05/097665

06/13/1972

12/14/1970

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428/9

52/DIG.010, 229/116.100, 229/92.800

B42D15/04; G09F1/06; G09F1/00; G09F19/00

40/124.1,126,126A,125

Michell, Robert W.

Contreras, Wenceslao J.

What is claimed is

1. A folding structure made of foldable material comprising a sheet of material having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, scored fold lines extending in transverse direction dividing said sheet of material into individual sections, more than four, which can be folded in transverse direction, scored fold lines forming each of said individual sections into main panels, and at least one end panel, said end panels being foldable relative to adjacent end panels along said transverse scored fold lines, and each of said end panels having diagonally extending scored fold lines extending from the junction of each of said end panels with its main panel to the outer edges of said end panel, thereby to form four triangular gusset panels, each of said end panels further having a cut score line for folding extending from the intersection of said diagonal scored fold lines outwardly to the outer edge of said end panels in direction away from the junction between said end panels and said main panels, the cut score lines being on one side of said sheet of material only, and means to hold said main panels a peripheral assembled configuration where in the main panels are folded to bound a hollow interior chamber having a central axis, said end panels being folded toward the central axis whereby the intersection point of said diagonal fold lines moves toward the central axis and wherein the gusset panels formed along cut score lines are folded outwardly from the central axis in direction away from said main panels, and the scored fold lines between adjacent end panels extends inwardly toward said central axis, said panels formed by each cut score line folding together and being of size so that the outer end point thereof protrudes outwardly beyond the scored fold line between adjacent end panels when the structure is assembled, and means retaining said end panels folded along the scored fold lines.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1, and interlocking tab means retaining said main panels assembled, said one of said interlocking tab members having an end portion foldable into the interior of the area bounded by said main panels, and means attached to said end tab member and extending outwardly substantially along the central axis of said structure when assembled to provide support for said structure.

3. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said structure is formed of a folded piece of paper stock, and said main panels form a space for printing.

4. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein the intersection point of said diagonal scored fold lines is spaced from the end of the end panels attached to said main panels a distance greater than the distance from each of the main panels to the central axis when the structure is assembled.

5. The combination as specified in claim 4 wherein said means for retaining said end panels comprises an elastic band surrounding the folded end panels, said elastic band resting on and being urged outwardly by the folded line between said end panels which extend towards said central axis in direction away from the main panels, and is retained from moving to the end of said end panels by the folded cut score lines which extend outwardly from the central axis in direction away from the end panels.

6. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said structure is used as a point of purchase display, and the main panels have advertising material printed thereon.

7. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said structure is used initially as a flat folded greeting card, and wherein a greeting is printed on said main panels.

8. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said main panels have end panels identically constructed at opposite ends thereof, wherein the folded end panel structure is formed at both ends of said main panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a flat folded card that can be converted into a three dimensional ornament for decorative use after being used as a greeting card.

2. Prior Art

Various types of convertible cards forming three dimensional objects have been advanced. None of them, however, are easy to erect, or can be utilized in a unique three dimensional configuration to form an ornament for decorative purposes, for example on Christmas tree, window hanging or point of purchase display. The present card is capable of being mailed or shipped flat, and by having proper score lines for unique folding to put decorative end portions on the card, it can quickly be converted into a three dimensional form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combination flat card convertible to a three dimensional object. The card folds flat and can be mailed. The card has panels that are prescored in a unique configuration to permit it to be assembled to give it an extremely decorative folded end portion that can be held in three dimensional form with an elastic band. The card can then be used as a decorative ornament if desired. The unique decorative effects of the card are achieved through the use of a unique folding pattern on the end panels.

The card can be printed with desired greetings on the outside or the outside panels can be decorated as desired. The three dimensional shape permits use as a Christmas ornament or a point of purchase display, a room decoration or the like. The ornament forms an attractive economical greeting card for use and can be of any size necessary to fulfill its purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a card folded, and scored to make a three dimensional structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the card of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flat layout of the card of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a end view showing the card of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the card as it is being assembled into the three dimensional ornament;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the fully assembled ornament made from the card of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the device of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the card illustrated generally at 10 is a flat panel made of suitable paper stock, or other foldable material, folded to form two members 11 and 12. The members form the sides of a card. Small end panels can be folded inside the card as shown, a greeting or verse can be on the outside of the card, and decorative ornaments such as colored circles which are illustrated only schematically at 13 can also be on the outside of the card. The greeting would be printed on the outside of the panels.

The present card is formed with a number of score lines to make a plurality of panels, more than four, for folding. The card is divided into a plurality of sections by main dividing lines running vertically in the drawings. As shown, six main sections are formed with fold lines. The sections are divided into panels including main center panels 14. As shown, there are six main panels 14, three on each side of the folded card. Five or more sections may be used, and for mailing they can be folded as desired. Integrally attached locking tabs 15 and 16, respectively, that will interlock to hold the card in its assembled form are attached to the ends of the card. As shown in FIG. 3, the main sections include end panels 17 and 18 which are attached to each of the panels 14, along scored fold lines and are also attached to each other (except for the free ends of the card). The end panels 17 and 18 are separated by scored dividing fold lines 20. Scored fold lines 21A are formed between the center panels 14 and the end panel 17 and scored fold lines 21B are formed between the panels 14 and end panels 18. The adjacent panels 14 are separated by scored fold lines 30. The scored fold lines 30 and 20 are aligned to form the fold lines dividing the main section of the card.

Each of the end panels 17 and 18 has diagonal scored fold lines 23, 24, 25, and 26 as shown. The fold lines 23, 24, 25, and 26 meet at a center point 27. A short cut score line 28 extends outwardly from the center point 27 to the outer edge of each of the end panels 17 and 18. The cut score line is a partial slit through the paper stock to permit easy folding in one direction and inhibit folding in the other. The cut score lines 28 are on the far side of the paper as illustrated in FIG. 4. The scored fold lines permit folding in either direction, but do not slit the paper stock.

The scored fold lines 20 between the end panels 17 and end panels 18 extend all of the way from the fold lines 21A and 21B out to the outer edge of the respective end panels and the scored fold lines 25 and 26 from adjacent end panels meet at scored fold lines 20. The scored fold lines 24 and 23 from adjacent end panels meet as well.

As shown, the card and ornament has six panels 14, that extend around to bound a six-sided center opening when the structure is fully assembled. The scored fold lines are illustrated in dotted lines, and the panel sizes are selected to make the end panels fold properly. The cut score lines 28 will only fold easily in one direction and form the key score lines for folding.

As shown, therefore, the interlocking tabs 15 and 16 have the interlocking slits 16A and 15C and are used for holding the unit in its peripherally complete condition once the panels are formed into a three dimensional structure. The tabs 15 and 16 are positioned in the interior chamber when the structure is assembled.

When the card is to be mailed or stored, it is folded flat as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The message or advertising is on the outside of the main panels 14, and can be placed in the position shown by the circles 13, including greetings, designs, or whatever may be desired. Then when the unit is to be assembled as an ornament, it is opened up and partially folded as shown in FIG. 5. Because the cut score lines 28 are cut partially through, it folds outwardly so that the small gussets 28A and 28B on each of the end panels that are formed by the cut score lines will tend to move so that the inner surfaces of these gussets move together and the folded edge formed along the cut score lines 28 will fold out. As this happens, then the gusset panels 23A formed by fold lines 23 and 24 and either lines 21A or 21B tend to fold inwardly toward the center of the partially formed ornament. The fold lines 20 also move inwardly toward the center axis of the structure. The gusset panels 20A and 26A on each of the end panels 17 and 18 joining panels 28A and 28B to the gusset panels 23A, fold along with the fold line 20 toward the center of the unit. The end panels fold along the scored fold lines 30 so that as the top and bottom end panels are collapsed together, the gusset panels 20A and 26A tend to move together so that the points 27 where the score lines are formed tend to join each other.

Depending on the length of these gusset panel 23A from the main panels 14 to point 27 the folding is completed when the outer ends of the fold lines 20 shown as point 20A meet together along the central axis of the three dimensional folded unit. The distance from points 27 to score lines 30 is selected to be equal to or greater than the distance from the central axis to the panels 14. Now, referring to FIG. 6, it can be seen that the gusset panels 23A extend inwardly from the side panels 14, and the fold lines 20 shown as edges of folded gussets extend upwardly from the junction lines 30 between the panels 14 to the central axis illustrated at 31. The two gusset panels 28A and 28B contact each other, and the gusset panels 28A and 28B extend outwardly from the central axis 31 and form panel members positioned midway between the fold lines 20. The gusset panels 20A and 26A extend downwardly from the fold lines 20 to the fold lines 23 and 24, where the panels 20A and 26A join gusset panels 23A on the same end panel.

Now, referring to the FIG. 7, it can be seen that when the panels 28A and 28B are folded along the cut score line 28, the outer end points 28C project outwardly from the central axis beyond the fold lines 20 that extend upwardly toward the central axis. The folded edges along lines 20 and 28 form a notch when viewed in side elevational view as shown in FIG. 7. Then an elastic band 32 or a string or the like can be wrapped around the end of the unit and, if an elastic band is used it tends to slide upwardly along the edges formed by fold lines 20, until it engages the fold along the cut score lines 28, which stops this upward movement and the elastic force will collapse the folded members together to hold the end panels folded as shown.

The fold lines 20 always will meet at the center axis and thus a unique shape is formed with the folded gussets. The cut score lines extend outwardly from the central axis and the fold lines 20 extend toward the central axis in direction away from panels 14. It should be noted that the main fold lines 20 between the individual panels meet at the central axis in all configurations where there are five or more panels. The ornament will mainly be used with five, six and seven or eight panels.

The ornament is held in its hollow erected position by interlocking the tab members 15 and 16 along their slits 15C and 16C respectively. The end of the tab illustrated at 15A is folded in toward the center of the opening formed by panels 14, and a string can be attached through the opening 16B to protrude out of the central axis 31 so that the ornament can be hung. The tabs 15 or 16 can be held with adhesive or tape if desired.

The device also makes a unique point of purchase display by having large panels 14 on which messages or designs can be placed. The folding end panels make it extremely attractive, easy to erect and take down, and let it be folded flat while it saves time permitting it to be erected easily and attractively.

When used as a card, the folded card as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be placed in an envelope and mailed to the user with the message on the outside, and then the unit can be erected to form a three dimensional ornament, point of purchase display, or the like.