Patents Assigned to American Greetings Corporation
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Publication number: 20140033583Abstract: An integral greeting card/game is disclosed wherein a multi-panel greeting card also serves as a game board and is combined with a game piece and launch mechanism to create a novel, interactive greeting card. The multi-panel greeting card contains a sound module therein and a magnetic trigger is contained and concealed below one or more of the multiple greeting card panels. The game piece contains a magnet therein so that when the game piece comes into contact with the area of the greeting card above or proximate to the magnetic trigger, playback of an audio file is initiated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: American Greetings CorporationInventors: Seth Larson, Tony Begin, David Mayer, John Talbot, Sharon Bogdanski, Mike Gali
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Publication number: 20140037229Abstract: A gift bag and topper which, in one embodiment, includes a substantially planar die cut piece of material such as cardboard or paperboard, which is attached to one or more handles of a conventional gift bag such that the topper adds an additional entertainment element to the gift bag and may complete artwork or a picture printed on the outer surface of the gift bag. In another embodiment, one or more die cut components are inserted via narrow slots or openings contained thereon onto the top edge of the open end of two or more greeting card panels. The die cut components sit atop the gift bag and may serve to conceal the contents of the gift bag from the recipient.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: American Greetings CorporationInventor: Suzanne Yoder
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Patent number: 8636152Abstract: The greeting card outpost of the present disclosure and related inventions is a unique and versatile structure which maximizes the number of greeting cards which can be displayed for sale in retail areas which are limited in space. The fixture includes a plurality of adjacent vertically arranged card pockets attached to an angled support structure and standard tube frame which creates angled array of greeting cards extending outward from a front of the display and ending in a fin-like fashion at the back of the display. The novel arrangement decreases the size of space required to display the variety of greeting cards which can be accommodated upon the outpost fixture.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2012Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: American Greetings CorporationInventor: Christopher Weigand
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Publication number: 20140014601Abstract: The greeting card outpost of the present disclosure and related inventions is a unique and versatile structure which maximizes the number of greeting cards which can be displayed for sale in retail areas which are limited in space. The fixture includes a plurality of adjacent vertically arranged card pockets attached to an angled support structure and standard tube frame which creates angled array of greeting cards extending outward from a front of the display and ending in a fin-like fashion at the back of the display. The novel arrangement decreases the size of space required to display the variety of greeting cards which can be accommodated upon the outpost fixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2012Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: American Greetings CorporationInventor: Christopher WEIGAND
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Patent number: 8601726Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 7, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: American Greetings CorporationInventors: David Mayer, Lauren M. Budzar, Eva Jin, Mary McClain
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Publication number: 20130305572Abstract: The greeting card of the present invention includes a three-panel pocket with an internal cavity which contains a fiber optic bundle, various electronic components, fabric layer and a removable panel. A front face of the three-panel pocket contains a substantial opening thereon through which the fabric layer is visible. The fiber optic bundle contains various fiber optic strands. Each of the fiber optic strands is inserted through the fabric layer and is visible through the front face of the greeting card. A contact arm switch controls illumination of the fiber optic strands along with the insertion and removal of the removable panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: American Greetings CorporationInventors: Cindi POCHATEK, Lynne Shlonsky, Erin Dennis
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Publication number: 20130305573Abstract: An interactive greeting card is described herein having a protective housing within which the electronic components are contained and concealed. The protective housing is covered in a multiple panel construct or enclosure which forms a greeting card around the housing. A small compartment in a center portion of the protective housing contains an expandable banner which can be unfolded or pulled away from the greeting card to trigger initiation of a sound clip and illumination of one or more lights.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: American Greetings CorporationInventors: April Nemeth, Gary Nelson, Seth Larson
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Patent number: 8584385Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 20, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: American Greetings CorporationInventors: David Mayer, Catherine Tasse, Sarah C. Eklund, Allison Marsh, Jerry Guo, Tiger Qiao
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Publication number: 20130283650Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATIONInventors: Nicole WILSON, Gary NELSON, Anthony BEGIN
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Publication number: 20130283653Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATIONInventors: Erin DENNIS, Michelle PARKINSON
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Publication number: 20130283651Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATIONInventors: Allison MARSH, David MAYER, Carol MILLER
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Publication number: 20130283652Abstract: 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 and/or other special effects. The greeting cards may include various switch mechanisms that may be located and accessed through various locations on the foam greeting card body.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: American Greetings CorporationInventors: David Mayer, Lynne Shlonsky
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Patent number: 8567101Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: American Greetings CorporationInventors: David Mayer, Mary McClain, Allison Marsh, Eva Jin, Tiger Qiao
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Publication number: 20130269225Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATIONInventor: Gary NELSON
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Patent number: 8549776Abstract: The interactive flap sensor activated greeting card of the present invention contains an audio module and a series of “window flaps” across the inside of the greeting card. When the greeting card is opened, a short audio prompt instructs the user to open a series of flaps inside the card to hear further audio messages or sound clips that correlate with the art work inside the card. When each flap is opened, a different audio file is played. The sound module is programmed to react to the card opening and then to trigger additional individual sounds each time one of the flaps of the card is opened. In another embodiment, the greeting card contains a series of flaps wherein opening one flap reveals another flap, and so on. Once the last flap is opened, a short audio recording is activated.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2012Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: American Greetings CorporationInventors: Jerry Guo, Tiger Qiao, David Sapp, Beth Laverdiere, Jonathan Talbot
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Publication number: 20130262967Abstract: An interactive electronic greeting card and message application comprising a digital character, wherein the digital character responds to a user's input by providing an audio or visual response. The user's input and the digital character's audio or visual response are recorded for subsequent storage or distribution. The user input may be in the form of a voice command or a movement or a sound. The audio or visual response may be in the form of a sound, or a pre-recorded answer, or a changed graphical representation of the digital character. The interactive electronic greeting card application may be hosted on a portable computing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATIONInventors: Jo Ann Dreher, Carol Miller, David Mayer, Jorge E. Barrionuevo, Carolina Alvares de Azevedo Gomes
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Publication number: 20130255115Abstract: The interactive greeting card of the present invention contains a multi-panel greeting card body with various electronic components contained and concealed therein. Upon opening the greeting card, spoken instructions may instruct the user to move an attached magnet from one area of the greeting card to another to initiate a surprise or various special effects such as sound and light.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: American Greetings CorporationInventors: Terry HUGHES, Carol MILLER, John TALBOT, Gary NELSON, Lauren BUDZAR
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Patent number: 8544659Abstract: A greeting card display includes an upper tier and a lower tier positioned below the upper tier. The upper and lower tiers include multiple rows of pockets for displaying greeting cards. Some of the pockets of the upper tier and/or the bottom tier, typically the pockets of the bottom rows, can present greeting cards in a full-facing manner to display all or substantially all of the full face of each greeting card. The upper tier can include a card highlighter, positioned along one of the rows, configured with pockets to present and highlight cards placed therein.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2012Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: American Greetings CorporationInventors: Cathy Belk, Jeffrey Weiss, Thomas H. Johnston, Steven Willensky
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Patent number: D695340Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2013Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: American Greetings CorporationInventors: Lynne Shlonsky, Dave Sapp, David Mayer
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Patent number: D697968Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2013Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: American Greetings CorporationInventors: Annie Deckerd, Carol Miller
