US20140311936A1

US20140311936A1 - Musical invitation box (plays music when box is opened)

Info

Publication number: US20140311936A1
Application number: US14/211,764
Authority: US
Inventors: Joann Marks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-22
Filing date: 2014-04-28
Publication date: 2014-10-23

Abstract

Musical invitation box containing a light-activated sound module for generating and playing prerecorded sound tracks upon the opening of the box or removal of its contents (invitation). Operation of the sound module may be activated by the opening (or removal) of the box lid and exposing it to light. The box is configured with a shelf that hides the sound module from view so that the source of the sound is concealed. The music or alternative audio can be stopped or restarted by closing and reopening the box.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

In Wilson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,041, there is disclosed an animated device, which may be included in a greeting card, that provides both visual and auditory effects though electronic circuitry. Another example, in Sanford, U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,806, and Tarrant, U.S. Pat. No. 4,102,067 there are disclosed greeting cards that include mechanical music boxes formed—from a unitary member having a natural hinge for closing and opening the card, A back cover carries a music box. The card is maintained closed by communication between the front and back covers in interference fit relation. Upon separating the covers to open the card the music box element is actuated and sound begins.
In all the examples above, sound is produced when some sort of element is opened. However, in none of these examples is the sound produced the result of a light activation and none are applicable to including a custom invitation inside.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure and related inventions relate to invitation boxes and more specifically to sound-producing invitation boxes that are designed to generate sound when the user opens the box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There are three pieces to this invention. The invitation box, the light-activated sound module, and the shelf The sound module is positioned inside the box under the shelf with just the light-activation sensor visible. The invention works when someone opens the box, exposing the sensor to ambient light and delivering power to activate the sound module.
The box is made of cardboard and is custom wrapped in any desired combination of color papers. The boxes are stock items purchased from a third-party.
The sound modules are made of plastic and metal and comprise of: a processor, a printed circuit board, memory, three AG10 batteries, a 40 mm speaker, and a light sensor on a 2 inch wire. Providing a sound duration up to 100 seconds, these are purchased from a third party and then recorded by us using a computer.
The shelf is made from 18 lb white cover stock and scored using a custom die so it can fold to the desired configuration. Each sheet of stock is originally 11×17 inches, but we trim to fit inside the bottom half of any size invitation box (standards include 5×7, 6×6, 6×9, and 8×8 inches) so it fits snugly. The sound module is adhered to the bottom portion of the shelf and the top portion of the shelf folds over to hide the module. The shelf acts like a false bottom, effectively concealing the works of the playback system. There is a slit inside the top portion of the shelf into which the wire from the light-activated sound module slips. This slit holds the wire in place, correctly positioning the sensor to be exposed to ambient light when the box is opened, initiating playback of the recorded music or message. When the box is closed, the light is cut off and the supply of power ceases, silencing the unit. When the box lid is removed, the sound module is again activated and the recorded sounds play.
The shelf is constructed from suitable cardstock and folded to form the shelf bottom and the shelf top flap—providing three panels. Panel A is the shelf bottom, Panel B is the die-cut folded section that creates a two-sided box, and Panel C is the top flap that when folded down forms the top of the shelf The shelf construction can be executed in any square or rectangular size. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the three panels A, B and C, are connected respectively along fold (score) lines 1 and 2. The sound module is mounted on top of Panel A, covered by Panel C when Panel C is folded (as shown in FIG. 4). The cavity thus formed between panels C and A forms the interior volume of the shelf, sufficient to contain and conceal the sound module between panels A and B (as shown in FIG. 4). The shelf with sound module takes up about ¼ inch of the bottom depth of the box. Since the box is 1 inch deep in total, this leave ¾ inch of space for an invitation to be placed on top of the shelf (Panel C); hence, the invitation is the first thing seen when the box is opened. The light sensor at the end of the wire is not covered by the invitation and therefore, is activated when the box is opened and the interior is exposed to ambient light.

BACKGROUND

This product came about because the inventor wanted to send wedding guests an invitation that played music when they opened it. There were no options available to her where she could customize the invitation and the song to be played. Therefore, she designed and built the invitations herself, found a supplier for the light-activated music module, and designed a shelf that can be custom-fitted to different box sizes in order to mount the module hidden from view but enable it to activate (play the prerecorded song) when the box is opened.
Conventional paper greeting cards are widely used for celebratory occasions such as birthdays, graduations, weddings, and other communication and social expression purposes. Traditional text information is generally found on paper greeting cards. More recently, sound has been added to traditional paper greeting cards, in the form of electrically powered compact circuits with prerecorded messages and music to increase the entertainment value of cards. This is accomplished by circuitry that is contained within the greeting card, such as between panels or pages of the card. The use of popular music and media has made sound-generating greeting cards increasingly popular. Conventional greeting cards are most commonly “gate-folded” in the manner of a book, with a front panel connected along a fold line to a back panel, with each panel having a front and back side. The sound is activated when the card opens; physically sliding a plastic tab which closes the circuit and delivers stored battery power to activate the music. None of these sound cards are activated by light. In addition, there is no customizable card that incorporates an invitation, a box and music for use as an invitation to invite people to a celebration such as a wedding, baby shower, or other type of party.
With the popularity of personal printers, many individuals today prepare their own invitations. In doing so, individuals may make customized choices and may design an invitation in a manner that is desired, including choosing the appearance of the design or pictures to appear thereon, the wording, the card stock, colors and other attributes.
Therefore, a need exists for an improved container that may be used to communicate a sound message or music and provide individuals with the freedom to customize the card as well as the message or sound and reliably protect the sound message when being mailed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows the two-piece invitation box

FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows the light-activated sound module

FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows the shelf flat (unfolded)—panels A, B, C

FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows the shelf folded and the cavity created thereby and the light sensor wire fitting in the slit

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1. Referring now to the invention in more detail, in FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of the invitation box. It has two pieces—a lid FIG. 1.1 and a base FIG. 1.2. The Lid fits over the Base. The Base is approximately 1″ deep. The exterior of the invitation box lid FIG. 1.1 can be physically decorated and/or ornamented in a variety of ways. In more detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 1, the folded shelf compartment in FIG. 2 sits inside the base FIG. 1.2 and when the Lid (FIG. 1.1) is fitted on the Base (FIG. 1.2), it is complete darkness inside. When the Lid (FIG. 1.1) is removed from the Base (FIG. 1.2), the light activates the sound. In further detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 1, the box can come in varying sizes to fit standard invitations (5 inches×7 inches, 6 inches×6 inches, 5 inches×9 inches, 8 inches×8 inches). A 5×7 box is known to fit an A7 invitation size. The construction details of the invention as shown in FIG. 1 are that the box is made of cardboard that is sufficiently rigid to protect the invitation and sound module inside.
FIG. 2. Referring now to the invention in more detail, in FIG. 2 there is shown the sound module. The sound module has 9 parts: FIG. 2.3 is the adhesive paper backing of the sound module, FIG. 2.4 is the speaker, FIG. 2.5 is the processor, FIG. 2.6 are the three batteries, FIG. 2.7 is the light activated wire, FIG. 2.8 is the memory where the sound/music is stored and FIG. 2.9 is the input system where the sound is inputted. In more detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 2 the sound module as shown has the removable paper backing (FIG. 2.3) which exposes the adhesive to secure the sound module to the shelf in FIG. 3. The sound is recorded to the processor FIG. 2.5 where it is stored in the memory of FIG. 2.8. The sound plays when the light sensor FIG. 2.7 is exposed to light. In further detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 2 the overall size of the sound module on the backing paper is 2 inches by 4 inches and has a thickness of less than ¼ inch. The construction details of the invention as shown in FIG. 2 is that the module is made of metal and plastic.
FIG. 3. Referring now to the invention in more detail, in FIG. 3 there is shown a shelf which is a die-cut piece of white cardstock that can be trimmed to fit any size invitation box. The cardstock has two scores on it which allow it to fold and create a cavity of ¼ inch where the sound module (FIG. 2) fits inside. The score lines create three panels FIG. 3A,B,C. Panel C folds over Panel A to hide the sound module (FIG. 3 a). In more detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 3, the shelf also has a slit that the sound module's light sensor wire (FIG. 2.7) fits into and is therefore held in place so that when the LID (FIG. 1.1) is removed from the base (FIG. 1.2), the sensor reacts to the light and plays the sound. In further detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 3, the shelf can be trimmed to fit any of the standard invitation box sizes as mentioned in the details of FIG. 1. The construction details of the invention as shown in FIG. 3 is 18# white cardstock with 2 score lines.
FIG. 4. Referring now to the invention in more detail, in FIG. 4 there are shown three drawings illustrating how the shelf folds and hides the sound module (FIG. 2). FIG. 4 a shows the perspective from the side with the light sensor wire fitting in the slit. In further detail, still referring to the invention of FIG. 4 the shelf with the adhered sound module is put inside the base FIG. 1.2. Since the shelf is made of the same color as the inside of the base FIG. 1.2, it gives the appearance of the base bottom and other than the light sensor shown, there is no indication there is anything in the box. The shelf FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 not only hide the sound module but keep it securely in place so that it is protected and can be shipped through the postal system without damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows the two-piece invitation box
FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows the light-activated sound module
FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows the shelf flat (unfolded)—panels A, B, C
FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows the shelf folded and the cavity created thereby and the light sensor wire fitting in the slit


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Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A musical invitation box, comprising: a two-piece (lid and base) invitation box that includes an interior; and a foldable removable shelf and a light-activated sound module that is mounted on said interior of said foldable shelf and is activated when said invitation box lid is removed (opened) and exposes said interior to light that activates said light-activated sound module.

2. The musical invitation box according to claim 1, wherein said sound module comprises:

A processor;

Memory;

A light sensor to activate said sound module when said light sensor is exposed to light;

An adhesive base that serves as an interface between said sound module and said interior of said shelf;

A 40 mm speaker that is attached to said base that emits said input music or sounds;

An input system to input a plurality of music or sounds stored on said memory system;

Three AG10 batteries to provide electrical power to said sound module.

3. The musical invitation box according to claim 2, wherein said processor is activated by exposure to light of the said sound module and plays the prerecorded sound file of said music or sounds.

4. The musical invitation box according to claim 2, wherein said processor terminates said musical invitation box when said light sensor is exposed to an absence of light.

5. The musical invitation box according to claim 2, wherein box contains an invitation.

6. The musical invitation box according to claim 1, wherein said 2-piece box is made of a material selected from the group consisting of cardboard or paper.

7. The musical invitation box according to claim 1, wherein said foldable shelf is made of a material selected from the group consisting of cardstock and has scores to fold into a shelf which hides the said sound module from sight and also keeps the light-activation sensor in place so that it will be exposed to light when the box is opened.