US4037956A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Verified mail system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-12-19
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Granted: 1977-07-26
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Expires: 1995-12-19
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus, means, and method for a verified mail system comprising copying devices for making copies of mail contents, a central depository for storage of the copied mail contents, a system for retrieval of copied mail contents and the reproduction of mail contents on an unalterable medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Earl S. McKeen, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:47
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42D; B42D15/00; G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/46; G03B27/465
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for the verification of mail contents comprising: receiving of mail contents by a postal employee from a postal customer; filling out a multipart receipt for said mail contents by said postal employee; retaining of one part of said multipart receipt by said postal customer for his records; retaining by said postal employee of the remaining parts of said multipart receipt for Post Office use; placing one part of said multipart receipt into a tab indicia plate which is placed at the corner of said mail contents to be copied; copying said mail contents with said tab indicia plate containing said multipart receipt at its corner; sending said copies of said mail contents to a Central Depository for storage; retrieving said stored copies at the request of said postal customer; reproducing copies of said mail contents; verifying that said copies are true copies of the mail contents originally received by the Post Office from said postal customer; and mailing said verified copies to said postal customer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for the verification of mail contents comprising: receiving of mail contents by a postal employee from a postal customer; filling out a multipart receipt for said mail contents by said postal employee; retaining of one part of said multipart receipt by said postal customer for his records; retaining by said postal employee of the remaining parts of said multipart receipt for Post Office use; placing one part of said multipart receipt into a tab indicia plate which is placed at the corner of said mail contents to be copied; copying said mail contents with said tab indicia plate containing said multipart receipt at its corner; sending said copies of said mail contents to a Central Depository for storage; retrieving said stored copies at the request of said postal customer; reproducing copies of said mail contents; verifying that said copies are true copies of the mail contents originally received by the Post Office from said postal customer; and mailing said verified copies to said postal customer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as described in claim 1 wherein the copying of said mail contents is performed by a microfilm camera apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as described in claim 2 wherein said microfilm copies are stored in a Central Depository and the retrieval and reproduction of said copies is accomplished by printing the microfilm on a printable medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as described in claim 3 wherein said printable surface is unalterable and is embossed with an official imprint to denote that said copies are true copies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
238 words
A mail verification system comprising: a multipart receipt one part of which acts as the postal customer's proof of receipt of the mail contents to be verified by the Post Office and another part of which is used by the Post Office as means for identifying said postal customer whose mail contents are to be verified; a tab indicia plate having compartments for receiving said Post Office's identification part of said multipart receipt and for receiving a postal employee identification slip of the postal employee making copies of said mail contents, and further including a section for insertion of means for identifying the individual copies made of said mail contents, said tab indicia plate to be placed at the corner of said mail contents to be copied; a microfilm camera apparatus for photographing said mail contents and tab indicia plate; a Central Depository for storage of the microfilm copies of said mail contents; a multipart order form filled out by said postal customer for requesting verified copies of said mail contents originally submitted to the Post Office by said postal customer; a microfilm reader/printer apparatus for printing copies of said mail contents; an unalterable printable medium on which said copies are printed; and an embossing device for embossing the Post Office's imprint of authentication on said copies verifying that said copies are true copies of said mail contents originally received by the Post Office from said postal customer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
238 words
A mail verification system comprising: a multipart receipt one part of which acts as the postal customer's proof of receipt of the mail contents to be verified by the Post Office and another part of which is used by the Post Office as means for identifying said postal customer whose mail contents are to be verified; a tab indicia plate having compartments for receiving said Post Office's identification part of said multipart receipt and for receiving a postal employee identification slip of the postal employee making copies of said mail contents, and further including a section for insertion of means for identifying the individual copies made of said mail contents, said tab indicia plate to be placed at the corner of said mail contents to be copied; a microfilm camera apparatus for photographing said mail contents and tab indicia plate; a Central Depository for storage of the microfilm copies of said mail contents; a multipart order form filled out by said postal customer for requesting verified copies of said mail contents originally submitted to the Post Office by said postal customer; a microfilm reader/printer apparatus for printing copies of said mail contents; an unalterable printable medium on which said copies are printed; and an embossing device for embossing the Post Office's imprint of authentication on said copies verifying that said copies are true copies of said mail contents originally received by the Post Office from said postal customer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-25 | 1981-01-24 | 1981-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-25 | 1985-01-24 | 1985-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-25 | 1989-01-24 | 1989-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |