Card creasing and embossing device

The present invention is a card creasing and embossing device. In particular, the present invention is directed to a device for creasing and embossing greeting cards. A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a base plate supporting a plurality of crease plates in a stack. The base plate has a top side with a crease line depression and each of the plurality of crease plates have a top side and bottom side whereby the top side of one crease plate opposes the bottom side of an adjoining crease plate. The top side of each crease plate has at least one crease line depression; the bottom side of each crease plate has at least one crease blade for insertion into at least one crease line depression on the adjoining crease plate top side. The crease plates preferably each have a selection tab indicating the fold configuration for the crease plate. The preferred embodiment of the invention has a paper cutter hingedly connect on its top. The crease plates preferably have paper guide depressions. The invention also preferably comprises a set of interchangeable embossing plates and a set of perimeter embossing plates.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is a card creasing and embossing device. In particular, the present invention is directed to a device for creasing and embossing greeting cards.

BACKGROUND ART

Systems for creating and embossing greeting cards are known such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,615,123 and 6,349,639. However, these devices are often larger, expensive and/or require pre-scored card stock to function. The technology exists for users to create and print greeting cards on high quality card stock at home with a home computer and printer. However, the card stock, as a heavier bond paper, is often difficult to crease into a standard greeting card configuration. As card stock is often more expensive than regular paper, this can discourage users from attempting to make their own greeting cards at home. Embossing card stock while aesthetically pleasing can also pose similar problems. Thus, a simple, less expensive device that can crease and emboss card stock without pre-scoring is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a card creasing and embossing device. In particular, the present invention is directed to a device for creasing and embossing greeting cards. A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a base plate supporting a plurality of crease plates in a stack. The base plate has a top side with a crease line depression and each of the plurality of crease plates have a top side and bottom side whereby the top side of one crease plate opposes the bottom side of an adjoining crease plate. The top side of each crease plate has at least one crease line depression; the bottom side of each crease plate has at least one crease blade for insertion into at least one crease line depression on the adjoining crease plate top side. The crease plates preferably each have a selection tab indicating the fold configuration for the crease plate. A preferred embodiment of the invention has a paper cutter hingedly connect on its top. The crease plates preferably have paper guide depressions. The invention also preferably comprises a set of interchangeable embossing plates and a set of perimeter embossing plates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now toFIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the invention10is shown. A base plate20comprises a balance tab27at an edge and supports a stack of crease plates (30,40, and50.) The crease plates (30,40and50) are preferably hingedly connected at reference points35,45and55respectively. Furthermore, the crease plates30,40and50have selection tabs37,47and57opposing the balance tab27. The selection tabs37,47and57are used for, infer alia, selecting the desired fold configuration for use. A paper cutter60with guide65is hinged to the top crease plate50.

Referring now toFIG. 2, it shows the paper cutter60open to receive paper for cutting. The paper cutter60preferably has a blade62that traverses the guide65through a paper cutter depression67on top of crease plate50. The guide65and depression67assist in providing a straight edge cut to paper inserted into the cutter60.

Referring now toFIG. 3, a preferred embodiment of the invention10is open to a half-fold crease configuration. As shown, the top side of the base plate20has a half-fold crease line depression22. The bottom side of the opposing plate or first plate30has a half-fold crease blade33that is insertable into the half-fold crease line depression22. The plates20and30further comprise paper guide depressions21and31. Thus, when a piece of card stock100or other paper is inserted into the paper guide depression21and the plates20and30are closed, the crease blade33creases the card stock100by pressing the card stock into the depression22. By using the configuration shown inFIG. 3, the card stock100is folded in half.

Also shown inFIG. 3is the preferred function of the balance tab27on the base plate20. As shown, when the stack of crease plates (30,40and50) is open in any of the available crease configurations, the balance tab27provides a pivot point for the plate30,40and50on which to hinge. Thus, a more firm and stable base is provided for the invention. Moreover, the balance tab27preferably opposes the weight and moment of the selection tabs37,47and57on the stack of crease plates.

Referring now toFIG. 4, a preferred embodiment of the invention10is open to a quarter-fold crease configuration. As shown, the top side of the first plate30has two intersecting quarter-fold crease line depressions32. The bottom side of the opposing plate or second plate30has two intersecting quarter-fold crease blades43that are insertable into the two quarter-fold crease line depressions32. The plates30and40again further comprise paper guide depressions31and41. Thus, when a piece of card stock100or other paper is inserted into the paper guide depression31and the plates30and40are closed, the crease blades43crease the card stock100by pressing the card stock into the depressions32. By using the configuration shown inFIG. 4, the card stock100is folded in quarters.

Referring now toFIG. 5, a preferred embodiment of the invention10is open to a tri-fold crease configuration. As shown, the top side of the second plate40has two tri-fold crease line depressions42. The bottom side of the opposing plate or third plate50has two tri-fold crease blades53that are insertable into the two tri-fold crease line depressions42. The plates40and50again further comprise paper guide depressions41and51. Thus, when a piece of card stock100or other paper is inserted into the paper guide depression41and the plates40and50are closed, the crease blades53crease the card stock100by pressing the card stock into the depressions42. By using the configuration shown inFIG. 5, the card stock100is folded in three parts or a tri-fold.

Referring now toFIG. 6, another preferred embodiment of the invention10is shown, preferably for embossing card stock. The base plate20is removably attached to a set of embossing plates70and80by spacers90. Preferably, the top embossing plate has a set of spacer holes92for the spacers90. The top and bottom embossing plates70and80are preferably hingedly connected at an edge and have paper guides71and81. As shown inFIG. 7, the top side of the bottom embossing plate80preferably has an interchangeable depression plate with an embossing design85. The bottom side of the top embossing plate70preferably has an interchangeable impression plate with an embossing design75that inserts into the depression plate embossing design85on the bottom embossing plate. Thus, when a piece of card stock100or other paper is inserted into the paper guide depression81and the plates70and80are closed, the impression plate75embosses a design on the card stock100by pressing the card stock into the depression plate embossing design85. By using the configuration shown inFIG. 6, the card stock100has been embossed with a star design110. Preferably, the design plates75and85can be removed from the embossing plates70and80and new design plates can be inserted for new and different designs.

An alternative embodiment to the embodiment shown inFIG. 6has a set of embossing plates70and80that are extended in length beyond the base plate20. Just as the balance tab27of the base plate20is preferably extended beyond the length of crease plates30,40and50, the embossing plates70and80can be extended beyond the length of the base plate20to improve balance of the invention.

Referring now toFIG. 8, an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention is shown open to a perimeter embossing configuration. As shown, the edge of base plate20has a perimeter embossing plate120(small star design shown) to place a design on the edge of a piece of card stock. Alternately, perimeter embossing plates120can be present on crease plates30,40and/or50or the embossing plates70and80. The perimeter embossing plates120are preferably interchangeable with other designs.

Thus, a card creasing and embossing device is described above that is a smaller, simpler, and less expensive device that can crease and emboss card stock without pre-scoring. In each of the above embodiments, the different positions and structures of the present invention are described separately in each of the embodiments. However, it is the full intention of the inventor of the present invention that the separate aspects of each embodiment described herein may be combined with the other embodiments described herein. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, alternately, the crease line blades can be mounted to the top side of the various plates with corresponding crease line depressions on the opposing bottom sides of the various plates. Likewise, the impression and depression embossing plates could be reversed. Moreover, the invention is preferably made of hard plastic, e.g. ABS plastic. However, alternately, it can be constructed from metal or a combination of plastic and metal. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.