US2984920A - Three dimensional greeting card - Google Patents

Description

y 1961 s. I. ACOSTA ETAL 2,984,920

THREE DIMENSIONAL GREETING CARD Filed Jan. 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.

Fig. 3 20 28 34 v5 1: a: Ilif h 50 Gabriel Acosta h Gonzalo Acosta 6.

15: INVENTORS.

:1 BY y May 23, 19 1 cs. I. ACOSTA ETAL THREE DIMENSIONAL GREETING CARD Filed Jan. 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

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I I l l j I I i I /l/ f 24 26 Gabriel Acosta Yj Gonzalo Acosfa 6. INVENTORS. 50 42 30 A @6 1- Fi 7 BY gym, 15m

Patented May 23, 1961 THREE DIMENSIONAL GREETING CARD Gabriel I. Acosta and Gonzalo Acosta C., both of 25 Lucio, Jalapa, Veracruz, Mexico Filed Jan. '5, 1960, Ser. No. 657

4 Claims. (Cl. 40124.1)

The present invention generally relates to an improved and novel greeting card construction and more particularly to such a construction in which the greeting card when opened, produces a three dimensional effect.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a three dimensional card incorporating superimposed transparent panels, each having a portion of an over-all portion or pictorial scene thereon together with a novel structural interconnection between the panels for automatically orientating the panels in spaced superimposed relation when the greeting card is open for viewing or reading whereby the spaced transparent panels provide a three-dimensional eflect.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional greeting card in accordance with the preceding object in which the panels are connected to partial cover flaps at each end thereof whereby opening movement of the cover flaps will orientate the panels in spaced relation with only certain of the panels being connected to both of the flaps and with one of the panels being connected with only one of the flaps thereby providing for a differential in the lateral movement of the superimposed panels for spacing the panels from each other when the greeting card flaps are opened.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a three dimensional greeting card construction which is extremely simple, easy to employ eflectively, novel in appearance and rather inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of the greeting card of the present invention when in closed position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the greeting card with the closure flaps in open position and with the panels disposed in spaced relation to each other;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 33 of Figure 1 illustrating the relationship of the panels when the greeting card is closed;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 44 of Figure 2 illustrating the orientation of the panels when the greeting card is open;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the construction of Figure Figure 6 is a plan view of the blank of material forming the backing and closure flap for the greeting card;

Figure 7 is a schematic plan view illustrating the manner of assembly of the components of the invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the greeting card of the present invention which may have any suitable indicia on the front exterior surface compatible with the occasion for which the greeting card is intended and also compatible with the material within the interior of the greeting card.

The greeting card 10 includes a rear panel of backing material designated by numeral 12 which may conveniently be of paper or any similar material from which greeting cards are usually constructed. Each end edge of the rear panel '12 is provided with a vertical fold line 14 and 16 respectively. Spaced slightly longitudinally from the fold line 14 is a fold line 18 which defines a partial closure panel 20 having a free edge 22 at the outer edge thereof. The other fold line 16 is provided with a fold line 24 spaced slightly therefrom rwhich defines a partial closure panel 26 divided into sections 28 and 30 by a fold line 32. The entire rear panel 12, the area between the fold lines and the partial closure panels 20 and 26 are of one-piece construction and are constructed of paper, cardboard or the like.

Mounted against the inner or front surface of the rear panel 12 is a first indicia carrying panel 34 secured to the front surface of the panel 12 as by adhesive or the like and in the example illustrated, the panel 34 includes indicia defining a castle 36 and other background indicia such as clouds or the like.

Disposed forwardly of the first panel 34 is a second or intermediate panel 38 of transparent flexible material which also is provided with indicia as required to illustrate the cart or wagon 40. Disposed forwardly of the second panel 38 is a third panel 42 or forward panel which also is constructed of transparent flexible material and which also is provided with indicia designating a person 44 and the like.

A third panel or forward panel 42 is provided with one end edge 46 disposed angularly thereto and received between the sections 28 and 30 of the partial closure flap 26 with the flange 46 being retained therein by adhesive or the like. The other end of the third panel 42 is attached to the inner surface of that area of the backing panel 12 and closure panel 20 that is defined by the fold lines 18 and 14 as illustrated in Figure 5 which, in this condition, has the end edges of the forwardmost panel 42 connected in the manner shown in Figure 5.

The intermediate or second panel 38 has one end edge thereof which is free as designated by numeral 48 and the other end edge of the panel 38 is hingedly connected to the inner end edge surface of the forwardmost panel 42 by a pair of flexible hinge straps 50 which pivotally connects the panel 38 to the panels 42 and 12.

When using the present invention, it is signed in any suitable manner and mailed or otherwise delivered however desired. When the recipient obtains the card, it will be natural toopen the partial panels 20 and 30 from the closed position in Figure 1 to the open position illustrated in Figure 2.. When this is done, the natural resiliency of the cardboard or the like will cause the rear panel 12 to be disposed arcuately with the first panel 34 also being disposed arcuately as illustrated in Figure 5. In view of the free end 48 of the panel 38, this panel will remain substantially straight While the partial covers 20 and 30 are hinged apart. The third panel 42 is spaced from the intermediate panel 38 by virtue of the point of attachment of the flange 46 with the tabs 32 and with the connection between the hinge strap 50 and rear panel '12.

All of the panels 34, 38 and 42 may be constructed of plastic although panel 34 may be constructed of paper material or the like. However, panels 42 and 38 are necessarily transparent except where the pictorial indicia is employed and these panels are preferably constructed of plastic material or the like.

When the greeting card is mailed, it is folded in the manner of Figure l for reception in a suitable envelope or the like. When the card is received, the partial panels 20 and 30 normally will be gripped and pivoted outward- 1y toward the position illustrated in Figure 5 which will automatically orientate the panels 34, 38 and 42 in the manner illustrated in Figure 5 whereby the superimposed indicia combined with the transparent panels will provide a three dimensional effect for the over-all picture or scene with each of. the panels carrying a portion of the indicia thereon.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

' What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A greeting card comprising a plurality of superimposed panels, the rearmost of said panels including a backing panel, a first indicia carrying panel mounted on the inner surface of the backing panel, a second panel of transparent material superimposed on the first panel, and a third panel of transparent material superimposed over the second panel, said second and third panels being constructed of flexible transparent material having indicia thereon, and closure means normally overlying the third panel and interconnecting the panels for orientating the panels in superimposed engaging relation when in a normal position and orientating the three indicia carrying panels in spaced relation for providing a three dimensional effect when the closure means is moved to an open position.

2. A greeting card comprising a plurality of superimposed panels, the rearmost of said panels including a backing panel, a first indicia carrying panel mounted on the inner surface of the backing panel, a second panel of transparent material superimposed on the first panel, and a third panel of transparent material superimposed over the second panel, said second and third panels being constructed of flexible transparent material having indicia thereon, and means interconnecting the panels for orientating the panels in superimposed engaging relation when in a normal position and orientating the three indicia carrying panels in spaced relation for providing a three dimensional effect when the card is opened, said backing panel being provided with a partial closure panel on each end thereof, and means interconnecting the flexible second and third panels with the partial closure members for flexing the third panel outwardly in the center, said second panel having one free edge whereby the intermediate panel will be retained substantially stationary when the card is opened for viewing, said backing member and first panel being bowed rearwardly when the partial closure panels are opened.

3. A greeting card construction comprising a backing panel having pictorial indicia on the front surface there of, a partial closure panel extending from each end of said backing panel and normally disposed in front of said backing panel and concealing the same, a first transparent flexible panel overlying the backing panel and having one end edge pivotally attached to the line of juncture between the backing panel and one of said closure panels, the other end of said first transparent panel being free, a second transparent flexible panel overlying the first transparent panel, said second transparent panel being attached to each of said closure panels in spaced relation to the lines of juncture with the backing panel whereby the second transparent panel will be bowed forwardly and the backing panel bowed rearwardly when the closure panels are pivoted outwardly, said transparent panels having indicia thereon disposed in spaced relation to each other and spaced from the indicia on the backing panel thereby providing three dimensional pictorial indicia.

4. A greeting card construction comprising a flexible backing panel constructed of paper-like material and having pictorial indicia on the front surface thereof, a partial closure panel extending from each end of said backing panel, one of the partial closure panels being relatively short and the other of the partial closure panels being relatively long for engagement under the free edge of the relatively short closure panel and normally overlying and concealing the backing panel, a first transparent flexible panel overlying the backing panel and having one edge pivotally attached to the line of juncture between the backing panel and the relatively long partial closure panel, the other end of said first transparent panel being free for relative movement in relation to the backing panel, a second transparent flexible panel overlying the first transparent panel, said second transparent panel being attached to each of said partial closure panels in spaced relation to the edges of the backing panel whereby the second transparent panel will have the central por- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 678,012 Maratta July 9, 1901 956,916 Wiederseim May 3, 1910 2,565,553 Foley Aug. 28, 1951

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