Abstract:
Trading cards for clothing and the like that include an integral removable gemstone applique (tattoo), or an integral removable temporary printed tattoo with gemstone adornments, both for body ornamentation purposes. The gemstone tattoo is formed on a multi-layer-paper backing that is attached to the trading card by special pressure sensitive adhesive. The tattoo also includes a water soluble slip layer, a waterproof film coating, and a plurality of gemstones bonded to the waterproof film and sandwiched between the film and slip layer. The gemstone trading card is a stimulating and eye-catching novelty that compels notice by potential customers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/110,551 for “IDENTIFICATION CARD WITH INTEGRAL REMOVABLE TATTOO”; filed: Jul. 6, 1998, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,586. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field Of The Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to temporary tattoos and, more particularly, to trading cards that carry an integral removable gemstone applique (tattoo), or an integral removable temporary printed tattoo with gemstone adornments, both for decorative and promotional purposes.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Background  
           [0005]    Merchandising is a very important aspect of the retailing business. Merchandising includes various product handling considerations, including a timely and effective distribution system, establishing an effective product mix, product packaging, department set-up, and advertising considerations, etc. Trading Card promotional programs maximize consumer awareness and drive sales for a variety of products. However, marketing through trading cards is becoming a competitive field, and each new generation of trading card requires more colorful attention-grabbing designs, graphics and labels. Moreover, the physical aspects of the trading cards have evolved. For instance, there are now gold and silver foil cards, holographic cards, etc. All of these “standout” cards quickly become the center of collector efforts, and as a result there is a significant commercial need for further variations or modifications to the basic trading card design.  
           [0006]    There now exists a process for making improved decals by securing an extremely thin, flexible and extensible design closely simulating an actual tattoo. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,864 issued Jun. 11, 1985 to Humason et al. discloses “Decals and Process for Making Same”. The disclosed decals include a multi-layer-paper backing, water soluble slip layer, waterproof film coating, lithograph offset printed design, and transparent pressure sensitive adhesive. Decals of this type appear very bright, exciting and eye-catching.  
           [0007]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,586, the inventor herein adapted the above-described decal-making process for making hang-tags with integral removable tattoos.  
           [0008]    It would be greatly advantageous to further adapt the above-described decal-making process for manufacturing a new breed of “standout” trading cards having integral removable gemstone appliques (gemstone tattoos) which adhere small gemstones to the skin, thereby giving the effect of jewelry tattoos. It would also be advantageous to provide an integral removable temporary printed tattoo with gemstone adornments. In either case, the gemstone tattoos can be combined in an economical way so as to make the trading card more compelling, and the gemstone tattoo trading cards can be offered as a “G.W.P.” (i.e., gift with purchase). Given a choice between a traditional trading card versus one with an integral removable gemstone tattoo, a consumer will more often choose the latter. This is especially true with licensed products, e.g., a Calvin Klein licensee selling sweatshirts with CK logos would increase market share by distributing gemstone tattoo trading cards with CK designs.  
           [0009]    Accordingly, a need exists for an economical, convenient means of enhancing a conventional temporary tattoo with gemstones so that it becomes exciting and eye-catching, and then enhancing a conventional trading card with the gemstone temporary tattoo to compel notice by potential customers and to increase sales.  
           [0010]    Likewise, a need exists for an integral removable gemstone applique (gemstone tattoo) by which gemstones alone can be applied to the skin in a pre-determined array thereby giving the effect of jewelry tattoos.  
           [0011]    Of course, any enhancement or supplement to an existing trading card must leave sufficient space for advertising, consumer product information, and pricing information, and it must not significantly raise the cost.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    In accordance with the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and convenient enhancement to a conventional trading card so that it becomes more stimulating and eye-catching, thereby compelling notice by potential customers.  
           [0013]    It is another object to provide both an integral removable gemstone applique (tattoo) that adheres gemstones to the skin of a user.  
           [0014]    It is another object to provide an integral removable temporary printed tattoo with gemstone adornments, which adheres a temporary print-design tattoo with gemstone glitter accents to the skin of a user.  
           [0015]    It is another object to provide a trading card with a lasting impact.  
           [0016]    According to the present invention, the above-described and other objects are accomplished by providing a promotional trading card with an integral removable gemstone applique (tattoo), or an integral removable temporary printed tattoo with gemstone adornments, in both cases for decorative and promotional purposes.  
           [0017]    The trading card includes a cardboard sheet having a front surface bearing pre-printed subject matter such as manufacturer advertising and/or other information. The cardboard sheet may take the form of a trading card, greeting card (folded), hang-tag (perforated for insertion of a swift tack), or other display medium for print.  
           [0018]    In a first embodiment, a temporary gemstone tattoo is removably attached to the front of the cardboard sheet. Though the tattoo may conceivably be constructed in other ways, the presently preferred tattoo includes a plurality of gemstones having a thin layer of silver foil adhered to their base to provide a flat non-porous backing for adhesion to the skin of a user. The front of each gemstone is then coated with a temporary non-toxic bonding agent. The gemstones are then adhered by their front sides to a transparent display sheet, and a second application of temporary non-toxic bonding agent is applied to the backside of the silver foil on each gemstone.  
           [0019]    The combined display sheet with adhered gemstones is press-fit in place on the cardstock with sandwiched gemstones and the bonding agent thereon securing the display sheet to the cardstock. The temporary gemstone tattoo is removably attached to the cardboard sheet via the layer or line of pressure sensitive adhesive. The trading card is intended for conveying promotional information regarding characters, and the removable gemstone tattoo array may be removed and applied to the skin, thereby generating further publicity.  
           [0020]    Another embodiment is disclosed which combines gemstones with a conventional temporary printed tattoo as accents/glitter. The printed gemstone tattoo allows the attachment of a printed temporary tattoo design accentuated by a plurality of gemstones to create a unique three-dimensional tattoo appearance. The layers of the printed temporary gemstone tattoo include a base piece of water soluble slip layer which is bonded to a piece of decal paper. A transparent thin-vinyl film with printed tattoo design is then adhered to the slip layer. A plurality of gemstones are attached directly to the transparent film opposite the print to complement the printed tattoo design. Alternatively, a second transparent thin-vinyl film may be adhered to the printed film, and the plurality of gemstones may be attached to the second transparent film, thereby protecting the printed film. As before, the removable printed tattoo with array of gemstone accents may be removed and applied to the skin, thereby generating further publicity 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary trading card  2  with integral temporary gemstone tattoo  30  according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the trading card  2  of FIG. 1.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a break-away perspective drawing showing the temporary gemstone tattoo  30  removed from the various layers of trading card  2 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a front perspective drawing of the temporary gemstone tattoo  30 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a rear perspective drawing of the temporary gemstone tattoo  30 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary trading card  2  with integral temporary gemstone tattoo  30  according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]    The trading card  2  of the present invention is formed of a laminated cardstock and may be flat or folded, if desired, in the manner of a greeting card. The front panel  10 A is preferably printed and/or embossed to convey promotional information, character information, and other information as desired. A central area  20  is left blank for application of the removable gemstone tattoo  20 . If desired, the trading card  2  may be perforated with a hole through the upper margin to allow the card  2  to be hung by from a product by a “swifttack” (i.e., a looped plastic fastener applied by a gun), or a string, cord or thread inserted through the top of the card.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the backside  10 B of trading card  2  of FIG. 1. Backside  10 B is defined by other printed indicia which may include manufacturer sales information, a menu of other designs  30 , a bar code  40 , etc., as desired.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 is a break-away perspective drawing showing the temporary gemstone tattoo  30  removed from the cardstock sheet  10 . The tattoo  30  is of simple and inexpensive design and allows the attachment of a plurality of gemstones  55  arranged in a variety of designs to a flat surface such as skin in order to simulate body jewelry. The gemstones  55  may be any small cut glass or plastic gemstones. A thin layer of silver foil  56  is adhered to the base of each gemstone  55  to provide a flat non-porous backing for proper adhesion to the skin of a user. The front of each gemstone  55  is then coated with a conventional temporary non-toxic bonding agent. The gemstones  55  are then adhered by their front sides to a transparent display sheet  35  which may be conventional cellophane. A second application of temporary non-toxic bonding agent is then applied to the backside of the silver foil  56  on each gemstone  55 . The combined display sheet  35  with adhered gemstones  55  is then press-fit in place within the window  20  on cardstock  10 B with sandwiched gemstones  55  and the bonding agent thereon securing the display sheet  35  to the cardstock  10 B. The assembly is then preferably wrapped for protection in a conventional trading card package (not shown).  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4 is a front perspective drawing of the temporary gemstone tattoo  30  illustrating a heart design for the plurality of gemstones  36 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 is a rear perspective drawing of the temporary gemstone tattoo  30 . A multi-color offset lithograph can be imprinted on the underside of decal paper  32  as shown in FIG. 5 to convey tattoo application instructions or the like. The decal paper  32  and film  38  seal the gemstones  55  inside and provide a moisture-proof protective envelope for the gemstones  55  until they are actually applied (e.g., to the skin of the user).  
         [0033]    The gemstone tattoo  30  incorporated in the present invention as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 lends itself to application to any flat surface including skin, and it closely simulates actual body jewelry. To apply the finished gemstone tattoo  30 , the combined display sheet  35  with adhered gemstones  55  is carefully detached from the cardstock  10 . This is accomplished in accordance with instructions printed on the cardstock  10  by gripping the upper left margin of the cardstock  10  between thumb and forefinger and bending back slightly, and by then peeling the display sheet  35  with adhered gemstones  55  from the cardstock. This must be done gently to ensure that the gemstones  55  remain adhered to the display sheet  35 . The display sheet  35  is then pressed against the skin, gemstones  55  down, until the bonding agent resident on the thin layer of silver foil  56  grips the skin to retain the gemstones  55  thereon. The gemstones  55  should remain bonded to the skin for several days if applied correctly.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 is a break-away perspective drawing of another embodiment of the present invention in which gemstones  55  are combined with a conventional temporary tattoo as accents/glitter. Again, the tattoo is of simple and inexpensive design and allows the attachment of a printed temporary tattoo design accentuated by a plurality of gemstones to create a unique three-dimensional tattoo appearance. The layers of the embodiment of FIG. 6 include a base piece of water soluble slip layer  34  which is bonded to a piece of decal paper  32 . Slip layer  34  is formed by spraying or otherwise applying a coating comprising a solution of water soluble material to the base sheet of decal paper  32 , and then drying slip layer  34 . A transparent thin-vinyl film  38  with tattoo design is then adhered to the slip layer  34 . The tattoo design may be lithographically printed on the outwardly facing surface of transparent film  38  with non-toxic ink as in conventional temporary tattoo fabrication methods. A plurality of gemstones  55  are attached directly to the transparent film  38  opposite the print to complement the printed tattoo design. In this case, by applying the gemstones  55  directly to the transparent film  38  there is a risk that the adhesive on the gemstones  55  can affect the tattoo design. For this reason it is best to leave blank marks when lithographically printing the tattoo design on the outwardly facing surface of transparent film  38  to avoid any effect. Alternatively, a second transparent thin-vinyl film  37  (dotted lines) may be adhered to the printed film  38 , and the plurality of gemstones  55  may be attached to the second transparent film  37  (as indicated by dotted lead line). This serves to protect the printed film  38 .  
         [0035]    In either case, gemstones  55  are again any small cut glass or plastic gemstones with a thin layer of silver foil  56  adhered to the base of each gemstone  55  to provide a flat non-porous backing. A removable bonding agent is applied to the foil backing of each gemstone for proper adhesion to the transparent film  38 . The front of each gemstone  55  is also coated with bonding agent. Pressure sensitive skin-adhesive is applied overtop transparent film  38 . A preferred adhesive is an aqueous emulsion of vinyl-acrylic copolymer, and a variety of suitable adhesives are commercially available. It is important that the pressure-sensitive adhesive be uniform, and it has been found that an adhesive having superior characteristics in the present relation is secured by application of the emulsion by a silk screen procedure. A transparent display sheet  35  (which may be conventional cellophane) is layered over top transparent film  38  and remains bonded thereto. The assemblage of layers  32 - 56  is preferably bonded to the front side  10 A of the cardstock using a reattachable bonding agent such as that which is commercially available from 3M Corporation®. Other forms of attachment may be employed if desired, such as tape, paper clips, staples, etc. The entire assembly is then preferably packaged in a conventional trading card wrapper for protection.  
         [0036]    To apply the finished tattoo, the assemblage of layers  32 - 56  is removed from the front side  10 A of the cardstock, and the transparent layer  35  is removed. The remaining assemblage is pressed to the skin of the user (decal paper  32  up), and water is applied to the decal paper  32  to wet it and to soften or dissolve the slip layer  34 . The decal paper  32  and any residue is removed, leaving the gemstones  55  atop printed film  38  in place. The gemstones  55  and tattoo design on film  38  should remain bonded to the skin for several days if applied correctly.  
         [0037]    The embodiment of FIG. 6 provides a convenient means of enhancing a conventional temporary tattoo with gemstones so that it becomes exciting and eye-catching, and compels notice by potential customers and to increase sales.  
         [0038]    Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It is to be understood, therefore, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth herein.