surrounded by the adhesive coated onto the periphery of the first side of the label.

2. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising: a first set of die cuts and/or perforations, that vary in shape and orientation, cut into the label that cause the label to separate into more than one piece when the label is peeled away from the gift card carrier.

3. The gift card carrier of claim 2 further comprising: a second set of die cuts and/or perforations that cause the label to stretch to accommodate the thickness of the gift card.

4. The carrier of claim 3 wherein the middle section of the first side of the label is embossed and said embossed middle section is positioned over the card attached to the carrier thereby decreasing the amount of friction between the middle section of the label and the gift card during assembly of the gift card carrier.

5. The gift card carrier of claim 4 wherein the periphery of the first side of the label is hermetically sealed to the first side of the gift card carrier.

6. The gift card carrier of claim 5 wherein the first set of die cuts and/or perforations is in the periphery of the second side of the label.

7. The gift card carrier of claim 6 wherein the second set of die cuts and/or perforations define the edges of the middle section.

8. A tamper evident gift card carrier comprising: a gift card having a first side, a second side and four edges; the first side of the gift card being attached to the carrier via an adhesive; and a label with a first side partially coated with an adhesive; said label being attached to the gift card carrier such that the adhesive on the first side of the label completely surrounds, but does not contact or cover the four edges of the gift card.

9. The tamper evident gift card carrier of claim 8 further comprising: a set of die cuts and/or perforations cut into the label and that completely traverse the label from the first side of the label to a second side of the label such that if the label is separated from the gift card carrier, the label to separate into more than one piece.

10. The tamper evident gift card carrier of claim 8 further comprising: a set of die cuts and/or perforations that encircle the gift card that allow the label to stretch to accommodate the dimensions of the gift card.

11. The tamper evident gift card carrier of claim 8 further comprising: a middle section defined by and encircled by a periphery of the label; said middle section having no adhesive and being positioned to contact the gift card when the label is attached to the gift card carrier.

12. The tamper evident gift card carrier of claim 11 wherein the middle section of the first side of the label is embossed and said embossed middle section is positioned over the gift card attached to the carrier thereby decreasing the amount of friction between the middle section of the label and the gift card during assembly of the gift card carrier.

13. The tamper evident gift card carrier of claim 8 wherein the periphery of the first side of the label is hermetically sealed onto the gift card carrier resulting in the gift card being surrounded on all sides by the adhesive, the label and the gift card carrier.

14. A tamper evident gift card carrier comprising: a gift card having a first side, a second side and four edges; a label with a first side and a second side wherein each side of the label has a periphery surrounding a middle section; an adhesive applied to the periphery of the first side of the label; said periphery of the first side of the label being attached to a surface of the gift card carrier such that the four edges of the gift card are surrounded by said adhesive the first side of the gift card being attached to the carrier via an adhesive; and said label being attached to the gift card carrier such that the adhesive on the first side of the label completely surrounds the four edges of the gift card, the label covers the second side of the gift card and the gift card carrier covers the first side of the gift card.

15. The tamper evident gift card carrier of claim 1 wherein the label is made of a water-soluble material.

16. The tamper evident gift card carrier of claim 8 wherein the label is made of a water-soluble material.

17. The tamper evident gift card carrier of claim 14 wherein the label is made of a water-soluble material.

18. The tamper evident gift card carrier of claim 15 wherein the water-soluble material is polyvinyl alcohol.

19. The tamper evident gift card carrier of claim 16 wherein the water-soluble material is polyvinyl alcohol.

20. The tamper evident gift card carrier of claim 17 wherein the water-soluble material is polyvinyl alcohol.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS.

[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the inventive label, a gift card and a card carrier;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded view thereof from the opposite angle;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled gift card carrier with a label attached to a carrier covering the card;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the same label with a portion of it being removed to allow access to the gift card as intended;

[0014] FIG. 5 is rear plan view of the assembled carrier with the packaged card;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a side view thereof showing how the bridged or embossed label hovers over and entraps the gift card;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a front plan view thereof;

[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the label showing the tamper die cuts cut into the periphery of the label that indicate tampering.

[0018] FIG. 9 shows the automated process of attaching the gift card to the carrier

[0019] FIG. 10 shows the automated process of attaching the label to the carrier; and

[0020] FIG. 11 shows an example of an extended inline assembly of the glue, gift card and label.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

[0021] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an exploded view of the assembled carrier 10, card 11 and label 12 from opposing angles. The method of packaging a gift card includes attaching the gift card 11 itself to a card carrier 10. The card carrier 10 itself is a flattened, two-sided, paper-based substrate to which the gift card 11 is attached with an adhesive 14a or a double-sided sticker. The label 12 can be made of any number of different materials including paper or plastic based materials that are capable of adhering to the carrier 10 with a permanent adhesive. As discussed above, preferred embodiments include a material that dissolves in water such as Polyvinyl Alcohol. The first side of the label 12 incudes a periphery 12a, fully coated with an adhesive 14b, that encircles a middle section 12b that is positioned directly over the card 11 once it is attached to the carrier 10. The middle section 12b of the label 12 does not have any adhesive on it so when it is placed over the card 11 it does not adhere to the card itself. The periphery 12a of the label 12 is fully coated with an adhesive 14b so that when it is placed onto a front or first surface 10a of the carrier 10, the periphery adheres to the carrier 10 completely encapsulating and encircling the card 12 with surfaces attached by adhesive. When assembled, the label 12 is hermetically secured to the carrier 10 such that the entire package is sealed around the card 11 contained therein. There are no spots or sections of the periphery 12a that are not attached to the card carrier 10 with adhesive, i.e. the card 11 is completely sealed into the packaging rather than there being gaps in the adhesive 14b attaching the periphery 12a to the carrier. At that point, the first side of the label 12 is not visible as it is adhered to the carrier 10 and the second side fo the label 12 is visible to anyone viewing the assembled carrier.

[0022] FIGS. 1 and 2 also show that the label 12 includes a periphery 12a with a section 12c that has die cuts and/or perforations 12d around the middle section 12b of the label 12 that encircle the gift card 11 once the label 12 is positioned on and adhered to the carrier 10. These die cuts or perforations 12d are meant to be torn by the consumer when the package is opened as intended.

[0023] FIGS. 3 and 4 show how the gift card 11 is removed from the fully assembled package. The user tears the label 12 by tearing the die cuts and/or perforations 12d in the perforated section 12c of the label 12 and peeling it partially away from the carrier 10 allowing access to the card 11 itself. It is simply not possible to access the card in this configuration without damaging the die cut and/or perforated section of the label and thus signaling that the package has been tampered with.

[0024] FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show the assembled package from different angles. FIG. 8 demonstrates the use of the tamper marks 15 which are die cut into the periphery 12a. These perforations or tamper marks 15 are separate from the perforations of the perforated section 12c that encircle the card 11 attached to the carrier 10. These tamper marks cause the periphery 12a of the label 12 to separate into at least two pieces when the label 12 is pulled away from the carrier 10. That way if the adhesive that holds the label 12 to the carrier 10 is compromised in some manner, a feat which is more difficult when the label is coated with adhesive, the periphery 12a of the label will separate into at least two pieces. This separation will defeat the thief's ability to replace the label such that the periphery 12a of the label lays correctly thereby hiding the replacement of the card inside and their tampering with the carrier.

[0025] FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 show the process of making the assembled package. The card 11 is attached to the carrier 10 with adhesive 14a by a wheel or similar machine that positions the card 11 on the carrier 10 after the adhesive 14a is added to the carrier 10. The carrier 10 with the attached card 11 is then moved into position underneath another set of rollers that peels a label 12 away from a release liner 13 and rolls the label onto the carrier 10. Once separated from the release liner 13, the labels 12 are rolled and pressed onto the front surface 10a of the carrier 10 featuring the attached gift card 11.

[0026] The disclosed method and apparatus allow businesses to more securely package gift and other types of cards in disposable packages such that it is evident to a purchaser when the package has been tampered with prior to purchase. The disclosed gift card carrier and system include a label that is sealed over a gift card attached to a gift card carrier such that every edge of the card is surrounded by adhesive attaching the label to the carrier. Preferred embodiments include two sets of die cuts and/or perforations that can partially or completely surround the card attached to the carrier when the label is in place. One set facilitates opening the package as intended and the other set signals to the consumer that someone has tampered with the package by trying to remove the label. The label contains bridges (spaces between perforations and/or die cuts) that allow the label to stretch and create room for the gift card at the same time the periphery of the label lies flat on the carrier.

[0027] Example 1. A tamper evident gift card carrier comprising a gift card with a first surface that is adhered to a first surface of the carrier; a label with a first side, a second side and a periphery that completely surrounds a middle section of the label; wherein the periphery of the first side of the label is completely coated with an adhesive and is attached to the first side of the carrier such that the middle section is positioned over the gift card and every edge of the gift card is completely surrounded by the adhesive coated onto the periphery of the first side of the label.

[0028] Example 2. The carrier of Example 1 further comprising a first set of set of die cuts and/or perforations, that vary in shape and orientation, cut into a second side of the label that cause the label to separate into more than one piece when the label is peeled away from the gift card carrier.

[0029] Example 3. The gift card carrier of Example 2 further comprising a second set of die cuts and/or perforations that cause the label to stretch to accommodate the thickness of the gift card.

[0030] Example 4. The carrier of Example 3 wherein the middle section of the first side of the label is embossed and said embossed middle section is positioned over the card attached to the carrier thereby decreasing the amount of friction between the middle section of the label and the gift card during assembly of the gift card carrier.

[0031] Example 5. The gift card carrier of Example 4 wherein the periphery of the first side of the label is hermetically sealed to the first side of the gift card carrier.

[0032] Example 6. The gift card carrier of Example 5 wherein the first set of die cuts and/or perforations is in the periphery of the second side of the label.

[0033] Example 7. The gift card carrier of Example 6 wherein the second set of die cuts and/or perforations define the edges of the middle section.

[0034] Example 8. A tamper evident gift card carrier comprising a gift card having a first side, a second side and four edges; the first side of the gift card being attached to the carrier via an adhesive; and a label with a first side partially coated with an adhesive; said label being attached to the gift card carrier such that the adhesive on the first side of the label completely surrounds the four edges of the gift card.

[0035] Example 9. The tamper evident gift card carrier of Example 8 further comprising a set of die cuts and/or perforations cut into the label and that completely traverse the label from the first side of the label to a second side of the label such that if the label is separated from the gift card carrier, the label to separate into more than one piece.

[0036] Example 10. The tamper evident gift card carrier of Example 8 further comprising a set of die cuts and/or perforations that encircle the gift card that allow the label to stretch to accommodate the dimensions of the gift card.

[0037] Example 11. The tamper evident gift card carrier of Example 8 further comprising a middle section defined by and encircled by the periphery of the label; said middle section having no adhesive and being positioned to contact the gift card when the label is attached to the gift card carrier.

[0038] Example 12. The tamper evident gift card of Example 11 wherein the middle section of the first side of the label is embossed and said embossed middle section is positioned over the gift card attached to the carrier thereby decreasing the amount of friction between the middle section of the label and the gift card during assembly of the gift card carrier.

[0039] Example 13. The tamper evident gift card carrier of Example 8 wherein the periphery of the first side of the label is hermetically sealed onto the gift card carrier resulting in the gift card being surrounded on all sides by the adhesive, the label and the gift card carrier.

[0040] Example 14. A tamper evident gift card carrier comprising a gift card having a first side, a second side and four edges; a label with a first side and a second side wherein each side of the label has a periphery surrounding a middle section; an adhesive applied to the periphery of the first side of the label; said periphery of the first side of the label being attached to a surface of the gift card carrier such that the four edges of the gift card are surrounded by said adhesive; the first side of the gift card being attached to the carrier via an adhesive; and said label being attached to the gift card carrier such that the adhesive on the first side of the label completely surrounds the four edges of the gift card, the label covers the second side of the gift card and the gift card carrier covers the first side of the gift card.

[0041] Reference throughout the specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout the specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

[0042] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

[0043] It is understood that the above-described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment, including the best mode, is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, if any, in conjunction with the foregoing description.

[0044] While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.