Patent Publication Number: US-9836997-B1

Title: Pop-up greeting card with locking mechanism

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pop-up greeting cards are three dimensional (3-D) displays that fold flat and open up to display 3-D elements or pop-ups. The cards are generally formed from paper stock or plastic and have two panels connected at a fold line. Pop-up elements are connected to both of the panels and fold as the panels close on each other, allowing the greeting card to basically lie flat. Likewise, as the panels are opened up, the pop-up elements rise to present a 3-D display. 
     These cards naturally tend to close unless an opening force is maintained. In certain applications, it is desirable to keep the 3-D display opened. A locking mechanism which has been employed in the past is a rectangular piece of cardstock which is adhered to one of the panels at the fold line. This folds outwardly, such that a free edge of the rectangular card stock engages the other of the panels, basically holding the panels at a 90° angle. This mechanism is not particularly effective. The cardstock tends to be flimsy and does not continue functioning over time. It also only holds the card open at 90° or less. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a pop-up greeting card which can be locked in the open position. The card is formed from first and second panels which are pivotally attached to each other at fold line. One or more pop-up elements are connected to the first and second panels. A locking mechanism includes a tab which is fixed to either of the panels and a stop member positioned on the other of the panels. When the greeting card is opened, the tab is pivoted so that it engages the stop and maintains the card in an open position. The length of tab and the position of the stop member determines the angle at which the card is opened. 
     The invention will be further appreciated in light of the following detailed descriptions and drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention in a closed state; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention in an open state; 
         FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  showing the locking mechanism engaged; 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  of a first alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  of a second alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a greeting card  10  includes a first planar panel  12  and a second planar panel  14  connected together along the fold line  16 . As shown, the panels are rectangular but these can take any shape whatsoever, depending on the desired ornamental appearance of the final end product. The greeting card  10  further includes one or more pop-up elements  18 . Typically, the card will include several, often elaborate pop-up elements. But only one is shown. 
     Each pop-up element  18  includes a first portion  24 , and a second portion  28  connected directly or indirectly to each other. The first portion  24  is attached to the inner surface  20  of first panel  12  with tab  25  (shown in hidden line) fixed to panel  12  and connected to the first portion at fold lines  27 . The tab  25  is shown in hidden line because it may be on surface  20  or may be adhered behind surface  20  so that it is not visible. The second portion  28 , in turn, is connected to the inner surface  22  of second panel  14 . Second portion  28  foldably connects the pop-up element  18  to second panel  14 . As shown, portion  28  is formed from a panel  28   a  and a strip  28   b  which is attached to surface  22  with a tab  29  (shown in hidden line) with a fold line  30  between tab  29  and strip  28   b.    
     The second portion  28  as shown is exemplary. Panel  28  could be a single panel directly connected to surface  22 . Alternately, panel  28  could be multiple panels with multiple fold lines which ultimately connect to surface  22 . Any direct or indirect connection which allows the pop-up elements to fold flat when the panels are closed on each other and stand up when the panels are opened can be used. 
     The greeting card  10  further includes a locking mechanism  32  which, as shown, includes a tab  34  having a first portion  36  (in hidden line) affixed to second panel  14  and a second portion  38  which can pivot relative to the first portion at fold line  40  (as shown by arrow  39 ). The locking feature  32  further includes a stop or engagement member  42  which is fixed to or part of the inner surface  20  of the first planar panel  12 . Both the tab  34  and engagement member  42  are adjacent the fold line  16 , one on each of the respective panels. As shown, the stop member  42  is simply a rectangular piece of paper stock which includes a slot  46 . The slot is sized to receive the leading edge  35  of tab  34 . The stop member can be any structure that can be used to engage the bottom edge  35  of tab  34 . For example, the stop mechanism can simply be any structure that raises above the surface of the inner surface  20 . The stop member can be a pop-up. It can also be a slot in the first planar panel  20 . Likewise, the tab  34  can be paper or cardstock. If desired, the first portion  36  can be thinner than the second portion. For example, first portion  36  can be a single ply of paper and second portion  38  can be two three or more plies to provide rigidity. 
     Further, the length of the second portion  38  of tab  34  can be established to determine the angle  41  between the first and second planar panels  12  and  14 . This angle can be fixed at 80°, 90°, 100°, 120°, 140° or even higher, up to 180° by simply lengthening or shortening portion  38  and properly locating the stop member  42 . 
     In operation, greeting card  10 , which would be in a flat position as shown in  FIG. 1  when removed from an envelope or package, is opened by separating the first and second planar panels  12  and  14 . This will cause the pop-up element  18  to rise as designed as shown in  FIG. 2 . The second portion  38  of tab  34  would be pivoted at fold line  40  and with the bottom edge  35  positioned in slot  46 . See  FIG. 3 . This will maintain the first and second planar panels  12  and  14  at approximately 90° relative to each other or any other angle as desired. Fold line  40  and fold line  16  are parallel to each other so that panels  12  and  14  pivot along the same axis as tab  34 . Because the pop-up card  10  is biased toward the closed position, the lock member remains engaged. 
     To store the greeting card, the second portion  38  of tab  34  is removed from the slot  46  pivoted upwardly and the card closed. 
       FIG. 4  shows a first alternate embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the stop member  70  is positioned on the inner surface  22  of the second planar panel  14  and tab  72  is attached to inner surface  20  of the first planar panel  12 . When the card  10  is opened, tab  72  is pivoted upwardly and engages the stop member  70 , holding the card in an open position. 
       FIG. 5  shows a second alternate locking mechanism for use in the present invention. This embodiment 10 includes first and second planar panels  12  and  14  and includes a pop-up element  50  which includes a first portion  52  of pop-up element  50  fixed to the first planar panel  12  and a second portion  54  comprising a panel  54 ( a ) and a strip  54 ( b ) fixed to the second panel  14 . A tab  56  similar to tab  34  is positioned on the first portion  52  of the pop-up member  50  with a first tab portion  58  adhered to the first portion  52  of the pop-up member  50  at fold line  60 . A stop member  62  (similar to stop member  42 ) is located on the inner surface  20  of the first planar panel  12 . Again, when this card is opened, tab  56  pivots downwardly and engages the slot  63  in stop member  62 , which will hold the first and second planar panels at a desired angle. 
     This lock mechanism for pop-up greeting cards of the present invention is very reliable. Further, this lock mechanism allows for the designer of the card to select the desired angle of the first planar panel relative to the second planar panel of the greeting card, so that the angle can be less than 90°, 90° or greater than 90°, up to 180°. This provides greater design flexibility and further allows these cards to be used as displays without any additional mechanism to hold the cards in an opened position. 
     This has been a description of the present invention, along with the preferred method of practicing presentation. However,