Patents Examined by Casandra Davis
  • Patent number: 8607486
    Abstract: A card for presenting visual information while being waved. The card is flexible and has a sensor detecting or quantifying the bending of the card. The card has, preferably at an edge thereof, light emitters for presenting the information. A controller determines the position of the edge and forwards information so that a user watching the edge sees an emulated 2D information provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Cardlab APS
    Inventors: Finn Nielsen, Rune Domsten
  • Patent number: 8601726
    Abstract: Three-dimensional lightweight foam greeting cards are described herein having a foam body with a perimeter wall that extends between two spaced apart parallel pieces of planar sheet material such as heavy gauge paper, cardboard, or other such material. The greeting cards have a partially hollowed foam body or one or more cavities in the foam body concealed in the front and back by the planar sheet material which may be pre-cut in the shape of the foam body are decorated consistent with the design of the foam body. The cavities in the foam body may contain various electronic components that enable the greeting card to produce sound, record and playback a personalized message, trigger light activation, trigger the movement of moveable parts, display digital video, photographs or slideshows, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: David Mayer, Lauren M. Budzar, Eva Jin, Mary McClain
  • Patent number: 8601729
    Abstract: A modular panel display unit assembly, comprising: an elongated upper plate and an elongated lower plate, both arranged parallel to one another and supported by a first side rail and a second side rail secured therebetween, wherein a backer board is capturably received between the upper plate and the lower plate, and wherein one or more modular display panel units may be connected end to end together, and wherein a display panel is removably attached to a backer board secured between the upper plate and the lower plate thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Rose Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: David E. Pitcher, Thomas P. Burrous, Rebecca C. Suciu, Alan L. Stenfors, Sidney Rose
  • Patent number: 8595961
    Abstract: Three-dimensional lightweight foam greeting cards are described herein having a foam body with a perimeter wall that extends between two spaced apart parallel pieces of planar sheet material such as heavy gauge paper, cardboard, or other such material. The greeting cards have a partially hollowed foam body or one or more cavities in the foam body concealed in the front and back by the planar sheet material which may be pre-cut in the shape of the foam body are decorated consistent with the design of the foam body. The cavities in the foam body may contain various electronic components that enable the greeting card to produce sound, record and playback a personalized message, trigger light activation, trigger the movement of moveable parts, display digital video, photographs or slideshows, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: American Greetings
    Inventors: David Mayer, Terry Hughes, Jerry Guo, John Talbot, Sharon Bogdanski
  • Patent number: 8590169
    Abstract: The military ribbon template is a tool for the mounting of military awards on corresponding military award ribbons. The military ribbon template includes a plate having a plurality of horizontal rows of rectangular slots formed therethrough. Each rectangular slot is configured for securely receiving an award ribbon. A first set of indicia is formed on the plate, including first sub-sets of indicia, with each first sub-set of indicia corresponding to one of the rows of slots and including an indicator corresponding to a number of awards to be mounted on the award ribbon. Additionally, a second set of indicia are formed on the plate, above each rectangular slot, and the second set of indicia includes second sub-sets of indicia, respectively indicating the type of award to be mounted on the ribbon, the number of awards, and graduations indicating the proper position of the award to be mounted on the ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Inventor: Michelle R. Holmquist
  • Patent number: 8584386
    Abstract: An illuminating electronic gift or souvenir device a case in the shape of a small telescope, binocular or monocular and an internal electronic circuit including a type of integrated circuit and luminescent elements such as LEDs or similar lights which cause, upon actuating a switch on the outside, multiple and diverse lighting effects that lead to a visual effect that simulates a starry sky or galaxies in motion, inspiring the imagination of the user of the device. The circuit can be programmed to present lighting effects in its interior that are static or changing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventor: Jose Daniel Martin Catoira
  • Patent number: 8567102
    Abstract: Present invention relates to a connecting piece connecting legs (13) and a crossbar (10) of a free-standing portable display sign particularly suitable for installation in outdoor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: Ali Topcuoglu
  • Patent number: 8567101
    Abstract: An electronic greeting card containing a recordable audio module with a pre-recorded audio or music clip which allows a user to sing along with the pre-recorded audio or music clip and record it within the audio module in the card. The card also contains a preview function that allows a consumer to try the recording function before purchasing the greeting card. In preview mode, the recorded message is played back, simultaneously with the pre-recorded clip, only once and then erased. Once a consumer has purchased the card, the preview function can be disabled whereby the user-recorded sound clip is saved, and whereby the user-recorded sound clip is played back simultaneously with the pre-recorded sound clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: David Mayer, Mary McClain, Allison Marsh, Eva Jin, Tiger Qiao
  • Patent number: 8561330
    Abstract: A mounting system and method for tautly mounting a flexible material sign includes a plurality of mounting springs affixed to an associated sign structure. Each of the plurality of mounting springs includes a base portion, a grasping portion and a spring portion. The base portion is adapted to be secured to an associated sign structure, such as a structure to which the flexible material sign is to be mounted, a frame or similar structure surrounding the flexible material sign, etc. The grasping portion includes a finger adapted to be received within an aperture of the flexible material sign. The spring portion is disposed between the base portion and the grasping portion for applying a tension to the flexible material sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignees: Lind Media Company, Supro Spring & Wire Forms, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Siegenthaler, Kevin Provagna
  • Patent number: 8555536
    Abstract: An art frame includes a three-dimensional supporting frame, which includes an image receiving surface and an opposed back surface, a center portion defining a perimeter, and at least three foldable extensions extending from the perimeter. Each foldable extension includes two folds to be folded toward the back surface to form a frame portion. Abutting frame portions form respective corners of the three-dimensional supporting frame. A corner mount is to be inserted into the abutting frame portions at the respective corners. Each corner mount includes first and second opposed surfaces, a shaped portion, and two corner mount foldable extensions extending from two sides of the shaped portion. Each corner mount foldable extension includes two tabs to be folded toward the first opposed surface. An adhesive layer is established on the second opposed surface and is to be adhered to the back surface of the three-dimensional supporting frame at the respective corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Christine E Steichen, Julio Cesar Alonso, Xulong Fu, Xiaoqi Zhou, David Edmondson, Ronald J Selensky
  • Patent number: 8549778
    Abstract: Provided is a portable display panel system including a rack, upper and lower rods having pairs of upper and a lower holder ribs, and a cloth or a panel of a printable material. Each of the rods has a through-cavity. An elastic string extends through each of the upper and lower holder ribs and is attached to the outer ends of the outermost rods. Male and female couplings are arranged at the abutting ends of the rods arranged in pairs, which may be brought together in either two positions, which are turned by 180°, or four positions which are turned by 90° relative to each other. At least one pair of the rods are bent or angled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Christian Ahlberg
  • Patent number: 8544199
    Abstract: An apparatus for repetitively lifting and lowering objects to create visual patterns having a plurality of units each with a motor, a rotary member, a cord attached at its distal end to the circumferential edge of the rotary member, an attaching mechanism affixed to the proximal end of the cord, and an object removably connected to the attaching mechanism. A computer or microprocessor is provided and programmed to selectively rotate the rotary members to move the objects between selected pre-determined positions along a generally vertical path of travel to establish a geometric pattern of repetitive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Joseph C. Pentland
  • Patent number: 8544198
    Abstract: The present device relates to a license plate holder, and more specifically to a license plate holder with illumination for attachment to remote locations on a vehicle. The license plate holder includes a backing plate sized for attachment of a license plate. A support member extends outwardly from the backing plate and is sized and shaped for insertion into a boat rod holder. A self-contained electrical system is included in the license plate holder for illumination of the license plate. The self-contained electrical system includes at least one LED, a switch, an electrical storage device and at least one solar panel. The illuminated license plate holder may be mounted on a watercraft while being hauled on a trailer so that the license plate is not subject to scraping, mutilation, or destruction; as typically occurs when a license plate is affix to a trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: David Iverson
  • Patent number: 8539703
    Abstract: An advertising display has support structures that attach to a pole. One or more advertising panels are mounted on the support structures to form an advertising display. The display may have the form of a cylinder, a triangle, a rectangle, an oval or other shapes. The display may optionally be tapered. The support structures may have a variety of score lines, at which the support may be folded as appropriate for the particular diameter of the pole. The panels may be secured to the supports by way of clips or other mechanical fasteners. Double-sided adhesive may be employed to secure ends of the panels, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventor: Vincent M. DeMarco
  • Patent number: 8533982
    Abstract: A license plate holder that removably secures a license plate within the license plate holder that includes a back plate secured to a vehicle bumper of a vehicle, a pair of hinges, a plurality of storage pockets covered with an adhesive plastic covering, a plurality of threaded attachment screws contained in the storage pockets and a front frame coupled to the front frame with the pair of hinges and a snap lock. The license plate holder also includes a plurality of advertisement indicia, a pair of support frame apertures, a first pair of back plate apertures and a second pair of back plate apertures and a pair of support tabs used to support the license plate within the license plate holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventors: Trent M. Rousey, Andre H. Allen, Thomas J. Welsh, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8533983
    Abstract: A graphic panel system for providing a message spanning all or substantially all of a readerboard is provided. According to embodiments of the present invention, panel elements may be combined to form larger graphic images and textual messages. The individual panel elements may be single track height, even though they contain graphics or images that, when the panels are attached to a readerboard, extend for more than one row of the readerboard. Graphic panels having first color images are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: National Readerboard Supply Company
    Inventor: Patrick T. Case
  • Patent number: 8528941
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a security element for security papers, value documents and the like, having a laser-markable transparent or translucent marking layer into which, through the action of laser radiation, visually perceptible identifiers are introduced in the form of patterns, letters, numbers and/or images. The identifiers each comprise a lamellar structure composed of a plurality of substantially parallel lamella that extend into the depth of the marking layer and include the parameters color, width, height, lateral orientation, tilt angle and/or spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Dörfler, Michael Bauer
  • Patent number: 8516727
    Abstract: The invention provides a clip which is used in the identification of the source of power cords, wires and cables. The design of the clip is snag proof. The invention provides pop-out indicia of the source of the cord, wire or cable that is positioned within the clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Micah L. Maraia
  • Patent number: 8510976
    Abstract: The present invention is a portable literature display. The preferred embodiment features a collapsible stand and sign, with a literature carousel that mounts upon the stand. The carousel is formed from a plurality of closable clamshell cases mounted upon a plurality of cross-beams and secured together in a ring. Leg flags are also provided to increase visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas S. Kiser
  • Patent number: 8510977
    Abstract: A tripartite composite magnetic tag comprises a thin central ferromagnetic plate sandwiched between two magnetic outer panels, which bear graphic and/or alphanumeric indicia. The composite magnetic tag is attachable by a connective means to various personal items through a composite aperture. The magnetic outer panels are interchangeable with replacement panels bearing different indicia, such that the composite magnetic tag can serve multiple identification and/or decorative purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Ellen Cable