IP Library Granted Patent US 8,490,305
Granted Patent B2
US 8,490,305 · App. 13/330,754 · Granted Jul 23, 2013

Motion greeting cards

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,490,305
App. No.
13/330,754
Granted
Jul 23, 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 (26)

1. A motion greeting card comprising:

a multi-panel greeting card body;

a sound module operative to store and playback at least one digital audio file, the sound module concealed between at least two panels of the multi-panel greeting card body;

a motor module operative to cause the movement of a mobile object connected to a motor, the motor module concealed between at least two panels of the multi-panel greeting card body;

a switch which controls activation of the sound and motor modules;

the mobile object comprising a body and the at least three attachments which are separately attached to and are separately pivotable about the body;

wherein at least one of the at least three attachments is also attached to a separate sub-panel about a separate pivot point.

2. The motion greeting card of claim 1 , wherein activation of the motor module causes movement of the mobile object, the at least three attachments moving freely about an attachment point between each of the at least three attachments and the body.

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

4. The motion greeting card of claim 1 , wherein at least four attachments are separately attached to and are separately pivotable about the body.

5. The motion greeting card of claim 1 , wherein one of the panels of the multi-panel greeting card body contains an opening therein through which a connection arm attaches the motor to the mobile object.

6. The motion greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the body of the mobile object is a substantially planar die cut panel.

7. The motion greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the at least three attachments are substantially planar die cut panels.

8. A motion greeting card comprising:

a multi-panel greeting card body;

a sound module;

a motor module;

a mobile object comprising a first substantially planar die cut piece and at least one substantially planar attachment, the at least one substantially planar attachment being connected to the first substantially planar die cut piece at a pivot point where the at least one substantially planar attachment is pivotable about pivot point with respect to the main substantially planar die cut piece;

a second substantially planar die cut piece which is attached to one panel of the multi-panel greeting card body via an attachment mechanism, the second substantially planar die cut piece being located proximate to the mobile object;

a switch operative to activate the sound and motor modules;

wherein the sound and motor modules are activated upon opening the greeting card, the sound module initiating playback of at least one digital audio file and the motor module causing movement of the mobile object, and

wherein one of the panels of the multi-panel greeting card body contains an opening therein through which the second substantially planar die cut piece is visible.

9. The motion greeting card of claim 8 , wherein the mobile object is connected to the motor module through an opening in one of the panels of the multi-panel greeting card body.

10. The motion greeting card of claim 8 , wherein the opening on one of the panels of the multi-panel greeting card body is shaped like the second substantially planar die cut piece.

11. The motion greeting card of claim 8 , wherein the attachment mechanism is a spring.

12. The motion greeting card of claim 8 , wherein the first substantially planar die cut piece and the at least one substantially planar attachment are connected via a fiber optic strand.

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 →