Gift wrap kit, methods and apparatus

Abstract

A wrapping system, kit and method for wrapping items that includes heavy duty foil wraps pre-formed in varying sizes and shapes and having colors and/or indicia for representing desired themes. A foil wrap can be selected that corresponds to a specific desired theme, and the item to be wrapped can be wrapped using the selected foil wrap without the use of scissors or tape. The invention includes a box having a predetermined internal width, depth and height, wherein the box is configured to receive and store the plurality of foil wraps. The shapes of the foil wraps are round, square, rectangular or combinations thereof. Each foil wrap is colored a predetermined color and when indicia is included on the colored foil wrap, the indicia is printed with predetermined words, phrases or designs in one or more alternative colors.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/696,650 filed Jul. 6, 2005, from which this application claims priority.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a convenient gift wrapping system requiring no cutting of the wrap and no tape to tape the wrap together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Normal methods of gift wrapping requires the use of paper based material that must be cut for the gift and then taped so the paper will not unfold and unwrap. The paper is wasted and after use is generally thrown away because it has been torn from the unwrapping process.

What is needed is a system of wrapping gifts that is convenient, provides for reusable wrapping material, does not require the use of tape, saves time, is easy to store, has multiple purposes and provides for easy wrapping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a wrapping apparatus, method and kit comprising custom printed heavy gauge or heavy duty colored foil, pre-formed in varying sizes and shapes such as square shape, rectangular shape, or round shape. The foil can be customized to include designer prints in a contrasting color or with words or phrases printed in a contrasting color for the use of wrapping gifts or other items.

One example of a preferred foil suitable for use in the invention is foil AL 1100 supplied by A. J. Oster Foils, Inc. with a thickness gauge of 0.00150 inches or thicker. Specifically, colored foil is printed with words, phrases or designs in a second color or alternatively two or more colors.

The shapes are cut into varying sizes, including but not exclusive to, 12 inch round and/or square, 18 inch round and/or square, 24 inch round and or square, 36 inch round or square. Other shapes may be triangular, oblong, rectangular, etc., in varying sizes. The foil would then be packaged in flat boxes (similar to a “pizza” box for a hinged box or other conventional boxes with separate top and bottom sections) in either all one size or in a variety of multiple sizes (for example, three or four sizes) and multiple prints and colors (for example, three or four prints and colors) for variety for the consumer.

Foil, colors and print will be non-toxic which provides an opportunity to recycle wrap for the possible use with food products for gift giving or entertaining or for covering serving plates/platters/casseroles. The foil may even be oven tempered wrap for oven use. Of course, there are several other opportunities for use, which are too enumerable to list here.

The purpose is not only aesthetic, but an extremely unique concept for wrapping gifts. The convenience of wrapping which does not require the use of scissors, since the sheets are pre-cut. In addition, there is no chance of injury from tearing/cutting foil because the box does not have a blade because the wrap size has been predetermined. Children ages 3 years and up can wrap because the object is placed in the middle and the gauge of the foil material allows the wrap to folded around item or pulled up and twisted at the top of the gift, such as a gift basket or bottle of wine. The invention provides for ease of wrapping odd sized gifts due to the flexibility and durability of the foil product versus a paper or cellophane product. Foil can mold to any shape and be twisted and/or folded closed. It is unnecessary to use tape or ribbon which adds to the convenience factor. When last minute gifts have to be purchased, the box containing the foil and comprising the kit, can be thrown in the trunk of a car, then the person can stop to purchase a gift while in transit to an event or special gathering, the gift can be wrapped immediately and the person can proceed to the event or special gathering. The product can also be used for and covering plates for a colorful buffet or for any type of food gift or presentation.

In addition to marketing to the direct consumers and retailers, other target markets include liquor stores and nurseries for the purpose of wrapping gift bottles and plant containers or fresh flower bouquets. Specific businesses can be targeted to offer their logo on the wrap to personalize their gifts. For example, hotels who could utilize their logo wrap in their gift store or for guest offerings. Restaurants will wrap up to-go orders and “doggie bags”, book stores, gift store chains, etc. can all utilize the invention.

To complete the kit, generally flat boxes will contain the foil in varying sizes and shapes as discussed above. These boxes can be easily stored on shelves or under a bed. The box may be a single color such as black or may include other desired colors and patterns, including logos for businesses. The box is effectively a container for the foil that can be made from cardboard material, hard plastic or more flexible polyethylene-like or vinyl material, and the closure means can be typical folded overlap portion such that used in pizza boxes, or even zippered or interlocking portions when flexible material is being used, or separate overlapping top and bottom conventional boxes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a conceptual depiction of one embodiment of the present invention where the box is a hinged type of box and box contains an example of the wrapping foil;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual depiction of another embodiment of the present invention where the box more closely resembles a conventional box and box contains an example of the wrapping foil;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual depiction of one embodiment of the present invention where a selected foil is being readied to wrap an item;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual depiction of the embodiment of FIG. 3 where the selected foil is in the process of being wrapped around the item;

FIG. 5 is a depiction of the item of FIGS. 3 and 4 wrapped as a gift;

FIG. 6 is a depiction showing multiple sizes and shapes as well as a variety of indicia and colors of the foil in a box;

FIG. 7 is an example of alternative shapes and background design with lettering or indicia to reflect a love and peace theme; and

FIG. 8 is a depiction by way of example only, of several round shaped foils with various background design themes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-8 disclose examples of various embodiments of the present invention, which is a gift wrapping kit and associated method and apparatus, depicted generally as 10.

The invention 10 for wrapping items 20 comprises a generally flat box 14 having a predetermined internal width, depth and height and means 12 for closing the box when not in use. This can be a standard conventional cover 12 or a hinged cover 12 similar to a pizza box.

The invention includes a plurality of generally heavy duty foil wraps 16. The foil wraps 16 are pre-formed in a single size and shape or in varying sizes and shapes and having predetermined colors and/or indicia for representing desired themes. In the drawings, the background portion enumerated 18a is representative of various predetermined or desired background colors. The text indicia 18b can be any color and style and be such as to provide for a desired theme. The background may also include designs 18c, examples of which are represented in FIGS. 7 and 8. Of course, the designs are unlimited in scope. An object of the invention 10 is to allow a user to select one of the foil wraps 16 that corresponds to a specific desired theme, which is appropriate for an item to be wrapped.

The box 14, with its cover 12, is configured to receive and store the plurality of foil wraps 16. The foil wrap 16 is such that it can be used to wrap an item 20 without the use of scissors or tape.

The sizes of the foil wraps are preferably standard sizes such as 12 inch, 18 inch, 24 inch, 30 inch, 36 inch or combinations thereof. However, any size and shape may be provided, including triangular shaped foils 16 as shown in FIG. 7 and round shaped foils 16 as shown in FIG. 8. Thus, the shapes of the foil wraps are round, square, rectangular, triangular or combinations thereof.

The foil wraps 16 preferably have a thickness 22 of about 0.0015 inches or thicker. This was found to be a very useful and workable thickness.

As mentioned above, each foil wrap 16 is colored a predetermined color scheme 18a to represent a desired theme. The background may include a specific design 18c to complement the desired theme.

Indicia 18b may be included on the colored foil wrap 16. The indicia on the colored foil wrap 16 is printed with predetermined words or phrases or designs in one or more alternative colors.

It should be understood that the preceding is merely a detailed description of one or more embodiments of this invention and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A kit for wrapping items comprising:

a generally flat box having a predetermined internal width, depth and height and means for closing the box when not in use; and

a plurality of generally heavy duty foil wraps, the foil wraps being pre-formed in a single size and shape or in varying sizes and shapes and having predetermined colors and/or indicia for representing desired themes,

wherein one of the foil wraps can be selected that corresponds to a specific desired theme, which is appropriate for an item to be wrapped,

wherein the box is configured to receive and store the plurality of foil wraps, and

wherein an item to be wrapped can be wrapped using the selected foil wrap without the use of scissors or tape.

2. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the sizes of the foil wraps are 12 inch, 18 inch, 24 inch, 30 inch, 36 inch or combinations thereof.

3. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the shapes of the foil wraps are round, square, rectangular, triangular or combinations thereof.

4. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the foil wraps have a thickness of about 0.0015 inches or thicker.

5. The kit according to claim 1, wherein each foil wrap is colored a predetermined color scheme to represent a desired theme.

6. The kit according to claim 5, wherein when indicia is included on the colored foil wrap, said indicia on said colored foil wrap is printed with predetermined words, phrases or designs in one or more alternative colors.

7. A method of wrapping items without the use of scissors to cut the wrapping material or to tape the wrapping material together, the method comprising:

providing a kit for wrapping items comprising: a generally flat box having a predetermined internal width, depth and height, and means for closing the box when not in use; and a plurality of generally heavy duty foil wraps, the foil wraps being pre-formed in a single size and shape or in varying sizes and shapes and having predetermined colors and/or indicia for representing desired themes, wherein one of the foil wraps can be selected that corresponds to a specific desired theme, which is appropriate for an item to be wrapped, wherein the box is configured to receive and store the plurality of foil wraps, and wherein an item to be wrapped can be wrapped using the selected foil wrap without the use of scissors or tape.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the sizes of the foil wraps are 12 inch, 18 inch, 24 inch, 30 inch, 36 inch or combinations thereof.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the shapes of the foil wraps are round, square, rectangular, triangular or combinations thereof.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the foil wraps have a thickness of about 0.0015 inches or thicker.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein each foil wrap is colored a predetermined color scheme to represent a desired theme.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein when indicia is included on the colored foil wrap, said indicia on said colored foil wrap is printed with predetermined words, phrases or designs in one or more alternative colors.

13. A wrapping system for wrapping items comprising:

a plurality of generally heavy duty foil wraps, the foil wraps being preformed in a single size and shape or in varying sizes and shapes and having predetermined colors and/or indicia for representing desired themes,

wherein one of the foil wraps can be selected that corresponds to a specific desired theme, which is appropriate for an item to be wrapped, and

wherein an item to be wrapped can be wrapped using the selected foil wrap without the use of scissors or tape.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a generally flat box having a predetermined internal width, depth and height, and means for closing the box when not in use,

wherein the box is configured to receive and store the plurality of foil wraps.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the sizes of the foil wraps are 12 inch, 18 inch, 24 inch, 30 inch, 36 inch or combinations thereof.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the shapes of the foil wraps are round, square, rectangular, triangular or combinations thereof.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein the foil wraps have a thickness of about 0.0015 inches or thicker.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein each foil wrap is colored a predetermined color scheme to represent a desired theme.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein when indicia is included on the colored foil wrap, said indicia on said colored foil wrap is printed with predetermined words, phrases or designs in one or more alternative colors.