Patent Abstract:
The disclosed invention relates generally to various embodiments of holders and packaging for giving gifts. In particular, the invention relates to various gift card holders that hold a gift card and enhance the presentation and gift giving experience for recipients and gift givers alike.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/824,853 filed on May 17, 2013, entitled “Gift Card Box Toppers” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Transaction cards, stored value cards, or gift cards are popular gifts. Gift cards typically comprise a stored value card whereby a certain cash equivalent value is encoded upon a magnetic strip applied to the surface of the card. This stored value may be determined by the vendor prior to packaging and display for sale or may be selected at the point of sale by the purchaser and loaded by the cashier using a magnetic card reader/writer. Although popular, gift cards are typically provided with a generic and impersonal design. In addition, gift cards are often given in simple un-adorned envelopes or impersonal sleeves. This may minimize the gift giving experience and emotional value for both gift giver and the recipient. 
         [0003]    Therefore, a need exists for a gift card holder that provides graphical and/or mechanical enhancements to entertain the gift card recipient and add emotional and personal value to the gift and the gift giver. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    This invention relates generally to gift card holders and more particularly to a device for holding a gift card or gift card packet while providing graphical and mechanical enhancements to entertain the gift card recipient and add value to the gift giving experience for the gift giver. In addition, the gift card holders are suitable for inclusion with another gift, including but not limited to a box of chocolates. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, a gift card box topper includes a decorative ribbon that is folded in to a bow, an envelope to receive the gift card. The envelope may be engaged to the ribbon by an adhesive. The gift card box topper also includes a clothespin that is engaged to both the envelope and the ribbon. The box topper further includes at least one removable adhesive to engage the ribbon to the box top, thereby affixing the entire gift card box topper to the gift. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, the gift card box topper includes a bi-fold card holder that may be further adorned with a rosette and additional decorations. For example, the bi-fold holder may include a rosette and a heart-shaped decoration. The bi-fold card holder may be attached to a gift or box of chocolates using a removable adhesive. In various embodiments, the bi-fold holder includes a one or more tabs that may engage and retain a gift card. In other embodiments, the bi-fold holder includes slits in a planar material of the holder to engage a corner or edge of a gift card. In other embodiments, a gift card may be retained in the holder by an adhesive. 
         [0007]    Details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages may be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  depicts a gift card box topper engaged to a gift, according to one embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts a gift card box topper engaged to a box of chocolates, according to one embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a planar view of one surface of a ribbon according to one embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a planar view of a surface opposite the ribbon surface shown in  FIG. 3 , according to one embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a planar view of the ribbon surface in  FIG. 3  after being folded into a bow, according to one embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a picture of a clothespin according to one embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a picture of clothespin according to one embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a planar view of a planar material that may form an envelope according to one embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 9A-B  depict a gift card box topper engaged to a backer card according to one embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  depicts a gift card box topper engaged to a backer card, in an open configuration, for display at a retail location according to one embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  depicts a gift card box topper engaged to a backer card, in a closed configuration, for display at a retail location according to one embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  depicts a gift card box topper engaged to a backer card and containing a prepackaged gift card for display at a retail location according to one embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 13A-G  depict another embodiment of a gift card box topper. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 14A-20  are additional figures of various designs and indicia for the gift card box topper. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    The present invention relates to gift card holders that enhance the gift giving experience for both the gift giver and the gift recipient. In addition, gift card holders allow the gift giver to further enhance the appearance and appeal another present such as a box of chocolates or other gifts. In various aspects, the gift card holders of the present invention include a number of decorative and functional features that allow a gift giver to add personalization and other enhancements when giving a gift card in conjunction with another gift. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 1-2  are views of one embodiment of a gift card box topper  10  after attachment to a gift  20  or a box of chocolates  30 . The gift card box topper  10  includes a ribbon  100  that is folded and/or tied into a bow configuration, an attachment device  102 , such as a clothespin, and an envelope  104  to hold a gift card placed therein. In various aspects, the ribbon  100 , clothespin  102 , and or envelope  104 , may include various indicia  106  that correspond to the holiday or gift-giving occasion. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the gift card box topper  10  may include indicia  106  corresponding to a romantic occasion, such as Valentines Day; and therefore, may be given in conjunction with the box of chocolates  30 . 
         [0025]    In various embodiments, gift card box topper  10 , and in particular, the ribbon  100  is attached to the gift  20  via a removable adhesive  112 , shown in  FIG. 9A . In one aspect, the envelope  104  is attached to the ribbon  100  using only the clothespin  102 . In another aspect, the clothespin  102  is provided, at least in part for aesthetic purposes and may not be the sole means to secure the envelope  104  to the ribbon. In this aspect, the envelope  104  may also be attached to the ribbon  100  via an adhesive  114 , as indicated in  FIG. 3 . The adhesive  114  more be permanent or alternatively, a removable adhesive. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5 , depict embodiments of the ribbon  100  in various configurations. As shown in  FIGS. 3 , and  4 , the ribbon may be a planar material that can be folded, bent, twisted, or otherwise arranged to form a bow  40 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . In various embodiments, the ribbon  100  may be made of a fabric, paper, cardstock, plastic, or other suitable pliable material. In another embodiment, the ribbon  100  may be a rigid material that is formed into a ribbon shape by any suitable process. As shown in  FIG. 4 , one side of the ribbon  100  may include one or more adhesive locations  116 A-C, where an adhesive may be applied to the ribbon to aid in forming and maintaining the bow  40 . In various aspects, the adhesive locations, may receive a permanent or removable adhesive. The ribbon may also include one or more attachment points  118 A-B for attaching the folded ribbon  100  to a backer card  300 , as shown in  FIGS. 9A ,  9 B, and  10 - 12 . 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the clothespin  102  may be a single body  500  with two or more extended prongs  502 - 504  separated by a small gap  506 , similar to the clothespin shown in  FIG. 6 . In one aspect, the prongs  502 - 504  are biased towards one another to grip and hold items placed between them. In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the clothespin  102  may include two or more prongs  600 - 602  oriented around a fulcrum  604 , such that when distal ends  606 - 608  of each of the two prongs  600 - 602  are rotated towards one another, the proximal ends  610 - 612  of the prongs open up away from one another. In various other embodiments, other devices and configurations for holding attaching the ribbon to the envelope may be used. 
         [0028]    The envelope  104  may be formed by cutting, scoring, and or folding a planar material  200 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . In various aspects, that planar material  200  is a paper stock, cardstock, chipboard, cardboard, or pasteboard. In one aspect, the envelope  104  may be formed by cutting and folding the planar material  200 . In another aspect, an exterior surface  202 A of the planar material may be printed, painted, or otherwise marked with indicia  106 , while the interior  202 B surfaces of the planar material may remain unadorned. Alternately, both surfaces  202 A and  202 B may be printed, painted, or otherwise marked with indicia  106 . The planar material is cut to form a generally rectangular portion  204 , as well as a number of side panels  206 A-D. The rectangular portion  204  and the side panels  206 A-D are defined and separated by one or more folds  208 A-D. The planar material may also include one or more attachment points  210 A-B, where an adhesive or other attachment means may be applied to the planar material for forming and maintaining the envelope configuration, as well as an indication of an attachment point  212  for the clothespin  102 . The side panel  206 A includes a curvilinear slit  208 . The curvilinear slit  208  is positioned such that it engages a portion of the side panel  206 B, which serves a front flap when the planar material  200  is folded to form the envelope  104 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and  10 - 12 . When a portion of the side panel  206 B is inserted into the curvilinear slit  208 , the envelope is held close to secure a gift card  400 , shown in  FIG. 12 , that is placed within the envelope  104 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 9A  is a partial see-through view of an embodiment of the gift card box topper  10  as arranged for sale at a retail location. As shown, the folded ribbon  100 , clothespin  102 , and envelope  104  may be engaged to one another and attached to a backer card  300 . The backer card  300  may include a detachable attachment tab  302  where the folded ribbon  100  may be adhered to the tab using a removable adhesive, such as the removable adhesive  112 , or other removable attachment means. As shown, in  FIG. 9B , the detachable attachment tab  302  may be detached from the backer card  300  by a series of perforations  304 . In one aspect, the backer card  300  includes one or more cutouts  306  to receive a post or other structure or device, such that the backer card  300  and attached gift card box topper may be displayed at a retail location. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 10-11  also depict embodiments of the gift card box topper  10  assembled for retail. In one embodiment, shown in  FIG. 10 , the gift card box topper  10  may be provided in an open configuration where a manufacturer, purchaser, gift giver, or any other party who uses the gift card box topper  10  may place a gift card  400  within the envelope  104 . After placing the gift card  400  within the envelope, the clothespin  102  is opened and the side panel  206 B is folded along line  208 B towards the side panel  206 A, to close the envelope. In another embodiment, the gift card box topper  10  may be displayed in a closed configuration as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0031]    In one aspect, the gift card box topper  10  may be prepackaged with a gift card. In this aspect, the gift card box topper  10  may be presented for sale as shown in  FIG. 12 . In this aspect, information regarding the retailer and value associated with the gift card  400  may be printed on the backer panel  300  to inform the purchaser or gift giver about the gift card prepackaged within the envelope  104 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 13A-H  depict another embodiment of a gift card box topper. In this embodiment, the gift card box topper includes a bi-fold card holder that may be further adorned with a rosette and additional decorations. For example, the bi-fold holder may include a rosette and a heart-shaped decoration. The bi-fold card holder may be attached to a gift or box of chocolates using a removable adhesive. In various embodiments, the bi-fold holder includes a one or more tabs that may engage and retain a gift card. In other embodiments, the bi-fold holder includes slits in a planar material of the holder to engage a corner or edge of a gift card. In other embodiments, a gift card may be retained in the holder by an adhesive. 
         [0033]    The rosette may be formed from a planar material that is cut and/or folded to form the generally pleated rosette. The pleated rosette may then be adhered to a top surface of the bi-fold holder. An occasion related decoration, such as but not limited to a heart, may then be adhered to the rosette, such that the pleats of the rosette encircle the occasion-related decoration. Other decorations may be used with this embodiment of the box topper, as well as with the other embodiments of the box topper. The decorations may correspond to any holiday, or occasion. Alternately, the decoration may be any decorative shape, design, mark, or device. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 14A-20  depict additional features and elements of various embodiments of the gift card box topper. 
         [0035]    It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosed subject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form described is merely explanatory, and it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes. 
         [0036]    While the present disclosure has been described with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood that these embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. More generally, embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure have been described in the context of particular implementations. Functionality may be separated or combined in blocks differently in various embodiments of the disclosure or described with different terminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims that follow.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1