US20020139693A1

US20020139693A1 - Foo-foo box

Info

Publication number: US20020139693A1
Application number: US09/818,223
Authority: US
Inventors: Linda Sowers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-28
Filing date: 2001-03-28
Publication date: 2002-10-03

Abstract

The present invention is a combination card/personal message gift box for the presentation of various gifts such as cash, checks, certificates or other small items such as keys or coins. The box is weighted such that the receiver of the gift will not be able to recognize that it is simply a paper or light weight gift. When the box is opened, it is hinged at one side and inside the top flap would be a card or other decorative greeting. The greeting could be printed inside the box, hand written by the giver, or even a photograph of someone or something special. Once the box is opened the gift would be displayed on the bottom of the box and the top decorative flap would then be pulled out and inserted at the bottom to form a three-dimensional display of the card and gift.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention involves combining a greeting card and gift box together, so as to form a personal message gift box to allow one to give gifts such as cash, checks, or certificates in a box and disguise the fact that it is a small or light weight gift that is being given. In the past, normally money, certificates or photographs have been contained inside a card, in an envelope, and given to someone in that manner. This causes the problem that the card is easily misplaced or the contents are not secured therein and quite often become separated from the card, thus making it difficult for one to know what amount of money or other gift was received from whom. These items have also been placed in boxes and gift wrapped, however, the receiver of the gift upon picking the box up, either assumes they have received a practical joke, a gift of an empty box, or they immediately know they are receiving some type of cash gift or certificate, given the weight of the box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is designed to combine the attributes of a greeting card and a gift box in such a manner that a 3-dimensional gift box and display is produced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the gift box when closed. [0003]
FIG. 2 is a top view of the gift box in a closed position. [0004]
FIG. 3 is a front view of the gift box opened and showing the location of the decorative greeting panel. [0005]
FIG. 4 is a side view of the gift box when it is opened, without the greeting panel extended. [0006]
FIG. 5 is a side view of the gift box when it is open and the panel on the inside of the lid is used to prop the lid open and form the 3-dimensional display. [0007]
FIG. 6 is a side view of the gift box with the panel extended and having sides attached to the panel. [0008]
FIG. 7 is a side view opposite that of FIG. 6 and showing the opposite side panel. [0009]
FIG. 8 is a top view of the gift box when it is open and the panel is not extended, showing the non-slip surface, without the covering. [0010]
FIG. 9 is a top view of the gift box when it is opened and the panel is not extended, showing the clear gift covering.[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a [0012] gift box 1, having a lid 2, a bottom 3, a display panel means 4, weight means 5, a clear transparent gift covering 6, and a non-slip material 7.
The box is composed such that it is a 1 piece box having the [0013] lid 2, and the bottom 3, hinged together at one side thereof, in the closed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment the box is a rectangular shape. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that the box could be square or some other shape without departing from the scope of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, when the lid 2, is pivoted and opened from the bottom 3, on the inside of the lid is a panel 4. In the preferred embodiment, the panel 4, is a greeting card. The greeting card would be fastened such as by gluing the card to the inside of the top 2. Alternatively the panel 4 could be fastened by inserting it into a clear pocket attached to the top 2 or an elastic member could be attached to the top 2. The alternate methods of attaching the panel 4 to top 2 are obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment, and these as well as others would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. The panel 4, could be a standard greeting card with a decorative design or picture on the front of it, so that it is viewed when the box is open, the card could then be opened and the verse or the message read from the inside thereof. An alternative is that it could be a card, again with a decorative picture or photo on the outside thereof, and simply be blank on the inside to allow the giver to compose their own verse or saying as they may wish. Another alternative is that the panel 4 could simply be a blank panel covered with a clear material such as cellophane or plastic, having a slot therein to allow a photograph to be inserted therein. As illustrated in FIG. 5, once the box is opened and the panel 4, pivoted away from the top 2, it can then be located against the bottom 3, to form a 3-dimensional display for either the card or the photograph, as the case may be. In this manner it provides not only a gift box for giving of a gift, but also a very handsome display for the gift and/or card or photograph. The bottom 3, includes an insert 8, and on the insert, a non-slip material 7, covered with a clear display panel 6. The insert 8, fits into the bottom 3, however, it is of a height less the height of the sides 3 a and 3 b of the bottom. Between the bottom and the insert, a weight means 5 is located to give substantial weight to the overall box. In the preferred embodiment the weight means is a rectangular styrofoam insert. The insert has a thickness approximately ¾ of the depth of the sides 3 a and 3 b of the bottom 3. It is well known, and one of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize, that the styrofoam could be replaced with cardboard, paper board, an element containing sand or other loose material giving weight to the box. The insert 8 on the top thereof 8a, contains a non-slip material 7, such as a well-known silicone. The silicone or non-slip material 7, covers approximately ½ of the insert 8. This could be readily modified to cover the entire top surface 8a of the insert 8 or reduced to cover a smaller portion as may be desired for the particular type of gift to be given in the box. The non-slip material 7, is covered with a clear covering 6. The clear covering can be a plastic or cellophane type of material that allows one to view the gift located in the box through the covering. The preferred use of the present invention is that one would place the gift of cash, a gift certificate, a key, or a coin on the non-slip material 7, underneath the covering 6, located on the insert 8. If a preprinted card was being used on the flap 4, one would simply sign the card and close the lid 2, over the bottom 3, or if a photograph was to be used in the flap 4, one would insert the photograph in the clear cellophane container and then close the box and present the gift. The exterior of the box could be previously decorated or designed such that it needs no gift wrapping, or in the alternative it could be gift wrapped with gift wrapping paper of ones own choice. Once the gift is given, the receiver would simply pick up the box and be unaware that it contained only a lightweight gift, such as a gift certificate or cash. The box would then be opened and the receiver would be able to view the gift through the clear covering 6, located on the insert 8. The card or photograph in panel 4, could then be read or viewed and the box then used to display the gift and card or photograph. This would simply be done by extending the flap 4, away from the lid 2, and placing it on the edge of the bottom 3, as indicated in FIG. 5.
Modifications of the present invention can readily be made and would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art and would not distinguish from or take away from the current invention. Such modifications could be the use of decorative ribbons or bows on the inside of the [0014] lid 2 along the edges of the panel 4, as illustrated by numbers 9 and 10 in FIG. 3. Such ribbons and bows could also be used to decorate the bottom and surround the clear covering 6, on the insert 8, as illustrated at 11 and 12. Another modification could be the panel 4, could include sides 13,14 such that it would produce a three-dimensional design of its own. The sides 13,14 would be capable of being folded inside the panel 4, such that the lid 2, could be closed onto the bottom 3. As seen in FIG. 7, upon extending the panel 4, away from the lid 2, the side panels would fold out and enclose the gift and form a 3-dimensional design. As seen in FIG. 7, the side 13 is illustrated, a like side 14 would also be included on the opposite side of the box.

Claims

I claim:

1. A gift box comprising a bottom with four sides, a top hingedly connected to the bottom, an insert located inside the bottom and a display panel means located in the top and attached thereto; said display panel means being of a two-part construction and capable of engaging the bottom to form a 3-dimensional display.

2. A gift box as described in claim 1, further comprising a weight means located beneath the insert within the bottom of said gift box.

3. A gift box as recited in claim 1, further comprising the insert, having a height of less than the height of the sides located on the bottom.

4. A gift box as recited in claim 1, further comprising the display panel means having a written greeting and a photographic display, contained thereon.

5. A gift box as recited in claim 4, further comprising the gift box having a decorative finish on the exterior thereof.

6. A gift box as recited in claim 4, further comprising the display panel means having side walls.

7. A gift box as recited in claim 1, further comprising a non-slip material on the insert and a transparent covering on the insert over the non-slip coating.

8. A gift box as recited in claim 1, further comprising sides on the display panel means.