A security-enhanced document includes a substrate and variable indicia comprising ink having a signal. The variable indicia is of a specific type and is applied to the substrate using a specific application technique. At least one other printed portion, which is a back of the document, has background ink noise, and the type of ink of the back of the document is of the same type of ink applied to the substrate using the same application technique as the ink of the variable indicia. The document also includes a scratch-off-coating applied over the variable indicia. The document has a signal-to-noise ratio of the ink of the variable indicia relative to the background ink noise of the back of the document that is not appreciable, thereby making the variable indicia unreadable with reference to the back of the document when the scratch-off-coating remains intact.

The invention relates to a foldable greeting card having an outer side and an inner side and a number of electronic and electrical components, the card (1) being provided in a foldable manner, comprising a fold at one point which divides the card preferably into two parts (2, 3) of equal size, thus having two halves which can be folded congruently on top of one another, at least one part (2) being provided at least partially in two layers with an inner and an outer layer, and at least some of the electronic and electrical components comprising light and acoustic elements (5, 9) for generating light and sound effects, a switch (8) for activating the light and acoustic elements (5, 9), a circuit or microprocessor (7) for controlling the electrical components, and a power supply (10) being provided between the inner and outer layers of the card (1), and wherein the inner side of the two-layered part (2) comprises cut-outs (4) through which various light effects of the light elements (5) can shine through and wherein the light effects and sound effects are synchronized with each other to simulate fireworks.

Some embodiments provide a greeting card or a postcard with a practical joke feature. The practical joke feature can include a sound that is repeatedly played for several hours, days, weeks, etc. The card can include a mode of operation configured to allow a purchaser to experience the sound without arming the practical joke feature. The card can include a pouch that contains one or more surprises for card recipients that attempt to open or destroy the card. The card can include one or more features that resist destruction of the card and/or internal components of the card that implement the practical joke feature.

A gift card carrier for holding a gift card includes a first part having a first portion and a second portion that is formed of a transparent plastic material and includes a pair of gift card slits for releasably retaining the gift card. The gift card carrier also has a second part that has an open interior space. The second portion of the first part is sized to carry the gift card and be received within the open interior space of the second part. The first part moves between a fully retracted position in which the second portion is received within the open interior space and an extended position in which the second portion is exposed for removal of the gift card.

A gift card carrier for holding a gift card includes a first part having a first portion and a second portion that is formed of a transparent plastic material and includes a pair of gift card slits for releasably retaining the gift card. The gift card carrier also has a second part that has an open interior space. The second portion of the first part is sized to carry the gift card and be received within the open interior space of the second part. The first part moves between a fully retracted position in which the second portion is received within the open interior space and an extended position in which the second portion is exposed for removal of the gift card.

A thin film video device is mounted onto a card stock and incorporated into a card, such as a greeting card. The thin film video device comprises a thin film video display coupled to a computer chip and a speaker. The thin film video device is powered by a local power source such as a small battery. The thin film video device is activated when the user unfolds the card, at which time an audiovisual message is displayed on the thin film video display and through the speaker.

A greeting card and associated techniques for storing audio tracks corresponding to definable touch zones of the greeting card is provided. In one aspect, the greeting card includes a body for securing a photograph thereon. A sensor array can be disposed within the body of the greeting card to detect touch gestures through the secured photograph, among other things. The greeting card can include a microprocessor that enables touch zones to be defined via the sensor array, such that a touch zone can correspond to various objects depicted on the card or a photograph secured thereon. Among other things, the greeting card can include a microphone for recording an audio track corresponding to each generated touch zone, a speaker for playing back an audio track corresponding to a selected touch zone, and a memory for storing touch zones and/or associated audio tracks.

The technology disclosed herein relates to a card having a liquid absorptive sponge cloth forming a first panel and a second panel. A fold line is defined between the first panel and the second panel. A printed communication is on a first surface of the first panel. The sponge cloth is semi-rigid when substantially dry and is non-rigid upon saturation with liquid water. The sponge cloth has a maximum tensile strength of at least 2.66 lbs./in when wet.

A visual-information security system that includes an information security label positioned to conceal visual information on a substrate. The information security label may include a spiral-shaped cut (or other complex shape) within the body of the label and a pull-tab, such that when a user pulls on the tab, the label peels off of the substrate in a spiral pattern, revealing the information concealed beneath the label. The complex-shaped cut makes reapplication of the label difficult and evident, thus providing security to consumers. The label may include multiple layers of material, for example, a peel-off layer and an adhesive layer.

A greeting card having an audio message recording and playback device permits recording of personalized audio messages to be played upon opening of the greeting card. The recording device is operable in either a trial mode or a use mode. In the trial mode, which would be applicable when the card is displayed in a store, a potential purchaser may experience the functionality of the card by recording their own test message. The test message is played back initially for the potential purchaser but is not subsequently played back to be later heard by other potential purchasers. In the use mode, which the card may be switched to after purchase by the giver of the greeting card, a user recorded message may be played back repeatedly upon subsequent openings of the card. The user recorded message may be followed by a prerecorded recording, such as a song. Additional prerecorded messages, such as voice prompts with instructions for recording a message, may also be included for activation in the trial mode.