Patents Examined by Cassandra H. Davis
  • Patent number: 6510635
    Abstract: A frame system for displaying panels such as signs, artwork, photographs, text etc., on a surface such as a wall. Two long tracks have fasteners for fastening them to a surface. Two corresponding cover bars are shaped to slide longitudinally over the tracks while being retained on the tracks. The cover bars have lengthwise grooves for supporting edges of one or more panels between opposite cover bars while allowing the panels to slide along the grooves. Caps are fastened over the ends of the cover bars with removable, tamper resistant, fasteners to prevent the cover bars from being slid out of the tracks until the caps are removed. The system may be mounted on a surface with the tracks horizontal, vertical or any angle in between. While the tracks will ordinarily be mounted parallel to each other, they may be mounted at angles to each other to accommodate panels of shapes other than rectangular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Sign Matrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Susan C. Rudolph, Carol K. Honeysett
  • Patent number: 6510638
    Abstract: A picture frame for supporting and displaying a photograph or other similar item includes a frame body having a plurality of individual frame members which are affixed together. The frame body is constructed of metal and is shaped to define a center opening in which the photograph is positioned. A transparent glass plate is mounted onto the frame body over the center opening to protect the photograph without impeding visibility. For decorative purposes, text is shaped from a soft metal and is soldered onto the frame body around the center opening. In addition, a plurality of colored glass panels are mounted onto the frame body around the center opening. Furthermore, a plurality of flowers are disposed between a pair of spaced apart glass panels which, in turn, are mounted onto the frame body around the center opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Welco Photo Frame Inc
    Inventor: Walter Wang
  • Patent number: 6510631
    Abstract: A picture frame assembly has a border with recesses for holding coins. The border consists of an internally mounted framing component having a plurality of circular recesses formed therein. The internal edges of the framing component are designed to slightly overlap the edges of the picture or photo to be framed, while the external edges are designed to fit under the external border of the frame. A backing member immediately adjacent the framing component cooperates with the apertures formed in the framing component to create recessed into which coins may be placed. The date of the coins coincides with the date of the photo or picture and thus provide an indication of the date of the photo or picture. The backing member is held in position relative to the framing component by a clamp, which also serves to bind the frontal border and glass plate in position thereby completing the frame assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Patricia Baggarly
  • Patent number: 6510637
    Abstract: A flat display panel and a frame for the display panel are formed from a single blank of sheet material such as paperboard. The frame includes a support panel positioned behind the display panel and interconnected frame elements forming a recess accommodating the display panel and projecting outwardly from the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventors: Rudy DeLozada, Sylive Hernandez
  • Patent number: 6508021
    Abstract: Modular storage units are formed for small, household articles so that the units can be stacked vertically one atop another. Each unit is formed with a box supported from beneath by a stand for rotation relative to the stand about a central, vertical axis of rotation. The stand has a base that covers a horizontal stand base area and supports the flat bottom of the box. The top of the box is flat and has a concave, upwardly facing recess at its center that has a shape configured to snugly received the stand of a unit stacked directly above. Any number of modular storage units can be stacked one atop another with the stand of each unit being centered and laterally confined by the stand receiving recess in the top of the box located immediately below. In this way all of the boxes are rotatable independently of each other about a common, vertical axis of rotation. The contents of the boxes may be accessed either by forming the box with an open side, or by forming each top of the box as a removable lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Inventor: Bon S. Ong
  • Patent number: 6505426
    Abstract: A multi colors covered button with advertising object comprising at least a blank element, a male fastening element and a covering material, characterized in that the blank element consists of a net layer having a plurality of through holes, a patterned block connected to the net layer, and the through holes in communication with the external portion of the patterned block and a recessed interior section, the blank element is positioned by the top and bottom mold such that a covering material can be ejected to cover the entire net layer and the covering material is extended to cover the extemal portion of the block 12 and the recessed portion, thereby a covered button with more than two different type of materials and colors is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Inventor: Shih-Sheng Yang
  • Patent number: 6502338
    Abstract: A motorized display using piezoelectricity to impart motion to point-of-purchase displays or other items is disclosed. A quartz movement, otherwise used for rotary movement of anniversary clocks, is preferably used to rotate the display. According to preferred embodiments, the motor has a drive train including a drive shaft and a battery as a power source. The drive shaft rotates when the motor is powered, a holder for a sign or merchandise item is positioned on the end of the drive shaft exterior to the motor housing and may be removable from the drive shaft. The drive shaft may be positioned vertically, horizontally or diagonally depending on the type of display being used. The rotation of the drive shaft may be either continuous one way or a 360 degree two-way revolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Roger S. Marshall
  • Patent number: 6502340
    Abstract: A portable sign, easily insertable into the ground without the aid of any tools and bilaterally stabile, composed of a display inserted into and upheld by a rectangular frame that includes two spaced apart parallel horizontal bars and two spaced apart parallel vertical bars. The sign also includes two spaced apart depending posts connected to the frame and insertable into the ground, each post has at least one symmetrical stabilizer that also facilitates insertion, thereby allowing a person to easily and quickly insert and stabilize the sign. The combined functions of stabilization and insertion facilitator into one element make the sign of lighter weight and more easily manageable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventors: M. Steve Stone, Tony R. Stone
  • Patent number: 6499241
    Abstract: The packing unit comprises a parallelepipedic hollow body forming side walls and other side walls opposite to the former; it also comprises a lid attached to one side wall and which is pivotable between an open position and a closed position, in which a slit is formed between the lid and side walls; it further comprises an adhesive sealing tape which, in the closed position, has a first portion adhered to the lid, a second portion which partly conceals the slit and a third portion adhered to the side wall on which a label is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Aparellaje Electrico, S.L.
    Inventor: Manuel Vila-Martínez
  • Patent number: 6497063
    Abstract: A gift tag is disclosed. The gift tag includes a flexible material having a first portion, a second portion, and an elongated portion formed between the first and second portions. The gift tag also includes a second formed in the tag operable to release the first portion from the elongated portion. The first portion is operable to be released from the elongated portion and secured to a gift package, and the first portion, second portion, and elongated portion and secured to a gift package, and the first portion, second portion, and elongated portion and secure to a gift package, and the first portion, second portion, and elongated portion are operable to enclose at least a portion of the gift package when the first portion is secured to the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Inventor: Melinda J. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6497062
    Abstract: An identification tag is described in which a first tag member is formed of a polymer and includes a front surface. A second tag member, also formed of a polymer but that visually contrasts with the first tag member, includes slots formed as visual indicia that extend through the second tag member. The second tag member is welded to the first tag member to expose the front surface of the first tag member through the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Inventors: Gene T. Koopman, Henry G. Koopman
  • Patent number: 6493969
    Abstract: The invention relates to a desktop information carrier which comprises a support (1) of foldable material with a bottom part (3) and two walls adjoining thereto and converging towards the top, namely, a front wall (4) and a rear wall (5), and comprises a number of pages (2). One of the walls (4) has a lip (4A) at its upper extremity, and the pages (2) are exclusively attached to the upper extremity of the other wall (5), and in such a manner that, in between two locations, over a distance larger than the largest width of the lip (4A), they are loose from this wall (5). In usage condition, the aforementioned lip (4A) protrudes between said wall (5) and at least one page (2) which then is situated on the wall (4) with the lip (4A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Drukkerij Stockmans, naamloze vennootschap
    Inventor: Birgitte Devos
  • Patent number: 6493972
    Abstract: A lenticular image product includes an integral bendable lenticular lens sheet formed into a six-sided cube. The lenticular lens sheet has a lenticular lens facing outwardly of the cube, and at least two contiguous sides of the cube have lenticular images viewable through the lenticular lens which display a motion or animation sequence extending from one side to the contiguous side when the cube is rotated about on axis of rotation, the lenticular lens extending parallel to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Roland L. Williams
  • Patent number: 6493976
    Abstract: A plastic T card holder formed from molded plastic pieces permanently united face to face and defining between them a pocket which will snugly receive a thin rectangular card. The pocket has a long upper opening through which a card may be introduced and a narrow lower opening through which a knife blade, a stiff card or the like can be inserted to dislodge the card upwardly. The card holder has considerable advantages of economy of manufacture and provides improved protection of the card and is resistant to breakage as compared with the conventional card holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Inventor: Richard E. H. Kenney
  • Patent number: 6490821
    Abstract: The printable substrate of biaxially multi-layered laminate material is perforated to define a flap overlying a window having a frame. The window is sized to allow the tag body to be passed through it and thereby secure the tag to an article. The tag substrate may be provided as a continuous web that has been perforated to define multiple tags, suitable for printing and dispensing by automated mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Lowry Computer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin C. Lacek
  • Patent number: 6490820
    Abstract: A display system having a holding member which includes a stopping member and a retaining groove. The display system further comprises a display panel having a lip that may securely attach the display panel to the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: J&J Display Sales
    Inventor: Scott Weakley
  • Patent number: 6484425
    Abstract: A fluid display cover assembly comprising a sealed container coupled to a cover such as a notebook cover. The container has a light-transmissive front, and encloses a fluid comprising a gas, a liquid, or a plurality of gases and/or liquids. There also can be solid objects within the container. The cover can include a cutaway section replaced by the container. Displays within the container, on the cover, or below the cover can be visible through the front of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Telephone Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Hirsch
  • Patent number: 6481125
    Abstract: A combination postcard and peel-off sticker, wherein the postcard has a writing surface on one side thereof at which messages can be written to the addressee. An ornamental sheet on which a design, indicia or illustration is printed is adhesively bonded to the front of the postcard. A peel-off label is removably attached to and carried by the ornamental sheet at a clear film area thereof. The peel-off label includes a design, indicia or illustration which may be part of or independent from the design, indicia or illustration of the ornamental sheet. The sticker is peeled off the clear film area of the ornamental sheet and then attached to any suitable surface (e.g. a notebook) in order to capture and make visually accessible the emotions, expression and individuality of the sender as represented by the particular design, indicia or illustration that appears on the sticker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventor: Lawrence N. Pokrasoff
  • Patent number: 6460280
    Abstract: A frameless picture mount is formed of a series of flat, planar elements adhesively laminated together to form the complete assembly. A laminated backing board comprising a foam core sandwiched between opposed sheets of coated paper is used as a base for the assembly, with a flat, planar display article (photograph, picture, etc.) adhesively secured to the front of the backing board by a series of double sided adhesive tape strips. The display article is protected by a clear plastic laminating sheet which is adhesively sealed to the front of the article. A second such sheet may be used to seal the article completely between the two laminating sheets, to preclude migration of acids and/or chemicals between the display article and the papers or materials of the remainder of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventor: Enid E. Haines-Woon
  • Patent number: 6460278
    Abstract: A device for providing object visibility from all sides comprises a cylinder having an opaque surface interrupted by a plurality of transparent sections forming viewing slots elongated in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the cylinder, and a like plurality of objects mounted inside the cylinder, with each object being associated with a viewing slot. The cylinder rotates around the longitudinal axis at a high angular velocity to enable viewing of the objects through the slots. The objects can be, for example, an inscription, a picture, a three-dimensional object, a running inscription, a mobile picture, a mobile three-dimensional object or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Marijan Juravcic
    Inventor: Damjan Jurjav{haeck over (c)}i{haeck over (c)}