Animated device

• US 4,299,041 A
• Filed: 09/20/1979
• Issued: 11/10/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stephen H. Wilson
• Original Assignee: Stephen H. Wilson
• Inventors: Wilson, Stephen H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Skillington, G. Lee
• Application Number:
  US06/077,334
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 40/124.1, 40/427, 40/442, 40/459, 40/460, 40/463, 40/465, 40/464, 40/486, 40/541, 40/553, 40/152.2, 40/902, 40/906, 35/9 D, 35/35 D, 362/98, 362/99, 362/800, 362/802, 362/806, 362/812, 340/712, 340/365 P, 434/327, 434/332, 434/335, 434/337, 434/338, 434/339
• US Class Current: 40/124.02
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0044 Postcards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00643 Electric board games; Electric features of board games electric word or number games A63F3/0421; computer chess G06F; electric raffle games A63F3/081
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/065 Tickets or accessories for use therewith A63F3/0625 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/022 combined with permanently fastened sound-producing or light-emitting means or carrying sound records
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/00 Details of electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 40/902 Circuit control, e.g. flashing light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 40/906 Sound

Abstract

A device in the form of a greeting card, display card, or the like, for producing a visual and/or a sound effect which includes a panel member or the like onto which is applied pictorial and/or printed matter in association with an effects generator, an electronic circuit mounted on the panel member but not visible to the reader of the matter but to which the effects generator is connected, and an activator on the panel member which, when actuated, causes triggering of the electronic circuit to energize the effects generator.

Claims

1. An animated greeting card comprising a panel member having pictorial and/or word matter on one face, a solid state electronic circuit mounted on said member but not visible from said one face, an effects generator associated with said pictorial and/or word matter and connected into said electronic circuit, said effects generator being used for producing light and/or sound, and means for triggering the electronic circuit to drive the effects generator and produce animation for the pictorial and/or word matter, said means operable by the person receiving the card and integrated with the pictorial and/or word matter, said means including a pair of contact members mounted on said one face and interconnected with said circuit such that engagement of both said contact members by a person closes said circuit.

5. The animated device of claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the electronic circuit includes means timing the activation of the effects generator.

2. An animated greeting card comprising a panel member having pictorial and/or word matter on one face, a solid state electronic circuit mounted on said member but not visible from said one face, an effects generator associated with said pictorial and/or word matter and connected into said electronic circuit, said effects generator being used for producing light and/or sound, and means for triggering the electronic circuit to drive the effects generator and produce animation for the pictorial and/or word matter, said means operable by the person receiving the card and integrated with the pictorial and/or word matter, said means including a position switch interconnected with said circuit and which responds to a substantial change in position by a person handling the card.

3. An animated greeting card comprising a panel member having pictorial and/or word matter on one face, a solid state electronic circuit mounted on said member but not visible from said one face, an effects generator associated with said pictorial and/or word matter and connected into said electronic circuit, said effects generator being used for producing light and/or sound, and means for triggering the electronic circuit to drive the effects generator and produce animation for the pictorial and/or word matter, said means operable by the person receiving the card and integrated with the pictorial and/or word matter, said means including at least one normally open light sensing switch in said circuit and mounted on said one face, and a light blocking flap hingedly mounted on said one face to normally cover said switch which when raised exposes said switch to light and causes the switch to close.

4. The animated device of claim 3, wherein the electronic circuit includes a logic circuit, and said means includes a plurality of light sensing switches covered by light blocking flaps, wherein a sequential raising of said flaps causes the logic circuit to activate the effects generator.