Adjustable-size reusable gift wrap and method

A gift wrapping enclosure encloses a gift which has been inserted within an interior of a main body formed of flexible material. An end portion of the main body surrounding an open end is folded back to form a cuff. An interior surface is exposed at the cuff, and the exposed cuff surface has a different color, texture or material characteristic from the main body. The main body is constricted at the cuff to close the open end and confine the gift, and is expanded at the cuff to provide access to the interior to remove the gift.

This invention relates to a flexible and reusable gift wrapping enclosure or container, and more particularly to a new and improved reusable gift wrapping enclosure that is adjustable in length and size to contain different sizes of gifts in an aesthetically appealing manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A traditional aspect of gift-giving or gift-exchanging in many cultures involves concealing the gift within a decorative wrapping, which is usually decorative paper. Wrapping a gift in decorative paper adds to the recipient's pleasure and anticipation by creating an aura of beauty and mystery about the gift. Choosing decorative wrapping paper that matches the occasion further contributes to the generosity and pleasure of giving and receiving the gift.

Although wrapping the gift in decorative paper is a desirable enhancement to giving, receiving and exchanging gifts, the decorative wrapping paper is usually used only once and is then discarded as trash. This wasteful practice creates a variety of different environmental issues. The decorative wrapping paper is usually manufactured from wood pulp obtained from trees. More extensive use of decorative wrapping paper requires that more trees be cut and processed for paper production. Used wrapping paper which has become trash often ends up in landfills and contributes to the problem of waste disposal in general.

Another environmental issue related to traditional gift wrapping using decorative wrapping paper involves the common practice of wrapping the gift in a cardboard or other semi-rigid paper-product gift box. The gift box establishes a geometric shape which is more easily covered with the decorative wrapping paper. Many gifts have irregular shapes or are flexible in nature, which makes them difficult to cover with the wrapping paper in an aesthetic manner. Attempts to wrap odd-shaped or flexible gifts without first putting them into a box usually results in unsightly wrinkles, gaps in coverage, and possibly even tears in the decorative wrapping paper. On the other hand, placing the gift in a rectangular or other regular geometrically-shaped box allows the box to be covered with the decorative wrapping paper in a pleasantly appearing manner. Using a box when wrapping a gift becomes another requirement for giving and exchanging decoratively wrapped gifts in their most aesthetically pleasing form.

The boxes used to contain gifts also contribute to environmental issues. Boxes are typically made from paper, and the paper is derived from wood pulp. Wrapping a box which holds the gift also uses more decorative wrapping paper than would be used from wrapping the gift itself, because the box has a greater surface area which must be covered by the decorative wrapping paper. After the wrapping paper is removed and the gift is taken from the box, both the wrapping paper and the box are frequently discarded as trash. Using the box and the wrapping paper contributes to excessive consumption and waste disposal problems.

Wrapping a gift with decorative wrapping paper usually requires, in addition to the gift box, adhesive tape and a ribbon. The adhesive tape is required to hold the decorative paper in place over the gift box, and the ribbon is traditionally included to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the wrapped gift box. The adhesive tape and the ribbon also frequently become trash which must be discarded. The act of wrapping the box or gift with decorative wrapping paper also requires physical dexterity that young persons and those persons with physical disabilities or ineptitude may lack. Wrapping the gift is also time consumptive. In some circumstances, the decorative wrapping paper may not be sufficiently durable to resist tearing or pulling away. Under such circumstances, the aesthetic appearance of the decoration may be diminished and viewing the gift through a separation in the wrapping paper may provide a clue to the recipient concerning the nature of the gift. There are many other disadvantages associated with using decorative wrapping paper and boxes to give and exchange gifts.

One solution to some of the disadvantages of using decorative wrapping paper is to use a gift sack. A gift sack is a bag or container, typically made of flexible material such as cloth or paper, which is used to contain and conceal the gift. Use of the gift sack does not require wrapping the gift in decorative paper, since the gift is placed directly into the gift sack itself which is typically decorative. One disadvantage associated with using a paper gift sack is that it frequently becomes trash after the gift has been given. Another disadvantage of a gift sack is that it is typically sized and shaped to accept gifts of a certain size, or a limited range of sizes. If the gift sack is unduly large compared to the size of the gift, the gift sack appears out of proportion from an aesthetic standpoint and can even be mistaken as empty. Sometimes the gift sacks have a non-closable opening which requires additional decorative papers to be placed into the gift sack to conceal the gift within it. Other types of gift sacks which have a closable opening are still sized and shaped to accept gifts of a limited range of sizes.

Many gift sacks, particularly those made from fabric, lack a convenient location to affix a gift card which identifies the intended recipient and the person giving the gift. Cards are often affixed to decorative wrapping paper with adhesive tape. Gift sacks which are made from fabric usually do not permit the tape to adhere sufficiently to the fabric to prevent the card from becoming disconnected from the gift sack. Cards can also be attached by using a ribbon or string, but there must be a place for the card to be attached to the gift sack, and there must be some method of attaching the card to the gift sack. Although the ribbon or string can be attached to the card by extending it through a hole punched in the card or in an envelope for the card, the gift sack generally does not have a convenient way to attach the ribbon or string. Consequently, the ribbon or string may be permanently sewed or attached to the gift sack, which can create a relatively unaesthetic appearance if the ribbon or string is not used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gift wrapping enclosure which is made of materials which allow it to be repeatedly reused to avoid the undesirable effects of consuming important environmental resources, which is adjustable in size to accommodate different sized gifts while creating an aesthetic appearance regardless of the size of the gift, which does not does not create an empty appearance if the size of the gift is relatively small, which conveniently holds and retains a gift card, which does not aesthetically detract from its appearance if a gift card is not used, which does not require a box to contain the gift to establish an aesthetic appearance, which completely surrounds and encloses the gift without gaps or openings that detract from the aesthetic appearance and provide an opportunity for an early discovery of the nature of the gift, which provides different aesthetic appearances depending upon its condition of use, which can be cleaned to prolong its useful longevity, which is easier and less time consuming to use, and which improves a reusable gift wrapping enclosure in general while overcoming many of the disadvantages in the prior art.

In accordance with these and other features, one aspect of the present invention involves a gift wrapping enclosure in which to give and exchange a gift. The gift wrapping enclosure includes a main body formed of flexible material and having an interior and at least one open end providing access into the interior. The interior receives the gift. The main body also includes an interior surface adjacent to the interior and an exterior surface opposite from the interior. A channel is formed in the main body adjacent to and circumscribing the open end. A constriction element is located within the channel for constricting the main body at the channel to close the open end. The constriction element also expands the open end to provide access to the interior and to the gift within the interior. A cuff surrounds the open end and is formed by folding an end portion of the main body back over the exterior surface. The cuff exposes a portion of the interior surface at the location where the end portion of the main body segment is folded back over the exterior surface. The folded back end portion of the main body which forms the cuff includes the channel and the constriction element.

Other and additional subsidiary aspects of the gift wrapping enclosure may include some or all of the following. The length of the end portion of the main body which is folded back to form the cuff is selectable in length, to constrict the main body adjacent to gifts having different lengths. The constriction element may comprise a drawstring having free ends which extend from opposite ends of the channel and which can be connected together to maintain the constriction of the main body and to close the open end. The interior surface has one of a color, texture or material which is different from the respective color, texture or material of the exterior surface adjacent to the cuff. A pocket is attached to the exterior surface for receiving a gift card, and the pocket has one of a color, texture or material which is different from the respective color, texture or material of the exterior surface. The main body is formed by a first sheet of flexible material forming the exterior surface and a second sheet of flexible material forming the interior surface, and the first and second sheets of flexible materials are respectively different in at least one of color, texture or a material characteristic. The pocket is formed of essentially the same material as the second sheet. The first and second sheets of material are durable fabric which permits multiple continued reuses of the gift wrapping enclosure.

Another aspect of the invention involves a method of delivering a gift using a gift wrapping enclosure. The method involves inserting the gift within an interior of a main body formed of flexible material and having at least one open end providing access into the interior and also including an interior surface adjacent to the interior and an exterior surface opposite from the interior. An end portion of the main body is folded back over the exterior surface to form a cuff. A portion of the interior surface is exposed at the location where the end portion of the main body segment is folded back over the exterior surface to form the cuff. The main body is constricted at the cuff to close the open end and confine the gift within the interior, and the main body is expanded at the cuff to provide access to the interior for removing the gift.

Other and additional subsidiary aspects of the method of enclosing the gift may include the following. The opposite free ends of a drawstring located within a channel adjacent to the end portion of the main body are pulled to constrict the main body at the cuff. The amount of the end portion of the main body selected to fold back over the exterior surface form a cuff which is selectable in length. The length of the cuff is adjusted to constrict the main body adjacent to gifts of different lengths and to reduce space within the interior not consumed by the gift.

Another aspect of the invention involves a method of changing the appearance of a gift wrapping enclosure. The method involves inserting the gift within an interior of a main body formed of flexible material and having at least one open end providing access into the interior and also including an interior surface adjacent to the interior and an exterior surface opposite from the interior. One of a color, texture or material characteristic of the inside surface is different from the respective color, texture or material characteristic of the exterior surface of the main body. An end portion of the main body is unfolded which has previously been folded back over the exterior surface to form a first cuff. The exterior surface is placed adjacent to the interior of the main body while the interior surface is simultaneously placed at the outside of the gift wrapping enclosure. Thereafter, an end portion of the main body is folded back over the interior surface which is at the outside of the gift wrapping enclosure to form a second cuff of the exterior surface adjacent to the interior surface at the outside of the gift wrapping enclosure. A portion of the exterior surface at the location where the end portion of the main body segment is folded back over the interior surface at the outside of the gift wrapping enclosure forms the second cuff. The main body is constricted at the second cuff to close the open end and confine the gift within the interior. The main body is expanded at the second cuff to provide access to the interior to remove the gift.

Other aspects of the invention, and a more complete appreciation of the present invention, as well as the manner in which the present invention achieves the above and other improvements, can be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly summarized below, and by reference to the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A gift wrapping enclosure10which embodies the present invention is shown inFIG. 1. The gift wrapping enclosure10is formed from a flexible main body12which has a tubular configuration formed by a closed side wall of the main body12. The main body thereby defines an open interior14which extends between and terminates at open ends16and18. End portions20and22of the tubular main body12are folded outward over the top of a central portion24of the main body12, and thereby respectively form cuffs26and28at opposite ends of the main body12. Each cuff26and28incorporates a drawstring30and32, respectively. The drawstrings30and32are located within the interiors of the cuffs26and28, and the drawstrings30and32encircle the open ends16and18surrounded by the cuffs26and28, respectively. Free ends34and36of each drawstring30and32exit from the cuffs26and28at openings38and40formed in each cuff26and28. In the configuration shown inFIG. 1, the openings38and40and the free ends34and36of each drawstring30and32are located at an outer exterior surface of the gift wrapping enclosure10.

Drawing more of the free ends34and36of each drawstring30and32from the openings38and40causes each cuff26and28to constrict in a ruffle-like configuration and thereby close off the open ends16and18, as shown inFIG. 2. In this regard, the drawstrings constitute one functional example of constriction elements. Before one or both of the open ends16and18is closed by constriction of the cuffs26and28resulting from pulling more of the free ends34and36of the drawstrings30and32from the cuffs26and28as shown inFIG. 2, a gift item42is placed into an interior14of the main body12through one of the open ends16and18as shown inFIG. 3. The gift item42is confined within the interior14by pulling the drawstrings30and32, and preferably tying the free ends34and36in a bow44or other decorative configuration as shown inFIG. 2. The gift item42is securely retained within the gift wrapping enclosure10by the constricted ends14and16of the main body12. The constricted ends of the main body12also prevent any gaps or openings through which the gift item42could be observed or through which the gift item42could be removed from the interior14without loosening the drawstrings30and32.

A pocket46is one important feature of the gift wrapping enclosure10and is attached to the exterior surface of the central portion24of the main body12. The pocket46allows a gift card48to be inserted into the pocket46, as shown inFIG. 3. The gift card48will typically include the name of the gift-giver and the name of the gift-recipient, but could also include any other information that the gift-giver may desire to include. The pocket46allows the gift card48to be easily attached to the gift wrapping enclosure10and maintained in a secure associated relationship with the gift item42confined within the gift wrapping enclosure10.

To retrieve the gift item42from the interior14of the gift wrapping enclosure10, the gift-recipient unties at least one bow44, as shown inFIG. 4, reaches into the constricted end16of the main body12and expands the constricted end16to open it up to provide access into the interior14of the main body, as shown inFIG. 4. The constricted end is expanded by drawing some of the free ends34and36of the drawstring30into the openings38and40. Thereafter, the gift-recipient reaches into the interior14to remove the gift item42. The gift card48is retrieved by grasping it and withdrawing it from the pocket46.

One important feature of the gift wrapping enclosure10is that the amount of the end portions20and22of the main body12which form the cuffs26and28, respectively, can be adjusted in accordance with the size of the gift item42, thereby creating a neat and aesthetic appearance of the gift wrapping enclosure10with the gift item42confined within it. For example, as shown inFIG. 5, a larger amount of the end portions20and22have been folded over the main body12to form cuffs26and28of greater widths than the cuffs26and28shown inFIG. 1. When the smaller gift item42is inserted, as shown inFIG. 6, the greater-width cuffs26and28position the drawstrings30and32closer to the gift item42and cause the main body12to constrict more closely around the gift item42. The greater-width cuffs26and28constrict in a larger ruffle-like configuration which does not detract from the aesthetic appearance of the gift wrapping enclosure10. However, if the narrower-width cuffs26and28were used when confining the smaller gift item42shown inFIG. 6, there would be an excessive amount of material of the main body12between the constricted drawstrings which could create a bag-like or bloated appearance of the gift wrapping enclosure10. In addition to being somewhat unaesthetic, such a bloated appearance could convey the impression that no gift was contained within the gift wrapping enclosure10.

In a related manner, the cuffs26and28can be unfolded to cause the end portions20and22to become part of the central portion24, as shown inFIG. 7, thereby lengthening the interior14to enable it to confine a relatively long gift item42, such as a beverage bottle50. Under this circumstance, the drawstrings30and32extend from the openings38and40into the interior14of the elongated main body12at the open ends, but because the openings38and40are adjacent to the terminal ends of the main body12, the free ends34and36of the drawstrings30and32may still be pulled to constrict the open ends of the main body12into a ruffle-like configuration, and bows44may still be tied in the free ends34and36in the manner shown inFIG. 7, to create an aesthetically appealing appearance. The bows44, or other retaining features, extend from the center of the ruffle-like configuration formed by constricting the open ends of the main body12, as shown inFIG. 7, rather than from the exterior as shown inFIG. 2.

Although not shown, one of the cuffs could be unfolded into the configuration shown inFIG. 7, and the other one of the cuffs could remain folded into one of the configurations shown inFIG. 1or5.

Thus, the cuffs26and28with the drawstrings30and32which extend from the cuffs26and28can be advantageously used to shorten the overall length of the gift wrapping enclosure10to accommodate a relatively short gift item, and to lengthen the overall length of the gift wrapping enclosure10to accommodate a relatively long gift item. Such adjustability in size of the gift wrapping enclosure10assures a desirable aesthetic appearance.

Another important feature of the gift wrapping enclosure10which creates a desirable aesthetic appearance is that the cuffs26and28are made of a contrasting color, material characteristic or texture compared to the exterior surface of the main body12. The contrasting color, material characteristic or texture is represented inFIGS. 1-7by stippling. Even when the cuffs26and28are unfolded into the configuration shown inFIG. 7, the contrasting color, material characteristic or texture of the cuffs26and28is still visible at the interior ruffle-like configuration of the constricted ends. A pleasantly contrasting appearance is therefore always available, regardless of the configuration of the gift wrapping enclosure10.

The pocket46is also preferably made of a contrasting color, material characteristic or texture compared to the exterior surface of the main body12. The contrasting color, material characteristic or texture of the pocket46also contributes to the aesthetic appearance of the gift wrapping enclosure10.

The gift wrapping enclosure10is preferably made of flexible material which can be connected, such as fabric material which can be sewn or stitched, by following the sequence of manufacturing shown inFIGS. 8-15.

Preferably, the main body12is made up from two generally rectangularly-shaped sheets52and54of fabric material, as shown inFIG. 8. The first fabric sheet52forms the exterior surface of the main body12and second fabric sheet54forms the interior surface of the main body12which faces the interior14(FIGS.1and3-5). The first fabric sheet52is preferably of a different color, texture or material characteristic than the second fabric sheet54, thereby creating a pleasing and attractive visual contrast at the cuffs26and28and within the interior14of the main body12(FIGS. 1-7). A patch56or small segment of fabric, preferably the same type of fabric as the second fabric sheet54, is used to form the pocket46, thereby further contributing to the aesthetically pleasing contrasting appearance. The patch56could also be formed from material which is different in color, texture or material characteristics from either of the first or second sheets52or54.

The patch56is attached to the first fabric sheet by sewing at a seam58(FIG. 8). The seam58extends along three sides of the patch56to create an open end between the patch56and the first fabric sheet52to form the pocket46. It is through this opening that the gift card48(FIG. 3) is inserted.

The openings38and40are thereafter formed through the second fabric sheet54, as shown inFIG. 8. The openings38and40are formed through the second fabric sheet54, because portions of the second fabric sheet54form the exterior surface of the cuffs26and28, when the end portions20and22are folded over the top of the central portion24, as shown inFIG. 1. The openings38and40can be formed by buttonhole sewing. The openings38and40can also be created by grommets or other types of conventional opening-creating devices.

The fabric sheets52and54are brought together in overlaying contact with one another, with the eventual desired exterior surface of both fabric sheets including the patch56to the inside, as shown inFIG. 9. The fabric sheets52and54are then sewn together near end edges64and66creating end seams68and70. The now combined fabric sheets52and54are then turned inside-out so that hems69and71, created by the end seams68and70, become the finished ends72and74, respectively, as shown inFIGS. 10 and 11.

Channels76and78for containing the drawstrings30and32, respectively, are formed between the fabric sheets52and54adjacent to the finished ends72and74, respectively. The channels76and78are completed by sewing the fabric sheets52and54together at channel seams80and82, as shown inFIG. 10. The channel76extends between the hem69at the finished end72and the seam80and the fabric sheets52and54, and the channel78extends between the hem71and the seam82and the fabric sheets52and54.

Drawstrings30and32(FIG. 1) are each formed from two separate pieces, preferably of ribbon-like material, which are inserted into the channels76and78, as shown inFIG. 12. Interior ends of the drawstrings30and32within the channels76and78are aligned with longitudinal edges84, and may be temporarily secured in position. The free ends34and36of the drawstrings30and32emerge from the channel openings38and40.

The longitudinal edges84of the fabric sheets52and54are brought together with fabric sheet52again facing the interior. The longitudinal edges84are sewn together at longitudinal seam86to create the general tubular shape of the main body as shown inFIG. 13. When the longitudinal edges84of the fabric sheets52and54are sewn at the longitudinal seam86, the drawstrings30and32are also sewn into and become a part of the longitudinal seam86. The tubular shape is then turned inside out so that the longitudinal edges84face inward and the patch56is on the outside, as shown inFIG. 14.

The cuffs26and28are formed by folding the end portions20and22over the exterior of the main body12, as shown inFIG. 15. In doing so, the second fabric sheet54becomes exposed at the cuffs26and28on the exterior surface of the main body12, as shown inFIG. 1. Thus, the contrasting second fabric sheet54becomes exposed at the cuffs26and28.

The main body12can also be turned completely inside-out. In this circumstance, the color, texture or material characteristic of the second fabric sheet54constitutes the main external appearance of the gift wrapping enclosure10, while the color, texture or material characteristic of the first fabric sheet52is exposed at the cuffs26and28. When the main body12is turned inside-out in this manner, the openings38and40in the cuffs26and28are not exposed, but face inward toward the central portion24of the main body12beneath each of the cuffs26and28. Nevertheless, the cuffs26and28can still be constricted by pulling the free ends34and36of the drawstrings30and32to create the ruffle-like appearance. This circumstance is similar to that previously described in conjunction withFIG. 7, where the drawstrings30and32exit from the interior of the unfolded main body12. The inside-out configuration may be preferable when wrapping a long gift item such as the beverage bottle50shown inFIG. 7so that the drawstrings30and32are positioned on the exterior surface of the unfolded main body12where they are more easily accessed. Of course, when the main body is turned inside-out, the pocket46is not available for use because it is located within the interior14of the gift wrapping enclosure10.

As an alternative to making the entire second fabric sheet54of the same type of material, a strip of contrasting fabric88is attached at the end portions20and22of the second fabric sheet54, as shown inFIG. 16. Under this circumstance, each fabric strip88encircles the open ends16and18of the main body12(FIG. 1), at a position where each fabric strip88is folded outward on top of the central portion24of the main body, thereby creating an aesthetic appearance which is different from both the first fabric sheet52and the central portion24of the second fabric sheet54between the fabric strips84. In this manner, three different contrasting portions of the gift wrapping enclosure10may be created: the exterior of the main body, the interior of the main body and the exterior of the cuff formed by the fabric strips88. A fourth contrast could also be created by making the pocket46of a fourth different color, texture or material characteristic.

Attaching the strips88of contrasting fabric at the end portions20and22of the second sheet54, as shown inFIG. 16, is particularly useful for relatively long gift wrapping enclosures10(FIG. 1) which are not intended to be reversed or turned inside out. A center portion90of the sheet54between the strips88may be made of less attractive and less expensive material, because the center portion90will not be observed due to the fact that the gift wrapping enclosure will not be reversed. The center portion90will always remain hidden from sight within the interior14of the gift wrapping enclosure10(FIG. 1). Only all or a portion of the fabric strips88fold over to form the cuffs26and28, and it is only the folded-over portions of the fabric strips88which form cuffs of the contrasting color, texture and/or material characteristic compared to the central portion24(FIG. 1).

As an alternative to attaching the fabric strips88to the center portion90of the second sheet54, the fabric strips88could be attached to the first sheet52on the inside side of the first sheet52that would normally be adjacent to the second sheet54(as understood fromFIG. 10, for example). The fabric strips88would therefore be located on the inside surface of the first sheet52at the end portions20and22before the cuffs26and28are formed. No second sheet54is used on the inside surface of the interior14extending between the fabric strips88. Instead, the inside surface of the exterior sheet52becomes the inside surface of the gift wrapping enclosure10, except where the strips88are attached at each open end16and18. With the fabric strips88positioned in this manner, folding the end portions20and22over to form the cuffs26and28exposes the material of the strips88, and the interior14of the gift wrapping enclosure10(FIG. 1) is adjoined principally by the inside surface of the exterior sheet52.

The appearance of the gift wrapping enclosure can also be changed by turning the gift wrapping enclosure10inside out. Doing so reverses the contrasting color, texture and/or material characteristics of the cuffs26and28and the pocket46relative to the central portion24(FIG. 1). To reverse the gift wrapping enclosure10, the cuffs are unfolded to create the configuration similar to that shown inFIG. 14. Thereafter, one open end16or18is pulled through the interior14until it emerges from the other open end18or16. At this point, the configuration has the previously-inside sheet52or54oriented to face the exterior and the previously-exterior sheet54or52oriented to face the interior14. Thereafter, the end portions20and22are folded back on the exterior to form the cuffs26and28, respectively, as shown inFIG. 15. Reversing the gift wrapping enclosure10in this manner allows two differently-appearing gift wrapping enclosures10to be available for use, due to the contrasting colors, textures and material characteristics.

In addition to its utility for wrapping gifts, the gift wrapping enclosure10addresses environmental concerns by reducing natural resource consumption. Because the gift wrapping enclosure10is reusable and formed of sturdy durable fabrics, the need for decorative wrapping paper and boxes within which to contain gifts is diminished. Furthermore, by reducing the amount of disposable trash created by using decorative wrapping paper and boxes, the amount of landfill space that would otherwise be taken up is diminished.

The gift wrapping enclosure10is adjustable in length to accommodate a variety of differently sized gifts. The gift wrapping enclosure10has aesthetically pleasing contrasting colors, textures and material characteristics which enhance its desirability for use, and its colors, textures and material characteristics can be changed by reversing or turning it inside out. The pocket46forms an advantageous vehicle to attach and enclose a gift card for the recipient.

The significance of these and other improvements and advantages will become apparent upon gaining a full appreciation of the ramifications and improvements of the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the invention and many of its improvements have been described with a degree of particularity. The detail of the description is of preferred examples of implementing the invention. The detail of the description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.