Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Display card – Three-dimensional pop-up display card
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-13
2001-11-06
Green, Brian K. (Department: 3628)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Display card
Three-dimensional pop-up display card
C040S124110, C283S117000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311418
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to three-dimensional, pop-up, and mechanically activated printed material and, more particularly, to an integrated system and assembly method which enables individuals and small businesses to produce three-dimensional, pop-up, and mechanically activated materials using personal computers and printers.
BACKGROUND ART
Commercially printed material has been important to individuals for both personal use and business use. On a personal level, the use of commercially generated greeting cards is one prime example of a quality product at a reasonable price, while small businesses employ commercial printers to attain quality promotional and advertising material tailor-made to their requirements. Unfortunately, the cost of these commercially generated products has increased substantially in recent years, forcing customers to seek alternate sources for this material.
With the continuously expanding field of home computers and higher quality printers, various systems have been developed which enables individuals to create their own print material using conventional paper or other flat printing stock. Depending upon the quality of the computer system and printer available to an individual, the individually created print material is able to approach the general quality of the material commercially available. However, although individuals have been able to produce printed material having a quality comparable to commercial products, individuals have been limited to being only able to produce flat, two-dimensional material.
Although substantial advances have been made to enable individuals and small businesses to attain high quality print material using their own personal computers and printers, no system has been developed which allows individuals or small businesses to expand beyond flat, two-dimensional printed material. In spite of the desirability of attaining the substantially increased visual impact provided by three-dimensional, pop-up, or mechanically activated printed material, no system presently exists which enables the independent, self-creation of such pop-up, mechanical, or three-dimensional displays, cards, or promotional materials.
One principal reason for this prior art failing is due to the stringent requirements for die cutting every element employed in pop-up, three-dimensional, or mechanically activated works. As a result, individuals have been incapable of producing pop-up, three-dimensional, or mechanically activated material which is equivalent to the commercially available images or products. Although substantial use of cut-outs or pre-punched components have been employed in various pre-printed products, these products are incapable of providing the visual representation obtained by commercially produced three-dimensional artwork, three-dimensional pop-ups, or mechanically-activated media.
In addition to the requirement for the pop-up, three-dimensional, or mechanically activated elements to be die-cut, in order to attain a product consistent with commercial quality, precise positioning, complicated folding techniques, and secure affixation in gluing are also often required. In view of these factors, individually created, mechanically activated material and three-dimensional material for pop-up stationery, cards, advertisements, business information, books, and the like have not been capable of being independently generated by individuals or small businesses.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a fully integrated printing system and assembly method which enables individuals and businesses to achieve self-created print material which incorporates pop-up, three-dimensional, or mechanically activated indicia associated therewith.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated printing system and assembly method having the characteristics and features described above which can be easily achieved by employing any personal computer and quality printer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated printing system and assembly method having the characteristics and features described above which is capable of enabling the user to print any desired message on components which are subsequently employed to form pop-up, three-dimensional, or mechanically activated elements in the final print material.
Other and more specific objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereiniafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
By employing the present invention, all of the difficulties and drawbacks of the prior art have been eliminated and a completely integrated three-dimensional or mechanically activated image generating system is attained enabling individuals, and small businesses to produce pop-up, three-dimensional, or mechanically activated greeting cards, advertising literature, books, stationery, bags, objects, characters, displays, or promotional material that is equivalent in quality and visual presentation to commercially produced material. By employing the system of the present invention, the components incorporated therein, and the unique process defined thereby, any individual or small business is able to produce visually distinctive, eye-catching, and interest-generating three-dimensional, pop-up and mechanically activated display material, such as greeting cards, stationery, books, advertising literature, bags, objects, characters, promotional material, and the like, usable for any desired purpose, such as direct mail, flyers, magazine inserts, sales brochures, premiums, point of purchase displays, packaging, correspondence, and gift-giving.
By employing the present invention, an individual is able to select the particular three-dimensional, pop-up, or mechanical image or format desired, create a print message to be included on the selected three-dimensional, pop-up, or mechanical image, produce the three-dimensional, pop-up, or mechanical image with the desired message or artwork printed thereon, and then assemble the three-dimensional image or customer-generated art with the message printed thereon, as well as on the support material associated therewith. Prior to the present invention, no system was capable of enabling any individual to attain a product of this nature without incurring the high costs of specialized commercial printing.
By employing the present invention, any individual or small business having a conventional, state-of-the-art personal computer and a high quality laser printer or dot matrix printer is now able to produce high quality, three-dimensional, pop-up, or mechanically activated displays, such as greeting cards, stationery, advertising material, books, bags, objects, characters, promotional brochures, etc. Which are equivalent in appearance and quality to products previously attainable only from commercial printers or distributors. If desired, the printer may comprise a color printer, in order to further enhance the visually pleasing images produced. However, the use of a color printer is not required to employ the present invention.
In using the integrated, three-dimensional, pop-up, and mechanical image generating system of the present invention, a user is provided with a plurality of preformed, three-dimensional, pop-up, and/or mechanically activated display images, graphics, layouts, printed or unprinted blanks, etc., which have been precut, using conventional die-cutting techniques required to attain high quality results. The three-dimensional, pop-up and mechanical images are retained on carrier sheets, preferably formed as an 8½″×11″ sheet for ease of transport through conventional printers. However, other sizes can be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In addition to providing three-dimensional, pop-up, and mechanical images arranged in a planar form on a suitable carrier, each three-dimensional, pop-up, and mechanical image also may incorporate adhesive means, tabs, slots, glue, tape, etc., formed thereon, along with any requisite support tabs or holding arms f
Green Brian K.
Stoltz Melvin I.
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