IP Library Granted Patent US 8,448,361
Granted Patent B2
US 8,448,361 · App. 13/270,611 · Granted May 28, 2013

Motion greeting cards

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,448,361
App. No.
13/270,611
Granted
May 28, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention and related disclosure describes greeting cards with moving elements or devices which are operable to create motion in connection with some portion of the greeting card. The greeting card may include a multi-panel greeting card body or a three-dimensional foam greeting card body. At least one movable object is contained upon or within the greeting card body. A sound module having at least one pre-recorded digital audio file saved therein and a motor module are contained and concealed within the greeting card body. One or more switches may be used to activate the sound and motor modules, causing the pre-recorded audio file to play and causing movement of the movable or mobile object.

Claims (35)

1. A motion greeting card comprising:

a multi-panel greeting card body;

a sound module operative to store and playback at least one audio file;

a die cut object attached to a motor module, the motor module operative to cause movement of the die cut object;

at least one switch operative to initiate the sound and motor modules;

the die cut object having a first piece, a second piece attached to the first piece at a first pivot point wherein the second piece can move freely about the first pivot point and a third piece attached to the first piece at a second pivot point wherein the second piece can move freely about the second pivot point;

wherein triggering the switch causes the sound module to initiate playback of the at least one audio file and also causes the motor module to cause movement of the die cut object, wherein the second and third pieces move about the first and second pivot points respectively.

2. The motion greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the die cut object is made of paperboard.

3. The motion greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the switch is a slide switch.

4. The motion greeting card of claim 1 , wherein a single switch initiates both the sound and motor modules.

5. The motion greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the sound and motor modules are initiated upon opening the greeting card.

6. The motion greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the die cut object is located between at least two panels of the multi-panel greeting card body.

7. The motion greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the die cut object is shaped like a character.

8. A motion greeting card comprising:

a greeting card body having multiple greeting card panels;

a sound module contained between two or more of the multiple greeting card panels of the greeting card body, the sound module operative to store and playback at least one audio file;

a motor module contained between two or more of the multiple greeting card panels of the greeting card body, the motor module operative to cause movement to a moveable object attached thereto;

the moveable object having one or more objects attached thereto at one or more attachment points, wherein the one or more objects are pivotable about the attachment points, the moveable object connected to the motor module through an opening in one or more of the multiple greeting card panels of the greeting card body;

wherein opening the greeting card triggers playback of the at least one audio file and movement of the moveable object via the motor module.

9. The motion greeting card of claim 8 , wherein the one or more object attached to the moveable object dangle and move freely from the attachment points.

10. The motion greeting card of claim 8 , wherein movement of the moveable object via the motor module also causes movement of the one or more object attached to the moveable object.

11. The motion greeting card of claim 8 further comprising a slide switch.

12. The motion greeting card of claim 8 , wherein the moveable object is contained between two or more of the multiple greeting card panels.

13. The motion greeting card of claim 8 , wherein the moveable object is located on the inside of the greeting card.

14. The motion greeting card of claim 8 , wherein the moveable object is visible from the front of the greeting card.

15. The motion greeting card of claim 8 , wherein the moveable object is not visible from the front of the greeting card.

16. A motion greeting card comprising:

three or more greeting card panels;

a mobile object attached to a motor module, the motor module operative to cause movement of the mobile object;

the mobile object comprising a main die cut shape having two or more die cut shapes, each of the two or more die cut shapes connected to the main die cut shape via an attachment point, wherein the two or more die cut shapes are pivotable about the attachment point;

wherein the mobile object takes the shape of a character with moving limbs.

17. The motion greeting card of claim 16 further comprising a sound module operative to store and playback at least one audio file.

18. The motion greeting card of claim 16 , wherein a slide switch controls movement of the motor module.

19. The motion greeting card of claim 16 , wherein the mobile object is contained between two or more greeting card panels.

20. The motion greeting card of claim 16 , wherein movement of the mobile object also causes the at least two die cut shapes to pivot about the main die cut shape at the attachment point.

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 →
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 →