Patents Examined by Mark T. Henderson
  • Patent number: 6000725
    Abstract: A lottery ticket includes an upper edge, a lower edge, opposite side edges, and a first area located adjacent the upper edge, the first area having a first set of gaming indicia disposed thereon that form lower portions of prize symbols. A second area is located adjacent the lower edge, the second area having a second set of gaming indicia disposed thereon that form upper portions of prize symbols. The arrangement is such that upon folding the ticket about a horizontal axis and aligning the second set of gaming indicia above the first set of gaming indicia, the winning status of the lottery ticket is determined if the upper portions of prize symbols register with the lower portions of prize symbols to create at least one complete prize symbol. Other lottery ticket constructions are further contemplated. A method of playing a lottery game is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: GTECH Rhode Island Corporation
    Inventors: Roy S. Nicolosi, Steven Schottenfeld
  • Patent number: 6000897
    Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for insertion of plastic helical bookbinding coils in the aligned holes at the edge of a book for binding the book. The machine comprises a platen for receiving the collated book; a coil engagement roller for engaging the coil at the edge of the platen and a coil drive roller for rotating the helical coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Inventor: Matthew G. DesJarlais
  • Patent number: 6000895
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for opening a binding element for receiving perforated sheets, the binding element comprising a spine and a plurality of relatively spaced ring elements arranged side by side, with the free ends of the ring elements resiliently engaging the binder spine when closed. A low-cost device for opening a binding element is provided. The device includes a front section, a rear section having at least the same length as the binding element and being dimensioned such that, when the device is inserted into the binding element, the ring elements successively come into contact with the outer areas of the rear section, and that the free ends of the ring elements are spaced at least up to a specified distance from the spine, and a curved surface area provided at least in the rear section and being partly engaged by the inner surfaces of the ring elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Esselte N.V.
    Inventor: Dirk Maes
  • Patent number: 5992888
    Abstract: A device and method for displaying advertising materials to a potential purchaser coincident with the making of a financial transaction by the purchaser. The device comprises at least one transaction recording card sized to attach to and conform to dimensions of a standard credit or debit card and includes a format for making a record of a transaction associated with the purchaser. Third party advertising material is placed on the recording card in a format which may be viewed by the purchaser at a time and place of making the record of the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Vaughn W. North
    Inventors: Vaughn W. North, Kent R. Johnson, G. O'Brien Garrett
  • Patent number: 5988925
    Abstract: A stacked paper fastener having a pair of prongs which may be passed through a pair of holes in a top piece and affixed to the top piece to hold the stacked papers together. The fastener is preferably entirely made of plastic with no sharp edges so that it cannot readily cut a user. Each prong has notches in the outer surface which, when the prongs are passed through a ratchet member, may be pulled tight around the stack of papers. The ratchet member securely holds the stack of papers together until purposely released. The ratchet members have releases which are easily manipulated from above the top piece so that the top piece can be easily removed to add more papers to the stack or to disassemble the stack of papers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Inventor: R. Sherman Baggett
  • Patent number: 5988688
    Abstract: A bonded lottery stamp ticket book having a plurality of stiff tickets secured to each other, each ticket having a first layer, the first layer having an upper surface and a binding region, the upper surface having indicia, the indicia being numbers, letters, symbols, figures or combinations thereof. Each ticket also has a second layer wherein the second layer has a border, a tab and a lower surface. The lower surface of the second layer is attached to the upper surface of the first layer at the border. The tab is frangibly attached to the border covering the indicia so that opening the tab reveals the indicia. The tickets are stacked upon and bonded to each other at the binding region to form the ticket book. The tickets are sufficiently flexible so that each ticket may be bent away from adjacent tickets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: World Wide Press, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Such
  • Patent number: 5988687
    Abstract: A puzzle for printing on a printer having rollers in its paper feed path, such as a personal computer printer. The puzzle is a semirigid but flexible sheet having at least one blank side serving as means for printing on by the printer. The sheet is sufficiently flexible to negotiate through the rollers of the printer. The sheet has a plurality of die-cuts defining pieces. The die-cuts intersect at intersections. The intersections have nicks for separating each cut at its intersection, and for maintaining rigidity of the sheet during printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Inventor: Robert F. Krisch
  • Patent number: 5988684
    Abstract: Books with internal mechanization have rotary and linear drive mechanisms which displace objects along linear, non-linear, rotary and three-dimensional paths relative to the book pages are described. Spatially arranged cut-outs in the pages which correspond to the range of motion of the displaced and translated objects allow different moving objects to be viewed at different areas of the book from page to page. Battery powered drive mechanisms with push-button operation accessible from the front of the book enables easy, selective activation of the moving objects, independent of the position of the front cover and pages relative to the back cover. Belt-driven wheels provide inherent clutching action to prevent damage to the drive mechanism. Manually operated embodiments of the various drive mechanisms which produce each of the described motions are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Lawrence Product Development
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Blaustein, Jill Ann Tapper, Jerzy Perkitny
  • Patent number: 5984367
    Abstract: A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced. A first pattern of colored ink is deposited on a transparent or highly translucent substrate at 110-180 density, forming the image which is to be hidden. Then a second pattern of colored ink, of a different color than first pattern's ink, is deposited upon the substrate on top of the first pattern, at 90-170 density. When the game piece is flooded with additive light of the same color as the second pattern's ink, the previously concealed image, composed of the first pattern's ink, becomes perceptible. Because a transparent or highly translucent substrate is used for the game piece, and because the density of the ink application is controlled within specific ranges, this game piece may be used with a computer monitor, or with other low-intensity sources of additive light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas L. Barnhart
    Inventors: Thomas L. Barnhart, Joel M. Brooks
  • Patent number: 5984778
    Abstract: A multi-ply business form includes at least a lower ply and an upper ply wherein the upper ply overlies only a portion of the lower ply, leaving a first portion of the lower ply exposed in adjacent relationship to the upper ply. The upper ply has a two part label thereon including a release layer on a relatively small part of the upper ply, and an adhesive label overlying the release layer. The release layer and the adhesive label have information impact printed thereon, while the exposed portion of the lower ply has information non-impact printed thereon. The upper ply is also temporarily adhesively secured to the lower ply along at least two edges of the upper ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Moore U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Sharon M. Murphy
  • Patent number: 5979912
    Abstract: A mount for interfacing a cutting tool having a generally cylindrical shank portion to a tool holder having a central opening. The mount comprises an elongate, generally cylindrical shank member having first and second ends. The first end is insertable into and securable within the central opening of the tool holder, with the second end including an axially extending bore disposed therein. The shank member is formed to have an outer diameter which slightly exceeds the diameter of the central opening of the tool holder. The bore itself is formed to have a diameter which is slightly less than the diameter of the shank portion of the cutting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: Harold D. Cook
  • Patent number: 5975580
    Abstract: A method of systematizing a process for a user, in which the process has steps. Each step has a corresponding tab. The user sequentially performs the steps of the process in a sequence defined by an order of tabs. One step is linked to a subsequent step. Performing the step will affect the subsequent step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Anthony Insalaco
  • Patent number: 5975581
    Abstract: A method for confirming the authenticity of an article including placing a semi hard piece of material on an article then printing a magnetic pattern on the semi hard piece of material. In order to view the pattern, a viewer containing a suspension of materials will be placed over the semi hard piece of material. The suspension of materials will then orient in the presence of a magnetic field adjacent to the magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Sentry Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Nicolette, Peter Y. Zhou, Dexing Pang
  • Patent number: 5975785
    Abstract: A ring binder comprising a substantially rigid curved upper casing structure supporting a pair of plate, and the plates are pivotally movable between a first position in which the angle between the upper surfaces of the plates is less than 180.degree., and a second position in which the angle between the upper surfaces of the plates is more than 180.degree., a lock to lock the pair of plates and triggers or a pair of half-ring members to operate the lock, and the lock acts at a first location on the ring binder and the triggers or pair of half-ring members act at a second location on the ring binder, the first location being longitudinally distal on the ring binder from said second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Leco Stationery Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventor: Keung Chan
  • Patent number: 5975577
    Abstract: A sample book binding system for retaining a plurality of sample sheets includes a plurality of rotatably interlocked sheet holding members arranged in side by side relationship. The sheet holding members are provided with a plurality of linking segments which are interdigitated to provide an aligned axial bore for receiving a pintle. At least two adjacent linking segments are spaced apart to provide an opening which captures a deformed section of the pintle for releasably locking the pintle within the linking segment. The removal and insertion of additional sheet holding members may be accomplished upon removal of the pintle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: International Service Group, LLC
    Inventor: Gary S. Gottdiener
  • Patent number: 5971435
    Abstract: A method and system for verifying the authenticity and ownership of an autograph comprises:providing a consumer-owned article; andhaving the article autographed with the consumer and a representative of an authentication company as witnesses;issuing a voucher bearing details of the autographing and signatures and identification of the witnesses and an identifying code number;affixing the same identifying code number to the article;providing a certificate of authenticity bearing a distinct code number that is different from the code number of the article and the voucher, and containing a description of the article, details of the signing and witnessing of the autographing, and identification of the owner of the article; andproviding a database containing details of the signing and witnessing of the autographing, a record of the code numbers on the article and the certificate; and identification of the owner of the article.The method also provides a record of subsequent transfers of ownership of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventors: Robert D. DiCesare, Darryl Najewski
  • Patent number: 5967528
    Abstract: A workpiece chucking device is strengthened in its workpiece chucking force. The workpiece chucking device comprises a diaphragm 14 having chucking claws 35 in the front of a base 12 which will rotate along with a spindle 11 of a machine tool, a piston which will be moved back and forth by switching fluid fed into a hollow chamber 15 of the base, a cylindrical member 21 inserted in a center of the piston and held to the base, first balls 24 fitted into even-numbered ones of a plurality of transmitting holes formed in the cylindrical member, as well as second balls fitted into odd-numbered ones of the transmitting holes, and a recessed fitting portion 29 provided in an outer circumferential surface of a slider 26 which is inserted into the cylindrical member and connected to the diaphragm so that parts of circumferential surfaces of the first and second balls will be fitted into the recessed fitting portion 29.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Masato Ishii
    Inventors: Masato Ishii, Yoshiyuki Ohta
  • Patent number: 5964480
    Abstract: A document folder assembly includes a folder unit which has a front sheet portion, a back sheet portion, and a hinge portion for hinging together adjacent edge sections of the front and back sheet portions. The front and back sheet portions are adapted to receive documents therebetween such that one edge of the documents extends into the hinge portion. A clip member has a front clip portion, a rear clip portion, and a connecting portion interconnecting the front and rear clip portions. The front and rear clip portions cooperatively confine a clamping space for clamping the folder unit at the hinge portion. The clip member is mounted pivotally on the folder unit, and is movable between a first position in which the hinge portion is clamped between the front and rear clip portions in order to retain the documents in the folder unit, and a second position in which the hinge portion is released from the clip member in order to permit removal of the documents in the folder unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Inventor: Cheng-Sung Chen
  • Patent number: 5961268
    Abstract: According to the inventive method for joining product parts by means of a glued spine, the juxtaposed edges of the stacked product parts which form the spine area (2) of the product in process are pre-treated with a tearing tool (4) e.g. with a rotating brush. The method is especially advantageous for joining multi-layer product parts with multi-layer folded edges to be joined, whereby the folded edges are torn up by the tearing tool (4) to a depth at least reaching the innermost layer. The inventive method is also applicable in the sense of stitching, for joining the individual layers of one single product part with one multi-layer folded edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Erich Jager
  • Patent number: 5954369
    Abstract: A greeting card is formed to have a pocket for receiving a test kit therein. In one embodiment of the present invention, the greeting card is a fiftieth birthday greeting card and the test kit is a fecal occult blood test kit. The pocket is formed to have a cutout portion for facilitating removal of the kit, and the text and graphics of the greeting card refer to and correspond to the type of kit contained in the pocket. In the example given, competent health authorities recommend use of fecal occult blood test kits annually beginning at age fifty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Inventor: March E Seabrook