US2943416A

US2943416A - Greeting card or folder

Info

Publication number: US2943416A
Application number: US722598A
Authority: US
Inventors: Barker Alvin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-03-19
Filing date: 1958-03-19
Publication date: 1960-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 1977-07-05

Description

July 5, 1960' A. BARKER 2,943,416

'CREETING CARD OR FOLDER Filed March 19, 1958 2 She'ets-Shee't l entine /a 8 la f I /7 /4 IIIIII4 VIII/IIII/I/IA INVENTOR. Earle! 7 A rrrs y 1960 A. BARKER 2,943,416

GREETING CARD OR FOLDER Filed March 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. filo in Bar/(er United States Patent GREETING CARD OR FOLDER Filed Mar. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 722,598

Claims. (CI. 46-34) This invention relates to improvements in novelty greeting cards or folders that have an action element associated with the movable parts of the card or folder.

It is an object of the invention to provide an action card or folder that has a spinner element arranged therewith for actuation by the opening and closing movements of the folding parts of the card. It is within a conception of the invention to associate certain physical features of the card or folder with the spinner element including ju rtapositioning of said element with illustrative material that appears on the exposed faces of the card or folder.

The foregoing and other objects and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

. In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

' Fig. 1 is a plan view of the card or folder in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the interior faces of the card that is shown in open position.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of my card or folder shown in partially opened position.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a further modified form of my invention, showing the card or folder in partially opened position Referring first to Figs. 1-3 there is shown a greeting card or folder made from a rectangular piece of light cardboard 8 which is preferably folded longitudinally along a centrally disposed crease line 9 and then folded laterally along a centrally disposed 'fold line 10 to divide the card into a front section 11 and a back section 12 each having a two-ply construction. As indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3 the front and back sections are swingable around the fold line 10 toward and away from each other into the closed position shown in Fig. 1 and the open position shown in Fig. 2.

A spinner element 13 is disposed between the sections 11 and 12, the sections being provided with registering cut away portions 14 and 15, respectively, to obtain free rotation of the spinner element 13 throughout the complete folding action of the sections. The means for rotatably mounting the spinner element preferably comprises two rubber band strands having their intermediate portions 16 adhesively secured between the two-

plys

17 and 18 of the spinner element 13. The upper portions of the rubber band strands are wound together to form a resilient twisted portion 19 that is anchored at its free end to a side portion of one of the sections 12. The anchor means for the strands is obtained by forming a slit 20 in the inside ply of the card along the fold line 10 thereof, inserting the end portions of the rubber band strands in the slit, turning the said end portions back upon the interior face of the inside ply of the section 12 and securing said portion to said interior face by means of an adhesive strip 21 (Fig. 2). The pair of flexible strands are twisted together at 22 on the opposite end of the spinner element "ice Band terminate in straight portions 23 and 24, the straight portion 23 having its end inserted in a slot 25 formed in the side edge of, the inner ply of the section 11, said portion being turned back inside the inner ply and secured to the interior face thereof by an adhesive strip 26. The straight portion 24 is secured at its end to the inner ply of section 12 by inserting that end into a slot 27 formed in the ply and turning the portion back upon the interior face of the ply where it is secured thereto by an adhesive strip 28.

It will, therefore be noted that the spinner element 13 is supported between the sections on a rubber band consistingof two strands of resilient material and that the spinner is secured to the intermediate portions of the strands, one end of said strands being wound together and secured to one section of the card to provide a twisted portion 19 for the element whilst the other end of the strands are also twisted at 22 and have straight end portions 23 and 24 each secured to one of the sections. Upon opening of the card, tension is increased in the twisted strands 22 on one side of the spinner element, which strands are connected to the sections, thus winding up the twisted portion 19 on the opposite side of the spinner element, and in so doing causing rotation of the spinner element in one direction. When the card sections are closed the sections are moved together thus releasing the tension on the twisted portion 22 and the built up tension in twisted portion 19 will be released thus causing counter-rotation of the element. By opening and closing the card: sections the spinner element will be caused to rotate in one direction and then the other producing many novel effects to the action card.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 the spinner element 13 is made a part of the actual design 29 applied to the illustrative faced the card, the cut out portions 14 and 15 serving also as a decorative feature of the card whilst securing full rotation of the spinner element in either direction of its movement when the folded card sections are opened or closed; 7

In Fig. 4 there is shown a modified form of my inven tion which comprises a back section 30 and a front section 31 secured together along adjacent ends on a common fold line 32. A self-erecting support 33 is mounted along the upper side of the card on the inside faces of the sections 30. andii3l; said. support comprising an arm 34 hingedlymounted to thesection-31by anintegralglue strip 35, said arm being hinged to another arm 36 hinged to section 30 by an integral glue flap 37. A spinner element 38 has a resilient, twisted band 39 fastened to one end, the outer end of the band being suitably secured to the hinged portion at the hinged connection between the arms 34 and 35. A pair of non-resilient, flexible strands 40 and 41 are twisted together at 42 adjacent their connection to the spinner element 38, said strands being, respectively, secured at their outer ends to the sections 31 and 30 in any suitable manner. It will, therefore, be understood that as the card is opened from its closed position the support will be self-erecting and move outwardly from the sections, the relative movement of the sections winding up the twisted portions 42 thus transmitting rotary tension into the twisted band 39 to spin the element 38 in one direction. Upon closing movement of the two sections the wind up tension in the twisted band 39 will be decreased thereby permitting the twisted band 39 to turn the spinner element in the opposite direction.

With reference to Fig. 5 the reference numeral 43 indicates a card back section whilst the numeral 44 shows a card front section, said sections being secured together for swinging movement around a fold line 45. An elongated hole 46 is formed through the back section 43 and has positioned therein a spinner element 47 of somewhat the same contour as the hole 46. The spinner element Patented July 5, 1960 is rotatably mounted in the opening 46 by means of a twisted, resilient band 48 secured at one end to the spinner element and having its other end secured to the section 43 at a central location with respect to the upper end of the opening 46; The lower end of the element. has a pair of strands of flexible non resilient material 49rand 50 secured to it by a twisted portion.51, the free ends of the strands being secured to

sections

43 and 44, respectively. Upon opening and closing of the card the spinner element will be made to rotate in opposite directions within the opening 46 thus providing an attractive action element for a foldable greeting card.

Although certain embodiments of the present invention are herein described and illustrated it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes may be made in the design and the arrangements of parts and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

l. A greeting card or folder having a front and a back section secured together along adjacent ends on a common fold line and swingable therearound toward and away from each other, a spinner element disposed between the sections, a resilient, twisted band fastened to one end of the spinner element and having its other end anchored to a side portion of one of the sections, a pair of flexible strands fastened to the opposed end of the spinner ele ment, said strands being twisted together adjacent the element and each having a straight portion projecting beyond the twisted portion, and an anchor means fastening the ends of the straight portions, one to a back section and the other to a front section on the side portions of the sections opposed to the side portion to which the twisted band is fastened.

2. A greeting card or folder having a front and a back section secured together along adjacent ends on a common fold line and swingable therearound toward and away from each other, a self-erecting support having two arms hinged together and one arm hingedly secured at its end to the inside face of one of the sections and the other arm hingedly secured to the inside face of the other section along respective side portions thereof, a spinner element disposed between the'sections, a resilient, twisted band fastened at one end of the spinner element and having its other end anchored to the central portion of the support, a pair of flexible strands fastened to the opposite end of the spinner element, said strands being twisted together adjacent the element and each having a straight portion beyond the twisted portions, and an anchor means fasten- 4 ing the ends of the straight portions, one to a back section and the other to a front section on the side portions of the sections opposed to the side portion to which the support is hinged.

3. A greeting card or folder having a front and a back section secured together along adjacent ends on a common line and swingable therearound toward and away from each other, a cut-out portion in at least one of the sec-' tions, a spinner element disposed between the sections and rotatable within the cut-out portion, a resilient, twisted band fastened to one end of the spinner element and having its other end anchored to aside portion of one of the sections centrally of the cut-out, portion, a pair of flexible strands fastened to the opposed end of the spinner element, said strands being twisted together adjacent the element and each having a straight portion projecting beyond the twisted portions, and an anchor means fastening an end of each straight portion one to a back section and the other to a front section on the side portions of the sections opposed to the side portion to which the band is fastened.

4. In a greeting card or folder as set forth in claim 3 characterized by the fact that the cut-out portion is in both thesections and in alignment with each other when the card is closed, and wherein the resilient, twisted band has its end anchored thereto in the fold line for the sections.

5. A greeting card or folder having a front and a back section secured together along adjacent ends on a common fold line and swingable therearound toward and away from each other, a pair of rubber band strands, a spinner element disposed between the sections and fastened to intermediate portions of the rubber band strands, the flexible strands on one side of the element being twisted together and secured at their ends to one of the sections along one side thereof, the opposed ends of the strands being also twisted together adjacent the spinner element and each strand having a straight portion beyond the twisted portion, and an anchor means fastening the end of each straight portion one to a back section and the other to a front section on the side portions thereof opposed to the side portions to which the twisted band portions are fastened.

Dillard Mar. 15, 1938 Barker Apr. 17, 1956