Foldable transaction card systems
View Patent ↗A transaction card system comprising a foldable transaction card and a foldable housing is disclosed. The foldable transaction card has a folded state and an unfolded state. The foldable housing for housing the foldable transaction card when the foldable transaction card is in a folded state, wherein the foldable housing further comprises a hinge for folding and closing the housing, wherein the second section of the foldable transaction card unfolds outside the housing when the housing is opened.
1. A financial transaction card system comprising:
a foldable financial transaction card having a folded state and an unfolded state wherein said foldable financial transaction card further comprises a first section and a second section; and
a foldable housing having a first portion and a second portion for housing said foldable financial transaction card when said foldable financial transaction card is in said folded state,
wherein a portion of said second section of said foldable financial transaction card unfolds outside said foldable housing while said first section of said foldable financial transaction card is retained within said foldable housing upon manual activation of a closing mechanism of said foldable housing,
wherein said foldable financial transaction card facilitates a financial transaction at a point of financial transaction while said portion of said second section of said foldable financial transaction card is unfolded outside said housing and a portion of said first section is retained within said foldable housing.
2. The transaction card system of claim 1 , wherein said foldable housing further comprises a hinge for at least partially folding and closing said housing and wherein at least one of said first portion and said second portion is configured to rotate about said hinge.
3. The transaction card system of claim 1 , wherein said foldable housing further comprises a track for at least partially accepting said foldable transaction card.
4. The transaction card system of claim 3 , wherein said track is at least partially disposed on at least one of said first portion and said second portion.
5. The transaction card system of claim 1 , wherein said first section of said foldable transaction card comprises a first layer and a second layer, and wherein said foldable transaction card has an internal hinge material disposed between said first section and said second section, wherein said internal hinge comprises an elastomeric material and wherein a first portion of said elastomeric material is disposed between said first layer and said second layer of said first section of said foldable transaction card.
6. The transaction card system of claim 2 , wherein said hinge is comprised of at least one of leather, an elastomeric material, fabric, and a textile.
7. The transaction card system of claim 1 , wherein said foldable housing further comprises a latch.
8. The transaction card system of claim 1 , wherein said foldable transaction card further comprises at least one of a microchip, a radio frequency emitting device, and an antenna.
9. The transaction card system of claim 1 , wherein said foldable housing further comprises at least one of a carabiner, a hook, a lanyard, and a wristlet.
10. The transaction card system of claim 1 , wherein said foldable transaction card further having dimensions of a standard transaction card when in said unfolded state.
11. The transaction card system of claim 1 , wherein said transaction card system is configured to facilitate a financial transaction while said foldable housing is in said folded state.
12. A method of using a foldable housing having a first portion, a second portion, a folded state and an unfolded state with a foldable financial transaction card having a first section and a second section, said method comprising:
inserting said first section of said foldable financial transaction card within a track of said foldable housing, so that a portion of said second section of said foldable financial transaction card unfolds outside said foldable housing while said first section of said foldable financial transaction card is retained within said foldable housing, upon manual activation of a closing mechanism of said foldable housing;
facilitating a financial transaction at a point of financial transaction using the foldable financial transaction card while the portion of said second section of said foldable financial transaction card is unfolded outside said housing and a portion of said first section is retained within said foldable housing
folding said second section of said foldable financial transaction card over said first section while said first section is within said track; and
closing said foldable housing to at least partially cover said folded financial transaction card.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising opening said foldable housing by rotating at least one of said second portion and said first portion.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said track is disposed on at least one of said first portion and said second portion.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein said facilitating comprises swiping said foldable financial transaction card through a card reader.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising using said foldable transaction card to facilitate a financial transaction while said foldable transaction card is in said folded state.
17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising at least partially opening said foldable housing by releasing a latch.
18. The transaction card system of claim 1 , wherein said third section of said financial transaction card comprises at least one of said first section of said financial transaction card and said second section of said financial transaction card.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein said third section of said financial transaction card comprises at least one of said first section of said financial transaction card and said second section of said financial transaction card.