Abstract:
Set of materials for packaging presents and the like comprising means for containing the presents, for closing the containing means, for creating a decorative “bow”, for writing a message of greetings and for indicating the names of sender and recipient.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
   The invention described and claimed hereinbelow is also described in PCT/IT 03/00364, filed Jun. 11, 2003, based on 1807-2002, filed Aug. 9, 2003 in Chile, and MI 2 003A001076, filed May 29, 2003, in Italy. This Italian Patent Application, whose subject matter is incorporated here by reference, provides the basis for a claim of priority of invention under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)–(d). 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention concerns packaging for presents and the like. 
   A present is usually delivered to the recipient in an attractive package adorned with a “bow” of ribbon, completed with a written message and with indication of the sender and the consignee. 
   To make up the package involves separate purchases of the materials such as sheets of patterned paper or ready-made bags, ribbons for decoration, or ready-made “bows”, cards on which to write a message for the recipient, materials for closing the package, generally consisting of a roll of transparent adhesive tape. 
   This is a troublesome process especially if many presents have to be packed, as happens at Christmas or at other events when many of such packages must be despatched. 
   If only one package has to be made up, it is a nuisance having to carry the materials home from a shop, especially as they are so easily creased. 
   In the case of a number of packages, the risk of spoiling packing materials is even greater because of the quantities of different components while, on arriving home, much space is needed for placing them, cutting up the packing paper and making up the packages. 
   Even when a supplier of such materials provides everything needed, the materials themselves occupy as much space as a shopping bag. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention here to be described avoids these drawbacks in addition to offering other considerable advantages as well. 
   Subject of the invention is a set of materials for packaging presents and the like comprising means for containing the present, for closing the container, for creating a decorative “bow”, for writing a message of greetings and for indicating the names of sender and recipient. 
   In one advantageous execution, the means for containing the present is an envelope. 
   The means of closure comprise a flap covering the full width of the front face of the envelope and a self-adhesive strip of substantially the same width as that of the flap, covering the entire width of the border of the rear face of the envelope. 
   The means for creating the decorative “bow” consist of a flat extended length of the material used comprising a pair of superimposed ribbons between which is a pair of flat tie-strips, these also superimposed. 
   The ribbons are held together by transversal pairs of joining points on either side of the pair of tie-strips but separated by a space so that said strips can slide freely in relation to the ribbons. 
   The pairs of ribbons and tie-strips are joined together at one end. 
   By sliding the free ends of the ribbons along the tie-strips as far as their joined ends, the ribbons will form a series of loops that spread out side by side from said joined ends so forming a “bow”-type decoration. 
   The means for writing a message consists of an area on the rear face of the envelope comprising sides prepared for partial o total detachment and at least one non-tear-off side. 
   The inside of that face at the position of said area presents a “patch” applied by adhesive or other means, for ensuring continuity of said face even, if the part to be used for the message is detached or folded back on its non-tear-off side. 
   The means for indicating the names of the sender and recipient consists of a label applied to an adhesive area on the rear face of the envelope, to which area the bow can be applied when left free after transferring the label to the front face of the envelope. 
   The outer faces of the containing means preferably present some decorative design. 
   In one advantageous execution the envelope is made of paper. 
   The pair of ribbons and the pair of tie-strips can also consist of a single ribbon and a single tie-strip folded in the middle. 
   In one type of execution the distances between the transversal pairs of joining points between the two ribbons, differ reciprocally. 
   In one type of execution said distances between the transversal pairs of joining points of the two ribbons decrease starting from the end where they are joined together. 
   The area for writing a message presents, on the internal face, a layer of adhesive enabling it to be removed and affixed to any other position on the envelope. 
   The invention offers evident avantages. 
   The set of materials, that can be purchased and carried to its point of use lying flat as initially disposed or rolled up, facilitates the operation of packaging presents in general, lessening the risk of spoiling the components if purchased separately. 
   The package is given a “professional” look which enhances the whole decorative effect, even if achieved with great simplicity. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made still clearer by the following examples of its execution illustrated by diagrammatically drawn figures. 
       FIG. 1  A set of materials for packaging presents and the like, rear perspective. 
       FIG. 2  The decorative “bow” laid out flat, perspective. 
       FIG. 3  The “bow”, perspective. 
       FIG. 4  The package, rear perspective. 
       FIG. 5  The package, front perspective. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The set  10  comprises a container in the form of an envelope  15  with a front face  16  and a rear face  17 . 
   The sealing flap  20  is joined to the edge of the front face  16 . 
   Close to the edge on the rear face  17  is a self-adhesive strip  25  that will lie under the flap  20  when it is folded down onto the rear face  17  ( FIG. 4 ). 
   The “bow”  30  is laid flat  31  full length on said self-adhesive strip  25 . Thus laid  31 , shows ( FIGS. 1–3 ) that it consists of a pair of ribbons  35 ,  36  with their respective ends  37 ,  38  and in between them a pair of flat tie-strips  40 ,  41  with their respective ends  42 ,  43 . 
   The length of the ribbons  35 ,  36  and of the tie-strips  40 ,  41  corresponds substantially to the width of the envelope  15 , the width of said ribbons corresponding to the width of the self-adhesive strip  25  so that, when laid at full length  31 , the “bow”  30  practically covers said self-adhesive strip  25 . 
   The two ribbons  35 ,  36  are joined ( FIG. 2 ) by a series of transversal pairs of joining points, such as  50 — 50 ,  51 — 51 ,  52 — 52 ,  53 — 53  on either side of the pair of tie-strips so that these latter can freely slide between the ribbons. 
   The ends  37 ,  38  of the ribbons  35 ,  36  are given a swallow-tail cut. 
   At one end the pair of ribbons and the pair of tie-strips are joined  55  together. 
   A label  70 , to be used for the name of the sender  71  and of the recipient  72 , is attached by adhesive near the upper edge of the rear face  17  of the envelope. 
   The package is very simple to make up. 
   The ribbon laid flat  31  is detached from the self-adhesive strip  25 . 
   On pulling the tie-strips  40 ,  41  through the two ribbons  35 ,  36  as shown in  FIG. 2 , the areas between the joining points  50 - 53  fold up forming pairs of wave-like folds,  60 - 62 , finally creating the “bow”  30  ( FIG. 3 ). 
   In  FIG. 3 , the connecting point  55  between ribbons and tie-strips lies in the centre of the bow. 
   On detaching the flat ribbon  31 , the self-adhesive strip  25  is laid bare and can be used, when the present has been put inside, to close the envelope by folding the flap  20  over the edge of the front face  16  onto said self-adhesive strip. 
   The label  70  on the rear face  17  of the envelope is then detached and can be placed, for example, on the front face  16  ( FIG. 5 ), leaving free an adhesive area  65  on which the “bow”, when ready, can be placed, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   An area  80  is prepared, on said front face  16 , for printed or written greetings  85 , said area having sides prepared for detachment and at least one non-tear-off side  81 , allowing it to be removed or folded back as seen in  FIG. 5 . 
   The internal surface of said area  80  is adhesive  84  and can be affixed to any part of the envelope. 
   The window  88  opened by removal of the label, is then closed by a “patch”  90  joined to the internal surface  92  of the envelope by an adhesive  91  or other means prepared around said window  88 . The external surfaces of the envelope present decorations  95 .