Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a greeting card comprising a detachable thin foldable object. In particular, the invention relates to a greeting card which comprises foldable flaps configured for forming a closable pocket wherein a thin foldable object may be detachably stored. The invention also relates to a detachable thin foldable object adapted to be sent within the greeting card and folded once extracted therefrom.

Background

[0002] Greeting cards are well known and available throughout the world. Typically, greeting cards have a rectangular shape and are made from a thin, flat material such as paper. A common greeting card presents a first side comprising space for writing a message and filling in the address to whom the greeting card should be sent, and a second side which shows a motive typical for the location where the greeting card is sold.

[0003] In the prior art, there are also known greeting cards which comprise removable flat elements that may be folded to give a three-dimensional sculpture. However, the removable flat elements form part of the greeting card and are, thus, physically attached to the greeting card. Therefore, it is necessary to break the greeting card to remove the removable flat elements for folding them into the sculpture. Thereby, the greeting card and its motive get lost and do not serve as souvenir any longer.

[0004] Furthermore, a greeting card comprising said removable flat elements as part of the greeting card requires a complicated manufacturing process and, thus, is expensive. Also, for every sculpture, a different manufacturing process has to be employed due to the different designs increasing the complexity and the overall costs for the greeting cards.

[0005] Moreover, the sculptures available are very simple sculptures which can be obtained by one or two folding steps. Complex sculptures are not possible since they would require either too many elements or the material used is not suitable for folding it several times. In particular paper and the like can break easily resulting in the loss of the greeting card and the foldable sculpture.

[0006] Hence, it is the object of the present invention to overcome the problem of the prior art. In particular, there is the need to provide a greeting card that can be used to store and transport any detachable thin foldable object irrespective of the design of said object. There is also the need to provide a greeting card from which the detachable thin foldable object can be removed without breaking the greeting card and the greeting card as such is maintained.

[0007] There is also the need for providing a greeting card that allows storing the detachable thin foldable object during its transport, storing and sale so that it will not be lost or damaged.

[0008] There is also the need for providing a material for the detachable thin foldable object which is sufficiently thin and light in weight, so that the greeting card comprising a detachable thin foldable object can be sent normally without paying higher postage than necessary for a normal postcard. Moreover, the material should be flexible enough to allow folding thereof but at the same time solid enough to avoid breaking due to folding, in particular due to repeated folding.

Summary of the Invention

[0009] The afore-mentioned problems are resolved by a greeting card comprising a detachable thin foldable object, wherein the greeting card is configured to receive and to store said detachable thin foldable object, and the detachable thin foldable object is configured to be folded from into a three dimensional state. Hence, the detachable thin foldable object can be safely stored within the greeting card so that no loss or damage will occur thereto during transport, storage or sale. Furthermore, the greeting card comprising a detachable thin foldable object is sufficiently thin and light in weight, so that the greeting card comprising a detachable thin foldable object can be sent like a typical postcard.

[0010] Preferred embodiments and aspects of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] Fig. 1A illustrates a first (interior) side of an unfolded greeting card according to the present invention.

[0012] Fig. 1 B illustrates a second (exterior) side of an unfolded greeting card according to the present invention.

[0013] Fig. 2 illustrates a thin foldable object in form of a tortoise.

[0014] Fig. 3 illustrates a thin foldable object in form of a bull.

[0015] Fig. 4 illustrates a thin foldable object in form of a purple gallinule.

[0016] Fig. 5 illustrates a thin foldable object in form of a Balearic warbler.

[0017] Fig. 6 illustrates a thin foldable object in form of a donkey.

[0018] Fig. 7 illustrates a thin foldable object in form of a gecko.

[0019] Fig. 8 illustrates a thin foldable object in form of an octopus.

[0020] Fig. 9 shows the object of Gig. 2 in form of a tortoise when folded into three-dimensional shape. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0021] The greeting card comprising a detachable thin foldable object of the present invention solves one or more disadvantages of the prior art. The greeting card is configured to detachably receive and store a detachable thin foldable object in a closable pocket which is formed by foldable flaps attached to the greeting card. Hence, the greeting card can be used for securely sending the detachable thin foldable object. The closable pocket of the greeting card will prevent the detachable thin foldable object from being lost or damaged during transport, storing or sale. The detachable thin foldable object comprised in the greeting card may be taken out of the closed pocket and folded into a three-dimensional object. The greeting card of the present invention provides also for an easy sending of detachable thin foldable objects without extending beyond the dimensions and/or weight typical for greeting cards.

[0022] In the present invention, the term "greeting card" is to be understood as comprising greeting cards which require an envelope to be sent by any postal service as well as postcards which may be sent without an envelope by any postal service.

[0023] The greeting card of the present invention comprises a greeting card area and foldable flaps attached to the edges of the greeting card area. The foldable flaps are configured to form together with the greeting card area a closable pocket for storing a detachable thin foldable object. The greeting card area may have any shape, but a rectangular, a quadratic, a triangular, or a round shape or a combination thereof is preferred. In a preferred aspect of this invention, the greeting card area has a rectangular shape. In a more preferred aspect of this invention, the greeting card area has a rectangular shape and is not quadratic.

[0024] The greeting card area has a first side configured to represent the bottom or a side of the closable pocket to be formed by the foldable flaps together with the greeting card area while a second side of the greeting card area is configured to represent a motive, a logo or the like or combinations thereof. The first side is called interior side and the second side is called exterior side. The interior side is not visible when the closable pocket has been formed while the exterior side of the greeting card area remains visible to the observer, even when the closable pocket has been formed.

[0025] The interior side of the greeting card area receives at least one detachable thin foldable object, that is, it represents a part, for example, the bottom or a side, of the closable pocket in which said detachable thin foldable object is placed prior to or after folding the foldable flaps and forming the closable pocket. In one aspect of the invention, the detachable thin foldable object is placed on the interior side of the greeting card area without fixing it thereto. Fixing means are not required when the detachable thin foldable object has a virtual overall size which coincides or substantially coincides with the dimensions of the greeting card area. Hence, the folding edges of the foldable flaps can fix the detachable thin foldable object in the closable pocket and the manufacture of the greeting card can be simple and cheap. In one aspect of this invention, the folding edges of the foldable flaps can also retain the detachable thin foldable object when it is smaller than the greeting card area. However, in such a case said detachable thin foldable object may move within the closable pocket and damages to the detachable thin foldable object cannot always be excluded.

[0026] The virtual overall size of the detachable thin foldable object is meant as being a virtual boundary corresponding to the shape of the greeting card area in which the detachable thin foldable object may be placed without extending beyond said virtual boundary, and preferably reaching in one or more points said virtual boundary. In some aspects of this invention, the shape of the detachable thin foldable object does not correspond or does not correspond entirely to the shape of the greeting card area.

[0027] In another aspect of this invention, the interior side of the greeting card area or a separate sheet thereon having the same size or essentially the same size as the greeting card area is provided with fixing means configured for detachably fixing the detachable thin foldable object to the greeting card area or the separate sheet. This may be desired when the detachable thin foldable object has a virtual overall size that is smaller or substantially smaller than the dimensions of the greeting card area to avoid any movement of said object and possible damages thereto.

[0028] For example, fixing means configured for detachably fixing the detachable thin foldable object may be selected from one or more of the group comprising adhesives, auto-adhesives, clips, clamps, cuttings and the like or combinations thereof arranged on the greeting card area which can receive the detachable thin foldable object. Other fixing means may be used provided they are flat or substantially flat and of light weight to not penalise the greeting card comprising the detachable thin foldable object with respect to postage. Preferably, fixing means to be used are adhesives, auto-adhesives or cuttings or combinations thereof. For example, at least one strip of adhesive or auto-adhesive or at least one cutting may be provided on the interior side of the greeting card area or on said separate sheet on or in which the detachable thin foldable object can be detachably fixed. These preferred fixing means can be easily implemented into the manufacturing process of the greeting card and the increase in manufacturing costs is negligible.

[0029] In one aspect of this invention, the greeting card is provided with one or more fixing means, i.e. with a plurality of fixing means, for example, two, three, four or more fixing means. In one preferred aspect, the greeting card comprises between 1 -10 fixing means, more preferably between 1 -5 fixing means, even more preferably between 1 -3 fixing means, for fixing the detachable thin foldable object.

[0030] The foldable flaps provided on the edges of the greeting card area are configured to form together with the greeting card area a closable pocket having the same size as the greeting card area and including the greeting card area as part thereof, e.g. as the bottom. Hence, in one aspect of this invention, the foldable flaps may have a shape which is different from the shape of the greeting card area provided that the closable pocket formed by folding the foldable flaps has the same shape as the greeting card area. Likewise, the foldable flaps may have any size provided that the closable pocket formed by folding the foldable flaps has the same size as the greeting card area. In a preferred aspect of this invention, the foldable flaps have the same or substantially the same shape as the greeting card area. This will allow for forming the closable pocket in an easy and self-contained way without requiring additional instructions. Moreover, the manufacturing process of such a greeting card will be straightforward.

[0031] In a more preferred aspect of this invention, the greeting card area has a rectangular shape and the foldable flaps attached thereto are likewise rectangular or substantially rectangular.

[0032] The foldable flaps may be folded around a folding axis running along the line forming the contact area between the foldable flaps and the greeting card area. Hence, it is possible to fold the foldable flaps to either sides of the greeting card area. However, for purpose of easiness, the foldable flaps are configured in such a way that the closable pocket will only be formed by folding the foldable flaps in a determined direction towards the first side of the greeting card area configured to represent part of the closable pocket, e.g. the bottom, i.e. towards the interior side of the greeting card area.

[0033] The foldable flaps have first and second sides such as discussed above for the greeting card area. The first side is the interior side which will not be visible after folding the foldable flaps and forming the closable pocket. The interior side of the foldable flaps is faced towards the first side of the greeting card area. The second side of the foldable flaps is the exterior side which may be visible after folding the foldable flaps and forming the closable pocket. Yet, not every foldable flap's exterior side may be visible and there are foldable flaps which exterior side will not be seen from the outside after the foldable flaps have been folded and the closable pocket has been formed.

[0034] In some aspects of this invention, not all of the foldable flaps have the same size, so that two individual foldable flaps may partially overlap after folding them. Hence, in some aspects, only one single foldable flap will be seen from the outside after the closable pocket has been formed while in other aspects two foldable flaps partially overlapping one another may be seen from the outside after the closable pocket has been formed.

[0035] At least one foldable flap matches or substantially matches the dimensions of the greeting card area to form at least partially the cover of the closable pocket. The other foldable flap or flaps may be smaller in size or may also have the same or substantially the same size as the greeting card area. Preferably, not all foldable flaps will have the same or substantially the same size as the greeting card area since this will increase the production costs due to increased material need as well as the weight of the whole greeting card resulting in a higher postage.

[0036] Preferably, at least three foldable flaps are used for forming together with the greeting card area the closable pocket. Said at least three foldable flaps may be arranged to form a closable pocket that covers each side of said pocket. In this case, it may be necessary to provide flap coupling means which allow coupling two or three of the three foldable flaps to be coupled irremovably with the greeting card area. For example, a strip of adhesive may be used as flap coupling means. The at least three foldable flaps may also be arranged to leave one side open in which case it may be preferred to provide one of the three flaps with fixing means to prevent that the detachable thin foldable object does fall out of the closable pocket once it is closed. At least three foldable flaps are cost effective since material may be saved during the manufacture process of the greeting card. This will result also in a weight reduction of the greeting card. However, the material savings may be outweighed by the additional use of flap coupling means. Said flap coupling means reduce also the usable space on the at least three foldable flaps to provide instructions or other information. In case the at least three foldable flaps are arranged to leave one side open, there is the problem that the fixing means might not withhold the detachable thin foldable object due to possible movements during transport, so that said object may fall out of the closed pocket.

[0037] Therefore, in a more preferred aspect of the present invention, four foldable flaps are used for forming together with the greeting card area the closable pocket. Four foldable flaps together with the greeting card area allow an easy formation of the closable pocket covering each side of said pocket. Hence, no flap coupling means coupling irremovably two or more of the four foldable flaps with the greeting card area, or fixing means preventing that the detachable thin foldable object does fall out of the closable pocket once it is closed are not necessarily required. Although larger amounts of material may be required for the manufacture of the greeting card, the savings in above flap coupling means and fixing means outweigh the higher material costs. Furthermore, the arrangement using four foldable flaps to form together with the greeting card area the closable pocket allows storing the detachable thin foldable object safely even if movements during transport should occur.

[0038] When using four foldable flaps, one, two or three foldable flaps will have a size smaller than the greeting card area, preferably, a size of at least the half of the greeting card area, more preferably a size of at least a third or a quarter of the greeting card area. This may depend on whether the foldable flaps are only used to form the closable pocket and to fix the detachable thin foldable object or whether the foldable flaps are used to further provide information with respect to the greeting card itself, to the detachable thin foldable object, to the motive of the greeting card or the like. [0039] In one particular aspect of this invention, a first and a second foldable flap have the same or substantially the same size as the greeting card area, whereas a third foldable flap has a size which is about half of the size of the greeting card area and a fourth foldable flap has a size less than the half of the size of the greeting card area. The advantage of this particular configuration is the provision of a solid closable pocket by using two foldable flaps having the same or substantially the same size as the greeting card area and of enough space for providing any desired information on all foldable flaps.

[0040] At least one foldable flap is provided with means for closing the closable pocket and a foldable flap which may be the same or different is provided with means for opening the closed pocket. Moreover, one or more foldable flaps may be provided with at least one area for writing, an area for the post office, an area for providing information and the like. In one aspect of this invention, the means for closing the closable pocket and the means for opening the closed pocket are the same. In another preferred aspect of this invention, the means for closing the closable pocket are different from the means for opening the closable pocket.

[0041] The means for closing the closable pocket are arranged on a foldable flap such that this foldable flap will be the closing flap closing the closable pocket. Then, the closable pocket is closed and its content or contents will not be lost or damaged during storing, transport or sale. The means for closing the closable pocket are selected from one or more of the group comprising adhesives, auto-adhesives, removable clamps and similar or combinations thereof configured to close the closable pocket in a way that confidentiality of its content or contents will be assured.

[0042] The means for opening the closed pocket are arranged on a foldable flap that may be the closing flap or on another foldable flap not being the closing flap such that easy opening of the closed pocket is possible and the information provided on the foldable flaps and the thin foldable object contained in the closed pocket is easily accessible. Alternatively, the means for opening the closed pocket may be arranged as well along the folding axis of a foldable flap. The means for opening the closed pocket are selected from one or more of the group comprising removable clamps, perforated paper, embedded strips and similar or combinations thereof.

[0043] In one preferred aspect the means for closing the closable pocket comprise adhesive means like adhesives or auto-adhesives that may be protected with a removable cover sheet, while the means for opening the closed pocket comprise a strip of perforated paper or an embedded strip in a flap or the greeting card area. In a more preferred aspect of this invention, the means for closing the closable pocket is an auto-adhesive in form of a self sealing adhesive protected by a removable cover sheet while the means for opening the closed pocket is a strip of perforated paper.

[0044] In one aspect of the invention, the means for closing the closable pocket and the means for opening the closed pocket are provided on one single foldable flap. In another aspect of this invention, the means for closing the closable pocket are provided on a first foldable flap and the means for opening the closed pocket are provided on a second foldable flap. In one aspect of this invention, the means for closing the closable pocket may be arranged in the proximity of the means for opening the closed pocket, wherein the means for closing the closable pocket are arranged in a position being closer to an edge of the greeting card area than the means for opening the closed pocket. This is particularly needed in cases where the means for closing the closable pocket cannot be removed after closing and the part of the foldable flap on which said means for closing the closable pocket are provided will remain affixed thereto. In another aspect of this invention, the means for closing the closable pocket are arranged at a first edge of the greeting card area and the means for opening the closed pocket are arranged at a second edge of the greeting card area being opposite to said first edge. In another aspect of the invention, the means for closing the closable pocket are arranged such that they will rest on top of the means for opening the closed pocket after forming the closable pocket. In this case, the size of the means for opening the closed pocket will be the same or substantially larger than the size of the means for closing the closable pocket.

[0045] The dimensions of the greeting card when the closable pocket has been formed and closed, i.e. corresponding to the dimensions of the greeting card area, may comply with the international standards. In one aspect, the greeting card will have a broadness of 90 mm to 125 mm, preferably 90 mm to 120 mm; a length of 140 mm to 235 mm; and a thickness of not more than 5 mm. In another aspect, the greeting card has a broadness of about 90 mm to 108 mm; a length of 127 mm to about 152 mm; and a thickness of 0.178 mm to 0.406 mm. In one preferred aspect, the greeting card has a length of about 122 cm and a width of about 210 cm. The weight per area is from 150 g/m ² to 500 g/m ² . Of course, the greeting card may also be smaller or larger than the above dimensions or lighter or heavier than above weights. Yet, a greeting card having dimensions and weight being within above ranges will typically comply with international standards for a standard postcard and the lowest postage will be available.

[0046] The material from which the greeting card is made of is preferably light paper material. In one aspect, the greeting card is made from recycled paper to reduce its environmental impact from an ecological viewpoint. The greeting card has a weight ranging from 20 to 50 grams, preferably 20 to 45 grams, more preferably from 25 to 45 grams, yet more preferably from 25 to 40 grams, and even more preferably from 30 to 40 grams. In one preferred aspect of this invention, the greeting card has a weight of 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 or 40 grams. The weight may be dependent on the weight of the detachable thin foldable object to be placed inside the closable pocket of the greeting card. In this way, it is possible to avoid that a total weight of 50 grams will be exceeded and postage will be higher than for a standard postcard. The weight of the greeting card itself may be controlled either by the material used or by the size of the flaps provided that the closable pocket will not be affected. [0047] Figures 1A and 1 B illustrate an example greeting card according to the present invention. In Fig. 1A, a first side of the greeting card is illustrated, while in Fig. 1 B a second side of the same greeting card is illustrated. The greeting card 100 of Figs. 1A and 1 B has a rectangular shape which is not quadratic. However, the invention is not limited to the particular shape illustrated in Figs. 1A and 1 B and other shapes may be used such as quadratic, round or triangular as mentioned above.

[0048] The greeting card 100 of Figs. 1A and 1 B comprises a greeting card area 101 having an exterior side 1 11 that may show a motive, a logo and the like or combinations thereof. Said exterior side 1 11 of the greeting card 100 will be visible when all foldable flaps 102, 103, 104, 105 attached to the greeting card area 101 have been folded to form a closable pocket while the interior side 121 of the greeting card area 101 will then be hidden from view.

[0049] The greeting card 100 of Figs. 1A and 1 B has four foldable flaps 102, 103, 104, 105 at each side of the rectangular greeting card area 101 . At least a first foldable flap 102 matches or substantially matches the dimensions of the greeting card area 101 to form at least partially the cover of the closable pocket. The other three foldable flaps 103, 104, 105 may be smaller in size or may also have the same or substantially the same size as the greeting card area 101 . Preferably, not all four foldable flaps 102, 103, 104, 105 will have the same or substantially the same size as the greeting card area 101 since this will increase the production costs due to increased material need as well as the weight of the whole greeting card 100 resulting in a higher postage. Hence, a second, third and/or fourth foldable flap 103, 104, 105 will have a size smaller than the greeting card area 101 , preferably, a size of at least the half of the greeting card area 101 , more preferably a size of at least a third or a quarter of the greeting card area

101. This may depend on whether the four foldable flaps 102, 103, 104, 105 are only used to form the closable pocket and to fix the thin foldable object or whether the four foldable flaps 102, 103, 104, 105 are used to further provide information with respect to the greeting card 100 itself, to the thin foldable object, to the motive of the greeting card 100 or the like.

[0050] In one particular aspect of this invention, a first and a second foldable flap 102, 103 have the same or substantially the same size as the greeting card area 101 , whereas a third foldable flap 104 has a size which is about half of the size of the greeting card area 101 and a fourth foldable flap 105 has a size less than the half of the size of the greeting card area 101 . The advantage of this particular configuration is the provision of a solid closable pocket by using first and second foldable flaps 102, 103 having the same or substantially the same size as the greeting card area 101 and of enough space on all four foldable flaps for providing any desired information.

[0051] The first foldable flap 102 configured to form the cover of the closable pocket represents with its exterior side 1 12 the visible exterior side of the closable pocket and is called cover flap

102. Either the first or the second foldable flap 102, 103 may be used for being the cover flap. The cover flap 102 comprises on its exterior side 112 a first area 131 for writing a message and a second area 132 for the address block. The cover flap 102 comprises further a third area 133. In one aspect of this invention, this third area 133 comprises on its exterior side 112 a field for applying a stamp in a position above the address block (not shown), means for closing the closable pocket (not shown) which are provided on the interior side 122 of the cover flap 102 and means for opening the closed pocket (not shown) which are provided on the exterior side 1 12 of the cover flap 102.

[0052] In another aspect of this invention, the third area 133 on the exterior side 112 of the cover flap 102 is configured to receive means for closing 141 the pocket provided on the third flap 104 being opposite thereof, i.e. the closing flap 104. In this case, the third area 133 of the cover flap 102 will be covered by the closing flap 104 being opposite thereof so that the cover flap 102 is partially covered by the closing flap 104. Hence, the closing flap 104 opposite of the cover flap 102 comprises on its exterior side 1 14 a first area 134 for applying a stamp. This first area 134 is in a position that after folding the four flaps 102, 103, 104, 105 in the correct order it will be located above the address block provided in a second area 132 of the cover flap 102. The closing flap 104 comprises in a second area on its exterior side 114 means for opening 142 the closed pocket and in a first area on its interior side 124 means for closing 141 the pocket.

[0053] In one aspect, the means for closing 141 the closable pocket and the means for opening 142 the closed pocket run along the whole width of the flap comprising said means. In another aspect, the means for closing 141 the closable pocket have a length which is substantially the same or less than the width of the closing flap 104, while the means for opening 142 the closed pocket run along the whole width of the closing flap 104. By doing so, less material for the means for closing 141 the closable pocket are required and the manufacture of the greeting card 100 will be less expensive. Preferably, when using the cover flap 102 and the closing flap 104 as above described, the means for closing 141 are arranged on the closing flap 104 to be nearer to the folding axis 143 of the closing flap 104 than the means for opening 142.

[0054] The means for closing 141 may be any of the means for closing disclosed in the present specification. Also the means for opening 142 may be any of the means for opening disclosed in the present specification.

[0055] The second and fourth flaps 103 and 105 form part of the closable pocket but are not seen by an observer when the closable pocket has been formed and/or closed. Hence, both sides of these second and fourth flaps 103, 105 may be used for providing any information, instructions for folding the thin foldable object or left blank. Also on the interior side 122, 124 of the cover flap 102 and the closing flap 104 may be provided any information, instructions for folding the thin foldable object or left blank.

[0056] The greeting card of the above embodiments and aspects is configured to receive and store a detachable thin foldable object. The detachable thin foldable object may be detachably received and stored a in a closable pocket of the greeting card. Said closable pocket is formed by foldable flaps attached to the greeting card. Hence, the detachable thin foldable object can be sent securely within the greeting card. The detachable thin foldable object will thus be prevented from being lost or damaged during transport, storing or sale. The detachable thin foldable object within the greeting card may then be taken out of the closed pocket and folded into a three-dimensional object.

[0057] It is necessary that said detachable object be thin and also lightweight to not exceed the maximum weight for a standard postcard as described above. Hence, it is preferred that the detachable thin foldable object is of a material light in weight but also solid enough to be folded at least once, but preferably several times without showing any signs of breaking.

[0058] In one aspect of this invention, said detachable thin foldable object is configured to be folded into a three-dimensional object. The detachable thin foldable object can be made from any material that is foldable. Preferably, the material is made from plastic or metal, more preferably it is metal.

[0059] To comply with the international standards for a standard postcard, the detachable thin foldable object has a thickness of not more than 0.4 mm. Preferably, the detachable thin foldable sheet has a thickness of 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm, more preferably a thickness of 0.15 mm to 0.35 mm, even more preferably a thickness of 0.15 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.3 mm or 0.35 mm.

[0060] In one aspect of this invention, the detachable thin foldable object is made from aluminium or stainless steel. In a preferred aspect of this invention, the detachable thin foldable sheet is made from stainless steel.

[0061] Aluminium as material has the advantage that it is lightweight and cheap. However, aluminium is also brittle and does not allow repeated folding at a particular spot. Furthermore, aluminium shows a certain resistance to folding making it difficult to fold the three-dimensional object accurately, in particular when the object is more complex and requires several folding steps. The detachable thin foldable object made from aluminium is prepared by laser cutting the object from a larger aluminium plate having a thickness of 0.4 mm. A plate having a thickness of less than 0.4 mm is not suitable since then breaking may occur easily.

[0062] Stainless steel as material has the advantage that it is easily foldable, so that even repeated folding is possible. For example, the same spot can be folded for 15-20 times without signs of breaking. Moreover, stainless steel is solid enough so that the thickness of the thin foldable object may be reduced to 0.2 mm. This is advantageous when considering that thereby the weight and the dimensions of the greeting card can be reduced to comply with the standard for a standard postcard. Stainless steel can also be coloured and/or provided with a mirroring effect so that the range of possible objects can be broadened. Furthermore, it has been shown that no fingerprints are left behind due to the folding of the object, making a folded object from stainless steel aesthetically more attractive. [0063] The detachable thin foldable object made from stainless steel can be prepared by laser cutting or by etching. Preferably, etching is used to prepare the detachable thin foldable object. The etching process is advantageous over laser cutting in that the edges of the stainless steel object are less sharp and the surface thereof is smoother showing improved haptic properties. Hence, the feeling of the stainless steel object is more pleasant and the danger that a person handling the object will accidentally be cut by an edge thereof is reduced or even eliminated. Moreover, in case laser cutting is performed, burnings may occur on the object due to the laser radiation. Such burnings are not observed when etching is used to prepare the stainless steel detachable thin foldable object. Etching is also superior to laser cutting with respect to accuracy of cutting out an object. Etching allows further easy labelling or patterning of the detachable thin foldable object at the same time when preparing the detachable thin foldable object itself. For example, the object may be labelled with a name, a trademark or other text. Or the object may be patterned with specific designs representing certain parts thereof that can be difficult to fold. For example, when the object is an animal, patterning by etching may be used to make eyes or other body parts to improve the object from a viewpoint of reality.

[0064] The detachable thin foldable object may represent anything. For example, the object may represent animals, persons, buildings, tourist attractions, cars, planes, and many more. Preferably, the detachable thin foldable object represents animals, persons, buildings or tourist attractions. In one preferred aspect, and as illustrated in Figs. 2-8, the object represents animals such as a bull, any type of bird such as a purple gallinule or the Balearic warbler, a donkey, a gecko, a tortoise, or an octopus. However, the present invention is not so limited.

[0065] The detachable thin foldable object may have a symmetric or asymmetric shape. Symmetric shapes comprise a central main folding axis and optionally one or more minor folding axes. The main folding axis determines the three-dimensional shape of the detachable thin foldable object, whereas the minor folding axes are used only for details thereof, such as a foot, a tail or similar. Such objects may be easily folded in very few steps, for example two or three. However, symmetric shapes often lack being an organic representation of the object to be represented. Therefore, the detachable thin foldable object has preferably an asymmetric shape. Due to this asymmetric shape, the folding is more complex because there is no central folding axis as may be found in symmetric detachable thin foldable objects. Hence, more folding steps are required to bring the detachable thin foldable object into a three-dimensional shape. However, an asymmetric detachable thin foldable object when folded appears more organic than a comparable symmetric detachable thin foldable object.

[0066] The detachable thin foldable object has a virtual overall size which corresponds to the size of the greeting card area. Hence, the closable pocket formed by the foldable flaps of the greeting card will surround the detachable thin foldable object in such a manner that the object is fixed by the closable pocket and movement and damages during storage or transport are avoided. Additional fixing means to hold the detachable thin foldable object in place in the closable pocket of the greeting card are not required.

[0067] The detachable thin foldable object is configured to be folded into a three-dimensional object following a series of predefined folding steps. In one aspect, the series of predefined folding steps comprises from 5 to 60 folding steps, for example from 5 to 40 folding steps, or from 5 to 30 folding steps, or from 5 to 20 folding steps, or from 5 to 15 folding steps. Said series of predefined folding steps may be provided in form of instructions. For example, the instructions may be comprised on one of the foldable flaps of the greeting card or may be comprised on a flyer added to the thin foldable object in the closable pocket of the greeting card. By doing so, the recipient of the greeting card will be able to fold the detachable thin foldable object into a three-dimensional object. The folding instructions may be alternatively or additionally provided in form of a machine-readable representation of data, such as a barcode or a matrix code like the quick response code (QR code).

[0068] The folding instructions may be provided on at least one foldable flap of the greeting card. The folding instructions may also be provided as a separate sheet which either has originally the same size or essentially the same size as the greeting card area or which can be folded to obtain the same size or essentially the same size as the greeting card area. When the folding instructions are provided as a separate sheet which has to be folded to match the greeting card area, then the detachable thin foldable object may be placed within the separate folded sheet to protect it further. The separate sheet which has to be folded may additionally comprise fixing means configured for detachably fixing the detachable thin foldable object to the separate sheet. Hence, the detachable thin foldable object cannot move and possible damages can so be prevented. Therefore the separate sheet may be within the closable pocket of the greeting card together with the detachable thin foldable object.

[0069] Additionally, the detachable thin foldable object comprises one or more auxiliary means configured to assist in folding the detachable thin foldable object into a three-dimensional object. These auxiliary means assist in the folding either as indicator means for pressure points and/or folding axes, or as coupling means to couple determined parts of the detachable thin foldable object in a way that allows the formation of a predefined three-dimensional partial structure element of said object. These auxiliary means assist in folding the object by defining determined locations thereof to be folded resulting in that a user may be able to fold the object into a three-dimensional shape even without instructions.

[0070] As mentioned above, the auxiliary means comprise indicator means and coupling means. In one aspect of the present invention, a detachable thin foldable object comprises only indicator means or only coupling means to assist in folding said object into a three-dimensional shape. In another aspect of the present invention, a detachable thin foldable object comprises both indicator means and coupling means to assist in folding said object into a three- dimensional shape.

[0071] The indicator means are configured to indicate a determined point or area on the detachable thin foldable object where a folding step is to be carried out. These points or areas may be generally referred to as pressure points. Additionally, the indicator means are also configured to indicate a folding axis in a determined part of the detachable thin foldable object where a folding step is to be carried out. The indicator means may be visual or tactile or both. Visual indicator means can be easily identified by the naked eye but may result less aesthetically, since the visual indicator means remain after folding. On the other hand, the advantage of tactile indicator means is that they can additionally be identified by visually impaired persons without necessarily affecting the aesthetics of the object.

[0072] On the other side, the coupling means are configured to couple determined parts of the detachable thin foldable object in a way that allows the formation of a predefined three- dimensional partial structure element of said object. Said coupling means comprise single operating coupling means and cooperating coupling means. The detachable thin foldable object may comprise the single operating coupling means and the cooperating coupling means individually in one aspect of the present invention, or may be used in combination in another aspect of the present invention.

[0073] Single operating coupling means are present in a first part of the detachable thin foldable object and configured to couple to a second part of the detachable thin foldable object, wherein said second part does not contain any counterpart to the single operating coupling means with which it might interact. As an example, upon folding a first and a second part of said object come into proximity, wherein the first or the second part comprise single operating coupling means. When the first and the second part are in proximity, the single operating coupling means can be operated to fix the first part to the second part holding the two parts together and giving a determined three-dimensional shape to the object. Such coupling means may be preferred for detachable thin foldable objects having a less complicated structure for allowing an easier folding thereof. However, these coupling means may also be used for more complicated structures.

[0074] Cooperating coupling means instead comprise two or more coupling members that are compatible and interact with each other. The coupling members may be the same or may be configured to match with each other. As an example, a detachable thin foldable object may comprise cooperating coupling means comprising a first and a second coupling member. The first coupling member is located in a first part of the object, whereas the second coupling member is located in a second part of said object. Upon folding, the first part and the second part come into proximity and the first coupling member is operated to join to the second coupling member thereby fixing the first part of the object to the second part of the object. Hence, the two parts are held together giving a determined three-dimensional shape to the object. Such coupling means may be preferred for detachable thin foldable objects having a more complicated structure for allowing a more realistic three-dimensional shape to be achieved. However, these coupling means may also be used for less complicated structures.

[0075] The indicator means in form of pressure points and/or folding axes may be defined by incisions made into the detachable thin foldable object or by incisions defining one or more body parts of said object. These incisions may be indentations in the object, that is, a cutting into an edge of the object in a determined area thereof, or may be incisions within the object, that is, they represent holes or other irregular orifices within the object.

[0076] These indicator means are located in one or more areas of the detachable thin foldable object where folding a part of the detachable thin foldable object is to be carried out. In one aspect of this invention, the indicator means comprise a first folding axis defined by a first type of incisions. In another aspect of this invention, the indicator means comprise a second folding axis defined by a second type of incisions. Both types of folding axes comprise on one or both sides thereof one or more pressure points where force can be applied to fold the indicated part. In another aspect, the indicator means comprise a third type of incisions representing a determined part of the detachable thin foldable object, e.g. incisions forming the eyes of an animal after a predefined folding step, and are located on one side of these incisions. The incisions may be longitudinal or in form of a series of small holes along a linear line. For example, a series of 2 to 5 holes, preferably a series of 3 to 5 holes may be used having a diameter of about 0.1 mm. The incisions may also have a round shape or an irregular shape when said incision is configured to form after folding a predefined part of the thin foldable object. While the first and second type of incisions which are longitudinal have the effect of providing an almost orthogonal folding edge after folding, the first and second type of incisions in form of a series of small holes will result in a more rounded folding edge after folding avoiding any sharp folding edges. The latter allows a more straightforward direct folding, whereas the latter might require more attention but looks more organic in the end.

[0077] Preferably, the first and second types of incisions defining a folding axis and not representing a predefined part of the detachable thin foldable object may have a length of up to 10 mm and a width of up to 2 mm. Preferably, the length of these incisions ranges from 0.5 mm to 10 mm, more preferably from 0.5 mm to 5 mm, even more preferably from 1 mm to 3 mm. Preferably, the width of these incisions ranges from 0.1 mm to 2mm, more preferably from 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm, and even more preferably from 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

[0078] In one aspect of the present invention, all types of incisions described above may be present in the detachable thin foldable object. In another aspect of the present invention, there may be present only one specific type of incision described above. In yet another aspect of the present invention, there may be present any combination of types of incisions described above. [0079] The coupling means may comprise foldable protrusions, foldable protrusions in a first area that match cooperatively with apertures in a second area of the object, first apertures in a first area that match cooperatively with second apertures in a second area of the object. In particular, the protrusions may comprise foldable pins, hooks or other type of projections that may be folded to singly fix a first part of said object to a second part of said object, or that may join to an aperture by passing through the aperture and then be folded to cooperatively fix a first part of said object to a second part of said object. The latter may also be called commonly as a hook-and-eye-fastener. The cooperating apertures may be indentations in an edge of the object which are typically longer than the incisions or indentations making up indicator means. They need to be longer because a stable cooperative fixing is only then achieved while with the short incision of the indicator means the two parts fixed one to another might easily separate resulting in a loss of the obtained three-dimensional shape.

[0080] All auxiliary means described above, being indicator means, singly operating coupling means or cooperating coupling means, may be used individually or in any possible combination for determining locations on the object where folding steps are to be carried out. By use of these auxiliary means, folding may be achieved even without following specific folding instructions. This will be explained further below, where several objects are described comprising different combinations of the various auxiliary means described above.

[0081] Fig. 2 illustrates exemplary several types of auxiliary means in a detachable thin foldable object 200, wherein said auxiliary means are configured to assist in the folding by providing indicator means configured to indicate the necessary pressure points and/or folding axes on the detachable thin foldable object 200 and by providing coupling means that are configured to couple determined parts of the detachable thin foldable object 200 in a way that allows the formation of a predefined three-dimensional partial structure element of said object 200.

[0082] The detachable thin foldable object 200 of Fig. 2 when completely folded shows a tortoise as can be seen in Fig. 9. Object 200 comprises a first type of incisions 250 which define a folding axis for a specific part of the object 200 and indicate thus a pressure point. Object 200 also comprises a second type of incisions 255 which define a folding axis and indicate thus a pressure point. Object 200 also comprises cooperating coupling means which represent an eye 265 for a corresponding hook 266. The hook 266 is fixed in the eye 265 by introducing said hook 266 in the eye 265 and then folding said hook 266 preventing it from getting released accidentally. Object 200 also comprises a third type of incisions 270 representing a part of the object. Here, the incisions 270 represent the eyes of the tortoise and indicate each a pressure point for forming the head of the tortoise by folding the corresponding area. Object 200 also comprises a fourth type of incisions 280 in form of a series of holes indicating another pressure point around which a specific part of the detachable thin foldable object 200 is to be folded. [0083] Similar incisions may be found in the detachable thin foldable object 300 of Fig. 3 representing a bull, in the detachable thin foldable object 400 or 500 of Fig. 4 or 5, respectively, representing birds, in the detachable thin foldable object 600 of Fig. 6 representing a donkey, in the detachable thin foldable object 700 of Fig. 7 representing a gecko, or in the detachable thin foldable object 800 of Fig. 8 representing an octopus.

[0084] In Fig. 4, the detachable thin foldable object 400 comprises additionally first and second apertures 260 which are configured to join cooperatively first and second parts of the detachable thin foldable object 400 upon folding by sliding the first and second parts into one another using said apertures 260.

[0085] In Fig. 5, the detachable thin foldable object 500 comprises additionally pins 267 which are configured to hold upon folding first and second parts of the detachable thin foldable object 500 singly together in a predefined position. Such pins 267 facilitate the folding process and allow for achieving the folding of the object 500 into its three-dimensional shape. Also object 200 of Fig. 2 and object 800 of Fig. 8 comprise such a pin 267.

[0086] The detachable thin foldable objects described in Figs. 2 to 8 are configured to be folded into a three-dimensional object following a series of predefined folding steps as has been mentioned before in a general manner. The detachable thin foldable object 200 is configured to be folded into a three-dimensional object following a series of about 56 predefined folding steps; object 300 requires a series of about 28 predefined folding steps; object 400 requires a series of about 16 predefined folding steps; object 500 requires a series of about 19 predefined folding steps; object 600 requires a series of about 20 predefined folding steps; object 700 requires a series of about 32 predefined folding steps; and object 800 requires a series of about 17 predefined folding steps.

[0087] In one aspect of this invention, the detachable thin foldable object is accompanied by accessory elements suited to interact with the object. Said accessory elements are also stored and transported in the closable pocket formed by the foldable flaps. For example, said accessory elements comprise holding means suited to hold the object when folded into its three-dimensional state in a defined place or to protect it from falling down accidentally. For example, such holding means may be adhesive means in form of round dots having a first and a second major area which are opposed one to another and wherein both major areas are provided with an autoadhesive coating to hold on with the first major area to the folded object and to hold on with the second major area to the defined place. Such round dots may have a thickness of about 1 mm or less and a diameter of about 5 mm or less. For example, in the case of objects 400 and 500, such holding means may be used to hold them on to a defined place and protect them so from falling down by, for example, an accidental wind blow. Or in the case of object 700, the holding means may be used to hold it on to uncommon places like on the wall in vertical position or even on the ceiling overhead. One or more of such holding means may be added to the greeting card.

[0088] The above described greeting card including all its disclosed features and above described detachable thin foldable object including all its disclosed features may be combined in any form. The so obtained greeting card comprising a detachable thin foldable object allows for sending securely a souvenir which will not be damaged or get lost during its storing, sale or transport. Moreover, the detachable thin foldable object is comprised in the greeting card in a manner that the greeting card will not be broken when the detachable thin foldable object is removed there from.

[0089] The above disclosure relating to the greeting card in all its embodiments and aspects is also applicable to an embodiment wherein the closable pocket of the greeting card is used for receiving and storing a detachable object that is not foldable or an detachable object that might be foldable but does not require any folding for using it.

[0090] Above description comprises various exemplary embodiments. Since it is not possible neither practical to describe in detail all combinations of the inventive concept resulting in a high number of embodiments and redundant paragraphs, the author understands that the skilled person would derive from above disclosure the different possible combinations of the different embodiments and aspects described herein. Therefore, the main embodiments and aspects have been described which comprise any further combinations, variations and modifications provided that they are included in the scope of protection defined by the claims. The skilled person would understand that the present description of the embodiments does not limit the invention, as neither do the drawings accompanying the description.