GREETING CARD WITH SUBSEQUENT AUDIO AFTER CLOSING

• US 20100308981A1
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hallmark Cards Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hallmark Cards Incorporated
• Inventors: Watkins, John B., Lien, Timothy J., Wertanen, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,736,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/384.1
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/022 combined with permanently fastened sound-producing or light-emitting means or carrying sound records

Abstract

A greeting card having an audio message and playback device delivers a first sound recording upon opening of the greeting card and a second sound recording upon closing of the greeting card. The delivery of each sound recording may be delayed by a timing component within the audio message and playback device. Additionally, the delivery of each sound recording may be played simultaneously or in queue. Sound recordings may also be recorded by a user using a recording component that is in addition to the audio message and playback device. The audio message and playback device may also include an additional trial mode component that allows the user to test a recorded message before purchasing the greeting card and place the greeting card into a use mode that allows the user to permanently record the message.

Claims

1. An audio greeting card comprising:

a card body having a plurality of panels;

an audio message playback device coupled with the card body, the device having a memory component with at least one audio message stored therein, a speaker for playing the at least one audio message upon closing of the card, and a power source; and

a card status detector, wherein the card status detector detects the closing of the card and wherein the at least one audio message is played after closing of the card.

2. The audio greeting card of claim 1, further comprising:

a timing component that delays playing the at least one audio message a pre-determined amount of time after closing of the card.

3. The audio greeting card of claim 1, wherein the closing of the card is determined based on a pre-determined amount of detected light falling below a threshold level.

4. The audio greeting card of claim 1, wherein the card status detector also detects the opening of the card.

5. The audio greeting card of claim 4, wherein the speaker is also for playing a second audio message of the at least one audio message, whereupon the second audio message is played upon opening of the card.

6. An audio greeting card comprising:

a card body having a plurality of panels;

an audio message recording and playback device coupled with the card body, the device having a microphone, a memory component for storing at least one audio message therein, a speaker for playing the at least one audio message stored in the memory component upon closing of the card, a power source, a first switch for initiating a message recording session, and a second switch for initiating a message playback session; and

a card status detector, wherein the card status detector detects the closing of the card.

7. The audio greeting card of claim 6, further comprising:

a timing component that delays playing the at least one audio message a pre-determined amount of time upon closing of the card.

8. The audio greeting card of claim 7, wherein the pre-determined amount of time is based on the amount of time the card is open prior to the closing of the card.

9. The audio greeting card of claim 6, wherein the card status detector also detects the opening of the card.

10. The audio greeting card of claim 9, wherein the speaker is also for playing a second audio message of the at least one audio message stored in the memory component upon opening of the card.

11. The audio greeting card of claim 6, wherein the at least one audio message stored in the memory component is a user-recorded audio message.

12. An audio greeting card comprising:

a card body having a plurality of panels;

an audio message recording and playback device coupled with the card body, the device having a microphone, a memory component for storing a plurality of audio messages therein, a speaker for playing at least one audio message of the plurality of audio messages, a power source, a first switch for initiating a message recording session, and a second switch for initiating a message playback session, wherein a first recorded message of the plurality of audio messages is played upon opening of the greeting card and a second recorded message of the plurality of the audio messages is played upon closing of the greeting card; and

a card status detector, wherein the card status detector detects the opening of the card and the closing of the card.

13. The audio greeting card of claim 12, further comprising:

a timing component that delays playing the second recorded message a pre-determined amount of time upon closing of the greeting card.

14. The audio greeting card of claim 12, wherein the first recorded message continues to play after the closing of the greeting card.

15. The audio greeting card of claim 14, wherein the second recorded message plays independently of the first recorded message.

16. The audio greeting card of claim 14, wherein the second recorded message plays after the first recorded message has finished playing.

17. An audio greeting card comprising:

a card body having a plurality of panels; and

an audio message playback device coupled with the card body, the device having a memory component that stores a first audio message and a second audio message therein, a processor that retrieves the first audio message from the memory component in response to receiving a first signal indicating that the greeting card has been opened and that retrieves the second audio message from the memory component in response to receiving a second signal indicating that the greeting card has been closed, a speaker that plays the first audio message after the greeting card has been opened and that plays the second audio message after the greeting card has been closed, and a power source.

18. The audio greeting card of claim 17, further comprising:

a timing component that delays playing the second audio message a pre-determined amount of time after the greeting card has been closed.

19. The audio greeting card of claim 17, wherein the audio message playback device further includes a third audio message, wherein the third audio message is played upon closing of the card if the card is closed while the first audio message is still being played.

20. The audio greeting card of claim 19, wherein the first audio message resumes playback after the third audio message is played.

21. The audio greeting card of claim 20, wherein the second audio message is played upon conclusion of the resumed playback of the first audio message.

22. The audio greeting card of claim 17, wherein the audio message playback device further includes a third audio message, wherein the third audio message is played when the processor receives the second signal while the first audio message is still being played, and wherein the second audio message is played when the processor receives the second signal after the first audio message has concluded playback.