RIBBON PACKAGE DEVICE

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a ribbon package device and, more particularly, to a ribbon package device for reducing the volume and costs.

2. Description of the Related Art

Convention ribbons have beautiful patterns and colors formed by weaving, gilding, transfer printing, etc. Ribbons are usually used in packaging gifts, decoration of places and clothes as well as other applications. Ribbons have various specifications and are generally cut to a specific size and length before it rolled and packaged. FIG. 5 shows a conventional ribbon package including a reel 1′ having an axle 11′ around which a ribbon 2′ is wound. The color and the pattern of the coiled ribbon 2′ can be directly viewed. No folding lines or bend marks would be formed when the ribbon 2′ is uncoiled. However, the reel 1′ is expensive. With reference to FIG. 6, if the user wishes to have ribbons 2a′-2e′ having differing patterns and differing colors, the reels 1′ will be a problem for storage and display.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another conventional ribbon package including a board 3′ around which one or more ribbons 2′ can be wound. As can be seen in FIG. 7, three ribbons 2a′-2c′ having differing patterns can be wound on the same board 3′ to save the volume and costs. However, the ribbon 2′ must be wound around the sharp end edges of the board 3′ such that the ribbon 2′ will deform and have a bend mark after uncoiling from the board 3′, as shown in FIG. 9.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a ribbon package device that can reduce the volume and costs while assuring the quality of the ribbon.

A ribbon package device according to the preferred teachings of the present invention includes a sleeve and a ribbon. The sleeve includes a central through-hole extending along an axis. The ribbon is wound to have a plurality of coils. The coiled ribbon includes a central portion and two end portions on opposite sides of the central portion. The coiled ribbon is inserted through the through-hole of the sleeve with the sleeve located in the central portion of the coiled ribbon. The central portion of the coiled ribbon has a thickness in a thickness direction perpendicular to the axis. The end portions of the coiled ribbon are spaced along the axis. Each end portion of the coiled ribbon has a thickness in the thickness direction larger than the thickness of the central portion of the coiled ribbon and larger than a diameter of the through-hole of the sleeve.

Thus, the ribbon can be securely retained in the sleeve in a coiled form. The volume of the ribbon package device according to the preferred teachings of the present invention is small. Furthermore, the conventional expensive reel is not required, cutting the costs. Furthermore, each end portion of the coiled ribbon has a smooth bend such that no bend marks will be formed after the ribbon is uncoiled, providing a continuous ribbon with good quality.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded, perspective view of a ribbon package device according to the preferred teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the ribbon package device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the ribbon package device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a plurality of ribbon package devices according to the preferred teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a conventional ribbon package.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a plurality of conventional ribbon packages.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of another conventional ribbon package.

FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of the ribbon package of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows a partial, side view of a portion of a ribbon uncoiled from the ribbon package of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a ribbon package device according to the preferred teachings of the present invention includes a sleeve 1 and a ribbon 2. The sleeve 1 is made of transparent material and includes a central through-hole 11 extending along an axis. The ribbon 2 is wound to have a plurality of coils and inserted through the through-hole 11 of the sleeve 1 with the sleeve 1 located in a central portion of the coiled ribbon 2. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the central portion of the coiled ribbon 2 has a thickness g in a thickness direction perpendicular to the axis. The coiled ribbon 2 further has two end portions 21 on opposite sides of the central portion and spaced along the axis. Each end portion 21 of the coiled ribbon 2 has a thickness f in the thickness direction larger than the thickness g of the central portion of the coiled ribbon 2 and larger than a diameter of the through-hole 11 of the sleeve 1. Thus, the ribbon 2 can be securely retained in the sleeve 1 in a coiled form.

The volume of the ribbon package device according to the preferred teachings of the present invention is small. Furthermore, the conventional expensive reel is not required, cutting the costs. Furthermore, each end portion 21 of the coiled ribbon 2 has a smooth bend such that no bend marks will be formed after the ribbon 2 is uncoiled, providing a continuous ribbon 2 with good quality.

With reference to FIGS. 4, ribbons 2a-2e having differing patterns and differing colors can be held in the sleeves 1. Thus, the ribbons 2a-2e can be displayed in a smaller space. The manufacturers can produce ribbons 2a-2e having differing patterns and differing colors that are easy to store. The transparent sleeves 1 allow direct viewing of the patterns and colors of the ribbons 2a-2e.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.