Patent Publication Number: US-2006000126-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for finding missing individuals

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/081,434, filed Feb. 22, 2002 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Finding Missing Individuals,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
      The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/271,066, filed Feb. 23, 2001 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Finding Lost Individuals,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for assisting to locate and find missing people, particularly children.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      Nothing is more disturbing than learning about a missing child. However, many individuals want to help to find that missing child. It has been found that the success rate of finding missing children is very low. In the past, missing children&#39;s pictures have been placed on milk cartons or have been distributed through mailings. It has been found that such methods of distributing the missing child&#39;s picture have had very little impact on actually finding the child. It has been discovered that by placing a reward for information leading to the location of a missing child has improved the odds of finding that missing child. However, after a short period of time even this information may not yield favorable results. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for improving the chances of finding a missing person, particularly that of a missing child.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is an arrangement for disseminating information about a missing child so as to improve the odds of finding the missing child. Particularly, the present invention includes a body, such as a card or paper sheet, containing a writing surface that includes a reward section, a sponsor section, an autograph section and a missing person&#39;s section. The body includes a photograph, picture or sketch of the missing person and vital statistics as well as other pertinent information about the missing person. Further, the present invention is a method for assisting to locate and find a missing person by providing reward information on a single card, piece of paper, or other printable material, providing an autograph portion for receiving an autograph from an individual, such as a famous person or sports figure, providing sponsorship information, and providing a photograph and vital statistic information about the missing person. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a card made in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)  
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus for facilitating to locate a missing person  10 , includes a body  11 , which can be a card or a paper sheet, has a first side with a writing surface and a second side. The second side (not shown) of the body  11  can be the same as the first side or can have an adhesive coating or a magnetic surface. The body  11  includes indicia relating to the missing person  16 , such as the missing person&#39;s picture, sketch or photograph  18 , and their vital statistics. The indicia relating to the missing person includes an area for information relating to vital statistics  20  includes not only information relating to physical characteristics of the missing person, such as height, weight, age, but also the person&#39;s name, age, address and the date that the person has been missing. The area for information relating to vital statistics  20  can also include information about who and where to contact regarding information about the missing person.  
      In addition, the body  11  has an area for information relating to a reward  12 . The area for information relating to the reward  12  identifies the type and amount of the reward being offered for information relating to a missing person, such as a child. Also, an area for information relating to a sponsor  14  identifies a sponsor who is providing the reward, such as money. The sponsor can be a company, an association or an individual. Examples of sponsors include local sports teams, rock bands, and/or soft drink manufacturers or distributors. The area for information relating to a sponsor  14  can also be utilized to display sponsor banners and logos.  
      The body  11  also includes an area for an autograph portion  22 . The area for the autograph portion  22  includes an area in which an individual, or a famous person, such as a sports figure or entertainer, can provide their signature or autograph  24  and their photograph. In this manner, it is believed that the information and picture of the missing person, for example a child, will be remembered by the recipient of the autograph  24 , and not be likely to be displaced or discarded as quickly as, for example, if the missing person portion is provided on a milk carton or a flyer in the mail.  
      In operation, the body  11  can be provided at any function or sporting event, such as a baseball game. Various sports figures, such as baseball players, can be present to sign the body  11  with their autograph  24  and their photograph in the area for an autograph portion  22  with the likeness of the missing person and the vital statistics and physical characteristics of the missing person preprinted on the body  11 . Also, the body  11  identifies the amount of the reward in the area for information relating to the reward  12  and the sponsor information, such as a company, association or individual who is finding the reward in the area for information relating to the sponsor  14 . Also, during the sporting event, the particular missing person&#39;s picture could be displayed throughout the stadium on the large screens or scoreboards that are typically provided at a sports stadium. It is believed that once the patrons leaving the stadium who receive the body  11  will place the body  11  in a noticeable spot such as on the front of a refrigerator or on a bulletin board or desk. The missing person&#39;s photograph will be a constant reminder to aid the patrons in remembering the appearance of the missing person. It is believed that the present invention will increase the chances of a patron, who received the body  11 , to recognize or notice the missing person than if no reward and/or autograph were present. It is believed that if only the missing person&#39;s photograph  18  is passed out at the sporting event, that the missing person&#39;s photograph  18  and vital statistics would be discarded and would not increase the chances of locating the missing person and would have a similar result as providing this information on a milk carton. Another aspect of the invention is to provide a piece of writing material having a portion for autographs and sponsorship indicia applied thereon.  
      While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. The presently preferred embodiment described herein is meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.