Greeting card with subsequent audio after closing

• US 8,937,535 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2014
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hallmark Cards Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hallmark Cards Incorporated
• Inventors: Lien, Timothy J., Watkins, John B., Wertanen, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahase, Pameshanand
• Application Number:
  US14/177,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20140150308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/384.1
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/022 combined with permanently fastened sound-producing or light-emitting means or carrying sound records

Abstract

A greeting card having an audio message and playback device delivers a first sound recording upon opening of the greeting card and a second sound recording upon closing of the greeting card. The delivery of each sound recording may be delayed by a timing component within the audio message and playback device. Additionally, the delivery of each sound recording may be played simultaneously or in queue. Sound recordings may also be recorded by a user using a recording component that is in addition to the audio message and playback device. The audio message and playback device may also include an additional trial mode component that allows the user to test a recorded message before purchasing the greeting card and place the greeting card into a use mode that allows the user to permanently record the message.

Claims

1. An audio greeting card comprising:

a card body having a plurality of panels, wherein one of the panels is a frontmost panel and one of the panels is a rearmost panel, wherein the greeting card is in a closed position when the frontmost panel and the rearmost panel are generally parallel, and wherein the greeting card is in an open position when the frontmost panel and the rearmost panel are not generally parallel;

an audio message playback device coupled with the card body, the device having a memory component with a first audio message stored therein, a speaker for playing the first audio message upon closing of the card, a processor, and a powersource; and

a card status detector, wherein the card status detector detects the closing of the card, wherein a signal is provided to the processor in response to the card status detector detecting the closing of the card, wherein the processor causes the first audio message to be played in response to the signal, and wherein the first audio message is played after closing of the card.

2. The audio greeting card of claim 1, further comprising:

a timing component that delays playing the first audio message a pre-determined amount of time after closing of the card.

3. The audio greeting card of claim 1, wherein the closing of the card is determined based on a pre-determined amount of detected light falling below a threshold level.

4. The audio greeting card of claim 1, wherein the card status detector also detects the opening of the card and wherein the card status detector includes a switch.

5. The audio greeting card of claim 4, wherein the memory component has a second audio message stored therein, wherein the speaker is also for playing the second audio message, and wherein the second audio message is played upon opening of the card.

6. An audio greeting card comprising:

a card body having a plurality of panels, wherein one of the panels is a frontmost panel and one of the panels is a rearmost panel, wherein the greeting card is in a closed position when the frontmost panel and the rearmost panel are generally parallel, and wherein the greeting card is in an open position when the frontmost panel and the rearmost panel are not generally parallel;

an audio message recording and playback device coupled with the card body, the device having a microphone, a memory component for storing a first audio message therein, a speaker for playing the first audio message stored in the memory component upon closing of the card, a power source, a processor, a first switch for initiating a message recording session, and a second switch for initiating a message playback session; and

a card status detector, wherein the card status detector detects the closing of the card, wherein a signal is provided to the processor in response to the card status detector detecting the closing of the card, wherein the processor causes the first audio message to be played in response to the signal.

7. The audio greeting card of claim 6, further comprising:

a timing component that delays playing the first audio message a pre-determined amount of time upon closing of the card.

8. The audio greeting card of claim 7, wherein the pre-determined amount of time is based on the amount of time the card is open prior to the closing of the card.

9. The audio greeting card of claim 6, wherein the card status detector also detects the opening of the card and wherein the card status detector includes a switch.

10. The audio greeting card of claim 9, wherein the memory component has a second audio message stored therein, wherein the speaker is also for playing the second audio message, and wherein the second audio message is played upon opening of the card.

11. The audio greeting card of claim 6, wherein the first audio message stored in the memory component is a user-recorded audio message.

12. An audio greeting card comprising:

a card body having a plurality of panels, wherein one of the panels is a frontmost panel and one of the panels is a rearmost panel, wherein the greeting card is in a closed position when the frontmost panel and the rearmost panel are generally parallel, and wherein the greeting card is in an open position when the frontmost panel and the rearmost panel are not generally parallel;

an audio message recording and playback device coupled with the card body, the device having a microphone, a memory component for storing a plurality of audio messages therein, a speaker for playing at least one audio message of the plurality of audio messages, a power source, a processor, a first switch for initiating a message recording session, and a second switch for initiating a message playback session, wherein a first recorded message of the plurality of audio messages is played upon closing of the greeting card; and

a card status detector, wherein the card status detector detects the opening and the closing of the card, wherein a signal is provided to the processor in response to the card status detector detecting the closing of the card, wherein the processor causes the first recorded message to be played in response to the signal.

13. The audio greeting card of claim 12, further comprising:

a timing component that delays playing the first recorded message a pre-determined amount of time upon closing of the greeting card.

14. The audio greeting card of claim 12, wherein the card status detector includes a switch and wherein the switch is selected from a group consisting of a slide switch and a light detection mechanism.

15. An audio greeting card comprising:

a card body having a plurality of panels, wherein one of the panels is a frontmost panel and one of the panels is a rearmost panel, wherein the greeting card is in a closed position when the frontmost panel and the rearmost panel are generally parallel, and wherein the greeting card is in an open position when the frontmost panel and the rearmost panel are not generally parallel;

an audio message playback device coupled with the card body, the device having a memory component that stores a first audio message therein, a processor that retrieves the first audio message from the memory component and causes the first audio message to be played in response to receiving a first signal indicating that the greeting card has been closed, a speaker that plays the first audio message after the greeting card has closed, and a power source; and

a card status detector that detects that the greeting card has been closed and communicates the first signal to the audio message playback device in response to the card status detector detecting the closing of the card.

16. The audio greeting card of claim 15, further comprising:

a timing component that delays playing the first audio message a pre-determined amount of time after the greeting card has been closed.

17. The audio greeting card of claim 15, wherein the closing of the card is determined based on a pre-determined amount of detected light falling below a threshold level.

18. The audio greeting card of claim 15, wherein the card status detector also detects the opening of the card.

19. The audio greeting card of claim 18, wherein the memory component has a second audio message stored therein, wherein the speaker is also for playing the second audio message, and wherein the second audio message is played upon opening of the card.

20. The audio greeting card of claim 19, wherein the memory component has a second audio message stored therein, wherein the speaker is also for playing the second audio message, and wherein the second audio message is played upon opening of the card.