Gift card presentation device

A gift card presentation device that is operative to receive a gift card (or gift card holder) therein. The gift card presentation device contains a spring-loaded lever panel which is operative to move an internal spring (or springs) between a compressed and uncompressed states. The spring controls movement of a gift card or gift card holder placed into an opening on the gift card presentation device. When the lever moves the spring from the compressed state to the uncompressed state, the gift card is completely ejected from the gift card holder presentation device.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

There are no applications related to this application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of social expression products. More specifically, the invention is directed to a gift card presentation device with special effects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the gift card presentation device of the present disclosure and related inventions includes a device having a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface; four perimeter surfaces between the front and rear surfaces, and a cavity contained between the front, rear and four perimeter surfaces; a spring loaded lever panel attached to a lever arm; a push button with a catch arm; and a gift card holder inserted within a slot located on one of the four perimeter surfaces of the device, the gift card holder resting on a portion of the spring loaded lever panel. Pushing the push button causes the spring loaded lever panel to move from a first position at a lower region of the device to a second position at an upper region of the device and also causes the gift card holder to be completely ejected from the device.

In another embodiment, the gift card presentation device includes a faux toaster having a front surface, rear surface, right and left perimeter surfaces and upper and lower perimeter surfaces; at least one spring contained within the faux toaster, the at least one spring operative to move between a compressed and non-compressed state; a lever contained inside of the faux toaster which is attached to the at least one spring; a lever arm attached to the lever which extends outward from the right perimeter surface of the faux toaster; a push button which is removably attached to the lever; and a gift card holder shaped like a slice of bread, the gift card holder located atop portion of the lever. When the push button is attached to the lever arm, the at least one spring is in a compressed state and pushing the push button releases the lever from the push button, causing the spring to return to an non-compressed state and thereby moving the lever in an upward direction and forcing the gift card holder from within the faux toaster.

In still another embodiment, the gift card presentation device includes a device body having a cavity contained therein; a lever contained within the cavity in the device body; a push button releasably attached to the lever; a gift card holder partially contained within the device body; and one or more springs attached at one end to an internal surface of the device body and at an opposite end to the lever. Attaching the lever to the push button forces the one or more springs into a compressed state and pushing the push button releases the lever from the push button, causes the one or more springs to return to an uncompressed state, forces the lever in an upward direction and ejects the gift card holder from within the device body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure and related inventions include a gift card presentation device10that is operative to receive a gift card12(or gift card holder, sleeve or miniature greeting card14) therein. The gift card presentation device10contains a spring-loaded lever panel16which is operative to move an internal spring (or springs)18between a compressed and uncompressed states. The spring18controls movement of a gift card12or gift card holder14placed into an opening on the gift card presentation device10. When the lever16moves the spring18from the compressed state to the uncompressed state, the gift card12is completely ejected from the gift card holder presentation device10. As used herein the term “gift card holder”14encompasses any type of structure used to house or hold a gift card. Examples include, but are not limited to: a gift card sleeve, a miniature gift card, an envelope, a pocket, etc.

In one embodiment, the gift card presentation device10of the present disclosure and related inventions is shaped and modeled as a miniature toaster, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. In other embodiments, the gift card presentation device10may be shaped and modeled as any other type of appliance, item, object, or character. The gift card presentation device10, in one embodiment, contains a substantially square or rectangular shape, having a front surface panel10A and a rear surface panel10B, opposite the front surface panel10A. The front and rear surface panels10A,10B are attached to one another and form an upper perimeter surface P1, a lower perimeter surface P2opposite the upper perimeter surface P1, a right perimeter surface P3and a left perimeter surface P4opposite the right perimeter surface P3, the right and left perimeter surfaces P3, P4spanning between the upper and lower perimeter surfaces P1, P2. The combined front and rear surface panels10A,10B create a cavity therebetween. The upper perimeter surface P1may contain an elongate (horizontal) slot51or opening thereon, into which a gift card12or gift card holder14may be inserted. The right side perimeter surface P3may also contain an elongate (vertical) slot S2or opening through which a portion of the lever panel16may protrude. In one embodiment, the gift card presentation device10is made of an extruded plastic material, although other materials, such as, metal or cardboard have been contemplated and are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. The gift card presentation device10may contain further shapes and embellishments to strengthen its appearance as a faux toaster (or other item or object). For example, the lower perimeter surface P2may be shaped to contain what appears to be four feet. Additionally, letters, words, shapes or images may be molded into the plastic material. Alternatively, the gift card presentation device10may contain printing thereon, stickers adhered thereto, or other such embellishments.

The internal mechanics of the gift card presentation device10of the present disclosure and related inventions may include but are not limited to: at least one spring18; a lever panel16, and a push button20, as shown inFIG. 3. In the embodiment shown in the figures, as discussed above, the gift card presentation device10contains a front surface panel10A and a rear surface panel10B. The internal surfaces of both the front and rear surface panels10A,10B may have various features which operate to either attach the front and rear surface panels10A,10B to one another or to facilitate movement of the springs18between compressed and decompressed positions. The internal surface of the rear surface panel10B contains two elongate, vertical slots or cavities C1, into which the springs18are positioned. Two additional elongate, vertical slots or cavities C2are also contained on the internal surface of the rear surface panel10B. These slots or cavities C2interact with the lever panel16to ensure that it stays on track as it moves up and down as the springs18move between compressed and non-compressed positions. The internal surface of the rear surface panel10B may also contain one or more round cavities which are operative to mate with pegs P2located on the inside surface of the front surface panel10A, to connect the two surfaces10A,10B to one another. The front surface panel10A contains and opening thereon into which the push button20is positioned. Two vertically arranged springs18A,18B are attached, at one end, to an upper portion of two of the elongate slots or cavities C1formed on the internal surface of the rear surface panel10B and at the opposite end to a lever panel16, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. The springs18allow the lever panel16to move up and down within the gift card presentation device10and to eject a gift card12or gift card holder12from the gift card presentation device10. The lever panel16is located in the cavity between the front and rear surface panels10A,10B and contains a lever arm16A on a right side thereof. The lever arm16A protrudes outward from between the front and rear surface panels10A,10B of the gift card presentation device10through an opening S2in the right side perimeter surface P3, while the rest of the lever panel16remains concealed within the cavity between the front and rear surface panels10A,10B. The lever panel16also contains a small shelf or ledge22which serves as a floor or surface onto which a gift card12or gift card holder14may rest when it is inserted into the horizontal slot or opening51at the top of the gift card presentation device10. The lever panel16additionally contains two elongate u-shaped cavities or openings C3which fit within two of the elongate cavities C2located on the internal surface of the rear surface panel10B to keep the lever panel16in place or on track as it slides up and down when the springs18are moved between compressed and decompressed states. A push button20is located in the opening on the front surface panel10, as described above. The push button20is attached to a hinge24located on the inside surface of the front surface panel10A, such that push button20can partially pivot about the hinge24. An arm or a catch22is attached to the inside surface of the push button20. The arm or catch22interacts with the lever panel16to move the springs18between the compressed and decompressed positions. For example, the arm or catch22latches onto a bottom or lower surface of the lever panel16to retain the lever panel16in a first position where it is located in a lower section within the gift card presentation device10, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 6. When the push button20is pressed inward, the push button20pivots about the hinge24, moving the arm or catch22in an upward direction thereby releasing the arm or catch22from attachment to the lever panel16, as shown inFIGS. 5, 7 and 8. When the lever panel16is released, the springs18are free to return to an uncompressed state, thereby moving the lever panel16upward to a second position, in an upper section within the gift card presentation device10and ejecting the gift card12or gift card holder14from within the gift card presentation device10.

As noted above, there is a horizontal slot51at the top surface P1of the gift card presentation device10. A gift card12or gift card holder14may be placed into the slot51and come to rest on a ledge22located on the lever panel16which is located between the front and rear surface panels10A,10B of the gift card presentation device10, as shown inFIGS. 4, 6 and 7. Most of the lever panel16is concealed between the surface panels10A,10B except for the lever arm16A which protrudes outward through the opening S2in the right perimeter surface P3of the gift card presentation device10. A standard gift card12or gift card holder (with or without a gift card contained therein)14can be placed into the slot51. When inserted into the slot51, the gift card12or gift card holder is partially concealed inside the gift card presentation device10with a portion of the gift card12or gift card holder14visible about the slot51, as shown inFIG. 1. Examples of gift card holders include a miniature greeting card, an envelope, a pocket or sleeve other any other mechanism or device for holding a gift card therein. In one embodiment, as shown in the figures, the gift card holder14, is a miniature greeting card having two panels attached along a fold line, which are shaped like a slice of bread. One of the two panels may contain one or more slot thereon for accepting a gift card12therein. The gift card holder14may be made of cardstock or other similar material. Other materials have been contemplated and are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Alternatively, a gift card12may be attached to the gift card holder14via adhesive or other releasable attachment device.

In operation, after purchase, a gift giver may remove the gift card holder14from the gift card presentation device10and insert a gift card12therein for presentation to a recipient. The lever arm16A of the lever panel16may initially be in a first position at the bottom end of the slot S2on the right perimeter surface P3of the gift card presentation device (seeFIGS. 1 and 4) When the lever arm16A is located in the first position, the lever panel16is located in a lower region of the cavity between the front and rear surface panels10A,10B and the lever panel16is attached to the catch or arm22located on the push button20, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 6. When the recipient receives the gift card presentation device10, he/she can push the push button20, which, as described above, will pivot inward about a hinge24thereby releasing the lever panel16from the catch or arm22located on the push button20, as shown inFIG. 7. The lever panel16and lever arm16A move from the first position (at the bottom of the slot S2and in a lower area of the cavity between the front and rear surface panels10A,10B) to a second position, where the springs18force the lever panel16and lever arm16A upward so that the lever arm16A now rests at the top of the slot S2and the lever panel16is located in an upper region of the cavity between the front and rear surface panels10A,10B, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 8. The force of the springs18causes the lever panel16to move with such speed that the gift card holder14that was placed in the main slot51is completely ejected from within the gift card presentation device10, as shown inFIG. 2. The gift card presentation device10can be reset by pushing down on the lever arm16A until the lever panel16re-attaches to the arm or catch22on the push button20.

The foregoing embodiments of the present invention have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. These descriptions and embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principle of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in its various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the invention be defined by the following claims.