What is this thing (Or searching for patents in US Patent web site.)

Factual Questions
1

Ok, I’ve this…thing… obviously some sort of promotional gadget for Air France.

I’ve been trying to figure out what the heck it’s for and I’m at a total loss. Sort of looks like it might be to hang from a doorknob but…?

On the back is printed: ASI 79933 US Pat. Pending

I figured I might be able to find some info in the patent database, but I’m not having much luck.
Anyone have some knowledge on searching the US Patent database for Pat. pending stuff?

2

If you could post a picture of the thing, some of us might recognize it, or be able to take a stab at identifying it.

I suspect that the “ASI 79933” is a model number or part number or something similar, and is not related to the patent process. A lot of items have the notation “Patent Pending” but do not reference any other identification pertaining to the patent.

3

If the patent is only pending, I think that it wouldn’t have a patent number yet (after all, if it did, it’d be patent granted, not pending).

4

Search the USPTO database here. I agree with FatBaldGuy that the number you gave is probably a part number. It’s not the patent number (since it’s still pending) or the application number, which has 11 digits.

To search the database you’ll need the name of the inventor or the assignee (perhaps the company that manufactured the thingy), or some other firm bit of data.

BTW, I tried searching Air France as assignee. Nothing.

Good luck.

5

It’s an Air France amenity tray, duh.

6

That number might be an ASI (Advertising Specialty Institute) supplier number, which would make sense given the item’s promotional nature. 79933 points to Prorose, Inc.. Browsing through ProRose’s website, I found a few items that might fit what you described… would it be this cupholder?

7

Reply, you are the internet search GOD. That is EXACTLY the thing I’m looking at.
I never would have guessed it (best I came up with was not even close to real use- thought it might be used to hang notes from doors).

See this is why I like the SD. I never even knew such a thing as ASI existed. Just thought it was part of the patent designation.

8

Cool! I never would have guessed, either.

ProRose just happened to be the 3rd or 4th Google link, and Acronymfinder revealed what ASI stood for. It all seemed to fit, so I went through ProRose’s catalog and found something that matched. So, luck more than anything :slight_smile: