Abstract: A cutter assembly suitable for cutting BOPP adhesive tape and a tape dispenser incorporating the same. The cutter assembly has a row of plastic teeth where each tooth includes left and right front and rear faces, each face being disposed on a different plane, and where the planes intersect each other at the tip of the tooth. A front edge extends between the left and right front faces; a rear edge extends between the left and right rear faces; a left side edge extends between the right front and rear faces; and a right side edge extends between the left front face and the right rear face. The various edges are set at particular angles relative to each other. A protrusion for supporting the tape is provided rearwardly of the teeth and a braking mechanism is also provided on the dispenser.

Abstract: A cutter assembly suitable for cutting BOPP adhesive tape and a tape dispenser incorporating the same. The cutter assembly has a row of plastic teeth where each tooth includes left and right front and rear faces, each face being disposed on a different plane, and where the planes intersect each other at the tip of the tooth. A front edge extends between the left and right front faces; a rear edge extends between the left and right rear faces; a left side edge extends between the right front and rear faces; and a right side edge extends between the left front face and the right rear face. The various edges are set at particular angles relative to each other. A protrusion for supporting the tape is provided rearwardly of the teeth and a braking mechanism is also provided on the dispenser.

Abstract: A cardboard box with four side panels, four bottom flaps and four top flaps. The box is made from a blank having a first height measured between the outermost edges of the top and bottom flaps. The flaps are rotated into abutting contact with the exterior surface of the panels thereby reducing the overall height of the box to the height of the panel. Adjacent pairs of top and bottom flaps are provided with living hinges that enable them to remain in this position when the box is collapsed. The collapsed box is shipped through the mail in this diminished size and then erected into a box of the same height as the panels.

Abstract: A system and method for payment of an item purchased using credit is presented. A system includes financial transaction detection logic and payment logic. The financial transaction detection logic detects that a financial transaction is being initiated at the purchased item. For example, the logic can be implanted in a fare payment device in a bus that was purchased with credit. The transaction logic detects each time a fare is paid to ride the bus. The repayment logic repays a portion of the purchased item (bus) when the financial transaction (fare payment) occurs. Alternatively, the financial transaction detection logic can be inside an electronic handheld device purchased on credit. The logic detects when the device is used to make a purchase or connect to a network. Each of those times, the payment logic can calculate a repayment amount to repay a portion of the handheld device and collect it.

Abstract: A tape dispenser having a housing, a cavity within the housing and within which a roll of tape is rotatably retained, and pairs of front and rear legs. The housing is able to stand on a flat surface in two different orientations. In a first orientation, the housing is supported on curved tips of the front legs and a region of the tape roll. In a second orientation, the housing is supported by curved, rearwardly extending projections on the rear legs and a second region of the tape roll. The housing rotates on the tips or projections as tape is withdrawn from the roll. A blade angles downwardly from the front end of the housing and is retained a distance from the surface when the housing is in each of the first and second orientations. The housing is rotated through about ninety degrees between the first and second orientations.

Abstract: A system and method of verifying a financial transaction at least partially conducted at an electronic device is authorized transaction is presented. First, the method determines that a request for a financial transaction is being requested at the electronic device. Upon that detection, biometric data from an electronic chip in the electronic device is read. Biometric data such as facial features and/or fingerprints are taken from the user of the electronic device. Biometric data stored in an electronic chip stored in the electronic device is compared the biometric data received from the user to determine if the user is the owner of the electronic device. The method allows the financial transaction to be conducted with the electronic device when the user of the electronic device is the owner of the electronic device and prevents the financial transaction when the user is not the owner of the electronic device.

Abstract: A protective case for a planar electronic device such as a tablet or smartphone. The case includes a back having an interior surface and an exterior surface; an opening defined in the exterior surface; and a pocket defined between the interior and exterior surfaces. The case further includes a heat dissipating assembly disposed adjacent the opening. This assembly draws heat from the electronic device and transmits that heat to the air surrounding the case. The case may also include a front which is connected to the back via a spine. The spine allows the front and back to be positioned one on top of the other. A flap may also cover the opening in the back and be movable between open and closed positions.

Abstract: A cutter assembly suitable for cutting BOPP adhesive tape and a tape dispenser incorporating the same. The cutter assembly has a row of plastic teeth where each tooth includes left and right front and rear faces, each face being disposed on a different plane, and where the planes intersect each other at the tip of the tooth. A front edge extends between the left and right front faces; a rear edge extends between the left and right rear faces; a left side edge extends between the right front and rear faces; and a right side edge extends between the left front face and the right rear face. The various edges are set at particular angles relative to each other. A protrusion for supporting the tape is provided rearwardly of the teeth and a braking mechanism is also provided on the dispenser.

Abstract: A system and method for verifying receipt of a postal mail item mailed by a sender of the postal mail item is presented. A method reads postal information from a postal mail item that identifies the postal mail item. The postal information is combined with identification information that identifies the recipient of the postal mail item. The postal information and the identification information are sent to the sender of the postal mail item.

Abstract: A system and method for verifying receipt of a postal mail item mailed by a sender of the postal mail item is presented. Method detects whether a conductive material inside the parcel has been opened or not. The conductive material is a trace routed around the mail item in a way that makes it extremely difficult to open the mail item without breaking the conductive material. With an electronic device external to the parcel, the method energizes a communication device located in the parcel. Upon the communication device becoming energized, the method transmits from the communication device to the electronic device external to the parcel a signal that identifies if the conductive material in the parcel has been opened or not.

Abstract: A system and method for determining whether a coin or other valuable object is authentic is presented. In one configuration a method for validating a valuable object includes attaching a validation device to the valuable object. The validation device is loaded with validation information associated with the valuable object. Later, when the when the object is to be sold or transferred to another person the validation device is wirelessly read to extract the validation information associated with the valuable object. This information used to verify if the valuable object is authentic or is not authentic, based, at least in part, the validation information associated with the valuable object.

Abstract: A system and method for verifying receipt of a postal mail item mailed by a sender of the postal mail item is presented. A method reads postal information from a postal mail item that identifies the postal mail item. The postal information is combined with identification information that identifies the recipient of the postal mail item. The postal information and the identification information are sent to the sender of the postal mail item.

Abstract: A cardboard box with four side panels, four bottom flaps and four top flaps. The box is made from a blank having a first height measured between the outermost edges of the top and bottom flaps. The flaps are rotated into abutting contact with the exterior surface of the panels thereby reducing the overall height of the box to the height of the panel. Adjacent pairs of top and bottom flaps are provided with living hinges that enable them to remain in this position when the box is collapsed. The collapsed box is shipped through the mail in this diminished size and then erected into a box of the same height as the panels.

Abstract: A business method includes listing a product for sale on an online auction site, ordering packaging via a link on the online auction site for shipping the product to a buyer with a winning bid, where the packaging is in the form of a collapsed box mailed to the seller at a non-flat rate of postage and then mailed by the seller to the buyer at a flat rate of postage. The box when in both the collapsed state and the filled state is of substantially the same height as one of the side panels and is able to fit inside a standard size mailbag of a mail carrier.

Abstract: A cardboard box with four side panels, four bottom flaps and four top flaps is provided. Adjacent bottom flaps and adjacent top flaps are provided with living hinges so that the flaps may be stored adjacent the body of the box. Additionally, during loading the top flaps are held adjacent the body of the box to move the flaps out of the way and make the box more convenient to load. The hinges may be broken apart to allow the flaps to be moved to the closed and sealed position.

Abstract: A shipping and display assembly for a plurality of complementary primary and secondary products such as wrapping paper and adhesive tape. The assembly includes a box having a first section and a second section which are connected together for shipping and are separable for displaying the products. The first section includes a first compartment for holding and displaying the primary products and a second compartment for holding and displaying the secondary products. The second section of the display assembly restrains the primary and secondary products within the first and second compartments during shipping and is removed from over the first and second compartments when the products are to be displayed.

Abstract: A tape dispenser having a frame and a pair of opposed, unequal diameter hub mounts for rotatably mounting an adhesive tape roll thereon. A hub is provided for supporting the roll of tape thereon and for engaging the hub mounts. The hub comprises a generally cylindrical body having open ends of equal diameter. The diameter of these ends is large enough to engage the larger diameter hub mount but is too large to engage the smaller diameter hub mount. A ring adaptor is provided for insertion into one of the ends to effectively reduce the internal diameter of that end. The hub can therefore be oriented so that the adhesive side of the tape supported thereon will be facing downwardly when dispensed. The adaptor is inserted into the appropriate end of the hub body so that the hub is configured to engage the two unequal diameter hub mounts.

Abstract: A cardboard box with four side panels, four bottom flaps and four top flaps is provided. Adjacent bottom flaps and adjacent top flaps are provided with living hinges so that the flaps may be stored adjacent the body of the box. Additionally, during loading the top flaps are held adjacent the body of the box to move the flaps out of the way and make the box more convenient to load. The hinges may be broken apart to allow the flaps to be moved to the closed and sealed position.