Hallmark Cards, Inc.

Eastman-kodak Company

John B Watkins

Timothy Jay Lien

Randy S Knipp

Robert D Wertanen

Joseph Anthony Manico

John Randall Fredlund

Scott Burgett

Wesley DeWayne Lindquist

Anthony Ronald Berardi

Michael L Vandemark

Arthur E Doerflinger

Jeffrey R Myers

Glen N Black

Ramon J Magee

David Sowden

Vanessa Redshaw

Brent P Ragsdale

Timothy J Lien

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 the giver of the greeting card, a user recorded message may be played back 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 for activation in the trial mode.

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.

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.

Greeting card with subsequent audio after closing

A method of copying a three-dimensional surface having X, Y, and Z dimensions forms a translucent impression of the surface to be copied and then captures a two-dimensional image of the translucent impression. The captured image has X and Y dimensions and a grayscale value for each X, Y coordinate of the image. Then, the method converts each grayscale value of the image to a Z height value, thereby generating a digital file of X, Y, and Z values. The digital file may then be provided as an input to a numerically controlled machine, which can be operated to reproduce the surface to be copied. The method of the present invention finds particular application in digitizing handcrafted emboss dies and the like.

Method of digitizing emboss dies and the like

A system and method for combining a first digital generated image and one or more prestored digital images. The system include means for selecting one of the prestored digital images for and the steps of selecting an output format for printing the first digital generated image and the selected prestored image, providing the first digital generated image, combining the first digital generated image with the selected prestored digital image such that the generated image is placed in the predetermined location so as to form a merged image in accordance with the requirements of the selected output format, and for printing out the merged image in a desired format.

System for custom imprinting a variety of articles with images obtained

A process for producing an information carrier containing recorded audio and/or video information wherein a web of a thermoplastic material is extruded onto the patterned surface of a metal master and pressure is applied to force said thermoplastic material into contact with the metal master. The thermoplastic material is cooled to a temperature below its softening point to form an imaged thermoplastic web which is separated from the metal master. Then a thin film of metal particles is deposited on the imaged surface of the thermoplastic web and said metallized thermoplastic web is laminated with a substrate carrying an uncured coating of a radiation curable resin. The resin is cured and individual information carriers are separated from the web of information carrying laminate. A center hole is placed in the separated individual information carriers, when appropriate.

Replication of information carriers

A generally cylindrical image embossing tool which can be used for embossing a web of material in continuous manner is made by placing an image or pattern which is to be replicated onto an embossable material maintained in the form of a cylinder. An electroform in generally cylindrical form corresponding to the image or pattern to be replicated is formed from the imaged embossable material and the electroform is supported on a rigid cylindrical support to form the image transfer tool. A novel imaging tool has a curved stamping surface carrying an embossed image or pattern. The radius of curvature of the stamping surface matches the radius of curvature of a cylindrical surface which is to be stamped so as to transfer the image or pattern which is to be replicated.

Image transfer tool

A process for producing an information carrier containing recorded audio and/or video information wherein a web of a thermoplastic material is extruded onto the patterned surface of a metal master and pressure is applied to force said thermoplastic material into contact with the metal master. The thermpolastic material is cooled to a temperature below its softening point to form an imaged thermpolastic web which is separated from the metal master. Then a thin film of metal particles is deposited on the imaged surface of the thermoplastic web and said metallized thermpolastic web is laminated with a substrate carrying an uncured coating of a radiation curable resin. The resin is cured and individual information carriers are separated from the web of information carrying laminate. A center hole is placed in the separated individual information carriers, when appropriate.

An insulated, decorative hot drink cup for hot coffee or the like is provided which can be grasped and drunk from without fear that the user's fingers will be burned. The cup includes an inner, integral, synthetic resin cup member having a series of spaced, exterior, longitudinally extending, triangular in cross section ribs on the sidewall thereof, and an outer decorative paper overwrap permanently applied over and in contact with the ribs. This structure defines a series of discrete, juxtaposed, dead air chambers or cells in the cup assembly sidewall for maximum heat insulation, and the thermally minimal, essentially line contact between the rib apices and overwrap enhances this effect. An uppermost circumferential bead formed on the cup member provides a further seal and prevents passage of liquid between the overwrap and member sidewall.

Growing community of inventors

Independence, MO, United States of America

John B Watkins