Abstract:
A packaging system for use in attaching digital media disks such as DVD disks to plastic containers of consumer products such as molded plastic beverage jugs. The packaging system enables the transfer and distribution of digital media disks to consumers as promotional items. In one form, the packaging system includes a shallow depression built into a wall of a container, a digital media disk positioned in the depression and a label extending across said disk for retaining said disk in place within the depression. Alternatively, the packaging system may include ridges, posts or tabs that are built into the container and used to secure or help secure the digital media disk in place either in a depression or in a partially enclosed cavity on the container formed by the ridges or tabs themselves.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to product packaging and to the packaging of promotional items for distribution with consumer products.  
         [0002]     Digital media disks provide an excellent vehicle for delivering audiovisual content to consumers and for promoting the sale of consumer products or providing advertising for the sale of consumer products. For example, DVD disks are often now included in cereal boxes as a way of promoting the sale of the cereal by providing interesting cinematic material on the media disks such as episodes of classic television shows. In such cases the DVD may be simply dropped in the cereal box or may be attached to the inside of the front of the cereal box where they are viewable through a small transparent window cut into the box. However, it is more difficult to include digital media disks with products in plastic containers such as jugs or jars of the type ordinarily used for holding beverages and the like. The digital media disks may be glued to the side or top of such containers but the disks then interfere with efficient product handling procedures and are subject to becoming dislodged or damaged as the product is transported, distributed and prepared for sale to the consumer.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention comprises a packaging system for attaching a digital media disk such as a DVD disk to a consumer product container such as a plastic beverage jug and for thereby promoting the sale of the product and distributing digital media disks to consumers as promotional items. In one embodiment, the packaging system includes a shallow depression built into a component such as a wall of the container, a digital media disk inserted into said depression and a label extending across said disk and component for retaining said disk in place in said depression. In other embodiments ridges, posts, or tabs are built into the component of the container and used to secure or help secure the digital media disk in place either within a depression or in a partially enclosed cavity formed by the ridges or tabs themselves. The digital media disk may be secured in a compact protective sleeve. The label covering the disk usually includes printed material and may include a window for viewing the disk. Packaging the digital media disk with the consumer product enables the digital media disk to be transferred to the consumer through the retail distribution chain as a promotional item either for promoting sale of the product or promoting other products of interest to consumers. After purchase of the product the consumer may conveniently remove the disk from the product and the disk and use a disk player to view or listen to the material recorded on the disk.  
         [0004]     One exemplary embodiment comprises a shallow depression built into the wall of a beverage jug, a mini-DVD disk and a label extending across the disk and adhered to the wall for retaining the disk in place within the depression. Another exemplary embodiment includes a depression built into the wall of a beverage jug, a mini-DVD disk and a set of small tabs attached to the sidewall of the depression for engaging and holding the disk in place. Alternatively, a post positioned at the center of the depression may be used to engage the central aperture of the disk and thereby hold the disk in place. A paper or plastic label extending across the disk also may be used to further help retain the disk in place.  
         [0005]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient packaging system for removably attaching a digital media disk such as a DVD to a product container such as a beverage jug or plastic food jar in a convenient and inexpensive manner as a promotional item.  
         [0006]     It is another object of the invention to provide a packaging system for removably attaching a digital media disk to a consumer product container so that it is firmly attached and will not become dislodged or damaged during product distribution and handling and yet is easily accessible for use and playback by the consumer.  
         [0007]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a packaging system for removably attaching a digital media disk such as a DVD to a product container so that the digital media disk may be transferred to the consumer through the retail product chain associated with the product in order to thereby promote sales of the product or supply advertising promoting the sale of other products to retail consumers.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a jug for containing liquids such as beverages including a digital media disk such as a mini-DVD removably mounted within a depression on one wall of the jug in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a plan view showing a close up of a digital media disk as mounted onto a jug in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  of a digital media disk as mounted on a jug in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a digital media disk such as a mini-DVD secured in a protective sleeve and mounted in a depression on a jug for containing liquids in accordance with an alternative form of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1-3 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the of a mini-DVD disk secured in a sleeve and mounted on a jug in accordance with the alternative form of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a partially broken away plan view showing a close up of a digital media disk such as a mini-DVD as mounted onto a jug for containing liquids in accordance with a another alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a set of ridges is used to help secure the disk in place.  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6  of a digital media disk as mounted on the jug in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 6  in which a set of ridges is used to help secure the disk.  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a plan view showing a close up of a digital media disk such as a mini-DVD as mounted in a depression on a jug for containing liquids in accordance with a yet further alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a post and tabs are used in helping to secure the disk in place.  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of a digital media disk such as a mini-DVD as mounted onto a jug in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention in which a post and tabs are used in helping to secure the disk in place as illustrated in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view along lines  10 - 10  of  FIG. 8  of a digital media disk as mounted on a jug in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 8  in which a post and tabs are used in securing the disk in place.  
         [0018]      FIG. 11  is a plan view showing a close up of a digital media disk such as a mini-DVD having a non-standard shape as mounted onto a jug in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention in which ridges are used to help retain the disk in place ( FIGS. 6-7 ).  
         [0019]      FIG. 12  is a plan view showing a close up of a digital media disk such as a mini-DVD secured in a sleeve as mounted onto a jug for containing liquids in accordance with an additional embodiment of the present invention in which a set of extended tabs is used to help secure the disk in place.  
         [0020]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view along lines  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12  of a digital media disk as mounted on a jug in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 12  in which extended tabs are used in helping to secure the disk in place.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the Jug  10  is generally rounded in shape, is somewhat taller in height than it is in width, and is slightly broader at its bottom than at its top. The jug  10  includes four sides or walls  20 ,  22 ,  24  and  26  ( 24  and  26  are on the reverse side and are not shown in  FIG. 1 ). The jug  10  also includes a handle  12  positioned toward its top, a spout  14  positioned at its top having a removable cap  16  and a printed product label  18  describing its contents that is adhered along its side  22 . The jug  10  is blow-molded and constructed of polyethylene plastic although the jug  10  may be otherwise constructed from other kinds of plastic materials. The jug  10  includes a shallow circular depression  28  in its side  20  in which a digital media disk  30  such as a mini-DVD is mounted onto the jug  10  underneath a paper label  32 .  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the label  32  is circular and extends all the way over and across the depression  28  and overlaps with the wall  20  outside of the depression  28 . The label  32  is attached to the side  20  of the jug  10  by the adhesive layer  36  extending around the perimeter of the label  32  between the label  32  and the side  20 . The depression  28  includes and is bounded by a radial sidewall  34 . The digital media disk  30  resides in the depression  28  inside or inward from the sidewall  34  and underneath the label  32 . The label  32  includes a circular aperture  40  in its center and a transparent circular window  42  located under and around the aperture  40  through which the media disk  30  can be viewed from outside the jug  10 . The digital media disk  30  is further held in position within the depression  28  by a dab  44  of adhesive located between the label  32  and the disk  30 . The label  32  serves to retain the disk  30  in place on the jug  10  in the depression  28  flush with the side  20  of the jug  10 . This mounting arrangement fixes the digital media disk  30  in place and secures the disk  30  to the jug  10  during the process of transportation, handling and display ordinarily associated with the distribution and sale of the jug and its contents as a consumer product. Further, the mounting arrangements covers the disk  30  to protect it from contamination and help preserve the environment of the jug  10  as hygienic.  
         [0023]     In practice the digital media disk  30  is removably mounted onto the jug  10  during the manufacturing process at the time the jug  10  is filled and accompanies the filled jug  10  into the retail chain of distribution associated with the jug  10  and its contents. The digital media disk  30  is generally selected as a promotional item to attract the attention of consumers and to accelerate sales of jug  10  and its contents. Alternatively or additionally, the digital media disk  10  may include advertising material intended to promote the sale of other consumer products that are not related to the contents of the jug  10  which may be of interest to the consumer. In the preferred embodiment the jug  10  contains a beverage such as milk and the digital media disk is a mini-DVD and includes cinematic material such as episodes of older but still popular TV shows. Alternatively, the mini-DVD may include advertising for other consumer products such as electronics, appliances or automobiles or may even include demos of video games. After a consumer purchasers the beverage jug  10 , he or she may remove the disk  30  by peeling away or tearing the label  32  and pulling out the disk  30 . The material on the disk  30  may then be viewed at home by the consumer using a conventional digital media player such as a DVD player. In cases where advertising content is included on the digital media disk  30 , the material on the disk may be linked to or include other promotional programs such as offers of discounts. Coupling the digital media disk to the jug  10  provides a ready and inexpensive method of distributing audiovisual material including both entertainment and information to a wide range of consumers.  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a jug  10  is again shown as including a shallow circular depression  28  in its side  20  in which a digital media disk  30  such as a mini-DVD is mounted onto the jug  10  underneath a paper label  32 . However, in this case the disk  30  is secured in a protective sleeve  46  of thin and highly flexible clear plastic having flaps  48  that may be drawn back to conveniently release the disk  30  from the sleeve  46 . The label  32  is circular and extends all the way across the depression  28 . The label  32  is attached to the side  20  of the jug  10  by the adhesive layer  36  extending around the perimeter of the label  32  between the label  32  and the side  20 . The depression  28  includes and is bounded by a radial sidewall  34 . The digital media disk  30  resides in the depression  28  inside from the sidewall  34  and underneath the label  32 . The label  32  serves to retain the disk  30  in place on the jug  10  in the depression  28  flush with the side  20  of the jug  10 .  
         [0025]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the jug  10  now includes a set of three ridges located on the wall  20  and projecting slightly upward from its surface defining a shallow partially enclosed crater-like cavity  55 . The ridges  56  are spaced apart and radially positioned on the wall  20  to extend along the edges of a digital media disk. First and second digital media disks  50  and  52  are secured in a protective sleeve  54  on the wall  20  inside of the ridges  56 . A circular paper label  58  including printing extends over the disks  50  and  52  and sleeve  54  so as to overlap with the wall  20  and is attached around its perimeter to the wall  20  by the adhesive layer  60  outward of the ridges  56 . The ridges  56  and the label  58  serve to removably retain the disks  50  and  52  and sleeve  54  in place on the wall  20 . After a consumer purchasers the beverage jug  10 , he or she may remove the disks  50  and  52  for use by peeling away or tearing the label  58  and thereafter removing the disks  50  and  52  from the sleeve  54 .  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIGS. 8, 9  and  10 , the wall  20  of the jug  10  now includes a shallow circular depression  62  having a radial sidewall  64 , a set of three small tabs  66  extending inward of the depression  62  from the upper edge of the sidewall  64  and a short post  72  positioned in the center of the depression  62 . The tabs  66  are equally spaced apart and radially positioned on the sidewall  64  to engage the outer edge  76  of a digital media disk  70 . The post  72  is centrally positioned in the depression  62  to engage the inner edge  74  of the digital media disk  70 . The post  72  is sized so that the disk may be fitted or press-fitted over the post  72  and to that end may have a slightly larger diameter at its upper end  78  to help in gently securing the disk  70  onto the post  72 . A circular plastic label  68  extends all the way over and across the depression  62  and is adhered to the wall  20  outside of the depression  62  by the adhesive layer  66 . The label  68  is in this case transparent allowing the disk to be visually inspected while mounted within the depression  62 . The digital media disk  70  is retained in the depression  62  by the tabs  66 , the post  72  and the label  68 . However, depending on the application, the label  68  may not be required to help retain the disk  70  in place and the disk  70  may be held solely by the post  72  and tabs  66 . In all cases, the digital media disk  70  may thereby be removably retained in place on and flush with the wall  20 . After a consumer purchasers the liquid containing jug  10 , he or she may remove the disk  70  for use by peeling away or tearing the label  68  and popping the disk  70  out from the depression  62  and, in the event no label is used the disk  70 , the disk  70  may be simply popped out from the depression  62 .  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a mini-DVD disk  80  having a truncated shape is secured in rectangular sleeve  82 . A rectangular paper label  86  extends all the way over and across the disk  80  and overlaps with the wall  20 . A set of three upwardly extending ridges  84  are positioned at the edges of the sleeve  82  and define a shallow partially enclosed cavity  85  having three (partial) sides. The ridges  84  and the label  86  serve to removably retain the disk  80  and sleeve  82  in place on the wall  20 . The form of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 11  is meant to illustrate that in accordance with the present invention the elements for coupling a disk to as jug may assume different sizes and shapes depending on design choices and the nature of the application at hand.  
         [0028]     Referring now to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the jug  10  now includes a set of three extended tabs  94  located on the wall  20 . The tabs  94  are spaced apart and radially positioned on the wall  20  to extend along the edges of a digital media disk  90 . The digital media disk  90  is secured in a protective sleeve  92  along the wall  20  inside of the tabs  94 . A circular paper label  96  including printing extends over the disk  90  and sleeve  92  so as to overlap with the wall  20  and is attached around its perimeter to the wall  20  by the adhesive layer  98  outward of the tabs  92 . The tabs  92  grapple the outer edges  88  of the disk  90  by extending up and over the outer edges  88  of the disk  90  when the disk  90  is secured in place. The tabs  94  and the label  96  serve to removably retain the disk  90  and sleeve  92  in place on the wall  20  although, depending on the application, the label  96  may not in this case be required to help retain the disk  90  in place. After a consumer purchases the beverage jug  10 , he or she may remove the disk  90  for use by peeling away or tearing the label  96 , pulling the disk  90  out from the tabs  94  and removing the disk  90  from the sleeve  92  for playback of the recorded material.  
         [0029]     Although the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments for which implementation details have been described, it should be recognized that there are other embodiments within the spirit and scope of the claims and the invention is not intended to be limited to the details described with respect to the forms and embodiments disclosed. For example, the digital media disk retention and mounting system illustrated and described with respect to attachment of a disk onto the side of a jug may be used with other types of containers or jars made by other processes such as extrusion molding, stretch blow molding or thermal forming using other types of plastics such as Polyvinyl Chloride, Polypropylene, Polystyrene or Polyethylene Terephthalate. In particular, the present invention may for instance be used for removably mounting a mini-DVD on the lid of a cylindrical jar such as a typical peanut butter container. The lid of the jar would in such a case be formed to include a shallow depression extending out from its center in which the disk would reside and over which a label would extend over the disk to help retain the disk in place, in addition to other elements of the present invention that may be present.