CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent Application Ser. No. 60/883,443 filed on Jan. 4, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF INVENTION The present disclosure relates to a device useful for organizing, storing, and gift-wrapping articles.
SUMMARY In a typical process of wrapping an item, such as a present, a consumer may first gather supplies together in a location where (s)he wants to do the wrapping. Typical supplies may include writing utensils, cutting utensils, tape, labels, ribbons, bows, and other wrapping accessories. It is not uncommon for the supplies to be stored in the consumer's home in several different places. Thus, prior to the wrapping process, the may consumer spend time organizing and gathering the necessary items.
The present disclosure pertains to a device that consolidates and organizes the wrapping supplies and tools in one location. The device, a gift wrapping caddy, is portable, easy to use and store, and minimizes the prep time that the consumer must devote prior to the wrapping.
In one aspect, the present disclosure pertains to a caddy comprising a media holder having attached to a utensil holder. In one embodiment, the media holder may have a curved surface.
In one embodiment, the caddy further comprises a cover attached to at least one of the media holder and the utensil holder. Useful media include, but are not limited to paper, polymeric films, and metal foils. The caddy is particularly useful where the media is gift-wrap paper supplied on a substantially cylindrical core.
In another embodiment, the media holder and the utensil holder are integrally formed. In yet another embodiment, the caddy is formed from polymeric material. Non-limiting examples of useful polymeric materials include injection moldable plastics and thermo formable plastics.
In some embodiments disclosed herein, the media holder is shorter than the longest length of the media roll and preferably shorter than about half of the media roll. Advantageously, the caddy disclosed herein is designed to prevent the winding or unwinding of a cut end of the media to facilitate the next cut, as further described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention can be better described with reference to the following drawings, wherein:
FIGS. 1a, 1b, and 1c show various views of a first exemplary embodiment;
FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d show various views of a second exemplary embodiment;
FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d show various views of a third exemplary embodiment;
FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d show various views of a fourth exemplary embodiment;
FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d show various views of a fifth exemplary embodiment; and
FIGS. 6a, 6b, and 6c show various views of a sixth exemplary embodiment.
These figures are idealized, are not drawn to scale and are intended only for illustrative purposes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1a to 1c show various views of a first exemplary caddy 100. FIG. 1a shows an end view of the first embodiment with a roll of media, such as paper, 106 installed. The caddy includes a media holder 110 attached to or disposed on a utensil holder 150 having a base 152. The media holder has a curved surface with an associated circumference to accommodate for a generally cylindrical tube of paper, such as a tube of gift-wrapping paper. The media holder has an end 116 that generally lies on the same plane as that of the base 152. When placed on a work surface, such as a table, the caddy will be supported by the base 152 and the end 116. In use, a user guides the paper out of the media holder by pulling the paper past end 116. Once the paper is cut, which cutting typically occurs at some distance, e.g., several inches, away from the end 116, the paper remaining on the roll is held down by the end 116. Thus, the caddy advantageously provides a section of paper ready for the user to pull out and continue to wrap any additional items.
The utensil holder has an open pocket 154 and optionally a closeable pocket 156 having a lid that can rotate from an open to a closed position and vice versa. The pockets are defined at least in part by a portion of the circumference of the media holder, the base, and a front face 154. FIG. 1b shows a front view of the first embodiment where the media holder has opposing first and second ends, 112 and 114 respectively. The media holder can cover a portion of or substantially the entire length of the tube of paper. FIG. 1c shows a view of the first embodiment where various utensils that may be used for wrapping items are organized in the open pocket of the utensil holder. Non-limiting examples of utensils include a cutting device 101 and a pair of scissors 102. In the closeable pocket, useful items such as labels, cards, tape, tape dispensers, and writing instruments can be stored and secured therein when the lid is in a closed position, as shown in FIG. 1c.
FIGS. 2a to 2d show various views of a second exemplary caddy 200. FIG. 2a shows an end view of the second embodiment with a roll of paper 206 installed in a media holder 210. For ease of understanding, the roll of paper is not included in FIGS. 2c and 2d. The caddy also includes a slidable utensil holder 250 (see FIG. 2c) that is disposed between the media holder and a base 252. In this embodiment, the utensil holder is a tray. Extending substantially perpendicularly from the base are two sidewalls that have a first substantially straight region 254 and a second substantially curved region 256. Each of the sidewalls end in a tip, either 258a or 258b. The distance between the two tips is sufficiently wide to allow for installation or removal of the roll of paper. FIG. 2b shows that the media holder has sloping first and second ends, 212 and 214 respectively. A handle 253 can be used to pull open the utensil holder. FIG. 2c shows the end view of the caddy where the tube of paper has been removed showing a curved surface for cradling the tube of paper and with the utensil tray exposed. FIG. 2d show a top view of the caddy with the utensil holder partially open showing the various devices that one typically uses for wrapping articles. In use, one typically pulls the paper from the roll over the tip 258b and drapes it down the curved region 256 down to a work surface. Once a sufficient amount of paper has been removed from the roll, the user cuts the desired section and uncut paper remains on the roll. When done with wrapping, the user simply rewinds any unused portion back on the roll. If more items need to be wrapped, the user is presented with a convenient piece of leader paper (as part of the uncut portion) to pull for wrapping the next item.
FIGS. 3a to 3d show various views of a third exemplary caddy 300. This particular embodiment includes cover 320 that when open serves as a convenient tray to hold utensils and when closed retains the utensils during storage. FIG. 3a shows an end view of the caddy with a roll of paper 306 installed. In this case, the cover functions as a utensil holder. The caddy may, but need not be, have the same length as the roll of paper. The caddy includes a media holder 310 and a base 352. Extending substantially perpendicularly from the base 352 are two sidewalls that have a first substantially straight region 354 and a second substantially curved region 356. Each of the sidewall ends in a tip, either 358a or 358b. FIG. 3b shows a view of the third embodiment where the media holder has first and second ends, 312 and 314 respectively. FIG. 3c shows a top view of the caddy with the cover open and with the roll of paper removed for ease of understanding. FIG. 3d shows the caddy with the cover closed. In use, one typically pulls the paper from the roll over the tips, either 358a or 358b, and drapes it down the curved region 356 down to a work surface. Once a sufficient amount of paper has been removed from the roll, the user cuts the desired section and uncut paper remains on the roll. When done with wrapping, the user simply rewinds any unused portion back on the roll. If more items need to be wrapped, the user is presented with a convenient piece of leader paper (as part of the uncut portion) to pull for wrapping the next item.
FIGS. 4a to 4d show various views of a fourth exemplary caddy 400. This particular embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment with modifications for a much wider base 452 and a rotateable cover 420 that hinges to a media holder 410 at point 424. The base 452 has an extended platform. FIG. 4a shows an end view of the caddy with a roll of paper 406 installed and the cover 420 in an open position allowing for the paper to be pulled out from the roll. A utensil holder 450 has an open pocket that is defined at least in part by a portion of the circumference of the media holder, the base, and a front face 454. FIG. 4b depicts an end view of the caddy with the cover closed. FIG. 4c shows a view of the caddy where the media holder has opposing first and second ends, 412 and 414 respectively. FIG. 4d shows another view of the caddy better illustrating the pocket nature of the utensil holder, which includes a cutter 401 and a pair of scissors 402. In one exemplary method of using the caddy for wrapping an item, one opens the cover, pulls out a section of paper and then, if desired, can close the cover partially so that an end 426 pinches the cover against the media, which may be lying on a work surface. The end 426 functions to hold down the paper for easier cutting. Like the previous embodiments, when done with wrapping, the user simply rewinds any unused portion back on the roll. If more items need to be wrapped, the user is presented with a convenient piece of leader paper to pull
FIGS. 5a to 5d show various views of a fifth exemplary caddy 500. This particular embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment with a media holder 510 that is slides from a recessed position in FIG. 5a to an open position in FIG. 5b. The figures also show a roll of paper 506 installed into the medial holder. FIG. 5c shows a view of the caddy where the media holder has opposing first and second ends, 512 and 514 respectively. FIG. 5d shows another view of the embodiment better illustrating the pocket nature of the utensil holder. In use, one can pull the paper from the roll past end 516 or end 518 of the base 552.
FIGS. 6a to 6c show various views of a sixth exemplary caddy 600. FIG. 6a shows an end view of the caddy having a clip 610 that functions as the media holder. If desired, the clip can be detached from the caddy. The clip has two ends, 616 and 618, which, in one aspect, provides an interference fit for paper 606. To install or remove the roll, some force may be required to force the two ends apart slightly. The clip is attachable to a base 652 that includes a utensil holder 650. The utensil holder has an open pocket, similar to that of the first embodiment. FIG. 6b depicts a view of the caddy, showing mainly the clip wrapped around the paper 606. FIG. 6c depicts another view of the caddy, showing mainly the utensil holder having a decorative top edge 656. In use, the user can pull the paper from the roll past end 616 or end 618.
Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the many possible specific arrangements that can be devised in application of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be devised in accordance with these principles by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the structures described in this application, but only by the structures described by the language of the claims and the equivalents of those structures.
