All The Claims

1. An illuminated inflatable display apparatus, comprising:
an inflatable balloon comprising a front wall and a rear wall, wherein the rear wall includes an area that is at least partially transparent to light; and
a projector positioned exterior to and adjacent the rear wall of the balloon, the projector comprising a housing with an outlet proximate the transparent area of the rear wall, a light source directing light toward the housing outlet, and a light filter element positioned in the housing, wherein the light from the light source passes selectively through the light filter element to project a display image defined by the light filter element on an inner surface of the front wall of the balloon,
wherein the housing comprises a first shell supporting the light source and a second shell that is pivotally mounted onto the first shell, the first and second shells defining the outlet of the housing and the first shell abutting an exterior surface of the rear wall, whereby the first shell is immobile relative to the rear wall and the second shell moves relative to the first shell,
wherein the light filter element comprises a first component attached to the first shell and a second component attached to the second shell, the first component defining a stationary portion of the display image and second component defining a mobile portion of the display image,
wherein the second shell is mounted to move generally vertically toward and away from the first shell with the second shell being supported on the first shell with a pin passing through mounting guides on the second shell.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light filter element comprises an animated portion mounted to the housing to move independently relative to the housing.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the animated portion is mounted upon a flexible member attached to the housing.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first shell has a frustoconical sidewall formed of a substantially opaque material that includes a slot sized to receive the second shell as the second shell pivots about its mounting to the first shell.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front wall is colored white and the rear wall is substantially transparent to light.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mounting assembly attaching the projector the rear wall comprising a guide on the rear wall, a guide on the project housing, a strap passing through the rear wall guide and the projector housing guide, and a forward guide on the front wall of the balloon at an offset distance from the center of the balloon through which a power cord from the light source may be extended, whereby the power cord acts as an attachment strap and also as a tether for the balloon.
7. An illuminated balloon assembly, comprising:
a balloon; and
a projector mounted on an exterior surface of the balloon, wherein the projector comprises a stationary shroud contacting the exterior surface of the balloon, a light source supported by the stationary shroud, and a mobile shroud mounted on the stationary shroud to move relative to the stationary shroud, wherein inner surfaces of the shrouds direct light from the light source through a portion of the balloon that is substantially transparent to light onto an inner surface of the balloon,
wherein the mobile shroud is pivotally mounted onto the stationary shroud, and
wherein the projector further comprises an artwork pattern at least partially opaque to light, the pattern comprising a first portion attached to the stationary shroud and a second portion attached to the mobile shroud, wherein the first and second portions are in a path of the light from the light source to filter portions of the light from the light source with the second portion moving vertically toward and away from the first portion with movement of the balloon.
8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the stationary shroud includes a substantially opaque sidewall with a slot through which the mobile shroud travels as it pivots on the stationary shroud.
9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode powered from a power source external to the shrouds.
10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the balloon comprises a front wall comprising the inner surface upon which the light from the light source is directed, the front wall being at least partially opaque to light.
11. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a mounting assembly attaching the projector to the exterior surface of the balloon comprising a guide on the exterior surface, a guide on the projector housing, a strap passing through the rear wall guide and the projector housing guide, and a forward guide on the exterior surface of the balloon through which a power cord from the light source may be extended, whereby the power cord acts as an attachment strap and also as a tether for the balloon.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the light source is mounted on the inner surface of the upper shell and comprises a light emitting diode.
13. An apparatus for forming a balloon with a wall with a transparent portion into an illuminated balloon display device, comprising:
an upper shell with an inner surface supporting an upper display pattern and adapted for mounting upon an exterior surface of the balloon wall adjacent the transparent portion;
a light source positioned to direct light onto the upper display pattern on the inner surface of the upper shell; and
a lower shell with an inner surface supporting a lower display pattern, wherein the lower shell is pivotally mounted to the upper shell to move the lower display pattern toward and away from the inner surface of the upper shell and wherein the upper and lower display patterns are at least partially opaque to light, wherein the inner surface of the upper shell has an arcuate cross section with a gap sized to receive the lower shell as it moves toward the inner surface.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a mounting assembly for attaching the upper shell to the exterior surface of the balloon comprising a guide on an outer surface of the upper shell, a strap for passing through the upper shell guide and through a guide on the exterior surface of the balloon, and a power cord from the light source extending out of the upper shell to a power source for the light source housed in a handle, whereby the power cord acts as an attachment strap as it passes through one or more guides on the exterior surface of the balloon.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the lower shell has an outer edge that is recessed from a plane passing through an outer edge of the upper shell, whereby the lower shell does not contact the exterior surface of the balloon when the upper shell is mounted on the exterior surface.
16. An illuminated inflatable display apparatus, comprising:
an inflatable balloon comprising a front wall and a rear wall, wherein the rear wall includes an area that is at least partially transparent to light; and
a projector positioned exterior to and adjacent the rear wall of the balloon, the projector comprising a housing with an outlet proximate the transparent area of the rear wall, a light source directing light toward the housing outlet, and a light filter element positioned in the housing, wherein the light from the light source passes selectively through the light filter element to project a display image defined by the light filter element on an inner surface of the front wall of the balloon, the light filter comprising a first portion and a second portion mounted to move toward and away from the first portion during movement of the projector to create a vertically moving portion in the display image.
17. The display apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a mounting assembly attaching the projector the rear wall comprising a guide on the rear wall, a guide on the project housing, a strap passing through the rear wall guide and the projector housing guide, and a forward guide on the front wall of the balloon at an offset distance from the center of the balloon through which a power cord from the light source may be extended, whereby the power cord acts as an attachment strap and as a balancing tether for the balloon.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A keyboard covering and copy holding apparatus comprising:
a top plate member having downward extending left and right side panels and at least one flange extending downward from a back portion of said top plate member;
wherein each downward extending left and right side panel has at least one bore disposed therein;

a bottom plate member having upward extending left and right side panels and at least one flange extending upward from a front portion of said bottom plate member;
wherein each upward extending left and right side panel has at least one bore disposed therein;

wherein each downward extending left and right side panel is pivotably engaged with each respective upward extending left and right side panel with at least one fastener positioned in an operable relationship through each bore, such that said top plate member is rotatable with respect to said bottom plate member about a pivot axis passing through said upward extending left and right side panels of said bottom plate member and said downward extending left and right side panels of said top plate member;
and wherein said fastener comprises a wing nut, washer and bolt.
2. A keyboard cover and copy holder according to claim 1, wherein said top plate member and said bottom plate member are comprised of a polymeric material.
3. A keyboard cover and copy holder according to claim 1, wherein said bottom plate member is adapted to receive a computer keyboard thereon between said left and right side panels.
4. A keyboard cover and copy holder according to claim 1, wherein said top plate member is adapted to rotate about said pivot axis between a first closed position facing and substantially parallel to said bottom plate member, and a second open position substantially perpendicular to said bottom plate member.
5. A keyboard cover and copy holder apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said flange extending downward from a back portion of said top plate member is adapted to retain an item of printed material thereon when said top plate member is pivoted about said axis to said second open position.
6. A keyboard cover and copy holder comprising:
a polymeric top plate member having downward extending left and right side panels;
one flange extending downward from a rear portion of said top plate member;
at least one bore disposed within each downward extending left and right side panel;
a polymeric bottom plate member having upward extending left and right side panels;
said bottom plate member being adapted to receive a computer keyboard thereon between said left and right side panels;

at least one flange extending upward from a front portion of said bottom plate member;
at least one bore disposed within each upward extending left and right side panels; and
at least one fastener positioned in an operable relationship to each bore for pivotably engaging said top plate member to said bottom plate member for relative rotation on a pivot axis between a substantially parallel configuration and an angled configuration of said top plate member and said bottom plate member;
wherein said fastener comprises a wing nut, washer and bolt.

1. An image reading device comprising:
a transparent member;
a conveyance unit that conveys an original document to the transparent member;
a reading unit that reads via the transparent member an image of the original document being conveyed on the transparent member at multiple reading positions that exist with a prescribed distance therebetween along an original document conveyance direction;
an output unit that outputs signals for different color components corresponding to each of the reading positions;
a transparent member moving unit that moves the transparent member in a prescribed direction such that the original document slides over the transparent member while being conveyed to the reading positions during image reading; and
a detector that detects noise components caused by foreign particles on the transparent member based on the output signals from the output unit;
wherein said reading unit reads the image of the original document on pixel-by-pixel basis and the detector detects whether or not an edge component is included in a color component signal for each pixel and detects the existence of noise components based on the detection results;
wherein when the number of multiple positions is \u2018n\u2019 and the number of different colors is \u2018n\u2019(\u2018n\u2019 being an integer that equals or exceeds 2), and when the color component signals for the target pixel and (n\u22121) reference pixels located within prescribed distances from the target pixel along the secondary scanning direction are analyzed in sequence starting with the target pixel, if the sequence of colors including an edge component matches the sequence of colors corresponding to the reading positions along the direction of movement of the transparent member, said detector determines that a noise component is included in each pixel’s color component signal including an edge component.
2. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein said reading unit reads the original document image at first, second and third reading positions and said output unit outputs a red component signal for the first reading position, a green component signal for the second reading position, and a blue component signal for third reading position.
3. An image reading device comprising:
a transparent member;
a conveyance unit that conveys an original document to the transparent member;
a reading unit that reads via the transparent member an image of the original document being conveyed on the transparent member at multiple reading positions that exist with a prescribed distance therebetween along an original document conveyance direction;
an output unit that outputs signals for different color components corresponding to each of the reading positions;
a transparent member moving unit that moves the transparent member in a prescribed direction such that the original document slides over the transparent member while being conveyed to the reading positions during image reading; and
a detector that detects noise components caused by foreign particles on the transparent member based on the output signals from the output unit;
wherein the prescribed direction is a direction opposite the direction of movement of the original document on the transparent member and, when the distance between adjacent reading positions along the secondary scanning direction is L, the original document conveyance speed is V and the period of time required by the transparent member to move the distance L is T, the prescribed distance is an inter-pixel distance equivalent to the distance (V*T+L).
4. The image reading device according to claim 3, wherein said reading unit reads the original document image at first, second and third reading positions and said output unit outputs a red component signal for the first reading position, a green component signal for the second reading position, and a blue component signal for third reading position.
5. An image reading device comprising:
a transparent member;
a conveyance unit that conveys an original document to the transparent member;
a reading unit that reads via the transparent member an image of the original document being conveyed on the transparent member at multiple reading positions that exist with a prescribed distance therebetween along an original document conveyance direction;
an output unit that outputs signals for different color components corresponding to each of the reading positions;
a transparent member moving unit that moves the transparent member in a prescribed direction such that the original document slides over the transparent member while being conveyed to the reading positions during image reading; and
a detector that detects noise components caused by foreign particles on the transparent member based on the output signals from the output unit;
wherein said reading unit reads the image of the original document on pixel-by-pixel basis and the detector detects a noise component when the gradation difference between the target pixel and its surrounding pixels equals or exceeds a prescribed value for each pixel.
6. The image reading device according to claim 5, wherein said gradation difference is brightness.
7. The image reading device according to claim 5, wherein said gradation difference is chroma saturation.
8. The image reading device according to claim 5, wherein said gradation difference is color difference.
9. The image reading device according to claim 5, wherein said reading unit reads the original document image at first, second and third reading positions and said output unit outputs a red component signal for the first reading position, a green component signal for the second reading position, and a blue component signal for third reading position.
10. An image reading device comprising:
a transparent member;
a conveyance unit that conveys an original document to the transparent member;
a reading unit that reads via the transparent member an image of the original document being conveyed on the transparent member at multiple reading positions that exist with a prescribed distance therebetween along an original document conveyance direction;
an output unit that outputs signals for different color components corresponding to each of the reading positions;
a transparent member moving unit that moves the transparent member in a prescribed direction such that the original document slides over the transparent member while being conveyed to the reading positions during image reading; and
a detector that detects noise components caused by foreign particles on the transparent member based on the output signals from the output unit;
wherein the prescribed direction is the same direction as the direction of movement of the original document on the transparent member, and said transparent member moving unit moves the transparent member at a slower speed than the speed of movement of the original document.
11. The image reading device according to claim 10, wherein when the distance between adjacent reading positions along the secondary scanning direction is L, the original document conveyance speed is V and the period of time required by the transparent member to move the distance L is T, the prescribed distance is an inter-pixel distance equivalent to the distance (V*T\u2212L).
12. The image reading device according to claim 10, wherein said reading unit reads the original document image at first, second and third reading positions and said output unit outputs a red component signal for the first reading position, a green component signal for the second reading position, and a blue component signal for third reading position.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for providing an employment placement service comprising the steps of:
(a) broadcasting job listings of employers:
(b) providing employer information about the employers;
(c) exchanging applicant information between applicants and the employers; and
(d) charging the employers only for job listings that produce hirings.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of charging comprises charging the employers only for job listings that produce hirings for critical hire positions.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of giving an applicant a signing bonus if the applicant uses the service to locate an employer and if the employer hires the applicant.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the applicant must be hired for a critical hire position.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising entering applicants in a drawing for a prize, wherein the applicants have been hired through the service during a specified period.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the applicants who have been hired through the service during a specified period are applicants for non-critical hire positions.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the employer information is uniform criteria for all of the employers.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the employers are health care providers.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing employer information further comprises providing employer information about employers that are not posting job listings on the service.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of searching the job listings, the employer information, and the applicant information.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing employer information comprises searching for an employer matching particular employer information desired by an applicant.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein if the searching does not return a matching employer, then the method further comprises the steps of:
(i) storing the particular employer information desired by the applicant;
(ii) periodically searching for the particular employer information desired by the applicant; and
(iii) notifying the applicant when the searching returns a matching employer.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of notifying the applicant comprises sending an email to the applicant.
14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:
storing particular employer information desired by multiple applicants; and
analyzing the stored particular employer information to provide information as to demand for certain employer criteria.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of exchanging applicant information between applicants and employers comprises storing applicant qualifications in a database searchable by the employers.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising searching the database for an applicant matching particular applicant qualifications desired by an employer.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein if the searching does not return a matching applicant, then the method further comprises the steps of:
(i) storing the particular applicant qualifications desired by an employer;
(ii) periodically searching for the particular applicant qualifications desired by an employer; and
(iii) notifying the employer when the searching returns a matching applicant.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of notifying the employer comprises sending an email to the employer.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:
storing particular applicant qualifications desired by multiple employers; and
analyzing the stored particular applicant qualifications to provide information as to demand for certain specialties.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the qualifications are stored in an applicant file and the applicant file is marked inactive such that the applicant file is not searched.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein exchanging applicant information between applicants and employers is accomplished by electronic mail.
22. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of charging the employers a subscription fee separate from charges for the job listings that produce hirings.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises distributing a paper that contains the job listings, wherein the paper includes a response card,
wherein the step of providing employer information comprises providing uniform employer criteria in the job listings, and
wherein the step of exchanging applicant information comprises receiving response cards from the applicants.
24. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises distributing a paper that contains the job listings,
wherein the step of providing employer information comprises providing uniform employer criteria in the job listings, and
wherein the step of exchanging applicant information comprises receiving telephone calls from the applicants to an interactive voice response system.
25. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of exchanging applicant information comprises distributing a paper that contains the applicant information, and wherein the method further comprises distributing the paper to employers that are not posting job listings on the service.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the paper is distributed to human resource representatives of the employers and to human resource representatives of the employers that are not posting job listings on the service.
27. A method for providing an employment placement service comprising the steps of:
(a) broadcasting job listings of employers:
(b) providing employer information about the employers;
(c) exchanging applicant information between applicants and the employers; and
(d) awarding an applicant a signing bonus if an applicant uses the service to locate an employer and if the employer hires the applicant.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the signing bonus is awarded only if the employer hires the applicant for a critical hire position.
29. The method of claim 27, wherein awarding an applicant a signing bonus is also conditioned upon the applicant’s referencing the service to an employer when applying for a job listing.
30. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of entering applicants in a drawing for a prize, wherein the applicants have been hired through the service and have started employment during a specified period.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the applicants who have been hired through the service and have started employment during a period are applicants for non-critical positions.
32. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises distributing a paper that contains the job listings, wherein the paper includes a response card,
wherein the step of providing employer information comprises providing uniform employer criteria in the job listings, and
wherein the step of exchanging applicant information comprises receiving response cards from the applicants.
33. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises distributing a paper that contains the job listings,
wherein the step of providing employer information comprises providing uniform employer criteria in the job listings, and
wherein the step of exchanging applicant information comprises receiving telephone calls from the applicants to an interactive voice response system.
34. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of exchanging applicant information comprises distributing a paper that contains the applicant information, and wherein the method further comprises distributing the paper to employers that are not posting job listings on the service.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the paper is distributed to human resource representatives of the employers and to human resource representatives of the employers that are not posting job listings on the service.
36. The method of claim 27, wherein the applicant is awarded no more than two signing bonuses per year.
37. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of charging the employers only for job listings that produce hirings.
38. A system for providing an employment placement service comprising:
(a) an employer information database containing uniform employer criteria of a group of employers;
(b) a job listing database containing job listings for a portion of the group of employers, wherein the job listings are linked to the uniform employer criteria;
(c) a rsum database containing applicant information;
(d) a graphical user interface that prompts applicants for the applicant information, receives the applicant information, displays the job listings, provides links from the job listings to the uniform employer criteria, and displays the uniform employer criteria.
39. The system of claim 38, wherein the uniform employer criteria is information critical to applicants of a specialized field.
40. The system of claim 39, wherein the specialized field is healthcare, and the uniform employer criteria includes at least one of contact information of a facility, a number of beds in the facility, a number of operating rooms in the facility, whether the facility has a trauma center, whether the facility is a teaching hospital, a listing of department specialties, a number of employees, and a narrative description of the facility.
41. The system of claim 38, wherein the applicant information is contact information, qualifications, and job preferences.
42. A method for placing applicants into jobs comprising the steps of:
(a) broadcasting job listings of employers to the applicants, wherein an employment service provider broadcasts the job listings;
(b) identifying an applicant who is hired to fill a job listing of the broadcast job listings, wherein the job listing is for an employer; and
(c) awarding a signing bonus to the applicant, wherein the employment service provider pays the signing bonus.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of broadcasting the job listings comprises posting the job listings on a global computer network.
44. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of broadcasting the job listings comprises distributing a paper that contains the job listings.
45. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of identifying the applicant who is hired to fill the job listing comprises:
(i) requiring the applicant to reference the employment service provider when applying for the job listing; and
(ii) receiving, at the employment service provider, a notification that the applicant was hired for the job listing.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein the applicant provides the notification.
47. The method of claim 45, wherein the employer provides the notification.
48. The method of claim 47, wherein the employer provides the notification after the employment service provider determines that the job listing was deleted and after the employment service provider questions the employer.
49. The method of claim 42, wherein the job listing is for a critical hire position.
50. The method of claim 49, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
(i) identifying a second applicant who is hired to fill a second job listing, wherein the second job listing is for a non-critical hire position; and
(ii) entering the second applicant in a pool of applicants for a prize drawing, wherein the pool of applicants includes applicants that have been hired for non-critical hire positions during a specified period.
51. The method of claim 50, wherein the specified period is a week.
52. The method of claim 42, wherein the employer designates how much the signing bonus is.
53. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of collecting an advertising fee from the employer,
wherein the employment service provider collects the advertising fee,
wherein the advertising fee includes a fee for the employment service provider and a fee for the signing bonus, and
wherein the employment service provider pays the signing bonus from the advertising fee.
54. The method of claim 53, wherein the fee for the employment service provider is a percentage of the fee for the signing bonus.
55. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises:
(i) notifying a group of employers that the applicant satisfies criteria of the group of employers;
(ii) accepting bids for the applicant from the group of employers; and
(iii) allowing the applicant to choose a desired bid.
56. A method for filling job openings comprising the steps of:
(a) broadcasting a plurality of job listings of employers to a plurality of applicants without charging the employers an advertising fee;
(b) identifying a job listing of the plurality of job listings for which an applicant of the plurality of applicants was hired, wherein the job listing is for an employer; and
(c) charging the employer an advertising fee for the job listing for which the applicant was hired.
57. The method of claim 56, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises posting the plurality of job listings on a global computer network.
58. The method of claim 56, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises distributing papers that contain the plurality of job listings.
59. The method of claim 56, wherein an employment service provider broadcasts the plurality of job listings, and
wherein the step of identifying the job listing comprises:
(i) requiring the applicant to reference the employment service provider when applying for the job listing; and
(ii) receiving, at the employment service provider, a notification that the applicant was hired for the job listing.
60. The method of claim 59, wherein the applicant provides the notification.
61. The method of claim 59, wherein the employer provides the notification.
62. The method of claim 61, wherein the employer provides the notification after the employment service provider determines that the job listing was deleted and after the employment service provider questions the employer.
63. The method of claim 56, wherein the job listing is for a critical hire position.
64. The method of claim 56, further comprising the steps of paying the applicant a signing bonus, wherein the employment service provider pays the signing bonus.
65. The method of claim 64, wherein the advertising fee includes a fee for the employment service provider and a fee for the signing bonus.
66. The method of claim 65, wherein the employer designates how much the signing bonus is.
67. The method of claim 66, wherein an employment service provider broadcasts the plurality of job listings, identifies the job listing for which an applicant of the plurality of applicants was hired, and charges the employer the advertising fee.