The present invention relates to postage stamp assemblages and, preferably, to an improved postage stamp assemblage incorporating a photograph.
The U.S. Postal Service has implemented many changes allowing users to meter postage on mail and print postage in the form of labels that are affixed to mail, wherein the labels are compatible with postal system equipment. Another known postage approach is practiced in Australia which allows postal patrons to send photographs to the postal authority for creating a composite postage assemblage comprising a conventional stamp portion and an image portion that has printed thereon the photograph submitted by the postal patron. Fully encompassing and laminating photographs in a plastic pouch is well-known in the identification card art; such as is evidenced by the several U.S. Patents (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,992,353; and 4,653,775) assigned to Polaroid Corporation.
Custom-printed postage labels are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,617 issued to Beaudoin, et al teaches a pressure sensitive adhesive label having postage indicia used to produce mailing pieces at high speeds.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,573 issued to de Passile discloses a composite stamp having two parts used in combination to provide a finished stamp. One part bears postage-related information and a second part bears decorative design(s), allowing the user to customize the postage stamp.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,605 issued to Kaplan teaches a personalized postage stamp. Kaplan claims a method for producing a postage stamp bearing a photograph. The Kaplan method requires the photograph to be taken at a vending station, thus limiting the types of images that can be used in the stamp.
None of these references disclose a user-definable stamp capable of using a user-supplied photograph as a basis for a postage stamp assemblage. It is desirable to enhance the self-service capabilities of a postal system by providing individuals with a system to generate their own postage assemblage especially by using photographs of their making as an integral component of the assemblage.
In accordance with the present invention, provision is made for a postage stamp assemblage that comprises an indicia bearing element and a supporting member joinable together for forming a postage stamp assemblage by a postal patron that is affixable to mail and which is otherwise compatible with equipment in the postal system.
In an illustrated embodiment, the indicia bearing element is a photographic film image and the supporting member is a transparent overlay which encompasses and is laminated to the film image, wherein the overlay is itself adhesively securable to mail.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a postage stamp assemblage of the foregoing type which can be made by a postal patron to include an image bearing element and which that is compatible with postal system equipment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a postage stamp assemblage of the foregoing type that includes a photographic film unit, such as of the self-developing type.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a postage stamp assemblage of the foregoing type that allows any photographic film unit of a predetermined size to be laminated to an overlay which is affixable to mail for use in the postal service.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a postage stamp assemblage of the foregoing type that makes provision for a self-service system with the capability of allowing artistic freedom to postal patrons using a variety of images, and yet satisfy the requirements of the postal system in terms of handling such postage.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a postage stamp assemblage kit that allows the formation of a postage stamp assemblage comprising a photographic film unit.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a low-cost yet reliable system for forming postage stamp assemblages acceptable by a postal authority.
These and other objects and scope of the present will become apparent after reading the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like structure throughout the several views.