Patent Publication Number: US-7900676-B2

Title: Apparatus to facilitate proper label placement and method of use

Description:
PRIOR APPLICATION HISTORY 
     This application is a based on a provisional application 61/029,306, filed Feb. 15, 2008, and is herewith fully incorporated in it&#39;s entirety herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The application of graphic labels onto a round object where centering is critical occurs in many fields of application. The best mode of practicing this invention involves the placement of graphically enhanced labels onto poker chips, but this is not intended to limit the field of application. There are many games where round objects are used as game pieces and customizing these objects as token, party favors or business cards is desirable. Round objects such as game pieces for backgammon, bingo, and various board games, condom carrying game tokens and even tiddlywinks are labeled with promotional, informational or instructional labels. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     With the advent of the increased interest in the game of poker, each establishment is making efforts to customize their playing environment and also is trying to create recognizable tokens developing brand identities and eliminating cross-over play. Currently, poker chips are usually ink-stamped using offset or pad printing techniques creating a permanent ink onto the face of the poker chip. This creates a lasting impression which is not modifiable. It is also an inexpensive process to create the plates and artwork for each different impression type. Multiple printing plates are required for different colors and pictures appear grainy. 
     The game of poker has also become a game played at homes and parties and people are interested in designing their own chip designs but are not able to afford the expensive pad printing option. People are using poker chips at social events and as invitation greeting, adding intrigue to a party invitations. Customizing these chip would add to their value, usefulness and will lead to increased sales. 
     With the advent of better printer technologies and label stock that is suited for the new printers, people are able to create graphic labels containing pictures that are clearer and brighter than previously available. It is the application of these labels onto the poker chip where the problem lies. If the graphic is not perfectly centered on the first application, the label is hard to remove and will cause damage to the poker chip and the label itself. This is also a laborious process taking much time and effort. There is a need to be able to quickly apply labels to objects such as poker chips where the concentricity of the label to the outside diameter object is critical. This device and method can be used for round or polygonal objects depending upon the shape of the receiving portion of the device. 
     There are currently no devices on the market that allows for perfect placement, as this device takes advantage of human factors and aids users by using naturally based motions commonly used, so the learning curve is minimal. There is prior art based on labeling compact disks and DVD disks but all such applications use the hole in the center of the disk for centering and a custom label with the similarly shaped and located hole in order to locate the label over the disk. Fixtures are large and bulky and are generally not considered hand held. Presently existing prior art is also not focused on the need to perform the application of labels to both sides of a circular object without having first to re-orient that object prior to the application of the label. This invention allows for a single placement of the object into the device where labels can be applied to alternate sides without removing the object from the device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  contains a cross-sectional side view of the device sectioned through the vertical axis. 
         FIG. 2  contains a cross-sectional face view of the device sectioned through the vertical axis along with an exploded view of the lead-in section of the view. 
         FIG. 3  contains a cross-sectional face view of the device sectioned along a horizontal access viewing from the approximate center of the object towards the upper outside edge. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the exterior of the device from a right side frontal viewpoint. 
         FIG. 5  is an frontal view of the exterior of the device with raised lettering symbolizing the use of a recessed portion of the device. 
         FIG. 5A  is a frontal view of the device which is designed to accept two poker chips. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the device where a poker chip has been inserted into the proper positioning for label application. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND METHOD 
     In  FIG. 1 , device  1  is shown in its frontal projection with a vertical cross sectional view through along the vertical center of axis. Device  1  is defined by vertical sides  7  and  8  equidistant from the vertical center of axis and a bottom section  5 , which has rounded corners  9  providing the attachment between sides  7  and  8  to bottom  5 . Opening  4  is located at the termination of sides  7  and  8  located opposite of bottom  5 . Opening  4  is defined proximally by slides  12  one of each said slide being equidistant on each side of the vertical axis and distally by the label centering opening  11 . Slide  12  has an exterior termination point  12   et  along opening  4  and an interior termination end  13 . Slide  12  has a rounded peripheral leading edge  12   s  which is perpendicular to surface  1   s  of device  1 . Leading edge  12   s  transitions into angled slide portion  12   a  whose angle is defined as one that is necessary to allow for a lead-in or guiding angle which a poker chip is inserted therein.  FIG. 2  contains a enlarged sectional view of the lead-in portion. 
     Edge  12   s  defines the exterior edges of slide opening  15 . Opening  15  is a three sided area defined by the area emanating from the termination of edge  12   s  to cavity wall  15   w , wall  15   w  being parallel in nature to vertical sides  7  and  8 . Opening wall  15   w  has centrally located thereupon rail  20 . Chip cavity  17  is defined as the interior cavity best viewed in  FIG. 2  as that area between wall  15   w  and chip stop  16  mirrored about the vertical axis of device  1 . The length of wall  15   w  between exterior termination point  12   et  and stop  16  will approximate the diameter of the object to the inserted. Interior termination end  13  is located at a distance equivalent to approximately ½ of the diameter of the object to be inserted. Label centering opening  11  is defined by the size of the label that will be attached to the object to be inserted into the device. It is critical to the successful location of the label onto the object, that the size of the opening closely match the size of the label allowing for manufacturing tolerance of the label and material used to create the device. 
     Label centering opening  11  is located about the vertical center axis of device  1  being shaped to accommodate the label shape being applied split about the horizontal axis of the label. In the application at hand, the label is circular in nature. Opening start point  10  is interiorally located from termination end  13  closer to the vertical axis. The maximum depth, the greatest distance from opening  4  to opening termination point  11   t , matches the start point of the application of the label onto the object. Termination point  11   t  and the remaining edges of label centering opening  11  form the stop upon which the label rests during application. The distance between the opposing start points  10  is approximately ½ of the diameter of the label to be applied, equidistant from the vertical center of axis. The edge that defines label centering opening  11  that extends from surface  1   s  is a vertical inclined edge  11   e  which has an reverse rake angle of no more than 10 degrees. Currently supplied drawings demonstrate a mere draft angle. 
     In this application, a poker chip  30  is being used to demonstrate the best mode of practicing this invention. Chip  30  is defined by a perimeter edge  31  encircling the entire chip with a centered inset submerged below the surface of the chip. 
     Wall  16   t  along with it&#39;s opposing wall and adjacent stop wall  16   s  defines the cavity which stops the progress of the object in chip cavity  17 . The distance between opposing walls  16   t  is equivalent to the thickness of the inserted object. The user will place the edge of the label flush against the slope  11   e  which guides the label into the correct location where the remainder of the length of label centering opening  11  provides an orientation for the reminder of the label to be guided into proper placement. It is critical that the label is held at an angle that corresponds closely with the angle φ.  FIG. 6  details the application of label  40  onto label inset  32 . The advantage of this invention is that angle φ has been calculated to correlate to a common angle which people will normal place a label prior to application. People use an angle of inclination of the label in order to determine if one edge is flush by eye. This device capitalizes on this angle and orients the rest of the label into perfect alignment with the field of application. The device mirrors itself about the horizontal center of axis, whereby each side of the device is similarly shaped to allow for the placement of labels on each side of the object without having to remove the object from the device. The user is able to rapidly able to simply turn over the device to label the other side of the chip. Prior art device requires the user to deplace and re-insert the chip in order to complete both sides of the object. Further in  FIG. 6 , label  40  has an adhesive side  42  and a printed side  41 . Label  40  is generally found located on a sheet amongst many other labels of similar size. These sheets are capable of receiving inks or toners applied by inkjet or laser printers in mass quantities or with a myriad of varying designs. 
     It is critical that angle φ is greater than 0 but less than 45 degrees so that the label is guided into a position rather than abruptly stopping against a solid surface. In this invention an angle of 30 degree was practiced. Opening edge  10   b  that exists from opening point  10  to termination end  13  is similarly beveled as the edge of opening  11  to facilitate the insertion of the object into the device. The user after preparing the label for application to the object positions the label along the edge slope  11   t  which performs two operations; centering the label over the object along the walls of label centering opening  11  and placing the label at the right angle to facilitate a user to stick the edge of the label in the proper position and being able to remove their finger from the rear of the label while pressing the label into place with their thumb. 
     Rail  20  raises from the surface of wall  15   w  in a two stage compression/suppression locating action. Opening  15  has a dimension no less than the thickness of the desired object to be inserted. Rail  20  causes there to be a hindrance between the object inserted and rail  20 . In this case, the user inserts chip  30  into the rails using lead-in section  20 L as a locator for the chip into the device. The initial compressions region  20   c  creates an interference style of fit known as a press fit where there is a degree of interference between the object inserted and the rail  20  along wall  15   w . In this invention, a poker chip is used with a perimeter edge  31  which travels along rail  20 . At a location approximately equivalent to the horizontal location of termination  13 , the angle of rail  20  increase to suppression region  20   s  where a small degree of force is required to seat the object against stop wall  16   s . The object is securely held. The location of the transformation between regions  20   c  and  20   s  is also equivalent to distance between the side and center point of the object as measured from stop wall  16   s . When the user of this device inserts an object into this device, there is minimal resistance, but there is a noticeable change when the diameter of the object engages in the suppression region  20   s  and a positive placement is felt as the object comes in contact with stop wall  16   s.    
     Device  1  contains recesses regions  2  and  3  which serve two purposes. Firstly, the regions serve as areas where one can either apply product identifiers, such as decals, labels, embossed or pad printed applications. The second purpose is to provide a stress relief area designed to reduce the cross-sectional thickness of the solid piece in relation to the thinner sections surrounding chip cavity  17 .  FIG. 5  shows the addition of an embossed stamp after application to the recessed region. 
     This invention has been shown to facilitate the application of small labels onto a poker sized object without having to re-orient the object for a second application of a label on the reverse side of the object. This device and method for using this device is common to many other applications, and the use of a poker chip and label is only present to demonstrate the best mode of practicing this invention but in no means is meant to limit the application of this device to other fields of application.