System and process for identifying, choosing and matching colors

• US 7,561,735 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: K1C2, LLC
• Original Assignee: K1C2, LLC
• Inventors: Levin, Susan, Tracy, Gloria
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta; Bhavesh M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Krasnic; Bernard
• Application Number:
  US10/728,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,048 Days
• Field of Search: 382/162, 382/167, 434/98, 434/104, 434/101, 434/81, 434/84, 356/423, 345/601, 345/602
• US Class Current: 382/162
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/522 circular colour charts
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/528 using colour harmony theory

Abstract

A color matching and coordinating reference system for use by manufacturers and consumers of goods includes assigning a unique identification code for each of a plurality of colors. The identification code includes color family indicia, color value indicia, and color selector device indicia. Preferably, each color is assigned a unique color name as well. Manufacturers utilizing the system label or otherwise associate each good with the identification code for each color used therewith to assist the consumer in matching and coordinating colors. Color selector devices and tables can be used by the consumer or manufacturer in finding matching colors or coordinating/complimentary color combinations.

Claims

1. A method for creating a color matching and coordinating reference system for use by manufacturers and consumers of products, comprising the steps of:

establishing a governing body;

a first manufacturer submitting a first product or product sample having at least one color to the governing body to be assigned an identification code corresponding to the at least one color of the first product or product sample, and to obtain approval to use the governing body'"'"'s one or more assigned identification codes in association with the first product;

the governing body assigning an identification code for each color of the first manufacturer'"'"'s product or product sample, and granting approval to the first manufacturer to use the one or more assigned identification codes in association with the product;

a second manufacturer submitting a second product or product sample of a different type than the first product and having at least one color to the governing body to be assigned an identification code corresponding to the at least one color of the second product or product sample, and to obtain approval to use the governing body'"'"'s one or more assigned identification codes in association with the second product;

the governing body assigning an identification code for each color of the second manufacturer'"'"'s product or product sample, and granting approval to the second manufacturer to use the one or more assigned identification codes in association with the second product;

the first manufacturer labeling the one or more assigned identification codes with the first manufactured product;

the second manufacturer labeling the one or more assigned identification codes with the second manufactured product; and

consumers of the first and second manufacturers'"'"' products utilizing the one or more identification codes to match and coordinate colors of the first and second products.

2. The method of claim 1, including the step of assigning a unique color name to each identification code.

3. The method of claim 2, including the step of cross-referencing matching and coordinating colors using a table listing at least a portion of the plurality of colors according to each color'"'"'s identification code or assigned color name.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning a unique identification code step includes the step of assigning an alpha-numeric identification comprising indicia for a color classification, the color family, and the color value.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the color family indicia is selected from a list consisting of:

red, red/orange, orange, yellow/orange, yellow, yellow/green, green, blue/green, blue, blue/violet, violet, and red/violet.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the color value indicia is a number.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the color value indicia for each color of the plurality of colors is between 0 and 8.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the identification code for each color classification comprises a color selector device indicia corresponding to a color selector device which displays that color.

9. The method of claim 8, including the step of the governing body providing a plurality of color selector devices, each color selector device displaying a plurality of colors, and each color labeled with a pre-assigned identification code including indicia representing the color selector device or color classification, the color family, and the color value, wherein consumers can match or coordinate colors of products not using identification codes assigned by the governing body with the first or second products having identification codes assigned by the governing body.

10. The method of claim 1, including the step of the first and second manufacturers further labeling indicia with the first and second products representing that the governing body has assigned and approved the one or more identification codes corresponding to the one or more colors of the first and second products.

11. The method of claim 1, including the steps of the governing body pre-assigning an identification code to each of a plurality of colors, and comparing and matching the one or more colors of the first and second products or product samples submitted by the first and second manufacturers to the plurality of colors and assigning the one or more colors of the first and second products or product samples a pre-assigned identification code corresponding to the matching color of the plurality of colors.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the labeling step includes the step of attaching a label including the one or more identification codes assigned to the one or more colors of the product to the product or product packaging so as to be referenced by a consumer of the product.

13. A method for creating a color matching and coordinating reference system for use by manufacturers and consumers of products, comprising the steps of:

establishing a governing body;

the governing body pre-assigning an identification code and a corresponding name to each of a plurality of colors, wherein the identification code comprises an alpha-numeric identification including indicia for a color classification, a color family, and a color value;

a first manufacturer submitting a first product or product sample having at least one color to the governing body to be assigned an identification code corresponding to the at least one color of the first product or product sample, and to obtain approval to use the governing body'"'"'s one or more assigned identification codes in association with the first product;

a second manufacturer submitting a second product or product sample of a different type than the first product and having at least one color to the governing body to be assigned an identification code corresponding to the at least one color of the second product or product sample, and to obtain approval to use the governing body'"'"'s one or more assigned identification codes in association with the second product;

the governing body comparing and matching the one or more colors of the first and second products or product samples submitted by the first and second manufacturers to the plurality of colors and assigning each of the one or more colors of the first and second products or product samples a pre-assigned identification code corresponding to the matching color of the plurality of colors;

the governing body granting approval to the first and second manufacturers to use the one or more identification codes or names in association with the first and second products;

the first and second manufacturers labeling the assigned one or more color names or identification codes with the manufactured first and second products; and

consumers of the first and second manufacturers'"'"' products utilizing the assigned one or more color names or identification codes to match and coordinate colors of the first and second products.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the color family indicia is selected from a list consisting of:

red, red/orange, orange, yellow/orange, yellow, yellow/green, green, blue/green, blue, blue/violet, violet, and red/violet.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the color value indicia is a number.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the color value indicia for each color of the plurality of colors is a number between 0 and 8.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the identification code for each color classification comprises a color selector device indicia corresponding to a color selector device which displays that color.

18. The method of claim 17, including the step of the governing body providing a plurality of color selector devices, each color selector device displaying a plurality of colors, and each color labeled with a pre-assigned identification code including indicia representing the color selector device or color classification, the color family, and the color value, wherein consumers can match or coordinate colors of products not using identification codes assigned by the governing body with the first and second products having the identification codes assigned by the governing body.

19. The method of claim 13, including the step of cross-referencing matching and coordinating colors using a table listing at least a portion of the plurality of colors according to each color'"'"'s identification code or assigned color name.

20. The method of claim 13, including the step of the first and second manufacturers further labeling indicia with the first and second products representing that the governing body has assigned and approved the one or more identification code corresponding to the one or more colors of the first and second products.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the labeling step includes the step of attaching a label to the first and second products or product packaging including the one or more identification codes assigned to the one or more colors of the first and second products so as to be referenced by a consumer of the first and second products.

22. A method for creating a color matching and coordinating reference system for use by manufacturers and consumers of products, comprising the steps of:

establishing a governing body;

the governing body pre-assigning an identification code and a corresponding name to each of a plurality of colors, wherein the identification code comprises an alpha-numeric identification including indicia for a color classification, a color family, and a color value;

a first manufacturer submitting a first product or product sample having at least one color to the governing body to be assigned an identification code corresponding to the at least one color of the first product or product sample, and to obtain approval to use the governing body'"'"'s one or more assigned identification codes in association with the first product;

a second manufacturer submitting a second product or product sample of a different type than the first product and having at least one color to the governing body to be assigned an identification code corresponding to the at least one color of the second product or product sample, and to obtain approval to use the governing body'"'"'s one or more assigned identification codes in association with the second product;

the governing body comparing and matching the one or more colors of the first and second products or product samples submitted by the first and second manufacturers to the plurality of colors and assigning each of the one or more colors of the first and second products or product samples a pre-assigned identification code corresponding to the matching color of the plurality of colors;

the governing body granting approval to the first and second manufacturers to use the one or more identification codes or names in association with the first and second products;

the first and second manufacturers attaching a label to the first and second products or product packaging, the label including the assigned one or more color names or identification codes corresponding with the one or more colors of the manufactured first and second products, and indicia representing that the one or more color names or identification codes on the label has been approved by the governing body;

consumers of the first and second manufacturers'"'"' first and second products utilizing the one or more color names or the identification codes to match and coordinate colors of the first and second products; and

the governing body providing a plurality of color selector devices, each color selector device displaying a plurality of colors, and each color labeled with a pre-assigned identification code including indicia representing the color selector device or color classification, the color family, and the color value, wherein consumers can match or coordinate colors of products not using identification codes assigned by the governing body with the first or second product having identification codes assigned by the governing body.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the color family indicia is selected from a list consisting of:

red, red/orange, orange, yellow/orange, yellow, yellow/green, green, blue/green, blue, blue/violet, violet, and red/violet.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the color value indicia is a number.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the color value indicia for each color of the plurality of colors is a number between 0 and 8.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the identification code for each color classification comprises a color selector device indicia corresponding to a color selector device which displays that color.

27. The method of claim 22, including the step of cross-referencing matching and coordinating colors using a table listing at least a portion of the plurality of colors according to each color'"'"'s identification code or assigned color name.