Patent Application
20130292276
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1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to gift baskets, and particularly to a preformed insert having a plurality of independently packaged products and an optional base within a casing, wherein the insert can be selectively joined with a basket and the combination disposed within an outer bag or wrap.
2. Description of the Related Art
The sending of a customized selection of products to a recipient is increasingly used by a variety of businesses to commemorate an important event or transaction, or simply engendered good will. Even outside the business context, an individual may wish to send such a customized selection to a family member, friend, or other associate in connection with a holiday, birthday, wedding, funeral, medical event, or for no specific reason.
Traditionally, the gift baskets are either formed by the manufacturer of the individual products included in the basket, a fulfillment center, or a commercial entity such as a grocery store or flower shop.
Typically, each product is disposed within the basket along with an amount of packing material and the entire basket is then surrounded with a shrink-wrap material which is heat-treated to retain the products within the basket.
However, these prior systems often result in large residual inventory of basket kits (the basket along with the packing material and the shrink-wrap bag) which are often not used until the subsequent holiday season. The retention of this inventory reduces the available cash for on going operations as well as incurring costs associated with storage.
Therefore, the need exists for a method and assembly for increasing use of gift baskets and gift basket kits. The need also exists for a system that reduces the time required to assemble a gift basket.
The present disclosure provides a gift basket assembly, having a basket; an insert with the basket, the insert including a base, a plurality of individually packaged products upon the base and a shrink-wrapped casing retaining the base and the products in a predetermined configuration; shred within one of the basket and the insert; and an outer wrap enclosing the insert, the shred, and at least a portion of the basket.
In selected configurations, the outer wrap is a shrink wrap bag. Further, the shred can be located within the casing. It is also contemplated the insert can include shred. In the present system, the plurality of individually packaged products in the insert can be third-party products. It is further contemplated the insert and separately packaged products can be disposed within the outer wrap.
The present disclosure further provides a method of forming a gift basket assembly, by locating an insert relative to a basket, the insert having a base, a plurality of individually packaged products upon the base, and a shrink-wrapped casing retaining the products and the base in a given configuration, at least one of the insert and the basket having shred; disposing an outer wrap about the insert and at least a portion of the basket; and at least one of (i) partially securing the outer wrap and (ii) shrinking the outer wrap to retain the insert relative to the basket.
A further method is provided for forming an insert for a gift basket assembly, by locating a plurality of independently packaged third-party products with respect to a base; disposing shred relative to at least one of the base and the plurality of independently packaged products; disposing a shrink-wrapped casing about at least a portion of the products, the shred and the base; shrinking the shrink-wrap to form a substantially unitary insert having the plurality of independently packaged products retained in the given configuration relative to each other and the base, and the shred being retained within the casing; locating the insert relative to a basket within an outer wrap; and at least one of (i) partially securing the outer wrap and (ii) shrinking the outer wrap to retain the insert relative to the gift basket.
In certain configurations, it is contemplated the outer wrap is a shrink wrap.
A further configuration provides a product display assembly having a basket; an insert engaged with the basket, the insert having a plurality of independently packaged third-party products, and a shrink-wrap casing, the casing retaining the plurality of third-party independently packaged products in a predetermined orientation; shred in at least one of the basket and the insert; and an outer wrap extending about the insert, the shred, and at least a portion of the basket.
It is understood in certain configurations, the casing encases the insert.
Referring to
For purposes of description, the term basket 20 is intended to encompass retail level container, tin, tray, bucket, crate, bowls, or vessels, which may be formed with or without handles.
The term “shred” 70 encompasses packaging materials and protective packaging material which can fill voids and provide shock absorption during shipping. Shred 70 includes cellophane shred, crinkle-cut paper shred, diamond shred, excelsior shred (a wood fill), metallic shred, sheet moss, fine paper shred, Spanish moss or any combinations thereof. Selected configurations of the shred 70 can also provide decorative enhancement of the resulting gift basket assembly 10.
In the assembled gift basket assembly 10, the assembly includes the basket 20 with the insert 30 and the shred 70.
The basket 20 can include a false bottom or shred 70 for locating the insert in a given position within the basket. Alternatively, the insert 30 can engage the basket 20 to be aligned with a portion of the basket or on an edge of the basket.
The outer wrap 60, in one configuration, is disposed about the basket 20 and the insert 30 to completely encompass the basket and the insert, wherein the outer wrap is then closed with a clasp, a tie or a bow 62. In select configurations, the outer wrap 60 is a shrink-wrap which is activated to retain the insert 30 in the predetermined orientation with respect to the basket 20. In such configuration, upon the outer wrap 60 assuming the final shrunk configuration, the outer wrap binds and retains the insert 30 relative to the basket 20 to form a substantially integral unit.
Referring to
The products 32 within the gift basket assembly 10 are individually packaged products. The products 32 include those individually packaged for separate and independent distribution. That is, the products 32 are separately packaged from gift basket assembly 10 and can be packaged for independent resale. However, it is understood some of the products 32 may be separately packaged, though the packaging is not labeled for individual resale. It is also understood the products 32 can include perishable goods such as fresh fruit or even flowers. In some configurations, the products 32 are made by parties other than the creator or assembler of the gift basket assembly 10.
It is contemplated that while some products 32 can be retained within the insert 30, additional products can be separate from the insert, and retained within the outer wrap 60. Thus, products 32 can be secured within the insert 30 and additional products, such as but not limited to consumer products to fresh fruit, can be outside the insert but within the outer wrap 60. The resulting gift basket assembly 10 can include the insert 30 alone within the outer wrap 60 or in combination with additional separate products.
As seen in
In addition, in select configurations, shred 70 may be disposed upon the base 36 or around the products 32 upon the base. The casing 40 then surrounds the products 32, the base 36 and the incorporated shred 70 to form a separate component.
It is contemplated the individual products 32 may be arranged with respect to the base 36 and within the insert 30 such that the finished inserts (including the casing) can be stacked or packed in an efficient manner. Thus, as seen in
In one configuration as seen in
In one configuration, the casing 40 is a shrink-wrap material which is disposed about the assembled base 36, the shred 70 and the products 32. The shrink wrap is then exposed to heat causing the shrink-wrap to reduce in size and substantially retain the products in a predetermined configuration relative to each other. The insert 30 is a self-contained, self-supporting component. A satisfactory material for the casing includes Willow-Wrap (Shrink Wrap) PVC Film 45% Biaxially which meets FDA regulations for incidental food contact, imported by Willow Group Ltd.
In operation, it is contemplated that an entity having a residual inventory of gift basket kits, can order the inserts 30 for any of a variety of occasions and, upon receiving the inserts, the entity disposes the insert in its entirety within the basket 2 and places the outer wrap 60, or bag, about the basket and the enclosed insert. The outer wrap 60 is then tied off, closed (with bow 62), or if the outer wrap is a shrink-wrap material, heated so that the outer wrap retains the insert 30 relative to the basket 20.
As seen in
Thus, a given size insert 30 can be used with a variety of basket sizes. Particularly, as the configuration of the outer wrap 60 as a shrink-wrap, upon treated the outer wrap, the insert 30 is retained in the predetermined orientation relative to the basket 20.
It is also contemplated that the baskets 20 can be of a nesting configuration and the inserts 30 can be also of a relatively efficient packing configuration as shown in
As the insert 30 can be used with a variety of baskets 20, and additional products can be disposed intermediate the insert and the outer wrap 60, the resulting gift basket assembly 10 can be readily customized, while incorporating a given insert. For example, the gift basket assembly 10 can include an insert 30 having nonperishable items, and perishable items between the insert and within the outer wrap 60. Thus, the inserts 30 of nonperishable items can be economically assembled, and transported to a final assembler who then incorporates perishable items between the insert and within the outer wrap 60, and then distributes the finished gift basket assembly 10.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a presently preferred embodiment, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents thereof are intended to be embraced therein.
