Patents Examined by Mark T. Henderson
  • Patent number: 6482085
    Abstract: Forms, such as mailing forms, constructed as a single sheet or multiple sheets of standard paper size, which are printable by a single pass through a standard non-impact printer are described. Certain variations of the forms can be configured to be extendible to provide additional surface area for the form exceeding standard paper size. The extendible form can be adapted for use with mailing forms such as multi-part collated unit sets. The forms can be useful for providing a Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note having each part thereof printable by a single pass through a non-impact printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Laser Substrates, Inc.
    Inventor: Warren M. Fabel
  • Patent number: 6478336
    Abstract: A shallow box binder cover is provided for a binder containing a plurality of pages. The cover has a stiff, opaque core through which a plurality of display openings are defined. These display openings are surrounded by the structure of the cover core. A separate transparent plastic blister or box is located in each of the display openings. Each transparent box has a raised interior bubble surrounded by a base having mounting flanges projecting laterally from opposite sides of the periphery of the base. These mounting flanges are held against the inside surface of the front cover core so that the raised interior bubbles project into the display openings and into close proximity to the outer surface of the cover core. A front cover liner is disposed across the bases of the boxes to define separate, hollow enclosed cavities within the interior portions of each of the bubbles. Selected three-dimensional objects are placed within the bubbles before the front cover liner is disposed across the bases of the boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Inventor: Lam H. Tran
  • Patent number: 6474693
    Abstract: A novelty item in which pages can be rotated about a fastener to form an integrated image on one side of the pages while forming independent pages of text and/or graphics on the other side. Such an item can be used as a combination comic book and poster. By including at least one die-cut hole, the combination comic book and poster can be hung on the wall using the nail or hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Jude Gregory Nitsche
  • Patent number: 6474695
    Abstract: A security element in the form of a thread or strip to be embedded in security documents such as bank notes, checks, bonds, identity cards, credit cards or the like, having characters, patterns, etc., that are readable by transmitted light to the naked eye and/or by machine. The security element consists of a transparent plastic film having an opaque coating extending over the element with blank areas in the form of the characters and patterns to be introduced. The security element also contains, in areas congruent with the blank areas, coloring and/or luminescent substances which cause the characters and/or patterns to differ from the security document and from the opaque coating by color contrast under suitable light conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: GAO Gessellschaft fur Automation und Organisation GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Schneider, Theo Burchard
  • Patent number: 6474897
    Abstract: A ring binder includes a substantially rigid curved upper plate supporting a pair of hinged leaves. A plurality of ring members are secured to the hinged leaves for engaging corresponding holes in sheets of material retained by the ring binder. An actuating lever is located at each end of the curved upper plate for actuating the hinged leaves to open and close the ring members. Each actuating lever includes a tab having a cushion member formed thereon, for example by molding. The tab has an aperture therein, and cushion material enters the aperture during molding to secure the cushion member onto the tab. The cushion member is engaged by the fingers of a user to pivot the actuating lever in order to move the ring members between the open position and the closed position. The cushion member is a soft pad of material such as plastic. The cushion member provides improved tactile characteristics to the actuating lever, making the actuating lever comfortable to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: World Wide Stationery Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun Yuen To
  • Patent number: 6467808
    Abstract: A book support apparatus for supporting pages in a vertically positioned book. The book support apparatus includes a support body attached to a locating arm and optionally includes hinges and adhesive strips with peel off backings. A body addition may also be used with the support body to increase the thickness of the body for books needing increased support distances. The body addition may also include an adhesive strip with a peel off backing to allow for optional fixation to the body. A zigzag type of folding construction is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Inventor: Cathie Kirby
  • Patent number: 6450749
    Abstract: An arrangement for applying an adhesive to outer surfaces of an inner book to be inset into a book cover by an insetting machine, moving inner books on saddle plates of a circulating conveyor vertically upwardly. The arrangement has an adhesive applying device with two application rollers positioned opposite one another in an area of adhesive application. The two application rollers each roll along one of the outer surfaces of the inner book to apply an adhesive onto the outer surfaces of the inner book as the inner book is moved upwardly on a saddle plate. The two application rollers each have a recess forming a shoulder parallel to an axis of rotation of the application rollers, wherein the recesses apply the adhesive to grooves of the inner book and wherein a rotary position of the recesses is adjustable according to a position of a given groove shape of the inner book passing through the area of adhesive application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: GRAPHA-Holding AG
    Inventor: Christian Ganter
  • Patent number: 6447231
    Abstract: The subject invention is an improved paper clamping and insertion device. The clamping device comprises of two members connected by an elastic material where each member together with the elastic material can fit through a hole punched by the insertion device or any other standard paper punch. The insertion device consists of a U shaped upper support structure housing a punch and lower support structure housing a magazine of clamping devices. Operation of the insertion device will result in the punch descending and punching the paper sheets. After the punch has penetrated the sheets it then engages one of the clamping devices legs and withdraws it through the punched hole simultaneously the second leg of the clamping device is separated from the magazine and is positioned on the underside of the sheets. Further upward movement of the punch releases the top leg of the clamping device, which in turn is positioned by the elastic member to securely hold the papers between the two legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: Cornelius Omahony
  • Patent number: 6447014
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multilayer label comprising at least one authenticity feature (5), which authenticity feature (5) consists of at least two parts (51, 52) positioned on different layers (1, 2) of the label. The authenticity feature (5) can be a barcode which can consist of at least two parts (51, 52) positioned on different layers (1, 2) of the label. The barcode can have m lines of which n lines are arranged on one layer (1) of the label and m-n lines are arranged on another layer (2) of the label, where m>n>0. The label can have a lower layer (2) and an upper layer (1), with the lower layer (2) having a greater surface area than the at least one layer (1) positioned on top of it. The upper side and/or lower side of at least one of the layers (1, 2) can be coated with an adhesive at least in sections and/or at least in points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Schreiner Etiketten und Selbstklebetechnik GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Peter Seidl
  • Patent number: 6428260
    Abstract: A bookbinding system and method of binding books including a cover/spine assembly having a relatively rigid cover section with a length and width at least as great as that of the stack of sheets to be bound and a spine section having a width greater than the height of the stack. The cover/spine assembly and the spine section are secured together along the length of the cover section so that the spine section can be folded along a first edge with respect to the cover/spine assembly. A heat activated matrix is disposed on the spine section including a central adhesive band and an outer band disposed between the central adhesive band and a second edge of the spine section. Binding is carried out by placing the stack over the cover section and folding the spine section over the edge of the stack. Preferably a second relatively rigid cover section is placed on top of the stack so that the outer adhesive band on the spine section will extend over second cover section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Powis Parker Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin P. Parker
  • Patent number: 6422797
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a binding element for binding a stack of documents comprised of loose sheets, having a spine piece and two side pieces, the side pieces being arranged essentially perpendicular to the spine piece. The binding element is made of a shape memory material or has at least part of the binding element made of a shape memory material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Esselte N.V.
    Inventor: David Pas
  • Patent number: 6422938
    Abstract: A mailer type business form intermediate, and method of producing a mailer from the intermediate, effect folding in a novel manner in order to produce a business form that is particularly advantageous for providing a negotiable instrument, such as a bank check or money order. The intermediate has conventional components, but with first, second and third fold lines defining a sheet of paper comprising the intermediate into first through fourth panels. The fourth panel has indicia defining the negotiable instrument and at least one line of weakness separating the negotiable instrument from the rest of the fourth panel. Tacking adhesive patterns may be disposed substantially parallel to the top and bottom edges of the intermediate to hold the first panel second face to the second panel second face adjacent the top edge and second fold line, and to hold the fourth panel second face to the second panel first face adjacent the first and third fold lines, when the intermediate is folded about the fold lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Moore North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy W. Steitz
  • Patent number: 6416083
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a filing element such as a suspended file or file folder for the introduction of documents and an identification strip, characterized in that the identification strip exhibits at least one series of sites, each of which is identified by an alphanumeric labeling that is permanent and invariable for the totality of the elements of a filing system, with one of the sites of the series also having at least one colored identification labeling, with the choice of the labeling colors and the labeling site being specific to the given filing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Inventor: Roland Mercier
  • Patent number: 6409409
    Abstract: A foldable paper sheet is formed having a sheet body portion, a sheet lower side flap extending out from a lower side edge of the sheet body portion, a pocket panel extending out from a bottom edge of the sheet body portion, and a pocket side flap extending out from a side edge of the pocket panel. The pocket side flap is folded in towards the pocket panel, the pocket panel is folded up and the pocket side flap is glued to the back face of the sheet body portion. The sheet lower side flap is folded and glued to the pocket panel. The pocket panel is thereby secured along both side edges to the sheet body portion, has an open top and thus defines a pocket on the back of the sheet body portion. The pocket panel can have a finger notch at the center of its top edge. A tab is cut out of the edge portion of the sheet body portion to form a tabbed divider sheet. The tab advantageously can be formed at any location along the edge portion including at a lower location directly adjacent to the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce D. Bauman, Andrew S. Gordon, Russ D. Pollman
  • Patent number: 6409447
    Abstract: A method of binding folded signature sections together into a book comprised of a signature comb element having teeth which are inserted through perforations in the fold of the signatures and the teeth having tabs which secure the signature comb in slots between two or more spine tapes. The spine tapes adjustably lock into the hinge of the covers by a tooth and pawl mechanism, further interlocking one or more signatures to the spine of the book and securely fasten together the signatures and book cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Tanarax, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Kent Malmros
  • Patent number: 6406062
    Abstract: A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced and used. A first hidden image game piece is formed on a transparent or translucent substrate. A second hidden image game piece is formed electronically, and optionally printed or, alternatively, saved and distributed in electronic format. The hidden image game piece can be used to distributed either physically or electronically, and it may be used to derive demographic information from recipients, to drive them to web sites or retail outlets, and to provide a means for distributing advertising, either on the game pieces or at a game site, which may be a physical site, such as a retail outlet, or an electronic site, such as an Internet site. The methods of the present invention include the method of producing a game piece, the method of deriving demographic information from recipients of the game pieces, and the method of providing advertising to recipients of the game pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Global Commerce Group, LLC
    Inventors: Joel M. Brooks, Donnie Causey, Matthew Montesi
  • Patent number: 6398474
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a book block with a rounded or a rounded and pressed back includes adhering a first plurality of narrow retaining strips along outer leaves and back of the book block. Additional retaining strips may be applied transversely across the back of the book block in the region of the top and bottom of the back of the book block. Thereafter, the book block may be rounded or rounded and pressed. It is believed that application of the retaining strips prior to the rounding and pressing operations reduces the forces of resistance in the rounding and pressing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Kolbus GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Shmücker, Karl-Friedrich Schröder, Reimer Voss
  • Patent number: 6398263
    Abstract: A label includes a bottom panel and a top panel overlying the bottom panel. A tear line is formed in the top panel. A hole is formed in at least one of the top and bottom panels. An exposed adhesive is disposed in the hole. The label may be opened by tearing along the tear line and the label may be resealed using the exposed adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Pharmagraphics, (Southeast), L.L.C.
    Inventors: Carl W. Treleaven, Glenn A. Grosskopf
  • Patent number: 6386590
    Abstract: A template sheet forming postal meter labels or combination postal meter/address labels are described upon which postal indicia can be printed, by a non-impact printer, less than one-quarter inch from the edge of the label. The sheet includes a plurality of removably affixed meter tape or meter tape/address labels positioned in an off-set configuration on one face of a laminated sheet. The combination meter tape/address labels are self-aligning for conforming to United States Postal Service IBIP specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventor: Warren M. Fabel
  • Patent number: 6382864
    Abstract: A folder for receiving papers or other loose articles comprising a side panel and a retaining tab made of a generally flexible material and mounted onto the side panel. The retaining tab has a pair of openings formed therein, the openings being shaped and located such that a writing instrument may be received therethrough such that the writing instrument is securely received in the retaining tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Marc L. Moor