Abstract:
A money holder for facilitating the giving of paper currency as a gift includes a body having two covers hingedly connected to a spine. The money holder further includes an arrangement for adhering a stack of paper currency to the body so that a currency stack may be held intermediate the two covers when the body is in a closed condition. The amount and denomination of the currency may be determined by the gift giver. When the body is in an open condition, the receiver of the gift is provided selective access to the paper currency, which may be detached from the body one bill at a time.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates broadly to devices associated with presenting gifts to be given and, more particularly, to a money holder for gift giving that will retain and display a predetermined amount of paper currency.  
           [0002]    Currency is a popular gift item, typically given for many gift giving occasions such as birthdays or graduation and is suitable for all ages. Nevertheless, one of the aspects of gift giving that enhances the enjoyment of the process for both sides is the anticipation and lack of foreknowledge on behalf of the recipient. This aspect of gift giving is often absent to a degree when gifts of currency are given.  
           [0003]    Existing devices for giving gifts of money include a gift card or envelope having a slot or pocket designed to hold one or two bills with an opening for the presidential portrait to be visible therethrough. Many of these envelopes are sized to receive under five bills and have the rectangular dimension of the bills. Therefore, the contents of the envelope are readily discernable to the recipient expecting a gift. Further, when the gift is received, the bills are typically immediately co-mingled with other currency carried by the recipient and the gift nature of currency thusly lost.  
           [0004]    Another method for giving gifts of currency is disclosed in Burton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,062. There, a combined greeting card and gift box apparatus is disclosed that includes a box formed from a single paper blank having a slot formed in one wall thereof with a flap covering the slotted wall. Currency is disposed on an adhesive strand, rolled within the box as seen in FIG. 2. The currency is dispensed by unrolling the adhesive strand and peeling bills therefrom. According to Burton et al. &#39;062 an indeterminate amount of cash is dispensed from the box. Therefore, a recipient is unable to determine the exact value of the gift and the thickness of the box as well as its shape detracts from its ability to be transported easily.  
           [0005]    There accordingly exists a need for a device for giving gifts of currency that enhances the gift giving experience, provides the recipient with the ability to determine the value of the gift while initially presenting a gift of unknown value, and provides a package that is convenient to carry and use.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is accordingly an option to the present invention to provide a unique device for giving gifts of money in the form of currency formed as pliant sheets that can be individually removed from the device for use.  
           [0007]    It is another option of the present invention to provide such a device that can be assembled easily at the point of sale or by a user.  
           [0008]    It is yet another option of the present invention to provide such a device that is readily transportable.  
           [0009]    It is still another option to the present invention to provide such a device that may be used to provide a selectively varied amount of money as a gift.  
           [0010]    To those ends, the present invention provides a money holder for facilitating giving paper currency as a gift that includes a body for supporting the paper currency. The body has a spine, a first cover and a second cover, the first and second covers being hingedly attached to the spine. The spine and first and second covers are each formed as generally planar members. When the money holder is in a closed condition, the body contains the paper currency intermediate the first cover and the second cover. When the money holder is in an open condition, it provides selective access to the paper currency. The money holder also includes an arrangement for adhering the paper currency to the body.  
           [0011]    The spine and the first and second covers of a money holder according to the present invention are preferably substantially rigid.  
           [0012]    In one preferred embodiment of the money holder according to the present invention, the arrangement for adhering the paper currency to the body includes an adhesive layer intermediate the paper currency and the spine.  
           [0013]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the arrangement for adhering includes an attachment member, a first adhesive layer for adhering the attachment member to the spine and a second adhesive layer for adhering the paper currency to the attachment member. The attachment member preferably includes a generally planar strip having an upper surface and a lower surface. The first layer of adhesive is in engagement with the lower surface and the second layer of adhesive is in engagement with the upper surface. Alternatively, the attachment member may include a pliant, generally planar strip having an upper surface and a lower surface. In this embodiment, the first layer of adhesive is preferably in engagement with at least a portion of the lower surface and the second layer of adhesive is in engagement with at least portion of the upper surface.  
           [0014]    In yet another preferred embodiment, the arrangement for adhering includes an attachment member that includes a first generally planar strip hingedly attached to a second generally planar strip. In this embodiment, the first layer of adhesive is attached to the first generally planar strip and the second layer of adhesive is attached to the second generally planar strip.  
           [0015]    A money holder according to the present invention preferably includes a protective layer removably attached to the second adhesive layer. This serves to prevent inadvertent adhesion of the second adhesive layer.  
           [0016]    In another preferred embodiment of the money holder according to the present invention, the body includes at least one surface having indicia printed thereon. The indicia preferably conveys a sentiment associated with a gift giving occasion.  
           [0017]    In an another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a money holder for facilitating giving paper currency as a gift includes a body for supporting the paper currency. The body has a spine, a first cover and a second cover. The first and second covers are hingedly attached to the spine, and the spine and first and second covers are each formed as generally planar members. When the money holder is in a closed condition, the body contains the paper currency intermediate the first cover and the second cover. When the money holder is in an open condition, selective access to the paper currency is provided. The money holder further includes an attachment member having a first adhesive layer for adhering the attachment member to the spine and a second adhesive layer for adhering the paper currency to the attachment member. The money holder according to this embodiment preferably further includes a protective layer removably attached to the second adhesive layer for preventing inadvertent adhesion of the second adhesive layer. The body of the money holder according to this embodiment preferably includes at least one surface having indicia printed thereon. The indicia preferably conveys a sentiment associated with a gift giving occasion.  
           [0018]    The arrangement for adhering the paper currency to the spine is configured for holding a stack of paper currency of any given denomination or group of denominations. One of the features of the present invention is that the gift giver can determine the amount of money to be given with that money configured in a stack for attachment to the adhesive spine in its position intermediate the leaves. If, for example, the money holder is purchased at a bank, the gift giver can request a stack of bills of any denomination and then the bank employee or the gift giver can assemble the money holder and bill stack combination in the bank at the point of sale or the gift giver can assemble the unit later. Optionally, the gift giver can assemble their own stack of bills and assemble the money holder and bill stack combination at their leisure.  
           [0019]    The attachment member of a money holder according to the present invention may take the form of an adhesive strip. There are several ways that this adhesive strip can be applied. Initially, it can be affixed to the spine with a peel-off cover overlying the adhesive. Secondly, a generally L-shaped adhesive strip may be provided which includes two covers and two adhesive portions with one adhesive portion being for affixation to the spine and the other adhesive portion being for receipt and affixation of the bill stack. The L-shaped strip may be formed from two hingedly connected members or formed as a single pliable member. Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a double-sided adhesive strip which may be attached to the bills and then to the spine.  
           [0020]    The adhesive strip may be pliant or rigid. The only requirements are that it be affixable to the spine and be sufficient to retain the bills in place for tearing off individual bills while retaining the remainder of the stack of bills within the holder.  
           [0021]    By the above, the present invention provides a holder for currency for use in gift giving that allows the gift giver to determine the denomination and amount of currency to give, assemble the device either at the point of sale or away from the point of sale and allows the recipient to remove one bill at a time from the stack within the holder for personal use.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a money holder for gift giving according to one preferred embodiment thereof;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a money holder for gift giving according to a second preferred embodiment thereof;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a money holder for gift giving according to a third preferred embodiment thereof;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the money holder for gift giving during assembly;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the money holder for gift giving in an assembled condition;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the money holder for gift giving in a closed condition; and  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the money holder for gift giving during use.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0029]    Turning now to the drawings and, more particularly to FIG. 1, a money holder for gift giving according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated generally at  10  and includes a body  12  formed from three individual sections including two leaves or covers  14 ,  16  which are generally rectangular members formed from hardboard or some other rigid material separated by a rigid spine  18  and hingedly joined thereto. When opened, the entire body  12  is a planar rectangular structure with leaves foldable into and out of opposition to one another along the hinged connection with the spine  18 . FIG. 1 also illustrates a stack of bills  20  bound by conventional band  22  positioned for entry into the money holder  10 .  
         [0030]    The rectangular leaves  14 ,  16  are sized to be slightly larger than standard American currency. In that manner, once the stack of bills  20  is in the holder  10 , the perimeter of the stack  20  is contained within the perimeter of the overlying or underlying leaf  14 ,  16 .  
         [0031]    According to the first preferred embodiment, an adhesive strip attachment member  24  is applied along the length of the spine  18  with the adhesive strip  24  being sized to approximate the width of the bill stack  20 . A peel-off protective layer  26  is applied over the adhesive layer  24  to prevent the adhesive layer  24  from sticking to unintended surfaces. The adhesive layer  24  may be formed from glue or any adhesive sufficient to retain the bill stack  20  in a stacked, aligned condition and allow the bills to be individually peeled from the stack, as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter.  
         [0032]    It should be understood that while it is contemplated that the money holder  10  may be filled at a bank or other location, it is within the scope and spirit of the present invention to provide a preassembled money holder with a stack of bills being applied to the adhesive during a manufacturing process.  
         [0033]    A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. There, the money holder  30  includes a body  32  having two opposing, rigid leaves or covers  34 ,  36  separated by a spine  38 . A stack of bills  40  which, may be banded by a paper band  42 , is provided for application of the money holder  30 . An adhesive strand  44  is provided with the strand being similar in width to the bill stack  40  and generally L-shaped in cross section. Therefore, the adhesive strand  44  includes a first portion  46  and a second portion  50 . The first portion  46  includes adhesive applied to one face thereof for mating with the bill stack  40 . This layer is covered by a protective peel-off sheet or first cover portion  48 . The second portion  50  is provided with the adhesive on the same side of the strand  44  as the adhesive applied to the portion  46  configured for engagement with the bill stack  40 . In this manner, the first cover portion  48  may be peeled away from the adhesive portion  46  and that portion affixed to the bill stack  40 . The underside of this L-shaped portion includes another peel-off cover, or second cover portion  52 , which is then removed and the second portion  50  applied to the spine  38 . Once assembled, this configuration allows the entire planar body  32  to open in a flattened condition without disturbing the bill stack  40 .  
         [0034]    Turning now to FIG. 3, a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, generally at  60 . There, the money holder  60  includes a body  62  formed from two rigid, planar rectangular leaves or covers  64 ,  66  hingedly connected to a separating spine  68 . The spine  68  has a width similar to the leaves  64 ,  66  and is likewise rigid. A bill stack  70  is provided as with the other embodiments and is banded using a paper band  72 .  
         [0035]    An adhesive strip  74  is provided as a generally flat planar member having adhesive applied to both sides with both sides having a protective peel-off cover portion  76 ,  78  attached thereto. According to this embodiment, one peel-off cover  76  is removed and the adhesive layer applied to the bill stack  70 . The other peel-off cover  78  is then removed and the then exposed adhesive portion applied to the spine  68 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the opposite is also true, i.e. the adhesive may be applied to the spine  68  prior to applying the bill stack  70 .  
         [0036]    Turning now to FIG. 4, the first preferred embodiment of the money holder  10  is illustrated in an assembled condition with the leaves  14 ,  16  extending outwardly from upstanding bill stack  20 . There, the cover layer  26  has been removed from the adhesive strip  24  as seen in FIG. 1 and the bill stack  20  applied to the exposed adhesive. It is preferable to leave the paper band  22  on the bill stack while the money holder is assembled in order to maintain alignment of the bills  20  when they are mated with the adhesive.  
         [0037]    Once the adhesive has achieved a sufficient purchase of the bill stack  20 , the paper band  22  may be removed and the money holder  10  of the present invention is ready for use as seen in FIG. 5.  
         [0038]    With reference to FIG. 6, it is contemplated that the money holder  10  of the present invention may be used for various gift giving occasions and each cover may depict a different theme through printed indicia  80  on one or both leaves  14 ,  16  or the spine  18 . The indicia  80  may be varied and the outer cover may take on any appearance based on the gift giving occasion. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the outer cover may merely be decorative without specific reference to any occasion.  
         [0039]    A portion of the fun associated with the present invention is the lack of foreknowledge on behalf of the recipient as to the quantity of bills involved. To that end, and as is supported by the on-site assembly process, the gift giver may choose any denomination and quantity of bills for arrangement in a stack to be inserted in the money holder.  
         [0040]    As can be seen in FIG. 7, indicia  80  may be printed on the inner surface of a cover leaf  14  and, in fact, may be printed on any exposed surface of the money holder  10 . Nevertheless, no indicia or any other matter will be applied to the bills themselves. The bills remain intact except for their adherence to the adhesive strip in the money holder. The recipient of the gift may peel a single bill  21  away from the bill stack  20  for use. This reveals another bill underneath and the bills may be peeled off as required.  
         [0041]    By the above, the present invention provides a unique and interesting device useful in giving gifts of money. The lack of foreknowledge of the recipient regarding the amount of bills contained in the money holder enhances the gift receiving experience and the gift giving experience for the gift giver.  
         [0042]    It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of a broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.