IP Library Granted Patent US 8,312,652
Granted Patent B2
US 8,312,652 · App. 12/782,995 · Granted Nov 20, 2012

Sing-a-long greeting cards

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,312,652
App. No.
12/782,995
Granted
Nov 20, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic greeting card containing a recordable audio module with a pre-recorded audio or music clip which allows a user to sing along with the pre-recorded audio or music clip and record it within the audio module in the card. The greeting card contains a slide trigger that activates the pre-recorded sound clip upon opening the greeting card. A second push-button trigger controls playback of the pre-recorded music clip while simultaneously recording the user singing along to the pre-recorded music. The card also contains a preview function that allows a consumer to try the recording function before purchasing the greeting card. In preview mode, the recorded message is played back, simultaneously with the pre-recorded clip, only once and then erased. Once a consumer has purchased the card, the preview function can be disabled whereby the user-recorded sound clip is saved, and whereby the user-recorded sound clip is played back simultaneously with the pre-recorded sound clip.

Claims (31)

1. A recordable greeting card comprising:

a multi-panel greeting card body;

a recordable audio module operative to record, save and playback digital recordings;

at least one pre-recorded digital audio file saved in memory on the recordable audio module;

a pull tab switch operative to be in a first mode wherein the pull tab is connected to the greeting card and a second mode wherein the pull tab is disconnected from the greeting card;

wherein when the pull tab switch is in the first mode, pre-recorded verbal instructions are played upon opening the greeting card; and

wherein when the pull tab switch is in the first mode, a user may record a message which is automatically replayed and erased and when the pull tab switch is in the second mode, a user may record a message which is saved within memory on the recordable audio module and simultaneously replayed along with the at least one pre-recorded digital audio file upon opening the greeting card.

2. The recordable greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the pull tab switch is accessed through a slot on the back cover of the greeting card.

3. The recordable greeting card of claim 1 , wherein a the pre-recorded verbal instructions instruct a user how to record a message.

4. The recordable greeting card of claim 1 , wherein a slide switch controls playback of an audio recording upon opening the greeting card.

5. The recordable greeting card of claim 1 , wherein lyrics to a song which is contained on the at least one digital audio file are printed on an inside panel of the greeting card.

6. The recordable greeting card of claim 1 , wherein a push-button switch controls recording of a user-recorded message or song.

7. The recordable greeting card of claim 6 , wherein the push button switch is accessed through an inside panel of the greeting card.

8. The recordable greeting card of claim 1 , wherein when the pull tab switch is in the second mode, a user may record over an existing saved user-recording by recording another message or song.

9. A recordable greeting card comprising:

a multi-panel greeting card body;

a recordable audio module operative to record, save and playback digital audio;

a first pre-recorded audio file contained in memory on the recordable audio module, the first pre-recorded audio file containing a verbal greeting and instructions for a user to record a personal message or song;

a second pre-recorded audio file contained in memory on the recordable audio module, the second pre-recorded audio file containing background music;

a push button switch operative to control recording of a user-recorded message or song, the push button switch being through an inside panel of the greeting card;

a pull tab switch which controls whether or not a user-recorded message is saved or immediately erased after playback;

wherein the second pre-recorded audio file and the user-recorded message or song may be played back simultaneously.

10. The recordable greeting card of claim 9 , wherein the pull tab switch is accessed through a back panel of the multi-panel greeting card body.

11. The recordable greeting card of claim 9 , wherein the pull tab switch has a first mode wherein it is attached to the greeting card.

12. The recordable greeting card of claim 11 , wherein the pull tab switch has a second mode wherein it is detached from the greeting card.

13. The recordable greeting card of claim 12 , wherein when the pull tab switch is in the first mode, a user-recorded message or song is immediately erased after a single playback.

14. The recordable greeting card of claim 13 , wherein when the pull tab switch is in the second mode, a user-recorded message or song is saved in memory until a user records a second user-recorded message or song.

15. The recordable greeting card of claim 14 , wherein the contents of the first pre-recorded audio file are not played back once the pull tab switch is in the second mode.

16. The recordable greeting card of claim 9 , wherein lyrics to the background music on the second pre-recorded audio file are printed on the multi-panel greeting card body.

17. The recordable greeting card of claim 9 , wherein the second pre-recorded audio file cannot be erased.

18. The recordable greeting card of claim 9 , wherein recording instructions are printed on an inside panel of the greeting card.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 12, 2018
From: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045915/0841 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: AGC HOLDINGS, LLC; AGC, LLC; AGCM, INC.; AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION; A.G.C. INVESTMENTS, INC.; A.G. EUROPE, INC.; A.G. INDUSTRIES, INC.; AG INTERACTIVE, INC.; A.G. (UK), INC.; AGP KIDS, INC.; CARDSTORE, INC. FORMERLY KNOWN AS PHOTOWORKS, INC.; CARLTON CARDS RETAIL, INC.; CREATACARD, INC.; CREATACARD INTERNATIONAL LEASING INC.; CLOUDCO, INC.; CUSTOM HOLDINGS, INC.; GIBSON GREETINGS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED; JOHN SANDS (AUSTRALIA) LTD.; JOHN SANDS (N.Z.) LTD.; JOHN SANDS HOLDING CORP.; MEMPHIS PROPERTY CORPORATION; MIDIRINGTONES, LLC; PAPYRUS-RECYCLED GREETINGS, INC.; PLUS-MARK LLC, FORMERLY KNOWN AS PLUS MARK, INC.; THOSE CHARACTERS FROM CLEVELAND, INC.; PRGCO, LLC; RPG HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 045917/0006 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 12, 2018
From: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045307/0476 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT OF PATENTS Recorded Sep 10, 2013
From: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
To: PNC BANK, A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031200/0816 →
AMENDMENT TO COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT OF PATENTS/SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 13, 2010
From: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 024672/0159 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2010
From: MAYER, DAVID; MCCLAIN, MARY; MARSH, ALLISON; JIN, EVA; QIAO, TIGER
To: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024592/0212 →