GB2320460A - Greetings card with removable message portion - Google Patents

Abstract

The message portion comprises a card 4 insertable in a transparent pocket 12 open at its upper edge 14 and adhesively secured to the inner face 10 of the foldable card. Alternatively the message card may be retained by adhesive or corner pieces.

Description

GREETINGS CARD The present invention relates to a greetings card.

Greetings cards are decorative cards sent to convey greetings. Conventional greetings cards are generally of two types. One type comprises a folded card having a decorative cover and a greetings message printed inside.

Usually such cards carry specific greetings messages for example relating to Birthday wishes, thank you or the like. The other type of card is a blank greetings card which has a decorative cover but is left blank inside so that the individual can write his own greeting message.

Such cards are generally non-specific and so can be used by an individual to convey any desired greetings message.

Thus, such a card can be used as a Birthday card, a Thank You card or the like as required.

It has been found that conventional cards have inherent disadvantages. Blank cards have the disadvantage that since a greetings message is not printed on the card, they tend to be less formal and not as aesthetically pleasing as the specific type of card. Furthermore, although greetings verses are desirable in a card, the individual using a blank card does not generally have the inclination or the aptitude to compose a suitable verse and, in any case, whereas a printed integral verse would be regarded as part of the card a similar self-composed verse would be regarded as frivolous.

Another problem with printed greetings cards is that the customer may have difficulty finding a card which has both a suitable decorative cover and an appropriate greetings message. Often, the customer will find one of these and be forced to compromise on the other. In general, specific type cards are preferred but tend to be purchased with a particular event or situation in mind.

Blank cards, on the other hand, are less favoured but can be purchased in advance for use when an event or situation arises.

The present invention involves the identification and solution of such problems with known cards. An object of the invention is to provide a greetings card which overcomes one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages. In particular, the invention seeks to provide a greetings card which has universal application yet which can incorporate a greetings message as part of the card.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a greetings card comprising a card body portion, a separate greetings portion and securing means for securing the greetings portion to the body portion.

Preferably the securing means comprises a releasable securing means for releasably securing said portions together. Preferably the securing means is mounted on or forms part of the body portion, although the securing means may be mounted on or form part of the greetings portion. Preferably the securing means comprises a pocket mounted on or forming part of the body portion, the pocket being adapted to receive the greetings portion therein.

Preferably the pocket is adhesively or otherwise secured to the body portion along three edges thereof and one edge thereof is not so secured so that the greeting card can be located in the pocket by passing it beneath the unsecured edge. Preferably the pocket comprises a transparent window or comprises a transparent material such as a film so that the greeting on the greeting portion is visible therethrough when that portion is located in the pocket.

Alternatively the securing means may comprise an adhesive plastics coating, secured to the body portion or the greetings portion. The securing means may comprise corner pieces or retaining pieces secured to the body portion and under a part or flap of which part of the greetings portion may be located in use.

The securing means may have any suitable size, shape or location, the former generally corresponding to the size of the greetings portion.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a greetings card comprising a card body portion and securing means for securing a greetings portion thereto. Preferably the greetings card comprises a folded card and the securing means is located on an inside face of said card.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a greetings portion comprising a card having a greetings message printed thereon and being adapted to be secured to the body portion of a greetings card as herein described. Preferably said greetings portion is adapted to fit into or be received in a pocket of said greetings card.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a kit assembly for assembling one or more greetings cards comprising a plurality of greetings cards and a plurality of greetings portions as herein-defined.

It will be seen that with the greetings card of the present invention the greetings portion of the card may be selected or interchanged as required by the user independently of the decorative design on the card body portion.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a plan view of one embodiment of greetings card of the invention.

The drawing shows a greetings card 1 comprising a body portion 2 and a greetings portion 4 which are separate entities. The body portion 2 comprises a card folded along a dotted line 6 to form two sections 8, 10.

The cover or reverse of section 8 (not shown) is decorated as required. The other section 10 comprises a transparent pocket 12 adhesively secured along three edges 13 thereof to the inner surface of section 10. The pocket forms the means of releasably securing the greetings portion 4 to the body portion 2. The greetings portion 4 comprises in this case a rectangular card insertable into the pocket 12 via its open top edge 14. The open edge may alternatively be provided along the inside edge adjacent the fold 6. Typically the portion 4 will be sized so as to slide easily into the pocket yet not move unduly therein once inserted. The edges of the pocket may be provided with a decorative border printed or secured thereto. Although generally not necessary, means may be provided for closing the top edge of the pocket to retain the portion 4 therein. It will be appreciated that the present invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which is described by way of example only. For example, it will be appreciated that any suitable means for securing portion 4 to portion 2 may be used and that any of the features herein-described can be combined in any desired combination.

Claims (13)

1. A greetings card comprising a card body portion, a separate greetings portion and securing means for securing the greetings portion to the body portion.

2. A greetings card as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securing means comprises a releasable securing means for releasably securing said portions together.

3. A greetings card as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the securing means is mounted on or forms part of the body portion.

4. A greetings card as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the securing means comprises a pocket.

5. A greetings card as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pocket comprises a transparent window.

6. A greetings card as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the securing means comprises an adhesive.

7. A greetings card as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the securing means comprises corner pieces or retaining pieces secured to the body portion and under a part of flap of which part of the greetings portion may be located in use.

8. A greetings card comprising a card body portion and securing means for securing a greetings portion thereto.

9. A greetings card as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the greetings card comprises a folded card and the securing means is located on an inside face of said card.

10. A greetings portion comprising a card having a greetings message printed thereon and being adapted to be secured to the body portion of a greetings card as claimed in any preceding claim.

11. A greetings portion as claimed in claim 10, wherein said greetings portion is adapted to fit into or be received in a pocket of said greetings card.

12. A kit assembly for assembling one or more greetings cards comprising a plurality of greetings cards and a plurality of greetings portions as claimed in any preceding claims.

13. A greetings card or a greeting portion substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.