Abstract:
A device for enhancing the appearance and physical stability of a gift bag, including a pair of elongated flat members, an elongated support member connected between the respective elongated flat members, and a decoration having a first compressed storage configuration and a second decompressed actuated configuration and connected to the elongated support member. The pair of elongated flat members may be oriented generally perpendicular to the elongated support member and generally parallel to each other to define a bag-insertion configuration and inserted into a bag having a generally rectangular bottom panel and oppositely disposed parallel sides extending therefrom such that each respective flat member is positioned adjacent a respective oppositely disposed side panel. The decoration may be opened into the decompressed actuated configuration.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present novel technology relates generally to the field of paper products and, more particularly, to a structurally supportive insert for gift bags and having a decorative top portion extending therefrom. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Gifts are traditionally given on various occasions, such as holidays and birthdays. Traditionally, such gifts are festively wrapped. Recently, there has been a trend to insert gifts into decorative gift bags instead of individually wrapping them. Thus trend has really caught on with several demographic groups of gift buyers (men). However, in order to conceal the gift items in the bag, a top layer of wadded tissue paper must likewise be inserted. While not unattractive, such paper must be purchased along with the gift bag, since members of the aforementioned demographic group (men) typically do not own tissue paper suitable for gift bag purposes. Further, the options for filling the bag are typically limited to paper wadding, with gauzy white tissue paper being the premier paper wadding choice. Further, paper wadding does not provide much interior support to keep the bag from crumpling during transport, unless the paper wadding is inserted in such amounts as to render its decorative properties moot. 
         [0003]    Thus, there remains a need for a complementary gift bag insert material that provides both decoration and structural support for the bag. The present invention addresses this need. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present novel technology relates generally to an insert for a gift bag that provides both structural and decorative support. One object of the present novel technology is to provide an improved gift bag system. Related objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment gift bag support assembly of the present novel technology, shown as deployed in a gift bag environment (shown in phantom) and with a honeycomb paper bow decoration. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , shown as deployed in a gift bag environment (shown in phantom). 
           [0007]      FIG. 3A  is a side elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the legs extended parallel to the support member and the decoration collapsed. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3B  is a side elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the legs extended parallel to the support member and the decoration expanded. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3C  is a front elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment gift bag support assembly of the present novel technology, shown as deployed in a gift bag environment (shown in phantom) and with a honeycomb paper football decoration. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a third embodiment gift bag support assembly of the present novel technology, shown as deployed in a gift bag environment (shown in phantom) and with a plurality of honeycomb paper bow decorations. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a forth embodiment gift bag support assembly of the present novel technology, shown as deployed in a gift bag environment (shown in phantom) and having a honeycomb paper hat decoration matched to a face decoration present on the bag. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment gift bag support assembly of the present novel technology, shown as deployed in a gift bag environment (shown in phantom) and having a hat decoration matched to a face decoration present on the bag. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment gift bag support assembly of the present novel technology, shown as deployed in a gift bag environment (shown in phantom) and having paper hair decoration matched to a face decoration present on the bag. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment gift bag support assembly of the present novel technology, shown as deployed in a gift bag environment (shown in phantom) and with a flat decoration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the novel technology and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the novel technology is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the novel technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the novel technology relates. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a first embodiment of the present novel technology, a gift bag system  10  including decorative and supportive insert  20  that provides stability of the gift bag  30  while also providing a decorative top closure  40  for preventing a gift recipient from prematurely viewing a gift contained therein. 
         [0018]    The insert  20  is typically an elongated and relatively wide thin flat member generally having a flattened ‘U’ shape. In other words, the insert  20  typically includes a generally flat central member or portion  45 , from the ends  47  of which extend a pair of spaced elongated flat members  50 . The members  50  are typically spaced from each other and are parallel to each other, typically meeting the central member  45  at right angles. The insert  20  is typically made of stiff cardboard or plastic, more typically with joints or hinges formed at the ends of the central portion  47 , but may be made of any convenient structural material. 
         [0019]    The central portion  45  also includes a decoration  60  attached thereto, which together define the decorative top closure  40 . The decoration  60  is typically an expandable or ‘honeycomb’ type paper decoration. The decoration  60  is typically fixedly connected at one end  63  to the central portion  45  and more typically expands outwardly to form a fully opened decorative member, connecting at the other end  67  to the central portion  45 . In one embodiment, the decoration  60  is a paper bow (see  FIGS. 1-3C , while in other embodiments, the decoration  60  may have the shape of a football ( FIG. 4 ), a plurality of paper bows ( FIG. 5 ), a hat ( FIG. 6 ), or the like. 
         [0020]    While the decoration  60  as described above is an expandable honeycomb paper decoration (or ‘paper spring’), the decoration  60  is not limited to such a form and may be of any convenient shape and construction. 
         [0021]    In operation, the elongated flat members or support legs  50  are pivoted downwardly away from the central portion  45  to define a generally U-shaped support structure  20 . The support structure  20  is positioned inside the bag  30  and typically extends to the bottom panel. The legs  50  are of sufficient length so that when deployed in the bag  30 , the central portion  45  is positioned near or just below the top of the bag  30 , such that the decoration  60  extends upwardly out of the bag  30 . Typically, the central portion  45  is positioned substantially flush with the top of the bag  30 , or just below the top of the bag  30 . 
         [0022]    The support legs  50  serve the function of positioning the central portion  45  near the top of the bag  30  and assisting the bag  30  to maintain its shape by effectively reinforcing the sides of the bag  30 . Typically, the bag  30  has a rectangular cross-section, and more typically includes a rectangular base panel  30 A and two pairs of spaced and generally parallel panels  30 B,  30 C extending therefrom, each respective pair  30 B,  30 C oriented generally perpendicularly to one another, and intersecting with each other to define an interior volume  30 D. Typically, one pair of panels  30 B (front and back panels) is wider than the other pair of panels  30 C (side panels). Thus, the bag  30  is encouraged to maintain a generally rectangular ‘present box’ appearance, which is accentuated by the decoration  60  on top. 
         [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of the present novel technology, a decorative gift packaging system  10 ′ including a decorative and supportive insert  20  as described above operationally connected to a matchingly decorated gift bag  30 ′. The insert  20  and gift bag  30 ′ are artistically coordinated such that the combination of the two  20 ,  30 ′ yields a visually pleasing effect. In this example, the insert  20  includes a paper ball cap decoration  60  having an overhanging bill  70  and the bag  30 ′ includes a picture of a ball player&#39;s face  75  printed thereupon, such that the combination of decoration  60  and bag  30 ′ yields an overall impression of a ballplayer wearing a ball cap. In other embodiments, the combination of decoration  60  and bag picture  75  may give the impression of a fireman wearing a fireman&#39;s hat, an astronaut wearing a space helmet, a vase with flowers extending therefrom, a cake with candles on top, or the like. 
         [0024]      FIG. 7  illustrates still another embodiment of the present novel technology, a decorative gift packaging system  10 ″ similar to that described above regarding  FIG. 6 , but having an actual ball cap  60 ′ instead of a honeycomb paper ball cap-shaped decoration. The system  10 ″ still includes supportive insert  20  as described above and operationally connected to a matchingly decorated gift bag  30 ′. The insert  20  and gift bag  30 ′ are still artistically coordinated such that the combination of the two  20 ,  30 ′ yields a visually pleasing effect. In this example, the insert  20  includes a ball cap  60 ′ having an overhanging bill  70  and the bag  30 ′ includes a picture of a ball player&#39;s face  75  printed thereupon, such that the combination of decoration  60 ′ and bag  30 ′ yields an overall impression of a ballplayer wearing a ball cap, but in this case the ball cap  60 ′ may be later removed and used as headwear. In other embodiments, the decoration  60 ′ may be any kind of headwear. 
         [0025]      FIG. 8  illustrates yet another embodiment of the present novel technology, a decorative gift packaging system  10 ′″ similar to that described above regarding  FIG. 6 , but with the decoration portion  20  being paper streamers intended to resemble hair. The system  10 ′″ still includes supportive insert  20  as described above and operationally connected to a gift bag  30 ′, decorated herein with a face  75 . Again, the insert  20  and gift bag  30 ′ are generally artistically coordinated such that the combination of the two  20 ,  30 ′ yields a visually pleasing effect. In this example, the insert  20  includes streamer hair  60  and the bag  30 ′ includes humorous face  75  printed thereupon, such that the combination of decoration  60 ′ and bag  30 ′ yields an overall impression of a funny-looking person. 
         [0026]      FIG. 9  illustrates a variation of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , a system  10  including a gift bag  30  with a supportive insert  20 , but in this variation with a flat decoration  60  extending therefrom. 
         [0027]    While the novel technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the novel technology are desired to be protected.