GB2276095A

GB2276095A - Novelty devices

Info

Publication number: GB2276095A
Application number: GB9407997A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Stephen Ratcliffe
Original assignee: Fine Art Developments PLC
Current assignee: Fine Art Developments PLC
Priority date: 1991-02-02
Filing date: 1994-04-21
Publication date: 1994-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 2012-01-31
Also published as: GB2250926A; GB2276095B; GB9202097D0; GB2250926B; GB9407997D0

Description

2276095 NOVELTY DEVICES This invention relates to novelty devices.

According to the invention, there is provided a novelty device having a substantially flat first surface, the device including a first part fixed so as to be disposed at or adjacent the first surface, the first part being moveable relative to said first surface, the device further including sound producing means arranged to produce a sound when the first part is moved relative to the first surface.

The first part may be fixed adjacent printed matter on the first surface. The printed matter may define, with the first part, an object, for example, a cracker. The device may include a second part fixed so as to be disposed at or adjacent to the first surface, and the first part may be connected to the second part.

Preferably, the first part is arranged to slide relative to said first surface or second part. Said sound producing means may be as described in any of the preceding statements. Said second part may be directly fixed to said surface. Said first part is suitably disposed adjacent said second part. Said first part suitably fits through a slot and is preferably attached to one end of said sound producing means. Said sound producing means is suitably fixed, at its other end, to a second surface, opposite said first surface.

The sound producing means for producing a sound is suitably arranged to produce a sharp sound. said means may comprise a percussion cap. Suitably, said means comprises two thin strips which are joined together and a percussion cap arranged so that when said strips are urged apart, said percussion cap produces a sharp sound. Said means suitably comprise a member known as a "snapH.

Said first part may be arranged to reveal matter otherwise hidden, when it is moved relative to said second part. For example, when the first part is moved a motto may be revealed. Alternatively or additionally, the novelty device may further comprise matter, for example, a motto, which is initially hidden, user-operable means being provided for revealing the hidden matter. Said user-operable means may include a perforated window.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a novelty device comprises a first part moveable relative to a second part with movement of the first part relative to the second part being arranged to cause sound producing means to produce a sound and to reveal a previously concealed information bearing portion previously concealed by one of the parts. At least one and preferably both of the parts are substantially flat.

Said aforementioned novelty devices may include a greetings card. Preferably, where provided, the first surface, the first part and the second part are disposed substantially in the same plane.

specific embodiments of the invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figures la and 1b are side elevations of a novelty device; Figures 2a and 2b are side elevations of a further novelty device similar to the Figure 1 embodiment; and Figure 3 is a plan view of a snap. 5 A novelty device 80, shown in Figure 1, is in the form of a greetings card having leaves 90, 92 and 93. Leaf 92 has a front face 81 (Figure la). The dashed lines in Figure 1b represent fold lines of the card.

Referring to Figure la, a representation of a cracker 83 is shown. This cracker is in two parts. A first part 84 comprises a piece of card stuck on the front face. A second part 85, forms one end of the cracker. It is made out of card and is arranged to be pulled away from part 84 in a longitudinal direction relative thereto. The part 85 f its through a slot 88 in leaf 92 and is attached to a snap 86 fixed to the rear face 81 (Figure 1b) by means of adhesive tape 87 so that when the part 85 is pulled the "snap" is actuated to give a sharp sound.

The "snap" 86, shown in Figure 3, is made of thin card and comprises an explosive material in region 11. Parts 12, 13 of the snap 10 may be pulled apart, whereupon the explosive material emits a sharp sound.

A motto 89 is printed on the rear face 81. The leaf 90 of the greetings card includes a perforated rectangular panel 91.

The greetings card may be assembled by inserting part 85 through slot 88, f ixing part 85 to snap 86 and securing the snap in position by means of tape 87. Then leaf 90 is folded over face 81 of leaf 92 and glued in this position.

- 4 Thus, leaves 90 and 92 appear to be a single component which defines the greetings card along with leaf 83.

In use, the part 85 may be pulled by a recipient of the device 80 to produce a sharp sound. The motto may be revealed by removing panel 91.

In another embodiment shown in Figures 2a and 2b, a novelty device 150 is in the form of a greetings card as described above. In this case, however, a rectangular slot 151 is provided in a leaf 152. The slot 151 is arranged such that a motto provided on one side of leaf 153 fits therewithin when leaves 152, 153 are stuck to one another. A front side 154 of leaf 152 includes a is cardboard cracker first part 155 which is stuck over the slot 151 so as to provide an open end slot 158. The part has a cut-out portion 156 of the same size as and, in use, superimposed upon slot 151. A cardboard, cracker second part 157 fits into open end slot 158 and is longitudinally slidable relative to part 155. The part 157 is thereby longitudinally slidable relative to part 155. The part 157 is attached to a snap 159 which is secured to side 160 of leaf 152.

In use, the part 157 is pulled in the direction of arrow 161, the snap 159 produces a sharp sound and the motto is revealed within the cut out portion 156.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification or the corresponding parent specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

6

Claims

1. A novelty device having a substantially f lat f irst surface, the device including a first part fixed so as to be disposed at or adjacent the first surface, and being slidable relative to said first surface, the device further including a percussive sound producing means arranged to produce a percussive sound when the first part is moved relative to the first surface.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein a main plane of said f irst part is arranged to slide in a direction which is substantially parallel to the main plane of said first surface.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said percussive sound producing means includes a strip which is concealed in the device, at least in part, by said first surface.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said f irst part is f ixed directly to a part of said percussive sound producing means.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein an opening is provided in said f irst surface through which opening said first part extends.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said f irst surf ace is a surf ace of a f irst leaf of a greetings card.

7. A device according to Claim 6, wherein said f irst leaf is pivotable about a fold line relative to a second leaf.

8. A device according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein said percussive sound producing means is fixed to a second surface of said first leaf.

9. A device according to Claim 8, wherein a surface of a third leaf of said novelty device overlies said second surface and is secured thereto.

10. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein movement of said first part relative to the first surface is arranged to cause both the percussive sound producing means to produce a percussive sound and the revealment of a previously concealed information bearing portion.

11. A device according to Claim 10, wherein, when the information bearing portion is concealed, it is concealed by said first part.

12. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the first part is fixed adjacent printed matter on the first surface.

13. A novelty device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.