Flat roll gift wrap products
A flat roll gift wrap package has an elongated form with planar opposed sides and convex arcuate transitions between the sides. Flexible material in sheet form, such as, for example, paper or plastic, can be wound about the form without formation of creases or folds at the arcuate transitions. Printed patterns applied to the flexible material in sheet form are visible in full or repeated one or more times on the material which extends over the planar opposed sides of the form. Multiple flat roll gift wrap packages are combined in display packages or envelopes, poly bags or boxes and stacked on the planar sides of the flat rolls or with the arcuate transitions of the flat rolls arranged side-by-side.
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The present invention is in the general field of flexible products in sheet or planar form, including paper and other thin form materials which can be wound around a mandrel, tube or other form.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFlexible sheet material, such as paper webs, textiles and polymer films are typically wound around cylindrical forms as a way of dense packaging for shipping and storage. Cylindrical forms such as tubes are easily handled in automated winding processes and can be placed on end for storage of rolls of material. Thin sheet paper is rolled in this manner in production and printing processes.
Cylindrical forms or mandrels for winding material can be made of steel, wood or wood pulp such as heavy or light gauge cardboard or polymeric or plastic material and sized appropriately for the intended application. Cylindrical forms have a diameter which represents bulk space or a void in shipping and storage. Also, the appearance of product and particularly graphical product available in rolled form can be difficult to visualize in its flat, planar state due to the minimal surface area displayed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a flat roll gift wrap product that includes sheet material, such as, for example, gift wrapping paper, and a form that has at least two planar sides joined by arcuate transitions about which sheet material is wound as a gift wrap unit. In an exemplary embodiment, a flat roll form has first and second opposed planar sides and arcuate transitions which form arcuate transitions between the first and second planar sides, and a flexible, sheet material is continuously wrapped about the flat roll form over the first and second planar sides and the arcuate transitions without any creases formed in the sheet material. A radius of the arcuate transitions can be as small as possible without resulting in formation of a crease in the sheet material along the portion of the area of the arcuate transitions. The sheet material can have graphic or other printed indicia on an exterior surface thereof which is oriented outward with respect to the flat roll form so that a substantial portion of the graphic on the sheet material is visible.
In another embodiment, the flat roll gift wrap product includes a flat roll unit of sheet material wound about a flat roll form, and an envelope for containing the gift wrap unit. In yet another embodiment, the flat roll gift wrap product includes a container that supports a gift wrap unit, or a plurality of gift wrap units. The container can further include at least one envelope each containing one or more flat roll units.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe various embodiments of the present invention can be understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Also, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
As illustrated in the
In one embodiment
By “arcuate” it is meant that the arcuate transitions 140, 142, have a profile or cross-sectional shape that is generally convex between the first planar surface 106 and the second planar surface 108. As shown in
Thus in the example embodiment of
In alternative embodiments, as illustrated in
Therefore, the arcuate transitions 140, 142, 240, 242, of
As apparent from
Referring to
As apparent from
The flat roll forms of the embodiments described above can be made of any suitable material, including but not limited to, for example, polymer, paper, cardboard, corrugated board or other organic or synthetic materials which are formable into the described shapes. In many cases the minimization of the total weight of the flat roll gift wrap product is desirable. For example, the flat roll form 104, 204, 304 can be made of a polymer, such as a thermoplastic or a thermoset material that is a foam polymer, to provide for a flat roll form that has a lower weight compared to one made of solid polymer. In alternative embodiments, the flat roll form may include hollow portions, as will be further described.
The sheet material of the flat roll gift wrap products described above can be any flexible material in sheet form material in sheet form, such as, for example, paper or plastic. In another embodiment the sheet material is a non-textile material. The sheet material of the flat roll gift wrap products according to the various embodiments described herein may be used as sheet material that is not a wrapping material, for example, and can be used for purposes other than wrapping gifts.
The embodiment of flat roll gift wrap product 500 of
To achieve the requisite rigidity of the material having a planar surface used to make the form 504, such as cardboard, fiberboard, plastic board or corrugated variations thereof, can be arranged with double thickness, i.e. at least two layers. The double or multiple thickness of the planar material can be thick enough to fill or substantially fill the core 560 so that there is very limited possibility, or no possibility, of collapse of the flat roll form 504. Additional folds can be made in the material used to make the form 504 so that multiple layers of the material reside within the core 560 of the flat roll form 504. Material such as cardboard or foam board with skin covering can be scored on one side and folded along score lines to create the arcuate transitions 540,542.
In another embodiment,
The container 1210 can be various shapes and sizes, such as, for example, one of several polygon shapes. As illustrated, the container is a shipping carton or container that has at least four sides 1212, 1214, 1216, 1218, and a bottom 1220, and a lid 1222. The container 1210 can be made or various materials, including but not limited to, for example, cardboard, fiberboard, plastic, foam polymer, paper, corrugated board or metal, and can be a bulk shipping container for large quantities of the packaged product for shipment by truck, rail or ship. The sheet density of the flat roll gift wrap product 1200 can be measured and defined as the sheet material volume divided by the container volume (i.e. sheet material volume/container volume), and can be substantially greater than the sheet density of conventional products, for example, a container, for example container 1210 that contains round gift wrap rolls of the prior art (
Although the invention is shown and described with respect to certain embodiments, it is obvious that equivalents and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The present invention includes all such equivalents and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A flat roll gift wrap product comprising:
- a form comprising: a first planar surface that is generally rectangular, the first planar surface having a first side edge opposed to a second side edge and a first end opposed to a second end; a second planar surface that is generally rectangular, the second planar surface having a first side edge opposed to a second side edge and a first end opposed to a second end;
- wherein the first planar surface is substantially parallel to and spacially aligned with the second planar surface; a first arcuate transition disposed between the first side edge of the first planar surface and the first side edge of the second planar surface, and having a generally arcuate profile which projects outwardly from the first side edge and the second side edge; a second arcuate transition disposed between the second side edge of the first planar side and the second side edge of the second planar surface, and having a generally arcuate profile which projects outwardly from the first side edge and the second side edge; and
- a sheet material having a width that extends along a length of the form defined by the first end and the second end of the form, the sheet material having a length wound about the form, and portions of the sheet material located proximate to the first and second arcuate transitions are curved.
2. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the sheet material proximate to the arcuate transitions of the form has no crease.
3. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the length of the first planar surface is greater than the width of the first planar surface and the length of the second planar surface is greater than the width of the second planar surface.
4. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the width of the sheet material is substantially equal to the length of the form.
5. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the form is comprised of a single piece of material having a planar surface which is formed to define the first planar surface, the second planar surface, the first arcuate transition and the second arcuate transition.
6. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 5, wherein the single piece of material is cardboard that is scored between the first planar surface and the first and second arcuate transitions, and between the second planar surface and the first and second arcuate transitions.
7. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the form is comprised of at least two pieces of material having a planar surface which are formed to define the first planar surface, the second planar surface, the first arcuate transition and the second arcuate transition.
8. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the combined surface area of the first planar surface and the second planar surface is greater than the combined surface area of the first arcuate transition and the second arcuate transition.
9. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the combined area of sheet material disposed on the first planar surface and the second planar surface of the form is greater than the combined area of sheet material disposed on the first arcuate transition and the second arcuate transition.
10. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the combined area of sheet material disposed on the first planar surface of the form is greater than the combined area of sheet material disposed on the first arcuate transition and the second arcuate transition.
11. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the combined area of sheet material proximate the first and second planar surfaces of the form to the combined area of sheet material proximate the first and second arcuate transitions ranges from about 2:1 to about 10:1.
12. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the sheet material has a length that is wound about the form at least once.
13. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the sheet material has a length that is wound about the form at least five times.
14. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the gift wrap product comprises at least about 75 sq. ft. of sheet material.
15. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the form comprises a core defined by the first planar surface, the second planar surface, the first arcuate transition and the second arcuate transition.
16. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 15, wherein the core of the form is solid.
17. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 16, wherein a portion of the core is hollow.
18. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 17, wherein the portions of the core defined by at least one of the first arcuate transition and the second arcuate transition are hollow.
19. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 15, wherein the core of the form comprises a corrugated medium.
20. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 19, wherein the corrugated medium comprises adjacent walls which form an angle that is less than about 90 degrees.
21. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein at least the first or second arcuate transitions of the form have at least one planar segment and at least one radiused segment.
22. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 21, wherein the at least one planar segment of the arcuate transitions is oriented at an angle of less than about 90 degrees relative to at least one of the first and second planar surfaces.
23. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second arcuate transitions of the form comprises a plurality of planar segments adjacent to one another.
24. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 23, wherein each of the plurality of planar surface segment portions adjacent to one another are positioned relative to one another by an angle of less than about 90 degrees.
25. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the form comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: paper, cardboard, corrugated cardboard, polymer, and wood.
26. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the form comprises cardboard.
27. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the form comprises polymer.
28. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the sheet material is non-textile.
29. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, further comprising:
- an envelope; and
- a gift wrap unit disposed within the envelope, the gift wrap unit comprising the sheet material wound about the form.
30. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 29, wherein at least a portion of the sheet material is visible through the envelope.
31. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 29, wherein the envelope contains two or more gift wrap units.
32. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 31, wherein each of the two or more gift wrap units are in a side by side arrangement within the envelope.
33. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 31, wherein the two or more gift wrap units are stacked within the envelope.
34. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 29, wherein the envelope comprises a header.
35. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 34, wherein the header comprises an opening.
36. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, wherein the sheet material comprises a printed pattern.
37. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 36, wherein the printed pattern of the sheet material is completed at least once on the portion of the sheet sheet material that extends over at least one of the first and second planar sides of the form.
38. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 29, wherein:
- the sheet material comprises a printed pattern that is completed at least once on the portion of the sheet material that extends over at least one of the first and second planar sides of the form; and
- the printed pattern is visible through the envelope.
39. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 1, further comprising:
- a container; and
- at least one gift wrap unit supported by the container, the at least one gift wrap unit comprising the sheet material wound about the form.
40. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 39, wherein the container is a polygon having at least four sides.
41. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 39, wherein the container supports a plurality of gift wrap units which are stacked.
42. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 39, wherein the sheet density of the product as measured by sheet material volume/container volume is at least about 0.1
43. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 39, wherein the unit density of the product as measured by the unit volume/container volume is at least about 0.5.
44. A flat roll gift wrap product comprising:
- a form having two substantially planar surfaces generally rectangular in shape and having side edges and ends which are aligned, and arcuate transitions between the aligned edges, the arcuate transitions having a generally arcuate and convex form which projects laterally outboard of the aligned edges;
- sheet material wound about a width of the form over the planar opposed sides and the arcuate transitions, the sheet material following the generally arcuate and convex form of the arcuate transitions and planar surfaces of the planar opposed sides;
- an envelope which contains the sheet material and the form; and
- wherein the envelope comprises a header.
45. The flat roll gift product of claim 44, wherein the sheet material proximate the arcuate transitions of the form has substantially no crease.
46. The flat roll gift product of claim 44, wherein the form is made of a single piece of cardboard which is scored and folded between the planar surfaces and the arcuate transitions.
47. The flat roll gift product of claim 46, wherein:
- the sheet material comprises a printed pattern that is completed at least once on the portion of the sheet material that extends over at least one of the planar surfaces of the form; and
- the printed pattern, completed at least once, is visible through the envelope.
48. A flat roll gift wrap product comprising:
- a container supporting a plurality of gift wrap units,
- wherein each of the plurality of gift wrap units comprises:
- a form having two substantially planar surfaces generally rectangular in shape and having side edges and ends which are aligned, and arcuate transitions between the aligned edges, the arcuate transitions having a generally arcuate and convex form which projects laterally outboard of the aligned edges; and
- sheet material wound about a width of the form over the planar opposed sides and the arcuate transitions, the sheet material following the generally arcuate and convex form of the arcuate transitions and planar surfaces of the planar opposed sides.
49. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 48, wherein the sheet material proximate the arcuate transitions of the form has substantially no crease.
50. The flat roll gift product of claim 48, wherein:
- the sheet material comprises a printed pattern that is completed at least once on the portion of the sheet material that extends over at least one of the planar surfaces of the form.
51. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 50, wherein:
- the container is a polygon having at least four sides; and
- the sheet density of the product as measured by sheet material volume/container volume is at least about 0.1.
52. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 50, wherein:
- the container is a polygon having at least four sides; and
- the unit density of the product as measured by the unit volume/container volume is at least about 0.5.
53. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 50, further comprising:
- a plurality of envelopes; and
- wherein each of the envelopes are arranged in a side by side arrangement within the container.
54. The flat roll gift wrap product of claim 50, further comprising:
- a plurality of envelopes; and
- wherein each of the envelopes are stacked within the container.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 30, 2005
Publication Date: Jul 5, 2007
Applicant:
Inventors: Scott Morrissey (Cleveland, OH), David Blinderman (Bratenahl, OH), Joel Hageman (Lakewood, OH)
Application Number: 11/322,793
International Classification: B65D 69/00 (20060101); B65D 71/00 (20060101); B65D 85/00 (20060101);