Patents Examined by Mark T. Henderson
  • Patent number: 6279958
    Abstract: A food portion tabulator device that is an aid for calculating and evaluating an individuals daily intake of food portions. The device is self-contained, having various indicia pertinent to various food groups thereon, includes movable pins which correspond to each of the food groups, and includes a unique housing that automatically resets the pins for the next day's use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Inventors: Cathy D. Santa Cruz, Jeffrey N. Mikkelsen
  • Patent number: 6279960
    Abstract: A label sheet having at least two labels for a compact disc. The compact disc has a read side and a reverse side with an outer diameter of the readable or writable area of the read side being less than the outer diameter of the disc and having a first inner diameter forming an aperture for the disc and a second inner diameter which is larger than the first forming a step. The labels have a dimension so that an inner diameter of the label forming an aperture or opening in the label is greater than the second internal diameter of the disc, preferably by an amount of 2 mm to 4 mm, and the label has an outer diameter which is less than the outer diameter of the readable or writable area, so that an annular ring of the readable area is visible around the periphery of the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Inventor: Werner Claussnitzer
  • Patent number: 6276723
    Abstract: A travel brochure includes a sheet having at least three vertical fold line portions defining respective first and second left panels and first and second right panels. Each defines an upper edge. A map corresponds to a selected geographic area and is positioned on the first and second left panels on one side thereof. The map has color coated portions corresponding to designated roads. A set of flip-up brochures are positioned on each first and second right panel on the same side of the sheet as the map. Each set of flip-up brochures includes an upper edge that is secured along an upper edge of the respective first and second right panels. At least one set of flip-up brochures includes printed indicia corresponding to an address of a geographic attraction. The printed indicia is color coated to the color coating of the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Inventor: Marlene Willard
  • Patent number: 6276862
    Abstract: A binder mechanism comprises a pair of prong plates pivotally connected by a retainer spring to toggle between a first raised position and a second lowered position. The prong plates include a plurality of ring segments affixed to the prong plates that are capable of forming loops. A cam mechanism is used to toggle the prong plates between the raised and lowered positions causing the ring segments to open or to close to form loops. The cam mechanism is preferably a slider located above the prong plates, the slider having ramps inserted through recesses between the prong plates. Preferably, the recesses are located adjacent to where the ring segments are attached to the prong plates. Cleats may hold the parts of the binder mechanism together and keep the mechanism attached to a binder assembly. Preferably, the retainer spring is in the form of a top spring covering both the slider and prong plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: ACCO Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Thom Snyder, Timothy Edward McKeown, R. Hal Monson, David Little
  • Patent number: 6273470
    Abstract: Easily and securely gripped slip-resistant file folders including file pockets and hanging folders. The folders comprise a front flap having a top edge, a rear flap connected to the front flap by a folder bottom, the rear flap also having a top edge. A slip-resistant portion is disposed on at least one of the flaps near the top edge. Methods for producing the folders are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Roddy McKee Bullock
  • Patent number: 6270122
    Abstract: Display information is revealed from behind a metal film that can be cleared upon effective contact with a clearing agent. The metal film, while opaque, is generally less than 1000 Angstroms thick and can be cleared by exposure to innocuous agents including food or other household products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Timer Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Shadle, David M. Good, Gerrit L. Verschuur, Chauncey T. Mitchell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6257621
    Abstract: A kit and assembly are provided for organizing, viewing and locating photographs, for example, on pages of a photo album or scrap book. The kit or assembly may include a camera, a recorder, a digital organizer, a pen or pens, a mounting device, scissor and/or a stamp pad or the like. In addition, the kit or assembly may incorporate a magnifying sheet to assist in viewing the content of the pages of the photo album or scrap book.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Eversharp Pen Company
    Inventor: Paul A. Smith
  • Patent number: 6257624
    Abstract: A form for creating a postcard having printing on both sides includes a front sheet and a back sheet, which are laminated using a pressure sensitive adhesive on a back surface of the front sheet. A fold line extends across the front sheet, while a tear line underlying the fold line extends across the back sheet. A gap in the adhesive preferably extends along the fold line. On one side of the fold line opposite to the direction of the gap, the inner surface of the back sheet has a release coating restricting the adhesion of the adhesive layer. After printing on the front surface of the front sheet, the section of the back sheet having this release coating is removed and discarded, and the front sheet is folded along the fold line, thereby providing a document having printing on both sides and a thickness sufficient for a postcard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Laser Substrates, INC
    Inventor: Warren M. Fabel
  • Patent number: 6254136
    Abstract: A page holder for holding the pages of a book in an open arrangement having an attachment means such as a spring clip for attaching the page holder to the cover or to one or more pages of the book, a holding means adapted to hold, to the cover of the open book, one or more pages on each side of the spine of the open book, and a support member connecting the attachment means to the holding means, the support member being adapted to allow movement of the holding means from a page holding position to a page releasing position, without detaching the page holder from the book, so that one or more pages of the book can be turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Quality Improvements Limited
    Inventor: Vijay Jayanti Patel
  • Patent number: 6254137
    Abstract: A multiple-layer label having a base sheet and a resealable top sheet in laminated arrangement to define a peripheral margin and an interior area. The top sheet is adhesively hinged to the base sheet in a first area of the peripheral margin and releasably adhered to the base sheet in substantially the remainder of the peripheral margin. A first informational sheet is adhered to the rear interior area of the top sheet. A second informational sheet is adhesively hinged to a portion of the front interior area of the base sheet. The label thus provides multiple sheet surfaces for informational text. The sheets of the label turn like the pages of a book, yet can be enclosed and substantially sealed by the top sheet to protect the informational sheets from environmental damage. The label may be permanently adhered to the product so that the user will not lose or separate the informational text from the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: CCL Label, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Baum, Jr., Terry Michael Jonas
  • Patent number: 6247730
    Abstract: A book has two covers and a set of book pages contained between the covers. The covers close to form a shape which has an external appearance resembling the head of a creature, with two eyes and a mouth. The two covers are joined to one another along a minor portion of the circumference, and are connected along the remaining portion of the said circumference by a releasable fastener such as a zip such that the fastener (the zip) forms the mouth. The pages of the book can be accessed by releasing the fastener and hinging open the two covers about the minor portion of the circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Top That Publishing plc
    Inventors: Barrie John Henderson, Simon Peter Couchman
  • Patent number: 6241287
    Abstract: A coupon card assembly (10) having a first card half (12) and a second card half (14). Both the first (12) and second (14) card halves include a liner (20, 26) and two layers of card stock (22, 24, 28, 30) sandwiching the respective liner (20, 26) therebetween. A number of mini-coupons (36) are detachably cut into each of the card halves (12, 14) through an inner layer of card stock (24, 30). The card assembly (10) is characterized by a living hinge (40) interconnecting the first card half (12) with the second card half (14) to define a dual coupon card assembly (10) wherein the first card half (12) may be folded upon the second card half (14). The subject invention provides a structurally sound coupon card assembly (10) with numerous mini-coupons (36) wherein the coupon card assembly (10) may be folded to form a relatively compact card preferably the size of a standard credit card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Saxon, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Best, James F. Turner
  • Patent number: 6234536
    Abstract: The lottery ticket is composed of base sheet (1), cover sheet (2) and ticket sheet (3) lying therebetween. Base sheet (1) and cover sheet (2) are adhered to each other in the edge region (6). The adhesive means is strip-shaped. In addition, base sheet (1) and cover sheet (2) are perforated to each other. Said perforation (9-12) is line-shaped and lies in said edge region (6) provided with glue. The distance of the perforation (9-12) from the edge (4, 5) of base and cover sheet (1, 2) is in the region of 2-4 mm. The ticket sheet (3) is thus completely surrounded by a border (6) of glue and by a border (9-12) of perforations lying therein. The six surfaces of base sheet (1), ticket sheet (3) and cover sheet (2) are provided with a plurality of imprints in base areas covering one another. Due to these imprints which cover one another and hence cross one another, the ticket sheet (3) cannot be deciphered by means of examining against the light when the lottery ticket is unopened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Dittler Brothers Incorporated
    Inventors: James T. Pittman, Robert L. Everett, Benny R. Rich, James J. Carides, Michael E. Bowser
  • Patent number: 6224111
    Abstract: Unauthorized alteration of a document can be avoided in a secure document that includes a substrate (10) defining the body of the document. Indicia (24, 26, 30, 32, 36 and 40) located on the substrate (10) designate an area (42) to receive variable information by an impression. The variable information is that whose alteration is to be avoided. A chemical, carbonless imaging system (44) is disposed on the substrate (10) at the area (42) and is operative to form a visible image upon receipt of an impression and a transparent film (46) is located on the substrate (10) to cover the area (42). As a consequence of the construction, any attempt to alter an image appearing on the film (46) will be apparent from the original imaging of the chemical carbonless imaging system (44) or by smudging thereof indicating an alteration attempt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: The Standard Register Company
    Inventor: George Zehner
  • Patent number: 6224107
    Abstract: The invention includes a pocketbook adapted to be customized by a consumer. The pocketbook has a plurality of pages and a pocket adapted to hold the pages. The pages are removably held in the pocket. The pages typically have a subject so that the consumer may select pages according to the subject. The pages and the pocket may include a common theme. One embodiment of the invention includes a pocketbook assembly adapted to allow a consumer to assemble a customized pocketbook. The assembly typically includes a page display; a plurality of pages removably supported by the page display; and a plurality of pockets. Generally, each pocket is adapted to hold at least one of the pages. And the pockets are generally available near, or on, the page display. In another embodiment the invention includes a pocketbook kit adapted to allow a consumer to assemble a pocketbook. The kit generally includes a plurality of pages, the pages having a subject; and a pocket for removably holding the pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Reba Hall Smith
  • Patent number: 6220775
    Abstract: A folder having spine and two lateral faces provided on either side of the spine. At least one of the lateral faces has, at its distal end, a turned edge directed toward the other lateral face so as to ensure the stability of the folder when placed in a vertical position. The folder also has a closer which integrates easily and aesthetically with the folder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Achat et Distributton d'Articles de Classement “A D Classement”
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Dottel
  • Patent number: 6217074
    Abstract: A method and system for generating, inventorying, storing and managing records and record forms is disclosed. The record management system and method utilizes a system record generator which generates a plurality of policies, record forms and the like in response to a questionnaire record. Customized record forms and policies are generated and stored in a unique record receiver having indicia for clearly identifying forms therein. A record holder is also provided for storing, inventorying, and managing the record forms used. The method and system are particularly useful for managing and insuring that record forms are completed for employees in a company by providing convenient means for visually identifying record forms, such as employment applications and the like, for ascertaining when one or more forms is missing by the presence of an empty compartment in the record holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Direct Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph F. Conley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6217271
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for producing booklets, each of which comprises a cover (A) that has two cover sides, a spine between the cover sides, a glue string applied to the inner surface of the spine, and a sheet bundle inserted between the two cover sides. A plurality of covers each having an applied glue string are placed in the immediate vicinity of each other, in a readiness position. The sheet bundle (B) is then combined with one of the covers (A), so as to enclose the sheet bundle in the cover with one side edge of the bundle facing towards the glue string. The glue string is then actuated in an actuator (8), so as to bind this side edge of the bundle (B) to the inner surface of the spine. According to the invention, the sheet bundle (B) is combined with the cover (A) by moving the sheets of the bundle one by one, or as a complete bundle, to the cover in its readiness position by means of a powered transporter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Bindomatic AB
    Inventors: Urpo Latvakangas, Jan Sabelström
  • Patent number: 6217443
    Abstract: A carbonless paper notepad for producing multiple copies of a document created on the notepad. The carbonless paper notepad includes a tablet with a plurality of sheets each having a lower face coated with a duplicating material. A top end of the tablet is coupled to a first end of a board. The board has a spaced apart pair of median folds extending between the sides of the board which divide the board into backer and underback panels. The backer panel is positioned beneath the tablet. The underback panel is inserted between adjacent sheets of the tablet beneath the upper sheet of the tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Leonard C. Green, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6217247
    Abstract: There is disclosed a ring binder mechanism (10) including an upper structure (12) supporting two pivotable plates (14) to which three pairs of half-ring members (16) are mounted, in which the plates (14) are pivotable between a first configuration in which the three pairs of half-ring members (16) are closed, and a second configuration in which the three pairs of half-ring members (16) are open, in which the ring binder mechanism (10) may be secured to a cardboard cover (60) via two rivets (20), in which each rivet (20) includes an anchor plate (40) from an upper major surface of which a post member (38) extends, in which the post member (38) includes an open end deformed to engage with the upper casing (12) via a bushing (22), and in which a sleeve (24) is positioned between the upper casing (12) and the anchor plate (40) of the rivet (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: World Wide Stationery Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventor: Weng Io Ng