Patent Publication Number: US-2004045203-A1

Title: Matching image characteristics of stamps and personal images to aesthetically fit into a personal postal product

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention relates to an article and system used for creating and printing of customized personal image with an area designated for affixing a postal product. The area bounded by border created using an image characteristic of the personal image and the postal product image to have the postal product aesthetically blend with the personal image.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] In 1982, a Texas firm called American Discount Stamps proposed to combine postage stamps with advertising matter. A gummed stamp was affixed to a 2-inch by 3-inch label bearing a printed advertisement that had adhesive on the back. Users would affix the entire label containing the affixed stamp to an envelope or parcel. Ken Lawrence discusses this in his book,  Linn &#39;s Plate Number Coll Handbook . The system is disclosed U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,706.  
       [0003] A very similar postal product is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,573 were a personal image is printed as a separate sticker and adhered directly to an official stamp in a designated area. As described in articles in the hobby press the 5,423,573 patent is almost identical to a scheme from the 19 th  century. From 1876 to 1886, the U.S. Post Office Department permitted so-called advertising collars to be printed around the embossed stamps on stamped envelopes as discussed in.  
       [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,605 discloses creating a postage stamp using an electronic camera to capture an image of oneself via a vending machine. Likewise U.S. Pat. No. 5,923,406 discloses producing a postage stamp using an electronic camera and a vending machine. In both cases a personal image is captured by an electronic camera in a kiosk and printed in a designated area on and official postal product.  
       [0005] There are several problems that are not addressed using these methods. The first problem is no attempt is made to designate an area where an official postal product may be placed which has been modified based on an image characteristic of the official postal product. The second is no attempt is made to designate an area where an official postal product may be placed which has been modified based on an image characteristic of the associated personal image. Another problem is the placement of the official postal product in the exact area designated. If the official postal product is not positioned accurately, the aesthetics may be degraded. Yet another problem is if the image characteristic chosen for example color is not properly matched, the mismatch will detrimentally affect the appearance of the personal postal product.  
       [0006] The present invention provides a method and system for making a postal product assembly by obtaining a personal image and determining at least one characteristic the image. Obtaining an official postal product (stamp) having at least one characteristic and modifying at least one characteristic of the personal image in response to at least one know characteristic of the postal product.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a postal assembly wherein a first planner support structure having a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface having a personal image and the bottom surface having an adhesive layer. The personal image having a designated area where an official postal product may be placed which has been modified based on one or more image characteristics of the personal image and the stamp.  
       [0008] In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of making a personal postal product comprises obtaining a both a personal image and an official postal product such as a stamp, determining at least one characteristic of both the personal image and the stamp image. Modifying the personal image in relationship to that characteristic to create an aesthetically pleasing designated area on the personal image for the stamp.  
       [0009] These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010] The file of this patent contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of the patent with color drawings will be provided by the Patent and Trademark Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee. The colors in the color drawings have been modified to highlight certain effects.  
     [0011] In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:  
     [0012]FIG. 1 is a plan view of an envelope affixed with a personal image and an official postal image made in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0013]FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view (in color) of the envelope of FIG. 1;  
     [0014]FIG. 3 is cross-sections view  3 - 3  of FIG. 2;  
     [0015]FIG. 4 a  is an enlarged view (in color) of the personal image and an official postal image illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;  
     [0016]FIG. 4 b  is an enlarged partial view (in color) of the personal postal product having a personal image of FIG. 4 a  illustrating a designated area;  
     [0017]FIG. 4 c  is a view (in color) similar to FIG. 4 b  illustrating a modified personal image;  
     [0018]FIG. 4 d  is an enlarged view of a modified personal postal product made in accordance with the present invention having a personal image;  
     [0019]FIG. 4 e  is an enlarged view of yet another modified the personal postal product made in accordance with the present invention; and  
     [0020]FIG. 4 f  is an enlarged partial view (in color) of a modified personal postal product having a personal image of FIG. 4 a  illustrating a designated area. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0021] Referring now to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a plan view of an envelope  5  affixed with a personal postal product  10  containing a personal image  15  or in the case of a business an advertisement or logo. The personal image  15  is printed on the top surface  55  (as shown in FIG. 4) of a label  20  with an adhesive  65  on the bottom surface  60  so the label can be affixed to the envelope  5 . The postal product  10  having an official postal product  30  consisting of an official postal image  25  printed in accordance to the specifications given in USPS-P-1238D, Jun. 27, 1997. The official postal product  30 , such as a stamp, typically having an adhesive layered on the under side, so it can be affixed to the top surface of the first label  20 .  
     [0022] Now referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated an enlarged partial color view of an envelope  5  affixed with the personal postal product  10 . As previously discussed in FIG. 1 like numerals indicating like parts and operations.  
     [0023] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated across-sections view taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2. The personal postal product  10  comprises label  20  having a first planner support structure  50  having a top surface  55  and a bottom surface  60 . The top surface  55  having a personal image  15 . The first planner support structure  50  also having a bottom surface  60 , having an adhesive layer  65 . The stamp  30  comprises a first planner support structure  72  having a top surface  75  and a bottom surface  80 , the top surface  75  having the official postal image  25  as previously discussed. The bottom surface  80  is adhesively affixed to support structure  50 . In the embodiment illustrated an adhesive layer  85  is provided on the stamp  30 . However, the present invention is not so limited. Adhesive may be manually applied to the stamp  30 . Alternatively an adhesive layer maybe provided on the label&#39;s top surface  55  to secure the stamp  30  thereto.  
     [0024] Now referring to FIG. 4 a , there is illustrated an enlarged color view of the personal postal product  10  illustrating the location of the placement of the stamp  30  thereon. The personal image  15  on the personal postal product  10  having a designated area  35  illustrated by the outer dashed line  40  based on one or more of the characteristics of both the personal image  15  and the official postal image  25  on the stamp  30 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 a , the designated area  35  has a border area  45  which is defined by the line  40  and the line  37  which is spaced a distance “d” internally of area  35 . Border area  45  is provided with a feathering affect so that the official postal image  25  blends aesthetically with the personal image  15 , when the stamp  30  is placed on the label  20  (shown in FIG. 3) having the personal image  15 . The distance “d” is selected such that the stamp  30  may be placed in the designated area  35  minimizing the possibility of having a non-uniform appearance due to misplacement of the stamp  30  in the designated area  35 .  
     [0025] Referring to FIG. 4 b , there is illustrated an enlarged partial color view of the personal postal product  10  having the personal image  15  shown in FIG. 4 a . In the embodiment illustrated the color of the border area  45  of the designated area  35  is matched to one of the colors present in personal image  15  and in the stamp image area  25 . For example the color in the sky  46  of the personal image  15  matches the color of the sky  48  of the stamp image area  25 . The color used to print the border area  45  the designated area  35  may be a complimentary hue or shade of one the colors present in the personal image area  15  and the stamp image area  25 . The color for the border area  45  the designated area  35  can be automatically determined by digitally scanning the personal image  15 . Using an algorithm to identify an appropriate color for the border area  45  from the colors present in the personal image area  15  and the stamp image area  25 . This is accomplished by determining the colorimetric values of the image pixels of the digital file of the personal image area  15  and the stamp image area  25  using standard calorimetric techniques.  
     [0026] Colorimetry is the measurement of color. A set of colorimetric parameters for an object, based on measured calorimetric parameters, can quantify the color of the object as it appears to the average observer under a specific set of viewing conditions. Techniques described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,339 can be used to identify the colorimetric values of the image suitable for use with the present invention. The method previously described also allows the border area  45  to gradually transform from a color in the stamp  30  to a color in the personal image  15 .  
     [0027] As well as being complimentary, alternatively the color of the border area  45  of the designated area  35  may be a contrasting color. Referring to FIG. 4 c , there is illustrated an enlarged partial color view of a modified personal postal product  10  having the personal image  15  shown in FIG. 4 a . As previously discussed in FIG. 4 a  like numerals indicating like parts and operations. In the embodiment illustrated the color of the border area  45  is contrasted to one of the colors present in personal image  15 . For example the color in the sky  46  of the personal image  15  contrasts with the color of the mountain  49  of the stamp image area  25 . As in the case of the matching or complimentary color, the contrasting color for the border area  45  is determined using the calorimetric values of the image pixels of the digital file of the personal image area  15  and the stamp image area  25  using standard calorimetric techniques.  
     [0028] Referring now to FIG. 4 d , there is illustrated an enlarged view of yet another modified personal postal product  10  having a personal image  15  and a designated area  35  for the placement of a stamp  30 . As previously discussed in FIG. 4 a  like numerals indicating like parts and operations. In the embodiment illustrated the pattern of the border area  45  of the designated area  35  is matched to the pattern  90  surrounding the image  95  in the image area  25  of the stamp  30 .  
     [0029] Referring now to FIG. 4 e , there is illustrated an enlarged view of still another modified personal postal product  10  having a personal image  15  and a designated area  35  for the placement of a stamp  30 . As previously discussed in FIG. 4 a  like numerals indicating like parts and operations. In this embodiment the image area  15  of the personal postal product  10  is comprised of a plurality of imagettes  100   a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h , and  i . The dashed line  140  defines the designated area  35 . The imagettes  100   a . . . i  are configured such that they match the relative size of the stamp  30 . The designated around  35  is configured in size and location such that when the stamp  30  is affixed to the top surface  55  of the personal postal product  10  the stamp  30  matches the imagettes  100   a - i . In another aspect of this embodiment some element of the subject matter of the image  25  of the stamp  30  can be chosen to match some element of the subject matter of the imagettes  100   a - i.    
     [0030] Referring to FIG. 4 f , there is illustrated an enlarged partial color view of a modified personal postal product  10  having the personal image  15  shown in FIG. 4 a . Both the color  102  and pattern  105  of the border area  45  of the designated area  35  is matched to one of the colors  115  and the pattern  10  surrounding the official postal image  135  in the image area  125  of the stamp  30 .  
     [0031] The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the scope of the invention, the present invention being deferred by the following claims. For example, the stamp color and/or pattern may be matched to the personal image instead of the personal image being modified to the stamp.  
     Parts List  
     [0032] 5  Envelope  
     [0033] 10  Personal postal product  
     [0034] 15  Personal image  
     [0035] 20  Label  
     [0036] 25  Official postal image  
     [0037] 30  Official postal product (Stamp)  
     [0038] 35  Designated area  
     [0039] 40  Dashed line  
     [0040] 37  Line  
     [0041] 45  Border area  
     [0042] 46  Sky  
     [0043] 48  Sky  
     [0044] 50  First planner support structure  
     [0045] 55  Top surface  
     [0046] 60  Bottom surface  
     [0047] 65  Adhesive layer  
     [0048] 72  First planner support structure  
     [0049] 75  Top surface  
     [0050] 80  Bottom surface  
     [0051] 90  Outer border lines  
     [0052] 85  Adhesive layer  
     [0053] 90  Pattern  
     [0054] 95  Image  
     [0055] 100   a  Imagette  
     [0056] 100   b  Imagette  
     [0057] 100   c  Imagette  
     [0058] 100   d  Imagette  
     [0059] 100   e  Imagette  
     [0060] 100   f  Imagette  
     [0061] 100   g  Imagette  
     [0062] 100   h  Imagette  
     [0063] 100   i  Imagette  
     [0064] 102  Color  
     [0065] 105  Pattern  
     [0066] 110  Pattern  
     [0067] 115  Color  
     [0068] 125  Image area  
     [0069] 135  Official postal image  
     [0070] 140  Dashed line