Combined greeting card and music box structure

• US 4,102,067 A
• Filed: 10/06/1976
• Issued: 07/25/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fred A. Tarrant
• Original Assignee: Fred A. Tarrant
• Inventors: Tarrant, Fred A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitrelli, John F.
• Application Number:
  US05/730,266
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 40/28.1, 40/124.1, 40/152.1, 40/156, 40/152.2, 40/102, 40/104.02, 35/8 A, 35/35 E, 84/94 C, 84/95 C, 281/31
• US Class Current: 40/455
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4291 Containers provided with an acoustic device, e.g. for indicating opening of the package
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: G10F 5/00 Details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/0416 for disc cartridges

Abstract

A combined greeting card and decorative music box structure that includes a flat rectangular box formed from a resilient polymerized resin that is removably closed by a cover that on a first side supports a wind-up music producing mechanism within a confined space defined by the box and cover. A second side of the cover removably supports a greeting card. A panel bearing a decorative insignia is pivotally supported from the box, with the panel when in a first position overlying the cover and concealing the greeting card. When the panel is pivoted to a second position the music producing mechanism is actuated and the greeting card is visible. The panel is illustrated as a picture frame that removably supports a picture defined on a dimensionally stable sheet of material.

Claims

1. A combined greeting card and music box structure that includes:

a. a spring actuated music box mechanism that has first and second oppositely disposed side surfaces, and a spring loaded actuator pin that projects outwardly from said first surface and normally occupies a first position where it prevents operation of said music box mechanism, but said actuator pin when allowed to move to a second position causing said spring actuated music box mechanism to operate;

b. a box formed from a resilient material, which box includes a back that has a forward and rearward surface, and a continuous side wall that extends forwardly from said back;

c. a greeting card;

d. a cover that closes and cooperates with said box to define a confined space, said cover having first and second side surfaces said cover having said spring actuated music box mechanism secured to said first side surface and extending into said confined space and said actuator pin extending forwardly from said mechanism through an opening in said cover beyond said second side surface, said cover having said greeting card mounted on said second side surface thereof, with said back and cover including a plurality of reinforcing ribs that extend towards one another from said forward surface and said first side surface that are in abutting contact, and said box, cover and reinforcing ribs cooperating to provide a resonator to amplify music from said music box mechanism when said actuator pin is allowed to move to said second position;

e. an opaque panel that has first and second sides, said panel including a decorative insignia visible from said first side thereof;

f. hinge means for pivotally supporting said panel from said box, said panel when in a first position overlying said greeting card and with said second side pressure contacting said spring loaded pin to maintain the latter in said first position, and said panel when pivoted to a second position allowing said greeting card to be viewed and permitting said spring-loaded pin to move to said second position to allow said spring-actuated music box mechanism to operate; and

g. first means for removably locking said panel in said first position on said box to overlie said greeting card.

2. A combined greeting card and music box structure as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes:

h. second means on said back that extend rearwardly therefrom to rest on a horizontal surface and support said combined greeting card and music box structure in an upright position on the latter.