Abstract: A combination gift card holder and message delivery package facilitates the identification of a gift card contained within the package while presenting the recipient with an accompanying message prior to fully revealing the gift card. The package includes first, second and third panels. The first and second panels and the second and third panels are connected with one another along a common edge and are pivotable with respect to each other. The panels have cutouts therein. The gift card is positioned in the package between the second and third panels thereby exposing a portion of a front surface of the gift card through the cutout in the third panel and exposing a portion of a rear surface of the gift card through the cutout in the second panel, thereby partially concealing the gift card while exposing an identification marking thereon.

Abstract: A gift box is described for housing a plurality of pop-up elements that are automatically presented to a user when a lid of the box is removed. The box includes an interior portion enclosed by a base and sidewalls around its outer periphery. The interior portion of the gift box contains a central tower coupled to four levers that each pivot on a respective sidewall. The central tower and/or the four levers additionally have one or more paper pop-up elements attached thereto that are presented to a user when the box is opened. A band passing through the interior portion of the box stores the mechanical energy necessary to cause the four levers to pivot on the sidewalls, thereby generating the force to move the central tower out of the box when the lid is removed.

Abstract: A greeting card has a card body comprising at least a front panel and electrical components. The front panel contains an opening that acts as a track. A spinner including two wheels spaced apart and coupled together with an axle rotatably engages the track are positioned on opposite sides of the front panel. The spinner moves along the track by virtue of gravity when the greeting card is being tilted. The electrical components may include a power source, a sound module having an audio file stored therein, a speaker, and a switch located adjacent to the track. The spinner activates the switch when the spinner moves adjacent to the location of the switch which in turn initiates playback of the audio file through the speaker.

Abstract: A container having an internally directed audible output actuated by removal of a stopper is described. The container includes a hollow body with an open mouth and a base that includes a speaker and control electronics. A sensor is provided that is configured to detect presence of the stopper in the open mouth of the container. In one embodiment the sensor is comprised of a normally open electrical circuit formed by a pair of opposing arrays of electrical traces disposed within the mouth. In another embodiment, the sensor comprises an infrared light source and sensor that detects an amount of internally reflected infrared light within walls of the body. In yet another embodiment, the sensor comprises a device which detects the presence and/or absence of a magnetic field. Upon detection of removal of the stopper, an audible output is produced by the speaker into the container body and is perceivable by nearby users.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for processing multiple items for retail sale via a single retailer action. Upon scanning a machine-readable marking that is associated with multiple items provided by various vendors, a marking identifier associated with the machine-readable marking is recognized. The marking identifier corresponds with each price of the multiple items. Each price of the multiple items is presented to a consumer for payment that can be disbursed to the appropriate vendors.

Abstract: Kits and methods are provided for revealing a hidden element of an article. The article has printing thereon using a combination of visible ink materials and colorless ink materials. An activating solution is applied to a body part using an applicator. The body part is then contacted with the article. The activating solution causes the colorless ink materials to become visible thereby revealing a portion of the hidden element. The portion of the hidden element is revealed in a shape corresponding to the body part.

Abstract: Computer-readable media, computer systems, and computing methods are provided for establishing and updating a prompting scheme for soliciting feedback from a customer. Initially, the customer provides a type of occasion to monitor and temporal criteria for receiving communications from a service. The service generates a prompting scheme based on the type of occasion in order to properly compose solicitations for feedback from the customer. Also, the service uses the temporal criteria for establishing the prompting scheme, which influences the scheduling of communications bearing the solicitations, respectively. Upon delivering the communications, interaction between the customer and the service is monitored and evaluated in order to update the prompting scheme.

Abstract: An article (e.g., toy, ornament, etc.) having an audio recording and playback device permits recording of a karaoke-style song to be played. A user sings along with a permanently prerecorded, karaoke-style song that is played during a recording session. The recording device is operable in either a trial mode or a use mode. In the trial mode, a user-recorded song is played back initially for the potential purchaser but is not subsequently played back to be later heard by other potential purchasers. In the use mode, which the article may be switched to after purchase, a user-recorded karaoke-style song can be played. During playback, the user-recorded song is played simultaneously with the prerecorded karaoke-style recording that was played during the recording session. Additional prerecorded messages, such as voice prompts with instructions, may also be included.

Abstract: A card, such as a greeting card, is provided. The card includes an enclosed space that is partially embedded in or coupled to a portion of the card, where the space includes pieces of material that are moved within the space by one or more moving pieces. In embodiments, a front or a back panel of the card features an enclosure housing fan operable to disperse the pieces or particles. In some cases, the fan and other components for moving the pieces is concealed from view by a cover. In one example, a card features an enclosure with the appearance of a snow globe and includes a wheel connected to a control that allows a user to activate movement of particles inside the enclosure. In embodiments, movements may be timed to increase the interactions of the particles.

Abstract: A greeting card having an audio message and playback device delivers a first sound recording upon opening of the greeting card and a second sound recording upon closing of the greeting card. The delivery of each sound recording may be delayed by a timing component within the audio message and playback device. Additionally, the delivery of each sound recording may be played simultaneously or in queue. Sound recordings may also be recorded by a user using a recording component that is in addition to the audio message and playback device. The audio message and playback device may also include an additional trial mode component that allows the user to test a recorded message before purchasing the greeting card and place the greeting card into a use mode that allows the user to permanently record the message.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for processing multiple items for retail sale via a single retailer action. Upon scanning a machine-readable marking that is associated with multiple items provided by various vendors, a marking identifier associated with the machine-readable marking is recognized. The marking identifier corresponds with each price of the multiple items. Each price of the multiple items is presented to a consumer for payment that can be disbursed to the appropriate vendors.

Abstract: A greeting card having an audio message and playback device delivers a first sound recording upon opening of the greeting card and a second sound recording upon closing of the greeting card. The delivery of each sound recording may be delayed by a timing component within the audio message and playback device. Additionally, the delivery of each sound recording may be played simultaneously or in queue. Sound recordings may also be recorded by a user using a recording component that is in addition to the audio message and playback device. The audio message and playback device may also include an additional trial mode component that allows the user to test a recorded message before purchasing the greeting card and place the greeting card into a use mode that allows the user to permanently record the message.

Abstract: A greeting card having an audio recording and playback device permits recording of a karaoke-style song to be played upon opening of the greeting card. A user sings along with a permanently prerecorded, karaoke-style song that is played during a recording session. The recording device is operable in either a trial mode or a use mode. In the trial mode, a user-recorded song is played back initially for the potential purchaser but is not subsequently played back to be later heard by other potential purchasers. In the use mode, which the card may be switched to after purchase by removal of a trial mode panel from the greeting card, a user-recorded karaoke-style song is played upon subsequent openings of the card. During playback, the user-recorded song is played simultaneously with the prerecorded karaoke-style recording that was played during the recording session. Additional prerecorded messages, such as voice prompts with instructions, may also be included.

Abstract: Providing a greeting card display fixture having multiple rows, one or more of which are convertible rows to allow for adjustment of the number of rows in a display. When desired, the convertible row may be used to display another row of greeting cards, increasing the density of the overall display. When not desired, the convertible row may be pushed flush against the back of the display fixture, while still attached, allowing the full depth of the row of the display fixture to be used. A divider or support clip is used to support the convertible row when in use and to hold it in a storage position when not used. The divider clip also separates greeting cards within a row. The divider clip includes a clipping mechanism to attach the divider clip to the display fixture and an adjustable portion to support an adjacent convertible row.

Abstract: A plush toy having electronics therein for interacting with a user includes a non-rigid electrical component for detecting deformation thereof. The component includes a first layer of a compressible material with at least one aperture therethrough. Second and third layers of an electrically conductive material are positioned on opposite sides of the first layer across the aperture. The second and third layers of material may be brought into contact with each other in the aperture of the first layer to complete an electrical connection between the second and third layers by compression of the first layer upon application of a compression force. When the compression force is removed, the first material expands to separate the second and third layers, thereby breaking the electrical connection. Upon detection of deformation of the electrical component, the electronics activate a response by the toy, such as an audio response.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention use light to add human-like features to an inanimate object. In one embodiment, the object includes a film with an image that has been manipulated to provide for a low profile projection of an image onto a vertical surface directly adjacent to the object. For example, the image of a witch's head could be projected onto a wall and directly beneath, a witch's hat could be hanging on the wall. In another embodiment, changing lights and shadows are used to create animated objects out of otherwise inanimate objects. Various embodiments include components to create the illusion of changing facial expressions. These components include a plurality of light sources and an electronic device that controls the light sources to create the animation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to an Audio-Story Engine that includes a repository of prerecorded audio files that, when played in a certain sequence, with user provided recordings placed throughout, tell a story. To obtain the user provided recordings, the Audio-Story Engine asks the user to make audio recordings of various words or phrases. For example, the Audio-Story Engine may ask the user a series of questions in order to record and store the user's audible responses. Upon completion, the Audio-Story Engine plays back a completed story that incorporates the user's audio recordings by playing an appropriate user recording after playing a prerecorded audio file. This is repeated several times in sequence to form a seamless, customized, audio story. In addition, the Audio-Story Engine may alter the pitch or sound of the user's recorded words to match the pitch of the prerecorded story.

Abstract: A non-rigid electrical component includes a first layer of a compressible material. The first layer has at least one aperture therethrough. A second layer of an electrically conductive material is positioned on one side of the first layer across the aperture and a third layer of an electrically conductive material is positioned on an opposite side of the first layer across the aperture. The first layer is compressible such that the second and third layers of material may be brought into contact with each other in the aperture of the first layer to complete an electrical connection between the second and third layers upon application of a compression force. The first layer is also made of a resilient material such that when the compression force is removed, the first material expands to separate the second and third layers, thereby breaking the electrical connection.

Abstract: An interactive toy for interacting with a user while a story is being read aloud from a book or played from a movie/video. The toy includes a speech recognition unit that receives and detects certain triggering phrases as they are read aloud or played from a companion literary work. The triggering phrase read aloud from the book or played in the movie/video may have independent significance or may only have significance when combined with other phrases read aloud from the book or played in the movie/video.