Gift Wrap Material Container and Method of Dispensing

Abstract

A new and useful gift wrap material container and method of dispensing gift wrap material from the container in selected lengths is provided. The gift wrap material container and method of the present invention are designed to provide an inexpensive way to store and protect gift wrap material (particularly gift wrap material) until the gift wrap material is needed again. In addition, the container and method of the invention provides a means of dispensing and cutting the gift wrap material in an efficient and economical way. According to the present invention, a gift wrap material container (i) is configured to receive a roll of gift wrap material, (ii) is configured with an opening through which gift wrap material can be directed out of the cavity when the gift wrap material is being dispensed, and (iii) having a cutter guide integrally formed with the container and disposed on the outside of the container, the cutter guide configured guide a cutter along a predetermined path on the outside of the container, and to support gift wrap material in a position that enables the gift wrap material that is being dispensed to be cut to a selected length as the cutter moves along the predetermined path on the outside of the container.

1 . A method of dispensing gift wrap material, comprising,
 (a) providing a container that
 (i) is configured to receive a roll of gift wrap material, 
 (ii) is configured with an opening through which the gift wrap material can be directed out of the container when it is desired to dispense the gift wrap material in a selected length, and 
   (iii) has a cutter guide integrally formed with the container and disposed on the outside of the container, the cutter guide configured along a predetermined path on the outside of the container, and to support gift wrap material that has been directed through the opening in a position that enables the gift wrap material to be cut to a selected length as the cutter moves along the predetermined path on the outside of the container;   (b) directing the gift wrap material out of the container and into a position in which the gift wrap material is supported by the cutter guide, and moving a cutter along the cutter guide to cut the gift wrap material to a selected length.   
   
   
       2 . A method as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the cutter guide comprises a pair of walls that extend away from the container, and have distal ends configured to support gift wrap material across the pair of walls; and wherein the gift wrap material directed out of the container is positioned across the distal ends of the walls as the cutter is moved along the cutter guide to cut the gift wrap material to the selected length. 
   
   
       3 . A method as defined by  claim 2  wherein the opening and the distal ends of the walls of the cutter guide are configured to minimize the likelihood of damaging the gift wrap material as the gift wrap material is directed through the opening and positioned across the distal ends of the pair of walls. 
   
   
       4 . A method as defined by  claim 3 , wherein the distal ends of the walls of the cutter guide have rounded configurations to minimize the likelihood of damaging the gift wrap material as the gift wrap material is positioned across the distal ends of the pair of walls. 
   
   
       5 . A method as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the container is substantially cylindrical and includes open ends that enable insertion of a roll of gift wrap material into the container through either of the open ends. 
   
   
       6 . A method as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the container has support structure integral with and extending away from the container, the support structure configured to support the container on a surface in a manner that stabilizes the container as the gift wrap material is being directed out of the container and cut by the cutting tool. 
   
   
       7 . A container for supporting a roll of gift wrap material and designed to enable gift wrap material to be directed out of the container and cut to a selected length, comprising,
 a container that
 (i) is configured to receive a roll of gift wrap material, 
 (ii) is configured with an opening through which gift wrap material can be directed out of the container when it is desired to cut the gift wrap material to a selected length, and 
 (iii) having a cutter guide integrally formed with the container and disposed on the outside of the container, the cutter guide configured guide a cutter along a predetermined path on the outside of the container, and to support gift wrap material in a position that enables the gift wrap material to be cut to a selected length as the cutter moves along the predetermined path on the outside of the container. 
   
   
   
       8 . A container as defined by  claim 7 , wherein the cutter guide comprises a pair of walls that extend away from the container, and have distal ends configured to support gift wrap material across the pair of walls. 
   
   
       9 . A container as defined by  claim 8 , wherein the opening and the distal ends of the walls of the cutter guide are configured to minimize the likelihood of damaging the gift wrap material as the gift wrap material is directed through the opening and positioned across the distal ends of the pair of walls. 
   
   
       10 . A container as defined by  claim 9 , wherein the distal ends of the walls of the cutter guide have rounded configurations to minimize the likelihood of damaging the gift wrap material as the gift wrap material is positioned across the distal ends of the pair of walls. 
   
   
       11 . A container as defined by  claim 7 , wherein the container is substantially cylindrical and includes open ends that enable insertion of a roll of gift wrap material into the container through either of the open ends. 
   
   
       12 . A container as defined by  claim 7 , wherein the container has support structure integral with and extending away from the container, the support structure configured to support the container on a surface in a manner that stabilizes the container as the gift wrap material is being directed out of the cavity and cut by the cutting tool. 
   
   
       13 . A container as defined by  claim 12 , wherein the container, the cutter guide and the support structure are monolithically formed in one piece. 
   
   
       14 . A container as defined by  claim 7 , wherein the container and the cutter guide are monolithically formed in one piece. 
   
   
       15 . A gift wrap material dispenser designed to enable gift wrap material to be dispensed in a selected length, comprising,
 a container that
 (i) has a cavity in which a roll of gift wrap material is located, 
 (ii) is configured with an opening through which gift wrap material can be directed out of the container when it is desired to cut the gift wrap material to a selected length, and 
 (iii) has a cutter guide integrally formed with the container and disposed on the outside of the container, the cutter guide configured guide a cutter along a predetermined path on the outside of the container, and to support gift wrap material in a position that enables the gift wrap material to be cut to a selected length as the cutter moves along the predetermined path on the outside of the container. 
   
   
   
       16 . A gift wrap material dispenser as defined by  claim 15 , wherein the cutter guide comprises a pair of walls that extend away from the container, and have distal ends configured to support gift wrap material across the pair of walls. 
   
   
       17 . A container as defined by  claim 16 , wherein the opening and the distal ends of the walls of the cutter guide are configured to minimize the likelihood of damaging the gift wrap material as the gift wrap material is directed through the opening and positioned across the distal ends of the pair of walls. 
   
   
       18 . A container as defined by  claim 17 , wherein the distal ends of the walls of the cutter guide have rounded configurations to minimize the likelihood of damaging the gift wrap material as the gift wrap material is positioned across the distal ends of the pair of walls. 
   
   
       19 . A container as defined by  claim 15 , wherein the container has support structure integral with and extending away from the container, the support structure configured to support the container on a surface in a manner that stabilizes the container as the gift wrap material is being directed out of the cavity and cut by the cutting tool. 
   
   
       20 . A container as defined by  claim 19 , wherein the container, the cutter guide and the support structure are monolithically formed in one piece.