Patent Abstract:
A paper crafting kit containing pre-cut and pre-folded pieces of cardstock, enabling the paper crafter to assemble an oversized decorative paper envelope for greetings and special life events. The envelope may be configured to contain a booklet of tabs for well-wishers to compose personal messages, which can ultimately be used as a gift or keepsake.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/994,671, filed Jan. 13, 2016, which claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/103,361, filed Jan. 14, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to paper products and, more particularly, to paper products used in crafting items made with paper. 
         [0003]    Typical paper crafting kits contain parts, which only allow the paper crafter to assemble a standard A2 sized greeting card requiring the user to obtain a separate standard sized envelope. The space available for numerous signatures from well-wishers is limited. They don&#39;t take into consideration that numerous people may want to leave personal messages for the recipient for special life events, such as, retirement, birthdays, baby showers, etc. 
         [0004]    While “giant-sized” greeting cards may allow more space for messages, they lack the compact and aesthetically pleasing or formal appearance and do not allow for individual customization. 
         [0005]    As can be seen, there is a need for a customized, oversized decorative envelope, suitable for conveying individual greetings and messages to a recipient from a plurality of well-wishers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one aspect of the present invention, gift card includes an envelope having a front surface and a back surface joined along a common edge along a binding fold and a closure tab joined to the front surface along a common edge along a closure fold; a first slit defined between an interior surface of the envelope and an exterior surface of the envelope along the binding fold; a second slit defined between the interior surface of the envelope and the exterior surface of the envelope along the closure fold; an insert received in an interior of the envelope; and a ribbon threaded through the first slit and the second slit, such that a first end of the ribbon overlies an exterior surface of the tab and a second end of the ribbon overlies the back surface of the envelope, wherein the ribbon operable to retain the back surface beneath the closure tab with the envelope and closure tab folded in a closed position, and to be retained with the envelope with the envelope in an open position. The binding fold may comprise a first fold and a second fold defining an envelope binding face between the front surface and the back surface. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the first slit and the second slit are defined such that the ribbon is positioned substantially laterally across the envelope. In other embodiments, the first slit and the second slit are defined such that the ribbon is positioned diagonally across the envelope. 
         [0008]    In other aspects of the invention, the insert may comprise a matting layer that is adhered to a layering cardstock and is in turn, adhered to at least one interior face of the envelope. The insert may also comprise a cardstock tab adhered to an interior of the envelope along the binding fold. In certain preferred embodiments, the insert comprises a plurality of cardstock tabs having a crease line defined along a common edge of the cardstock tabs, the cardstock tabs joined along the common edge by a binding and an adhesive. The binding may be joined to an interior of the envelope along an interior surface of the binding face. 
         [0009]    Yet another aspect of the invention includes a kit that comprises: a sheet of envelope cardstock; a ribbon; a sheet of layering cardstock; and a sheet of matting cardstock. The kit may also contain a tab cardstock and a binding for joining the tab cardstock, along with an adhesive. 
         [0010]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown in a closed position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view shown in an opened position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment in an opened position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a section view of the invention taken from reference line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged section view. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged section view. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0019]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a customized, oversized decorative envelope, which contains a booklet of large tabs providing a space for personal messages from a plurality of well-wishers. The invention can be retained by the recipient as a keepsake to memorialize the special life event. 
         [0020]    As best seen in reference to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the present invention comprises a sheet of cardstock that may be formed to the shape of an envelope. The envelope has a front surface  10  and a back surface  14 , joined along an edge, or binding  12 . The edge opposite the binding  12 , may be moved between an open and a closed position, like a book or binder. The envelope may be closed along an edge opposite the binding with a closure tab  16  that folds over a front surface  10  of the envelope. The envelope will have a first interior panel  11  defined between the first and the second score line, and a second interior panel  13  defined between the third score line and an edge of the envelope stock. 
         [0021]    The cardstock may be formed of any desired weight and dimension. For example, a 12 inch square piece of heavy weight cardstock may be cut to size 11¾ inches. The cardstock may be scored in at least two, but preferably three places, to define crease lines for the crafter to conveniently form the envelope with the folds at the correct locations to define the envelope. 
         [0022]    By way of a non-limiting preferred embodiment, when the envelope is to be formed with a binding edge  12 , opposite to the opening edge, the cardstock may be scored in three places. A first score line and a second score line are defined on an exterior surface, with the first score line at approximately 1 inch and the second score line defined at approximately 7.5 inches from left edge of the cardstock. A third score line is defined on an interior surface of the cardstock, with the score defined at approximately 7.375 (7⅜) inches. This will form an envelope approximately 11.75 inches long and approximately 5.5 inches wide. Slits are cut on two of the score lines at the 1 inch and 7.5 inch locations on the exterior of the card through which the ribbon will be threaded. 
         [0023]    The envelope and closure tab  16  may be held in a closed relationship with a length of coordinating ribbon  28 . The ribbon  28  may be tied in a knot or a decorative bow to retain the envelope in a closed condition. The colors for the cardstock and the ribbon  28  may be selected with complimentary colors suitable for the occasion for which the envelope is intended. 
         [0024]    As seen in reference to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , a plurality of slots  18  may be cut through the cardstock and the ribbon  28  is threaded through the slots  18  so as to retain the ribbon  28  with the envelope and provide a more formal presentation of the envelope in either the open or the closed position. In some embodiments, the slots  18  may be aligned across the width of the envelope such that the ribbon  28 , when threaded, is perpendicular across the face of the envelope. In other embodiments, such as illustrated in reference to  FIG. 2A , the slots  18  may be aligned such that the ribbon  28  is presented diagonally across the front face  10  and the back face  14  of the envelope. When provided as a component of the kit, the ribbon  28  may be cut to a preferred length for the designed thickness of the envelope and any contents and allow for sufficient length for the knotted closure of the envelope. 
         [0025]    The cardstock for the envelope and the ribbon  28  may also be provided as a kit along with one or more inserts. The oversized card-envelope may serve as a base assembly. The inserts may be attached or enclosed within the envelope to form a finished keepsake gift or card. The inserts may include a coordinating matting  20  formed of a cardstock material, which may be adhered to an interior or exterior face of the envelope cardstock. The matting  20  may be provided with a coordinating color, surface texture, or impression, or may be decorated according to the same by the crafter. The matting  20  has a vertical dimension less than that of the envelope and a width that is less than that of the first panel  11  and second panel  13 . The inserts may be provided as an individual sheet or a plurality of sheets when incorporated with the other elements of the invention as a kit. 
         [0026]    The inserts may also include a layering cardstock  22 . The layering cardstock  22  having a length and a width that are dimensioned slightly less than that of the matting cardstock  20  to allow visibility of the coordinating color of the matting cardstock  20  when adhered. The layering weight cardstock  22  may be adhered to the coordinating matting  20  after it has been decorated by the crafter. The layering cardstock  22  may also include an optional ribbon element. 
         [0027]    The inserts may also include a booklet formed of one or more large tabs  26  that may be bound with an adhesive layer  30  and a binding  24  and adhered to the inside of the base assembly between the corresponding score lines, preferably along the binding  12 . The booklet tabs  26  provide individual spaces for message, and can also be decorated with stamped images and/or embellishments to suit the paper crafter&#39;s individual taste. 
         [0028]    In certain embodiments, the layering cardstock  22  may be pre-cut and provided with same measurements as the item in photo matting cardstock  20  and adhered to the pre-cut layering weight matte cardstock  22  having the same measurements as the item in matting cardstock  20  and both may then adhered to the inside of the card-envelope base via an adhesive  30 . 
         [0029]    A third piece of pre-cut layering weight cardstock  22 , having approximately the same measurement as the matting cardstock  20 , may be adhered to the third piece of pre-cut layering weight matte cardstock  22  and adhered to the inside of the card-envelope base on the side opposite the greeting or sentiment via an adhesive  30 . The coordinating ribbon  28  can then be used to close the card-envelope base. 
         [0030]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 3 through 6 , an embodiment of the envelope may be formed according to the following. A 12 inch square piece of heavy weight cardstock may be cut to size, scored in three places, and folded to form an envelope approximately 11.75 inches long and approximately 5.5 inches wide. As will be appreciated, the 12 inch square heavy weight cardstock for the base does not necessarily have to be cut down, which will result in the length of the base assembly being 12 inches instead of approximately 11. 75 inches as stated above. Any suitable size could be utilized with the dimensions of the score lines, folds, and inserts adjusted accordingly. 
         [0031]    Slits  18  may be cut on two of the score lines through which the ribbon will be threaded. The length of the slits  18  can be customized to accommodate the width of the selected coordinating ribbon  28 . The front layering cardstock  22  can be adhered to its corresponding matting cardstock  20  and then embellished, stamped, or embossed or likewise decorated according to the paper crafter&#39;s or consumer&#39;s taste. This decorated assembly layer can then be adhered to the front of the base assembly. The ribbon  28  can then be thread through the slits  18 . 
         [0032]    The layering cardstock  22  for an inside greeting or sentiment can be likewise decorated to taste and adhered to its corresponding matting cardstock  20 . This assembly can then be adhered to the inside of the base assembly. The pre-assembled booklet of tabs  26  can then be adhered to the inside of the base assembly in between the corresponding score lines in the middle fold, or binding  24  of the base assembly. The third set of layering cardstock  22  and its corresponding matte  20 , can be assembled and decorated and adhered to the open side of the inside of the assembly opposite the greeting. The ribbon  28  can then be tied in a decorative bow or knot to close the base assembly. 
         [0033]    An additional piece of ribbon  28  approximately the same length as the base assembly can be used as a place mark or bookmark for the booklet of tabs  26  so persons leaving messages can easily find the next available tab. The entire assembly can be pre-assembled and pre-decorated and sold to consumers with a theme for any specific life event, i.e., baby shower, birthday, retirement. 
         [0034]    In other embodiments, additional tabs  26  can be added to the booklet to hold more space for greetings and messages. If a plurality of tabs  26  are included to form the booklet, a score line  32  may be formed along a common edge of the plurality of tabs  26  and bound with a binding  24  and an adhesive layer  30 . A decorative matching box may also be added to hold the completed assembly. 
         [0035]    The 12 inch square heavy weight cardstock for the base does not necessarily have to be cut down, which will result in the length of the base assembly being 12 inches instead of approximately 11. 75 inches as stated above. The greeting on the inside of the card-envelope base assembly can be placed on either side of the inside. Jute twine, string, or decorative cording can also be used instead of ribbon. 
         [0036]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1