BACKGROUND
The present invention is directed generally to kits and methods for events, occasions or activities, and more particularly, to kits and methods for hosting a party or moving.
Moving one's personal or business effects can be expensive, traumatic and time consuming. Because it is not done with enough frequency to gain proficiency, each move may be daunting. In addition, planning and hosting a party can also be difficult and time consuming.
Thus there exists a need for a kit and method which provides the appropriate materials, such as invitations/announcements, guest lists, checklists, things to do/things to buy lists along with detailed, professional instructions on utilization of material in the kit to proficiently host a party and/or move a household or a business.
SUMMARY
The present invention relates to an event kit for facilitating planning of the event and/or carrying out the event. The event kit may include at least two components from a selection of components such as a first component comprising a deliverable item for conveying information and an envelope for containing the deliverable item; a second component comprising a form adapted to be used in generating a list of action items relating to the event; a third component comprising address labels; and a fourth component comprising envelope seals, wherein at least two of the components include a common theme, color scheme or indicia. Examples of a deliverable item include, without limitation, invitations and announcements.
In one embodiment, the invention relates to an event kit for a party and includes a guest list form, a plurality of invitations and corresponding envelopes, address labels and envelope seals, a “To Buy” list form and a “To Do” list form. The contents of the kit may be coupled together or contained in a carrying or storage container. Typically, two or more components of the kit include a common theme, color scheme or indicia.
In another embodiment, the invention provides an event kit for moving a household or business and includes a moving checklist form, a plurality of address change announcements, a plurality of box labels, a “To Buy before Moving” list form and a “To Do before Moving” list form. The contents of the kit may be coupled together or contained in a carrying or storage container. Typically, two or more components of the kit include a common theme, color scheme or indicia.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a front view of a wine and cheese event kit in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 1B is a front view of the invitations and envelopes portion of the event kit of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1C is a front view of the guest list portion of the event kit of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1D is a front view of the address labels and envelope seals portion of the event kit of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1E is a front view of the To Do/To Buy list portion of the event kit of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1F is a rear view of the To Do/To Buy list portion of the event kit of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 2A is a front view of a bridal shower event kit in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2B is a front view of the invitations and envelopes portion of the event kit of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2C is a front view of the guest list portion of the event kit of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2D is a front view of the address labels and envelope seals portion of the event kit of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2E is a front view of the To Do/To Buy list portion of the event kit of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2F is a rear view of the To Do/To Buy list portion of the event kit of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 3A is a front view of a moving kit in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3B is a front view of the announcements portion of the moving kit of FIG. 3A;
FIG. 3C is a front view of the To Do before Moving/To Buy before Moving list portion of the moving kit of FIG. 3A;
FIG. 3D is a rear view of the To Do before Moving/To Buy before Moving list portion of the moving kit of FIG. 3A;
FIG. 3E is a front view of the box labels portion of the moving kit of FIG. 3A; and
FIG. 3F is a front view of the checklist portion of the event kit of FIG. 3A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a kit for facilitating event planning or moving. The kit includes, in combination, one or more of the following items: various text, indicia, reminders, invitations, envelopes, checklists and other supplies to aid a user in planning, organizing and carrying out an event. Any combination of these items may be packaged together and sold as a kit. The event may be, for example, hosting a party or moving. For example, FIG. 1A illustrates various components of a kit used for hosting a party. The components of FIG. 1A may have a theme; such as a “wine and cheese” theme in the illustrated embodiment. However, any of a variety of party themes, such as but not limited to birthdays, retirements, anniversaries, holidays, bridal showers may be utilized in the party kit.
In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the contents of the wine and cheese party kit 10 are banded or wrapped with a translucent plastic film 28 for tamper resistance and transport purpose, as shown in FIG. 1A. The kits may include, for example, invitations 12 and envelopes 14 (FIG. 1B), a guest list 16 (FIG. 1C), a sheet 18 containing address labels 20 and envelope seals 22 (FIG. 1D) and “To-Buy” 24 (FIG. 1E) and “To-Do” 26 (FIG. 1F) lists.
The materials included in the wine and cheese party kit may provide at least two functions. First, the guest list, invitations and corresponding envelopes, address labels and envelope seals provide a logical, “fill-in-the blank” approach to plan the event. Second, the “To-Do/To-Buy” lists provide a “next-step” approach to aid the user in preparing for the event. Both functions are intended to build a track record of success and lay out a plan for the user in hosting a wine and cheese party.
The invitations, envelopes, lists, and address labels materials included in the wine and cheese party kit may be made of any materials suitable for such articles. Typically, the invitations, lists, and envelopes may be made of paper or other substrates suitable for such use. The materials can be printed on with a wide variety of writing instruments, including printer, pen, pencil, marker and the like. The invitations 12 (see FIG. 1B) may include a space for the host's name, and spaces indicative of when and where the party will occur, an RSVP date, and the host's contact information (i.e., a phone number and/or an e-mail address).
The kit may include a plurality of envelopes 14 (see FIG. 1B), each of which is slightly larger in size than the invitations, which are suitable for mailing or manually distributing the invitations to the invitees. The guest list form 16 (see FIG. 1C) may include spaces for the name of each of the invitees, and spaces indicative of the status of each invitee (i.e., whether they have accepted or declined, or whether a thank-you has been sent, etc.).
A plurality of blank or pre-printed address labels and envelope seals (see FIG. 1D) may take the form of die-cut adhesive stickers on a release liner, or moisture activated stickers on a sheet. The labels and seals may be applied to the plurality of envelopes in order to personalize the plurality of envelopes by the user. The “To Buy” list (see FIG. 1E) and “To Do” list (see FIG. 1F) may include a plurality of spaces for recording specific items for purchase or a plurality of spaces for recording specific action items, respectively. The event kit may further include professional instructions relating to the utilization of materials in the kit such as suggestions and helpful hints to proficiently host a wine and cheese party or other event.
Two or more and preferably all of the components of the kit may include a common theme, design component, and/or color scheme, and/or indicia. The common theme, design component, and/or color scheme may be suggestive or symbolic of the underlying event and may include images or other graphic elements, shapes, textures, sounds or other similar elements. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, one or more components may include a wine bottle design, or a cheese block design, or a common color scheme to tie the components together and reinforce the theme of the party.
In another example, FIG. 2A illustrates various components of a kit useful for hosting a party with a different theme from that in FIG. 1. The components of FIG. 2A have a “bridal shower” theme, and the contents of the bridal shower kit are banded or wrapped with a material 28, such as translucent plastic film for tamper resistance and transport purpose, or otherwise packaged together for sale as shown in FIG. 2A. The kits may include, for example, invitations 32 and envelopes 34 (FIG. 2B), a guest list 36 (FIG. 2C), address labels 40 and envelope seals 42 (FIG. 2D) and “To-Buy” 44 (FIG. 2E) and “To-Do” 46 (FIG. 2F) lists.
Two or more and preferably all of the components of the bridal shower kit may include a common theme design component, and/or color scheme, and/or indicia. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2 one or more components may include a engagement ring design, or a common color scheme to tie the components together and reinforce the theme of the party.
In another example, FIG. 3A illustrates various components of a kit useful for another event theme. The components of FIG. 3A have a moving theme, such that the kit is useful for moving a household or business. The contents of the moving kit 50 are banded or wrapped with a material 28, such as a translucent plastic film for tamper resistance and transport purpose, as shown in FIG. 3A. The kits may include, for example, address change announcements 52 and envelopes 54 (FIG. 3B), a “To-Buy Before Moving” list 56 (FIG. 3C), a “To-Do Before Moving” list 58 (FIG. 3D), a plurality of box labels 60 (FIG. 3E) and a moving checklist 62 (FIG. 3F) form.
The announcements, lists, envelopes, and labels included in the moving kit 50 (see FIG. 3A) may be made of any materials suitable for such items. Typically, the announcements, lists and envelopes may be made of paper or other substrates suitable for such use. Information may be written on those materials with a wide variety of writing instruments, including pen, pencil, marker and the like. The materials on the kit can also be designed to be suitable for electronic printing using inkjet, laser or other printing device. A plurality of address change announcements 52 (see FIG. 3B) may include a space for the names of those persons or businesses moving, and spaces for the updated and former addresses, respectively. The announcements may include an indication that the sender has changed addresses (e.g., “We've Moved!”). A plurality of envelopes 54 (see FIG. 3B), each of which is slightly larger in size than the address change announcements may also be provided. The envelopes with the enclosed announcements typically are suitable for mailing or manually distributing the announcements to family, friends and the like. The “To Buy Before Moving” list 56 (see FIG. 3C) and “To Do Before Moving” list 58 (see FIG. 3D) may each include a plurality of spaces for recording specific items for purchase or a plurality of spaces for recording specific action items, respectively.
A plurality of blank or pre-printed box labels 60 (see FIG. 3E) may also be included in the moving kit 50. The labels in certain embodiments may take the form of die-cut adhesive stickers on a release liner or moisture activated stickers on a sheet. The labels may be supplied for use with a plurality of packing boxes (not shown) in order to personalize or identify the plurality of packing boxes by the user. The pre-printed box labels 60 may include informational text and symbols, such as This End Up, ↑, FRAGILE, and may include spaces for listing the box contents, and indicia identifying the room of the house packed (e.g., Living Room (LR), Bedroom (BR), Bathroom (BTH), Kitchen (KIT), Storage (STR)).
The moving checklist 62 (see FIG. 3F) may include a list of suggested actions to take before, during and after the move. Below are some examples of action items that could be included in the moving checklist:
- Get estimates from moving companies.
- Arrange to transfer school records.
- Fill out a change of address form at the US Postal Service web site.
- Request all medical records.
- Order checks with new address.
- Change insurance policy.
- Collect important records and keep in a file folder (medical, dental, veterinary, school records, legal, financial, birth certificate, passports and insurance documents).
- Send change of address announcements to family and friends.
- Schedule disconnection/connection of utilities, such as, electric, gas, water, telephone, sewer, trash, cable/satellite/internet and heating fuel (oil/propane).
- Notify professional services of new address, such as, doctor(s), dentist, accountant, lawyer, broker, insurance agency, lawn service, banks/finance companies, credit card companies, department of motor vehicles, city/county tax assessor, social security administration, state/federal tax bureaus, newspapers, magazines, newsletters and professional journals.
The event kit may further include professional instructions on the utilization of materials in the kit such as, suggestions and helpful hints to proficiently move a household or business. Each component of the kit may include a common design component, and/or color scheme, and/or indicia. For example, in the illustrated embodiments one or more components may include a street sign design, or a common color scheme to tie the components together and reinforce the theme of the event.
Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that modifications and variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20080135427
