US005948728A
Ulllted States Patent [19]
[11] Patent Number:
5,948,728
Patton et al.
[45]
Sep. 7, 1999
[54]
Date of Patent:
KIT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING
4,989,508
2/1991 King .
IMAGES ()N A MUG
5,019,193
5/1991 Arammi .
5,246,518
9/1993 Hale .
[75] Inventors: David L. Patton, Webster; Raymond E. Wess; Holley; Ralph L. Piccinino,
Jr‘, Rush, an of N'Y
gale; t 1 ’
’
5,302,223 5,424,141
on“ e a‘ '
4/1994 Hale . 6/1995 Croner.
[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY
Primary Examiner—Bruce H. Hess Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Frank Pincelli
Apr‘ 17’ 1997
A method and kit for transferring personalized images on
[22]
Flled:
[51] [52]
Int. Cl? ........................... .. B41M 5/035; B41M 5/38 us. Cl. ........................ .. 503/227; 428/195; 428/913;
428/914; 503/201; 156/235
for receiving a predetermined image thereon capable of
[58]
Field of Search ............................... .. 8/471; 156/235;
being transferred Onto a mug- The kit may also include a
503/227, 201; 428/195, 913, 914
mailer having means for holding and containing the order of
mugs 9r similar-type articles The kit includes an instruction and Order entry Sheet for Selecting a desired transfer medium
entry and a customer image Which is to be incorporated into
[56]
References Cited
said transfer medium. A clamp is provided for clamping of
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
the transfer medium onto said mug While in a heated environment
3,030,004
4/1962 Pieronek et a1. .
4,758,952
7/1988 Harris, Jr. et a1. .
8 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets
[10
U.S. Patent
Sep.7,1999
Sheet 1 of 18
5,948,728
U.S. Patent
Sep.7,1999
Sheet 2 of 18
5,948,728
19
HA E
HAS A
PUREW S
BORDER BEEN YES
(57
SELECT BORDER #
r22
1
RECORD CHOICE ON
REYIEYgFCSINTENTS
ORDER FORM (24
59
USING TEMPLATE
(67
DETEARAXéNEEATFHEEAMUG
CHOOSE FONT STYLE I
NO
68 \ CHOOSE FONT SIZE I
69/- RECORD CHOICE ON ORDER FORM
CHOOSE YOUR IMAGE OR IMAGES
I
CHOOSE A FONT PLACEMENT RECORD PLACEMENT ON ORDER FORM
B(€)HRODOE%EOAR
72 \ CREATE YOUR MESSAGE
NO BORDER
73\
RECORD MESSAGE ON ORDER FORM
74
F36
E
POSITION YOUR IMAGE(S)
I
YES
CSF‘IZSI-ICA
USINGgERI/LEéILINES
(75 CHOOSE GRAPHIC # I
NO
(41
76\ POSITION GRAPHIC I
FIT YOUR IMAGE(S) TO
77\ RECORD GRAPHIC # AND
THE MUG IMAGE AREA
PLACEMENT ON ORDER
(47 RECORD YOUR IMAGES ON
FORM 78
?
STEP 24
NO
FIG_ 3
PLACE YOUR SELECTED IMAGES AND ORDER 79 FORM IN THE MAILER r
U.S. Patent
Sep.7,1999
Sheet 3 of 18
INSTRUCTION SHEET XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX . XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXX . XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
FIG. 4
5,948,728
U.S. Patent
Sep.7,1999
Sheet 4 of 18
MAXIMUM MUG IMAGE AREA
FIG. 5
lit - !
I I
FIG. 6
5,948,728
U.S. Patent
Sep.7,1999
Sheet 5 of 18
5,948,728
U.S. Patent
Sep.7,1999
Sheet 6 of 18
5,948,728
.UEm.
Il/!
U.S. Patent
Sep.7,1999
Sheet 7 of 18
5,948,728
1H1 123 ,‘4 5 6 7 8 9101112131415161718
\48
FIG.9A
U.S. Patent
Sep.7,1999
Sheet 8 of 18
5,948,728
T
I -| I
26
I + I
i
.1
79367,15.40.4.1l
Il
10 12 14 16 18 2O 22 24 26 28 3O
\ 48
FIG. 9B
U.S. Patent
Sep.7,1999
Sheet 9 of 18
5,948,728
ORDER FORM 1. NAME:
2. ADDRESS: 3. MUG TYPE #3
4. PRINT/NEGATIVE #2
5. IMAGE LOCATION #1 A B C IMAGE LOCATION #2 A B C 6. BORDER:
YES_. NO_ BORDER CODE __
7. FONT:
NO —
YES _
FONT CODE _
FONT SIZE 8. MESSAGE:
PDI13 l/DIPA:24 v3. ?“12 l‘
mli l
9. MESSAGE PLACEMENT:
L50 FIG. 10
U.S. Patent
Sep.7,1999
Sheet 11 of 18
5,948,728
BORDER CHOICES:
><><><><><><
GOJ
B1f60a
.D
DUE-HD D szJ
63-)
B3 f62a
B4 fGSa
FIG. 14
FONT CHOICES:
CAESAR F1
84200!“ F2
MARKET F3
TIMES F4
FIG. 15
7
FONT SIZES: X1
x2
FIG. 16
13 20
U.S. Patent
Sep.7,1999
Sheet 13 of 18
5,948,728
GRAPHIC CHOICES: 90a
GRAPHICS PLACEMENT:
S1, S2, S3, 84 F"?
1"".
1 S1 1
; S2 1
Inn‘
F‘- l
: S3 :
: S4 :
FIG. 20
U.S. Patent
Sep.7,1999
Sheet 14 of 18
5,948,728
[86 MUG TRANSFER MAILER
DAVE'S PHOTOFINISHING 123 ANYWHERE STREET
ANYWHERE, NY 99999
RETURN TO:
FIG. 21
U.S. Patent
Sep.7,1999
Sheet 15 of 18
5,948,728
81
In 95 84
93
U.S. Patent
Sep. 7, 1999
96
87
89
Sheet 16 0f 18
/81
91
n ‘ “Himi ‘ I pl Mum" 9 95 84 \ 93
5,948,728
82
FIG. 23
U.S. Patent
Sep.7,1999
124
Sheet 17 of 18
12 6
134
100
FIG. 24
5,948,728
U.S. Patent
Sep.7,1999 136 '
Sheet 18 of 18
5,948,728
—'___l
POSI'éION USIN TH ggugéMAGNEésG) H EN
PURQITASE
IMAGE AREA TEMPLATE
"\154
|
THE PROGRAM SHOWS HOW
"138
IIAGEBIIIBIRBRW
ON A MuG BY
REV'EV(‘§§2|'¥TENTS
THE TEMPLATE
f- 140
158
HAS A
INSTALL PROGRAM
YES
BORDER BEEN
( 160
IN OOMPuTER
SELECT BORDER
r142
GRAPHIC
FOLLOW THE SELECTED PROGRAM MENU PROMPTs
r144
(164
OBTAIN DIGITAL
OHOOsE FONT STYLE
IMAGES
I
(146
166’\ CHOOSE FONT SIZE l
USING PROGRAM CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE MUG IMAGE AREA TEMPLATE
168T\ CHOOSE A FONT PLACEMENT l
AT ANY TIME YOUR CHOICES CAN BE PREvIEwED vIA THE OOMPuTER MONITOR DISPLAY
170\ CREATE YOUR MESSAGE 172
CHOOSE A
,
GRAPHIO
(174
CHOOSE GRAPHIO # NO
' 176 ”\ POSITION GRAPHIC ___|
PRINT YOLIR SELECTED
IMAGEs TRANsPERs /—17s USING PRINTER AND TRANSFER MEDIA
OHOOsEA
BORDER OR NO BORDER
(182
180
DO YOU WANT N T
ATgA'rjlgRFERW716 184
END
YES
GO BACK TO OBTAIN
DIGITAL IMAGES sTEP 144
FIG. 25
5,948,728 1
2 c) a clamp for clamping of the transfer medium onto the
KIT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING IMAGES ON A MUG
mug; and d) subjecting the mug to a sufficient heat so as to transfer
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
the image onto the mug.
The present invention relates to providing images on mugs and similar-type articles, and more particularly, to a kit
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention Will become apparent from the folloWing speci? cation When taken in conjunction With the draWings in Which
and method for providing personalized images on mugs and
similar-type articles.
like elements are commonly enumerated and in Which:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an elevational vieW of a mug for use in the kit
Current methods of providing personaliZed images on
according to the present invention capable of receiving
mugs and similar-type articles require relatively expensive
sublimation dye transfer;
equipment. In particular, a consumer typically goes to a third
party Where an image is electronically taken through the use of a video camera, and is then produced onto a transfer medium. The image on the transfer medium is then trans ferred to the mug through the use of a relatively expensive mug press, such as illustrated in US. Pat. Nos. 5,019,193 and 5,296,081. For a typical individual consumer, it is not cost effective to oWn these expensive types of equipment. Furthermore, an ordinary consumer Would typically not
according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is an instruction sheet included in the kit according
to the present invention; FIG. 5 is a template of the image receiving area of the mug of FIGS. 1 and 2; FIG. 6 is an illustration of a horiZontal customer image to
have the skills or knoWledge to produce high quality images for transferring onto a mug using this equipment In addition, there is relatively limited opportunity for the consumer to personaliZe or add creativity to the image to be transferred
be placed on the mug; FIG. 7 an illustration of a vertical customer image to be 25
to a mug Without substantial cost.
Thus, there is a need to provide a system for alloWing consumers to easily provide personaliZed images on mugs and similar-types articles Without the need for expensive equipment, interaction With a third party, or specialiZed
Applicants have invented a kit and method Whereby
placed on the mug; FIG. 8 is schematic illustration of the image of FIG. 6 as to hoW it Would be combined With the schematic illustration
of FIG. 5; FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate various location templates for
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
knoWledge and training.
FIG. 2 is a top plan vieW of the mug of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the method of using the kit
15
siZing and placement of an image using the template of FIG.
5; FIG. 10 is a plan vieW of an order form provided in the
kit of FIG. 1; 35
FIG. 11 is an illustration of an image representation obtained from one of the templates of FIGS. 9A or 9B as
consumers can, in their oWn home, design and create cus tomiZed images that can be transferred onto mugs or other
placed on the template of FIG. 5;
similar like objects.
obtained from one of the templates of FIGS. 9A or 9B as
In accordance With one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit for producing images on a mug. The
placed on the template of FIG. 5; FIG. 13 is an illustration of tWo image representations
FIG. 12 is an illustration of a second image representation
kit comprising: a) a mug; b) at least one transfer medium for receiving an image thereon from a printer; and
obtained from the templates of FIGS. 9A or 9B as placed on
the template of FIG. 5; FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of several type 45
desired border pattern; FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of several types of
c) computer softWare program for controlling a computer for manipulation of an image that is to be placed on the
transfer medium by the printer. In accordance With another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit for producing images on a mug. The kit comprising: a) instruction and order entry sheet for selecting a desired transfer medium for receiving a predetermined image thereon capable of being transferred onto a mug; and b) a mailer having means for holding and containing the order and a customer image Which is to be incorporated into the transfer medium. In accordance With yet another aspect of the present
border designs from Which the consumer may select a
fonts from Which the consumer may select a desired font; FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of various font siZes from Which the consumer may select a desired siZe font;
55
FIG. 17 is a representation of the template of FIG. 5 illustrating the various areas on the template Where various text may be placed; FIG. 18 is a text template that can be used by the consumer for siZing the message for the selected font siZe that is located on the customer order form; FIG. 19 is a schematic representation of several types of graphics from Which the consumer may select a desired
invention, there is provided a method for producing images
graphic;
on a mug, comprising the steps of:
FIG. 20 is a representation of the template of FIG. 5 illustrating the various areas on the template Where various
a) providing a mug; b) providing a transfer medium having an image thereon capable of being transferred to the mug, the medium having instructions thereon for use and having complex siZe template outlines for use in siZing the temperature of the transfer medium to the mug;
graphics of FIG. 19 may be placed; FIG. 21 is a schematic representation of a mailer provided 65
in the kit according to the present invention; FIG. 22 is a perspective vieW of a clamp in the unclamped position for use in transferring an image to the mug of FIG.
