IP Library Granted Patent US 8,973,292
Granted Patent B1
US 8,973,292 · App. 14/479,345 · Granted Mar 10, 2015

Greeting card with pull string curtain

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,973,292
App. No.
14/479,345
Granted
Mar 10, 2015
Kind
B1
Abstract

An interactive greeting card which contains a moveable object attached to a motor and a sound module operative to store and playback at least one pre-recorded audio file. The moveable object is contained on an inside panel of the greeting card concealed beneath a curtain. The curtain contains a pull string cord which when pulled, opens the curtain revealing the moveable object while also triggering playback of the pre-recorded audio and triggering activation of the motor module, causing movement of the mobile object.

Claims (43)

1. An interactive greeting card comprising:

a multi-panel greeting card body;

a mobile object connected to a motor which is concealed between two or more panels of the multi-panel greeting card body, the motor operative to cause movement of the mobile object;

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

a curtain covering a portion of an inside of the greeting card, concealing the mobile object;

a pull-cord which when pulled,

opens the curtain revealing the moveable object,

activates the motor which causes movement of the moveable object, and

activates the sound module triggering playback of the at least one audio file;

wherein closing the greeting card causes the movement of the mobile object and the audio playback to cease and also causes the curtain to close.

2. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 , wherein movement of the curtains is controlled by a motorized gear mechanism.

3. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the mobile object is a die cut shape.

4. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the mobile object is substantially planar.

5. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the curtain is two separate pieces of material.

6. The interactive greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the pull-cord is attached at one end to a lever which activates a switch upon a user pulling on the pull-cord.

7. An interactive greeting card comprising:

a rectangular frame having four sides and an opening therein;

a multi-panel greeting card which covers the rectangular frame;

a mobile object which is located within the opening on the rectangular frame and attached to a motor module;

the motor module contained within the rectangular frame and concealed by the multi-panel greeting card, the motor module operative to cause movement of the mobile object;

a sound module contained within the rectangular frame and concealed by the multi-panel greeting card, the sound module operative to store and playback at least one audio file;

at least one curtain panel which is moveable between a closed position wherein it conceals the mobile object and an open position wherein it reveals the mobile object;

a pull-string mechanism;

wherein pulling the pull-string mechanism in a downward motion moves the at least one curtain panel into the open position, activates the sound module causing playback of the at least one audio file, and activates the motor module causing movement of the mobile object.

8. The interactive greeting card of claim 7 , wherein closing the greeting card moves the at least one curtain panel to the closed position.

9. The interactive greeting card of claim 7 , wherein the mobile object is located on an inside surface of the greeting card.

10. The interactive greeting card of claim 7 , wherein the at least one curtain panel is attached to a motorized gear mechanism.

11. The interactive greeting card of claim 10 , wherein the motorized gear mechanism is activated by pulling on the pull-string mechanism.

12. The interactive greeting card of claim 7 , wherein the mobile object is a die cut shape.

13. The interactive greeting card of claim 7 , wherein the at least one curtain panel is attached to an outside surface of the rectangular frame.

14. The interactive greeting card of claim 7 further comprising a slide switch which signals a controller when the greeting card is being closed.

15. The interactive greeting card of claim 7 , wherein upon closing the greeting card, the curtain is closed and the sound and motor modules are deactivated.

16. An interactive greeting card comprising:

a multi-panel greeting card body;

a mobile object contained on an inside surface of the multi-panel greeting card body;

a motor module which is operative to cause movement of the mobile object;

at least one curtain which is contained on an inside surface of the greeting card, the at least one curtain moveable between a first position wherein it covers the mobile object and a second position wherein it does not cover the mobile object;

a switch which controls activation of the motor module and which causes the at least one curtain panel to move between the first and second positions;

wherein the switch is activated upon user interaction with the greeting card, wherein the switch is a pull string and wherein the switch opens the greeting card.

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

18. The interactive greeting card of claim 17 , wherein activation of the sound module is controlled by the switch.

19. The interactive greeting card of claim 16 , wherein the at least one curtain moves from the second position to the first position upon closing the greeting card.

20. The interactive greeting card of claim 16 , wherein the motor module is deactivated upon closing the greeting card.

Assignments (4)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2014
From: SHLONSKY, LYNNE; NELSON, GARY
To: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033683/0708 →