`
`t
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Return Receipt Postcard (MPEP 503)
`
`Statementfiled in prior application,
`Status still proper and desired
`
`PTO/SB/O5 (2/98)
`Approved for use through 09/30/2000. OMB 0651-0032
`Please type a plus sign (+) inside this box >/4][+]
`Patent and Trademark Office US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`nder the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no
`persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Attorney Docket No.
`HANINO006
`CN
`|MeNT APPLICATION
`UTILITY
`First Inventor or Application Identifier
`Jung-Woo JANG
`
`
`
`
`05/21
`COLLAPSIBLE TENT FRAME
`
`TRANSMITTAL
`Emcnerwen]
`
`Only for new nonprovisional applications under 37 C F.R § 4 53(b))
`
`Assistant Commissionerfor Patents
`ADDRESS TO: Box Patent Application
`APPLICATION ELEMENTS
`6 [| Microfiche Computer Program (Appendix)
`1. [| *Fee Transmittal Form (e.g, PTO/SB/17)
`.
`.
`(Submit an original and a duplicate for fee processing)
`7. Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid Sequence Submission
`:
`.
`Specification
`[Total Paget
`(if applicable, all necessary)
`(preferred arrangementset forth below)
`a.
`Computer Readable Copy
`- Descriptivetitle of the Invention
`b. [] Paper Copy (identical to computer copy)
`- Cross References to Related Applications
`c. [| Statementverifying identity of above copies
`- Reference to Microfiche Appendix
`ACCOMPANYING APPLICATION PARTS
`- Background ofthe Invention
`~ Brief Summary of the Invention
`a{ | Assignment Papers (cover sheet & document(s})
`- Brief Description of the Drawings(if filed)
`9. [|
`j
`i
`-
`37 C.F.R.§3.73(b) Statement
`:
`.
`(whenthere is an assignee) [| PowerofAttorney
`- Claim(s)
`0.
`English Transtation Document(if applicable)
`Information Disclosure
`Copies of IDS
`- Abstract of the Disclosure
`[| Statement (IDS)PTO-1449
`Citations
`[Totalsneets|4 I
`Drawing(s) (35 U.S.C. 173)
`3
`Totalpeges|| 2 [| PreliminaryAmendment
`4. Oath or Declaration
`a[ | Newly executed (original or copy)
`3
`(Shouldbe specificallyitemized)
`[| Copy from a prior application (37 C.F.R. § 1 63(d)
`* Small Entity
`b.
`for continuation/divisional with Box 17 completed)
`(
`[Note Box 5 below]
`4.
`Statement(s)
`[_] DELETION OF INVENTOR(S
`(PTO/SB/09-12)
`Signed statementattached deleting
`5
`Certified Copy of Priority Document(s)
`inventor(s) named in the prior application,
`(if foreign priority is claimed)
`see 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.63(d)(2) and 1.33(b).
`Incorporation By Reference (useable if Box 4b 1s checked)
`The entire disclosure of the prior application, from which a
`|[" NOTE FOR ITEMS 4 & 14: IN ORDER TO BE ENTITLED TO PAY SMALL ENTIT
`f
`ath or declaration is
`lied under Box 4b, is
`copy © ne oat
`“ aration
`1s
`supp an
`°
`FEES, A SMALL ENTITYSTATEMENTIS REQUIRED (37C.F.R. § 1.27), EXCEPT
`considered to be part of the disclosure of the accompanying||jf owe FILED IN A PRIOR APPLICATION |S RELIED UPON(37 C.F.R. § 1.28).
`application and is hereby incorporated by reference therein.
`17. Ifa CONTINUING APPLICATION, check appropriate box, and supply the requisite information below and in a preliminary amendment’
`[| Continuation [| Divsional [| Continuation-in-part (CIP)
`of prior application No.
`!
`Pnor application information
`Examiner
`Group / Art Unit.
`18. CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
`
`[x] Customer Number or Bar Code Label
`
`:
`:
`2 (insert Customer No.or Attach bar code label here) :
`
`Correspondence address below
`
`GRIFFIN, BUTLER, WHISENHUNT & SZIPL, LLP
`
`Address
`
`Suite PH-1, 2300 Ninth Street, South
`
`[oyarlington|ste|virginia|Zecode [22204
`(703) 979-5700__|Fx ](703) 979-7429
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`
`Burden Hour Statement This form ts estimated to takewsto-complete Time will vary depending upon the needs of the sandal case Any
`comments on the amountof time you alp-te
`e
`IS form should be sent to the Chief Information Officer, Patent and Trademark Office,
`Washington, DC 20231 DO NOT SEND
`D FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS SEND TO: Assistant Commissionerfor Patents,
`-+-
`Box PatentApplication, Washington, DS
`
`Tgerg-Uve Szipl
`
`31,799
`
`
`
`66793 U.
`
`
`
`See MPEPchapter 600 concerning utility patent application contents.
`
`2.
`
`\
`
`- Statement Regarding Fed sponsored R & D
`
`Detailed Description
`
`,
`
`
`
`

`

`COLLAPSIBLE TENT FRAME
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates, in general, to collapsible
`
`tent frames capable of making pitching or striking a tent easy
`
`and quick when necessary and, more particularly,
`
`to a
`
`collapsible tent
`
`frame suitable for giving an enlarged and
`
`heightened interior space to users when pitching a tent.
`
`Description of the Prior Art
`
`As well known to those skilled in the art, a tent is a
`
`collapsible shelter of canvas or other material stretched over
`
`and sustained by a frame and is used for camping outdoors or
`
`as a temporary structure.
`
`It is preferable for such a tent to
`
` 10
`
`be easily and quickly pitched or struck when necessary, SO a
`
`15
`
`frame
`
`for
`
`such tents
`
`is preferably designed for being
`
`collapsible. Examples of typical collapsible tent frames are
`
`referred to U.S. patents 4,641,676 (issued on Feb. 10, 1987),
`
`4,779,635 (issued on Oct. 25, 1988), 4,947,884 (issued on Sep.
`
`14, 1990), 5,275,188 (issued on Jan. 4, 1994) and 5,421,356
`
`20
`
`(issued on Jan. 6, 1995).
`
`The
`
`above U.S.
`
`patents
`
`individually
`
`disclose
`
`a
`
`collapsible tent
`
`frame which comprises a plurality of side
`
`

`

`pole ribs 2, with each pair of ribs 2 being coupled to each
`
`other at the center of them into a scissor assembly as shown
`
`in Fig. 1. The scissor assemblies of the side pole ribs 2 are
`
`also coupled to each other at joints 2a and are connected to
`
`four side poles 1 at their outside ends.
`
`In such a case,
`
`the outside upper end of each scissor
`
`assembly of the ribs 2 is hinged to the top end of a side pole
`
`1, while the outside lower end of each scissor assembly is
`
`hinged to a slider 7 movably fitted over
`
`the side pole 1.
`
`Therefore, when a user moves
`
`the four side poles 1
`
`to the
`
`center of the tent frame,
`
`the sliders 7 move down on the side
`
`poles 1 respectively,
`
`thus folding the scissor assemblies of
`
`the ribs 2 at the joints 2a and collapsing the tent frame.
`
`The above tent frame also comprises a plurality of center
`
`pole ribs 3, with each pair of ribs 3 being coupled to each
`
`other at
`
`the center of
`
`them into a scissor assembly.
`
`Each
`
`scissor assembly of the above ribs 3 is hinged to the joints
`
`2a of the side pole ribs 2 at the outside ends and are hinged
`
`to a center pole 6 at the inside ends.
`
`In such a case,
`
`the
`
` 10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`inside lower end of each scissor assembly of the ribs 3
`
`is
`
`hinged to a connector 4 provided on the lower end of
`
`the
`
`center pole 6, while the inside upper end of each scissor
`
`assembly is hinged to a slide guider 5 into which the center
`
`pole 6 is movably fitted. Therefore, when the four side poles
`
`25
`
`1 are moved to the center of the tent frame,
`
`the center pole
`
`

`

`6 moves down in the slide guider 5,
`
`thus folding the scissor
`
`assemblies of the center pole ribs 3 and collapsing the tent
`
`frame.
`
`However,
`
`the
`
`above collapsible tent
`
`frame
`
`has’
`
`the
`
`following problem.
`
`That
`
`is,
`
`in the above tent
`
`frame,
`
`the
`
`center pole ribs 3 are coupled to the joints 2a of the side
`
`pole ribs 2. Therefore, when pitching a tent, the center pole
`
`ribs 3 are positioned across the upper portion of the interior
`
`Space as shown in Fig. 2,
`
`thus limiting the height of
`
`the
`
`10
`
`interior space.
`
`It is thus necessary for a user to be careful lest one
`
`bumps one's head against
`
`the center pole ribs 3 or
`
`the
`
`connector 4 while going out of, coming into or standing in the
`
`tent.
`
`Therefore,
`
`the above tent
`
`frame is inconvenient
`
`to
`
`15
`
`users.
`
`In addition, the center pole 6 comprises the connector 4
`
`and the slide guider 5,
`
`thus having a complex construction and
`
`increasing the production cost of the tent frame. Another
`
`probiem of the above collapsible tent frame resides in that it
`
`20
`
`is too heavy for a user to easily handle or move the frame.
`
`
`
`
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping
`
`in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an
`
`

`

`object of the present
`
`invention is to provide a collapsible
`
`tent frame, of which the center pole is coupled to the side
`
`poles,
`
`thus giving an enlarged and heightened interior space
`
`to users when pitching a tent and allowing a user to easily
`
`handle the frame when pitching or striking the tent.
`
`In order to accomplish the above object,
`
`the present
`
`invention provides a collapsible tent frame, comprising:
`
`a
`
`center pole used for stretching and sustaining a tent's roof
`
`when pitching a tent; a plurality of side poles coupled to
`
`each other through a plurality of scissor-type ribs, with
`
`upper ends of the ribs being hinged to connectors provided at
`
`top ends of the side poles and lower ends of the ribs being
`
`hinged to sliders movably fitted over the side poles; and a
`
`plurality of center pole ribs coupling the center pole to the
`
`connectors
`
`of
`
`the
`
`side
`
`poles,
`
`the
`
`center
`
`pole
`
`ribs
`
`individually comprising two rib members coupled to each other
`
`through a hinge joint and being hinged to the slider of an
`
`associated side pole through a support
`
`link,
`
`thus being
`
`collapsible at
`
`the hinge joint
`
`in accordance with a sliding
`
`10
`15
`
`20
`
`motion of the slider along the side pole.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The
`
`above
`
`and other objects,
`
`features
`
`and other
`
`advantages of
`
`the present
`
`invention will be more clearly
`
`

`

`
`
`
`understood from the following detailed description taken in
`
`conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
`
`in which:
`
`Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the construction of
`
`a typical collapsible tent frame;
`
`Fig.
`
`2 is a sectional view of a tent with the typical
`
`collapsible tent frame when the tent is completely pitched;
`
`Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the construction of
`
`a collapsible tent
`
`frame in accordance with the preferred
`
`embodiment of the present
`
`invention; and
`
`10
`
`Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a tent with the collapsible
`
`tent
`
`frame of
`
`this invention when the tent
`
`is completely
`
`pitched.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the construction of
`
`15
`
`a collapsible tent
`
`frame in accordance with the preferred
`
`embodiment of this invention. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of
`
`a tent with the collapsible tent frame of this invention when
`
`the tent is completely pitched.
`
`As
`
`shown
`
`in the drawings,
`
`the tent
`
`frame of
`
`this
`
`20
`
`invention comprises a plurality of side pole connection beams
`
`20, with each pair of ribs 20 being coupled to each other at
`
`the center of
`
`them into a scissor assembly.
`
`The scissor
`
`assemblies of the side pole ribs 20 are also coupled to each
`
`

`

`other at joints 20a and are connected to four side poles 10 at
`
`their outside ends.
`
`In such a case,
`
`the outside upper end of
`
`each scissor assembly of the ribs 20 is hinged to a connector
`
`60 provided at
`
`the top end of each side pole 10, while the
`
`outside lower end of each scissor assembly is hinged to a
`
`Slider 70 movably fitted over the side pole 10.
`
`The four side poles 10 are individually coupled to a
`
`center pole 50, having a simple construction, through a center
`
`pole rib 30.
`
`The center pole ribs 30 individually comprise
`
`two rib members, which have the same construction and are
`
`coupled to each other through a hinge joint 30a.
`
`The above
`
`center pole ribs 30 are also coupled to the sliders 70 through
`
`support
`
`links 40 at
`
`the outside rib members,
`
`respectively.
`
`Therefore,
`
`the collapsible tent
`
`frame of
`
`this invention is
`
`easily and quickly stretchable or collapsible,
`
`thus allowing
`
`a user to easily and quickly pitch or strike a tent.
`
`Bach of the side poles 10 is provided with a claw 10a at
`
`the lower end,
`
`thus being stably held on the ground.
`
`The
`
`Sliders 70 are designed for being slidable along the side
`
`10
`15
`
`20
`
`poles 10 in opposite directions.
`
`The operational effect of
`
`the above collapsible tent
`
`frame will be described hereinbelow.
`
`The above tent frame is integratedwith a canvas or other
`
`material,
`
`thus forming a tent.
`
`25
`
`When it is necessary to pitch the tent,
`
`the four side
`
`

`

`poles
`
`iO are
`
`pushed outwardly at
`
`the
`
`same
`
`time,
`
`thus
`
`stretching the tent frame. When the side poles 10 are pushed
`
`outwardly as described above, the sliders 70 move upward along
`
`the side poles 10 while stretching the two types of ribs 20
`
`and 30. Therefore,
`
`the tent frame stretches and sustains the
`
`canvas or other material and pitches the tent.
`
`In such a case,
`
`the center pole ribs 30 are fully
`
`Stretched by the support links 40, which connect the ribs 30
`
`to the sliders 70, with the hinge joints 30a of the ribs 30
`
`being moved upwardly.
`
`Therefore,
`
`the center pole 50 moves
`
`upwardly and sustains the center of the roof while stretching
`
`the roof as shown in Fig. 4.
`
`When the tent
`
`is pitched with the frame being fully
`
`stretched as described above,
`
`the center pole 50 moves
`
`upwardly along with the center pole ribs 30, so the tent frame
`
`of this invention heightens the interior space of the tent in
`
`comparison with a typical collapsible tent frame. Therefore,
`
`the tent frame of this invention allows users to freely go out
`
`of,
`
`come into or stand in the tent without being concerned
`
`
` 15
`
`20
`
`about bumping one's head against
`
`the center pole ribs 30 or
`
`the center pole 50.
`
`When it is necessary for a user to strike the tent,
`
`the
`
`user moves
`
`the four side poles 10 to the center of the tent
`
`frame,
`
`thus allowing the sliders 70 to move down on the side
`
`25
`
`poles 10 while folding the scissor assemblies of the ribs 20
`
`

`

`at
`
`the joints 20a.
`
`In such a case,
`
`the support
`
`links 40,
`
`connecting the center pole ribs 30 to the sliders 70, pull the
`
`ribs 30 downwardly,
`
`thus folding the ribs 30 at the joints 30a
`
`and moving the center pole 50 downwardly.
`
`The tent
`
`is thus
`
`completely struck with the tent frame being fully collapsed.
`
`Such a collapsed frame effectively reduces the volume and
`
`weight
`
`of
`
`the
`
`tent
`
`and
`
`allows
`
`a user
`
`to easily and
`
`conveniently carry the tent.
`
`As described above,
`
`the present
`
`invention provides
`
`a
`
`collapsible tent frame, of which the center pole has a simple
`
`construction and is directly coupled to the side poles through
`
`a plurality of center pole ribs.
`
`The above center pole ribs
`
`individually comprise two rib members, which have the same
`
`construction and are coupled to each other through a hinge
`
`joint.
`
`The above center pole ribs are also coupled to the
`
`sliders of the side poles throughaplurality of support links
`
`at
`
`the outside rib members,
`
`respectively.
`
`Therefore,
`
`the
`
` 10
`
`15
`
`collapsible tent a_simpleframe of this invention has
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`construction capable of effectively reducing the production
`
`20
`
`cost, volume
`
`and weight of
`
`a
`
`tent.
`
`When
`
`the frame
`
`is
`
`stretched so as to pitch a tent,
`
`the center pole is fully
`
`moved upwardly along with the center pole ribs.
`
`The tent
`
`frame
`
`thus heightens
`
`the interior
`
`space of
`
`the tent
`
`in
`
`comparison with a typical collapsible tent
`
`frame and allows
`
`25
`
`users to freely go out of,
`
`come into or stand in the tent
`
`

`

`without being concerned about bumping one's head against the
`
`center pole ribs or the center pole.
`
`The collapsible tent
`
`frame of this invention is thus convenient to users.
`
`Although
`
`the preferred embodiments
`
`of
`
`the present
`
`invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes,
`
`those
`
`Skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications,
`
`additions and substitutions are possible, without departing
`
`from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the
`
`accompanying claims.
`
`
`
`ne
`
`

`

`WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
`
`1. A collapsible tent frame, comprising:
`
`a center pole used for stretching and sustaining a tent's
`
`roof when pitching a tent;
`
`a plurality of side poles coupled to each other through
`
`a plurality of scissor-type ribs, with upper ends of said ribs
`
`being hinged to connectors provided at top ends of said side
`
`poles and lower ends of said ribs being hinged to sliders
`
`movably fitted over said side poles; and
`
`10
`
`a plurality of center pole ribs coupling said center pole
`
`to said connectors of the side poles, said center pole ribs
`
`individually comprising two rib members coupled to each other
`
`through a hinge joint and being hinged to the slider of an
`
`associated side pole through a support
`
`link,
`
`thus being
`
`15
`
`collapsible at
`
`the hinge joint
`
`in accordance with a sliding
`
`motion of said slider along the side pole.
`
`
`
`
`10
`
`

`

`ABSTRACT
`
`A collapsible tent frame is disclosed.
`
`The tent
`
`frame
`
`has a center pole used for stretching and sustaining a tent's
`
`roof when pitching a tent.
`
`A plurality of side poles are
`
`coupled to each other
`
`through a plurality of scissor-type
`
`ribs, with upper ends of the ribs being hinged to connectors
`
`provided at top ends of the side poles and lower ends of the
`
`ribs being hinged to sliders movably fitted over
`
`the side
`
`poles.
`
`The center pole is coupled to the connectors of
`
`the
`
`Side poles through a plurality of center pole ribs. The above
`
`center pole ribs individually consist of
`
`two rib members,
`
`which are coupled to each other through a hinge joint.
`
`Each
`
`of the center pole ribs is also hinged to the slider of an
`
`associated side pole through a support
`
`link,
`
`thus being
`
`collapsible at
`
`the hinge joint
`
`in accordance with a sliding
`
`motion of the slider along the side pole.
`
`10
`
`
`11
`
`

`

`FiG.4
`
`50
`
`15
`
`

`

`F1IG.1
`
`ieltACSESaAbeESEeeALBehSaeh
`
`
`
`

`

`miielehERaEe
`
`vy
`
`FIG.2
`
`
`
`
`
`13
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`e’Ors
`
`

`

`58-85-19 11:56
`
`HAN INTERNATIONAL PATENT LAW OFFICE
`yu
`ee
`
`PY 82*e*S91K9433
`
`113 Pé1
`s
`
`
`Applicant or Patentee:
`Attorney's
`
`Serlal or Patent No.
`Docket No.: HANINOO06
`Filed or Issued:
`
`
`For:
`
`- VERIFIED STATEMENT (DECLARATION} CLAIMING SMALL ENTITY
`STATUS (37 CFR 1.91} and 1.27(b)} - INDEPENDENT INVENTOR
`
`As a below-namedinventor, | hereby rlectare that J qualify as an independent inventor as defined in 37 CFR +.9(c) for purposes
`of paying reduced fees under Section 41(a} and (b) of Title 35, United States Code, to the Patent and Trademark Office with
`regard to the invention entitled
`
`ee
`described in:
`
`(V}
`(
`}
`{
`]
`
`the specification filed herewith
`application Serial No.
`Patent No.
`
`
`, filed
`. issued
`
`| have not assigned, granted, conveyed or licensed and am under no obligation under contract or law to assign, grant, convey or
`license, any rlghts in the invention to any person who could not be classified as an independent Invention under 37 CFR 1.9(c) if
`that person had madetha invention, or to any concern which would not qualify as a small business concern under 37 CFR
`"1,9(d} or a non-profit organization under 37 CER 1.9(e).
`
`_
`
`. Each person, concern or organization to which | have assigned, granted, conveyed, or licensed or am under an obligation under
`contract or law to assign, grant, convey, or ficense any rights in the invention is listed below:
`
`(
`{
`
`j
`]
`
`no such person, concern or organization
`persons, concerns or organizations fisted below *
`
` “NOTE: Separate verified statements are required from each named person, concern or organization having rights to the
`
`(37 CFR 1.27)
`
`vention averring to their status as small entities.
`OLL NAME
`
` oe
`7
`A®DRESS
`
`{
`(
`JINDIVIDUAL
`) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN [|
`
`FULL NAME
`
`ADDRESS
`_
`
`
`] NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
`
`JINDIVIDUAL [1SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN
`
`[
`EGLL NAME
`' AODRESS
`
`[|
`
`] NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
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`[
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`JINDIVIOUAL
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`[J SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN
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`{
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`] NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
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`| acknowledge the dutyto file, in this application or patent, Notification of any change in status resulting in loss of entitlement
`to small entity status prior to paying, or at the time of paying, the earliest of the issue fee or any maintenance fee due after the
`date on which status as a small entity is no longer appropriate.
`(37 CFR 1.28(b))
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`\ hereby declare that all statements made herein of my awn knowledgeare true and that all statements made on information
`and belief are believed to be true; and further that these statements were made with the knowledge that willful false statements
`and the fike so made are punishable by fine or impiisonment, or both, under Section 1001 of Title 18 of the United States Code,
`and that such willful false statements may jeopardize the validity of the application, any patent Issuing thereon, er any patent to
`which this verified statement is directed.
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`JANG, JUNG-WOO
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`NAME OF INVENTOR
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`Signature of Inventor”
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`"NAME OF INVENTOR
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`NAME OF INVENTOR
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`Signature of Inventor
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`Signature of Inventor
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`Date
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`~~
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`Date
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`Dale
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