GB2466197A

GB2466197A - Stationery item with kissing area

Info

Publication number: GB2466197A
Application number: GB0822463A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sally Chesters; Nigel Chesters
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-10
Filing date: 2008-12-10
Publication date: 2010-06-16
Also published as: GB0822463D0

Abstract

An item of stationery, especially a greetings card or envelope, has an area 14 specifically designated to be kissed by a person so as to produce an imprint of the person's lips. The item of stationery can have a removable and discardable cellophane sleeve provided with instructions or an indication of where to kiss. The kissing area may be on the front face or the inside of the card. The kissing area may be perforated and detachable from the card; manufactured of an anti-bacterial or bacteriostatic material and may be covered by a peel away sticker 16 which sticker may include text-based or graphic- based instructions instructing the sender of the card to kiss the kissing area.

Description

Items of Stationery This invention relates to items of stationery and more particularly, it relates to greetings cards or envelopes.

Greetings cards are typically sent in an envelope to a recipient and used to convey a greeting message to the recipient(s) of the greetings card. They commonly comprise a two-dimensional surface displaying a fixed image.

It is also known to use a greetings card to convey a gift to the recipient of the greetings card. For example, a greetings card may enclose or include a monetary gift or small keepsake.

Typically greetings cards are visual and require no further interaction by a sender and/or the recipient.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an item of stationery comprising a kissing area specifically designated to be kissed by a person so as to produce an imprint of the person's lips.

Embodiments of the invention therefore invite a person to incorporate an imprint of their lips on the item of stationery, and thus send their own kiss to the recipient. While it is possible for anyone to kiss a conventional greetings card or envelope, or indeed any item of stationery, that is at the discretion of the sender of an item which is not specifically designed or adapted for such a purpose.

The item of stationery may have a removable portion indicating the position of the kissing area. For example, a transparent cellophane sleeve, with instructions or an indication of where to kiss, may be provided which encloses at least one page of the item of stationery, wherein the cellophane sleeve is adapted to be slipped off the item of stationery and discarded.

An embodiment of the invention may have, on one of its sides or pages, or on an additional attachment, an identified area where the sender is instructed or prompted to place their lips so as to create an imprint of their lips. This area need not contain any words or imagery, but instead may bear an indication by way of a separate adhesive, peel away sticker or similar device which indicates where the lip imprint should be made on the card.

It may be made clear to the sender of the item of stationery, by means of a sticker or separate instruction sheet, where the lip imprint is to be produced and how this may be achieved.

An example of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view of the inside of a first embodiment; and Figure 2 is a view of the outside of a second embodiment.

Referring first to Figure 1 there is shown a first embodiment of a greetings card 1 including on one inside surface 2 (the facing surface when the card is opened) a kissing area 4 specifically designating an area of the inside surface 2 to be kissed by a person so as to produce an imprint of the person's lips. The kissing area 4 is detachable from the greetings card 1. The means of detachment comprises a perforated edge 6 around the kissing area 4 enabling the kissing area 4 to be pushed out through the card. A greeting message, in this instance "Happy Valentine's Day", is also included on the inside surface 2.

For improved hygiene, the kissing area 4 may be covered in an anti-bacterial substance (not visible in Figure 1).

The kissing area 4 may comprise a moisture absorbent or moisture repellent material which causes an imprint of the person's lips to be made in the kissing area 4 without the person needing to have lipstick or lip-gloss on their lips before kissing the kissing area 4.

Referring now to Figure 2, another embodiment of the invention is shown. The greetings card 10 includes an outside surface 12 (the facing surface when the card is closed) having a kissing area 14 covered by a peel away sticker 16. The outside surface 12 also carries a message, in this example "A... for my Valentine", which is designed to incorporate an imprint of a person's lips as meaning the missing word "Kiss". Accordingly, the sender of the card 10 is instructed by graphic on the peel away sticker 16 to remove the sticker 16 from the outside surface 12 of the card and kiss the kissing area 14 (that was previously covered by the sticker 16) with his/her lips so as to produce an imprint of their lips on the outside surface 12, thereby completing the message in a personalised manner.

Although not shown in Figure 2, it will be understood the peel away sticker 16 may carry text-based and/or graphic-based instructions which instruct or prompt to the sender of the card kiss the kissing area 14 so as to create an imprint of their lips. For example, the sticker 16 may include text such as "Peel off sticker and kiss here".

In an alternative embodiment, the kissing area may be a peel away sticker such that it is removable from the card, thereby enabling the recipient of the card to remove the imprint of the sender's lips and keep in a desired place separate from the card. In other words, the kissing area can be detachable, thereby enabling the greetings card and the kissing area to be separately retained for sentimental reasons. Embodiments therefore provide a greetings card with a dual function in terms of giving to the recipient appropriate greetings and a gift by way of the imprint of the sender's lips.

The kissing area may be provided on an envelope used to encase a greetings card for delivery. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is applicable to many different items of stationery including greetings cards, postcards, envelopes and sheets of paper.

While specific embodiments have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications will be apparent to a person skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, embodiments may be of any shape, style and design. They may have any number of pages or folds, whether vertical, horizontal or diagonal.

The kissing area may be provided on any or all of the pages or surfaces of the item of stationery.

Embodiments may bear any greetings message appropriate to any celebration, occasion, moment, feeling or event. They may also make specific reference to the hygiene of the product and may be manufactured from anti-bacterial or bacteriostatic material.

Claims

Claims 1. An item of stationery comprising a kissing area specifically designated to be kissed by a person so as to produce an imprint of the person's lips.
2. An item of stationery according to claim 1, further comprising a removable portion indicating the location of the kissing area.
3. An item of stationery according to claim 2, wherein the removable portion comprises a peel away sticker.
4. An item of stationery according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the removable portion at least partially covers the kissing area.
5. An item of stationery according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the removable portion is at least partially transparent.
6. An item of stationery according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the removable portion comprises a visual indication for instructing the person to kiss the kissing area.
7. An item of stationery according to any preceding claim, wherein the item of stationery is a greetings card or an envelope.
8. An item of stationery according to any preceding claim wherein the kissing area comprises an antibacterial material.
9. An item of stationery according to any preceding claim, wherein the kissing area is detachable from the item of stationery.
10. An item of stationery according to claim 9, wherein the detachable kissing area is in the form of a section of the item of stationery that is removable along suitable lines of weakness.
11. An item of stationery according to claim 9, wherein the detachable kissing area is releasably attached to the item of stationery by an adhesive material.
12. An item of stationery substantially as described hereinabove with reference to the accompanying figures.