Printer protective cover with integrated message display
OwnerGary Knightinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cover device for a point-of-sale receipt printer comprising, a base having a retention mechanism to attach the cover device to the point-of-sale receipt printer; a front dam of the base that helps prevent falling objects from being discharged from the top front area of the base into equipment adjacent to the printer; a paper guide portion including a paper guide, a paper slot and a rear dam for allowing receipt paper to be discharged from the printer while protecting the printer from entry of foreign objects through the paper slot; and, an A-frame display portion having card slots to receive information cards stock with general promotional and information messages printed thereon.
Claims15
A cover device for a point-of-sale receipt printer comprising:
- a base having a retention mechanism to attach the cover device to the point-of-sale receipt printer;
- a front dam of said base that helps prevent falling objects from being discharged from the top front area of the base into equipment adjacent to said printer;
- a paper guide portion including a paper guide, a paper slot and a rear dam for allowing receipt paper to be discharged from the printer while protecting the printer from entry of foreign objects through said paper slot;
- and,
- an A-frame display portion having card slots to receive information cards stock with general promotional and information messages printed thereon.
A combination protective cover for a conventional point-of-sale printer to keep foreign objects from getting inside the printer system and general information display portion comprising:
- a base having two side lips and a rear lip to grip three sides of the printer and conform to the exterior shape of the printer and provide a secure fit to said printer;
- front and rear dams extending above the top surface of said base to keep foreign objects from falling into the printer system and adjacent equipment;
- a paper slot with a paper guide above said paper slot to deflect the foreign objects from getting into the printer system while allowing receipt paper to be discharged from the printer;
- and,
- an A-frame display portion having card slots to receive information cards and including front and rear protective covers for said information cards.
A method for protecting a point-of-sale printer and adjacent equipment from foreign objects getting inside and displaying general information comprising the steps of:
- providing a base including a plurality of lips along the outer edge and a paper slot with a paper guide above said slot;
- providing an A-frame display portion on the top side of said base including front and rear protective covers with card slots and a plurality of ledges;
- forming front and rear dams above said base;
- installing said base on the printer by positioning said lips to provide a glove-like fit on said printer;
- protecting said printer from foreign objects by said dams and said paper guide keeping the objects from falling into the printer and adjacent equipment;
- providing card stock for printing promotional and informational messages on business size cards;
- inserting said card stock into said card slots of said A-frame display portion so that said ledges guide and retain said card stock under said protective cover;
- providing thumb slots and card removal slots in said front and rear protective covers;
- removing and replacing said card stock using said thumb slots and said card removal slots;
- and,
- opening the printer when needed to add paper or repair the printer without removing the protective cover from the printer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.