Patent Publication Number: US-2003230011-A1

Title: Card with rotating pop-up device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The subject invention relates to the field of pop-up cards and, more particularly, to a pop-up card of the type in which an image carrier rotates when activated.  
       [0003] The subject invention also relates to the field of advertising and promotional techniques and, more particularly, to an advertising and/or promotional piece that includes a pop-up feature.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] No matter the location, the consuming public is inundated with promotional material from every type of commercial enterprise, in the form of business cards, T-shirts, hats and many other objects. In particular, the consuming public is inundated with paper advertisements in the form of newspaper inserts, catalogs, flyers, postcards, coupon books and the like. Due to these factors, advertisers are continually searching for new and more effective promotional materials with which they can gain the attention of consumers. Prior attempts to gain the attention of consumers, both in the form of paper advertisements and more generally in the form of promotional materials, have included colorful artwork, controversial slogans, eye-catching shapes, contests, coupons and novel means with which to deliver the above to the consumer. Though these methods of gaining the attention of consumers have been and continue to be successful to a certain extent, there exists a constant need on the part of companies and individuals to deliver their advertising and promotional materials in novel, attention-getting ways.  
       [0006] Additionally, advertisements and promotional materials must reach numerous consumers in a cost-efficient manner. Thus, the most favorable promotional materials should be simply and quickly mass manufactured and should employ inexpensive materials.  
       [0007] Addressing the above problems, inventors have created the field of pop-up devices, and the more particular field of pop-up cards. [For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,103,444 (Flap pop-up for advertising leaflets), 5,450,680 (Pop-up card and method of making same), 6,036,806 (Pop-up advertising device and method), 6,192,608 (Pop-up advertising piece)]. Pop-up cards peak consumer interest through the incorporation of dynamic parts. Furthermore, the possibility of displaying objects elevated or erect from the flat plane of the card enables the sender to better convey the form and shape of various objects for the benefit of the receiver. Pop-up cards are versatile, as they can be distributed in many different forms and through numerous distribution channels, including as inserts in newspapers and magazines, as mailers, as a “give-away” packaged with related products or in person by salesmen at trade shows and meetings. Moreover, pop-up cards can be made from paperboard and delivered as flat cards, thereby reducing cost of manufacture and risk of damage to said cards during delivery. However, even within the particular field of pop-ups, advertisers are always looking for innovative devices with which to deliver their messages, particularly in eye-catching ways, as the modem consumer becomes dismissive and disinterested with the familiar, and particularly with that which is static.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved pop-up card; it is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a pop-up card with a novel rotating pop-up device.  
       [0009] Addressing the evolving needs of advertisers and other purveyors of information, the card with rotating pop-up device attracts and holds the attention of recipients through its novel, rotating pop-up mechanism, which mechanism employs a novel device in which z-shaped creases incorporated into a rotation device fold and unfold, propelling the rotation of an image carrier.  
       [0010] Moreover, addressing the limitations of other pop-up mailers, the card with rotating pop-up device is self-propelling, such that merely opening the card causes the image carrier to rotate up to 180 degrees. Furthermore, the card is made from either one or two sheets of paperboard or other planar material, depending on the embodiment, thereby making it particularly cost-effective to assemble and distribute.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
     [0011]FIG. 1: A first implementation form of the Card with Rotating Pop-up Device with square or round image carrier. Open perspective view before assembly.  
     [0012]FIG. 2: Internal view of the Card with Rotating Pop-up Device before assembly.  
     [0013]FIG. 3: View of the partially folded card with rotating pop up device.  
     [0014]FIG. 4: View of the opened Card with Rotating Pop-up Device before the 1 st  panel is glued and displaying side A of the image carrier.  
     [0015]FIG. 5: View of the Card with Rotating Pop-up Device before the 1 st  panel is attached, and in its closing position, with arms of Rotation Device folding into their Z-formation and the image carrier being rotated.  
     [0016]FIG. 6: View of the closed of Card with Rotating Pop-up Device before the 1 st  panel is attached and with the arms of the Rotation Device folded in their Z-Formation thereby having rotated the image carrier 180 degrees and displaying side B of the image carrier.  
     [0017]FIG. 7: View of the 1 st  panel of the Card with Rotating Pop-up Device being sealed, thereby completing the assembly of the Card.  
     [0018]FIG. 8: A second implementation form of the Card with Rotating Pop-up Device with round image carrier. Open perspective view before assembly.  
     [0019]FIG. 9: Overview of the card with Card with Rotating Pop-up Device after insertion of the Rotation Device, but before complete assembly.  
     [0020]FIG. 10: View of the assembly of the Card with Rotating Pop-up Device after insertion of the Rotation Device.  
     [0021]FIG. 11: View of the assembled Card with Rotating Pop-up Device in its closed position, displaying side A of the image carrier.  
     [0022]FIG. 12: View of the assembled Card with Rotating Pop-up Device in a partially opened position, in the midst of the rotation of the image carrier.  
     [0023]FIG. 13: View of the assembled Card with Rotating Pop-up Device in its opened position, (180 degree rotation of the image carrier from the closed position), displaying side B of the image carrier. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0024] The present invention and its objects and advantages can be illustrated by describing the structural and functional elements, assembly and characteristics of its preferred embodiments as illustrated in the Drawings.  
     [0025] FIGS.  1  though  7  represent a first implementation form of the Card with Rotating Pop-up Device.  
     [0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first implementation of the Card with Rotating Pop-up Device consists of two main elements, the Base  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17  and the Rotation Device  18 . The Base  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17  and the Rotation Device  18  are constructed from a single sheet of foldable cardstock or other planar material divided into five panels  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17  and  18  by parallel creases. The Base  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17  is comprised of four panels  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17 , of which the first panel  14  and second panel  15  each contain openings  24  of the same size as the rotating image carrier  23 .  
     [0027] The Rotation Device is comprised of one panel  18 , which in turn is comprised of a U-Shaped piece  19 ,  20  and  21  (which in turn is comprised of a rectangular piece  19  and two parallel arms protruding from the rectangular piece  20 , each with an arm end  21 ), a double-sided rotating image carrier  23  and two hinges  22  connecting the arms of the U-shaped piece  19 ,  20  and  21  to the image carrier  23 . (The image carrier can be circular, rectangular, square or irregularly shaped.)  
     [0028] Referring to FIG. 3, the Card with Rotating Pop-up Device is assembled when the 4 th  panel  17  is folded over the 3 rd  panel  16  and fastened with the use of an adhesive and the 5 th  panel  18  is folded over the 2 nd    15  panel and the arms of the Rotation Device  18  are fastened to the 2 nd  panel  15 . The  1 st panel  14  is then folded over the 2 nd  panel  15  and the 5 th  panel  18  with the 1 st  panel  14  being fastened to the 2 nd  panel  15  on its top and bottom edges. Through the folding and adhesion of the various pieces, a foldable card is formed, whereby the opening and closing of the card activates the rotating of the image carrier.  
     [0029]FIGS. 4, 5,  6  refer to the Card with Rotating Pop-up Device before the 1 st  panel  14  has been attached to the 2 nd  panel  15 , thereby displaying the method through which the image carrier  23  is rotated.  
     [0030] In FIG. 4 the Base  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17  is completely opened, and side A of the image carrier  23  is displayed. In FIG. 5 the Base  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17  is partially closed, thereby pushing the base  19  of the Rotation Device  18  and causing the arms  20  of the Rotation Device  18  to fold into a partial Z-shape. This in turn causes the image carrier  23  to partially rotate. In FIG. 6 the Base  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17  is completely closed and the arms  20  of the Rotation Device  18  are in a complete Z-shaped fold, thereby displaying side B of the image carrier  23 . FIG. 7 illustrates the sealing of the 1 st  panel  14  to the 2 nd  panel  15 , on its top and bottom edges.  
     [0031] FIGS.  8  through FIGS.  13  represent a second implementation form of the Card with Rotating Pop-up Device. As is illustrated in FIG. 8, this second implementation of the Card with Rotating Pop-up Device also consists of two main elements, the Base  25  the Rotation Device  26 . The second implementation differs from the first as follows: (a) the Rotation Device  26  is created from a separate piece of irregularly shaped foldable cardstock, distinct from the Base  25 , (b) in addition to a U-Shaped piece  19 ,  20  and  21  (which in turn is comprised of a rectangular piece  19  and two parallel arms protruding from the rectangular piece  20 , each with an arm end  21 ), a double-sided rotating image carrier  23  and two hinges  22  connecting the arms of the U-shaped piece  19 ,  20  and  21  to the image carrier  23 , the Rotation Device  26  is comprised a slide member  34  protruding from the bottom side of the rectangular piece  19 , (c) the panels  27 ,  28 ,  29  and  30  that comprise the Base  25  in the second implementation are arranged differently than the panels  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17  that comprise the Base  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17  in the first implementation and (d) the sheet forming the Base  25  contains a number of slits  31  and  32  and flaps  33 .  
     [0032] According the FIG. 10, the 1 st  panel  27  is folded behind the 2 nd  panel  28  and the 2 rd  panel  29  is folded behind the 4 th  panel  30 . The flaps  33  on the 2 nd  panel  28  are then sealed through the use of an adhesive such as glue, to the 1 st  panel  27 , thereby forming a pocket to contain the Rotation Device  26 . According to FIG. 9 the Rotation Device  26  must be attached to the backside of the 2 nd  panel  28  before the 1 st  panel  27  is sealed to the 2 nd  panel  28 . The slide member  34  of the Rotation Device  26  is extracted from inside the pocket to the inside of the foldable card through the 1 st  slit  31  and then reinserted into the pocket formed by the 1 st  panel  27  and 2 nd  panel  28  through the 2 nd  slit  32  where it is attached to the 4 th  panel  30 . The arms  20  of the Rotation Device  26  are fastened to the 2 nd  panel  28 , thereby creating the mechanism by which the opening and closing of the card pulls and pushes the slide member  34 , thus folding and unfolding the Z-shaped folds on the Rotation Device  26  and rotating the image carrier  23 .  
     [0033]FIG. 11 illustrates the Card with Rotating Pop-up Device when it is in its opened position, with the arms  20  of the Rotation Device  26  flattened and side A of the image carrier  23  displayed. FIG. 12 illustrates the closing of the Card with Rotating Pop-up Device, whereby the slide member  34  is pushed, causing the arms  20  of the Rotation Device  26  to fold into a Z-Shape. This in turn causes the image carrier  23  to begin rotating. FIG. 13 illustrates the Card with Rotating Pop-up Device completely closed, with the arms  20  of the Rotation Device  26  in a complete Z-shaped fold, and the image carrier  23  completely rotated to display side B of the image carrier  23 .  
     [0034] The present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment disclosed herein, or any specific use, since the same may be modified or varied substantially in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described, of which the apparatus shown is intended only for illustration and for disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which the present invention might be embodied or operated.