Pitney Bowes Inc.

Other

Neopost Technologies

Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems, Inc.

Southpaw Enterprises, Inc.

Michael A Brown

George M Brookner

Robert G Schwartz

Fetneh Eskandari

Hans C Mol

Gaye D Gardner, Legal Representative

Douglas T Heroy

David H Mechler

Morton Silverberg

Steven A Supron

Carl A Miller

John R Nobile

David W Hubbard

Walter J Baker

Samuel W Martin

Robert E Mersereau

Christopher S Riello

Arthur Rubinstein

William V Pickering, Jr

Eric Zuidema

Gary A Gardner

Steven F Shade

Mark M Oefinger

The combined shredder mailbox apparatus provides a single case having a mailbox with downwardly pivoted door positioned above a drawer. The shredder is disposed within the case between the mailbox and the drawer. The apparatus thereby allows a user to shred unwanted mail items rather than carry them elsewhere for disposal. Typical electrical plug, the solar panel and battery, or both can power the apparatus. The heavy duty shredder can shred up to 10 folded sheets or paper at once. The shredder can also shred credit cards and the like and compact discs.

Combined mailbox shredder apparatus

In a postage payment system, a secure integrated circuit (IC) card is used to manage postage funds, and created encrypted postage indicia. Among other things, the system is capable of performing charge-back accounting of postage expenses and generating mail contents. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the postage indicia are applied onto selected locations of the mail contents while they are being generated. In the preferred embodiment, each mail content is placed in a window envelope such that the postage indicium on the mail content exposes through a window of the envelope to facilitate inspection of the indicium. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, by including transactional data in addition to the traditional postal data in a postage indicium, the indicium can be used to pay bills, purchase products and services, including any courier service different than the postal service.

Secure postage payment system and method

System and method for conducting a financial transaction between a sender and recipient of a mail piece

In a postage payment system, a secure integrated circuit (IC) card is used to manage postage funds, and create encrypted postage indicia. Among other things, the system is capable of performing charge-back accounting of postage expenses and generating mail contents. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the postage indicia are applied onto selected locations of the mail contents while they are being generated. In the preferred embodiment, each mail content is placed in a window envelope such that the postage indicium on the mail content exposes through a window of the envelope to facilitate inspection of the indicium. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, by including transactional data in addition to the traditional postal data in a postage indicium, the indicium can be used to pay bills, purchase products and services, including any courier service different than the postal service.

In a mailpiece stacking system, a pressure pad is used to direct incoming mailpieces from a mailing machine used with the system onto a feed deck, where the mailpieces are stacked against a stacking wall in the system. To properly handle mailpieces including window envelopes, the length of the pressure pad is selected in accordance with the invention such that it effectively deflects each mailpiece to land beyond the window part of any window envelope preceding thereto on the feed deck. Advantageously, the risk of having the mailpiece getting caught by an edge of the window part, resulting in a congestion, is avoided. In addition, among other things, a catch nub is included in the pressure pad for hooking onto a stub shaft mounted on the frame of the system. The nub hooks onto the stub shaft when the pressure pad is raised to allow it to stay in the raised position. Moreover, to effectively attach the stacking system to the mailing machine, the stacking system provides thereunder a hook having a C-shaped opening. The hook is used to be slidably engaged with a support knob underneath the mailing machine through the opening. The resulting engagement aligns the mailing machine with the stacking system to allow proper feeding of the mailpieces from the mailing machine to the stacking system, notwithstanding the vibrations occasioned by the operation of the mailing machine and the stacking system.

Mailpiece stacking system and method

Printing postage with cryptographic clocking security

Proof of postage digital franking

An apparatus for providing universal mobility to a seat or chair and imparting a floatationlike sensation thereto, the apparatus includes a base operably positioned beneath the seat and members interconnecting the base and seat for providing universal mobility and a floatation effect to the seat.

Apparatus for providing mobility and floatation-like effect to a seat or

The present invention is directed to a therapeutic device, comprising a generally onion shaped body having a relatively elongated end and a relatively enlarged bulb end on which an individual sits, wherein the body is of a size and configuration to enable a range of various aged and sized individuals to sit on the enlarged bulb end and grasp the elongated end and the body is constructed of an outer shell of a sheet-like material and a cushion insert so that substantially all surface contact points of the body are of a predetermined softness, the shell has a fastenable section which readily opens and closes, wherein the insert is readily insertable through the fastenable section and disposable within the shell such that the fastenable section is closed and the shell encloses the insert and imparts the onion shape thereto.

Therapeutic device

An apparatus for producing items in selected configurations and a system, and method for controlling the same. More particularly, an apparatus for producing mail pieces and a system and method for controlling it to produce mail pieces in a variety of configurations are disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser printer and folding sealing apparatus controlled by a data processor. The folder sealer apparatus combines sheets printed by the laser printer with pre-printed sheets and envelope forms, which also may be printed by the laser printer or may be windowed envelopes, folds the sheets as necessary and folds and seals the envelope form about the folded sheets to produce a mail piece. A user inputs a configuration for the mail piece which is translated by the data processor into a data structure and transmitted to the controller of the folder sealer apparatus. The controller controls devices comprised in the laser printer and the folder sealer by executing state routines in accordance with the data structure to produce the mail piece in the defined configuration. Concurrently the data processor transmits text from an output file to the laser printer for printing on printed sheets and envelope forms. The data processor also controls the laser printer to print an address for the mail piece either on an envelope form or on a printed sheet in a position where it will be visible through the envelope. Thus the apparatus is controlled to process an output file stored in the data processor into a mail run having a selected configuration.

System and method for producing items in selected configurations

This invention relates to a cam cleat device for use in gripping rope, lines, or the like. The device includes a base plate having a rope receiving surface portion along and against which the rope travels, a cam pivotally connected to the base plate, and a plurality of protrusions extending generally radially outwardly from the surface of the cam. The protrusions provide an improved bite when in operation so as to prevent rotational as well as translational movement of the rope when gripped.

Cam cleat

An apparatus for producing items in selected configurations and a system and method for controlling the same. More particularly, an apparatus for producing mail pieces and a system and method for controlling it to produce mail pieces in a variety of configurations are disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser printer and folding sealing apparatus controlled by a data processor. The folder sealer apparatus combines sheets printed by the laser printer with pre-printed sheets and envelope forms, which also may be printed by the laser printer or may be windowed envelopes, folds the sheets as necessary and folds and seals the envelope form about the folded sheets to produce a mail piece. A user inputs a configuration for the mail piece which is translated by the data processor into a data structure and transmitted to the controller of the folder sealer apparatus. The controller controls devices comprised in the laser printer and the folder sealer by executing state routines in accordance with the data structure to produce the mail piece in the defined configuration. Concurrently the data processor transmits text from an output file to the laser printer for printing on printed sheets and envelope forms. The data processor also controls the laser printer to print an address for the mail piece either on an envelope form or on a printed sheet in a position where it will be visible through the envelope. Thus the apparatus is controlled to process an output file stored in the data processor into a mail run having a selected configuration. A mechanism and method for opening the side flaps of an envelope form is also disclosed.

Flap opening mechanism and method

A stamp dispensing apparatus receives and transmits serial data between itself and a central computer. The data from the computer includes stamp dispensing commands as well as supervisory commands in a predetermined serial data format. The stamp dispensing apparatus comprises interface means for receiving the data, decoding the data, and actuating a stamp dispensing mechanism. The apparatus includes an LED-photodetector mechanism for detecting stamp perforations to allow counting of the number of stamps dispensed. Dispensing errors are detected and reported back to the computer.

Stamp dispenser

A system is described for controllably ventilating garments such as protective suits and jackets, especially garments which are worn by the occupants or operators of moving vehicles such as motorcycles, bicycles and some aircraft. Vents are provided in the front of the garment for controllably admitting air into the garment by means of flaps or other devices which cover the vents and which can incrementally be removed to control the amount of air entering the garment. Additional vents are provided at the back and sides of the garment to allow the exiting of air and prevent billowing of the garment due to air being trapped inside. The various vents which are provided in the garment are covered with air permeable material such as mesh which advantageously is stretchable to provide greater flexibility to the garment both while it is being worn and to facilitate putting on and taking off. The ventilation system of the invention can be used in conjunction with garments of various configurations and materials including leathers, woven fabrics and waterproof material.

Variable ventilation system for garments

A control system for a collator or a combined collator-set finishing machine stops the machine in a home position in case of a sheet feeding malfunction or operation of a stop switch. A collator has a plurality of bins for storing sheets that are to be collated into sets. Sheet feeders move from a home position to engage and eject a sheet from each bin onto a conveyor for delivery to a jogger and stapler. Sensors are placed along the path of the sheets from the bins to the jogger for detecting a sheet feeding malfunction. A timing cam switch turns at a predetermined rate in timed sequence with the collating, jogging and set finishing operations. The timing cam actuates timing switches that cooperate with the sensors and with operator controlled switches to stop the machines in its home position. The stapler is also responsive to the sensors and is disabled when a sheet feeding malfunction is detected and is not enabled until the next cycle and may be operated independently of the collator.

Growing community of inventors

Norwalk, CT, United States of America

Michael A Brown