Folding card

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding card for use as a greetings card, having at least a front card body and a rear card body, which are connected to one another such that they can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position via a folding edge, and a first effect unit having an automated first switching unit for automatically activating a first visual and / or audible effect when the card bodies are moved from the closed position into an open position. In order to provide a folding card for use as a greetings card which causes added attention and surprise on the part of the recipient, provision is made for a second effect unit having a second switching unit, which can be actuated manually in an open position, for activating a second visual and / or audible effect to be arranged on the folding card.

Description

[0001] FOLDING CARD

[0002] The invention relates to a folding card for use as a greeting or congratulations card, with at least one front card body and one rear card body, which are pivotably connected to one another via a folding edge between a closed position and an open position, and a first effect unit with an automated first switching unit for automatically activating a first optical and / or acoustic effect when the card body is moved from the closed position to an open position.

[0003] Greeting cards or congratulations cards designed as folded cards of the type mentioned above are known in a wide variety of shapes and designs from the state of the art. Due to the different layouts, especially on the front and inside of the folded card, there is a wide range of different greeting or congratulations cards available, tailored to a variety of occasions. Typically, there is an open space on the inside that allows the person sending the greeting to convey a personal message, such as congratulations, to the recipient.

[0004] In order to increase attention, it is already known to design greeting or congratulations cards in such a way that certain texts, melodies, sounds or the like are played when the folding card is opened, which considerably increases the joy of the greeting or congratulations card recipient. The acoustic and / or optical effects are caused by a first effects unit which has an automated, first switching unit which plays the effects unit when the folding card is opened, i.e. when the front card body is adjusted relative to the back card body from the closed position towards the open position. The use of greeting or congratulations cards with a first effects unit has now become established, which is why the surprise effect for the recipient has now diminished.Based on this, the invention is based on the object of providing a folding card for use as a greeting or congratulations card, which evokes increased attention and surprise in the addressee.

[0005] The invention solves the problem by a folding card having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] The folding card according to the invention has a first effect unit with an automated first switching unit. This automated first switching unit serves to reproduce a first optical and / or acoustic effect when the folding card is opened, i.e., when the front card body is adjusted relative to the rear card body from the closed position toward a maximum opening position in which the front card body and the rear card body extend in one plane.

[0007] The first switching unit activates the first effect unit when the front card body reaches a certain opening angle relative to the rear card body and then plays a sequence of tones, sounds, and / or noises via an integrated speaker. The opening angle at which the first switching unit activates the first effect unit is generally freely selectable, although opening angles of 70° to 90° are generally preferred.

[0008] In addition, the first effect unit can alternatively or additionally also reproduce optical effects, for which purpose, for example, lighting devices are arranged within the card, which are also activated via the first switching unit. The first effect unit further comprises a voltage source for operating the first effect unit and a signal unit which is designed to control the effects and to store the acoustic effects. According to the invention, the folding card, in addition to the first effect unit, has a second effect unit with a second switching unit which can be manually actuated in an open position of the folding card for activating a second optical and / or acoustic effect. In contrast to the activation of the first effect unit, the second effect unit is not activated automatically when the folding card is opened, but rather by the recipient of the folding card, i.e.the person who opens the folding card. The second effect unit has a second switching unit that is accessible and manually operable when the folding card is open. The activation of this switching unit triggers a second optical and / or acoustic effect.

[0009] The interaction of the recipient of the greeting or congratulations card required to activate the second effect unit and the resulting creation of a second visual and / or acoustic effect leads to increased attention on the part of the recipient of the greeting or congratulations card and also increases the joy they feel upon receiving the greeting or congratulations card. Overall, the second effect unit significantly increases the recipient's attention to the sender, thereby identifying them in a special way to the recipient.

[0010] The second optical and / or acoustic effect produced by the second effect unit requires a voltage source for activation, e.g., to activate lighting devices and / or play electronically stored tones, sounds, and / or noises. To operate the first and second effect units, a voltage source is required to provide the necessary power, as well as a signal unit connected to the voltage source to control and store the effects to be played. If acoustic effects are to be played, a loudspeaker is also required to reproduce the acoustic effects.

[0011] In principle, it is possible to provide the second effect unit with a separate voltage source, signal unit and / or loudspeaker. According to an advantageous development of the invention, however, it is provided that a voltage source, signal unit and / or a loudspeaker are connected to the first and second effect units. This embodiment of the invention makes it possible to dispense with a separate voltage source, a separate signal unit and / or a separate loudspeaker for the second effect unit. Both the first and the second effect unit use a common voltage source as well as signal unit and, if applicable, loudspeaker. As a result, the folding card can be manufactured particularly compactly and cost-effectively despite the second effect unit provided according to the invention.

[0012] According to the invention, the second switching unit is provided for activating the second effect unit. According to a further development of the invention, the second switching unit is deactivated in the closed position. This embodiment of the invention prevents the greeting or congratulations card from activating or keeping the second effect unit activated in the closed position when the switching unit is in the activated position, which would cause undesirable, continuous energy consumption by the second effect unit, which would subsequently lead to a permanent discharge of the voltage source and the consequent unusability of the greeting or congratulations card.

[0013] The design of the optical effect by the first and / or second effect unit is fundamentally freely selectable. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the first and / or second effect unit has a light source, in particular an LED unit, particularly preferably with a coupled light guide. The use of a light source, in particular an LED unit, in conjunction with a light guide enables a particularly imaginative design of the optical effect. In particular, by using the LED unit with a light guide, the optical effect can be constructed in a particularly space-saving manner, wherein the light guide can be designed in a specific shape, e.g. bent or shaped, depending on the optical effect. The coupling of the LED into the light guide creates a particularly impressive optical effect.The optical effect can also occur in sequences, i.e., exhibit different color sequences and / or brightness gradations. This embodiment of the invention further increases the recipient's attention.

[0014] The design of the second switching unit for activating the second effect unit can, in principle, be configured in any desired manner. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the second switching unit is integrated into a motif element that can be adjusted, in particular pivoted, between an activation position and a deactivation position.

[0015] The motif element is an image element of the greeting or congratulations card, which is preferably tailored to the occasion of the greeting or congratulations. The advantageous development provides that the second switching unit is integrated into such a motif element, e.g. is a component of the motif element, whereby this can, however, be adjusted between the activation position and the deactivation position relative to the front or rear card body. For example, the motif element can be a representation of a tap on a beer dispensing system, the adjustment of which activates the second effect unit. The effect unit then generates acoustic dispensing sounds, which are emphasized by an illuminant that visually simulates a dispensing process.This embodiment of the invention enhances the effect of interaction with the greeting or congratulations card in a complementary manner and increases the attention and enthusiasm of the recipient of the greeting or congratulations card.

[0016] The adjustment of the switching unit integrated into the motif element for activating the second effect unit is fundamentally freely selectable. For example, a pivoting movement or linear displacement can activate or deactivate the second effect unit. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the light guide is connected to the motif element and can be adjusted between the activation and deactivation positions.

[0017] According to this embodiment of the invention, the second switching unit is integrated into the motif element, and the motif element is also connected to the light guide. Adjusting the motif element activates the optical effect, whereby the light guide(s) are adjusted during the adjustment of the motif element, thus achieving a special optical effect.

[0018] For example, the switching unit can be integrated into a motif element designed as a champagne cork, which is connected to the light guide. When the motif element is adjusted from a closed position to an open position, the light guides are released from the bottle along with the champagne cork, creating the visual effect of a sparkling champagne bottle. This visual effect is underscored by the acoustic reproduction of the sounds of a champagne bottle being opened.

[0019] In order to increase the attention of the recipient of the greeting or congratulations card, a further development of the invention provides that the motif element is arranged on a pop-up element which stands up when the folding card is opened. A pop-up element is an area which stands up when the folding card is opened and which is adapted to the greeting or congratulations. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the motif element is arranged on the pop-up element which is stood up, i.e. which protrudes from the plane spanned by the front and / or back card body, with the second switching unit being integrated into the motif element. This generates particular attention among the recipient of the greeting or congratulations card and the overall visual effect is additionally enhanced.Additionally or alternatively, according to a further development of the invention, the illuminating means can be arranged on the pop-up element. This design of the greeting or congratulations card also enhances the visual effect and thus increases the attention and amazement of the recipient of the greeting or congratulations card.

[0020] The design of the optical and / or acoustic effects is generally freely selectable. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second optical and acoustic effects are coordinated. This means, for example, that the acoustic sound of a tapping beer is combined with a corresponding optical effect reminiscent of a flowing beer. The sound of a bubbling champagne bottle can also be combined with the optical effects of a bubbling champagne bottle, thereby creating a particularly astonishing effect for the recipient of the greeting or congratulations card.

[0021] According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is further provided that the second optical and / or acoustic effect is coordinated with the first optical and / or acoustic effect. This embodiment enhances overall attention in a complementary manner. For example, the playback of beer tent music upon opening the folding card by the first effect unit can be combined with the above-described playback of a tapping sound with corresponding optical effects upon activation of the second effect unit.

[0022] Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

[0023] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a folding card with a pop-up element and a deactivated second effect unit;

[0024] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the folding card of Fig. 1 with an activated second effect unit;

[0025] Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of a second effect unit for arranging a folding card (not shown here) in a deactivated position and

[0026] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the second effect unit of Fig. 3 in an activation position.

[0027] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a folding card 1 with a front card body 2 and a rear card body 3, which are connected to one another via a folding edge 4. The folding card 1 is shown in an open position in which several motif elements are arranged as a pop-up element protruding from the surface of the front card body 2 and the rear card body 3. The pop-up element shows a column of a beer dispensing system with a half-filled beer mug arranged below an outlet. The second motif element 8a, designed as a tap, is articulated and can be pivoted from the deactivation position shown in Figure 1 into the activation position shown in Figure 2.

[0028] The second motif element 8a thus serves to actuate a second switching unit 5a and thus to activate and deactivate the second effect unit 9a. Activating the second effect unit 9a, i.e. moving the second motif element 8a into the position shown in Figure 2, activates the second effect unit 9a. The second effect unit 9a then reproduces an acoustic effect, namely the sound of a beer being tapped, as well as an optical effect. The optical effect is created in such a way that a light guide 7a extending from the tap to the surface of the beer is activated and thus optically simulates a flow of beer. The light guide 7a is a component of a light source 6a, with an LED (not shown here) coupled to the light guide 7a.The reproduction of the tapping sounds also takes place via a loudspeaker unit not shown here, which, like the lighting means 6a and the second switching unit 5a of the second effect unit 9a, is connected to a voltage source not shown here and hidden in the folding card 1.

[0029] Figures 3 and 4 show another object for a greeting card, namely a bottle of champagne. The champagne bottle is closed by means of a motif element 8b in the form of a cork, which forms the second switching unit 5b. By moving the second motif element 8b in the form of a cork from the deactivation position shown in Figure 3 to the activation position shown in Figure 4, the second effect unit 9b is activated. The second effect unit 9b has a plurality of light guides 7b, which are coupled to an LED (not shown here) and together form the light source 6b. The light guides 7b fan out when the motif element 8b in the form of a cork is moved from the closed position of the bottle to the open position of the bottle, thus creating an optical effect of a bubbling champagne bottle, which is complemented by the acoustic sound of a champagne bottle being opened by the second effect unit 9b.List of reference symbols.

[0030] 1 folding card

[0031] 2 front card body

[0032] 3 rear card body 4 folding edge

[0033] 5a, 5b second switching unit (lever, slider)

[0034] 6a, 6b Lamps

[0035] 7a, 7b light guide

[0036] 8a, 8b motif element 9a, 9b second effect unit

Claims

Claims 1. Folding card for use as a greeting or congratulations card, with at least one front card body (2) and one rear card body (3), which are pivotably connected to one another via a folding edge (4) between a closed position and an open position, and a first effect unit with an automated first switching unit for automatically activating a first optical and / or acoustic effect when the card bodies (2, 3) are moved from the closed position to an open position, characterized by a second effect unit (9) with a second switching unit (5a, 5b) which can be manually actuated in an open position for activating a second optical and / or acoustic effect.

2. Folding card according to claim 1, characterized by a voltage source, a signal unit, and / or a loudspeaker which are connected to the first and second effect unit (9).

3. Folding card according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second switching unit is deactivated in the closed position.

4. Folding card according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and / or second effect unit (9) has a lighting means (6a, 6b), in particular an LED unit, which is particularly preferably coupled to a light guide (7a, 7b).

5. Folding card according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second switching unit can be moved into a position which is adjustable, in particular ver- pivoting motif element (8a, 8b) is integrated.

6. Folding card according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light guide (7b) is connected to the motif element (8b) and is adjustable between the activation position and the deactivation position.

7. Folding card according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motif element (8a, 8b) is arranged on a pop-up element which stands up in the opening position.

8. Folding card according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the illuminating means (6a, 6b) is arranged on the pop-up element.

9. Folding card according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second optical and acoustic effects are coordinated with each other.

10. Folding card according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second optical and / or acoustic effect is coordinated with the first optical and / or acoustic effect.

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