Abstract:
An apparatus for wrapping an item, e.g., a gift basket is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for wrapping an item, e.g., a gift basket, using the apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/362,758, filed on Mar. 8, 2002, and having the same title and inventor as the present application. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    This invention relates to apparatus and methods for wrapping items, and more particularly to a device for wrapping gift baskets and the like.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Gift baskets and similar items have enjoyed increasing popularity. In preparing such items, it is desirable to wrap the item. Many items are typically wrapped in wrapping material secured with a string, bow or other ribbon like material so as to provide a plume of wrapping material at the top of the item. These plumes have typically been time-consuming and difficult to make. An additional problem has been keeping the item to be wrapped centered within the wrapping material to provide a symmetric and aesthetically pleasing plume. What is needed in the art is an apparatus for assisting in the wrapping of gift baskets and similar items that simplifies wrapping of the item and allows for easier and quicker wrapping.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention is directed to an apparatus for assisting in the wrapping of items such as gift baskets. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a bottom support and one or more members elastically supporting clamps for securing the wrapping material. The item to be wrapped is placed in the wrapping material and is self-centered by operation of the apparatus. The wrapping material may then be secured with a string, ribbon, bow or other string-like material to form an aesthetically pleasing plume on the wrapped item. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is an illustration of a wrapping apparatus in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is an illustration of a wrapping apparatus in accordance with the present invention illustrating the configuration of ribbon spools for use in the wrapping operation.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 illustrates a wrapping apparatus in accordance with the present invention with a sheet of wrapping material held in an initial position for wrapping an item.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 a  illustrates a wrapping apparatus in accordance with the present invention with the item to be wrapped disposed within the wrapping material.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 b  further illustrates a wrapping apparatus in accordance with the present invention with the item to be wrapped self-centered within the wrapping material.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 illustrates a wrapping apparatus in accordance with the present invention with a string or ribbon-like member disposed around the wrapping material to complete wrapping of the item.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 further illustrates a wrapping apparatus in accordance with the present invention with a string or ribbon-like member disposed around the wrapping material to complete wrapping of the item.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 illustrates an item completely wrapped in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a wrapping apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    Turning to the drawings and, in particular, to FIG. 1 a first embodiment of an apparatus  10  for assisting in the wrapping of an item, such as a gift basket is illustrated.  
         [0015]    In the illustrated embodiment, apparatus  10  comprises a boom assembly  12  formed from tubular metal. Alternate embodiments are envisioned where the boom assembly  12  is formed from other materials such as plastic, rubber or wood.  
         [0016]    The boom assembly  12  has a base  13  that supports the apparatus  10  on a flat surface, such as a table. In the illustrated embodiment, the base  13  comprises a back section  13   a  and two front extending sections  13   b . The sections of the base  13  are configured such that the base defines an open area  14 .  
         [0017]    Extending upwardly from the base  13  of the boom assembly  12  is an upright section  15  that is formed from two nested sections,  15   a  and  15   b . A screw element  16  is used to provide pressure to maintain section  15   a  in a fixed relationship to section  15   b . The length of the upright section  15  can be adjusted by unscrewing the screw element  16 , sliding the section  15 a upward or downward as desired and retightening the screw element  16 . Adjustment of the length of upright section  15  is particularly beneficial in adjusting the apparatus for wrapping items of different sizes.  
         [0018]    A forward section  17  extends forwardly from upright section  15 . In the illustrated embodiment, forward section  17  is formed from the same tubular member as section  15   a  through a bend in the element.  
         [0019]    A square frame member  19  that fits around forward section  17  couples a horizontal member  18  to forward section  17 . A screw member  20  passes through the frame member  19  and holds the horizontal member  18  in a fixed location with respect to section  17 . In the illustrated embodiment, the screw member  20  may be loosened to allow adjustment of the position of the horizontal member  18  along element  17 .  
         [0020]    While the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrates the use of screw members  16  and  20  to provide for adjustability of the height of boom member  12  and the location of horizontal member  18 , alternate adjustment structures such as clamps, spring biased interfitting members, notches/holes and retaining pins, etc. may be used to provide the desired adjustability.  
         [0021]    Multiple eyelets  21  are attached to horizontal member  18 . An eyelet  22  is also attached to forward section  17 . As described below, the eyelets  21  and  22  define points for coupling wrap-retaining members to the boom assembly  12 . Alternate embodiments are envisioned where structures other than eyelets, for example hooks, projections or holes in horizontal member  18  provide the structure for coupling the wrap retaining members to the horizontal section  18 .  
         [0022]    In the embodiment of FIG. 1, three wrap retaining members  22  are coupled to, and extend from, three of the eyelets  21 . Each of the wrap retaining members comprises a first clip  22   a  that couples the wrap retaining member to an eyelet, an elastic cord section  22   b , and a second clip  22   c  that is coupled to a clamp  22   d . As described in more detail below, the wrap retaining members are used to retain wrap material in a desired position during the wrapping of an item, such as a gift basket.  
         [0023]    The elastic cord section  22   b  may be formed from any elastic material such as a bungee cord. The degree of elasticity of the elastic cord section should be selected to provide relatively free movement of the cord during use of apparatus  10 .  
         [0024]    Clamp  22   d  may be any clamp suitable for holding wrap material. Depending on the type of wrap material to be used with apparatus  10 , it may be desirable for clamp  22   d  to be a rubber or plastic coated clamp, as such clamps have been found to provide adequate grip for most wrap materials. In general, clamp  22   d  should have relatively smooth clamp surfaces, so as to not puncture the wrap material or create undesirable indentations or impressions in the wrap material to be used with apparatus  10 .  
         [0025]    In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, ribbon-holding elements  23  extend from the upright section  15  of the boom assembly  12 . The ribbon holding elements  23  are in the form of rods that project from section  15 . As illustrated more clearly in FIG. 2, the ribbon holding sections may provide support for ribbon spool. A spring element stretches across all or a portion of horizontal member  18  and can retain the loose end of the ribbon spool.  
         [0026]    The apparatus  10 , described above, may be used to implement a beneficial method for wrapping an item, such as a gift basket. The unique method enabled by apparatus  10  will be described in connection with FIGS.  3 - 7 .  
         [0027]    Referring to FIG. 3, a first step in the method under discussion involves the placement of one end of a sheet of wrapping material  25  into one or more of the clips of the wrap retaining members  22 . Before placing the end of the wrapping material into the clips of the wrap retaining members  22 , the location of the members  22  may be adjusted to provide for a desired “plume” or wrap effect. In the illustrated example, this adjustment may be made by simply adjusting the positions of the member  22  by clipping the members to alternate eyelets  21 . Alternate embodiments are envisioned where the clips  22  may be infinitely adjustable along the horizontal member  18  and/or the forward section  17 . As will be apparent from the following discussion, the positioning of wrap retaining members  22  may have an impact on the visible appearance of the plume created when the wrapping of the item to be wrapped is completed.  
         [0028]    Once an end of the sheet material is positioned within one or more clips of wrap retaining members  22 , the item to be wrapped may be placed on top of the wrap material  25 . The end of the wrap material  25  that is not held by the wrap retaining members  22  may then be lifted up and over the item to be wrapped and placed within one or more of the clips of the wrap retaining members  22  such that the wrap will surround the item. This method step is illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B where a gift basket  26  is shown positioned within wrap material. It should noted that the use of assembly  10  allows the item  10  to be wrapped to be automatically centered within the wrap material  25 . This “self centering” feature of assembly  10  is of particular significance as centering of the item to be wrapped within material  25  is believed to provide the most visibly attractive plume. Additionally, flexibility in creating the plume is provided by the “bungee” effect of elastic cord sections  22   b.    
         [0029]    Once the wrap material  25  is positioned within wrap retaining members a ribbon, rope or other string-like element may be positioned around a portion of the wrap material  25  so as to complete the wrapping of the item to be wrapped. This method step is illustrated in FIG. 5 where “Big John” is illustrated placing a ribbon  27  about a section of wrap material  25  that extends above the handle of basket  26 . It should be noted that because the wrap retaining members  22  hold the wrap material  25  in place without the need for additional support, the use of assembly  10  allows the user of the assembly to use both hands when placing the ribbon or other string-like material about the basket.  
         [0030]    During a subsequent method step, the ribbon or other string-like material  27  may be pulled taut to complete the wrapping of item  28 . This method step is illustrated in FIG. 6. Again, the use of assembly  10  allows the operator of the assembly to use both hands when pulling taut element  27 . It should be noted that when the ribbon or other string-like material  27  is positioned around the wrap  25  and pulled taut the elastic cord sections  22   b  of the wrap retaining members will typically stretch.  
         [0031]    Once the ribbon or other material  27  is pulled taut, the wrapping of the item is completed and the clamps of wrap retaining members  22  may be opened to release the wrapped item as illustrated in FIG. 7.  
         [0032]    An alternate embodiment of the apparatus  10  for assisting in the wrapping of an item is generally illustrated in FIG. 8.  
         [0033]    Referring to FIG. 8, a wrap assembly  30  is provided that includes a base element  31  and four upwardly extending elements  32   a - 32   d . Each of the upwardly extending elements  32   d  is formed of two segments, a rigid lower segment  35   d  (formed from a rigid or semi-rigid material such a plastic or suitable metal) and a flexible upper segment  35   d  (formed from a material such as plastic or rubber) such that the element can bend and “bow.” The upwardly extending elements may be of fixed length or some mechanism (such as telescoping interfitting members) may be used to allow for length adjustment of the members.  
         [0034]    Coupled to the upper end of flexible members  32   a - 32   d  are clamps  33 . The clamps  33  should be selected using the same criteria described above in connection with clamps  22   d.    
         [0035]    During operation, the structure  30  of FIG. 30 allows for the wrapping of an item using a method substantially similar to that described above in connection with apparatus  10 . Specifically, one end of a sheet of wrap material may be placed within clamps  33 . The item to be wrapped may be placed on top of the sheet of wrap material and the free end of the sheet may be lifted and placed within clamps  33  to “self center” the item within the wrap material. During operation, the flexible members  32   a - 32   d  will bend, proving a degree of elasticity.  
         [0036]    Once the item to be wrapped is positioned within the sheet of wrapping material, a ribbon or other string-like material may be placed about the material and the wrapping of the item may be completed substantially as described above.  
         [0037]    Though the present invention has been described with reference to two exemplary embodiments, other embodiments and modifications will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the present disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.