WO2008153557A2

WO2008153557A2 - Pop-up trading cards

Info

Publication number: WO2008153557A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/069436
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ernest Vandenheuvel
Original assignee: Ernest Vandenheuvel
Priority date: 2007-05-21
Filing date: 2007-05-22
Publication date: 2008-12-18
Also published as: WO2008153557A3

Abstract

A pop-up display for sports cards and the like comprises a two-panel card joined along a resilient hinge. The display is usually contained in a sealed closure and when removed the upper panel or cover with images thereon springs into a 90° angle with respect to the base panel and the image of a sports figure, stadium, pop-culture figure, die-cast vehicle, etc. springs upwardly from the base panel. The exterior of the upper and base panels contains images or statistics while the interior faces of the panels show a picture display or other compatible information.

Description

I NVENTION TITLE

POP-UP TRADING CARDS

DESCRI PTION

[Para 1 ] This application pertains to a display sold as Pop-Up Traders™ for baseball cards, advertisements and the like. The display comprises a sports card usually located within a zipper closure, which when taken out, includes an integral top cover a base connected thereto and a section, which pops-up at a right angle to the base to display a baseball player image and an internal portion of the top cover, which displays various statistics or a stadium background which extends at right angles to the base at a spaced distance from the player image. The outside top cover and outside base of the display are pictures of the baseball player in an action shot.

[Para 2] The prior art includes U.S. Patent 5,472,240 to Davies which comprises a pop-up mailer constructed from a single sheet of 8 Yz x 1 1 or A4 paper having a weight of least 20lbs per 100 sheet ream. The panels of the sheet are folded together about a fold line by a pressure sensitive non-tacky adhesive. At least two pop-ups are die-cut from the sheet of paper so when the mailer is open, the pop-up appears.

[Para 3] Patents 4,500,088 and 4,61 3,1 28 to Lasky relate to 3-D display where a mirror is supported on an acute angle to the upper surface of a light-box to display an image. [Para 4] Patent 5,261 ,1 27 to Rowley discloses a three-dimensional greeting card that has its three dimensional aspect on the front face of the greeting card.

[Para 5] Patent 5,864,973 to Cole discloses a 3-D greeting card with a mirrored surface to reflect a half symmetrical image.

[Para 6] Other patents of interest include U.S. Patents 5,293,706 and 4,854,591 . [Para 7] The invention discloses an attractive display having two integral sections or panels one of which pops-up at a right angle to the base panel on the interior of the top panel to display a particular baseball player's statistics in an attractive manner while an image of the player pops-up vertically from the base panel on a third panel. The pop-up action is due to a resilient plastic or paper hinge joining the panels together along one joint edge and a separate hinge joining the image to the base panel. The display is generally folded flat in two equal sections with a picture of a baseball player on both outer covers i.e., the base panel and top cover. While the invention is often used with baseball cards, it can be used with other sports or advertising displays.

[Para 8] In another embodiment of the invention, the popup image panel is integrally formed with the base panel and folded over the interior of the base panel to provide a popup action. The top cover may also be joined to the base panel with a hinge that must be manually actuated to permit the pop-up panel to spring upwardly from the base panel.

[Para 9] Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a new and improved display for baseball cards.

[Para 10] Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved display involving pop-up space card displays for baseball or other sports such as football, basketball, soccer, etc., as well as for advertising purposes.

[Para 1 1 ] A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved advertising display, which is mounted in a sealed package and pops open to reveal one or more displays in two planes.

[Para 12] A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved sports display that a top cover and a bottom panel which when manually separated reveal a display that pops up from the base panel.

[Para 13] A more specific object of this invention is to provide a new and improved display of paper, plastic or metal, which includes a first top panel having an image on its exterior and interior face and a second base panel having an image on its exterior face resiliently mounted thereto along one edge to permit the first panel to extend upwardly therefrom when the display is removed from a sealed package and an image resiliently mounted to the interior face of the base to popup when the top panel and base panel are separated.

[Para 14] The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention may be more clearly seen when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[Para 1 5] FIG. 1 is a view of the display case having the display mounted therein;

[Para 16] FIG. 2 is view of the exterior of a display panel;

[Para 1 7] FIG. 3 is a view of the display when it pops-up to extend at right angles to the base panel;

[Para 18] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention; and,

[Para 19] FIG. 5 depicts a further embodiment of the invention with an enlarged "bobble head"

[Para 20] Referring now to the drawings, the invention comprises a sealed case 1 0, which may have a zippered closure 1 1 or other self-sealing closure and a carrying rung 1 2. The case 10 includes a display 1 3 mounted therein, the case 10 may be transparent. [Para 21 ] The display 1 3 comprises a foil-coated card for all sports genres such as baseball, football, basketball, soccer, etc. When the display 1 3 is removed from the case 10, a top panel 14 pops upwardly at a right angle to a base panel 1 5 on display 1 6. Both panels 14 and 1 5 usually display a picture of a baseball player 1 6 on their exterior faces 26 and 27. A picture of a baseball player 1 6 pops up and from the base panel 1 5 while the interior face 1 7 of the vertical panel 14 displays his statistics, stadium, or his team. The exterior 26 of the panel 1 4 as noted above also includes an action picture 1 6 of the player depicted on the inner display 1 6.

[Para 22] The pop-up action of the panel 14 and the player 1 6 is caused by the resilient hinge 21 along the edge of panels 14, 1 5, and a separate hinge 22 along the bottom of the player display 1 6 and the base panel 1 5. The hinges 21 and 22 may be a plastic tape with resilient qualities or other spring-like means including the panel material itself. Releasing pressure on the display 1 3 permits the panels 14 and 1 5 to spring apart and the player image 1 6 to pop-up.

[Para 23] The display 1 3 may also be used as noted in FIG. 3 for advertising purposes. For example, there may be a pop-up truck 1 9, with advertising on the vertically extending panel 14. The panels 14 and 1 5, which contain advertising, are hinged together as noted above. A plastic or other hinge forces the panels 14 and 1 5 to part when the display 1 3 is removed from the holder 10. The particular advertising figures on the base panel 1 5 may also be spring-loaded to pop-up when the display panels 14 and 1 5 are manually separated. [Para 24] As noted, the display 1 3 includes a top panel 14 and a base panel 1 5 and a popup display or advertisement 1 6. The display 1 6 is integrally attached to the base panel 1 5 along the edge 25 so that the entire card 1 3 may be made in a single operation. [Para 25] FIG. 4 depicts a pop-up trader wherein the baseball player 1 6 is enlarged taking up most of the entire area with a shadowed stadium background 50 for realism. The player's arm 31 may be attached to the interior face 1 7 of the top panel 14 in a slot 23. Further, a resilient wedge (not shown) may be mounted to the panel 14 and the rear of the player 1 6 to assist in forcing the player 1 6 into an upright position when the panels 14 and 1 5 are separated.

[Para 26] FIG. 5 depicts a further embodiment of the invention wherein an enlarged bobble head 40 of a baseball player 1 6 is mounted to the base panel 1 5 by a resilient member 41 . The resilient member 41 aids in the pop-up movement of the bobble head 40. The member may be made of paper, cardboard or a suitable resilient material. [Para 27] The invention as thus described brings the entire area of baseball cards and collecting into a new era. The display 1 3 disclosed herein is more attractive than plain baseball cards. This attractiveness should lead to considerable sales and increased trading. Using the teachings of this invention, a plastic (PVC) card may feature pop-culture devices, i.e. "decal" graphics depicting devices like a DVD movie camera model, a laptop computer, a 35mm camera or any consumer retail product. In addition, the display 1 3 may comprise die-cast metal cards featuring pop-up vehicles with embossed decal graphics for trucks, boats, bulldozer machinery, racecars and other vehicles. Further, the cover panel 14 and base panel 1 5 may be shaped as a glove for baseball displays or as a football for football displays or indeed in a particular configuration reflecting the pop-up display. In other cases, the exterior edges may be shaped to give a particular impression when the pop-up appears like a figure coming out of set of jaws

[Para 28] While the invention has been explained by a detailed description of certain specific embodiments, it is understood that various modifications and substitutions can be made in any of them within the scope of the appended claims that are intended also to include equivalents of such embodiments.

Claims

What is claimed is: [Claim 1 ] A popup display comprising: a first top panel having inner and outer faces, a display on each face and a plurality of edges defining the panel; a second base panel having inner and outer faces, a display on the outer face and a plurality of edges defining the panel; a resilient hinge joining the top panel and base panel along one mating edge so that the top panel pops up from a position where the inner faces of the top and base panels are engaged to substantially a right angle to the base panel; a third display panel having one edge mounted to a second edge of the base panel; and, a resilient hinge joining the edge of the display and the second edge of the base panel to permit the display to popup from the inner faces of the panels. [Claim 2] A popup display in accordance with Claim 1 wherein: the top and base panels are substantially rectangular in shape; and, the third display panel comprises an irregular cutout of a figure. [Claim 3] A popup display in accordance with Claim 1 further including: means to maintain the top panel and base panel in a juxtaposed closed position with the display panel therebetween. [Claim 4] A popup display in accordance with Claim 1 wherein: the top panel, base panel and display panel are integrally mounted together along a first and second resilient hinge. [Claim 5] A popup display in accordance with Claim 4 wherein: the means to maintain the panels in a closed position comprises a zippered case. [Claim 6] A popup display comprising: a first display panel having an outer edge and an inner edge integrally mounted to a second display panel; and, a third display panel integrally mounted to the second display panel wherein the first and second panels fold over against one another with the third display panel therebetween; and means permitting the first and third display panels to pop-up from engagement with the base panel. [Claim 7] A popup display in accordance with Claim 6 wherein: the third display panel comprises a figure, which extends from the edge of the base panel to a predetermined location on the second panel. [Claim 8] A popup display in accordance with Claim 7 wherein: the first display panel includes a slot, said slot being engaged by the figure on the third display panel to maintain the first, second and third panels in position. [Claim 9] A popup display in accordance with Claim 1 wherein: the top and base panels include outer edges having a predetermined shape. [Claim 1 0] A popup display in accordance with Claim 7 wherein: the third display panel includes an irregular configuration.