Abstract:
A pocket card including at least one pocket as fastened to one or more covers or other pockets for allowing a variety of inserts to be stored therein.

Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority date of the provisional application entitled Pocket Card filed by Jayne Schindele on Jun. 30, 2004 with application Ser. No. 60/583,983. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention generally relates to the field of gift cards. More particularly, the present invention provides a greeting card that includes a pocket on an external surface of a pocket gift card, which may be used to hold a variety of inserts.  
         [0004]     2. Background Information  
         [0005]     Both individuals and businesses often give greeting cards for birthdays, holidays, and other occasions to express a feeling or emotion. Greeting cards are also commonly used to make various types of announcements such as for new products, business notices, graduations, births, birthdays and marriages. Inserts are commonly given in conjunction with the greeting card. Inserts, such as gift certificates, poems and photographs are used to personalize and enhance the significance of the greeting card. In some cases, the insert or photo does not reflect upon the theme of the greeting card and may tend to fall out of the greeting card when read. There is a need in the art for a greeting card that easily and properly holds an insert. Such a greeting card or pocket card should be functional, stylish and aesthetically pleasing. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stylish pocket greeting card for allowing a variety of inserts. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an insert retention device that allows the insert to be removed from the top, bottom or either side of the pocket card.  
         [0006]     Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The pocket card of the invention can take a number of forms, all within the inventive concept of a greeting card with a pocket. One embodiment of the present invention provides a pocket card including a single piece of material and a pocket attached on two or more edges to an exterior surface of the single piece of material, with a card insert for placement in the pocket.  
         [0008]     In another embodiment, the present invention provides a pocket card made from a piece of material folded, with a pocket on any surface of the folded piece.  
         [0009]     The pocket card can include a front cover having a front exterior surface and a front inner surface, and a pocket for holding an insert fastened to the front exterior surface of the front cover.  
         [0010]     In another embodiment, the present invention provides a pocket card including a front cover having a front exterior surface and a front inner surface, a pocket attached to the front exterior surface for holding an insert, and a back cover hingedly connected to the front cover having a back inner surface and a back exterior surface.  
         [0011]     Another embodiment of the present invention provides a pocket card including a front cover having a front exterior surface and a front inner surface, a back cover hingedly connected to the front cover having a back inner surface and a back exterior surface, and a pocket for holding an insert fastened to the front inner surface of the back cover. In this and any of the described embodiments, the opening of the pocket can be oriented in any direction, and may be a pocket formed with one or two sides open for the insert to slip into the pocket. The card may be configured so that the card opens like a book, with the spine vertical, or may be configured so the spine is horizontal and the front cover flips up to reveal that pocket on either of the interior faces, oriented in any direction.  
         [0012]     Another embodiment of the present invention provides a pocket card including a front cover having a front exterior surface and a front inner surface, a back cover hingedly connected to the front cover having a back inner surface and a back exterior surface, and a pocket for holding an insert fastened to the back inner surface of the back cover.  
         [0013]     Another embodiment of the present invention provides a pocket card including a front cover having a front exterior surface and a front inner surface, a back cover hingedly connected to the front cover, the back cover having a back inner surface and a back exterior surface. It includes at least one pocket, the pocket having a top, bottom, left and right side for holding an insert. The pocket may be fastened to the back inner surface of the back cover, with at least two sides of the pocket attached to the back inner surface allowing the insert to be removed from the top, bottom, left or right side of the pocket, on the front cover or the back cover. The pocket may be decorated with any writing, drawings, symbols, ribbons, bows, mementos, keepsakes or fabric. The pocket card may be the same size or smaller than the back cover. The pocket card may also include cutouts within any of the front cover, the back cover, the pocket or the insert. The insert may be any of a greeting card, gift certificate, envelope, letter, blank paper, picture, poem or message.  
         [0014]     The pocket card may include at least one pocket on any of the front cover, the back cover, or on a pocket, or on an insert for another pocket. These pockets may also be nested pockets, with one pocket attached to another pocket or the insert. The pocket card may be used as a greeting card, gift card, thank you card, flower card, invitation, or other uses typically associated with cards. The pocket may be decorated with any of ribbons, bows, drawings, symbols, mementos, ornaments, fabric, keepsakes, foil, colors, poems, sayings, writings or papers. The pocket card may be wrapped with fabric providing aesthetically pleasing look while preventing the fabric from fraying. The pockets may be oval, circular, rectangular, triangular, asymmetric, symmetric, or other shapes. The pocket cover may have multiple covers hingedly fastened to the front cover and the back cover. A pocket card with many covers may have multiple covers with at least one or more of the pockets attached to more than one cover. It may also open in an accordion or three-surfaced wallet fashion, with pockets possible on any of the surfaces. The insert may be folded over, and have a pocket and another insert on the first insert.  
         [0015]     The purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.  
         [0016]     Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a front view of one preferred embodiment of a pocket card.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a front view of another preferred embodiment of the pocket card.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a front view of another preferred embodiment of the pocket card.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the pocket card shown opened.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the pocket card shown opened.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the pocket card shown opened.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the pocket card shown opened.  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the pocket card shown opened.  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the pocket card shown opened.  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the pocket card shown opened.  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the pocket card shown opened.  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the pocket card.  
         [0029]      FIG. 13  is one preferred embodiment of the pocket card.  
         [0030]      FIG. 14A  is a perspective view showing how one version of the pocket card can be constructed.  
         [0031]      FIG. 14B  is a side view of one version of the pocket card of the invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 15A  is diagram showing how one version of the pocket card of the invention can be made.  
         [0033]      FIG. 15B  is a side view showing one embodiment of the pocket card.  
         [0034]      FIG. 15C  is a diagram showing one method of making one embodiment of the pocket card of the invention.  
         [0035]      FIG. 16  is another perspective view of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0036]     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.  
         [0037]     Some of the preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 1-15C .  FIG. 1  is a front view of one preferred embodiment of a pocket card. The pocket card  10  is a greeting style card or single cover that includes a pocket  24  on an external surface of the card, which can be used to hold an insert  26 . The pocket card  10  includes at least one cover from which a pocket  24  is formed or to which at least one pocket  24  may be attached. In some embodiments, the pocket card may have multiple covers or pages and may have multiple pockets, with at least one pocket and as many as one or more per cover. The pocket card  10  is preferably formed from a paper product, but could also be created using fabric, plastic, thin metal, or other similar materials.  
         [0038]     The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  is a front cover  12  with a pocket  24  fastened to a front exterior surface  16  of the front cover  12 . The pocket  24  of the present invention is filled with an insert  26  that is shown protruding from the pocket  24  and held within the pocket  24 . The pocket  24  is preferably connected to the front exterior surface  16  of the front cover  12  on at least two sides or edges. Some preferred edge attachment schemes include: attaching the two side edges, attaching the top and bottom edges, attaching either side edge and the bottom edge, attaching both side edges and the bottom edge, attaching the top and bottom edge and one side edge, and various other configurations that are not specifically indicated. A pocket for an insert may also be present on the insert that goes in another pocket.  
         [0039]     The pocket protrudes from the front cover  12  in some embodiments, allowing larger inserts  26  to be utilized. In yet other embodiments, the pocket  24  is nearly flush with the front cover and may be formed by a piece of material attached to the front cover on at least two edges. Pocket  24  sizes may vary according to the desired insert  26  sizes. In the present embodiment, the pocket  24  is a rectangular shape. In additional embodiments, the pocket  24  may be oval, circular, square, triangular, asymmetric, symmetric, or any other shape that may be fastened to the pocket card  10  in order to form an insert receptacle. The insert  26  and covers are also not limited to a particular shape, configuration, size or color. The covers used, the insert  26 , and pocket  24  all may be of any size and need not correspond with one another. In some embodiments, it is preferable that the front cover  12  and pocket be substantially smaller than a back cover of the pocket card  10 . In another embodiment, a cover may be covered by fabric for decoration purposes and sealed on a backmost portion of the cover in order to prevent the fabric from unraveling or tearing. In a similar embodiment, a cover that has been covered and sealed with fabric may then be covered with a frame or cutout cover providing a unique framed fabric style that prevents the fabric used from fraying. In some embodiments, the insert  26  and covers may have cutout portions to further enhance the aesthetic appeal of the pocket card  10 .  
         [0040]     In one preferred embodiment, the pocket  24  is secured on a left and right side of the pocket  24  allowing the insert  26  to be exposed from the top portion of the pocket  24  or bottom portion of the pocket  24 , as well as allowing the insert  26  to be removed from either direction. This configuration is shown in  FIG. 7 . An insert  26  as herein defined is any item such as a gift certificate, photograph, keepsake, message, poem, memento, greeting card, envelope, or other item that is commonly given with a card. Such an insert  26  may be personalized with writing, symbols, and decorations corresponding with a desired message or theme or may be left blank and used strictly for decoration.  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  is a front view of another preferred embodiment of the pocket card. In this embodiment, the pocket card  10  includes multiple pockets  24  and multiple inserts  26 . Multiple inserts  26  allow multiple messages or other materials to be given to a recipient in a single pocket card  10 . The first pocket  24  includes a second nested pocket  24  that is similarly attached allowing an insert  26 , as previously described, to be similarly inserted into the pocket card  10 . By way of example, a gift giver might decide to place a standard greeting card as a first insert  26  within one pocket  24  of the pocket card  10  and additionally place a restaurant gift certificate in a second pocket  24  of the same pocket card  10 . In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pocket  24  portion of the pocket card  10  is slightly smaller than the front cover  12 , which may be aesthetically desirable if the pocket  24  and front cover  12  are of different colors or for other decoration purposes.  
         [0042]      FIG. 3  is a front view of an additional embodiment of the pocket card  10 . In this embodiment, the pocket  24  is the same size as the front cover  12 . An insert  26  is shown as positioned in the pocket  24  of the present embodiment. Additionally, this embodiment may actually be formed by a single piece of material folded to form a pocket  24  in which the bottom of the pocket may or may not be sealed together.  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  is a front view of another preferred embodiment shown as an open pocket card. In this embodiment, the pocket card  10  includes a front cover  12  with an attached pocket  24 . The front cover  12  has both a front interior surface  14  and a front exterior surface  16 . Hingedly attached to the front cover  12  is a back cover  18  also having a back inner surface and a back exterior surface. The inner surface of both the front cover  12  and back cover  18  corresponds in size to the portion of the pocket card  10  that is not visible when closed, similar to the interior pages of a book. The back cover  18  has a back interior surface  20  and a back exterior surface  22 . In one embodiment, the front cover  12  and back cover  18  are formed from a single piece of material. Additionally, the front cover  12  and back cover  18  can be fastened to form a hinge using ribbon, fabric, glue, or other hinging element. In this embodiment, an insert  26  may be inserted into the pocket  24  on the front cover  12 . This allows a pocket card  10  giver to customize the pocket card  10  by writing or drawing a message on the front interior surface  14  or back interior surface of the pocket card  10 . Multiple covers, such as front cover  12  and back cover  18 , allow the pocket card  10  to be left in a standing or upright position so that it can be left standing as a decoration or ornament.  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the pocket card shown opened. In this embodiment, the pocket  24  is fastened to the pocket card  10  on the back interior surface  20 . The recipient of the pocket card  10  must open the pocket card  10  in order to see the pocket  24 . The insert  26  may be positioned within the pocket  24  so that it is hidden from view or may extrude from the pocket  24  as part of the appearance of the pocket card  10 . Depending on the desired look and effect, a user could opt to hide the insert  26  within the pocket  24  or have it extrude from the pocket card  10  so that a recipient would immediately be able to withdraw the insert  26  to admire it or ascertain its content. The card of  FIG. 5  is shown oriented with the spine  46  vertical, like a book. It could also be oriented with the spine horizontal as shown in  FIG. 16 , so the front would be flipped up to reveal the pocket and a message inside the card. The pocket could be positioned on any surface of this card, and oriented in any direction. A preferred configuration is to have the spine horizontal, with a pocket on the front cover interior surface, and with the pocket open for insertion of an insert adjacent to the spine.  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the pocket card shown opened. In this embodiment, the pocket  24  is attached to the back interior surface  20  of a folding card. The pocket  24  is attached to the back interior surface  20  on the topmost and bottommost side of the rectangular pocket  24 . This allows the insert  26  to slide out of the pocket  24  from either the left or right side, and to extend beyond the edge of the covers if desired.  
         [0046]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the pocket card shown opened. This embodiment shows the insert  26  extruding from the bottommost portion of the pocket  24 . In this configuration, the pocket  24  is sealed to the back interior surface on the left and right sides of the pocket  24  edge. The insert  26  may then be removed from the top or bottom of the pocket card  10 . The insert  26  is shown protruding at the bottom of the pocket  24  as previously described.  FIG. 7  also shows that the insert  26  can be folded with an additional pocket and insert attached to the first insert.  
         [0047]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the pocket card shown opened. In this embodiment, the pocket card  10  has a number of covers. Additionally, there are multiple pockets  24  within the pocket card  10  and corresponding covers. Such a pocket card may be useful for giving multiple gift certificates, photos or messages.  
         [0048]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the pocket card shown opened. In this embodiment, the pocket card  10  is accordion shaped with a first  30 , second  32  and third  34  cover or panel. This allows the pocket card  10  to be folded and condensed as needed. Attached to an exposed surface of the pocket card  10  is a pocket  24  and corresponding insert  26 . This embodiment allows multiple pockets  24  to be attached to each cover. For example, if a gift giver desired to give multiple pictures or multiple gift certificates to a recipient, he/she could place each insert  26  in a corresponding pocket  24  of the pocket card  10 . As with the previous figures, there is no limitation as to how many covers and corresponding pockets  24  a pocket card  10  could have.  
         [0049]      FIG. 10  is a front view of an additional embodiment of the pocket card shown opened. In this embodiment, the insert  26  is shaped at a topmost portion like a butterfly. This shape is an example that the card  26  can include decorative shapes, as well as cloth, lace, colors, perforations, or other decorative features. Each insert  26 , as previously mentioned, may be customized to match or fit the theme of the pocket card  10 . In one embodiment, the decoration  28  that is an inherent part of the insert  26  may allow it to be positioned on an outer portion of the front cover  12  with the connection between the decoration  28  and the insert  26  abutting the top edge of the pocket  24  in this case and the main body of the insert  26  being positioned in the pocket  24  allowing a novel aesthetic look.  
         [0050]      FIG. 11  is an open view of an additional embodiment of the pocket card shown opened. In this embodiment, the pocket card  10  includes first  30 , second  32  and third  34  covers or panels that open in a wallet fashion. As shown in the present invention, a pocket  24  is attached to an inner surface of the second cover  32  requiring the pocket card  10  to be opened from either side to show the contents of the pocket  24  and corresponding insert  26 . Additionally, the pocket can be attached to the first cover  30  or the third cover  34 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 12  shows another embodiment of the invention which includes a pocket card  10  with a pocket  24 , an insert  26 , a front cover  12 , and a means of attachment  36 . The pocket card of this configuration can be used to include a message on gifts, flower presentations, or attached to objects. It can include an envelope  38  as shown in  FIG. 13  as part of the pocket card. An envelope  38  would be appropriate for flowers or other gifts where the message is meant to be confidential.  
         [0052]      FIG. 14B  shows a side view of one embodiment of the invention, which includes a front cover  12 , with a pocket  24  on one side and a pocket  24  on the other side. Each pocket  24  has an insert  26  and thus this pocket card has a pocket on either side of the card.  FIG. 14A  shows one method of making such a card, and that is by folding a first piece  40  around the front cover  12 . The edges of the first piece  40  would then be sealed to the corresponding edges of the front cover  12 , in order to form the pockets  24 .  
         [0053]      FIG. 15B  shows another embodiment of the pocket card  10  that includes a front cover  12  with three attached pockets  24 . Each pocket  24  includes an insert  26 .  FIG. 15A  shows one method of making such a card, which is to use a first piece  40 , which is folded in half, and a second piece  42 , also folded in half. The first piece and the second piece are joined together at the fold, and their edges are joined to the adjacent edge, thus forming a first, second and third pocket with our four placement of inserts  26 .  FIG. 15C  shows an alternate method of making a multiple pocket card, and that is by folding a third piece  44 , which is one single sheet which is folded in three places with the corresponding edges then joined to form multiple pockets.  
         [0054]     While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.