Devices

• US 5,435,787 A
• Filed: 08/02/1993
• Issued: 07/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hugo & Co. Ltd. (Hallmark Cards Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fine Art Developments P.L.C.
• Inventors: Ratcliffe, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US08/090,161
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 472/56, 472/53, 40/455, 40/539, 229/102, 206/459.1, 446/398, 446/901, 446/486
• US Class Current: 472/56
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 37/00 Jokes; Confetti, streamers, or other dance favours ; Cracker bonbons or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/022 combined with permanently fastened sound-producing or light-emitting means or carrying sound records
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4291 Containers provided with an acoustic device, e.g. for indicating opening of the package

Abstract

A novelty device forms from a cube-shaped container in which a gift may be disposed. The container includes opposite walls (4b,4d) extending upwardly so as to define respective tabs (8,9) each of which is folded back on itself to define tab parts (8a, 8b and 9a, 9b). A snap is connected between the tabs (8, 9) and extends within the container. In use, an operator grasps tabs (8, 9) and urges them apart. In doing so, the container opens to reveal the gift and the snap emits a sharp, explosive sound.

Claims

1. A novelty device comprising:

a base and a plurality of walls arranged to define a container, said container arranged to be opened by at least one wall of the container moving outwardly relative to said base about a hinge or fold;

a user-operable operating member disposed, in part, outside an outline of the container for opening the container; and

a percussive sound producing means being provided and arranged for emitting a percussive sound when the container is opened.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said hinge or fold is provided between said base of the container and said at least one wall.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said wall which is arranged to move outwardly is substantially planar.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container is arranged to be opened by two or more walls of the container moving outwardly relative to said lease about a hinge or fold.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said sound producing means is arranged to emit a sound by commencement of movement of at least one wall outwardly, or during movement of at least one wall outwardly.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a single hollow region.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a hollow substantially cube-shaped structure.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the volume occupied by said container suitably represents at least 50% of the volume of said novelty device.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the volume occupied by said container is substantially equal to the volume occupied by said novelty device.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container is constructed from self-supporting material.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container is made from a single sheet of self-supporting material by folding the material in a suitable fashion.

12. A novelty device according to claim 1, wherein the user operable operating member is operatively connected to the percussive sound producing means.

13. A novelty device according to claim 1, wherein the percussive sound producing means is fixed between two opposing parts of the container.

14. A novelty device according to claim 1, wherein said user-operable operating member is arranged to be moved outwardly to open the container.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the user-operable operating member of the device includes a first part and a second part arranged to be moved apart by an operator thereby to open the container.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the first and second parts comprise tab members which are integral parts of the device outside the outline of a hollow part of the container structure.

17. A device according to claim 15, wherein the first and second parts are directly connected to one another by a connecting member.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein said connecting member includes a sound producing strip of said sound producing means.