Animated music box card

• US 6,523,285 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2000
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hallmark Cards Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hallmark Cards Incorporated
• Inventors: Baker, Robert B., Gilson, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, CASSANDRA HOPE
• Application Number:
  US09/655,194
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 401/240.3, 404/21, 404/37, 404/55--57, 407/17, 446/309, 446/308, 446/317, 84/941-101
• US Class Current: 40/124.03
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/022 combined with permanently fastened sound-producing or light-emitting means or carrying sound records

Abstract

An animated music box card includes a card sheet and a box-like structure attached to the card sheet. A music box mechanism and a movable animation figure are mounted within the box-like structure. A linkage is mounted within the box-like structure to transmit rotary motion of the music box mechanism to the animation figure.

Claims

1. An animated music box card, which comprises:

a card sheet;

a box structure attached to said card sheet, said box-like structure including a window;

a music box mechanism mounted within said box-like structure;

an animation figure movably mounted in said box-like structure within said window; and

,

a linkage mounted with said box structure connecting said music box mechanism and said animation figure.

2. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 1, wherein said music box mechanism produces rotary motion and said linkage is arranged to convert said rotary motion produced by said music box mechanism to pivotal motion of said animation figure.

3. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 1, wherein said music box mechanism includes a transversely mounted rotating shaft and said linkage includes:

a transmission for transmitting rotation of said shaft to a wheel rotatably mounted in said box structure on an axis perpendicular to said shaft;

a first link having a first and second end, said first end movably connected to said wheel;

a second link having a first end movably connected to the second end of said first link and a second end pivotally mounted within said box structure.

4. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 3, wherein said animation figure is affixed to said second link.

5. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 1, including a winding key connected to said music box mechanism and extending outwardly of said box structure.

6. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 1, wherein said box structure includes an outward facing front surface and an oppositely facing back surface and said window is formed in said front surface.

7. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 6, wherein said card sheet is connected to said box structure along an edge of said back surface.

8. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 6, including a winding key connected to said music box mechanism and extending outwardly of said box structure through said front surface.

9. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said box structure defines a plane;

said music box mechanism includes a rotating shaft mounted parallel to said plane; and

,

said animation figure is mounted on an axis perpendicular to said plane.

10. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 9, wherein said linkage includes:

a transmission for transmitting rotation of said shaft to a wheel mounted for rotation in said box structure on an axis perpendicular to said plane;

a first link having a first end movably connected to said wheel;

a second link having a first end movably connected to the second end of said first link and a second end operably connected to said animation figure.

11. An animated music box card, which comprises:

a card sheet;

a box structure attached to said card sheet, said box structure including a window and a keyhole; and

,

a music box and animation structure housed in said box structure, said music box and animation structure comprising;

a first structural sheet member;

a second structural sheet member, each of said structural sheet members having respective inner and outer surfaces, and each of said structural sheet members having an interior cutout portion;

a first mounting sheet sandwiched between the inner surfaces of said first and second structural sheet members, said first mounting sheet having a slot formed therein;

an animation figure pivotally mounted to said first mounting sheet on an axis perpendicular to said first mounting sheet;

a second mounting sheet affixed to the outer surface of said first structural sheet member, said second mounting sheet having a window and a keyhole formed therein;

a music box mechanism mounted to said second mounting sheet within said interior cutout portions of said structural sheet members, said music box mechanism including a rotating shaft; and

,

means for transmitting rotation of said rotating shaft to said animation figure.

12. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 11, wherein said transmitting means includes:

a linkage operably connected between said rotating shaft and said animation figure.

13. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 11, wherein said rotating shaft extends parallel to said second mounting sheet, and said transmitting means includes:

a first gear wheel mounted for rotation with said rotating shaft;

a second gear wheel mounted to said second mounting sheet on an axis parallel to said rotating shaft and engaged with said first gear;

a third gear wheel mounted to said second mounting sheet on an axis perpendicular to said rotating shaft and engaged with said second gear wheel;

a first link having a first end rotatably mounted adjacent an edge of said third gear wheel;

an L-shaped second link having a first end rotatably connected to a second end of said first link, said second link extending through said slot in said first mounting sheet into operable connection with said animation figure.

14. An animated music box card, which comprises:

a sheet including;

a rectangular first panel;

a rectangular first side panel connected along a fold line to said first panel, said first side panel including a pair of end tabs;

a rectangular second panel connected along a fold line to said first side panel;

a rectangular second side panel connected along a fold line to said second panel, said second side panel including a pair of end tabs;

a rectangular third panel connected along a fold line to said second side panel, one of said first, second, and third panels including a window and a keyhole;

a first closure flap connected along a folds line to one end of said first, second, and third panels;

a second closure flap connected along a fold line to the other end of one of said first, second, and third panels; and

,

a connection flap connected along a fold line to one of said first and third panels, and said panels being folded with said connection flap being affixed one of said side panels to form a box structure; and

,

a music box and animation structure mounted within said box structure.

15. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 14, wherein said music box and animation structure housed in said box structure comprises:

a first structural sheet member;

a second structural sheet member, each of said structural sheet members having respective inner and outer surfaces, and each of said structural sheet members having an interior cutout portion;

a first mounting sheet sandwiched between the inner surfaces of said first and second structural sheet members, said first mounting sheet having a slot formed therein;

an animation figure pivotally mounted to said first mounting sheet on an axis perpendicular to said first mounting sheet and visible through said window;

a second mounting sheet affixed to the outer surface of said first structural sheet member, said second mounting sheet having a window and a keyhole formed therein;

a music box mechanism mounted to said second mounting sheet within said interior cutout portions of said structural sheet members, said music box mechanism including a rotating shaft; and

,

means for transmitting rotation of said rotating shaft to said animation figure.

16. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 15, wherein said transmitting means includes:

a linkage operably connected between said rotating shaft and said animation figure.

17. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 15, wherein said rotating shaft extends parallel to said second mounting sheet, and said transmitting means includes:

a first gear wheel mounted for rotation with said rotating shaft;

a second gear wheel mounted to said second mounting sheet on an axis parallel to said rotating shaft and engaged with said first gear;

a third gear wheel mounted to said second mounting sheet on an axis perpendicular to said rotating shaft and engaged with said second gear wheel;

a first link having a first end rotatably mounted adjacent an edge of said third gear wheel;

an L-shaped second link having a first end rotatably connected to a second end of said first link, said second link extending through said slot in said first mounting sheet into operable connection with said animation figure.

18. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said connection flap is connected to said first panel; and

,

said third panel defines a card sheet.

19. The animated music box card as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said first and second closure flaps are connected to said second panel; and

,

said window and keyhole are formed in said second panel.