EP1529655A1

EP1529655A1 - Interactive postcard and process of manufacturing

Info

Publication number: EP1529655A1
Application number: EP04004068A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pascal Sturny
Original assignee: Charani Ammar
Current assignee: CHARANI, AMMAR
Priority date: 2003-11-10
Filing date: 2004-02-23
Publication date: 2005-05-11

Abstract

Packaging means for multimedia storage means comprising a cardboard part (1) and a multimedia storage means area for storing a multimedia storage means (6;16) wherein the cardboard part comprises two parts (1t;1b), the first part (1t) comprising a recessed portion (3;18), defining the multimedia storage means area, the second part (1b) being bonded over the first part (1t) and comprising an easy aperture means (4,5;14,15) covering at least partly the recessed portion (3;18).

Description

The invention concerns a packaging means for multimedia storage means, particularly compact disk (CD), CD read only memory (CD-ROM), and digital versatile disk (DVD). It is especially adapted for mails and mailing, and will be called Interactive postcard. The invention concerns also the process of manufacturing of the Interactive postcard.
There are many types of packaging means for holding CDs, the most known being a hinged box of polystyrene called jewel box. The first drawback of such solution is that it is thick and fragile and can not easily be sent by postmail, but requires the use of a specific expensive protective enveloppe. A second drawback is that a separate letter must be used when a written information needs to be joined to the mail of the CD.
A first object of the present invention is to provide a packaging means for multimedia storage means, particularly adapted for an economic and safe mail, and its manufacturing process.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a packaging means for multimedia storage means, also adapted for use of non multimedia data like printed information and handwritten information.
These objects will be apparent from the following description of specific embodiments, based on the following figures :
figures 1a to 1f represent the manufacturing process of a first embodiment of the present invention :
figure 1a represents a printing phase,
figure 1b represents the application of an adhesive means,
figure 1c represents the manufacturing of a recessed portion and of an easy aperture means,
figure 1d represents the step to put the multimedia storage means in,
figure 1e represents the folding phase,
figure 1f represents the bonding step.
figure 1g represents the finished interactive postcard of the first embodiment when opened.
figures 2a to 2f represent the manufacturing process of a first embodiment of the present invention :
figure 2a represents a printing phase,
figure 2b represents the application of an adhesive means,
figure 2c represents the manufacturing of a hole and of an easy aperture means,
figure 2d represents the placing in the hole of a holding means,
figure 2e represents the step to put the multimedia storage means in,
figure 2f represents the folding phase,
figure 2g represents the bonding step,
figure 2h represents an alternative of this second embodiment.
figure 3 represents a third embodiment of the present invention ;
figure 4 represents a fourth embodiment of the present invention ;
figure 5 represents a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 1a to 1f represents the manufacturing process of a first embodiment of the present invention.
In a first phase (fig 1a), the front side 1f of a cardboard 1, GC - FBB folding box board, is printed. A top part 1t of the carboard countains a print representing the postcard model including for instance stamp and address positioning, and a bottom part 1b of the cardboard contains a printed image illustrating a thema, for example a new year thema. This cardboard is about 370 gramms/m2 type.
In a second phase (fig 1b), an adhesive means 2 is applied on the whole rear side 1r of the cardboard 1. This adhesive means is preferably a varnish for bakercard.
In a third phase (fig 1c), a recessed portion 3, having the size and shape of the multimedia storage means to store, is performed by embossing the top part on the rear side of the cardboard. Its edge represents an enclosure for the multimedia storage means. A perforation is performed on the bottom part of the rear side cardboard in order to make both dotted lines 4 and a hole 5, which have a function of easy aperture means. In fact, the hole 5 has the technical function to allow a person to put a finger in order to open a window in the card along the dotted lines 4, as illustrated in figure 1g.
In a fourth phase (fig 1d), the multimedia storage means 6, which is a rectangular shaped CD in this embodiment, is put in the recessed portion of the top part on the rear side of the cardboard. The multimedia content of the CD represents additional information on the same thema as the printed information.
In a fifth phase (fig 1e), the cardboard is folded along the folding line 7 in order to put in contact the two top and bottom rear parts, while maintaining the CD in the right place.
In a sixth phase (fig 1f), the resulting packaging means is heated and pressed with a means 8 presenting a recessed portion 9 corresponding to the position of the CD. This leads to the bonding of the two parts of the cardboard thanks to the adhesive means. An important feature is that no bonding action is performed above the CD, but only around. Other alternative bonding means could be used.
As a result, a postcard type packaging is formed with about the same size and thickness of a classical postcard, containing safely a CD. Its aperture is easy, because it consists in manually pulling the card through the central hole 5. The result is an opening of two panels like a French window aperture (Fig 1g), around the CD, allowing to take it easily.
As an optional advantageous feature, the CD can have a thiner portion on its extremity circumference part, adapted to be put on an adhesive area of the cardboard around the recessed portion while the thicker CD portion being placed in the recessed portion. This feature helps to maintain the CD in the right place.
Figure 2 represents the manufacturing process of a second embodiment of the present invention.
The first and second phases (fig 2a and 2b) are the same as phases represented on fig 1a and 1b of the first embodiment.
In the third phase (fig 2c), a hole 13 is made in the top part of the cardboard, having about the size and shape of the multimedia storage means to store. This embodiment is adapted to a round shape DVD, with standard diameter of 8 centimeters. A perforation consisting in dotted lines 14 is performed on the bottom part of the cardboard. This perforation represents about half of the hole 13 circumference, and contains a tab 15.
In parallel to the previous phases, a transparent holding element 17 is made by thermoforming a plastic material like polyethylene. This holding element (represented in fig 2d) has a round shape corresponding to the DVD size, comprises a recessed portion 18 with a central protuberant cross shaped retaining means 19 with a thickeness of about 1.5 mm, which function is to engage the central hole of the DVD in order to retain it and to avoid its rotation, an edge 20 of about 1.5 mm thickness which corresponds to a little more than the DVD thickness of 0.8 mm and represents an enclosure for the DVD and a ring 21 destinated to be placed on the cardboard around the hole 13, the recessed portion being put in the hole 13. Moreover, the ring 21 contains a first larger area 22 whose technical fonction is to help the right positionning of the holding element on the cardboard, this larger area extremity being placed parallel and along the folding line 7 between the top and the bottom parts of the cardboard. It contains also a tab 23 whose technical fonction is to help the future aperture of the card, which is described below.
In the fourth phase (fig 2d), the holding element is put in the hole 13 of the top part of the cardboard, in such a manner that the specific ring portion 22 being along the folding line 7.
In the fifth phase (fig 2e), the DVD 16 is placed in the recessed portion of the holding element 17. In parallel to this process, the DVD content has been stored on the DVD, consisting in complementary information on the same topic as the printed data on the cardboard. Also, the front surface of the DVD is printed and the right positioning of the DVD in the transparent holding element 17 allows to form a front side of the Interactive Postcard having a continuous printed pattern, both on the cardboard and on the DVD. For the easy and quick right positioning of the DVD, a high number of DVDs are first automatically positioned on a rod with the same orientation. Then, the right positionning of the rod in the process allows to automatically position all the DVDs it contains. For the automatic right positioning of the DVDs, a printed black mark is made on the surface of the DVD as well as a corresponding mark on the holding element such that a machine with an optical sensor is able to orient the DVD by superposing both marks for example.
The next two phases (fig 2f and 2g) correspond to respectively the phases of fig 1e and 1f of first embodiment. Once folded, the tab 15 of the dotted line is superposed to the tab 23 of the holding element.
As a result, a postcard type packaging is formed, containing a DVD, with about the same size and thickness of a classical postcard. It is adapted for standard DVD with a thickness comprised between 0.8 and 1.2 mm, the thickness of the holding element being respectively comprised between 1.5 and 2 mm. Its aperture is easy, because it consists in manually pushing with the thumb the front side of the interactive postcard, on the area corresponding to the tab 23, while maintaining the rear side with the other hand. This provides a folding effect of the whole interactive postcard and a resulting pressure force on the tab 23 which transmits the pressure force to the dotted lines tab 15 thanks to its rigidity propriety, leading to the opening of the rear side cardboard along the doted lines. The DVD can then be taken out.
As an alternative solution for this embodiment, a rectangular shaped DVD can be used. The holding element and the perforation are then adapted as illustrated in figure 2h. The tab 23 and the larger ring 22 are then met in only one element, and the dotted lines follow half the holding element circumference.
As a further alternative solution for this embodiment, an airtight means, like an aluminium fold placed above the holding element and between the two superposed carboard parts, is used in order to close the holding element. This aluminium fold is bonded to the two cardboard parts. This allows to insert within the recessed portion a perfume substance, which will only liberate its flagrance at the opening of the Interactive postcard.
Figure 3 represents a third embodiment of the present invention in an unfolded state. It differs from the previous ones in that during the third phase of the manufacturing process, both a cut out of a part of the bottom part and a perforation are made. The result is an open window 30 in the bottom part corresponding to about half the surface of the holding element 17, symmetric around the tab 33, and hinged along a folded line 31. The dotted lines follow the border of this window. It defines an extremity band 32 which contains on its internal face an adhesive means 33, protected by a removable protection.
This product is like a self made postcard : it allows a user to insert a CD-R in the holding means, to glue the window 30 to the top part of the cardboard by removing the protection for releasing the adhesive means 33. The band 32 is then bonded to the ring 21 and/or the top rear part of the cardboard. Then, a person can easily transport and mail the closed product. The aperture can be performed along the dotted lines, using the method described in the previous embodiment.
A fourth embodiment is represented in figure 4. The final interactive card comprises a two hinged parts, the left part being a card as described previously, linked to a further panel part of usual cardboard, in order to represent a double interactive mail card, especially adapted for greeting cards use.
A fifth embodiment is represented in figure 5. It consists in a three parts card, hinged around the two lines 50 and 51, comprising a first panel 52 corresponding to a multimedia packaging as previously described, a second panel 53 of cardboard only of the same size, and a middle small part 54 whose width corresponds to the thickness of a book to insert between the two panels 52 and 53. This allows to propose more written information, a richer content, still both multimedia and classical. This embodiment can be used for tourist guides.
An alternative of this last embodiment consists in an easy removal means like dotted lines between the first panel 52 and the middle panel 54, in order to use it separately as postcard for example.
Of course, a combination of the above described embodiments would be possible for the man skilled in the art. For example, any embodiment can be made with any multimedia storage means, from any shape, round or rectangular, or any other like heart-shaped. Although, any easy aperture means could be adapted with any above embodiments.
Finally, the interactive postcard of the invention presents the following advantages :

the packaging means is thin, compact, compatible with existing standards of multimedia storage means. Even if particularly adapted for CDs, DVDs, it can be used for floppy disks, smart cards, any thin storage means ;
the packaging means including the multimedia storage means has about a postcard format, comprises the postcard function, is adapted for a mail use on the same way as classical postcards, without any additional envelope ;
it allows to transfer an information through the use of at least three complementary supports, the carboard print, its written part and the digital content of the multimedia storage means ;
it is safe since the multimedia storage means is protected and the aperture of the packaging means is easily detected ;
it is cheap and easy to manufacture.

Claims

Packaging means for multimedia storage means comprising a cardboard part (1) and a multimedia storage means area for storing a multimedia storage means (6 ; 16), characterized in that the cardboard part comprises two parts (1t, 1b), the first part (1t) comprising a recessed portion (3 ; 18), defining the multimedia storage means area, the second part (1b) being bonded over the first part (1t) and comprising an easy aperture means (4,5 ; 14, 15) covering at least partly the recessed portion (3 ; 18).
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claim 1 characterized in that the cardboard part comprises about 370 grams/m2 cardboard, the recessed portion being adapted for making the whole thickness of the packaging means when including a multimedia storage means relatively thin and able for its use like postcard.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the cardboard part comprises a print, one part of the print representing a postcard looking print.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the two cardboard parts come from the same cardboard bonded together after folding them into contact.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to one of the previous claims characterized in that the recessed portion (3) consists in an embossed cardboard area.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the recessed portion is a portion (18) of a plastic holding element (17) placed in a hole (13) of the first part (1t) of the cardboard part (1).
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claim 6 characterized in that the plastic holding element (17) comprises a retaining central means (19), an edge (20) representing an enclosure for a multimedia storage means, and a ring (21) to be placed on the cardboard around the hole (13).
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to one of claims 6 or 7 characterized in that the plastic holding element (17) comprises a tab (23) in order to help the cardboard aperture.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to one of claims 6 to 8 characterized in that the plastic holding element (17) comprises a positioning portion (22).
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to one of claims 6 to 9 characterized in that the plastic holding element (17) is a polyethylene thermoformed element.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to one of claims 6 to 10 characterized in that the plastic holding element (17) is transparent and in that both the first part (1t) of the cardboard and the multimedia storage means (16) comprise a print, the print being continuous on both surfaces.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to one of previous claims characterized in that the easy aperture means comprises a small hole (5) for opening the cardboard with a finger.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to one of claims 1 to 12 characterized in that the easy aperture means comprises dotted lines (4 ; 14) made by a perforation means.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claim 13 characterized in that the dotted lines (4) represent a two window panels aperture.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claim 13 characterized in that the dotted lines (14) follow a part of the multimedia storage means area circumference.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claim 15 characterized in that the dotted lines follow about half of the recessed portion circumference.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claims 8 and 13 characterized in that the dotted lines form a tab (15), able to be positioned above the tab (23) of the plastic holding element.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to one of claims 1 to 17 characterized in that the second cardboard part (1b) comprises a window (30) hinged around a folded line (31) of the cardboard, the window comprising a band (32) able to be bonded to the first cardboard part (1t) and to cover at least partly the recessed portion (3, 18).
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claim 18 characterized in that the window (30) comprises the easy aperture means.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means characterized in that it comprises a second cardboard panel linked to a first panel being a packaging means according to one of claims 1 to 19.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claim 20 characterized in that it comprises said first panel (52), said second panel (53) and a third intermediate small panel (54) hinged with said first two panels.
Packaging means for multimedia storage means according to one of claims 1 to 21 characterized in that the recessed portion is closed with an airtight means, being able to countain a flagrance of a perfume substance until the packaging means aperture.
Process for manufacturing a packaging means for multimedia storage means comprising the following steps :

make a recessed portion (3, 18) on a first part (1t) of a cardboard (1),

make an easy aperture means (4,5 ; 14,15) on a second part (1b) of a cardboard (1),

bond the two cardboard parts (1t, 1b) thanks to an adhesive means (2), the easy aperture means of the second part (1b) being able to cover at least partly the recessed portion (3 ; 18).
Process for manufacturing a packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claim 23 characterised in that it comprises the following step :

make the recessed portion (3) on the first part (1t) of the cardboard through embossing it.
Process for manufacturing a packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claim 23 comprising the following step :

make the recessed portion (18) on the first part (1t) of the cardboard with the two following steps :

make a hole (13) within the first part of the cardboard (1t);

place a plastic holding element (17) within the hole of the cardboard, said element comprising the recessed portion (18).
Process for manufacturing a packaging means for multimedia storage means according to one of claims 23 to 25 characterised in that the step to make an easy aperture means comprises the step to make a hole (5) in the second part (1b) of the cardboard, adapted for an aperture with a finger.
Process for manufacturing a packaging means for multimedia storage means according to one of claims 23 to 26 characterised in that the step to make an easy aperture means comprises the step to make a perforation in order to obtain dotted lines in the second part (1b) of the cardboard.
Process for manufacturing a packaging means for multimedia storage means according to one of claims 23 to 27 characterised in that the step to bond the two cardboard parts (1t, 1b) together comprises the step to fold the two parts coming from the same cardboard.
Process for manufacturing a packaging means for multimedia storage means according to one of claims 23 to 28 characterised in that it comprises the step to coat the rear side (1r) of the cardboard (1) with an adhesive means and to heat and press the two parts (1t, 1b) in order to get them bonded.
Process for manufacturing a packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claims 23 to 29 characterised in that it comprises a step consisting in printing the cardboard.
Process for manufacturing a packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claims 23 to 30 characterised in that it comprises the following step :

put the multimedia storage means (6 ; 16) on the recessed portion (3 ; 18) before bonding the two parts.
Process for manufacturing a packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claim 31 characterised in that it comprises the following step :

orient the multimedia storage means within the recessed portion thanks to marks made on the multimedia storage means and the recessed portion and using an optical sensor.
Process for manufacturing a packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claim 31 characterised in that it comprises the following step :

close the recessed portion with an airtight means in order to keep a perfume substance in it until aperture of the packaging means.
Process for manufacturing a packaging means for multimedia storage means according to claims 23 to 33 characterised in that it comprises the following step :

cut out a window (30) in the second part (1b) of the cardboard, the window being able to cover at least partially the recessed portion (3 ; 18) of the first part (1b).