Patent Application
20240092112
There are no applications related to this application.
This invention is in the field of social expression products, such as greeting cards. More particularly, this invention is directed to a pop-up element with a pop-up scene positioned between two separate pop-up elements.
In one embodiment, the pop-up element with double canopy includes a first canopy comprising an oval base, internal structure and top panel, the first canopy movable between a first position, wherein it is folded flat and a second position wherein it is unfolded into a three-dimensional structure, a second canopy comprising an oval base and internal structure, the second canopy movable between a first position, wherein it is fold flat and a second position wherein it is unfolded into a three-dimensional structure, a center panel that extends between and separating the first canopy and the second canopy, a 3D scene comprising a plurality of panels attached to the first canopy, and a plurality of hanging panels suspended from the second canopy, where the first canopy, the second canopy and the 3D scene are simultaneously moved between the first and second positions.
In another embodiment, the pop-up element with double canopy includes a first canopy comprising an oval base, internal structure and top panel, the first canopy movable between a first position, wherein it is folded flat and a second position wherein it is unfolded into a three-dimensional structure, a second canopy comprising an oval base and internal structure, the second canopy movable between a first position, wherein it is fold flat and a second position wherein it is unfolded into a three-dimensional structure, a center panel that extends between and separating the first canopy and the second canopy, a 3D scene comprising a plurality of panels attached to the first canopy, and a plurality of hanging panels suspended from the second canopy, where the first canopy, the second canopy and the 3D scene are simultaneously moved between the first and second positions.
In still another embodiment, the pop-up element with double canopy includes a first pop-up element, a second pop-up element, and a pop-up 3D scene located between the first pop-up element and the second pop-up element, where the first pop-up element, the second pop-up element and the pop-up 3D scene each simultaneously move between a first, substantially flat, collapsed position and a second, upright, 3-dimensional position.
The pop-up of the present disclosure and related inventions is a 360-degree diorama having a lower canopy 10, an upper canopy 12 and a pop-up scene 16 sandwiched between the lower canopy 10 and the upper canopy 12. This pop-up 100 can move between two positions—a first position, wherein the pop-up 100 is folded into a closed, substantially flat configuration, and a second position, wherein the pop-up 100 is unfolded into an open, fully upstanding configuration. The lower canopy 10 and the upper canopy 12 of the greeting card 100 have a substantially similar construction with a few minor details.
The lower canopy 10 serves as the base for the pop-up 100 of the present disclosure and related inventions. It includes two sides 10A and 10B that are almost mirror images of one another. The two sides 10A, 10B are eventually combined to form the lower canopy structure 10. The lower canopy 10 includes two (2) substantially rectangular base subpanels 10A1, 10B1, two (2) substantially triangular subpanels 10A2, 10B2, two substantially rectangular subpanels 10A3, 10B3; two (2) domed subpanels 10A4, 10B4, and four (4) mounting or attachment tabs T1, T2, T3, T4. The first and second subpanels 10A, 10B each have a first long side L1, L3 opposite a second long side L2, L4 and a first short side S1, S3 opposite a second short side S2, S4, with the two short sides S1, S2, S3, S4 extending between the two long sides L1, L2, L3, L4. Each of the first and second subpanels 10A, 10B have a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The first subpanel 10A contains two flaps FL1, FL2 located proximate to the horizontal center of the first subpanel 10A. These two flaps FL1, FL2 operate to retain a mini greeting card MGC therein, as shown in the Figures. The second subpanel 10B contains two mounting tabs T1, T2, one mounting tab located at each opposing end of the second subpanel 10B1. Mounting tab T1 is attached to the second subpanel 10B1 along fold line F1 and mounting tab T2 is attached to the second subpanel 10B1 along fold line F2. The second subpanel 10B1 also contains two minor slots SL1, SL2 located at each opposite end of the second subpanel 10B1, proximate to the two mounting tabs T1, T2. Both the first and second subpanels 10A1, 10B1 of the lower canopy 10 are attached to a substantially triangular subpanel 10A2, 10B2 along a fold lines F3, F4, respectively. The substantially triangular subpanels 10A2, 10B2 contain one or more horizontal openings or apertures A thereon. The substantially triangular subpanels 10A2, 10B2 are connected to substantially rectangular subpanels 10A3, 10B3, along fold lines F5, F6, respectively. Each of the substantially rectangular subpanels 10A3, 10B3 contain two minor protrusions P1, P2, P3, P4 thereon on opposing ends thereof. The substantially rectangular subpanels 10A3, 10B3 are connected to a domed subpanel 10A4, 10B4, along fold lines F7, F8, respectively. The two (2) substantially domed subpanels are attached to attachment panels T3, T4 along fold lines F9, F10, respectively.
The two subpanels 10A, 10B are attached together by first folding mounting tabs T1, T2 on the second subpanel 10B along fold lines F1, F2 and then gluing said mounting tabs T1, T2 to the inside surface of the first subpanel 10A, proximate to distal short ends S1, S2. The rectangular subpanels 10A3, 10B3 are glued together, creating a two-layered single panel that is partially attached. Tabs T3 and T4 are folded downward along fold lines F9 and F10, respectively. The outer surface of tab T3 is glued to the inside surface of subpanel 10A1, proximate to long side L2. The outer surface of tab T4 is glued to the inside surface of subpanel 10B1, proximate to long side L4.
The lower canopy 10 additionally includes a top panel 10C. The top panel 10C contains a bisecting fold line F11 that runs horizontally, creating subpanels 10C1 and 10C2. Each of the subpanels 10C1 and 10C2 contain one or more elongate openings A thereon. These openings A should align with the openings located on substantially triangular subpanels 10A2 and 10B2. Also, a major opening AM is contained along the horizontal center of fold line F11. Subpanel 10C1 of the top panel is attached to the substantially triangular subpanel 10A2 and subpanel 10C2 of the top panel is attached to the substantially triangular subpanel 10B2 with the bisecting fold line F11 placed directly over fold lines F5 and F6 (of the now attached rectangular subpanels 10A3 and 10B3). The top panel 10C may contain non-linear edges, such as, for example, scalloped edges, as shown in the Figures.
In a first or folded position, the top panel is folded downward along fold lines F7 and F8, such that subpanels 10C1 and 10C2 are parallel to one another (and overlap one atop the other) and domed subpanels 10A4 and 10B4 are folded downward along fold lines F7 and F8 such that domed subpanels 10A4 and 10B4 are parallel to one another (and overlap one another). The first and second subpanels 10A1, 10B1 of the lower canopy 10 are folded about fold lines F1 and F2 such that they are parallel to one another. The lower canopy 10 can move from this first, folded position to a second, unfolded position by placing downward pressure on the top panel 10C and/or subpanels 10A3 and 10B3 (which are glued together). In the second, unfolded position, the top panel 10C is unfolded along fold lines F7 and F8, such that subpanels 10C1 and 10C2 create a flat surface, whereby they lie in the same plane. The domed subpanels 10A4 and 10B4 are also unfolded about fold lines F1 and F2 such that subpanels 10A4 and 10B4 create a flat surface, whereby they lie in the same plane. Subpanels 10A3 and 10B3 (which are glued together) span between the plane containing subpanels 10A4 and 10B4 and the plane containing the top panel 10C, being perpendicular thereto. Subpanels 10A1 and 10B1 are unfolded along fold lines F1 and F1 such that they create an substantially oval-shaped base, surrounding subpanels 10A2, 10B2, 10A3, 10B3, 10A4, and 10A5. The two minor protrusions (P1/P3 and P2/P4) located at the sides of rectangular subpanels 10A3 and 10A4 slide into the minor slots S1, S2 located on subpanel 10B1 to aid in keeping the pop-up 100 in the second, unfolded position.
The upper canopy 12 portion of the pop-up with double canopy 100 of the present disclosure and related inventions is, as noted above, very similar to the construct of the lower canopy 10. It includes two sides 12A, 12B that are almost mirror images of one another. The two sides 12A, 12B are eventually combined to form the upper canopy structure 12. The upper canopy 12 contains two (2) substantially rectangular subpanels 12A1, 12B1, two (2) substantially round/oval subpanels 12A2, 12B2, four (4) attachment tabs T4, T5, T6, T7, and two (2) connection tabs T8, T9. The two (2) substantially rectangular subpanels 12A1, 12B1 each have a first long side L5, L7 opposite a second long side L6, L8 and a first short side S5, S7, opposite a second short side S6, S8, with the two short sides S5, S6, S7, S8 extending between two long sides L5, L6, L7, L8. Each of the first and second subpanels 12A, 12B have a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The two (2) substantially rectangular subpanels 12A1 and 12B1 are attached to connection tabs T8 and T9 along fold lines F12 and F13. Connection tabs T8 and T9 are attached to the two (2) round/oval subpanels 12A2, 12B2 along fold lines F14 and F15, respectively. Each round/oval subpanel 12A2, 12B2 are further divided by two horizontal fold lines running F16, F17, F18, F19 through each subpanel 12A2, 12B2, respectively to create three (3) sub-sub-panels 12A2a, 12A2b, and 12A2c on subpanel 12A2 and sub-sub-panels 12B2a, 12B2b, and 12B2c. The two (2) round/oval subpanels 12A2c and 12B2c are attached to attachment tabs T6 and T7 along fold lines F20 and F21, respectively. Subpanel 12B1 contains two attachment tabs T4 and T5 which are attached to the two (2) short sides of subpanel 12B1 along fold lines F22 and F23, respectively. Subpanels 12A1 and 12B1 may contain non-linear edges, such as, for example, scalloped edges, as shown in
The two subpanels 12A, 12B are attached together by folding mounting tabs T4, T5 on the second subpanel 12B1 along fold lines F22, F23 and then gluing said mounting tabs T4, T5 to the inside surface of the first subpanel 12A1, proximate to distal short ends S5, S6. Panels 12A2 and 12B2 are glued together (one atop the other). Tabs T6 and T7 are folded downward along fold lines F19 and F20, respectively. The outer surface of tab T6 is glued to the inside surface of subpanel 12A1, proximate to long side L5. The outer surface of tab T7 is glued to the inside surface of subpanel 12B1, proximate to long side L7.
In a first or folded position, subpanels 12A2a and 12B2a are parallel to one another (and overlap one atop the other). Subpanels 12A2a and 12B2a are folded downward along fold lines F16 and F17 such that they are parallel to one another (and overlap one atop the other). Subpanels 12A2c, 12B2c are folded downward along fold lines F18 and F19 such that they are parallel to one another (and overlap one atop the other). As with the lower canopy 10, the upper canopy 12 can move from this first, folded position to a second, unfolded position by placing downward pressure on the subpanels 12A2b and 12B2b (which are glued together). In the second, unfolded position, subpanels 12A2a and 12B2a are unfolded about fold lines F16 and F17 such that they create a flat surface and whereby they lie in the same plane. Subpanels 12A2c and 12A2c are unfolded about fold lines F18 and F19 such that create a flat surface and whereby they lie in the same plane. Subpanels 12A2b and 12B2b (which are glued together) span between the plane containing subpanels 12A2a and 12B2a and the plane containing subpanels 12A2c and 12B2c, being perpendicular thereto. Subpanels 12A1 and 12B1 are unfolded along fold lines F22 and F23 such that they create a substantially oval-shaped frame surrounding subpanels 12A2a, 12B2a, 12A2b, 12B2b, 12A2c, and 12B2c. The two minor protrusions (P5/P7 and P6/P8) located at the sides of subpanels 12A2b and 12B2b slide into the minor slots SL3, SL4 located on subpanel 12B1 to aid in keeping the upper pop-up in the second, unfolded position.
Between the lower canopy 10 and the upper canopy 12 is a pop-up scene having two or more pop-up scene panels 16 and one or more dangling or hanging panels 18 which are suspended from the upper canopy 12. A main or central pop-up scene panel 16M extends between the lower canopy 10 and the upper canopy 12 at the horizontal center thereof, as shown in
In the embodiment shown in the Figures, there are three (3) sets of two (2) pop-up scene panels. The two (2) pop-up scene panels within each set are identical, as shown in
The main pop-up scene panel 16M, as shown in
A strut or slotted tab ST, as shown in
Each pop-up scene panel 16 contains a tab member T thereon which facilitate attachment of the pop-up scene panels 16 to the lower canopy 10. The tab members are inserted into one of the three (3) openings A on each of the subpanels 10C1 and 10C2 of the top panel 10C of the lower canopy 10 (see
One or more hanging panels 18, shown in
Additional panels may also be attached to the lower canopy 10, upper canopy 12, and/or the pop-up scene 16. For example, as shown in the figures, decorative panels 19 and 22 are inserted into openings A contained on the round/oval panels 12A2, 12B2 of the upper canopy 12. These decorative panels 19, 22 provide additional depth and 3-dimensionality to the pop-up scene.
In operation, the pop-up object with double canopy of the present disclosure and related inventions, is folded into a substantially flat, collapsed position. The pop-up can be neatly placed into an envelope for presentation to a recipient. Once the recipient removes the pop-up from the envelope, it can be unfolded into a 3D, upright position by placing downward pressure on the upper canopy until the protrusions on the sides of the upper canopy are inserted into the slots on the upper canopy and the protrusions on the sides of the lower canopy are inserted into the slots on the lower canopy. The pop-up can remain in the 3D, upright position and placed onto a table or other flat surface for display. It can be moved from the second 3D, upright position back to the first, substantially flat, folded position by placing the upper or lower canopy, for example, between a thumb and forefinger and pressing the upper or lower canopy onto a flat position. The pop-up can easily be stored for safekeeping in the flat, collapsed position or returned to the envelope.
While the pop-up object with double canopy of the present disclosure and related inventions is described as having a particular shape, other shapes, including linear and non-linear edge patterns. Certain materials have been described with respect to suspending the hanging panels from the upper canopy, however, other materials have been contemplated and are considered to be within the scope of this invention. While the mini greeting card has been described and shown in the figures as being attached to the lower canopy, other locations on the pop-up have been contemplated and are considered to be within the scope of this invention.
The foregoing embodiments of the present invention have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. These descriptions and embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principle of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in its various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the invention be defined by the following claims.
