Reusable Gift Wrap

Abstract

A reusable gift wrap adapted to envelop a rectangular package. The gift wrap is made of durable material to allow multiple uses. The gift wrap is shaped in an approximate cruciform with each branch of the cruciform being a folding flap that is adapted to temporarily attach to the opposite folding flap to completely envelop the package.

Description

I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to reusable fabric gift package wrap.

II. DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Gift wrap is commonly used with exchange of gifts to temporarily conceal the identity of the gift from the recipient. Conventional gift wrap is made of disposable paper that is only used one time and is sold in sheets requiring the purchaser to determine the appropriate shape to fit the desired package.

Reusable gift packaging exists but does not solve the problems solved by the present invention. Specifically, the existing reusable gift wrap requires extra processes in manufacturing to prevent fraying of the material and extra processes in manufacturing to create a shape adapted for use with packages. Existing reusable gift wrap, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5004,144, is not designed in a manner to sufficiently conceal the package, making it ineffective for the primary purpose of gift wrap. Other existing reusable gift wrap, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,289, is not specifically shaped to minimize material usage and closely approximate the appearance of a traditionally disposable paper-wrapped package.

III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide for an attractive and easy to use gift wrap that has the added benefits of being recyclable, reducing waste, being easy to store and transport, being inexpensive, and designed to mimic the appearance of traditional paper wrap.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the preferred embodiment in its closed state in use to envelop a package.

FIG. 2 is a view of the preferred embodiment in its open state displaying the side opposite the package.

FIG. 3 is a view of the preferred embodiment in its open state displaying the side adjacent to the package.

V. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a reusable fabric gift wrap made from an expanse of fabric having an approximately cruciform shape with opposite folding flaps outwardly directed from the center of the expanse of material.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the state of the gift wrap as it envelops a package is its closed state. The expanse of material is adapted to wrap a gift or package shaped as a rectangular prism. The expanse of material is made from a non-woven material such as polypropylene that resists stretching and tearing and does not risk unsightly fraying. The material is made from a single expanse of fabric, making it seamless. This seamless design makes the gift wrap more closely approximate the appearance of standard paper wrap when the gift wrap is in its closed state.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the state of the gift wrap as it lies flat is its open state. The folding flaps 10 12, 14, and 16 are arranged in orthogonally opposite directions from each other while the gift wrap is in its open state. Folding flaps 10 and 16 have securing devices 18 and 20 for securing the fabric to the opposite folding flap while in its closed state. The securing devices 18 and 20 are affixed to the folding flaps 10 and 16 as described later. The securing devices are arranged near the periphery of the folding flaps to minimize the amount of material not held taut when securing the gift wrap in the closed state. These securing devices 18 and 20 can be made of, for example. VELCRO® or a similar interlocking hook and loop fastener system, or reusable self-adhesive material, arranged such that the securing device on one folding flap will mate with a securing device on the opposite flap. The intersections of the outwardly folding flaps have tabs 22 arranged such that when folded, the tabs cover any gap that otherwise would be exposed on the corner of the package when the gift wrap is in its closed state.

The VELCRO® or hook and loop fastener system if used as a securing device comprises a first type of fastening strips with a plurality of flexible hooks and a second type of fastening strips with to plurality of looped material adapted for receiving the flexible hooks upon contact. The first type and the second type of fastening strips release from each other with the application of light force on one fastening strip away from the other fastening strip. Other self-adhesive material that could be used includes silicone gel sheets. These silicone gel sheets can be placed on one or two of each pair of flaps, and arranged to allow adhesion onto the opposite folding flap when the gift wrap is in its closed state. The securing devices are attached to the fabric material in any manner that would not fail when subject to loading necessary to disengage the securing device from the opposite flap. This includes stitching or any appropriately strong bonding agent.

The gift wrap material 24 can comprise recyclable polypropylene, a material frequently used, for instance, in reusable grocery bags. The use of this material has the advantage of being readily available, durable, inexpensive and capable of receiving printing appropriate for different holidays or celebrations. The material is not woven and consequently will not unwind or fray upon multiple uses. In one embodiment of the gift wrap, the material is synthetic and stain and water resistant, allowing for multiple uses without degrading the appearance of the material. The material is foldable into a thin compact package to allow for easy storage and transportation and allow for minimal usage of shelving space at sales outlets.

The shape of the preferred embodiment can he cut from a larger sheet of material according to the drawing. The expanse is approximately cruciform. The approximate cruciform shape can be cut from larger sheets and require no further stitching, or assembly to create the shape adapted for receiving a package. By using a single expanse, no manufacture process is needed to create the final shape of the invention. This reduces cost in manufacture and creates a more aesthetically pleasing product with no seams. Two of the four folding flaps 12 and 16 can be pentagonal to more closely approximate the appearance of traditional paper wrapping when placed in its closed state. At the intersection of each branch of the cruciform is a rectangular tab 22 with a height approximately equal to the height of the package to be wrapped, and a width of a small dimension determined by convenience of the manufacturer. Each rectangular tab is arranged such that in the closed state, the tabs 22 cover what would otherwise be a small gap between the folded flaps visually exposing the package.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the material is permanently creased in locations on the folding flaps to align with edges of the package the gift wrap is designed to receive, indicated by the dotted lines 26 and 28. In the preferred embodiment, four of the creases 26 form a rectangle sized to fit one face of the package. Four of the creases 28 are arranged such that, when transitioning the gift wrap from its open state to its closed state, the creases 28 align with the edges of the face of the package opposite of the face initially contacting the gift wrap. In this manner, the gift wrap readily transforms from its open, flat state to a closed, rectangular prism state, enveloping the package. The creases 26 and 28 have the second purpose of allowing the material to be folded flat to a state that minimizes size for purposes of transport and storage. The side of the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 also shows to securing devices 30 and 32. These securing devices 30 and 32 are secured to the material in a similar manner as securing devices 18 and 20 in a location that contacts securing devices 18 and 20 when the material is in its closed state in a manner that holds the gift wrap in place.

The gill wrap can be offered for sale in different dimensions to allow for use with different size boxes. It is preferably offered with a ribbon adapted to fit around the gift wrap while in its folded state, with the ribbon having VELCRO® or similar interlocking hook and loop fastener on its ends or other self-adhesive material adapted to interconnect around the gift wrap in its closed state. For convenience, it can also be offered with the boxes for which it is adapted to envelop.

To use the gift wrap, the package is placed in the center of the material in its open state, with the portion of the package contacting the portion of the gift wrap bounded by creases 26 such that the creases 26 and the edges of the package align. In this arrangement, this portion of the box contacting the gift wrap is the bottom face. Each pair of folding flaps is raised such that each flap contacts the exterior of the side faces of the package, with four creases 26 aligning with the edges of the bottom face of the package. The rectangular tabs 22 cover the gaps between adjacent flaps and are placed between the folding flaps 12 and 16 and the package. The other four creases 28 are aligned with the top face of the package. The flaps are folded onto the top Pace of the package such that the securing device 18 engages with securing device 30 and securing device 20 engages with securing device 32. To open IS the gift wrap, the user disengages the securing device 18 from securing device 30 and securing device 20 from securing device 32 and returns the material toward its open state. A separate package of the same dimensions can be used in a similar manner in a future use of the material, making the gift wrap reusable.

Claims

1. An article for covering packages comprising an expanse of seamless non-woven substantially non-stretchable material pre-cut into a cruciform shape wherein when said material is unfolded, said material is adapted to receive a package, and said cruciform shape containing a first flap, second flap, third flap, and fourth flap, said first flap outwardly directed from said third flap and said second flap outwardly directed from said fourth flap, said flaps defined by a permanent creases arranged to align with the external edges of a package to be covered, said expanse further having fastening means secured to each of said flaps disposed such that when said flaps are folded along said creases, said fastening means of said first flap can be engaged with said fastening means of said third flap, and said fastening means of said second flap can be engaged with said fastening means of said fourth flap, enveloping a package.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein said expanse is further pre-cut to include a first tab, a second tab, a third tab and a fourth tab; said first tab, said second tab, said third tab is and said fourth tab each having a width approximately equal to the height of the package to be covered; said first tab and said third tab extending from said first flap and said second tab and said fourth tab extending from said third flap such that when said flaps am folded along said creases, said first tab, said second tab, said third tab and said fourth tab cover exposed edges of a package to be covered between said flaps.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein

said second flap is angled to a first point and said fourth flap is angled to a second point such that when said flaps are folded along said creases said first point and said second point overlap; and

said fastening means on said second flap is attached near said first point and said fastening means on said fourth flap is attached near said second point such that a relatively small amount of fabric extends beyond said fastening means.

4. The article of claim 2 wherein said fastening means is reusable hook and loop fastener.

5. The article of claim 2 wherein said fastening means is silicone gel sheets.

6. An article for covering a package consisting of a single expanse of fabric adapted to wrap an package of a selected size without the removal, of any portion of the sheet and without any substantial excess fabric, said expanse comprising:

a generally rectangular shape having dimensions equal to the bottom of the package to be wrapped;

a first flap, a second flap, a third flap, and a fourth flap extending outwardly from said rectangular shape, said first flap opposite of said third flap, said second flap opposite of said fourth flap, said flaps of dimensions sufficient to wrap around the package with opposite flaps overlapping for a relatively short distance;

a first tab and a second tab extending outwardly from said first flap and a third tab and fourth tab extending outwardly from said third flap, said tabs of a width equal to the height of the package to be wrapped and arranged such that when said expanse of fabric is wrapped around a package, said tabs cover the gaps between said flaps.

7. The article of claim 6 further comprising a first fastening means attached to said first flap to fasten said first flap to said third flap, and a second fastening means attached to said second flap to fasten said second flap to said fourth flap, arranged such that a relatively short amount of fabric on each said flap extends beyond said first and second fastening means.

8. The article of claim 7 wherein said first fastening means and said second fastening means are reusable hook and loop fasteners or silicone gel sheets.

9. The article of claim 8 wherein said expanse of fabric is made of nonwoven recyclable polypropylene.

10. The article of claim 9 wherein said second flap and said fourth flap are each tapered to a point distant from said generally rectangular shape such that when said article is folded to wrap said package, said point on said second flap overlaps said point on said fourth flap at a relatively minimal distance.

11. The article of claim 10 wherein said third flap has a terminal edge most distant from said generally rectangular shape, said terminal edge having an extension edge and two outer edges, said extension edge being of such dimension such that when said article is folded to wrap said package, said extension edge overlaps said first flap a minimal distance while being large enough to engage with said first fastening means and said outer edges overlaps said first flap a minimal distance.