Greeting card having integrated bubble feature

• US 8,745,905 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brady Bandow, Evan Will
• Original Assignee: Brady Bandow, Evan Will
• Inventors: Bandow, Brady, Will, Evan
• Primary Examiner(s): JUNGE, KRISTINA N S
• Application Number:
  US13/539,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20130000163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 709 Days
• Field of Search: 401/240.1, 401/240.3, 446/150
• US Class Current: 40/124.01
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/28 Soap-bubble toys; Smoke toys blowing smoke rings A24F13/30
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/027 combined with permanently fastened other articles, e.g. photographs

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for a greeting card having an integrated bubble feature. The greeting card may include, in one non-limiting example: a frame; an energy storage device; a switch mechanism; a motor operatively connected to each of the energy storage device and the switch mechanism; a fan operatively connected to the motor; and a bubble forming substrate.

Claims

1. A greeting card having an integrated bubble feature, comprising:

a frame, wherein the frame is at least one of a greeting card and a portion of a greeting card, and wherein the frame comprises a cover;

an energy storage device operatively connected to the frame;

a switch mechanism operatively connected to the frame, wherein the switch mechanism is activated upon at least one of a user manipulating the cover, a user manipulating a switch, and exposure to a light source;

a motor operatively connected to each of the frame, the energy storage device, and the switch mechanism;

a fan operatively connected to the frame and the motor; and

a bubble forming substrate operatively connected to the frame.

2. The card of claim 1, further comprising a tube configured to transport a bubble solution.

3. The card of claim 2, further comprising at least one pressure clasp operatively connected to the tube.

4. The card of claim 2, further comprising at least one circular gear operatively connected to the tube.

5. The card of claim 1, further comprising a solution container.

6. The card of claim 1, further comprising an air shaft operatively connected to each of the fan and the bubble forming substrate.

7. The card of claim 1, further comprising a bubble solution.

8. The card of claim 1, further comprising an arm member operatively connected to each of the bubble forming substrate and the frame.

9. The card of claim 1, further comprising a circuit board operatively connected to each of the energy storage device, the switch mechanism, and the motor.

10. A greeting card with an integrated bubble feature, comprising:

a frame, wherein the frame is at least one of a greeting card and a portion of a greeting card, and wherein the frame comprises a cover;

a tube operatively connected to the frame, the tube configured to transport a bubble solution;

a solution container operatively connected to the frame;

a bubble forming substrate operatively connected to the frame;

an energy storage device operatively connected to the frame;

a switch mechanism operatively connected to the frame, wherein the switch mechanism is activated upon at least one of a user manipulating the cover, a user manipulating a switch, and exposure to a light source;

a motor operatively connected to each of the frame, the energy storage device, and the switch mechanism; and

a fan operatively connected to the frame and the motor.

11. The card of claim 10, wherein the frame comprises an aperture operatively connected to the bubble forming substrate.

12. The card of claim 10, further comprising a bubble solution.

13. The card of claim 10, wherein the solution container comprises a pliable structure configured to allow a user to compress the solution container.

14. A greeting card with an integrated bubble feature, comprising:

a frame, wherein the frame is at least one of a greeting card and a portion of a greeting card, and wherein the frame comprises a cover;

a tube operatively connected to the frame, the tube configured to transport a bubble solution;

a fan operatively connected to the frame;

a bubble forming substrate operatively connected to the frame;

a solution container operatively connected to the frame; and

a spring device operatively connected to the frame, the spring device having an output gear, wherein the output gear is operatively connected to an input shaft, wherein the input shaft includes a gear configured to interact with the output gear, and wherein the input shaft is connected to the fan.

15. The card of claim 14, further comprising at least one circular gear operatively connected to the tube.

16. The card of claim 14, further comprising a pull string operatively connected to the spring device.

17. The card of claim 14, further comprising a crank operatively connected to the spring device.

18. The card of claim 14, further comprising a bubble solution.

19. The card of claim 14, wherein the solution container is selectively sealed such that a gas or liquid cannot pass into or from the solution container until a user permits the gas or liquid to pass into or from the solution container.