Kimberly L Bikowski

US Patent:

8176663, May 15, 2012

Filed:

Feb 11, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/704180

Inventors:

David Sapp - North Ridgeville OH, US
Tiger Qiao - Shanghai, CN
Erik Flesher - Avon OH, US
Emily Gross - Lakewood OH, US
David Mayer - Bay Village OH, US
Eliza DeVogal - Lakewood OH, US
Katalina Speck - Westlake OH, US
Sharon Bogdanski - Westlake OH, US
Allison Marsh - Ravenna OH, US
Kimberly Bikowski - Avon OH, US

Assignee:

American Greetings Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

G09F 1/00

US Classification:

4012403, 446297, 446301

Abstract:

Greeting cards and novelties with electronic circuits having switch mechanisms operable by manipulation of a moveable component. Manipulation of the moveable component causes activation of the electronic circuit.

US Patent:

8230624, Jul 31, 2012

Filed:

Nov 5, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/940145

Inventors:

David Sapp - North Ridgeville OH, US
David Mayer - Bay Village OH, US
Anastasia Taylor - San Diego CA, US
Kimberly Bikowski - Avon OH, US
Allison Marsh - Ravenna OH, US
Tiger Qiao - Shanghai, CN
Jerry Guo - Shanghai, CN

Assignee:

American Greetings Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

G09F 1/00

US Classification:

4012403, 40446, 40429, 40421

Abstract:

The present invention and related disclosure describes greeting cards with moving elements or devices which are operable to create motion in connection with some portion of the greeting card. The greeting card may include a multi-panel greeting card body or a three-dimensional foam greeting card body. At least one movable object is contained upon or within the greeting card body. A sound module having at least one pre-recorded digital audio file saved therein and a motor module are contained and concealed within the greeting card body. One or more switches may be used to activate the sound and motor modules, causing the pre-recorded audio file to play and causing movement of the movable or mobile object. This movement may be up-and-down or “bouncing” motion, spinning or rotational motion, side-to-side motion or any other reciprocating motion. The artwork contained upon the greeting card body, the mobile object and the pre-recorded audio file may all be part of the same theme and the movement of the mobile object and the pre-recorded audio file may be synchronized.

US Patent:

8312651, Nov 20, 2012

Filed:

May 6, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/774836

Inventors:

Josef A. Mandelbaum - Beachwood OH, US
Rajiv Jain - Monte Sereno CA, US
Allison Marsh - Ravenna OH, US
Kimberly Bikowski - Avon OH, US
Cathy Tasse - Westlake OH, US
David Mayer - Bay Village OH, US
Eliza DeVogel - Lakewood OH, US
Katalina Speck - Westlake OH, US
Mary McClain - Shaker Heights OH, US
Sharon Bogdanski - Westlake OH, US
Mindy Leeders - Canton OH, US
Catherine Gruntman - Dearborn MI, US

Assignee:

American Greetings Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

G09F 27/00

US Classification:

4012403, 40455, 40463, 40717

Abstract:

Electronic greeting cards include a greeting card with two or more interconnected panels in combination with a digital multimedia player device which includes an electronic display and an audio output, and circuitry which is operative to receive, store and play digital multimedia files and content. The various greeting card structures cover and encapsulate or otherwise house and adorn the digital multimedia player. Digital files are loaded on to the digital multimedia player by a connection to a network, or directly from a data storage device such as an SD card or USB connection or compact flash which interfaces with a port in the digital multimedia player. Pre-recorded digital multimedia greeting card content is either pre-loaded on a portable data storage device, or selected for purchase and downloaded or transferred for replay by the digital multimedia player of the electronic greeting card.

US Patent:

8322058, Dec 4, 2012

Filed:

Dec 21, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/974287

Inventors:

David Mayer - Bay Village OH, US
Allison Marsh - Ravenna OH, US
Kimberly Bikowski - Avon OH, US
David Sapp - North Ridgeville OH, US
Tiger Qiao - Shanghai, CN
Catherine Liu - Shanghai, CN
Coco Zhang - Shanghai, CN
Jerry Guo - Shanghai, CN

Assignee:

American Greetings Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

G09F 11/00

US Classification:

40491, 4012403

Abstract:

A telescoping greeting card having a plurality of pockets and/or panels that are connected in sequence and configured to slidably telescope between a closed position wherein each of the pockets and/or panels are contained within a main panel and an open position wherein each of the pockets and/or panels are extended in a longitudinal array. The greeting card additionally contains a switch and a sound module with at least one pre-recorded audio file that may be played back upon removal of one of the panels or pockets of the greeting card, which triggers the switch.

US Patent:

8374878, Feb 12, 2013

Filed:

Jun 23, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/489829

Inventors:

Carol Miller - Twinsburg OH, US
Mary McClain - Shaker Heights OH, US
David Mayer - Bay Village OH, US
Sharon Bogdanski - North Olmstead OH, US
Kimberly Bikowski - Avon OH, US
Theresa Muri - Richfield OH, US
Julie Vojtko - Stow OH, US

Assignee:

American Greetings Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

G10L 21/00

US Classification:

704272, 704270, 704278, 434319

Abstract:

Audio or sound envelopes contain or are combined with a sound module for generating and playing prerecorded sound tracks upon the opening of the envelope or removal of its contents. Operation of the sound module may be activated by the opening of the envelope flap, or by removal of the envelope contents. The flap is configured with a removable strip which protects the sound module from damage before and after opening. The sound module can be replayed by repeated operation of the flap. Alternate embodiments of the audio envelopes have other structural or operational features which work in concert with the sound module.

US Patent:

8448361, May 28, 2013

Filed:

Oct 11, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/270611

Inventors:

David Sapp - North Ridgeville OH, US
David Mayer - Bay Village OH, US
Anastasia Taylor - San Diego CA, US
Kimberly Bikowski - Avon OH, US
Allison Marsh - Ravenna OH, US
Tiger Qiao - Shanghai, CN
Jerry Guo - Shanghai, CN

Assignee:

American Greetings Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

G09F 1/00

US Classification:

4012403, 40446, 40429, 40421

Abstract:

The present invention and related disclosure describes greeting cards with moving elements or devices which are operable to create motion in connection with some portion of the greeting card. The greeting card may include a multi-panel greeting card body or a three-dimensional foam greeting card body. At least one movable object is contained upon or within the greeting card body. A sound module having at least one pre-recorded digital audio file saved therein and a motor module are contained and concealed within the greeting card body. One or more switches may be used to activate the sound and motor modules, causing the pre-recorded audio file to play and causing movement of the movable or mobile object.

US Patent:

20080289230, Nov 27, 2008

Filed:

May 23, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/126235

Inventors:

Josef A. Mandelbaum - Beachwood OH, US
Rajiv Jain - Monte Sereno CA, US
Allison Marsh - Ravenna OH, US
Kimberly Bikowski - Avon OH, US
Cathy Tasse - Westlake OH, US
David Mayer - Bay Village OH, US
Eliza DeVogel - Lakewood OH, US
Katalina Speck - Westlake OH, US
Mary McClain - Shaker Heights OH, US
Sharon Bogdanski - North Olmsted OH, US
Mindy Leeders - Canton OH, US
Catherine Gruntman - North Olmsted OH, US

International Classification:

B65D 73/02
G09F 1/06

US Classification:

4012401

Abstract:

Electronic greeting cards include a greeting card with two or more interconnected panels in combination with a digital multimedia player device which includes an electronic display and an audio output, and circuitry which is operative to receive, store and play digital multimedia files and content. The various greeting card structures cover and encapsulate or otherwise house and adorn the digital multimedia player. Digital files are loaded on to the digital multimedia player by a connection to a network, or directly from a data storage device such as an SD card or USB connection or compact flash which interfaces with a port in the digital multimedia player. Pre-recorded digital multimedia greeting card content is either pre-loaded on a portable data storage device, or selected for purchase and downloaded or transferred for replay by the digital multimedia player of the electronic greeting card.

US Patent:

20100287800, Nov 18, 2010

Filed:

May 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/780062

Inventors:

Erik Flesher - Avon OH, US
Emily Gross - Lakewood OH, US
David Mayer - Bay Village OH, US
Eliza DeVogal - Lakewood OH, US
Katalina Speck - Westlake OH, US
Sharon Bogdanski - Westlake OH, US
Allison Marsh - Ravenna OH, US
Kimberly Bikowski - Avon OH, US

International Classification:

G09F 1/04

US Classification:

4012403

Abstract:

A sound-producing greeting card that can play two or more separate and distinct digital audio clips. The greeting card has a gatefold design and includes dual slide activators that trigger the two separate and distinct audio clips. In one embodiment both digital audio clips are pre-recorded digital audio clips that may be music, sound or a verbal messages. In other embodiments, one digital audio clip is pre-recorded and the other can be a personalized consumer recorded message. The greeting card has a push button that activates recording of the personalized message. The greeting cards may additionally contain a mechanism that permanently changes the card from preview mode, wherein a consumer can record a personal message that will automatically be played back and erased, to a permanent mode wherein the consumer recorded message is saved and replayed each time one of the panels of the greeting card is opened.