Abstract:
A method for personalizing a product at the point of sale by a consumer. The method may include the steps of selecting a product, purchasing the product, selecting a shrink-wrap sleeve to be applied to the product, placing the sleeve on the product, and affixing the sleeve on the product.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present application relates generally to personalizing a product at the point of sale and more particularly relates to selecting and applying a personalized expression to a product at the point of sale.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Product manufacturers and/or distributors often package a given product in any number of different formats or appearances. The same product may come in different size packaging, different types of packaging, and/or with different types of packaging graphics or designs. For example, a beverage may come in containers such bottles, cans, boxes, pouches, and the like; the container may come in different sizes, shapes, or configurations; and the container may come with packaging graphics that may vary with different promotional campaigns, or even vary with the seasons, geography, current events, or otherwise.  
           [0003]    The variations in packaging, however, generally are determined by the manufacturer and/or the distributor of the product. Further, these variations generally are determined prior to the point of sale. The individual consumer may never have any input in the appearance of the packaging. Rather, the consumer is generally left to choose from whatever packaging may be available at a given retail location.  
           [0004]    Consumers, however, have often sought new and unique ways to express their individuality and personal preferences. For example, consumers have long worn T-shirts or other items with any number of different messages, designs, or other types of self-expression thereon. Likewise, consumers have long worn articles emblazoned with the logos of their favorite sporting teams, musical group, cities, or even consumer products. Once again, however, although a consumer may be able to purchase an article or a product with an expression of some sort thereon, the consumer rarely has an opportunity to personalize that product or connect the given product with a selected expression.  
           [0005]    What is needed, therefore, is a means by which a consumer can personalize product packaging with an expression that suits his or her own personal preferences. The personalization means should be easy to use and available to the consumer at or near the point of sale. The personalization means, however, should be relatively inexpensive and not interfere with the consumer&#39;s enjoyment or use of the product.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention thus provides a point of sale personalization system for a product. The system may include one or more sleeves and an application device for affixing one of the sleeves to the product. The sleeves may include one or more expressions thereon. The application device also may include a barrier to block access temporarily thereto when the application device is activated.  
           [0007]    Specific embodiments include that the application device may be a thermal device, such as a shrink-wrap device. The shrink-wrap device may include a product tunnel. The product tunnel may include a turntable. The turntable may rotate at about five (5) to about ten (10) revolutions per minute. The product tunnel also may include a number of ventilation apertures. A heating chamber with a heating element may be positioned adjacent to one of the ventilation apertures. The heating element may operate at about 1,400 to about 3,000 degrees Celsius. An air movement device may recirculate air through the heating element and the product tunnel. The barrier may include a product tunnel door positioned adjacent to the product tunnel.  
           [0008]    The application device also may include a computer for use in selecting one of the expressions for use on the sleeves. The sleeves may be made out of a thermoplastic material and may be recyclable.  
           [0009]    A method of the present invention provides for personalizing a product at the point of sale. The method may include the steps of providing one or more of the products for sale, providing one or more of the expressions to be applied to the products, and providing an application device for use by the consumer. The consumer may then select one of the expressions to be used with the product, place the expression on the product, and place the product within the application device so as to affix the expression thereon. The product may be a beverage. The expressions may include one or more of the sleeves sized to surround the product. The application device may include a thermal device to affix the expression to the product.  
           [0010]    A further method of the present invention provides for personalizing a product at the point of sale by a consumer. The method may include the steps of selecting a product, selecting an expression to be applied to the product, and affixing the expression on the product. The expression may include a shrink-wrap material. The affixing step may include applying heat to the shrink-wrap material. The selecting step may include selecting from a number of the expressions and may include creating the expression with the aid of a computer. The product may be a beverage.  
           [0011]    The method may further include the step of purchasing the product prior to the step of selecting an expression to be applied to the product. The method may further include the step of placing the expression on the product prior to the step of affixing the expression on the product.  
           [0012]    A further method of the present invention provides for personalizing a product at the point of sale. The method may include the steps of selecting a product, purchasing the product, selecting a shrink-wrap sleeve to be applied to the product, placing the sleeve on the product, and affixing the sleeve on the product. The sleeve may include an expression thereon. The affixing step may include applying heat to the sleeve.  
           [0013]    Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the personalization device of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a front plan view of an alternative embodiment of the personalization device with a computer therein.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the personalization device of FIGS.  1  or  2 .  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bottle and a sleeve that may be used with the personalization device of FIGS.  1  or  2 .  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the shrink-wrap device that may be used with the personalization device of FIGS.  1  or  2 .  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the shrink-wrap device of FIG. 5.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the shrink-wrap device of FIG. 5.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the shrink-wrap device of FIG. 5 with the airflow path shown.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 9A through 9H are perspective views showing the operation of the personalization device of FIGS.  1  or  2  by a consumer.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10A is a plan view of an expression for use in the personalization device of FIGS.  1  or  2 .  
         [0024]    [0024]Fig. 10B is a plan view of an expression for use in the personalization device of FIGS.  1  or  2 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]    Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 through 3 show a personalization device  100  of the present invention. The personalization device  100  may apply an expression  110  to a product  120  as is shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0026]    In this embodiment, the personalization device  100  may be a counter-top unit  130 . The personalization device  100  also may be a stand-alone unit or part of another device such as a refrigerator, vending machine, and the like. The counter-top unit  130  may include an outer frame  140 . The outer frame  140  may be of any desired size or shape. The outer frame  140  may be made out of metals, plastics, composite materials, or other types of conventional materials. A conventional electrical outlet, battery, or other type of power source may power the personalization device  100 .  
         [0027]    The counter-top unit  130  also may include an application device  150 . The application device  150  may attach the expression  110  to the product  120 . In this embodiment, the application device  150  may be a shrink-wrap device  160  as is described in more detail below. The shrink-wrap device  160  is intended to be used with the expression  110  in the form of a flexible plastic sleeve  170  that may be shrink-wrapped to the product  120 . (We use the term “shrink-wrap” in its customary meaning of shrinking a plastic film securely on to an object by the application of heat.) The counter-top unit  130  also may include a number of slots  180  positioned therein. The slots  180  may be in the form of indentations or pockets within the outer frame  140 . The slots  180  may be used to house a number of the sleeves  170 . Each slot  180  may have a different type or design of the sleeves  170  therein. The counter-top unit  130  also may have instructions  190  for use thereon. The counter-top unit  130  also may have advertising indicia  200  thereon as well. The advertising indicia  200  may promote the product  120 , the retail outlet, the use of the personalization device  100 , the various expressions  110  therein, any combination thereof, or any other promotion.  
         [0028]    The sleeves  170  may be made out of a thermoplastic or a similar material such as a PETG (polyethylene terephthalate, glycol modified) shrink film. Other acceptable materials may include OPS (oriented polystyrene). The sleeve materials preferably are recyclable and food grade. Any convenient material may be used. For example, an aluminum-based material may be used with a microwave-based application device  150 . The size and shape of the sleeve  170  may vary with the nature of the product  120 . The expression  110  may be printed on to the sleeve  170  via a Roto-Gravure printing method or otherwise applied thereto. The expressions  110  may be printed at a central location and shipped to the individual retail outlets or the expressions may be printed at the individual outlets to reflect local preferences. Alternatively, each personalization device  100  may print the expressions  110  on to the sleeves  170  via a conventional printer and the like.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 5 through 8 show the shrink-wrap device  160  of the present invention. The shrink-wrap device  160  may include a product tunnel  210 . The product tunnel  210  may have any convenient size or shape with a diameter ranging from about seven and one-half (7.5) to about (10) centimeters and a length of about twenty (20) to about (30) centimeters. The product tunnel  210  is preferably sized to accommodate the intended product  120 . The product tunnel  210  may be made out of stainless steel, carbon steel, or similar materials that may withstand the anticipated temperatures therein. The product tunnel  210  may be largely cylindrical in shape with an open product end  220  extending out of or to the outer frame  140  of the counter-top unit  130 . Alternatively, the product tunnel  210  may extend down the length of the outer frame  140  and may be accessed along the length of the tunnel  210 .  
         [0030]    A product door  215  may enclose the product tunnel  210 . The product door  215  may be semi-circular in shape as is shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 or may have any convenient shape. Alternatively, the product door  215  may be in the form of a window or a panel if the product tunnel  210  extends down the length of the outer frame  140 . The product door  215  may be made out of glass, polycarbonate, or similar types of materials. The product door  215  may be transparent or translucent such that a consumer may view the application process as it proceeds within the product tunnel  210 . Operation of the product door  215  may be controlled by a locking device or other type of safety device so as to prevent the product door  215  from opening prior to the completion of the application cycle by the application device  150 .  
         [0031]    The product tunnel  210  also may have a turntable end  230 . A turntable  240  may be positioned within the turntable end  230  of the product tunnel  210  for rotation therein. The turntable  240  may be a disk sized to rotate within the product tunnel  210 . The turntable  240  also may be made out of stainless steel, carbon steel, or similar materials. A turntable rod  250  may be attached to the turntable  240  for rotation therewith and may extend in a direction away from the product tunnel  210 .  
         [0032]    A turntable motor  260  may be positioned adjacent to the product tunnel  210 . The turntable motor  260  may be a standard electrical motor with about one and one-half (1.5) to about two and one-half (2.5) watts output power. The turntable motor  260  also may be attached to and drive a motor rod  270 . A drive belt  280  (shown disconnected in FIG. 6) may connect the turntable rod  250  and the motor rod  270 . The drive belt  280  may be made out of rubber or other types of conventional materials. The turntable motor  260  thus may drive the turntable  240  at about five (5) to ten (10) revolutions per minute.  
         [0033]    The product tunnel  210  may have one or more intake ventilation apertures  290  and out-take ventilation apertures  295 . The ventilation apertures  290 ,  295  may be positioned along all or part of the length of the product tunnel  210 . Positioned adjacent to one of the intake apertures  290  of the product tunnel  210  may be a heating chamber  300 . The heating chamber  300  also may run approximately all or part of the length of the product tunnel  210 . The heating chamber  300  may be made out of stainless steel, carbon steel, or similar materials as described above with good thermal resistance. Positioned within the heating chamber  300  may be a heating element  310 . The heating element  310  may extend for all or part of the length of the heating chamber  300  and may be positioned adjacent to one of the ventilation apertures  290  of the product tunnel  210 . The heating element  310  may a conventional electric element and may include infrared quartz, convection heat emitters, and the like. The heating element  310  may reach about 1,400 to about 3,000 degrees Celsius. The heating element  310  may produce approximately 1,200 to about 1,500 Watts and may operate at about ten (10) to about thirteen (13) amps.  
         [0034]    Surrounding the product tunnel  210  and the heating chamber  300  may be an air duct  320 . The air duct  320  also may be made out of stainless steel, carbon steel, or similar materials as described above. The air duct  320  may connect the heating chamber  300  with one of the out-take ventilation apertures  295  of the product tunnel  210 . The air duct  320  also may have an air inlet  325  open to the atmosphere. The air duct  320  may be otherwise substantially air tight for efficient heating.  
         [0035]    Positioned within the air duct  320  may be a blower  330 . The blower  330  may be any type of air movement device such as a fan, a pump, a bellows, a screw, and the like known to those skilled in the art. The blower  330  may have a capacity of about 24,000 to about 42,000 cubic centimeters per second. A blower motor  340  may operate the blower  330 . The blower motor  340  may be a conventional electrical motor with about five (5) to about ten (10) Watts output power. As is shown in FIG. 8, the blower  330  thus directs a flow of air through the air duct  320 , into the heating chamber  300  and past the heating element  310 , into the product tunnel  210 , back through the air duct  325 , and back to the blower  330 . The arrows  335  show the direction of the airflow. The air duct  320 , the product tunnel  210 , and the heating chamber  300  may form continuous recirculation pathway therethrough. Such recirculation of the airflow provides for faster and more efficient heating within the product tunnel  210 .  
         [0036]    Other types of application devices  150  also may be used in addition to the shrink-wrap device  160 . For example, the sleeve  170  may be attached to the product  120  via steam heat, radiant heat, and other types of thermal means. Other options also may include the use of microwave, pressure, acoustics, optics, various combinations thereof, and other means to apply the sleeve  170  to the product  120 . Likewise, various types of printers and/or imaging devices also may be used to apply the expression  110  directly to the sleeve  170  or otherwise.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 9A through 9H show the possible use of the present invention. In this example, the product  120  may be in the form of a 500 or 600-milliliter bottle  350  containing a carbonated soft drink, a sports drink, water, coffee, teas, fruit drinks, or other types of beverages. The bottle  350  may be a conventional PET bottle and may be recyclable. Although the use of the bottle  350  is shown, the invention is also applicable to other types of containers such as cans, boxes, pouches, or the like. In fact, the invention is generally applicable to any type of product  120 , although the use of disposable consumer goods is preferred.  
         [0038]    As is shown in FIG. 9A, the consumer selects and/or purchases the product  120 , in this case the bottle  350 , at any type of retail outlet such as a convenience or a petroleum outlet. Alternatively, the retail outlet may be any location where the product  120  is available for sale or use.  
         [0039]    As is shown in FIG. 9B, the consumer may then approach the personalization device  100 , which in this embodiment is the counter-top unit  130 . Further, the counter-top unit  130  contains the application device  150 , in this case the shrink-wrap device  160 . As is shown, the counter-top device  130  may have the advertising indicia  200  and the instructions for use  190  thereon.  
         [0040]    As is shown in FIG. 9C, the consumer may then select one of the expressions  110  to place onto the bottle  350 . As is shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the expressions  110  may convey any type of message desired by the consumer. The expressions  110  shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B express the consumer&#39;s interest in football (soccer). The expressions  110 , however, can convey any type of message or specifically convey no message at all. For example, the expression  110  may relate to a sporting activity, a team or an event; a dramatic production; a musical group; a cartoon character; a literary character; a location; a season; a product; a company; an individual; and the like. The expression  110  even may include personal photographs. Alternatively, the expression  110  may contain no message whatsoever, but merely display a pleasing color, shape, or design. The different types of expressions  110  are limitless. The expression  110  may or may not permit viewing of the original product packaging, in whole or in part.  
         [0041]    As described above, the expressions  110  used in this example are printed on the sleeves  170 . For use with a 500-milliliter bottle, the sleeve  170  may be made out of a PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate, glycol modified) shrink film with about 18 centimeters in length and about 0.05 millimeters in thickness. The size and shape of the sleeve  170  may vary with the nature and size of the product  120 .  
         [0042]    As is shown in FIG. 9D, the consumer may then place the chosen sleeve  170  around the bottle  350 . The sleeve  170  may extend for most of the length of the bottle  350  or only a pre-selected amount. More than one sleeve  170  may be used.  
         [0043]    As is shown in FIGS. 9E and 9F, the consumer then opens the product door  215  on the product tunnel  210  and places the bottle  350  within the product tunnel  210  and onto the turntable  240 . In the case of the 500-milliliter bottle  350 , the product tunnel  210  may have a width of about seven and one-half (7.5) to about ten (10) centimeters and a length of about twenty (20) to about thirty (30) centimeters. The dimensions of the product tunnel  210  may change with the nature and size of the intended product  120 .  
         [0044]    As is shown in  9 G, the personalization device  100  may be activated once the product door  215  is closed. Alternatively, an activation device also may be used. The activation device may be simply a button or a coin operated device. In this embodiment, when the shrink-wrap device  160  is activated, the turntable motor  260  begins to rotate the turntable  240  and the bottle  350 . The turntable  240  may rotate at about five (5) revolutions per minute. Although rotation may not be required, the rotation of the product  120  may provide for the even application of the sleeve  170 .  
         [0045]    The heating element  310  and the blower  330  also are activated. The heated air may have a temperature of approximately 350 degrees Fahrenheit (about 176.6 degrees Celsius). The blower  330  may operate at about 24,000 to about 42,000 cubic centimeters per second. The blower  330  thus circulates air through the air ducts  320 , past the heating element  300 , and past the rotating bottle  350  so as to shrink-wrap the sleeve  170  onto the bottle  350 . The blower  330  continuously circulates the hot air through the product tunnel  210  the heating chamber  300 , and the air ducts  320 . The application process may last about twenty (20) to twenty-fine (25) seconds.  
         [0046]    The variables described above with respect to the nature of the sleeve  170 , the size of the product tunnel  210 , the speed of the turntable  240 , the temperature produced by the heating element  310 , and the speed of the blower  330  have been determined to shrink wrap the sleeve  170  onto the 500 milliliter bottle  350  in a consistent manner. The sleeve  170  should be applied with a minimum level of distortions thereon. These variables may change depending upon the nature and size of the product  120 .  
         [0047]    As is shown in FIG. 9H, once the sleeve  170  has been shrink wrapped to the bottle  350  or otherwise applied and the application device  150  has ceased operation, the consumer may open the product door  215  and remove the bottle  350  from the product tunnel  210 .  
         [0048]    Once removed from the personalization device  100 , the consumer may enjoy the beverage within the bottle  350  in the usual manner. The consumer also may carry the bottle  350  or otherwise display the bottle  350  so as to promote the expression  110  if so desired. The expression  110  may be disposed of with the product  120  and may be recycled accordingly. The expression  110  also may be removed from the product  120  if desired.  
         [0049]    Although these method steps have been described in terms of being carried out by the consumer, it should be clear that these steps could be carried out for the consumer by or on behalf of the retail outlet or other location. Likewise, these steps could be carried out in part by the consumer and in part by or on behalf of the retail outlet or other location.  
         [0050]    The present invention thus allows a consumer to change or to personalize the packaging of the product  120  at the time of purchase. The product  120  thus may reflect some aspect of the consumer&#39;s individuality, personality, or preferences. The invention allows the product  120  to be part of the consumer&#39;s life in a distinct and innovative way. Specifically, the invention permits the consumer to express him or herself in a unique way. The consumer thus may express his or her own personality through the selection of a different expression  110 . The use of the expressions  110  with the brand name of the product  120  also may strengthen the consumer&#39;s association between the two. In other words, the expression  110  relating to football may strengthen the consumer&#39;s association of the product  120  with football.  
         [0051]    In addition to the pre-printed expressions  110 , the personalization device  100  also may allow the consumer to design his or her own expression  110 . As is shown in FIG. 2, the personalization device  110  may include a conventional computer  360  that may allow the consumer to select or to design further graphics, messages, or any other type of expression  110 . In this embodiment, the computer  360  may be positioned where the advertising indicia  200  were located in FIG. 1. For example, the consumer may be able to type in a particular message or select from a list of messages such as “Happy Birthday”, “Surf&#39;s Up”, etc. via a touch screen or otherwise. The personalization device  100  then may print the expression  110  for application as described above. The nature and the extent of the expressions  110  are unlimited. The nature of the expressions  110  may be changed or rotated at a given outlet on a regular basis.  
         [0052]    The foregoing description relates only to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Numerous changes and modification may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof.