WO2001087640A1

WO2001087640A1 - Gift voucher

Info

Publication number: WO2001087640A1
Application number: PCT/GB2001/002053
Authority: WO
Inventors: Graham Ring
Original assignee: Graham Ring
Priority date: 2000-05-13
Filing date: 2001-05-10
Publication date: 2001-11-22
Also published as: GB2362130A; AU5496201A; GB0111403D0; GB0011510D0

Abstract

A gift voucher in the form of a cash token comprising a card (10), said card (10) incorporating: (i) printed details (12) relating to the type of gift being proffered; (ii) temporary securing means for attaching to the card (10) in a temporary fashion one or more items of legal tender.

Description

GIFT VOUCHER

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved gift voucher. It is particularly applicable, but in no way limited, to a gift voucher for giving cash.

Background to the Invention

It is common these days to give as a gift a voucher or token instead of a physical present. Such gifts are physically exchanged on Birthdays, at Christmas and on other special occasions. Gift vouchers are produced by a number of high street stores such as Boots or WH Smith and can be exchanged for a variety of goods sold at those particular stores. Other forms of token such as book or music tokens can be exchanged at a number of different stores but generally only in respect of the specific items nominated on the token. If the donor wants the recipient to have a greater flexibility over what could be purchased, then the only alternative is to give cash or a cheque. Therefore, at the present time, if one is going to give a gift, the donor either buys an actual present, purchases a gift voucher of a type which seems appropriate, or gives cash or a cheque.

The giving of cash in this way often appears rather impersonal. It can seem as if the donor has not taken the time, or had the imagination, to choose an appropriate gift. This is not always the case. For example, a donor may wish to give a gift which only the recipient can select. An example of this would be the gift of a pair of gloves. Gloves not only have to be the right size and the correct colour/shade but also have to be a comfortable fit. It is usually necessary to try on several pairs of gloves before selecting the most appropriate pair. This is not something that a donor can do for the recipient. The same is generally true of shoes and other footwear or articles of clothing.

A further example of a problem faced by the donor is where he/she is not aware of which particular item the recipient may want. The donor may want to give an item of DIY equipment to a DIY enthusiast. Without a detailed knowledge of what equipment the recipient already has, giving a particular gift becomes a complete lottery.

In order to increase the choice of gifts available, a gift token from a department store, such as Selfridges or John Lewis can be given. This is not ideal. Firstly, the recipient is restricted to shopping at that particular store, which might not sell the preferred line. Also, the recipient must travel to that store to exchange the voucher and the journey may not be convenient from where the recipient lives.

Ideally, if the donor is to give a voucher then he/she would like to give a voucher which could be exchanged at any shop anywhere in the United Kingdom. Currently no such vouchers exist which are known to the applicant. The only form of legal tender which would meet this requirement is cash or a cheque.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome or mitigate some or all of the problems outlined above.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a gift voucher in the form of a cash token comprising a card, said card incorporating: - (i) printed details relating to the type of gift being proffered; (ii) temporary securing means for attaching to the card in a temporary fashion one or more items of legal tender. For the first time it is possible to give a gift token directed towards a specific item and which is exchangeable in any retail outlet in the United Kingdom or where the currency enclosed is legal tender.

Preferably the temporary securing means comprises one or more strips of peelable adhesive. Peelable adhesive enables a bank note or bank notes to be applied securely to the card and ensures that the bank notes cannot be lost inadvertently but are still easily removed by the recipient.

In a further preferred embodiment the temporary securing means comprises a plurality of slits in the card adapted to accommodate bank notes or cheques. The slits may be so sized and shaped as to accommodate different sizes of notes such as £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes in the same gift voucher as well as cheques.

Preferably the card further incorporates an eye catching or humorous motif.

Preferably the card further incorporates a blank space for a personal greeting. In a further preferred embodiment the card further incorporates a humorous text message relating to the gift or the currency to be included with the card.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described, by where the example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: -

Figure 1 illustrates the inside face of a card gift voucher according to the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates the outside face of the card gift voucher shown in figure

1 ; Figure 3 illustrates the card gift voucher according to a second embodiment in which a slit is provided for holding bank notes or a cheque; Figure 4 illustrates the card gift voucher of figure 3 with a bank note or cheque in place;

Figure 5 illustrates a further embodiment in which a series of slits is provided to accommodate bank notes of different denominations.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The invention will now be described by way of example only. These examples are not the only way in which the invention can be put into practice but they are the best ways currently known to the applicant. A first embodiment is illustrated in figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 shows the inside face of a card 10 with a fold 11 along its mid-line. The card folds in two about a central fold 11 in the same way as does a conventional greeting card. The faces shown in figure 1 are thus the two inside faces of the card. Printed on face 10A is an eye-catching motif 12 which relates to the item for which the gift voucher or so- called "cash token" is intended. In this case the cash token is intended for the purchase of a pair of gloves. It is also possible to include further eye-catching or humorous motifs and/or text.

Face 10B carries two strips of peelable adhesive designed to attach to the card a cheque or one or more bank notes in a temporary fashion. Peelable adhesive has the advantage of that a cheque bank note(s) can be attached to it in such a way so that it cannot fall out of the card accidentally, yet is easily removed by the recipient to spend.

In the present example the two strips of adhesive are parallel to each other and spaced apart in parallel, corresponding end alignment. However, this is only one possible configuration. A single strip could be provided or a large area could be covered as a single entity or as a pattern. The strips need not be parallel or symmetrically disposed about the card. The key feature is that the peelable adhesive acts as a temporary securing means to secure a bank note or bank notes or a cheque to the card.

On the same face as the securing means is a block of text 15 which provides a humorous message concerning the currency in question. A blank space 16 is also provided on the face 10A of the card for a personal message to the recipient.

Figure 2 illustrates the other or outer face 20 of the card. This carries an eye-catching design which again is preferably related to the intended gift item. This design is printed on face 20A which is intended to form the front face of the cash token. Alternative embodiments are shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. These depict cash tokens 30, 40 where one or more bank notes or a cheque are held in place by one or more slits 31 , 41 , 42, 43. These slits extend completely through the card and are so sized, shaped and positioned that a cheque or bank notes from the country for which the cash token is intended will fit into them. In use, the donor purchases a cash token which is selected from a range of cash tokens for a preferred gift. Such gifts might be gloves, shoes, clothes, sport equipment, alcoholic beverages, and DIY equipment. The range of possible ideas is virtually limitless. The donor then secures to the cash token a bank note or notes in the legal currency of the country where the intended recipient lives. Alternatively a cheque or cheques can be used instead of or as well as cash. The gift can thus be legal tender in the form of cash money in a suitable currency, a cheque or cheques, or a combination of the two.

The cash token is then given to the recipient in person or by post. The recipient may, of course, chose not to spend the money on the intended gift but that is a choice which he or she can make. The cash token can be exchanged at any stockist within the country where the bank notes are legal tender. It can be exchanged for items of a price higher than its face value on payment of the difference. Furthermore, the cash voucher is valid for an indefinite period but may be withdrawn at any time at the discretion of the Bank of England or the national bank of the country in question.

The materials to construct a cash token are all readily available. Peelable or lo-tack adhesive is widely used on POST-IT™ notes and alike. Machines designed to cut slits in card in any desired configuration are also widely available. Bank notes from a number of different national banks have generally similar sizes. Thus the designer can position the slits in a way which will give maximum flexibility. The arrangements of slits shown in Figure 3 is particularly advantageous. In this arrangement a continuous slit in the shape of an inverted "U" is cut through the card. This leaves what is, in effect, a flap behind which legal tender can be tucked securely. Furthermore, the legal tender is in full view when the card is opened.

The temporary securing means could also take the form of a strip or strips of transparent sheet material, attached to the card along opposing edges. .This creates what is, in effect, a pocket or band into which legal tender can be slipped. Because the sheet material is transparent the money or cheque is visible as soon as the card is opened.

It is particularly preferred if the card voucher includes a pictorial representation of the gift being proffered. The term "pictorial representation" is intended to encompass any artwork, graphics, photographic work or the like, whether flat or embossed, which gets across in a graphical manner an idea or concept of the gift the donor wishes to give to the recipient. This is a departure from the usual store gift vouchers, which usually have an attractive scene on the front, unrelated to any particular gift of gift concept. It is even more preferable that the card carries a printed message as to the nature of the intended gift as in the words GLOVE TOKEN in Figure 1. It is envisaged that there will be a whole series of different gift vouchers such as a CLOTHES TOKEN, SHOE TOKEN, WINE TOKEN, COSMETICS TOKEN, to name but a few. The list of possibilities is very extensive and would include every imaginable purchase. Some tokens could be fanciful or humorous in their content.

It will therefore be appreciated that one key element of the present invention is that the gift vouchers are specifically targeted or tailored to suit the kind of gift that the donor might wish to give, or that the recipient might wish to buy. This targeting is achieved by way of the pictorial representation on the card, and/or by the text message in the card. Rather than containing a voucher which can only be redeemed at certain outlets, the invention is adapted to contain legal tender. The legal tender may be a bank note or bank notes or a cheque or cheque(s) to the total value of the gift the donor wishes to give. By including a cheque, not cash, the risk of sending cash through the post is minimised or removed.

Claims

Claims:

1. A gift voucher in the form of a cash token comprising a card, said card incorporating: - (i) printed details relating to the type of gift being proffered;

(iii) temporary securing means for attaching to the card in a temporary fashion one or more items of legal tender.

2. A gift voucher as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the temporary securing means comprises one or more strips of peelable adhesive.

3. A gift voucher as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the temporary securing means comprises a plurality of slits in the card, the size, shape and configuration of the slits being such that said slits are adapted to accommodate one or more items of legal tender.

4. A gift voucher as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the legal tender is in the form of a bank note or bank notes.

5. A gift voucher as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 inclusive wherein the legal tender is in the form of a cheque.

6.. A gift voucher according to any preceding claim wherein the card further comprises a pictorial representation of the gift being proffered.

7. A gift voucher according to any preceding claim wherein the card further incorporates an eye-catching or humorous motif.

8. A gift voucher according to any preceding claim wherein the card further incorporates a humorous text message relating to the gift or the currency to be included in the card.

9. A gift voucher according to any preceding claim wherein the card further incorporates a blank space for a personal greeting.

10. A gift voucher substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any combination of the accompanying drawings.