Abstract:
A fan equipped with an unfolded fan blade adapted for mailing without requiring carriage in an envelope or packet. The unfolded fan comprises an unfolded fan blade, a handle attached to the unfolded fan blade, and indicia printed on one side of the unfolded fan blade. The handle is adapted to stiffen and reinforce the unfolded fan blade. The indicia define an area to attach or print postage and an area to write or print an address, and an optional area to write or print a message. In one embodiment, the handle is in the form of an elongated male member and an elongated female receptor member. In another embodiment, a method of mailing fans is provided, comprising the steps of providing a non-folded fan adapted for direct mailing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   SEQUENCE LISTING 
   Not Applicable. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to hand-held fans. More specifically, the invention is a mailable fan with a non-folded flat blade. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Promotional products such as gift pens with company logo, diaries, calculators, crystal, calendars, and notepads are used to market and promote business products and services. Promotional material is often forwarded through the mail system such as the U.S. Post Office. Promotional material sent through the mail is often carried in dedicated envelopes such as printed envelopes. The step of inserting promotional material into dedicated envelopes adds cost. Thus, there is a need for promotional material that can be handled by, for example, the U.S. Post Office without requiring special packaging or use of envelopes. 
   Promotional material often lacks utility and hence reinforces the “junk mail” stereotype wherein the addressee liberally throws promotional material into a trash can almost upon receipt. Thus, there is a need for a promotional material that has distinct and separate utility beyond a boring promotional message and therefore less likely to be thrown upon receipt directly into a trash can. 
   In addition, novelty items are of intrinsic interest beyond their exploitation as promotional material to support a marketing effort. A novelty item mailed through, for example, the U.S. Post Office can have an agreeable effect upon receipt by the addressee. Thus, there is a need for novelty items that can be mailed directly without requiring packaging such as an envelope. 
   Novelty items such as fans adapted for mailing are known. Such mailable fans often require complicated folding along the fold-lines to enable the fan ready for use. However, fold-lines typically weaken the fan blade. To offset this problem a handle is sometimes pivoted to cross over fold lines. Thus, there is a latent need to overcome the problem of fold-lines. 
   A review of the prior art known to the Applicants follows. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,231,104, issued Jun. 26, 1917 to F. H. Waggoner, describes a fan that can be folded to make a flat, thin, parcel, so that it may be sent through the mail as a mailing card. In one embodiment, the &#39;104 fan comprises a fan section A, and a handle D, wherein section A is folded to form two sections B and C. The handle is pivotally attached to the fan section C and in normal use lies across the fold separating sections B and C to enable the &#39;104 device to be used as a fan. To mail the &#39;104 device, fan section A is folded and the handle is positioned to lie between sections B and C. The presence of a fold between sections B and C presents a line of weakness such that when the &#39;104 device is unfolded and used as a fan, section A has a tendency to buckle along the fold-line separating sections B and C. Thus, there is a need for an improved fan system that does not use a fold line. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,261,482, issued Apr. 2, 1918 to Brewington, describes a convertible post-card and fan comprising a sheet foldable on a central line to form front and rear folds, and a handle bar pivoted to each fold near the fold line; the bars are adapted to form a fan handle. The fold-line weakens the &#39;482 device. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,052,180, issued Aug. 25, 1936 to Klie, describes a fan having a combined handle and blade formed from a single piece of thin cardboard. The handle portion is described as providing a natural grip and serves to distribute bending strain on the blade. The &#39;180 device is not adapted to be sent through the mail. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,173,800, issued Feb. 29, 1916, to Hayes, describes a fan comprising a foldable blade and a set of intermediate bars pivotally connected to each other. While the &#39;800 device is adapted to be sent through the mail, the intermediate bars add complexity to the device. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,346,596, issued Apr. 11, 1944 to Martin, describes an article comprising a sheet of paper provided with fold-lines along which it is foldable from an extended flat form to the size of a post card that can be refolded into a fan having a handle. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,630, issued Oct. 5, 1982 to Wallo, describes a hand fan assembly that comprises a fan body having an elongate handle socket extending inwardly from one edge of the fan body, and an elongate handle having a hand-grip portion and an extension stem projecting from the grip portion and adapted to be received in a socket. The fan body of the &#39;630 device is adapted to be formed by folding panels together along a score line which may have a cut-out to receive the handle stem into the socket. In a kit package the fan body and the handle are enclosed in an envelope with the handle extending across a major dimension of the body. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,126,797, issued Feb. 2, 1915 to Licheter, describes a fan comprising a cardboard blade adapted to receive inscriptions, and a cardboard handle embracing the lower side of the blade. The handle is described as conforming in profile to the palm of a hand and having an opening suited to receive a thumb. The &#39;797 patent is not suitable for mailing since it lacks printed information necessary to allow a person to successfully mail the &#39;797 fan. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 874,957, issued Dec. 31, 1907 to Godley, describes a jewelry clasp having outer and inner clasp members. The outer clasp member has a cylindrical bore extending from one end and with slots extending through the walls of the outer clasp member at a point above the end of the bore. The forward and rear walls of the slots are inclined toward the forward, or open, end of the bore. The inner clasp member is adapted to be rotatably and slidably supported within the cylindrical bore, and heads projecting from the inner clasp member, the heads having independent inclined faces for engagement, respectively, with the forward and rearward inclined walls of the slots. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,464, issued Apr. 24, 1979 to Tracy, describes a buckle that includes separable cooperating receptacle and clasp members. The receptacle member includes a pair of locking slots formed in opposing sides thereof. The clasp member includes a pair of resilient arms having locking tabs thereon for releasably engaging the locking slots of the receptacle member. The receptacle member also includes a pair of grooves for slidably engaging cooperating raised ridges formed on a central arm of the clasp member for guiding said clasp member during insertion into and removal from the receptacle member. The central arm of the clasp member also includes a pair of laterally extending edges for defining a limit to the inward bending of the resilient arms. The receptacle also includes a belt end termination member including a slide member for adjusting the length of a belt looped around said slide member. The clasp member also includes a base member joining the three arms thereof and including a through slot for terminating a belt end or the like. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,515, issued May 2, 1989 to Wolterstorff, Jr., describes a safety buckle that is comprised of two, releasable, interlocking portions. One portion has outward flexing lateral arms with tabs connected to their leading ends. Positioned between the lateral arms is a central safety arm that flexes vertically and has a latching hook connected to its leading end. The arms flex slightly to facilitate insertion into the receiving portion. When fully inserted, the tabs of the lateral arm protrude into corresponding openings located on opposite sides of the receiving portion whereas the hook of the safety arm locks into a corresponding slot located on the back of the receiving portion. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,557,276, issued Oct. 13, 1925 to Stebbings, describes a fan that is designed to rest against the underside of the crown of a hat. The &#39;276 hat fan comprises a fan element, a handle member slidably mounted on the fan for movement in a plane parallel with the plane of the fan. A yielding device is disposed between the fan and the handle to move the handle to an extended position. 
   None of the above patents and publications, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A fan equipped with an unfolded fan blade adapted for mailing without requiring carriage in an envelope or packet. The unfolded fan comprises an unfolded fan blade, a handle attached to the unfolded fan blade, and indicia printed on one side of the unfolded fan blade. The handle is adapted to stiffen and reinforce the unfolded fan blade. The indicia define an area to attach or print postage and an area to write or print an address, and an optional area to write or print a message. In one embodiment, the handle is in the form of an elongated male member and an elongated female receptor member. In another embodiment, a method of mailing fans is provided, comprising the steps of providing a non-folded fan adapted for direct mailing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  shows a top view of one side of a mailable fan according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1B  is a bottom view of the mailable fan of  FIG. 1A . 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the mailable fan of  FIG. 1A . 
       FIG. 3  is a partial cut-away top view of an extendable handle fitted to the mailable fan of  FIG. 1A  according to the present invention, the extendable handle is shown in its extended mode of operation. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial cut-away top view of an extendable handle fitted to the mailable fan of  FIG. 1A  according to the present invention, the extendable handle is shown in its non-extended mode of operation. 
       FIG. 5  is a section view of the mailable fan of  FIG. 1A  along line  5 — 5  according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 6A  is a top view of one side of another mailable fan according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 6B  is a bottom view of the mailable fan of  FIG. 6A . 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of one side of another mailable fan according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of one side of a yet another mailable fan according to the present invention. 
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention is directed to hand-held fans. More specifically, the invention is a mailable fan with a non-folded flat blade. 
   It should be understood that the term “mailable fan” refers to a fan that has been rendered suitable for mailing through, for example, the U.S. Postal Service according to the present invention, i.e., the mailable fan of the present invention comprises a flat unfolded fan blade that remains unfolded and flat both during passage through the mailing system and when used as a fan to, for example, cool a person&#39;s face. The mailable fan of the present invention does not require packaging into, for example, an envelope; the mailable fan of the present invention includes sufficient indicia to provide a post-card like face on one side of the unfolded fan blade. The terms “unfolded” and “non-folded” should be regarded as equivalent terms. 
   The mailable fan of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral  100 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5  which show a mailable fan  100  according the first embodiment of the present invention. The mailable fan  100  comprises an unfolded fan blade  120  and an extendable handle  140 . The unfolded fan blade  120  is substantially flat and has two opposite sides  160   a  and  160   b ; sides  160   a  and  160   b  can be regarded respectively as the top and bottom sides of unfolded fan blade  120 . The unfolded fan blade  120  is formed in any desired shape so long as the size of the blade  120  conforms to postage regulations such as, but not limited to, the regulations of the U.S. Postal Service. 
   Still referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 , side  160   a  includes indicia  180  that defines three areas  200 ,  220 , and optional area  240 , which collectively define a postcard  260 . Specifically, side  160   a  area  200  to attach postage, area  220  to write or print an address, and optional area  240  to write a message. The message area  240  is optional and therefore can be left out of the postcard  260 . 
   One or more optional pictures, advertisements, graphics, text  280  are optionally printed, alone or in combination, on side  160   b . The extendable handle  140  is shown attached to side  160   a  between optional message area  240  and the address area  220 . However, it should be understood that the extendable handle  140  can be attached to either side  160   a  or  160   b ; in addition, the optional text and/or graphics  280  can be printed on either side  160   a  or  160   b , the only issue is that the indicia defining postcard  260  is printed in such a manner that it is clearly visible to a mail worker and is preferably printed on the opposite side of blade  120  from the optional text/graphics  280 . 
   It should be understood that the extendable handle  140  could be attached to either side  160   a  or  160   b  of unfolded fan blade  120 . It should also be understood that the term “postage” is intended to mean adhesive stamps or printed indicia representing postal fees. 
   The extendable handle  140  comprises an elongated female receptacle member  300  and an elongated male member  320 . The female receptacle member  300  and male member  320  can be made of any suitable material such as resilient plastic formed by pressure molding or similar method; examples of suitable plastic include, but are not limited to, plastic molded from Vinyl, Delrin or Velcron; Velcron has a spring characteristic, and can withstand repeated use. However, the female receptacle member  300  and elongated male member  320  can be made of other materials such as, but not limited to, rubber and/or metal. 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 1A to 5 , the female receptacle member  300  has a generally rectangular cross-section, which in turn defines an interior bore  340  of general rectangular cross-section sized to slidably accommodate male member  320 . It should be understood that the overall cross-section shape of the female receptacle member  300  and bore  340  can vary; for example, the female receptacle member  300  and bore  340  could have a semi-circular cross-section or part thereof so long as the contact area between the female receptacle member  300  and side  160   a  (or side  160   b ) is sufficient to promote or maintain stiffness in the unfolded fan blade  120 . 
   Referring particularly to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , the elongated male member  320  has opposite proximal and distal ends  460  and  480 , respectively. The distal end  480  has lateral opposite facing latching arms  500   a  and  500   b , which in turn have latching tabs  520   a  and  520   b , respectively. The latching arms  500   a  and  500   b  are designed to flex slightly outwards to enable the latching tabs  520   a  and  520   b  to couple to latch slots  440   a  and  440   b  formed in the side walls  400   a  and  400   b , respectively. Conversely, the latching arms  500   a  and  500   b  are also designed to flex slightly inwards in response to sideways pressure to enable the latching tabs  520   a  and  520   b  to be decoupled from the latch slots  440   a  and  440   b , respectively. 
   Still referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , distal end  480  also includes a T-shaped, stabilizing central arm  540 ; specifically, the T-shaped stabilizing central arm  540  adds stability to the elongated male member  320  as it is slid forward or backward inside bore  340  of the female receptacle member  300 . The length of the elongated member  320  is preferably about the same length of the bore  340 ; but it should be understood that the length of elongated male member  320  might be less than that of the bore  340 . 
   An optional overlapping grip member  560  is attached to the proximal end  460 ; the optional grip member  560  enables a person to pull and push the elongated male member  320  outwards and inwards, respectively, along bore  340 . The optional grip member  560  is wider than the proximal end  460  and can prevent the elongated member  320  traveling too far into the bore  340  particularly if the elongated member  320  is shorter in length than the receptacle&#39;s bore  340 ; however, the T-shaped stabilizing central arm  540  can also act as a stop if the elongated member  320  is of sufficient length to allow the T-shaped stabilizing central arm  540  to about against closed distal end  380  of female receptacle member  300 . Optional opposite facing handholds  580   a  and  580   b  are located proximate to the distal end  480  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 3 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , the female receptacle member  300  has proximal and distal ends  360  and  380 , respectively, opposite sidewalls  400   a  and  400   b , and opposite facing top and bottom walls  420   a  and  420   b  (see  FIG. 5 ). Proximal end  360  is open and distal end  380  is closed (see, e.g.,  FIG. 3 ). A pair of coupling latch slots  440   a  and  440   b  are respectively positioned in facing relation in the side walls  400   a  and  400   b  near the proximal end  360  of female receptacle member  300 . The latch slots  440   a  and  440   b  are sized to accommodate latch tabs  520   a  and  520   b  that form part of elongated male member  320 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 5 , any suitable adhesive compound such as a layer of glue  600  is used to attach bottom wall  420   b  to side  160   a  of unfolded fan blade  120  and thereby reinforce the structural integrity of the blade  120 . The glue  600  can be applied to either the surface of side  160   a  and/or to the bottom wall  420   b . The area of bottom wall  420   b  provides good contact area between the extendable handle  140  and the unfolded fan blade  120 . 
   The elongated member  320  is prevented from exiting fully from the bore  340  by the action of the latching tabs  520   a  and  520   b  that cooperatively couple to the latch slots  440   a  and  440   b , respectively, in sides  400   a  and  400   b  of female receptacle member  300 . Latching tabs  520   a  and  520   b  are decoupled from the latch slots  440   a  and  440   b  by applying pressure to the latching tabs  520   a  and  520   b.    
     FIG. 6A  shows a further embodiment of the mailable fan  100  according to the invention. In this embodiment, the mailable fan  100  (represented by the alpha-numeral “ 100   a ”) takes the form of an unfolded fan blade  120  of any preferred shape. The unfolded fan blade  120  has two opposite sides  160   a  and  160   b . Indicia  180  partitions side  160   a  into three areas  200 ,  220 , and optional  240 , which collectively define a postcard  260 . Specifically, postcard  260  comprises an area  200  to attach or print postage, an optional area  240  to write a message, and an area  220  to write or print an address. A picture or advertisement  280  (not shown) is printed on side  160   b . The non-extendable handle  620  is shown attached to side  160   a  between areas  220  and  240 . It should be understood that the non-extendable handle  620  could be attached to either side  160   a  or  160   b  of unfolded fan blade  120 . 
     FIG. 7  shows a further embodiment of the mailable fan  100  according to the invention; In this embodiment, the mailable fan  100  (represented by the alpha-numeral “ 100   b ”) takes the form of an unfolded fan blade  120  of any preferred shape. In this embodiment, the mailable fan  100  takes the form of an unfolded fan blade  120  of any preferred shape and a non-extendable handle  620   a  much like that described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,126,797 issued Feb. 2, 1915 to M. Lichter (the “Lichter &#39;797 patent”), however the Lichter &#39;797 device is not suitable for mailing absent packing in a suitable envelop or packaging; the Lichter &#39;797 patent is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 7 , a shortened non-extendable handle  620   a  has outward extending lateral arms  640 , approximately crescent shaped, and adapted to engaged with and be rigidly united to the lower sides and edges of the unfolded fan blade  120 . The unfolded fan blade  120  has two opposite sides  160   a  and  160   b . Indicia  180  partitions side  160   a  into three areas  200 ,  220 , and optional  240 , which collectively define a postcard  260 . Specifically, postcard  260  comprises an area  200  to attach or print postage, an optional area  240  to write a message, and an area  220  to write or print an address. A picture or advertisement  280  (not shown) is printed on side  160   b . The non-extendable handle  620   a  is shown attached to side  160   a  between areas  220  and  240 . It should be understood that the non-extendable handle  620   a  could be attached to either side  160   a  or  160   b  of unfolded fan blade  120 . 
     FIG. 8  shows a further embodiment of the mailable fan  100  according to the invention. In this embodiment, the mailable fan  100  (represented by the alpha-numeral “ 100   c ”) takes the form of an unfolded fan blade  120  of any preferred shape and a non-extendable handle  620   b  that is similar to the handle shown in  FIG. 7 , except that the handle  620   b  is somewhat longer than handle  620   a ; non-extendable handle  620   b  has outward extending lateral arms  640 . The unfolded fan blade  120  has two opposite sides  160   a  and  160   b . Indicia  180  partitions side  160   a  into three areas  200 ,  220 , and  240 , which collectively define a postcard  260 . Specifically, postcard  260  comprises an area  200  to attach a stamp, an optional area  240  to write a message, and an area  220  to write or print an address. A picture or advertisement  280  (not shown) is printed on side  160   b . The non-extendable handle  620  is shown attached to side  160   a  between areas  220  and  240 . It should be understood that the non-extendable handle  620  could be attached to either side  160   a  or  160   b  of unfolded fan blade  120 . 
   Thus, the mailable fan  100  of the present invention serves the dual function of a postal card and a hand-held fan. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.