Decorative Gift Wrap

Abstract

A decorative gift wrap for wrapping a package comprising an elongated enclosure formed of a length of stretchable elastic fabric with a selectively closeable fastener on a selectively closed open end of the enclosure. The elastic fabric allows a package to be inserted within the enclosure and for the elastic fabric to selectively conform to at least portions of the external surface of the package.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 60/708,654, entitled “Decorative Gift Wrap,” filed on Aug. 16, 2005, which is incorporated in its entirety in this document by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to packaging materials and specifically to a decorative gift wrap that utilizes an elongated enclosure of elastic fabric with a selective closable fastener at one open end of the enclosure to allow the elastic fabric to be stretched to conform at least partially to the exterior surface of a package inserted therein.

BACKGROUND

Decorative package materials are well known in the art and include various types of paper having decorative designs thereon that can be folded about a package to enclose it. Generally ribbons are added to the package to complete the decorations.

Such decorative paper and ribbons are not only expensive but, also, in order to provide an attractive package, individuals who are skilled in the art of wrapping the packages must be utilized to provide a package that is neatly wrapped with ribbons attached thereto to form the final product. The time required, even by those skilled individuals, is expensive and, of course, time consuming.

An attractive decorative wrapping material is needed that can be thus secured to the package in a simple and economical manner without requiring skill or an undue length of time.

SUMMARY

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing attractive gift wrap packaging formed of elastic fabric in a number of packaging variations to be used as gift wrapping. The elastic fabric used in the gift wrap of the present invention may be formed of spandex, spandex with nylon or cotton blend, stretchy tricot, nylon, and the like. The elastic fabric may be patterned as desired. Because of the stretchable nature of the elastic fabric, it can be stretched to allow a package to be inserted through the open end and into an enclosed length thereof. The open end of the enclosure is closed with a selectively closable fastener to provide an attractive package. Examples of selectively closable fasteners include, but are not limited to, ribbon, decorative cord, a mating hook-and-loop combination, decorative buttons with associated fasteners such as snaps or flexible loops that can wrap around the buttons, and the like.

The elastic fabric used as packaging material is formfitting about the package and can be formed in various lengths and widths to accommodate the length and width of a particular package. In one embodiment, the shape of the enclosure aids in producing an enclosure that is shaped for better retention and confirmation to the corners of a typical box package.

It is an object of the invention to provide to gift wrap material that is formed of stretchable elastic fabric.

It is another object to the invention to provide a decorative gift wrap using stretchable elastic fabric in the form of an elongated enclosure that has a selectively closable fastener on the open end thereof to selectively open and close the open end of the enclosure.

It is another object of the invention to provide a decorative gift wrap which is sized and shaped for better retention and confirmation to the external surface of a box package.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described above which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. These and other features of the preferred embodiments of the invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description in which reference is made to the appended figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a decorative gift wrap of the present invention illustrating an enclosure formed of stretchable elastic fabric with a bottom end fixedly closed and the opposed open end adjustably closed.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the bottom member forming the bottom end of the enclosure of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of an exemplified side wall member of the enclosure.

FIG. 4A is a top elevational view of an exemplified top member forming the open end of the enclosure and showing one embodiment of a selectively closable fastener.

FIG. 4B is a side elevational view of the exemplified top member of FIG. 4A connected to the side member.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplified top member forming the open end of the enclosure and showing an alternative embodiment of a selectively closable fastener.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the decorative gift wrap of FIG. 1 disposed in confirmation about a package to illustrate the decorative package formed thereby.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the gift wrap of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus the embodiments of this invention described and illustrated herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. They are chosen to describe or to best explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention. As used in the specification and in the claims, “a,” “an,” and “the” can mean one or more, depending upon the context in which it is used. The preferred embodiment is now described with reference to the figures, in which like numbers indicate like parts throughout the figures.

Referring to the figures, the present invention is directed to an improved decorative gift wrap 10 that may be reused repeatedly. The gift wrap 10 is constructed to conform to at least a portion of the external surface of a package inserted therein. In one embodiment, the gift wrap comprises an enclosure 12 formed from a side wall member 20, a bottom, closed, end 30 and an opposed open end 40. The side wall member 20 can be formed of a generally rectangular piece of material that is sewn along its respective longitudinally extending lateral edges to form a tubular structure 22 having a top edge 24 and an opposed bottom edge 26. One would appreciate that the side wall member 20 can be integrally formed into the desired tubular structure 22. Further, one would appreciate that the dimensions of the formed tubular structure 22 can be varied to fit boxes or packages of varying sizes.

The bottom end 30 is formed from a bottom member 32 that is sized and shaped to aid in the formed enclosure's improved ability to conform to corners of a package. The bottom member 32 has a circumferential edge 34 that forms four corners 36. In one aspect, the circumferential edge of the bottom member extends inwardly toward the center of the bottom member between adjacent corners. In another aspect, the circumferential edge of the bottom member has a curved, inwardly extending, shape between adjacent corners.

In one aspect, the bottom end 30 of the enclosure is formed by gathering circumferential edge portions 37 of a bottom portion 39 together and connecting those gather portions together conventionally, such as, for example, by sewing the edges portions together. In this aspect, the material can be gathered to a point that substantially opposes the open end of the enclosure.

The open end 40 is formed from a top member 42 that defines a selectively closable opening 41. In one aspect, the top member 42 is also sized and shaped to aid in the formed enclosure's ability to conform to corners of the package. In one embodiment, the top member 42 has a circumferential edge 44 that forms four corners 46. In one aspect, the circumferential edge of the top member extends inwardly toward the center of the top member between adjacent corners. In another aspect, the circumferential edge of the top member has a curved, inwardly extending, shape between adjacent corners.

The bottom edge 26 of the formed tubular structure 22 is connected to the circumferential edge 34 of the bottom member and the top edge 24 of the formed tubular structure is connected to the circumferential edge 44 of the top member. The formed enclosure 12 defines an interior volume 14.

In use, a package is inserted into the interior volume 14 of the formed enclosure and the bottom corners of the package are oriented toward the corners 36 of the bottom member. The open end 40 of the enclosure 12 is drawn closed and secured in the closed position. When the enclosure 12 is in the closed position, the gift wrap 10 is drawn tightly about at least a portion of the exterior surface of the enclosed package.

The gift wrap 10 is made from an elastic fabric, preferably spandex, sold under the trade name Lycra®, so that the gift wrap is retained tautly about the exterior surface of the package. Other exemplified elastic fabrics include, but are not limited to, spandex with nylon or cotton blend, stretchy tricot, nylon, and the like. The fabric is also preferably water resistant either naturally or by treatment with chemical coatings, as is well know in the art. The fabric may be patterned, printed, and/or embossed as desired.

In one aspect, the gift enclosure 12 is prepared using overlock stitching. Such overlock stitching is a wrapping stitch that protects the edges of the material from unraveling and also adds strength without being bulky. Overlock stitching flexes with the elastic fabric and therefore is useful with materials that stretch. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that if the tread used to stitch the seams is elastic, the fabric may be stretched while sewing the seams to that the seams stretch with the fabric.

The effect of the overlock stitching on the seams joining the respective top and bottom members 32, 42 to the side wall member 20 allows the gift wrap to cling snugly to the package without interfering with the gift wrap being applied to the package and allows for the gift wrap to be conformingly applied to a smaller or larger as desired. Thus, the gift wrap has a somewhat “one size fits all” characteristic. Since the midpoint between adjacent corners 36, 46 of the top member 42 and the bottom member 32 is curved inwardly toward the center of the respective top and bottom member, the formed seams about the midpoint must be stretched to insert the side edges of the package and the resilience of the elastic fabric orients the corners 36, 46 of the respective top and bottom members about corners of the package. Thus, the gift wrap is properly oriented and resiliently secured to the exterior surface of the package. One will appreciate that the circumferential shape of the bottom and top members acts to minimize or eliminate unsightly sagging about the corners of the enclosed package.

The opening 41 defined in the open end 40 of the enclosure is closed with a selectively closable fastener 60 to provide an attractive package. Examples of selectively closable fasteners 60 include ribbon, decorative cord, a mating hook-and-loop combination, decorative buttons with associated fasteners such as snaps or flexible loops that can wrap around the buttons, Velcro connectors, and the like.

In one example, as shown in FIG. 4, a ribbon, cord, or the like, is operatively connected to a portion of the open end surrounding at least a portion of the opening 41. The cord is drawn tightly to snug the elastic fabric about the end of the package. The cord can then be tied conventionally to releasably close the opening. The cord could be secured to form a decorative bow.

In an alternative embodiment, a tab is mounted to a portion of the open end proximate the opening 41. The tab has a Velcro member attached thereto and a portion of the open end has a complementary piece of Velcro attached thereto. So, in use, the tab is placed in overlying registration with the piece of Velcro so that the opening can be selectively closed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

1. A decorative gift wrap for a package, comprising:

an enclosure having an open end, an opposed closed bottom end and a side wall that extends therebetween; and

a means for selectively opening or closing the open end of the enclosure, wherein the enclosure is formed of a stretchable elastic fiber such that the gift wrap is retained tautly about an exterior surface of the package.

2. The gift wrap of claim 1, wherein the side wall member is formed of a generally rectangular piece of material that is sewn along its respective longitudinally extending lateral edges to form a tubular structure having a top edge.

3. The gift wrap of claim 2, wherein the tubular structure has an opposed bottom edge.

4. The gift wrap of claim 1, wherein the side wall is integrally formed into a tubular structure.

5. The gift wrap of claim 1, wherein the bottom end comprises a bottom member that is configured to substantially conform to the corners of the package.

6. The gift wrap of claim 5, wherein the bottom member has a circumferential edge that forms four corners, and wherein the circumferential edge of the bottom member extends inwardly toward the center of the bottom member between adjacent corners.

7. The gift wrap of claim 1, wherein circumferential edge portions of a bottom portion of the enclosure are connected together to form the closed bottom end of the enclosure.

8. The gift wrap of claim 1, wherein the open end is formed from a top member that defines a selectively closable opening, and wherein the means for selectively opening or closing the open end of the enclosure comprises means for selectively opening or closing the opening.

9. The gift wrap of claim 1, wherein the top member has a circumferential edge that forms four corners, and wherein the circumferential edge of the bottom member extends inwardly toward the center of the top member between adjacent corners.

10. The gift wrap of claim 1, wherein the elastic fiber is selected from a group consisting of spandex, spandex with nylon or cotton blend, stretchy tricot, and nylon.

11. The gift wrap of claim 10, wherein the fabric is patterned.

12. A decorative gift wrap for a package, comprising:

an enclosure having an open end, an opposed closed bottom end and a side wall that extends therebetween, wherein circumferential edge portions of a bottom portion of the enclosure are connected together to form the closed bottom end of the enclosure, and wherein the open end is formed from a top member that defines a selectively closable opening and that is configured to substantially conform to the corners of the package; and

a means for selectively opening or closing the closable opening of the enclosure,

wherein the enclosure is formed of a stretchable elastic fiber such that the gift wrap is retained tautly about an exterior surface of the package.

13. The gift wrap of claim 12, wherein the side wall member is formed of a generally rectangular piece of material that is sewn along its respective longitudinally extending lateral edges to form a tubular structure having a top edge.

14. The gift wrap of claim 12, wherein the side wall is integrally formed into a tubular structure.

15. The gift wrap of claim 12, wherein the top member has a circumferential edge that forms four corners, and wherein the circumferential edge of the bottom member extends inwardly toward the center of the top member between adjacent corners.

16. The gift wrap of claim 12, wherein the elastic fiber is selected from a group consisting of spandex, spandex with nylon or cotton blend, stretchy tricot, and nylon.

17. The gift wrap of claim 16, wherein the fabric is patterned.