| HALLMARK CARDS, INCORPORATED Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20110272374 | CLIP FOR CONVERTIBLE CARD ROW - When displayed, greeting cards are typically organized on a display fixture having multiple rows or levels upon which to sit the cards. Each row then has a front wall to hold in the card, yet is short enough to still view a portion of the greeting card above the wall. Because display fixtures are manufactured to have a specified amount of rows or levels at a specified depth, in order to adjust the specifications of a display fixture, other pieces may be used, for example, by attaching to the display fixture a convertible row to add another level or tier between set rows of the display fixture. By providing another row using a convertible row, another set of greeting cards may be displayed between cards displayed on other rows of the original display fixture, increasing the density of the overall display. Further, when an extra row is not desired, such a 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. To support the convertible row when in use, a divider or support clip is provided. The divider clip may both separate greeting cards within a row of the display fixture and support a convertible row adjacent thereto. The divider clip includes a clipping mechanism to attach the divider clip to the display fixture and an adjustable portion capable of adjusting itself to support an adjacent convertible row. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110261581 | METHOD OF INTEGRATING OPTICAL FIBERS INTO FABRICS AND PLUSH TOYS - A method for incorporating optical fibers into sheet materials, such as fabrics, creates a structure which can be incorporated into items such as plush toys. Optical fibers are made to pass through the sheet material in a desired arrangements. Ends of the optical fibers are enlarged such that they will not readily pass back through the fabric. The ends are then covered with material that permits light to pass therethrough. The resulting structure can be readily incorporated into an item, such as a plush toy. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110059677 | WIRELESS MUSICAL FIGURINES - A method, system, and medium are provided for a wireless musical figurine belonging to a set of wireless musical figurines that play audio files in coordination with one another. One system of the musical figurine includes a wireless transceiver utilized to communicate with one or more musical figurines. The musical figurine also includes a set of master audio files of a first quality level, and a set of slave audio files of a second quality level. An audio player plays an audio file from the set of master audio files or the set of slave audio files. A master audio file is played when the musical figurine is initiated in accordance with a user indication, and a slave audio file is played when the musical figurine is initiated by another musical figurine. The musical figurine may also have movement capabilities which may be coordinated with the playing of an audio file to present a dancing figurine. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110046961 | GREETING CARD HAVING AUDIO RECORDING CAPABILITIES WITH TRIAL MODE FEATURE - A greeting card having an audio message recording and playback device permits recording of personalized audio messages to be played upon opening of the greeting card. The recording device is operable in either a trial mode or a use mode. In the trial mode, which would be applicable when the card is displayed in a store, a potential purchaser may experience the functionality of the card by recording their own test message. The test message 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 message is played repeatedly upon subsequent openings of the card. The user recorded message may be followed by a prerecorded recording, such as a song. Additional prerecorded messages, such as voice prompts with instructions for recording a message, may also be included. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20100308981 | GREETING CARD WITH SUBSEQUENT AUDIO AFTER CLOSING - 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. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100307036 | GREETING CARD HAVING KARAOKE RECORD FEATURE AND SIMULTANEOUS PLAYBACK - 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. The audio recording and playback device may also be included in other non-greeting card products, such as a plush toy and an ornament. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100251582 | Card For Retaining Items Therein - A card may include a generally planar panel and a plurality of opposing retaining members disposed on the panel. The plurality of opposing retaining members may be arranged to retain a substantially rectangular transaction card having a first longitudinal axis in a first orientation with respect to the panel and to retain a substantially rectangular paper gift having a second longitudinal axis in a second orientation with respect to the panel, so that the orientation of the first longitudinal axis is substantially transverse to the second orientation of the second longitudinal axis. The paper gift may be, for example, paper monetary currency, a paper bank check, or a paper gift certificate. The transaction card may be, for example, a debit card, a credit card, a gift card, a prepaid phone card, a card containing a merchandise credit usable at a retail establishment. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100163501 | Convertible Card Row - When displayed, greeting cards are typically organized on a display fixture having multiple rows or levels upon which to sit the cards. Each row then has a front wall to hold in the card, yet is short enough to still view a portion of the greeting card above the wall. Because display fixtures are manufactured to have a specified amount of rows or levels at a specified depth, in order to adjust the specifications of a display fixture, other pieces may be used, for example, by attaching to the display fixture a convertible row to add another level or tier between set rows of the display fixture. By providing another row using a convertible row, another set of greeting cards may be displayed between cards displayed on other rows of the original display fixture, increasing the density of the overall display. Further, when an extra row is not desired, such a 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. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100155553 | Multi-Level Product Display Device - A display device for presenting product in a hanging orientation includes a plurality of hanging locations spaced apart from each other both laterally and longitudinally. The longitudinal spacing of the hanging locations provides for a layered display of product, while the lateral spacing of the hanging locations provides for the arrangement of products of varying sizes. In some embodiments, the hanging locations are also spaced apart from each other vertically. The vertical spacing of the hanging locations provides for a cascading display of product. The display device is designed to be coupled to and supported by a display fixture. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100080494 | CUFFED GIFT BAG WITH GIFT TRIM ATTACHMENT - A gift bag having a bag body with a cuff on an outer surface thereon includes a gift trim attachment member coupled therewith to provide a location for attaching a gift trim to the gift bag. The cuff defines a downwardly opening pocket out of which a looped ribbon extends to define the gift trim attachment member. The gift trim includes attachment device that facilitates attaching and detaching of the gift trim to the gift bag and a decorative trim body that may take the form of an ornament, a hang tag, a to/from card, or a message cutout. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100060451 | GIFT BAG WITH MOVEMENT SENSOR AND ALARM - A gift bag having an audio message playback device is activate by a motion detector to play an audio message upon detection of movement of the gift bag or in the vicinity of the gift bag. The gift bag includes a plurality of side walls and a bottom to define an interior for receiving a gift. The audio message, played upon the detection of movement of or in the vicinity of the gift bag, may include siren noises, music and/or spoken messages. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100056021 | ORNAMENT WITH MODULAR DESIGN MOTION SYSTEM - A motion device capable of incorporation into an ornament has a module drive mechanism and one or more visual elements capable of being set in motion by a user's interaction with the drive mechanism. The module drive mechanism includes a plurality of motion components, such as gears. The motion components are activated via manual rotation of a crank arm. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100011632 | GREETING CARD HAVING CONNECTIVITY CAPABILITIES - The present invention relates to a greeting card with the capability of connecting to and interacting with a device. More particularly, this invention relates to a card having a connector that permits a memory device coupled with the card to interact with a device, such as a multimedia player or computing device. The memory device may include a file, such as a video or image, that has been stored by the card purchaser and that can then be executed on the device for the enjoyment of the card recipient. The memory device may store a file for the greeting card recipient to access or view on a device, such as a multimedia player, when the card is connected to the device. Additionally, the memory device may include executable software that causes the device to perform an action, such as opening up a webpage, once the card is connected to the device. In such an embodiment, the card may be a gift card, such as a standard gift card issued by retailers. When the card is connected to a device, such as a computing device, the card recipient will be able make purchases using a monetary value that has been placed on the gift card by the card purchaser. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20090308821 | METHOD OF DISPLAYING MERCHANDISE FOR RETAIL SALE - A method of displaying merchandise which creates a more user friendly display that facilitates quicker and easier shopping for a consumer includes an arrangement of gift wrapping items in a section of a display fixture initially by size. The section includes a first display section for displaying items of a first average size, a second display section for displaying items of a second average size and a third display section for displaying items of a third average size. The display sections are adjacent one another and do not contain items that do not fall within the general size of the average display size. This arrangement by size quickly directs the consumer to a small subset of merchandise being displayed in a section that would meet the consumer's needs. A total number of price points may be reduced to at least partially correspond with the display sections. Sections may also be configured so that only items of a particular color and theme are displayed therein such that each section has an overall hue. Adjacent sections may then be configured to provide gradually darker hues. The consumer is then able to quickly narrow the search again by locating bags of an appropriate theme by the overall general color scheme of each section. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090259474 | GREETING CARD HAVING AUDIO RECORDING CAPABILITIES WITH TRIAL MODE FEATURE - A greeting card having an audio message recording and playback device permits recording of personalized audio messages to be played upon opening of the greeting card. The recording device is operable in either a trial mode or a use mode. In the trial mode, which would be applicable when the card is displayed in a store, a potential purchaser may experience the functionality of the card by recording their own test message. The test message 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 message is played repeatedly upon subsequent openings of the card. The user recorded message may be followed by a prerecorded recording, such as a song. Additional prerecorded messages, such as voice prompts with instructions for recording a message, may also be included. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090234724 | METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING MERCHANDISE - A method of displaying merchandise creates a more user friendly display that facilitates quicker and easier shopping for a consumer. The display includes an information communication hierarchy that conveys various levels of information to consumers. The hierarchy includes branding information, product category information, product category information in an alternate orientation, indexing information and product specific information. The levels provide navigational directions to the consumer to direct them to a small subset of merchandise being displayed that would meet the consumer's needs. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090220768 | REPOSITIONABLE SELF-ADHESIVE GIFTWRAP - Repositionable self-adhesive giftwrap for decoratively wrapping an article and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. In embodiments, the giftwrap includes a substrate sheet having a first surface and a second surface. A decorative ink layer is applied to the first surface and a release coating layer is applied to the first surface over the decorative ink layer. The decorative ink layer resides between the substrate sheet and the release coating layer. Further, the giftwrap includes an adhesive layer applied to the second surface of the substrate sheet that is configured to adhere the giftwrap to the article. The release coating layer allows the adhesive layer of the second surface to be removed from the release coating layer of the first surface without removing portions of the decorative ink layer where the giftwrap overlaps and where the adhesive layer of the second surface of a portion of the substrate contacts release coating of the first surface of another portion of the substrate. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090217559 | GREETING CARD WITH SLIDING PANEL ACTIVATION - A greeting card includes a body portion that defines an interior cavity. A sentiment panel is slidably received in the cavity via an opening in the body portion. The sentiment panel is movable from a concealed position, where a portion thereof is received in the interior cavity and obstructed from view by the body portion, to an extended position, where the portion is outside the body and is visible. Electrical components may be positioned inside the interior cavity and activated upon movement of the panel from the concealed position to the extended position. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090093184 | METHOD OF INTEGRATING OPTICAL FIBERS INTO FABRICS AND PLUSH TOYS - A method for incorporating optical fibers into sheet materials, such as fabrics, creates a structure which can be incorporated into items such as plush toys. Optical fibers are made to pass through the sheet material in a desired arrangements. Ends of the optical fibers are enlarged such that they will not readily pass back through the fabric. The ends are then covered with material that permits light to pass therethrough. The resulting structure can be readily incorporated into an item, such as a plush toy. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20080243302 | Sorting Apparatus with Arbitrary User-Specified Sequence Control - A sorting system may include a sorting apparatus coupled to a programmable control system which is configured to actuate the sorting apparatus so that it assembles similar products for packaging in an arbitrary, user imposed order or selection bias. In preferred implementations, a user may activate a biasing protocol pursuant to which items bearing certain images appear with a disproportionate frequency on the top of a stack of items such that the selected images are the most common images viewable through a transparent product packaging. In certain implementations, empirical sales data is used to determine weighting factors used in the biasing protocol. In still other implementations, a more specific ordering protocol is imposed by a user such that some or all of the sequence of items in a stack or collection is arbitrarily imposed. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080237245 | CONTAINER HAVING A RELEASABLE HANDLE - A container is disclosed for carrying items via a releasable handle. According to one aspect, the container is formed as an assembly including a set of interconnected structural walls defining an enclosure, a through-hole formed in the enclosure, and a handle having a fixed end and a free end for coupling with the enclosure to form a looped handle. The enclosure has a first side, an opposed second side and an interior region, where the through-hole is formed in the first side of the enclosure. The proximal end of the handle is fixed with the second side of the enclosure and the distal end of the handle is configured for releasable coupling with the first side of the enclosure via the through-hole to form the handle into the looped configuration spanning between the first side and the second side for carrying the container assembly. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080205039 | Ornament with Image Projector - Some embodiments of a decoration apparatus may have an attractive appearance and multi-functional capabilities. The decoration apparatus may include one or more internal light sources that provide lighting effects in combination with decorative elements formed in the structure. In addition to providing internal lighting effects, the decoration apparatus may include a projector device, which is capable of displaying a light pattern on a remote surface, such as a wall or a ceiling. | 08-28-2008 |
