The present invention relates to greeting cards.
A greeting card is an illustrated card featuring an expression of friendship, thanks or other sentiment or feeling. Many greeting cards are folded allowing for opening and closing, while some are not, and still others can included multiple folds and even features that pop up when the card is opened. Greeting cards can relate to any subject matter, whether a theme or occasion, including birthdays, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or other subject matter. Greeting cards of often packaged in an envelope, and come in a variety of styles.
A standard greeting card is printed on high-quality paper or card stock, and is rectangular and folded, with a picture or decorative motif on the front of the card. Inside the card is a preprinted message appropriate to the occasion, along with a blank space for the sender to add a signature or handwritten message. A matching envelope is sold with the card. Some cards and envelopes feature fancy materials, such as gold leaf, ribbons, or glitter.
Greeting cards are used prevalently to convey greetings and best wishes to friends, family, and colleagues. Regardless of the type of greeting card, a typical greeting card incorporates indicia that relates to a particular subject matter, such as a particular occasion or event, such as birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or the like, or a particular theme, place, or the like. Regardless of the subject matter that a greeting card relates to as defined by the selected indicia applied to the card, most incorporate pictures, drawings, messages, and/or decorative motifs relating to, or otherwise defining, the subject matter of the card. Although such greeting cards are fun and suitable, it would be highly desirable to improve the appeal and functionality of greeting cards that include messages and motifs relating to a particular type of subject matter.
According to the principle of the invention, a greeting card structure includes a greeting card having pre-applied indicia relating to a subject matter, and a quantity of material relating to the subject matter contained in a small packet secured to the greeting card. In a particular embodiment, the subject matter of the pre-applied indicia is an occasion relating to winter, and the quantity of material contained in the small packet secured to the greeting card relating to the subject matter is artificial snow material. The small packet is preferably formed of thin, pliant material, such as plastic film or the like. The thin, pliant material is preferably transparent to allow the quantity of material contained in the small packet to be seen therethrough. A closure is formed in the small packet, which is disposed in a closed position closing the small packet containing the quantity of material in the small packet. The closure is movable from the closed position to an open position opening the small packet to permit the quantity of material to be dispensed from the small packet. An adhesive applied between the greeting card and the small packet secures the small packet to the greeting card.
According to the principle of the invention, a greeting card structure includes a greeting card having an outside and an inside, and pre-applied indicia applied to the greeting card relating to a subject matter. In this embodiment, the pre-applied indicia are applied to the inside of the greeting card. A quantity of material relating to the subject matter of the pre-applied indicia is contained in a small packet. The small packet is secured to the greeting card, and preferably to the inside of the greeting card. A fold is formed in the greeting card to allow movement of the greeting card at the fold between a closed position closing the inside of the greeting card substantially enclosing the small packet containing the quantity of material secured to the inside of the greeting card, and an open position opening the inside of the greeting card exposing the small packet containing the quantity of material secured to the inside of the greeting card. Preferably, the small packet is formed of thin, pliant material, such as thin plastic film or the like. The thin, pliant material is preferably transparent to allow the quantity of material contained in the small packet to be seen therethrough. A closure is formed in the small packet, which is disposed in a closed position closing the small packet containing the quantity of material in the small packet. The closure is movable from the closed position to an open position opening the small packet to permit the quantity of material to be dispensed from the small packet. Preferably, an adhesive is applied between the greeting card and the small packet securing the small packet to the greeting card.
According to the principle of the invention, a method includes steps of providing a greeting card having pre-applied indicia relating to a subject matter, providing a small packet containing a quantity of material relating to the subject matter, and securing the small packet to the greeting card. In a particular embodiment, the subject matter of the pre-applied indicia is an occasion relating to winter, and the quantity of material contained in the small packet secured to the greeting card relating to the subject matter is artificial snow material. The method next includes forming the small packet with a closure disposed in a closed position closing the small packet enclosing the quantity of material in the small packet, and which is movable from the closed position into an open position opening the small packet to permit the quantity of material to be dispensed from the small packet. In a preferred embodiment, the step of securing the small packet to the inside of the greeting card further includes adhesively securing the small packet to the inside of the greeting card.
According to the principle of the invention, a method includes steps of providing a greeting card having an outside and an inside, pre-applied indicia applied to the inside of the greeting card relating to a subject matter, and a fold formed in the greeting card. The method next includes providing a small packet containing a quantity of material relating to the subject matter of the pre-applied indicia, and securing the small packet to the inside of the greeting card, in which the fold formed in the greeting card allows movement of the greeting card at the fold between a closed position closing the inside of the greeting card substantially enclosing the small packet secured to the inside of the greeting card containing the quantity of material, and an open position opening the inside of the greeting card exposing the small packet secured to the inside of the greeting card containing the quantity of material. In a particular embodiment, the subject matter of the pre-applied indicia is an occasion relating to winter, and the quantity of material contained in the small packet secured to the greeting card relating to the subject matter comprises artificial snow material. Further to the present method is the step forming a closure in the small packet, which is disposed in a closed position closing the small packet enclosing the quantity of material in the small packet, and which is movable from the closed position into an open position opening the small packet to allow the quantity of material to be dispensed from the small packet. The step of securing the small packet to the inside of the greeting card preferably includes adhesively securing the small packet to the inside of the greeting card.
Referring to the drawings:
Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to
Greeting card 11 is formed of a high-quality paper or card stock or the like, and in the present embodiment is overall substantially rectangular shape. Greeting card 11 has an outside marked by a major outer surface or face 20, an inside marked by a major inner surface or face 21 opposing major outer face 20, opposed parallel upper and lower edges 22 and 23, and opposed parallel side edges 24 and 25. A fold 26 is formed in greeting card 11, which extends from upper edge 22 to lower edge 23, which is disposed at an intermediate location between side edges 24 and 25, and which is parallel with respect to opposed side edges 24 and 25. Fold 26 divides greeting card 11 into two opposed sides, including a top side A and a bottom side B.
In this embodiment, top and bottom sides A and B are substantially equal in size and shape.
Greeting card 11 is movable at fold 26 between a closed position closing the inside of greeting card 11 as illustrated in
Indicia 12 relate to a subject matter, and are applied to greeting card 11. In this embodiment, indicia 12 are applied upon inner face 21 of bottom side B of greeting card 11. As a matter of example and disclosure, indicia 12 are characterized by markings. The markings forming indicia 12 are pre-applied or otherwise pre-printed on inner face of bottom side B of greeting card 11.
In a preferred embodiment set forth herein by way of example, the subject matter of indicia 12 is an occasion relating to snow or winter or otherwise conveys a greeting or message appropriate to an occasion relating to snow or winter, in accordance with the principle of the invention. The markings forming or otherwise characterizing indicia 12 in the present embodiment include, as a matter of example, a motif consisting of a snowman and a Christmas tree and snowflakes as clearly illustrated, in conjunction with the message or wording “HAPPY HOLIDAYS” positioned over the message or wording “season's greetings”. Indicia 12 is an example of a Christmas greeting functioning to offer a greeting or message appropriate to Christmas that falls within the winter season that is typically characterized or otherwise associated with the onset of snowy weather. Consistent with the teachings of the invention, the subject matter of indicia 12 can take on any form suitable for conveying a greeting or message appropriate to an occasion relating to winter, which is a season characterized or otherwise associated with snow and snowy weather. Indicia 12 may include coloring, letters, symbols, or other like or desired markings sufficient to convey a greeting or message appropriate to an occasion relating to winter. Although indicia 12 are applied or pre-printed in this embodiment upon inner face 21 of bottom side B of greeting card 11, indicia 12 may be applied or pre-printed upon inner face 21 of top side A of greeting card 11, and in another embodiment to inner face 21 of both top and bottom sides A and B of greeting card 11.
To further identify greeting card 11 as a Christmas greeting card in the present embodiment, indicia 27 are applied or otherwise pre-printed upon outer face 20 of top side A of greeting card 11 as illustrated in
Referencing
Referencing
In forming greeting card structure 10, quantity of material 14 is provided, closure 33 is opened to open upper end 32 of packet 13, quantity of material 14 is applied into packet 13 through the open upper end 32 of packet 13, and then closure 33 is closed closing upper end 32 of packet 13 as illustrated in
In the present embodiment, packet 13 containing quantity of material 14 is secured to inner face 21 of top side A of greeting card 11 opposing inner face 21 of bottom side B of greeting card 11 formed with indicia 12. Referencing
Packet 13 containing quantity of material 14 is sized with respect to inner face 21 of top side A of greeting card 11 such that it fits within the perimeter or boundary of top side A of greeting card 11 bound by top and bottom edges 22 and 23, side edge 24, and fold 26, as illustrated. Adhesive 40 is sufficiently strong to ensure a sure attachment of packet 13 to greeting card 11, but allows a user to take up packet 13, such as by hand, and peel packet 13 away from greeting card without marring either greeting card 11 or packet 13. As such, adhesive 40 adhesively securing packet 13 to greeting card 11 is exemplary of a detachably engagement. Moreover, adhesive 40 can be positioned at any selected location between inner face 21 of top side A of greeting card 11 and packet 13 to adhesively secure packet 13 to inner face 21 of top side A of greeting card.
Having described the structure of greeting card structure 10 as illustrated in
In general, the structure of greeting card structure 10 formed in
With packet 13, containing quantity of material 14, secured to inner face 21 of top side A of greeting card 11, in the closed position of greeting card 11 illustrated in
Upon receiving greeting card structure 10, the recipient may open greeting card 11 exposing the inside of greeting card 11 thereby exposing indicia 12, any signature and/or personal message, and packet 13 containing quantity of material 14 that relates to the subject matter of indicia 12. Because packet 13 is preferably transparent, the contents of packet 13, namely, quantity of material 14, may be seen through packet 13. At this point, the recipient may pull packet 13 away from the inside of greeting card 13 detaching packet 13 from adhesive 40 illustrated in
And so indicia 12 relate to a subject matter relating to an occasion relating to snow or winter, and quantity of material 14 is artificial snow material that not only relates to the subject matter of indicia 12 but also is used to make artificial snow 60 in the present embodiment. The provision of indicia 12 defining subject matter relating to an occasion relating to snow or winter, quantity of material 14 being is artificial snow material that not only relates to the subject matter of indicia 12 but also is used to make artificial snow 60 in the present embodiment and which is contained in packet 13 attached to greeting card 11 forms a highly useful greeting card structure 10 that is interesting, more dynamic, and useful as compared to conventional greeting cards. The artificial snow material forming quantity of material 14 in the present embodiment relates or otherwise cooperates with indicia 12 because indicia 12 has the function of being appropriate to an occasion relating to snow or winter or otherwise conveys a greeting or message appropriate to an occasion relating to snow or winter, and because the artificial snow material, in turn, is a physical facsimile of artificial snow and that is useful in making artificial snow 60 by mixing quantity of material 14 with quantity 51 of water 52, in accordance with the principle of the invention. Providing greeting card 11 with indicia 12 that is appropriate to an occasion relating to snow or winter or otherwise conveys a greeting or message appropriate to an occasion relating to snow or winter in combination with the artificial snow material forming quantity of material 14, which is a physical facsimile of artificial snow and that is useful in making artificial snow 60, is equally appropriate to an occasion relating to snow or winter, whereby the combination in a greeting card of indicia 12 and the artificial snow material forming quantity of material 14 in packet 13 cooperate to provide a unique greeting card structure 10, in accordance with the principle of the invention. Because indicia 27 also is appropriate to an occasion relating to snow or winter or otherwise conveys a greeting or message appropriate to an occasion relating to snow or winter, the combination in greeting card 11 of indicia 27 and the artificial snow material forming quantity of material 14 in packet 13 is equally beneficial and cooperate or otherwise work together in the same manner as indicia 12 and quantity of material 14 in packet.
According to the principle of the invention, indicia 12, including indicia 27 in the present embodiment, relate to a subject matter, and quantity of material 14, in turn, relates to the subject matter of indicia 12, and also indicia 27. According to the principle of the invention, the subject matter of indicia 12, and also indicia 27, can be any subject matter, and quantity of material 14 can be any material that relates to the specified subject matter of indicia 12 and/or indicia 27. As a matter of example of this teaching, in a particular embodiment of the invention the subject matter can relate to Easter, and the quantity of material can be a quantity of tiny artificial Easter eggs. In another embodiment of the invention the subject matter can relate to the moon, and the quantity of material can be a quantity of artificial moon dust. In another embodiment of the invention the subject matter can relate to a planet, such as the planet Mars, and the quantity of material can be a quantity of artificial planet dust, or artificial Mars dust. In another embodiment of the invention the subject matter can relate to an occasion relating to the season of fall, and the quantity of material can be a quantity of tiny artificial fall tree leaves. In yet another embodiment of the invention the subject matter can relate to an animal having fur, and the quantity of material can be a quantity of fur of the animal, whether real fur or fake fur relating to the animal. Any subject matter and corresponding quantity of material can be used in conjunction with greeting card structure 10 without departing from the invention.
The invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the nature and scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications to the embodiment herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.
Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is: