Gift package kit

The present invention provides a new and useful gift packaging system, method and kit that includes an assortment of gifts and a decorative container and packing materials in which to present the gifts. The gift packaging system is pre-packaged together in a collapsed configuration that can be assembled into a constructed configuration. A container is provided of generally rigid material that is collapsible and constructable. When in the collapsed position, the container forms a generally rectangular, planer configuration. Further, packing material is provided in a partially overlying position with respect to the container. Gifts are also provided in a partially overlying position with respect to the container and the packing material. When in a collapsed configuration, a wrapping substantially encloses the packing material and gifts. The gift packaging kit can be constructed from the collapsed configuration upon removal of the wrapping. When the container is assembled in its constructed configuration, it has a plurality of sides and a bottom. The packing material may be positioned inside the container and the gifts then can be placed on the packing material or may be concealed by the packing material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates generally to a pre-packaged gift kit.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 More particularly, the present invention relates to a gift kit that
 includes a collapsible and constructable container made of rigid material
 that supports and protects other gift kit contents when collapsed and, in
 addition to packing materials, also includes gifts within the kit. U.S.
 Pat. No. 5,251,759, issued to Gannon et al. on Oct. 12, 1993 (Gannon),
 discloses a gift packaging and wrapping ensemble. The gift ensemble
 comprises a backing member of generally rigid material providing support
 and protection for the gift ensemble. It also comprises a collapsible,
 constructable gift box for packaging gift merchandise, a first wrapping
 material, a second wrapping material, a gift card, trimming material, and
 a transparent wrapping material. However Gannon fails to disclose a
 collapsible, constructable gift box that is generally rigid and
 rectangular when collapsed. Gannon also fails to disclose a gift kit that
 includes gifts secured by a material.
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,597, issued to Schluger on Feb. 13, 1996 (Schluger),
 discloses another gift packaging and wrapping ensemble. The gift ensemble
 includes gift-wrapping components in a compartment formed by an external
 wrap of clear plastic construction material, the gift-wrapping components
 including a gift box and a mailing box of cardboard construction, whereby
 the mailing box serves both as a flat support base in the kit and, upon
 removal of the plastic wrap, as a box for mailing. However, Schluger fails
 to disclose a collapsible, constructable gift box that is generally rigid
 when collapsed. Schluzer also fails to disclose a kit that includes gifts.
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,570, issued to Schaffer et al. on Sep. 3, 1996
 (Shaffer), discloses a decorative packaging system including a method and
 kit therefor. The decorative packaging system includes a basket having a
 bottom wall, a flexible bag, and a bag closure fastener. The bag has a
 bottom that is sized and adapted so that the bottom wall of the basket may
 be positioned against the bottom panel of the bag. However, Shaffer fails
 to disclose a collapsible, constructable gift box that is generally rigid
 when collapsed. Shaffer also fails to disclose a kit that includes gifts.
 Another problem encountered by those wishing to offer gift packages is that
 for a retailer to make available to it customers an assortment of gifts to
 assemble a gift package, a large inventory of gifts and gift packing
 materials is required. Typically, the types of gifts and packing materials
 included in gift packages, such as, candy, nuts, juice, cheese, balloons,
 wrapping materials, etc., come in minimum packages of multiple units,
 often more than twenty four units or ten pounds per package. The problem
 of maintaining inventory is compounded when the gifts are foodstuffs,
 which have a limited shelf life, typically of only about six months.
 Accordingly, there remains a need for an improved gift packaging kit that
 overcomes the shortcomings in the art.
 SUMMARY OF INVENTION
 The present invention provides solutions to the problems identified above.
 It is an object of the invention to provide a new and useful gift
 packaging system, method and kit that includes an assortment of gifts and
 a decorative container and packing materials in which to present the
 gifts.
 According to one general aspect of the present invention, the gift
 packaging system is pre-packaged in a collapsed configuration and then can
 later be constructed into a constructed configuration.
 More specifically, a container is provided of generally rigid material that
 is collapsible and constructable. When in the collapsed position, the
 container forms a generally rectangular, planer configuration. Packing
 material is provided in a partially overlying position with respect to the
 container. Gifts are also provided in a partially overlying position with
 respect to the container and the packing material. When in a collapsed
 configuration, a wrapping substantially encloses the packing material
 gifts.
 In a further aspect of the present invention, the container provides a
 rigid support for the wrapping and protects the packing material and the
 gifts when the container is in the collapsed configuration.
 In a further aspect of the present invention, the gift packaging kit can be
 constructed from the collapsed configuration upon removal of the wrapping.
 When the container is configured in its constructed configuration, it has
 a plurality of sides and a bottom. The packing material may be positioned
 inside the container and the gifts then can be placed on the packing
 material or may be concealed by the packing material.
 The foregoing features and advantages of the present invention will be
 apparent from the following more detailed description of the invention.
 The accompanying drawings, listed hereinbelow, are useful in explaining
 the invention. Furthermore, other features and advantages of the invention
 will be apparent from the following detailed description and drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
 While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms,
 there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, a
 preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the
 present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the
 principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects
 of the invention to the embodiment illustrated.
 FIG. 1 illustrates a gift packaging kit 10 of the present invention in a
 pre-packaged or collapsed configuration. In the preferred embodiment, the
 gift packaging kit 10 would be sold to distributors, retailers, and/or
 consumers in the collapsed configuration.
 FIG. 3 illustrates the components of the gift packaging kit 10. In the
 preferred embodiment, the components include a container 12, packing
 material 14, and gifts 16. The container is made from a generally rigid
 material. When in the collapsed position, the container 12 forms a
 generally rectangular, planer configuration.
 As shown in FIG. 1, to secure the gift packaging kit 10 in the collapsed
 configuration, the packing material 14 and gifts 16 are positioned to at
 least partially overlap the container 12, and a wrapping 20 substantially
 encloses the container 12, the packing material 14, and the gifts 16. In
 the preferred embodiment, the wrapping 20 comprises a shrink-wrap
 material, as generally known in the art. Other wrapping or means for
 securing container 12, the packing material 14, and optionally gifts 16,
 could include net or paper (not shown) or any other suitable material. The
 generally rigid material of the container 12 in its collapsed
 configuration provides a sturdy frame around which the wrapping 20 can be
 enclosed and provides support and protection for the packing material 14
 and, if optionally included, gifts 16.
 As also shown in FIG. 3, the packing material 14 in the preferred
 embodiment consists of cellophane (not shown), tissue paper (not shown)
 and tissue shred 14a, but any other packing material 14 would be equally
 suitable and is contemplated by the invention. As part of the packing
 material 14, decorative items may be included in the gift packaging kit
 10. For example, FIGS. 2 and 3 disclose a ribbon 14b. Of course other
 items could also be included or substituted, such as balloons, placards,
 banners, greeting cards, or other items, without departing from the
 present invention.
 The gifts 16 in the present invention can include countless items. FIG. 3
 illustrates some gifts 16a-e included in one embodiment that includes
 cheese 16a, juice 16b, a bag of nuts 16c, chocolate 16d, and a box of
 crackers 16e. Other embodiments (not shown) include gifts 16 that include,
 golf balls, books, stuffed plush toys, computer disks, miniature
 footballs, baseballs, and basketballs, jelly beans, cookies, etc. As will
 be apparent from the present description, there is no limit to the types
 of gifts 16 that could be included in the gift packaging kit 10 of the
 present invention.
 FIG. 2 illustrates the gift packaging kit 10 in the constructed
 configuration, as it would be prepared before giving it to a gift
 recipient (not shown). Upon removal of the wrapping 20, the packing
 material 14, and the gifts 16 can be removed from their position overlying
 the container 12 and the container 12 can be constructed, as shown in FIG.
 2. In the constructed configuration, the container has a plurality of
 sides 22 and bottom 24. The container 12 can be constructed in many ways
 that are well known in the art. For example, in the preferred embodiment,
 the container 12 is formed from a rectangular piece of cardboard 26 having
 two opposing edges 28, each having a length. The edges 28 are secured
 together along a portion of their length to form a loop or tube. This loop
 or tube is folded in four places 30 (only three folds are visible in FIG.
 3) to form four planer sides 22. Flaps 32 depend from each of the four
 sides 22 of the container 12 and the flaps 32 can be interlocked to form a
 bottom 24. Any other container 12 or box configuration that is
 substantially planer and generally rectangular when collapsed and forms a
 plurality of side walls and a bottom when constructed would work equally
 well for the invention.
 Once the container 12 is constructed in its three dimensional, constructed
 configuration, the packing material 14 can be placed in the container 12
 and the gifts 16 can be distributed within the container 12. The packing
 material 14 thus provide support for the gifts 16 and also can partially
 conceal the gifts 16 underneath the packing material 14, making it more
 exciting for the recipient of the gift packaging kit 10 recipient to
 uncover the gifts 16.
 In the preferred embodiment, the sides 22 of the container 12 are decorated
 to correspond to a particular occasion, and the packing material 14 and
 gifts 16 also corresponds with the occasion and decoration on the
 container 12 to form a particular ensemble. Thus, for example, a gift
 package kit 10 for Valentine's Day may be designed with red or pink colors
 and hearts on the container 12 and matching coloring on the packing
 material 14, whereas another gift package kit 10 for home warming may
 provide a depiction of a house on the container 12. The variety of themes
 and combinations of decoration and packing material for ensembles is
 countless; thus the examples provided are not to limit the present
 invention.
 Another feature of the preferred embodiments is to provide a wrapping 20
 that is transparent so that the decorative design 34 and the gifts 16 are
 visible through the wrapping. Thus, retail or wholesale customers or can
 select a desirable gift packaging kit 10 from an assortment of kits
 containing different gifts 16 and different designs.
 Thus from the foregoing description, it will be apparent that a
 distributor, such as, for example, a flower or gift delivery service or a
 retailer, may purchase a quantity of the gift packaging kits 10 of the
 present invention. This quantity could be a single gift package kit 10
 ensemble or could be an assortment of different ensembles of gift package
 kits 10. During shipping and storage, the rigid material of the container
 and the wrapping provides protection for the gifts 10 and the packing
 material 14 of each of the gift packaging kit 10 ensembles, as shown in
 FIG. 4.
 Another advantage of the invention, as discussed above, is that it provides
 a distributor or retailer with an assortment of gift packaging kits 10
 without needed to keep a large inventory of gifts 16 and packing material
 14. Additionally, providing a wrapping 20 that is transparent or that can
 otherwise be seen through allows customers to select an ensemble having a
 desired theme and desired gifts 16.
 While the invention has been particularly shown and described with
 reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood by
 those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be
 made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
 The present example and embodiment, therefore, are to be considered in all
 respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to
 be limited to the details given herein.