Pop-up with lock mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11417243-B2
Application number	US-202017074828-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2020
Priority date	Oct 20, 2020
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

Abstract

A pop-up structure with a lock mechanism that functions to retain the pop-up structure in an unfolded or fully erect configuration. The lock mechanism contains a base panel, main panel, locking tab and one or more stopper mechanisms. The lock mechanism interacts with the pop-up structure and is mainly contained within a cavity of the pop-up structure. The lock mechanism can be accessed through an opening in a base. Users may move a lock tab clockwise to retain the pop-up structure in an open position and then move the lock tab counterclockwise to close the pop-up structure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A locking mechanism for a 3D pop-up structure comprising:
a base panel attached to a lower surface of a 3D pop-up structure, the base panel having an opening at the center thereof;
a main panel which extends upward from and perpendicular to the base panel and into an internal cavity of the 3D pop-up structure;
a locking tab which interlocks with the main panel such that the locking tab is partially movable with respect to the main panel;
one or more stopper mechanisms located within the internal cavity of the 3D pop-up structure and which are operative to limit the movement of the locking tab with respect to the main panel;
wherein the locking tab is operative to move and retain the 3D pop-up into a fully erect position.

2. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein there are two locking tabs at opposite sides of the 3D pop-up structure.

3. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the locking tab is accessed through the opening in the base panel.

4. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the locking tab is operative to move between a first position wherein it is parallel with the main panel and a second position wherein it is perpendicular to the main panel.

5. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the locking tab can be turned in a clockwise direction to retain the 3D pop-up structure in a fully erect position.

6. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the locking tab can be turned in a counterclockwise direction to collapse the 3D pop-up structure.

7. The locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the 3D pop-up structure is free-standing.

8. A pop-up greeting card with lock mechanism comprising:
a pop-up structure that is operable to move between a first position wherein the pop-up structure is in a substantially flat or two-dimensional configuration and a second position wherein the pop-up structure is in an erect three-dimensional configuration;
a lock mechanism attached to a bottom surface of the pop-up structure, the lock mechanism comprising a base panel, a main panel which extends upward from the base panel, and a locking tab which is attached to the main panel;
wherein when the pop-up structure is in the first position, the locking tab is parallel with the main panel and when the pop-up structure is in the second position, the locking tab can be moved such that it is perpendicular to the main panel and therefore retain the pop-up structure in the second position; and
wherein the main panel of the lock mechanism extends into an inner cavity of the pop-up structure.

9. The pop-up greeting card with lock mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the pop-up can be moved back to the first position by moving the locking tab in a counterclockwise direction.

10. The pop-up greeting card with lock mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the 3D pop-up structure is in cylindrical form.

11. The pop-up greeting card with lock mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the 3D pop-up structure is formed as a tiered cake.

12. The pop-up greeting card with lock mechanism of claim 8 further comprising one or more stop tabs which control the movement of the lock mechanism with respect to the main panel.

13. The pop-up greeting card with lock mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the one or more stop tabs are substantially t-shaped.

14. The pop-up greeting card with lock mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the locking tab is operative to move in a clockwise direction to lock the pop-up structure in the second position and a counterclockwise direction to return the pop-up structure to the first position.

15. A pop-up greeting card comprising:
a pop-up structure;
a lock mechanism contained within the pop-up structure, the lock mechanism comprising a base, a main panel attached to the base and a lock tab which is in contact with the main panel;
wherein the pop-up structure can move between a first position wherein it is folded and substantially flat and a second position wherein the pop-up structure is unfolded and fully erect; and
wherein the lock tab can be moved from a first position wherein it lies flat within the pop-up structure and parallel with the main panel and a second position wherein it is perpendicular to the main panel and it retains the pop-up structure in the second position; and;
wherein the main panel of the pop-up structure extends into an internal cavity of the pop-up structure.

16. The pop-up greeting card of claim 15 , further comprising one or more stoppers which restrict the movement of the lock tab with respect to the main panel.

17. The pop-up greeting card of claim 15 wherein the lock tab can be moved clockwise to retain the pop-up structure in the second position and counterclockwise to return the pop-up structure to the first position.

18. The pop-up greeting card of claim 15 , wherein the pop-up structure can be moved to the second position by gently squeezing opposing sides of the pop-up structure.

Assignees

• American Greetings Corp

Inventors

• Bucco Joseph

Classifications

• G09F1/10

  Supports or holders for show-cards · CPC title

• G09F1/06 Primary

  to be erected in three dimensions [3D] (G09F1/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B42D15/042

  Foldable cards or sheets (B42D15/045 and B42D15/08 take precedence) · CPC title

• B42D15/045

  Multi-part cards or sheets, i.e. combined with detachably mounted articles · CPC title

• G09F1/08

  wholly or partly imitating the form of an object, e.g. of the article to be advertised · CPC title