Convertible gift bag to gift box

Abstract

A gift bag that is convertible to a gift box comprises a decorative bag that is foldable flat and openable to a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an insert for the bag that also folds flat but opens to a generally open-ended box inserted into to the bag to reinforce and stiffen the bag. The bag has an integral top flap that opens to cooperate with the insert to form a closed box, and has carry handles connected to the interior of the bag that are either removable or can be located within the bag when it is converted into a box.

1 . A convertible bag, comprising:
 a bag formed of flexible sheet material folded to provide generally parallel front and back side panels, a pair of lateral side panels, and a bottom panel, the panels being integrally connected to form a container have a collapsed flat condition in which the side panels are folded inwardly, the front and back panels are folded flat against one another, and the bottom panel is folded upwardly against one of the front or back panels, the container further having an uncollapsed open condition to form a open bag, and the sheet of material further forming a top flap integral with one of the front or back panels at a top of said one panel, the top flap having a folded state in which the top flap is folded into an interior of the bag against said one panel and having an unfolded state in which the top flap is folded out of the bag;   a pair of handles having ends connected to interior surfaces of opposing panels for carrying the bag;   an insert formed of stiffer sheet material than the sheet material of the bag, the insert having integral parallel side panels and parallel front and back panels, the insert having a folded flat state and an unfolded open state, and being sized to fit inside of the bag to stiffen the bag and impart to the bag a box-like configuration, and the top flap closing the top of the bag to convert the bag into a closed box.   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein in the unfolded state the side panels and the front and back panels of the insert are parallel and spaced apart, the insert having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and being sized to fit within the interior of the bag and impart a substantially rectangular parallelepiped configuration to the bag. 
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 2 , wherein the top flap has a rectangular shape, and has front and side flaps that unfold such that said front and side flaps are located between the insert and the interior surfaces of the bag when said top flap closes the bag to form said box. 
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said insert further comprises a bottom panel formed integrally with one of said parallel front and back panels of the insert, said bottom panel being folded flat within the insert when the insert is in said folded flat state, and is unfoldable into contact with the bottom of the bag when the insert is unfolded and inserted into the bag. 
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said handles are connected to inner surfaces of said front and back panels within said bag, and wherein said ends of the handle connected to said one panel having the integrally formed top flap is connected at a location on said one panel sufficiently below the top of said one panel to avoid obstruction to said top flap when the top flap is in said folded flat state against said one panel. 
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the ends of each of said handles are connected to the inner surfaces of opposing lateral side panels. 
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said handles are removably connected to the bag. 
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 7 , wherein the inner surfaces of the bag panels have tabs with eyelets, and said handle ends have posts insertable into said eyelets for said removable connection. 
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said sheet of flexible material has a decorative finish, such that said bag is convertible into a gift box. 
     
     
         10 . A gift bag that is convertible into a gift box, comprising:
 a decorative gift bag having integrally formed front, back, bottom, and lateral side panels, and having a top flap integrally formed with one of said front, back and side panels, the bag having a folded flat position with said top flap folded against said one panel and an unfolded opened position, and an insert in the bag also having a folded flat state and an unfolded opened state for imparting a box-like configuration to the bag, and the top flap cooperating with said the insert to convert the bag into a closed box.   
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 10 , wherein said insert has an insert panel sized to mate with one of said front and back panels, and pair of lateral side panels integrally connected to said insert panel, the side panels being foldable flat against the insert, and being unfoldable to connect to side panels of the bag. 
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 11 , wherein said side panels of the insert have adhesive to connect to the side panels of the bag. 
     
     
         13 . The gift bag of  claim 10  further comprising handles connected to the interior surfaces of the bag panels to permit the bag to be carried. 
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 13 , wherein the handles are removably connected to the bag. 
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 14 , wherein the handles have posts on their ends, and bag has tabs on its interior surfaces with eyelets for receiving the posts to permit the handles to be connected to the bag and removed.