Reusable greeting card and envelope

Abstract

The reusable greeting card and envelope include a front leaf and rear leaf hinged together. An insert is removably placed within a slot in the front leaf and viewed through a window in the front leaf for viewing both sides of the insert. The rear leaf includes a modifiable message on a customizable greetings space, such as handwriting which can be removably placed. A scannable tag can be scanned by a smartphone to access a data storage location through the internet where customizable video and audio greetings can be provided for viewing by a recipient of the greeting card and re-recording when the greeting card is to be reused. The envelope has spaces thereon where address and return labels and postage can be removably placed. The envelope also includes a resealable closure allowing the interior of the envelope to be closed and reopened multiple times.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 : A combination reusable greeting card and envelope, comprising in combination:
 a first substantially planar sheet of printable material having at least a portion of a greeting message printed thereon;   a second substantially planar sheet of material adapted to have a modifiable message associated therewith;   said first sheet and said second sheet removably coupled together at least partially through a hinge about which said first sheet and said second sheet can pivot relative to each other;   an envelope having a front planar panel and a rear planar panel parallel, said panels adjacent each other with an open space therebetween;   said open space sized to removably receive said first sheet and said second sheet therein;   said front panel of said envelope including at least one surface region which is formed of a material which releasably holds postage thereon in a manner allowing the postage to be removed and new postage applied; and   said envelope having an opening into said open space, said opening including a resealable closure.   
     
     
         2 : The combination of  claim 1  wherein a substantially planar slot is coupled through said hinge to said second sheet of material, said slot sized to receive said first sheet of printable material removably therein by sliding said first sheet into said slot. 
     
     
         3 : The combination of  claim 2  wherein said slot is formed in at least a portion of a front leaf structure which is pivotably attached through said hinge to a rear leaf structure defined by said second sheet of material, said front leaf having a window therein through which at least one side of said first sheet of printable material can be viewed when said first sheet of printable material is located within said slot in said front leaf. 
     
     
         4 : The combination of  claim 1  wherein said modifiable message associated with said second sheet of material includes a scannable tag, said scannable tag representing a unique identifier, said modifiable message in the form of an electronically stored data file adapted to be played by a smartphone having a camera thereon, a media player thereon, and internet accessing software running thereon, the media player taken from the group of media players including a video screen and a sound amplification speaker, said smartphone adapted to access the media file over the internet from a separate location where multiple media files are stored, and with the scannable tag adapted to be scanned by the smartphone and the unique identifier associated with the scannable tag being associated with the particular media file to be played by said smartphone. 
     
     
         5 : The combination of  claim 1  wherein said modifiable message includes an electronic recording device physically coupled to said second sheet, said recording device taken from the group of devices including video recording devices and audio recording devices, said recording device also adapted to play a media file recorded by said recording device. 
     
     
         6 : The combination of  claim 1  wherein said second sheet includes a portion thereof upon which a message can be removably written. 
     
     
         7 : The combination of  claim 6  wherein a removable sheet of material is removably attached to the second sheet, the removable sheet of material adapted to be written thereon with a writing implement, and the removable sheet of material adapted to be removed when a message placed thereon is to be removed. 
     
     
         8 : The combination of  claim 6  wherein an erasable panel is included on said second sheet of material, said erasable panel adapted to be written upon and later have writing erased therefrom when a written message placed thereon is to be removed. 
     
     
         9 : The combination of  claim 1  wherein said front panel of said envelope includes at least three separate surface regions which are formed of a material which releasably holds separate adhesively backed structures thereon, the adhesively backed structures taken from the group of structures including postage, address labels and return labels, said at least three separate surface regions located on said front panel in standard mail processing locations specified for postage placement, address placement and return address placement. 
     
     
         10 : The combination of  claim 1  wherein said opening into said open space of said envelope is located at an edge thereof along at least a portion of a perimeter of said envelope, said opening sized large enough to allow said first planar sheet and said second planar sheet to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         11 : The combination of  claim 10  wherein said resealable closure of said opening of said envelope includes complemental panels of hook and loop fastening material on facing inner surfaces adjacent said opening and within said open space of said envelope. 
     
     
         12 : The combination of  claim 10  wherein said resealable closure includes a panel of releasable adhesive and a region of releasable material which is adapted to provide a holding force when in contact with said releasable adhesive which holding force is sufficient to keep said opening in said envelope closed unless forces are applied to displace said releasable adhesive from said region of releasable material, sufficient to separate said releasable adhesive from said region of releasable material, and which separation leaves said releasable adhesive and said region of releasable material ready for reattachment when again brought into contact with each other. 
     
     
         13 : The combination of  claim 1  wherein said envelope includes a flap adjacent said opening, said flap adapted to overlie said opening when in a closed orientation and reveal said opening for access through said opening when said flap is in an open orientation, said flap having a rear surface which has multiple separate stub regions coupled together through zones of weakness therebetween along which said stubs can be removed from each other, each said stub including a permanent adhesive thereon. 
     
     
         14 : The combination of  claim 12  wherein said releasable adhesive and said region of releasable material are located on a surface of a flap adjacent said opening and a portion of a rear of said envelope adjacent and opposite said flap, said flap also including at least one permanent adhesive thereon, such that a user can selectively choose whether to utilize a permanent adhesive or a resealable adhesive when closing said envelope. 
     
     
         15 : A reusable greeting card, comprising in combination:
 a first substantially planar sheet of printable material having at least a portion of a greeting message printed thereon;   a second substantially planar sheet of material adapted to have a modifiable message associated therewith; and   said first sheet and said second sheet removably coupled together at least partially through a hinge about which said first sheet and said second sheet can pivot relative to each other.   
     
     
         16 : The greeting card of  claim 15  wherein a substantially planar slot is coupled through said hinge to said second sheet of material, said slot sized to receive said first sheet of printable material removably therein by sliding said first sheet into said slot. 
     
     
         17 : The greeting card of  claim 16  wherein said modifiable message associated with said second sheet of material includes a scannable tag, said scannable tag representing a unique identifier, said modifiable message in the form of an electronically stored data file adapted to be played by a smartphone having a camera thereon, a media player thereon, and internet accessing software running thereon, the media player taken from the group of media players including a video screen and a sound amplification speaker, said smartphone adapted to access the media file over the internet from a separate location where multiple media files are stored, and with the scannable tag adapted to be scanned by the smartphone and the unique identifier associated with the scannable tag being associated with the particular media file to be played by said smartphone. 
     
     
         18 : A reusable envelope, comprising in combination:
 a front planar panel and a rear planar panel;   said panels adjacent each other with an open space therebetween;   said open space sized to removably receive contents therein;   said front panel of said envelope including at least one surface region which is formed of a material which releasably holds postage thereon in a manner allowing the postage to be removed and new postage applied; and   said envelope having an opening into said open space, said opening including a resealable closure.   
     
     
         19 : The envelope of  claim 18  wherein said front panel of said envelope includes at least three separate surface regions which are formed of a material which releasably holds separate adhesively backed structures thereon, the adhesively backed structures taken from the group of structures including postage, address labels and return labels, said at least three separate surface regions located on said front panel in standard mail processing locations specified for postage placement, address placement and return address placement. 
     
     
         20 : The envelope of  claim 19  wherein said envelope includes a flap adjacent said opening which pivots between an open orientation leaving said opening accessible and a closed orientation where said flap covers said opening and leaves said opening inaccessible. 
     
     
         21 : The envelope of  claim 20  wherein said resealable closure includes a panel of releasable adhesive and a region of releasable material which are adapted to provide a holding force when in contact with each other, one of said releasable adhesive and said releasable coating region located on a surface of a flap adjacent said opening and the other of said releasable adhesive and said region of releasable material on a portion of a rear of said envelope adjacent and opposite said flap, said flap also including at least one permanent adhesive thereon, such that a user can selectively choose whether to utilize a permanent adhesive or a resealable adhesive when closing said envelope. 
     
     
         22 : The envelope of  claim 20  wherein said envelope includes a flap adjacent said opening, said flap adapted to overlie said opening when in a closed orientation and reveal said opening for access through said opening when said flap is in an open orientation, said flap having a rear surface which has multiple separate stub regions coupled together through zones of weakness therebetween along which said stubs can be removed from each other, each said stub including a permanent adhesive thereon.