U.S. patent application number 09/931507 was filed with the patent office on 2003-02-20 for combination greeting card and gift assembly.
Invention is credited to Bonfils, Gilles, Ward, Neil.
Application Number | 20030034268 09/931507 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25460888 |
Filed Date | 2003-02-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030034268 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bonfils, Gilles ; et
al. |
February 20, 2003 |
Combination greeting card and gift assembly
Abstract
An improved greeting card and gift combination assembly is
provided, wherein the gift is preferably a candle. The assembly
comprises a greeting card, a candle, and a transparent packaging
that contains and protects the candle, and positions the candle
adjacent to the front surface of the card. Both the card and the
candle have artwork and/or messages thereon, wherein they
complement and complete each other to form a "two-layer" artwork
and/or message. Demands for attractiveness, ease of display at the
point of sale, simplicity of comprehension and use by the customer,
economical cost of product, and low mailing cost are achieved.
Inventors: |
Bonfils, Gilles; (Meyreuil,
FR) ; Ward, Neil; (Meyreuil, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KAPLAN & GILMAN , L.L.P.
900NROUTE 9 NORTH
WOODBRIDGE
NJ
07095
US
|
Family ID: |
25460888 |
Appl. No.: |
09/931507 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/461 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2575/363 20130101;
B65D 75/366 20130101; B65D 2203/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/461 |
International
Class: |
B65D 073/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A combination greeting card and gift assembly, comprising: a
card member having a first side having artwork or a message, or a
combination of artwork and messages thereon; a gift having artwork
or a message, or a combination of artwork and messages thereon; and
substantially transparent packaging for said assembly, comprising
means for receiving and removably retaining said card member,
wherein said gift is positioned within said packaging, and said
card member is positioned within said receiving means, so that said
artwork, message and/or combination thereof on said card member is
in complementary orientation with said artwork, message and/or
combination thereof on said gift to form an overall image or theme
for said combination greeting card and gift assembly.
2. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in
claim 1, said receiving means comprising a plurality of flaps
extending from said packaging, so as to releasably enclose at least
two side edges of said card member.
3. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in
claim 1, wherein said packaging leaves a portion of a second
surface of said card member unenclosed and accessible for a
handwritten message, said second surface of said card member
oriented on an opposite side of said card member to said first
side.
4. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in
claim 1, wherein said packaging has means for displaying said
assembly.
5. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in
claim 4, wherein said means for displaying said assembly is an
aperture extending through said packaging at a top area of said
packaging.
6. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in
claim 1, wherein said gift is a candle.
7. A combination greeting card and gift assembly, comprising: a
card member having a first side having artwork or a message, or a
combination of artwork and messages thereon and a second side for
receipt thereon of a writing by a sender of said assembly; a gift
having artwork or a message, or a combination of artwork and
messages thereon; substantially transparent packaging for said
assembly, comprising means for receiving and removably retaining
said card member so that said first side of said card member is
visible through said substantially transparent packaging, and
wherein said gift is positioned within said packaging so that said
artwork or said message, or said combination of artwork and
messages on said gift is visible through said substantially
transparent packaging; wherein when said card member is received
within said receiving means, a portion of said second surface of
said card member is for receipt thereon of said writing.
8. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in
claim 7, wherein said gift is positioned within said packaging, and
said card member is positioned within said receiving means, so that
said artwork, message and/or combination thereof on said card
member is in complementary orientation with said artwork, message
and/or combination thereof on said gift to form an overall image or
theme for said combination greeting card and gift assembly.
9. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in
claim 8, said receiving means comprising a plurality of flaps
extending from said packaging, so as to releasably enclose at least
two side edges of said card member.
10. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in
claim 8, wherein said packaging has means for displaying said
assembly.
11. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in
claim 10, wherein said means for displaying said assembly is an
aperture extending through said packaging at a top area of said
packaging.
12. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in
claim 7, wherein said gift is a candle.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a combination greeting card and
gift assembly, and more particularly, to a combination greeting
card and candle assembly that provides "two-layer," complementary
artwork and/or messages on the card and candle elements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Greeting cards are, of course, well known and old in the
art. They have been sent on many diverse occasions for many
decades. The giving of gift items on such occasions is also well
known. Consequently, it is known in the art to provide a gift item
combined with a greeting message, or a greeting card with a small
gift item attached. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,275 discloses
a greeting card including a removable, transparent receptacle for a
gift, or a token of affection such as a flower. U.S. Pat. No.
4,440,298 discloses a greeting card adapted to serve as a gift
wrapping for a garment, especially a T-shirt. U.S. Pat. No.
6,170,665 B1 discloses a combination greeting card box and gift
tie, in which the combination can be used as both a shipping box
and a point of sale display for the box and gift tie.
[0003] The present invention in its preferred embodiment, embodies
a novel combination greeting card and candle which is highly simple
and lightweight in construction, easy to display at the point of
sale, economical to produce and purchase, and highly simple for the
customer to understand and use. In addition, unlike the prior art,
the invention provides an attractive layering of complementary
artwork and/or messages on the card and the candle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In accordance with the invention, an improved combination
greeting card and gift assembly is provided. In the preferred
embodiment, the gift is a candle. In addition to displaying the
candle, the greeting card complements the candle's artwork and/or
message to form an overall, attractive design and message that
complements the entire assembly. This concept is suitable for many
types of occasions by combining a candle as a gift, with an
appropriate greeting, and possibly also having all of the elements
tied together with appropriate, complementary artwork.
[0005] The combination item of the preferred embodiment comprises a
greeting card and candle, in which the greeting card and candle
both have artwork and/or messages that complement each other to
produce a complete, double layering of artwork, or a double
layering of artwork and a message and/or a double layering of
messages. For example, the artwork and/or message on the greeting
card will be in the background of the assembly when viewed by the
purchaser and/or the recipient, while the complementary artwork
and/or message on the candle will be displayed in the foreground;
i.e., on the surface of the candle.
[0006] The images are enclosed in a clear packaging that allows for
quick and easy display of the entire item. The item can easily be
displayed at its point of sale, so that it is visible entirely
without the need for opening any box, card or other manner of
display known in the art.
[0007] Due to its simple, postcard-like construction, the entire
item is both economical (both in production and to the consumer),
and simple for the customer to understand. In addition, in the
preferred embodiment, the reverse side of the card is conveniently
accessible for the easy addition of the sender's handwritten
message, without the need for opening a folded card or box.
However, it is to be understood that the use of such a
"folded-card" type construction is also anticipated in the
invention. Specifically, it is anticipated that instead of being a
flat, two-sided card, the greeting card element of the assembly
could, in fact, be a regular-type folded card assembly. In such a
construction, it is also anticipated that a manner of preventing
the card from unfolding while on display, would exist.
[0008] The entire item, whether encompassing the flat card shown in
the preferred embodiment herein, or the above discussed folded
card-type construction, can be placed in an envelope and, due to
its light weight and compact design, be mailed at a relatively low
postage rate.
[0009] In yet another possible embodiment, it is anticipated that
the item could be used in a postcard-type manner without the need
for a separate envelope, by affixing the sender's message,
recipient's address, and postage, all on the opposite side of the
card from the candle, for the flat card embodiment. Further, for
the folded, card-type configuration, the message would presumably
be placed on the inside of the folded card (out of sight to prying
eyes), while the stamp and recipient's address would be on the
front of the card.
[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an
improved combination greeting card and gift assembly.
[0011] It is a further object of the invention to provide an
improved combination greeting card and gift assembly, wherein the
gift is a candle.
[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide an improved
combination greeting card and gift assembly that displays a novel
"two-layers" of artwork and/or messages.
[0013] Still another object of the invention is to provide an
improved combination greeting card and gift, which can simply and
easily be displayed and understood by the customer, and which is
simple for the customer to use.
[0014] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a
combination item which is relatively economical to produce and in
the price for the ultimate consumer, and which is simple to mail at
a relatively low postage rate.
[0015] Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and
will in part be apparent from the following description.
[0016] The invention accordingly comprises an article possessing
the features, properties and relation of elements which will be
exemplified in the product hereinafter described, and the scope of
the invention will be dictated in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is
made to the following description taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of the
invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the artwork and
message on the candle and greeting card elements of the subject
invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the candle element of the
subject invention removed for use from the packaging;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clear packaging of the
subject invention;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the greeting card
element of the subject invention; and
[0023] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the greeting card
element of the subject invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] As is shown in the figures, the invention relates to a
combination greeting card and gift assembly. In particular, the
greeting card and gift combination has a greeting card 10, a candle
20, and clear packaging 30.
[0025] Appropriate artwork and/or message 11 is printed on the
greeting card 10. Complementary artwork and/or message 21 is also
printed on the candle 20. The artwork/message on both the candle 20
and the greeting card 10, respectfully seen in the figures as 21
and 11, complete and complement each other to provide an
attractive, "two-layering" of artwork and/or message. In its
preferred embodiment, the theme of the artwork and/or message 11 on
the greeting card is displayed in the background, while the
complementary artwork and/or message 21 on the candle is displayed
in the foreground.
[0026] It is anticipated by the invention that other gift items
besides a candle may also be used. For example, the "gift" may be a
candle containing a "finding" (not shown), such as a small piece of
jewelry; presumably hidden within the body of the candle. The
"finding" would be released when the candle is melted to a certain
level. The artwork and/or messages on the card and candle would be
suggestive of the "finding." Other possible "gifts" include, but
are not limited to, soaps in various shapes and appropriate sizes
with or without similar inclusions, potpourri (presumably of the
solid type), change purses, fortune cookies or display novelty
items with fluid centers and floating items inside, where the
floating items and fluid color complement the artwork and/or
messages on the card.
[0027] Card 10 and candle 20, as well as their respective artwork
and/or messages 11 and 21, are enclosed in a transparent packaging
30. The packaging 30 is made of a molded transparent plastic, such
as polyethylene tetraphthalate (PET) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
but other and various types of packaging, known in the art, are
also anticipated herein.
[0028] In the embodiment of the invention shown, the packaging 30
has a molded shell 31, which contains and protects the candle 20
and positions it adjacent to the front surface of the greeting card
10. The packaging has an opening 32 at the top to allow the entire
item to easily and simply be displayed in a standard hanging manner
known in the industry. This means for displaying the item allows
the customer to view the entire item without the need to open any
box or folded card. It is understood that any other display means
known in the art is also usable, as long as the entire item is
easily viewable by the customer. It is also to be understood that
the invention is meant to cover any shape of candle 20, and
associated shell 31.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, the packaging 30 leaves the back surface
of the card easily accessible for the handwriting of the sender's
message, again without the need to open any folded card or box.
This is accomplished by narrow flaps 33 of the packaging that fold
over and enclose the bottom and side edges of the card 10, leaving
the majority of the back surface area of the card 10 unenclosed.
During assembly of the item, these narrow flaps 33 allow for the
insertion and retainment of the greeting card 10 into the packaging
30, after the placement of the candle 20 into the shell portion 31.
As shown in FIG. 6, the back surface of the card 10 may have lines
and spaces 12 for a handwritten message.
[0030] With the above described simple design, the entire item can
be shipped, enclosed in a separate, standard envelope, at a
relatively low postage rate due to the light weight of the
assembly. In another possible embodiment, the back surface of the
card 10 may be used in a postcard-type manner, with this area
having affixed to it a message, recipient's address, and postage,
and without the need for a separate envelope.
[0031] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among
those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently
attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above
construction without departing from the sphere and scope of the
invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above
description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
[0032] It is also to be understood that the following claims are
intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the
invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the
invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall
therebetween.
* * * * *