CN1819951A - Novelty article and product promotion using the novelty article - Google Patents

Abstract

A novelty article (10) for use in product promotion has the external appearance of a beverage bottle and is adapted to retain a prize. The article has a first component (12) and a second component (14) separably attached to each other, together forming a closed inner prize chamber (20) which is opened when the components are separated. Each component has a peripheral space (54, 58) for containing a liquid and a transparent exterior wall (22, 24) and is configured so that when assembled the liquid in the peripheral spaces appears as a single body of liquid. The article may have a circumferential label (66) covering a seam (64) between the two components.

Description

Novelty item and method of promoting a product utilizing the novelty item

technical field

The present invention relates to a novelty article and a method of using the novelty article as a dummy product for promoting a product.

Background technique

Dispensing prizes in items that mimic the shape of the item to be promoted and dispersing such prized items among the products on sale to promote products is known. For example, some examples of such items are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,911,320, 5,056,659, 5,056,681, and 5,099,232 issued to Howes, wherein prizes are hidden in chambers under lids or in simulated beverage cans or the bottom of the bottle.

However, in the structure of the simulated bottle disclosed in the Howes patent, the prize chamber is small, thereby limiting the size of the prize and thus the type of prize.

Contents of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative construction for a mock bottle containing a prize for use in promotional events.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a container for prizes, the container having an outer shape resembling a bottle containing a liquid product, comprising first and second parts detachably interconnected, wherein:

the first and second components together define a substantially closed interior prize chamber within the container, the prize chamber is adapted to receive a prize, the prize chamber is configured to open when the components are separated from each other;

each of the first and second components has an outer wall and a peripheral space separate from and surrounding the prize chamber;

Each of the first and second components is adapted to contain liquid in the peripheral space of the component;

each of the first and second parts has a transparent outer wall through which the liquid in the corresponding part is visible;

The article is configured such that the first and second parts as a whole appear substantially as a single part, the shape of the single part is like the shape of the simulated bottle, and the liquid in the two parts simulates the shape of the liquid product single body.

Preferably the container has a first upper part simulating the upper part of the bottle, and a second part simulating the base of the bottle, the upper part simulating the shoulder, neck and cap of the bottle.

Preferably the liquid in the upper part is partially filled in the peripheral space in the upper part so that there is a headspace visible through the transparent outer wall of the upper part, while said peripheral space of the lower part is substantially completely filled with said liquid.

In one embodiment, the upper and lower parts may be joined at a circumferential seam, the container further comprising a label covering the seam. Preferably the label is substantially identical to the label of the bottle being simulated, this label may be a band around the perimeter of said container.

The cover of the upper part is removable to allow access to another chamber of the upper part which is isolated from said peripheral space containing the liquid. The further chamber is adapted to accommodate a prize notice.

Desirably, the liquid in said peripheral space of the first and second components is opaque enough to prevent the inner chamber from being seen through the transparent outer walls of the components.

In one form, the container includes a reward item disposed within said interior chamber, preferably including a mobile communication device such as a mobile phone.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of promoting bottled liquids having a certain shape to consumers, the method comprising the steps of:

Provide the prize container of the present invention, the shape of the prize container is basically consistent with the shape of the bottled liquid product;

providing a prize item for the consumer, placing the prize item in the prize chamber of the prize container;

The prize container is placed in a plurality of said bottled liquid products such that the novelty item appears to be like said product so that the novelty item constitutes a simulated product to provide individual consumers with a choice.

The prize preferably placed in the interior chamber of the container includes a mobile communication device pre-programmed to contact the prize delivery station.

Description of drawings

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a novelty item according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the novelty item shown in Figure 1 seen from the side;

Figure 3 is a schematic exploded cutaway perspective view of the novelty item shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of some components of the novelty article shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a schematic exploded perspective view of some components corresponding to Figure 4 in another embodiment, showing these components side by side;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the details within the circle shown in Figure 1, with a part of it cut away;

Figure 7 is a schematic exploded cross-sectional view similar to Figure 2 with the novelty item cover removed and the novelty item chamber containing the communication system.

Detailed ways

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a novelty item 10 in the form of a bottle. The article 10 includes a first upper part 12 and a second lower part 14 . In a preferred embodiment, these parts are made of plastic. The upper part 12 and the lower part 14 have inner walls 16 and 18, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, article 10 is configured such that when upper member 12 and lower member 14 are interconnected as will be described in more detail below, interior walls 16 and 18 together form a substantially closed interior chamber 20 of the article. , as shown by the dotted line 21 in FIG. 1 .

The upper part 12 and the lower part 14 also have outer walls 22 and 24, respectively. Furthermore, the upper part 12 has a transverse wall 26 connecting the inner wall 16 and the outer wall 22 of the upper part. Likewise, the lower part 14 also has a transverse wall 28 connecting the inner wall 18 and the outer wall 24 of the lower part 14 . Referring to FIG. 1 , it can be seen that a transverse wall 28 defines a portion of the chamber 20 . The outer walls 22 and 24 are transparent, while in a preferred embodiment the inner walls 16 and 18 and the transverse walls 26 and 28 are opaque.

As can be seen very clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the inner wall 16 of the upper part 12 protrudes downwards and beyond the transverse wall 26 and thus also beyond the outer wall 22 , forming an extension wall portion 30 provided with an external thread 32 . The outer wall 24 of the lower part 14 extends upwards in the same way and beyond the transverse wall 28 and thus also beyond the inner wall 18 to form an extension wall portion 34 with an internal thread 36 .

The outer wall 22 of the upper member 12 extends upwardly from the transverse wall 26 to a shoulder 38 and then to a neck 40 above the shoulder. As shown in FIG. 6 , the neck 40 has external threads 42 which engage a complimentarily, internally threaded cap 44 . Approximately at the intersection between the neck and shoulder 38 is provided a stop wall 46 (see FIGS. 3 and 6 ) which extends across the neck 40 . Thus, the neck 40 and the barrier wall 46 together define a small cavity 48 located at the top of the upper part 12 below the cover 44 . The small cavity is opened by means of an opening 50 defined by an uppermost edge or rib 52 of the neck 40 (see FIG. 6 ).

It should be appreciated that the inner wall 16 , outer wall 22 , transverse wall 26 and barrier wall 46 of the upper part 12 define a fully enclosed space 54 of the upper part, the lower part 54 .

In the lower part 14 , the outer wall 24 extends inwardly at the bottom of the lower part to form a base 56 . The inner wall 18 , the outer wall 24 , the transverse wall 28 and the base 56 delimit a fully enclosed space 58 of the lower part 14 , the upper part 58 . 1 of which is located between the outer wall 24 and the chamber 20 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , a colored liquid 59 is injected into the space 54 of the upper part 12 and into the space 58 of the lower part 14 . The liquid 59 in the space 58 of the lower part 14 is basically full of this space, while the liquid in the space 54 of the upper part 12 does not completely fill this space, therefore, there is a small volume part 60 in the upper part 12, as shown in Figure 2 As shown, there is no liquid within the small volume portion when article 10 is in the upright orientation.

The liquid 59 in the space 58 of the lower part 14 is injected into this space through the hole 62, after which the hole is closed in a suitable manner. The liquid 59 in the space 54 of the upper part 12 can be injected into this space through a similar hole (not shown in the figure). Liquid was previously injected into the space through the neck 40 . In this case, once the liquid 59 has been injected into the space 54, the barrier 46 can be inserted into the neck 40 and secured to the neck in a suitable manner, which will be within the skill of the art. As is well known, a liquid-tight seal can thus be formed.

It will be appreciated that the space 54 of the upper part 12 and the space 58 of the lower part 14 are each completely isolated from the chamber 20, so that liquid 59 in these spaces cannot enter said chamber.

The upper part 12 and the lower part 14 are interconnected by threads 32 and 36 and are separated by unscrewing the upper part from the lower part. It will be appreciated that unscrewing the parts in this manner separates the inner wall 16 from the transverse wall 28, thereby allowing the chamber 20 to be opened and its contents to be removed (as further described below).

As shown in Figure 1, when the upper part 12 is joined to the lower part 14, the lowermost end of the outer wall 22 of the upper part 12 and the uppermost end of the extension wall portion 34 of the lower part 14 abut each other in an aligned manner, thereby defining a seam 64.

1, if the label 66 is placed on the article 10 such that the label 66 completely surrounds the article, thereby completely covering the seam 64, it will be appreciated that the upper and lower parts 12 and 14 appear to be Like a single integral part, and the liquid 59 in the space 54 of the upper part and the liquid in the space 58 of the lower part appear as a single liquid. This provides the article 10 which looks like a bottle filled with liquid. If the color of the liquid 59 is darker, then, from a position outside the article 10, any contents of the article, as well as the inner walls 16 and 18, will become obscured, so it is more beneficial to produce the appearance of the article 10 being filled. This feeling of liquid.

Referring to Figure 5, details are shown of another embodiment of an article 10 that, instead of providing threads 32 and 36 to connect upper part 12 to lower part 14, provides a "plug-in" mating structure ("bayonet "fitting). This "plug-in" mating structure includes: a bent groove located in the extended wall portion 34 of the lower part and consisting of a vertical groove portion 70 and a horizontal groove portion 72; a radially outwardly extending protrusion 74, the protrusion is located on the extension wall portion 30 of the upper part. (In FIG. 5, for convenience, the upper part 12 is shown rotated relative to the lower part 14 so that the protrusion 74 can be seen. However, during use, the upper part is positioned such that the protrusion 74 is received in said grooves 72 and 74.) To connect the upper part 12 to the lower part 14, these parts are fitted together so that the protrusion 74 slides into the vertical groove 70, and then the upper part is opposed Rotating the lower part allows the protrusion to slide into the horizontal slot 72, thereby preventing separation of the upper and lower parts. Parts 12 and 14 can be separated from each other using the reverse process. It should be appreciated that additional structures similar to the grooves 70 and 72 may also be provided on diametrically opposite sides of the article 10 .

Item 10 may be used to promote a particular type of product to consumers. For example, such a method may be performed by a person or entity such as a supplier of a product or a promotional coordinator. According to this method, one embodiment of the article 10 used is such that the appearance of the article 10 is substantially the same as that of each product of the class considered for promotion.

The method includes placing the novelty item 10 among a number of products under consideration for promotion such that the novelty item appears substantially identical to each of these products, thereby making the novelty item a simulated product. As an example of a situation where this approach could be used, each product is a bottle of soft drink placed on a display case in a commercial refrigerator in a retail store.

In order to make the appearance of the simulated article 10 the same as that of each product, the liquid in the simulated article can be selected so that the liquid looks substantially the same as the appearance of the corresponding soft drink, and the selected liquid can actually be the corresponding soft drink itself .

The implementation of this method depends on the probability that a particular consumer will select such a novelty item 10 thinking that he or she is selecting a genuine product for purchase purposes.

In one embodiment of the invention, this method depends on placing a prize within the chamber 20 of the novelty item 10 .

A set of signs in the form of written instructions drawn on media in the form of folded paper 82 placed within cavity 48 may also be provided.

After picking up this novelty item 10, the consumer thinks that the selected item is a real product, so the consumer removes the cap 44 in an attempt to take what the consumer thought was a bottle of soft drink (in this example). Once the consumer removes the cover 44, the consumer will find that the novelty item 10 is a simulated product, rather than a real product, and then the consumer will see the paper 82 placed in the cavity 48, thereby prompting the consumer to pass through the opening. 50 Take out the slip of paper 82 and read the instructions on the slip of paper.

The instructions on the paper sheets include that the consumer should peel off the label 66 on the article 10 to expose the seam 64, respectively; and separate the upper and lower parts 12 and 14 from each other. Of course, the manner in which parts 12 and 14 are separated will depend on whether article 10 is implemented with threads 32 and 36 or with a male engagement arrangement as previously described with reference to FIG. 5 .

After separating the parts 12 and 14 from each other, the chamber 20 opens to reveal the prize placed in the chamber, thereby surprising the consumer. The prizes may take any suitable form of interest to the consumer and may be, for example, cash, tickets to an event such as a sporting event, gift certificates or similar, toys or trinkets, jewelry, and the like.

In another embodiment, within the cavity 20 of the novelty 10 is placed a two-way communication system 76 that includes a navigation satellite system tracking device 78, such as a global positioning system (GPS). It is contemplated that other satellite navigation tracking systems may also be employed, such as the European Galileo system. The communication system 76 is in the form of a mobile (cellular) telephone and will be referred to hereinafter as a mobile telephone. The phone 76 includes an activation mechanism in the form of a button 80 .

In this embodiment, the sheet of paper 82 bearing the instructions is removed from the cavity 48 in the manner described above. In this embodiment, the instructions may be to remove the mobile phone 76 from the chamber 20 once the parts 12 and 14 are separated and the chamber 20 is opened. The instruction could also be to ask the consumer to move the mobile phone 76 to a location where it can receive a signal of appropriate strength, for example, to a location away from tall buildings.

The content of the instructions may also be to enable the consumer to activate the mobile phone 76 by pressing the button 80 .

As long as the button 80 is pressed, the mobile phone 76 sends the appropriate outgoing signal. This signal is received as part of the method by a corresponding receiving unit, which in a preferred embodiment is a receiving station. Additionally, by pressing button 80, GPS device 78 is activated to "lock" onto a remote position determining mechanism in the form of a GPS navigation system in which satellites orbit the earth. The GPS unit 78 can determine its estimated position from signals transmitted by the satellites. Once an estimated position has been determined, the telephone 76 sends a position signal to the receiving station. The location signal includes information about the estimated location of the GPS device 78 so that the estimated location can be determined and the location of the phone 76 and the location of the customer can be determined. Thus, the steps of receiving the position signal by the receiving station and determining the estimated position also form part of the method. It will be appreciated that in order to signal a location, the phone 76 must be equipped with a suitable mechanism for signaling the location, which is referred to herein as a location transmitting mechanism and which may form part of the GPS device 78 .

Proper conditions and a suitable GPS device 78 facilitate estimation of the position of the GPS device in the range of about 1 to 5 meters, as well as an estimate of altitude, as far as the relative latitude and longitude coordinates are concerned. A suitable communication device is the Track One GPS-enabled mobile telephone manufactured by Benefon of Finland.

In one embodiment, the phone 76 may be configured to automatically relay a signal to the receiving station indicating the status of the process of "locking" onto the satellite by the GPS device 78 so that it can be determined once this has occurred . Relevant information about this process can be displayed on a screen of the receiving station, for example on a screen of the viewing device.

In one embodiment, the above-mentioned outgoing signal is the location signal itself, therefore, the steps of receiving the outgoing signal and receiving the location signal by the receiving station are the same step.

Once the outgoing signal has been received by the receiving station, the method includes sending an answer signal from the receiving station to the telephone 76 and thus to the customer. The reply signal expresses the message addressed to the consumer. Telephone 76 is configured to receive the response signal and transmit the response signal to the consumer in a form that the consumer can understand. In some preferred embodiments, the information may be in the form of an SMS message that can be received on the SMS display of the phone 76, or in the form of a phone call to the customer from a receiving station. The telephone call may be a person-to-person call or an automated audio message sent from the receiving station to the telephone 76 for the consumer to receive.

A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a prize for the consumer. Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment, the consumer is informed in the information sent to the consumer that the location of the phone 76 has been determined, so the consumer's location is also determined, and that the consumer should wait for the prize courier to deliver the prize to he she. Of course, it is contemplated that the information could instead include different information or instructions for the consumer. For example, it may require the consumer to go to another designated location to pick up the prize, or it may ask the consumer what else to do before picking up the prize.

In an alternative to the above-described embodiment, instead of having a button 80 on the phone 76 that the customer must press to signal an outgoing call, the article 10 may be constructed so that when the upper part 12 is removed from the lower part 14 When removed and the chamber 20 opened to expose the phone 76, it can automatically send an outgoing signal. Article 10 can also be configured to automatically transmit the above-mentioned location signal so that the prize courier can determine the consumer's location in order to deliver the prize to the consumer without the consumer knowing that his or her location has been detected. It is determined, therefore, the arrival of the prize carrier will bring greater surprises to consumers.

The ability of the telephone 76 to receive information that can be understood by humans is very advantageous because it allows the consumer to be truly and immediately informed of the fact that he has chosen a simulated product consisting of the item 10. collected by individuals or units. It can also inform consumers of the types of incentives offered. In addition, it may also assist in providing a prize to the consumer, if desired, or informing the consumer of additional steps the consumer needs to take in order to meet other conditions required to obtain the prize.

In some of the embodiments described above involving providing a prize within chamber 20, placing a phone within the chamber, describing the assortment of novelty items 10 and the method of promotion, a useful promotional means of promoting related products is provided by making the consumer Consumers are encouraged to purchase this product with the hope that they will receive benefits, rewards, or prizes if they choose a simulated product when purchasing this product.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to some specific embodiments, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention can also adopt many other embodiments.

implementation.

Claims (21)

CLAIMS 1. A container for prizes, the shape of the container resembling that of a bottle containing a liquid product, the container comprising a first part and a second part interconnected in a detachable manner, wherein: said first and second components together define a substantially closed interior prize chamber within said container adapted to receive said prize and configured to be opened when said components are separated from each other ; each of said first and second components has an outer wall and a peripheral space separate from said prize chamber and surrounding said prize chamber; each of said first and second components is adapted to contain liquid in said peripheral space of that component; each of said first and second components has a transparent outer wall through which liquid in the respective component is visible; The article is configured such that the first and second parts together appear substantially as a single part, the part is shaped like a simulated bottle, and the liquid in the two parts is simulated as the A single body of the liquid product described above. 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the first upper part simulates the upper part of the bottle and the second part simulates the base of the bottle. 3. The container of claim 2, wherein the upper part simulates the shoulder, neck and cap of the bottle. 4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the liquid in the upper part partially fills the peripheral space in the upper part so as to have a transparent outer wall visible through the upper part. headspace. 5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the peripheral space of the lower part is substantially completely filled with the liquid. 6. The container of claim 2, wherein the upper and lower parts are joined at a circumferential seam, the container further comprising a label covering the seam. 7. The container of claim 6, wherein the first and second parts are connected by a threaded connection. 8. The container of claim 6, wherein the first and second parts are connected by a plug-in connection. 9. The container of claim 6, wherein the label is substantially identical to the label of the bottle being simulated. 10. The container of claim 6, wherein the label is manufactured as a strip around the circumference of the container. 11. The container of claim 3, wherein the lid portion of the upper member is removable. 12. The container of claim 9, wherein the upper part includes a further chamber isolated from the peripheral space containing the liquid, the further chamber being accessible by removing the lid. 13. The container of claim 10, wherein the further chamber contains a prize notice. 14. The container of claim 1, wherein said liquid in said peripheral space of said first and second members is opaque enough to avoid passing through said transparent outer walls of said members See the inner chamber. 15. The container of claim 1, further comprising a reward item disposed within the interior chamber. 16. The container of claim 13, wherein the reward item is a mobile communication device. 17. The container of claim 14, wherein the reward item is a mobile phone. 18. A method of promoting a bottled liquid having a certain profile to consumers, the method comprising the steps of: Provide the prize container according to claim 1, the shape of the prize container is basically consistent with the shape of the bottled liquid product; providing a prize for a consumer to be placed within the prize chamber of the prize container; Placing said prize container among a plurality of said bottled liquid products makes said novelty appear to be like said product, thereby constituting a simulated product offering individual consumers a choice. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing the prize container with a further chamber isolated from the peripheral space containing the liquid, the further chamber being accessible by removing a lid portion chamber; a prize notice is placed in the other chamber. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the prize comprises a mobile communication device. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the communication device is preprogrammed to contact a prize distribution station.

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