IP Library Granted Patent US 8,448,360
Granted Patent B2
US 8,448,360 · App. 13/198,758 · Granted May 28, 2013

Flap sensor activated greeting cards

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,448,360
App. No.
13/198,758
Granted
May 28, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

The interactive flap sensor activated greeting card of the present invention contains an audio module and a series of “window flaps” across the inside of the greeting card. When the greeting card is opened, a short audio prompt instructs the user to open a series of flaps inside the card to hear further audio messages or sound clips that correlate with the art work inside the card. When each flap is opened, a different audio file is played. The sound module is programmed to react to the card opening and then to trigger additional individual sounds each time one of the flaps of the card is opened. In another embodiment, the greeting card contains a series of flaps wherein opening one flap reveals another flap, and so on. Once the last flap is opened, a short audio recording is activated.

Claims (13)

1. An interactive greeting card comprising:

a greeting card body having at least three greeting card panels with two of the at least three panels forming a cavity therebetween;

a flap contained on one of the at least three greeting card panels;

a sound module operative to store and playback at least one digital audio file, the sound module located inside the cavity formed by two of the at least three greeting card panels;

a three-panel insert located beneath the flap, the three-panel insert having three sub-panels connected along two fold lines and arranged so that each of the three sub-panels are in a stacked arrangement, the three sub-panels each having a flap contained thereon, each flap being integral with its corresponding sub-panel;

a switch connected directly to the third flap;

wherein opening the flap contained on one of the at least three greeting card panels reveals a first flap on a first sub-panel, opening the first flap reveals a second flap on a second sub-panel, opening the second flap reveals a third flap on a third sub-panel, and opening the third flap initiates playback of the at least one digital audio file.

2. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the flap contained on the one of the at least three greeting card panels is larger than the flap located on the first, second and third sub-panels.

3. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the flaps decrease in size with the order in which they are opened.

4. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 , wherein a front surface of each flap contains a printed message or picture contained thereon.

5. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 , wherein each of the flaps reveal a portion of a single printed message.

6. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 , wherein a pull string trigger attached to the third flap initiates playback of the at least one digital audio file upon opening the third flap.

7. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the flap contained on one of the at least three greeting card panels opens in a downward direction.

Assignments (7)
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 →
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 →
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 Aug 19, 2011
From: GUO, JERRY; QIAO, TIGER; SAPP, DAVE; LAVERDIERE, BETH; TALBOT, JOHNATHAN
To: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026776/0313 →