Patent Application
20080043254
These, as well as other objects and advantages of this invention, will be more completely understood and appreciated by referring to the following more detailed description of the presently preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:
The present invention is now illustrated in greater detail by way of the following detailed description which represents the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention. However, it should be understood that this description is not to be used to limit the present invention, but rather, is provided for the purpose of illustrating the general features of the invention.
The term “personalized information” refers to information that is printed or imaged onto a substrate or document which is generally variable or unique and which may change from laminate to laminate so as to create a customized message or communication for each recipient. Examples of personalized information may include names, addresses, descriptions, plans, coding, numbering, promotional text, recipes based on contents, etc. that may have been acquired from the intended recipient through surveys, questionnaires or answers given to various inquiries generated in response to a request for goods or services.
The term “static or fixed” information refers to printed or imaged information that generally does not change from laminate to laminate and may include a general description or body of information about particular products, services, places, etc. that may be of interest to the intended recipient and represents a standard message that the manufacturing or supplier wishes to convey to an end user or customer of the offering.
Printable substrates that may be used in connection with practicing the present invention are normally purchased in accordance with its weight per unit area. The area is normally that of a 500 sheet ream cut to a specified sized (“ream size”). For example, if a certain grade of paper has a specified ream size of 17×22 inches, the actual weight of 500 sheets in that size is the basis weight. A sheet with a 20 pound basis weight may be identified as 20-lb. or 20# and is customarily used in desktop printers and office use. Heavier bonds such as vellum may range from 60 to 80 pounds, Bristol board from 90 to 100 bounds and tag stock for example from 80 to 110 pounds and higher.
Examples of image generating or high quality printing devices that are suitable for use in practicing the invention include high resolution imaging devices such as Indigo®, available from Hewlett Packard of Palo Alto, Calif. or Karat available from KBA of Williston, Vt. Ideally, the present invention seeks to provide images on a substrate that has a resolution quality of about 150 or more lines per inch and preferably more than 300 lines per inch, which is approximately equal to about 2500 to 3500 dots per inch (“DPI”) in order to create a high quality image that is intended to be aesthetically appealing to the consumer. Other imaging equipment may of course be used depending on the sheet or web size that the equipment can efficiently handle.
The system can be used to produce highly personalized textual information in addition to generating high quality, high resolution graphical images. Such textual information may include details relating to the graphics to be generated, such as the name of the athlete, the date of a game, time of a score or other event, final score of the game, number of the player and the like. This information can then be printed on the poster, the presentation folder, key tags, wallet cards and the like so that various memorabilia is created in recognition of the event. The system and method can obviously be used with other non-sporting events that one desires to have memorialized, such as family reunions, social gatherings, business milestones, personal events such as births of a child, graduation ceremonies, public and award recognitions and the like. In selecting one of these events for remembrance, the user can supply his or her own information or can use elements of the system for assisting the user in creating the appropriate information for the personalized pieces.
The images or graphics that may be used in the preparation of the invention can come from a variety of sources. For example, the graphical content can be provided by the manufacturer and may be obtained from a professional source, such as a photographer, sports association or the like for which the content for the specific application has been licensed, or alternatively the graphical images may be supplied by the consumer or user of the system. Images that may be used in fulfillment of an order may of course be selected from scenery, places, events, people, animals, inanimate objects, artistic representations and reproductions and such other images as may be aesthetically pleasing to a user. The system can also be used to create fictitious displays, and overlays such as superimposing a personal image of a family member at an event, for example a family athlete at a well recognized sporting event, scaling a mountain or taming wild animals and the like.
Posters that may be produced in accordance with the present invention will preferably have a length ranging from about eighteen inches to about seventy two inches and a width ranging from about twelve inches to about thirty six inches.
Presentation folders will generally have overall dimensions running about twelve inches by eighteen inches (12″×18″), having two panels with a pocket appearing in the lower quadrant of each panel. The pockets formed from the present invention will have a height of around 4″ to 4¼″ and a width of up to 9 inches.
Cards, including plastic and laminated cards and tags, come in a variety of sizes and shapes depending on the particular needs of the issuer or end user. Wallet sized cards have become fairly common place and due to the popularity of such cards, the products have been used for identification cards, credit card, key cards, hospitality, gift cards and a host of other applications. Wallet sized cards have a size of about 3⅜ inches wide to 2⅛ inches in length.
Magnets produced in accordance with the present invention, may be provided in any sort of shape or configuration that is requested by the customer. In forming a magnetic product, the substrate may for example after printing be applied to a sheet or web of magnetic material and then laminated together such as by the use of a pressure sensitive adhesive. The magnetic material is then die cut to produce the final requested shape.
One of the most important things with respect to new product innovations is the need to effectively market, advertise and communicate the new product to potential customers and end users of the product. Such marketing typically includes the creation of marketing collateral or promotional materials which are associated with the features of the package of the present invention and then distributing the package in connection with those promotional and/or marketing collateral and distributing the package along with the to end users and customers. Additional advertising may be provided through solicitation of traditional channels such as trade shows, e-mail, facsimile distributions and the like.
Marketing collateral and promotional materials as used herein includes the use of scripted or prepared material that are distributed through audio and visual communication mediums, over a global communication network, through printed mediums such as newspapers, trade publications, magazines, fliers, handouts and the like.
Reference is now directed to
Area 12 for example is defined as a poster portion of the substrate 10. The poster area 12 is provided with imaging 18 in the present instance a depiction of an athlete is provided. In this arrangement, the image 18 may have been provided by a consumer as it represents a personally obtained image. The image may be transmitted to the manufacture via a global communications network or other digital file such as a compact disc, digital cameral memory card or the like. The poster area 12 is also provided with personalized textual information 20 which may also be provided by the consumer ordering the particular product. In this example, the imaging 20 details the event that is depicted in the image thereby making the image more individualized for the particular consumer.
Area 14 of
Area 16 shown in
The user may then next opt to supply personal textual information at step 68. The system utilized in performing the method may also provide fixed or static information or fields which the user may utilize in connection with populating the textual portions of the substrate.
Once the selection of the image and inputting of the textual information, if any, has been competed the order is entered at step 70. The order may be submitted over a global communications network, via mail, facsimile or other suitable means. At this point, the manufacturer having received information from the consumer may prepare additional promotional materials such as discounts against future orders, and other offers at step 72. This promotional material will preferably be added to the package when the package is completed and readied for delivery to the user at a later step.
Next, a graphical image or digital file is created at step 74 by using any known software platforms. Once the digital files have been created, at least one printable substrate is provided at step 76. The number of substrates that are made available at step 76 will depend on the quantity of personalized products that are being ordered by the consumer.
The order is then printed at step 78 by using a high quality, high resolution imaging device. The imaging device will preferably generate images at a resolution of greater than about 150 lines per inch and may either be sheet fed or web fed depending upon the substrate that the manufacture selects for processing of the order.
Once the substrate is printed, the individual blanks may be separated from the substrate at step 80. Each of the blanks will correspond to the type of product that is being produced in connection with the order. For example, if a presentation folder is one of the blanks, then at step 82 the blank is folded into a presentation folder such as by folding portions over to create the pockets of a conventional folder. If other products are being created such as a magnet or pressure sensitive assembly, then at step 84 for example a pattern of pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to the opposite side of the blank from the side on which the image has been applied.
Once the blanks have been completed and formed into the final product configurations as requested by the consumer, the order is then delivered to the end user at step 86. Delivery may occur through use of a courier service, USPS other conventional means. The process then ends and may be restarted for another customer.
A further exemplary process for producing a package is depicted in
Next, the user after having either selected an image, may then provide personalized textual information at step 98. Personalized information may be combined with static information at this particular step. For example, if the image selected is from a well known sporting event, the static or fixed text may be details relating to the actual event, such as the date, place, score and the like and the personalized information may be the name for whom the package is being prepared, plus other information such as a greeting for the package and from whom the package is provided.
After the details are finalized for the order, the manufacture will select a substrate at step 100 based upon the parameters of the equipment that is to be utilized and the details of the particular order. The substrate will typically be of a heavier stock of material and one that can support and possibly highlight the printing that will be applied. For example, if a combination of a poster and a presentation folder are to be prepared, then the stock may be about eighty pound stock.
The image is then produced at step 102, and preferably at a resolution level of greater than about 150 lines per inch. Once the substrate is printed, the substrate is severed at step 104 to produce individual blanks that pertain to the types of products that are to appear in the personalized package. For example, if the order is for a poster, presentation folder and card blanks, then three separate blanks will be produced with each sized and configured to facilitate the processing and final assembly of the blanks into the finished products.
If blanks are created for example cards, magnets, labels and the like, then at step 106, for instance in preparing a sheet of pressure sensitive labels, then a pattern of pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to at least a portion of the blank at step 106 so as to be able to complete the final assembly of the ordered product.
After the final assembly of each of the products has been completed, then the products are packaged at step 108. The packaging container that is use will preferably be a suitable shipping container, such as a box so as to prevent damage of the contents during shipping. Once the package is complete, then the package is prepared for delivery at step 110 and the process is completed. In the event that the package is damaged during shipping or the order is incomplete, the package will also include a return shipping label so that the products or a portion of the products may be conveniently returned to the manufacturer for credit or replacement.
As can be seen from drawings and the related description of the present invention provides a unique method for producing a package of highly individual personalized items that are produced using an imaging device that generates the resolution at a level of greater than about 150 lines per inch. The package produced through the described method provides the recipient with a number of distinct product possibilities including posters, presentation folders, cards, magnets, pressure sensitive labels, key tags and other formats. By providing a variety of different personalized format, the recipient may then keep the memorabilia with him or her and is not simply limited to looking at a single format of the remembrance item.
It will thus be seen according to the present invention a highly advantageous system and method for producing a package containing high resolution personalized printed items has been provided. While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, and that many modifications and equivalent arrangements may be made thereof within the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and products.
The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of their invention as it pertains to any apparatus, system, method or article not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.
