Abstract:
A self-contained, built-in and reversible greeting, letter and/or photograph frame with cover, all suitable for mailing as an all-in-one unit, thereby eliminating the need for a separate envelope. In addition, when the unit is reversed upon itself and fastened, the unit becomes a stand exhibiting its content without the need of any additional elements.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of novelty greeting cards, photograph-holding frames and blank cards, whereas the content portion and the mailing and/or displaying portion form a single unit. 
     At every holiday throughout the year, people across the country and elsewhere, exchange letters and greetings. When purchasing a card, one might find &#34;the perfect one&#34; only to discover that it is impossible to match an envelope to it. And if an envelope is found, the first thing the receiver does after opening it is to throw away that envelope. The concept of this invention is to eliminate the need for a separate mailing envelope or other container, thereby eliminating the need to search for a suitable one and the waste of paper goods. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a self contained, built-in and reversible greeting unit, containing a greeting card with a novelty message, or a photograph-holding frame as a greeting in and of itself, or a blank letter writing portion, all of which are suitable for mailing without the need of any additional envelope or other container. 
     In addition, when the invention is reversed upon itself and fastened in its unique manner as described therein, it also can be used as a stand to exhibit its content. There is heretofore no known example of such a self-contained greeting product which combines a mailing and display system without the need of discarding anything. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows the die cutting pattern for four (4) horizontal units and the die cutting pattern for four (4) built-in photograph frames. 
     FIG. 2 shows the die cutting pattern for four (4) vertical units. 
     FIG. 3 shows the invention in an open, horizontal stand-type position, exhibiting the built-in frame in which a purchaser can insert a photograph. 
     FIG. 4 shows the horizontal stand-type position of the invention, containing a built-in greeting card or a blank page suitable for letter writing. 
     FIG. 5 is a reduced scale drawing of the horizontal stand-type portion of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 shows the built-in photograph frame in the vertical stand-type position of the invention. 
     FIG. 7 shows the built-in greeting or blank page in a vertical stand-type position. 
     FIG. 8 shows the vertical stand-type portion of the invention drawn at a reduced scale. 
     FIG. 9a and FIG. 9b show the rear view of the horizontal and vertical units respectively, in a closed position, exhibiting each flap visible from the rear view. (Flaps a and d). Also shown, but in dotted lines, are the flaps b and c that are hidden when the unit is in a closed position. 
     FIG. 10 shows an example of an adhesive sticker for use with the invention. 
     FIG. 11 shows an example of an instruction sheet. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The novelty greeting cards, photograph holding frames and blank cards of the present invention are manufactured utilizing well-known die cutting techniques. Cover stock quality paper is stacked and cut according to a pattern that allows a yield of four horizontal units per sheet of cover stock paper with four photograph frames 11 as shown in FIG. 1 or four (4) vertical units per sheet of cover stock paper as shown in FIG. 2. After the die cutting process is completed according to cut lines 13, each unit is scored upon fold lines 15. Subsequently, the greeting card 17a, the blank letter writing page 17b or the photograph frame 11 is attached to each of the units as shown in FIGS. 4 or 8, 7 and 5 respectively. 
     The attachment of the greeting card, the blank letter writing page or the photograph frame to the middle section 19 is preferably made with water-resistant glue. Inserting photographs in frames is well known in the prior art, for example three sides of the photograph frame 11 may be secured to the middle section 19. The photograph may then be inserted into frame 11 through the remaining side. 
     Each unit is then folded with the greeting card, blank letter writing page or the photograph frame exposed to view. 
     A small instruction sheet as shown in FIG. 11 is provided with each unit. 
     In addition, a self-adhesive sticker as shown in FIG. 10 which may bear a desired logo may be included with each unit. This sticker is used by the sender to seal the unit prior to mailing. 
     Preferably, each unit is individually wrapped in protective plastic. 
     In this manner, the present invention provides both the ability to mail and exhibit its content as a unit. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 8, the following are the steps a purchaser would take to use of this invention: 
     The unit is purchased with the greeting or the blank page or the photograph frame exposed to view as shown in FIGS. 3, 6, 4 and 7. 
     After the greeting or letter is written or after the photograph is inserted in the frame, the unit is turned face down and flaps &#34;a&#34;, &#34;b&#34;, &#34;c&#34; and &#34;d&#34; are opened as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8. The part where the addressee&#39;s name and address must be written is thereby exposed to view. 
     After the mailing portion is written and the postage affixed, one must fold the flaps &#34;b&#34; and &#34;c&#34; over the greeting, letter or photograph. The next step is to fold over flap &#34;d&#34; covering the already folded flaps &#34;b&#34; and &#34;c&#34;. 
     The flap &#34;d&#34; is provided with a tongue shaped cutout 21 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8. This cutout secures in place flap &#34;a&#34;, after it is folded over flap &#34;d&#34;. A self adhesive sticker as shown in FIG. 10 is provided with each unit and is placed over the tongue shaped cutout, thereby sealing the product for mailing. 
     The addressee, after removing the self-adhesive sticker, opens the product and can see the simple, illustrative instructions provided, for example, on the reverse of flap &#34;a&#34; or provided with each unit as a small instruction sheet as shown in FIG. 11. 
     First, the receiver is instructed to fold back flaps &#34;b&#34; and &#34;c&#34;. As shown in FIG. 6, when assembled the panels &#34;b&#34; and &#34;c&#34; which can be a visual distraction, are folded between the middle section 19 and flap &#34;a&#34;. Next, flap &#34;d&#34; must be turned back and the pointy end of flap &#34;a&#34; must be inserted into the horizontal slot number 23 provided at the bottom of flap &#34;d&#34;. The unit with photographs or greeting is ready to be displayed. 
     It should be understood that the above descriptions disclose specific embodiments of the present invention and are for the purposes of illustration only. There may be other modifications and changes obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art which will fall within the scope of the present invention which should be limited only by the following claims and their legal equivalents.