GB2503982A - Optic fibre greeting card - Google Patents

Abstract

The greeting card includes a three-panel pocket with an internal cavity which contains a fiber optic bundle 14, various electronic components, fabric layer 16 and a removable panel 12. A front face of the three-panel pocket 18 contains a substantial opening thereon through which the fabric layer is visible. The fiber optic bundle contains various fiber optic strands. Each of the fiber optic strands is inserted through the fabric layer and is visible through the front face of the greeting card. A contact switch 32 controls illumination of the fiber optic strands along with the insertion and removal of the removable panel. In an alternate embodiment, the removable panel may be pivotably attached to the pocket, whereby it substantially exits the pocket when rotated around a pivot point (38).

Description

GREETING CARDS WITH OPTICAL FIBERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

I'he present invention relates to the field of greeting cards, and in particular, to greeting cards having sound capability and fiber optic light.

REI ATED APPT ATIONS

this application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 6 1/647,1)65, filed on May 15, 2012, a copy of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The greeting card of the present invention includes a three-pand pocket \vith an internal cavity which contains a fiber optic bundle, various electronic components, fabric layer and a removable panel. A front face of the three-panel pocket contains a substantial opening thereon through which the Fabric layer is visible. The ITher optic bundle contains various Fiber optic strands. Each of the fiber optic strands is inserted through the fabric layer and is visible through the front face of the greeting card. A contact arm switch controls illumination of the fiber optic strands along with the insertion and removal of the removable panel.

DESCRIPTTON OF THE DRAWTNGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the greeting card of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the greeting card of FIG. I. FIG. 3 is a rear tear-away view of the greeting card of FIG. I with the removable panel in a first position.

FIG. 4 is a rear tear-away view of the greeting card of FIG. 1 with the removable panel in a second position.

FIG. S is a side view of the greeting card of FIG. 3 from the perspective of arrows 5-5.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the greeting card of FIG. 4 from the perspective of arrows 6-6.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the greeting card of the present invention, with the removable panel in a first position.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the greeling card of HG. 7 with the removable panel in a second position.

FIG. 9 is a rear tear-away view of the greeting card of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the greeting card of FIG. 9 from thc perspcctive of arrows 10-10.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the greeting card of FIG. 7.

DEtAILED DESCRWFION OF PREFERRED AND ALtERNATE EMBODIMENtS The greeling card of the preseni discksure and related inventions combines a paper greeting card with fabric and fiber optics to create a visually stimulating greeting card.

In a first embodiment 100, shown in FICS. 1 through 6, two or more greeting card panels are combined to form a three sided pocket or cavity having an opening along a top edge of the pocket for insertion of a removable panel 12. the removable panel 12, in a first position (shown in FIG. 1), is substantially contained within the grceting card pockct 10, with a portion of the panci 12 visible, extending up through the top open edge of the pockct 10. In a second position (shown in FIG. 4), the removable panel 12 is completely removed from the pocket 10. Removal of the removable pand 12 causes one or more fiber optic strands 14, which are visible through the front of the greeting card pocket 10 to turn on or light up. As an example, the greeting card may contain three greeting card panels which are attached along two fold lines. Each panel is of a substantially rectangular shape and all panels have approximately the same length and width, although in other emhodiments, the panels may he of a different shape and may have varying length and/or width measurements. Each panel has a front surface and a hack surface opposite the front surface. A first panel 22 is attached to a second panel 18 along a first horizontal bId line and the second panel 18 is attached to a third panel 20 along a second horizontal bold line. The second panel 18 contains a suhstantial opening thereon around which is a border or frame. The second panel 18 may also have two tah panels, a first tab panel attached to a right side long edge of the second panel 18 and a second tah panel attached to a left side long edge of the second panel 18. A layer of fabric 16 is placed over the back surface of the second panes 18 such that the fabric 16 can he seen through the opening on the second panes 18.

the fabric 16 is a thin piece of material which may contain various designs or patterns printed thereon. While referred to herein as "fabric" the material maybe any type of woven, non-woven material. A fourth panel 24 or sheet material may he placed behind the fabric layer 16 such that the Fabric layer 16 is sandwiched between the second panel 18 and the Fourth panel 24.

A fiber optic bundle 14 comprising one or more fiber optic strands connected to one or more LED lighi bulbs is located behind the fourth panel 24 opposite the fabric layer 16. The one or more fiber optic strands 14 are inserted through the fourth panel 24 and the fabric layer 16 such that the fiber oplics are visible through the fabric 16 from the opening in the second panel 18 of the greeting card 100. The fiber optic bundle 14 may he taped or otherwise secured behind the fourth panel 24. Also attached are various electronic components such as, hut not Umited to, a circuit board 26, integrated circuit, power source (one or more batteries) 28, a speaker 30, a switch 32 and any other component which facilitates illumination of the fiber optics upon some triggering event. Once the fiber optic hundk 14 and elecironic components are secured behind the second 18 and fourth panels 24 and the layer of fabric 16, the first panel 22, which is connected to the second panel 18 along a top horizontal edge, is folded downward along the first fold line such that it covers the fourth panel 24 and the fourth panel 24 and fabric layer 16 are positioned between the second 18 and first panels 22. the first and second tab panels on the second panel 18 are folded over the first panel 22 to secure the fabric 16 and fiber optic strand 14 therebetwcen. Finally, the third panel 20, which is connected to the second panel 18 along a second fold line along a bottom horizontal short edge of the second panel 18 is folded upward along the second fluId line and attached, adhesively or otherwise, to the first and second tab panels oF the second panel 18 so thai the second panel 18 (which is the Front of the greeting card) and the third panel 20 (which is the back of the greeting card) form a three sided pocket or cavity with an opening along the top short edge of the greeting card 100.

In a preferred embodiment, the switch mechanism 32 is a contact switch. the contact switch 32 may contain two contact arms that when in contact complete an electrical circuit.

Separating the contact arms breaks the circuit. A removable panel 12 is inserted into the greeting card 100 through the open top edge of the cavity, and gets inserted between the two arms of the contact switch 32 (shown in FIG. 5), thereby interrupting the circuit. The removable panel 12 may he a single panel or may have to or more panels, such as a two-paneled greeting card.

Removal of the removahk pand 12 From the greeting card pocket or cavity removes the barrier between the two contact arms such that they are again in direct contact with each other (shown in FIG. 6), thereby completing the circuit and providing power to illuminate the one or more Fiber optic strands visible through the fabric layer 16. Re-inserting of the removable panel 12 into the pocket or cavity and between thc two aims of the contact switch 32 prevents power to the fiber oplics 14 and exlinguishes the lighi. The liber oplies 14 may he programmed o blink, win1de, or perform any other special lighi effects. The arms of the conlaci sw-itch 32 may be of any length, however, a longer length is preferred over a shorter length, to ensure proper placement of the removable panel 12 between the two arms of the switch 32 as it is inserted into the pocket or cavity of the greeting card 100. ike removable panel 12 may contain an opening thereon proximate to a top edge of thc panel 12, through which a ribbon or cord or other attachmcnt device may be inserled. The ribbon or cord may be used by the greeling card recipieni lo remove the removable panel 12 from the greeling card pocket.

h a second embodiment 200, shown in FIGS. 7 through 11, the grccting card has at least two four-sided greeting card panels 36A, 36B which arc attached along three outer perimeter edges, creating an open-ended cavity therebetween. While the open perimeter edge may be along any of Ilie four perimeler edges, in a preferred embodimeni, the open edge is the righi verlical edge. A sound and light module are contained within the open ended cavity. The sound and light modules may he secured to one or both the panels 36A, 36B to ensure that they stay in place inside Ihe cavily and cannol he removed from the open edge. As described above, the sound and light modules may contain a variety of electronic components which may include, hut are not limited lo: a circuil hoard 26, inlegrated circuit, a memory slorage device, power source 28 (one or more batleries), one or more fiber oplie slrands 14, a speaker 30 and any other componeni which facilitates illumination of fiber optics 14 and/or playback of at least one digital audio recording upon some triggering event. A sliding panel 34 is contained between the at least two four-sided greeting card panels 36A, 36B, the sliding panel 34 being attached to the greeting card (between the two panels 36A, 36B) at a pivot point 38, wherein the sliding panel 34 can be pivoted about the pivot point 38 from a first position, wherein the sliding panel 34 is substantially contained within the greeting card cavity (shown in FIC. 7) and a second position, wherein the sliding pancl 34 is rotatcd about the pivot point 38 to bc substantially outside of the grecting card cavity (shown in FIGS 8 and 9). A slidc or contact arm switch (dcscribed above) is containcd within the greeting card cavity and works in combination with the sliding panel 34 to control illumination of the fiber optics 14 and/or playback of at least one digital audio file stored on the sound modulc. the front and back panels 36A, 36B of the greeting card cavity may contain notched areas wherein a portion of thc panel is removed. These notched portions serve to make the inner sliding panel 34 visible from the outside of the greeting card, as shown in FIG. 7.

The sliding panel 34 may contain printing thereon containing the word "pull" to direct the user to pull the sliding panel 34 outside of the greeting card cavity and initiate the special effects such as lighting and/or sound. The front greeting card panel 36A contains one or more openings or apertures 40 thereon through which the fiber optics 14 are visible. A fiber optic bundle 14, as described above with regard to the first embodiment 100, is contained in the greeting card cavity and may be taped therein such that the end portion of the fiber optic strands 14 are aligned with the openings 40 on the front greeting card panel 36A. Moving the inside sliding panel 34 from wiLhin ihe cavity (shown in FIG. 11) to oulside the cavity (shown in FIG. 10), Iriggers the switch which causes illuminalion of the fiber optics 14 and/or playback of pre-recorded audio. The pre-recorded audio may contain music, a song, spoken word, or any other audible sounds. While this greeting card has been described as having two panels connected along three edges to form an open ended cavity, another panel may he inserted therein upon which the electronic components and/or fiber optic strands may he attached.

While the greeting cards of the present invention have been described herein as having a substantially rectangular or fliur sided shape, other greeting card panel shapes have been eontempbted. Also, the various pands of the greeting card pocket or cavities are connected along various fold lines and folded in a particular manner described herein, however, any number of panels may be arranged in a variety of ways to contain and conceal the various electronic components and fiber optic bundle and 10 display the fabric layer with liber optic strands extending therethrough. Also, other electronic components may be added to the present invention to provide further entertainment for the greeting card recipient, such as sound or music capabilities, recording capabilities, and other special effects. A contact switch is described herein to control power to the fiber optic strands, how-ever, any other type of switch may he used, such as a slide switch, magnetic switch, light sensitive switch, touch sensitive switch or capacitance sw-itch, or any other such switches which are kiiown to one of skill in the art. The embodiment described herein was intended as an exampc only and is not meant to limit the invention in any way.

Claims (3)

1. CLAIMS1. A greeting card comprising: two or more connected greeting card panels which form a three-sided pocket having one open end; one of the two or more greeting card panels serving as a front cover of the greeting card and having a substantial aperture contained thereon; a fabric-covered panel that is contained within the lhree-sided pocket and visible through the aperture in the front cover of the greeting card: a removable panel which can he inserted and removed from the three-sided pocket through the open end; a fiber optic bundle containing a plurality of fiber optic stands, the fiber optic bundle contained within the three-sided pocket, the liher opiic strands inserted through the fabric-covered layer and visible through the aperture in the front facing greeting card; a contact switch contained within the three-sided pocket which controls illumination of the fiber optic strands.
2. 2. The greeting card of claim 1, wherein when the removable panel is contained in the three-sided pocket, a top edge of the removable panel remains outside of the three-sided pockeL
3. 3. the greeting card of claim 2, wherein the removable panel contains an opening thereon proximate to the top edge of the removable panel, a ribbon being inserted through the opening and tied.4. the greeting card of claim 1, wherein the removable panel can be completely removed from the three-sided pocket.5. The greeting card of claim 1, wherein the removable panel is not completely removable from the three-sided pocket.6. the greeting card of claim 1, wherein removing the removable panel from the three-sided pocket illuminates the fiber optic strands.7. I'he greeting card of daim I, wherein inserting the removaffle panel into the three-side pocket causes the fiber optic strands to turn off.ft A greeting card comprising: al leasi Iwo greeting card panels which are attached to form an open-sided cavity, one of the at least Iwo greeting card panels having one or more apertures contained thereon; a sfide panel which is attached to one of the at least two greeting card pands at a pivot point, the slide panel operative to move between a first position wherein the slide panel is substantially contained within the open-sided cavity and a second position wherein the slide panel is substantially outside of the open-sided eavily; a fiber optic bundle comprised of a plurality of fiber optic strands, one end of the plurality of fiber optic strands being visible through the one or more apertures contained on one of the at least two greeting card panels: a contact switch which controls illumination of the plurality of fiber optic strands; wherein pulling the slide panel outside of the open-sided cavity removes the slide panel from the contact switch causing illumination of the fiber optic strands.9. the greeting card of claim 8, wherein the slide panel cannot be completely removed from the open-sided cavity.1 0. The greeting card of daim 8, wherein the fiber optic strands are aligned with the one or more apertures contained on one of the at least two greeting card panels.11. the greeting card of claim 8, wherein the at least two greeting card panels each contain a notched portion removed from an open-sided edge of each panel.12. the greeting card of claim 8, wherein the apertures on one of thc at icast two greeting card panels are arranged in a decorative pattern.1 3. I'he greeting card of daim 8 further comprising a sound module operative to store and playback at least one audio file.14. the greeting card of claim 8, wherein playback of the at least one audio file is initiated when the slide panel being removed from the open-sided cavily.iS. The greeting card of daim 8, wherein reinserting the sflde panel into the open-sided cavity causcs thc fiber optic strands to turn off i 6. A greeting card comprising: a four-sidcd pocket having one opcn edge, thc four-sided pocket having a front surface and a hack surface opposite the front surface, the front surface having a substantial opening contained thereon: a fahric panel contained within the four-sided pocket and visible through the opening contained on the front surface of the four-sided pocket; a removable panel which can he substantially inserted into the four-sided pocket and completely removed from the four sided pocket: a plurality of fiber optic strands inserted into the fabric panel such that one end of the plurality of fiber optic strands are visihie through the substantial opening on the front surface of the four-sided pocket: a contact switch contained within the tbur-sided pocket: whcrein whcn the removable panel is fully inserted into the four-sided pocket, it extends between two arms of the contact switch and when the removable panel is removed from the four-sided pocket, it is removed from between the two arms of thc contact switch, causing the plurality of fiber optic strands to illuminate.17. the greeting card of claim 16, wherein thc plurality of fiber optic strands arc concealed within the four-sided pocket.1 8. I'he greeting card of daim I 6, wherein the rcmovahk pand contains an opening thereon through which a ribbon is inserted.19. the greeting card of claim 18, wherein reinserting the removable panel into the four-sided pocket heiween the two arms of the contact switch causes the fiber optic strands to turn off.20. The greeting card of daim I 6, wherein the removabk pand is inserted into the four-sided pocket behind the fabric panel.