Abstract: A combination display tray and divider member are disclosed. The display tray includes a rear wall, a support portion depending outwardly therefrom, and a forward lip for retaining items placed on the display tray. The rear wall includes a channel therein for receiving a base portion of the divider member. A divider portion extends outwardly from the base portion member and generally perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the channel of the display tray when the base portion of the divider member is slidably received in the channel.

Abstract: A display apparatus can include a substantially self-supporting panel adapted to be erected and used without the use of a support frame. In one embodiment, a frameless display fixture includes first and second panels fastened to one another proximal their upper edges, recesses adapted to receive retail merchandise integrally formed along a front side of the panel, and mating portions proximal their lower edge which interlock with a substantially rigid base unit such that the lower edges of the panels are held a fixed distance from one another. The first and second panels may be substantially mutually self-supporting so as to form a frameless display fixture.

Abstract: A display apparatus can include a substantially self-supporting panel adapted to be erected and used without the use of a support frame. In one embodiment, a frameless display fixture includes first and second panels fastened to one another proximal their upper edges, recesses adapted to receive retail merchandise integrally formed along a front side of the panel, and mating portions proximal their lower edge which interlock with a substantially rigid base unit such that the lower edges of the panels are held a fixed distance from one another. The first and second panels may be substantially mutually self-supporting so as to form a frameless display fixture.

Abstract: A decoration device may include a low-friction drive line and a PWM controlled motor that reduces or eliminates the gearing needed to achieve appropriate speed and torque at the motor output shaft. In preferred embodiments, the decoration device is an ornament that includes a low friction interfaces to accommodate relatively low torque output from the PWM drive motor. In certain embodiments, the PWM controller drives a motor at low speeds suitable for ornament applications.

Abstract: A card may include a generally planar panel and a plurality of opposing retaining members disposed on the panel. The plurality of opposing retaining members may be arranged to retain a substantially rectangular transaction card having a first longitudinal axis in a first orientation with respect to the panel and to retain a substantially rectangular paper gift having a second longitudinal axis in a second orientation with respect to the panel, so that the orientation of the first longitudinal axis is substantially transverse to the second orientation of the second longitudinal axis. The paper gift may be, for example, paper monetary currency, a paper bank check, or a paper gift certificate. The transaction card may be, for example, a debit card, a credit card, a gift card, a prepaid phone card, a card containing a merchandise credit usable at a retail establishment.

Abstract: Gift packaging is provided that employs lines of weakness in order to facilitate the creation of an opening for accessing items held within the packaging. In certain embodiments, the gift packaging, as containment structure, has a first opening through which gift items may be inserted into the packaging, and a second opening generated by separation of adjacent sections of material along one or more lines of weakness for access to the items. This material separation may be facilitated by use of a separation member defined by the one or more lines of weakness.

Abstract: A decoration device may include a low-friction drive line and a PWM controlled motor that reduces or eliminates the gearing needed to achieve appropriate speed and torque at the motor output shaft. In preferred embodiments, the decoration device is an ornament that includes a low friction interfaces to accommodate relatively low torque output from the PWM drive motor. In certain embodiments, the PWM controller drives a motor at low speeds suitable for ornament applications.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention provide a greeting card having a holder element on the front surface of the greeting card. The holder element is capable of retaining a prepaid gift card or the like. One such embodiment provides the gift-giver with an opportunity to retain the prepaid gift card to the greeting card without reducing the area on the inner surface for writing a personal message to the recipient.

Abstract: A holiday countdown interactive display may include a set of magnetically attachable ornaments that have discrete appearances and functionalities, each ornament being marked with a distinct number associated with the number of days remaining before a holiday. In certain preferred embodiments, the interactive display comprises a plush fabric base generally in the shape of a Christmas tree and containing a plurality of rare earth magnets disposed beneath countdown numbers borne on the exterior of the plush fabric base. The interactive display system may further include a plurality of numbered plush Christmas ornaments each including rare earth magnets, the ornaments adapted to be successively installed on the plush fabric base on the days preceding a holiday event. In various embodiments, the ornaments include power supplies, controllers, vibratory elements, LEDs, speakers, pockets for containing gift items, messages, or the like.

Abstract: A card may include a generally planar panel and a plurality of opposing retaining members disposed on the panel. The plurality of opposing retaining members may be arranged to retain a substantially rectangular transaction card having a first longitudinal axis in a first orientation with respect to the panel and to retain a substantially rectangular paper gift having a second longitudinal axis in a second orientation with respect to the panel, so that the orientation of the first longitudinal axis is substantially transverse to the second orientation of the second longitudinal axis. The paper gift may be, for example, paper monetary currency, a paper bank check, or a paper gift certificate. The transaction card may be, for example, a debit card, a credit card, a gift card, a prepaid phone card, a card containing a merchandise credit usable at a retail establishment.

Abstract: Programs, methods and apparatus for context sensitive font generation, especially handwriting fonts. In a preferred embodiment, a computer program product contains instructions to identify a character string including upper case, lower case, and/or symbolic characters; identify the first character in the string; identify a plurality of handwritten glyphs corresponding to the character; select one of the glyphs based upon an adjacent character in the string; and repeat the foregoing steps, thereby converting the character string.

Abstract: A display unit for displaying various flat or flat-packaged articles, such as greeting cards, magazines, brochures, and the like is provided. The display unit includes a molded backboard having a plurality of walls joined to one another by a plurality of horizontal channels and a snap-in retainer for holding the displayed articles which is easily inserted into and removed from the channel of the backboard. Additionally, the present invention relates to a method of making such a molded backboard and a mold insert tool for use in forming the channel of the backboard.

Abstract: A method of making screen printing frames can include, in certain illustrative embodiments, affixing at least two frames to one another, applying a masking film to both frames, exposing the frames, removing the unhardened emulsion in the meshes, and separating the frames from one another for deployment in a screen printing apparatus. This exemplary process can be used to create images in substantially complete registration with one another on frames having different mesh counts. Stated another way, these embodiments permit the use of multiple frames to print different inks through different meshes in a single pass to form images in substantially complete registration with one another. In certain preferred embodiments, a screen printing apparatus can include two frames, each having a mesh with a different pitch, wherein the frames are adapted to receive different inks and held in fixed register during a screen printing operation.

Abstract: The present community membership data management system identifies each user and their associated communities of interest. Each community has a user defined permission to access a subset of the user's data, which data is shared among some or all of the members of that community. When the user's data is updated, the update is automatically propagated to all of the identified associated communities of interest and the members of those communities who have permission to receive that data. Thus, each user of the present community membership data management system has their computerized calendar and address book system automatically populated with data, which data is continuously and automatically updated. The confidentiality and security of the user data is maintained by defining a set of permissions among the communities, members of communities and for each user to ensure that the user maintains control of the propagation of their data.

Abstract: A system and method of preparing artwork for a laser foil die implement prism lines designed to interact with the diffraction grating on a layer of laser hot foil. Artwork may be selectively segmented into discrete regions; prism lines may be created by assigning a halftone value, a frequency value, and an angle for each region of the artwork. A system and method of creating a laser foil die transfer such artwork and prism lines to a blank die; when created in accordance with the present invention, a die may transfer prism lines to a layer of laser foil applied to a substrate.

Abstract: A method of making screen printing frames can include, in certain illustrative embodiments, affixing at least two frames to one another, applying a masking film to both frames, exposing the frames, removing the unhardened emulsion in the meshes, and separating the frames from one another for deployment in a screen printing apparatus. This exemplary process can be used to create images in substantially complete registration with one another on frames having different mesh counts. Stated another way, these embodiments permit the use of multiple frames to print different inks through different meshes in a single pass to form images in substantially complete registration with one another. In certain preferred embodiments, a screen printing apparatus can include two frames, each having a mesh with a different pitch, wherein the frames are adapted to receive different inks and held in fixed register during a screen printing operation.