60/060,144 filed September 26,1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to trading cards and, more particularly, to a three-dimensional, pop-up hero card for sports figures, musicians, celebrities, and the like.

Trading cards have been known in the prior art for generations. Original trading cards were generally directed to baseball players and sold in packs containing a plurality of such trading cards, along with a stick of gum.

Collecting and trading such baseball cards is a pastime for many people, young and old. Many trading cards have attained high value and can command purchase prices of thousands of dollars. Stores exist that deal primarily in baseball trading cards and related memorabilia. Conventions and shows, many of which celebrity baseball players attend to provide autographs, are held throughout the country and worldwide.

In recent years, trading cards have become available for other figures, such as football players, basketball players, race car drives, hockey players, musicians, and many other celebrities. These cards are also becoming increasingly popular among fans of all ages. Conventions and trading shows, and even memorabilia stores, exist for trading and purchasing among collectors. Accordingly, because these trading cards have become directed to such a wide variety of figures in various sporting events and the entertainment industry, they have become known as hero cards.

Hero cards typically have a picture of the"hero"on one side of the card.

The picture often depicts the hero in action or some type of pose related to the hero's profession or activity. Statistics and facts are generally listed on the opposite or back side of the card.

Accordingly, it is evident that these cards are difficult to display. When one lays them flat on a table, shelf or other surface, only the picture or the statistics side can be viewed, since the side on which the card is laying is obstructed by the surface. In order to view both sides, one must either hold the card, prop the card up against something, or place it on a special displaying device, such as an easel. Accordingly, a trading card or hero card that allows one to view the subject of the card in an upright manner and view a portion of the facts and statistics without the need for additional stands is needed.

Additionally, a hero card that depicts the subject in a more interesting and detailed manner is also needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a trading card or a hero card that is generally planar and has a portion that can be raised or"popped-up"to provide more depth and detail to the subject of the card. Additionally, when the portion is raised, statistics and facts are revealed concerning the subject of the card. Thus, the card can be placed on a flat surface, such as a table or shelf, and the main portion of the subject of the card can stand virtually upright to thereby be viewed in a more detailed manner. Furthermore, by raising the subject of the card, the statistics and facts are revealed to allow simultaneous reading and viewing of the subject of the card without the need to mount the card on a separate apparatus or the need to prop the card up.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a trading card or hero card is manufactured by cutting a piece of material into an overall shape for the card. A first portion of the card is cut to outline a stand-up portion. A picture is printed on at least the first portion of the card, with at least part of the picture corresponding to the outline of the stand-up portion. Information is printed on a second portion of the card. The first portion is then folded over

the second portion such that at least part of the stand-up portion covers the information. The folded over first portion is affixed to the second portion.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the stand-up portion is lifted away form the second portion to thereby provide a more detailed view of the stand-up portion and to simultaneously expose the information on the second portion.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a three-dimensional trading card or hero card that allows for a detailed and interesting view of the subject of the card while simultaneously exposing information about the subject of the card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects of the present invention and various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 in a perspective view of a hero card in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a hero card in the pop-up or display position; Figure 3 is an elevational plan view of a blank from which the hero card of the present invention can be formed; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the opposite face of the blank shown in Fig.

3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE METHOD AND SYSTEM Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 illustrates a hero card 10 in accordance with the present invention. The card includes a body 11 and an outline portion 12. Outline portion 12 defines a stand-up portion 13. For the purposes of description, the present hero card 10 is a directed to a race car driver 14 and his car 15. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that card 10 can be directed any of numerous other figures, such as baseball players, basketball players, musicians, and other celebrities. Accompanying the figure may be sporting equipment, musical instruments, staging, or other items or scenery related to the figure depicted.

However, nothing else need accompany the figure if so desired.

Figure 2 illustrates stand-up portion 13 in an upright position.

Specifically, a backdrop 20 is raised and thereby also helps raise driver 14 and car 15. Car 15 is attached to backdrop 20 with connection piece 21.

Connection piece 21 for the present embodiment relating to a race car driver and a race car provides stability to the overall stand-up portion 13.

As can be seen in Figure 2, in the preferred embodiment, when backdrop portion 20 is raised, printed information 22 is exposed. Printed information 22

can recite, for example, statistics, facts, events, etc., related to driver 14 and car 15. Obviously, if a different figure were depicted, such as a different sports figure, a musician, actor, etc., the facts and/or type thereof would be different. Likewise, for different drivers, the printed information would be different than the printed information that would pertain to the driver that is currently depicted in Figures 1-4.

Figures 4 and 5B illustrate card 10 prior to tits assembled state but after it has been cut from material. For manufacturing of card 10, body 11 is cut from material such as, but not limited to, cardboard, plastic, paper, metal and other pliable materials. Body 11 is formed so that it comprises a first portion 30 and a second portion 31. Within first portion 30, outline portion 12, which corresponds to stand-up portion 13, is cut. As seen in Figure 5, on a back side of second portion 32, printed information 22 is printed.

Preferably, card 10 is die cut out of the material to define card body 11 and the outline portion 12. The cutting of the material to form body 11 can be performed separately or simultaneously with the cutting of outline portion 21.

Different dies may be used to cut different outline portions 12. Furthermore, other methods of cutting, such as, for example, cutting with a knife, cutting

with a laser, cutting with a saw, and the like, can be used as opposed to using a die cut. Furthermore, the cutting can be performed manually with either manual or power tools, or can be performed with a machine.

In order to assemble card 10, first portion 30 is folded over second portion 31 so that outline portion 12 covers printed information 22. First portion 30 is affixed to second portion 31 with a suitable adhesive means. First portion 30 is affixed to second portion 31 such that outline portion 12 can be raised to thereby define stand-up portion 13 and to expose printed information 22.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, card 10 can have numerous shapes as can body 11, and stand-up portion 13 (and correspondingly, outline portion 12). Furthermore, there can be numerous portions as opposed to just a first and second portion 30,31. Body 11 merely needs to be configured so that at least one portion is folded over a second portion such that when stand-up portion 13 is in its upright position, printed information 22 is preferably exposed. Additionally, printed information 22 can also be placed on back drop 20 and other suitable sections of stand-up portion 13 such that more printed information is exposed upon the raising of stand-up

portion 13. However, printed information need not be included at all or can be placed in additional locations on card 10 if so desired.

Also, a picture is generally printed, drawn, painted or the like on first portion 30. Generally, it will be a color picture. Different colors will be used for different figures cut by the same die, i. e., for this embodiment, different colors will be used for different drivers and cars. Also, the picture may include words and other scenes that may or may not stand up.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a hero card that can be viewed in a three-dimensional configuration. The hero card can be displayed such that it can rest on a flat surface, such as a table or shelf, with a stand-up portion and exposed information, such as statistics, facts, and other information.

The hero card of the present invention may be formed from a generally square blank B made of pliable material such as cardboard having a transverse fold or score line 40 dividing the blank B in halves and defining front and rear panels Pf and Pr, respectively. The front panel Pf has an outside face 42 and an inside face 44 and the rear panel Pr has an outside face 46 and a inside face 48. The outer face 46 of the rear panel Pf may contain printed indicia I such

as schedule of racing events for a hero card related to racing, depicted as an example herein. A portion 50 of the inside face of the rear panel Pr likewise may contain indicia Ir such as the schedule of the world series events for racing. The front panel Pf in the present instance is die cut along a predetermined design line Ld to define the outline of a racing figure Fr and racing car Cr. The die cut is best illustrated in Fig. 1 includes a series of connecting links 52,54 which in the erected or pop-up position, space the wheels W and the chassis C of the car in different planes and create a backdrop panel Pb connected by a fold line 60. The card can then be placed on a flat horizontal surface to display the hero figure and the car and expose the indicia Iir on the rear panel when the parts of the card are in the position shown.

The hero card is formed by bending the blank B along the fold line Ls and applying an adhesive to connect the confronting inner faces of the front and rear panels in generally rectangular regions 62 adjacent the fold line LS. To erect the card, the user simply grasps the back-drop panel Pb which is detachably connected along the side score lines Ss and then raises it to the vertical position shown in Fig. 1. In this manner, the parts defining the wheels

of the vehicle, the chassis and the hero figure separate from the front panel along the die cut line to the erected or pop-up position shown in Fig. 1.

Even though a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention and changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the following claims for example.