METHOD OF RELATING DIFFERENT PRODUCTS BY A COMMON FEATURE
A kit and method of relating products by a common feature include the provision of a first product having a first feature providing a first consumer-relevant benefit, and a second different product having a second feature providing a second consumer-relevant benefit, wherein the first and second features have a consistent appearance and wherein at least one feature has a different consumer-relevant benefit relative to the other feature.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/681,810, filed Mar. 5, 2007, which in turn claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/781,222, filed Mar. 10, 2006, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDIt is known in the art to associate two different products by aesthetic features alone. For example, a screwdriver and a hammer from the same manufacturer may have the same color, handle shape, texture or the like. The manufacturer relates such products together to influence collective purchasing. Another example is represented by a set of kitchen utensils from the same manufacturer that has an identically-configured handle. Yet another example is where compositional products such as hand soaps and body soaps are provided with aesthetically-appealing suspended articles such as colored beads or the like.
In each of the above examples, the products are related solely by aesthetic features. However, the related features do not transcend the aesthetic into the functional or multi-functional as provided herein.
SUMMARYA kit and method of relating products by a common feature include the provision of a first product comprising a first feature providing a first consumer-relevant benefit, and a second different product comprising a second feature providing a second consumer-relevant benefit, wherein the first and second features comprise a consistent appearance and wherein at least one feature comprises a different consumer-relevant benefit relative to the other feature. A further method includes assisting consumers in purchasing related products by providing visual cues that link such products. A further method includes packaging different products that are united by a consistent feature, such as a strip, with such feature differing in consumer-relevant benefit between the products.
In one aspect, the invention can be a kit comprising: a toothbrush comprising a handle and a head, a first plurality of features each having a first shape being visually exposed on the handle, the first plurality of features providing a first benefit to a consumer; a first container containing dentifrice, the dentifrice comprising a first carrier and a second plurality of features suspended within the first carrier, each of the second plurality of features having a second shape and providing a second therapeutic or cosmetic benefit to the consumer during use of the dentifrice, the first container having a see-through portion so that at least a portion of the first carrier and one or more of the second plurality of features are visible through the first container; and wherein the first and second shapes are the same, thereby creating a visual link between the toothbrush and the dentifrice to the consumer.
In another aspect, the invention can be a kit comprising: a toothbrush comprising a handle and a head, a first plurality of features each having a first shape being visually exposed on the handle, the first plurality of features providing a first benefit to a consumer; a first container containing dentifrice, the dentifrice comprising a first carrier and a second plurality of features suspended within the first carrier, each of the second plurality of features having a second shape and providing a second therapeutic or cosmetic benefit to the consumer during use of the dentifrice, the first container having a see-through portion so that at least a portion of the first carrier and one or more of the second plurality of features are visible through the first container; and wherein the first and second shapes are the same, thereby linking the toothbrush to the dentifrice to the consumer.
In yet another aspect, the invention can be a kit comprising: a toothbrush comprising a raised or recessed feature that enhances handling of the toothbrush by a consumer; and a dentifrice comprising a suspended feature that provides a therapeutic or cosmetic benefit to a consumer; wherein the raised or recessed feature and the suspended features comprise a consistent appearance.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.
One embodiment provides visual cues in a first product, i.e., dentifrice 100, to help correlate the first product 100 with a second product, i.e. toothbrush 200 in the minds or eye of a consumer. Advantageously, one embodiment of an oral care product provides a benefit for a consumer to use a particular dentifrice in combination with a particular toothbrush. To help reinforce the appropriate products to be used together, aspects of the various embodiments include design features in the first product to help reinforce the selection of the recommended second product. To further illustrate this concept using
To further reinforce the relationship, products 100 and 200 may be vended together as a package 300 as shown in
While the present invention has been described and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing describes the invention in terms of embodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of the inventions, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalents thereto.
Claims
1. A kit comprising:
- a toothbrush comprising a handle and a head, a first plurality of features each having a first shape being visually exposed on the handle, the first plurality of features providing a first benefit to a consumer;
- a first container containing dentifrice, the dentifrice comprising a first carrier and a second plurality of features suspended within the first carrier, each of the second plurality of features having a second shape and providing a second therapeutic or cosmetic benefit to the consumer during use of the dentifrice, the first container having a see-through portion so that one or more of the second plurality of features are visible through the first container; and
- wherein the first and second shapes are the same, thereby creating a visual link between the toothbrush and the dentifrice to the consumer.
2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the first and second shapes are square or rectangular.
3. The kit of claim 1, wherein the second therapeutic or cosmetic benefit is breath freshening.
4. The kit of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of features that are visually exposed on the handle enhances handling of the toothbrush by the consumer.
5. The kit of claim 4 wherein the first plurality of features that are visually exposed on the handle form a tactile portion of an outer surface of the handle.
6. The kit of claim 1 wherein the toothbrush and the first container containing the dentifrice are bundled together in a single package.
7. The kit of claim 1 wherein the toothbrush and the first container containing the dentifrice are packaged separately and positioned in close proximity to each other on a shelf display.
8. The kit of claim 7 further comprising a visual display comprising information regarding the visual link between the toothbrush and the dentifrice.
9. The kit of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of features are arranged in a spaced apart manner on an exterior surface of the handle at a location between a thumb grip region of the handle and a proximal end of the handle.
10. The kit of claim 1 wherein the first benefit is different than the second therapeutic or cosmetic benefit.
11. The kit of claim 10 wherein the first benefit is either an aesthetic benefit or a grip enhancement benefit and the second therapeutic or cosmetic benefit is one of breath freshening, tooth whitening, and antibacterial.
12. The kit of claim 1 wherein the first and second plurality of features are consistent in appearance and different in function.
13. The kit of claim 1 wherein the first and second shapes creates a visual correlation to the consumer that the toothbrush should be used in combination with the dentifrice.
14. The kit of claim 1 further comprising:
- a bar of soap comprising a second carrier and a third plurality of features suspended within the second carrier, each of the third plurality of features having a third shape and providing a third therapeutic or cosmetic benefit to the consumer during use of the bar of soap, one or more of the third plurality of features being visually exposed to the consumer through the second carrier;
- a second container containing shampoo or conditioner, the shampoo or conditioner comprising a third carrier and a fourth plurality of features suspended within the third carrier, each of the fourth plurality of features having a fourth shape and providing a fourth therapeutic or cosmetic benefit to the consumer during use of the shampoo or conditioner, one or more of the fourth plurality of features being visually exposed to the consumer through the second container; and
- wherein the first, second, third, and fourth shapes are the same, thereby creating a visual link between the toothbrush, the dentifrice, the bar of soap, and the shampoo or conditioner to the consumer.
15. The kit of claim 14 wherein the toothbrush, the first container containing the dentifrice, the bar of soap, and the second container containing the shampoo or conditioner are bundled together in a single package.
16. The kit of claim 14 wherein the first benefit, the second therapeutic or cosmetic benefit, the third therapeutic or cosmetic benefit, and the fourth therapeutic or cosmetic benefit are all different from one another.
17. The kit of claim 16 wherein the first benefit is either an aesthetic benefit or a grip enhancement benefit, the second therapeutic or cosmetic benefit is one of breath freshening, tooth whitening, and antibacterial, the third therapeutic or cosmetic benefit is one of vitamin delivery and skin-moisturizing, and the fourth therapeutic or cosmetic benefit is one of a cooling sensation or dandruff relief.
18. A kit comprising:
- a first product comprising a first feature that is visually exposed and provides a first benefit to a consumer;
- a second product comprising a second feature that is visually exposed and provides a second benefit to the consumer, the second product being different than the first product, and the second benefit including an aesthetic function and a non-aesthetic function;
- wherein the first and second features comprise a common thematic appearance; and
- wherein the first benefit is different than the second benefit.
19. The kit of claim 18 wherein the first feature has a first shape and the second feature has a second shape, the first and second shapes being the same, thereby forming the common thematic appearance.
20. A kit comprising:
- a toothbrush comprising a raised or recessed feature that enhances handling of the toothbrush by a consumer; and
- a dentifrice comprising a suspended feature that provides a therapeutic or cosmetic benefit to a consumer;
- wherein the raised or recessed feature and the suspended features comprise a consistent appearance.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 22, 2015
Publication Date: Jun 18, 2015
Inventors: Douglas J. Hohlbein (Hopewell, NJ), Steven M. Sorrel (Millwood, NY), Michael Charles Rooney (Milburn, NJ)
Application Number: 14/628,283