GIFT PACKAGES

Abstract

Gift packages are provided for packaging gifts items, such as lottery tickets, gift certificates, adult and child toys, memorabilia, stuffed animals, and other various types of monetary, utility or novelty items, etc., wherein one or more types of gift items are securely packaged in sealed containers with decorative labels, bows, etc, affixed to the containers. The packaging of gift items in securely sealed cans or containers serves as a security feature to limit ease of access to the gift items in the sealed packaging as well as provides a unique and fanciful packaging concept that enhances enjoyment of novelty gift giving.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/397,979 filed on Apr. 6, 2006, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/740,387, filed on Nov. 29, 2005, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to methods for packaging items to sell as gift items or novelty items and, in particular, gift packages that include monetary or non-monetary gift or novelty items that are packaged in sealed containers embellished with decorative labels and bows.

BACKGROUND

On various occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and holidays, for example, gifts are exchanged between friends and family as a way to celebrate such occasions. Gifts are typically packaged in some form of container that is wrapped with decorative paper, bows, etc. Gift wrapping and packaging serves various purposes such as concealing the content of the gift item and thereby provide an element of surprise to the recipient, as well as add a festive and attractive appearance to the gift package. Moreover, for novelty gift items, gifts can be packaged in some unique manner which serves to enhance the enjoyment of gift giving as well as the enjoyment of receiving and opening the gift package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the invention include gift packages that include monetary or non-monetary gift or novelty items that are packaged in sealed containers embellished with decorative labels and bows. Gift packages according to exemplary embodiments of the invention allow for gifts to be packaged and presented in unique gift giving ways in sealed in cans or containers with decorated labels and bows, wherein the packaging of gift items in securely sealed cans or containers serves as a security feature to limit ease of access to the gift items in the sealed packaging as well as provides a unique and fanciful packaging concept that enhances enjoyment of novelty gift giving.

These and other exemplary embodiments, aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments that is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a gift package with lottery tickets securely packaged in a sealed container, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an exemplary container that may be used for packaging a gift item according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an exemplary container that may be used for packaging a gift item according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an exemplary container that may be used for packaging a gift item according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention generally include gift packages comprising one or more types of monetary or non-monetary gift or novelty items, etc., that are packaged in sealed containers embellished with decorative labels, bows, etc, affixed to the containers. For example, gift or novelty items may include lottery scratch off tickets, gift certificates, coupons, collector coins, adult and child toys, memorabilia, stuffed animals, pet toys, sports items, bath products, and other various types of gift or novelty items, etc. Moreover, gift packages according to exemplary embodiments of the invention may include cans or containers made of metallic, plastic, paperboard, or ceramic materials, having sealed lids or covers, etc, that allow gift items to be securely sealed within the cans/containers. By way of specific example, packaging containers may comprise metal lids that are used to seal container bodies made of metal, paper or plastic, for example, using well known canning methods. The packaging containers according to exemplary embodiments of the invention may include, but are not limited to, various sized metallic cans or containers (e.g., aluminum or tin cans) with sealed lids.

It is to be appreciated that gift packaging methods according to exemplary embodiments of the invention allow for gifts to be packaged and presented in a unique gift giving way, sealed in cans or containers with decorated labels and bows. The packaging of gift items in securely sealed cans or containers serves as a security feature to limit ease of access to the gift items in the sealed packaging as well as provide a unique and fanciful packaging concept that enhances enjoyment of novelty gift giving.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a gift package according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. In particular, FIG. 1 illustrates a gift package (10) comprising a metallic container (11) with a secured sealed lid (12) for securely packaging gift items such as one or more lottery tickets (13). The gift package (10) further comprises a decorative bow (14) affixed thereto. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the exemplary gift package (10) provides an opportunity to sell lottery tickets (e.g., NY State Lottery Scratch off Tickets) as a novelty gift item, wherein the lottery tickets (13) are securely packaged in a metallic container (11). For instance, the metallic container (11) may be an aluminum can having a sealed lid (12) that can be opened using a can opener.

The packaging of monetary items such as lottery tickets, gift cards, money, coins, etc in sealed containers presents a security feature in that the packaged items are not easily exposed or readily removed from the secured packaging. For lottery ticket package gifts, the use of sealed containers, such as metal cans, offers an opportunity to sell scratch-off lottery tickets in bulk, off-the-shelf, using various monetary denominations (ex $10, $25, $50, etc.), and serves as a POS (point of sale) marketing item that can be used to promote different holidays or occasions and highlight and/or promote new scratch off games. This packaging concept affords vendors the opportunity to sell more scratch off lottery tickets by offering them in bulk (multi-ticket purchase) via a gift item or as a novelty gift item. The packaging concept offers an added bonus of allowing for sales over the internet, perhaps by Internet entities who already sell gift items, where state laws permit. For those Internet vendors that sell gift packages with lottery tickets in sealed containers (pursuant to becoming State lottery agents) the profits would be immediate since tickets are often provided by State Lotteries on consignment. Moreover, promotions can be used to feature various gift giving occasion(s) for the scratch off games, whereby gift packages with lottery tickets sealed in containers presents the opportunity to have decorated and themed gift packaging for any holiday or occasion. The different external packaging can be generic or customized in any matter possibly imaginable, to thereby provide the opportunity to male, the packaging fun.

It is to be appreciated that various types of package containers may be utilized for securely packaging gift or novelty items in sealed containers. For example, FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are schematic perspective views of exemplary containers that may be used for packaging a gift item according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In particular, FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional paint can container (20) having a cylindrical can body (21) and a pry-off lid (22), as is known in the art. The container (20) can be decorated with any embellishment and used to package gift or novelty items in a unique, fanciful manner. The exemplary package container (20) provides some level of security for gift packages according to exemplary embodiments of the invention in that a separate pry tool, such as a screw driver, would be needed to pry off the lid (22), thus reducing ease of access to the gift items within the container (20).

FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional can container (30) having a cylindrical can body (31) and a peel-off lid (32) and opening tab (33), as is known in the art. FIG. 4 illustrates a conventional can container (40) having a cylindrical can body (41) and a sealed lid (42), as is known in the art. FIG. 4 illustrates a conventional embodiment of a metallic can, e.g., tin can, which can be opened using a conventional can opening device. Although both exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate sealed containers that can be used for packaging gift items as a means for providing novelty and fanciful packaging, the level of security for access to the sealed items varies. Indeed, the exemplary container (40) of FIG. 4 adds a greater level of security to access to contained gift items in that a separate tool, e.g., can opener, is needed to open the sealed container (40) and access the gift or novelty items.

For purposes of packaging monetary items such as lottery tickets, gift cards and coins, for example, as POS and off-the shelf sales, it would be more beneficial to package such items in sealed containers, such as depicted in FIG. 4, which add a higher level of security given the need to use additional tools for opening the containers. On the other hand, although FIG. 3 depicts a sealed container in which gift items can be packaged to provide novelty and fanciful packaging design concepts, the container (30) provides less security given the ability to manually pull the tab (33) and peed off the lid (32) to access the inner contents. In this regard, the exemplary container (30) could be useful in packing non-monetary gift and novelty items such as toys, stuffed animals, etc.

It is to be understood that the exemplary containers (20), (30) and (40) discussed above are merely exemplary embodiments to illustrative inventive gift packaging concepts according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, and are not meant as limiting the scope of the claimed inventions. The exemplary containers (20, 30, 40) can have their respective can bodies (21, 31, 41), made of metal, paper or plastic, for example, and their respective lids (22, 32, 42) made of metal or plastic, for example, using well-known or state of the art canning methods and devices. For example, methods and device for packaging food in hermetically sealed airtight wrought-iron cans or cans made of tin-coated steel can be used for packaging non-food items such as monetary and non-monetary gift or novelty items, for construction gift packages according to exemplary embodiments of the invention. It is to be appreciated that gift or novelty items can be packaged in any number of other types of containers, such as glass jars, paperboard cans, and plastics that can be formed into pouches, bowls, etc. Gift package containers may comprise plastic containers that are sealed with a peel-off metal lids or plastic lids. In addition, additional lid members (e.g., plastic lids) may be provided with the gift packages to provide means for resealing a gift package container after removing a secured lid (e.g., peel-off metal lid or sealed double seam lid, etc.).

In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, packaging containers can include various sized plastic containers with sealed lids, wrapped mugs, wrapped baskets, sealed gift boxes, gift bags. In all exemplary embodiments, the package containers may vary in size and have different types of decorated labels that are wrapped around cans or otherwise affixed to the containers, which are decorative for all occasions and holidays. In other exemplary embodiments, the gift packages may be constructed with gift or novelty items in containers such as mugs, baskets, boxes, which are packages in a unique and fanciful manner, whereby the wrapping, e.g., shrink wrap, etc., serves as a means for securely sealing items in such containers having lids that would otherwise not provide the level of security of sealing as the sealed lid in the exemplary container of FIG. 4, for example.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A gift package, comprising;

a sealed metallic container; and

a gift item contained in the sealed metallic container, wherein the gift item is a non-food item.

2. The gift package of claim 1, wherein the gift item is a monetary gift.

3. The gift package of claim 1, wherein the gift item is lottery scratch off tickets.

4. The gift package of claim 1, wherein the sealed metallic container comprises a sealed lid adapted to be opened by a can opener device.

5. The gift package of claim 1, wherein the sealed metallic container comprise a peel-off lid.

6. A gift package, comprising;

a hermetically sealed container; and

a gift item contained in the hermetically sealed container, wherein the gift item is a non-food item.

7. The gift package of claim 6, wherein the hermetically sealed container is made of metal.

8. The gift package of claim 6, wherein the hermetically sealed container is made of plastic

9. The gift package of claim 6, wherein the hermetically sealed container comprises a peel-off lid.

10. The gift package of claim 6, wherein the hermetically sealed container comprises a metallic lid that is adapted to be opened using a can opener device.

11. The gift package of claim 6, wherein the gift item is a monetary gift.

12. The gift package of claim 6, wherein the gift item is lottery scratch off tickets.