GB2471661A

GB2471661A - Reusable greeting card

Info

Publication number: GB2471661A
Application number: GB0911647A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nathan Edward Exley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-06
Filing date: 2009-07-06
Publication date: 2011-01-12
Also published as: GB0911647D0

Abstract

Reusable greeting card 10 comprises a reusable greeting card 12 and an envelope 14. The reusable greeting card 12 has a back cover 18, a front cover 16 hingeably connected to the back cover 18, and a plurality of leaves 26 fastened at or adjacent to a hinge 20 between the front and back covers 16, 18. Each leaf 26 has a historical stub portion 32 which connects the leaf 26 at or adjacent to the hinge 20, and a removable greeting message portion 34 which is larger than the historical stub portion 32. The historical stub portion 32 and the greeting message portion 34 are frangibly interconnected. Preferably, a protective cover slip for the reusable greeting card 12 is also provided. Advantageously, the cover slip is transparent.

Description

Reusable Greeting Card Apparatus The present invention relates to reusable greeting card apparatus, and to a method of chronicling recipients of a reusable greeting card of such apparatus.

A reusable greeting card has been suggested in US4613 157. This greeting card has a folded front and back cover with a single greeting therewithin. Multiple tear off sender strips are provided to identify a sender. The card can be reused by tearing off the previous owners sender strip and writing one's own details on the next sender strip.

A further embodiment in US4613 157 also suggests a plurality of removable front covers of increasing size. As one is used and sent, then the new owner can remove it to reveal the next one before sending to another recipient.

However, this prior art arrangement does not allow the movement history of the card to be tracked, enabling new recipients to view how in the past has received the card and thus to see where the card has travelled to and from.

Furthermore, repeatedly reusing a greeting card will inevitably result in wear and tear caused by the postal systems and owner / recipient handling.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided reusable greeting card apparatus comprising a reusable greeting card and an envelope, the reusable greeting card having a back cover, a front cover hingably connected to the back cover, and a plurality of leaves fastened at or adjacent to a hinge between the front and back covers, each leaf having a historical stub portion which connects the leaf at or adjacent to the hinge, and a removable greeting message portion which is larger than the historical stub portion, the historical stub portion and the greeting message portion being frangibly interconnected.

Preferable and/or optional features of the first aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 16, inclusive.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of chronicling recipients of reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of: a) a first owner providing their identifying details on the historical stub portion of a first said leaf, a message to a first recipient on the greeting message portion of the first leaf, and sending the reusable greeting card to the first recipient in a said envelope; b) the first recipient becoming the second owner, removing the greeting message portion of the first leaf, providing their identifying details on the historical stub portion of a second said leaf, a message to a second recipient on the greeting message portion of the second leaf, and sending the reusable greeting card to a second recipient in a said envelope.

Preferable and/or optional features of the second aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 19 to 21, inclusive.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of reusable greeting card apparatus, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 shows reusable greeting card of the said apparatus in a partially open condition, and showing a historical stub portion and a greeting message portion; and Figures 3a to 3f show the reusable greeting card apparatus in use.

Refening to the drawings, there is shown one embodiment of reusable greeting card apparatus 10 which comprises a reusable greeting card 12 and an envelope 14. The greeting card 12 has a front cover 16 and a back cover 18 which are hingably interconnected. The front and back covers 16, 18 may be separate parts which are fastened together via a hinge, or the front and back covers 16, 18 may be unitarily formed together as one-piece with a live or living hinge 20.

The front and back covers 16, 18 preferably have common dimensions which do not or substantially do not alter through the working or useable life of the greeting card 12.

The front and back covers 16, 18 may be thin cardboard or other relatively stiff material suitable for accepting print. An exterior facing surface 22 of the front cover 16 includes a themed scene 24 relating to a special occasion permanently provided thereon, such as Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, or Birthday. The themed scene 24 preferably extends across all or substantially the entire exterior facing surface 22 of the front cover 16.

Due to the greeting card 12 being reused, it is envisaged that, as an option, the exterior facing surface of the back cover 18 may also include a themed scene which is likewise permanently provided thereon, allowing reversal of the card 12 when displayed. The therned scene may be the same as that on the front cover 16, or different. Preferably, however, the therned scene does relate to the same occasion, but it could feasibly relate to a different occasion.

A plurality of leaves 26, in the case preferably being at least ten, is provided between the front and back covers 16, 18. Each leaf 26 is preferably of a thinner or lighter weight materia', such as paper, than that of the front and back covers 16, 18 so as to reduce bulkiness. The leaves 26 have a common binding 28, typically being adhesive, which holds the leaves 26 together. The leaves 26 are fastened at one edge 30 to the front cover 16 and/or the back cover 18 at or adjacent to the hinge 20, again typically by bonding.

Each leaf 26 comprises a thin historical stub portion 32 and a larger greeting message portion 34 which is frangibly connected to a longitudinal edge 36 of the historical stub portion 32. The frangible portion 38 is preferably a line of perforations. The opposing longitudinal edge 40 of the stub portion 32 attaches the leaf 26 to the front cover 16, back cover 18 and/or hinge 20, either directly or via the neighbouring leaf or leaves 26.

The stub portion 32 preferably has a greatly reduced surface area than the greeting message portion 34. The stub portion 32 is elongate, with a longitudinal extent extending in parallel with the hinge 20 between the front and back covers 16, 18. The greeting message portion 34 preferably has a longitudinal extent which extends at right angles to that of the stub portion 32. A total surface area of each leaf 26 matches or substantially matches those of the matching front and back covers 16, 18.

The thin elongate stub portion 32 of each leaf 26 includes indicia 42, typically in the form of words, pre-printed on an upper face thereof. The indicia 42 preferably extends in the longitudinal direction as a single line or two lines, and thus parallel with the hinge 20, so as to optimise space and provide a more easily accessible writing space. The indicia 42 prompt an owner to provide historical archiving details, such as the time and date of writing, the owner's name and the recipient's name. The indicia 42 on each stub portion 32 are preferably identical, but they could vary dependent on necessity.

The larger and wider greeting message portion 34 of each leaf 26 preferably includes a pre-printed greeting 44 relating to a specific occasion. The greeting 44 on each greeting message portion 34 is preferably identical, but it may be different. In this latter case, the different greetings 44 preferably relate to the same or a common theme or occasion, such as Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day or a Birthday, but it is feasible that one or more of the greetings my pertain to different themes or occasions, making the reusable greeting card 12 multi-purpose or multi-occasional.

The pre-printed greeting 44 extends at right angles to the indicia 42 on the stub portion 32, allowing a user to write on the greeting message portion 34 around the greeting 44.

As an option, a protective cover slip can also be provided as part of the apparatus 10 for receiving the reusable greeting card 12. This may be closed at one end or open at both ends, and allows the greeting card 12 to be slid therein prior to insertion into the envelope 14. The cover slip is preferably completely transparent, but should be transparent at least partially on one side so that the front cover 16 can be viewed when displayed. The cover slip is advantageous, since the greeting card 12 will be used and posted multiple times, leading to inevitable wear and tear. The cover slip prevents or limits this wear and tear.

In use, and with reference to Figures 3a to 3f, a first owner 46 writes historical archiving details, such as name, date, time, and first recipient, on a first said stub portion 32 of a first, typically uppermost, leaf 26. Figure 3a. The first owner 46 then writes a greeting 44 on the interconnected first greeting message portion 34. Figure 3b.

The greeting card 12 is placed in the protective cover slip, if provided, and then inserted into the envelope 14 and posted to the first recipient 48. Figure 3c.

On receipt of the greeting card 12, the first recipient 48 becomes a second owner 50, and on the occurrence of the next suitable occasion, removes the first greeting message portion 34 from the first stub portion 32 via the frangible portion 38. Figure 3d. The second owner 50 then writes their own historical archiving details on a second said stub portion 32 of another, typically neighbouring, leaf 26, and their own personal message to the next, in this case second, recipient. Figure 3e. The first greeting message portion 34 can be disposed of, but the first historical stub portion 32 remains at or adjacent to the hinge 20 between the front and back covers 16, 18 of the card 12 to chronicle the movement of the card 12. The card 12 is then again placed in the protective cover slip, if appropriate, and corresponding envelope 14 and posted to the second recipient. Figure 311 On receipt, the second recipient then becomes the third owner of the greeting card 12.

This process is then repeated until all the message greeting portions 34 have been used, and the stub portions 32 completed. The complete history of the greeting card 12, the times and dates of its movements along with the owners and recipients, can then be viewed and recalled.

It is thus possible to provide greeting card apparatus which can be reused a plurality of times, thereby reducing wastage and cost. The apparatus also allows the chronological archiving of the movements, owners and recipients of the card over the course of several occasions, without the displaying of a personal greeting message to recipients other than the intended. The method of chronicling recipients of the reusable greeting card also allows fond memories to be recalled, and indicates how and to who the card has been sent.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. Reusable greeting card apparatus comprising a reusable greeting card and an envelope, the reusable greeting card having a back cover, a front cover hingably connected to the back cover, and a plurality of leaves fastened at or adjacent to a hinge between the front and back covers, each leaf having a historical stub portion which connects the leaf at or adjacent to the hinge, and a removable greeting message portion which is larger than the historical stub portion, the historical stub portion and the greeting message portion being frangibly interconnected.
2. Reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least ten said leaves are provided.
3. Reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the front and back covers are stiffer than the leaves.
4. Reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the historical stub portion has a longitudinal extent which extends in parallel with the hinge between the front and back covers.
5. Reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the historical stub portion includes pre-printed indicia prompting for a name and a date.
6. Reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the indicia is printed to extend in parallel with the hinge between the front and back covers.
7. Reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein only a single line of said indicia is provided to save space.
8. Reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein no more than two lines of said indicia are provided to save space.
9. Reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the greeting message portion on each leaf includes an identical pre-printed greeting.
10. Reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein a different greeting is pre-printed on each greeting message portion, each said greeting relating to a common theme.
11. Reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in any claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the said pre-printed greeting on greeting each greeting message portion extends at right angles to pre-printed indicia on the historical stub portions.
12. Reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the front cover includes a themed picture on an exterior facing surface.
13. Reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the back cover includes a themed picture on an exterior facing surface.
14. Reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the themed picture extends across all or substantially all of the exterior facing surface.
15. Reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a protective cover slip.
16. Reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the slip has at least one transparent surface for displaying the front cover.
17. Reusable greeting card apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
18. A method of chronicling recipients of reusable greeting card apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of: a) a first owner providing their identifying details on the historical stub portion of a first said leaf, a message to a first recipient on the greeting message portion of the first leaf, and sending the reusable greeting card to the first recipient in a said envelope; b) the first recipient becoming the second owner, removing the greeting message portion of the first leaf, providing their identifying details on the historical stub portion of a second said leaf, a message to a second recipient on the greeting message portion of the second leaf, and sending the reusable greeting card to a second recipient in a said envelope.
19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein steps a) and b) are repeatable a plurality of times for at least ten owners and recipients.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein two or more of the owners or two or more of the recipients may be duplicated.
21. A method as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein, in step a), the reusable greeting card is inserted into an at least in part transparent protective cover slip prior to being inserted into the envelope.