IP Library Granted Patent US 8,726,547
Granted Patent B2
US 8,726,547 · App. 13/735,649 · Granted May 20, 2014

Greeting card with spring loaded slide track audio trigger

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,726,547
App. No.
13/735,649
Granted
May 20, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An interactive greeting card having a multi-panel greeting card body, a sound module and a molded track contained between two or more panels of the multi-panel greeting card body, and a moveable object which is attached to the molded track through an opening in one or more of the greeting card panels. The moveable object is operative to move from one end of the molded track to the opposite end of the molded track whereby playback of a pre-recorded digital audio file is initiated. The interactive greeting card may additionally contain a small motor which causes movement of a second moveable object and an object launcher which is operative to launch an object along the track and into the air. Other special effects may be included such as lights, additional sounds or movement, or any other special effects which can be incorporated into a greeting card.

Claims (26)

1. An interactive greeting card comprising:

a multi-panel greeting card body;

a sound module;

a molded track;

a spring loaded mobile object attached to the molded track through an opening in one or more panels of the multi-panel greeting card body, the spring loaded mobile object capable of being moved from a first position at one end of the molded track to a second position at an opposite end of the molded track;

wherein when the spring loaded mobile object is moved to the second position, playback of a pre-recorded digital audio file is initiated.

2. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 further comprising a retaining mechanism that holds the spring loaded mobile object at the second position until the greeting card is closed.

3. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 , wherein when the spring loaded mobile object is retained at the second position until the greeting card is closed.

4. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the spring loaded mobile object is reset at the first position when the greeting card is closed.

5. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the molded track contains a single linear vertical or horizontal segment.

6. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the molded track contains two linear segments.

7. An interactive greeting card comprising:

a multi-panel greeting card body;

a sound module contained and concealed within the multi-panel greeting card body;

a motor module contained and concealed within the multi-panel greeting card body;

a spring loaded track;

a first moveable object which is attached to the spring loaded track through an opening in the multi-panel greeting card body, the first die cut object operable to move between a first position at a first end of the spring loaded track and a second position and a second end of the spring loaded track;

a second moveable object which is attached to the motor module through an opening in the multi-panel greeting card body;

wherein when the first moveable object is in the second position, the motor module is initiated, causing movement of the second moveable object.

8. The interactive greeting card of claim 7 wherein the second end of the spring loaded track is proximate to the second moveable object.

9. The interactive greeting card of claim 7 , wherein the first moveable object is located at the first position until a user moves the first moveable object to the second position.

10. The interactive greeting card of claim 7 , wherein when the first moveable object is in the second position, an audio clip is initiated.

11. The interactive greeting card of claim 7 further comprising a slide switch which controls playback of an audio clip upon the user opening the greeting card.

12. The interactive greeting card of claim 11 , wherein the audio clip instructs the user to move the first moveable object along the track to the second position.

13. The interactive greeting card of claim 11 further comprising a retaining mechanism which retains the first moveable object in the second position until the interactive greeting card is closed.

14. The interactive greeting card of claim 11 , wherein the first moveable object is in the first position when the greeting card is opened.

Assignments (5)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2013
From: BOGDANSKI, SHARON; TALBOT, JOHN; BUDZAR, LAUREN; MCCLAIN, MARY; COTTRELL, BRENT; CORNET, MELISSA; MCPEEK, DAVE; CLEARY, BRIAN; FLESHER, MELISSA
To: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 030210/0484 →