CA2279089A1 - Fold-out greeting card - Google Patents

Fold-out greeting card Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2279089A1
CA2279089A1 CA 2279089 CA2279089A CA2279089A1 CA 2279089 A1 CA2279089 A1 CA 2279089A1 CA 2279089 CA2279089 CA 2279089 CA 2279089 A CA2279089 A CA 2279089A CA 2279089 A1 CA2279089 A1 CA 2279089A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
card
photographs
flap
greeting card
area
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2279089
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Cindy Kunitz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
KUNITZ PETER
Original Assignee
KUNITZ, PETER
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by KUNITZ, PETER filed Critical KUNITZ, PETER
Priority to CA 2279089 priority Critical patent/CA2279089A1/en
Publication of CA2279089A1 publication Critical patent/CA2279089A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42DBOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D15/00Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
    • B42D15/02Postcards; Greeting, menu, business or like cards; Letter cards or letter-sheets
    • B42D15/027Postcards; Greeting, menu, business or like cards; Letter cards or letter-sheets combined with permanently fastened other articles, e.g. photographs

Landscapes

  • Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

A fold-out greeting card has a flap positioned on the card, underneath which photographs, text, or both, can be attached. Lifting of the flap will reveal the underlying photographs and text, which fold out in an accordion-like manner.

Description

CANADIAN PATENT
DOCKET NO: 12129-001 ETY
FOLD-OUT GREETING CARD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to greeting cards that are adapted to carry one or more photographs in a pocket underneath a movable flap.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Personalized greeting cards that are designed to carry a photograph which is chosen by the sender are well known in the card industry. Relatively inexpensive photographic processing and more recently, computer technology, have done much to promote the development of the art in this area.
Two types of greeting card that can accommodate a photograph have been described. A first type is formatted substantially as a postcard, with front and reverse surface. The other type is foldable, with not only a front and reverse surface, but also an interior surface.
The postcard style of greeting card is typically designed to display the photograph openly on either the front or reverse surface of the card, with or without a see-through protective cover. These types of inventions are described for example, in U.S.
Patent Nos. 3,847,325; 4,079,881; 4,237,633; 4,662,093; 4,825,574; 4,953,780 and 5,288,011.
The foldable style of greeting card is typically designed to display the photograph on either the front or interior surface of the card, with or without a see-through protective cover. These types of inventions are described, for example, in US. Patent Nos. 304,459;
4,890,402; 5,269,084; 5,318,327; 5,330,231; 5,375,351 and in WO Patent Application No. 95/11134.

Postcards are an economical and simple way to communicate with others. When used, there is no need or desire that the personally written message remains confidential.
However, for many reasons, the sender or recipient may sometimes desire that the privacy of the photographs that are sent be maintained.
A mailable postcard is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,833,129 to Smith.
Folding a prefabricated paper postcard stock into a device that resembles a postcard generates this postcard, and an interior space to hold a photograph is created. The front face of the postcard includes a panel that the recipient may remove to display the photograph, that is now within a picture frame created by the removal of the panel.
Although this postcard affords privacy of photographs, its design is not suited for a greeting card, but rather for a picture frame.
It would be desirable to have a greeting card that will accommodate multiple photographs in the area that holds the photograph. The photograph-holding areas in other inventions have been designed to hold one picture (although there may be more than one such area). If there is a cover over the photograph to protect it or hold it in place, it is not 2o movable, and therefore multiple pictures that are stacked upon one another cannot easily be seen.
Further, it is not always the object of the sender who attaches photographs to a card to have that photograph become part of the overall design of the greeting card. The sender may wish to have an aesthetically pleasing greeting card that can stand up as such in its own right. Yet, there may be a desire to have an area on the card where photographs that convey information, such as how children have grown, for example, can be attached, in the interest of permanency.
3o Therefore, there is a need in the art for a greeting card with a flap positioned on it, underneath which is an area wherein one or more photographs can be attached.
This is desirable for three reasons. Firstly, it will allow personal photographs affixed to a postcard style greeting card to be sent in privacy. Secondly, it will allow multiple photographs to be affixed in the photo area and revealed when the covering flap is opened. Thirdly, the finished product is an aesthetically pleasing greeting card that contains within it, but not as part of its exterior appearance, personalized photographs chosen by the sender.
SUMMARY
This invention is a greeting card that holds a series of photographs, selected by 1o the sender, underneath a flap that the recipient of the card can lift up to reveal the photographs which fold out in an accordion like manner. Alternatively, the fold-out portion may include text or graphics, or a combination of photographs, text or graphics.
In one aspect, this invention comprises a greeting card which includes a sheet of relatively rigid support material that comprises a photo area wherein one or more 15 photographs can be adhered to the support material, one or more preprinted graphics, and a movable flap which engages the support material to cover the photo area.
In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the greeting card is a postcard, with the flap and preprinted graphic positioned on the front surface, the photographs 20 arranged in a strip that is folded in an accordion-like manner to fit underneath the flap, and the reverse surface formatted as a postcard.
In another embodiment of this invention the greeting card is a foldable, with the preprinted graphic positioned on front surface, the flap positioned on an interior surface 25 and the photographs arranged in a strip that is folded in an accordion-like manner to fit underneath the flap. Optionally, the foldable greeting card may be formatted on the reverse surface as a postcard.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
30 Figure 1: A front view of the preferred embodiment of this invention illustrating the lifting of the flap and the unfolding of photographs underneath.

Figure 2: A front view of the preferred embodiment of this invention with the flap down.
F~ure 3: A rear view of the preferred embodiment of this invention illustrating the postcard formatting.
Figure 4: An alternative embodiment of the invention.
Fi ug re 5: An alternative embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention comprises a relatively rigid support material having a front surface and a reverse surface, and comprising a photo area wherein one or more photographs can be adhered to the support material, a preprinted graphic and a flap which engages the support material to cover the photo area and which is movable between an open and closed position.
Reference is now made to the drawing in Figure 1, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention. The card (10) comprises a flap (14), an area (16) where 2o photographs may be attached, a series of photographs (18), and a preprinted graphic (20) on the front surface (22). Figure 2 illustrates the reverse surface (26) of card (10) that, in the preferred embodiment, is blank. A variation of card (10), in which reverse surface (26) comprises a preprinted graphic (24) and is formatted as a postcard with an area (32) to address the card, an area (34) for a stamp and an area (36) in which a brief message can be written, is shown in Figure 2. The maker of the card provides photographs (18) and attaches photographs (18) to area (16), thereby assembling card (10) of the invention.
As used herein, "maker of the card" refers to the person who assembles the card and sends it to the recipient of the card.
3o The card (10) is preferably constructed from cardstock or other suitably strong material, which forms a bottom layer (42) and photograph paper, which forms a top layer (40). These two layers are laminated together, with the exception of area (16) underlying flap (14), to form a single card. As shown in Figure 3, flap (14) is preferably shaped as a rectangle, and created from top layer (40) by cutting top layer (40) along three edges of flap (14), at (30a), (30b) and (30c), and scoring top layer (40) along a fourth edge (28) at the top of flap (14), to mark the position where flap (14) is attached to the card (10).
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many different shapes of flap (14) may be utilized; that flap (14) may be positioned anywhere on card (10), and that there may be more than one flap on the card (10). The scope of this invention is also intended to include flaps that cover photographs and are movable in other ways, including flaps that slide under the top piece of cardstock or those that are completely removable from the card.
Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that many different types of paper or other material may be used to create the card (10), and the scope of this invention is intended to include a cards made by using materials other than those specified in the preferred embodiment.
Either flap ( 14) or area ( 16) is provided with an adhesive area (38) for attaching one to the other. The adhesive means is preferably in the form of a double-sided adhesive strip, but other means of securing flap (14) to the card (10) will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
In the preferred embodiment, area (16) and flap (14) are designed to accommodate and cover wallet sized or smaller photographs. However, areas and flaps that can accommodate larger photographs are within the scope of this invention. As used herein, "photograph" is intended to include any image provided by the maker of the card, and is not intended to exclude any textual matter.
In the preferred embodiment, graphic (20) on front surface (22) and graphic (24) on reverse surface (26) are preprinted on the card (10) by the manufacturer using any available printing technology. As used herein, "manufacturer" refers to a commercial enterprise that produces cards in bulk, preprinted or blank. It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that if a computer program is used by the maker of the card to create the card (10), an assortment of graphics may be provided by the computer program, from which the maker of the card may select one or more to print onto a blank card provided by the manufacturer. It can also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that if a computer program is used to create the card (10), that this program may enable the maker of the card to design their own graphics) for printing onto the card. As used herein, "graphic" is intended to include images and/or text.
In the preferred embodiment, photographs (18) under flap (14) are arranged in a strip that is folded accordion-style, and adhered to the card (10) by the bottom photograph. As used herein, "accordion-style" is intended to mean that a strip of photographs is folded along the edges of the pictures in alternating front:front and reverse:reverse folds, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. In this embodiment, area (16) will contain double-sided adhesive for attachment of photographs (18). Glue may also be used to affix photographs 18, and other means of affixing photographs (18) will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The strip may also include text, graphics or a combination of photographs, text or graphics.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the card (210), shown in Figure 4, may be constructed from one piece of cardstock. A flap (214) may be created by adhering, along one edge (250), a piece of cardstock that is the size of the desired flap (214), to the card (210). In all other respects, this card would be similar to card (10) and the possible variations thereof.
Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of this invention, the card (310), comprising a jacket (312), a flap (314), an area (316) where photographs may be attached, a series of photographs (318), a preprinted graphic on the front surface (322), 3o interior surfaces (320a) and (320b) and a reverse surface (326). The maker of the card provides photographs (318) and attaches photographs (318) to area (316), thereby assembling card (310) of the invention.
In this embodiment, the card (310) contains a fold or score line (350) which folds jacket (312) in half, creating two panels (360) and (370). Preferred in this embodiment is a single score line that is vertical, as depicted, however a horizontal score line or multiple score lines that would fold the card (310) such that three or more panels would be created, are also within the scope of this invention. In all other respects, this card would be similar to card (10) and the possible variations thereof.
to This invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. A greeting card comprising:
(a) a support material having a front surface and a reverse surface, and comprising a photo area wherein one or more photographs can be adhered to the support material;
(b) a preprinted graphic, on one or both of the front and reverse surfaces;
and (c) a flap which engages the support material to cover the photo area and which is movable between an open position and a closed position.
2. The greeting card of claim 1 wherein the one or more photographs comprises a plurality of photographs arranged in a strip and folded in an accordion-like manner to fit under the flap.
3. The greeting card of claim 1 wherein the preprinted graphic is on the front surface and the reverse surface is substantially formatted as a postcard, with an area to address the card and position a stamp.
4. The greeting card of claim 1 wherein the support material is comprised of a layer of cardstock and a layer of photographic paper laminated together.
5. The greeting card of claim 3 wherein the photo area and flap are on the front surface.
6. The greeting card of claim 1 wherein the card comprises a support material with a fold in the support material, creating not only a front and reverse surface, but also an interior surface.
7. The greeting card of claim 5 wherein the one or more photographs comprises a plurality of photographs arranged in a strip and folded in an accordion-like manner to fit under the flap.
8. The greeting card of claim 5 wherein the photo area and flap are positioned on the interior surface.
9. The greeting card of claim 5 wherein the reverse surface is substantially formatted as a postcard, with an area to address the card and position a stamp.
CA 2279089 1999-07-29 1999-07-29 Fold-out greeting card Abandoned CA2279089A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2279089 CA2279089A1 (en) 1999-07-29 1999-07-29 Fold-out greeting card

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2279089 CA2279089A1 (en) 1999-07-29 1999-07-29 Fold-out greeting card

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2279089A1 true CA2279089A1 (en) 2001-01-29

Family

ID=4163875

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2279089 Abandoned CA2279089A1 (en) 1999-07-29 1999-07-29 Fold-out greeting card

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2279089A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002002349A1 (en) * 2000-07-03 2002-01-10 Brian George Wilmott Greeting card

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002002349A1 (en) * 2000-07-03 2002-01-10 Brian George Wilmott Greeting card

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6701654B2 (en) Personalized picture postcard for holding inserted photograph
CA2368745C (en) Combined integral picture frame and mailer
US4681253A (en) Efficiency photo-gram with stand-up display
GB2276846A (en) Greetings card mailer.
US5988685A (en) Multiple faced customizable folio system
US8104795B2 (en) Expandable card form
US8936278B2 (en) Book cover with printed image
US20110248493A1 (en) Folding mailer
US5890774A (en) Customizable folio system
US20070200336A1 (en) Expandable business card
US5873603A (en) Personal greeting card/postcard
US20040026489A1 (en) Printable envelope with removable business card for compact discs
US4487431A (en) Publication convertible to poster and removable insert and method of making same
US20060236568A1 (en) Greeting card-gift card-postage stamp assembly
CA2279089A1 (en) Fold-out greeting card
US20070144050A1 (en) Apparatus and method for displaying an item
JP3096910U (en) Advertisement printed matter with postcard
US20020129520A1 (en) Printed article with floating insert
JP2601178Y2 (en) A bonded envelope that allows product samples to be seen through
JPH08156464A (en) Slip with label
JPH08300856A (en) Foldable postcard
US6260886B1 (en) Device for displaying and/or transporting an item
GB2592281A (en) Greetings card
CA2540187A1 (en) A mailable card
JP3245547B2 (en) Postcard

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Dead