Today’s Hartford Courant has an article about a company in Connecticut that helps schools and other organizations raise money by selling custom stamps, with designs created by the kids.

The article doesn’t explain why you’d need to use a company like this rather than dealing directly with one of the custom stamp vendors, though. The ‘entrepreneur’ talks a lot about his research, his pending patents and such, but never explains what value his company adds to the process. And yes, there is actually a patent application on file, claiming that this idea is an ‘invention’!

From the US Patent Office: 

“A device is disclosed that can automatically remove lids from trays and place lids on trays. Further the device can sense the presence of a lid on a tray and can sense the dimensions of the tray. Based on the sensed dimensions of the tray, the device can select an appropriate sized lid to place on the tray. In one embodiment of the invention, a device holds a lid with a lid manipulator having lid holders. At least one end mechanism is attached to at least one end of the lid manipulator, and the end mechanism folds the lid flaps of an appropriate lid. Guided by the lid manipulator, lids are then positioned on the tray. ”

United States Patent: 7021033