Bookbinding: process and apparatus – Process
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-01
2001-08-14
Fridie, Jr., Willmon (Department: 3722)
Bookbinding: process and apparatus
Process
C412S006000, C283S056000, C281S038000, C281S051000, C281SDIG001, C402S503000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273660
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to flexible magnetic sheets for use as advertisements or coupons and that are commonly referred to as “refrigerator magnets”. The present invention also relates generally to inserts or advertisements for magazines and periodicals. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flexible magnetic sheet that can be bound into a magazine or periodical and that can be perforated to provide a plurality of coupons or individual advertisements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Magazines and periodicals, of course, are known. Further, it is also known to include loose inserts in the form of coupons, advertisements and subscription cards in magazines and periodicals.
FIG. 1
illustrates a magazine
10
and
FIGS. 4 and 5
illustrate the front and back sides of a subscription card
20
of the type which are loosely slid between pages of a magazine
10
. This type of loose leaf advertising is also used in newspapers.
In general, magazines and periodical subscribers have become frustrated with the advent of loose coupons, advertisements and other materials being placed inside the magazines and periodicals. The loose materials slide out between the pages and often fall on the floor. In an effort to remedy this situation, magazines and periodicals often bind the inserts, such as subscription coupons into the magazine thereby preventing the items from falling out during subsequent use.
Flexible magnets that can be easily secured to a refrigerator or a file cabinet (also known as “refrigerator magnets”) are also known.
FIGS. 2 and 3
illustrate the front and back sides respectively of one such refrigerator magnet
30
. The front side
31
includes a plurality of advertising or other informational indicia. The magnet
30
can also take the form of a redeemable coupon. The back side
32
of the magnet
30
as shown in
FIG. 3
is typically a dark brown or black color. Because this space abuts the refrigerator or file cabinet when the magnet is in place on the refrigerator or file cabinet, the prior art magnets do not use the back side
32
for additional advertising or informational indicia.
Magnetized coupons and advertisements have become very popular in the United States in wake of the popularity of large or full sized refrigerators. Magnetized coupons and advertisements are often decorative and become a welcome addition on a refrigerator or file cabinet along side souvenir magnets. Despite the growing popularity of magnetized coupons and advertisements, they have not been employed or distributed to a significant extent in magazines and periodicals. If an economical and aesthetically pleasing scheme for distributing magnetized advertisements and coupons in magazines and periodicals could be developed, such a scheme would further enhance the use of these popular advertisement vehicles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention satisfies the aforenoted need by providing a flexible magnetic insert for a magazine that comprises a magnetic sheet having a top side and a bottom side. The top side of the magnetic sheet is printed with indicia such as informational indicia or advertising indicia. Similarly, the bottom side of the magnetic sheet may also be printed with indicia, such as advertising or informational indicia or simply decorative indicia. The sheet is capable of being bound into the magazine or periodical or otherwise attached to the magazine or periodical with glue or adhesive.
In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic sheet is perforated so that a single sheet can provide a plurality of magnetized advertisements or coupons. In such an embodiment, the magnetic sheet is perforated so that four detachable magnetized advertisements or coupons are provided. In other embodiments, the magnetic sheet is perforated so that six or eight separate magnetized coupons or advertisements are provided in a single sheet.
In an embodiment, the magnetic sheet is not perforated but includes a plurality of different designs that can be cut out by the consumer utilizing scissors or other cutting tools.
In an embodiment, the bottom side of the magnetic sheet is blank but is covered with a non-magnetic laminate which, in turn, is printed with indicia, such as advertising or informational indicia or simply decorative indicia. In such an embodiment, the non-magnetic laminate sheet may be removable from the bottom side of the magnetic sheet or may be permanently attached thereto. If the non-magnetic laminate sheet is permanently attached to the bottom side of the magnetic sheet, the magnet must be strong enough to enable the magnetic sheet to stick to a metallic surface with the non-magnetic laminate sheet disposed between the bottom side of the magnetic sheet and the metallic surface.
In an embodiment, the magnetic sheet has an inner edge which is bound into the magazine or periodical. Further, a perforation is disposed inside the inner edge and between the inner edge and the bulk portion of the magnetic sheet thereby enabling the entire magnetic sheet to be removed from the magazine or periodical or also allowing the individual magnetized advertisements or coupons to be removed one by one.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for providing a plurality of removable flexible magnetic advertisements or coupons in a magazine or periodical. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of providing a flexible magnetic sheet having a top side and a bottom side with both the top and bottom sides printed with indicia. The magnetic sheet has an inside edge which is bound into the magazine or periodical. A perforation is provided along the inside edge and additional perforations are provided in the bulk portion of the magnetic sheet thereby providing a plurality of detachable magnetized advertisements or coupons which can be easily removed from the magazine or periodical.
Other advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and appended claims, and upon reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4580360 (1986-04-01), Gribb
patent: 5004270 (1991-04-01), Schaul et al.
patent: 5269563 (1993-12-01), Michlin
patent: 5713605 (1998-02-01), Pace
patent: 5813154 (1998-09-01), Wilford
patent: 5868498 (1999-02-01), Martin
Bohlin Chris
Ozgen Mehmet Sami
Bassitt Enterprises
Fridie Jr. Willmon
Gross Dennis A.
The Hill Firm
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