Abstract:
The present invention provides visual effects in, for example, greeting cards, gift bags, photo albums, postcards. Visual effects are realized through special effects containers that include a special effects substance. This substance may comprise particles (e.g., a glitter or confetti) and a liquid (e.g., water) such that when the special effects container is shaken a visual effect is produced. One type of visual effect produced by the present invention is similar to the effect produced by a snow globe. For example, pieces of a polymer confetti, each having the shape of a snowflake, may be included in a special effects container that also houses a liquid. These pieces of confetti may have a negative buoyancy with respect to the liquid such that after the special effects container is shaken, the pieces of confetti sink. The rate of descent/ascent of the container particles can be configured by changing the specific weight of either the liquid or the container particles.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/397,564 (Attorney Docket No. CRG/001 PROV) filed Jul. 19, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Greeting cards containing pre-printed messages are well known in the art. Such greeting cards usually take the form of a folded piece of paper, cardboard, or other paper stock that can be inserted into an envelope and mailed. These greeting cards may be have a theme (e.g., Christmas) and, accordingly, may contain theme associated pre-printed text or messages (e.g., Merry Christmas) and indicia (e.g., a snowman). When included in a greeting card, such themed indicia and pre-printed information increases the greeting card&#39;s whimsical and festive nature by increasing the functionality of the greeting card in certain circumstances (e.g., Christmas). However, current greeting cards are deficient because the whimsical and festive nature of the greeting card is determined solely by the indicia and pre-printed information of that greeting card. It would be therefore by desirable to further improve the whimsical and festive nature of a greeting card.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the whimsical and festive nature of a greeting card, gift bag, postcard, or the like by including structures that increase the utility of a greeting card, gift bag, postcard, or the like.  
           [0004]    A greeting card is provided that includes a special effects container filled with a substance. This substance may comprise, for example, a confetti, glitter, liquid, the like, or any combination thereof. When shaken or manipulated, the substance creates a visual effect that increases the whimsical and festive of the greeting card. The principles of this invention may also be incorporated into postcards, gift bags, photo albums, or the like.  
           [0005]    In one embodiment, a circular special effects container is included on a greeting card. This special effects container is filled with a substance comprising multiple container particles (e.g., a confetti or glitter) such that when the card is shaken, the container particles move throughout the container. If, for example, a confetti is used then the visual effect realized is similar to the visual effect produced by falling confetti. The functionality of traditional confetti is lost after a user throws the confetti. However, because the confetti of the present invention is housed in a special effects container, a user can enjoy the visual effect of throwing confetti any time the user shakes the greeting card. The greeting card container may also be opened by a user so that the confetti may be thrown in the traditional manner.  
           [0006]    As per another embodiment of the present invention, a greeting card may include a container that houses a substance comprising not only container particles (e.g., glitter) but also, for example, a liquid (e.g., colored water). The container particles may have a certain buoyancy with respect to the liquid such that the container particles either float or sink in the liquid after the special effects container is shaken. For example, suppose that the substance comprises container particles and a liquid. Now, if these container particles are included as confetti that resembles snow, and these particles have negative buoyancy with respect to the liquid then the visual effect produced from shaking the greeting card may resemble the effect from a recently shaken snow globe. Alternatively, suppose, for example, that the container particles resemble bubbles, and these particles have a positive buoyancy with respect to the liquid then the visual effect produced from shaking the greeting card may resemble a bubbling effect.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The above-mentioned objects and features of the present invention can be more clearly understood from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same structural elements throughout, and in which:  
           [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is an exterior view of a greeting card employing a visual effects container;  
           [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is an interior view of a partially constructed greeting card employing a visual effects container;  
           [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is an interior view of a greeting card employing a visual effects container;  
           [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is an exterior view of a gift bag employing a visual effects container;  
           [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is an exterior view of a photo album employing a visual effects container;  
           [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is an exterior view of a closed magnetic filament filled visual effects container employed in a greeting card;  
           [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is an interior view of a magnetic filament filled visual effects container employed in a greeting card;  
           [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is an exterior opened view of a magnetic filament filled visual effects container employed in a greeting card;  
           [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is an frontal view of a postcard with a circular transparent visual effects container employed in a postcard; and  
           [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 is an frontal view of a postcard with a non-circular transparent visual effects container employed in a postcard.  
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is an exterior view of greeting card  10  constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Greeting card  10  includes sheet segments  11  and  12  that are defined by fold line  13 . Preferably, greeting card  10  is constructed from a sheet of paper, cardstock, or any other suitable greeting card medium. Instead of folding a sheet in half to define sheet segments  11  and  12  and construct greeting card  10 , two separate sheet segments may be attached together and folded at the point of attachment. Unattached sheet segments may be bonded together, for example, with tape, glue, staples, string (through punch-holes), or any other type of adhesive or bonding device.  
         [0019]    Greeting card  10  includes special effects container  14  that holds substance  15 . Container  14  may be constructed in several ways. For example, container  15  may be constructed, in part, by affixing transparent containment sheet  16  to the interior of sheet segment  12 . Such a transparent containment sheet could be a sheet of any type of transparent or semi transparent polymer or non-polymer. Containment sheet  16  may have a colored tint in order to, for example, give substance  15  the illusion of having a color. For example, to visually replicate blue water, a blue tinted transparent containment sheet may be employed instead of including a blue liquid in substance  15 .  
         [0020]    A shape (e.g., a circle as shown in FIG. 1) may be cut out of sheet segment  12  to form an aperture or viewing window against transparent containment sheet  16 . Substance  15  may be selectively laid on transparent containment sheet  16  so that substance  15  is aligned with the viewing window of sheet segment  12 . A second containment sheet (not shown) may be affixed to the back of containment sheet  16  so that substance  15  is sealed between containment sheet  16  and this second containment sheet.  
         [0021]    Image  17  may be placed on a containment sheet. Preferably, image  17  is included on the second containment sheet (not shown) such that substance  15  is located in front of image  17  (from the perspective of the front exterior of greeting card  10 ). This second containment sheet may also be included as a third sheet segment formed by a third fold line (as shown in greeting card  20  of FIG. 2). To construct a postcard, sheet segment  11  may either be removed from greeting card  10  or not provided at all. Image  17  may be printed on, aligned with, or pasted on the container or any other part of greeting card  10 . Preferably, image  17  will viewable on the second containment sheet. In doing so, the visual effect may occur in front of image  17 , thus manipulating a user&#39;s perspective of image  17 . For example, suppose that image  17  is a snowman and that this image is placed on the second containment sheet. Now, suppose that substance  15  includes water and a non-buoyant confetti that resembles snow. In this example, if greeting card  10  is shaken by a user then the user will see the illusion of snow falling in front of and on the snowman.  
         [0022]    Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that greeting card  10  may be modified such that substance  15  can move more freely inside of the container. In doing so, a variety of different visual effects may be created. For example, if the volume of space inside container  14  is increased, substance  14  will have more space to move around in. Volume may be increased, for example, by introducing lag between the containment sheets defining the container. As per another example, an additional spacing sheet (not shown) may be placed between the two containment sheets. Such a spacing sheet preferably has an aperture similar to the aperture of sheet  12  such that the spacing sheet is not visibly noticed in the container by the user. In adding a spacing sheet, additional volume is provided that is proportional to the thickness of this spacing sheet and the area of the shape of the aperture of sheet  12 .  
         [0023]    Substance  15  of greeting card  10  may include, for example, both a liquid (e.g., water) and non-buoyant container particles (e.g., snow glitter or confetti) with respect to that liquid. Thus, when a user shakes greeting card  10 , the container particles will scatter in the container and descend with gravity. The container particles may be employed to descend in liquid  15  at different speeds depending by employing container particles, or the liquid itself, with particular specific weights. In including substance  15  as a liquid with non-buoyant particles that resemble snow in greeting card  10 , a snow globe is included in greeting card  10 .  
         [0024]    However, if substance  15  includes a buoyant container particle and a liquid and greeting card  10  is shaken the buoyant container particle will rise in the liquid when the shaking stops. Such a substance  15  would produce, for example, a bubbling visual effect in greeting card  10  when greeting card  10  is shaken.  
         [0025]    Greeting card  10  may include a sleeve that is aligned with the container in which a photograph, drawing, or the like may be placed. Thus, a user can use the visual effects created in the container to manipulate any desired photograph, drawing, or the like. For example, suppose that both container sheets are transparent. A sleeve may be attached to the second (e.g, rear) container sheet in which a wallet size photograph may be inserted. As a result, a user may, before mailing greeting card  10  to a relative, put a wallet size photograph of himself or herself in this sleeve. When the greeting card is received by this relative and shaken, the appearance of the inserted photograph will change according to the produced visual effect.  
         [0026]    Greeting card  10  and container  14  may be fabricated in a variety of ways. For example, additional fold lines and additional sheet segments may be incorporated into greeting card  10 . FIG. 2 is an interior view of an partially constructed greeting card  20  that advantageously employs a second fold line to create a three sheet segment. More particularly, greeting card  20  includes fold lines  27  and  23  that define sheet segments  21 ,  22 , and  28 .  
         [0027]    Located on sheet segment  22  is aperture  24 . Transparent containment sheet  25  is affixed to sheet  22  to form the front of a visual effects container. Either sheet segment  28  or sheet segment  21  may be folded over fold line  27  or fold line  23 , respectively, and affixed to sheet segment  22  in order to form the rear portion of the container. Preferably, sheet segment  28  is folded over fold line  27  and affixed to sheet segment  22 . Before the two sheet segments are affixed, however, a visual effect substance is preferably placed between the two sheet segments. Sheet segment  28  may be affixed to sheet segment  22  around the perimeter of sheet segment  22  or, for example, the perimeter of aperture  24 . However, a visual effect substance may be concentrated on containment sheet  25  if the visual effect substance is placed on containment sheet  25  and contained therein by affixing sheet segment  22  around the perimeter of aperture  22 .  
         [0028]    If the visual effect substance includes a liquid then sheet  28  may first be attached to sheet  22  around, for example, line  29  in order to form a pouch. The liquid may be poured into the pouch and then the pouch may be sealed to form a container. In such an embodiment, sheets  28 ,  22 , or transparent containment sheet  25  may be water resistant and attached to form a water-tight seal.  
         [0029]    Alternatively, a liquid-based special effect substance may be placed in a water-tight container instead of forming a container out of sheets  28  and  25 . This container may then simply be attached (e.g., glued) to a portion of greeting card  20  (e.g., exterior side of sheet  22  when greeting card  20  is closed). For example, a liquid may be poured into a plastic bag. After this bag is sealed, the bad may simple be attached to greeting card  20 .  
         [0030]    Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that indicia  26  and/or descriptive writing may be included on the sheet segment  28  or any other portion of greeting card  20 . Indicia  26  may be positioned on sheet segment  28  so that when sheet segment  28  is folded over fold line  27  and affixed to sheet segment  22 , indicia  26  is visible through transparent shield  25  from the exterior of greeting card  20 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 3 is an exterior view of greeting card  30  with a single fold line (e.g., fold line  33 ) that defines two sheet segments (e.g., sheet segments  31  and  32 ). If only two sheet segments are included on a greeting card of the present invention before it is fully constructed, container  35  preferable will not be formed by affixing sheet segments  32  and  31  together. However, in affixing sheet segments  21  and  32  together a postcard would be created. Having a postcard with the visual effects capabilities in accordance with the principles of the present invention may be beneficial. Examples of such postcards may be found in FIGS. 9 and 10.  
         [0032]    Different schemes may be utilized to fabricate a variety of different container  35  structures on greeting card  30 . One such scheme may create container  35  by affixing second containment sheet  37  to sheet segment  32 . In this embodiment, second containment sheet  37  forms the rear of container  35 . Second containment sheet  37  may be transparent and may include image  36 . Second containment sheet  37  may be affixed to sheet segment  32 , for example, in the area outside the perimeter of aperture  34  and the perimeter of containment sheet  37 . Containment sheet  37  may alternatively be affixed to sheet segment  32  around the perimeter of containment sheet  37 . Perforation  38  may be included on containment sheet  37  such that a user can remove the special effect substance from container  35 . This perforation may be re-sealable such that a user can add a special effect substance to container  35 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 4 is an exterior view of gift bag  40  that includes visual effects container  44 . Similar to the other visual effects container (e.g., container  35  of FIG. 3) discussed herein, container  44  includes substance  45  that, when shaken, creates a visual effect (e.g., a snow globe effect). Indicia  46  may also be included on gift bag  40 . Container  44  may be constructed separate from gift bag  40 . This container may be formed, for example, by two sheets (e.g., two transparent sheets) or one transparent sheet folded in half. The container may originally start off as a water-tight pouch such that a liquid may be poured into the pouch. The pouch may then be sealed to form container  44 . Alternatively, the pouch may contain a tear line (e.g., perforation  46 ) such that a user may open the container and use the special effect substance. This may be beneficial, for example, at a birthday party if the special effect substance includes confetti that a user would like to throw.  
         [0034]    An aperture may be cut into gift bag  40 . Special effects container  44  may then be aligned with this aperture and attached to gift bag  40  from, for example, the interior of gift bag  40 . Gift bag  40  may be formed, for example, from one or more sheets of paper. One or more handles  47  may be attached to gift bag  40  such that a user can easily carry gift bag  40 . Both handles  47  may be, for example, constructed from a single rope strung through apertures (not shown) in gift bag  40 . Alternatively, handles that improve a user&#39;s grip on gift bag  40  may also take the form of apertures (e.g., aperture  48 ).  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 5 is an exterior view of photo album  40  that includes visual effects container  54 . Similar to other visual effects containers (e.g, a snow globe container) discussed herein, container  54  contains substance  55  that, when shaken, creates a visual effect (e.g., a snow globe effect). In order to increase the functionality of photo album  40 , photograph or drawing  56  may be placed behind or in container  54 . In adding photograph or drawing  56 , the whimsical and festive nature of photo album  50  may be increased because a user would then be able to create a visual effect over a changeable photograph or drawing  56 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the functionality of allowing a user create a visual effect on a photograph or drawing may be used in other structured employing a visual effects container. For example, the functionality of a removable photograph, drawing, or the like may be included in a greeting card or gift bag of the present invention. Slit  57  may be included on the interior or exterior of book  50  and configured such that when picture  56  is placed in slit  57 , picture  56  appears behind container  54 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that similar special effects containers may also be included on the interior pages of the photo album.  
         [0036]    Many types of visual effects may be created by a visual effects container in accordance with the principles of the present invention. FIGS.  6 - 7  illustrate how a “wipe” visual effect may be realized in a greeting card.  
         [0037]    Greeting card  60  may be, for example, a two sheet segment greeting card (sheet segments  61  and  62 ) defined by fold line  63 . If a magnet is placed behind container  64  on sheet segment  61  and substance  65  contains magnetic filaments then the magnetic filaments will be attracted to the magnet when greeting card  60  is closed. If the magnetic filaments are evenly distributed in container  64  when card  60  is closed, and these magnetic filaments are thick or plentiful enough, then a user may not be able to see an image printed on the rear of container  64  (e.g., on a second containment sheet of container  64 ) or, if container  64  is transparent, an image printed on sheet segment  71 .  
         [0038]    However, when greeting card  60  is opened, the magnetic filaments will preferably no longer be attracted to the magnet and the magnetic filaments will fall with gravity. By opening the greeting card, the rear of container  24  (or, in transparent container embodiments, the interior of sheet segment  61 ) is made visible to a user. Thus, a wipe effect is produced from the falling magnetic filaments.  
         [0039]    Greeting card  70  of FIG. 7 is one embodiment of greeting card  60  of FIG. 6 in an open position where the interior of sheet segments  71  and  72  are shown. The rear of container  74  includes a non-transparent containment sheet  74 . Particularly, non-transparent containment sheet  74  is the non-reflective side of a mirror (the reflective side of the mirror is facing towards the exterior of sheet segment  72 ). Additionally, the non-reflective side of mirror  79  may be the same color as sheet segment  72  and may not exhibit any reflecting properties.  
         [0040]    Magnet  78  is included on sheet segment  71 . Initially, greeting card  70  is closed and container  74  includes magnetic filaments that are attracted to magnet  74 . Preferably, these magnetic filaments (e.g., the special effects substance) cover the reflective side of mirror  79  such that a user is unaware of the presence of mirror  79 . Thus, when a user opens greeting card  70 , the user will see indicia  73  and  79 . When the user closes the greeting card again to view the exterior of sheet segment  72 , the magnetic filaments will have already fallen to the bottom of container  74  and the reflective side of mirror  79  will be visible to the user. An example of this functionality is included in greeting card  80  of FIG. 9 where magnetic filaments  85  have fallen to the bottom of container  84  revealing mirror  89  and indicia  88  on sheet segment  82 .  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 9 shows a front perspective of postcard  90  that includes a substantially circular visual effects container  94 . Visual effects container  92  may be transparent so that a user that holds postcard  90  to object  99  can see object  99  through postcard  99 . Thus, a user can create a visual effect on object  99  by a visual effect in container  94 . As illustrated, container  94  includes substance  95  that, in turn, includes non-buoyant glitter/confetti and a liquid. Thus, when a user shakes postcard  90  in front of  95 , a special effect (e.g., snow falling) may appear around object  95 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that only one side of container  94  may be transparent. In this manner, an image may be placed on the non-transparent portion of container  94  such that the special effect occurs around that image.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 10 is a frontal view of postcard  100  that includes a substantially non-circular visual effects container  102 . Changing the shape of container  102  may increase the whimsical and festive nature of the postcard. For example, suppose that container  104  is the shape of a martini glass or that the portion of container  14  that is visible from the exterior of postcard  100  takes the form of a martini glass. This, if buoyant glitter/confetti  105  is included in substance  105  with a liquid (e.g., water) and container  104  is shaken then glitter/confetti  105  may resemble ascending bubbles in a martini glass. Thus, the shape of container  104  that is visible to a user increases the functionality of postcard  100  by associating the buoyant confetti/glitter  105  to a non confetti/glitter element (e.g., bubbles). Because of the transparency of container  104 , a user could distort any object  109  with such a visual effect, thereby increasing the functionality of postcard  100 . Instead of including a transparent container  104 , however, a portion of container  104  may be non-transparent such that an image located on this non-transparent portion is distorted in accordance with the special effect instead of, for example, object  109 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that substance  105  may include two liquids that are insoluble to each other (e.g., one liquid, such as an oil, having nonpolar molecules and one liquid, such as water, having polar molecules) in order to provide a unique special effect. For example, two insoluble liquids could be included in container  104 , for example, to realize the special effect similar to that of a lava lamp.  
         [0043]    Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in some countries regulations are imposed on mailable items such as greeting cards and postcards. For example, a country may have a regulation stipulating that any mailed objects containing liquid must be mailed in either an absorbing envelope or watertight container. Such envelopes or containers may be tailored so that the absorption or waterproof/watertight areas are selectively placed on the envelope/container to align with the placement of a visual effects container in accordance with the principles of the present invention. As per another example, some countries may have weight limitations on postcards. If, for example, a postcard in accordance with the principles of the principles of the present invention exceeds the weight limitations of a country, the postcard may be mailed in an envelope like a greeting card of the present invention. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that a greeting card, gift bag, postcard, or the like may contain more than one special effects container.  
         [0044]    From the foregoing description, persons skilled in the art will recognize that this invention generally relates to the whimsical and festive nature of postcards, greeting cards, and gift bags. In addition, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the various configurations described herein may be combined without departing from the present invention. It will also be recognized that the invention may take many forms other than those disclosed in this specification. For example, the special effects container in, for example, a special effects container may be attached to an aperture located on a sheet segment by means of an axis (e.g., axis  97  of postcard  90  of FIG. 9). This special effects container may spin on this axis (e.g., like a globe of the earth). A user may spin this special effects container about the axis to produce a visual effect instead of shaking the greeting card. Accordingly, it is emphasized that the invention is not limited to the disclosed assemblies and methods, but is intended to include variations to and modifications therefrom which are within the spirit of the following claims.