# US 2014/0150213 A1 · System, Method and Apparatus for Gift Bag Binding > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150213 A1 - Document ID: US20140150213A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/900,917 - Filed: 2013-05-23 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-05 - Assignees: The Lindy Bowman Company - Inventors: Linden H. Bowman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150213A1 ## CPC - B65D 63/1027: {the integral securing member being formed as a female and male locking member, e.g. locking head and locking teeth, or the like} - B65B 13/02: Applying and securing binding material around articles or groups of articles, e.g. using strings, wires, strips, bands or tapes - B65B 13/24: Securing ends of binding material - B65D 33/14: Suspension means (handles B65D33/06) - Y10T 24/1402: Packet holders - Y10T 29/49947: by applying separate fastener - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A binding device for attaching a plurality of gift bags together, the binding device including a body portion having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section. A first fastener is proximate the first end; and, a complementary second fastener is proximate the second end, the complementary second fastener for releasably engaging the first fastener. A first crease is between the upper section and the middle section; and, a second crease is between the middle section and the lower section. The middle section includes a first engaging member dimensioned to engage at least one first gift bag strap having a first size, and a second engaging member dimensioned to engage at least one second gift bag strap having a second size different than the first size, the first engaging member being larger than the second engaging member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A binding device for attaching a plurality of gift bags together, said binding device comprising: a body portion comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section; a first fastener proximate said first end; a complementary second fastener proximate said second end, said complementary second fastener for releasably engaging said first fastener; a first crease between the upper section and the middle section; a second crease between the middle section and the lower section; said middle section comprising: a first engaging member dimensioned to engage at least one first gift bag strap having a first size, and a second engaging member dimensioned to engage at least one second gift bag strap having a second size different than said first size, said first engaging member being larger than said second engaging member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The binding device according to claim 1, wherein said first engaging member and said second engaging member each include: locking edges extending horizontally out from said body portion, such that said locking edges are parallel with said first and second creases; and guiding edges extending diagonally in from said locking edges to said body portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The binding device according to claim 1, wherein said first engaging member secures a first gift bag having the first gift bag strap to a second overlapping gift bag having the second gift bag strap, said first and second engaging members being disposed to orient the first and second gift bags to expose a portion of the body surface of the first gift bag and a portion of the body surface of the second overlapping gift bag. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The binding device according to claim 1, wherein said middle section further comprises a third engaging member including locking edges to engage at least one third gift bag strap having a third size different than said first size and said second size. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The binding device according to claim 4, wherein said locking edges of said third engaging member are smaller than locking edges of said second engaging member, and wherein said locking edges of said second engaging member are smaller than locking edges of said first engaging member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The binding device according to claim 4, wherein said third engaging member comprises two longitudinal edges, said second crease, and said locking edges of said third engaging member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The binding device according to claim 4, wherein said second engaging member secures a second gift bag having the second gift bag strap to a third overlapping gift bag having the third gift bag strap, said first, second, and third engaging members being disposed to orient the first, second, and third gift bags to expose a portion of the body surface of the first gift bag, a portion of the body surface of the second overlapping gift bag, and the third overlapping gift bag. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The binding device according to claim 1, wherein said first crease is dimensioned to engage an upper edge of at least one fourth gift bag, and wherein said second crease is dimensioned to engage a lower edge of the at least one fourth gift bag. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The binding device according to claim 8, wherein the fourth gift bag is larger than a first overlapping gift bag having the first gift bag strap, the first overlapping gift bag is larger than a second overlapping gift bag having the second gift bag strap, and the second overlapping gift bag is larger than a third overlapping gift bag. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The binding device according to claim 9, wherein said second crease is dimensioned to engage lower edges of the first, second, and third gift bags. ### Claim 11 A binding device for attaching a plurality of gift bags together, said binding device comprising: a body portion comprising a first end, a second end, an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section; a first fastener proximate said first end; a complementary second fastener proximate said second end, said complementary second fastener for releasably engaging said first fastener; said middle section comprising: a first engaging member dimensioned to engage at least one first gift bag strap having a first size, a second engaging member dimensioned to engage at least one second gift bag strap having a second size different than said first size, said first engaging member being larger than said second engaging member, and a third engaging member including locking edges to engage at least one third gift bag strap having a third size different than said first size and said second size. a first crease between the upper section and the middle section, said first crease dimensioned to engage an upper edge of at least one fourth gift bag; a second crease between the middle section and the lower section, said second crease dimensioned to engage a lower edge of the at least one fourth gift bag. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The binding device according to claim 11, wherein said first engaging member and said second engaging member each include: locking edges extending horizontally out from said body portion, such that said locking edges are parallel with said first and second creases; and guiding edges extending diagonally in from said locking edges to said body portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The binding device according to claim 11, wherein said locking edges of said third engaging member are smaller than locking edges of said second engaging member, and wherein said locking edges of said second engaging member are smaller than locking edges of said first engaging member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The binding device according to claim 11, wherein the fourth gift bag is larger than a first overlapping gift bag having the first gift bag strap, the first overlapping gift bag is larger than a second overlapping gift bag having the second gift bag strap, and the second overlapping gift bag is larger than a third overlapping gift bag. ### Claim 15 A method for attaching a plurality of gift bags together within a binding device, said method comprising: securing a first gift bag strap of a first gift bag to a first engaging member on a middle section of the binding device, the binding device comprising a first crease between an upper section and the middle section, and a second crease between the middle section and a lower section; securing a second gift bag strap of a second gift bag to a second engaging member on the middle section, the first engaging member being larger than the second engaging member, the first gift bag strap being larger than the second gift bag strap, and the first gift bag being larger than the second gift bag; folding the binding device at the first crease and the second crease to bring a first end of the binding device in contact with a second end of the binding device; and engaging a first fastener proximate the first end with a complementary second fastener proximate the second end. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein said securing of the second gift bag strap to the second engaging member includes securing the second gift bag to the binding device such that the second gift bag overlaps the first gift bag, and such that a portion of the body surface of the first gift bag is exposed under the overlapping second gift bag. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising securing a third gift bag strap of a third gift bag to a third engaging member on the middle section, the second engaging member being larger than the third engaging member, the second gift bag strap being larger than the third gift bag strap, and the second gift bag being larger than the third gift bag. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein said securing of the third gift bag strap to the third engaging member includes securing the third gift bag to the binding device such that the third gift bag overlaps the second gift bag, and such that a portion of the body surface of the second gift bag is exposed under the overlapping third gift bag. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising: securing an upper edge of a fourth gift bag to the first crease; and securing a lower edge of the fourth gift bag to the second crease, the fourth gift bag being larger than the first gift bag. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein said securing of the upper and lower edges of the fourth gift bag to the first and second creases of the binding device includes securing the fourth gift bag to the binding device such that the first gift bag overlaps the fourth gift bag, and such that a portion of the body surface of the fourth gift bag is exposed under the overlapping first gift bag.