Patent Publication Number: US-8973221-B2

Title: Gift bag band

Description:
This patent application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/415,993 filed on Mar. 16, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     I. DESCRIPTION OF THE TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to an improvement in bands for retaining gift bags, pouches, sacks, and other like articles, and more particularly to a flexible band having an elongated body portion with complementary fasteners on opposite ends thereof, and a hanging flap cut out from the elongated body portion. 
     II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years, there has been a tremendous growth in the manufacture and sale of containers, particularly decorative containers for receiving and holding objects, such as gift objects. One form of such containers is a decorative bag that is adapted to receive a gift item, which eliminates the need to place the items in separate boxes that are usually subsequently wrapped with gift wrapping paper. Instead, gift items may be “wrapped” in the bag and hidden from view using such items as tissue paper, confetti, bag stuffing, shredded ribbons, and the like. Typically these decorative or gift bags have ornamental designs on their surface containing indicia relating to a season, event or in some way relevant and/or endearing to the intended recipient of the gift. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,377,013 issued to Cheung discloses an adjustable and detachable binding device that includes an elongated binding member, a plurality of locking holders spacedly and integrally formed along a tail portion of the binding member, and a loop locker integrally formed at a head portion of the binding member to detachably engage with one of the locking holders to form a binding loop of the binding member for fittingly binding up an object. The loop locker is shaped and sized that enables the loop locker to be detachably engaged with the respective locking holder, so as to adjust a diameter of the binding loop of the binding member with respect to the object. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,179 issued to Rhee discloses an adjustable, pliable tie strap comprising a series of longitudinal slot means at one end of the strap and a tongue portion at the opposite end containing notch means. The tongue portion can be inserted in any of the said slots for tying or securing an object. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,520 issued to Milbrandt, et al. discloses an advertising band for quick and easy locking, unlocking and re-locking about merchandise is a flexible strip having a lead end section, a body section, and a tail end section. The lead end section is equipped with a lock aperture having a maximum dimension in the longitudinal direction and a minimum dimension transverse thereto. The body section has a substantial length and transverse width for displaying advertising information. Its length is at least as great as the combined length of both the lead and the tail end sections. The tail end section has laterally paired locking members separated by neck members along its length. It is easily pulled through the aperture to lock any pair of the locking members against the minimum dimension edges of the aperture and yet is easily and quickly unlocked from the aperture by aligning its locking members with the maximum dimension of the aperture and pulling it free from the aperture. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,263 issued to Keller, et al. discloses a gift package that comprises a bag having generally parallel front and rear walls, each having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two lateral edges, a pair of generally parallel side walls, each having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two lateral edges, wherein the lateral edges of the front and rear walls are joined to the lateral edges of the side panels, and a bottom panel having two pairs of generally parallel lateral edges, wherein the lateral edges of the bottom panel are joined to the bottom edges of the front, rear, and side walls to form a container having an opening defined by the top edges of the front, rear, and side walls, and wherein the bag has an expanded state and a collapsed state, where an area of the bag opening is larger when the bag is in its expanded state than when the bag is in its collapsed state. The gift bag further comprises a bag topper comprising a resilient member having a length and a width, wherein the resilient member has a relaxed state and a compressed state, wherein the bag topper in the compressed state is smaller in at least one of the length and width than when the bag topper is in the relaxed state, so that the bag topper urges the opening of the bag toward the expanded state of the bag as the bag topper moves from the compressed state of the bag topper to the relaxed state of the bag topper. 
     III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a band for retaining articles secured therein having a novel structure. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a band for bundling and storing articles, particularly articles having a similar size. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a band for displaying the articles, and particularly for presenting the articles to consumers in a retail environment. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a band for hanging the articles on, for example, a sales rack and maintaining the articles at a select height from the floor. 
     It is still another object of the invention to provide a band for hanging the articles for storage, wherein multiple bands can be utilized to stow articles in an organized manner. 
     Certain of these and other objects are satisfied by a band having an elongated body portion including a first end and a second end, a first fastener on the first end, and a complementary second fastener on the second end for releasably engaging the first fastener. In one embodiment, the first fastener is a T-tab, and the second fastener is a slot dimensioned to receive and removably secure the T-tab to the second end. 
     The band further includes a hanging flap cut out from the elongated body portion, wherein the flap has an aperture dimensioned to receive a display hook. The flap can include a first end connected to the elongated body portion, a second end parallel and opposite the first end, a third end perpendicular to the first end, and a fourth end parallel and opposite the third end. 
     In at least one embodiment of the invention, the flap can be formed between a first cut portion, a second cut portion, and a third cut portion. The first cut portion is parallel with the first end and the second end of the elongated body portion, wherein the first cut portion is proximate to a top edge of the flap, and wherein the first cut portion has a first end and a second end. The second cut portion is contiguous with the first end of the first cut portion, wherein the second cut portion is perpendicular to the first cut portion, and wherein the second cut portion is proximate a first side edge of the flap. The third cut portion is contiguous with the second end of the first cut portion, wherein the third cut portion is perpendicular to the first cut portion and parallel with the second cut portion, and wherein the third cut portion is proximate a second side edge of the flap. 
     Furthermore, the band includes at least one upper fold proximate the flap, and at least one lower fold proximate the second end of the elongated body portion. The upper and lower folds segment the elongated body portion into a front segment, an upper back segment, and a lower back segment. The front segment lies in a first plane, wherein the upper back segment and the lower back segment lie on a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane. The flap is cut from the second plane and lies on the first plane. 
     The front segment connects the upper back segment to the lower back segment, wherein the first fastener is on the upper back segment and the second fastener is on the lower back segment. The upper back segment is further connected to the lower back segment by the first fastener and the second fastener. 
     For definitional purposes and as applicable, the term “hook” as used herein is intended to mean an apparatus for hanging items thereon, wherein the “hook” may be in the form of a rack, bar, rod, dowel or other like apparatus. 
     As used herein, the term “aperture” is intended to mean a feed-through dimensioned to receive and retain a hook therein, which may be in the form of an hole, opening, orifice, pass-through, passage, perforation, slit, slot, and the like. 
     As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
     As used herein “substantially,” “generally,” and other words of degree are relative modifiers intended to indicate permissible variation from the characteristic so modified. It is not intended to be limited to the absolute value or characteristic which it modifies but rather possessing more of the physical or functional characteristic than its opposite, and preferably, approaching or approximating such a physical or functional characteristic. 
     In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing which is shown by way of illustration to the specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The following illustrated embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes based on presently known structural and/or functional equivalents may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective assembly view showing a band and ghosted gift bags according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a right rear perspective view showing a band according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a left rear perspective view showing a band according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of a band according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a band according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a right side view of a band according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of a band according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a band according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of a band according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for forming a device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference numbers denote like components, elements, or features through the various illustrated embodiments discussed in detail below, the invention is a device including a container and a strap. While specific implementations of the disclosed technology are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       FIGS. 1-18  illustrate a device for retaining and displaying articles according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the device (also referred to herein as a “band” or “strap”) has an elongated body portion  100 . In at least one embodiment, the elongated body portion  110  is substantially rectangular-shaped (when in an un-folded configuration) and formed from a flexible material such as, for example, plastic or cardboard. The elongated body portion  100  has a first end  110  and a second end  120 , wherein the first end  110  is parallel to the second end  120 . The elongated body portion  110  further includes a first side edge that is parallel to a second side edge. 
     The device further includes a first fastener  112  on the first end  110  and a complementary second fastener  122  on the second end  120  for releasably engaging the first fastener  112 . The first fastener  112  and second fastener  122  are mating elements for connecting the first end  110  and second end  120  of the device, such that the elongated body portion  100  forms a closed loop for retaining articles within the device. In at least one embodiment, the first fastener  112  is a T-tab and the second fastener  122  is a slot dimensioned to receive and removably secure the T-tab to the second end  120 . In other embodiments, the first fastener  112  and second fastener  122  could include hook and loop fasteners, adhesives, snaps, and/or buckles. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the device can be used to hold and secure articles A therein, for purposes such as storage or retail packaging. The device can be particularly useful for bundling and holding flat, folded, and/or stacked articles, such as, for example, sheets of material, magazine, paper bags, decorative gift bags, etc. 
     In addition, the device includes a flap  130  (also referred to herein as a “hanging flap”) cut out from the elongated body portion  100  by which the band and its contents may be hanged from a rack, hook, bar, rod, or other like device (referred to herein as an “elongated hanging apparatus” or a “display hook”). More specifically, the flap  130  includes an aperture  131  dimensioned to receive and retain a portion of an elongated hanging apparatus therein, such that the elongated hanging apparatus passes through the aperture  131  and secures the band and its contents thereon via friction. 
     Although the FIGS. illustrate that the aperture  130  is butterfly-shaped, it is contemplated in other embodiments that the aperture  130  could comprise other shapes, such as circular, semi-circular, oblong, etc. In another embodiment, the aperture  131  is replaced with a notch (not shown). The notch is a hook or J-shaped cut-out dimensioned to receive and retain a portion of an elongated hanging apparatus therein, such that the elongated hanging apparatus passes through the notch and secures the band and its contents thereon via friction. The position of the flap  130 , which extends above and away from the band, allows multiple bands to be hung from a single hook, wherein the bands and their contents are positioned below and away from their respective connection points to the hook. 
     In at least one embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3 , the flap  130  has a substantially rectangular shape and includes a first end  132  and a second end  134 , wherein the first end  132  is connected to the elongated body portion  100 , and wherein the second end  134  is parallel and opposite the first end  132 . The flap  130  can further include a third end  136  and a fourth end  138 , wherein the third end  136  is perpendicular to the first end  132 , and wherein the fourth end  138  is parallel and opposite the third end  136 . It is contemplated in another embodiment that the flap  130  could have a different shape such as, for example, a triangle, circle, or semicircle. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3 , the flap  130  is formed (lies) between a first cut portion  140 , a second cut portion  150 , and a third cut portion  160 . The cut portions (also referred to herein as “straight edges”) are slits that are cut in the elongated body portion  100 . The first cut portion  140  is parallel with the first end  110  and the second end  120  of the elongated body portion  100 . When the strap is in an unfolded, flat configuration, the first cut portion  140  is proximate a top edge of the flap  130  (i.e., the second end  134 ). The first cut portion  140  has a first end  142  and a second end  144 , wherein the second cut portion  150  is contiguous with the first end  142  of the first cut portion  140 . The second cut portion  150  is perpendicular to the first cut portion  140 , and is proximate a first side edge of the flap  130  (i.e., the third end  136 ). 
     The third cut portion  160  of the elongated body portion  100  is contiguous with the second end  144  of the first cut portion  140 , and is proximate a second side edge of the flap  130  (i.e., the fourth end  138 ). The third cut portion  160  is perpendicular to the first cut portion  140  and parallel with the second cut portion  150 . Thus, the first cut portion  140 , second cut portion  150 , and third cut portion  160  form a block-shaped (right angles, no curved) “U”. 
     In at least one embodiment of the invention, the elongated body portion  100  is cut to form the first cut portion  140 , the second cut portion  150 , and the third cut portion  160 . In another embodiment, the elongated body portion  100 , the first cut portion  140 , the second cut portion  150 , the third cut portion  160 , and flap  130  are simultaneously formed via injection molding. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 , the elongated body portion  100  further includes one or more upper folds  170  proximate the flap  130  and one or more lower folds  180  proximate the second end  120  of the elongated body portion  100 . Although  FIGS. 2-4  and  6  illustrate that the elongated body portion  100  includes one upper fold  170  and two lower folds  180 , it is contemplated in alternative embodiments that other numbers and configurations of upper and lower folds could be implemented, depending on the number and thickness of articles to be retained within the band. For example, if thicker and/or a greater amount of articles are to be retained within the band, then more folds could be utilized. Conversely, if thinner and/or a smaller amount of articles are to be retained within the band, then more only one upper fold  170  and one lower fold  180  folds could be employed. 
     The upper fold  170  and lower folds  180  segment the elongated body portion  110  into a front segment  190 , an upper back segment  192 , and a lower back segment  194 . The front segment  190  lies in a first plane; and, the upper back segment  192  and the lower back segment  194  lie on a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane, wherein the first and second planes are separated by a select distance. The flap  130  is cut from the second plane and lies on the first plane. In other words, the flap  130  is cut from the upper back segment  192  (which lies in the second plane) and lies on the same plane as the front segment  190  (i.e., the first plane) when the strap is in a folded configuration (i.e., the first fastener  112  is engaged with the second fastener  122 ). 
     The front segment  190  connects the upper back segment  192  to the lower back segment  194 . The first fastener  112  is on the upper back segment  192 ; and, the second fastener  122  is on the lower back segment  194 . The upper back segment  192  is further connected to the lower back segment  194  by the first fastener  112  and the second fastener  194 . In at least one embodiment, the elongated body portion  100 , first fastener  112 , second fastener  122 , and flap  130  are integrally formed and embody a single unitary structure formed from the same material. 
       FIG. 10  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for forming the device according to an embodiment of the invention. An elongated body portion having a first end and a second end is formed  10 . The elongated body portion  110  can be substantially rectangular-shaped (when in an un-folded configuration) and formed from a flexible material such as, for example, plastic or cardboard. 
     A first fastener is formed on the first end of the elongated body portion  20 ; and, a complementary second fastener for releasably engaging the first fastener is formed on the second end of the elongated body portion  30 . In at least one embodiment, the first fastener is a T-tab and the complementary second fastener is a slot dimensioned to receive and removably secure the T-tab to the second end. 
     In addition, a flap cut out from the elongated body portion is formed  40 , wherein the flap includes an aperture or a notch dimensioned to receive a display hook. In at least one embodiment, the elongated body portion, first fastener, second fastener, and flap are formed simultaneously, wherein the elongated body portion, first fastener, second fastener, and flap are integrally formed and embody a single unitary structure formed from the same material. As described above, the elongated body portion can be cut to form the flap. In another embodiment, the elongated body portion, a first cut portion, a second cut portion, a third cut portion, and the flap are simultaneously formed via injection molding. 
     The elongated body portion is folded along one or more upper folds that are proximate to the flap  50 . The elongated body portion is also folded along one or more lower folds that are proximate to the second end of the elongated body portion  60 . Folding the elongated body portion at the upper and lower folds segment the elongated body portion into a front segment, an upper back segment, and a lower back segment. The front segment lies in a first plane; and, the upper and lower back segments lie on a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane. The flap is cut from the second plane and lies on the first plane. 
     Although specific example embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that other variations, aspects, or embodiments may be contemplated, and/or practiced without departing from the scope or the spirit of the appended claims.