IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,406,296
Granted Patent B2
US 12,406,296 · App. 18/780,779 · Granted Sep 2, 2025

Greeting card with actionable aperture

Inventors: Kevin Weldon Swanson (Prairie Village, KS); Jennifer Richards Garbos (Kansas City, MO); David Galen Saville (Shawnee, KS); Krista Masilionis (Leawood, KS); Stephanie Young (Overland Park, KS); Cecilia Jeanne Merkle (Overland Park, KS); Anne Horton (Overland Park, KS)
Assignee: Hallmark Cards, Incorporated
G06Q30/0641B41M7/0027B42D15/04G06Q20/30G06Q20/3278G06Q20/352G06Q20/3567H04L67/02H04W4/60
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,406,296
App. No.
18/780,779
Granted
Sep 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A card is provided that includes, for example, a fold that defines a first panel and a second panel, where each of those panels includes front and back surfaces. The second panel includes a void. The back surface of the first panel includes an actionable unique identifier such that when the greeting card is folded along the fold lines the actionable unique identifier is visible through the void. The actionable unique identifier is usable to retrieve a digital presentation among other things.

Claims (24)

1. A card, comprising a first fold that defines a first panel and a second panel, wherein each of the first and second panels includes front and rear surfaces, wherein the second panel includes a void, and wherein the back surface of the first panel includes an actionable unique identifier such that when the card is folded along said first fold, the actionable unique identifier is visible through the void.

2. The card of claim 1 , wherein the actionable unique identifier is a QR code, unique web link, an alphanumeric string, or bar code.

3. The card of claim 1 , wherein the actionable unique identifier is useable to retrieve a digital presentation.

4. The card of claim 3 , wherein the actionable unique identifier is a QR code and the digital presentation is customizable by a user, thereby enabling a remote computing device to scan the QR code to present an option to create or customize the digital presentation.

5. The card of claim 1 , wherein the actionable unique identifier is printed on the rear surface of the first panel.

6. The card of claim 5 , wherein the actionable unique identifier being printed on the rear surface of the first panel includes a sticker affixed to the rear surface of the first panel, wherein the sticker includes the actionable unique identifier.

7. The card of claim 1 , wherein the rear surface of the first panel is affixed to the rear surface of the second panel.

8. The card of claim 1 ,

wherein the actionable unique identifier enables, incident to a first action, presenting a first user interface that is useable to customize a presentation, resulting in a customized presentation; and

the actionable unique identifier enables, incident to a subsequent action after the first action, presenting the customized presentation on a remote device.

9. The card of claim 1 , wherein the actionable unique identifier is useable to start a process for conveying a monetary value to recipient.

10. The card of claim 9 , wherein said process for conveying a monetary value to said recipient includes enabling a computing device to scan said actionable unique identifier, thereby presenting a user interface that is useable to convey said monetary value to said recipient.

11. The card of claim 10 , further comprising a second fold that defines a third panel such that when said card is closed, the third panel obscures the front surface of the second panel.

12. A card comprising:

an overall front surface defined by a first surface of the card in an unfolded state;

an overall back surface defined by a second surface of the card in an unfolded state;

a first fold line that defines a cover panel and a second panel, thereby providing a cover-panel front surface, cover-panel back surface, a second-panel front surface, and a second-panel back surface;

a void situated in the second panel;

an actionable identifier situated on the back surface of the cover panel such that, when folded, the actionable identifier is visible through the void, wherein the actional identifier is linked to a digital asset retrievable by conveying an indication of the actional identifier to a computing system that is configured to recognize the digital asset.

13. The card of claim 12 , wherein the actionable identifier is a QR code.

14. The card of claim 13 , wherein the QR code is scannable by a computing device to facilitate a conveyance of a monetary value to a recipient.

15. The card of claim 12 , wherein the actionable identifier is printed on the cover-panel back surface.

16. The card of claim 13 , wherein the actionable identifier printed on the cover-panel back surface is printed on a sticker that is affixed to the cover-panel back surface.

17. The card of claim 14 , wherein facilitating said conveyance of said monetary includes enabling a computing device to scan said actionable unique identifier, thereby presenting a user interface that is useable to convey a said monetary value to said recipient.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2024
From: SWANSON, KEVIN WELDON; GARBOS, JENNIFER RICHARDS; SAVILLE, DAVID GALEN; MASILIONIS, KRISTA; YOUNG, STEPHANIE FARRIS; LACY, ORLANDA DOMINIC; PRATT, GARY THOMAS; DANG, PHU; JANES, TIMOTHY CHARLES; MERKLE, CECILLA JEANNE; ERICKSON, ALISON LIN; HORTON, ANNE
To: HALLMARK CARDS, INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 069425/0111 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2024
From: SWANSON, KEVIN WELDON; GARBOS, JENNIFER RICHARDS; SAVILLE, DAVID GALEN; MASILIONIS, KRISTA; YOUNG, STEPHANIE FARRIS; LACY, ORLANDA DOMINIC; PRATT, GARY THOMAS; DANG, PHU; JANES, TIMOTHY CHARLES; MERKLE, CECILLA JEANNE; ERICKSON, ALISON LIN; HORTON, ANNE
To: HALLMARK CARDS, INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 069425/0360 →
Continuity (12)
Continuation 18136314 · Apr 18, 2023
Continuation In Part 18076208 · Dec 6, 2022
Continuation In Part 17180273 · Feb 19, 2021
Continuation In Part 17967695 · Oct 17, 2022
Division 15791576 · Oct 24, 2017
Continuation In Part 15227779 · Aug 3, 2016
Provisional Application 63460248 · Apr 18, 2023
Provisional Application 63460253 · Apr 18, 2023
Provisional Application 63356177 · Jun 28, 2022
Provisional Application 63274455 · Nov 1, 2021
Provisional Application 63257107 · Oct 18, 2021
Related Publication 20240403943A1 · Dec 5, 2024
References Cited (1)
US 12086868B2 · Swanson · 2024 [cited by examiner]