US4278199A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Post card
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-07-09
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Granted: 1981-07-14
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Expires: 1999-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A post card is disclosed which includes a rectangular-shaped base member conforming in shape and size to requirements of the United Postal Service, and an opaque cover member of substantially smaller size than the base member attached to the base member. At least a portion of the information to be transmitted by use of the post card is carried in full view at one face of the base member. Another portion of the information is carried on one of the facing surfaces of the base and cover members for normally hiding such portion from view. At least a portion of the cover member, or a portion of the base member underlying the cover member, is removable by the recipient of the post card to expose to view such normally-hidden message portion. The portion of the message to be hidden may be imprinted before the cover member is attached to the base member. Alternatively, means may be included for transferring impressions entered on the cover member, or base member opposite the cover member, onto the underlying cover or base member to allow for the entering of the hidden portion of the message after the cover member is affixed to the base member.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshio Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:39
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42D; B42D15/00; B42D15/02; B42D15/025; B41; B41L; B41L1/00; B41L1/20; B41L1/22; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A post card mailable at a post card postage rate for sending information, a portion of which normally is viewable and at least a portion of which normally is concealed from view, said post card comprising a base member of post card size and shape, an opaque cover member being less than one-half the size of said base member attached to said base member for concealing from view a hidden information area at one of the facing surfaces of the cover and base members, at least a portion of one of said cover member and base member adjacent said cover being removable for viewing by the recipient of the post card of the normally hidden information areas, and impression transfer means of substantially the same size as said cover member between said cover and base members for producing an image of an impression at one of the facing surfaces of the cover and base members from an impression at an outer face thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A post card mailable at a post card postage rate for sending information, a portion of which normally is viewable and at least a portion of which normally is concealed from view, said post card comprising a base member of post card size and shape, an opaque cover member being less than one-half the size of said base member attached to said base member for concealing from view a hidden information area at one of the facing surfaces of the cover and base members, at least a portion of one of said cover member and base member adjacent said cover being removable for viewing by the recipient of the post card of the normally hidden information areas, and impression transfer means of substantially the same size as said cover member between said cover and base members for producing an image of an impression at one of the facing surfaces of the cover and base members from an impression at an outer face thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A post card as defined in claim 1 wherein said impression transfer means comprises a slip of carbon paper positioned between said cover and base members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A post card as defined in claim 2 wherein said slip of carbon paper is positioned for producing an image at the base member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A post card as defined in claim 2 wherein said slip of carbon paper is positioned for producing an image at the cover member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A post card as defined in claim 1 wherein said impression transfer means comprises a carbon spot on said base member adjacent said cover member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A post card as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover member comprises a slip of duplicating pressure-sensitive paper for imaging on the base member through impressions made on said cover member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
A post card as defined in claim 1 wherein said impression transfer means comprises a layer of color producing material on one of the facing surfaces of the cover and base members and a coating of pressure-sensitive coloring agent on the other of said facing surfaces for production of an image at one of the facing surfaces of impressions made at the outer face of one of said base and cover members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A post card as defined in claim 1 including a series of perforations through the base and cover members along the marginal edges of the cover member for attaching the same to the base member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A post card as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover member and impression transfer means are less than one-half the size of said base member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
169 words
A post card for mailing at post card postage rates comprising, a base member of post card size and shape having opposite front and rear surfaces, a name, address and postage area at the front surface of the base member, a message area at one of the surfaces of the base member including normally visible and normally hidden portions, an opaque cover member being less than one-half the size of said base member, impression transfer means of substantially the same size as said cover member between said cover and base members for producing an image of an impression at one of the facing surfaces of the cover and base members from an impression at an outer face thereof, and means for removable attaching said cover member to the base member for covering the normally hidden portion of the message area to conceal the same from view, said cover member being removable by the recipient of the post card for viewing of the hidden message portion beneath the cover member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
169 words
A post card for mailing at post card postage rates comprising, a base member of post card size and shape having opposite front and rear surfaces, a name, address and postage area at the front surface of the base member, a message area at one of the surfaces of the base member including normally visible and normally hidden portions, an opaque cover member being less than one-half the size of said base member, impression transfer means of substantially the same size as said cover member between said cover and base members for producing an image of an impression at one of the facing surfaces of the cover and base members from an impression at an outer face thereof, and means for removable attaching said cover member to the base member for covering the normally hidden portion of the message area to conceal the same from view, said cover member being removable by the recipient of the post card for viewing of the hidden message portion beneath the cover member.
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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) | 1984-07-13 | 1985-01-12 | 1985-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-07-13 | 1989-01-12 | 1989-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-07-13 | 1993-01-12 | 1993-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |