Patent ID: 6045263
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
A gift package comprising:a bag comprising generally parallel front and rear walls, each having a top edge, a bottom edge opposite the top edge, and two lateral edges, a pair of generally parallel side walls, each having a top edge, a bottom edge opposite the top edge, two lateral edges, and a generally longitudinal fold having a first end adjacent to the top edge of the side wall and a second end spaced from the first end, wherein the lateral edges of the front and rear walls are joined to the lateral edges of the side walls, and a bottom panel having two pairs of generally parallel lateral edges, wherein the lateral edges of the bottom panel are joined to the bottom edges of the front, rear, and side walls to form a container having an interior portion defined by the front, rear, and side walls and the bottom panel, the container further having an opening width defined as the distance between the top edges of the front and rear walls, wherein the bag has an expanded width and a collapsed width, where the width of the bag opening is smaller when the top edge of each side wall is at its collapsed width and more creased along the longitudinal fold than when each side wall is at its expanded width, and wherein the front, rear, and side walls possess a degree of stiffness that is sufficient to provide a free-standing, upright bag; anda bag topper comprising a resilient member having a length and a width, wherein the resilient member has a relaxed state and a compressed state, wherein the bag topper in the compressed state is smaller in length than when the bag topper is in the relaxed state, so that the bag topper contacts the side walls and urges the top edges of the side walls toward the expanded width as the bag topper moves from the compressed state of the bag topper to the relaxed state of the bag topper, and wherein the resilient member conceals the interior portion of the container.