Abstract:
A gift card package that allows an individual to present a greeting card and a gift to recipient at the same time. Also provided is a greeting card and gift that a recipient will want to collect.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The described invention relates in general to greeting cards and more specifically to a greeting card assembly and package. This invention is a useful item that allows an individual to present a greeting card and a collectable gift to recipient at the same time. 
         [0002]    The greeting card industry is a multi-billion dollar a year industry. Consumers buy cards for a variety of reasons. Most often cards are bought to celebrate a person&#39;s birthday or another special occasion. Many of the cards available to consumers today offer options in expressing the consumer&#39;s feelings or thoughts. The cards that are available to consumers vary from traditional folded greeting cards, that have an outside front and back cover and an inside area for text or writing; multi-fold greeting cards, that have two or more folds and are folded in a manner to provide an outside front and back cover and an interior area; cards that provide three-dimensional “pop-up” shapes when opened; cards that provide an area to hold money or lottery tickets; cards that provide an area to hold and display candy; and even cards that play music or a message when a recipient of the card opens the card. Although a consumer may spend considerable time or just moments in selecting a card for a recipient, most recipients tend to dispose of their cards after looking at them or enjoying them only for a few days. 
         [0003]    What is needed, therefore, is an improved greeting card for gift giving. In particular, the greeting card assembly and package should enable a consumer the ability to give a recipient a greeting card and collectable gift at the same time, in one simple package. Further, the invention provides the collectable keepsake item, which will not be disposed of in a few days after receipt. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The following provides a summary of exemplary embodiments of the gift card package according to the present invention. This summary is not an extensive overview and is not intended to identify key or critical aspects or elements of the present invention or to delineate its scope. 
         [0005]    A first exemplary embodiment of this invention provides a gift card assembly and package comprising a first leaf portion, a second leaf portion, and a third leaf portion; the first leaf portion connected to the second leaf portion by a first margin strip; the second leaf portion connected to the third leaf portion by a second margin strip; and the second leaf portion and third leaf portion opposingly symmetrical and foldable at the first and second margin strips and adjacent to the first leaf portion, and first, second, and third leaf portions define a hollow space when folded to accommodate one or more articles therebetween. 
         [0006]    A second exemplary embodiment of this invention provides a guitar pick shaped greeting card assembly and gift holder comprising: a tripartite web of cardstock, wherein the tripartite web of cardstock is further comprised of: (i) a first leaf portion having a tapered tip, (ii) a second leaf portion, and (iii) a third leaf portion having a slot adapted to receive the tapered tip of the first leaf thereinto, the first leaf connects to the second leaf by a first margin strip and the second leaf connects to the third leaf by a second margin strip, the first leaf, the second leaf and the third leaf further comprises an interior side and an exterior side, and wherein the first margin strip and second margin strip are foldable, and such that when the tapered tip of the first leaf is inserted into the slot of the third leaf, the tripartite web forms a self-supporting three-dimensional greeting card and gift holder. 
         [0007]    A third exemplary embodiment of this invention provides a three-dimensional greeting card and gift holder comprising: (a) first leaf portion having a tapered tip and generally configured in the profile of a guitar pick, (b) a second leaf portion having a truncated guitar pick profile, the second leaf foldable behind the first leaf, and attached to the first leaf by a first margin strip, and the second leaf further comprising a holder arranged to hold articles, and (c) a third leaf portion having a truncated guitar pick profile, the third leaf opposingly symmetrical to the second leaf, the third leaf attached to the second leaf by a second margin strip, an slot disposed in the third leaf to receive the tapered tip, and a plurality of slits disposed in the third leaf to hold articles, wherein the tapered tip of the first leaf may be inserted into the slot of the third leaf to define a three-dimensional greeting card and gift holder. 
         [0008]    Additional features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, further embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and associated descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive in nature. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, schematically illustrate one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention, and wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is top view of the outline of exterior side of the gift card package. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the outline of internal side of the gift card package. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the three-dimensional gift card package. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the gift card package showing how second and third leaf portions are mirror images, and how they are foldable behind the first leaf portion. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side view of gift card package showing how the margin strips create a hollow area for holding gift items. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the exterior side of the gift card package with text, graphics, images, and collectable gift items. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the interior side of the gift card package with text, graphics, images, certificates of authenticity, and collectable gift items 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates the exterior side of unassembled guitar pick shaped greeting card assembly and package  10 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the interior side of unassembled guitar pick shaped (including but not limited to, teardrop or triangular shapes) greeting card assembly and package  10 . Greeting card assembly and package  10  may be any material which allows the desired three-dimensional structure to be formed from a foldable sheet. For example, the material for greeting card assembly and package  10  may be paper, cardstock, coverstock, cardboard, plastic, or similar flat, foldable sheet material. Preferably, greeting card assembly and package  10  is manufactured from cardstock. 
         [0018]    Greeting card assembly and package  10  includes: a first leaf portion  12 , a second leaf portion  14 , and a third leaf portion  16 . First leaf portion  12  is connected to second leaf portion  14  via a first margin strip  24 . Second leaf portion  14  is connected to third leaf portion  16  via a second margin strip  30 . Third leaf portion  16  has a slot  38  for receiving a tip tapered  22  of leaf portion  12 . First leaf portion  12  has an aperture  20 , second leaf portion  14  has an aperture  28 , and third leaf portion  16  has an aperture  36 . The apertures  20 ,  28 , and  36  allow gift card assembly and package  10  to be hung at a store for sale or to be displayed by a recipient on a string or chain. Apertures  20 ,  28 , and  36  are substantially aligned when leaf portions  12 ,  14 , and  16  are folded or over-lapped, so that a hanger (not shown) may be used for display purposes. 
         [0019]    First leaf portion  12  has an exterior side  18 , second leaf portion  14  has an exterior side  26 , and third leaf portion  16  has an exterior side  32 . Exterior sides  18 ,  26 , and  32  of the leaf portions  12 ,  14 , and  16  may respectively include text  66 , greetings  67 , graphics  68 , pictures  70 , images  72 , and the like, see  FIG. 6 . Text  66  can be any type of writing. Greetings  67  can be any type of normal greeting card text such as, “Happy Birthday,” etc. Graphics  68 , pictures  70 , and images  72  on exterior sides  18 ,  26 , and  32  of leaf portions  12 ,  14 , and  16  respectively, can be part of a theme for the greeting card assembly and gift package  10 . For example, the theme may feature or highlight a musical artist or band. Graphics  68 , pictures  70 , images  72 , and the like will correspond to the featured musical artist or band. Graphics  68 , pictures  70 , and images  72  can be associated with a specific tour of the featured musical artist or group and may include artwork from a specific album from the featured musical artist or band. 
         [0020]    Exterior side  18  of first leaf portion  12  has a tip  22 , shaped like the strumming edge of a guitar pick. Tip  22  is received by slot  38  to form a three-dimensional gift card assembly and package, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Tip  22  may include directions  23  for opening gift card assembly and package  10 . To allow tip  22  to insert into slot  38 , first margin strip  24  and second margin strip  30  are foldable in four places. A first fold line  42  is foldable along the area adjoining first leaf portion  12  and first margin strip  24 . A second fold line  44  is foldable along the area adjoining first margin strip  24  and second leaf portion  14 . A third fold line  46  is foldable along the area adjoining second leaf portion  14  and second margin strip  30 . A fourth fold line  48  is foldable along the area adjoining second margin strip  30  and third leaf portion  16 . Once each of the fold lines  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48  have been made, first margin strip  24  and second margin  30  act like hinges to allow first leaf portion  12 , second leaf portion  14 , and third leaf portion  16  to remain rigid while allowing the tip  22  to insert into the slot  38 . Margin strips  24  and  30  provide depth or volume when folded to define a space between  12 ,  14 , and  16  for gifts. 
         [0021]    Exterior side  32  of third leaf  16  contains slits  58  to hold items, such as guitar picks  74  from the featured musical artist or band. Slits  58  go through to the interior side  54  of third leaf  16  to form strips for retaining picks  74  in position. Guitar picks  74  can be personalized for the featured musical artist or band. Guitar picks  74  can optionally be finger-printed or signed by the featured musical artist or band members. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , first leaf portion  12  has an interior side  40 . Second leaf portion  14  has an interior side  52 . Third leaf portion  16  has an interior side  54 . Interior sides  40 ,  52 , and  54  of the leaf portions  12 ,  14 , and  16 , respectively are adapted to receive text  66 , greetings  67 , graphics  68 , pictures  70 , images  72 , and the like, see  FIG. 7 . Text  66  can be any type of writing. Greetings  67  can be any type of normal greeting card text, such as “Happy Birthday,” etc. Graphics  68 , pictures  70 , and images  72  on exterior sides  18 ,  26 , and  32  of leaf portions  12 ,  14  and  16  respectively, can be part of a theme for the greeting card assembly and gift package  10 . For example, the theme may feature or highlight a musical artist or band. Graphics  68 , pictures  70 , images  72 , and the like will correspond to the featured musical artist or band. Graphics  68 , pictures  70 , and images  72  can be associated with a specific tour of the featured musical artist or group and may include artwork from a specific album from the featured musical artist or band. 
         [0023]    Interior side  52  is adapted to hold a collectable gift item or items. Examples of a collectable gift items include guitar pick holder necklaces, or pieces of the featured musical artist or band&#39;s clothing worn on tour. An example of a gift item is a prepaid gift card for purchasing music from retailers. Another example could include food items such as candy. Interior side  52  of second leaf portion  14  may include a certificate of authenticity (COA) for the collectable gift item used by the featured musical artist or band. Alternately, interior side  52  may contain an electronically readable/writable storage device that the recipient can use to store songs from the band or other music. In another embodiment, the storage device could also be pre-loaded with music from the featured musical artist or band from a specific tour or songs generally from the featured musical artist or band. In still another embodiment, interior side  52  may also contain a musical chip that plays a song from the featured musical artist or band when the greeting card assembly and package  10  is opened. 
         [0024]    Interior side  54  of third leaf portion  16  contains slits  58  to hold articles, such as guitar picks  74 . Guitar picks may include finger-prints or other indications associated with the featured musical artist or band. Interior side  54  has space for autographs or signatures  76  by the featured musical artist or band. Interior side  54  may include written instructions  60  on how to assemble the three-dimensional greeting card assembly and package  10 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a side view of assembled greeting card assembly and package  10 , showing the self-supporting three-dimensional structure of the assembled greeting card assembly and package  10 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a top view of greeting card assembly and package  10  demonstrating how second leaf portion  14  (not shown) and third leaf portion  16  are mirror images. This figure further demonstrates that second leaf portion  14  and third leaf portion  16  are foldable behind first leaf portion  12 , once first margin strip  24  is hingedly moved. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a side view of greeting card assembly and package  10 , showing how margin strips  24  and  30  provide depth or volume when folded to define a space between  12 ,  14 , and  16  for gifts. 
         [0028]    While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of exemplary embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in certain detail, it is not the intention of the Applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to any of the specific details, representative devices and methods, and/or illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.