Data card carrier and method of manufacture

Abstract

A data card display assembly is provided for the display and marketing of data cards such as debit cards, gift cards and prepaid phone cards. The display assembly includes a display panel that can have advertising indicia on a display surface. The assembly also includes an attachment device for adhesively securing a data card to the panel. The attachment device includes a layer of reusable adhesive so that the card can be removed from the panel and replaced thereon and with removal leaves little or no adhesive residue on the card.

1 . A data storage device display assembly including: 
 a display panel having at least two main surfaces with one being a display surface;    a data storage device attachment device secured to said display surface, said attachment device including a layer of adhesive adhered to the display surface and including an outer surface portion facing generally the same direction that the display surface faces, said adhesive being pressure sensitive at its outer surface portion;    a data storage device in contact with the outer surface of the adhesive removably securing the data storage device to the panel; and    wherein the adhesive was applied to at least one of the display surface and the data storage device in at least a partially liquid state.    
     
     
         2 . A display assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the adhesive includes hot-melt adhesive.  
     
     
         3 . A display assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said adhesive is shrink resistant when cooled after application to the display panel.  
     
     
         4 . A display assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said adhesive has higher peel strength with the panel than with the data storage device.  
     
     
         5 . A display assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the data storage device includes a data card.  
     
     
         6 . A display assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the adhesive was at least partially liquid when applied to the display surface and the date storage device.  
     
     
         7 . A method of making a data storage device display assembly, said method including: 
 providing a plurality of display panels, each said display panel having an exposed display surface;    providing a plurality of data storage devices each having a pair of surfaces;    applying a layer of adhesive in at least a partially liquid state to at least one of a display panel and a respective data storage device said adhesive after cooling being reusable on an outer face; and    bonding a data storage device to a respective display panel with the adhesive whereby a data storage device is releasably mounted on a respective display panel by adhesion to the outer face.    
     
     
         8 . A method as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the data storage devices include data cards.  
     
     
         9 . A method as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the adhesive has a higher peel strength after cooling with the display panel than the data card.  
     
     
         10 . A method as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the adhesive is applied to the display panel in a melted condition.  
     
     
         11 . A method as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the adhesive is applied to the data storage device in an at least partially liquid state.  
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the adhesive includes hot melt adhesive.  
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the data storage device is applied to the adhesive after the hot-melt adhesive is set.  
     
     
         14 . A method as set forth in  claim 13  wherein pressure is applied to said data storage device to ensure contact between the data storage device and the adhesive.  
     
     
         15 . A method of forming an assembly of members, said method including: 
 applying hot melt adhesive to a first member, said applied adhesive having an exposed face;    cooling said exposed adhesive face; and    applying a second member to the cooled exposed adhesive face, said cooling being sufficient to provide a peel strength between the adhesive and the second member at least about 10% less than a peel strength between the first member and the adhesive.    
     
     
         16 . A method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the first member including a display panel and the second member including a data storage device.  
     
     
         17 . A method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the cooling is at least partially effected by blowing air across the applied adhesive.  
     
     
         18 . A method as set forth in  claim 17  wherein force is applied to the second member after application to the adhesive to effect reduction in the thickness of the applied adhesive.  
     
     
         19 . A method as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the peel strength differential is at least about 25%.  
     
     
         20 . A method as set forth in  claim 19  wherein the adhesive is reusable to reattach a portion of the second member to the first member after detachment.  
     
     
         21 . A device having a plurality of members at least partially secured together with adhesive, said device including: 
 a first panel having at least at least one main surface;    an attachment device secured to said first panel main surface, said attachment device including a single layer of adhesive adhered to the first panel main surface and including an outer surface portion facing generally the same direction that the first panel main surface faces, said adhesive being pressure sensitive at its outer surface portion and being permanently adhered to the first panel main surface;    a second panel with at least one main surface in contact with the outer surface of the adhesive removably securing the second panel to the first panel; and    wherein the adhesive was applied to the first panel main surface in at least a partially liquid state.