Patents Assigned to National Graphics, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140327968
    Abstract: A heat shrinkable film is formed with a lenticular lens array oriented and sized so that the film may be formed in a sleeve to shrink with application of heat about a container and provide for lenticular image effects as applied to the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald R. Krause
  • Patent number: 7239420
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of making a corresponding lenticular image comprising: providing an output device in communication with a computer having a memory; receiving into the computer memory an interlaced image file; converting the interlaced image file into an output having an output resolution; varying the resolution of the output to define a varied output resolution; and creating a corresponding lenticular image using the output at the varied output resolution. In a preferred embodiment, the output device is a plate setter and the output is a plate. As such, in at least one embodiment, the method is suitable for use with a Computer-to-Plate (“CTP”) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Goggins
  • Patent number: 7212346
    Abstract: Described in this application is a method of making a continuous lenticular image label web and a process for making a plurality of lenticular labels using a continuous lenticular image label web. In addition, a continuous lenticular image label web is described and detailed. Several advantages accrue from the methods described, including reduced time and cost to manufacture lenticular image labels. Advantageously, on-serting of lenticular labels is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald R. Krause
  • Patent number: 7153047
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for determining a lenticular lens resolution for use in digital press printing. The method includes determining a digital press machine resolution d, setting a master interlaced image resolution m for a master interlaced image such that the master interlaced image resolution is equal to the machine resolution, setting a number of frames f to be included in the master interlaced image, and determining a lenticular lens resolution L according to the relationship L=d/f. The result is a digitally output lenticular image that can be have many applications, including use in products such as containers, packages, labels, and the like. The selection process accounts for variations in digital press machine resolutions, lenticular lens resolution variations, various screening algorithms, to yield a high quality, commercial-grade digitally output lenticular image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Goggins
  • Patent number: 7149035
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a digitally imaged lenticular product comprising a lenticular lens having an array of lenticules defining a front surface, and a substantially flat back surface located opposite the front surface. The product further includes a digitally output interlaced image digitally printed and joined to the flat back surface of the lens so as to be in correspondence with the array of lenticules. The digitally output interlaced image includes at least one individually customizable element. The digitally imaged lenticular products can be part of a variety of consumer end products, such as a container, a cup, a label, and a package. This permits final digitally imaged lenticular products to have a wide range of variance and versions, both from one lenticular run to the next, as well as within a run, thereby accommodating individualized data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Goggins
  • Patent number: 7136185
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of making a corresponding lenticular image comprising: providing an output device in communication with a computer having a memory; receiving into the computer memory an interlaced image file; converting the interlaced image file into an output having an output resolution; varying the resolution of the output to define a varied output resolution; and creating a corresponding lenticular image using the output at the varied output resolution. In a preferred embodiment, the output device is a plate setter and the output is a plate. As such, in at least one embodiment, the method is suitable for use with a Computer-to-Plate (“CTP”) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Goggins
  • Patent number: 7083340
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and an apparatus for determining a lenticular lens resolution for use in digital press printing. The method and an apparatus consists of determining a digital press machine resolution d, setting a master interlaced image resolution m for a master interlaced image such that the master interlaced image resolution is equal to the machine resolution, setting a number of frames f to be included in the master interlaced image, and determining a lenticular lens resolution L according to the relationship L=d/f. The result is a digitally output lenticular image that can be have many applications, including use in products such as containers, packages, labels, and the like. The selection process accounts for variations in digital press machine resolutions, lenticular lens resolution variations, various screening algorithms, to yield a high quality, commercial-grade digitally output lenticular image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Goggins
  • Patent number: 6995913
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a digitally imaged lenticular product comprising a lenticular lens having an array of lenticules defining a front surface, and a substantially flat back surface located opposite the front surface. The product further includes a digitally output interlaced image digitally printed and joined to the flat back surface of the lens so as to be in correspondence with the array of lenticules. The digitally output interlaced image includes at least one individually customizable element. The digitally imaged lenticular products can be part of a variety of consumer end products, such as a container, a cup, a label, and a package. This permits final digitally imaged lenticular products to have a wide range of variance and versions, both from one lenticular run to the next, as well as within a run, thereby accommodating individualized data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Goggins
  • Patent number: 6974080
    Abstract: A lenticular bar code image includes a lenticular lens having a front surface including a plurality of lenticules and a back surface opposite the front surface; and an image joined to the back surface of the lens, the image including a bar code symbol having bars. The lenticular lens and the image are in overlay relationship with one another such that a lenticular bar code angle is formed between the bars of the bar code symbol and the lenticules of the lenticular lens. As such, the bar code symbol is readable through the lenticules of the lenticular lens when the lens and image are in overlay relationship with respect to each other. The invention provides a reliable way to scan products, such as cups, containers, labels, and packages having lenticular images that include bar codes, such as UPC symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Goggins
  • Publication number: 20040136079
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lenticular lens and method for manufacturing the lens, and in particular when the lens is a lenticular lens web, such that finishing operations (e.g., cutting, laminating, etc.) and various end-use applications of the lens (e.g., labeling) can be achieved or accommodated in-line with the manufacture of the lens web. A lenticular pattern-forming device comprising a housing that is rotatable about a central longitudinal axis is disclosed. The housing has an outer surface having a groove pattern. The groove pattern includes circumferentially and longitudinally extending grooves on the outer surface and the grooves have substantially equal groove widths. The longitudinally extending grooves are substantially parallel with the central longitudinal axis and grooves cover the outer surface of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Goggins
  • Patent number: 6635196
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a molded article bearing a lenticular image on its surface that is prepared by a method comprising the steps of: A providing a mold in which to form the molded article; B. inserting a lenticular image into the mold; C. introducing a molten plastic into the mold to form the molded article with the lenticular image attached to a surface of the molded article; and D. removing the molded article with the attached lenticular image from the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Goggins
  • Patent number: 6490092
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for preparing and applying an interlaced image to a curved surface. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for preparing an interlaced image for application to a curved surface, the interlaced image comprising two or more frames, such that when the interlaced image is viewed through a lenticular lens, the lens comprising a plurality of lenticules and having a base resolution, from a predetermined viewing distance, the interlaced image is viewed substantially free of distortion, the method comprising the steps of: A. determining the base resolution of the lens; B. determining a resolution of the lens when the lens is configured to conform to the curved surface; C. manipulating the interlaced image, the image comprising interlaced segments, to conform with the resolution of the lens as applied to the curved surface such that the lenticules of the lens are in correspondence with the segments of the image; and D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Goggins
  • Patent number: 6424467
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a high definition lenticular lens and a high definition lenticular image. The high definition lenticular lens can comprise a front surface having a plurality of lenticules and a substantially flat back surface opposite the front surface. Each lenticule has characteristic parameters that include a focal length, an arc angle, and a width. The arc angle is greater than about 90 degrees and the width is less than about 0.0067 inches. The lens has a gauge thickness that is equal to or substantially equal to the focal length. The high definition lenticular image comprises a precursor image joined to the high definition lenticular lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Goggins
  • Patent number: 5896230
    Abstract: A method of producing a multidimensional image having a special effect. A lenticular lens is provided having a plurality of equally spaced, parallel lenticular lines and a substantially planar back surface. A plurality of planar images are created, ordered, and interlaced into a desired sequence. The interlaced images are printed and arranged in a desired manner in relation to the lenticular lens. A special effect coating is then applied to a desired portion of the interlaced images to create a desired visual effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Goggins
  • Patent number: 5847808
    Abstract: Multi-dimensional lithographs which impart the illusions of depth and/or motion to a viewer are prepared by constructing and sequencing a plurality of electronic pages, preferably four or more; rasterizing, compressing and converting each page; interlacing the pages in a desired sequence; outputting the interlaced frames to an imaging device; and producing a lithographic separation from the imaging device. In the rasterization of each frame, nonbinary pixels are created that correspond to the resolution of the line count of the lenticular lens that will ultimately be applied to a print of the lithograph times the number of frames in the lithographic separation. The frames are compressed to an amount equal to the reciprocal of the number of frames from which the lithographic separation is prepared. In the converting step, the nonbinary pixels of the compressed frames are converted to individual color plates of binary pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Goggins
  • Patent number: 5617178
    Abstract: Multidimensional lithographs which impart the illusions of depth and/or motion to a viewer are prepared by constructing and sequencing a plurality of electronic pages, preferably four or more; rasterizing, compressing and converting each page; interlacing the pages in a desired sequence; outputting the interlaced frames to an imaging device; and producing a lithographic separation from the imaging device. In the rasterization of each frame, nonbinary pixels are created that correspond to the resolution of the line count of the lenticular lens that will ultimately be applied to a print of the lithograph times the number of frames in the lithographic separation. The frames are compressed to an amount equal to the reciprocal of the number of frames from which the lithographic separation is prepared. In the converting step, the nonbinary pixels of the compressed frames are converted to individual color plates of binary pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Goggins
  • Patent number: 5488451
    Abstract: Multidimensional lithographs which impart the illusions of depth and/or motion to a viewer are prepared by constructing and sequencing a plurality of electronic pages, preferably four or more; rasterizing, compressing and converting each page; interlacing the pages in a desired sequence; outputting the interlaced frames to an imaging device; and producing a lithographic separation from the imaging device. In the rasterization of each frame, nonbinary pixels are created that correspond to the resolution of the line count of the lenticular lens that will ultimately be applied to a print of the lithograph times the number of frames in the lithographic separation. The frames are compressed to an amount equal to the reciprocal of the number of frames from which the lithographic separation is prepared. In the converting step, the nonbinary pixels of the compressed frames are converted to individual color plates of binary pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: National Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Goggins