Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02838419 2015-05-05
MOTORIZED GIFT PACKAGE ACCESSORY
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority based on United States Patent Application
13/828,200
entitled "MOTORIZED GIFT PACKAGE ACCESSORY" filed March 14, 2013.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to greeting cards and more specifically, to
greeting cards
having one or more moving elements and functions which create motion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For many years paper greeting cards containing text sentiment and associated
artwork
have been widely used for celebratory occasions such as birthdays,
graduations, weddings, and for
other commercial purposes. More recently, greeting cards have been enhanced by
incorporating
sound and other effects. Sound generating devices have been incorporated into
traditional paper
greeting cards to increase entertainment value and emotional impact. In some
forms, a talking or
musical greeting card looks just like a conventional greeting card, except
that it includes a hidden
sound module with a pre-recorded sound track. Opening the greeting card will
automatically turn
on or close a switch so that the sound module will play the pre-stored music
or dialog and closing
the greeting card will automatically open the switch and stop the play of the
music or dialog.
1
CA 02838419 2014-01-03
There is a need in the art for a greeting card that increases the
entertainment value and
raises the surprise factor of traditional or sound generating greeting cards
that may still be mailed
to a recipient and is relatively similar in size and thickness to a
traditional paper greeting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first embodiment of the present invention and related disclosure includes a
multi-panel
greeting card body, a sound module concealed between two panels of the
greeting card body, a
motor module concealed between two panels of the greeting card body, a mobile
object attached
to the motor module, a power supply, at least one pre-recorded digital audio
file saved within the
sound module, and a switch which activates the sound module and the motor
module upon
opening of the greeting card, activation of the motor module causing movement
of the mobile
object and activation of the sound module causing the at least one pre-
recorded digital audio file
to play.
Another embodiment includes a multi-panel greeting card body, a sound module,
a motor
module, a mobile object comprising two or more die cut pieces that are
connected to each other
at a connection point such that the two or more die cut pieces are pivotable
about the connection
point, the mobile object being attached to a connecting rod, the connecting
rod being attached to
the motor module and the connecting rod being concealed between the greeting
card body and
the mobile object, at least one die cut piece having a front surface and a
back surface, the at least
one die cut piece being located proximate to the mobile object, a spring
mechanism that is
attached at one end to the greeting card body and attached at the other end to
the at least one die
cut piece, a switch to activate the sound module and the motor module wherein
when the sound
module is activated, a pre-recorded audio clip is played and when the motor
module is activated,
the connecting rod and mobile object are set in motion.
Still another embodiment includes a three-dimensional foam greeting card body,
a first
planar surface attached to a front surface of the three-dimensional foam
greeting card body, a
second planar surface attached to a back surface of the three-dimensional foam
greeting card
body, a movable object attached to the first planar surface and connected to a
motor module
through an opening in the three-dimensional foam greeting card body and the
first planar surface,
a sound module encased and concealed within the three-dimensional foam
greeting card body, a
2
CA 02838419 2014-01-03
motor module encased and concealed within the three-dimensional foam greeting
card body, a
power source, and a push button switch, wherein when the push button switch is
pressed, the
sound module is activated causing a pre-recorded digital audio file to play,
and the motor module
is activated causing the mobile object to move or vibrate in an up-and-down
motion.
Yet another embodiment of the motion greeting cards of the present invention
includes a
multi-panel greeting card, a sound module, a motor module having a rotating
gear mechanism
that when activated turns a circular gear, a mobile object attached to the
circular gear of the
motor module, a power supply, at least one pre-recorded digital audio file
saved within the sound
module, and a switch which activates the sound and motor modules module
causing the at least
one pre-recorded digital audio file to play and causing circular or rotational
movement of the
mobile object.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of an inside panel of a first embodiment of the motion
greeting cards of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of the motion greeting card of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a front view of an inside panel of a second embodiment of the motion
greeting cards of
the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of the motion greeting card of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a front view of an inside panel of a third embodiment of the motion
greeting cards of
the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a front view of the motor module of the motion greeting card of FIG.
5.
FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the inside panel of the motion greeting card of
FIG. 5.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the motion greeting
cards of the present
invention.
FIG. 9 is an internal view of the motion greeting card of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the motor of the motion greeting card of FIG.
1 and FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 is a cross-section view of the motor of FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of fifth embodiment of the motion greeting card
of the present
invention, in an open position.
3
CA 02838419 2014-01-03
=
FIG. 13 is a tear away view of the motion greeting card of FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the motion
greeting card of claim
12, in an open position.
FIG. 15 is a tear away view of the motion greeting card of FIG. 14.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view the motorized gift package accessory of the
present invention.
FIG. 17 is a perspective tear-away the motorized gift package accessory of
FIG. 16.
FIG. 18 is an internal view of the motorized gift package accessory of FIG. 16
from the
perspective of arrows 18-18.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS
The motion greeting cards of the present invention and related disclosure
combine
movement with sound and a photograph, illustration or digital art to create a
new and novel
category of greeting card. Each embodiment features a mobile object that is
powered by a small
motor and which simulates motions including, but not limited to, dancing,
bouncing, hopping,
shaking and spinning. Audio including music, voice and/or sound effect may
accompany the
motion and may be triggered before, after, or simultaneously with the motion
effect. The
mechanized movement may be synchronized with the audio.
A first embodiment of the motion greeting cards 100 of the present invention
contains at
least one motor module 10 which causes the movement or "bouncing" of at least
one mobile
object 14 associated with a greeting card body 12. As used herein, the term
"bouncing" is used to
describe up and down motion, side to side motion or any other reciprocating
motion. In a
preferred embodiment, the greeting card body 12 contains three greeting card
panels. A first
panel that is connected to a second panel along a first fold line and a third
panel connected to the
second panel along a second fold line. The first panel serves as the front
cover of the greeting
card. The third greeting card panel is folded along the second fold line such
that it overlies the
second panel and creates an internal cavity wherein the greeting card
electronics can be
concealed. The electronic components, including a sound module 16 and a motor
module 10, are
attached to the second panel and the second and third panels are attached,
adhesively or
otherwise, along at least one edge of the second and third panels. A small
opening or aperture
may exist on the third panel so that the motor component 10 can be connected
to the moving or
4
CA 02838419 2014-01-03
"bouncing" object 14 attached thereto, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The sound
module 16 may
contain any and all components necessary to store and produce or emit sound.
The motor
module 10 may contain any and all components necessary to create movement of
the mobile
object. Some of the internal electronic components may include, but are not
limited to: at least
one circuit board 18; at least one integrated circuit chip 20; at least one
power source 22; at least
one speaker 24; at least one motor 10, at least one switch 26 and at least one
pre-recorded digital
audio clip. The electronic components of the greeting cards described herein
are considered to
be readily understood and appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art and
are therefore not
discussed in detail herein. The motor 10 may be of the type shown in FIG. 2
FIG. 10 and FIG.
11, having a rotating arm 28 or shaft, which may be an offset shaft which
creates oscillatory
motion upon rotation of the shaft by the motor. A lightweight movement
mechanism 30 is
attached at one end to the rotating arm 28 of the motor 10 and at an opposite
end to the greeting
cards mobile object 14 via an attachment mechanism 66. In a preferred
embodiment, the mobile
object 14 is die cut shape of a person, animated character, animal or any
other object having a
substantially planar front and back surface so that it will fit within the
panels of the greeting card
100 without substantially increasing the thickness of the greeting card 100.
The mobile object 14
must be connected to the movement mechanism 30 which is in turn connected to
the rotating arm
28 of the motor 10 so that when the motor 10 is activated, the mobile object
14 moves or
"bounces". The motor 10 may be activated upon the user opening the greeting
card 100. A slide
switch 26 may be located across the first fold line between the first and
second greeting card
panels such that when the greeting card is opened, the electronic components
are activated. The
slide switch 26 may activate both the pre-recorded sound clip and the motor 10
so that when the
greeting card 100 is opened, the pre-recorded sound clip will play along with
the movement of
the mobile object 14 contained within the greeting card 100. The sound clip,
mobile object 14
and greeting card artwork may all be coordinated with a particular theme or
occasion. The
movements of the mobile object 14 may be synchronized with the audio clip such
as, for
example, by operation of the motor 10 while the sound module 16 is turned on,
or by motion of
the mobile object 14 in synch with a song, music or sound clip played by the
sound module 16.
Alternatively, the greeting card 100 may contain separate switches such that
the sound and
motion are not activated simultaneously. For example, the sound may be
triggered by a slide
CA 02838419 2014-01-03
=
switch 26 upon opening the greeting card 100. Once the greeting card 100 is
opened, a push
button or other switch mechanism may be used to activate the motion. In an
alternate
embodiment, where the mobile object 14 is located on the outside of the
greeting card 100, such
as on the front face of the card, the motion and/or sound may be triggered by
a push button
mechanism also located on the front face of the greeting card 100.
In a second embodiment, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the greeting card 200 contains
a motor
module 32 which allows one or more mobile objects 34 associated with a
greeting card body 36
to spin or rotate. The greeting card body 36 configuration may be the same as
described above
with regard to the first embodiment, having three greeting card panels
attached along a first and
second fold line. The electronic components are attached to the second panel
and concealed by
the overlapping third panel which is attached to the second panel along at
least two edges of the
second and third panels. The third panel may contain a small hole or aperture
to connect the
motor 32 to a mobile object 34. The motor 32 may be of the type shown in FIG.
4, having a
rotating gear mechanism 37 that when activated turns a circular gear 38. A
connecting rod 40 is
located between and connects the gear 38 and the mobile object 34 (through the
hole or aperture
in the third panel of the greeting card). As the gear 38 is rotated by the
gear mechanism 37, it in
turn causes the moveable object 34 to rotate or "spin". A slide switch 26 may
activate a pre-
recorded sound clip and the motor 32 upon opening of the greeting card 200.
The sound and
motor 32 may alternatively be activated by separate switches. The moveable
object 34 may be
contained on the inside of the greeting card 200 or on the outside front cover
of the greeting card
200. The mobile object 34 may be a die cut shape such as a fan, a wheel or any
other rotating
object.
In a third embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the motion greeting card 300 of
the
present invention contains at least one motor module 42 that is associated
with at least one body
of a character 44 which, when activated allows the body 44 to move or to
"dance" to the music or
sound contained within the audio module. The greeting card body 46 may have
three panels, as
described above, with the second and third panels overlapping and concealing
the greeting card
electronics and related circuitry. The third panel may have a small opening or
aperture which
allows the motor 42 to be connected to the mobile object 44. The front panel
may also contain a
cut-out portion in the shape of the character head 48 so that it may be seen
without opening the
6
CA 02838419 2014-01-03
=
greeting card 400. The motor module 42 may be of the type shown in FIG. 6,
having a rotating
gear mechanism 37 that when activated turns a circular gear 38, which is in
turn attached to a
connecting rod 40. The mobile object 44 is attached to the other end of the
connecting rod 40.
The character body 44 contains several separate and distinct pieces or
elements representing the
arms 52, legs 54 and main body 44 of the character. Each arm 52 and leg 54 is
made from two
separate die cut pieces. Each of the limbs 52, 54 are connected together and
to the character
using fiber optic strands so that the body 44 and limbs 52, 54 may move or
pivot freely about the
attachment point while moving in a reciprocating motion, giving the illusion
that the character is
dancing. The character head 48 is separated from the body 44 and is connected
to a spring
mechanism 68 that connects the character head 48 to the front surface of the
third greeting card
panel 46 and projects the character head 48 out beyond the position of the
body 44. The
character head 48 projects through the front of the greeting card through the
cut-out contained in
the first card panel. When the greeting card is opened, the audio and motor
modules 42 are
activated and the character body 44 and component parts of the character body
move in a
reciprocating motion and appear to dance to the sound or music played by the
audio module.
In a fourth embodiment, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the motion greeting card 400
of the
present invention contains a motor module 56 that is associated with a three-
dimensional card
body 58 having one or more moving parts and designed as a character which,
when activated
moves in a reciprocating motion, thereby appearing to talk or sing. In this
embodiment, the
greeting card body 58 is substantially made of foam having a three-dimensional
character printed
on the front face of the card. When a user presses a push button 60 located on
the front face of
the greeting card, the audio and motor modules 56 are activated, causing the
one or more moving
parts to move in a reciprocating motion with respect to the greeting card body
58 thus the making
it appear as though the character is talking or singing. A first greeting card
panel is attached to
the front surface of a foam encasement. The foam encasement houses and
conceals the electronic
components, including the sound and motor modules 56, of the greeting card
400. A second
greeting card panel is connected to a third greeting card panel along a first
fold line. The back
surface of the second greeting card panel is attached to the back surface of
the foam encasement
such that the first and second greeting card panels and the foam encasement
(which is located
between the first and second greeting card panels) serves as the front cover
or page of the
7
CA 02838419 2014-01-03
greeting card and the third greeting card panel serves as the back page or
panel of the greeting
card. A separate fourth panel is attached via an attachment mechanism 66 to
the front panel and
serves as the mobile object 62. The panel 62 may be shaped like a mouth or may
be shaped to
correspond to the artwork printed on the front panel of the card such that
when the motor module
is activated, thereby moving the fourth panel in a reciprocating motion, it
gives the illusion that
the character is talking or singing. The fourth panel 62 may contain
additional three-dimensional
features such as moving eyes 64, etc. The motor 56 may be of the type shown in
FIGS. 10 and 11
and described above as having a rotating arm 28 and movement mechanism 30 that
is attached to
the mobile object 62 or fourth panel 62 via an attachment mechanism 66.
Similarly, another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 12 through 15, may include a
three-
dimensional card body 72 made of foam or other lightweight foam-like material.
The three-
dimensional card body 72 may have a front surface, a back surface opposite the
front surface, and
a perimeter surface therebetween. The front surface of the card body may
contain a front cover
material 71A and the back surface of the card body may contain a back cover
material (not
shown). The front 71A and back cover material may be paperboard, cardboard, or
other such
material. The perimeter surface may remain uncovered and visible between the
front and back
cover material or may optionally be covered as well. A sound module operative
to store and
playback at least one audio file is contained within the three-dimensional
card body 72. A motor
module 75 operative to effect movement of a movable object is also contained
within the three
dimensional card body 72. A mobile object 73 is connected to the motor 75
through an opening
in the three-dimensional card body 72 and the front cover material 71A. In a
preferred
embodiment, the mobile object 73 is a die cut shape (such as the pretzel shape
shown in FIGS.
12 and 13), although other items can be used as a mobile object such as a
plastic molded figurine
or any other item having a relatively low profile. The mobile object 73 may
also contain added
embellishments or decorative effects attached thereto. A greeting card
sentiment panel 74 may
be attached along a fold line to either the front 71A or back cover material,
thereby creating a
traditional two-panel greeting card. The sentiment panel 74, along with the
front 71A and/or
back cover material may contain various text greetings or messages and printed
artwork,
= graphics, photographs, or any other printed indicia. The sentiment panel
74 and front 71A and
back cover material may also contain three dimensional embellishments attached
thereto. In one
8
CA 02838419 2014-01-03
=
example, shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the sentiment panel 74 is attached to the
front cover
material 71A such that the sentiment panel 74 serves as the front cover of the
greeting card and is
folded over the three-dimensional card body 72. The mobile object 73 may, as
in the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, be contained between the sentiment panel
74 and the
front cover material 71A (attached to the motor through the front cover
material) so that when
the user opens the greeting card by moving the sentiment panel 74 away from
the three-
dimensional card body 72, the mobile object 73 would be visible. In another
embodiment
(FIGS. 12 and 13), the mobile object may 73 be attached to the motor 75
through an opening in
the front cover material 71A but be visible from the front of the greeting
card and not located
between the sentiment panel 74 and front cover material 71A. In this case, the
three-dimensional
card body 72 may be larger in size than the sentiment panel 74 such that the
sentiment panel 74
only covers part of the three-dimensional card body 72. The sound and motor
modules may be
activated upon opening the greeting card by moving the sentiment panel 74 away
from the three-
dimensional card body 72. In a preferred embodiment, a magnetic switch 76 may
be located
within the sentiment panel 74 and also beneath the front cover material 71A
such that when the
sentiment panel 74 is in a closed position, the magnets 76A, 76B are in
contact, thereby breaking
the electrical circuit. When the greeting card is moved to an open position by
moving the
sentiment panel 74 away from the three-dimensional foam card 72 the magnets
76A, 76B break
contact and allow the electrical circuit to be completed, thereby providing
power to the sound
and/or motor modules. While this embodiment has been described as having a
magnetic switch
or trigger, other switch mechanisms can be used such as slide switches, light
sensitive switches,
touch sensitive switches, pull string switches, or any other suitable switch.
When a user opens
the card 70, the magnetic switch 76 activates the sound and motor modules so
that the sound
module initiates playback of the at least on audio file and the motor module
moves the motor 75
to effect movement of the mobile object 73. As discussed above with respect to
the other
embodiments, the movement of the mobile object 73 may be in an up-and-down,
back-and-forth,
circular, vibrational, or any other conceivable motion.
Another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 16 through 18, is a motorized gift package
accessory 80 with internal sound and motor modules. The motorized gift package
accessory 80
can be used to adorn a gift package while adding increased entertainment value
thereto. A gift
9
CA 02838419 2014-01-03
packaging bow 82 or other decorative effect is attached via an attachment
mechanism (as
described above with respect to the aforementioned embodiments) to a motor 84
which is
contained and concealed within a foam housing 86 with a push button switch 88
used to activate
the motor module causing movement of the bow 82 and the sound module causing
playback of at
least one audio file contained in memory within the sound module. The bow 82
portion of the
motorized gift package accessory 80 may be a typical decorative bow having
various interlaced
ribbons or other material with various knots, loops, ties, twists, ringlets,
loose ends, or other
decorative arrangements. The bow 82 may also contain additional adornments 83
such as die cut
shapes, moving googly eyes, or any other decorative accessory. The bow 82 is
connected at one
end to an attachment arm or mechanism 85 which is also attached at an opposite
end to a motor
84. The motor 84, when powered, causes movement to the bow 82. The motor 84
may be of the
type described above and shown in FIGS. 6 or 10 or any other miniature motor
type capable of
producing any type of reciprocating motion. The motor 82 and sound modules are
contained and
concealed in a base structure 86. The sound module is operative to store and
playback one or
more digital audio files. The base structure 86, in a preferred embodiment, is
made of foam,
although any other lightweight material can be used. In the preferred
embodiment, the base 86 is
circular shaped having two separate circular foam pieces attached together
using glue or other
adhesive. Each of the foam pieces may have openings or cavities therein to
accommodate the
electronic and other components of the sound and motor modules. These
components may
include, but are not limited to: a circuit board 18, an integrated circuit, a
power source 22, a
speaker 24, a motor 84, and any other component which is required or which
facilitates or
improves storage and playback of digital audio and physical movement of a
moveable object.
These components are well known to one having skill in the art. A thin, planar
paper or paper-
like material 81 may be attached, adhesively or otherwise, to the outward
planar surfaces of the
two foam pieces which comprise the base structure 86. The planar material 81
located at the
bottom of the base structure 86, opposite the bow 82, may contain an adhesive
thereon with
removable backing layer to facilitate attachment of the motorized gift
accessory 80 to a gift
package or other item. Although the base structure 86 is described as being
two separate, circular
pieces of foam, it may alternatively be a single piece of foam with one or
more cavities therein
and it may take any conceivable shape. In a preferred embodiment, the base
structure 86 may
CA 02838419 2014-01-03
have a diameter of between 3 and 6 inches. In a preferred embodiment, a push
button switch 88
controls activation of both the sound and motor modules. The push button 88 is
enveloped
within a paperboard or other similar material 89 which conceals the push
button 88 and the wires
connecting the push button 88 to the internal electronic components. The
material 89 surrounding
the push button 88 may be the same or different from the material encasing the
wires. The
material 89 over the push button 88 may contain printing thereon instructing
the user to "Press
Here"; "Make Me Sing"; "Make Me Dance" or other phrase instructing the user
where to press to
effect movement of the bow 82 and to initiate playback of audio. Pressing the
button 88 will
initiate playback of the one or more pre-recorded digital audio saved within
the sound module
while also powering the motor module causing movement of the bow 82. The bow
82 may move
in a circular, twisting, back and forth, up and down, vibrating or other type
of motion, while the
audio plays simultaneously. The audio or movement may automatically stop after
a certain
amount of time has passed or pressing the push button 88 may be required to
stop the audio and
movement of the bow 82. While the motorized gift package accessory 80 has been
described
herein as a bow 82 and in terms of a particular size and shape, other
decorative structures in other
sizes or shapes have been contemplated and are considered to be within the
scope of the present
invention.
Although the switches described herein with respect to the examples given are
described
as being slide switches or push-button switches, the use of other types of
switches is considered
to be within the scope of this invention. Alternate switch mechanisms include,
but are not
limited to: light activated switches; sound activated switches; touch sensor
switches, magnetic
switches; and contact arm switches.
All variations of the motion greeting cards, including those described above,
may
additionally include a microphone and related electronics that would allow a
user to record and
save one or more personalized messages to be played before, during, after or
in place of a pre-
recorded sound clip. The personalized message may be played before a pre-
recorded audio clip
to, for example, introduce the pre-recorded audio clip or may be played after
the pre-recorded
audio clip to, for example, leave a personalized message to end the audio
experience. The
personalized message may also be played simultaneously with the pre-recorded
audio clip
wherein the user may sing-along to a pre-recorded song or instrumental audio
clip, karaoke style.
11
CA 02838419 2014-01-03
=
The personalized message may be triggered by the same switch mechanism that
triggers the pre-
recorded audio file or by a separate switch which may be a slide switch, a
push button, a light-
activated switch, motion sensor switch, or any other type of switch. The sound
module may also
include voice changing capabilities wherein a user may record a personalized
message and then
choose to alter the recorded voice message by increasing or decreasing the
pitch or by speeding
up or slowing down the cadence of the message. The sound module may also have
the ability to
store more than one personalized messages which can be played, in any
combination before,
during, after or in place of a pre-recorded audio clip. The additional
messages may be triggered
by the same trigger or by multiple trigger mechanisms.
Other variations of the motion greeting cards may include the addition of
lights and
additional pre-recorded digital audio files or additional mobile objects.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations
and/or
modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific
embodiments without
departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The
present
embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative
and not restrictive.
Other features and aspects of this invention will be appreciated by those
skilled in the art upon
reading and comprehending this disclosure. Such features, aspects, and
expected variations and
modifications of the examples are clearly within the scope of the invention
where the invention is
limited solely by the scope of the following claims.
12
