Envelope Having Means For Readily Forming A Hand Puppet Therefrom

Abstract

A novelty article of paper card stock in the form of a puppet which comprises, a panel of paper card stock folded in two and gummed along its sides to form an open ended envelope, diagonal fold lines formed from the bottom corners of the envelope across each side thereof in a triangular manner, and a further fold line formed from the junction of the two diagonal fold lines to the open side of the envelope, and a further fold line along the central axis of each side, extending from the junction of the two diagonal fold lines to the bottom of the envelope, whereby, the envelope may be manufactured and shipped flat, and may be set up to form a puppet simply by opening out the open sides into a generally rectangular shape, and then indenting the bottom edge of the envelope inwardly into the interior whereby to form the two closed corners of the envelope into upper and lower moveable portion.

Description

The invention relates to a puppet novelty device made of paper card stock which may be printed or decorated with a variety of different designs and motifs. In its more developed aspect the invention provides a dual use novelty item which may be initially used as a container, and may subsequently be used as a puppet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Novelty items made of paper card stock may have a wide variety of applications for use as childrens' toys, promotional material, attention getting notions, and give away items. In the great majority of cases however such items are ignored and thrown away. By rendering such an item capable of being actually used for some simple purpose there is a far greater chance of its becoming used and achieving its main purpose. Thus to manufacture such a novelty paper item for use as a puppet, gives it a far greater chance of achieving its principal objective before it is either lost or thrown away. At the same time however such an item must necessarily be cheap to manufacture, and easy to use without instructions. For these reasons, a puppet forms an ideal form of paper novelty.

One of the problems in designing such a puppet however is to maintain its cost to a minimum, while providing an effective design. A more serious problem however is the fact that generally speaking if such a paper novelty is to be designed as a puppet it will be a puppet and nothing more. Ideally such a paper novelty will be manufactured in such a way that it will initially have a more utilitarian purpose, and may thereafter be changed into its puppet mode so as to carry its message, or provide a distraction for a child, after its initial useful function has been completed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention therefore seeks to provide a novelty of paper card stock in the form of a puppet which comprises, a panel of paper card stock folded in two and gummed along its sides to form an open ended envelope, diagonal fold lines formed from the bottom corners of the envelope across each side thereof in a triangular manner, and a further fold line formed from the junction of the two diagonal fold lines to the open side of the envelope, and a further fold line along the central axis of each side, extending from the junction of the two diagonal fold lines to the bottom of the envelope, whereby, the envelope may be manufactured and shipped flat, and may be set up to form a puppet simply by opening out the open sides into a generally rectangular shape, and then indenting the bottom edge of the envelope inwardly into the interior whereby to form the two closed corners of the envelope into upper and lower moveable portions.

More particularly, it is an objective of the invention to provide a novelty device of the type described which may be imprinted or decorated with a variety of different designs or advertising messages.

More particularly, it is an objective of the invention to provide a novelty device of the type described in which the device is formed initially in the form of a flat envelope having a plurality of preformed fold lines thereon by means of which it may be readily altered in shape to form a hand puppet. The flat envelope has an open edge which is, capable of being opened up to receive some product within the envelope, and the envelope serving as a container or dispenser for the product, and, after removal of the product, the envelope, by reason of the relatively swingable portions into which its sides are divided by said fold lines, is then capable of being converted into its puppet mode.

The foregoing and other advantages will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is given here by way of example only with reference to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a novelty device according to the invention shown in the form of a puppet;

FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration showing the novelty device of FIG. 1 in another position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of the novelty device shown in its container position;

FIG. 4 is an illustration corresponding to FIG. 3 showing the novelty device in the process of being converted into its puppet mode;

FIG. 5 is another view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a still further stage in the conversion;

FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration showing the novelty device in use as a container with product therein;

FIG. 7 is an open up plan view of a blank for the formation of the novelty device according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective of a further embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a perspective of a further embodiment, and

FIG. 11 is a perspective of a further embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the novelty device when set up in the form of a puppet, will be seen to comprise upper and lower lobes 10 and 12, simulating the upper and lower jaws for example of an animal, and an open neck portion 14 into which a child's hand, or the forefinger and thumb of an adult may be inserted so as to move the upper and lower lobes 10 and 12 towards and away from one another. In this way, a crude puppet like action may be performed, in a manner which is simple to understand and easy to accomplish either for an adult or a child, and therefore ensures that in most cases the device will be used in the manner intended. Obviously, the article as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown decorated with a fanciful animals head. It could equally well however be printed with any advertising message, or political slogan, or any other promotional matter which might be desired to replace the simple decoration as shown.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 7 inclusive, the puppet as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed from a flat open sided envelope formed of any suitable paper card stock. The envelope will have front and rear sides indicated generally as 16 and 18, joined along a common fold line 20, and fastened up each side by means of the glue flap panel 22. Each of the front and back walls 16 and 18 is of identical construction and comprises a pair of four sided panels 24 and 26 and 24a and 26a respectively. A third triangular panel 28 and 28a completes the respective front and back walls 16 and 18.

Diagonal fold lines 30 and 30a are formed between panels 28 and 24 and 28 and 26, on both front and back walls 16 and 18, and a further central fold line 32 extends between panels 24 and 26, and bisects the triangular panel 28, and meets the common fold line 20.

The glue flap panels 22 are joined to the four sided panels 24 and 26 by fold lines 34.

As best shown in FIGS. 3,4, and 5, the envelope may be converted into a puppet as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by opening of the two front and back walls 16 and 18 so that the four sided panels 24, 26 and 24a and 26a form an elongated diamond shape, and the two triangular panels 28 and 28a are then turned inside out by simply pressing on the common fold line 20 and pressing it inwardly. It will be found that when the fold line 20 has been pressed fully inwardly, the fold line 32 bisecting the two panels 28 and 28a will then extend more or less in a straight line from side to side, and the fold line 20 will be indented inwardly at an acute angle, thus defining the upper and lower lobes 10 and 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

It will also be observed that the envelope shown in FIG. 3 can be used as a container for products as shown in FIG. 6. In this case, all that is required is simply to open up the panels 24 and 26 and 24a and 26a in to a more or less rectangular or square shape, and then to shake some product in to the envelope. Such a product may be for example french fried potatoes 40, or candy, or potato chips, or any other product which may be dispensed in this way. Conceivably, if the envelopes were made of a suitably coated stock, the envelopes could serve as a container for a cold beverage. In all of these modes of use, the envelopes will then find a very wide range of distribution, and, when the product has been used up or consumed, a large proportion of purchasers and consumers will then convert from the container mode to the puppet mode, and use the device as a toy. In this way, the principle purpose of the novelty article that is to say to carry some form of message, or to provide an additional use for the product giving it added appeal to children, will then be achieved in a simple and inexpensive manner.

Obviously, the puppet can be printed with any suitable artwork such as teeth 36 and tongue 37 and eyes 38, or with some advertising message (not shown).

If desired, the fold lines 30 and 30A may be formed in a curved or arcuate manner as shown in phantom form as 42-42A in FIG. 7. When this is done, the upper and lower lobes 10 and 12 will be formed in a slightly curved or sculptured shape, giving the puppet a somewhat different appearance, as shown in FIG. 9, and printed with a different eye 38A and a beak 39.

An alternate method of making a blank for the container and puppet is shown in FIG. 8. In this case, the two panels 16 and 18 are not joined at the fold line 20 as shown in FIG. 7, but are instead joined by a common fold line 34B. In this case, only a single glue flap 48 is provided, adjacent to the panel 24a which may be glued to the area 50. The panels 24-26 and 24a-26a are formed with fold lines 32b and with fold lines 54, 55, 56, 57 corresponding to fold lines 30-30a in FIG. 7. The other glue flap is provided by means of the triangular flap panel 52 joined along fold line 58 to panels 24a and 26a and provided with a central fold line 58a, and is glued by glue 53 either inside or outside the adjacent overlying panel, when the panels 24 and 26 are folded along the fold line 36g. This form of manufacture may have certain advantages in some cases, possibly making a somewhat stronger more durable construction, or permitting different printing techniques, or providing a container which is somewhat more liquid tight if desired for that purpose.

A further form of the invention is shown in FIG. 10. In this case an additional message panel 44 is attached along the perforated hinge 46, to panel 16 or 18. The panel 44 may be printed for example with a greeting or seasonal message, or advertising material.

If desired, arcuate cuts or incisions may be made as at 60, 62, 64, and 66 and at 70, 72, 74, and 76 (see FIG. 7) so as to provide a modified appearance at the end of each lobe 10 and 12, as shown in FIG. 11.

In all cases, it will be observed that the invention provides a puppet novelty of the type described which, in its container mode, is manufactured shipped and stored flat, and can readily be opened up for insertion of product therein without the use of special jigs or dies, and which once the product has been removed, can then readily be converted into a puppet, providing a distraction for a child or adult, and at the same time bearing whatever message or other printed matter is imprinted thereon for as long as it continues to be used in the puppet mode.

The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is given here by way of example only. The invention is not to be taken as limited to any of the features as described, but comprehends all such variations thereof as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What we claim is:

1. A novelty article of paper card stock in the form of a puppet which comprises;

an envelope of paper card stock having two sides which are fastened along three edges to form a rectangular envelope having one open edge and three closed edges defining two closed corners, said envelope having preformed means by which it may be readily altered in shape to form a hand puppet, said means comprising a plurality of fold lines dividing said envelope into adjacent portions relatively swingable thereabout, said fold lines including:

edge fold lines formed along said three closed edges;

diagonal fold lines formed from the closed corners of the envelope across each said side in a triangular manner, and,

a further fold line along the central axis of each said side, intersecting the junction of the two diagonal fold lines whereby, the envelope may be manufactured and shipped flat, and may be set up to form a puppet simply by opening out the sides at said open edge into a generally rectangular opening, and then indenting the envelope inwardly along the closed edge between the two closed corners whereby to form the two closed corners of the envelope into upper and lower relatively movable lobes separated by said further fold line.

2. A novelty article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said envelope is formed of a single sheet of card stock forming said two sides, said two sides being joined together along a said edge fold line extending between said two closed corners.

3. A novelty article as claimed in claim 1 wherein said envelope is formed of a single piece of card stock forming both said sides, and wherein said sides are joined together along one of said edge fold lines extending between said open edge and one of said closed corners.

4. A novelty article as claimed in claim 1 wherein two of said closed edges, located on opposite sides of said rectangular envelope, are provided with glue flaps, said glue flaps being adhesively bonded to adjacent surfaces of adjacent portions of said envelope whereby to form said two closed edges, and wherein the third said closed edge extends between said two glue flaps, and is formed by a common fold line.

5. A novelty article as claimed in claim 1 including a display panel attached along said open edge of said envelope along a common fold line whereby the article may be flat folded.

6. A novelty article as claimed in claim 1 wherein said diagonal fold lines are of arcuate shape.

7. A novelty article as claimed in claim 1 including cut outs formed at said closed corners of said envelope.

8. A novelty article as claimed in claim 1 wherein said envelope is formed of a single piece of card stock, and wherein said two sides are formed of adjacent portions of said card stock joined along a common fold line, and including a triangular glue flap panel attached to one of said two sides, said further fold line of said one side including a central fold line extending across said triangular glue flap and bisecting the same.