Decorative gift bag insert

Abstract

A device for enhancing the appearance and physical stability of a gift bag, including a pair of elongated flat members, an elongated support member connected between the respective elongated flat members, and a decoration having a first compressed storage configuration and a second decompressed actuated configuration and connected to the elongated support member. The pair of elongated flat members may be oriented generally perpendicular to the elongated support member and generally parallel to each other to define a bag-insertion configuration and inserted into a bag having a generally rectangular bottom panel and oppositely disposed parallel sides extending therefrom such that each respective flat member is positioned adjacent a respective oppositely disposed side panel. The decoration may be opened into the decompressed actuated configuration.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A device for enhancing the appearance and physical stability of a gift bag, comprising:
 a pair of elongated flat members;   an elongated support member connected between the respective elongated flat members; and   a decoration connected to the elongated support member and having a first compressed storage configuration and a second expanded display configuration;   wherein the pair of elongated flat members may be oriented generally perpendicular to the elongated support member and generally parallel to each other to define a bag-insertion configuration;   wherein when positioned into the bag-insertion configuration, the pair of elongated flat members may be inserted into a bag having a generally rectangular bottom panel and oppositely disposed parallel sides extending therefrom such that each respective flat member is positioned adjacent a respective oppositely disposed side panel;   wherein the decoration may be opened into the decompressed actuated configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the elongated flat members are hingedly connected to the elongated support member. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the decoration is a compressible paper football. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the decoration is a compressible paper cap and wherein the decoration further includes a bill portion extending away from the elongated support member. 
     
     
         5 . A system for mechanically stabilizing and aesthetically enhancing a generally rectangular open-topped gift bag having a front panel, an opposing rear panel, two opposing side panels, and a bottom panel, comprising:
 an elongated top portion having a first end and a second end;   a first elongated leg portion pivotably connected to the first end;   a second elongated leg portion pivotably connected to the second end; and   a decoration portion connected to the top portion;   wherein pivoting the first leg portion and the second leg portion in a first direction defines a generally U-shaped support structure;   wherein the decoration extends in a second direction generally opposite the first direction; and   wherein the support structure is sized to fit into a gift bag with the first leg portion and the second leg portion positioned substantially adjacent respective opposing side panels, with the top portion positioned below the open top of the gift bag, and with the decoration portion extending above the open top of the gift bag.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the support structure is cardboard. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the decoration portion is a compressible paper honeycomb. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the decoration portion is a football. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the decoration portion is a cap and wherein the front panel includes a face. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the decoration is a plurality of paper streamers. 
     
     
         11 . A decorative gift bag system, comprising:
 a gift bag portion; and   a bag insert portion operationally connected to the gift bag portion;   wherein the gift bag portion further comprises:
 a generally rectangular base panel; 
 a first pair of spaced first generally rectangular side panels extending from the base panel and oriented generally parallel to one another; and 
 a second pair of spaced second generally rectangular side panels extending from the base panel and oriented generally parallel to one another and generally perpendicularly to the first pair of spaced first generally rectangular side panels; 
 wherein the first and second pair of spaced respective generally rectangular side panels intersect to define a gift bag volume; 
   wherein the bag insert portion further comprises:
 a pair of elongated flat members; 
 an elongated support member connected between the respective elongated flat members; and 
 a decoration connected to the elongated support member; 
 wherein each respective elongated flat member is oriented generally perpendicular to the elongated support member and generally parallel to the other respective elongated flat member; 
 wherein the pair of elongated flat members is positioned in the gift bag volume; 
 wherein each respective elongated flat member is positioned adjacent a respective first generally rectangular side panel; and 
 wherein the expanded decoration and elongated support member substantially obscure the contents of the bag. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the decoration is a honeycomb paper ball cap and wherein a respective side panel includes a picture of a baseball player's face. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the decoration is honeycomb paper headwear and wherein a respective side panel includes a picture of a person's face. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the decoration is a plurality of paper bows. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the decoration is a paper football. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the decoration is headwear and wherein a respective side panel includes a picture of a person's face. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the decoration is a plurality of paper streamers and wherein a respective side panel includes a picture of a person's face. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the decoration is a generally flat member.