Mulit-pack gift card and activation thereof

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing multiple transaction cards in a single package are disclosed. According to one aspect, a carrier package arrangement includes a holder and a plurality of transaction cards. The transaction cards are retained on the holder, and are arranged to be transitioned form an unactivated state to an activated state using a first activation code. The carrier package arrangement can also include a case that can contain the holder and the plurality of transaction cards.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package comprising:
 at least two transaction cards, the at least two transaction cards including a first transaction card and a second transaction card, the at least two transaction cards being arranged to be activated by a first authentication arrangement;   a carrier card, the first transaction card being retained to the carrier card, the second transaction card being retained to the carrier card or the first transaction card, the carrier card having a front surface and a back surface, the front surface having: i) an opening disposed within the front surface, and ii) a value presented on the first surface, the value representing the cost of at least the first transaction card and the second transaction card, the back surface presenting a product code and the first authentication arrangement; and   an insert received at the opening within the front surface, the insert is secured to or retained by the card carrier, and the insert is configured to cover and retain the at least two transaction cards,   wherein, when the first transaction card and the second transaction card are retained to the carrier card, the second transaction card is arranged to partially overlap the first transaction card but not completely overlap the first transaction card,   wherein the value, the product code, and the first authentication arrangement are visible through the insert, and   wherein the insert is previously formed having a fanned pattern contoured to fit over the at least two transaction cards.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein identification information associated with the first or second transaction card is visible through the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the package further comprises:
 a case, the case being shaped to accommodate the at least two transaction cards and the carrier card, wherein the case is configured to be closed over the at least two transaction cards, insert, and the carrier card. 
 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the card carrier is formed from a single piece of material that has at least one pivot portion about which the card carrier folds. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the insert is clear. 
     
     
         6 . A package comprising:
 at least two transaction cards, the at least two transaction cards including a first transaction card and a second transaction card, the at least two transaction cards having identification information presented thereon and being arranged to be activated by a first authentication arrangement;   a carrier card having a front side, a back side, and an opening, the first transaction card being attached to the front side of the carrier card, the second transaction card being attached to the front side of the carrier card and the first transaction card, the identification information of at least one of the two transaction cards visible through the opening;   a value displayed on the front side of the carrier card, the value representing the cost of the package; and   a case, the case being shaped to accommodate the at least two transaction cards and the carrier card, wherein the case is configured to be closed over the at least two transaction cards and the entire front side and back side of the carrier card including the opening.   
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the second transaction card is arranged to at least partially overlap the first transaction card. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the first authentication arrangement is a bar code or a magnetic stripe that is provided on the back side of the carrier card. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8  wherein the bar code is provided on the carrier card. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the carrier card has a width of approximately 4 inches and a height of approximately 5.25 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the at least two transaction cards are standard CR-80 cards. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the second transaction card is arranged to partially overlap the first transaction card, and   wherein a portion of the case that is arranged to cover the at least two transaction cards is contoured to fit over the at least two transaction cards which are partially overlapped.   
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the case is clear. 
     
     
         14 . A method for forming a carrier package arrangement, the method comprising:
 obtaining a carrier card;   obtaining a plurality of transaction cards, the plurality of transaction cards being arranged to be activated using a shared activation code;   providing the shared activation code on the carrier card; and   retaining the plurality of transaction cards on or relative to the carrier card.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of transaction cards includes at least a first transaction card and a second transaction card, and wherein retaining the plurality of transaction cards on the carrier card includes arranging the plurality of transaction cards in a fanned pattern wherein at least a portion of the first transaction card is overlaid by at least a portion of the second transaction card 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein retaining the plurality of transaction cards on the carrier card includes applying an adhesive to attach the first transaction card to the carrier card and applying the adhesive to attach the second transaction card to the carrier card. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein retaining the plurality of transaction cards on the carrier card forms a carrier assembly, and wherein the method further comprises:
 obtaining a case; and 
 closing the case around the carrier assembly. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the case includes edges, and the method further comprises:
 applying an adhesive to at least some of the edges, wherein closing the case around the carrier assembly causes the at least some of the edges to be bonded using the adhesive. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of transaction cards include a parent card and at least a first child card and a second child card, wherein the first child card and the second child card are arranged to be activated when the parent card is activated using the shared activation code.