Patent Application
20060007680
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an office product, an illumination device for an office product, and a method of illuminating an office product in order for the office product to be more useful as a promotional device, novelty item, and/or as a gift. The present invention further relates to an office product, a display device for an office product, and a method of displaying text or an image on an office product in order for the office product to be more useful as a promotional device, novelty item, and/or as a gift.
2. Discussion of Background Information
It is known to have an office product that operates with the normal functionality of an office product. For example, it is known to have a stapler that includes a stapler handle, a staple cartridge, and a stapler base. One end of each of these three components are generally attached together through a pin to form a pivot point. The other end of these three parts are more or less separated from one another. When a user presses at least the stapler handle, the stapler handle will move with respect to the staple cartridge and stapler base and the staple cartridge will extend a staple that will extend through sheets of paper. The staple will then contact a striking plate that is generally mounted to the stapler base. The striking plate will bend the legs of the staple in order to fix the staple in the sheets and thus hold the sheets together. When the user releases the stapler handle, a spring that is mounted within the stapler will urge the stapler handle, staple cartridge, and staple base into a standby mode.
The majority of office products, such as a stapler, have only the basic office product functionality such as stapling. In this regard, most improvements to office products are limited to improvements in the office product function. The present invention overcomes the single functional nature of office products to include aspects directed to making the office product more suitable as a promotional product, novelty item, and/or as a gift.
One example of an office product with additional functionality is U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,108 to SHI which discloses An Audio and Video Effect Stapler. This stapler includes a light that is mounted on the stapler that will illuminate when the stapler is used. This type of stapler has very limited ability to promote a commercial product or promote a commercial company, for example, by illuminating a portion with an image or text or displaying text on a display such as set forth in the present invention described herein.
The present invention is directed to an office product that includes a sensor that can determine when a user is interacting with the office product. In response to the interaction with the office product, the office product will illuminate at least a portion of the office product or will display an image or text on a display on the office product.
One aspect of the present invention includes a device that illuminates an office product. The office product can include a sensor that senses user interaction with the office product, a portion of the office product that is structured and arranged to include at least one of text or an image, and a light that illuminates the portion in response to the sensor sensing the user interaction with the office product. Moreover, the device can include a recess and one of a transparent and translucent cover arranged to cover the recess. The cover can be structured and arranged to hold the at least one text and image. Additionally, the office product can be a stapler and the portion is located in a handle of the stapler. Furthermore, the sensor can include a switch that is actuated by movement of the handle, and a circuit that detects actuation of the switch and that outputs power to the light. Also, the light can include a light emitting diode and the portion can include two fluids having a first and second density with an article floating in the two fluids, where the article holds the at least one text or an image. The device may also include a light emitting diode and a fiber optic element. Moreover, the fiber optic element can include slots or holes that emit light from the light emitting diode. The light may also include a light emitting diode and the portion may include two fluids having a first and second density with an article floating in the two fluids, where the article holds the at least one text or image. Furthermore, the circuit can include an integrated circuit. Moreover, the device can be used in a stapler having a stapler handle, a staple cartridge, and a stapler base. Additionally, the sensor can sense user interaction by movement of the staple cartridge.
Another aspect of the present invention includes a method of illuminating an office product including sensing user interaction with the office product, arranging a portion on the office product to include at least one of text or image, and illuminating the portion in response to sensing user interaction with the office product. Furthermore, the office product can be a stapler and the portion can be located in a handle of the stapler. Moreover, the portion can include two fluids having a first and second density with an article floating in the two fluids, where the article holds the at least one text or an image. Additionally, the illuminating can include repeatedly illuminating a light for a limited time. The method can further include covering a recess of the portion with one of a transparent and translucent cover, where the cover is structured and arranged to hold the at least one text and image. Moreover, the user interaction can be movement a component of the stapler.
Yet another aspect of the present invention includes a stapler, having a stapler handle, a staple cartridge, and a stapler base. The stapler further includes a switch that is actuatable by user interaction with the stapler, a light located in the stapler handle that illuminates a portion of the stapler, a circuit that outputs power to the light in response to actuation of the switch, one of a transparent and translucent cover that covers the light, and a recess that holds the light beneath the cover. The cover being structured and arranged to hold the at least one of text and an image. The circuit can include an integrated circuit. Moreover, the device can include a sensor that senses user interaction with the office product and a LCD display on the office product that displays at least one of text or an image in response to the sensor sensing interaction with the office product. Furthermore, the office product can be a stapler and the display can be located in a handle of the stapler. Additionally, the sensor can include a switch that is actuated by movement of the office product and a circuit that detects actuation of the switch and that actuates the display. Moreover, the circuit can include an integrated circuit.
Another aspect of the invention includes a stapler, having a stapler handle, a staple cartridge, and a stapler base. The stapler includes a switch that is actuatable by movement of the stapler cartridge, a light located in the stapler handle that illuminates a portion of the stapler, a circuit that outputs power to the light in response to actuation of the switch, one of a transparent and translucent cover that covers the light, and a recess that holds the light beneath the cover. Where the cover is structured and arranged to hold the at least one of text and an image.
Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanying drawing.
The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:
The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.
In the present invention the light 102 can be, for example only, a light emitting diode (LED), a neon light, an incandescent light bulb, or any other suitable light-emitting device. Furthermore, the light 102 can include plural lights and additionally the light 102 can be one or more colors.
The light 102 can be positioned on or in any portion of the stapler. The stapler is structured so that the light from the light 102 can be seen by the user. For example, the light 102 can be mounted to the surface of the stapler. Alternatively, the light 102 is mounted inside the stapler and the stapler includes structure enabling the user to see the light 102. Such structure can be a hole in which the light 102 is mounted. Alternatively, the light 102 can be mounted behind a transparent or translucent portion of the stapler structure. In yet another alternative, a large portion or the entire stapler can be transparent or translucent such that the light from the light 102 can be seen by the user.
In one aspect of the present invention, shown in
The illuminated portion can be used to illuminate a mounted promotional or novelty message, image, and/or text. In one aspect of the invention, the light 102 can be mounted in a recess 107 of the stapler beneath a cover 106. The cover 106 can be formed at least in part by a transparent or translucent material such as glass or plastic. The cover 106 can be engraved with one or more of the message, image, and/or text. Alternatively, the cover can be used to mount or hold one or more of the message, image, or text. The one or more of the message, image, or text can be a promotional message (e.g. a company name), can be personalized, or can be a novelty message (e.g. World's Best Dad). Furthermore, in order to spread the light more evenly throughout the cover 106, the light 102 can be positioned proximate to an optical device the will operate to spread the light.
The optical device can be, for example, a fiber optic tube 104. The fiber optic tube 104 can have a cross-section that is round, square, or some other polygonal shape. Furthermore, the fiber optic tube 104 can include a plurality of holes or slots that allow the light therein to be emitted. In operation, the light 102 will be positioned adjacent to the fiber optic tube 104 to illuminate the fiber optic tube 104. The fiber optic tube 104 will then in turn illuminate the portion of the stapler handle 1 where the cover 106 is mounted.
As alternatively shown in
Next, the operation of the sensor 103 will be discussed. The sensor 103 that senses interaction by the user with the office product can be a switch that detects movement of the office product components. For example, a switch that is biased open or closed such that movement of the stapler handle 1, staple cartridge 2, and/or stapler base 3 of the stapler will close or open the switch respectively. Alternatively, the sensor 103 can be a sensor that detects movement of the entire office product. For example, the sensor 103 can include a mercury switch that senses movement of the office product by movement of a ball of mercury that contacts two or more electrical contacts to complete a switch circuit. It should be apparent that it is within the spirit and scope of the present invention to use any type of sensor that can sense when there is interaction by a user with the office product.
In one aspect of the invention shown in
Next, the associated circuitry of the sensor 103 will be discussed. The sensor 103 will include mechanical and electrical components that enable the light 102 to illuminate in response to the sensor 103 sensing interaction with the user. It should be apparent that it is within the spirit and scope of the present invention to use any electrical circuit that can detect actuation of a switch or sensor 103 and in response thereto output a signal to operate the light 102 such as an analog circuit, smart card, digital circuit, integrated circuit, or microprocessor. The electrical circuit in response to receiving the sensor 103 input, will drive or provide electrical power to the light 102. Additionally, the electrical circuit can drive or power the light 102 in such a manner that can be entertaining to the user and will drive or power the light 102 for a limited time in order to conserve power. For example, the light 102 can flash in an entertaining manner, flash different colors, or multiple lights can flash at different times and colors.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an integrated circuit (IC) 300, e.g. Model No. PCB-STP-01 from Golden Right Ltd. of Taiwan, is illustrated in
Next, the operation of the IC 300 will be discussed. When an appropriate power supply is connected to the VDD 310 and the VSS 330, the IC 300 will be operationally powered. When the switch 103 is either closed or opened for a predetermined time, the input 340 will be recognized as an offset in the voltage. The IC 300 will then send power through the output 320 to light the light 102. In an aspect of the present invention the IC 300 will power the light 102 after receiving input from the sensor 103 at the input 340. In a particular embodiment, the IC 300 will repeatedly provide power to the light 102 in order to make the light 102 blink. For example, the power can be applied to the light 102 for ½ second and removed for ½ second for seven seconds. However, it should be apparent that any number of blinks, having any blink length and/or variable blink length would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The present invention, as described above, includes an office product with a sensor 103 that can determine when a user is interacting with the office product. In response to the interaction with the office product, the office product will illuminate at least a portion of the office product with a light 102 in an entertaining manner. Finally, the portion of the office product that is illuminated can include a transparent or translucent cover and can also include a promotional or personalized message, image, or text in order for the stapler to be more useful as a promotional device, novelty item, and/or as a gift.
Although the present description has been directed to a office product that includes the sensor 103 and light 102, it should be apparent that the present invention would work equally well in modifying an office product to operate according to the present invention and further would work on any type of office equipment (e.g. hole punch, penholder, business card holder, mouse pad, etc.).
It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.
