The present invention is in the field of social expression and entertainment products, and more specifically to greeting cards with mechanical and electronic functions and features.
Traditional paper greeting cards have been widely used for celebratory occasions such as birthdays, graduations, weddings, and for other commercial purposes. More recently, the market has expanded with greeting cards that attempt to capture attention by alternate designs and other features to enhance the communicative and entertainment value of social and relational greetings. The widespread availability of compact digital electronics has made incorporation into social communication products economical. Although the prior art includes greeting cards with sound-generating features, such cards are generally available only in a fixed format wherein a sound file is played upon activation by manipulation of the card. Cards with mechanical or structural features such as three-dimensional “pop-ups” are conventionally made with multiple panels or pages which are attached at various locations to unfold in multiple planes. A particular challenge to incorporate mechanical movement in a greeting card is to do so without making the card too bulky or thick, so that it has the same general configuration and size as conventional flat panel cards.
An interactive electronic greeting card with pop up feature includes a pocket or cavity which houses various electronic and mechanical components and a pop-up element. In a first position, the pop-up element is substantially contained within the greeting card pocket or cavity. In a second position, the pop-up element is substantially outside the greeting card pocket or cavity. A push button controls movement of the pop-up element between the first and second positions. Pressing the push button causes the pop-up element to be ejected or to “pop up” out of the greeting card pocket or cavity, revealing a greeting or other printed indicia. The push button also initiates playback of a pre-loaded digital audio file, which may be a spoken message, a sound, a song, music or other such audio recording. Manually pushing the pop-up element back into the cavity ends playback of the audio.
The greeting card of the present invention combines a spring loaded pop-up element and sound capability with a greeting card having push button activation. The push button requires user interaction with the greeting card in order to reveal the pop-up element and to initiate playback of a pre-loaded digital sound file. The pop up element is retained inside a pocket or cavity of the greeting card and a spring loaded mechanism controls the movement of the pop-up element between a first position concealed within a pocket or cavity of the greeting card and a second position wherein a significant portion of the pop-up element is ejected from the pocket or cavity.
In one embodiment, shown in
In an alternate embodiment, shown in
In still another embodiment, shown in
In yet another embodiment, shown in
In this embodiment, the greeting card body contains a pocket 40 which has a front surface, a back surface parallel to and spaced apart from the front surface, and a right, left and bottom side wall which extend between the front and back surfaces of the greeting card, creating the three sided pocket or cavity. A top edge of the pocket 40 is opened to accommodate the insertion and retraction of a pop-up, confetti-retaining element 42. The pocket or cavity 40, in a preferred embodiment, is made of paperboard or other strong but lightweight material. Inside the pocket or cavity 40 is contained a protective cardboard frame for housing 44 or accommodating electronic components, a push button 46 and spring activation mechanism or other activation mechanism, and a pop-up element 42. For example, the frame 44 can be made from one or more pieces of paperboard with appropriate cut-outs or openings can be positioned between the front and back panels of the pocket 40 to hold and secure the mechanical and electronic components of the card. The frame 44 various slots or openings strategically placed thereon to accommodate the various components of the greeting card. In areas where no components are located, a piece of foam, cardboard, paperboard or other material may be used to keep a consistent space between the front and back panels of the frame 44. The pocket 40 may be wrapped, at least partially, by paperboard (or other material) cover 41 which is divided into panels sectioned by fold lines. The paperboard cover 41 extends over the back surface, left side wall and front surface of the pocket 40. The cover 41 may be attached, adhesively or otherwise, to the back surface of the pocket 40. The portion of the cover 41 which extends over the left side wall and the front surface of the pocket 40 is not physically attached to the pocket 40 but merely wraps around the pocket to serve as the front cover and left inside panel of the greeting card 200, as shown in
The electronic components of the greeting card may include a circuit board 48 with integrated circuit and controller, memory storage device upon which at least one digital audio file is pre-loaded and saved, a power source 50, such as one or more batteries, a speaker 52, related circuitry and any other electronic component which may be required to store and replay one or more audio files, as are known to one with skill in the art.
The pop-up element 42, in this particular embodiment, is a narrow cavity or compartment having a front panel and a back panel which contain the confetti 54 therebetween. The front and back panels of the pop-up element 42 may have printed text, such as a birthday greeting and/or drawings or artwork contained thereon. The pop-up element 42 is positioned between the front and back panels of the protective frame 44. The spring loaded mechanism includes two springs 56 which are attached at a first end to the bottom of the pop-up element 42 and at a second end to an upper region of the protective frame 44. When the pop-up element 42 is in a first position substantially concealed within the greeting card, the springs are compressed or stretched. A push button mechanism is contained between the protective panels 44 and contains a push button 46 that is connected to a catch or an arm 58. Words may be printed on the greeting card directing the user to the push button 46. For example, the printing may say something like “instant party, press here”. The catch or arm 58 of the push button mechanism 46 contains a lip that extends outward in a forward direction. The pop-up element or inner compartment 42 contains a small opening thereon 60 so that when the pop up element 42 is in a first position substantially concealed within the greeting card, i.e., between the front and back panels of the pocket 40 and within or proximate to the frame 44, the lip of the catch or arm 58 extends into the opening 60 on the pop-up element 42, thereby retaining the pop-up element 42 within the pocket 40 with the springs 56 in an extended position, as shown in
In still another embodiment, the greeting card of the present invention combines the embodiments shown in
In still another embodiment, the greeting card of the present invention may include a pop-up element between two panels of the greeting card. Instead of having a large pocket or cavity into which another cavity or pocket (with or without confetti) is inserted, the greeting card may be contain a three-dimensional pop-up element which is contained between two panels of the greeting card. The three-dimensional pop-up element may be moveable between a first position, wherein the pop-up element is folded into a substantially flat, folded configuration between two greeting card panels and a second position, wherein the pop-up element is unfolded into a three-dimensional pop-up structure. The pop-up structure moves between the first and second positions by closing (first position) and opening (second position) the greeting card. Confetti, as described above, can be contained within the three-dimensional pop-up element such that when the greeting card is moved to an open position wherein the pop-up element is unfolded, confetti is released through an opening in the three-dimensional pop-up structure. A retaining mechanism may be contained within the pop-up structure which stores the confetti and releases the confetti upon opening the greeting card. The three-dimensional pop-up structure may be formed into a structure which complements the theme and/or artwork of the greeting card. The confetti contained therein may also take on a particular size, shape and color which is complementary to the overall theme of the greeting card. For example, the pop up structure may be shaped like a box of popcorn, and when the greeting card is opened and the popcorn box is unfolded, confetti is released from within the structure which resembles popcorn. Another example may have the pop-up structure as a can and the confetti shaped like snakes or a pop-up structure as a tornado with confetti shaped like sharks. The pop-up structure and confetti can take on a variety of different shapes, sizes and may be made from a variety of materials. The confetti-releasing mechanism may be operative to release the confetti upon opening the greeting card, as described above, or it may have alternative trigger methods such as a pull string, push button, light sensor, touch sensor, magnetic trigger, or any other such mechanism. The pop-up structure may only release confetti upon the first opening of the greeting card or it may have an opening thereon, through which additional confetti may be inserted for release upon subsequent openings of the greeting card. The confetti release mechanism may also contain a lock mechanism which prevents the release of confetti upon opening the greeting card until the lock mechanism has been opened or released. This prevents the release of confetti upon opening the greeting card at retail prior to purchase or upon opening the greeting card prior to presentation to the greeting card recipient. In addition to releasing confetti, this embodiment may also contain a small pocket or cavity which contains a gift card or other item, as described above with regard to the other embodiments. The pocket or cavity may be ejected or pushed upward from the top of the pop-up structure so the pocket or cavity is visible to the greeting card recipient. As described above with respect to the other embodiments, the pocket or cavity may be transparent so the existence of the gift card therein is immediately recognized. The pocket or cavity may have an opening thereon through which the gift card (or other object) can be inserted and removed. The gift card may be packaged and sold together with the greeting card or the greeting card may be sold with an empty pocket or cavity so that the gift card purchaser can select and purchase a gift card of his/her choice to place within the pocket or cavity of the greeting card.
While the embodiments disclosed herein and shown in the figures have a generally square or rectangular shape, the greeting card may take on any conceivable die cut shape. The greeting card may also be made of alternate material such as plastic or foam. Also, the greeting card has been described and shown as having a press button which is operative to move the inner greeting card panel(s) from within a main pocket to outside the main pocket, however, any type of switch, such as a touch sensitive switch, a slide tongue switch, a light sensitive switch, a motion sensitive switch, a hand crank, a lever or any other mechanical or electromechanical device may be used. Also, the press button switch described herein controls both the movement of the inner panel(s) and also playback of an audio file, however, two separate switches may control the movement of the panel(s) and the playback of audio.
All of the embodiments described herein may additionally contain a USB port, SD card slot or other external memory device port for receiving or uploading audio files from an external source such as a personal computer. The greeting card embodiments disclosed herein may also contain a sentiment panel which is attached to a front or back surface or side of the main pocket or panel and serves as a traditional greeting card that is folded along a fold line and opened along said fold line to reveal a message, artwork, etc. Other additional features which have been contemplated are a microphone for recording a personalized user message for playback upon activation of the press button or other such switch; a motor module for mechanical movement of one or more movable elements which are attached in some way to the greeting card; and one or more LED lights which are visible through the front of the greeting card and which are illuminated upon pressing the press button or other such switch. Combination of the above-mentioned additional special effects or features have also been contemplated and are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.
The disclosure and related inventions thus provide novel card constructions and operations which can be constructed inexpensively and efficiently, and advantageously from primarily paperboard materials configured to securely hold mechanical and electronic components to enable a wide variety of functions and features which enhance the effectiveness of the card as a communication and entertainment device.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Other features and aspects of this invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art upon reading and comprehending this disclosure. Such features, aspects, and expected variations and modifications of the reported results and examples are clearly within the scope of the invention where the invention is limited solely by the scope of the following claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/470,499 filed on May 14, 2012, which is the non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/485,298 filed on May 12, 2011 and also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/974,287, filed on Dec. 21, 2010 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,322,058). Copies of the above-referenced patent documents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4787160 | Balsamo | Nov 1988 | A |
5120263 | Ierfino et al. | Jun 1992 | A |
5199745 | Balsamo | Apr 1993 | A |
5263890 | Dent | Nov 1993 | A |
5487706 | Wilk | Jan 1996 | A |
5954563 | Spriggs | Sep 1999 | A |
6001019 | Al-Bannai | Dec 1999 | A |
6869369 | Fairweather | Mar 2005 | B2 |
6966135 | McDonald | Nov 2005 | B1 |
7546702 | Malkovas | Jun 2009 | B2 |
7552553 | Kelly | Jun 2009 | B2 |
7634864 | Segan | Dec 2009 | B2 |
7694445 | Kelly | Apr 2010 | B2 |
7717347 | Boyd et al. | May 2010 | B2 |
7793446 | Hluchan | Sep 2010 | B2 |
7861441 | Hoellwarth | Jan 2011 | B1 |
20060135037 | Newland et al. | Jun 2006 | A1 |
20070173172 | Yu et al. | Jul 2007 | A1 |
20070284269 | Star | Dec 2007 | A1 |
20080118900 | Salerni | May 2008 | A1 |
20080229633 | Yi | Sep 2008 | A1 |
20090214802 | Sedlacko | Aug 2009 | A1 |
20090217559 | Sayre | Sep 2009 | A1 |
20110126437 | Bullington | Jun 2011 | A1 |
20120048766 | Glass | Mar 2012 | A1 |
20130263481 | Nwosu | Oct 2013 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2699860 | Jul 1994 | FR |
2790423 | Sep 2000 | FR |
2336808 | Nov 1999 | GB |
2004017312 | Jan 2004 | JP |
WO 0243966 | Jun 2002 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20140366410 A1 | Dec 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61888193 | Oct 2013 | US | |
61485298 | May 2011 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 13470499 | May 2012 | US |
Child | 14466605 | US | |
Parent | 12974287 | Dec 2010 | US |
Child | 13470499 | US |