Patent US4354601A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4354601A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Trays for credit card transactions and the like
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1980-12-12
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Granted: 1982-10-19
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Expires: 2000-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A tray-like structure is proposed for use in such as a restaurant for presenting a credit card slip to a customer for signature, the structure comprising a flat broad thin body having shallow rectangular recesses in the flat upper surface thereof to receive the credit card and the credit card slip in adjacent disposition with their left lateral edges in rectilinear alignment so that the specimen signature on the card is adjacent the signature on the signed credit card slip. Each recess or a part thereof has a depth which reduces to zero at one edge, the part may be a ramp at a corner of the recess. A pen recess, also having reducing depth towards one end, finger gripping recesses in opposed lateral edges of the tray, and a further recess opening into an edge of the body for receiving documents therein, may also be provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Derek Harrison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:20
CPC Classifications
B; B43; B43M; B43M99/00; B43M99/008; B43L; B43L3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A credit card tray comprising: a generally flat, broad, thin body having a flat, upper writing surface, a lower surface, and peripheral edges, said body being of predetermined thickness; said upper surface having a generally rectangular, shallow, recess for receiving and retaining a credit card substantially flatwise therein, and having a generally rectangular, shallow recess for receiving and retaining a credit card slip substantially flatwise therein; said credit card recess and said credit card slip recess having their respective shorter lateral edges in substantial rectilinear alignment so that any signatures thereon may be visually compared; the depth of at least a portion, of each of said credit card recess and said credit card slip recess reducing to zero at an edge of said respective recess or portion thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A credit card tray comprising: a generally flat, broad, thin body having a flat, upper writing surface, a lower surface, and peripheral edges, said body being of predetermined thickness; said upper surface having a generally rectangular, shallow, recess for receiving and retaining a credit card substantially flatwise therein, and having a generally rectangular, shallow recess for receiving and retaining a credit card slip substantially flatwise therein; said credit card recess and said credit card slip recess having their respective shorter lateral edges in substantial rectilinear alignment so that any signatures thereon may be visually compared; the depth of at least a portion, of each of said credit card recess and said credit card slip recess reducing to zero at an edge of said respective recess or portion thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A credit card tray as specified in claim 1 wherein said credit card recess and said credit card slip recess each have a depth which reduces to zero at one edge of said recess.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A credit card tray as specified in claim 1 wherein said credit card recess and said credit card slip recess each are provided with a ramp at a corner thereof, which ramp has a depth which reduces from the depth of said respective recess to zero at an edge of said ramp remote from said recess.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A credit card tray as specified in claim 1 wherein said body includes an elongate narrow recess in the upper surface thereof for receiving and retaining a writing instrument, said recess being of reducing depth towards one end thereof to facilitate the gripping of said instrument when located therein and having a ramp at the other end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A credit card tray as specified in claim 1 wherein said body includes a pair of elongate, shallow recesses, each on an opposite lateral edge of said body and each extending in parallelism with said edge below the surface thereof for facilitating gripping of said edge with the fingers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A credit card tray as specified in claim 1, said upper surface also having a generally rectangular recess, of constant depth and opening into one of said peripheral edges, for receipt of a plurality of documents therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A credit card tray as specified in claim 6, wherein said constant depth recess has two opposed edges, each of which is provided with a lip extending therealong.
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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) | 1985-10-18 | 1986-04-19 | 1986-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-10-18 | 1990-04-19 | 1990-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-10-18 | 1994-04-19 | 1994-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |