Information
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Patent Grant
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6220440
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Patent Number
6,220,440
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Date Filed
Friday, January 29, 199925 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, April 24, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
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CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 206 223
- 206 575
- 206 497
- 206 525
- 206 232
- 206 579
- 206 581
- 229 8719
- 229 922
- 229 923
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International Classifications
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Abstract
The present invention provides a new and useful gift packaging system, method and kit that includes an assortment of gifts and a decorative container and packing materials in which to present the gifts. The gift packaging system is pre-packaged together in a collapsed configuration that can be assembled into a constructed configuration. A container is provided of generally rigid material that is collapsible and constructable. When in the collapsed position, the container forms a generally rectangular, planer configuration. Further, packing material is provided in a partially overlying position with respect to the container. Gifts are also provided in a partially overlying position with respect to the container and the packing material. When in a collapsed configuration, a wrapping substantially encloses the packing material and gifts. The gift packaging kit can be constructed from the collapsed configuration upon removal of the wrapping. When the container is assembled in its constructed configuration, it has a plurality of sides and a bottom. The packing material may be positioned inside the container and the gifts then can be placed on the packing material or may be concealed by the packing material.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a pre-packaged gift kit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
More particularly, the present invention relates to a gift kit that includes a collapsible and constructable container made of rigid material that supports and protects other gift kit contents when collapsed and, in addition to packing materials, also includes gifts within the kit. U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,759, issued to Gannon et al. on Oct. 12, 1993 (Gannon), discloses a gift packaging and wrapping ensemble. The gift ensemble comprises a backing member of generally rigid material providing support and protection for the gift ensemble. It also comprises a collapsible, constructable gift box for packaging gift merchandise, a first wrapping material, a second wrapping material, a gift card, trimming material, and a transparent wrapping material. However Gannon fails to disclose a collapsible, constructable gift box that is generally rigid and rectangular when collapsed. Gannon also fails to disclose a gift kit that includes gifts secured by a material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,597, issued to Schluger on Feb. 13, 1996 (Schluger), discloses another gift packaging and wrapping ensemble. The gift ensemble includes gift-wrapping components in a compartment formed by an external wrap of clear plastic construction material, the gift-wrapping components including a gift box and a mailing box of cardboard construction, whereby the mailing box serves both as a flat support base in the kit and, upon removal of the plastic wrap, as a box for mailing. However, Schluger fails to disclose a collapsible, constructable gift box that is generally rigid when collapsed. Schluzer also fails to disclose a kit that includes gifts.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,570, issued to Schaffer et al. on Sep. 3, 1996 (Shaffer), discloses a decorative packaging system including a method and kit therefor. The decorative packaging system includes a basket having a bottom wall, a flexible bag, and a bag closure fastener. The bag has a bottom that is sized and adapted so that the bottom wall of the basket may be positioned against the bottom panel of the bag. However, Shaffer fails to disclose a collapsible, constructable gift box that is generally rigid when collapsed. Shaffer also fails to disclose a kit that includes gifts.
Another problem encountered by those wishing to offer gift packages is that for a retailer to make available to it customers an assortment of gifts to assemble a gift package, a large inventory of gifts and gift packing materials is required. Typically, the types of gifts and packing materials included in gift packages, such as, candy, nuts, juice, cheese, balloons, wrapping materials, etc., come in minimum packages of multiple units, often more than twenty four units or ten pounds per package. The problem of maintaining inventory is compounded when the gifts are foodstuffs, which have a limited shelf life, typically of only about six months.
Accordingly, there remains a need for an improved gift packaging kit that overcomes the shortcomings in the art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention provides solutions to the problems identified above. It is an object of the invention to provide a new and useful gift packaging system, method and kit that includes an assortment of gifts and a decorative container and packing materials in which to present the gifts.
According to one general aspect of the present invention, the gift packaging system is pre-packaged in a collapsed configuration and then can later be constructed into a constructed configuration.
More specifically, a container is provided of generally rigid material that is collapsible and constructable. When in the collapsed position, the container forms a generally rectangular, planer configuration. Packing material is provided in a partially overlying position with respect to the container. Gifts are also provided in a partially overlying position with respect to the container and the packing material. When in a collapsed configuration, a wrapping substantially encloses the packing material gifts.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the container provides a rigid support for the wrapping and protects the packing material and the gifts when the container is in the collapsed configuration.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the gift packaging kit can be constructed from the collapsed configuration upon removal of the wrapping. When the container is configured in its constructed configuration, it has a plurality of sides and a bottom. The packing material may be positioned inside the container and the gifts then can be placed on the packing material or may be concealed by the packing material.
The foregoing features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the invention. The accompanying drawings, listed hereinbelow, are useful in explaining the invention. Furthermore, other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
depicts the gift packaging kit of the present invention in the collapsed position;
FIG. 2
depicts the gift packaging kit of
FIG. 1
in the constructed position;
FIG. 3
depicts an exploded view of the gift packaging kit of
FIG. 1
in the collapsed position; and
FIG. 4
depicts multiple units of the gift packaging kit of
FIG. 1
assembled together in a single box.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiment illustrated.
FIG. 1
illustrates a gift packaging kit
10
of the present invention in a pre-packaged or collapsed configuration. In the preferred embodiment, the gift packaging kit
10
would be sold to distributors, retailers, and/or consumers in the collapsed configuration.
FIG. 3
illustrates the components of the gift packaging kit
10
. In the preferred embodiment, the components include a container
12
, packing material
14
, and gifts
16
. The container is made from a generally rigid material. When in the collapsed position, the container
12
forms a generally rectangular, planer configuration.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, to secure the gift packaging kit
10
in the collapsed configuration, the packing material
14
and gifts
16
are positioned to at least partially overlap the container
12
, and a wrapping
20
substantially encloses the container
12
, the packing material
14
, and the gifts
16
. In the preferred embodiment, the wrapping
20
comprises a shrink-wrap material, as generally known in the art. Other wrapping or means for securing container
12
, the packing material
14
, and optionally gifts
16
, could include net or paper (not shown) or any other suitable material. The generally rigid material of the container
12
in its collapsed configuration provides a sturdy frame around which the wrapping
20
can be enclosed and provides support and protection for the packing material
14
and, if optionally included, gifts
16
.
As also shown in
FIG. 3
, the packing material
14
in the preferred embodiment consists of cellophane (not shown), tissue paper (not shown) and tissue shred
14
a
, but any other packing material
14
would be equally suitable and is contemplated by the invention. As part of the packing material
14
, decorative items may be included in the gift packaging kit
10
. For example,
FIGS. 2 and 3
disclose a ribbon
14
b
. Of course other items could also be included or substituted, such as balloons, placards, banners, greeting cards, or other items, without departing from the present invention.
The gifts
16
in the present invention can include countless items.
FIG. 3
illustrates some gifts
16
a-e
included in one embodiment that includes cheese
16
a
, juice
16
b
, a bag of nuts
16
c
, chocolate
16
d
, and a box of crackers
16
e
. Other embodiments (not shown) include gifts
16
that include, golf balls, books, stuffed plush toys, computer disks, miniature footballs, baseballs, and basketballs, jelly beans, cookies, etc. As will be apparent from the present description, there is no limit to the types of gifts
16
that could be included in the gift packaging kit
10
of the present invention.
FIG. 2
illustrates the gift packaging kit
10
in the constructed configuration, as it would be prepared before giving it to a gift recipient (not shown). Upon removal of the wrapping
20
, the packing material
14
, and the gifts
16
can be removed from their position overlying the container
12
and the container
12
can be constructed, as shown in FIG.
2
. In the constructed configuration, the container has a plurality of sides
22
and bottom
24
. The container
12
can be constructed in many ways that are well known in the art. For example, in the preferred embodiment, the container
12
is formed from a rectangular piece of cardboard
26
having two opposing edges
28
, each having a length. The edges
28
are secured together along a portion of their length to form a loop or tube. This loop or tube is folded in four places
30
(only three folds are visible in
FIG. 3
) to form four planer sides
22
. Flaps
32
depend from each of the four sides
22
of the container
12
and the flaps
32
can be interlocked to form a bottom
24
. Any other container
12
or box configuration that is substantially planer and generally rectangular when collapsed and forms a plurality of side walls and a bottom when constructed would work equally well for the invention.
Once the container
12
is constructed in its three dimensional, constructed configuration, the packing material
14
can be placed in the container
12
and the gifts
16
can be distributed within the container
12
. The packing material
14
thus provide support for the gifts
16
and also can partially conceal the gifts
16
underneath the packing material
14
, making it more exciting for the recipient of the gift packaging kit
10
recipient to uncover the gifts
16
.
In the preferred embodiment, the sides
22
of the container
12
are decorated to correspond to a particular occasion, and the packing material
14
and gifts
16
also corresponds with the occasion and decoration on the container
12
to form a particular ensemble. Thus, for example, a gift package kit
10
for Valentine's Day may be designed with red or pink colors and hearts on the container
12
and matching coloring on the packing material
14
, whereas another gift package kit
10
for home warming may provide a depiction of a house on the container
12
. The variety of themes and combinations of decoration and packing material for ensembles is countless; thus the examples provided are not to limit the present invention.
Another feature of the preferred embodiments is to provide a wrapping
20
that is transparent so that the decorative design
34
and the gifts
16
are visible through the wrapping. Thus, retail or wholesale customers or can select a desirable gift packaging kit
10
from an assortment of kits containing different gifts
16
and different designs.
Thus from the foregoing description, it will be apparent that a distributor, such as, for example, a flower or gift delivery service or a retailer, may purchase a quantity of the gift packaging kits
10
of the present invention. This quantity could be a single gift package kit
10
ensemble or could be an assortment of different ensembles of gift package kits
10
. During shipping and storage, the rigid material of the container and the wrapping provides protection for the gifts
10
and the packing material
14
of each of the gift packaging kit
10
ensembles, as shown in FIG.
4
.
Another advantage of the invention, as discussed above, is that it provides a distributor or retailer with an assortment of gift packaging kits
10
without needed to keep a large inventory of gifts
16
and packing material
14
. Additionally, providing a wrapping
20
that is transparent or that can otherwise be seen through allows customers to select an ensemble having a desired theme and desired gifts
16
.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present example and embodiment, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.
Claims
- 1. A gift packaging kit comprising the following components:a container of rigid material that is collapsible and constructable, the container forming a generally rectangular, planar configuration when collapsed and forming a three dimensional configuration having a plurality of sides and a bottom when constructed; a piece of packing material being in a partially overlying position with respect to the container when the container is collapsed; a wrapping substantially enclosing the packing material and the container; and a gift in a partially overlying position with respect to the container and enclosed by the wrapping, wherein the gift is selected from the group consisting of: cheese, juice, nuts, chocolate, crackers, balls, golf balls, miniature footballs, baseballs, basketballs, books, plush toys, computer disks, and cookies.
- 2. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of gifts, each in a partially overlying position with respect to the container and enclosed by the wrapping.
- 3. The kit of claim 1, wherein the container has a decoratively designed exterior surface.
- 4. The kit of claim 1, wherein the wrapping comprises a transparent material.
- 5. The kit of claim 1, wherein the wrapping comprises a net material.
- 6. The kit of claim 1, wherein the wrapping comprises a net material.
- 7. A gift packaging kit comprising the following components:a container of rigid material that is collapsible and constructable forming a generally rectangular, planar configuration when collapsed and forming a three dimensional configuration having a plurality of sides and a bottom when constructed; a gift being in a partially overlying position with respect to the container when the container is collapsed, wherein the gift is selected from the group consisting of: cheese, juice, nuts, chocolate, crackers, balls, golf balls, miniature footballs, baseballs, basketballs, books, plush toys, computer disks, and cookies; a piece of packing material for supporting the gift, the packing material being in a partially overlying position with respect to the container when the container is collapsed; and a wrapping substantially enclosing the gift, the packing material, and the container when the container is collapsed; whereby the container provides a rigid support for the wrapping and protects the gift and the packing material when the container is in the collapsed configuration.
- 8. The kit of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of gifts, all positioned partially overlying the container and being enclosed by the wrapping.
- 9. The kit of claim 8, wherein the wrapping comprises a transparent material.
- 10. The kit of claim 9, wherein the plurality of gifts and the packing material is visible through the wrapping.
- 11. The kit of claim 7, wherein the wrapping comprises a net material.
US Referenced Citations (16)