Ornamental gripping device for holding gift cards onto gift packages

• US 5,495,644 A
• Filed: 06/14/1994
• Issued: 03/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James A. Mesher, Ofra R. Haviv-Levy
• Original Assignee: James A. Mesher, Ofra R. Haviv-Levy
• Inventors: Mesher, James A., Haviv-Levy, Ofra R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US08/259,490
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 24/304, 24/447, 24/693, 24/545, 24/563, 24/564, 24/570, 24/487, 24/530, 24/67.9, 24/3 L, 24/DIG. 11, 248/205.3
• US Class Current: 24/3.12
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/045 Multi-part cards or sheets, i.e. combined with detachably mounted articles
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 1/00 Sheets temporarily attached together without perforating; Means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1394 Article held by clip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/14 Bale and package ties, hose clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/205 One piece
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/33 having adhesive fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44769 Opposed engaging faces on gripping member formed from single piece of resilient material

Abstract

A combination ornamental and gripping device (30), designed especially to allow a novel and improved method for securely holding a flat object (10) such as a gift card or the like to a gift package (20) while providing ornamentation for the gift package (20). The gripping device (30) is preferably a single piece of molded or extruded resilient plastic material and is essentially U-shaped with two side members (32 and 34) that are of similar size and shape and that are essentially planar. The outside face of the ornamental side member (32) typically has a multi-colored design and/or message bonded to it as an ornamental member (46), or integrally molded with it, or printed on it. The outside face of the attaching side member (34) has applied to it an adhesive layer (38) with a peelable, protective liner (40), and is used to attach the gripping device (30) to the gift package (20). The side members (32 and 34) are biased so as to urge resiliently toward one another, thereby providing a clamping pressure to firmly hold the inserted flat object (10). Clamping pressure is preferably increased by providing two laterally oriented, rounded ridges or protrusions (42 and 44), with one on either side member (32 or 34), and positioned in an offset arrangement. Either protrusion is of such a size and protrudes toward the opposite side member to such an extent that the inserted flat object (10) is held with an increased clamping pressure so as to be securely, yet releasably, retained. At the open end of the gripping device (30), the gap between the side members (32 and 34) is wider, so as to facilitate insertion of the flat item (10) to be secured.

Claims

1. An ornamental gripping device for releasing and holding a gift card to a gift package, comprising:

a. a U-shaped gripping device with first and second side members spaced apart and aligned in a parallel manner, said first and second side members being joined together at one end, said first and second side members capable of applying sufficient clamping force on said gift card when placed therebetween to thereby enable the gift card to be selectively attached to said gripping device, said first and second side members each having outside and inside surfaces;

b. an ornamental means located on said outside surface of said first side member; and

,

c. an adhesive means located on said outside surface of said second side member enabling said gripping device to be attached to said gift package.

2. An ornamental gripping device, as recited in claim 1, further including at least one protrusion located on said inside surface of said first side member or second side member, said protrusion capable of applying clamping force on the gift card when placed between said first and second side members.

3. An ornamental gripping device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said ornamental means is an adhesively attached label with an ornamental outside surface.

4. An ornamental gripping device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said ornamental means is decorative artwork created directly on said outside surface of said first side member.

5. An ornamental gripping device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said adhesive means is a layer of adhesive material disposed on said outside surface of said second side member to enable said gripping device to be attached to the gift package.

6. A method for selectively attaching a gift card to a gift package, comprising the following steps:

a. selecting an ornamental gripping device which includes a U-shaped gripping device with first and second side members aligned in a parallel manner and joined together at one end, said first and second side members each having an outside surface, said first and second side members capable of applying sufficient clamping force on a gift card when placed therebetween to enable said gift card to be selectively attached to said first side member having an ornamental outside surface and said second side member having an outside adhesive layer;

b. attaching said adhesive layer on said gripping device to a gift package; and

,

c. attaching said gift card between said first and second side members of said gripping device to selectively attach said gift card to said gift package.