AU721905B2

AU721905B2 - Greeting card

Info

Publication number: AU721905B2
Application number: AU65829/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Celestino Carosella; Simon C. Lane; Noel Edward Preston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-09-26
Filing date: 1996-09-25
Publication date: 2000-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 2016-09-25
Also published as: AU6582996A

Description

P/00/011I Regulation 3.2

C

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD

PATENT

99 0 00 0 0 9, 9* 9* 9.

0 9 *0 0 *0 0 0 0*00

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The following statement is a full description of this invention, including 00 0 Invention Title: GREETING CARD Applicant: CELESTINO CAROSELLA NOEL EDWARD PRESTON SIMON C LANE 9 00 0 0 090 0 00 0 -0 *0 the best method of performing it known to me:

I

C:\WINWORDXMARLO\DAVDR426933.OOC 7 GREETING CARD This invention relates to greeting cards, in particular to folded greeting cards of the type having an inset.

Many different types of greeting cards are available including single fold cards, three fold cards such as gate fold or Z-fold cards, four fold cards such as French fold cards.., etc. Some cards are provided with insets while others are not. Cards with insets are perceived by suppliers and retailers to have a higher market value than corresponding cards without insets. Each card has a particular combination of image, title and message which places the consumer in a position of compromise when choosing a card for a particular occasion. The purchasing process generally begins with the consumer searching the display to find the relevant occasion birthday, wedding). The consumer then has a choice of cards to select from within the occasion group, the degree of choice varies depending on the occasion. Once the occasion group has been located the initial attraction to the card is the image which is visible. Next the message on the outside and inside of the card are assessed. Finding the best combination of image and message is the current dilemma faced by the greeting card buyer.

Since it is both these facets of the card which govern its suitability the fact that 20 they are not all available independently leads to a perceived lack of variety.

It is an object of the present invention to separate two key facets of the card, message and image, and thereby give the consumer a selection of images and independently a selection of messages with the ability to combine any two to suit.

Accordingly in a first aspect the invention provides an image card for use in the preparation of a greeting card of the type having a folded image card and an inset, said image card being foldable to provide an outer face having an image and at least a pair of opposing inner faces, and having inset fastening means disposed on at least one of said inner faces allowing attachment of an inset; wherein said fastening means is disposed on said inner face such that when the card is folded adhesion between the opposing inner faces is prevented.

C:\WVNWORD~(YLIE\VARIOUSNODEL"PN5599.DOC The image card may be a single fold card, three fold card such as gate fold or Z-fold or four or French fold. Preferably the image card is a single fold card. The image card may be pre-folded or may have a crease or score line to assist folding. Preferably the fastening means is disposed adjacent the fold, crease or score line.

In a second aspect the invention provides an inset for use in the preparation of a greeting card of the type having a folded image card and an inset, said inset having inset fastening means disposed thereon to allow attachment of the inset within the fnlded image card; wherein said fastening means is disposed on said inset such that when like insets are stacked together, adhesion between adjacent insets is prevented.

The inset may include a fold, or a crease or score line to assist in folding.

Preferably the fastening means is disposed adjacent an edge portion of the inset or adjacent the fold, crease or score line.

In both aspects of the invention described above the fastening means may be an adhesive covered by a protective layer. Preferably the adhesive is in the form of an adhesive strip adjacent an edge portion, fold, crease, or score line of the image card or the inset. The protective layer may comprise a strip of S 2 treated paper, such as waxed or silicon treated paper.

2 In another embodiment, the image card and inset are provided with non- *J adhesive strips which bond when bought into contact with each other. In another embodiment the fastening means may include one or more strips of double.sided S adhesive tape attached to the image card or inset by means of one side of the Ol tape.

25 Application of the adhesive or non-adhesive fastening means to the card goo: 00.0 :or the inset may be achieved using modified existing technology, such as used in envelope manufacturing.

S. S In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming a greeting card including the step of combining an image card according to the first aspect of the invention with an inset, or the step of combining an inset according to the second aspect of the invention with an image card.

In a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a greeting card prepared in accordance with the third aspect of the invention.

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate some preferred embodiments of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention are possible, and consequently the particularity of the accompanying drawings is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention.

Figure 1 shows three methods of forming a greeting card according to the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of apparatus for manufacturing image cards according to the invention; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the rotary cutting cylinder and impression cylinder of the apparatus shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of apparatus useful for manufacturing insets according to the invention.

In the embodiment shown in Figure la), adhesive strip 1 is disposed on inner face 2 of image card 3. Adhesive strip 1 runs alongside crease 4 of image card 3 and stops approximately 5mm short of the head 5 and foot 6 of the card.

Adhesive strip 1 is covered with treated paper 7 which stops approximately 3mm short of head 5 and foot 6 of image card 3. It is important that the adhesive layer is completely covered by the treated paper otherwise the inner faces of the image card may stick together.

To attach inset 8 to image card 3, treated paper 7 is removed by pulling •ego on tab 9, thereby exposing adhesive strip 1. Inset 8 is pressed onto adhesive strip 1 so that a bond is formed between adhesive strip 1 and outer face 10 of inset 8, adjacent crease 11. Adhesive strip 1 is placed on the inner left place 2 of image card 3 so that when the finished greeting card 12 is opened, inset 8 is also opened.

In the embodiment shown in Figure ib), adhesive strip 13 is disposed on outer face 14 of inset 15. Adhesive strip 13 is located alongside crease 16 of inset 15 and is covered by a strip of treated paper 17. To assemble the greeting card the strip of treated paper 17 is removed by pulling on tab 18 and inset 15 is C:\WlNWORDKYLIE\VARIOUS\NODEL\PN5599.DOC I pressed against image card 19 to form a bond between the adhesive strip 13 and the inner left hand face 20 of image card 19.

In the third embodiment shown in Figure Ic), a strip of non-adhesive material 21 is disposed on inner left hand face 22 of image card 23 alongside crease 24 and a strip of non-adhesive material 25 is disposed on outer face 26 of inset 27 alongside crease 28. Adhesive materials 21 and 25 are chosen so that when the two are placed in contact a bond is formed between inset 27 and image card 23.

One suitable apparatus for manufacturing image cards according to the invention is shown in Figure 2. Flat image cards 29 are stacked in hopper positioned adjacent conveyor 31 which, in the diagram, is shown rotating in an anti-clockwise direction. Image cards 29 are of the single fold variety having centrally located creases extending from head to foot. The central crease is produced at the cut-out stage.

Image cards 29 are carried along conveyor 31 and passed between adhesive application roller 32 and pressure roller 33. Application roller 32 is coated in adhesive from adhesive reservoir 34 via adhesive transfer rollers 35, 36 and 37. Application roller 32 has a cut-out portion 38 so that the adhesive strip falls short of the head and foot of the cards by approximately 5mm. Treated 20 paper is then applied over the adhesive strip from reel 39. The treated paper is pressed onto image card 29 by pressure roller 40 and the treated paper is cut to length by means of rotary cutting cylinder 41 and impression cylinder 42, shown more clearly in Figure 3. Rotary cutting cylinder 41 includes a blade 43 which cuts the treated paper as it passes between cylinders 41 and 42. Blade 43 retracts into cylinder 41 as the cutting action is performed. The treated paper is S cut to a length approximately 3mm short of the head and foot of the image card, thereby ensuring that the adhesive strip is completely covered.

After the treated paper has been applied to the adhesive layer, the image cards may be fed to a folder or the image cards may be supplied to the retailer in unfolded form.

As shown in Figure 4, it is preferable to apply adhesive to the insets using a cylinder rather than a conveyor. In the apparatus shown, insets 44 are fed from C:\WMNWORD\KYLIE\VARIOUS\NODEL\PN5599.DOC 4 6 hopper 45 onto cylinder 46. Insets 44 pass between cylinder 46 and application roller 47 and a length of adhesive is applied to the inset. Application roller 47 is coated with adhesive from adhesive reservoir 48 by means of adhesive transfer rollers 49 and 50. The adhesive strip in then covered in treated paper from reel 51 as it passes between cylinder 46 and pressure roller 52. The treated paper is cut to length by means of rotary cutting cylinder 53 and impression cylinder 54.

Insets are then transferred onto conveyor 55 where they are fed to a folding apparatus (not shown).

The image cards and insets according to the invention may be displayed separately at the point of sale allowing the purchaser to choose a suitable combination of image and message for the particular occasion.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the image cards, insets and greeting cards of the present invention previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

0* o* C:\WINWORDKYLIE\VARIOUSNODELIPN5599.DOC

Claims

1. An image card for use in the preparation of a greeting card having a folded image card and an inset, said image card being foldable to provide an outer face having an image and at least a pair of opposing inner faces, and having inset fastening means disposed of at least one of said inner faces allowing attachment of an inset wherein said fastening means is disposed on said inner face such that when the card is folded adhesion between the opposing inner faces is prevented.

2. An image card according to claim 1 wherein the image card is a single fold card.

3. An image card according to claim 1 wherein the image card is a three fold card such as a gate fold or Z fold card.

4. An image card according to claim 1 wherein the image card is a four fold card such as a French fold card. An image card according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the 20 image card is pre-folded or is provided with a crease or score line to assist folding. 0* 00•6. An image card according to claim 5 wherein the fastening means is disposed adjacent the fold, crease or score line. S 7. An image card according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said fastening means comprises an adhesive covered by a protective layer.

8. An image card according to claim 7 wherein the adhesive is in the form of an adhesive strip adjacent an edge portion, fold, crease, or score line of the image card. C:\WNWORDKYLIE\VARIOUSNODEL\PN5599.DOC 8

9. An image card according to claim 7 wherein the protective layer comprises a strip of treated paper, preferably waxed or silicone treated paper. An inset for use in the preparation of a greeting card having a folded image card and an inset, said inset having inset fastening means disposed thereon to allow attachment of the inset within the folded image card, wherein said fastening means is disposed on said inset such that when like insets are stacked together, adhesion between adjacent insets is prevented.

11. An inset according to claim 10 wherein said inset includes a fold, crease or score line to assist in folding.

12. An inset according to claims 10 or 11 wherein the fastening means is disposed adjacent to an edge portion of the inset.

13. An inset according to claim 11 wherein the fastening means is disposed :adjacent the fold, crease or score line.

14. An inset according to claims 10 to 13 wherein said fastening means 20 comprises an adhesive covered by a protective layer. •eoo An inset according to claim 14 wherein the adhesive is in the form of an •adhesive strip adjacent an edge portion, fold, crease, or score line of the image card.

16. An inset according to claim 14 wherein the protective layer comprises a strip of treated paper, preferably waxed or silicone treated paper.

17. A greeting card comprising a folded image card and an inset, said image card being foldable to provide an outer face having an image and at least a pair of opposing inner faces and wherein at least one of said image card and said inset C:\WINWORD'(YLIE\VARIOUS\NODEL'PN5599.DOC 9 have fastening means disposed thereon to allow attachment of the inset within the folded image card.

18. A greeting card according to claim 17 wherein said fastening means comprises an adhesive covered by a protective layer.

19. A greeting card according to claim 18 wherein the adhesive is in the form of an adhesive strip adjacent an edge portion, fold, crease, or score line of the image card. A greeting card according to claim 18 wherein said fastening means comprises an adhesive covered by a protective layer.

21. A greeting card according to claim 17 wherein the fastening means comprises non-adhesive strips provided on the image card and inset which bond when brought into contact with each other said non-adhesive strips being disposed thereon to allow attachment of the inset within the folded image card.

22. A method of forming a greeting card including the step of combining an 20 image card according to claim 1 with an inset according to claim

23. A greeting card produced by the method of claim 22. *o

24. An image card according to claim 1 as substantially hereinbefore described -o 25 with reference to any one of the drawings, °j25. A inset according to claim 10 as substantially hereinbefore described with I *I I o reference to any one of the drawings.

26. A greeting card according to claim 17 as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the drawings.

27. A method according to claim 22 as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the drawings. DATED: 24 September, 1996 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: CELESTINO CAROSELLA NOEL EDWARD PRESTON SIMON C LANE 4 00 9 C \WINWORO\JKYLIE\VARIOUS\XNODEL\PN5599.DOC