Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Check – label – or tag – Fastener
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-21
2001-06-26
Melius, Terry Lee (Department: 3628)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Check, label, or tag
Fastener
C040S308000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250006
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a preprinted dry erase type board attachable to either a shopping cart or a refrigerator to remind a user of particular items needed at the grocery store.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Typically, shoppers compile a written list of items to be purchased at the grocery store. However, because the list is typically compiled within a few minutes, items are often inadvertently omitted. Furthermore, compiling and maintaining such a list is tedious and inconvenient. The present invention provides a shopping aid that allows shoppers to easily monitor grocery items.
Various reminder display systems exist in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,320 issued to Fraynd relates to a shopper's reminder system including two display surfaces, one of which is provided for products existing in the household in adequate supply and the other being indicative of items requiring replenishment. A plurality of indicator elements each having indicia formed thereon are transferable between the two display surfaces thereby serving as a visual reminder that certain items need to be replenished.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,147 issued to Rellinger relates to a magnetic letter board assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,686 issued to Millard et al relates to a decorative device with a smooth opaque magnetic display surface for magnets.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,342 issued to Roche et al relates to a display panel having dual securement means.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,478 issued to Brewer relates to a calender.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,769,720 issued to Terrones relates to an educational teaching board in four food groups.
Although various display devices for assisting a shopper exist in the prior art, none relate to a dry erasable surface having various phrases printed thereon, each corresponding to common household items. A blank box adjacent the phrase may be marked with an accompanying marker when the item is depleted. When the item is purchased, the mark is erased. Space is also provided so that a user may write a description of less common items not otherwise included in the pre-printed phrases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for assisting a shopper including a substantially rectangular planar panel having a front surface and a rear surface. The front surface includes a layer of “dry erase” material allowing ink to be repeatedly applied and removed. Permanently imprinted on the dry erase layer are a plurality of phrases or words, each relating to a common grocery or household item such as bread, milk, cereal, etc. Immediately adjacent each phrase or word is a box which a user may mark with a dry erase marker to indicate that the particular item needs replenishment. Once the item is purchased, the mark may be erased. A magnet is disposed on the rear surface of the panel allowing the panel to be conveniently displayed on a refrigerator or similar surface. The panel also includes a magnetic clip assembly for securing the panel to a shopping cart. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shopping aid that is easy-to-use and inexpensive-to-manufacture.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a shopping aid that includes a detachable clip and a magnetic rear surface allowing the device to be interchangeably attached to a shopping cart or refrigerator.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a shopping aid having a plurality of both preprinted text and blank spaces, each corresponding to a select household item allowing a user to visually designate that such item needs replenishment. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3769720 (1973-11-01), Terrones
patent: 3881267 (1975-05-01), Hicks
patent: 3956841 (1976-05-01), Hensel
patent: 4034539 (1977-07-01), Economy
patent: 4176478 (1979-12-01), Brewer
patent: 4274567 (1981-06-01), Sawyer
patent: 4287676 (1981-09-01), Weinhaus
patent: 4817320 (1989-04-01), Fraynd
patent: 4858353 (1989-08-01), Krebs et al.
patent: 5086960 (1992-02-01), Schwietzer
patent: 5127674 (1992-07-01), Lamphere et al.
patent: 5154330 (1992-10-01), Haynes
patent: 5295342 (1994-03-01), Roche et al.
patent: 5495686 (1996-03-01), Millard et al.
patent: 5704147 (1998-01-01), Rellinger
patent: 6000610 (1999-12-01), Talbott et al.
Melius Terry Lee
Miller William L.
Tolar Kenneth L
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