US20100080494A1

US20100080494A1 - Cuffed gift bag with gift trim attachment

Info

Publication number: US20100080494A1
Application number: US12/240,532
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert R. Pavlu, Jr.; Gina Lee Bailey
Original assignee: Hallmark Cards Inc
Current assignee: Hallmark Cards Inc
Priority date: 2008-09-29
Filing date: 2008-09-29
Publication date: 2010-04-01

Abstract

A gift bag having a bag body with a cuff on an outer surface thereon includes a gift trim attachment member coupled therewith to provide a location for attaching a gift trim to the gift bag. The cuff defines a downwardly opening pocket out of which a looped ribbon extends to define the gift trim attachment member. The gift trim includes attachment device that facilitates attaching and detaching of the gift trim to the gift bag and a decorative trim body that may take the form of an ornament, a hang tag, a to/from card, or a message cutout.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gift bag. More particularly, this invention relates to a gift bag having cuff formed in an outer surface thereof and a location onto which a gift trim may be attached to customize and/or dress up the gift bag.
Over the years, gift bags for “wrapping” gifts have become very popular. The convenience of and ability to quickly place a gift therein, add some tissue paper and be done with the “wrapping” process, as opposed to the traditional wrapping of a gift with wrapping paper, is attractive to many consumers. As the popularity of gift bags has grown, the variety of gift bags has increased. Gift bags are now available in almost unlimited variations of size, shape, color and design for almost any gift giving occasion. Despite the popularity of gift bags and the convenience for the gift giver, recipients of gifts in gift bags have, however, indicated that traditional hand-wrapped packages convey a greater sense of effort or caring on behalf of the giver because they spent more time and effort wrapping the gift. The wrapped gift feels more customized to them. Accordingly, a way to distinguish a gift bag from other gift bags and a way to more customize a gift bag is needed.
The gift bag of the present invention fills those needs and more. The gift bag can be of standard construction having four walls and a bottom to provide a space for a user to locate a gift therein. The bag can also have a pair of handles to permit easy carrying of the gift bag. The gift bag, however, is provided with a specific location where a decorative object that we'll call a gift trim may be attached to the gift bag to permit the giver to “dress-up” or customize the gift bag more for the occasion or the specific recipient. The specific location, in one embodiment, is provided via a looped ribbon to which the gift trim may be attached. To further dress up the bag, and to provide a location for the ribbon, the gift bag may be formed with an inverted cuff near the top thereof. In this arrangement, the looped ribbon extends downwardly from the cuff to provide the gift trim attachment member.
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The features of the invention noted above are explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, in which FIGS. 1-4 illustrate one possible embodiment of the present invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gift bag constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of gift bag of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of gift bag of FIG. 2 taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an interior of the gift bag of FIG. 2 with a gift trim of a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings in more detail and initially to FIG. 1, numeral 10 generally designates a gift bag constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The gift bag 10 includes a bag body 12 and a pair of handles 14. The bag body is formed with a cuff 16 adjacent an upper edge 18 thereof. The gift bag 10 further includes a gift trim attachment member 20 to which a gift trim 22 may be selectively coupled.
The bag body 12 can have any construction known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, the bag body 12 includes a plurality of side walls or side panels 24 connected to or integrally formed with a bottom panel 26. The side walls 24 cooperate to define an opening 28 adjacent an upper periphery 30 of the side walls 24 to permit access to an interior 32 of the bag body 12 that is defined by the side walls 24 and the bottom 26.
Opposing side panels 24 may be provided with a vertical crease 34 to permit folding of the gift bag 10 in a manner known in the art. Similarly, a transverse crease 36 may be provided across one of the panels 24, along with a pair of cross creases 38, to permit folding of the bottom 26 upward for storage of the gift bag 10 in a flat or collapsed position.
The cuff 16 preferably extends around the entire periphery of the bag body 12 adjacent the upper edge 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the entire bag body 12, including the side walls 24, the bottom 26, and the cuff 16 are all integrally formed from a single piece of paper folded at different points to create and define the different portions of the bag body 12. In an alternate embodiment, the cuff 16 could be provided by a separate sheet of paper adhered to the side walls 24.
The cuff 16 cooperates with an outer surface 40 of the side wall 24 to define a pocket 42 on the exterior of the gift bag 10. The pocket 42 presents a downwardly directed opening 44.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the gift trim attachment member 20 may be coupled with the cuff 16 such that the gift trim attachment member 20 extends downwardly and out of the opening 44 of the pocket 42 such that a portion thereof is visible on an exterior of the gift bag 10, thereby providing a location for attachment of the gift trim 22, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4.
The gift trim attachment member 20, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a ribbon type material that has been folded back upon itself to define a loop 46 to facilitate attachment of the gift trim 22 thereto. It should be noted that the gift trim attachment member 20 could be constructed of material other than a ribbon. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to, paper, plastic, textiles, and any other type of material providing an opening therethrough that permits attachment of a gift trim 22 thereto.
In the illustrated embodiment, the ribbon of the gift trim attachment member 20, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, is secured to the cuff 16 by way of an adhesive (not shown). Similarly, the handles 14, which are also made of ribbon material in the illustrated embodiment, are adhered to an inner surface 48 of the side walls 24 adjacent the upper periphery 30 of the side walls 24. A cover panel 50 is then adhered to the inner surface 48 and over the ends of the handles 14 to provide additional strength to the attachment of the handles 14 and to cover the end portion of the handles 14 where they are glued to the side walls 24. It should be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the handles 14 could be made of other materials and attached to the bag body 12 in other manners known in the art. Such would be within the scope of the present invention.
The gift trim 22 includes an attachment device 52 and a trim body 54. The attachment device 52 facilitates the attaching and detaching of the gift trim 22 to the gift trim attachment member 20. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the attachment device 52 is a clasp. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the attachment device 52 is a chain. The attachment device 52 can be any type of mechanism used to couple the gift trim 22 with the gift trim attachment member 20. Other examples of an attachment device 52 that are within the scope of the present invention include a hook, a ribbon, a string, a ring, a clip, and a catch.
The trim body 54 is coupled with the gift trim attachment member 20 via the attachment device 52 and generally depends therefrom. The trim body 54 may take the form of a hang tag, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a message cutout, as illustrated in FIG. 4 or any other decorative or functional item, such as an ornament or a to/from card, that can be used to dress up the gift bag 10. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the trim body 54 is a message cutout. In this case, the message is the word “enjoy.” The message, however, could be any number of words or sayings to help customize the gift bag 10 to the recipient and/or the occasion for which the gift is being given. Other examples would include names of people, names of occasions, or other words to convey sentiment.
Many variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. Such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. For example, while the gift bag 10 has been illustrated with a cuff 16, the gift bag 10 could be made without a cuff and the gift trim attachment member 20 be draped over the edge of the side walls 24 or made to pass therethrough. Similarly, the gift bag 10 could be made with a plurality of cuffs 16 and/or smaller cuff like features such as inverted pockets. Further still, while the handles 14 and the gift trim attachment member 20 have been attached to the bag body 12 via an adhesive, other methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art may be used. Similarly, the gift trim attachment member 20 could be coupled with the side wall 24 instead of with the interior of the cuff 16. Other modifications would be within the scope of the present invention.
From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the method and apparatus. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the invention.
Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative of applications of the principles of this invention, and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A gift bag comprising:

a bag body having a plurality of sidewalls, a bottom and a pair of handles, wherein the bag body defines a cavity for receiving a gift;

a cuff adjacent an upper edge of one or more of the sidewalls, the cuff defining a pocket on an outer surface of the one or more sidewalls, wherein the pocket has an opening, and wherein the opening faces downwardly in the direction of the bottom; and

a gift trim attachment member coupled with the bag and providing a location where a user may attach a gift trim to the gift bag.

2. The gift bag of claim 1, wherein the gift trim attachment member is coupled with the cuff.

3. The gift bag of claim 2, wherein the gift trim attachment member extends downwardly out of the pocket of the cuff.

4. The gift bag of claim, wherein the gift trim attachment member is a ribbon.

5. The gift bag of claim 4, wherein the ribbon is configured in a loop orientation.

6. The gift bag of claim 1, wherein the bag body and the cuff are formed from a single, unitary piece of paper folded along various fold lines.

7. The gift bag of claim 1, further comprising a gift trim, wherein the gift trim includes an attachment device that facilitates attaching and detaching of the gift trim to the gift bag.

8. The gift bag of claim 7, wherein the attachment device is selected from a group comprising: a clasp, a hook, a chain, a ribbon, a ring, a string, a clip and a catch.

9. The gift bag of claim 7, wherein the attachment device is coupled with the gift trim attachment member.

10. The gift bag of claim 7, wherein the gift trim includes a trim body selected from a group comprising: an ornament, a hang tag, a to/from card, and a message cutout.

11. A gift bag with a gift trim attachment member, the gift bag comprising:

a bag body having a plurality of side panels and a bottom all connected together to define a cavity for receiving a gift, wherein the side panels also define an opening adjacent an upper end of the bag body, and wherein the opening provides access to the cavity;

a cuff formed in the side panels adjacent the upper end of the bag body, the cuff defining a downwardly opening pocket; and

a gift trim attachment member coupled with the cuff, whereby a gift trim may be coupled to the gift bag via attachment to the gift trim attachment member.

12. The gift bag of claim 11, wherein the cuff extends around a periphery of the bag body.

13. The gift bag of claim 11, wherein the gift trim attachment member is a ribbon folded back on itself to create a loop portion and wherein the loop portion extends downwardly and outward from the pocket of the cuff.

14. The gift bag of claim 11, wherein the bag body and the cuff are formed from a single, unitary piece of paper folded along various fold lines.

15. The gift bag of claim 11, further comprising a gift trim, wherein the gift trim includes an attachment device that facilitates attaching and detaching of the gift trim to the gift bag.

16. The gift bag of claim 15, wherein the attachment device is selected from a group comprising: a clasp, a hook, a chain, a ribbon, a ring, a string, a clip and a catch.

17. The gift bag of claim 15, wherein the attachment device is coupled with the gift trim attachment member.

18. The gift bag of claim 15, wherein the gift trim includes a trim body selected from a group comprising: an ornament, a hang tag, a to/from card, and a message cutout.