Mating configurations for connectable components

Claim 2

A cartridge-receptacle assembly comprising a receptacle included in a machine, a cartridge for insertion into said receptacle, cooperating mating means carried by said cartridge and said receptacle, said mating means including pairs of complementary indicia of three-dimensional configuration, the configuration on said cartridge indicating the source of origin thereof, receptacle circuit means for controlling the operation of said machine, and means for changing the state of said circuit means responsive to the engagement of said mating means on said cartridge and said receptacle.

Claim 3

A cartridge-receptacle assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cooperating mating means includes a male member on one of said cartridge and said receptacle and a mating female member on the other of said cartridge and said receptacle.

Claim 4

A cartridge-receptacle assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said three-dimensional configuration is in the form of letters of the alphabet.

Claim 5

A cartridge-receptacle assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the mating means on one of said cartridge and said receptacle is a runner having a cross-section which if copied without authorization and used on said cartridge or said receptacle would be an infringement of legal trademark rights, and the cooperating mating means on the other of said cartridge and said receptacle is a guide for insertion therein of said runner.

Claim 6

A cartridge-receptacle assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said cross-section is in the form of letters of the alphabet.

Claim 7

A mechanism for preventing the mating connection of an unauthorized component to a unit to which only designated components are to be connected, said mechanism comprising connection means on said unit for enabling a component to be matingly connected to said unit only if a corresponding mating connecting means on said component has a predetermined physical configuration, said predetermined physical configuration being indicia in the form of an enforceable trademark, said connection means including means for controlling the operation of said unit, and means for changing the state of said controlling means responsive to the mating of said connecting means on said component with said connection means in said unit.

Claim 8

A mechanism for preventing the mating connection of an unauthorized component to a unit to which only designated components are to be connected, said mechanism comprising connection means on said unit for enabling a component to be matingly connected to said unit only if a corresponding mating connecting means on said component has a predetermined physical configuration, said predetermined physical configuration being indicia in the form of an enforceable trademark, said connection means including means for controlling the operation of said unit, and means for changing the state of said controlling means responsive to the mating of said connecting means on said component with said connection means in said unit.

Claim 9

A mechanism in accordance with claim 6 wherein said connection and connecting means include a male member on one of said unit and said component and a mating female member on the other of said unit and said component.

Claim 10

A mechanism in accordance with claim 7 wherein said physical configuration is in the form of letters of the alphabet.

Claim 11

A mechanism in accordance with claim 6 wherein said connection and connecting means include a runner on one of said unit and said component having a cross-section which if included thereon without authorization would be an infringement of legal trademark rights, and a coooperating guide on the other of said unit and said component for insertion therein of said runner.

Claim 12

A mechanism in accordance with claim 9 wherein said cross-section is in the form of letters of the alphabet.