Patent US4670644A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4670644A
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US
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Credit card security system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1985-02-04
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Granted: 1987-06-02
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Expires: 2005-02-04
Abstract
Abstract A credit card security system employs a personal identification code in the form of a combination of numerals or letters combined with a pre-selected color, and issued to a credit card customer by a credit issuing company preferably in the form of a token having a face of the appropriate color and provided with suitable indicia setting forth the numeral or letter combination part of the code, or as a decal likewise setting forth the code. A card in the form of a planar element is provided with a suitable surface containing a grid of generally rectangular boxes each of a different color is provided to a merchant, and the like, honoring a card issued by the particular credit card company so that a person presenting a card for payment of goods or services can inscribe the indicia of the identification code into the properly colored box. Preferably, the card forming the grid of colored boxes is a removable part of a credit sales slip. If decals are provided by the credit card company to indicate the personal identification code, they can be placed on an appropriate block-like member having either appropriately color-coded faces or of a uniform color with color-coded indicia provided on the associated decal.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E. Grayson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:30
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/347; G07F7/1025; G07F7/1058; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of establishing the identity of a person presenting a credit card to make payment, comprising the steps of: (a) issuing an identification code to a credit card holder, the identification code being different from a number of an associated credit card; (b) assigning a predetermined color as part of the identification code issued; (c) providing a grid of various colors at a point of payment; (d) requiring a person presenting a credit card to inscribe the identification code issued for the credit card on a color appearing on a grid provided, which color corresponds to the color included in the identification code; and (e) verifying the identification code inscribed and color matched.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of establishing the identity of a person presenting a credit card to make payment, comprising the steps of: (a) issuing an identification code to a credit card holder, the identification code being different from a number of an associated credit card; (b) assigning a predetermined color as part of the identification code issued; (c) providing a grid of various colors at a point of payment; (d) requiring a person presenting a credit card to inscribe the identification code issued for the credit card on a color appearing on a grid provided, which color corresponds to the color included in the identification code; and (e) verifying the identification code inscribed and color matched.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of issuing an identification code includes the step of transferring to the credit card holder a decal inscribed with the identification code.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of issuing an identification code includes the step of transferring to the credit card holder a colored token having the identification code inscribed thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of providing a grid includes the step of attaching a grid of a plurality of pre-selected colors to a credit sales slip as a removable portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of verifying the identification code inscribed and color matched includes the step of contacting a company that issued the credit card.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the step of providing a grid includes the step of attaching a grid of a plurality of pre-selected colors to a credit sales slip as a removable portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the step of verifying further includes the step of removing the grid of colors from a credit sales slip of a verified transaction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the step of issuing an identification code includes the step of transferring to the credit card holder a decal inscribed with the identification code.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the step of issuing an identification code includes the step of transferring to the credit card holder a colored token having the identification code inscribed thereon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus for establishing the identify of a person presenting a credit card to make payment, comprising, in combination: (a) a generally planar element forming a planar surface; and (b) a grid of generally rectangular boxes provided on the surface of the element, each of the boxes being colored differently from any of the other of the boxes and arranged forming means for permitting inscription of an identification code in a one of the boxes as appropriate for identifying a color-part of the identification code.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus for establishing the identify of a person presenting a credit card to make payment, comprising, in combination: (a) a generally planar element forming a planar surface; and (b) a grid of generally rectangular boxes provided on the surface of the element, each of the boxes being colored differently from any of the other of the boxes and arranged forming means for permitting inscription of an identification code in a one of the boxes as appropriate for identifying a color-part of the identification code.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 10, further including a credit sales slip, and tear means for removably attaching the element to the sales slip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-01 | 1990-12-01 | 1991-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-01 | 1994-12-01 | 1995-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-01 | 1998-12-01 | 1999-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |