Clip card

• US 6,523,292 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2000
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brenda L. Slavik
• Original Assignee: Brenda L. Slavik
• Inventors: Slavik, Brenda L.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, CASSANDRA HOPE
• Application Number:
  US09/737,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20020095844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 406/66, 406/45, 406/58, 406/47, 406/52, 248/160, 248/274.1, 248/276.1, 248/316.7
• US Class Current: 40/666
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/00 Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on or in vehicles G09F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/20 for adjustable, removable, or interchangeable labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/206 specially adapted for marking or identifying plants

Abstract

A printed greeting card is placed within a two-sided frame-like casing which is suspended in a vertical plane such that both sides of the greeting card can be viewed. The casing extends from a combination elongate connector strand and clip. The clip can be releasably attached to any element in a floral arrangement, to a single floral stem, as well as to other gifts such as stuffed animals or gift bags. The greeting card may be a flat card with printing on one or both sides, or may alternatively be folded in half in the fashion of traditional hand-held greeting cards. In all cases, the greeting card is placed within the frame-like casing by insertion through a slot in the side of the casing so that both exterior surfaces are easily viewable.

Claims

1. A display device for presenting a message, the display device comprising:

message display means comprising a casing having a first hollow frame and a second hollow frame, the first hollow frame having the same size and exterior shape as the second hollow frame, the first hollow frame comprising a first outer face, a first inner face which is opposed to said first outer face, said first hollow frame comprising a first end, a second end which is opposed to said first end, and a mid portion which extends between said first end and said second end,

said first hollow frame comprising a first inside edge and a first outside edge, wherein said first outside edge is opposed to said first inside edge, the second hollow frame comprising a second outer face, a second inner face which is opposed to said second outer face, said second hollow frame comprising a first end, a second end which is opposed to said first end, and a mid portion which extends between said first end and said second end,

said second hollow frame comprising a second inside edge and a second outside edge, wherein said second outside edge is opposed to said second inside edge, each of the first and second hollow frames being joined along a portion of their respective first and second outside edges, the casing being folded along said portion of respective first, and second outside edges such that, when assembled, the first inner face of said first hollow frame is immediately adjacent to and confronting said second inner face of said second hollow frame, tile folded casing providing a means for holding an imprinted card therebetween,

the casing having a first opening within said first end of each respective first and second hollow frames, said first opening being sized to fittingly receive outer diameter of the curvilinear strand therethrough, said first opening being provided with a widened portion adjacent to but spaced apart from said first end of each respective first and second hollow frames, said widened portion of said first opening being sized to receive the widened portion of said second end of said connection means therein;

elongate connection means formed of plastic comprised of a curvilinear strand which is flexible and resilient and is provided with enough stiffness so that the displayed message is held in the desired orientation, the elongate connection means having a first end, a second end, and an outer diameter wherein the first end of the connection means is fixed to and extends from the securement means and the second end of the connection means is provided with a widened portion; and

securement means selectively releasable allowing attachment of the display device to an object, the elongate connection means connecting the message display means to the securement means.

2. The display device of claim 1 wherein the securement means is comprised of a resilient spring clip.

3. The display device of claim 2 wherein the resilient plastic clip is comprised of a flat hollow cylindrical ring, the ring comprising a wall which defines an inner surface, an outer surface, a top edge, and bottom edge, the ring further comprising a discontinuity such that a portion of the wall is open, the ring being attached to the connection means at a location which is opposed to the discontinuity,

the ring comprising a first elongate finger tab and a second elongate finger tab, each of said first and second elongate finger tabs extending tangentially outward from said ring adjacent to said discontinuity, and

the ring comprising a plurality of teeth which extend radially inward from the inner surface.

4. The display device of claim 3 wherein the top edge of the ring defines a first plane, and wherein the first outer face of the casing defines a second plane, and wherein the display device being configured such that the first plane lies perpendicular to the second plane so that when the plastic clip is in use, the top edge of the ring lies in the horizontal plane and the first outer face of the casing is oriented in the vertical plane.

5. The display device of claim 4 wherein the casing is formed in the shape of a rectangle.

6. The display device of claim 4 wherein the casing is formed in the shape of a heart.

7. The display device of claim 4 wherein the casing is formed in the shape of a balloon.

8. A combination display means and graphic card, wherein

said display means comprises a casing, a connector, and a clip, and

said graphic card comprises flat sheet material having imprinted indicia thereon, the flat sheet material having a first side, a second side opposed the first side, and a thickness which is small compared to the length and width of the material,

said casing providing a two-sided frame which receives the graphic card within a hollow portion formed within an interior portion of the two-sided flame, the two-sided frame allowing both said first side and said second side of said graphic card to be viewed, said first face which corresponds to a first side of said two-sided frame, said casing is provided with a second face which corresponds to the opposing side of said two-sided frame, said casing is provided with a peripheral edge which corresponds to the body of said two sided frame and which separates and lies generally perpendicular to said first face and said second face, a first portion of said peripheral edge having a first slot formed therein providing a means for inserting said graphic card into and removing said graphic card from said interior portion of said two-sided frame, said connector comprising an elongate strand which connects said casing to said clip,

said connector having a first end, a second end which is opposed to said first end, and a body portion which extends between said first end and said second end, wherein said body portion is formed in the shape of an “

S”

, wherein said first end, said second end and said body portion all lie in a first plane, and wherein said connector is formed of a material which is resilient and flexible, said first end of said connector extends from said clip, and wherein said second end of said connector terminates in a stop, said stop comprising a rectangular plate having dimensions which are greater than that of said second end, said stop lying perpendicular to said second end,

a second portion of said peripheral edge is provided with a second slot formed therein, said second slot forming a channel between a vacancy formed within said peripheral edge of said two sided frame, said vacancy lying adjacent to but spaced apart from said the exterior surface of said two sided frame, said second slot sized having dimensions which sized to fittingly receive said second end of said connector therethrough, said second slot further having dimensions which are less than that of the stop, such that when the two sided frame is assembled said stop is positioned within said vacancy, and said second end of said connector resides within said second slot in said peripheral edge and is prevented from being withdrawn from said second slot,

said clip comprising a selectively releasable spring fastener.

9. The combination display means and graphic card of claim 8 wherein said graphic card is imprinted with indicia on at least said first side of said graphic card.

10. The combination display means and graphic card of claim 9 wherein said graphic card is folded in half to form a greeting card such that said first side of said graphic card forms an exterior surface of said greeting card, and such that said second side of said graphic card forms an interior surface of said greeting card,

wherein at least a portion of said exterior surface of said greeting card is provided with imprinted indicia.