Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to selective deformation of an object. More particularly, the present invention relates to selectively controlling deformation of a compressed object for insertion into a greeting card as a gift.
Greeting cards have been purchased for decades to accompany a gift as a way to present a thoughtful sentiment to a recipient and to personalize the gift giving experience. Often times purchasers of greeting cards must send the card to the recipient through the mail. In those instances, the sender must either package the gift and greeting card together in a separate box or forego send a gift with the greeting card. Mail regulations limit the size of an object that may be placed in standard greeting card envelopes. Accordingly, it would be desirable to be able to send a gift larger than normally allowed in a greeting card.
The invention is defined by the claims below. This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In an effort to enable the sending of greeting cards with larger than normally permitted gifts therein, the present invention provides for insertion of a small gift, such as a deformable object (e.g., a plush item), into a greeting card. Unaltered, the insertion of an object having any significant thickness creates a lump in the card and envelope that prevents the greeting card from being mailed. Accordingly, it is envisioned that such object may be a plush item and the plush item may be compressed by vacuum sealing the same within a transparent and flexible pouch, which may then be coupled to the greeting card. The vacuum sealing of the plush item reduces the size of the object and allows the greeting card to achieve the size required for mailing purposes. Upon removing the object from the vacuum sealed pouch, the previously compressed object returns to its normal size and shape.
While the vacuum sealing process achieved the desire to reduce the thickness of the object, it created a new problem of deforming and disfiguring the object, thereby making it less attractive or even undesirable. In some instances, it would even make the object unrecognizable. In order to overcome this problem, an insert having relatively rigid properties may be placed within the vacuum-sealed transparent and flexible pouch. This insert is relatively incompressible compared to the object and the pouch, and thus, the compressable object (e.g., the plush item) compresses and distorts from the side opposite the insert (e.g., the rear of the pouch), instead of from the side pressed up against the non-deforming insert (e.g., the front of the pouch). In doing so, the attractiveness of the front of the plush item is preserved. Additionally, to preserve space within the pouch, the insert may be cut to the shape of the outline of the object. Finally, the vacuum-sealed pouch having the compressed object therein is secured inside a greeting card. When the recipient opens the card, the vacuum-sealed pouch may be removed and opened, thereby returning the object to its normal size.
In another aspect of the invention, one section of the transparent and flexible pouch may be less deformable than other sections of the pouch. In this aspect, the need for an insert is alleviated, as the less deformable section of the pouch minimizes the deformation of the deformable object adjacent the less deformable section, thereby preserving the attractiveness of the deformable object in that area.
Aspects of the present invention are generally directed to incorporation of the controlled deformation technique into a greeting card having a card body with a front panel and a rear panel, a transparent and flexible pouch coupled to the card body, wherein the transparent and flexible pouch is sealed under vacuum-pressure, a plush item having a front surface and a rear surface, and a transparent insert which is more rigid than the transparent and flexible pouch. The transparent and flexible pouch of the greeting card contains the plush item and the transparent insert. Further, the transparent insert is positioned between one of the front and rear surfaces of the plush item and an inside wall of the transparent and flexible pouch, whereby the transparent insert minimizes deformation of a surface of the plush item during the vacuum sealing process.
In another aspect of the present invention, a greeting card is provided having a card body with a plurality of panels, a transparent and flexible pouch coupled to the card body, and a deformable object positioned within the flexible pouch, wherein at least one section of the pouch is less deformable than other sections of the pouch. Additionally, the transparent and flexible pouch encloses the deformable object such that when the transparent and flexible pouch is vacuum-sealed, the deformable object is maintained in a compressed state, whereby opening the transparent and flexible pouch returns the deformable object to a rest state.
Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
As briefly described hereinabove, the present invention generally relates to a greeting card having a transparent and flexible pouch for receiving a deformable object. For example, it is envisioned that greeting cards can be combined with gifts by having a small deformable object, such as a plush toy, inserted within a transparent and flexible pouch, and coupled to the card. This, however, creates a lump which prevents the greeting card from being mailed. Vacuum-sealing the deformable object has been found effective to reduce the amount of volume, and particularly thickness, that the deformable object occupies within the transparent and flexible pouch. However, during the vacuum-sealing process, the deformable object has a tendency to compress unevenly, there becoming disfigured or unattractive. Accordingly, a rigid and transparent insert may be placed within the transparent and flexible pouch to selectively control deformation, such that the aesthetics of the deformable object are preserved.
Accordingly,
With continued reference to
In accordance with aspects herein, the deformable object 110 may be a plush item or another type of item that reduces its volume when the transparent and flexible pouch 108 is placed under vacuum-seal. In other words, the deformable object 110 may be formed from plush, foam, fabric, or any material having generally compressible properties. However, it was noticed that as the deformable object 110 compresses, it may become disfigured or unaesthetically appealing once it has been vacuum-sealed within the transparent and flexible pouch 108, as illustrated in
With continued reference to
In accordance with aspects herein, the front surface 112 of the deformable object 110 may include the face of a character, such as the animal depicted in
Turning now to
Turning now to
The transparent and flexible pouch 108 depicted in
The transparent and flexible pouch 108 may be coupled to any portion of the greeting card 100, such as depicted in
Further, and if desired for aesthetic or mechanical reasons, the transparent and flexible pouch 108 may be further coupled to the greeting card 100 with a flexible frame member 226. The flexible frame member 226 may encompass the transparent and flexible pouch 108 partially or entirely, and provide support and ornamentation for the transparent and flexible pouch 108, as well as an attachment area surrounding the pouch 108. The flexible frame member 120 may be made from cardboard, plastic, paper, or the like for increasing the aesthetic appearance and partially covering the transparent and flexible pouch 108, much like a picture frame. Further, in accordance with aspects herein, the flexible frame member may be made from the same material as the card body (e.g., both the greeting card and the flexible frame member may be made from paper). In aspects in which the flexible frame member 120 is made from the same material as the card body 102, the flexible frame member 120 may be integrally formed into the card body 102. Alternatively, the transparent and flexible pouch 108 may be removably coupled to a portion of the card body through use of adhesives or other types of temporary physical coupling, such as stapling or tape.
Turning now to
Turning now to
As depicted in
In other aspects herein, the transparent insert 116 may be removed completely by forming the transparent and flexible pouch 108 such that one side or panel (e.g., the front panel) of the transparent and flexible pouch 108 is more rigid than the other panel (e.g., the back panel) of the pouch. In doing so, the need for the transparent insert 116 may be alleviated, as the transparent and flexible pouch compresses from the rear panel, as opposed to compressing from both panels.
Turning now to
The glue flaps 314, 322, respectively, secure the side and bottom of the front panel 310 to the interior panel 306 and help to define a pocket 324. The pocket 324 receives the vacuum sealed pouch 108 with the compressed object 110 therein. The front and/or interior panels 310, 306 may have apertures 326 therein so the object 110 is viewable. The recipient of the greeting card 300 may remove the pouch 108 from the pocket 324 by pulling on a tear strip 328.
Turning now to
At block 1104, placing a compressible item (or as used throughout this disclosure, a “deformable object”), such as a plush toy, within the transparent and flexible pouch is depicted. Similarly, at block 1106, the step of placing a transparent insert into the transparent and flexible pouch is depicted. It is noted that transparent insert is more rigid than the transparent and flexible pouch. This is to control the location of deformation as the pouch and compressible item are compressed. As discussed previously, the need for a transparent insert may be alleviated through use of a transparent and flexible pouch having a panel or portion of a panel that is more rigid than the others or more rigid that other portions of the pouch.
Once all the items are in the pouch, block 1108 depicts the step of vacuum sealing the pouch, thereby compressing the compressible item against the transparent insert. At step 1110, the transparent and flexible pouch is coupled with the card body. As discussed previously, the coupling of the transparent and flexible pouch to the card body may be a permanent coupling or a removable coupling. Alternatively, the transparent and flexible pouch may be integrally formed into the card body.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages, which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. For example, the present invention includes a method of controlling deformation of an object during a vacuum sealing process. In one embodiment, the method includes placing an insert in a vacuum sealing pouch that is generally more rigid or less susceptible to deformation than a portion of the vacuum sealing pouch, whereby deformation is more likely to occur in areas of the pouch that are more susceptible to deformation than it is to occur in the localized region of the generally more rigid insert. In another embodiment a portion of the vacuum sealing pouch is generally more rigid than other areas of the pouch to selectively control deformation in the localized area adjacent the generally more rigid portion.
Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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