US20060043058A1

US20060043058A1 - Decorative bottle wrap

Info

Publication number: US20060043058A1
Application number: US10/929,698
Authority: US
Inventors: Benny Fichte; Karen Klein
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-30
Filing date: 2004-08-30
Publication date: 2006-03-02

Abstract

A bottle or other container can be decorated with a wrap. The wrap has a base member that is positioned underneath the bottom end of the bottle and a cap member that is positioned on top of the top end of the bottle. A decorative band extends between the base and cap members to form a loop and thereby wrap the bottle. The band applies tension between the base and cap members by being elasticized, thereby maintaining the wrap around the bottle. The decorative band can be ribbon, fabric, etc. and can be adorned with a bow.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for decorating a bottle or other type of container that stands upright.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is a common practice to give a gift of spirits, such as wine. For example, when attending a dinner party, a guest may provide a gift of a bottle of wine to the host.
When giving a bottle of wine, there is a desire to ornament the bottle. Gifts are traditionally wrapped in paper, foil, ribbons, etc. Recently, it has become acceptable to place a gift in a large, two-handled paper bag with a flat bottom. The gift is covered with tissue paper.
Some people tie a bow or ribbon around the neck or body of the bottle. However, tying a bow or a ribbon requires some modicum, of creativity and finesse. Many people would prefer to purchase a premade bow to decorate a gift. If the bow is attached either to the body or the neck, the bow can easily slip off due to the cylindrical nature of the bottle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a premade ornamental wrap for a bottle, such as a wine bottle, or other container.
It is an object to provide a premade wrap that will not easily slip off of the bottle or container.
The present invention provides a decorative wrap for a bottle that comprises a base member that is made of a stiff material and that is structured and arranged to fit under a bottom end of the bottle. A cap member is structured and arranged to fit on a top end of the bottle. A decorative band forms a loop between the base member and the cap member. The band applies tension between the base and cap members when the cap and base members are separated by a predetermined distance.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the cap is made of a stiff material.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the decorative band is elasticized.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the base member is disc-shaped.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the base member is convex-shaped.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the base member has a flat outer rim and ears extending therefrom for coupling to the decorative band.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a bow is attached to the decorative band.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the cap is made of a stiff material, the decorative band is elasticized and a bow is attached to the decorative band.
The present invention also provides a decorated bottle that comprises a top end and a bottom end. The bottle is structured and arranged to stand upright on its bottom end. The base member is located under the bottom end and a cap member is located on top of the top end. A decorative loop extends between the base and cap members and applies a tension between the base and cap members.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the base member has an outer rim and has ears projecting from the outer rim for coupling to the decorative band.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the base member is made of a stiff material.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the base member is made of a rubber material.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the decorative band is elasticized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a wine bottle.
FIG. 2 shows the decorative bottle wrap of the present invention, in accordance with a preferred embodiment.
FIG. 3 shows a wine bottle ornamented with the bottle wrap.
FIG. 4 is an edge view of a base member, in accordance with another embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a base member, in accordance with another embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a view of the cap member in accordance with another embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The decorative bottle wrap is designed for use on wine or spirit bottles 11, such as shown in FIG. 1. The bottle 11 has a bottom end 13 and a top end 15. The bottle stands upright on its bottom end 13. The bottom end 13 is generally flat. The bottom ends 13 of many wine bottles have a flat rim, with the bottom being concave into the bottle. Thus, a depression is formed in the center of the bottom end of many wine bottles.
The top end 15 is generally flat and is of a smaller diameter than the bottom end 13. Thus, the bottle tapers, from the top end 15, along a relatively narrow neck 17, outwardly to a body 19 and to the bottom end 13. A label 21 is typically applied to the body 19.
Although the wrap of the present invention is designed for wine bottles, the wrap can be used on other bottles or generally elongated containers that stand upright, such as bottles of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, perfumes, etc. Perfume bottles are known for their unusual shape. Examples of perfume bottles are shown in U.S. Design Pat. Nos. 473,467; 470,042; 442,475 and 441,281. Some products may be packaged in metal upright containers, which containers are designed to look old fashioned. The present invention can be used on these containers, which are considered to be “bottles”.
The decorative wrap 23 is shown in FIG. 2. The wrap 23 has a base member 25, a cap member 27 and a decorative band 29 between the base and cap members.
The base member 25 is sized to fit under the bottom end 13 of the bottle. For a round bottom end 13, the base member 25 can also be round. If the base member is not decorative, it is sized to fit wholly under the bottle bottom end so as to be generally hidden from view when the bottle is stood on a surface (such as a table or countertop). The base member 25 can be flat, so as to be disc shaped. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the base member 25A can be convex or curved, so as to fit within the depression of the bottom end 13 of the bottle. This minimizes the bottom member sliding off of the bottle. As a further alternative, the base member 25B (see FIG. 5) can have tabs 26 or ears that protrude up from the outer edge. The ears 26 not only serve to retain the base member on the bottom end of the bottle, but are used to fasten the decorative band 29 thereto.
The cap member 27 is also disc shaped to fit on the top end 15 of the bottle. Preferably, the cap member is the same diameter as the bottle top end 15. As an alternative, to prevent the cap member from sliding off from the bottle top end, the cap member 27A can be cup shaped (see FIG. 6). The open end of the cup shaped cap member 27A faces the bottom member 25.
The base member and the cap member need not be round, but can be square, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, and other shapes as well. The base and cap members can be made of material such as plastic, rubber or cardboard paper. If the cap member is to be visible, it can be colored so as to match the decorative band or the glass of the bottle. In the preferred embodiment, the base member is made of a stiff material such as plastic. The base member is stiff so as to hold its shape even when subjected to the tension of the decorative band 29. Also, the base member is stiff enough so that it will not be pulled from the bottom end of the bottle by the band 29. The cap member can likewise be made of a stiff material.
The decorative band 29 is a loop that extends from the base member 25 to the cap member 27. The band can be a band of ribbon, fabric, etc. In the preferred embodiment, the band, in transverse cross-section, forms a decorative tube; a strip of elastic material extends through the tube to elasticize the decorative band. FIG. 2 shows the band 29 in a relaxed state, wherein the band is shortened. The decorative fabric is wrinkled due to the shortened length of the band. FIG. 3 shows the band 29 stretched to fit over the bottle 11. The decorative band 29 is attached to the base member 25. Opposite of the base member on the decorative band is the cap member 27.
To form the loop with the decorative band, the two ends of the decorative band are attached to the base member 25, as shown in FIG. 2. This locates the joint in the decorative band loop under the bottle, out of sight. Alternatively, the joint can be in sight or view if it is aesthetically pleasing. When the decorative band is attached to the base member 25B shown in FIG. 5, the ends of the band 29 are attached to the ears 26.
The cap member 27, if disc-shaped, can be invisible and located within the decorative band, as in FIG. 2. If cup-shaped, it is located outside of the band. The band is coupled to the base member and the cap members by suitable fasteners, such as adhesive, glue, staples, rivets, etc.
A ribbon or bow 31 can be attached to the decorative band. In the preferred embodiment, the bow is attached to the cap member so as to be located on top, when the wrap is installed onto a bottle (see FIG. 3). A fastener is used to couple the bow to the band. Alternatively, the bow can be located elsewhere on the band.
To install the wrap 23 onto a bottle 11, the base member 25 is located under the bottle bottom end 13. The decorative band 29 is stretched so as to fit the cap member 27 on the top end 15 of the bottle. Installation is complete. Alternatively, the cap member can be installed onto the bottle top end before installing the bottom member.
If the cap member 27 is a disc, a small amount of adhesive can be used to secure the decorative band to the top end of the bottle.
The decorative band 29 extends between the top and bottom ends 13, 15 of the bottle 11, along the sides of the bottle. The bottle is thus wrapped. The decorative band applies tension to the cap and base members 25, 27, thereby maintaining the wrap 23 on the bottle and minimizing any chance of the wrap coming off. The tension can be applied with an elasticized band, as described above. Alternatively, other tensioning mechanisms can be used, such as a draw string extending through the tubular decorative band. The secure the wrap to the bottle, the string, which could exit the band at the cap member, is pulled tight and a clasp on the drawstring maintains the tension. The ends of the drawstring can be clipped or tied into a decorative bow.
The foregoing disclosure and showings made in the drawings are merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A decorative wrap for a bottle, comprising:

a) a base member that is made of a stiff material and that is structured and arranged to fit under a bottom end of the bottle;

b) a cap member that is structured and arranged to fit on a top end of the bottle;

c) a decorative band that forms a loop between the base member and the cap member, the band applying tension between the cap and base members when the cap and base members are separated by a predetermined distance.

2. The decorative wrap of claim 1, wherein the cap is made of a stiff material.

3. The decorative wrap of claim 1, wherein the decorative band is elasticized.

4. The decorative wrap of claim 1, wherein the base member is disc-shaped.

5. The decorative wrap of claim 1, wherein the base member is convex-shaped.

6. The decorative wrap of claim 1, wherein the base member has a flat outer rim and has ears extending from the rim, which ears couple to the decorative band.

7. The decorative wrap of claim 1, further comprising a bow attached to the decorative band.

8. The decorative wrap of claim 1, wherein:

a) the cap is made of a stiff material;

b) the decorative band is elasticized;

c) a bow is attached to the decorative band.

9. A decorated bottle, comprising:

a) a top end and a bottom end, with the bottle being structured and arranged to stand upright on the bottom end;

b) a base member that is located under the bottom end;

c) a cap member located on top of the top end;

d) a decorative loop extending between the base and cap members and applying a tension between the base and the cap members.

10. The decorated bottle of claim 9, wherein the base member has a flat outer rim and ears extending from the rim, which ears are coupled to the decorative loop.

11. The decorated bottle of claim 9, wherein the base member is made of a stiff material.

12. The decorated bottle of claim 9, wherein the base member is made of a rubber material.

13. The decorated bottle of claim 9, wherein the decorative band is elasticized.