Consumer package

Abstract

A consumer package is provided having a container for holding a consumable product. The container has an outer border and at least one surface, which may be planar, curved, irregular, rigid or soft. A medium such as a preprinted pad of written or graphic material is attachable to the surface(s) of the container. Adhesive tape, banding material, glue, or perforated slots are provided for attaching or retaining the medium to the surface(s). The use of the package stimulates consumers' interest, provides entertainment and higher consumer satisfaction which translates into increased sales and a competitive advantage.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/191,096, filed Sep. 5, 2008, for CONSUMER PACKAGE, by Nicole Blazicek, included by reference herein and for which benefit of the priority date is hereby claimed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a consumer package and, more particularly, to cardboard/paperboard boxes, containers, cartons and packages that are combined with an attachable multi sheet item for use by consumers for entertainment, education and advertisement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Consumer product manufacturing often includes promotional items such as games and activities with their product packaging for promotion of the product beyond the marketability of the product itself. Product marketing is a very competitive. Most often promotional items are inexpensive and provided to the consumer as a purchase enticement. Problem is interest in the promotional item wanes long before the consumer product is used or exhausted; any benefits realized by including such promotions are short lived and potentially cheapen the product brand.

The present invention is an attachable multi sheet item for a consumer cardboard/paperboard container, box, package or carton having walls in which articles can be contained. The inventive package is made of multiple sheets of paper or other material which have information that stimulates consumer interaction and interest. These pages can include details such as sports teams and highlights, facts on animals, educational information such as historical profiles, games, puzzles, mazes, advertisements, television and movie details and promotions, artwork, travel and coupons.

Coordinating promotional campaigns with a hot market such as Jonas Brothers or Disney characters often provides a company with improvements in market share at the expense of its competitors. The inventive package will have an even greater impact on the company's sales when paired with a popular culture promotion by providing the ability to change the consumer's view with each serving by removing previously read attached sheets allowing the consumer to see a new attachable sheet improving customer satisfaction and their interests.

The inventive multi sheet pad can be attached to multiple sides of boxes, containers, packages or cartons to lend itself to sharing the experience of stimulating reading and interaction.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,579 for DOUBLE-SIDED STAND-UP BOOK, issued to Carolen Sadler on Jul. 13, 1999, discloses a spiral-bound stand-up book with pages printed with one set of textual materials on one side, and a second independent set of textual materials on the other so as to allow two persons looking at the book from opposite sides to simultaneously read two independent sets of textual materials.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,711 for BOX GAMES AND ACTIVITIES, issued to Karen McClung et al. on Jun. 29, 2004, discloses a play activity set having target apparatus at which at least one object may be directed; at least one object for throwing at the target apparatus; the target apparatus and the object made by separating box material from the box. The target apparatus and the object can be separated from a pizza box.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,561 for FOLDING CARTON WITH ATTACHMENT AND COVER, issued to Gregory Verenski on Aug. 20, 2002, discloses a folding carton, box, container, envelope, sleeve or the like with at least one detachable panel in the form of an information card, an identification card, a reminder card, a business reply card, a return envelope or other item. At least one attachment in the form of informational material, brochures, pamphlets, media items, compact disks, cassette tapes, video tapes, packets or pouches, is suitably secured to the folding carton and/or the detachable panels between the outside of the box and the detachable panel or panels. The detachable panel is folded over the attachment and the open end of the detachable panel is secured down to the box by seals. An identification card can be removably formed in the panel, as can a window for viewing a label or other information.

The prior art mentioned have several disadvantages: first, a double-sided stand-up book cannot be used to transport a consumable product and typically two different readers will not be interested in the same content; second, removing portions of the consumer package in order to create box games and activities is not conducive to multiple changes of displayed content and may weaken or render the consumer package useless; finally, a folding carton with attachment and cover is costly to manufacture and cumbersome to use. The cover must be unfolded to expose the content; this takes up additional table space and may contact other objects causing spillage. Furthermore, similar to traditional books, it is very difficult to manage pages unless both hands are used, especially if the cover's bottom edges are resting on a surface.

It would be advantageous to provide a consumer package with layers of removable content.

It would also be advantageous to provide a consumer package with engaging and changeable entertainment and educational content.

It would also be advantageous to provide a consumer package capable of delivering promotional content for products, services, corporations, or organizations.

It would also be advantageous to provide a consumer package that can be competitively priced.

It would further be advantageous to provide a consumer package with enhanced advertising and marketing appeal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the principles of this invention, a consumer package is provided, which has a container for holding a consumable product. The container has an outer border and at least one surface, which may be planar, curved, irregular, rigid or soft. A medium such as a preprinted pad of written or graphic material is attachable to the surface(s) of the container.

Adhesive material, banding material, glue, or perforated slots are provided for attaching the medium to the surface(s). Alternatively, a folder may be provided for containing sheets of material.

The attachable multi sheet pad is provided within or outside the consumer box, package, container or carton for entertainment, education, advertisement and marketability. The multi sheet pad is attached on the consumer packaging and is made of several sheets of paper often equal to the number of servings contained with in the packaging. After the consumer has read, interacted or finished with one page, that sheet is detached from the box to unveil a new page of information. Consumer satisfaction will increase as the boredom of the same box, package, carton or container to look at everyday will be resolved by offering entertainment and information and an improved product experience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

FIG. 1a is a perspective view of the consumer package with peelable content cover sheet and hidden content pad in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 1b is a perspective view of the consumer package with spacer, peelable content cover sheet, and hidden content pad in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the consumer package with partially removed peelable content cover sheet exposing hidden content pad in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the consumer package with peelable content cover sheet removed to expose content pad in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the consumer package with content pad exposed and first content page partially removed in accordance with the invention.

For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1a is a perspective view of the consumer package 10 with peelable content cover sheet 20 and hidden medium 14 in accordance with the invention. One or more content medium 14 can be secured to one or more surfaces of the container 12 by gluing or banding or any other means known by someone having ordinary skill in the art of manufacturing consumer packages. Content may include print and/or graphics including, but not limited to, games, stories, news articles, trivia, mazes, coupons, and the like.

Optionally the content cover sheet 20 may include a starter tab 22 to ease the peeling process. As shown, the content cover sheet 20 is attached to the container 12 surface 16 using a low-tack reusable pressure sensitive adhesive 15. The hidden medium 14 is secured to a surface 16 (not shown) which is in turn secured to the inner side of the container 12. The container 12 has an opening (not shown) to allow room for the medium 14.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1b, the medium 14 could be directly secured to the container 12 surface 16. A spacer 13 made of container 12 material could surround the planar edges of the medium 14 and be secured to the container 12. Furthermore, the content cover sheet 20 could in turn be secured to the spacer 13. Optionally, one or more slots 21 can be formed in container 12 to retain the lower and/or upper corners of the pages of content pad 18.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the consumer package 10 with partially removed peelable content cover sheet 20 exposing a content pad 18 medium 14 and optional finger relief 24. The finger relief 24 provides an area for a user's finger to access the edge of the content pad 18. The content pad 18 is secured to a surface 16 and the surface 16 is secured to the inner side of the container 12.

Alternatively, the content pad 18 could be directly secured to the container 12 surface 16. A spacer 13 made of container 12 material could surround the planar edges of the medium 14 and be secured to the container 12. Furthermore, the content cover sheet 20 could in turn be secured to the spacer 13. Alternatively, one or more bands (eg. rubber bands) 25 can be used to restrain the pages of content pad 18. Bands 25 can be placed at the upper most portion of content pad 18, as shown on FIG. 2 and/or can be placed at the lower most portion of content pad 18.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the consumer package with peelable content cover sheet 20 removed (not shown) and fully exposed content pad 18. A permanent or high-tack adhesive 15 (shown hidden) could be used to secure the content pad 18 to the surface 16.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the consumer package with content pad 18 fully exposed and first content page partially removed in accordance with the invention. The content printed on the content cover sheet 20 (FIG. 1) preferably differs from the first and subsequent content pad 18 pages. The first content pad 18 page may differ from the second and subsequent content pad 18 pages, etc. Generally speaking, the present invention features a consumer package 10 that has a container 12 for holding a consumable product. The container 12 has an outer border and at least one surface 16, which may be planar, curved, irregular, rigid or soft. A medium 14 such as a preprinted pad of written or graphic material is attachable to the surface 16(s) of the container 12.

In practice the consumer will view and/or read the content provided on the container 12 and content cover sheet 20. Either by instruction, clues, or natural progression the consumer will remove the content cover sheet 20 to expose the hidden medium 14. In the preferred embodiment the medium 14 consists of a content pad 18. Either by instruction, clues, or natural progression the consumer will remove the first page of the content pad 18 to expose subsequent content pad 18 pages. Subsequent pages of content pad 18 can be exposed in due course. Optionally the content cover sheet 20 and content pad 18 pages may contain content printed on both sides of the page.

The present invention recognizes and addresses the previously mentioned problems and long felt needs and provides a solution to those problems. To one skilled in this art who has the benefits of this invention's realizations, teachings, disclosures and suggestions, other purposes and advantages will be appreciated from the description. The detail in these descriptions is not intended to thwart this patent's object to claim this invention no matter how others may later disguise it by variations in form or additions for further improvements.

The inventive package should utilize materials that are food safe materials if packaged inside the consumer product. The container 12 and medium 14 may be made from recycled paper to increase the positive marketing campaign and demonstrates an ecological awareness. If cut paper is utilized, being held in place by a holder, banding material or perforated cuts can be provided. Printing on both sides of the paper is recommended as another environmental advantage and reduction of costs.

The medium 14 can be adhered to the container 12 via methods such as banding materials, attachable holders, partial cut lines which cuts are perforations, use of adhesive 15 tape, spot glue or peelable cover sheets.

If the content pad 18 is sold separately from the product container 12, box, package or carton, corporations that utilize promotional items to increase market share will lose a valuable tool to differentiate themselves and increase their sales and revenue. Another area to market this invention to is businesses/publishers such as magazines already in the print business as another outlet to increase their reader base.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The present invention has been described above purely by way of example. Modification in detail may be made to the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes can be made in the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of this present invention.

Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.

Claims

1. A consumer package, comprising:

means for holding a consumable product;

means for providing an area to attach a medium for displaying content, attached to said means for holding a consumable product; and means for displaying content, attached to said means for providing an area to attach a medium for displaying content.

2. The consumer package in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for holding a consumable product comprises a container, having an outer border and at least one surface.

3. The consumer package in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for providing an area to attach a medium for displaying content comprises a surface.

4. The consumer package in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for displaying content comprises a preprinted medium.

5. A consumer package, comprising:

a container, having an outer border and at least one surface for holding a consumable product;

a surface for providing an area to attach a medium for displaying content, attached to said container; and

a preprinted medium for displaying content, attached to said surface.

6. The consumer package as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a peelable content cover sheet for concealing and containing medium, removably affixed to said surface, and covering said medium.

7. The consumer package as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a starter tab for facilitating peeling of said peelable content cover sheet.

8. The consumer package as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a finger relief for providing access to the edge of said medium.

9. The consumer package as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a spacer for securing said preprinted medium.

10. The consumer package as recited in claim 5, wherein said surface has characteristics selected from the following group: planar, rigid, and soft.

11. The consumer package as recited in claim 5, wherein said medium has characteristics selected from the following group: paper, cardboard, paperboard, and plastic.

12. The consumer package as recited in claim 8, wherein said finger relief comprises rounded corners.

13. A consumer package, comprising:

a container, having an outer border and at least one surface for holding a consumable product;

a planar, rigid, soft surface, for providing an area to attach a medium for displaying content, attached to said container;

a preprinted medium for displaying content, attached to said surface;

a peelable content cover sheet for concealing and containing said medium, covering said medium and removably affixed to said surface;

a starter tab for facilitating peeling of said peelable content cover sheet;

a finger relief having rounded corners for providing access to the edge of said medium; and a spacer.