U.S. patent application number 10/001490 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-01 for package including promotion or contest information.
Invention is credited to Kopecky, Stanley J..
Application Number | 20030080015 10/001490 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21696278 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030080015 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kopecky, Stanley J. |
May 1, 2003 |
Package including promotion or contest information
Abstract
The present invention provides an improved product holding and
dispensing package. More specifically, the present invention
provides a package and method by which a gum product can include
information concerning giveaways, sweepstakes, contests, etc. In an
embodiment, a gum package having giveaway information is provided.
The gum package includes a body. The body defines opposing end
walls. A tab attaches to the body, whereby a consumer can grasp the
tab to remove one of the end walls. The removable end wall allows
the consumer to remove a gum product from the body and also to view
the giveaway information.
Inventors: |
Kopecky, Stanley J.;
(Prospect Heights, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BELL, BOYD & LLOYD LLC
P. O. BOX 1135
CHICAGO
IL
60690-1135
US
|
Family ID: |
21696278 |
Appl. No.: |
10/001490 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/459.5 ;
53/412 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/66 20130101;
B65D 75/54 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/459.5 ;
53/412 |
International
Class: |
B65B 061/18 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A gum package having giveaway information comprising: a body
including a removable end wall; and the removable end wall having
an inner surface the entirety of which is only visible when the end
wall is removed, the giveaway information visible by viewing the
inner surface.
2. The package of claim 1, wherein the body has a rectangular
shape.
3. The package of claim 1, wherein the body includes a tab that
attaches to a ribbon, the ribbon extending around the body, the
ribbon tearing the body to remove the removable end wall.
4. The package of claim 1, wherein the body is constructed, at
least in part, from a flexible foil.
5. The package of claim 1, wherein the giveaway information is
adapted to inform the consumer whether or not the consumer has won
a prize.
6. The package of claim 1, wherein the giveaway information
includes information concerning an item selected from the group
consisting of: a sweepstakes, a raffle, a contest, a coupon and a
rebate.
7. The package of claim 1, wherein the giveaway information is
printed on the inner surface of the removable end wall.
8. The package of claim 1, wherein the giveaway information is
stamped onto an inner surface of the removable end wall of the
body.
9. The package of claim 1, wherein the giveaway information is
printed onto a separate insert that is located within an area
defined by the removable end wall.
10. The package of claim 1, wherein the body houses a plurality of
sticks of chewing gum.
11. A package having giveaway information for housing a
confectionery product comprising: a flexible body having inner
surfaces defining an interior for housing products and having an
end that is removable by a consumer grasping and pulling a member;
and giveaway information visible by viewing an inner surface of the
removable end.
12. The package of claim 11, wherein the member is a tab.
13. The package of claim 12, wherein the consumer is able to grasp
the tab and tear a portion of the body to remove the end wall from
the body.
14. The package of claim 11, wherein the giveaway information is
printed onto the surface of the end wall.
15. The package of claim 11, wherein the body includes a portion
that is constructed from a foil.
16. The package of claim 11, wherein the body has a rectangular
shape.
17. The package of claim 11, wherein the giveaway information is
located on a separate insert located at the removable end.
18. A method for providing giveaway information in a chewing gum
package without destroying a body portion of the package for
holding the gum, the method comprising the steps of: providing a
package including a removable end wall; and providing giveaway
information on the removable end wall, the giveaway information
only being viewable upon removal of the end wall.
19. The method of claim 18, including the step of providing a tab
for tearing the package to remove the removable end wall.
20. The method of claim 18, including the step of printing the
giveaway information on an inner surface of the removable end
wall.
21. The method of claim 18, including the step of stamping the
giveaway information on an inner surface of the removable end
wall.
22. The method of claim 18, including the step of providing the
package in a rectangular shape.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to packaging. More
particularly, the present invention relates to packaging for
storing and dispensing consumable products.
[0002] The packaging for consumable or confectionery products is
very important to the look, marketing and storage of the product.
There are practical facets to packaging consumable products,
namely, keeping the products from being damaged during shipping,
keeping the products fresh, and in certain instances providing a
reusable package. Very often, in addition to text on the packaging,
the packaging also attempts to visually convey a message about the
type of product, the taste of the product or the purpose of the
product. In marketing the product, packaging can convey other
information. For instance, marketing consumable products sometimes
includes ancillary items, such as prize giveaways, sweepstakes and
the like.
[0003] It has been known to provide packaging that provides a
promotion material, prize, or giveaway. For example, cereal boxes
have for quite some time contained small prizes. The prize induces
some people to purchase and/or more quickly consume the product.
Other consumable products come with coupons for the associated
product. Coupons also induce the customer to buy the product and to
repurchase the product at a later time using the coupon. Consumable
products can also come with cash rebates, which induce purchasing.
The prizes, coupons and rebates typically include a separate
package or leaflet that inserts into a box with the product or
between the box and an outer layer of packaging.
[0004] Soft drink packaging has also made use of the bottle cap to
provide information about prizes and giveaways. Bottled soft drinks
are sold through a variety of marketing channels including
supermarket stores, convenience stores and vending machines. Not
all of these channels use the same packaging. For instance,
convenience stores and especially supermarkets package bottled soft
drinks in twelve packs and cases, while vending machines dispense
only single units of bottled soft drinks. To run a contest or
sweepstakes including all bottled soft drinks, the bottles must
themselves include the contest or sweepstakes information. That is,
placing the information inside the 12-pack or case container would
exclude vending machine sales.
[0005] Confectionery products, such as gum or candy, are likewise
sold in various marketing channels including supermarket stores,
convenience stores and vending machines. It would be desirable to
have giveaways, sweepstakes, contests, etc. for confectionery
products.
[0006] While bottled soft drinks have made use of the bottle cap
for providing giveaway or sweepstakes information, confectionery
packaging typically has not provided a viable technique for
providing giveaway or sweepstakes information. One of the problems
with providing a confectionery package, e.g., a chewing gum product
having a foil wrapper, is that the foil is used to store the sticks
of chewing gum until all of the product is consumed. Thus, if the
giveaway information is contained on the inner body of the wrapper,
the eager consumer is encouraged to destroy the housing to see the
prize information and at the same time destroy the housing for the
confectionery products, e.g., the sticks of chewing gum.
[0007] It is therefore desirable to provide a package for a
confectionery product, such as a gum product, that includes
information concerning giveaways, sweepstakes, contests, etc,
wherein the package can be distributed through each of the
product's marketing channels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides an improved product holding
and dispensing package. More specifically, the present invention
provides a package and method by which a gum product can include
information concerning giveaways, sweepstakes, contests, etc.
[0009] To this end, in an embodiment, a gum package having giveaway
information is provided. The gum package includes a body defining
an interior for housing product. The body defines opposing end
walls. A member is attached to the body, whereby a consumer can
grasp the member to remove one of the end walls. The removable end
wall allows the consumer to remove a gum product from the body. The
removable end wall has an inner surface. The consumer can see the
giveaway information by viewing the inner surface.
[0010] In an embodiment, the body includes a pair of opposing side
walls in addition to the opposing end walls.
[0011] In an embodiment, the member is a tab.
[0012] In an embodiment, the tab attaches to a ribbon of material
that extends around the body. When the consumer moves the tab, the
ribbon tears the body to remove the removable end wall.
[0013] In an embodiment, the body is a thin sheet folded to produce
the opposing end walls.
[0014] In an embodiment, the package is constructed, at least in
part, from a metal foil.
[0015] In an embodiment, the giveaway information informs the
consumer whether or not the consumer has won a prize.
[0016] In an embodiment, the giveaway information includes
information concerning a sweepstakes, a raffle, a contest, a coupon
or a rebate.
[0017] In an embodiment, the giveaway information is printed onto
an inner surface of the removable end wall of the body.
[0018] In an embodiment, the giveaway information is stamped onto
an inner surface of the removable end wall of the body.
[0019] In an embodiment, the removable end wall of the body
includes a separate insert having the giveaway information.
[0020] In an embodiment, the giveaway information in combination
with other giveaway information from at least one other package
yields a prize for the consumer.
[0021] In an embodiment, the body houses a plurality of the gum
products.
[0022] In another embodiment of the present invention, a flexible
package including a foil wrapper having giveaway information for a
confectionery product is provided. The package includes a bottom
end, a removable end, and side walls that define an interior. A
consumable product is located within the package. Giveaway
information is visible by viewing a surface of a removable end.
Means are provided to allow a consumer to grasp and remove the end
wall and view the giveaway information.
[0023] In an embodiment, the tab is integral to the sheet.
[0024] In an embodiment, the surface is an inner surface of the
body. The tab enables the consumer to grasp the tab and remove the
end wall from the body to view the giveaway information on the
inner surface.
[0025] In an embodiment, the giveaway information is printed onto
the surface of the end wall.
[0026] In an embodiment the body includes a plurality of side
walls.
[0027] In an embodiment, the sheet includes a paper layer.
[0028] In an embodiment, the end wall includes folds and the
giveaway information is disposed on the folds.
[0029] In a further embodiment of the present invention, a method
for providing a gum package having giveaway information is
provided. The method includes providing a package including a body
defining an interior and a removable end to allow a consumer to
access a product contained within the package. The method includes
providing giveaway information on an inner surface of the removable
wall.
[0030] In an embodiment, the method includes providing a means for
removing the end wall portion having the giveaway information.
[0031] An advantage of the present invention is to provide an
improved gum package having giveaway information.
[0032] Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an
improved giveaway information device.
[0033] Further, an advantage of the present invention is to provide
an improved method for making a confectionery package having
giveaway information.
[0034] Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is to
provide an improved package having giveaway information and method
therefore, which is cost effective and easy to implement with
existing packaging systems.
[0035] Additional features and advantages of the present invention
will be described in and apparent from the detailed description of
the presently preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0036] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of
a package having a removable end wall that contains giveaway
information.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment
for the end wall of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the package of the
present invention showing the end wall removed an one embodiment of
the giveaway information.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0039] Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1,
an embodiment of the package 10 of the present invention is
illustrated. The gum package 10 includes a body 12. The body 12 in
an embodiment is a thin sheet that includes one or more layers. The
one or more layers may be a thin paper product and may include a
thin metal or plastic foil adhered to the paper product. The foil
provides a barrier against liquids or gases that could otherwise
come into harmful contact with the consumable or confectionery
products housed within the package 10. In an embodiment, the thin
sheet folds together to form the shape of the body 12.
[0040] In an embodiment, the body 12 has a rectangular shape. The
rectangular shape includes a top wall 14, a bottom wall 16, side
walls 18 and 20 and end walls 22 and 24. Although a rectangular
shape is preferred, in alternative embodiments the body 12 can be
cylindrical, triangular or have any other shape. In each of the
embodiments, the body 12 includes at least one of the end walls 22
and 24.
[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the thin sheet that folds to
produce the body 12 yields overlapping folds as seen on the end
wall 24. The body 12 includes a tab or member 28 that enables a
consumer to grasp and pull the tab 28 to tear open the walls of the
body 12 and remove the end wall 24 or an end wall portion 24 from
the body 12.
[0042] Thus, in one embodiment, the end wall 24 includes
overlapping folds as illustrated in FIG. 1. Other walls such as the
bottom wall 16 or the side walls 12 and 18 can also include
overlapping folds of the sheet that makes up the body 12. In an
embodiment, the folds also include a suitable adhesive that
maintains the body 12 in the desired shape until the consumer opens
the gum package 10. The gum package 10 also includes a plurality of
gum products 26 that reside within. The body 12 and the package 10
in a preferred embodiment are flexible and strong enough to house
the gum products 26 until the consumer consumes each of the same.
The gum products 26 can be sticks of gum as illustrated or can be
blocks of gum or have any desired shape. The gum products 26 are
also in a preferred embodiment individually packaged in separate
wrappers.
[0043] Referring now to FIG. 2, an alternative embodiment of the
end wall 24 is illustrated. The body 12 is again formed by folding
a thin paper or multiple layer sheet to form a desired shape. The
body 12 again includes the top wall 14, the bottom wall 16, the
side walls 18 and 20, the end wall 24 and the member or tab 28. In
this alternative embodiment, however, the end wall does not include
folds or folded layers of the sheet comprising the body 12. The
sheet may in fact be folded but the folds occur along other walls
of the body 12, wherein the end wall 24 is smooth and
uninterrupted.
[0044] Referring now to FIG. 3, the package 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is
shown with the end wall 24 removed from the remainder of the body
12. A ribbon of preferably strong tensile material 30 attaches to
an inner surface of the body 12 and aligns with the member or tab
28. The ribbon 30 extends substantially around or all the way
around the body 12. When the consumer pulls the tab 28, the ribbon
30 tears a strip 32 from the body 12 of the package 10.
[0045] The removed strip 32 separates the end wall 24 from the
remainder of the body 12. It should be appreciated that the ribbon
30 is one known way in which the end wall 24 can separate from the
body 12. The present invention includes any known method for
opening a gum package 10. Preferably, however, the method employed
produces an end wall 24 or end wall portion 24 separate from the
body 12 and the products 26.
[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the end wall 24 can include a
portion of the top wall 14, the bottom wall 16 and the side walls
18 and 20 of the body 12. In other embodiments, the end wall 24 may
simply include a flat inner surface 34 and an outer surface. In
either case the giveaway information or indicia 36 in a preferred
embodiment appears on the inner surface 34 of the end wall 24. When
the end wall has folds as illustrated in FIG. 1, the giveaway
information or indicia 36 can be preprinted, stamped or etched onto
one of the folds or the indicia can be printed, stamped or etched
onto a plurality of folds that form the end wall 24. When the end
wall 24 includes a smooth and uninterrupted surface as illustrated
in FIG. 2, the indicia 36 is preprinted onto the inner surface 34
in a preferred embodiment.
[0047] The member or tab 28 in one embodiment is integral to one of
the sides of the body 12. Depending on the amount of the top and
bottom walls and side walls of the body that the manufacturer
wishes to incorporate into the end wall 24, the tab 28, ribbon 30
and accompanying strip 32 can be placed closer to the end wall 24
as desired. In another alternative embodiment, the end wall 24 is
perforated or otherwise predisposed to tear away from the remainder
of the body 12. Here, the consumer may be able to remove the end
wall without the need for a member or tab 28.
[0048] The member 28 includes any means known to those of skill in
the art for enabling the consumer to tear open the package 10. For
instance, the member 28 alternatively includes only the ribbon 30,
which enables the consumer to remove the end wall 24. The member 28
can also include an external ribbon material that extends around
the body 12 of the package 10.
[0049] Further alternatively, the end wall 24 removably attaches to
the body 12, wherein a separate layer of packaging (not
illustrated) holds the end wall 24 to the remainder of the body 12.
When the extra layer of packaging, which in an embodiment is a thin
clear layer of plastic, is permanently removed from the body 12,
the consumer can remove the end wall 24 and view the indicia 36 on
the inner wall 34 of the end wall 24. Still further, the extra
wrapper can be colored or otherwise opaque and hide giveaway
information or indicia 36 that appears on an outer surface of the
end wall 24 or on any outer surface of the body 12 including the
top wall 14, bottom wall 16, side walls 18 and 20 or end wall
22.
[0050] The end wall 24 defines the inner surface 34. In a preferred
embodiment the inner surface includes the giveaway information 36.
As used herein, "giveaway information" includes any indicia or
symbols that indicate or provide information about a contest,
sweepstakes, coupon, raffle, rebate or any other type of monetary
giveaway or provision of prizes. The giveaway information 36 can
also combine with other information from end walls 24 of other one
or more packages 10 to provide a prize, e.g., for a contest or
other type of game. In the illustrated embodiment, the indicia 36
is the word, "WINNER." In an embodiment, the information 36 informs
the consumer whether the consumer has won or not won a prize or
giveaway.
[0051] In an embodiment, the giveaway information 36 is printed
onto the inner surface 34 of the end wall 24. Alternatively, the
giveaway information 36 is stamped or etched onto the inner surface
34 of the end wall 24. Still further, a separate insert (not
illustrated) having printed or stamped giveaway information 36 can
be placed inside the package 10 at or near the removable end wall
24. When the consumer opens the package 10 and removes the end wall
24, the separate insert comes free from the body 12 with the end
wall 24.
[0052] It should be understood that various changes and
modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described
herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes
and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention and without diminishing its
attendant advantages.
* * * * *