Patents by Inventor Tom Brinkman

Tom Brinkman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6598783
    Abstract: Objects, such as packages are marked for exterior labeling and to provide for easily locating such information. In a first embodiment, an information focal edge, or IFE is made by graphically “capturing” at least two corners of the object and connecting them with a marking, e.g., with ink. By “capturing” it is meant that the corner is marked on all sides forming the corner adjacent to the corner. In an alternative embodiment, two corners are captured using a structural edge or by otherwise marking an edge, thereby providing an “information focal edge,” or IFE. The IFE identifies a priority location where information should be placed so that it can be quickly found no matter how the object is viewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventor: Tom Brinkman
  • Publication number: 20010006090
    Abstract: Objects, such as packages are marked for exterior labeling and to provide for easily locating such information. In a first embodiment, an information focal edge, or IFE is made by graphically “capturing” at least two corners of the object and connecting them with a marking, e.g., with ink. By “capturing” it is meant that the corner is marked on all sides forming the corner adjacent to the corner. In an alternative embodiment, two corners are captured using a structural edge or by otherwise marking an edge, thereby providing an “information focal edge,” or IFE. The IFE identifies a priority location where information should be placed so that it can be quickly found no matter how the object is viewed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Tom Brinkman
  • Patent number: 6090027
    Abstract: A method of marking a parcel (68) includes folding a label (33) about a chosen corner (123) of parcel (68) having contiguous sides (43) and converging edges (44) to permit an individual to rapidly locate the label. The label may be printed in ink and/or embossed directly on a parcel substrate (58) or as a lithographed and/or embossed sheet applied to the parcel substrate during its manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Inventor: Tom Brinkman