Printed matter – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-13
2001-03-13
Wellington, A. L. (Department: 3722)
Printed matter
Miscellaneous
C040S124150, C446S149000, C446S150000, C428S015000, C428S017000, C428S022000, C428S027000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199912
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of greeting cards, and in particular greeting cards that provide a 3-dimensional (3-D) effect.
BACKGROUND
Greeting cards have become a ubiquitous feature of our society, and can be obtained celebrating every religious and secular or no event other than “Thinking of you” They range from the simplest of postcards to complex multi-layered structures giving a 3-dimensional (3-D) effect.
Yarnmunilert U.S. Design Patent 347,242 teaches a box-like structure within which a single artificial rose stem is mounted flat on the back of the box. A hole in the front allows the viewer a sight of the blossom, and opening the box gives a full view of blossom, foliage and stem. The only 3-D effect arises from the fact that the item displayed is itself 3-dimensional.
Sanford U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,806 provides a musical greeting card constituting a box held closed by interference fit, a music box within activated by opening the box, and a decorative flower stem resiliently supported on a tab integral with and extending angularly from a platform located on the inside of the box cover. When the box is closed, the tab carrying the flower stem decorative member is biased towards the platform, and when the box is opened the tab and decorative member spring away from the platform so as to pop up. Alternatively, the decorative member is resiliently supported on a compressed coil spring mounted on the platform.
Collins U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,823 shows a decorative display apparatus in which balloons are fastened to first ends of rods and the other ends of the rods are supported by a vertical display panel.
Penick U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,681 provides a pop-up device in which display elements are hinged to the inside surfaces of front and back covers. Opening the front cover causes erection of the display elements. Tabs limit the movement of the display elements so that they stand separated one from another.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a simple foldable greeting card that in folded position is relatively flat and fits comfortably into an ordinary mailing envelope. Thus the basic card and envelope, both being made of paper or cardboard (that preferably is recycled and recyclable), are available at minimum cost.
On an inside surface, usually of the front of the card, is a decorative display, such as an artificial floral arrangement, made from materials chosen to have physical properties that cause the various portions of the display to provide of their own accord a self-generated pop-up 3-D structure when the card is opened. Thus the need for springs or other structures to create a pop-up effect is eliminated.
Decorative elements of the decorative display, for example foliage and/or blossoms of various kinds and colors, are made from paper, cloth, thin sheet or formed plastic, thin metal or the like, having a stiffness modulus and ductility sufficient to ensure the opening up of the display when card is opened, but not so great as to prevent flattening when the card is closed and such that the elements will maintain their positions though several cycles of opening and closing.
One embodiment of the invention provides as decorative elements one or more wires of small diameter anchored at one end (proximal) to the card and at the other end (distal) being free-floating and carrying a decorative item, such as a blossom. Again, a wire is chosen that has a stiffness modulus and ductility sufficient to ensure that upon opening the card the distal end springs out and is free floating forward of the card but not so great as to prevent flattening when the card is closed and such that the wires will maintain their positions though several cycles of opening and closing. The weight of the decorative item on the distal end naturally will affect the required stiffness modulus. The wire is ordinarily made of metal, such as copper, iron, steel, aluminum, etc., though extruded stiff but ductile plastic, or dried natural steams or reeds may also be used. It is preferred that the wire be readily bent into whatever shape the artist desires.
One skilled in the art, having been given the present disclosure, will readily choose by simple experiment whether a particular material or wire has the required stiffness as described herein. The materials chosen must also have sufficient ductility that they do not break upon just a few flexures.
While the decorative display is the principal feature of the invention, other surfaces of the card, both inside and outside, will normally carry the greeting message and other verbal and graphic matters.
The decorative displays of this invention comprise one or more decorative elements that pop up to form a self-generated 3-D structure. Particularly attractive are displays comprising multiple such decorative elements, wherein each independently has sufficient stiffness modulus to move of its own accord, whereby the multiple elements together provide a cumulative 3-D structure.
Multiple elements afford the designer great freedom in the placements and arrangement of the various aspects of the overall display. Elements can be present in as large an area of the card as may be desired. A multi-layer open 3-D structure can be created by arranging at least one of the decorative elements to stand farther forward of the face of the card than others and displaced laterally and/or vertically from others, enhancing the visibility of elements closer to the card. At least one of said other elements can be, for example, longer and narrower than the farther forward element(s).
REFERENCES:
patent: 4774780 (1988-10-01), Crowell
patent: 5022681 (1991-06-01), Penick
patent: 5261172 (1993-11-01), Rowley
patent: 5613612 (1997-03-01), Davault
patent: 5658620 (1997-08-01), Ross
patent: 5682999 (1997-11-01), Larson
patent: 5687992 (1997-11-01), Finkelshetyn
Henderson Mark T.
Upham John D.
Wellington A. L.
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