Patent Publication Number: US-9889970-B1

Title: Novelty gift container

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
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     REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of containers for storage and transportation, more specifically, a container with messages printed on the exterior of the container and members projecting away from the plane of the container. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The novelty gift container is a container that is adapted for use in containing and transporting objects. The exterior of the novelty gift container is decorated with a plurality of motivational symbols and a plurality of instructional messages that, in concert with the object contained within the novelty gift container, are intended to improve the psychological state of a person receiving the novelty gift container. 
     These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the novelty gift container will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the novelty gift container in detail, it is to be understood that the novelty gift container is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the novelty gift container. 
     It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the novelty gift container. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
     Detailed reference will now be made to one or more potential embodiments of the disclosure, which are illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
     The novelty gift container  100  (hereinafter invention) comprises a container  101 , a plurality of motivational symbols  102 , and a plurality of instructional messages  103 . The invention  100  is a container  101  that is adapted for use in containing and transporting objects. The invention  100  is decorated with the plurality of motivational symbols  102  and a plurality of instructional messages  103  that, in concert with the object contained within the invention  100 , are intended to improve the psychological state of a person receiving the invention  100 . 
     The container  101  is used to hold a first object  181  that in general is intended as a gift for the recipient. The container  101  further comprises an opening  161  and a container closure  162 . The first object  181  is inserted into the container  101  through the opening  161  after which the first object  181  is secured in the container  101  by blocking access to the opening  161  using the container closure  162 . The methods to design, fabricate, and use containers  101  with openings  161  and closures  162  are well known and documented in the mechanical and decorative arts. 
     Each of the plurality of motivational symbols  102  comprises a second object that is attached to the exterior of the container  101 . It is preferred, but not necessary, that the second object have cultural or personal significance for the recipient. Methods to attach each of the plurality of motivational symbols  102  to exterior of the container  101  are well known in the decorative arts and include, but are not limited to, the use of commercially available staples or the use of an adhesive. 
     Each of the plurality of instructional messages  103  contains an image that conveys a message to the recipient. It is preferred, but not necessary, that each of the plurality of instructional messages  103  convey a message of cultural or personal significance for the recipient. Each of the plurality of instructional messages  103  is displayed on the either the exterior of the container  101  or on a motivational symbol selected from the plurality of motivational symbols  102 . 
     In the first potential embodiment of the disclosure, the plurality of motivational symbols  102  further comprises a first motivational symbol  111 , a second motivational symbol  112 , and a third motivational symbol  113 . The plurality of instructional messages  103  further comprises a first instructional message  121 , a second instructional message  122 , and a third instructional message  123 . 
     In the first potential embodiment of the disclosure, as shown most clearly in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the first motivational symbol  111  comprises a plurality of marbles  131 , a net bag  132  and a net bag closure  133 . The plurality of marbles  131  are contained within the net bag  132 . The net bag closure  133  is a commercially available device that is used to close the net bag  132 . The second motivational symbol  112  comprises a plurality of straws  141  and a tie  142 . The tie  142  is a cord that is used to gather and secure the plurality of straws  141 . The third motivational symbol  113  comprises a circular disk  151 . The circular disk  151  is a disk shaped structure upon which are displayed in a visible manner each of the plurality of instructional messages  103 . The first instructional message  121  comprises the printed textual message “The Straw That Broke the Camel&#39;s Back.” The second instructional message  122  comprises the printed textual message “Don&#39;t Lose Your Marbles.” The third instructional message  123  is the printed textual message “When You Get Round to It.” 
     A second potential embodiment of the disclosure is an extension of the first potential embodiment of the disclosure wherein the container  101  further comprises a first rectangular block  171  and a second rectangular block  172 . The first rectangular block  171  is a hollow rectangular block with a face removed such that the first object  181  can be placed within the hollow interior of the first rectangular block  171 . The second rectangular block  172  is a hollow rectangular block with a face removed such that the second rectangular block  172  can be placed over the first rectangular block  171 . The inner dimensions of the open face of the second rectangular block  172  is larger than the outer dimensions of the corresponding open face of the first rectangular block  171  such that the second rectangular block  172  will enclose the hollow interior of the first rectangular block  171  when the second rectangular block  172  is placed over the open face of the first rectangular block  171 . In the second potential embodiment of the disclosure, the opening  161  is formed by the open face of the first rectangular block  171  while the container closure  162  is formed by the second rectangular block  172 . 
     A second potential embodiment of the disclosure is an extension of the first potential embodiment of the disclosure wherein the container  101  further comprises a gift bag  173  and a ribbon  174 . The ribbon  174  is a textile strap that is used to wrap around the opening  161  of the gift bag  173  in order to secure the opening  161 . 
     To use the invention  100 , the first object  181  is placed through the opening  161  into the container  101 . The opening  161  is then closed using the container closure  162 . The invention  100  is then given to the recipient. 
     The following definitions were used in this disclosure: 
     Adhesive: As used in this disclosure, an adhesive is a chemical substance that can be used to adhere two or more objects to each other. Types of adhesives include, but are not limited to, epoxies, polyurethanes, polyimides, or cyanoacrylates, silicone, or latex based adhesives. 
     Bag: As used in this disclosure, a bag is a container made of a flexible material. The bag has a single opening which allows the bag to receive the items to be contained. 
     Cord: As used in this disclosure, a cord is a long, thin, and flexible piece of string, line, or rope. Cords are made from yarns, piles, or strands of material that are braided or twisted together or from a monofilament (such as fishing line). Cords have tensile strength but are too flexible to provide compressive strength and are not suitable for use in pushing objects. String, line, and rope are synonyms for cord. 
     Correspond: As used in this disclosure, the term correspond means that a first object is in some manner linked to a second object in a one to one fashion. 
     Inner Dimension: As used in this disclosure, the term inner dimension describes the span from a first inside or interior surface of a container to a second inside or interior surface of a container. The term is used in much the same way that a plumber would refer to the inner diameter of a pipe. 
     Outer Dimension: As used in this disclosure, the term outer dimension describes the span from a first exterior or outer surface of a tube or container to a second exterior or outer surface of a tube or container. The term is used in much the same way that a plumber would refer to the outer diameter of a pipe. 
     Strap: As used in this disclosure a strap is a strip of leather, cloth, or other flexible material, often with a buckle, that is used to fasten, secure, carry, or hold onto something. 
     Strip: As used in this disclosure, the term describes a long and narrow object of uniform thickness that appears thin relative to the length of the object. Strips are often rectangular in shape. 
     With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the invention. 
     It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.