Abstract:
The disclosed invention is directed to an improved storage and dispensing device, comprising a container having a plurality of dowels for storing a dispensable object and at least one opening within the container through which the object can be dispensed. The invention allows a plurality of dispensable objects to be accessed and used without removing the objects from their stored position.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/831,951, filed May 29, 2004, and U.S. Provisional Patent No. 60/465,000 filed Apr. 25, 2003, the entire disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates generally to the field of storage and dispensing apparatus.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Gift wrapping is a notoriously burdensome, messy, and disfavored chore, primarily because very little advancement has been made in the field of gift wrap storage and dispensing devices. During the holiday season, for example, it is common to use multiple rolls of wrapping paper, bows, ribbons of varying prints and designs. Further, there are typically numerous packages to be wrapped at a given time. A large working area is, therefore, required in order to work efficiently and effectively. In most instances, an open floor space is the only area large enough to accommodate the gift wrapping projects of ordinary scale. The traditional approach to wrapping gifts, therefore, entails sitting on the floor amongst what, before long, becomes a cluttered and disorganized mess of partially unraveled paper, accessories and trash. The inconvenience and awkwardness of having to bend, stretch, reach, and crawl across the floor to access wrapping paper and accessories inevitably leads to frustration and tiredness. Moreover, as almost anyone familiar with this situation knows, it is almost certain that scissors and tape will be misplaced or buried among the scattered mess, thereby posing a risk of injury.  
     
    
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the gift wrap apparatus;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a  2  is a top view of the container of the gift wrap apparatus;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a cut-away top view of the container of the gift wrap apparatus;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a cross section of the gift wrap apparatus;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cut-away view of the ratchet-system;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the gift wrap apparatus;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the blade unit;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a second perspective view of the gift wrap apparatus;  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a third perspective view of the gift wrap apparatus; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is cut-away view of the ratchet-system. 
     
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     The present invention provides, in a preferred embodiment, an improved gift wrap system and storage device, wherein wrapping paper and wrapping accessories are accessible for use from their stored position in the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a container which houses a plurality of dowels for holding rolls of wrapping paper. The wrapping paper is dispensed through openings in the container adjacent to the dowels. Once the desired amount of wrapping paper is dispensed, flaps positioned on the sides of the container fold down against wrapping paper to hold it firmly against the side of the container, and to keep excess wrapping paper from being dispensed once the desired amount of wrapping paper for a particular gift has been dispensed. A cutting device, such as a serrated edge or the like, is positioned on the flap. Wrapping paper extending beyond the flap on the container is grasped and pulled against the cutting device to cut the paper to the desired length. The container is preferably rotatably affixed to a base so that the user can, while remaining in one position, rotate the container so that the desired wrapping paper inside container is easily accessible.  
         [0017]     The apparatus includes a lid, which is rotatably positioned on a flange extending perpendicularly from the container, and a dispenser housing extending from the inside wall of the lid. Removable dispenser wheels are provided which are designed to be inserted into the center of rolls of ribbon or tape. The dispenser wheels have pegs extending perpendicularly from both sides, which are dimensioned to fit into corresponding recesses in the dispenser housing. Lid  9  has openings in its side wall through which wrapping accessories, e.g. tape and ribbon, are dispensed. A cutting device, such as a serrated edge or the like, is positioned at each opening for cutting the wrapping accessories. Lid  9  preferably has an opening at its top end, which may be covered by a door.  
         [0018]     Rotation of the container and the lid is facilitated by, for example ball bearings positioned between the flange and the lid. Locking mechanisms, such as a levers which, when engaged, apply frictional force to the container or base, or a ratchet-like system, are used to prevent container from rotating when directional force is applied to the container, such as when dispensing or cutting the wrapping paper.  
         [0019]     In another embodiment apparatus includes an second, inner-container, which is positioned inside the outside container and the dowels. The inner container can be used as a trash receptacle or for storing additional rolls of wrapping paper. The top side of the inner container is open to the opening in the lid, such that trash or wrapping paper can be inserted in the inner container through the opening in the lid, without having to remove the lid.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     The present invention provides an improved gift wrap apparatus designed to eliminate the inadequacies of conventional gift wrap and storage devices. In particular, the invention is directed to a gift wrap apparatus that conveniently stores multiple rolls of wrapping paper and wrapping accessories while, at the same time, making the wrapping paper accessible without having to remove the wrapping paper or accessories from the apparatus. The apparatus, therefore, greatly simplifies the process of wrapping gifts, and eliminates many of the inconveniences and attendant dangers of traditional wrapping apparatus and techniques.  
         [0021]     In a preferred embodiment, as exemplified in  FIG. 1 , the present invention provides a gift wrap apparatus  10  comprising a container  20  having at least one side wall  30 , and at least one dowel  40  extending from the floor  50  of container  20  for receiving rolls of wrapping paper  25 . Side wall  30  has at least one opening  60  or slits through which wrapping paper is dispensed. Openings  60 , therefore, are preferably positioned proximate to dowels  40 . Container  2  is rotatably situated on a base  70 , the rotation being facilitated, for example, by ball bearings  80  or other known rotating means. Container  20  includes a removable lid  90 , which in a preferred embodiment is itself rotatably situated among an annular flange  100  extending perpendicularly from side wall  30 . The rotation of lid  90  is also being facilitated by, for example, ball bearings  80  or other known rotation means. Container  20  and lid  90  are, therefore, separately rotatable with respect to one another. At least one first locking mechanism (not shown) is positioned on base  7  and at least one second locking mechanism (not shown) is positioned on container  20 . The first locking mechanism, for example, can be a lever disposed on base  70 , which when frictionally engaged with container  20 , prevents rotation of container  20  with respect to base  70 . Similarly, the second locking mechanism can be a lever positioned on the upper portion of side wall  30 , which when frictionally engaged with lid  90 , prevents rotation of lid  90  with respect to container  20 . In another embodiment, the first locking mechanism and second locking mechanism can comprise a standard ratchet-like system  110 , which permits rotation in one direction, but prevents rotation in an opposite direction. In essence, any known locking mechanism which prevents rotation of container  20  or lid  90  can be used.  
         [0022]     On the exterior of container  20 , adjacent to each opening  60  is a flap  120  coupled to container  20 , by for example, a hinge mechanism  130 , for securing wrapping paper dispensed through opening  60  to the exterior of side wall  30  of container  20 . A cutting device  140 , e.g. a serrated edge, is positioned on flap  120 . In one embodiment cutting device  140  is positioned on the outside edge  142  of flap  120 . In another embodiment, cutting device  140  is a blade unit  150  coupled to the outside face of flap  120  and, in accordance with this embodiment, has a vertically positioned opening  152  which serves as a track for blade unit  150 . Blade unit  150  is spring  154 -loaded and comprises a blade  156  coupled to a press tab  158 . Press tab  158  is positioned on the outside face of flap  120 , with the blade  156  projecting into opening  152 . In a relaxed position, press tab  158  rests above flap  120 , such that blade  156  extends only partially through opening  152 . When flap  120  is closed upon wrapping paper  25 , pressure is applied to press tab  158  such that blade  156  extends fully through opening to cut wrapping paper  25 . While maintaining pressure on press tab  158 , blade unit  156  is then pushed downward along opening  152 , to cut wrapping paper  25  from its top edge to its bottom edge.  
         [0023]     With flaps  120  open, wrapping paper  25  is dispensed through openings  60  in side wall  30  of container  20 , until the desired length of wrapping paper  25  has been dispensed. Flaps  120  are then folded downward to tightly secure wrapping paper  25  against side wall  30  of container  20 . Wrapping paper  25  extending beyond outside of flap  120  is grasped and pulled against cutting device  140  on flap  120 , so as to cut wrapping paper  25  to the desired length. A lead portion of wrapping paper  25 , having an approximate width of flap  120 , will remain under flap  120 . The downward force applied to wrapping paper  25  by flap  120 , or the resistance applied by the aforementioned ratchet system  110 , which is applied in the direction opposite to that in which wrapping paper  25  is pulled against cutting device  140 , prevents excess wrapping paper  25  from being dispensed. When flap  120  is opened, the lead portion of wrapping paper  120  will be exposed, which will serve as the grasping portion for the next section of wrapping paper  25  to be dispensed. Flap  120 , therefore, always maintains portion of wrapping paper  25  outside of container  10 , so that wrapping paper  25  does not have to be fed through openings  60  each time a new piece of wrapping paper  25  is cut. Wrapping paper  25  does not have to be removed from its stored position on the dowels  40  in container  10  prior to use. When a roll of wrapping paper  25  is depleted, the cardboard sleeve upon which wrapping paper  25  is wound is simply removed from dowel  40  and discarded. A new roll of wrapping paper  25  is placed on dowel  40  in its place. The number of rolls of wrapping paper  25  available for dispensing at any one time is determined by the number of dowels  40  in container  20 . Dowels  40  are preferably of a diameter smaller than the diameter of the sleeve upon which wrapping paper  25  is wound, so that wrapping paper  25  rolls can be easily placed on and removed from dowel  40 . Dowels  40  can be of any length, but where there is a lid  90 , preferably not so long as to hinder the placement of lid  90  onto container  20 . It is contemplated that wrapping paper  25  of different styles and different prints, for example, will be placed on the various dowels  40 , so as to offer and provide access to a wide variety of wrapping paper  25 .  
         [0024]     Lid  90  preferably contains an accessory dispenser  160  for holding, storing, and dispensing gift wrap accessories  164 , such as ribbon and tape, extending from the interior of lid  90 . In a preferred embodiment, dispenser  160 , comprising a housing unit  162  having recesses  166  for receiving a dispensing wheel  168 . Dispensing wheel  168  is positioned within the open center portion of a roll of tape or ribbon and has a tight tolerance with respect thereto, such that frictional force maintains dispensing wheel  168  within the open center portion of the roll of tap or ribbon. Extending laterally from dispensing wheel  168  are pegs  169 , dimensioned to fit and be secured within recesses  166  of housing unit  160 . Lid  90  has openings  170  or slits therein through which gift wrapping accessories  164 , e.g., positioned within housing unit  160  can be dispensed. A cutting device (not shown), e.g. a serrated edge, razor blade, etc. is positioned on the lid  90  at the position of opening  170  for cutting the accessory  164  dispensed through said opening  170 .  
         [0025]     Apparatus  10  is particularly advantageous in that its user or users, from a single position, has access to multiple rolls of wrapping paper  25  which, in ordinary instances, will vary in style and design. Apparatus  10  is, therefore, a significant improvement over conventional gift wrap apparatus, in that apparatus  10  serves simultaneously as a storage device, and a gift wrap and accessory dispenser. Moreover, unlike the conventional methods of gift wrapping, for example, wherein one sits on the floor amidst wrapping paper strewn about, apparatus  10 , eliminates the inherent discomforts (e.g. backaches), dangers (e.g. cuts and/or strained muscles), frustrations (e.g. lost scissors) and clutter attendant with these conventional methods. For instance, apparatus  10  can be conveniently situated next to its user, whether on the floor and adjacent to a table top, for example, leaving ample working space for gift wrapping. Container  20  is rotated to position the wrapping paper  25  of interest adjacent to its user. The user then simply dispenses the desired amount of wrapping paper  25  and cuts it using cutting device  140 . When user wants to use a different style or type of wrapping paper  25 , without having to reach or reposition, user simply rotates container  20 , so that the desired roll of wrapping paper  25  is positioned adjacent to the user. Similarly, lid  90  is rotated, so that the desired gift wrapping accessory  164  is positioned adjacent to user. Accessory  164  is dispensed through opening  170  and cut at the desired length using cutting device. Since lid  90  and container  20  are separately rotatable with respect to each other, user can have any combination of wrapping paper  25  and accessory  164  positioned immediately adjacent user. Where, for example, user wishes to use a different wrapping paper  25 , but continue using a particular accessory  164 , user can disengage the first locking mechanism (not shown) and freely rotate container  20  until the next desired wrapping paper  25  is positioned adjacent user. Likewise, where user wishes to use a different accessory  164 , but wants to continue using a particular wrapping paper  25 , user can disengage second locking mechanism (not shown) and freely rotate lid  90 , until the next desired accessory  164  is positioned adjacent user. It is further contemplated that container  20  can be positioned on its side, such that wrapping paper  25  is dispensed parallel to surface upon which a gift is wrapped. With container  20  on its side, a predetermined amount of wrapping paper  25  can be dispensed, and a gift placed on the paper to determine exactly how much wrapping paper  25  is necessary to wrap the gift. Once the desired length of wrapping paper  25  is determined, wrapping paper  25  can be cut using cutting device  140 .  
         [0026]     In another preferred embodiment, a second, inner container  180  is housed within container  20  and lid  90  has an opening  182  positioned on its topside. Dowels  40  are preferably positioned between inner container  180  and container  20 . Inner container  180  preferably has a handle  184  to facilitate its removal from container  20 . It is contemplated that inner container  180  can be used to store additional rolls of wrapping paper  25  which are not positioned on dowels  40 , or used as a trash receptacle for receiving paper scraps, etc. Opening  182  in lid  90  is preferably positioned in-line with opening of inner container  180 , such that rolls of wrapping paper, trash, etc. can be placed into inner container  180  without having to remove lid  90 . When used as a trash receptacle, for example, inner container  180  can be removed from container  20 , emptied, and reinserted into container  20 .