# US 12,179,507 B2 · Offset score configuration > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,507 B2 - Document ID: US12179507B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/071,748 - Filed: 2022-11-30 - Published: 2024-05-30 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2022-11-30 - Assignees: Hallmark Cards, Incorporated - Applicants: Hallmark Cards, Incorporated - Inventors: Brian Pilachowski; Orlanda Lacy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179507B2 ## CPC - B42D 15/045: {Multi-part cards or sheets, i.e. combined with detachably mounted articles} - B42D 15/042: {Foldable cards or sheets (B42D15/045 and B42D15/08 take precedence)} - B42D: BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS ## Abstract A greeting card has a front cover, a back cover, and an internal protection panel positioned there between. A pop-up is positioned between the front cover and the protection panel. The protection panel may be coupled with the front cover to protect and keep the pop-up in a closed position. The back cover is configured so that in a partially open position it keeps the front cover and protection panel coupled and in a fully open position it keeps the front cover and protection panel in a flat position to allow the pop-up to be more properly displayed. The front cover, protection panel and back cover can be formed from a single piece of cardstock, and the card can be further configured to allow for automated personalized printing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A foldable article comprising: a first fold between a front cover and a protection panel, and a second fold between the protection panel and a back cover; the front cover having a first outer face and a first inner face; the back cover having a second outer face and a second inner face; the protection panel having a front-cover-facing face, a back-cover-facing face, and a distal edge opposite the first fold; and a decorative element positioned between the front cover and the protection panel when the protection panel is in a closed position; wherein the second fold is located along the back-cover-facing face of the protection panel, wherein the first fold is located along the front-cover-facing face of the protection panel, and wherein the second fold is offset along the protection panel from the first fold; wherein the protection panel hinges via the first fold between a closed position, in which the protection panel overlays the front cover, and an open position, in which the protection panel is splayed outward relative to the front cover, and wherein the back cover hinges via the second fold between a closed position, in which the first inner face of the front cover and the second inner face of the back cover are substantially facing each other, and a fully open position, in which the first outer face of the front cover and the second outer face of the back cover are substantially facing each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The foldable article of claim 1, wherein the second fold is substantially parallel to the first fold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The foldable article of claim 1, wherein the foldable article is a greeting card. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The foldable article of claim 3, wherein the decorative element is a three-dimensional (3D) card element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The foldable article of claim 4, wherein the three-dimensional (3D) card element moves from a substantially two-dimensional collapsed configuration when the protection panel is in its closed position to a three-dimensional expanded configuration when the protection panel is in its open position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The foldable article of claim 5, where in the three-dimensional (3D) card element is a sliceform. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The foldable article of claim 5, wherein the front cover can be releasably fastened to the back cover when the back cover is in its fully open position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The foldable article of claim 7, wherein the back cover can further be configured in a half-open position when the first inner face of the front cover and the second inner face of the back cover are facing in substantially a same direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The foldable article of claim 8, wherein the protection panel can be releasably fastened to the first inner face of the front cover. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The foldable article of claim 9, wherein the protection panel is capable of maintaining its closed position when the back cover is in its half-open position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The foldable article of claim 10, wherein the foldable article can be fed into a printer when the protection panel is in its closed position and the back cover is in its half-open position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The foldable article of claim 1, wherein the front cover, the protection panel and the back cover are integrally formed from a single piece of cardstock. ### Claim 13 A method of forming a greeting card having a front cover, a protection panel, and a back cover, comprising the steps of: folding a piece of cardstock accordion-style into five consecutive sections comprising a first section, a second section, a third section, a fourth section, and a fifth section, each of the five consecutive sections having a front face and a back face; affixing the back faces of the first and second sections together to form the front cover; affixing the back faces of the third and fourth sections together to form the protection panel; and attaching a decorative element between the front cover and the protection panel; wherein the third section is slightly wider than the fourth section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the front cover is wider than the protection panel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein an adhesive is used to connect the back faces of the first and second sections and the back faces of the third and fourth sections together. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the decorative element is a three-dimensional (3D) card element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The foldable article of claim 16, wherein the three-dimensional (3D) card element can move from a substantially two-dimensional collapsed configuration to a three-dimensional expanded configuration. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of adding at least one releasable fastener in the protection panel to releasably fasten the protection panel to the front cover. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the step of adding the at least one releasable fastener in the protection panel comprises forming a tab in the protection panel. ### Claim 20 A method of forming a greeting card having a front cover, a protection panel, and a back cover, comprising the steps of: folding a piece of cardstock accordion-style into five consecutive sections comprising a first section, a second section, a third section, a fourth section, and a fifth section, each of the five consecutive sections having a front face and a back face; affixing the back faces of the first and second sections together to form the front cover; and affixing the back faces of the third and fourth sections together to form the protection panel; wherein the third section is slightly wider than the fourth section; wherein the front cover is wider than the protection panel.