Patents by Inventor Allison Marsh

Allison Marsh has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8950093
    Abstract: Electronic greeting cards include a greeting card with two or more interconnected panels in combination with a digital multimedia player device which includes an electronic display and an audio output, and circuitry which is operative to receive, store and play digital multimedia files and content. The various greeting card structures cover and encapsulate or otherwise house and adorn the digital multimedia player. Digital files are loaded on to the digital multimedia player by a connection to a network, or directly from a data storage device such as an SD card or USB connection or compact flash which interfaces with a port in the digital multimedia player. Pre-recorded digital multimedia greeting card content is either pre-loaded on a portable data storage device, or selected for purchase and downloaded or transferred for replay by the digital multimedia player of the electronic greeting card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: Josef A. Mandelbaum, Rajiv Jain, Allison Marsh, Kimberly Bikowski, Cathy Tasse, David Mayer, Eliza DeVogel, Katalina Speck, Mary McClain, Sharon Bogdanski, Melinda Leeders, Catherine Gruntman
  • Patent number: 8763286
    Abstract: An interactive sound generating greeting card having two separate and distinct components, one being an outer greeting card which serves as a pocket or cavity with a slot located thereon providing access to the pocket or cavity and the other being an inner greeting card which is sized to partially fit into the cavity in the outer greeting card. A sound module is contained and concealed within the outer greeting card cavity, including a switch mechanism. The inner greeting card and switch mechanism work in combination to control the playback of a digital audio file stored on the sound module such that when the inner greeting card is contained within the cavity of the outer greeting card, playback of the digital audio file is deactivated and when the inner greeting card is removed from the cavity of the outer greeting card, playback of the digital audio file is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: Eva Jin, Tiger Qiao, Jonathan Talbot, David Mayer, Allison Marsh
  • Publication number: 20140137445
    Abstract: Electronic greeting cards include a greeting card with two or more interconnected panels in combination with a digital multimedia player device which includes an electronic display and an audio output, and circuitry which is operative to receive, store and play digital multimedia files and content. The various greeting card structures cover and encapsulate or otherwise house and adorn the digital multimedia player. Digital files are loaded on to the digital multimedia player by a connection to a network, or directly from a data storage device such as an SD card or USB connection or compact flash which interfaces with a port in the digital multimedia player. Pre-recorded digital multimedia greeting card content is either pre-loaded on a portable data storage device, or selected for purchase and downloaded or transferred for replay by the digital multimedia player of the electronic greeting card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: Josef A. Mandelbaum, Rajiv Jain, Allison Marsh, Kimberly Bikowski, Cathy Tasse, David Mayer, Eliza DeVogel, Katalina Speck, Mary McClain, Sharon Bogdanski, Melinda Leeders, Catherine Gruntman
  • Publication number: 20140068977
    Abstract: Three-dimensional lightweight foam greeting cards are described herein having a foam body with a perimeter wall that extends between two spaced apart parallel pieces of planar sheet material such as heavy gauge paper, cardboard, or other such material. The greeting cards have a partially hollowed foam body or one or more cavities in the foam body concealed in the front and back by the planar sheet material which may be pre-cut in the shape of the foam body are decorated consistent with the design of the foam body. The cavities in the foam body may contain various electronic components that enable the greeting card to produce sound, record and playback a personalized message, trigger light activation, trigger the movement of moveable parts, display digital video, photographs or slideshows, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: Allison Marsh, David Mayer, Carol Miller
  • Patent number: 8584385
    Abstract: The interactive greeting card of the present disclosure and related inventions combines a traditional paper card with one or more special effects that are initiated by interaction between a user and the greeting card. One or more touch sensors are used to initiate effects including, but not limited to sound, light, movement or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: David Mayer, Catherine Tasse, Sarah C. Eklund, Allison Marsh, Jerry Guo, Tiger Qiao
  • Publication number: 20130283651
    Abstract: Three-dimensional lightweight foam greeting cards are described herein having a foam body with a perimeter wall that extends between two spaced apart parallel pieces of planar sheet material such as heavy gauge paper, cardboard, or other such material. The greeting cards have a partially hollowed foam body or one or more cavities in the foam body concealed in the front and back by the planar sheet material which may be pre-cut in the shape of the foam body are decorated consistent with the design of the foam body. The cavities in the foam body may contain various electronic components that enable the greeting card to produce sound, record and playback a personalized message, trigger light activation, trigger the movement of moveable parts, display digital video, photographs or slideshows, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Allison MARSH, David MAYER, Carol MILLER
  • Patent number: 8567101
    Abstract: An electronic greeting card containing a recordable audio module with a pre-recorded audio or music clip which allows a user to sing along with the pre-recorded audio or music clip and record it within the audio module in the card. The card also contains a preview function that allows a consumer to try the recording function before purchasing the greeting card. In preview mode, the recorded message is played back, simultaneously with the pre-recorded clip, only once and then erased. Once a consumer has purchased the card, the preview function can be disabled whereby the user-recorded sound clip is saved, and whereby the user-recorded sound clip is played back simultaneously with the pre-recorded sound clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: David Mayer, Mary McClain, Allison Marsh, Eva Jin, Tiger Qiao
  • Patent number: 8448361
    Abstract: The present invention and related disclosure describes greeting cards with moving elements or devices which are operable to create motion in connection with some portion of the greeting card. The greeting card may include a multi-panel greeting card body or a three-dimensional foam greeting card body. At least one movable object is contained upon or within the greeting card body. A sound module having at least one pre-recorded digital audio file saved therein and a motor module are contained and concealed within the greeting card body. One or more switches may be used to activate the sound and motor modules, causing the pre-recorded audio file to play and causing movement of the movable or mobile object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: David Sapp, David Mayer, Anastasia Taylor, Kimberly Bikowski, Allison Marsh, Tiger Qiao, Jerry Guo
  • Patent number: 8438763
    Abstract: A three-dimensional illuminated greeting card which combines a unique card construction having a 3D pop-out structure with one or more lights contained therein. The 3D pop-out structure forms an internal cavity in which illumination means and other electronic components are contained. One or more sides of the 3D structure are made of translucent or semi-translucent material, creating a screen that can be illuminated from behind by one or more miniature lights, such as LED lights. The light or lights may be connected to an integrated circuit chip that can be programmed with various lighting effects. The greeting card may optionally include other electronic components which are configured to play sound or music or perform other electronic effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: Anastasia Taylor, Allison Marsh, Johnathan Talbot, Tiger Qiao, Jerry Guo, Eva Jin, David Sapp, Seth Larson
  • Publication number: 20130025174
    Abstract: Low profile electronic display greeting cards combine a traditional paper greeting card and other product constructions with a very low profile multimedia player device which includes a low profile display screen for displaying images and/or video and emitting sound. The low profile and minimalist construction of the greeting card provide the ability to display the cards at mass retail in traditional card pockets, mail or transport the greeting card in a traditional sized greeting card envelope, and provide, at lower cost to the consumer, a disposable electronic greeting card. A multi-panel greeting card body contains and conceals components of the multimedia device, which may include a display screen, a speaker, a circuit board, a microprocessor, a controller, a memory storage device and related circuitry. The greeting card may contain pre-loaded content such as digital audio, video and/or photographs or still images or it may be operative to receive such digital files from an external memory source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: David Sapp, David Mayer, Allison Marsh, Tiger Qiao, Jerry Guo
  • Publication number: 20130000165
    Abstract: An electronic greeting card containing a recordable audio module with a pre-recorded audio or music clip which allows a user to sing along with the pre-recorded audio or music clip and record it within the audio module in the card. The card also contains a preview function that allows a consumer to try the recording function before purchasing the greeting card. In preview mode, the recorded message is played back, simultaneously with the pre-recorded clip, only once and then erased. Once a consumer has purchased the card, the preview function can be disabled whereby the user-recorded sound clip is saved, and whereby the user-recorded sound clip is played back simultaneously with the pre-recorded sound clip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: David Mayer, Mary McClain, Allison Marsh, Eva Jin, Tiger Qiao
  • Publication number: 20120311897
    Abstract: A three-dimensional illuminated greeting card which combines a unique card construction having a 3D pop-out structure with one or more lights contained therein. The 3D pop-out structure forms an internal cavity in which illumination means and other electronic components are contained. One or more sides of the 3D structure are made of translucent or semi-translucent material, creating a screen that can be illuminated from behind by one or more miniature lights, such as LED lights. The light or lights may be connected to an integrated circuit chip that can be programmed with various lighting effects. The greeting card may optionally include other electronic components which are configured to play sound or music or perform other electronic effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Anastasia TAYLOR, Allison Marsh, Johnathan Talbot, Tiger Qiao, Jerry Guo, Eva Jin, David Sapp, Seth Larson
  • Patent number: 8322058
    Abstract: A telescoping greeting card having a plurality of pockets and/or panels that are connected in sequence and configured to slidably telescope between a closed position wherein each of the pockets and/or panels are contained within a main panel and an open position wherein each of the pockets and/or panels are extended in a longitudinal array. The greeting card additionally contains a switch and a sound module with at least one pre-recorded audio file that may be played back upon removal of one of the panels or pockets of the greeting card, which triggers the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: David Mayer, Allison Marsh, Kimberly Bikowski, David Sapp, Tiger Qiao, Catherine Liu, Coco Zhang, Jerry Guo
  • Patent number: 8316565
    Abstract: An interactive sound generating greeting card having two separate and distinct components, one being an outer greeting card which serves as a pocket or cavity with a slot located thereon providing access to the pocket or cavity and the other being an inner greeting card which is sized to partially fit into the cavity in the outer greeting card. A sound module is contained and concealed within the outer greeting card cavity, including a switch mechanism. The inner greeting card and switch mechanism work in combination to control the playback of a digital audio file stored on the sound module such that when the inner greeting card is contained within the cavity of the outer greeting card, playback of the digital audio file is deactivated and when the inner greeting card is removed from the cavity of the outer greeting card, playback of the digital audio file is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: Eva Jin, Tiger Qiao, Johnathan Talbot, David Mayer, Allison Marsh
  • Patent number: 8312652
    Abstract: An electronic greeting card containing a recordable audio module with a pre-recorded audio or music clip which allows a user to sing along with the pre-recorded audio or music clip and record it within the audio module in the card. The greeting card contains a slide trigger that activates the pre-recorded sound clip upon opening the greeting card. A second push-button trigger controls playback of the pre-recorded music clip while simultaneously recording the user singing along to the pre-recorded music. The card also contains a preview function that allows a consumer to try the recording function before purchasing the greeting card. In preview mode, the recorded message is played back, simultaneously with the pre-recorded clip, only once and then erased. Once a consumer has purchased the card, the preview function can be disabled whereby the user-recorded sound clip is saved, and whereby the user-recorded sound clip is played back simultaneously with the pre-recorded sound clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: David Mayer, Mary McClain, Allison Marsh, Eva Jin, Tiger Qiao
  • Patent number: 8312651
    Abstract: Electronic greeting cards include a greeting card with two or more interconnected panels in combination with a digital multimedia player device which includes an electronic display and an audio output, and circuitry which is operative to receive, store and play digital multimedia files and content. The various greeting card structures cover and encapsulate or otherwise house and adorn the digital multimedia player. Digital files are loaded on to the digital multimedia player by a connection to a network, or directly from a data storage device such as an SD card or USB connection or compact flash which interfaces with a port in the digital multimedia player. Pre-recorded digital multimedia greeting card content is either pre-loaded on a portable data storage device, or selected for purchase and downloaded or transferred for replay by the digital multimedia player of the electronic greeting card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: Josef A. Mandelbaum, Rajiv Jain, Allison Marsh, Kimberly Bikowski, Cathy Tasse, David Mayer, Eliza DeVogel, Katalina Speck, Mary McClain, Sharon Bogdanski, Mindy Leeders, Catherine Gruntman
  • Publication number: 20120266503
    Abstract: The present invention and related disclosure describes greeting cards with moving elements or devices which are operable to create motion in connection with some portion of the greeting card. The greeting card may include a multi-panel greeting card body or a three-dimensional foam greeting card body. At least one movable object is contained upon or within the greeting card body. A sound module having at least one pre-recorded digital audio file saved therein and a motor module are contained and concealed within the greeting card body. One or more switches may be used to activate the sound and motor modules, causing the pre-recorded audio file to play and causing movement of the movable or mobile object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: David Sapp, David Mayer, Anastasia Taylor, Kimberly Bikowski, Allison Marsh, Tiger Qiao, Jerry Guo
  • Patent number: 8281507
    Abstract: A three-dimensional illuminated greeting card which combines a unique card construction having a 3D pop-out structure with one or more lights contained therein. The 3D pop-out structure forms an internal cavity in which illumination means and other electronic components are contained. One or more sides of the 3D structure are made of translucent or semi-translucent material, creating a screen that can be illuminated from behind by one or more miniature lights, such as LED lights. The light or lights may be connected to an integrated circuit chip that can be programmed with various lighting effects. The greeting card may optionally include other electronic components which are configured to play sound or music or perform other electronic effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: Anastasia Taylor, Allison Marsh, Johnathan Talbot, Tiger Qiao, Jerry Guo, Eva Jin, David Sapp, Seth Larson
  • Patent number: 8230624
    Abstract: The present invention and related disclosure describes greeting cards with moving elements or devices which are operable to create motion in connection with some portion of the greeting card. The greeting card may include a multi-panel greeting card body or a three-dimensional foam greeting card body. At least one movable object is contained upon or within the greeting card body. A sound module having at least one pre-recorded digital audio file saved therein and a motor module are contained and concealed within the greeting card body. One or more switches may be used to activate the sound and motor modules, causing the pre-recorded audio file to play and causing movement of the movable or mobile object. This movement may be up-and-down or “bouncing” motion, spinning or rotational motion, side-to-side motion or any other reciprocating motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: David Sapp, David Mayer, Anastasia Taylor, Kimberly Bikowski, Allison Marsh, Tiger Qiao, Jerry Guo
  • Patent number: D661348
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventors: David Mayer, April Nemeth, Gary Nelson, Allison Marsh, Katalina Speck, David Sapp