SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MARKING COLLECTIBLES TO INCREASE THEIR UNIQUENESS

• US 20080229959A1
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crystalier, Limited
• Original Assignee: Crystalier, Limited
• Inventors: Yerkes, Andre Alan
• Granted Patent: US 9,159,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 101/483
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/00 Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/08 Alphanumerical data
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/405 Marking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for marking collectible items to increase their collectible uniqueness includes creating a multiplicity of unique date codes, each of the multiplicity of unique date codes including a representation of a calendar month and a representation of a day in the calendar month, randomly selecting one of the multiplicity of unique date codes, and affixing the randomly selected one of the multiplicity of unique date codes to a collectible item. According to other embodiments, a system with a computer and a marking device may apply a date code to a collectible item. According to yet other embodiments, a method for marking collectibles includes creating at least three hundred sixty-five collectibles in a time period shorter than a year, and marking each with a unique date code combination such that no two visually identical collectibles share the same date code.

Claims

1. A method for marking collectible items to increase their collectible uniqueness, the method comprising:

creating a multiplicity of unique date codes, each of the multiplicity of unique date codes comprising a representation of a calendar month and a representation of a day in the calendar month;

randomly selecting one of the multiplicity of unique date codes; and

affixing the randomly selected one of the multiplicity of unique date codes to a collectible item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the collectible item is one of a plurality of visually identical items, and wherein the randomly selected one of the multiplicity of unique date codes is not affixed to any other collectible item of the plurality of visually identical items.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the multiplicity of unique date codes further comprises a representation of a calendar year.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the multiplicity of unique date codes further comprises a representation of a number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the multiplicity of unique date codes further comprises a symbol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the multiplicity of unique date codes further comprises a representation of an alphanumeric character.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the multiplicity of unique date codes further comprises a word.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the multiplicity of unique date codes further comprises a trademark.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of unique date codes is at least three hundred sixty-five unique date codes.

10. A method for marking collectible items to increase their uniqueness, the method comprising:

creating at least three hundred sixty-five collectible items in a time period shorter than three hundred sixty-five days; and

marking each of the at least three hundred sixty-five collectible items with a unique combination, the unique combination comprising a month and a day of the month,

wherein each of the at least three hundred sixty-five collectible items is visually identical except for the marking.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the time period is shorter than one month.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the time period is shorter than twenty-four hours.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the unique combination further comprises a year.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the unique combination further comprises a trademark.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

marking each of the at least three hundred sixty-five collectible items with a symbol.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

marking each of the at least three hundred sixty-five collectible items with a word.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

marking each of the at least three hundred sixty-five collectible items with a single digit number.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least three hundred sixty-five collectible items are three hundred sixty-six collectible items.

19. A system for marking a collectible item, the system comprising:

a computer, wherein the computer is communicably coupled to a computer readable medium, and wherein the computer readable medium includes instructions executable by the computer to;

receive a multiplicity of unique date codes, each of the multiplicity of unique date codes comprising a representation of a calendar month and a representation of a day in the calendar month, and

randomly select one of the multiplicity of unique date codes; and

a marking device configured to receive the randomly selected date code and affix the randomly selected date code to a collectible item.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the marking device is configured to affix the randomly selected date code to the collectible item by permanently printing the randomly selected date code on a tangible object and affixing the tangible object to the collectible item.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the tangible object is a sticker.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the marking device is configured to permanently affix the randomly selected date code to the collectible item with a process selected from the group consisting of:

permanently printing, etching, engraving, molding, and sandblasting.