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(11) | EP 0 243 115 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Writing unit |
| (57) A writing unit comprises a moulded plastics support (1) having an upwardly facing
rectangular recess (2). A pressure pad (not shown in Figure 1) is positioned in the
support (1) and protrudes into the recess (2). The pressure pad is surrounded by non-slip
material blocks (5, 6). A flap (8) of flqxible PVC is secured to the support at one side and has a free end which is received
in a recess (13). A holder (20) for a card-shaped article having an integrated circuit
or memory and one or more contacts is mounted in the support (1). The holder 120)
comprises a housing (29) having a pair of laterally spaced guides (33, 34) to support
the card-shaped article at a predetermined position (Figure 3) relatively to the housing
(29). The housing (29) is pivoted to a base member (27) having a pair of contacts
(38, 39). The housing is pivotable from an open position shown in Figure 3 to a second
position in which the contacts (38, 39) of the base member (27) engage corresponding
contacts on a card (21) located in the housing (29). In use, a writing medium such
as a slip of paper is inserted between the flap (8) and the support (1) and rests
on the non-slip material (5) while a credit card (21) is inserted in the holder (20).
A portion of the slip is positioned under an aperture (14) in the flap (8). The non-slip
material (5, 6) and the flap (8) cooperate to hold securely the slip of paper in position
while information is written onto the slip through the aperture (14). |
[0002] In many retail situations and the like, it has become common practice to pay for goods or services using credit cards. In general, the retailer completes a multi-part set of slips with interleaved carbons and this is then handed to the customer who signs the topmost slip. It is often difficult for the customer to write his signature on the slip which is typically small and inconvenient to hold.
[0003] In accordance with the present invention, a writing unit comprises a writing medium support including a substantially planar surface onto which a writing medium is placed, in use; and a cover member made of a flexible material and connected to the support at one side so that an opposite, free side can be lifted away from the support to enable a writing medium to be positioned on or removed from the planar surface of the writing unit, the portion lifted away falling back under its own weight when released, the arrangement being such that when the cover member is in its first position a writing medium located on the planar surface may be written on with a writing instrument.
[0004] The invention provides a neat and compact unit to enable a writing medium such as a sales slip or multi-part credit card receipt set to be firmly held between the cover member and the planar surface to enable information such as a signature to be written on the writing medium.
[0006] Additional security is achieved with such a cover member since the effect of a writer's hand resting on the cover member is transmitted by the cover member from a position spaced from the writing medium to that part of the cover member overlying the writing medium.
[0007] Preferably, the cover member is transparent to enable those parts of the writing medium covered by the cover member to be visible.
[0009] It is particularly convenient if at least the surface of the cover member which overlies a writing medium in use, has a relatively high coefficient of friction finish. For example, the cover member may be made from a grade of flexible embossed PVC, for example Safestrip matt finish marketed by Copely Developments, having cold store quality, and being matt finished on one surface.
[0010] It will be appreciated that with the writing unit of the invention it is particularly simple to locate and secure a sales slip or other writing medium when for example a signature is to be written.
[0011] Preferably, the cover member is detachably connected to the support. This allows the cover member to be removed for replacement or cleaning. For example, the cover member and support may have respective ones of a cooperating slot and key, the key being slidable into the slot to connect the cover member to the support.
[0012] One of the most useful applications of the writing unit is in conjunction with signature verification equipment. Preferably therefore, the writing unit further comprises a writing detector (such as an X-Y pad) mounted to the support and having detection means for detecting indicia written on a writing medium in use. The writing detector may comprise any known detector such as a pressure or force sensing pad or a detector involving the transmission of signals between the writing instrument and fixed detectors, or an optical detector for scanning the writing medium.
[0013] It is particularly convenient if a unit including a writing detector also includes locating means since writing detectors often require a writing medium to be relatively precisely located.
[0014] Conveniently, the cover member includes an aperture through which a predetermined portion of a writing medium is exposed, in use, when the cover member is in its first position. This is particularly useful when the writing unit includes a writing detector since the area over which information may be written is limited by the aperture.
[0015] In its simplest form, the location means may be provided by part of the support and preferably comprises a member defining part of the substantially planar surface, the material of the member having a relatively high coefficient of friction. Conventional "non-slip" materials are suitable. For example, the member could define an embossed surface. A particularly suitable material is the Safestrip material previously mentioned.
[0016] The location means may comprise additionally or alternatively, a raised edge of the support against which - an edge of the writing medium is located in use.
[0017] In some cases, for example where the unit is used in a signature verification system or other validation system, reference details need to be read from a card-like article storing the information. Such card-like articles have an integrated circuit or memory connected to one or more contacts to enable information to be received from or supplied to the integrated circuit or memory. Typical card-shaped articles have a size similar to a credit card. Examples of card-shaped articles of the kind described are intelligent cards such as so-called "smart cards" and memory cards. Commercial examples of card-shaped articles are smart cards made by Casio or Bull and memory cards made by Cumana.
[0018] Preferably, therefore, the unit further comprises a holder for a card-shaped article having an integrated circuit or memory connected to one or more contacts to enable information to be received from or supplied to the integrated circuit or memory, the holder comprising a housing having guide means to support the card-shaped article at a predetermined position relatively to the housing, the housing being pivoted to the writing medium support underneath the cover member for movement between an open position in which a card-shaped article may be located in the predetermined position and a closed position in which the or each contact on the card-shaped article is automatically aligned with and engages corresponding contacts in the writing medium support.
[0019] This arrangement provides a very compact unit to enable information to be read from a card-shaped article. Instead of a separate card reader being required, a simple movable housing is provided in the unit. Thus, the guide means of the housing will enable a card-shaped article to be simply located in the predetermined position by the user who -then moves the housing to its closed position at which contacts on the card-shaped article are automatically aligned with and engage corresponding contacts in the base member.
[0020] Conveniently, the guide means comprises two laterally spaced, L-shaped cross-section guides facing towards each other, and a stop member, the arrangement being such that the card-shaped article may be slid along the guides until it abuts the stop member. This enables the card-shaped article to be very easily located in the predetermined position.
[0021] In the preferred example, the housing comprises a planar top wall, each guide comprising a side wall of the housing connected to the planar top wall and an in-turned flange portion substantially parallel with the top wall, the stop member comprising a rear wall of the housing. Preferably, the housing is an integrally formed plastics moulding. Since most card-shaped articles have a rectangular form, the guides are preferably substantially parallel.
[0022] In order to ensure that the contacts of the card-shaped article remain in engagement with the contacts, the holder preferably further comprises locking means on the housing and the writing medium support whereby the housing is locked to the support by the locking means when it is in the closed position. For example, the locking means may comprise a cooperating boss and recess. Typically, the boss will be formed of a resilient material, and most preferably the boss and recess are integrally formed with the housing and writing medium support respectively.
[0023] Preferably, the housing is biassed towards its open position. This means that the housing can be easily moved to its open position enabling the user quickly and easily to insert his card-shaped article.
[0024] The or each contact in the base member is preferably sprung to ensure reliable engagement with the contact on the card-shaped article. In addition, or alternatively, the holder could cause the article to flex to provide pressure on the mating contacts.
[0025] The card-shaped article may have any number of contacts eg. eight or more. They should, however, all be positioned on the same side of the card.
[0026] In order that the invention may be better understood, an example of a writing unit in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is an exploded, perspective view of the writing unit;
Figure 2 is a partial cross-section taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the card-shaped article holder;
Figure 4 illustrates an intelligent, card-shaped article; and,
Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating signature verification apparatus including the unit of Figure 1.
[0027] The writing unit shown in Figure 1 comprises a support 1 of moulded plastics having an upper surface in which is formed a rectangular recess 2. A pressure pad 3 of conventional form, indicated diagrammatically in Figure 2, is mounted in the support 1 and has an upper pressure sensitive surface 4. A block of non-slip material 5 is bonded in the recess 2 and extends around three sides of the protruding portion of the pressure pad 3. The material of the block 5 is preferably a grade of flexible embossed PVC and preferably comprises Safestrip marketed by Copely Developments (matt finish or smooth).
[0028] - A "smart card" holder 20 (to be described) is mounted in the support 1 and is surrounded by a second block of Safestrip matt finish material 6 bonded in the recess 2. The main difference between the blocks 5, 6 is that the block 5 contains an additive to reduce still further the risk of slipping of materials placed on its upper surface whereas no additive is provided in the block 6.
[0029] It will be noted from Figure 2 that the thickness of the block 6 is slightly greater than that of the block 5. Typically the block 6 may be 0.25 mm greater in thickness than the block 5. Since the upper surface of the block 5 is flush with the surface 4 of the pressure pad 3, there will be an edge 7 defined by the block 6.
[0030] A flexible flap 8 made from clear matt cold store quality Safestrip material is connected to the support 1. The connection is by means of an elongate T-shaped key 9 integrally formed with the flap 1. The support 1 includes an elongate, rectangular cross-section slot 10 having a width corresponding to the width of the flange of the key 9 and in alignment with a narrower slot 11 formed in the block 6 and having a width corresponding to the width of the web of the key 9. One end 12 of the slot 11 has a relatively large diameter to enable the key 9 to be slid into the slot.
[0031] Once the key 9 is located in the slot 11, the flap 8 is urged to lie along the surface of the block 6 as shown in Figure 2. In this position, it overlies the pressure pad 3 and the block 5 and rests on part of a recess 13.
[0032] A rectangular aperture 14 is provided in the flap 8 in alignment with part of the surface 4 of the pressure pad 3.
[0033] Figure 4 illustrates a typical "smart" card 21 having an integrated circuit 21 and contacts 23, 24. The integrated circuit 22 will be laminated within the body of the card 21 and is connected to the contacts 23, 24 by conductor lines 25, 26. Typically the surface of the card 21 will be printed with information such as the bearer's name and the name of the issuing company together with other security information.
[0034] In order that the information stored in the integrated circuit 22 can be read, it is necessary for a reading device such as a microcomputer to be connected with the contacts 23, 24.
[0035] Figure 3 illustrates the holder 20 which enables this connection to be made. The holder 20 comprises a hollow, rectangular base portion 27 mounted in the support 1 to which is pivoted at 28 a rectangular flap 29. The flap 29 has a planar top portion 30 and depending side walls 33, 34. In-turned flanges 33, 34 integrally formed with the side walls 31, 32 respectively extend along the side walls substantially parallel with top portion 30. The flap 30 also has a rear wall, not visible in Figure 2. Typically, the flap 29 will be formed from a one-piece plastics moulding. The top portion 30, side walls 31,32 and flanges 33, 34 define a card entry slot 36 into which a card 21 can be slid. The edges of the card rest on the flanges 33, 34 along which the card is slid by the user until a leading edge of the card 37 engages the rear wall 35 of the flap 29.
[0036] Once located in the flap 29, the card 21 is at a known, predetermined position relatively to the flap. The flap 29 is then pivoted from the open position shown in Figure 3 to a closed position (Figure 2), in which the flap locates within the recess of the base portion 27. In this position, the contacts 23, 24 on the card 21 engage with sprung or unsprung contact pins 38, 39 respectively in the base of the base portion 27.
[0037] The flap 29 is biased towards the open position shown in Figure 3 by a spring (not shown) and is urged against the bias by the user to move the flap to its closed position. The housing is held in its second position due to the engagement between a plastic clip 40 on the side wall 31 of the flap and a recess 41 in a side wall 42 of the base portion 27.
[0038] A lifting tab 43 is provided in the top portion 30 of the flap 29 so that by pulling upwardly on the lifting tab the user can overcome the engagement between the clip 40 and recess 41 to enable the flap to return to the open position. A semi-circular recess 44 is provided in the edge of the top portion 30 defining part of the slot 36 to enable the user to withdraw the card 21.
[0039] Figure 5 illustrates schematically the unit connected in a signature verification system for use in conjunction with a cash dispenser 45. The card holder 20 is connected to a microcomputer 46 so that the microcomputer is connected with the contacts 23, 24 of a card 21 positioned in the card holder 20 via the contacts 38,39, as previously explained. The microcomputer 46 is also connected with the writing pad 3 which provides signals corresponding to a signature as it is written.
[0040] In use, a user inserts his finger into the recess 13 and flexes or lifts the free end of the flap 8 away from the surface 4 in the direction of the arrow 47. The flap 29 of the holder 27 is then raised and a credit card carrying the user's signature data is inserted. The flap 29 is then closed. A multi-part carbon set or a slip of paper or other writing medium is then inserted between the flap 8 and the support 1. The slip of paper or the like is pushed against the locating edge 7 and the flap 8 is then released to drop back under its own weight to the position shown in Figure 2. The underside of the flap 8 has a matt finish so that the slip of paper is securely held between the flap 8 and the block of material 5 to prevent slippage. The user then writes the information, such as his signature, onto the paper exposed through the aperture 14 and the resulting movements of a writing instrument, such as a pen, are sensed by the pressure pad 3 and corresponding signals fed to the CPU 46. Those parts of the writing medium covered by the flap 8 are visible through the flap.
1. A writing unit comprising a writing medium support (1) including a substantially
planar surface (4) onto which a writing medium is placed, in use; and a cover member
(8) made of a flexible material and connected to the support at one side so that an
opposite, free side can be lifted away from the support to enable a writing medium
to be positioned on or removed from the planar surface of the writing unit, the portion
lifted away falling back under its own weight when released, the arrangement being
such that when the cover member (8) is in its first position a writing medium located
on the planar surface (4) may be written on with a writing instrument.
2. A unit according to claim 1, further comprising location means (7) associated with
the support to locate the writing medium in a predetermined position on the planar
surface (4).
3. A unit according to claim 2, wherein the location means comprises a member (5)
defining part of the substantially planar surface, the material of the member having
a relatively high coefficient of friction.
4. A unit according to claim 3, wherein the member (5) comprises embossed PVC.
5. A unit according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a writing detector
(3) mounted to the support (1) and having detection means for detecting indicia written
on a writing medium placed on the planar surface in use.
6. A unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover member (8) includes
an aperture (14) through which a predetermined portion of a writing medium is exposed,
in use, when the cover member is in its first position.
7. A unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover member (8) is
transparent to enable those parts of the writing medium covered by the cover member
to be visible.
8. A unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least the surface of
the cover member (8) which overlies a writing medium in use, has a relatively high
coefficient of friction finish.
9. A unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover member is detachably
connected to the support.
10. A unit according to claim 9, wherein the cover member and support have respective
ones of a cooperating slot (10) and key (9) , the key being slidable into the slot
to connect the cover member to the support.
11. A unit according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a holder (20)
for a card-shaped article having an integrated circuit or memory connected to one
or more contacts to enable information to be received from or supplied to the integrated
circuit or memory, the holder comprising a housing (29) having guide means (33,34)
to support the card-shaped article at a - predetermined position relatively to the
housing, the housing being pivoted to the writing medium support underneath the cover
member (8) for movement between an open position in which a card-shaped article may
be located in the predetermined position and a closed position in which the or each
contact on the card-shaped article is automatically aligned with and engages corresponding
contacts (38,39) in the writing medium support.
12. A unit according to claim 11, further comprising locking means (40,41) on the
housing (29) and the writing medium support (1) whereby the housing is locked to the
support by the locking means when in its closed position.
13. A unit according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the housing (29) is biassed
towards the open position. 14. Signature verification apparatus comprising control
means (46) connected with the or each contact (38,39) of the writing medium support
(1) of a unit according to any of claims 11 to 13, when dependent on at least claim
5, the writing detector being adapted to generate electrical signals corresponding
to a signature being written on the writing detector, the control means (46) being
responsive to signals from the writing detector (3) and information read from a card
(2) in the card holder (20) to determine whether the signature written on the writing
detector corresponds to the signature defined by the information on the card-shaped
article in the card holder.