EP2340944B1 - Greetings card with internal envelope - Google Patents

Abstract

The card (1) has a front sheet (2) and a rear sheet (3), and a connecting unit for connecting a support (7) e.g. gift card, at an interior of the card in detachable manner for permitting to access gift. The connecting unit has an envelope (5) that is fixed on one of interior faces of the card, where the envelope receives the support. An interior surface of the front sheet has a printed zone (2b) carrying indications. A front face of the front sheet and a rear face of the rear sheet are printed.

Description

GENERAL TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the field of carding.
More particularly, it concerns greeting cards that are offered for example during a special event (birthdays, holidays, births, etc.) or to declare feelings, convey a message of thanks, etc.

STATE OF THE ART

Cards or gift vouchers are traditionally known, which allow the persons to whom they are offered or who benefit from them to have access to products or services of certain major commercial brands, within the limit of a given monetary value of which these cards or Gift certificates are the counterpart.
Such cards or gift vouchers can be personalized according to the type of gift towards which one wishes to guide their recipient.
The pouches or boxes, in which these cards or checks are optionally available, are generally customized according to the event that you want to mark. The document US 2008 0289230 describes for example a greeting card with an inner envelope.
It has already been proposed, particularly in the patent US7,024,807 , to associate with a classic greeting card with two components, a gift card, which is a support in credit card format, removably attached to a flap of the greeting card, inside thereof, and that the recipient of the greeting card discovers when he opens the card.
The support that constitutes this gift card carries a code identifier (PIN) which allows the recipient of the card to then have access, for example remotely, to the products and services that the recipient of the card intended for him.
The presentation of the gift card in the greeting card, which is proposed in this patent US7,024,807 however, is not fully satisfactory, 4 particularly in terms of safety. The gift cards and especially the identification codes written on these gift cards are indeed an access relatively easy. For example, it is enough for a malicious person to discreetly open the greeting card before it is sold, to be able to read the code written on the associated gift card and thus have access, if necessary once the gift card is activated. , products and services instead of the recipient of the card.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to propose a greeting card solution that allows the person to whom it is offered to have access to products or services that are intended for him as a gift, but which presents less risk of fraud. that in the case of associations greeting cards / gift cards of the prior art and in particular that in the case of that proposed in US7,024,807 .
Another object of the invention is to propose a solution that makes it possible to offer a greeting card associated with a support enabling the person to whom the said greeting card is offered to have access to products or services, this card of wishes also being of an interior and exterior presentation particularly festive and organized in such a way that it gives to the recipient of the greeting card, as to its recipient, a maximum of information on the gift to which the support associated with the greeting card allows access.
More particularly, it is proposed, as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 12, an assembly comprising a greeting card and a support, said greeting card comprising a front flap and a rear flap, and means to removably report inside said greeting card a support that allows access to a gift, this medium being of the type having on at least one of its faces a readable gift code to allow the recipient to the greeting card access to at least one product and / or service. Said means comprise an envelope which is fixed on one of the inner faces of the greeting card and which receives or is intended to receive the support which carries the gift code which allows access to a gift.
Such a greeting card structure with an inner envelope contributes to greater security than with the solutions of the prior art.

The greeting card can indeed be sold with the support that allows access to a gift (gift card for example) in place in the envelope, in which case, the presence of the envelope makes it much easier than with the greeting cards of the prior art access to the support or gift code it carries when the greeting card is in shelving.
The greeting card structure with an inner envelope also allows, as a variant, not forming part of the claimed invention, that the purchaser only retrieves the medium with the gift code (printed ticket for example) at the time of the changeover. checkout. He then slides himself the support in the inner envelope. As is easily understood, this variant also allows a very high security. In yet another variant, not part of the claimed invention, the gift card is a magnetic card activated during the passage of the buyer at the box, which is then slid into the inner envelope.
Furthermore, the presentation of the support, which bears the access code, in an envelope inside the greeting card contributes to the festive character of the whole for the one who receives the greeting card and the associated support.

PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

• ■ Les figures 1 à 3 sont différentes vues d'une carte de voeux conforme à un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention.
• ■ La figure 4 représente l'enveloppe associée une carte de voeux selon l'invention, ainsi qu'un exemple de support de code cadeau.
• ■ Les figures 5 et 6 représentent les deux faces d'un support de type carte cadeau.
• ■ La figure 7 présente un deuxième mode de réalisation d'une carte de voeux selon l'invention avec un emballage.

Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, which is purely illustrative and nonlimiting, and which should be read with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• ■ The Figures 1 to 3 are different views of a greeting card according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• ■ The figure 4 represents the envelope associated with a greeting card according to the invention, as well as an example of gift code support.
• ■ The Figures 5 and 6 represent the two sides of a gift card type support.
• ■ The figure 7 presents a second embodiment of a greeting card according to the invention with a package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE OR MORE EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS

• 1) Ouvrez l'enveloppe ci-dessous et découvrez votre code d'accès,
• 2) Rendez-vous sur www.nomdusite.com (par exemple www.starbox.com) et entrez votre code dans l'espace dédié,
• 3) Découvrez votre cadeau et téléchargez-le sans frais.

The greeting card 1 shown on the Figures 1 to 3 is a cardboard card that has two shutters 2 and 3 (one front and one rear) articulated around a fold 4.
An envelope 5 of smaller size than the greeting card 1 is fixed inside this greeting card 1, in this case on the inside face of the front shutter 2.
This envelope 5 is intended to receive a support 7 (for example a gift card, printed or magnetic, printed ticket, etc ....) which includes a gift code.
The envelope 5 can be removably attached to the greeting card 1, for example by means of a point of glue or any other suitable means (in particular slots in the flap 2 or 3 which receives the envelope or photo corners). It includes a flap 6 in the extension of one of its faces, and coming back on the other of its faces so as to close its mouth. In the case forming part of the proposed invention where the envelope 5 is removable and where the greeting card 1 is presented for sale with the support 7 already in place inside said envelope 5, said envelope 5 is fixed inside the greeting card by the opposite side to that which is extended by the flap, so that the mouth of said envelope 5 is adjacent to the inner portion of the front flap 2 and it is not easily accessible, except to detach it from the greeting card 1.
In the case, however, not forming part of the claimed invention, where the support 7 is supplied to the purchaser only after passage in the box, the envelope 5 is fixed inside the greeting card. by the face which is extended by the flap 6, so that the mouth of the envelope is directly accessible to the purchaser and allows him to slip the support 7 which is provided without detaching said envelope 5.
In the example shown on the figure 1 , the envelope 5 is fixed on the inner face of the front flap 2 in a zone 2a provided for this purpose in the lower part of said flap 2. This zone 2a extends for example about one third of the height of the flap 2.
This inner face of the front flap 2 also has, above the zone 2a, an area 2b which also occupies in this case approximately one third of the height of the shutter 2 and on which are printed indications (instructions) retailer for the recipient of the greeting card 1 the way he can use the support 7 and the code it carries to have access to the corresponding products and services.
An area 2c above this area 2b is reserved for a window 8 which is cut at the top of the flap 2. This window 8 is in this case rectangular, but any other form could of course be considered.
The inner face of the rear flap 3 has meanwhile to the right of this window 8 a printed area 3c with for example patterns / representations 9 relating to the gift to which the greeting card 1 and the support 7 allow access. These patterns / representations are visible through the window 8 when the greeting card 1 is presented closed, the two flaps 2 and 3 folded over one another, which is particularly the case when it is in place on a sales display.
For example, in the case of a greeting card 1 to offer a mobile video game, the reasons 9 may consist of three thumbnails; the thumbnail on the left and the right thumbnail represent video game sequences, while the central thumbnail represents a mobile phone with a screen relating to the video game; in the case of a greeting card 1 to offer a music album, the reasons 9 may consist of a representation of the album in question.
Below this zone 3c, this inner face of the shutter 3 has a zone 3b, which is also reserved for a personalized message. Of course, the size and shape of the area 3b reserved for writing a message may vary. Several different locations may also be provided on the map to enable the writing of a message; for example, in one variant, the zone 2b can also be reserved for writing a message, while the details detailing for the recipient of the greeting card 1 how he can use the code carried by the support 7 are printed at the bottom of the inner face of the shutter 3.
Of course, the front face of the flap 2 (front page of the greeting card 1) and the rear face of the flap 3 can also be printed. For example, the front panel of pane 2 is printed with a 2d graphic composition (whimsical patterns, illustrations, photos, etc.) related to the theme of the gift. The greeting card 1 can thus be personalized not only with respect to the event that one wishes to mark, but also with respect to the theme of the gift that one wishes to make to the recipient of the greeting card 1.
Also, it can be provided on the lower part of the flap 3, on the inside of it, a reproduction (in black & white, for example) of the visual of the front face of the flap 2 (case of a musical title , for example). This area in the lower part of the shutter 3 can of course also remain completely blank. The rear face of the shutter 3 can itself be printed with indications relating to the editor and include a bar code 11 (of the Gencode type for example).
In the example shown on the figure 1 and on the figure 4 , envelope 5 is in this case a classic envelope with triangular flap 6, other types of envelopes can of course also be used. These envelopes 5 are opaque and may for example be colored paper or have cutouts, especially at their flap, giving the envelope a whimsical character. The use of an envelope 5 contributes in any state of cause to send the recipient of the greeting card 1 to a notion of gift he must discover.
As illustrated by Figures 5 and 6 , the support 7 may be a gift card, for example a rigid card laminated, format "credit card". The formats of the greeting card 1 and the gift card 7 may of course vary; it is possible for example to make a greeting card 1 of larger size, in which is inserted a support 7 also a larger or smaller format.
In addition, other types of media than gift card type media can also be used.
In particular, in a variant not forming part of the claimed invention, the support 7 may be a ticket issued during the checkout, the gift code being printed on the support 7 when the greeting card 1 is purchased and the reading of the bar code 11 of the greeting card 1. The support 7 is then slipped later in the envelope 5 by the buyer.
On the Figures 5 and 6 , the gift card which constitutes the support 7 has on one of its faces ( figure 5 ) an area 12 on which is printed a gift code intended to allow the recipient of the greeting card 1 to access a product or service corresponding to the gift that is intended for him. This code is preferably printed on a black screen area to prevent the code is readable by transparency. It can take many forms, but is preferably in the form of a series of numbers and / or letters. Other embodiments are possible, including a bar code. The code can then be covered with a standard varnish layer such as a standard UV screen varnish, on which is superimposed a layer of a scratch ink or a peelable film for additional security.
Alternatively, the holder 7 is a magnetic card having a gift code covered with a scratch film or a peelable film. This magnetic card, in a variant not part of the claimed invention, can then be slid into a container (not shown) fixed, for example by gluing, on a package 15 (described in more detail below). Each magnetic card is here associated with a gift code, itself associated to a product. At the time of checkout, the magnetic gift card is extracted from the container and read by a suitable reader to activate the gift code, then placed in the container. The activation information of the gift card 7 is then sent by a computer system of the store to the computer system managing the product.
This container may for example be a case, a pouch or an envelope of the same type as the envelope 5 fixed on one of the inner faces of the greeting card 1.
When sending the greeting card 1 to its recipient, the sender, who is for example the buyer of the greeting card 1, can insert the holder 7 in the envelope 5. The envelope 5 is then preferably fixed on the face which is extended by the flap 6, so that its mouth is accessible directly to the purchaser for the insertion of the support 7.
The type of gift that can be obtained through the code can be of any kind, but is advantageously a downloadable content, for example a content of the type ringtone, wallpaper, game or animation for mobile phones or video, clip or music downloadable on a mobile phone or any other medium.
In the case of these examples, the patterns / representations 9 intended to be visible through the window 8 may include a succession of patterns that evoke on the one hand for some the type of content (ringing, etc.), and of on the other hand, as a result, for the others, the title and / or the main interpreter or interpreters to whom this content corresponds.
The instructions for use indicated in zone 2b of the inside face of shutter 3 can then be the following:

• 1) Open the envelope below and discover your access code,
• 2) Go to www.username.com (eg www.starbox.com) and enter your code in the dedicated space,
• 3) Discover your gift and download it free of charge.

Of course, these instructions are different in the case of non-downloadable content. For example, in the case of a physical gift (CD, book, etc.) or access to special services (hotels, beauty care, etc.), step 3) instructions may ask the recipient to provide information such as his contact information on the website.

• enlever l'emballage en cellophane 15,
• ajouter le cas échéant un message personnel en utilisant le (ou les) espace(s) prévu(s) à cet effet (espace 3b en l'occurrence),
• le cas échéant glisser le support 7 dans l'enveloppe 5 fixée à la face interne du volet 2,
• puis introduire l'ensemble dans l'enveloppe d'envoi qui lui est vendue avec la carte de voeux 1.

Lorsque le destinataire reçoit la carte de voeux 1, celle-ci est fermée et il ne voit pas initialement l'enveloppe 5, laquelle n'est pas apparente du fait des formats respectifs de la carte de voeux 1 et de l'enveloppe 5 fermée. Lorsqu'il ouvre la carte de voeux 1, il découvre l'enveloppe 5 qui symbolise son cadeau. Il peut ensuite accéder à celui-ci en suivant les instructions qui lui sont données dans la zone 2b.
Bien entendu, il peut être prévu que, si le cadeau ne lui convient pas, le code cadeau sur le support 7 lui permette d'accéder à d'autres types de cadeaux qu'il pourra choisir parmi toute gamme de produits ou services, dans la limite de la contrepartie monétaire à laquelle correspond la carte, les cadeaux étant a priori toujours échangeables.The support 7, which is for example a gift card, may also include a serial number printed on the same side (zone 13) and the corresponding bar code, this serial number and bar code for identification by the manufacturer and thus its traceability.
Such identification is done by means of a correspondence table, which makes it possible to connect the serial number / barcode with the support 7, the gift associated therewith, and the geographical distribution of the support 7, and also allowing improve the traceability of the product, since it makes it possible to know precisely the number of sales corresponding to each of the products, and this for each store distributing the cards 1 according to the invention. This information therefore improves responsiveness in the management of replenishments.
Such traceability has advantages in terms of market research, to determine which gifts are the most requested by geographical area, but also to allow for example to disable the codes corresponding to stolen cards or unsold items that would be destroyed or recycled.
In the case where the support 7 is a gift card, it can also carry or integrate an antitheft device such as an issuer label antitheft adhesive label 14 (EAS radio frequency 8.2 MHz). This type of antitheft device is for example fixed on the face of the gift card not having the code.
The assembly constituted by the greeting card 1, the envelope 5 and, if appropriate, the support 7 may be packaged in a cellophane packaging 15 ( figure 7 ), for example with OPP COEX material thickness 50 microns.
This cellophane packaging 15 covers, by one of its faces, the internal faces of the shutters 2 and 3, and by another of these faces the front and rear faces of these two shutters 2 and 3.
It comprises, on the side of one of the flaps, for example of the front flap 2, an opening, which is closed by means of an adhesive strip 16, for example an adhesive strip of 8 mm in width with an adhesive of very strong adhesion over the entire length of the opening, on which is folded a flap 17 of the package to close the opening. The strong adhesion of the adhesive makes it possible to reinforce the security, by making it difficult to open the cellophane packaging discreetly.
A self-adhesive label 18 - which carries, to the buyer, synthetic technical information on the contents of the set that is proposed to him - can be stuck on the cellophane packaging 15, for example in a corner of the card. wish 1, in the upper left of the front door 2, in the immediate vicinity of the fold 4.
This label 18 and glued on the cellophane packaging 15 and not directly on the greeting card 1 keeps the greeting card 1 intact, while the information on the label 18 will be removed at the same time as the packaging 15.
An envelope for the dispatch of the greeting card 1 can also be inserted with the greeting card 1 in the cellophane packaging 15; for example against the rear face of the shutter 3, so as not to hide the content of the greeting card 1.
Furthermore, in the cellophane packaging 15, a leaflet explaining in particular what the greeting card 1 and the technical constraints related to the download of the product offered, such as the need to have a 3G or WAP connection for games for mobile, as well as the exchange possibilities of the product offered, is inserted against the back side of the greeting card 1 shipping envelope, visible to the buyer.
When in shelving, the greeting card 1 is presented closed, so that a potential buyer can see the front page of said greeting card 1 and the graphic composition 2d which is printed on it and which is in connection with the theme of the gift. If he decides to stop a little on this greeting card 1, he then easily understands, thanks to the corner label 18, the technical content of the set that is proposed to him (greeting card, code support gift and type of downloadable content for example). He finally accesses more detailed precisions by stopping on the patterns / representations 9 visible through the window 8 and which evoke for example, in the case of a downloadable content, the type of content, and the title and / or the primary interpreter (s) to whom this content corresponds.
If he wants to go further, he can manipulate the greeting card 1 in its cellophane packaging 15 and check in particular how the inner faces of the shutters 2 and 3 are presented and are organized.
This manipulation could also be made by malicious people who would like to have access to the gift code.
In the case, forming part of the claimed invention, where the greeting card 1 is presented for sale with the support 7 in place in the envelope 5, the fact that said support 7 is placed in the envelope 5 prevents a easy access to it and therefore to the gift code. In addition to the fact that it should open the cellophane packaging 15, this malicious person should leave the support 7 of said casing 5, which is not an easy operation to achieve discreetly.
Moreover, in the case, forming part of the claimed invention, where the envelope 5 is fixed inside the greeting card 1 by its face opposite to that which is extended by the flap 6 intended to close the door. mouth of said envelope 5, it must also detach said envelope 5 of the greeting card 1 to access the support 7.
In addition, when the code is protected by scratch protection, this person must scratch the corresponding area and damage the support 7.
Finally, if the support 7 is a gift card protected by an antitheft device and in particular by an antitheft label 18, this ill-intentioned person will ring gates at the outlet of the store. It should be noted from this point of view that the use of an envelope 5 in which the gift card is received makes it possible to release the face of a gift card which is opposite to that bearing the identification code and which in the Prior art is generally used to glue the gift card inside the greeting card 1. This face can thus be used to stick a tag antitheft.
When, after having examined the whole of the greeting card 1 proposed to him, a person wishes to buy it to send it to a person with whom he wishes to mark an event, that person goes to the cashier where the support 7 is optionally activated, for example from the reading of a barcode on a label stuck on the cellophane package or the bar code 11 on the back of the flap 3.
In the case, not forming part of the claimed invention, where the support 7 is not already in place in the envelope 5, this support 7 (ticket format) is printed during the checkout, when the purchase of the greeting card 1, when the bar code 11 (for example a Gencode) of the greeting card 1 is scanned.
Alternatively, not being part of the claimed invention, the support 7 is a magnetic gift card which is read by a suitable reader and inserted into the envelope 5.
According to an embodiment not forming part of the claimed invention, the reading of the magnetic card causes the printing of a ticket, which will then be placed in the envelope 5.
To send the greeting card 1 and the support 7, the buyer only has

• remove the cellophane packaging 15,
• add a personal message if necessary using the space (s) provided for this purpose (space 3b in this case),
• if necessary slide the support 7 into the envelope 5 fixed to the inner face of the flap 2,
• then insert the whole into the envelope of sending which is sold to him with the greeting card 1.

When the recipient receives the greeting card 1, it is closed and he does not initially see the envelope 5, which is not apparent because of the respective formats of the greeting card 1 and the envelope 5 closed . When he opens the greeting card 1, he discovers the envelope 5 which symbolizes his gift. He can then access it by following the instructions given in zone 2b.
Of course, it can be expected that, if the gift does not suit him, the gift code on the support 7 allows him to access other types of gifts that he can choose from any range of products or services, in the limit of the monetary counterpart to which the card corresponds, the gifts being a priori always exchangeable.

Claims (12)

1. Unit comprising:

   - a greeting card (1) comprising a front panel (2) and a rear panel (3), and

   - a support (7) permitting access to a gift,

   said greeting card (1) also comprising means (5) for attaching the support (7) to the interior of said greeting card (1) in a detachable arrangement, said support (7) being of the type having a readable gift code on at least one of its faces intended to offer the recipient of the greeting card (1) access to at least one product and/or service, said means (5) comprising an envelope which is affixed to one of the interior faces of the greeting card (1) and which is designed to receive the support (7) carrying the gift code, said unit being characterised in that said envelope (5) has a flap (6) designed to close the opening of said envelope (5) and in that said envelope (5) is affixed to the interior of the greeting card (1) by means of a face opposite that which is extended by the flap (6).
2. Unit as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said envelope can be detached from the greeting card (1).
3. Unit as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an interior face of the front panel (2) of the greeting card (1) has a printed zone (2b) showing details as to how the recipient of the card (1) can use the associated gift code.
4. Unit as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the front panel (2) of the greeting card (1) has a window (8) overlapping a corresponding printed zone (3c) on an interior face of the rear panel (3) of said greeting card (1), this printed zone (3c) containing motifs or illustrations relating to the gift to which the greeting card (1) and associated gift code permit access, these motifs or illustrations being visible through the window (8) of the front panel (2) when the greeting card (1) is closed.
5. Unit as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the envelope (5) is affixed to an interior face of the front panel (2) in a zone (2a) specifically provided for this purpose in the bottom part of said panel (2), the window (8) in turn being in the top part of said panel (2).
6. Unit as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that a zone (2b) showing details as to how the recipient of the greeting card (1) can use the gift code is printed on the interior face of the front panel (2) between the window (8) of said panel (2) and the zone (2a) to which the envelope (5) is affixed, a zone (3b) on the interior face of the other panel (3) being reserved to enable the purchaser of the card (1) to write a personalised message for the person to whom the greeting card (1) is addressed.
7. Unit as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is presented for sale with the support (7) carrying the gift code in place in said envelope (5), said support (7) being a gift card.
8. Unit as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the gift card (7) bears an anti-theft label (14) on its face opposite that showing the readable gift code and has a serial number enabling it to be traced.
9. Unit as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said envelope (5) is affixed by means of a spot of adhesive.
10. Unit as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cover page of the greeting card (1) is printed with a graphic composition relating to the theme of the gift.
11. Unit as claimed in one of the preceding claims in combination with a cellophane packaging (15), characterised in that the greeting card (1) is packaged inside said cellophane packaging (15), one of the faces of which covers the interior faces of the panels (2, 3) of the greeting card (1) and the other face of which covers the front and rear faces of these panels (2, 3).
12. Unit as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that it further comprises a self-adhesive label showing technical information intended for the purchaser summarising the content of the unit offered to him, adhered to the cellophane packaging (15) in a corner of the greeting card (1) at the top left-hand side of the front panel in the immediate vicinity of the fold (4) between the two panels (2, 3) of the greeting card (1).

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