Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02603487 2007-09-19
GIFT ORGANIZER
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional
Application
Serial No. 60/845,641, entitled "Gift Organizer" filed on September 19, 2006,
the entirety of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
The present invention is directed to an organizer, and more particularly, to
an organizer
for storing various information relating to gift giving.
Gift giving is a popular and a widespread activity practiced at major holidays
(such as
Christmas, Valentine's Day, Father's Day, Mother's Day, etc.), birthdays,
anniversaries,
graduations, retirements, weddings, baby and wedding showers, and the like.
Due to the year-
long attention which must be paid to such events, as well as the numerous
individuals, dates and
other information which must be tracked, there is a need for an organizer
which can store such
information in a central location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The disclosure in a first aspect provides a gift organizer for storing various
gift
information in a single component. The gift organizer comprises a pair of
front and rear covers
and two or more sets of pages bound together to the front and rear covers such
that the sets of
pages are disposed between the front and rear covers. The sets of pages are
provided
respectively with different pre-printed category indicators each specific to
the respective set of
pages to designate the respective set of pages for storing gift information of
a specific category.
In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the gift organizer may further
comprise tabs
associated with the sets of pages respectively. The tabs may be fixed to the
gift organizer such
that each tab extends outwardly from the outer perimeter of the sets of pages
to provide a
protniding surface. The pre printed category indicators may be printed on the
protruding
surfaces of the tabs respectively. In this embodiment, thc gift organizer may
further comprise
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divider sheets bound together with and placed among the sets of pages such
that each divider
sheet is followed by the respective set of pages. The tabs may be carried by
the divider sheets
respectively. Alternatively, each tab may be coupled to one of the pages of
the respective set.
While having the tabs with the first pre-printed category indicators, the gift
organizer may
further comprise second pre-printed category indicators associated with the
sets of pages
respectively. Each second pre-printed category indicator may be printed on at
least one of the
pages of the respective set. The second pre-printed category indicator
associated with each set of
pages may be substantially identical to the first preprinted category
indicator on the tab
associated with that set of pages.
In another embodiment, each pre-printed category indicator may be printed on
at least
one of the pages of the respective set. Each pre-printed category indicator
may be printed on
each page of the respective set. Each page the respective set may also include
at least one lined
area to provide a space for placing gift information on it.
In still another embodiment, the gift organizer may further comprise a closure
mechanism
for coupling the front and rear covers to keep the gift organizer in a closed
position. The closure
mechanism may comprise a strap coupled to the front cover by an attachment tab
wherein the
strap may be formed of elastic material so that the strap is stretchable to
fit around the front and
rear covers.
In a further embodiment, the gift organizer may further comprise a binding
arrangement
for binding the set of pages and the front and rear covers.
In a further embodiment, the gift organizer may further comprise an envelope
bound to
the organizer for storing loose items associated with gifts.
In a further embodiment, at least one of the pre-printed category indicators
may be a date
indicia for designating the respective set of pages for storing specific dates
associated with gifts.
In a further embodiment, at least one of the pre-printed category indicators
may be an
idea indicia for designating the respective set of pages for storing gift
ideas.
In a further embodiment, at least one of the pre-printed category indicators
may be a
given gift indicia for designating the respective set of pages for storing
information of gifts that
were given by a user.
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In a further embodiment, at least one of the pre-printed category indicators
may be a
received gift indicia for designating the respective set of pages for storing
information of gifts
received by a user.
In a further embodiment, at least one of the pre-printed category indicators
may be a
contact indicia for designating the respective set of pages for storing
contact information for
various individuals.
The present disclosure in a second aspect provides a bound component for
organizing gift
information. The bound component comprises first and second sets of pages
bound together.
The first and second sets of pages are provided respectively with pre-printed
category indicators
each specific to the respective set of pages. The pre-printed category
indicator for the first set of
pages comprises a date indicia for designating the first set of pages for
storing specific dates
associated with gifts while the pre-printed category indicator for the second
set of pages
comprises a given gift indicia for designating the second set of pages for
storing information of
gifts that were given by a user.
In one embodiment of the second aspect, the bound component may further
comprise a
third set of pages provided with a pre-printed category indicator specific to
the third set of pages.
The pre-printed category indicator for the third set of pages may be a
received gift indicia for
designating the third set of pages for storing information of gifts received
by a user.
Alternatively, the pre-printed category indicator for the third set of pages
may be a contact
indicia for designating the third set of pages for storing contact information
for various
individuals. Alternatively, the pre-printed category indicator for the third
set of pages may be an
idea indicia for designating the third set of pages for storing gift ideas.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the organizer of the
present
invention, shown in a closed position;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the organizer of Fig. 1, with the front cover moved to
an open
position to expose the front side of the top divider;
Fig. 3 is a top view of the organizer of Fig. 2, with the top divider pivoted
about the
binding mechanism to expose the front side of the first page;
Fig. 4 is a front perspective view of the organizer of Fig. 3; and
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Fig. 5 is a top view of the organizer of Fig. 2, with all of the pages pivoted
about the
binding mechanism to expose the front side of the rear cover.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in Figs. 1-5, in one embodiment the organizer 10 of the present
invention is in
the form of a bound component, such as a book, notebook, notepad, organizer,
journal or the
like. In the illustrated embodiment the organizer 10 includes a front cover 12
and a rear 14 cover
with a plurality of pages, sheets or papers 16 (together termed "pages"
herein) bound
therebetween. Each of the pages 16 may be made of a cellulose-based paper, or
other generally
water absorbent material, such that the pages 16 can be written on by a wide
variety of media,
such as pens, pencils, markers or the like. Each of the covers 12, 14 may be
of a relatively stiff
and/or ri gid material, such as cardboard, paperboard or the like, or which is
made of a material
stiffer and/or more rigid than each of the pages 16.
A closure mechanism 18 may be utilized to couple the front 12 and rear 14
covers and
keep the organizer 10 in a closed position. In the illustrated embodiment, the
closure mechanism
18 takes the form of an elastic strap 20 coupled to the front cover 12 by an
attachment tab 22,
wherein the strap 20 can be stretched to fit around the front 12 and rear 14
covers. If desired, a
spine (not shown) may be positioned between the front 12 and rear 14 covers
and bound to the
pages 16 such that each cover 12, 14 is pivotally coupled to the spine,
although the illustrated
embodiment does not utilize a spine.
In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-5, the pages 16 and cover 12, 14 are bound
together
by a single coil wire binding arrangement 24. However, the covers 12, 14 and
pages 16 can be
bound together by any of a wide variety of binding arrangements, such as
spiral or coil binding
wires, twin wire coils, adhesive-style bindings, various clips, prongs,
staples, book-style binding,
or the like.
As best shown in Fig. 3, each of the pages 16 may be a generally rectangular
sheet and
may have a variety of widths, such as between about 3 inches and about 8'/z
inches, and can have
a variety of heights, such as between about 5 inches and about 11 inches. Each
of the covers 12,
14 may have a height and width slightly greater than each of the pages 16 to
protect the pages 16
bound therein. Each sheet 16 may have a severance line such as a perforation
line 26 (Fig. 3)
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extending along its binding edge to allow the respective sheet 16 to be torn
along the perforation
line 26 and separated from the organizer 10. However, the perforation line 26
may be omitted.
As can be seen in Figs. 2-5, the organizer 10 may include a plurality of tabs
30 spaced
throughout the thickness of the organizer 10. Each tab 30 may be coupled to,
or formed as a part
of, a tab sheet 32 or divider which itself is bound into the binding
arrangement 24 (see Fig. 2).
Alternately, each tab 30 can be directly coupled to one of the pages 16. Each
tab 30 extends
outwardly from an outer perimeter of the stack of pages 16 such that the tab
30 provides a
protruding surface which can be easily viewed. The tabs 30 may divide the
organizer 10 into
various categories of pages 16, as will be described in greater detail below.
The set of pages 16 associated with each tab 30 may each include pre-printed
information
or indicia 34 that is the same as, or conveys the same information as, the
information or indicia
on the associated tab 30, as can be seen by comparing Figs. 2 and 3. For
example, if the tab 30
has the text "Dates to Remember" printed thereon, each associated or
underlying page 16 may
have the text "Dates to Remember" printed as a header. Each page 16 may be
lined or include
lined areas to provide a space for the user to print, write, draw, stick,
stamp or place information
thereon.
As shown in Fig. 2, the organizer may include a tab 30 and/or associated pages
labeled
"Dates to Remember" or the like which allows the user to store, in a single
location, specific
dates associated with individuals or individual events (i.e., birthdays,
anniversaries, graduations,
retirements, weddings, baby and wedding showers, etc.) to remind the user of
such dates.
Another tab 30 and/or associated pages 16 may be labeled "Gift Ideas" or the
like which allows
the user to write down ideas for gift giving and/or receiving. More
particularly, this feature
allows a user to store gift ideas in a single location as the user identifies
gift ideas which may be
noted at a time that is distant in time from the gift giving event.
Another tab 30 and/or associated pages 16 may be labeled "Gifts Purchased,"
"Gifts
Given" or the like to allow the user to track gifts given by the user to
various individuals. This
featui-e may be useful to the user to ensure that the same gift is not again
given to an individual at
a later time, and to track the expense of previous gifts given, etc. The user
can also track the
recipient's (favorable or unfavorable) reaction to a gift, for example, to
gauge whether other
similar gifts should be pursued or avoided. Another tab 30 and/or associated
pages 16 may be
labeled "Gifts Received" or the like such that the user can list gifts
received by the user. This
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feature may be useful to identify gifts received from any particular
individual to determine the
type of gifts the user may wish to give, in turn, to that individual (i.e.,
types of gifts, typical
expense, etc.).
Another tab 30 and/or associated pages 16 may be labeled "Contacts," "Contact
Information" or the like to allow the user to store names, addresses, email
addresses, telephone
numbers, etc. for various individuals. Such information can be utilized when,
for example,
shipping gifts or the like.
Another tab 30 and/or associated pages 16 (not shown) may be labeled
"Suggested Gifts"
or the like. The associated pages may contain a pre-printed list of various
gift ideas to suggest
various gift ideas should the user have difficulty in identifying a gift for a
particular individual.
The organizer 10 may include another tab 30 and/or associated pages 16 (not
shown) labeled
"Holidays" or the like to provide a list of pre-printed relioious and secular
holiday dates, which
reminds the user of potential upcoming gift giving events. An "Owner
Information" tab 30
and/or pages 16 (not shown) may also be provided, such as at the front or rear
of the organizer
10, to allow the owner/user to place his or her contact information to allow
the organizer 10 to be
returned to the user should the organizer 10 become misplaced or lost. Of
course, the labels on
the tabs 30 and/or the associated pages 16 can be varied from that shown and
described herein,
and any of a variety of text, symbols, drawings, indicia or the like may be
used.
As shown in Fig. 5, a pocket envelope or the like 38 may be bound to the
organizer 10 or
located on one of the covers 12, 14, dividers 32 or pages 16, to allow the
user to store receipts for
gifts given or gifts received therein, or to store other loose items such as a
gift registry print-out
or invitations. If desired, a pocket may also be positioned on the front 12
and/or rear 14 covers.
In one embodiment the present invention is an organizer which stores various
gift
information for various gift-giving or gift-receiving events in a single
component. More
particularly, in one embodiment the invention is a gift organizer including a
plurality of bound
pages, and including indicia that suggests a user to write, on the pages,
information relating to
gift-giving ideas for individuals and dates associated giving gifts to the
individuals. In another
embodiment the invention is a method for storing infoimation, including the
steps of providing
an organizer having a plurality of pages, and writing, on the pages,
information relating to gift-
giving ideas for individual and dates associated with giving gifts to the
individuals.
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Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the preferred
embodiments,
it will be apparent that modifications and variations thereof are possible
without departing from
the scope of the invention.
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