DISPOSABLE PACKAGING WITH AN OUTPUT DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING ADVERTISING MATERIAL

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a disposable packaging 100, which in one embodiment comprises a coffee cup lid 102 and a coffee cup 104. An output device 106 is mounted in a recess 218 in the coffee cup lid 102. The output device 106 comprises a display 108 for displaying a catalogue of advertising material. The output device 106 may be activated when a consumer is served a food or beverage in the disposable packaging 100.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates broadly to a disposable packaging with an output device for promoting advertising material.

BACKGROUND

On a daily basis millions of people worldwide consume fast food and other food products. Disposable packaging and containers are widely used in the food service field where packaging is filled, stored, and supplied to the consumer at a later time.

Therefore, as millions of consumers are exposed to disposable packaging products on a daily basis, a market has developed for promoting advertising material on such disposable packaging products.

Conventionally, various types of disposable packaging products are used by “fast food” and “take-away” outlets e.g. disposable plastics or paper cups, boxes, plates, zarfs, etc. Such disposable packaging products are intended to provide a degree of retention of a food or a beverage and are intended to be single-use disposable items, and therefore must be capable of being produced at a low cost.

A typical disposable package may be formed from a plastics sheet material, for example by vacuum forming or moulding. Alternatively, the disposable package may be manufactured from a paper or paper like material, coated with an oil or grease resistant coating, and formed into a desired shape. These disposable packages may also be used to display advertising material such as a logo of the café or restaurant where a consumer has purchased the food product.

A disadvantage with known disposable packaging having advertising thereon is that only a predetermined single advertising image or message can be displayed.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided disposable packaging comprising:

a body portion; and

an output device mounted to the body portion, the output device comprising:

• • a storage device to store a catalogue of advertising material, and
  • a display for selectively displaying at least one of the advertising material stored in the catalogue

wherein the output device is switchable from an inactive state, in which advertising material is not outputted on the display, to an active state, in which advertising material is outputted on the display.

The output device may be mounted in a recess disposed on the body portion of the disposable packaging. The storage device may be associated with a printed circuit board used to operate the output device display.

A plurality of advertising materials may be sequentially outputted on the display. The advertising materials may be looped on the output device. In some embodiments, the output device may be manually switched from the inactive state to the active state and in other embodiments, the switching may be automatic. A thermal sensor may be associated with the output device to facilitate automatic switching from the inactive state to the active state. The thermal sensor may be configured to detect when hot or chilled contents are present in the disposable packaging or in a container associated with the disposable packaging.

The display of the output device may be selected from the group consisting of: a LCD screen, a LED screen, a touch screen, a lenticular screen or any other display device capable of displaying stored advertising material. The advertising material on the display may be interactive advertising material. The display of the output device may be flexible. The output device may further comprise an audio output.

The body portion may comprise at least part of a food or beverage container. The body portion may include a lid on which the output device may be mounted. The output device may be automatically switched from an inactive state to an active state upon the disposable packaging being manipulated in a predetermined manner. The output device may be activated by at least one of: closing the lid, twisting the lid or removing a pull tab or by any other means for selectively connecting the output device to a power source to provide electrical current to the output device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a disposable coffee cup and lid with an output device according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the lid of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the lid, taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2, in an inactive state.

FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of the lid, taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2, in an active state.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the lid of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom view of the lid of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a disposable coffee cup and lid according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a disposable food container with an output device according to the present disclosure, wherein the container is closed.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the disposable food container of FIG. 8, wherein the food container is open to show a recess for mounting the output device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The term “advertising material” used in this specification may include any one or more of images, still images, videos, audio, multimedia content, mixed media, text, animation, interactivity, or the like. The advertising material may be a catalogue of advertising material and may include more than one format or type of advertising, for example, video and audio advertising material. In addition, the term “disposable packaging” used in this specification may include one or more of bowls, plates, boxes, cups, trays, utensils, lids, zarfs, bottles, jars, cans, containers, or any other packaging suitable for ‘take away’ food products.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, there is shown disposable packaging 100 comprising a coffee cup lid 102 and a coffee cup 104. An output device 106 is mounted in a recess 218 in the coffee cup lid 102. The output device 106 comprises a display 108 for displaying a catalogue of advertising material. The display 108 may be one of a LED screen, a LCD screen, a touch screen, a lenticular screen or an interactive screen, such as a touch screen. If the output device 106 is a LED screen, a LCD screen, a touch screen or other electronic device, it is generally supplied to a retailer or the like in an inactive state, as shown in FIG. 3, to conserve power. The output device 106 may be activated, as shown in FIG. 4, when a food or beverage is served in the disposable packaging 100.

The catalogue of advertising material may comprise a number of different advertising material formats or types for displaying on the display 108. The catalogue of advertising material, or a selection thereof, may also be repeated or ‘looped’ on the display 108 such that the advertising material stored in a storage device can be displayed a number of times before the disposable packaging 100 is discarded. The order in which the advertising material is displayed can be manually selected by a consumer, predetermined or randomised.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 6, the disposable lid 102 comprises a body portion 202 which includes a central region 204, surrounded by an elevated annular region 206. A fluid aperture 208 is formed on the elevated annular region 206 at one circumferential position on the disposable packaging 200. The elevated annular region 206 is bounded, at its outer edge, by a circumferential wall 210, sloping generally downwards from the edge of annular region 206 to a level below that of the central region 204. The lower edge of the circumferential wall 210 merges with a region of arcuate cross-section, which defines a resilient rib 212 which projects outwardly from the bottom of the circumferential wall 210. Extending from the base of the rib 212, on the side opposite from the circumferential wall 210, is a generally frustoconical, resilient skirt 214, defining a peripheral edge 216 of the disposable packaging 200. The resilient rib 212 is adapted to engage the rim of the coffee cup 104. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the central region 204 of the body portion 202 is formed with recess 218 adapted for mounting output device 106. The output device 106 includes a power source 222 and a storage device 224 associated with the display 108. The storage device 224 is associated with a printed circuit board (PCB) and the display 108 for displaying items from a catalogue of advertising material stored in the storage device 224.

In some embodiments the power source 222 may be, for example, a battery or other device which can provide an electrical current to the output device 106. The storage device 224 may be a digital memory, for example, a non-volatile memory device. The digital memory can receive and store data and send the data to components, such as the display 108. The stored data may be accessed randomly or sequentially depending on the type of display used in the output device. Alternatively, the storage device 224 may be an analogue memory, such as a printed image which can be used with a lenticular screen to display a plurality of advertising materials. The printed image may be, for example, a transforming print, animated print or a stereoscopic effect print.

FIG. 3 shows a pull tab 230 positioned between the power source 222 and the storage device 224, such that the output device 106 does not have a complete electrical circuit and the display 108 is in an inactive state. The output device 106 is activated by manually removing the pull tab 230 to complete the electrical circuit between the power source 222, storage device 224 and display 108, as shown in FIG. 4, thereby activating the display 108. In the active state, the display 108 is configured to receive a signal from the storage device 224 and display an advertising image associated with the received signal on the display 108.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the lid 102 showing output device 106 disposed substantially centrally. FIG. 6 illustrates the underside of the lid 102 showing the recess 218 for mounting the output device 106. While the recess 218 and the output device 106 are illustrated as a rectangular shape, it is to be understood that other shapes may also be used, for example, a circular or a rhomboid shape.

In another embodiment, the output device 106 can be disposed off-center on the lid 102 to achieve a desired advertising effect or appearance. In yet another embodiment, particularly where the output device 106 is a lenticular screen, the orientation of the advertising material outputted on the display 108 may be changed based on the orientation of the lid 102. In some embodiments the output device 106 is associated with an audio device to output audio associated with displayed adverting material.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a disposable packaging 100 having many features in common with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6, wherein corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding features with corresponding components and functionality. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, however, the output device 106 is mounted on the side wall of the coffee cup 104.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show disposable packaging 300 for food. The packaging 300 has many features in common with the coffee cup 104 and lid 102 disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 6, where, unless otherwise indicated, corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding features with corresponding components and functionality. The disposable packaging 300 comprises a base portion 302 and a cover portion 304 joined together by hinge portion 306. The cover portion 304 includes a recess 308 in which an output device 106 may be mounted. The output device 106 comprises a display 108, a power source 222 and a storage device 224, as described above with reference with FIGS. 1 to 6. Perimeter walls 318 extend from the base portion 302 and are configured to abut corresponding perimeter walls 320 of the cover portion 304. FIG. 8 illustrates the disposable packaging 300 in a closed arrangement in which the cover portion 304 is arranged over the base portion 302. Conversely, FIG. 9 illustrates the disposable packaging 300 in an open configuration.

Mass produced disposable packaging, manufactured into the shape illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, can be nested together and supplied “open” to a retailer. Before the disposable packaging 300, usually containing a food or beverage, is received by a customer, the output device 106 mounted to the cover portion 304 is activated. The display 108 may be activated, for example, by removing a pull tab 230 as in the earlier described coffee cup and lid embodiments, or by otherwise completing an electrical circuit of the output device 310, such as by including a switch in the electrical circuit that is closed automatically upon closing of the cover portion 304.

The disposable packaging 300 can be of various shapes; a rectangular box shape being illustrated by way of example. Moreover, the output device 106 may be provided at a different location on the packaging 300, such as on a perimeter wall 318, 320 of the packaging.

Rather than relying on manual activation, the output device 106 of any of the above described embodiments may include or otherwise be associated with a thermal sensor to automatically switch the output device 106 from the inactive state to the active state as a result of the sensor sensing the presence of hot or chilled contents in the disposable packaging 100, 300.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

1. Disposable packaging comprising:

a body portion; and

an output device mounted to the body portion, the output device comprising: a storage device to store a catalogue of advertising materials, and a display for selectively displaying at least one of the advertising materials stored in the catalogue,

wherein the output device is switchable from an inactive state in which advertising material is not outputted on the display to an active state in which advertising material is outputted on the display.

2. The disposable packaging of claim 1, wherein the output device is automatically switched from the inactive state to the active state upon the disposable packaging being manipulated in a predetermined manner.

3. The disposable packaging of claim 2, wherein the body portion comprises at least part of a food or beverage container.

4. The disposable packaging of claim 3, wherein the body portion comprises a lid and the output device is activated by applying the lid to a receptacle portion of the food or beverage container.

5. The disposable packaging of claim 4, wherein the output device is activated by applying the lid to the receptacle portion and rotating the lid relative thereto.

6. The disposable packaging of claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises at least part of a food or beverage container.

7. The disposable packaging of claim 1, comprising a thermal sensor associated with the output device to facilitate the output device being automatically switched from the inactive state to the active state.

8. The disposable packaging of claim 1, wherein the output device is manually switched from the inactive state to the active state by removing a pull tab.

9. The disposable packaging of claim 1, comprising a recess in the body portion for mounting the output device.

10. The disposable packaging of claim 1, wherein the storage device is associated with a printed circuit board.

11. The disposable packaging of claim 1, wherein a plurality of advertising materials are sequentially outputted on the display.

12. The disposable packaging of claim 1, wherein the advertising materials are looped on the display.

13. The disposable packaging of claim 1, wherein the display is selected from the group consisting of a LCD screen, a LED screen, a touch screen, and a lenticular screen.

14. The disposable packaging of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises an audio output.