GB2361468A - Greetings card with a pocket for an item - Google Patents

Abstract

A greetings card (1) comprises a cover panel (6), and a pocket (8) for receiving and holding an information storage medium (4) such as a CD casing. The cover panel (6) is hinged (18) to the pocket (8) so that the card (1) may be opened and closed. The pocket has a first panel (12) and a second panel (13), the first panel (12) and second panel (13) being parallel to each other. The first panel (12) is nearer the cover panel (6) than the second panel (13) when the card is closed. The card (1) has at least two webs (14,15) that extend transverse to the first panel (12) and the second panel (13) and that hold the first panel (12) and the second panel (13) spaced apart to present an opening (9) to the pocket (8) for receiving the information storage medium (4). Tabs cut in the second panel (13) may be folded inwardly to locate the contents.

Description

2361468 Greetings Card The present invention relates to a greetings card.

Greetings cards come in many f orms. Usually a greetings card is formed from card-like material, for example paper having a weight of 150 g to 300 g per square metre. Cards are cut from sheets of such material, and are most commonly folded along one or more lines into a square or rectangular shape. Greetings cards often have a decorative front cover, with a pre-printed message and blank space inside on which a person may write a short message. The typical dimensions of such greetings cards are between 50 nun and about 200 nm in width or height, and about 1 mm in thickness when folded shut.

Greetings cards are often presented with a gift or present. Often the greetings card will be inside an envelope, and gift wrapped in decorative gift-wrap paper, for example so that a recipient of the greetings card and the gift can open the card and gif t as a surprise on a special occasion.

The cost of the greetings card and wrapping paper is substantial compared with many common gifts. It is also generally necessary to purchase the gift, wrapping paper, and greetings cards as separate items, and take these home after shopping to wrap the present properly, and possibly affix the card to the gift-wrapped present. Further expense and effort may be needed to package the gift and card for mailing to the recipient.

Once the recipient has the gift and greetings card, a problem arises in keeping the card and gift together. If the gift is large, the card may simply be stuck to the 2575A1 20 Aprii 2000 gif t wrap paper, so that the recipient can open the card prior to opening the gift. If the card and gift become separate, however, then the recipient may be unsure of the identity of the giver. This is a particular problem for smaller sized gifts, where the card may not be as securely attached to the gift.

One way to overcome this problem is to use smaller gift tags. These are formed from similar materials to a conventional greetings card, but are usually less than 50 mm in width or height, and often have no folds with one decorative side and one opposite blank side on which a message may be written. The recipient after opening the gift may then dispose of the gift tag along with the wrapping paper, and keep or display the greetings card.

The use of gift tags, however, entails more expense and effort on the part of the person giving the present.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a more convenient greetings card, particularly when the greetings card is to be combined with an information storage medium.

Accordingly, the invention provides a greetings card, comprising a cover panel, and a pocket for receiving and holding an information storage medium, the cover panel being hinged to the pocket so that the card may be opened and closed, the pocket having a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and second panel being parallel to each other and the first panel being nearer the cover panel than the second panel when the card is closed, wherein the card has at least two webs that extend transverse to the first panel and the second panel and that hold the first panel and the second panel spaced apart to present an opening to the pocket for receiving 25'75Al 20 April 2000 3 the information storage medium.

Also according to the invention, there is provided a greetings card with an information storage medium, in which the greetings card comprises a cover panel, and a pocket with an opening that receives and holds an information storage medium, the cover panel being hinged to the pocket so that the card may be opened and closed, the pocket having a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and second panel being parallel to each other and the first panel being nearer the cover panel than the second panel. when the card is closed, wherein the card has at least two webs that extend transverse to the first panel and the second panel and that hold the first panel and the second panel spaced apart to present the opening to the pocket.

The invention is particularly useful when the greetings card has a pocket for receiving and holding a cartridged or encased audio and/or video data storage medium. A person may then go to an audio/video outlet and buy a gift such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), minidisc (MD), compact cassette, digital audio tape (DAT) or VHS video tape or other such information storage media.

For example, if the greetings card is f or holding a standard encased CD, the card may have a rectangular opening with clearance f or a standard CD case having a thickness of 10 mm, and a width of 142 mm. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pocket then has a depth of at least about 125 mm so that the CD case can be fully inserted within the pocket.

Preferably, the cartridge/casing is recessed from any exposed openings to the pocket when held in the casing.

The greetings card can then help protect the cartridged or 2S75A1 20 April 2000 4 cased information storage medium.

In one embodiment of the invention, the pocket has a cut out at the opening to the pocket by which a person may grip the cartridge/casing when removing the cartridge /casing from the pocket.

Preferably, the webs are continuous and extend fully along both the first panel and the second panel. This provides a maximum of support to keep the first panel and the second panel spaced apart.

The cover panel may be a f ront panel of the card, and may therefore be printed with a design or appropriate greeting.

Usually, the cover panel will be hinged to the pocket along an edge of the cover panel. It is possible, however, for the cover panel to be hinged elsewhere, for example along a centre line of the cover panel.

There may also be more than one such cover panel, for example two cover panels which are hinged at or near opposite edges of the pocket.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover panel is hinged to the pocket by a side flap, which is preferably also a continuous side panel. The side flap itself may then be attached to the pocket along an edge of the second panel.

In order to help retain the information storage medium in the pocket, it is helpful if at least one of the first panel and the second panel has at least one tab that extends from a corresponding one of said panels transverse 257SAI 20 April 2000 to the first panel and the second panel into the pocket at an end to the pocket opposite the opening to the pocket.

The tab need not be a separate component affixed to the pocket. For example, the or each tab may be integral with its corresponding panel, and formed from a portion cut from the panel folded inwards into the pocket.

Also according to the invention, there is provided a 10 unitary elongate strip of card-like material for forming a greetings card with a rectangular or square cross-section pocket for receiving and holding an information storage medium and having a cover panel hinged to the pocket, wherein the card has at least five parallel fold lines transverse to the length of the strip, including a set of four adjacent fold lines for forming the pocket, and at least one additional fold line for separating the pocket from the cover panel.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are two additional parallel fold lines for separating the pocket from the cover panel.

In order to help retain the information storage medium in the pocket, there are preferably between two adjacent parallel fold lines for forming the pocket, at least one cut in the card-like material for forming tabs that may be pushed inside the pocket so that the pocket has just one opening thereto.

Such an elongate unitary strip may then be used to form a greetings card according to the invention.

Also according to the invention, there is provided a 35 method of forming a greetings card for holding an 257SAl 20 April 2000 6 information storage medium from a sheet of card-like material, comprising the steps of:

i) cutting from the card-like material an elongate strip 5 of the material; ii) folding the strip of card-like material along four adjacent parallel lines and then affixing the card-like material to itself to form a pocket with an opening for receiving and holding the information storage medium; and iii) folding the strip along an additional line parallel to the other lines to separate a cover panel from the pocket.

The card may be affixed to itself by any suitable means, for example by glue or by tabs and slots that engage with each other.

The method may comprise additionally the steps of:

iv) cutting the strip to form at least one tab from the card-like material between two adjacent fold lines for forming the pocket; and V) f olding the or each tab inwards into the pocket at an end of the pocket opposite the opening to the pocket.

It is particularly advantageous if the or each tab is folded out of the card-like material into the pocket in a direction away from the opening to the pocket. The fold then presents greater resistance to the further insertion of the information storage medium. This is because the tab, if folded further back on itself, will come up against the f irst of the second panel, in an area of the 2575A1 20 April 2000 7 panel away from the aperture. This creates resistance between the tab and information storage medium, for example the outer casing of a CD, f rom, to the restriction in the pocket owing to the reduction in the width of the pocket f rom the tab as it comes up against the inner surf ace of the pocket away f rom the aperture in the f irst panel or the second panel.

The invention will now be further described by way of 10 example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a greetings card according to a first embodiment of the invention, for 15 holding an information storage medium, here a CD in a standard casing; Figure 2 is a perspective -view of a greetings card according to a second embodiment of the invention; 20 Figure 3 is a plan view of a rear side of the greetings card of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the greetings 25 card of Figure 3, taken along line IV-IV; Figure 5 is a view of an elongate strip of card-like material for forming the greetings card of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a view of an elongate strip of card-like material for forming the greetings card of Figure 2.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of 35 greetings card 1 for holding an information storage 2575A1 20 April 2000 medium, here a 120 mm diameter CD 2 in a standard case 4.

The greetings card is formed from thin card-like material, for example paper card, or plastic sheet, and has a cover panel 6, here a f ront cover, hinged to a pocket 8 with one rectangular opening 9 into which the CD casing 4 may be inserted 10. The pocket has sufficient clearance for the CD casing 4 such that the CD casing 4 can be easily inserted by hand, but once inside the pocket is preferably retained by surface friction with interior surfaces of the pocket 8.

The pocket has four essentially fully enclosed sides, namely a f ront panel 12, a back panel 13, a lef t side web 14, and a right side web 15. The f ront panel and back panel are nearly square, and are held parallel and opposite to one another with by the pair of narrow elongate side webs 14,15. Each of the side webs 14,15 extends perpendicularly from opposite edges of the front and back panel 12,13. As will be explained below, the end of the pocket 16 opposite the opening 9 is partially open.

As can be seen f rom Figure 1, the cover panel 6 is hinged at a fold line 17 in the card-like material along the junction between the left side web 14 and the back panel 13 by another web 18, referred to herein as a "side flap". Another fold line 65 between the side flap 18 and the left hand edge of the cover panel allows the cover panel 6 to rotate 20 between a fully open position (as shown in solid outline) through a partially closed position (as shown in dashed outline) towards a fully closed position in which the side flap 18 and the cover panel 6 conform respectively to the left hand side web 14 and the front panel 12 of the pocket 8.

2575A1 20 April 2000 The side flap 18 is therefore transverse to the front panel 12 and the rear panel 13 when the card 1 is closed, and the left side flap 14 rotates to be essentially coplanar with rear panel 13 when the card 1 is opened.

A narrow rectangular tongue 11 extends from the side flap 14 and is glued to the inner surf ace of the rear panel 13 inside the pocket S. The tongue has an upper edge 7 which tapers inwards into the pocket away from the side flap 14 to lessen the chance that the CD casing 4 will stick on the tongue upper edge as the CD casing is inserted into the pocket 8.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a greetings card 101, in which features similar to those of the first embodiment 1 are given reference numerals similar to those of Figure 1 incremented by 100. The card 101 differs from the f irst embodiment in two respects. First, the cover panel 106 is formed from a double thickness of the card- like material. As with the first embodiment, the cover panel is rotatably attached to the side flap 118 along one edge, here the left hand edge, of the cover panel 106 at a fold line 165. However, the opposite edge of the cover panel 106, here the right hand edge, is defined by another 2S fold line 66, at which the cover panel 106 doubles back on itself towards the fold line 165 between the cover panel and the side flap 118. The cover panel 106 therefore comprises an outer cover panel 22 and an inner cover panel 23.

The outer cover panel 22 and the inner cover panel 23 may be provided with aligning apertures 24,25 as shown in Figure 2. This allows a card-like insert (not shown) larger than the apertures to be placed between the outer cover panel 22 and the inner cover panel 23, which can 25_?5Al 20 April 2000 then be glued together to hold the insert in place, Such an insert may be decorative or present an appropriate greeting. Different inserts may be used to create different types of greetings card. This is particularly advantageous because different types of card can then easily be produced from a uniform type of blank card.

The second difference with the first embodiment is a semicircular cut out 26 in the rear panel 113, which is finger-sized to facilitate removal of the CD case 4 from the pocket 108.

Figures 3 and 4 show two further views of the greetings card 1 of Figure 1, particularly the rear panel 13, which is has near the bottom edge of the pocket 8 at least one tab 28, and preferably a pair of laterally spaced apart similar tongue-like tabs 28. Each of the tabs 28 is formed f rom the material of the rear panel 13. The rear panel has a corresponding pair of semi-circular cuts 29. Once the card-like material of the rear panel 12 is cut, the rear panel 13 is folded along fold lines 30 extending between the ends of the semi-circular cuts 29. The tabs 28 extend perpendicular to the rear panel 13 most of the way across the pocket 8 towards the opposite front panel 12. Each tab 28 is attached only to the panel 13 from which it was formed. A pair of corresponding semi-circular apertures 31 is left in the rear panel 13.

When a CD casing 4 is inserted into the pocket 8, the end 19 of the casing comes up against the tabs 28. Because the tabs 28 are folded inwards into the pocket in the same direction as that in which the CD casing 4 is to be inserted, the tab resists further insertion of the CD casing 4. Owing to the close fit between the inner walls of the pocket 8 and the CD casing 4, friction between the 2575AI 20 April 2000 CD casing 4 and walls of the pocket 8 increases sharply if the tab is forced to double back against the rear panel 13.

As can be seen from Figure 4, once the CD casing 4 is fully inserted into the pocket 8, empty spaces 32,33 extend within the pocket both above and below the CD casing. This helps prevent damage to the CD casing 4, in the event that the greetings card I holding the CD casing is dropped or otherwise mishandled.

The empty spaces 32,33 and dimensions of the pocket 8 are such, however, that a person may insert a finger into the lower empty space 33 to push the CD casing 4 upwards, or insert a pair of f ingers into the upper empty space 32 to grip the CD casing 4, so that the CD casing can readily be pulled from the pocket 8.

As can be seen f rom Figures 5 and 6, each of the embodiments 1,101 of the greetings card is formed from a unitary strip 50,150 of card-like material. In the present example, the material is paper having a weight of 150 g to 300 g per square metre.

The strips 50,150 are punched from a larger sheet of paper (not shown), which at the same time also punches the cuts 29,129 for the tabs 28,128, and in the case of the second embodiment 101, also the apertures 24,25 in the cover panel 106 and the semicircular cut out 26 in the rear panel 113.

At the same time as the unitary strips 50,150 are punched f rom a sheet of paper, the punch impresses in each of the cut strips 50, 150 a set of parallel, narrow indentations for forming fold lines 60-65;160-165,66. These fold lines 257SAl 20 April 2000 - 12 separate each adjacent panel 6,12,13,106;22,24,112,113, web 14, 15, 18; 114, 115, 118 or tongue 11, 111.

Each embodiment of the greetings card 1,101 is then formed from the corresponding unitary strip 50,150 by folding along the fold lines 60-65;160-165,66 until the pocket 8,108 is formed and the tongue 11,111 is in contact with inner surface of the rear panel 13,113. A conventional paper glue can then be used to af f ix the tongue 11, 111 to the rear panel 13, 113 to retain the shape of the pocket 8,108.

In the case of the second embodiment 101, the inner cover panel 13 is folded back on the outer cover panel, optionally with any insert aligned in the apertures 24,25, and then also glued in place with a suitable paper adhesive. The side flap 18,118 and cover panel 6,106 is then folded around respectively the left side web 14,114 and the front panel 112 to complete the greetings card 1,101.

A significant feature of the preferred embodiments of the invention is the fact that when the greetings card is laid flat and fully open on a supporting surface (not shown), the cover panel 6,106 and side flap 18,118 are also fully flat on the surface. This minimises the possibility of undue stress being placed on the hinge, particularly the fold line 64,164 between the side flap and left side web 14,114. In addition, because the tongue 11,111 is affixed to the rear panel 13,113 near the hinge and this fold line 64,164, this portion of the card is effectively reinforced to withstand the stresses that may be placed on the side flap 18,118 and adjacent fold lines 64,65;164,165.

The greetings card 1,101 may be sold in shops alongside 2575AI April 2000 matching information storage media. When these media are bought as a gif t, the purchaser may choose to buy the greetings card 1, 101 as well, so that he or she may give the card and information storage medium as a single gift.

Suitable sized padded envelopes (not shown) may also be sold at the same time, so that the greetings card can be mailed or otherwise conveyed safely to the recipient.

The construction of each of the preferred embodiments of the greetings cards also permits the pockets to be collapsed so that that cards can be pressed flat. This allows the volume occupied by the cards prior to insertion of the information storage medium to be minimised, which is particularly convenient when the empty greetings cards are stored, packed or shipped in bulk.

There is no need for any separate gift tag, and because the information storage medium is effectively packaged or wrapped by the greetings card, the purchaser saves time and money. Such a greetings card is also convenient for the recipient, as there is no waste paper to dispose of, and the recipient can keep or display the greetings card once the information storage medium has been removed from the card. The greetings card according to the invention therefore provides an economical and convenient way to give or send a matching information storage medium to a recipient.

2575AI 20 April 2000

Claims (1)

1. Claims

   1. A greetings card, comprising a cover panel, and a pocket for receiving and holding an information storage medium, the cover panel being hinged to the pocket so that the card may be opened and closed, the pocket having a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and second panel being parallel to each other and the first panel being nearer the cover panel than the second panel when the card is closed, wherein the card has at least two webs that extend transverse to the first panel and the second panel and that hold the first panel and the second panel spaced apart to present an opening to the pocket for receiving the information storage medium.

   2. A greetings card as claimed in Claim 1, in which the webs are continuous and extend fully along both the first panel and the second panel.

   3. A greetings card as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the webs extend at right angles to the first panel and the second panel.

   4. A greetings card as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cover panel is a front panel of the card.

   S. A greetings card as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cover panel is hinged to the pocket along an edge of the cover panel.

   2575A1 02 7anuary 2001 6. A greetings card as claimed in Claim 5, comprising a side flap, the cover panel being hinged to the pocket by the side flap.

   7. A greetings card as claimed in Claim 6, in which the side flap is a continuous side panel.

   8. A greetings card as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which the side f lap is attached to the pocket along an edge of the second panel.

   9. A greetings card as claimed in Claim 8, in which the side flap is transverse to the first panel and the second panel when the card is closed, and the side flap rotates is to be essentially co-planar with second panel when the card is opened.

   10. A greetings card as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which the side flap and the cover panel conform respectively to one of the webs and to the f irst panel when the card is closed.

   11. A greetings card as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least one of the f irst panel and the second panel has at least one tab that extends f rom a corresponding one of said panels transverse to the first panel and the second panel into the pocket at an end to the pocket opposite the opening to the pocket.

   12. A greetings card as claimed in Claim 11, in which the 257SAl 02 january 2001 IAV or each tab is integral with its corresponding panel, being formed from a portion cut from said panel folded inwards into the pocket.

   13. A greetings card as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12, in which the tab is attached only to its corresponding panel.

   14. A greetings card as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the card is formed from a unitary strip of card-like material.

   15. A greetings card with an information storage medium, in which the greetings card is as claimed in any preceding is claim, and the pocket receives and holds the information storage medium.

   16. A greetings card with an information storage medium as claimed in Claim 15, in which the information storage medium includes a cartridge/casing, the pocket being dimensioned so as to receive and hold the cartridge/casing.

   17. A greetings card with an information storage medium as claimed in Claim 16, in which the cartridge/ casing is recessed from any exposed openings to the pocket when held in the casing.

   18. A greetings card with an information storage medium as claimed in Claim 16 or Claim 17, in which the pocket 2575A1 02 January 2001 0 has a cut out at the opening to the pocket by which a person may grip the cartridge/casing when removing the cartridge/casing from the pocket.

   19. A greetings card with an information storage medium as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 18, in which the cartridge/casing encloses an audio and/or video data storage medium.

   20. A unitary elongate strip of card-like material for forming a greetings card with a rectangular or square cross-section pocket for receiving and holding an information storage medium and having a cover panel hinged to the pocket, wherein the card has at least five parallel fold lines transverse to the length of the strip, including a set of four adjacent fold lines for forming the pocket, and at least one additional fold line for separating the pocket from the cover panel.

   21. A unitary elongate strip as claimed in Claim 20 having two additional parallel fold lines for separating the pocket from the cover panel.

   22. A unitary elongate strip as claimed in Claim 20 or Claim 21, in which there is between two adjacent parallel fold lines for forming the pocket at least one cut in the card-like material for forming tabs that may be pushed inside the pocket so that the pocket has just one opening thereto.

   2575AI 02 January 2001 23. A unitary elongate strip as claimed in any of Claims 20 to 22, for forming a greetings card as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 19.

   24. A method of forming a greetings card for holding an information storage medium from a sheet of card-like material, comprising the steps of:

   i) cutting from the card-like material an elongate strip of the material; ii) folding the strip of card-like material along four adjacent parallel lines and then affixing the card-like material to itself to form a pocket with an opening for is receiving and holding the information storage medium; and iii) folding the strip along an additional line parallel to the other lines to separate a cover panel from the pocket.

   25. A method as claimed in Claim 24, comprising additionally the steps of:

   iv) cutting the strip to form at least one tab from the card-like material between two adjacent fold lines for forming the pocket; and V) f olding the or each tab inwards into the pocket at an end of the pocket opposite the opening to the pocket.

   2S75A1 02 january 2001 z' L v C-1 26. A method as claimed in Claim 25, in which is step v) the or each tab is folded out of the card-like material into the pocket in a direction away from the opening to the pocket.

   27. A greetings card substantially as herein described, with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

   28. A greetings card with an information storage medium substantially as herein described, with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

   29. A unitary elongate strip of card-like material for forming a greetings card substantially as herein described, with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

   30. A method of forming a greetings card substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

   2575A1 02 january 2001