GB2481457A

GB2481457A - Greetings card and display stand

Info

Publication number: GB2481457A
Application number: GB1010773.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Andrew Sidwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-26
Filing date: 2010-06-26
Publication date: 2011-12-28
Also published as: GB201010773D0

Abstract

A greetings card comprises two main 1, 2 panels that display images or text and a base panel 3 that may display images or text; the base panel 3 includes an integral tab or lip 4 that may be secured to one of the main panels 1, 2 so as to allow the card to be folded into a three sided display stand having a triangular profile when viewed from an end. The card may be produced from a program downloaded from the internet and printed by a user directly.

Description

New-style Greetings card/picture display stand

Background

Many conventional landscape-format' Greetings cards -that have their hinge' running along the top of the card -tend to fall down very easily, rather than remain erect. This usually being because the two panels of the card become splayed out, causing the card to collapse. This also meaning that the card images are not displayed at the optimum angle for the viewer.

Furthermore, such cards have no uniformity in their angular standing, in relation to other landscape-format cards that they are displayed next to, resulting in an irregular and untidy display.

If the image on the Greetings card, (e.g. a photograph, as with many modern personalised cards), was to be displayed in a normal picture frame as an alternative -to prevent the image from falling down -then two main alternative problems arise: 1) The picture frame containing the image cannot be easily packaged and sent through the post to someone, and 2) The cost of both the picture frame and the postage & packaging of such would be too prohibitive.

Furthermore, such picture frames don't usually provide any facility for including any accompanying text message.

With Home-Crafted' cards -containing an assortment of beads, emblems and sticky coloured paper, etc. -the stability problem is even greater, with the cards then being totally out of balance with all the weight of such, and falling down even more readily.

Statement of Invention

To overcome all such problems, and to keep a card standing, the inventive step is to include a flat base panel in the Greetings card that is attached to one of the two main panels of the card, along the bottom edge.

Along the opposite edge of the base panel, there is an integral upturned lip'. This serves as a stay' for the support-panel of the card. The support-panel can either then rest up against the lip, or be fixed to it by a self-adhesive strip or other means, and this then prevents either panel from splaying out, unrestrained.

The Greetings card standing angle is also then pre-determined, with the card then always being held in a uniform set position. Thereby, the Greetings card then becoming more self-contained and controlled. The image also being continually displayed at the optimum angle for the viewer, as well as at the most attractive angle for decorative purposes in a room, (like with a normal, table-top, picture frame).

The decorative image can be displayed on either of the two main panels.

In addition, a 3-main-panel version can also be used that has one of the main panels being used as the base panel. The Idea here being that the product can contain 3 different images, altogether, and become a 3-sided, triangular display that can be rotated as desired. So displaying a different image in succession in each position.

Any of the image locations can also be replaced by a text display, and/or a logo or motif.

As regards the angle of the 2 panels in the 2-main-panel version, though, by varying the height, slightly, of the panel displaying the image and the supporting panel, independently, simply by moving the fold position, different angles of the image-display-panel can be obtained. This being over and above the variation that can be created by altering the depth of the lipped-base-panel.

For example, if the height of the panel providing the support is reduced, slightly, and the height of the image-display-panel increased, slightly -by altering the fold line position between the two -then the image-display-panel will be held at a slightly lower angle, whilst the support-panel will become more upright.

In order to make the assembled card structure even more sturdy and robust, a self-adhesive strip, paper-clip or staple or such, can be simply added on either side of the retaining lip' on the base panel, holding the supporting panel and the lipped-base-panel' firmly together. If no self-adhesive strip; paper-clips could perhaps be made available by the sender, sent with the card, and simply positioned by the card-recipient upon delivery? If a self-adhesive strip were used, then the strip would have a release paper' that is removed by the card-recipient when assembling the card. The edge of one of the main panels then being held firmly against the lip' in the base panel, by the strip.

Furthermore, if the card contains an image that is perhaps going to be cherished indefinitely, (maybe a picture of a new-born baby; or of a wedding; or of a particular special moment or achievement, etc.), the product can be made even more solid by the addition of an optional, thicker & heavier, self-adhesive, plastic or wooden base panel that is simply fixed to the underside of the cards' standard base panel.

So making the complete product more substantial for long-term display -like a normal, table-top, picture frame -that perhaps has a solid base? -.3-.

How's it made? The new-style Greetings card/picture display stand' is simply produced by a flat rectangle of card having crease-lines imprinted across the card at specific intervals, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 6.

In the 2-main-panel version, the crease-lines define each section of the card, as shown in Fig.3, as follows - 1) -a main panel section that can be used for either image display or text display, or for support, or for display and support? 2) -a main panel section that can be used for either image display or text display, or for support, or for display and support? 3) -a section to be a base panel, and 4) -a section to be folded-up and used as a the retaining lip' that can be attached to either main panel, possibly using a self-adhesive strip? 5) -Position of crease/fold lines.

In the 3-main-panel version, the crease-lines define each section of the card as shown in Fig. 6, as follows - 1) -a main panel section that can be used for either image display or for text display, or for support, or for display and support? 2) -a main panel section that can be used for either image display or for text display, or for support, or for display and support? 3) -a main panel section that can be used for either image display or for text display, or for support, or for display and support? 4) -a section to be folded-up and used as the retaining lip' that can be attached to either main panel, possibly incorporating a self-adhesive strip? 5) -Position of crease/fold lines.

With either version, the card Is then easily folded along the creases -with the card then forming a triangular shape -with the panels displaying images, text or just left blank.

The inventive step -the base panel (3) and the retaining lip (4) in Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 -being very easy to incorporate into the design & manufacture of either version of the overall product, and so therefore simple & inexpensive to produce.

Regarding panel sizes and the angle of display between the panels in the 2-main- panel version -The ideal size of each panel would be approximately 7" X 5" (c.l7Smm X 125mm).

The base panel would be 7" X 2.75" (c.175mm X 70mm). This would give an ideal angle of display between the image-display-panel, and the support-panel, of approximately 40 degree's.

However, larger or smaller sizes of the main panels and support-panels may be desired, and if so, then larger or smaller sizes of lipped-base-panels would also be required. Also, other sizes of angle may be required between the panels? As a general guide, the maximum angle that would be required, would be, say, 90 degree's? This would be achieved by having a base panel that was 130% deeper than the height dimension of the image-display-panel. The width dimension would normally be the same as the width dimension of the image-display-panel and support-panel but not necessarily? It could be made smaller? The minimum angle that would be required between the image-display-panel and the support-panel, would be, say, 20 degree's? This would be created by a base panel having a depth measurement that was c.20% of the height dimension of the image-display-panel. The width dimension of the base panel would normally be the same as the width dimension of the image-display-panel and the support-panel but not necessarily? It could be made smaller? In the 3-main-oanel version, again, various sizes of panels could be used but generally, all 3 panels would be the same size and at similar angles.

On either version, the images/illustrations on the panel(s) can be produced by various means, e.g. a photograph that is printed onto the blank' card by the sender using their own photo printer; or a photograph or other image that is laminated onto the card; or, a photograph that is stuck to the card with glue or held in some other manner; or, an image that is pre-printed onto the card by a Greetings card manufacturer; or, an image that is printed-out from a computer and fixed to the card in some way; or, a drawing made on the card; or a collection of beads & other decorations being fixed to the card in an artistic, hand-crafted' manner, etc. As regards creating the appearance of pre-printed text & verses' in the overall product, such can also be printed onto the blank card at the same time as the photograph, using the card-senders' own printer machine. This would preferably be done onto the same side of the blank card as the photograph, but not necessarily? In a typical situation, though, a photographic image would be printed-out onto a custom blank' card, on the main panel, via their own printer machine. This could be with either a logo, or motif, or maybe some text, on another main panel? As an alternative site for some text message, though, an additional, separate card could be used that slides into the erect, triangular display but then slid back out again whenever the card-receiver wishes to read it again? The 3-main-Danel version is also ideally-suited to also displaying Portrait-style' images by simply turning the product on its' end, as shown in Fig. 7, as well as Landscape-style' images.

To assist the user in making their card with either version, they would print their images/text verses onto specific card blanks that are pre-scored for easy folding.

The whole operation would be enabled by a downloadable program via the Internet, that allows them to produce the product using their own computer and photo printer.

They would then simply upload their chosen image to their computer, type in their chosen text message where indicated in the program, and then print-out the card and fold the card as indicated, ready for erecting and by the card recipient.

Claims

Claims 1) A new-style Greetings card with a lipped-base-panel' that keeps the card erect and free from collapsing, and so such cards then becoming more self-contained and controlled, like conventional, table-top, picture frames.
2) A Greetings card with a lipped-base-panel' according to claim 1, that holds the image/illustration at the optimum angle for viewing, as welt as at the optimum angle for decoration in the room.
3) A new-style Greetings card with a lipped-base-panel' according to claim 1, that can also be used for displaying Portrait-style images by simply positioning the product on its' end -ideally, using 3-panel version but not necessarily.
4) A Greetings card with a lipped-base-panel' according to claim 1, is produced with the new extra base panel as an integral part of the Greetings card, and with the whole item usually being produced from one single sheet of flat material.
5) A Greetings card with a lipped-base-panel' according to claim 1, is ideally produced using thick paper/card but maybe plastic or another material is used? 6) A Greetings card with a lipped-base-panel' according to claim 1, is produced by applying crease-lines across a rectangle of material at specific intervals, creating different areas in the material that form the different sections of the finished product.7) A Greetings card with a lipped-base-panel' according to claim 1, allows the overall Greetings card/picture display product to still be made inexpensively in paper/card, if desired, yet perform like a normal, table-top, hinged, picture frame that would perhaps be made of plastic, wood or metal, even? 8) Because the lipped-base-panel' inventive step allows the overall product to be made from paper/card, the overall product can still be packaged in a regular, conventional, paper envelope like a normal Greetings card but unlike a table-top, picture frame.9) A Greetings card with a lipped-base-panel' according to claim 1, provides for a combination of a Greetings card and a novel decorative gift to be produced for only a few pounds for someone in these tough, economic times.10) A Greetings card with a lipped-base-panel according to claim 1, is ideally produced using a program that is downloaded from the promoters website, and then printing the cards out as required, via the users own printer. The user then simply loads their printer with the specific card blanks' that are pre-creased, that are then folded by the user after printing, and placed In an envelope.:: INTELLECTUAL . ... PROPERTY OFFICE Application No: GB 1010773.8 Examiner: Dr David Palmer Claims searched: 1-10 Date of search: 23 September 2011 Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17 Documents considered to be relevant: Category Relevant Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance to claims X 1-10 GB2356170A (MCKAY) See whole document especially the figures.X 1-10 US 2008/289230 Al (MANDELBAUM et al) See whole document especially figures 28-30.X 1-10 US2007/289184A1 (CHENG) See whole document especially the figures.X 1-10 US4813902A (MESSER) See whole document especially the figures.X 1-10 US4780975A (FRIEDMAN) See whole document especially the figures.X 1-10 DE20214127U1 (SOELCH) 17.04.03 (See the figures and WPI Abstract Accession No. 2003-395116 [38]).X 1-10 DE19825533A1 (COMPRESS MEDIA) 09.12.99 (See the figures and WPI Abstract Accession No. 2000-088 168 [08]).Categories: X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive A Document indicating technological background and/or state step of the art.Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of before the filing date of this invention.same category.& Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:Search of GB, EP, WO & US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCX: Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC B42D The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search report Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk *.:r: INTELLECTUAL 8 . ... PROPERTY OFFICE EPODOC, WPI International Classification: Subclass Subgroup Valid From B42D 0015/04 01/01/2006 Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk