Abstract:
A thin, multi-layer, flexible web of self-adhering wrapping material, typically paper, foil, polymer, or metalized polymer having a first layer having indicia on an outfacing major surface, pressure-sensitive or the like adhesive disposed on an opposing major surface, and a selectively removable protective layer over the adhesive. The protective layer is formed from a plurality of individual small, spaced-apart portions that facilitate their removal. Alignment indicia (e.g., gridlines, rulers, etc.) may be provided on the protective layer. In alternate embodiments, a chemically activatable adhesive may be used to replace a pressure sensitive adhesive. The wrapping material may be provided in sheets of different sizes or in continuous rolls.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention pertains to wrapping paper and, more particularly, to wrapping paper having an adhesive layer on a back side thereof, the adhesive layer having selectively removable protective backing disposed thereupon. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Typically a gift giver selects a decorative gift wrap to cover a product, box, or other container for both concealing the content and providing a decorative/festive appearance. To achieve a neatly presented gift wrapped package requires skill, discipline, and patience, qualities rarer in some persons than others. Although prepackaged pre-decorated gift bags and gift box assemblies are now relatively commonplace, some gift givers prefer to provide a personal touch to the gift being given. A personal touch/effort by the gift giver is evidenced by personal hand-wrapping of a gift, a task that is infinitely more difficult for some than others. 
         [0003]    For the “wrapping challenged” the task of wrapping even a pre-formed box of uniform dimensions still requires wrapping which can provide a less desirable appearance due to wrapping technique flaws. Furthermore, the task of wrapping a box typically proves time consuming (selecting paper, sizing, cutting, folding and taping) and somewhat wasteful of resources (paper, tape, etc.). In times of high volume, gift purchasing, the prospect of taking the purchases home to wrap them adds to the stress of an already hectic shopping experience. To some challenged gift givers, the combination is almost unbearable. 
         [0004]    Wrapping a gift is especially difficult when tape, scissors, etc. are not readily available. Such situations may occur when a last minute gift is purchased on the way to an event and the gift giver must wrap the gift in their car or in another similar location. 
         [0005]    In the mercantile environment, gift wrapping is often time consuming for both the merchant and the shopper. To the merchant who must wrap hundreds of packages as a service to his/her customers, gift wrapping constitutes a significant expense, primarily in the form of lost time to his sales force or extra employees dedicated to gift wrapping. For the shopper who must wait while his/her packages or someone else&#39;s packages are being wrapped, the conventional gift wrapping process may be annoyingly slow. 
         [0006]    Gift wrapping entails purchasing a roll or other package of suitable decorative paper, selecting or cutting off a piece of wrapping paper suitable in size for the carton or package, or other item at to be wrapped, attempting to center the carton or package on the paper and hold it centered while folding the paper about the carton and securing the paper. Additional difficulties arise when the gift wrapper attempts to match patterns or otherwise create symmetry with regard to the placement of a package on the wrapping paper. 
         [0007]    While some wrapping products are known in the prior art that utilize a pressure sensitive adhesive, repositioning a package once it has contacted the adhesive is nearly impossible. 
         [0008]    It would, therefore, be advantageous to provide wrapping material (e.g., wrapping paper) that overcomes at least some of the difficulties inherent in wrapping strategies and products of the prior art. 
       DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0009]    Many attempts to provide solutions to some of the problems discussed hereinabove may be found in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,489,333 for ARRANGEMENT FOR WRAPPING PACKAGES issued Jan. 13, 1970 to Jack D. Culbert, et al. provides a pre-folded, collapsed box coupled with a single unitary wrap of having one or more regions of adhesive available to seal the wrapping paper to the box. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,943 for GIFT WRAP AND METHOD issued Aug. 16, 1994 to Ronald D. Hendren teaches a quickly applied preformed gift wrap to a carton, the wrap having pre-scribed fold lines sequentially numbered for folding about a carton and shielded adhesive strips to secure overlapping edges of the folded portions. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,703 for SELF ADHERING WRAPPER issued Feb. 19, 2002 to Suzanne Betts provides a sheet of flexible material in a rectangular configuration with four edges defining a periphery with four corners sized to conform to any of a plurality of boxes having a variety of shapes and sizes. Each sheet also has a back surface without any printing thereon and a front surface with or without decorative printing thereon. A pressure sensitive adhesive providing for removal and repositioning of the sheet is located on the back surface along the four side edges but terminates in proximity to the four corners. The adhesive forms an essentially rectangular adhesive frame having a periphery essentially co-extensive with the periphery of the sheet and a hollow interior and corners to facilitate handling. The adhesive may adhere to the front surface when wrapping a box or other item. The frame extends from the periphery toward the hollow interior whereby each sheet may be wrapped about a box so that portions of the adhesive contact, engage, and attach to portions of the front surface for securing the sheet wrapped about at least a portion of the box or other item. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,495,228 for SELF ADHESIVE WRAPPING MATERIAL issued Dec. 17, 2002 to Jennifer Mauch, et al. shows a self adhesive wrapping material for wrapping an object without the need for tape or other adhesive material. The self-adhesive wrapping material includes a panel. The panel has a top surface and a bottom surface. The panel comprises a generally flexible material. Each of a plurality of adhesive portions is securely adhered to the bottom surface of the panel. A plurality of covering members for removably attaches to and covers the adhesive portions. Each of the covering members generally covers one of the adhesive portions. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,674 for GIFT WRAPPING issued Aug. 12, 2003 to Linden H. Bowman teaches a combination folding gift box-sheet wrap combination that includes measured, pre-scored, indicia-bearing wrapping dimensionally corresponding to the companion gift box where the sheet wrap permits repeatable and consistent wrapping and even when including non-repeating design element. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,076,004 for SHEET WITH TRANSITIONAL RELEASE MATERIAL THAT INITIALLY ALLOWS FOR REPOSITIONING FOLLOWED BY RELEASE FAILURE issued Dec. 13, 2011 to Vanderzanden, et al. shows a release material applied to a sheet material that provides for temporary repositioning of an adhesive over the release material. Over time the adhesion between the release material and the applied adhesive builds such that the adhesive cannot be removed from the release material without damaging the underlying sheet material. The release material includes a free nitrogen containing basic group. The release material is dispersed on a flexible substrate and the release material allows for repositioning when contacted with a pressure sensitive adhesive, which includes a free carboxylic acid group, for at least I minute and not more than 10 minutes. 
         [0015]    United States Published Patent Application No. 2005/0276593 for SELECTIVE ADHESIVE GIFT WRAPPING SHEET published Dec. 15, 2005 upon application by Jonathan P. Kitchin, et al. discloses a gift wrap material affixable to a target surface. The gift wrap material comprises a linerless opaque first substrate. The first substrate has a first major surface and a second major surface. A selective adhesion mechanism is disposed on the first major surface. The selective adhesion mechanism includes a pressure sensitive adhesive and is configured so as to provide a first adhesion force to the target surface before activation of the mechanism and a second adhesion force to the substrate after activation of the mechanism. The first adhesion force is at a level so as to allow the sheet to be positionable on the target surface. The invention also is a method for wrapping a gift. A linerless opaque first substrate is provided. The substrate has a first major surface, a second major surface and a selective adhesion mechanism disposed on the first major surface. The first major surface is positioned against the gift with substantially no adhesion of the first substrate to the gift. The selective adhesion mechanism is activated by applying a force to the second major surface. The first substrate is adhered to the gift. 
         [0016]    United States Published Patent Application No. 2008/0173404 for SEGMENTED ADHESIVE DISPENSER SHEET SYSTEM published Jul. 24, 2008 upon application by Samuel L. Guillory shows a segmented adhesive dispenser in the form of a sheet or roll has a polymeric sheet coated with easy to release coating. Adhesive segments carried by the polymeric sheet are removed from the segmented adhesive dispenser and applied to gift-wrapping wrapped on a gift box. The adhesive segments have substantially completely coated adhesive coverage on the polymeric sheet contacting side. The opposite side of the polymeric sheet is uncolored or decoratively colored, printed or patterned. The adhesive segment has a tab provided on one corner or edge, which is removed after placing the adhesive segment on the gift-wrapping. Upon removal of the tab, the adhesive coating directly below the tab secures the adhesive segment to the gift-wrapping without wrinkles or dangling unsightly portions on the gift-wrap. Removal of the adhesive segment, and its application to the gift-wrapping is readily carried out by a one-hand operation. 
         [0017]    United States Published Patent Application No. 2009/0127322 for GIFT WRAPPING MATERIAL AND METHOD published May 21, 2009 upon application by Patricia Miller discloses a paper-like material in sheet form having a design on at least one side of the material. The material has a means of separating the material such as perforations arranged in a pattern or grid. Adhesive means such as tape or glue is arranged along the potential new edges created by separating the material, thereby producing a gift wrapping material. The gift wrapping material may be used without tools or supplies in order to wrap gifts of a wide variety of sizes and shapes. In addition, the material may be easily reused on other gifts of equal or smaller size. 
         [0018]    United States Published Patent Application No. 2009/0229732 for STRETCH RELEASABLE ADHESIVE published Sep. 17, 2009 upon application by Michael D. Determan, et al. provides a stretch releasable adhesive article includes first and second opposed major surfaces and a pull tab, and at least a portion of at least one of the first and second major surfaces is adhesive. The adhesive article has a cross-sectional area-as measured normal to the axis defined by a stretch release force applied to the pull tab during the stretch release process—that has a defined width to thickness ratio, and the adhesive article may have a visible light transmission of at least about 90%, and a haze of no greater than 5%. 
         [0019]    United States Published Patent Application No. 2012/0000970 for GIFT WRAP WITH TAPE published Jan. 5, 2012 upon application by Erin Johnson shows a combination of gift wrapping paper and pre-cut pieces of adhesive tape. The gift wrap may be a single individual sheet that is wound around a tube or mandrel, otherwise known as roll wrap or it may be folded into neat, square or rectangular shapes, also known as flat wrap. Several pieces of pre-cut tape are provided on an adhesive backing sheet, from which the pre-cut tape can be easily removed. The tape may come in various shapes, sizes and colors. Alternatively, to/from stickers or adhesive seals may be provided in place of or in addition to the pre-cut strips of tape. The gift wrapping paper with tape is packaged together in shrink wrap, cellophane or other clear or transparent packaging material. The package may additionally include bows, ribbons, cards, scissors, gift wrap cutter or other gift wrap accessory. 
         [0020]    None of the patents and published patent applications, taken singly, or in any combination are seen to teach or suggest the novel wrapping material of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    In accordance with the present invention there are provided several configurations of self-adhering wrapping material having selectively removable backing. Typically a thin sheet of wrapping material (typically paper, polymer, foil, or metalized polymer) has a pressure sensitive type adhesive applied to a rear surface thereof. A protective layer covers the adhesive in a pattern that readily allows selective removal of small portions the protective backing. Indicia may be applied either the rear surface of the thin sheet or, alternately, to the outer surface of the protective backing sheet. The rear indicia may be a series of grid lines and may periodically include a ruler disposed along either the X-axis and/or the Y-axis of the thin sheet of wrapping material. In alternate embodiments, the adhesive may be a chemically activatable adhesive. Such adhesives may not require the bulk or expense of a backing sheet. Either water or a benign solvent disposed in a sponge tipped pen or other similar dispenser may be used to selectively activate the adhesive. 
         [0022]    In addition, stickers may be provided to decorate a wrapped item or to seal loose wrapper ends. 
         [0023]    The wrapping material in accordance with the invention may be provided in bulk rolls, or in flat packs of one or more sheets of wrapping material. Flat packs may be provided in a number of different sheet sizes to facilitate wrapping common size packages (e.g., shirt boxes, etc.). Flat pack wrapping material may be provided as part of a wrapping kit that includes a knocked down box and other accessories, for example, stickers or other sealing material for use in spots where the adhesive on the rear surface of the material itself is insufficient. 
         [0024]    It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide gift wrapping material (e.g., wrapping paper) having an adhesive disposed on a rear major surface thereof. 
         [0025]    It is another object of the invention to provide gift wrapping material having a decorative design or other indicia on a front surface and an adhesive disposed on a rear surface thereof and with a backing sheet having selectively removable portions thereof over the adhesive. 
         [0026]    It is a further object of the invention to provide gift wrapping paper having an adhesive disposed on a rear surface wherein the with selectively removable portions of a backing sheet are relatively small individual backing sheet portions arranged in a predetermined pattern including a small gap between adjacent ones of the small individual backing sheet portions. 
         [0027]    It is yet another object of the invention to provide gift wrapping paper having an adhesive disposed on a rear surface wherein the with selectively removable portions of a backing sheet are relatively small individual backing sheet portions formed from a transparent or translucent material. 
         [0028]    It is an additional object of the invention to provide gift wrapping paper having an adhesive disposed on a rear surface wherein the relatively small individual backing sheet portions are substantially rectangular, each having a major axis. 
         [0029]    It is a yet another object of the invention to provide gift wrapping material having an adhesive disposed on a rear surface wherein the relatively small individual backing sheet portions are arranged in a pattern with the major axis of at least one of the portions aligned orthogonally to at least one other of the portions. 
         [0030]    It is an additional object of the invention to provide an alignment grid, ruler, or other indicia disposed on a rear surface to facilitate aligning the wrapping material with an item to be wrapped therewith. 
         [0031]    It is a still further object of the invention to provide gift wrapping paper having an adhesive disposed on a rear side wherein the adhesive is a chemically activated adhesive that may be selectively activated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0033]      FIG. 1A  is a top plan, schematic view of a portion of a sheet of wrapping material with a solid backing member in accordance with the prior art; 
           [0034]      FIG. 1B  is a bottom plan, schematic view of the wrapping material of  FIG. 1A  and showing a solid backing member; 
           [0035]      FIG. 1C  is a side elevational, schematic view of the sheet of wrapping material of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 2A  is a top plan, schematic view of a portion of a sheet of wrapping material having a decorative design on its front surface in accordance with the invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 2B  is a bottom plan, schematic view of a portion of a sheet of wrapping material with a selectively removable backing of  FIG. 2A   
           [0038]      FIG. 2C  is a side elevational, schematic view of a portion of the sheet of wrapping material of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan, schematic view of the portion of the sheet of wrapping material of  FIG. 2B  having added gridlines; 
           [0040]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the portion of the sheet of wrapping material of  FIG. 2B  having another pattern of indicia disposed on a rear surface; 
           [0041]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational, schematic view of a solvent applicator for use in activating chemically activatable adhesives; and 
           [0042]      FIGS. 6A-6E  are perspective, schematic views of a package in successive stages of being wrapped in the wrapping material of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0043]    Referring first to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  1 C, there is shown a bottom plan schematic view, a top plan schematic view, a bottom plan schematic view, and a side elevational schematic view, respectively of a portion of a sheet of wrapping material forming a multi-layer web in accordance with the prior art, generally at reference number  100 . As used herein, the terms wrapping material and multi-layer web are used interchangeable. Wrapping material  100  is a thin, flexible multi-layer web having an upper or front surface  102  and an opposing lower or rear surface  104 . 
         [0044]    A top layer  106  of multilayer web  100  is typically formed from paper and generally carries artistic indicia  112  on an upper surface thereof. Such artistic indicia are believed to be well known to those of skill in the wrapping paper art. 
         [0045]    A layer of adhesive  108  is disposed on a lower (inner) surface, not specifically identified, of top layer  106 . Adhesive  108  typically may be a pressure sensitive adhesive or the like. 
         [0046]    With most types of adhesive  108 , a lower protective layer  110  is placed over adhesive  108  to prevent the adhesive&#39;s unintended adherence to an object other than the object to be wrapped. In the prior art, typically lower protective layer  110  is a single sheet although other configurations are also known. 
         [0047]    Referring now also to  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C, there are shown a top plan, schematic view, a bottom plan, schematic view and a side elevational, schematic view, respectively of a portion of a sheet of wrapping material in accordance with the invention, generally at reference no.  200 . 
         [0048]    Wrapping material  200  in accordance with the inventions is also a thin, flexible multi-layer web having an upper or front surface  202  and an opposing lower or rear surface  204 . 
         [0049]    Top layer  206  of multilayer web  200  is typically formed from paper, polymer, metal foil, metalized polymer, etc. and generally carries artistic indicia exemplified by pattern  216  on an upper surface  202  thereof. Such artistic indicia are believed to be well known to those of skill in the wrapping paper art. 
         [0050]    It will be recognized by those of skill in the art that any thin, flexible web material upon which indicia may be printed or otherwise affixed may be used to practice the invention. 
         [0051]    A layer of adhesive  208  is disposed on a lower (inner) surface, not specifically identified, of top layer  206 . Adhesive  208  may be a pressure sensitive adhesive, a chemically activated adhesive or any other adhesive suitable for the application. 
         [0052]    Adhesives  208  may be applied to a rear surface, not specifically identified, of top layer  206  by any known application process such as spraying, rolling, brushing, adhering a preformed thin adhesive layer, etc. In addition, adhesive may be selectively applied to top layer by a process such as screen printing or any other similar process known to those of skill in the art. Selective application allows gaps between Individual backing pieces  210   a ,  210   b  . . .  210   n  to be adhesive free that may be advantageous for some applications. 
         [0053]    With most types of adhesive  208 , a lower protective layer  210  is placed over adhesive  208  to prevent the adhesive&#39;s unintended adherence to an object other than the object to be wrapped. In the prior art and shown in  FIG. 1C , lower protective layer  210  is typically a single sheet of backing material although other configurations are also known. 
         [0054]    In the novel backing sheet arrangement of the invention, backing sheet  210  consists of a plurality of small, closely spaced, individual pieces of backing sheet  210   a ,  210   b  . . .  210   n . For illustration, Individual backing pieces  210   a ,  210   b  . . .  210   n  are arranged in two groups of vertically oriented individual backing pieces  210   a ,  210   b  . . .  210   n  with edge backing pieces  212  along the top and bottom edge of sheet  200 . Individual backing pieces  210   a ,  210   b  . . .  210   n  are separated by small gaps  214  to facilitate removal of individual backing pieces  210   a ,  210   b  . . .  210   n  as required to wrap a package, that process being described in more detail hereinbelow. 
         [0055]    Products available in the market place and believed to be well known to those of skill in the art are known as “Crack &#39;n Peel®” that utilize scoring in their backing sheet that allow a user to bend the sheet to expose an edge of the backing paper to facilitate its removal. A similar bending action may be used with wrapping material  200  of the invention. The size of small gaps  214  is chosen such that when wrapping material  200  is bent to facilitate removal of one of Individual backing pieces  210   a ,  210   b  . . .  210   n , the radius of the bend keeps exposed adhesive regions  208  in small gaps  214  from touching and possibly adhering to an undesired surface. 
         [0056]    It will be realized by those of skill in the art that a myriad of different arrangements of individual backing pieces  210   a ,  210   b  . . .  210   n  may be formed and the invention is not considered limited to the arrangements chosen for purposes of disclosure. Rather, the invention is intended to include any and all possible arrangements of Individual backing pieces  210   a ,  210   b  . . .  210   n  with gaps  214 . 
         [0057]    Referring now also to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a bottom plan, schematic view of the portion of wrapping material of  FIG. 2B  but with an exemplary grid pattern printed on small individual backing pieces  210   a ,  210   b  . . .  210   n . In this example, a series of horizontal lines  220  and a series of vertical lines  218  are useful for aligning an item to be wrapped squarely, the item to be wrapped being neither shown nor forming any portion of the invention. 
         [0058]    Referring now also to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a rear plan, schematic view of an alternate embodiment of the novel wrapping material in accordance with the invention, generally at reference number  400 . In wrapping material  400 , exemplary alignment indicia consisting of horizontal lines  402 , vertical lines  404 , and diagonal lines  406  are printed directly on a rear surface, not specifically identified, of top layer  206 . A substantially transparent adhesive  408  is then applied directly over alignment indicia  402 . Finally small individual backing pieces  410   a ,  410   b  . . .  410   n  are made from transparent polymer, thereby allowing alignment indicia  402 ,  404 ,  406  to show through small individual backing pieces  410   a ,  410   b  . . .  410   n.    
         [0059]    It will be recognized to those of skill in the art that numerous variations in alignment indicia may be provided. For example, diagonal lines, numerical indicia, rulers, etc. may be added. Consequently, the invention is not considered limited to the examples of  FIGS. 3 and 4  chosen for purposes of disclosure. Rather, any and all possible alignment lines, numbers, pointers, symbols or the like are intended for inclusion in the invention. 
         [0060]    Referring now also to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a side elevational, schematic view of a solvent applicator useful for selectively activating regions of chemically activatable adhesive on wrapping material in accordance with the invention. 
         [0061]    Activator  500  consists of a hollow, flexible tube body  502 , typically sealed at a distal end  504 . A screw connector  506  at a proximal end  508  of flexible tube  502  allows selective attachment and detachment of an applicator tip  510  having a sponge-like tip  512 . Screw connector  506  also allows filling tube  502  with a liquid solvent  514 . 
         [0062]    The novel wrapping material  200 ,  400  in accordance with the invention is used by selecting a sheet thereof or cutting an appropriate length from a bulk roll, not shown, of wrapping material. 
         [0063]    Referring now also to  FIG. 6A , there is shown a perspective view of a first step in wrapping a package. 
         [0064]    The selected sheet or piece of wrapping material  200 ,  400  is placed face down (i.e., with the plurality of small individual backing sheet portions  210   a .  210   b  . . .  210   n  or  410   a ,  410   b  . . .  410   n ) facing upward on a flat surface. 
         [0065]    One or more of the plurality of small individual backing sheet portions  210   a .  210   b  . . .  210   n  or  410   a ,  410   b  . . .  410   n  is removed from an area  602  in which adhesive  208  is exposed. A package  600  forming no part of the invention is lowered onto wrapping material  200  in the direction shown by arrow  604 . 
         [0066]    As may be seen in  FIG. 6B , package  600  is placed on wrapping material  200  and a fold  608  of wrapping material  200  over a top surface, not specifically identified, of package  600 . Pattern  216  is now visible. For clarity, the plurality of small individual backing sheet portions  210   a .  210   b  . . .  210   n  or  410   a ,  410   b  . . .  410   n  are not shown on surface  606 . 
         [0067]    As may be seen in  FIG. 6C , additional folds have been made in a manner believed to be well known to the general public. As in  FIG. 6B , the plurality of small individual backing sheet portions  210   a ,  210   b  . . .  210   n  or  410   a ,  410   b  . . .  410   n  are not shown on surfaces  606 . 
         [0068]    In  FIG. 6D , additional end folds have been made defining the beginning of end fold  610 . 
         [0069]    Finally, in  FIG. 6E , all folds are complete and the end flap (fold  610 , etc.) may be sealed with transparent tape, stickers, seals, etc. represented by star  612 . 
         [0070]    Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention. 
         [0071]    Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.