Gift and greeting card combination

Abstract

A presentation device or greeting card combined with a particular selection of gift item is described in which a pre-selected gift item is frictionally held in a cutout in a thick, planar portion of the device.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A presentation device for a pre-selected gift article, comprising 
 a foldable sheet comprising an inner and an outer surface and at least one fold line;    a thick, planar material comprising a front and back surface and a cutout sized and shaped to provide a friction fit for a pre-selected gift article, wherein said material is attached to said inner surface and said back surface lies against said inner surface;    wherein folding said sheet at said fold line folds said sheet around said thick, planar material and conceals said inner surface.    
     
     
         2 . The presentation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a said pre-selected gift article frictionally retained within said cutout.  
     
     
         3 . The presentation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pattern or image on said outer surface of said foldable sheet.  
     
     
         4 . The presentation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a printed greeting on said inner surface visible when said sheet is open.  
     
     
         5 . The presentation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a closure device.  
     
     
         6 . The presentation device of  claim 2 , wherein said pre-selected gift article comprises an article selected from the group consisting of a personal care article, a stationery article, a jewelry article, a watch, and a small electronic article.  
     
     
         7 . The presentation device of  claim 6 , wherein said personal care article is selected from the group consisting of a cosmetic article, a fragrance article, and a body care article.  
     
     
         8 . The presentation device of  claim 6 , wherein said stationery article is selected from the group consisting of a pen, a pencil, and a writing tablet.  
     
     
         9 . The presentation device of  claim 6 , wherein said small electronic article is selected from the group consisting of a calculator, a personal digital assistant, and a telephone.  
     
     
         10 . The presentation device of  claim 1 , wherein said device is shaped and patterned to have an appearance selected from the group consisting of a bag, an article of clothing, a gift box, a hat box, a comic book character or cover, a house or other structure, a flower, an insect or other bug, a Christmas symbol or figure, a human figure, an animal figure, a teapot, a transportation device, a food item, a furniture or appliance item, an electronic item, a plant, a cosmetic item, a children's toy, a cartoon figure, a sports equipment item, a religious symbol, a heart, and a star.  
     
     
         11 . The presentation device of  claim 10 , wherein said bag is a shopping bag or a handbag.  
     
     
         12 . The presentation device of  claim 10 , wherein said article of clothing is selected from the group consisting of hats, shoes, tee shirts, dresses, coats, and jeans.  
     
     
         13 . The presentation device of  claim 10 , wherein said structure is a skyscraper or a bridge.  
     
     
         14 . The presentation device of  claim 10 , wherein said insect or other bug is selected from the group consisting of butterflies, bees, spiders, and ants.  
     
     
         15 . The presentation device of  claim 10 , wherein said Christmas symbol is selected from the group consisting of Christmas trees, Christmas stockings, snow men, snowflakes, sleds, sleighs, and angels.  
     
     
         16 . The presentation device of  claim 10 , wherein said animal is selected from the group consisting of cats, dogs, cows, chickens, pigs, goats, rabbits, donkeys, horses, lions, bear, elephants, eagles, storks, and dinosaurs.  
     
     
         17 . The presentation device of  claim 10 , wherein said transportation device is selected from the group consisting of cars, trucks, airplanes, boats, sailboats, sailing ships, motorized ships, trains, train locomotives, steam locomotives.  
     
     
         18 . The presentation device of  claim 10 , wherein said food item is selected from the group consisting of cakes, fruit, and candies.  
     
     
         19 . The presentation device of  claim 10 , wherein said electronic item is selected from the group consisting of telephones, computers, music playing equipment, and recording equipment.  
     
     
         20 . The presentation device of  claim 10 , wherein said plant is selected from the group consisting of roses, orchids, lilies, oak, pine, fir, and redwood.  
     
     
         21 . The presentation device of  claim 10 , wherein said cosmetic item is selected from the group consisting of lipstick, compacts, eyeshadow case, and nail polish bottles.  
     
     
         22 . The presentation device of  claim 10 , wherein said children's toy is selected from the group consisting of bats, balls, dolls, toy trucks, and action figures.  
     
     
         23 . The presentation device of  claim 10 , wherein said religious symbol is selected from the group consisting of crosses, Jewish stars, Crescents, and Hanukah menorahs.  
     
     
         24 . The presentation device of  claim 1 , wherein said thick, planar material is die-cut foam plastic or corrugated cardboard.  
     
     
         25 . The presentation device of  claim 24 , wherein said foam plastic is selected from the group consisting of expanded vinyl acetate, expanded polyethylene, expanded polypropylene, and expanded polyurethane.  
     
     
         26 . The presentation device of  claim 5 , wherein said closure device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a hook and loop fastener, adhesive fasteners, snap fasteners, loop and button fasteners, hook latches, and tab and receptacle fasteners.  
     
     
         27 . The presentation device of  claim 1 , wherein said printed greeting is a holiday or personal occasion greeting.  
     
     
         28 . The presentation device of  claim 27 , wherein said greeting is selected from the group consisting of a birthday greeting, a wedding anniversary greeting, an Easter greeting, a Mother's Day greeting, a Father's Day greeting, a Christmas greeting, a Hanukah greeting, a Kwanza greeting, a get well greeting, a new home greeting, a new baby greeting, a congratulations greeting, a graduation greeting, a New Year's greeting, a Secretary's Day greeting, an engagement greeting, and a Valentine's Day greeting.  
     
     
         29 . The presentation device of  claim 1 , wherein said thick material is 0.2-1.0 inches thick.  
     
     
         30 . The presentation device of  claim 1 , wherein the depth of said cutout is within 0.1 inches of the thickness of said pre-selected gift item.  
     
     
         31 . The presentation device of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of said cutout matches the peripheral shape of said pre-selected gift article.  
     
     
         32 . The presentation device of  claim 1 , wherein a cutout window is present in said foldable sheet that makes a pre-selected gift article or a printed greeting in said device visible when said device is closed.  
     
     
         33 . A combination greeting card and gift, comprising 
 a foldable sheet comprising an inner and an outer surface and at least one fold line;    a thick, planar material comprising a front and back surface and a cutout sized and shaped to provide a friction fit for a selected personal care article, wherein said material is attached to said inner surface and said back surface lies against said inner surface;    a pattern or image on said outer surface of said foldable sheet;    a printed greeting on said inner surface visible when said sheet is open; and    a personal care article frictionally retained within said cutout,    wherein folding said sheet at said fold line folds said sheet around said thick, planar material and conceals said inner surface and said personal care article.    
     
     
         34 . A method for presenting a pre-selected article for sale, comprising 
 displaying said pre-selected article in a presentation device comprising 
 a foldable sheet comprising an inner and an outer surface and at least one fold line;  
 a thick, planar material comprising a front and back surface and a cutout sized and shaped to provide a friction fit for a selected personal care article, wherein said material is attached to said inner surface and said back surface lies against said inner surface;  
 a pattern or image on said outer surface of said foldable sheet; and  
 a printed greeting on said inner surface visible when said sheet is open,  
   wherein folding said sheet at said fold line folds said sheet around said thick, planar material and conceals said inner surface.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said pre-selected article comprises an article selected from the group consisting of personal care article, a stationery article, a jewelry article, a watch, and a small electronic article.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said presentation device is displayed open, thereby revealing said pre-selected article.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said presentation device is closed, and a picture of said pre-selected article is attached to the exterior of said presentation device and is visible to a person viewing said presentation device.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said presentation device is packaged within a protective, see-through container.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said protective container comprises a transparent plastic wrap.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising a closure device on said foldable sheet.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein a cutout is present in said foldable sheet such that said pre-selected article is visible through said cutout when said presentation device is closed.  
     
     
         42 . A method for marketing a pre-selected article, comprising providing for sale a combination greeting card and pre-selected gift article, wherein said combination greeting card and pre-selected gift article comprises 
 a foldable sheet comprising an inner and an outer surface and at least one fold line;    a thick, planar material comprising a front and back surface and a cutout sized and shaped to provide a friction fit for said pre-selected gift article, wherein said material is attached to said inner surface and said back surface lies against said inner surface;    a pattern or image on said outer surface of said foldable sheet; and    a printed greeting on said inner surface visible when said sheet is open,    wherein folding said sheet at said fold line folds said sheet around said thick, planar material and conceals said inner surface.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said combination greeting card and pre-selected gift article is offered for wholesale sale.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said combination greeting card and pre-selected gift article is offered for retail sale.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said pre-selected gift article comprises an article selected from the group consisting of a personal care article, a stationery article, a jewelry article, a watch, and a small electronic article.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said combination greeting card and pre-selected gift article comprises a closure device on said foldable sheet.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein a cutout window is present in said foldable sheet such that said pre-selected gift article is visible through said cutout window when said card is closed.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said combination greeting card and pre-selected gift article is packaged within a protective, see-through container.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said protective container comprises a transparent plastic wrap.