U.S. patent application number 11/327619 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-13 for magnetic card and envelope.
Invention is credited to Laurel Grace Meister.
Application Number | 20060151340 11/327619 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36652180 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060151340 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meister; Laurel Grace |
July 13, 2006 |
Magnetic card and envelope
Abstract
The present invention is a magnetic card and/or envelope that
can be removeably attached to a package. The present invention also
includes methods for making the magnetic card and envelope and a
gift wrapping kit comprising the magnetic card or envelope along
with a package.
Inventors: |
Meister; Laurel Grace;
(Laguna Beach, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DOBRUSIN & THENNISCH PC
29 W LAWRENCE ST
SUITE 210
PONTIAC
MI
48326
US
|
Family ID: |
36652180 |
Appl. No.: |
11/327619 |
Filed: |
January 6, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60642296 |
Jan 7, 2005 |
|
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60684039 |
May 24, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/232 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 27/20 20130101;
B65D 2203/00 20130101; G09F 3/02 20130101; B65D 33/24 20130101;
B65D 33/004 20130101; G09F 3/06 20130101; B65D 2313/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/232 |
International
Class: |
B65D 71/00 20060101
B65D071/00 |
Claims
1. A magnetic card comprising: a substrate having at least two
outward facing surfaces, a first magnet attached to a first inward
facing surface of said substrate; a second magnet attached to a
second inward facing surface of said substrate in a location on
said second inward facing surface that allows said second magnet to
be attracted and attached to said first magnet thereby forming a
magnetic card that can be removeably attached to a package.
2. The card according to claim 1 wherein said substrate is
constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of
paper, plastics, plastic derivatives, metal, metal alloys, wood,
fabric, glass, and a combination thereof.
3. The card according to claim 1 wherein said substrate is selected
from the group consisting of a single planar material containing a
fold and a plurality of materials attached together at one end.
4. The card according to claim 3 wherein said attachment is
provided by means selected from the group consisting of adhesive,
string, stitching, magnet, button, snap, staple, and a combination
thereof.
5. The card according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said
outward facing surfaces contains at least one decoration selected
from the group consisting of writing, ornamental design, two
dimensional art, three dimensional art, printing, embossing,
stamping, glittering, painting, button, gem, collage of die cut
papers, collage of objects of any material, photograph, sticker,
pressed flower, other object from nature, bead, string, fabric, and
a combination thereof.
6. A card according to claim 1 wherein said first inward facing
surface and said second inward facing surface include additional
magnets.
7. A card according to claim 1 wherein said substrate's shape is
selected from the group consisting of square, rectangular, circle,
diamond, triangle and irregular.
8. A method for making a magnetic card comprising: Providing a
substrate having at least two outward facing surfaces; Attaching a
first magnet to a first inward facing surface of said substrate;
Attaching a second magnet to a second inward facing surface of said
substrate in a location on said second inward facing surface that
allows said second magnet to be attracted and attached to said
first magnet thereby forming a magnetic card that can be removeably
attached to a package.
9. A gift wrapping kit containing: a card comprising of a substrate
having at least two outward facing surfaces, a first magnet
attached to a first inward facing surface of said substrate; a
second magnet attached to a second inward facing surface of said
substrate in a location on said second inward facing surface that
allows said second magnet to be attracted and attached to said
first magnet thereby forming said card; and a package.
10. A gift wrapping kit according to claim 9 wherein said package
is selected from a group consisting of a bag, a box, wrapping
paraphernalia, and a combination thereof.
11. The gift wrapping kit according to claim 9 wherein said package
includes a slot used for the attachment of said card.
12. The gift wrapping kit accordingly to claim 9 wherein said
package is comprised of a box and a ribbon and said card can be
removeably attached to said ribbon.
13. A magnetic envelope comprising: an envelope having a front
panel, a flap, a rear panel, closed ends, and an interior portion;
a first magnet attached to said flap, a second magnet attached to
said rear panel in a location on said rear panel that allows said
second magnet to be attracted and attached to said first magnet
thereby forming a magnetic envelope that can be removeably attached
to a package.
14. The envelope according to claim 13 wherein said envelope is
constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of
paper, plastics, plastic derivatives, metal, metal alloys, wood,
fabric, glass, and a combination thereof.
15. The envelope according to claim 13 wherein said envelope is
selected from the group consisting of a single planar material
containing a fold and a plurality of materials attached together at
said closed ends.
16. The envelope according to claim 13 wherein said attachment is
provided by means selected from the group consisting of adhesive,
string, stitching, magnet, button, snap, staple, and a combination
thereof.
17. The envelope according to claim 13 wherein at least one of said
panels contains at least one decoration selected from the group
consisting of writing, ornamental design, two dimensional art,
three dimensional art, printing, embossing, stamping, glittering,
painting, button, gem, collage of die cut papers, collage of
objects of any material, photograph, sticker, pressed flower, other
object from nature, bead, string, fabric, and a combination
thereof.
18. An envelope according to claim 13 wherein said flap and said
rear panel include additional magnets.
19. An envelope according to claim 13 wherein said envelope's shape
is selected from the group consisting of square, rectangular,
circle, diamond, triangle and irregular.
20. A method for making a magnetic envelope comprising: Providing
an envelope having a front panel, a flap, a rear panel, closed
ends, and an interior portion; Attaching a first magnet attached to
said flap, Attaching a second magnet attached to said rear panel in
a location on said rear panel that allows said second magnet to be
attracted and attached to said first magnet thereby forming a
magnetic envelope that can be removeably attached to a package.
21. A gift wrapping kit containing: A magnetic envelope comprising
an envelope having a front panel, a flap, a rear panel, closed
ends, and an interior portion; a first magnet attached to said
flap, a second magnet attached to said rear panel in a location on
said rear panel that allows said second magnet to be attracted and
attached to said first magnet; and A package
22. A gift wrapping kit according to claim 21 wherein said package
is selected from a group consisting of a bag, a box, wrapping
paraphernalia, and a combination thereof.
23. The gift wrapping kit according to claim 21 wherein said
package includes a slot used for the attachment of said magnetic
envelope.
24. The gift wrapping kit accordingly to claim 21 wherein said
package is comprised of a box and a ribbon and said magnetic
envelope can be removeably attached to said ribbon.
Description
CLAIM OF BENEFIT OF FILING DATE
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/642,296 titled: "Magnetic Card" filed on
Jan. 7, 2005 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/684,039
titled: "Magnetic Envelope" filed on May 24, 2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention generally relates to an improved card, tag,
label and envelope having a magnetic device that allows such device
to be removeably attached to a package.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Traditionally, a package is accompanied by a card, tag, or
label that provides certain information regarding the donor and/or
receiver (e.g., greetings, donor's identity, recipient's identity,
store identity etc.) In fact, when giving or receiving a package,
it is customary to identify the donor prior to opening the package.
With the increased popularity of utilizing a gift bag as the
package or wrapping, a problem exists in identifying the donor. A
conventional gift bag is generally sold with a small tag attached
to its handle. This tag is generally not large enough to convey any
thoughts other than gift donor's identity and gift recipient's
identity and cannot be removed for posterity without compromising
the condition of the tag or the gift bag or both. Furthermore, the
tag can only be used once, then, should one want to reuse the
accompanying gift bag, she will either have no tag, or she must use
an alternative means (e.g., another tag, label, card or the
like).
[0004] Use of the conventional greeting card poses the problem of
how to attach such card to the exterior of the package (desirable
for easy access and viewing). Attaching the card to the outside of
the package with adhesive will likely damage the card (or the
envelope in which the card is contained), the package, or both.
With no easy means of attaching to a package, the card usually gets
placed inside the package resulting in a loss of easy access.
Furthermore, if the package is a gift bag, the card is also likely
to be lost in wrapping paraphernalia (e.g., tissue paper, etc.)
thereby requiring the gift recipient to search for the card inside
the gift bag.
[0005] An additional problem with conventional greeting cards, tags
and labels is that each of them can be easily detached from the
package resulting in loss of information to the recipient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention solves these problems by providing a
magnetic card, tag, label (hereinafter referred to as "card")
and/or envelope that is readily accessible and securely but
removeably attached to a package. The present invention is a
magnetic card comprising of a substrate having at least two outward
facing surfaces, a first magnet attached to a first inward facing
surface of the substrate, a second magnet attached to a second
inward facing surface of the substrate in a location that allows
said second magnet to be attracted and attached to said first
magnet thereby forming the magnetic card that can be removeably
attached to a package.
[0007] The present invention also includes a method for making a
magnetic card comprising: providing a substrate having at least two
outward facing surfaces; attaching a first magnet to a first inward
facing surface of said substrate; attaching a second magnet to a
second inward facing surface of said substrate in a location on
said second inward facing surface that allows said second magnet to
be attracted and attached to said first magnet thereby forming a
magnetic card that can be removeably attached to a package.
[0008] The present invention includes a gift wrapping kit
comprising: the above-described magnetic card and the package.
[0009] The present invention also includes a magnetic envelope
comprising of an envelope having a front panel, a flap, a rear
panel, closed ends and an interior portion; a first magnet attached
to the flap, a second magnet attached to the rear panel in a
location on said rear panel that allows said second magnet to be
attracted and attached to said first magnet thereby forming the
magnetic envelope that can be removeably attached to a package.
[0010] The present invention further includes a method for making a
magnetic envelope comprising: providing an envelope having a front
panel, a flap, a rear panel, closed ends and an interior portion;
attaching a first magnet to the flap; attaching a second magnet to
the rear panel in a location on said rear panel that allows said
second magnet to be attracted and attached to said first magnet
thereby forming a magnetic envelope that can be removeably attached
to a package.
[0011] The present invention includes a gift wrapping kit
comprising: the above-described magnetic envelope and the
package.
[0012] Since the present invention can be removed from the package
without compromising the condition of either itself and/or the
package, reuse of packaging material is provided. The use of
magnets, unlike adhesive or other means, do not lose their ability
to securely fasten after repeated use. Furthermore, the present
invention has the ability to be a larger size than a conventional
tag that comes with a gift bag or box, thereby providing more space
for information or sentiments to be disclosed. The present
invention can be used as a further decoration for the package,
adding to the overall aesthetics. The present invention can attach
securely, effortlessly, and is less likely to become detached from
the package resulting in lost information, sentiment and/or
identity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The features and inventive aspects of the present invention
will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed
description, claims, and drawings, of which the following is a
brief description:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exterior view of one embodiment of a magnetic
card in accordance to the principles of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an interior view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
magnetic card in accordance to the principles of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1 attached to a gift bag;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1 attached to a handle of a gift bag;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1 attached to a slot of a gift bag;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1 attached to a package by its ribbon.
[0021] FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the embodiment shown
in FIG. 1 attached to a package by its ribbon.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1 attached to a slot within a package;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
magnetic card in accordance with the principles of the present
invention shown attached to a gift bag;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
magnetic card in accordance with the principles of the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
magnetic card in accordance with the principles of the present
invention shown attached to a gift bag;
[0026] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a
magnetic card in accordance with the principles of the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
magnetic card in accordance with the principles of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a
magnetic envelope in accordance to the principles of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
magnetic envelope in accordance to the principles of the present
invention;
[0030] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 15 attached to a gift bag;
[0031] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 15 attached to a handle of a gift bag;
[0032] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 15 attached to a slot of a gift bag;
[0033] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 15 attached to a package by its ribbon;
[0034] FIG. 21 is another perspective view of the embodiment shown
in FIG. 15 attached to a package by its ribbon;
[0035] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 15 attached to a slot within a package; and
[0036] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
magnetic envelope in accordance with the principles of the present
invention shown attached to a gift bag.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0037] The present invention is predicated upon providing a card,
tag or label that uses magnetic forces to removablely attach itself
to a package. The present invention is also predicated upon
providing an envelope that uses magnetic forces to removablely
attach itself to a package.
[0038] I. Glossary
[0039] The following terms are intended to have the following
general meanings as they are used herein.
[0040] 1. Card: any card, tag or label.
[0041] 2. Envelope: any container or holder for a written message
such as a note or card. The envelope can be constructed by any
suitable art-disclosed methods.
[0042] 3. Package: any bag, box, material, wrapping paraphernalia
(e.g., paper, ribbons, or the like) suitable for containing a gift,
an object or the like. It can be constructed of any suitable
art-disclosed materials, paper, plastics, plastic derivatives,
metal, metal alloys, wood, fabric, glass, or any combination
thereof.
[0043] 4. Paper: paper of any weight, cardboard or the like.
[0044] II. The Magnetic Card
[0045] Referring to FIGS. 1,2 and 4, a preferred embodiment of the
present invention is shown and comprises at least one substrate 10
having at least two outward facing surfaces 12, a first magnet 14
attached to a first inward facing surface 16 of the substrate 10, a
second magnet 18 attached to a second inward facing surface 19 of
the substrate in a location that allows said second magnet 18 to be
attracted and attached to said first magnet 14 thereby forming the
magnetic card 100 that can be removeably attached to a package
20.
[0046] The substrate 10 can be constructed out of any art-disclosed
suitable material such as paper, plastics, plastic derivatives,
metal, metal alloys, wood, fabric, glass, and a combination
thereof. The substrate 10 can be any predetermined size and/or
shape (e.g., square, rectangular, circle, diamond, triangle,
irregular, etc) suitable for its purpose. For example, the
substrate can be a 10''.times.3'' cardboard that can be folded into
a 5''.times.3'' size card. The substrate 10 can be formed by a
single planar material containing a fold as shown in FIG. 1 or a
plurality of materials attached together at one end as shown in
FIG. 3. The means for such attachment can be provided by any
suitable art-disclosed means such as adhesive, string, stitching,
magnets, buttons, snaps, staples, or a combination thereof.
[0047] The magnets (14, 18) can be of any suitable shape.
Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the two
magnets (14, 18), it may include the use of more than two magnets.
For example, as an alternative embodiment of the present invention,
the first inward facing surface (16) can have two magnets that are
attracted and attached to another two magnets attached to the
second inward facing surface (19).
[0048] The card 100 can be optionally decorated with a decoration
such as writing, ornamental design, two dimensional art, three
dimensional art, printing, embossing, stamping, glittering,
painting, button, gem, collage of die cut papers, collage of
objects of any material, photograph, sticker, pressed flower, other
object from nature, bead, string, fabric or a combination
thereof.
[0049] It is contemplated that alternatives to the components and
aspects of the card 100 may be employed in the practice of the
present invention. Some of those alternatives are disclosed below,
however, the skilled artisan will appreciate that many other
alternatives may also be employed as well in the practice of the
present invention.
[0050] The card 100 can be used to label a variety of different
packages, in a variety of different ways. For example, the card 100
can be removably attached by folding it over top edge of a bag (20)
as showed in FIG. 4, fold it over the handle of the bag (20) as
shown in FIG. 5, or placed into a slot of the bag (20) as shown in
FIG. 6. On a conventionally wrapped package, the card 100 can be
removeably attached through the loops of a bow or ribbon or string
of the package 20 as shown in FIGS. 7-8, or placed into a slot in
the package 20 as shown in FIG. 9. Alternatively and referring to
FIG. 10, the card 100 can be removeably attached by folding it over
top edge of the bag (20) as shown in FIG. 10 with the magnets (14,
18) of the card 100 also serving the function of closing the bag
(20).
[0051] Referring to FIGS. 11-14 are additional embodiments of the
card 100 having different shapes and decorations shown either alone
or attached to the package 20.
[0052] III. The Magnetic Envelope
[0053] Referring to FIG. 15, a preferred embodiments of the present
invention is shown and comprises an envelope 200 having a front
panel 202, a flap 204, a rear panel 206, closed ends (208, 210,
212) and an interior portion 214; a first magnet 216 attached to
the flap 204, a second magnet 218 attached to the rear panel 206 in
a location on said rear panel 206 that allows said second magnet
218 to be attracted and attached to said first magnet 216 thereby
forming the magnetic envelope 200 that can be removeably attached
to a package 220. Another embodiment of the envelope 200 is shown
in FIG. 16.
[0054] The envelope 200 can be constructed out of any art-disclosed
suitable material such as paper, plastics, plastic derivatives,
metal, metal alloys, wood, fabric, glass, and a combination
thereof. The envelope 200 can be any predetermined size and/or
shape (e.g., square, rectangular, circle, diamond, triangle,
irregular, etc) suitable for its purpose. The envelope 200 can be
formed by a single planar material as shown in FIGS. 15-16 or a
plurality of materials attached together. The means for such
attachment can be provided by any suitable art-disclosed means such
as adhesive, string, stitching, magnets, buttons, snaps, staples,
or a combination thereof.
[0055] The magnets (216, 218) can be of any suitable shape.
Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the two
magnets (216, 218), it may include the use of more than two
magnets. For example, as an alternative embodiment of the present
invention, the flap (204) can have two magnets that are attracted
and attached to another two magnets attached to the rear panel
206.
[0056] The envelope 200 can be optionally decorated with a
decoration such as writing, ornamental design, two dimensional art,
three dimensional art, printing, embossing, stamping, glittering,
painting, button, gem, collage of die cut papers, collage of
objects of any material, photograph, sticker, pressed flower, other
object from nature, bead, string, fabric or a combination
thereof.
[0057] It is contemplated that alternatives to the components and
aspects of the envelope 200 may be employed in the practice of the
present invention. Some of those alternatives are disclosed below,
however, the skilled artisan will appreciate that many other
alternatives may also be employed as well in the practice of the
present invention.
[0058] The envelope 200 can be used for a variety of different
packages, in a variety of different ways. For example, the envelope
200 can be removably attached by folding it over top edge of a bag
(220) as showed in FIG. 17, fold it over the handle of the bag
(220) as shown in FIG. 18, or placed into a slot of the bag (220)
as shown in FIG. 19. On a conventionally wrapped package, the
envelope 200 can be removeably attached through the loops of a bow
or ribbon or string of the package 220 as shown in FIGS. 20-21, or
placed into a slot in the package 220 as shown in FIG. 22.
Alternatively and referring to FIG. 23, the envelope 200 can be
removeably attached by folding it over top edge of the bag (220)
with the magnets (216, 218) of the envelope 200 also serving the
function of closing the bag (220).
[0059] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
disclosed. A person of ordinary skill in the art would realize
however, that certain modifications would come within the teachings
of this invention. Therefore, the following claims should be
studied to determine the true scope and content of the
invention.
* * * * *