Business card holder with sound generating microchip

• US 5,275,285 A
• Filed: 12/30/1992
• Issued: 01/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clegg Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Clegg Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Clegg, Timothy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US07/998,386
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 206/232, 206/449, 40/124.1, 40/455, 40/902, 283/56, 229/928
• US Class Current: 206/449
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/022 combined with permanently fastened sound-producing or light-emitting means or carrying sound records
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 1/06 to be erected in three dimensions G09F1/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 40/902 Circuit control, e.g. flashing light

Abstract

A business card holder, which can be used to hold business cards and actively draw the attention of a recipient to the card by emitting sounds upon the unfolding of the business card holder. The business card is held inside the holder and a sound emitting device is incorporated within the holder. When the business card holder is opened and unfolded the sound emitting device is activated to provide an audio signal to the recipient.

Claims

1. A business card holder comprising:

(a) a foldable support structure comprising means for securing a card thereto;

and

(b) means for emitting a sound incorporated into the foldable support structure, and operational to emit sounds upon unfolding of operational to emit sounds upon unfolding of the foldable support structure, said means comprising

(i) an electronic microchip sound generating device, and

(ii) a slide tongue mechanism having two ends, wherein one of the two ends is connected to the electronic microchip sound generating device and the other end is attached to the foldable support structure, so as to activate the electronic microchip sound generating device upon the unfolding of the foldable support structure.

2. A business card holder according to claim 1, wherein the foldable support structure is made of folded cardboard.

3. A business card holder according to claim 2, wherein the means for emitting a sound is sandwiched between panels of the folded cardboard.

4. A business card holder according to claim 1, wherein the foldable support structure has a first surface, and wherein the means for securing a card comprises slots formed in the first surface which are adapted to hold a card therein.

5. A business card holder according to claim 1, wherein the means for securing a card comprises an adhesive material attached to the foldable support structure.

6. A business card holder according to claim 1, wherein the electronic microchip sound generating device generates a sound of a ringing telephone.

7. A business card holder according to claim 1, wherein the electronic microchip sound generating device generates an audio message comprised of words.

8. A business card holder according to claim 1, wherein the electronic microchip sound generating device generates a musical arrangement of tones.

9. A business card holder according to claim 1, wherein the means for emitting a sound further comprises switch means for activating the electronic microchip sound generating device, and which is activated independent of the unfolding of the foldable support structure, such that sounds are emitted for a predetermined period of time after activation of the electronic sound generating device.

10. A method of making a business card holder, comprising the steps of:

forming a foldable support structure;

incorporating means for emitting a sound into the foldable support structure for emitting a sound upon the unfolding of the foldable support structure, said means comprising

(i) an electronic microchip sound generating device, and

(ii) a slide tongue mechanism having two ends, with one of the two ends being connected to the electronic microchip sound generating device and the other end being attached to the foldable support structure, so as to activate the electronic microchip sound generating device upon the unfolding of the foldable support structure;

and

providing the foldable support structure with means for securing a card to the foldable support structure.

11. A business card holder for holding a card, the business card holder comprising:

(a) a foldable support structure having a first portion and a second portion with a fold between the first and the second portions;

(b) a sound emitting device incorporated into the first portion of the foldable support structure; and

(c) a slide tongue mechanism for activating the sound emitting device upon the unfolding of the foldable support structure, the slide tongue mechanism having two ends, one of the two ends being connected to the sound emitting device in the first portion and the other end being connected across the fold to the second portion of the foldable support structure

wherein the second portion of the foldable support has a surface with slots formed therein which are adapted to hold a card attached to the surface, such that the card is hidden from view when the foldable support structure is folded, and wherein the card is visible and sound is emitted upon unfolding of the foldable support structure.

12. A receptacle, comprising:

(a) a foldable support structure comprising means for securing an object thereto;

and

(b) means for emitting a sound incorporated into the foldable support structure, and operational to emit sounds upon unfolding of the foldable support structure, said means comprising

(i) an electronic microchip sound generating device, and

(ii) a slide tongue mechanism having two ends, wherein one of the two ends is connected to the electronic microchip sound generating device and the other end is attached to the foldable support structure, so as to activate the electronic microchip sound generating device upon the unfolding of the foldable support structure.

13. A receptacle according to claim 12, wherein the foldable support structure is of folded cardboard, and wherein the means for emitting a sound is sandwiched between panels of the folded cardboard.

14. A receptacle according to claim 12, wherein the foldable support structure has a first surface, and wherein the means for securing an object comprises slots formed in the first surface which are adapted to hold an object therein.

15. A receptacle according to claim 12, wherein the means for securing an object comprises an adhesive material attached to the foldable support structure.

16. A receptacle according to claim 12, wherein the means for emitting a sound further comprises switch means for activating the electronic microchip sound generating device, and which is activated independent of the unfolding of the foldable support structure, such that sounds are emitted for a predetermined period of time after activation of the electronic sound generating device.