GB2410214A

GB2410214A - Three dimensional display devices and greetings cards with inserts.

Info

Publication number: GB2410214A
Application number: GB0501525A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Linda Baker-Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-01-26
Filing date: 2005-01-26
Publication date: 2005-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2025-01-26
Also published as: GB0501525D0; GB2410214B; GB0401608D0

Abstract

A display device or greetings card 10 has two flexible planar members (20, figure 1) and 60. These are provided in a flat pack with an envelope. The user adds a message to member 60. Upon receipt, the member 20 is rolled into a tube-like structure and secured by fastenings 30 on its edges (40,50 figure 1). These fastenings may be magnetic, hook and loop, tabs and slots, or adhesive strips. Member 60 is rolled to be inserted into the three dimensional structure formed by member 20, which may be transparent or semi-transparent, or have cut-outs so that member 60 may be viewed through it. Another card 10 is a flexible planar member with panels 80,90,100,110 connected along fold lines 120. By means of tabs 210 and fasteners 30, the card may be assembled to form a pyramid bearing a message box 140.

Description

A DISPLAY DEVICE AND GREETINGS CARD

The present invention relates generally to a display device and particularly to a display device having more than one function, for example as a container for a gift and/or a greetings card such as a card for birthdays, Valentines Day, Christmas, Weddings, anniversaries and the like. In particular, the present invention relates to a display device or combined display device and greetings card which can be provided in a flat configuration and may be assembled into a three dimensional structure.

One known display device of the general type to which the present invention relates is shown in British Patent Application No GB2241470A, which describes a three- dimensional greetings card made up from a cardboard blank into a container of rectangular box-like form open on one side to receive a gift such as a video cassette and having integral with one of its faces a flap extending therefrom capable of closing the open side of the container and of being folded over one face of the container so as to for m a package for the gift.

Other structures such as three dimensional cards are also known and typically take the form of a 'pop-up' construction in which a three dimensional structure appears at the 2 o inner crease of a booklet-type card on opening of the booklet, the three dimensional structure being secured to the inner face of the booklet.

Whilst these cards are attractive and popular, they are often expensive owing to the increased manufacturing costs when compared with the more typical booklet-type . . ...

: . . ': . . .. . . . . cards due to the complexity of their construction. In addition, the three dimensional structure, despite assuming a collapsed form when the card is in a closed configuration, is often bulky and prevents the card from lying flat and may therefore be difficult to fit in an envelope. In addition, the card may be heavier than a conventional card and therefore cost more to send by post.

Conventional cards also carry the disadvantage that they are typically received, displayed briefly, then either stored or discarded. This waste of natural resources is considered to be ecologically unfriendly, particularly due to the amount of tree felling carried out to provide the raw for manufacture within the greetings card industry.

The present invention seeks to address the problems of the prior art by providing an improved display device/greetings card which is not bulky during transit, may be assembled into a three dimensional configuration in use, and may find a use beyond the event for which the greeting card is given.

Other known such folded structures include those shown in GB Patent Application No 2268 11 HA which discloses a free-standing card having a pictorial design on three panels which, when slotted together create depth by making use of the three dimensional effect, and US Patent 5435787 which describes a novelty cube-shape container.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides a greetings card or display device comprising first and second flexible members, the first member having en . . - : : . - - : : . e .. . . . . an unassembled state in which it is substantially planar and an assembled state in which it forms a three dimensional shape, the first member providing means by which a display item, which may be the second member, may be mounted thereon or otherwise retained thereby for display.

in this way, a greetings card or display device is provided which has an unassembled substantially planar shape, thereby allowing it to be easily received within an envelope and, if desired, posted to a recipient. On receipt of the greetings card or display device, the recipient may then assemble it such that it assumes a three dimensional shape. A second member may be provided, which can be retained by or inserted within the three dimensional shape formed by the first member. The device is then ready for display.

It will be appreciated that the second member need not be the same size or shape as the first member, but need only be dimensioned so as to be insertable into the three dimensional shape formed by the first member.

Preferably, the first member is provided with fastening means arranged at an edge thereof and operable to hold the first member in the assembled state. Thus, the securing means allow a method by which the first member may be held in the assembled state during display of the greetings card. The fastening means may comprise a snap fit fastening, magnetic fastening means, adhesive fastening means, protruding tabs with or without corresponding slits within which to be received, or Velcro-type fastening means or any other suitable fastening means known to the . ...

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skilled person, or any combination of the aforementioned fastening means. In this way, depending on the material from which the first member is made, a suitable fasten) ng means may be selected of sufficient strength and/or aesthetic qual ity to hold the first member in an assembled state whilst remaining pleasing to the eye.

Preferably, at least a portion of the first member is semi-transparent. In this way a pleasing aesthetic quality is provided by the assembled greeting card as the second member, inserted in the three dimensional shape formed by the first member, may be at least partially visible from the outside of the assembled greetings cards.

Alternatively, at least a portion of the first member may be transparent. This will allow at least a portion of the inserted second member to be displayed through the first member when the greetings card is in its assembled state. This allows any pleasing aesthetic pattern, picture and/or message, whether printed or hand written, to be displayed on the outside of the greetings card when assembled, without necessarily requiring any ornament to be provided to the outside ofthe first member. However, it will be appreciated that a pattern may be provided on the first member, such that both the pattern on the first member and any design present on the portion of the second member visible through the first member are available to contribute to the aesthetic qualities of the greetings card and thereby be enjoyed by an observer.

In order that the first member is semi-transparent or transparent, it is preferred that at least a portion of the first member comprises any suitable semi-transparent or transparent material, such as acetate or any other suitable plastics material.

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: : . . . Alternatively, or in addition, the first member of the greetings card may have cut-out regions through which the surface of at least a portion of the second member may be visible when the greetings card is in its assembled state.

Where a cut-out or transparent portion is provided on the first member, the first member may comprise, at least in part, any suitable flexible material which may be semi-transparent, transparent or non-transparent, such as any suitable plastics material such as acetate and the like; thin metallic material such as thin tin, suitable flexible wood, such as thin ply or balsa wood, foiled paper and the like or any other suitable material known to the skilled person.

Preferably all or a portion of the second member comprises a paper or parchment material. The use of such material is both light weight, for the purposes of posting, and also provides an appropriate surface for a message to be hand written on the surface of the second member. In this way, the written message may be inserted into the three dimensional shape formed by the first member and be visible to an observer through the first member if located in correspondence with a semi-transparent or transparent or cut-out region of the first member.

2 0 Greetings cards according to the present invention are useful ways of presenting a message to celebrate an event as is the case with conventional greetings cards.

However, a greetings card according to the first aspect of the present invention provides an ornamental three dimensional object which is also aesthically pleasing and may be retained as a decorative objective well beyond the time ofthe event being . ...

. . 8 .. . . acknowledged by the greetings card. Furthermore the second member maybe removed and the greetings card displayed without a second member inserted in the three dimensional shape formed by the first member in the assembled state. This is particularly applicable in the case where the outer surface of the first member is provided with decoration or message which is displayed when the first member is in an assembled state. Alternatively the second member maybe removed and replaced with an alternative decorative second member to provide an alternative ornamental three dimensional structure for medium to long term display by a user. The second member may be replaced by any suitable substantially planar flexible member of the appropriate dimensions.

A second member used in the first aspect of the present invention may comprise a planar member with an integral slip pocket in which small substantially planar objects such as photographic images may be placed. Alternatively one or more suitable decorative objects may be placed within the slip pocket during manufacture.

When provided in planar form either or both ofthe first and second members may be provided with an additional tear-off strip providing instructions on how to assemble the greetings card for use by the recipient. On receipt of the greeting card the 2 0 recipient may detach the tear-off strip may from the first and/or second member on which is it provided and assemble the greetings card as described above. Thus instructions are readily available for use by the recipient without risk of the instructions becoming separated from the first and second members before reaching the recipient. Furthermore the detachable nature of the instructions ensures that the i''. .'. "' 22.' pleasing aesthetic qualities of the assembled greetings card are not compromised by the presence of instructions visible on the greetings card in the assembled state.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a greetings card or display device comprising a substantially flexible planar member having an unassembled state in which it is substantially planar and an assembled state in which it forms a three dimensional shape having means for retaining a display item.

In one embodiment, the planar member comprises three panels connected to one another along fold lines, such that in the assembled state, the device forms a hollow pyramid.

Alternatively, the flexible planar member may comprise at least four panels, each panel sectored to its adjacent panel along fold lines, such that the member has an unassembled state in which it is substantially planar and an assembled state in which opposing panels are separated spatially from one another so as to form a three dimensional shape.

The substantially planar member may further comprise a fifth and sixth panel, each of 2 0 the fifth and sixth panels being connected to one of the four panels along a fold line, such that in the assembled state, the fifth and sixth panels are folded so as to oppose one another and contact an edge of each of the four panels such that the three dimensional shape takes a form of a hollow rhombus. In one embodiment, each ofthe six panels of the hollow rhombus are equal in size.

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-' . i ' In this way, a three dimensional greetings card or display device is provided, the outer surface of the three dimensional greetings card being provided with aesthically pleasing decoration and, preferably, a message providing region on which a user may provide a message for the recipient of the greetings card. Alternatively or in addition, at least one panel of the greetings card may include a cut-out portion, a transparent portion and/or a foldable tab portion, the foldable tab portion being foldable relative to the panel on which it is formed such that the tab portion stands substantially perpendicular to the panel on which it is formed when the greetings card is in the assembled state. The tab portion may carry a pre-printed greeting or other suitable design or a portion on which the user may write or otherwise provide a message.

A detachable tear off strip containing instructions on how to assemble the greetings card may be provided on any of the planar members or may be provided on any panel surface which becomes an interior surface of the three dimensional greetings card when in the assembled state. In this way, instructions are provided which will not become separated from the greetings card before receipt by the user and which are either removable before assembly or not visible when the greetings card is in the assembled state, thus the aesthetic qualities of the assembled greetings card remain 2 o uncompromised.

In any of the above-mentioned embodiments one face of the flexible member may be provided at or adjacent the corners thereof with slots or mounts for receiving the corners of a display item such as a photograph or picture.

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The greetings card/display device may comprise, at least in part, any suitable flexible material which may be semi-transparent, transparent or non-transparent, such as any suitable plastics material such as acetate and the like; thin metallic material such as thin tin, suitable flexible wood, such as thin ply or balsa wood, foil and the like or any other suitable material known to the skilled person.

Embodiments of the present invention will now provided by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure l is a plan view of a first embodiment of a greetings card according to a first aspect of the present invention, in an unassembled state; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of figure l in an assembled state; Figure 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention in an unassembled state; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of figure 3 in an assembled state; Figure 5 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a greetings card according to a second aspect of the present invention in an unassembled state; 2 0 Figure 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of figure 5 in an assembled state; Figure 7 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a greetings card according to a second aspect of the present invention, in an unassembled state; Figure 7A shows a blank of the embodiment of figure 7; . * * . * * . :::: : :.

- Figure 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of figure 7 in a partially assembled state; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment of figures 7 and 8 in an assembled state and showing the means for receiving and retaining the corners of a display item.

Referring to figure 1, there is shown a plan view of a greetings card according to a first aspect of the present invention the greetings card 10 comprising a first member which is planar and comprises a flexible material such as paper, cardboard or transparent acrylic. The planar first member is provided with fastening means 30 along two opposing edges, located such that overlapping of edges 40 and 50 allows the fastening means 30 on edge 40 to make contact and connect with fastenings 30 on edge 50 of first member 20. A second member 60 is also provided, which may carry a decorative surface or message on one planar surface. Second member 60 is preferably made of a paper or parchment-type material, such that a message maybe handwritten on the material by a user.

In use, the greetings card will be provided in a flat pack, together with an 2 0 appropriately sized envelope. On purchase by a user, the user would write, print or provide a sticker on the surface of second member 60 to convey whatever message the user wishes to convey to the recipient of the greetings card 10. The first member 20 is then overlaid on the second member 60 and the two members 20, 60 packaged in the provided envelope and given or posted or otherwise conveyed to a recipient. On ::: : : :.

receipt of the packaged greetings card 10 by the recipient, the envelope is opened and the first member 20 and second member 60 removed from the envelope. The first member 20 is rolled into a tube-like three dimensional structure as shown in figure 2 (solid lines), such that fastenings 30 on edge 40 meet and engage with fastenings 30 on edge SO, thereby retaining the first member 20 in the three dimensional structure.

The fastenings shown in figures 1 and 2 are magnetic strips, although it will be appreciated that any other suitable fastenings may be used, such as snap-type fastenings, adhesive strips or tabs which fit with in slots, and the like. The second member 60 is then rolled in a similar manner so as to be inserted inside the three dimensional structure formed by second member 2O, with the surface of second member 60 which carries the decoration and/or message from the sender of the greetings card adjacent the surface of first member 20. In the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, the first member 20 is made of a transparent acetate material such that member 60 may be viewed through first member 20. Alternatively, the first member 20 may be semi-transparent, such that the colours of any decoration on the surface of second member 60 are viewable through first member 20, but not the specific details of the pattern, or alternatively fir st member 20 may be provided with cut-out portions such that corresponding portions on the surface second member 60 may be readily viewed through the cut- outs in first member 20. Alternatively, a combination of any 2 o of the aforementioned methods of viewing the surface of second member 60 through first member 20 may be used. The final structure, as shown in figure 2, is then displayed in an upright position (in the orientation shown in figure 2), thereby displaying the decoration and/or message in a three dimensional manner. It will be appreciated that the surface of first member 20 may also carry decoration, pattern :. :: a.. e. ..

:. :: :.e .. :e and/or printed or written message from the sender of the greetings card 10.

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a greetings card 10 according to a first aspect of the present invention, in which first member 20 is triangular hi shape and provided with snap-fit fastening means 30 and a cut-out portion 70. Second member 60 is also triangular in shape and carries a pattern as shown by parallel lines in figure 3.

Figure 4 shows the greetings card 10 of figure 3 in an assembled state, in which the three dimensional shape of the greetings card is a cone, with a portion of second member 60 being visible through the cut-out 70 in first member 20, first member 20 being held in a three dimensional form by means of snap-fit fastening means 30 on edge 40 meeting the corresponding snap-fit means provided on edge 50 of first member 20 being pressed together thereby holding edges 40 and 50 in alignment to provide the cone shape. The user's message may be provided on the portion of second member 60 which is available for viewing through the cut-out portion 70 of first member 20.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a greetings card according to a second aspect of the present invention, the greetings card comprising panels 80, 90, 100, 1 10 connected to one another along fold lines 120. Each outer panel 90, 100, 110, is provided with fastening means 30 along edges 40 and tabs 210, tabs 210 being connected to panels 90, 100, 110, by fold lines 130.

F igure 6 shows the embodiment of figure 5 in an assembled state, in which panels 90, ..e ë e e.

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.e e a ë - 100, 110 are folded about fold lines 120 into a pyramid configuration, with tabs 210 being bent about fold lines 130 and pushed under the edge of the adjacent panel so as to bring fastening means 30 provided on edge 40 of each panel 90, 100, 110 into contact with fastening means 30 provided on tabs 210. Connection of the corresponding fastening means serves to retain the greetings card 10 in its assembled configuration.

When provided to a user, the greetings card 10 will be in a substantially planar configuration, as shown in figure 5. The user will then provide a message on the outer l 0 surface of any one of panels 80, 90, 100, 1 10, before inserting the greetings card 10, in planar unassembled state, into an envelope for providing, posting or otherwise conveying the greetings card 10 to a recipient. On receipt of the greetings card 10 by a recipient, the recipient may remove the unassembled greetings card 10 from the envelope, and assemble as described above, in order to provide an assembled greeting card 10 as shown in figure 6. The assembled greeting card can then be displayed in three dimensional form. If desired, rather than a message being provided on any of panels 80, 90, 100, 1 1O, a message box 140 may be provided on the surface of one or more panels, in which a user may write a message to the recipient. The remaining panels may be provided with a decorative surface appropriate to the occasion being 2 0 acknowledged by the greetings card 10. Figure 7 shows a second embodiment of a greetings card 10 according to a second aspect of the present invention comprising a plurality of panels 150 to 200. Figure 7a shows a blank for illustration of the assembly of greetings card 10 shown in figure 7 into a three dimensional state. Panels and 180 are folded over panels 150 and 160, respectively, about fold line 120 and I. a - . * - a .

. e e . - tab 50 adjacent panel 180 folded about fold line 130 and secured to panel 150. The resulting substantially planar structure 10 shown in figure 7 will be provided to a user together with an appropriately sized envelope. The user would then provide a message to a recipient on an outer surface of any of panels 150 to 200 and the grcotings card 10 inserted into the envelop in an un-assembled form. On receipt of the greetings card, a user would remove the card from the envelope and assemble the greetings card 10 into a three dimensional structure as shown in figures 8 and 9.

Figure 8 shows the greetings card 10 of figure 7 in a partially assembled state, in 0 which panel 18() is raised into a position opposite panel 160, whereby panels 150 and assume opposing parallel positions to one another. Panels 190 and 200 are then raised into opposing positions relative to one another. All tabs 210 are folded about fold lines 130 and inserted under the edge of the adjacent panel, thereby securing the three dimensional shape in its assembled state. Although it is not necessary to provide any fastening means other than the tabs for insertion under the edges of adjacent panels, fastening means or adhesive may be provided on the tabs 210 so as to provide a more stable assembled structure. The final three dimensional greetings card/display device 10 may then be displayed in its three dimensional form with the message from the user being displayed on any one or more of the outer surfaces of panels 150 to 2 0 200.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, by way of example only, the panel 200 has four diagonal slots 220, one at each corner, for receiving and retaining the corners of a display item such as a photograph or a picture. In use the corners of the display item e e see e eta e e e c e me are each inserted into a respective slot 220 to be retained thereby. Figure 8 and 9 also show the panel 170 equipped with corner retainers or pockets 230 near each corner.

Such "photo-corners" are known as such in other contexts: they can be secured in place by adhesive and provide a more decorative, easier to use and more prominent mount for a display item, which need not necessarily be a photograph. Obviously the two different mounting arrangements on panels 170 and 200 have only been illustrated on the same display device for ease of representation and would in practice most probably be the same on every face of the display device provided with such mounts. The slots 220 have the advantage of economy and can be printed over and obscured if desired.

Although only illustrated in the embodiment of Figures 7 to 9 it should be understood that any embodiment of the invention can be provided with such corner slots or mounts.

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Claims

1. A greetings card or display device comprising first and second flexible members, the first member having an unassembled state in which it is substantially planar and an assembled state in which it forms a three dimensional shape, the first member providing means by which a display item, which may be the second member, may be mounted thereon or otherwise retained thereby for display

2. A greetings card or display device according to Claim l wherein the first member is provided with fastening means arranged at an edge region thereof and operable to hold the first member in the assembled state.

3. A greetings card or display device according to Claim l or Claim 2 wherein the fastening means comprises a snap-fit fastening means.

4. A greetings card or display device according to Claim l or Claim 2 wherein the fastening means comprises a magnetic fastening means.

5. A greetings card or display device according to Claim l or Claim 2 wherein the 2 0 t:astening means comprises an adhesive fastening means.

6. A greetings card or display device according to Claim l or Claim 2 wherein the fastening means comprises Ve]croRTM-type fastening means.

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7. A greetings card or display device according to any preceding Claim wherein in at least a portion of the first member is semi-transparent.

8. A greetings card or display device according to any preceding Claim wherein at least a portion of the first member is transparent.

9. A greetings card or display device according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the first member comprises a plastics material.

10. A greetings card or display device according to any preceding Claim wherein the first member has cut-out regions through which the second member is visible when the first and second members are in the assembled state.

11. A greetings card or display device according to any preceding Claim wherein at least a portion of the second member comprises a paper or parchment material.

12. A greetings card or display device comprising a substantially flexible planar member having an unassembled state in which it is substantially planar and an assembled state in which it forms a three dimensional shape.

13. A greetings card or display device according to Claim 12 in which the planar member comprises three panels connected to one another along fold lines, such that in the assembled state, the greetings card forms a hollow pyramid. Ö.

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14. A greetings card or display device according to Claim 12 wherein the flexible planar member comprises at least four panels, each panel secured to its adjacent panel along fold lines, such that the member has an unassembled state in which it is substantially planar and an assembled state in which opposing panels are separated spatially from one another so as to form a three dimensional shape.

15. A greetings card or display device according to Claim 13 wherein the substantially planar member further comprises a fifth and sixth panel, each ofthe fifth and sixth panels being connected to one of the four panels along a fold line such that in the assembled state, the fifth and sixth panels are folded so as to oppose one another and contact an edge of each of the four panels such that the three dimensional shape takes the form of a hollow rhombus.

16. A greetings card or display device according to any one of Claims 12 in which the planar member has an inner and an outer surface, the outer surface being provided with a panel on which to provide a message.

17. A greetings card or display device according to any one of Claims 12 to 16 wherein the planar member is provided with fastening means arranged at an edge 2 0 region thereof and operable to hold the planar member in the assembled state.

18. A greetings card or display device according to any preceding Claim, in which at least one panel is provided with means for retaining the corner ol a laminar display item.

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l9. A greetings card or display device according to Claim 18, in which the corner retention means comprise slots or incisions formed in the vicinity ofthe corners ofthe panels.

20. A greetings card or display device as claimed in Claim 18, in which the corner retention means comprise pockets affixed to the panel in the vicinity of the corners thereof.

21. A greetings card or display device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, figures I to 4.

22. A greetings card or display device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, figures 5 to 9.

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