US5002181A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chainletter apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-01-22
•
Granted: 1991-03-26
•
Expires: 2010-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A chain letter apparatus comprising a container, a lid, a plurality of flat members approximately rectangular in shape, a plurality of links, and first and second set of chains. The lid covers the container. The first plurality of flat members may be rectangular in shape and have two holes at each end. The first plurality of flat members are positioned in an end-to-end contiguous line. The first plurality of links connects the holes of two adjacent flat members of the first plurality of flat members. The first set of chains connects to an inside of the container and couples to the holes of the flat member at a first end of the end-to-end contiguous line. The second set of chains connects to an inside of the lid and couples to the holes of the flat member at the second end of the end-to-end contiguous line.
Inventors
- 👤 Ida J. Leppo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:28
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A chain letter apparatus comprising: a container; a lid for covering said container; a first plurality of flat members approximately rectangular in shape and having two holes at each end, and positioned in an end-to-end contiguous line; a first plurality of links for connecting the holes of two adjacent flat members of said first plurality of flat members; a first set of chains connecting an inside of said container and coupling to the holes of the flat member at a first end of the end-to-end contiguous line; and a second set of chains connecting to an inside of said lid and coupling to the holes of the flat member at the second end of the end-to-end contiguous line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A chain letter apparatus comprising: a container; a lid for covering said container; a first plurality of flat members approximately rectangular in shape and having two holes at each end, and positioned in an end-to-end contiguous line; a first plurality of links for connecting the holes of two adjacent flat members of said first plurality of flat members; a first set of chains connecting an inside of said container and coupling to the holes of the flat member at a first end of the end-to-end contiguous line; and a second set of chains connecting to an inside of said lid and coupling to the holes of the flat member at the second end of the end-to-end contiguous line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
The chain letter apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: at least a second plurality of flat members approximately rectangular in shape and having two holes at each end, and positioned in the end-to-end contiguous line; at least a second plurality of links for connecting the holes of two adjacent flat members of said second plurality of flat members; and a third set of chains for coupling said second plurality of flat members between said first plurality of flat members and said lid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
A chain letter apparatus comprising: a container; a lid for covering said container; a first plurality of flat members having holes at each end, and positioned in an end-to-end contiguous line; a first plurality of links for connecting the holes of two adjacent flat members; a first set of chains connecting to an inside of said container and coupling to the holes of the flat member at a first end of the end-to-end contiguous line; and a second set of chains connected to an inside of said lid and coupling to the holes of the flat member at the second end of the end-to-end contiguous line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
A chain letter apparatus comprising: a container; a lid for covering said container; a first plurality of flat members having holes at each end, and positioned in an end-to-end contiguous line; a first plurality of links for connecting the holes of two adjacent flat members; a first set of chains connecting to an inside of said container and coupling to the holes of the flat member at a first end of the end-to-end contiguous line; and a second set of chains connected to an inside of said lid and coupling to the holes of the flat member at the second end of the end-to-end contiguous line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
The chain letter apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further comprising: at least a second plurality of flat members having two holes at each end, and positioned in the end-to-end contiguous line; a least a second plurality of links for connecting the holes of two adjacent flat members of said second plurality of flat members; and a third set of chains for coupling said second plurality of flat members between said first plurality of flat members and said lid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
A chain letter apparatus comprising: a container; a lid for covering said container; a first plurality of members positioned in an end-to-end contiguous line; first means for connecting two respective adjacent members; first means connected to an inside of said container for coupling to the member at a first end of the end-to-end contiguous line; second means connected to an inside of said lid for coupling to the member at the second end of the end-to-end contiguous line; and wherein when said lid is lifted from said container the plurality of members may extend in an end-to-end contiguous line for displaying a message.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A chain letter apparatus comprising: a container; a lid for covering said container; a first plurality of members positioned in an end-to-end contiguous line; first means for connecting two respective adjacent members; first means connected to an inside of said container for coupling to the member at a first end of the end-to-end contiguous line; second means connected to an inside of said lid for coupling to the member at the second end of the end-to-end contiguous line; and wherein when said lid is lifted from said container the plurality of members may extend in an end-to-end contiguous line for displaying a message.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The chain letter apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further comprising: at least a second plurality of members positioned in the end-to-end contiguous line; second means for connecting two respective adjacent members; and third means for coupling said second plurality of members between said first plurality of members and said lid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The chain letter apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said second connecting means includes a plurality of links for connecting two respective adjacent members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The chain letter apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first connecting means includes plurality of links for connecting two respective adjacent members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The chain letter apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first coupling means includes a set of chains connecting to an inside of said container and coupling to the member at a first end of the end-to-end contiguous line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The chain letter apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second coupling means includes a set of chains connecting to an inside of said lid and coupling to the member at a second end of the end-to-end contiguous line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
96 words
A chain letter apparatus comprising: a container; a lid for covering said container; a first plurality of flat cards having holes at each end, positioned in an end-to-end contiguous line; first means for connecting holes of respective adjacent flat cards of the first plurality of flat cards; first means connected to an inside of said container for coupling to the flat cards at a first end of the end-to-end contiguous line; and second means connected to an inside of said lid for coupling to the flat cards at the second end of the end-to-end contiguous line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
96 words
A chain letter apparatus comprising: a container; a lid for covering said container; a first plurality of flat cards having holes at each end, positioned in an end-to-end contiguous line; first means for connecting holes of respective adjacent flat cards of the first plurality of flat cards; first means connected to an inside of said container for coupling to the flat cards at a first end of the end-to-end contiguous line; and second means connected to an inside of said lid for coupling to the flat cards at the second end of the end-to-end contiguous line.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
The chain letter apparatus as set forth in claim 11 further comprising: at least a second plurality of flat cards having holes at each end, positioned in the end-to-end contiguous line; second means for connecting holes of respective adjacent flat cards of the second plurality of flat cards; and third means for coupling said second plurality of flat cards between said first plurality of flat cards and said lid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The chain letter apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first connecting means includes a plurality of links for connecting two respective adjacent flat cards.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The chain letter apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first coupling means includes a set of chains connecting to an inside of said container for coupling to the flat card at a first end of the end-to-end contiguous line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The chain letter apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second coupling means includes a set of chains connected to an inside of said lid for coupling to the flat card at a second end of the end-to-end contiguous line.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The chain letter apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said second connecting means includes a plurality of links for connecting two respective adjacent flat cards.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CH2645A
Cited
US901357A
Cited
US2404089A
Cited
US2790587A
Cited
US2824394A
Cited
DE2516720A1
Cited
US4363081A
Cited
US4538730A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-03-25 | 1994-09-24 | 1995-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-03-25 | 1998-09-24 | 1999-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-03-25 | 2002-09-24 | 2003-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |