U.S. patent application number 10/908522 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-01 for compact electronic communication device with self-mounting feature and method of removably coupling such a device to a surface.
This patent application is currently assigned to WARD-KRAFT, INC.. Invention is credited to Crum, Jesse D..
Application Number | 20050191972 10/908522 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32095552 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050191972 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Crum, Jesse D. |
September 1, 2005 |
COMPACT ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH SELF-MOUNTING FEATURE
AND METHOD OF REMOVABLY COUPLING SUCH A DEVICE TO A SURFACE
Abstract
A method and mounting assembly for mounting an electronic
communication device having electronic circuitry to a surface is
described, wherein the mounting assembly is associated with a back
face of the electronic communication device. In a first preferred
embodiment, the mounting assembly is a magnetic material associated
with the back face of the electronic communication device. The
magnetic material is magnetically influenced such that a magnetic
field produced by the magnetic material emanates away from the back
face of the electronic communication device. In an alternative
first preferred embodiment, a synthetic resin laminate shield is
intermediately placed between the back surface of the electronic
communication device and the magnetic material for further
insulating protection from the magnetic field of the magnetic
material. In a second preferred embodiment, the back surface of the
electronic communication device is provided with a repositionable
adhesive. A silicone release layer is positioned on the
repositionable adhesive for removal by the user and mounting of the
electronic communication device on the surface.
Inventors: |
Crum, Jesse D.; (Fort Scott,
KS) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOVEY WILLIAMS, LLP
2405 GRAND BLVD.
SUITE 400
KANSAS CITY
MO
64108
US
|
Assignee: |
WARD-KRAFT, INC.
2401 Cooper Street P.O. Box 190
Fort Scott
KS
|
Family ID: |
32095552 |
Appl. No.: |
10/908522 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10908522 |
May 16, 2005 |
|
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10065463 |
Oct 21, 2002 |
|
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60386211 |
Oct 16, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/90.3 ;
455/575.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/0214 20130101;
G06K 19/07771 20130101; H04M 1/0249 20130101; G06K 19/07758
20130101; H04M 1/0247 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/090.3 ;
455/575.1 |
International
Class: |
H04B 001/38 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In combination: an electronic communication device having
electronic circuitry adapted for wireless transmission and/or
reception of communication signals, said device further including a
body having a front surface adapted for the input or output of
information corresponding to said signals to be transmitted and/or
received and a back surface; and mounting material for providing
removable mounting of said device in self-supporting relationship
to a supporting surface, said mounting material and at least one of
said front and back surfaces being laminated relative to one
another.
2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electronic
communication device is a disposable and portable device which
includes a folded dielectric material.
3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein the dielectric
material is between 2 mil and 10 mil in thickness.
4. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting
material is a magnetic material between 4 mil and 16 mil in
thickness.
5. The combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein the magnetic
material is magnetically influenced such that the magnetic density
is about 14 poles per inch with a resulting magnetic field strength
of about 85 gauss for each pole when measured at a distance of
about 0.004 inches from the magnetic material, about 75 gauss for
each pole when measured at a distance of about 0.0065 inches from
the magnetic material, and about 65 gauss for each pole when
measured at a distance of about 0.015 inches from the magnetic
material.
6. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting
material is an adhesive having a silicone release layer positioned
thereon.
7. The combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein the adhesive is
a repositionable adhesive.
8. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting
material is coupled to the back side for mounting the device
adjacent to a separate supporting surface.
9. In an electronic communication device adapted for wireless
reception and/or transmission of signals, said device having a body
with a front surface adapted for the input and/or output of
information corresponding to said signals and a back surface, the
improvement comprising: a thin coupling material which renders the
device self-supporting when the device is attached to an upright
surface, said coupling material and at least one of said front and
back surfaces configured to be laminated relative to one
another.
10. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the coupling
material is a magnet assembly coupled to one of the front surface
and the back surface for self-mounting said electronic
communication device to a surface in self-supporting relationship,
the magnet assembly comprising: a shield associated with a back
surface of the electronic communication device, wherein the shield
is adapted to provide electromagnetic protection to electronic
circuitry housed within the device from a magnetic field; and a
magnetic material coupled with the shield opposite the electronic
circuitry, wherein the magnetic material is magnetically influenced
so as to produce said magnetic field.
11. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the electronic
communication device is disposable and portable and wherein the
body includes a folded dielectric material, and the dielectric
material is between 2 mil and 10 mil in thickness.
12. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the electronic
communication device is a radio frequency identification tag.
13. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the electronic
communication device is a telecommunication device for receiving
and transmitting signals.
14. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the shield is a
synthetic resin laminate adhesively coupled to the device.
15. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the magnetic
material is between 4 mil and 16 mil in thickness and relatively
thinner than the thickness of the body of the device.
16. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the magnetic
material is magnetically influenced such that the magnetic density
is about 14 poles per inch with a resulting magnetic field strength
of about 85 gauss for each pole when measured at a distance of
about 0.004 inches from the magnetic material, about 75 gauss for
each pole when measured at a distance of about 0.0065 inches from
the magnetic material, and about 65 gauss for each pole when
measured at a distance of about 0.015 inches form the magnetic
material.
17. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the coupling
material includes: an adhesive associated with one of the back
surface and the front surface; and a protective layer coupled with
the adhesive and adapted to be removed for coupling the electronic
communication device to the surface.
18. The device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the adhesive is a
repositionable adhesive.
19. The device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the protective
layer is a web having a silicone release coating thereon.
20. The device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the adhesive is
associated with the back surface of the device whereby the front
surface is oriented away from the surface supporting the device
when the device is adhesively coupled thereto.
21. In combination: an electronic communication device having
electronic circuitry adapted for wireless transmission and/or
reception of communication signals, said device further including a
cardstock body having a front surface adapted for the input or
output of information corresponding to said signals to be
transmitted and/or received and a back surface, said cardstock body
including a plurality of panels folded into substantially overlying
relationship; and mounting material for providing removable
mounting of said device in self-supporting relationship to a
supporting surface, said mounting material and at least one of said
plurality of panels being laminated relative to one another.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No.
10/065,463, filed Oct. 21, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by
reference herein and claims the priority of Provisional Application
Ser. No. 60/386,211, filed Oct. 16, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to removably coupling compact
electronic communication devices to a surface. More particularly,
the present invention relates to such an electronic device having a
self-mounting feature whereby it may be removably coupled to the
surface using a magnet assembly or a repositionable adhesive.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Portable electronic communication devices are well known in
the art. Examples broadly include radios, pagers, telephones, and
transponders, which have the ability to receive and transmit
information. One problem presented by electronic communication
devices in connection with mounting has been the weight of the
device, which has necessitated mechanical couplers. Newly developed
electronic communication devices are more compact, yet have
nonetheless required mechanical couplers to provide mounting
support to an upright surface.
[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for a method and assembly that
overcomes the limitations of the prior art. Specifically, there is
a need for a mounting assembly that is operable to removably secure
an electronic communication device to the upright surface, without
affecting electronic circuitry housed within the electronic
communication device.
[0007] Additionally, there is a need for an assembly that removably
couples disposable and portable electronic communication devices,
such as a telephone, to any surface.
[0008] There is a further need for a mounting assembly which is
compact and flush with the body of the electronic communication
device and does not require a mechanical coupler.
[0009] There is a yet further need for a mounting assembly which
can be economically produced so that its cost does not detract from
the overall price of a disposable electronic communication device,
thereby rendering the user less willing to purchase or dispose of
such an electronic communication device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention's method and assembly for removably
coupling an electronic communication device to a supporting surface
overcomes the above-identified problems and provides a distinct
advance in the art of removably coupling electronic communication
devices to any surface. More particularly, a first embodiment of
the present invention provides a magnet for removably coupling the
electronic device to a metal surface, wherein the magnet has a
strong enough magnetic field strength to hold the electronic
communication device to the surface, but the magnet's magnetic
field is low enough so as to not interfere with electronic
circuitry housed within the electronic communication device. The
magnet may be provided as a relatively thin layer of magnetic
material adhered to the back face of the device such that the
magnetic material is essentially flush with the body.
Advantageously and surprisingly, the field of the magnetic material
minimizes, if not completely avoids, interference with the
operation of even extremely thin portable wireless electronic
communication devices.
[0011] In order to achieve this balance, the present invention
magnetically influences the magnetic material to a particular
magnetic density and magnetic field strength, such that the
magnetic field's coercive rings extend and are biased toward the
surface on which the electronic communication device is to be
placed and away from the surface of the electronic communication
device. Alternatively, a synthetic resin laminate is either
directly, or by adhesive, applied to a back face of the
magnetically influenced magnetic material, and the combination
laminate and magnet is affixed to the back face of the electronic
communication device. In operation, the laminate acts as a shield
against the magnetic field of the magnet. The magnetic field is low
enough to not pass through the laminate and affect the electronic
circuitry housed within the electronic communication device, but
the magnetic field is strong enough to removably secure the
electronic communication device to the surface.
[0012] A second embodiment of the present invention provides for a
mounting assembly for removably mounting or coupling the electronic
communication device to any surface, including non-metal surfaces.
The mounting assembly includes a repositionable adhesive applied to
the back face of the electronic communication device and a liner
having a silicon release layer placed on the repositionable
adhesive. The silicon release layer is adapted to be removed by a
user of the invention for initial placement of the electronic
communication device on the surface and, as desired, removal and
replacement of the electronic communication device.
[0013] The method of the first preferred embodiment includes the
steps of: magnetically influencing the thin layer of magnetic
material such that the magnetic coercive rings produced by the
magnetic field emanate from one face of the magnetic material; and
applying the magnetically influenced magnetic material to a back
surface of the electronic communication device for placement of the
electronic communication device on a metal surface. Alternatively,
the present invention includes the steps of: magnetically
influencing the thin layer of magnetic material such that the
magnetic coercive rings produced by the magnetic field emanate from
one face of the magnetic material; applying the synthetic resin
laminate to the back face of the magnet; and applying the
magnetically influenced magnetic material to the laminate.
[0014] The method of the second preferred embodiment includes the
steps of: applying the repositionable adhesive to the back face of
the electronic communication device; and providing the liner,
having the silicon release layer, on the repositionable
adhesive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front and a side perspective view of an
electronic communication device, particularly a disposable
telephone, in accordance with the present invention and showing the
telephone folded in an "accordion" style and removably mounted to
an upright surface;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a front and a side perspective view of an extended
form of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention
showing polyester layers applied to electronic circuitry and a
plurality of panels comprising the telephone, wherein the first
panel is printed with a keypad, the second, third, fourth, and
fifth panels are printed with the electronic circuitry (the
circuitry being depicted only schematically herein), and the sixth
panel is a magnet assembly;
[0017] FIG. 3. is a front elevational view of the extended form of
the telephone and the polyester layers cut-away and illustrating
the schematic representation of the electronic circuitry;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view showing the telephone
folded "accordion" style and of a second preferred embodiment
illustrating a cardstock layer coated with a repositionable
adhesive and a silicone release layer positioned on the
repositionable adhesive;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the extended form of
the telephone showing an alternative printing option, wherein a
front face of the first, second, and fourth panels is printed;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view showing the alternative
printing option illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein a back face of the
second and fourth panels is printed;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a front elevational view showing three telephones
printed on a carrier sheet and having lines of weakness surrounding
the telephones for removal of the telephone by a user of the
present invention;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a front and a side perspective view of the
telephone folded "around itself";
[0023] FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the extended form of
the telephone showing the panels to be printed when the telephone
is to be folded "around itself," as illustrated in FIG. 8;
[0024] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the telephone
folded "around itself";
[0025] FIG. 11 is a front and a side perspective view of an
alternative electronic communication device, particularly a radio
frequency identification ("RFID") tag showing a corner of the RFID
tag pulled away to illustrate multiple layers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] The invention hereof is directed to removable mounting or
coupling of an electronic communication device 5. Such devices 5
permit wireless receipt, and preferably also transmission, of
signals for voice or data transmission. The invention hereof is
particularly useful in connection with disposable electronic
communication devices, and one such device 5 is a disposable
telephone 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-10. Such a disposable telephone
10 is hereby enabled to be removably coupled to a surface in
accordance with a first and a second preferred embodiment of the
present invention. However, it is to be understood that the
coupling structure and method as described herein may be readily
employed on other electronic communication devices, such as radios,
pagers, and transponders having wireless telecommunication
capability. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the disposable
telephone 10 is broadly comprised of a body 12 made of a dielectric
material printed with conductive ink that diagrams an electronic
circuit 13; a power source 14; an earphone 16; a microphone 18; and
a magnet assembly 20, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, for
positioning the telephone 10 on the surface.
[0027] The body 12, in an assembled condition, has a front face 12a
and a back face 12b, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 10. The body 12
is preferably composed of cardstock, but may be any dielectric
material, such as polypropylene or paper. The cardstock is
preferably 3 mil-4 mil in thickness, but the thickness may range
between 2 mil and 10 mil. As is known in the art, a dielectric
material may be printed with a conductive ink for providing the
electronic circuit diagram that includes conductors and other
components of a telephone's circuitry, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In
the preferred embodiments, a length of cardstock is divided into a
plurality of panels, preferably a first panel 22, a second panel
24, a third panel 26, a fourth panel 28, a fifth panel 30, and a
sixth panel 32, as illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the panels having
respective front faces 22a,24a,26a,28a,30a,32a, as illustrated in
FIG. 2, and respective back faces 22b,24b,26b,28b,30b,32b, as
illustrated in FIG. 6. The front face 22a of the first panel 22 is
printed with a keypad 34. The front face 24a,26a,28a,30a of the
second, third, fourth, and fifth panels 24,26,28,30 of the
cardstock is printed with conductive ink arranged so as to diagram
an electronic circuit 13 for telephone operation, as illustrated in
FIGS. 2-4. Those ordinarily skilled in the art will appreciate that
the circuitry 13 has only been depicted schematically herein (e.g.,
see FIGS. 2-7 and 9). That is, the schematic representations of the
circuitry 13 have principally been provided for illustrative
purposes only (e.g. to depict the general location of the
circuitry, the manner in which it is formed, etc.). Suitable
telephone circuitry 13 for a disposable wireless telephone 10 is
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,845,218 and 5,875,393, both assigned
to Randice-Lisa Altschul and hereby incorporated by reference. The
panels 22,24,26,28,30,32 are joined by a thin webbing material 36,
preferably polypropylene, as best illustrated in FIG. 9. The panels
22,24,26,28,30,32 are adapted to be folded onto each other such
that the electronic circuitry 13 is precisely aligned. Optimal
folding techniques and securement of the panels 22,24,26,28,30,32
are described below.
[0028] The power source 14 for the telephone 10 is preferably two,
but at least one, batteries preferably affixed to the fifth panel
30, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The power source 14 is preferably a
small, thin battery, such as a disk battery, a flat battery, a
pouch battery, or a paper battery. Alternatively, the power source
14 may be any power source suitable for small, disposable
electronic communication devices. The power source 14 may also be
solar power or a remote housing including a battery. Corresponding
areas of the second, third, and fourth panels 24,26,28 are removed
or cut out where the power source 14 will be positioned when the
body 12 is folded, such that when folded, the body 12 is
substantially flat with no obtrusions.
[0029] The earphone 16 and the microphone 18 are preferably secured
to the first panel 22 after the body 12 is printed. Once folded,
the earphone 16 is preferably secured to an upper portion of the
telephone 10 and preferably offset to the right side of the
telephone 10. The microphone 18 is preferably secured to a lower
portion of the telephone 10 and preferably offset to the left side
of the telephone 10. The earphone 16 and the microphone 18 may also
be remotely connected to the telephone 10. As described below and
illustrated in FIG. 9, the body 12 may be folded such that the
second panel 24 is printed with the keypad 34. For this
alternative, the earphone 16 and the microphone 18 are similarly
positioned on the second panel 24.
[0030] A disposable electronic communication device, particularly a
telephone, and a method for making is described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,965,848 assigned to Randice-Lisa Altschul and hereby incorporated
by reference.
[0031] In operation, a user of the telephone 10 may receive the
telephone 10 in an extended form, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-6, and
the user must fold the telephone 10 into a workable device. As
noted above, it is necessary that the panels 22,24,26,28,30 of the
telephone 10 are precisely folded so that when the user depresses a
key on the keypad 34, the correct corresponding electronic
circuitry 13 is activated. Additionally, the body 12 of the
telephone 10 must include a fastening means for securing the panels
22,24,26,28,30 together. Preferably, the fastening means is an
adhesive, most preferably a cohesive 38, as illustrated in FIGS. 5
and 6, positioned on an outer edge of the front face
24a,26a,28a,30a of the second, third, fourth, and fifth panels
24,26,28,30, and the back face 22b,24b,26b,28b of the first,
second, third, and fourth panels 22,24,26,28. In this manner, the
body 12 of the telephone 10 may be folded in an "accordion" style
or "fan" style, as illustrated in FIG. 4, such that the back face
22b of the first panel 22 is affixed to the back face 24b of the
second panel 24, the front face 24a of the second panel 24 is
affixed to the front face 26a of the third panel 26, etc. Most
preferably, cohesive 38 is used, as opposed to adhesive, so that
the panels 22,24,26,28,30 of the body 12 will not unintentionally
affix to any surface.
[0032] The panels 22,24,26,28,30 may be printed in one of two
options to allow for correct operation of the printed electronic
circuitry 13. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a first option, wherein the
front face 22a,24a,28a of the first, second, and fourth panels
22,24,28 is printed, and the back face 26b,30b of the third and
fifth panels 26,30 is printed. With this option, when folded
"accordion" style, no two panels having printed electronic
circuitry 13 are in contact with each other, which prevents the
electronic circuitry 13 from malfunctioning. Alternatively, the
front face 22a,26a,30a of the first, third, and fifth panels
22,26,30 may be printed (not shown), and the back face 24b,28b of
the second and fourth panels 24,28 may be printed (not shown).
[0033] A second option is to print all electronic circuitry 13 on
the front face 22a,24a,26a,28,30a of each panel 22,24,26,28,30, as
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and to provide a thin polyester layer
40 between the panels' electronic circuitry 13 to prevent
malfunctions. Since, for example, the second and third panels'
electronic circuitry 13 are in contact, the thin polyester layer 40
is preferably applied to the front face 24a,26a of either the
second or third panels 24,26, but preferably the front face 26a of
the third panel 26. Similarly, the thin polyester layer 40 is
preferably applied to the front face 28a of the fourth panel 28 to
prevent contact between the fourth and fifth panels' electronic
circuitry 13.
[0034] In accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the
present invention, a sixth and final panel 32 of the telephone 10
is positioned proximately adjacent to the fifth panel 30 and
connected to the fifth panel 30 using the thin webbing material 36
that joins the other five panels 22,24,26,28,30, as illustrated in
FIG. 9. Preferably, the sixth panel 32 is a thin, flexible magnetic
material 42, such as those synthetic or natural rubbers having
ferrite particles embedded therein, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0035] The magnetic material 42 is between 4 mil and 16 mil in
thickness and more preferably approximately 8 mil in thickness. The
magnetic material 42 may be any thin, flexible magnetic material,
such as that manufactured by Magnum Magnetics of Marietta, Ohio, or
Precision Web Coating of Dayton, Ohio, and available from Magnetic
Specialities, Inc. of Marietta, Ohio. The magnetic material 42 is
preferably magnetically influenced by passing the material 42
through a magnetic influencer with an air gap of 0.005 to 0.010
inch between the influencer and the magnetic material 42. Referring
to FIG. 3, once magnetized, the magnetic material 42 functions as a
magnet that produces a magnetic field with a magnetic density of
10-24 poles per inch, but preferably 14 poles per inch, and a
resulting field strength of 85 gauss for each pole as measured at a
distance 0.004 inches from a front face 42a of the magnetic
material 42, 75 gauss as measured at a distance of 0.0065 inches
from the front face 42a of the magnetic material 42, and 65 gauss
as measured at a distance of 0.015 inches from the front face 42a
of the magnetic material 42. The magnetic field of the magnetic
material 42 also substantially emanates out from the front face 42a
of the magnetic material 42, as opposed to the magnetic field
emanating towards the back face 12b of the body 12 once the
telephone 10 is folded. This is particularly necessary to prevent
the electronic circuitry 13 of the telephone 10 from malfunctioning
due to the magnetic field adversely affecting the electronic
circuitry 13.
[0036] Alternatively, the sixth panel 32 of the first preferred
embodiment may include two layers, as illustrated in FIG. 2,
wherein a first layer is the thin, flexible magnetic material 42
magnetically influenced as described above, and a second layer is a
thin synthetic resin laminate 44 shield, such as polyester or
vinyl. The synthetic resin laminate 44 is preferably between 0.5
mil and 16 mil in thickness and more preferably 2 mil in thickness.
The laminate 44 is preferably applied on the back face 42b of the
magnetic material 42 by applying a thin coating directly on the
back face 42b of the magnetic material 42 or by use of an
intermediate adhesive layer (not shown). When the body 12 is
folded, the laminate 44 is proximately adjacent to the back face
30b of the fifth panel 30. The laminate 44 is secured to the back
face 30b of the fifth panel 30 using an adhesive layer positioned
between the laminate 44 and the back face 30b of the fifth panel
30. Alternatively, the laminate 44 and the fifth panel 30 are
secured together using cohesive 38 placed on an outer edge of the
laminate 44 and corresponding cohesive 38 placed on the back face
30b of the fifth panel 30, such that the cohesive 38 on the outer
edge of the back face 30b of the fifth panel 30 is in contact with
the cohesive 38 on the laminate 44.
[0037] In combination, the synthetic resin laminate 44 applied to
the back face 42b of the magnetic material 42 acts as a shield from
the magnet's magnetic field, resulting in a very low or almost
undetectable magnetic field strength as measured from the back face
42b of the magnetic material 42. This is especially important since
it is the back face 42b of the magnetic material 42 that is in
contact with the printed electronic circuitry 13 of the four panels
24,26,28,30. Therefore, in order to couple the magnetic material 42
with the telephone 10 without interfering with the electronic
circuitry 13, the magnetic field of the magnetic material 42 must
not emanate towards the electronic circuitry 13. To remedy this
problem, the present invention affixes the laminate 44 to the back
face 42b of the magnetic material 42 and produces a magnetic field
of relatively low strength, such that the electronic circuitry 13
is operable, and the magnetic material 42 is still capable of
removably coupling the telephone 10 to the surface.
[0038] In accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the
present invention, and as illustrated in FIG. 4, the sixth panel 32
may be provided with a repositionable adhesive 48 applied directly
to the front face 32a of the sixth panel 32 and a liner having a
silicone release coating 50 covering the repositionable adhesive
48, such that the user of the present invention may remove the
silicone release layer 50 and position the telephone 10 on the
surface. The repositionable adhesive is such as manufactured by
Forbo Adhesives of Durham, North Carolina, product number 2550.
Once folded, the sixth panel 32 is secured to the back face 30b of
the fifth panel 30 using cohesive 38 applied to an outer edge of
the back face 30b of the fifth panel and the back face 32b of the
sixth panel.
[0039] The first and second embodiments may also be folded in an
alternative form, such as folding the extended form of the
telephone 10 "around itself," as best illustrated in FIGS. 8 and
10. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the front face 24a,26a,28a,30a,32a of
the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth panels 24,26,28,30,32
may be printed. Alternatively, the front face 24a,28a,32a of the
second, fourth, and sixth panels 24,28,32 may be printed (not
shown), and the back face 22b,26b,30b of the first, third, and
fifth panels 22,26,30 may be printed (not shown). To secure the
panels 22,24,26,28,30,32 together once folded, cohesive 38 may be
applied to an outer edge of each opposing panel.
[0040] The present invention may also be used with other electronic
communication devices 5, such as radio frequency identification
("RFID") devices, including RFID tags 52, which function as
transponders or transmitters. Examples of suitable RFID devices as
electronic communication devices 5 or methods of using such are
shown and described in the following U.S. patents, the disclosures
of which are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. No.
6,127,928 assigned to E-Tag Systems, Inc.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,865
assigned to Moore U.S.A. Inc.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,287 assigned to
Widata Corporation; U.S. Pat. No. 5,936,527 assigned to E-Tag
Systems, Inc.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,253 assigned to Accu-Sort
Systems, Inc.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,222 assigned to International
Business Machines Corporation; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,140 assigned
to Micron Technology, Inc.
[0041] Recent technological advances have furthered RFID technology
by developing an RFID tag 52 broadly comprised of paper printed
with conductive ink and a silicone microprocessor, as illustrated
in FIG. 11. Instead of using conductive wire, capacitively coupled
RFID tags, as they are known in the art, use conductive ink to
transmit a radio signal, which allows for smaller and less
expensive tags. Such capacitively coupled RFID tags 52 are
manufactured by Motorola, Inc. of Schaumburg, Ill., under the
tradename BISTATIX and are shown and described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,384,727 B1 assigned to Motorola, Inc. As with conventional RFID
tags, capacitively coupled RFID tags 52 have electronic circuitry
13 that interferes with any magnetic material 42 positioned
proximately adjacent to the circuitry 13. The present invention is
operable to prevent this interference by magnetically influencing
the magnetic material 42, as described above, so that the magnetic
material's magnetic field emanates away from a back face 52b of the
RFID tag 52. Alternatively, the thin synthetic resin laminate 44
may be intermediately provided between the back face 52b of the
RFID tag 52 and the magnetic material 42. As with the disposable
telephone 10, the laminate 44 acts as a shield against the magnetic
field produced by the magnetic material 42, and thus prevents
interference of the electronic circuitry 13 with the magnetic
field.
[0042] The present invention is preferably mounted on a
substantially smooth upright surface, such as a refrigerator or
wall, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Since the present invention is
adapted to be mounted without a mechanical mounting, the electronic
communication device may be placed quickly and easily on the
upright surface such that the electronic communication device 5 is
substantially flush with the surface. In the above-described
preferred first embodiment, the telephone 10 may alternatively be
programmed with a single telephone number, such that the telephone
10 is operable to only call that number. The body 12 of the
telephone 10 may also be printed with promotional indicia for
marketing or advertising. Since the telephone 10 is disposable,
companies could use the telephone 10 as a marketing tool, such that
a user, for example, would mount the telephone 10 to their
refrigerator and call the company directly using the telephone
10.
[0043] The repositionable adhesive 48 described in the second
preferred embodiment is particularly adapted for securement of the
electronic communication device 5 to any surface. Since the present
invention is operable to self-mount the device 5, a mechanical
mount need not be used to mount the device 5 on, for example, a
dashboard of a car. The self-mounting feature of the present
invention thus reduces the cost of having to buy and install the
mechanical mount. Also, the present invention does not damage the
surface to which it is mounted, as opposed to some mechanical
mounts.
[0044] Although preferred forms of the invention have been
described above, it is to be recognized that such disclosure is by
way of illustration only and should not be utilized in a limiting
sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Obvious
modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as hereinabove set
forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example,
the present invention may be used with a variety of electronic
communication devices 5, such as a GPS unit, a calculator, or an
electronic game. A plurality of the present invention may also be
provided on a carrier sheet, preferably three telephones 10 to each
sheet. An outer edge of the extended body 12 is provided with score
lines or lines of weakness 54, as illustrated in FIG. 7, so that
the user of the invention may easily remove the body 12 from the
carrier sheet and fold the body 12 into a workable telephone
10.
[0045] Additionally, the dielectric material used to form the body
12 of the electronic communication device 5 may be folded in a
different manner from those described above. The body 12 of the
device 5 may also comprise one solid piece not formed of a folded
material. Additionally, it is not essential that the body 12 be
disposable, since the present invention is operable to be used with
any thin-bodied electronic communication device 5. The body 12 may
also be wrapped to protect it from water or normal use, such as
wrapping the body in shrink wrap.
[0046] Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the
invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by
Letters Patent includes the following:
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