Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Wallen

Thomas A. Wallen 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: 11854436
    Abstract: An openable structure, such as a greeting card or book, with a body, a cam lift mechanism, and at least one decorative element fixed to tab portions of the cam lift mechanism extending through cam slots in the body. The cam lift mechanism is actuatable by pivoting subpanels of the body away from each other. Pivoting of one of the subpanels causes lateral movement of a cam lever, which then pulls an extended arm portion of a rotating portion of the cam lift mechanism, causing the rotating portion to rotate about a primary axle. The cam slots guide the decorative elements radially outward or radially inward toward the primary axle upon rotation of the cam lift mechanism, causing the decorative elements to pop up or extend outward from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: HALLMARK CARDS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Douglas M. Bowen, Robert R. Pavlu, Jr., Thomas A. Wallen
  • Patent number: 11721243
    Abstract: A foldable article having a sliceform removably secured to one or more panels of the foldable article. A tab having a retaining portion may extend from at least one of the one or more panels of the foldable article. The tab may pass through an opening in the sliceform and the retaining portion may be wider than the width of the opening. The retaining member may be manipulated to pass through the opening to removably secure the sliceform to, and/or detach the sliceform from, the foldable article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: HALLMARK CARDS, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Thomas A. Wallen
  • Publication number: 20230092586
    Abstract: An openable structure, such as a greeting card or book, with a body, a cam lift mechanism, and at least one decorative element fixed to tab portions of the cam lift mechanism extending through cam slots in the body. The cam lift mechanism is actuatable by pivoting subpanels of the body away from each other. Pivoting of one of the subpanels causes lateral movement of a cam lever, which then pulls an extended arm portion of a rotating portion of the cam lift mechanism, causing the rotating portion to rotate about a primary axle. The cam slots guide the decorative elements radially outward or radially inward toward the primary axle upon rotation of the cam lift mechanism, causing the decorative elements to pop up or extend outward from the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Douglas M. BOWEN, Robert R. PAVLU, JR., Thomas A. WALLEN
  • Patent number: 11600204
    Abstract: A foldable article having a sliceform removably secured to one or more panels of the foldable article. A tab having a retaining portion may extend from at least one of the one or more panels of the foldable article. The tab may pass through an opening in the sliceform and the retaining portion may be wider than the width of the opening. The retaining member may be manipulated to pass through the opening to removably secure the sliceform to, and/or detach the sliceform from, the foldable article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: HALLMARK CARDS, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Thomas A. Wallen
  • Publication number: 20230005392
    Abstract: A foldable article having a sliceform removably secured to one or more panels of the foldable article. A tab having a retaining portion may extend from at least one of the one or more panels of the foldable article. The tab may pass through an opening in the sliceform and the retaining portion may be wider than the width of the opening. The retaining member may be manipulated to pass through the opening to removably secure the sliceform to, and/or detach the sliceform from, the foldable article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas A. Wallen
  • Patent number: 11514820
    Abstract: An openable structure, such as a greeting card or book, with a body, a cam lift mechanism, and at least one decorative element fixed to tab portions of the cam lift mechanism extending through cam slots in the body. The cam lift mechanism is actuatable by pivoting subpanels of the body away from each other. Pivoting of one of the subpanels causes lateral movement of a cam lever, which then pulls an extended arm portion of a rotating portion of the cam lift mechanism, causing the rotating portion to rotate about a primary axle. The cam slots guide the decorative elements radially outward or radially inward toward the primary axle upon rotation of the cam lift mechanism, causing the decorative elements to pop up or extend outward from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: HALLMARK CARDS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Douglas M. Bowen, Robert R. Pavlu, Jr., Thomas A. Wallen
  • Patent number: 11450239
    Abstract: A foldable article may have a first panel separated from a second panel by a fold, a paper mechanic affixed to at least one of the first panel and the second panel, and a sliceform affixed to the sliceform, the foldable article is movable between a closed state and a fully open state, the paper mechanic is configured to move the sliceform from a substantially two-dimensional, collapsed state to a substantially three-dimensional, expanded state when the foldable article is moved from the closed state to the fully open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: HALLMARK CARDS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Michael Robert Adair, Charity Robin Fluharty, Takako Tokugawa, Thomas A. Wallen
  • Patent number: 11443655
    Abstract: A foldable article having a sliceform removably secured to one or more panels of the foldable article. A tab having a retaining portion may extend from at least one of the one or more panels of the foldable article. The tab may pass through an opening in the sliceform and the retaining portion may be wider than the width of the opening. The retaining member may be manipulated to pass through the opening to removably secure the sliceform to, and/or detach the sliceform from, the foldable article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: HALLMARK CARDS, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Thomas A. Wallen
  • Publication number: 20220114918
    Abstract: A foldable article having a sliceform removably secured to one or more panels of the foldable article. A tab having a retaining portion may extend from at least one of the one or more panels of the foldable article. The tab may pass through an opening in the sliceform and the retaining portion may be wider than the width of the opening. The retaining member may be manipulated to pass through the opening to removably secure the sliceform to, and/or detach the sliceform from, the foldable article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventor: Thomas A. Wallen
  • Patent number: 11238758
    Abstract: A foldable article having a sliceform removably secured to one or more panels of the foldable article. A tab having a retaining portion may extend from at least one of the one or more panels of the foldable article. The tab may pass through an opening in the sliceform and the retaining portion may be wider than the width of the opening. The retaining member may be manipulated to pass through the opening to removably secure the sliceform to, and/or detach the sliceform from, the foldable article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: HALLMARK CARDS, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Thomas A. Wallen
  • Publication number: 20210280090
    Abstract: An openable structure, such as a greeting card or book, with a body, a cam lift mechanism, and at least one decorative element fixed to tab portions of the cam lift mechanism extending through cam slots in the body. The cam lift mechanism is actuatable by pivoting subpanels of the body away from each other. Pivoting of one of the subpanels causes lateral movement of a cam lever, which then pulls an extended arm portion of a rotating portion of the cam lift mechanism, causing the rotating portion to rotate about a primary axle. The cam slots guide the decorative elements radially outward or radially inward toward the primary axle upon rotation of the cam lift mechanism, causing the decorative elements to pop up or extend outward from the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Douglas M. Bowen, Robert R. Pavlu, JR., Thomas A. Wallen
  • Publication number: 20210158725
    Abstract: A foldable article may have a first panel separated from a second panel by a fold, a paper mechanic affixed to at least one of the first panel and the second panel, and a sliceform affixed to the sliceform, the foldable article is movable between a closed state and a fully open state, the paper mechanic is configured to move the sliceform from a substantially two-dimensional, collapsed state to a substantially three-dimensional, expanded state when the foldable article is moved from the closed state to the fully open state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Robert Adair, Charity Robin Fluharty, Takako Tokugawa, Thomas A. Wallen
  • Patent number: 11004361
    Abstract: A greeting card having mechanically actuated moving portions is provided. The greeting card may include a panel having one or more folds, one or more flexible drive shafts coupled to the panel and having a flipping or moving portion, and a decorative portion coupled to at least one of the panel and the flipping or moving portion. Each flexible drive shaft may be coupled to the panel such that a portion is positioned on a first side of the fold and a portion is positioned on a second side of the fold. When the greeting card is opened, a moment arm is created in the flexible drive shaft which causes the flipping or moving portion to move from a first position to a second position. The decorative portion may move in response to the flipping or moving portion moving from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: HALLMARK CARDS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Douglas M. Bowen, Robert A. Covey, Thomas A. Wallen, Robert R. Pavlu, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10984680
    Abstract: A greeting card assembly with a card body panel, a cam lift mechanism, and at least one decorative element fixed to tab portions of the cam lift mechanism extending through cam slots in the card body panel. The cam lift mechanism is actuatable by pivoting subpanels of the card body panel away from each other. Pivoting of one of the subpanels causes lateral movement of a cam lever, which then pulls an extended arm portion of a rotating portion of the cam lift mechanism, causing the rotating portion to rotate about a primary axle. The cam slots guide the decorative elements radially outward or radially inward toward the primary axle upon rotation of the cam lift mechanism, causing the decorative elements to pop up or extend outward from the card body panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Hallmark Cards, Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas M. Bowen, Robert R. Pavlu, Jr., Thomas A. Wallen
  • Patent number: 10974863
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a collapsible virtual reality viewer. Aspects of the viewer include a body portion and a viewing portion, each having a plurality of panels abutting fold lines. The viewer may be folded along the fold lines to move from an expanded configuration to a collapsed configuration when it is not being used. In one aspect, the viewer includes a detachable panel that is removeably coupled to the viewer along a plurality of perforations. Promotional material may be printed on or attached to the detachable panel. In another embodiment, the body portion and the viewing portion are each formed of a unitary construction in which the panels of each portion are die cut from a single piece of material and folded along fold lines to form the body and viewing portions, which are then secured together at one or more locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Hallmark Cards, Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert R. Pavlu, Jr., Thomas A. Wallen, Scott A. Schimke
  • Publication number: 20210005113
    Abstract: A foldable article having a sliceform removably secured to one or more panels of the foldable article. A tab having a retaining portion may extend from at least one of the one or more panels of the foldable article. The tab may pass through an opening in the sliceform and the retaining portion may be wider than the width of the opening. The retaining member may be manipulated to pass through the opening to removably secure the sliceform to, and/or detach the sliceform from, the foldable article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas A. Wallen
  • Publication number: 20200312195
    Abstract: A foldable article having a sliceform removably secured to one or more panels of the foldable article. A tab having a retaining portion may extend from at least one of the one or more panels of the foldable article. The tab may pass through an opening in the sliceform and the retaining portion may be wider than the width of the opening. The retaining member may be manipulated to pass through the opening to removably secure the sliceform to, and/or detach the sliceform from, the foldable article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas A. Wallen
  • Patent number: 10713975
    Abstract: A foldable article having a sliceform removably secured to one or more panels of the foldable article. A tab having a retaining portion may extend from at least one of the one or more panels of the foldable article. The tab may pass through an opening in the sliceform and the retaining portion may be wider than the width of the opening. The retaining member may be manipulated to pass through the opening to removably secure the sliceform to, and/or detach the sliceform from, the foldable article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: HALLMARK CARDS, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Thomas A. Wallen
  • Publication number: 20200193874
    Abstract: A gift card presenter for holding a gift card within a greeting card is provided. The presenter comprises a body for holding the gift card, and a coupling element for coupling the body to the greeting card. In one embodiment, the presenter may comprise a paper mechanic coupled to first and second interior faces of the greeting card, the paper mechanic configured to hold the greeting card and display it when the greeting card is opened. In another embodiment, the presenter comprises a body for holding the gift card, the body having a first half and a second half that each include interior and exterior faces. The presenter may be opened to display or partially display the greeting card. The presenter may be coupled to the inside and/or the outside of the greeting card, to provide a pleasing presentation of the gift card given with the greeting card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Patrick William Kershner, Adam M. Cannon, Ginny Neile Walkington, Michael Wayne Thomas, Emily Byerly Bronson, Mark E. Franzke, Ramon Orestes Olivera, JR., Thomas A. Wallen, Madeline Eleanore Tomkins
  • Publication number: 20200135058
    Abstract: A greeting card having mechanically actuated moving portions is provided. The greeting card may include a panel having one or more folds, one or more flexible drive shafts coupled to the panel and having a flipping or moving portion, and a decorative portion coupled to at least one of the panel and the flipping or moving portion. Each flexible drive shaft may be coupled to the panel such that a portion is positioned on a first side of the fold and a portion is positioned on a second side of the fold. When the greeting card is opened, a moment arm is created in the flexible drive shaft which causes the flipping or moving portion to move from a first position to a second position. The decorative portion may move in response to the flipping or moving portion moving from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Douglas M. Bowen, Robert A. Covey, Thomas A. Wallen, Robert R. Pavlu, JR.