Typewriting machines – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-03
2004-08-24
Colilla, Daniel J. (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Miscellaneous
C273S155000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06779936
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel methods for the one-sided printing and manufacture of a Möbius strip. Methods of the invention are particularly well suited for constructing relatively seamless Möbius strips for use in a wide variety of retail items.
2. Background
August F. Möbius was a mathematician and astronomer in the 18th century who wrote extensively about what has now been named after him, the Möbius strip. The Möbius strip is a continuous one-sided surface that can be formed from a rectangular strip by rotating one end 180° and attaching it to the other end.
The Möbius strip has enjoyed a place of prominence in the world of geometry as a curiosity. For example, children often are taught to construct a Möbius strip from a piece of paper. A traditional method for creating a Möbius strip includes cutting a strip of paper, e.g., about an inch wide and a foot long, putting a half-twist in the strip, then joining the two ends together, e.g., with tape or other adhesive. In that way, one can turn a two-sided strip of paper into a one-sided Möbius strip.
Though the child's paper strip illustrates the concept of the Möbius strip, the method used to create it results only in a crude form of a Möbius strip. For example, that method produces a strip with a prominent seam which degrades the illusion of a strip having an infinite surface. As such, it does not reflect the true nature of the Möbius strip.
The Möbius strip concept has been employed to construct various devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,836 reported use of the Möbius strip design in the construction of power transmission belts. Other patents have reported use of the Möbius strip concept in game puzzles. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,717 discloses a puzzle comprising two Möbius strip loops linked together to form a composite Möbius strip. See, also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,037, for its report of a game puzzle in the form of a Möbius strip comprising multiple columns and rows of block-like pieces.
The Möbius strip concept has potential for use in a variety of applications. However, in order to produce a high quality Möbius strip, e.g., for use as a retail item, notable challenges are presented in terms of manufacturing. As noted above, it is critical for the final product to be as seamless as possible. Additionally, it often is desirable for the Möbius strip to have printed matter on it. In that case, the alignment of the printing of the strip is critical in creating the illusion of a never-ending image. There are no printing machines that can readily adapt to the unique challenges presented in creating a high quality Möbius strip in a cost-effective manner.
Thus, it would be desirable to have new methods for manufacturing Möbius strips. It would be highly desirable to develop such methods to create a relatively seamless Möbius strip which can be printed on at least one side prior to final construction. Such methods would be useful for the construction of Möbius strips for use in a variety of retail items, such as puzzles, gift and other novelty items.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have discovered novel methods for the one-sided printing and manufacture of a Möbius strip, which include a pre-assembled Möbius strip and both a single-piece puzzle and a multi-piece puzzle. Methods of the invention may be used to create a relatively seamless Möbius strip when assembled.
Methods of the invention are particularly suited for the one-sided printing and manufacture of Möbius strips for use in a variety of retail items, such as puzzles, gift and other novelty items, and for use as a marketing tool.
In particular, methods of the invention comprise creating a printable rectangular image which may optionally contain color, words or other graphics which are continuous. That is, the left end of the image aligns with the right end of the image to produce a 360° image; arranging three substantially identical copies of the image such that one copy is juxtaposed to a second copy and a third copy is centered beneath and adjacent to the first two copies; printing this composite image on a material suitable for use as a Möbius strip, preferably having an adhesive backing protected by a removable liner; setting a die layout in a desired configuration; and die-cutting the Möbius strip in the desired design. Assembly of the Möbius strip generally comprises removing the liner from the adhesive; folding the die-cut piece along a score that runs across the middle of the piece so that the top and bottom halves adhere to one another; rotating one end of the strip about 180°; and joining the two ends of the strip by aligning the two ends so that they match, thus joining the remaining exposed adhesive to form a twisted closed loop.
While preferred embodiments of the invention comprise use of a printed image, the strip also may be created without graphics, in which case, only the die-cutting and folding methods would apply.
Methods of the invention may be used to produce Möbius strip puzzles, e.g., one-piece type puzzles or multi-piece puzzles. Such puzzles may be constructed in many different configurations, and may optionally contain color, or a printed or graphic image as described above.
Other aspects of the invention are disclosed infra.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4735418 (1988-04-01), Engel
patent: 4919427 (1990-04-01), Keidar et al.
patent: 5324037 (1994-06-01), Greeson
patent: 6182565 (2001-02-01), Takayama et al.
patent: 3439509 (1986-04-01), None
patent: 11047453 (1999-02-01), None
patent: 2038838 (1995-07-01), None
Machine translation of JP 11047453 from Japanese Patent Office website.
Colilla Daniel J.
Corless Peter F.
Edwards & Angell LLP
O'Day Christine C.
LandOfFree
One-sided printing and manufacturing of a möbius strip does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with One-sided printing and manufacturing of a möbius strip, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and One-sided printing and manufacturing of a möbius strip will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3277295