Card-like structure

• US 5,236,200 A
• Filed: 05/20/1992
• Issued: 08/17/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dennis L. Mcgregor, Marcie L. Mcgregor
• Original Assignee: Dennis L. Mcgregor, Marcie L. Mcgregor
• Inventors: McGregor, Dennis L., McGregor, Marcie L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US07/886,647
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 273/459, 273/139, 273/254, 273/296, 283/903, 283/117, 283/49
• US Class Current: 273/459
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0044 Postcards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00145 Board games concerning treasure-hunting, fishing, hunting capturing fishing games A63F9/305
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/02 Postcards; Greeting, menu, business or like cards; Letter cards or letter-sheets B42D25/00 takes precedence; envelopes B65D27/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/903 Lottery ticket

Abstract

A card-like structure facilitating the setup and playing of a treasure hunt-like game is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the structure takes the form of a pre-printed, multi-folded greeting card including a sheet portion having easily detachable elements. Each element is pre-printed on one side in large print with task-setting messages, or locational clues, for the intended gift recipient, and on the other side in smaller print with instructional messages, or placement instructions, for the gift giver. The clues and instructions are related in a predefined way so that elements properly placed by the gift giver in accordance with the instructions may be found by and will lead the recipient to a gift properly placed by the gift giver. Preferably, a first task-setting message, or clue, and an enticing greeting are printed on the portion of the greeting card that remains after the plural elements are dispensed from the game card system or structure. A preferred method of laying out a blank for printing and perforation, and the structure resulting therefrom, also are disclosed.

Claims

1. A card-like structure comprising:

a first sheet portion containing a first task-setting message, and

a second sheet portion connected with said first sheet portion, said second sheet portion having plural detachable subsheet elements, plural ones of said elements containing second task-setting messages, at least one of said elements further containing an instructional message that is related to one of said second task-setting messages contained on another of said elements.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein at least two of said plural elements are related to one another such that a first one of said second task-setting messages contained on a first one of said plural elements indicates a physical location where a second one of said plural elements is intended to be placed upon its detachment.

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein said second one of said plural elements contains said instructional message and wherein said instructional message indicates such physical location.

4. The structure of claim 3, wherein a second one of said second task-setting messages is contained on a first side of said second one of said plural elements and wherein one of said instructional messages is contained on a second side thereof.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein substantially all of said elements contain one of said task-setting messages and one of said instructional messages, and wherein each of said task-setting messages contained on a given element is related to a corresponding one of said instructional messages contained on another element such that corresponding messages indicate a physical location where said given element is intended to be placed upon its detachment.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein said task-setting messages are in the nature of clues regarding the whereabouts of a gift for a seeker, and wherein said instructional message indicates a physical location where said element containing said instruction message is intended to be placed by a hider.

7. A combined treasure hunt and greeting card structure comprising:

a two-sided pre-printed blank;

said blank including two or more separable parts, a first one of which contains a greeting and a first locational clue, and a second one of which contains on one side thereof a second clue, and on another side thereof an instruction regarding locational placement thereof that corresponds with said first clue.

8. The structure of claim 7, wherein said second one of said parts includes plural separable sub-parts each of which contains on one side thereof a clue, and on another side thereof an instruction regarding locational placement thereof that corresponds with a corresponding clue contained on one side of another one of said separable sub-parts.

9. The structure of claim 8, wherein said separable sub-parts further contain sequence indicia and wherein, as between any two successively sequenced sub-parts, said other side of the later sequenced sub-part contains an instruction regarding placement thereof that corresponds with a corresponding clue contained on said one side of the earlier sequenced sub-part.

10. A game card structure comprising:

a greeting card containing a printed first clue regarding the location of a subsequent clue,

said card having removably connectedly appended thereto plural substructure elements substantially all of which contain one of a succession of printed clues regarding the whereabouts of a gift, each element containing one of a succession of instructional messages corresponding to the succession of printed clues,

wherein, as between any two successive clues, the element bearing the succeeding clue contains an instruction regarding placement thereof that corresponds with a corresponding clue contained on the element bearing the preceding clue.