Abstract:
A greeting card has a card body comprising at least a front panel and electrical components. The front panel contains an opening that acts as a track. A spinner including two wheels spaced apart and coupled together with an axle rotatably engages the track are positioned on opposite sides of the front panel. The spinner moves along the track by virtue of gravity when the greeting card is being tilted. The electrical components may include a power source, a sound module having an audio file stored therein, a speaker, and a switch located adjacent to the track. The spinner activates the switch when the spinner moves adjacent to the location of the switch which in turn initiates playback of the audio file through the speaker.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to a greeting card with spinner activated multimedia content. More specifically, this invention relates to a greeting card having a spinner mounted on a track whereby multimedia content plays when the spinner activates one or more switches located on the track. 
         [0004]    In an effort to provide consumers with a more personalized and interactive experience, the present invention permits users to control the movement of the spinner by tilting the greeting card at desired angles. When the greeting card is tilted, gravity moves the spinner along an opening in the front panel of the greeting card that acts as a track. Multimedia content is activated when the spinner moves over or near one or more switches located adjacent to the track. Multimedia content may be activated according to the location of the spinner or the time duration of the spinner&#39;s movement. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, a card body has front and rear panels that are parallel to each other and are separated by an interior cavity. The front panel has an opening therein that acts as a track. A spinner has two wheels spaced apart by and attached to an axle that rides along a periphery of the track. When the greeting card is tilted, gravity moves the spinner along the track. The card body contains electrical components located in the interior cavity, including at least a power source and a switch located adjacent to the track. The spinner activates the switch by moving to a location adjacent to the switch. The switch then in turn activates the electrical components. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, a card body has multiple parallel panels, some of which contain die-cut openings that act as tracks. Each track contains one or more spinners comprised of two wheels attached to an axle. The spinners move along the tracks by virtue of gravity when the greeting card is tilted. Electrical components are coupled with the card body and include multiple switches located along the tracks. Spinners activate the switches while moving along the tracks. Activated switches initiate the electrical components. 
         [0007]    In yet another embodiment, a card body has at least one panel having a die-cut opening that acts as a track. A spinner having two wheels coupled with an axle rotatably engages the track. The wheels have diameters of dimensions that exceed a dimension of the width of the track such that the wheels do not pass through the opening that forms the track. Electrical components are coupled with the card body and include a power source, a switch positioned at a location along the track, a sound module having an audio file stored therein, and a speaker. The spinner activates the switch by moving adjacent to the location of the switch and the switch in turn initiates the playback of the audio file through the speaker. 
         [0008]    Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0009]    The features of the invention noted above are explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, in which  FIGS. 1-6  illustrate several possible embodiments of the present invention, and in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is an unfolded view of an exemplary greeting card constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  is a folded front perspective view of the greeting card of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B  is a fragmentary, side elevation view of the spinner of the greeting card of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  2 B- 2 B in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  is a front elevation view of the greeting card of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  is an interior view of the greeting card of  FIG. 1  with the front cover panel thereof removed to reveal electrical components therein; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts a front elevation view of an exemplary second embodiment of a greeting card with a looped track and multiple spinners; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  depicts a front elevation view of an exemplary third embodiment of a greeting card with multiple branched tracks; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  depicts a front elevation view of an exemplary fourth embodiment of a greeting card with a free-moving arm pivoting adjacent one end of a track. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring now to the drawings in more detail and initially to  FIG. 1 , numeral  10  generally designates an unfolded greeting card constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The greeting card  10  includes a card body  11 . In the illustrated embodiment, the card body  11  includes a front panel  12 , a back panel  13 , and an interior panel  14 . As readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the card body  11  may consist of a single piece of card stock that has been folded along fold lines  15 A and  15 B to provide panels  12 ,  13  and  14 , as depicted in the illustrated embodiment. It would also be readily understood that the panels  12 ,  13 ,  14  may be individual panels that are joined to one another by any number of methods known in the art and that the card body  11  may have any number of panels. 
         [0019]    Card body  11  also includes side panels in the shape of flaps  15 C-E along three sides of the front panel  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the back panel  13  is folded back and under front panel  12  such that it overlies the back panel  13 . Side panels  15 C-E are folded back and under the front panel  12  and attached to the back panel  13  to define an interior cavity  11 B (see  FIG. 2A ) between the front panel  12  and the back panel  13 .  FIG. 2A  depicts a folded perspective view of the greeting card in  FIG. 1 . Portions of the side panels  15 C and  15 D can be seen bridging the interior cavity  11 B between the front panel  12  and the back panel  13  to form a box-like shape. This can be created by each side of the front panel  12  having dual parallel fold lines, as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The interior panel  14  is also folded back toward the back panel  13  as shown. 
         [0020]    Continuing with  FIG. 2A , a spinner  20  is shown. The spinner  20  is mounted in a track  16 . The track  16  can be an opening or channel die-cut into the front panel  12  such that a portion of the back panel  13  is visible through the track  16 . 
         [0021]    Turning briefly to  FIG. 2B , a side view of the spinner  20  is depicted. The spinner  20  includes first or outer wheel  22 , a second or inner wheel  21 , and an axle  23 . The first wheel  22  is located on a front side of the front panel  12  and the second wheel  21  is located on a back side of the front panel  12 , and in turn occupies the interior cavity  11 B between the front panel  12  and the rear panel  13 . The wheels  21  and  22  may be constructed from metal or heavy board stock and are coupled adjacent opposite ends of the axle  23 . The axle  23  may be metal or foam and grips or engages a peripheral edge of track  16 . The axle  23  is purposefully smaller in diameter than a width of track  16  such that axle  23  is free to move or spin along the track  16 . The wheels  21  and  22  have diameters greater than the width of track  16  such that the wheels  21  and  22  cannot pass through the opening of the track  16 . The wheels  21  and  22  may be adhered to the axle  23  such that they may spin as one entity with the axle  23  or they may spin independently of the axle  23  or of each other. 
         [0022]    Turning back to  FIG. 2A , when the user tilts the front panel  12 , gravity causes the spinner  20  to spin or rotate and move in the direction of the tilt along the track  16 . Naturally, the steeper the tilt, the faster the spinner  20  moves along the track  16 . 
         [0023]    Turning now to  FIG. 3A , numeral  30  refers to the front view of the greeting card of  FIG. 1 . Images of racquets  31  and  32  are printed on the front panel  12 . The spinner  20  is mounted in the track  16  and moves in the direction of tilt along track  16 . For instance, the user can tilt the front panel  12  to the right in order to move the spinner  20  towards racquet  32 . In the illustrated embodiment, the movement of spinner  20  between the racquets  31  and  32  simulates a game of tennis. In other embodiments, a moving spinner can simulate hitting a baseball with a bat or shooting a basketball into a basket. There are lights  38  above the track  16  as well as a button  39  at the bottom right of the front panel  12 . The button  39  may be on the front panel  12  or may be behind the front panel  12  in the interior cavity  11 B. If behind the front panel  12 , a “press here” indicator may be placed on the front side of the front panel  12  to inform users where to press on the front panel  12  to activate the button  39  there behind. The lights  38  may flash in order to simulate camera flashes in the stands. The lights  38  may also flash when the spinner  20  reaches a particular location along the track  16 . For instance, the lights  38  may flash when the spinner  20  reaches the racquet  32  at the end of the track  16 . The button  39  may be present to manage the power source of the electrical components connected to the lights  38 . If the lights  38  operate on batteries, then the user has the option of depressing the button  39  to turn the power source on or off in order to conserve electrical resources. A timer may be used to shut the power off after a predetermined period of inactivity. The button  39  may then be used to reactivate the electrical components. 
         [0024]    Turning now to  FIG. 3B , an interior view of the greeting card of  FIG. 1  is illustrated by removing the front cover panel to reveal the electrical components. Some of the electrical components, for ease of manufacture and assembly, may be provided on a carrier  37 B. The carrier  37 B may be adhered to the front panel  12  or the back panel  13  inside the interior cavity  11 B (see  FIG. 2A ). Alternatively, some of the electrical components may be individually positioned on the front panel  12  or the back panel  13  without a carrier like  37 B. 
         [0025]    The electrical components may include a speaker  37 C, the button  39  for controlling a power supply  39 C, the lights  38 , and first, second and third switches  33 ,  34 , and  35 . Any number and type of switches (e.g., contact, non-contact, magnetic, etc.) may be used. The power supply  39 C may be provided by a battery. The electrical components are connected via wires  36  to create an electric circuit. In addition, a circuit board  37 D and an integrated circuit  37 E may be coupled with the carrier  37 B. 
         [0026]    Switches  33 ,  34 , and  35  may activate different types of multimedia responses. As the spinner  20  moves along the track  16 , it may come in contact with the switches  33 ,  34 , and  35 , not necessarily in that order. Each contact may activate a different multimedia response. For instance, contacting switch  33  may activate the speaker  37 C to play a prerecorded audio such as “good volley.” Contacting switch  35  may activate the speaker  37 C to play a prerecorded audio such as “excellent shot.” Contacting switch  34  may activate the lights  38  to flash for a predetermined duration of time. The user controls the movement of the spinner  20  by tilting the front panel  12 . Therefore the multimedia content is a response to the user&#39;s hand movements, which fosters an interactive relationship between the user and the greeting card  10 . In addition, multimedia content may be tied to a time element. For instance, making the spinner  20  contact switch  35  may activate a time counter whereby if the spinner does not reach switch  33  thereafter within 5 seconds, the speaker plays a prerecorded audio such as “missed.” Furthermore, the quicker the user can move the spinner from switch  33  to switch  35  and back, the faster the lights  38  may flash. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 4-6  illustrate different exemplary greeting cards.  FIG. 4  depicts the front panel  12  of a greeting card  40  with spinners  20 A and  20 B. Spinners  20 A and  20 B move along a looped track  16  when the greeting card  40  is tilted. Spinners  20 A and  20 B move independent of each other, but are coupled with a carriage  24 . In this embodiment, the carriage  24  is in the shape of a racing car body with a driver&#39;s head extending therefrom. In one embodiment, when spinner  20 A moves over location  41 , a recording may be played such as “start your engine.” When the spinner moves around the entire length of track  16  and returns to location  41 , a different recording may be played such as “way to go.” Different recordings may be played depending on the amount of time it takes spinner  20 A to traverse the entire track  16 . In other embodiments, there may also be multiple tracks on greeting card  40 . For instance, two parallel straight tracks, each with a separate spinner mounted thereon. The spinners may resemble cars in order to simulate drag racing. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  depicts the front panel  12  of a greeting card  50  containing a single track  16  with multiple branches. The user can decide which of the branches  16 A,  16 B, and  16 C to take and then tilt the front panel  12  accordingly. The spinner  20  has a front wheel in the shape of (or has a cutout affixed thereto in the shape of) a sail boat. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  depicts the front panel  12  of a greeting card  60  with a free-swinging arm  61  attached to a pivot  62  on one end. When the user tilts the greeting card  60  towards the image of a dog  63 , the arm  61  swings in the direction of the tilt as if pushing the spinner  20  towards the dog  63 . There may be other variations wherein different swinging portions interact with the spinner  20  as the user tilts the greeting card at various angles. In addition, there can be a switch attached to the hand portion of arm  61  whereby upon contact with the spinner  20 , multimedia content activates, such as playback of a recording of “fetch boy.” Similarly, when the spinner  20  reaches the end of the track  16  adjacent the dog  63 , a switch may be activated to trigger multimedia content, such as playback of a recording of a dog barking followed by “good boy.” 
         [0030]    From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the method and apparatus. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. For example, while the present invention has been described as occurring in a greeting card, the invention may be used in other items, such as a book, a picture frame, a gift bag, etc. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the invention. 
         [0031]    Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative of applications of the principles of this invention, and not in a limiting sense.