Abstract:
An animated music box card includes a card sheet and a box-like structure attached to the card sheet. A music box mechanism and a movable animation figure are mounted within the box-like structure. A linkage is mounted within the box-like structure to transmit rotary motion of the music box mechanism to the animation figure.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of social expression cards, and more particularly to a social expression card that includes a music box and an animation figure. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     The social expression card industry is a very large business. Consumers demand a variety of card styles, designs, art work, sentiments, and effects in order to express properly the thoughts they wish to convey to the recipient. Social expression card manufacturers constantly create new cards in order to satisfy consumer demand. 
     A number of cards include visual effects. Examples of such cards include pop-up cards that include a mechanic that is animated by the opening and closing of the card. Other visual effects are created by mechanics that are animated by manipulation of wheels, tabs, and sliders. 
     In some cards, visual effects are created automatically. For example, in Earnest, U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,454, there is disclosed a battery operated greeting card that includes a display portion that is animated when the card is opened. The card of the Earnest patent includes an animation mechanism that is actuated by a nickel-titanium alloy wire. The nickel-titanium alloy wire has the property that it contracts when an electric current is passed therethrough. Circuitry is included for providing a pulsed electric current to the wire, thereby causing the wire to contract and expand and provide motion to the animation mechanism. 
     Another type of social expression card provides auditory effects. For example, in Sanford, U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,806, and Tarrant, U.S. Pat. No. 4,102,067 there are disclosed greeting cards that include mechanical music boxes. In Wilson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,041, there is disclosed an animated device, which may be included in a greeting card, that provides both visual and auditory effects though electronic circuitry. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an animated music box card. The animated music box card of the present invention includes a card sheet and a box-like structure attached to the card sheet. A music box mechanism and a movable animation figure are mounted within the box-like structure. A linkage is mounted within the box-like structure to transmit rotary motion of the music box mechanism to the animation figure. 
     The music box mechanism includes a transversely mounted rotating shaft. The linkage includes a transmission for transmitting rotation of the shaft to a wheel rotatably mounted in the box-like structure on an axis perpendicular to the shaft. A first link has a first end movably connected to the wheel. A second link has a first end movably connected to the second end of the first link and a second end operably connected to the animation figure. 
     The music box mechanism and animation figure are preferably mounted to a music box and animation structure housed in the box-like structure. The music box and animation structure includes first and second structural sheet members. Each of the structural sheet members has respective inner and outer surfaces, and each of the structural sheet members has an interior cutout portion. A first mounting sheet is sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the structural sheet members. The first mounting sheet has a slot formed therein. The animation figure is pivotally mounted to the first mounting sheet on an axis perpendicular to the first mounting sheet. A second mounting sheet is affixed to the outer surface of the first structural sheet member. The second mounting sheet has a window and a keyhole formed therein. The music box mechanism is mounted to the second mounting sheet within the interior cutout 
     The box-like structure and card sheet are preferably formed from a single sheet of paper card stock. The sheet of card stock includes three rectangular panels. A rectangular first side panel is connected along a fold line to a first panel. A second panel is connected along a fold line to the first side panel. A rectangular second side panel is connected along fold lines between the second panel and third panel. The side panels each include a pair of end tabs. A first closure flap is connected along a fold line to one end of one of the first, second, and third panels. A second closure flap is connected along a fold line to the other end of one of said first, second, and third panels. A connection flap is connected along a fold line to one of the first and third panels. The panels are folded with the connection flap being affixed to one of the side panels to form the box-like structure and the card sheet. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an animated music box card according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an inside perspective view of the animated music box card of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a back view of an animation and music box structure according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of an animation and music box structure according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is plan view of an unfolded card sheet and box-like structure according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, an animated music box card according to the present invention is designated generally by the numeral  11 . Card  11  includes a box-like structure  13  and a card sheet  15  connected to box-like structure  13 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6, box-like structure  13  and card sheet  15  are preferably formed from a single sheet  17  of paper or cardstock. Sheet  17  includes a rectangular first panel  19 . First rectangular panel  19  is connected by a fold line to a rectangular side panel  21 . Side panel  21  is connected along a fold line to a rectangular second panel  23 , which in turn is connected to a rectangular side panel  25 . Side panel  25  is connected along a fold line to a rectangular third panel  27 . Panels  19 ,  23 , and  27  each have substantially identical dimensions. Side panels  21  and  25  have substantially the same dimensions as each other. First panel  19  is connected along a fold line to a connection flap  29 . 
     Side panels  21  and  25  each have connected. thereto, along fold lines, end tabs  31  and  33 , respectively. Second panel  23  has connected thereto, along fold lines, a pair of closure flaps  35 . Each closure flap  35  has. connected thereto, along a fold line, a closure tab  37 . Second panel  23  has formed therein a window  39  and a keyhole  41 . 
     Panels  19  and  23  and side panels  21  and  25  are foldable into box-like structure  13 . Connection flap  29  is affixed to side panel  25  along the fold line between side panel  25  and panel  27  by a suitable adhesive. Box-like structure  13  is adapted to house a music box and animation structure, which will be described in detail hereinafter. End tabs  31  and  33  and closure flaps  35  are folded over to complete box-like structure  13 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1, an animation FIG. 41 is movably mounted within box-like structure  31 . Animation FIG. 41 is formed from a cut out sheet of cardstock and it has appropriate graphics printed thereon. In the embodiment illustrated, animation FIG. 41 has the appearance of a teddy bear in a cradle. The animation mechanism of the present invention is adapted to rock animation FIG. 41 back and forth within window  39 . A key  43  extends outwardly from a panel  23  of box-like  13  so that a music box mechanism may be wound. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, there is illustrated the music box and animation structure of the present invention which is designated generally by the numeral  45 . Music box and animation structure  45  includes a pair of structural sheet members  47  and  49 . Structural sheet members  47  and  49  are formed from a rigid, lightweight, plastic foam material. Structural sheet members  47  and  49  are rectangular in shape and dimensioned to fit snugly within box-like structure  13 . Structural sheet members  47  and  49  each have interior cut-out portions to accommodate the mechanisms of the present invention. 
     A first mounting sheet  51  is sandwiched between structural sheet members  47  and  49 . First mounting sheet  51  is rectangular or square in shape and it is formed from cardstock. First mounting sheet  51  has a slot  53  and a pivot hole  55  formed therein. 
     The surface of structural sheet member  47  opposite first mounting sheet  51  has affixed thereto a second mounting sheet  57 . As shown in FIG. 5, second mounting sheet  57  is rectangular and it includes a window  59  and a keyhole  61 . Window  59  and keyhole  61  are positioned to be in alignment with window  39  and keyhole  41  of box-like structure  13 . 
     A conventional music box mechanism  63  is suitably mounted to second mounting sheet  57 . Music box mechanisms are generally well known in the art and they include a rotating drum  65  that is driven by a drive mechanism  67  to drive elements of a sound producing plate  69 . Drum  65  is mounted on a shaft  71  that is mounted parallel to the plane of mounting sheets  51  and  57 . 
     A first gear wheel  73  is mounted to the end of shaft  71 . Gear wheel  73  engages a second gear wheel  75  that is mounted on an axis that is parallel to shaft  71 . Second gear wheel  75  engages a third gear wheel  77  that is mounted on an axis perpendicular to the planes of mounting sheets  51  and  57 . Third gear wheel  77  is driven by first gear wheel  73  through second gear wheel  75  to rotate in a plane parallel to mounting sheets  51  and  57 . 
     A first link  79  is rotatably connected at one of its ends to third gear wheel  77 . The other end of first link  79  is rotatably attached to a second link  81 . As best shown in FIG. 4, second link  81  is generally L-shaped and it extends through slot  53  into fixed engagement with a connecting member  83  which is affixed to animation FIG.  41 . Connection member  83  is rotatably mounted to first mounting sheet  51  on a pivot member  85  that extends though hole  55 . 
     In operation, when music box mechanism  63  is wound up, rotation of drum  65  on shaft  71  produces music in the conventional way. The rotation of shaft  71  is transmitted through gear wheels  77  and  75  to gear wheel  77 . The rotation of gear wheel  77  is translated through link  79  to up and down rocking motion of link  81 . The up and down rocking motion of link  81  is transmitted to animation FIG. 41, thereby causing animation FIG. 41 to rock within window  39 . 
     From the foregoing, it may be seen that the present invention provides a card with both motion and sound effects. Those skilled in the art will recognize alternative embodiments, given the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure is intended for purposes of illustration rather than limitation.