Prepaid internet CD package

Abstract

The present invention relates to a retail sale package consisting of a main panel card having a compact disc and a point-of-sale card removably attached to the main panel. The CD may be affixed by shrinkwrap, adhesive, plastic insert or other mechanical retainer. The point-of-sale card may be affixed by adhesive or shrinkwrap and may or may not contain a magnetic strip; the strip can be activated at the time of sale or by other means. The combination may be used in conjunction with the Internet to access a website for browsing and to download music or other desired electronic files onto a separate data storage device and to pay for this access with the point-of-sale card or a separate value account. The compact disc is activated by a PIN contained on the point-of-sale card or embedded in the CD itself. Additional value can be added to the point-of-sale card using a credit card, debit card checking account, or the like.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A package, which comprises: 
 a) a main panel having a face surface and a back surface providing the main panel with a thickness;    b) a compact disc removably secured to the main panel; and    c) a point-of-sale card removably secured to the main panel.    
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the main panel removably supports the compact disc laying against the face surface thereof and within a perimeter of the main panel.  
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2  wherein the compact disc is removably supported on the main panel by one of the group consisting of an adhesive tape, a deformable rivet, shrinkwrap, hook-shaped retainers and a retaining hub.  
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the main panel removably supports the compact disc nested in a recess into the thickness of the main panel from the face surface thereof and within a perimeter of the main panel.  
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the main panel removably supports the point-of-sale card laying against the face surface thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the point-of-sale card is removably supported on the main panel by an adhesive tape or shrinkwrap.  
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 3  wherein a portion of the point-of-sale card extends beyond a perimeter of the main panel.  
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the main panel removably supports the point-of-sale card nested in a recess into the thickness of the main panel from the face surface thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8  wherein a portion of the point-of-sale card extends beyond a perimeter of the main panel.  
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the main panel is of a paper stock or of a plastic material.  
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1  further comprising an opening in the main panel for hanging the package on a display device.  
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the point-of-sale card contains a magnetic strip.  
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the point-of-sale card contains a bar code.  
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the point-of-sale card is either a credit card or a debit card.  
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the point-of-sale card has a PIN.  
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the compact disc contains a PIN.  
     
     
         17 . A method for accessing the Internet, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a package comprising a main panel having a face surface and a back surface providing the main panel with a thickness, a compact disc removably secured to the main panel, and a point-of-sale card removably secured to the main panel;    b) removing the compact disc from the main panel and inserting the compact disc into a computer;    c) removing the point-of-sale card from the main panel, wherein at least one of the point-of-sale card and the compact disc contains a PIN, and entering the PIN into the computer to activate the compact disc; and    d) using the compact disc to access the Internet.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  including providing the point-of-sale card as either a credit card or a debit card.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  including downloading a data file from the Internet onto a data storage device.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  including downloading the data file to one of the group consisting of a computer hard drive, a CD burner, a diskette, a tape and a MP3 player.