IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,189,977
Granted Patent B2
US 9,189,977 · App. 13/095,071 · Granted Nov 17, 2015

Electronic greeting cards

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,189,977
App. No.
13/095,071
Granted
Nov 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Electronic greeting cards include a greeting card with two or more interconnected panels in combination with a digital multimedia player device which includes an electronic display and an audio output, and circuitry which is operative to receive, store and play digital multimedia files and content. The various greeting card structures cover and encapsulate or otherwise house and adorn the digital multimedia player. Digital files are loaded on to the digital multimedia player by a connection to a network, or directly from a data storage device such as an SD card or USB connection or compact flash which interfaces with a port in the digital multimedia player. Pre-recorded digital multimedia greeting card content is either pre-loaded on a portable data storage device, or selected for purchase and downloaded or transferred for replay by the digital multimedia player of the electronic greeting card.

Claims (13)

1. An electronic greeting card comprising:

a multi-panel greeting card body;

a digital media player device with display screen contained within the multi-panel greeting card body and visible through an opening in the greeting card body;

the digital media player device operative to store and playback one or more digital data files and one or more audio files;

a magnetic switch operative to initiate playback of at least one digital data file upon opening of the greeting card;

a slide-out USB port which moves between a first position wherein it is substantially contained within the greeting card and a second position wherein it exits the greeting card, the slide-out USB port being electronically connected to the digital media player device;

wherein the multi-panel greeting card body contains at least two openings thereon through which the display screen is visible.

2. The electronic greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the one or more digital data files include digital images or photographs.

3. The electronic greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the one or more digital data files include a digital audio data file.

4. The electronic greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the one or more digital data files include a video data file.

5. The electronic greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the switch is a slide switch.

6. The electronic greeting card of claim 1 further comprising an SD card slot.

7. The electronic greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the multi-panel insert is made of corrugate.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2023
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION; AGC HOLDDINGS, LLC; AGC, LLC; A.G.C. INVESTMENTS, INC.; A.G. EUROPE, INC.; A.G. INDUSTRIES, INC.; AG INTERACTIVE, INC.; A.G. (UK), INC.; AGP KIDS, INC.; CARLTON CARDS RETAIL, INC.; CLOUDCO, INC.; CREATEACARD, INC.; CREATEACARD INTERNATIONAL LEASING INC.; CUSTOM HOLDINGS, INC.; GIBSON GREETINGS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED; JOHN SANDS (AUSTRALIA) LTD.; JOHN SANDS (N.Z.) LTD.; JOHN SANDS HOLDING CORP.; MEMPHIS PROPERTY CORPORATION; PAPYRUS-RECYCLED GREETINGS, INC.; PLUS MARK LLC, FORMERLY KNOWN AS PLUS MARK, INC.; RPG HOLDINGS, INC.; THOSE CHARACTERS FROM CLEVELAND, INC.; AGCM, INC.; MIDIRINGTONES, LLC; CARDSTORE, INC, FORMERLY KNOWN AS PHOTOWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 064640/0852 →
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 →
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 →
FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 27, 2012
From: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION; AGC HOLDINGS, LLC; AGC, LLC; A.G.C. INVESTMENTS, INC.; A.G. EUROPE, INC.; A.G. INDUSTRIES, INC.; AG INTERACTIVE, INC.; A.G. (UK), INC.; AGP KIDS, INC.; CARLTON CARDS RETAIL, INC.; CLOUDCO, INC.; CREATACARD, INC.; CREATACARD INTERNATIONAL LEASING INC.; CUSTOM HOLDINGS, INC.; GIBSON GREETINGS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED; JOHN SANDS (AUSTRALIA) LTD.; JOHN SANDS (N.Z.) LTD.; JOHN SANDS HOLDING CORP.; MEMPHIS PROPERTY CORPORATION; PAPYRUS-RECYCLED GREETINGS, INC.; PLUS MARK LLC, FORMERLY KNOWN AS PLUS MARK, INC.; RPG HOLDINGS, INC.; THOSE CHARACTERS FROM CLEVELAND, INC.; AGCM, INC.; MIDIRINGTONES, LLC; CARDSTORE, INC, FORMERLY KNOWN AS PHOTOWORKS, INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 027935/0308 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2011
From: MAYER, DAVID; SAPP, DAVID; MARSH, ALLISON; GUO, JERRY; QIAO, TIGER
To: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026501/0230 →