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US6031278A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

IC card and manufacturing method thereof

Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1997-10-20
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Granted: 2000-02-29
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Expires: 2017-10-20
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Abstract

Abstract An IC card, and manufacturing method thereof, are provided in which a pair of upper and lower metal panels are fixed to the top and bottom surfaces of a resin frame. Projections projecting upward or downward and having a given height are formed at a given distance from the outside edges of the frame. Cut-outs capable of fitting on the projections are provided on the metal panels, and the metal panels are assembled on the top and bottom surfaces of the frame with the cut-outs fitted on the corresponding projections. A portion of each projection is then deformed by pressing on the metal panels from above or below under a predetermined condition so that the metal panels are riveted to the frame.

Inventors

  • 👤 Shigeo Onoda
  • 👤 Katsunori Ochi
  • 👤 Jun Ohbuchi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 07:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; H; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/02; H05K5/0256; H05K5/026; H05K5/0265; H05K5/0269; H10; H10W; H10W70/00; H10W70/60; H10W70/611; H10W70/699; H10W90/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 142 words
An IC card comprising: a resin frame; and upper and lower panel members fixed respectively to top and bottom surfaces of said resin frame to form the exterior of said IC card, wherein projections projecting upward or downward and having a given height are formed at a given distance inwardly from outside edges of said frame; cut-outs capable of fitting on the projections are provided on said upper and lower panel members; and said upper and lower panel members are positioned respectively on the top and bottom surfaces of the frame with the cut-outs fitted with corresponding projections, a portion of each projection, while in a melted or softened state, having been deformed by one of said upper and lower panel members so that said upper and lower panel members are secured to the top and bottom surfaces of said frame, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 142 words
An IC card comprising: a resin frame; and upper and lower panel members fixed respectively to top and bottom surfaces of said resin frame to form the exterior of said IC card, wherein projections projecting upward or downward and having a given height are formed at a given distance inwardly from outside edges of said frame; cut-outs capable of fitting on the projections are provided on said upper and lower panel members; and said upper and lower panel members are positioned respectively on the top and bottom surfaces of the frame with the cut-outs fitted with corresponding projections, a portion of each projection, while in a melted or softened state, having been deformed by one of said upper and lower panel members so that said upper and lower panel members are secured to the top and bottom surfaces of said frame, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 54 words
An IC card as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper and lower panel members have side portions which extend longitudinally and are bent by approximately 180 degrees to form folded portions; the cut-outs are provided in the folded portions; and a given gap is provided between the folded portions and the panel bodies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
An IC card as claimed in claim 1, wherein depressions opening upward or downward are provided at the root of the projections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
An IC card as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of projections and corresponding cut-outs are provided along the longitudinal directions of said frame and of said upper and lower panel members, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 142 words
An IC card comprising: a pair of upper and lower panel members covering plane portions of the card and fixed to the top and bottom surfaces of a resin frame forming the exterior of the card, wherein depressions recessed upward or downward and having a given depth are formed at a given distance inwardly from outside edges of the frame; and fixing portions capable of fitting in the depressions are provided on each panel member, the panel members being positioned on the top and bottom surfaces of the frame with the fixing portions fitted in the corresponding depressions, and at least a portion of the circumference of each depression having been deformed by pressing the panel members from above or below under a predetermined condition so that the panel members are secured to the top and bottom surfaces of the frame, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 142 words
An IC card comprising: a pair of upper and lower panel members covering plane portions of the card and fixed to the top and bottom surfaces of a resin frame forming the exterior of the card, wherein depressions recessed upward or downward and having a given depth are formed at a given distance inwardly from outside edges of the frame; and fixing portions capable of fitting in the depressions are provided on each panel member, the panel members being positioned on the top and bottom surfaces of the frame with the fixing portions fitted in the corresponding depressions, and at least a portion of the circumference of each depression having been deformed by pressing the panel members from above or below under a predetermined condition so that the panel members are secured to the top and bottom surfaces of the frame, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 43 words
An IC card as claimed in claim 5, wherein a protrusion projecting upward or downward and having a given height is provided at least on a part of the circumference of each depression and the protrusion has a section leaning toward the depression.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 55 words
An IC card as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said upper and lower panel members have side portions which extend longitudinally and are bent by approximately 180 degrees to form folded portions; the fixing portions are provided on the folded portions; and a given gap is provided between the folded portions and the panel bodies.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 39 words
An IC card as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fixing portions are formed with openings provided on bent portions which have been formed by bending the side portions extending longitudinally of the panel members approximately by 90 degrees.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 67 words
An IC card as claimed in claim 5, wherein each fixing portion is comprised of: a bent portion formed by bending the side portion extending longitudinally of the panel member by approximately 90 degrees; and a folded portion formed by folding back the edge of the bent portion toward the panel body, and wherein a given gap is provided between the folded portion and the bent portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
An IC card as claimed in claim 5, wherein a plurality of the depressions and the fixing portions are provided along the longitudinal directions of the frame and the panel members, respectively.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 138 words
A method of manufacturing an IC card comprising fixing upper and lower panel members covering plane portions of the card to the top and bottom surfaces of a resin frame to form the card exterior wherein projections projecting upward or downward and having a given height are provided at a given distance inwardly from outside edges of the frame; cut-outs capable of fitting on the projections are provided on the panel members; the panel members are assembled on the top and bottom surfaces of the frame with the cut-outs fitted on the corresponding projections; and a portion of each projection, in a melted or softened state, is deformed by pressing the panel members from above or below under a predetermined condition so that the panel members are secured to the top and bottom surfaces of the frame, respectively.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 138 words
A method of manufacturing an IC card comprising fixing upper and lower panel members covering plane portions of the card to the top and bottom surfaces of a resin frame to form the card exterior wherein projections projecting upward or downward and having a given height are provided at a given distance inwardly from outside edges of the frame; cut-outs capable of fitting on the projections are provided on the panel members; the panel members are assembled on the top and bottom surfaces of the frame with the cut-outs fitted on the corresponding projections; and a portion of each projection, in a melted or softened state, is deformed by pressing the panel members from above or below under a predetermined condition so that the panel members are secured to the top and bottom surfaces of the frame, respectively.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 31 words
A manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein the pressing process in which the panel members are pressed from above or below is executed at a predetermined temperature resulting from heating.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 36 words
A manufacturing method of an IC card as claimed in claim 11, wherein the press process in which the panel members are pressed from above or below is executed concurrently with the application of ultrasonic vibrations.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 143 words
A method of manufacturing an IC card comprising: fixing upper and lower panel members covering plane portions of the card to the top and bottom surfaces of a resin frame to form the exterior of the card, wherein depressions recessed upward or downward and having a given depth are provided at a given distance inwardly from the outside edges of the frame; fixing portions capable of fitting in the depressions are provided on each panel member; the panel members are assembled on the top and bottom surfaces of the frame with the fixing portions fitted in the corresponding depressions; and at least a portion of the circumference of each depression is then deformed by pressing the panel members from above or below under a predetermined condition so that the panel members are secured to the top and bottom surfaces of the frame, respectively.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 143 words
A method of manufacturing an IC card comprising: fixing upper and lower panel members covering plane portions of the card to the top and bottom surfaces of a resin frame to form the exterior of the card, wherein depressions recessed upward or downward and having a given depth are provided at a given distance inwardly from the outside edges of the frame; fixing portions capable of fitting in the depressions are provided on each panel member; the panel members are assembled on the top and bottom surfaces of the frame with the fixing portions fitted in the corresponding depressions; and at least a portion of the circumference of each depression is then deformed by pressing the panel members from above or below under a predetermined condition so that the panel members are secured to the top and bottom surfaces of the frame, respectively.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 32 words
A manufacturing method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pressing process in which the panel members are pressed from above or below is executed at a predetermined temperature resulting from heating.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 32 words
A manufacturing method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pressing process in which the panel members are pressed from above or below is executed concurrently with the application of ultrasonic vibrations.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPH0396396A Cited
JPH03112689A Cited
JPH03259364A Cited
US5867366A Cited
JPH07160837A Cited
US5780365A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-02-28 2003-08-30 2004-02-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-02-28 2007-08-30 2008-02-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-02-28 2011-08-30 2012-02-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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