Abstract:
A particulate matter propulsion apparatus ( 10 ) for propelling confetti ( 94 ) or similar from a greeting card ( 12 ). The propulsion device includes a particulate matter receptacle ( 14 ) attached to a supporting means ( 16 ), the supporting means ( 16 ) being store energy such that when the card ( 12 ) is opened the particulate matter ( 94 ) is propelled from the card ( 12 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This patent application is a National Phase claiming the benefit of priority of PCT/AU01/01550, filed 29 Nov. 2001, which claims the benefit of priority of Australian Provisional Patent Application Number PR 1762, filed 30 Nov. 2000, and Australian Provisional Patent Application Number PR7026, filed 15 Aug. 2001, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   A common expression of celebration is the throwing in the air of particulate matter such as paper confetti or rice. It is considered desirable to incorporate this form of expression into a greeting card. 
   A known type of greeting card incorporates a tearable package of confetti within a closed card. The action of opening the greeting card causes the package to tear, and the confetti to be released. Such a card, however, includes no mechanism to actually propel the confetti into the air. 
   Another known type of greeting card includes an elastic member coiled within the card, and an envelope containing particulate matter connected to the elastic member. The action of opening this greeting card causes the elastic member to unwind, thus spinning the envelope of particulate material and causing the material to be flung outwards by the action of centrifugal force. This mechanism can cause the particulate material to be flung in all directions, not merely upwards. 
   The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part some of the aforementioned disadvantages of previous particulate matter propulsion apparatuses for greeting cards. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a particulate matter propulsion apparatus for use in relation to a greeting card, the apparatus comprising a particulate matter receptacle attached to a supporting means, the apparatus characterised in that, in use, the supporting means urges the particulate matter receptacle away from the greeting card thus causing particulate matter within the particulate matter receptacle to be propelled into the air. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a view of a particulate matter propulsion apparatus in accordance with the present invention in a first position; 
       FIG. 2  is a view of the particulate matter propulsion apparatus of  FIG. 1  in a second position; 
       FIG. 3  is a view of the particulate matter propulsion apparatus of  FIG. 1  in a third position; and 
       FIG. 4  is a view of the particulate matter propulsion apparatus of  FIG. 1  in a fourth position. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the Figures, there is shown a particulate matter propulsion apparatus  10  including a card  12 , and a particulate matter receptacle  14  having a supporting means  16 . In the embodiment of the Figures the card  12  is arranged to be inserted within a greeting card, however it will be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment the card  12  could in fact be a greeting card. 
   The card  12  is substantially rectangular in shape, and is composed of a suitable material, for instance cardboard. The card  12  has a first edge  15 , a second edge  17  opposite the first edge  15 , a top edge  19  and a bottom edge  21 . The card  12  includes a fold  18  substantially in the centre of the card  12 , thus dividing the card  12  into a first side  20  extending from the first edge  15  to the fold  18  and a second side  22  extending from the fold  18  to the second edge  17 . 
   The card  12  includes a front window  24  disposed approximately centrally of the first side  20  and a rear window  26  disposed approximately centrally of the second side  22 . The rear window  26  is substantially rectangular. The front window  24  is substantially rectangular with chamfered outer corners  23 ,  25  on the corners closest to the first edge  15 . The front window  24  is smaller than the rear window  26 . The front window  24  has a tab  27  extending from an edge of the front window  24  adjacent the fold  18 . The front and rear windows  24 ,  26  are arranged so that when the card is closed along the fold  18  the front window  24  is substantially coextensive with an inner portion of the rear window  26 . 
   The fold  18  includes a first aperture  46  located approximately one third of the way between the bottom edge  21  and the top edge  19 , and a second aperture  48  located approximately two thirds of the way between the bottom edge  21  and the top edge  19 . The supporting means  16  is composed of a partially resilient material, for instance a metal such as spring steel. The supporting means  16  has a first end  50  and a second end  52 . The supporting means  16  is arranged to pass through the first and second apertures  46 ,  48  such that the first end  50  is located adjacent the first aperture  46  on the inner side of the card  12 . The supporting means  16  thus has a first portion  58  extending from the first end  50  to the first aperture  46 , a second portion  60  extending from the first aperture  46  to the second aperture  48  and a third portion  62  extending from the second aperture  48  to the second end  52 . The first and third portions  58 ,  62  are thus positioned inside the card  12  and the second portion  60  outside the card  12 . The fist portion  58  is bent at the first aperture  46  so as to hold the supporting means  16  in position in the fold  18 . The supporting means is bent around at the second end  52  so as to prevent a sharp point from being oriented outwards. 
   The particulate matter receptacle  14  is arranged adjacent the second end  52  of the supporting means  16 . The particulate matter receptacle  14  comprises a substantially rectangular portion, with a central fold  64 . Folding the rectangular portion along the central fold  64  forms an envelope open on three sides, a first side  66  adjacent the fold  64  and remote, in use, from the second end  52  of the supporting means  16 , a second side  68  opposite the central fold  64  and a third side  70  opposite the first side  66  and adjacent, in use, the second end  52  of the supporting member  16 . When folded, the particulate matter receptacle  14  is approximately the same size as the rear window  26 . The particulate matter receptacle  14  is attached to the supporting means  16  by suitable means such that the supporting means  16  is arranged within the central fold  64  of the particulate matter receptacle  14 . The supporting means  16  may be kinked at the fold  64  in order to attach to the particulate matter receptacle  14 . The particulate matter receptacle  14  may be constructed from transparent material to allow a user to view particulate matter through the front window  24  of the card  12 . 
   The rear window  26  of the card  12  has first, second, third and fourth sides  80 ,  82 ,  84  and  86  respectively, numbered in a clockwise fashion beginning with the first side adjacent the fold  18  of the card  12 . The second, third and fourth sides  82 ,  84 ,  86  include catches  90  arranged, in use, to receive the first, second and third sides  66 ,  68  and  70  of the particulate matter receptacle  14 . A second tab  92  is provided attached to the fourth side  86  adjacent the first side  80 . The second tab  92  is in front of the catch  90 , so that the catch  90  is between the rear window  26  and the second tab  92 . The operation of the particulate matter propulsion apparatus will now be described with reference to the drawings. 
   The particulate matter propulsion apparatus is shown in  FIG. 1  in an initial open position, whereby the second end  52  of the supporting means  16  is free, and the particulate matter receptacle  14  is ready for the insertion of confetti  94 . 
   The third portion  62  of the supporting means  16  is then bent, so as to store potential energy. This is shown in FIG.  2 . The open edges of the particulate matter receptacle  14 , that is first, second and third edges  66 ,  68  and  70  are held within the catches  90  of the rear window  26  and thus the particulate matter  94  is restrained within the particulate matter receptacle  14 . 
   The card  12  is then folded along the fold  18  to the closed position shown in FIG.  3 . The first tab  27  is passed between the particulate matter receptacle  14  and the rear window  26 . The second tab  92  is passed through the front window  24 , and may be secured on the outside of card by means of adhesive tape  96 . The catches  90  are held closed about the particulate matter receptacle  14  by the chamfered edges  23 ,  25  of the front window  24 . The card  12  may be safely transported in this position. The card  12  may be primed by removal of the adhesive tape  96 . 
   When the card has thus been primed, opening of the card will cause the catches  90  to be released from the front window  24 . The first tab  27  will pull the particulate matter receptacle  14  away from the catches  90 . At the same time the second tab  92  will release the supporting means  16 . This release will allow the potential energy in the third portion  62  of the supporting means  16  to be released, and the supporting means  16  will spring back to its initial position. This will cause the confetti  94  to be propelled into the air, as shown in FIG.  4 . 
   The card  12  may be provided with adhesive strips  98  on the outer surface to enable it to be located within a greeting card. The card  12  may also be provided with a restraining portion  100  on the outside of the fold  18  to hold the second portion  60  of the supporting means  16  in position. 
   Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.