GB2531270A - Postcard With three dimensional display - Google Patents

Abstract

A postcard preferably made of wood with a main body 1 with surface area for postal information, one or more pop-out detachable components 2, and one or more holes in the main body 3 to allow reassembly in a different arrangement to create a 3D scene or object. Pieces are cut using laser cutting but will hold in place until pressure is applied to remove the parts from the main body of the postcard. The extracted parts can be reattached to the main body of the postcard, with pegs or tenons 5 on the pop-out components inserted into pre-cut apertures or mortises 3 in the main body, and are held in place without adhesive to form a three-dimensional display. A surface design could be applied with laser engraving or printing for example. The flat unit, prior to reconstruction, is of a size and weight suitable for posting as a postcard.

Description

Postcard with three dimensional display The invention relates to postcards to send by mail a message and design) graphic or photograph which may readily be assembled as a three dimensional display. They do not require to be sent in an envelope but may be.

Postcards have to be light in weight and of a suitable size to meet the requirements of postal services such as Royal Mail. They are usually made of card with a printed picture or photograph on the front and a message, address and stamp on the back. Postcards made of other materials, for example wood, can also meet these requirements being slim, light and of the correct size.

The invention relates to postcards made from wood, as the preferred option, and cut through (laser cutting) so different shapes can be made in the body of the postcard. The outline of these shapes may be simple or intricate/ornate. The shapes are held in place for mailing and on receipt can be pushed out and assembled to make a 3D model or scene using the body of the card to form a base for the design. The cut shapes and the rest of the surface of the card may have a light relief or recess cut in (rastoring) and may be engraved with fine burnt lines (laser engraving).

The part or parts when pushed out are slotted into square or circular holes (mortises) in the base using small mini tenon joints. If the corners of a square tenon friction fit with the edges of a circular hole (mortise), the design part may be placed at any angle and held in place by push fit/friction without glue.

The postcard is therefore transformed from a flat object into a 3 dimensional display to add interest and amusement for the receiver of the card. Wood is the preferred option as material for such a postcard but other materials may also be used (plastics, man-made woods, reconstituted woods, boards, thick card and metals).

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a laser cut postcard (preferably wooden) with a simple push out part held in position.

Figure 2 shows the front and side elevation of a postcard, which is thicker than a normal postcard but of a profile that suits posting regulations of size for the minimum postage category.

FigureS shows the detail of small tags that hold the push out part in place.

Figure 4 shows the part having been pushed out with the tenon part attached prior to reassembly into the (preferably wooden) postcard as base.

FigureS shows the detail of a square peg (tenon) aligning up to be friction fitted! pushed into a round hole (mortise).

Figure 6 shows the reassembled postcard with the push out part held vertically in place.

Figure 7 shows a postcard with multiple push out parts of a more ornate and decorative design.

Figure 8 shows the more ornate and decorative postcard of Figure 7 with the multiple push out parts reassembled into the body of the card now making a more three dimensional display.

In figure 1, the post card is shown as the main part 1, together as one unit ready to be posted. The part to be pushed out on receipt of the post card (after mailing or transport) is shown as part 2 held in position as one unit with part 1. Part 2 is held in place by small tags of material that are left uncut by the laser cut shown as 4. The pushed out part 2 has the square tenon or square peg attached to it and is labelled asS. The main body of the post card has a round hole cut through it, labelled 3. The card has to beat appropriate thickness to comply with postal regulations (not more than 5mm for UK Royal Mail) which is shown by the side elevation in figure z. other designs may be printed, marked or laser engraved labelled in figure land 2, as 6. This is how the postcard will be distributed and mailed.

The laser cutting machine can leave small tags of uncut material that enable the whole postcard to remain in one piece for transport and mailing. Figure 3 shows the tag positions that are left to anchor part 2 in place. There can be several tags to hold a piece in position. They are of an appropriate size to be held for transport but sheared off when part 2 is pushed free of part 1. The square tenon or square peg labelled 5 is part of the piece that can be pushed out.

In figure 4, the part 2 has been removed after pushing it with appropriate force from the main body part 1. The pushing force breaks the small tags of material (4) so the two can be separated. The square tenon or square peg 5 remains attached to part 2.

Figure S shows the detail of the square tenon or square pegS (attached to part 2) in position for force to be applied ready for reassembly into the main body part 1 of the card, lining up with the pre-cut round hole 3. The hole size is crucial for a good friction fit that enables it to be comfortably reattached but also allowing part 2 to be reassembled at any angle. Two square tenons/square pegs fitting into two pre-cut holes can ensure part 2 rests at a predetermined angle.

Figure 6 shows part 1 the main body of the postcard with part 2 reinserted into position, having been pushed into the pie-cut hole (3) with reasonable force. There can be one or more Part 2's on a postcard with similar holes for each component.

Figure 7 shows a postcard of a more ornate and decorative design as an example (the design is not part of the patent but as an illustration) with several push out parts held in place as one unit ready to be posted or distributed. The main body 1 in this example has seven parts that are attached for distribution and mailing.

Figure 8 shows the more ornate and decorative design of figure 7 with the seven push out parts reassembled into the body of the card making the three dimensional display.

Claims (5)

1. Claims 1. A postcard made of wood or any other material incorporating parts which remain integral to the main body of the postcard during mailing but on receipt may be pushed out and re-attached to the postcard which acts as a base to create a 3 dimensional display.
2. 2. A postcard according to claim 1 in which the removable piece/pieces are cut out (laser cutting) leaving small tags to hold them in place in the postcard for distribution and mailing.
3. 3. A postcard according to claim 2 in which small square pegs (tenons) are used to insert the removed parts into small holes (mortises) pre-cut in the main body of the postcard such that they are held in place by friction at any preferred angle.
4. 4. A postcard according to claim 3 in which surface design is applied to the removable pieces and the remainder of the postcard with a light relief or recess cut in (rastoring), and/or engraved with fine burned lines (laser engraving) or by printing.
5. 5. A postcard according to claim 4 which complies with the size and weight regulations of postal services such as Royal Mail for their minimum postage category.