Transaction card with secured magnetic strip and method for making the same
A transaction card construction and a method for making transaction cards provides increased security for transaction card magnetic strips. The transaction card construction includes a card inlay and a clear card body. The card inlay is formed via a lamination press process with the magnetic strip attached to a back surface of the card inlay. The card body may have a window through which a data storage element may be exposed for accessing, such as by a magnetic stripe reader or EMV chip reader. The card body may be formed by adhering the card inlay to the clear card body.
1. A transaction card comprising:
a card inlay comprising a light-diffusing material having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite thereto;
a card body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface opposite thereto; wherein:
the card inlay is joined to the card body such that the outer surface of the card inlay substantially forms a first outer surface of the transaction card and the outer surface of the card body forms a second outer surface of the transaction card; and
a portion of the inner surface of the card inlay contacts a portion of the inner surface of the card body; and
a first data storage component having a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto; and
a window formed in the transaction card and housing the first data storage component;
wherein the second surface of the first data storage component is substantially flush with a portion of the second outer surface of the transaction card, and the first data storage component is exposed through the window; and
wherein the window has a plurality of side walls and the first data storage component has a plurality of side walls, and a gap between the plurality of side walls of the window.
2. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the first data storage component is substantially flush with a portion of the first outer surface of the transaction card.
3. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the inner surface of the card body is substantially flush with the outer surface of the card inlay and forms a portion of the first outer surface of the transaction card.
4. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein:
the card inlay comprises a pocket formed therein; and
the transaction card comprises a second data storage component embedded in the pocket.
5. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the first data storage component is a magnetic strip.
6. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein:
the gap between the plurality of side walls of the window and the plurality of side walls of the first data storage component has a tolerance less than +/−0.5 mm.
7. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the card inlay is substantially translucent.
8. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein both the card inlay and the card body are substantially translucent.
9. The transaction card of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the card inlay comprises a reflective material.
10. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein:
the card inlay includes a top layer and a bottom layer; and
the top layer and the bottom layer are lamination-pressed to form the card inlay.
11. The transaction card of claim 10 , wherein the top layer is made of polycarbonate.
12. The transaction card of claim 10 , wherein the bottom layer is made of polyvinyl chloride.
13. A method of manufacturing a transaction card comprising:
forming a top layer of a card inlay from a first sheet laminate and a bottom layer of the card inlay from a second sheet laminate, wherein at least one sheet laminate comprises a light-diffusing material;
forming the card inlay by joining the top layer and the bottom layer;
forming a card body;
adhering the card inlay to the card body such that:
a portion of the inner surface of the card inlay contacts a portion of the inner surface of the card body; and
attaching a first data storage component to an inner surface of the card inlay;
forming a window in the card body wherein the window has a plurality of side walls and the first data storage component has a plurality of side walls, and a gap between the plurality of side walls of the window;
creating a pocket in the card inlay; and
embedding a second data storage component in the pocket.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second data storage component is a microchip.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the window is formed by a milling process.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the card body is injection-molded.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the card body is substantially translucent and made of a clear resin mixture including a thermoplastic elastomer.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the top layer and the bottom layer are lamination-pressed to form the card inlay.