Electronic greeting cards and novelties with moveable elements and manual electronic circuit activation

• US 8,813,397 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2012
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
• Original Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
• Inventors: Budzar, Lauren M., Larson, Seth, Dennis, Erin, Kopsak, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VERAA, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US13/449,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20130097899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 401/240.3, 401/240.8, 401/241.1, 404/55, 200/61.74, 200/61.76, 446/151, 446/152
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 1/00 Cardboard or like show-cards of foldable or flexible material
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 1/04 Folded cards
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 1/06 to be erected in three dimensions G09F1/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/10 on paper articles, e.g. booklets, newspapers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address

Abstract

Greeting cards and novelties with electronic circuits having switch mechanisms operable by manipulation of a moveable component. Manipulation of the moveable component causes activation of the electronic circuit.

Claims

1. A sound greeting card comprising:

a multi-panel greeting card body;

an electronics module contained and concealed between two panels of the multi-panel greeting card body;

a pop-up structure located between two panels of the multi-panel greeting card body;

a pull-tab mechanism attached to the pop-up structure;

wherein pulling the pull-tab mechanism in a downward direction moves the pop-up structure from a first position to a second position and initiates playback of a first audio file, and

wherein releasing the pull-tab mechanism initiates playback of a second audio file.

2. The sound generating greeting card of claim 1 further comprising a spring mechanism that facilitates moving the pull-tab mechanism between the first and second positions.

3. The sound generating greeting card of claim 1, wherein the pop-up structure is shaped like an animal and the pull-tab mechanism between the first and second positions.

4. The sound generating greeting card of claim 1, wherein the first audio file contains a different verbal message than the second audio file.

5. The sound generating greeting card of claim 1 further comprising a slide switch which is triggered by movement of the pull-tab mechanism.

6. The sound generating greeting card of claim 5, wherein the slide switch is triggered when the pop-up mechanism is moved from the first position to the second position.

7. The sound generating greeting card of claim 5, wherein the slide switch is triggered when the pop-up mechanism is moved from the second position back to the first position.

8. A sound generating greeting card comprising:

a multi-panel greeting card body;

an electronics module contained within the multi-panel greeting card body;

at least two pre-recorded audio files contained in memory on the electronics module;

a die cut pop-up structure having a pull-tab mechanism attached thereto, the die cut pop-up structure operative to move between a first position and a second position;

a slide switch which controls playback of a first and second pre-recorded audio file;

wherein movement of the pull-tab mechanism triggers the slide switch, and

wherein pulling the pull-tab mechanism in a downward direction moves the pop-up structure from the first position to the second position and when the pull-tab mechanism is released, the pop-up structure remains in the second position.

9. The sound generating greeting card of claim 8, wherein the die cut pop-up structure is in the shape of an animal.

10. The sound generating greeting card of claim 9, wherein the pull-tab mechanism is in the shape of the animal'"'"'s tongue.

11. The sound generating greeting card of claim 8, wherein the first position is folded flat.

12. The sound generating greeting card of claim 8, wherein the second position is standing upright.

13. The sound generating greeting card of claim 8 further comprising a spring mechanism that facilitates moving the pull-tab mechanism between the first and second positions.

14. A sound generating greeting card comprising:

a multi-panel greeting card body;

a die cut pop-up structure contained between two panels of the multi-panel greeting card body;

an electronics module having at least two pre-recorded audio files contained within memory therein;

a pull-tab which is operative to move the pop-up structure between a folded position and an upright position;

a switch which controls playback of a first pre-recorded audio file when the pull-tab is pulled in a downward direction and playback of a second pre-recorded audio file when the pull-tab is released.

15. The sound generating greeting card of claim 14, wherein the die cut pop-up structure is shaped like an animal and the pull-tab is shaped like the animal'"'"'s tongue.

16. The sound generating greeting card of claim 14, wherein the die cut pop-up structure contains three-dimensional embellishments attached thereto.

17. The sound generating greeting card of claim 14, wherein the pop-up structure remains in an upright position when the pull-tab is released.

18. The sound generating greeting card of claim 14, wherein initially pulling the pull-tab in a downward direction moves the pop-up structure from a folded position to an upright position.