US4889981A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manually actuable, machine readable menu card with rib controlled bubbles
Assignee: ESCORP Inc A CA CORP
•
Filing: 1988-11-14
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Granted: 1989-12-26
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Expires: 2008-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A menu device comprises (a) a card, (b) indicia on the card listing items to be selected, (c) bubbles on the card in alignment with the indicia, the bubbles having positions on the card representative of items to be selected, (d) the bubbles having first positions projecting in one direction outwardly from the plane of the card, and second positions into which they are displaced relative to the plane of the card, by finger pressure, to indicate selection of items corresponding to bubble positions on the card, (e) the bubbles have integral local ribbing for bubble displacement control.
Inventors
- 👤 H. C. Harbers, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:02
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42D; B42D15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A menu device, comprising (a) a card, (b) indicia on the card listing items to be selected, (c) bubbles on the card and in special correspondence with said indicia, the bubbles having positions on the card representative of items to be selected, (d) the bubbles having first positions projecting in one direction outwardly from the plane of the card, and second positions into which they are displaced relative to the plane of the card, by finger pressure, to indicate selection of items corresponding to bubble positions on the card, (e) and said bubbles having integral local ribbing acting to stiffen the displaced bubbles for resisting return thereof to said first positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A menu device, comprising (a) a card, (b) indicia on the card listing items to be selected, (c) bubbles on the card and in special correspondence with said indicia, the bubbles having positions on the card representative of items to be selected, (d) the bubbles having first positions projecting in one direction outwardly from the plane of the card, and second positions into which they are displaced relative to the plane of the card, by finger pressure, to indicate selection of items corresponding to bubble positions on the card, (e) and said bubbles having integral local ribbing acting to stiffen the displaced bubbles for resisting return thereof to said first positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said bubbles have crests, and said ribbing is offset from said crests.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the card consists of molded synthetic resinous material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said ribbing on each of said bubbles extends toward said crests.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said ribbing on each of said bubbles extends generally linearly toward said crests.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said bubbles are dome shaped and have central axis, said ribbing on each of said bubbles including multiple ribs spaced apart about the bubble axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said ribs are spaced apart at equal angle, about said axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 7 wherein there are at least three ribs on each of said bubbles, with Y shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the card extends laterally and longitudinally, certain bubbles extend at one lateral side of the indicia, and other bubbles extend at the opposite lateral side of the indicia, the certain bubbles domed downwardly, and the other bubbles domed upwardly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the card has opposite faces, the indicia including certain indicia readable at one face of the card and other indicia readable at the opposite face of the card, and wherein certain bubbles associated with said certain indicia are domed downwardly relative to said one face, and wherein other bubbles associated with said other indicia are domed downwardly relative to said opposite face.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 10 wherein said certain bubbles extend in rows and columns, and said other bubbles also extend in rows or columns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 11 wherein said bubbles have crests, and said ribbing is offset from said crests.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 12 wherein said ribbing on each of said bubbles extends toward said crests.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
150 words
A menu device, comprising (a) a card, (b) indicia on the card listing items to be selected, (c) bubbles on the card and in spacial correspondence with said indicia, the bubbles having positions on the card representative of items to be selected, (d) the bubbles having first positions projecting in one direction outwardly from the plane of the card, and second positions into which they are displaced relative to the plane of the card, by finger pressure, to indicate selection of items corresponding to bubble positions on the card, (e) the card extending laterally and longitudinally, certain bubbles extending at one lateral side of the indicia, and other bubbles extend at the opposite lateral side of the indicia, the certain bubbles domed downwardly, and the other bubbles domed upwardly, (f) the bubbles having means associated therewith acting to stiffen the displaced bubbles for resisting return thereof to said first position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
150 words
A menu device, comprising (a) a card, (b) indicia on the card listing items to be selected, (c) bubbles on the card and in spacial correspondence with said indicia, the bubbles having positions on the card representative of items to be selected, (d) the bubbles having first positions projecting in one direction outwardly from the plane of the card, and second positions into which they are displaced relative to the plane of the card, by finger pressure, to indicate selection of items corresponding to bubble positions on the card, (e) the card extending laterally and longitudinally, certain bubbles extending at one lateral side of the indicia, and other bubbles extend at the opposite lateral side of the indicia, the certain bubbles domed downwardly, and the other bubbles domed upwardly, (f) the bubbles having means associated therewith acting to stiffen the displaced bubbles for resisting return thereof to said first position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
68 words
The device of claim 14 wherein the card has opposite faces, the indicia including certain indicia readable at one face of the card and other indicia readable at the opposite face of the card, and wherein certain bubbles associated with said certain indicia are domed downwardly relative to said one face, and wherein other bubbles associated with said other indicia are domed downwardly relative to said opposite face.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1 wherein bubbles are arranged in at least one longitudinal column.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the indicia are arranged in a column parallel to the bubble column, and including a label on the card carrying the indicia.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of claim 17 wherein the bubbles are in columns at opposite sides of the indicia, the bubbles at the right side of the indicia domed downwardly, and the bubbles at the left side of the indicia domed upwardly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the bubbles are unitary with the card.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 19 wherein the bubbles are of substantially the same diameter, which is less than about 1/2 inch.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 19 wherein the bubbles have diameter between 3/16 and 3/8 inch.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 19 wherein the bubbles have thickness of between 0.003 and 0.008 inch.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 18 wherein the bubbles at each side of the indicia are arranged in four columns.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 1 including means forming a card receiving opening into which the card and bubbles thereon are removably received, with certain selected bubbles displaced as referred to, for detecting which of the bubbles are so displaced.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 15 and including: (i) visually reading said indicia to determine which of said items are to be selected, (ii) and manually upwardly displacing a selected bubble or bubbles in alignment with selected said items, the selected bubble or bubbles corresponding to the desired selected item or items.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 25 wherein bubbles during said reading project away from a plane defined by the card, and away from the reader, and said displacing is carried out to displace the bubble or bubbles toward the reader.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 25 including detecting which bubble has been displaced in order to fill the order for said items.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 27 including returning the bubbles to initial position as orders for selected items are filled.
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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) | 1992-12-25 | 1993-06-26 | 1993-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-25 | 1997-06-26 | 1997-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-25 | 2001-06-26 | 2001-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |