Abstract:
Blankets adapted for concealing gifts and methods of using such blankets. The disclosed blankets may be used to conceal gifts to eliminate wasted time and resources commonly utilized to wrap gifts using wrapping paper. Gifts may be placed on a surface and covered with the blankets to conceal the gifts from the gift recipient. The blankets may include features such as a mechanism to secure them in place over the gifts, and well as a closeable opening to access the space underneath the blanket for adding or removing gifts from underneath the blanket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of presentation of gifts, and more specifically to providing systems and methods for using reusable packaging for presentation of gifts. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Background 
         [0004]    Gift-giving is traditional for various occasions, such as holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. Gifts often are wrapped in festive or decorative paper that is opened by the gift recipient. The process of wrapping the gift is often time consuming. Further, the paper is merely discarded after the gift is opened, which creates a mess and is wasteful. 
         [0005]    The present invention encompasses reusable blankets for concealing gifts and methods for using such blankets. Because such blankets may be easily placed over a gift or group of gifts, the present invention eliminates the time and labor required to wrap gifts with paper. Additionally, the blankets are re-useable and eliminate wasteful use of paper and tape that is required to wrap gifts with paper. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention encompasses reusable blankets for concealing gifts and methods for using such blankets. The blankets can be used to cover a gift or group of gifts. For example, the blankets can be used to conceal gifts under a Christmas tree by placing gifts on the floor and placing a blanket over the gifts. 
         [0007]    The blankets of the present invention may include features to help hold them in place on the floor or to secure them around the gifts, such as weighted corners or edges, or elastic around the edge. The blankets may also contain an opening to facilitate adding or removing gifts to the space enclosed by from under the blanket. The opening may be secured in the closed position using fasteners such as Velcro, a zipper, buttons, or snaps. 
         [0008]    The blankets of the present invention are easy and convenient to use, as they can simply be placed over a gift or group of gifts. The blankets also are re-useable, eliminating waste of paper, tape, and other gift-wrapping supplies. The blankets of the present invention also dramatically reduce the time that needs to be invested in preparing a gift for presentation to the recipient. Gifts also can be easily removed or added to a group of gifts concealed by the blanket. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    For the present invention to be clearly understood and readily practiced, the present invention will be described in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar elements, which figures are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a blanket of the present invention, including a roughly triangular flap opening secured with Velcro, and weights to hold the blanket in place; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of the present invention including multiple blankets of the present invention secured to a Christmas tree skirt using Velcro, and concealing gifts placed on the Christmas tree skirt and under the blankets; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of a blanket of the present invention, including a rounded flap opening secured with snaps, and elastic used to secure the blanket in place around gifts concealed by the blanket. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the invention, while eliminating for purposes of clarity, other elements that may be well known. The detailed description will be provided herein below with reference to the attached drawings. 
         [0014]    The invention encompasses blankets used to conceal gifts and methods of using such blankets to conceal gifts. A blanket of the present invention may be used to conceal a single gift or multiple gifts simultaneously. The gift or gifts are placed on a surface, such as the floor or a table. A blanket of the present invention may then be placed over the gifts to conceal them. As described herein, the blanket may also contain an opening that can be used to access the space underneath the blanket, such that the opening may be used to place gifts under the blanket or to remove gifts from underneath the blanket. 
         [0015]    The blanket may include features useful for holding the perimeter of the blanket in place on the surface upon which the gifts are placed. For example, the blanket may be weighted around the edges. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the blanket  10  may have weights  11  secured at various locations around the edge of the blanket. The weights may be secured to the exterior of the blanket, or may be embedded in the fabric of the blanket. Alternatively, the entire perimeter of the blanket may be weighted. For example, a channel filled with sand or another weighted material may be provided around the edge of the blanket. 
         [0016]    The blanket may also be secured in place using a fastening mechanism. For example, Velcro may be placed on the underside of the blanket. The Velcro may be used to secure the blanket to a carpeted floor or other surface to which Velcro can attach. In other embodiments, a piece of fabric or other material is provided to place on the surface where the gifts will be placed. The gifts may then be placed on top of the piece of fabric or other material, and covered by the blanket. The piece of fabric or other material and blanket may be secured together using a variety of mechanisms, such as buttons, zippers, snaps, pieces of male and female Velcro, or other well-known mechanisms that allow the blanket to be secured to the piece of fabric. For example, the piece of fabric may include buttons spaced at intervals and the blanket may include button holes at corresponding intervals, thus allowing the blanket to be secured to the piece of fabric. 
         [0017]    Additionally, multiple blankets may be secured to a single piece of fabric or other material. In one such embodiment, shown in  FIG. 2 , the piece of fabric or other material is a Christmas tree skirt  20 . In this embodiment, the Christmas tree skirt  20  is made of a material to which Velcro can attach, and each of the multiple blankets includes Velcro  21  around the edge of the blanket to secure the blanket to the Christmas tree skirt.  FIG. 2  shows gifts  22  placed on the Christmas tree skirt  20 . Those gifts  22  may then be concealed using a blanket of the present invention. Also shown in  FIG. 2  are gifts  23  in the process of being concealed with a blanket  24  to be secured to the Christmas tree skirt  20  using Velcro  21 .  FIG. 2  also shows a blanket  25  of the present invention concealing gifts on the Christmas tree skirt  20 . In such embodiments involving multiple blankets, each of the multiple blankets may be used for one gift recipient. For example, individual family members may each have one or more blankets designated for their gifts, such that all of the gifts concealed by any particular blanket are intended for a single recipient. 
         [0018]    In other embodiments (not shown), the Christmas tree skirt may have pre-defined regions where blankets of the present invention may be secured. For example, the Christmas tree skirt may have regions defined by a series of buttons to which the blankets of the present invention may be secured. Those regions may be designed in a variety of manners to allow for numerous arrangements of blankets across the surface of the Christmas tree skirt. Similarly, other fastening mechanisms known in the art may be used to secure the multiple blankets to the piece of fabric or other material. For example, the piece of fabric or other material and the blanket may have zippers, snaps, or pieces of Velcro. 
         [0019]    As shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , a blanket  30  of the present invention may alternatively be held in place by including a mechanism to secure the blanket to the gifts that are placed under the blanket. For example, elastic  31  or a drawstring may be provided around the edge of the blanket. The elastic or drawstring can be used to snuggly fit the blanket around the gifts located in the space underneath the blanket. 
         [0020]    The blankets of the present invention also may include an opening that allows gifts to be easily inserted into and removed from the space underneath the blanket. In one embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1 , the opening is a triangular flap  12 . The flap may be secured in the closed position using a fastening mechanism, such as Velcro, buttons, snaps, zippers, or similar mechanisms well known in the art. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the fastening mechanism is Velcro  13 . Openings in other shapes may also be used. For example, the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  includes a rounded flap  32  opening, secured using snaps  33 . The opening may also be rectangular, square, or may comprise a single slit in the blanket. 
         [0021]    The blankets of the present invention may also include structural mechanisms that allow a blanket to adopt a particular shape. For example, the blankets of the present invention may include loops adapted to accept structural rods. Curved rods may define a pyramidal, domed, or square shape, much as a tent holds a structure. When implemented in this manner, the blankets of the present invention may be used to hide both the specific character of gifts placed inside, and the shape of those gifts. The shapes that may be adopted by the blankets of the present invention may be customized to accommodate presents of various shapes and sizes. 
         [0022]    The blankets of the present invention may include various decorative elements, such as bows, embroidery, designs, patterns, and the like. The design and coloring of the blankets of the present invention may be selected to match the occasion (e.g., green and red for Christmas) or the gift recipient (e.g., customized with the recipient&#39;s name or decorative elements reflecting the recipient&#39;s favorite color, hobbies, or interests). The blankets may be various sizes and shapes to accommodate a wide variety of gift quantities, shapes, and sizes. 
         [0023]    Nothing in the above description is meant to limit the present invention to any specific materials, geometry, or orientation of elements. Many modifications are contemplated within the scope of the present invention and will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The embodiments described herein were presented by way of example only and should not be used to limit the scope of the invention.