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US4654988A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for displaying the availabilty of videocassette films for rental

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-04-17
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Granted: 1987-04-07
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Expires: 2005-04-17
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Abstract

Abstract A method for displaying the availability of videocassette films for rental including the following steps: producing indicating cards having indicia printed thereon identifying the films available for rental; positioning indicating cards for various videocassette films at different locations on a display board; positioning a plurality of indicating cards for identical videocassette films at the same location; selectively removing the reproductions individually from the display board as the videocassette corresponding thereto is rented; and selectively repositioning the reproductions as the videocassette corresponding thereto is returned.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gregroy S. Ericksen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 17:45
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B29/00; G09B29/001; G09F; G09F1/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S194/00; Y10S194/906

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 118 words
A process for displaying the availability of videocassette films for rental, comprising the steps of (a) reproducing the information on a plurality of videocassette containers which identify the contents thereof (b) hanging the reproductions on a display board to indicate the availability of the videocassette films for rental (c) the number of reproductions on the display board corresponding to the number of videocassette films available for rental (d) the reproductions for different videocassette films being located in different positions on the display board and the reproductions for the same videocassette films being positioned in superposed relation on the display board, and (e) selectively removing the reproductions individually from the display board as the videocassette corresponding thereto is rented.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 118 words
A process for displaying the availability of videocassette films for rental, comprising the steps of (a) reproducing the information on a plurality of videocassette containers which identify the contents thereof (b) hanging the reproductions on a display board to indicate the availability of the videocassette films for rental (c) the number of reproductions on the display board corresponding to the number of videocassette films available for rental (d) the reproductions for different videocassette films being located in different positions on the display board and the reproductions for the same videocassette films being positioned in superposed relation on the display board, and (e) selectively removing the reproductions individually from the display board as the videocassette corresponding thereto is rented.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The process of claim 1, wherein (a) the reproductions are detachably hung on hooks affixed to the display board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
The process of claim 1, wherein (a) photographic images of the front and rear of videocassette containers are taken (b) the photographic image of the front and back being encased in a transparent envelope so that the information thereon is visible.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
The process of claim 3, wherein (a) the photographic images are reduced in size to permit cardlike members of uniform size to be displayed in a relatively small area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 58 words
The process of claim 1, wherein (a) one extra reproduction of each videocassette container is made, and (b) indicia indicating the unavailability of the corresponding videocassette film is imprinted on the reproduction (c) said extra reproduction of each videocassette film being attached to the display board first and covered by the other reproductions for the same videocassette film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 161 words
A process for displaying the availability of videocassette films for rental, comprising the steps of (a) reproducing the fronts and backs of videocassette film containers having information thereon relative to the film (b) placing the reproduced fronts and backs in a transparent envelope so that the information thereon is visible (c) hanging the envelopes on a display board to indicate the availability of the corresponding videocassette films for rental (d) the envelopes containing reproductions for different films being located in different positions on the display board and the envelopes containing reproductions for the same videocassette films being positioned in superposed relation on the display board (e) the number of reproductions on the display board corresponding to one more than the number of videocassette films available for rental (f) the one additional reproduction being marked to indicate the unavailability of the corresponding videocassette film and being attached to the display board first and covered by other reproductons for the same videocassette film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 161 words
A process for displaying the availability of videocassette films for rental, comprising the steps of (a) reproducing the fronts and backs of videocassette film containers having information thereon relative to the film (b) placing the reproduced fronts and backs in a transparent envelope so that the information thereon is visible (c) hanging the envelopes on a display board to indicate the availability of the corresponding videocassette films for rental (d) the envelopes containing reproductions for different films being located in different positions on the display board and the envelopes containing reproductions for the same videocassette films being positioned in superposed relation on the display board (e) the number of reproductions on the display board corresponding to one more than the number of videocassette films available for rental (f) the one additional reproduction being marked to indicate the unavailability of the corresponding videocassette film and being attached to the display board first and covered by other reproductons for the same videocassette film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
The process of claim 6, wherein (a) the envelopes are hung on hooks affixed to the display board.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 37 words
The process of claim 6, wherein (a) the reproductions of the fronts and backs of the videocassette film containers are reduced in size to permit reproductions of uniform size to be displayed in a relatively small area.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 139 words
A method for displaying the selection of various videocassette films, identifying the number of videocassettes available for a particular film to the vendor, and indicating to the consumer the particular films temporarily out of stock, comprising the steps of: (a) hanging indicating means having indicia printed thereon identifying the contents of different videocassette films at different locations on the display board, (b) hanging at least one additional indicating means for at least one of the different videocassette films in superimposed relation to corresponding indicating means, (c) the number of indicating means of a particular videocassette film representing the number of videocassette films in stock available for rental, (d) selectively removing the indicating means individually from the display board as the videocassette corresponding thereto is rented, and (e) selectively repositioning the indicating means as the videocassette corresponding thereto is returned.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 139 words
A method for displaying the selection of various videocassette films, identifying the number of videocassettes available for a particular film to the vendor, and indicating to the consumer the particular films temporarily out of stock, comprising the steps of: (a) hanging indicating means having indicia printed thereon identifying the contents of different videocassette films at different locations on the display board, (b) hanging at least one additional indicating means for at least one of the different videocassette films in superimposed relation to corresponding indicating means, (c) the number of indicating means of a particular videocassette film representing the number of videocassette films in stock available for rental, (d) selectively removing the indicating means individually from the display board as the videocassette corresponding thereto is rented, and (e) selectively repositioning the indicating means as the videocassette corresponding thereto is returned.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 45 words
The method of claim 9, wherein: (a) said indicating means are produced by taking photographic images of the front and rear of videocassette containers, (b) said photographic images of the front and back are encased in a transparent envelope so that they are readily visible.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 29 words
The process of claim 10, wherein: (a) said photographic images are reduced in size to permit card-like members of uniform size to be displayed in a relatively small area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 65 words
The process of claim 9, wherein: (a) one extra indicating means of the different videocassette films is made, (b) indicia indicating the unavailability of the corresponding videocassette film is imprinted on said extra indicating means, and (c) said extra indicating means of each videocassette film being attached to the display board first and covered by a plurality of indicating means for the same videocassette film.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US2857696A Cited
US3270891A Cited
US3607524A Cited
US3945467A Cited
US4179831A Cited
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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) 1990-04-06 1990-10-06 1991-04-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-04-06 1994-10-06 1995-04-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-04-06 1998-10-06 1999-04-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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