Abstract:
An enhanced flying disk for containing and distributing advertising material is disclosed that includes a flying disk with a compartment extending downward from the bottom side of the disk, and residing within the volume of space defined by the bottom of the disk. The compartment has an opening and a lid for closing the compartment so as to retain an object bearing information that can be included within the compartment. The object bearing information can be a round book, a CD, a DVD, or a set of discount coupons, for example. Alternatively, the compartment can contain a toy, an amusement item, a product sample, a souvenir item, candy, or a promotional item. The disk can be transparent, and/or the compartment can be transparent, such that the contents of the compartment can be seen without opening the compartment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention generally relates to flying disks, and more particularly multi-purpose flying disks. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Advertisers routinely use costly and ineffective advertising products and services, such as printed advertisements distributed via postal mail, or printed in newspapers, magazines, etc. Such printed advertisements are often ignored or discarded by recipients, wasting the advertisers&#39; time and money. 
         [0003]    Advertisers sometimes distribute promotional products, such as hats, pens, mugs, flying disks, shirts, USB thumb-drives, etc., bearing company logo and contact information, for example. While such products can better grab the attention of potential buyers than traditional printed advertisements on paper, or on the web, these products are substantially costlier to produce and distribute than such traditional advertisements. Moreover, the amount of information that can be conveyed via such promotional products is limited to the amount of information that can be printed on the surface area of the product. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The enhanced flying disk of the invention allows advertisers to deliver cost-effective and compelling advertising that is less likely to be ignored or discarded by recipients, thereby saving the advertisers&#39; time and money. The enhanced flying disk of the invention is no more costly to produce than many promotional products, such as hats, pens, mugs, flying disks, shirts, USB thumb-drives, etc., bearing company logo and contact information, yet the amount of information that can be conveyed via the enhanced flying disk of the invention is not limited to the amount of information that can be printed on the surface area of the typical promotional product. More advantages of the invention and its various embodiments are set forth in the detailed description below. 
         [0005]    A general aspect of the invention is an enhanced flying disk for containing and distributing advertising material. The enhanced flying disk includes: a flying disk having a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side defining a volume of space; a compartment extending downward from the bottom side and residing within the volume of space, the compartment having an opening; and a lid for removably engaging with the opening of the compartment, thereby closing the compartment so as to contain an object bearing information that can be included within the compartment. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the object bearing information bears more information than can be presented for advertising or marketing purposes on the top side of the flying disk. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the object bearing information is a round book. In further embodiments, the round book includes advertising material. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the flying disk is made from a substantially transparent material, such that an object within the compartment is visible as seen through the top surface of the flying disk. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the lid has gripping features to facilitate removal of the lid from the compartment. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the lid has an adhesive material bordering the circumference of the lid so as to engage a top portion of the wall of the compartment. 
         [0011]    Another general aspect of the invention is an enhanced flying disk for containing and distributing an amusement item, the enhanced flying disk including: a flying disk having a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side defining a volume of space; a compartment extending downward from the bottom side and residing within the volume of space, the compartment having an opening; and a lid for removably engaging with the opening of the compartment, thereby closing the compartment so as to contain an amusement item that can be included within the compartment. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the amusement item can be played with separately from the flying disk. In further embodiments, the amusement item is one of: a toy, a souvenir, a book, a free item, a game, a puzzle, candy. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the flying disk is made from a substantially transparent material, such that an object within the compartment is visible as seen through the top surface of the flying disk. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the flying disk is made from a substantially opaque material, such that an object within the compartment is not visible as seen through the top surface of the flying disk, so the contents can be a surprise until the compartment is opened. 
         [0015]    Another general aspect of the invention is an enhanced flying disk for containing an information-bearing object, the enhanced flying disk including: a flying disk defining an open volume of space; a compartment, attached to the flying disk, the compartment being disposed within the open volume of space, the compartment having an opening; a disk-shaped media object provided within the compartment; and a lid engagable with the opening of the compartment, the compartment being closable by the lid so as to retain an information-bearing object within the compartment. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the information-bearing object is a disk-shaped media object. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the disk-shaped media object is one of: a compact disc (CD); a Digital Video Disc (DVD); or a BlueRay Disc. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the flying disk is transparent. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the information-bearing object is a round book, the information in the book being one of: advertising messages; or children&#39;s stories. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, the lid is transparent. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the lid has gripping features to facilitate removal of the lid from the compartment. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the information-bearing object is contained within the compartment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating various embodiments of the present invention, in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a top/side exploded view of an embodiment of an enhanced flying disk that contains a round book; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a clear embodiment of the enhanced flying disk of  FIG. 1 , showing a round book contained therein; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a side exploded view of the enhanced flying disk, showing the round book before insertion into the compartment, and showing the cap before sealing the book inside the compartment of the enhanced flying disk; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a side/bottom exploded view of the enhanced flying disk of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a top/side exploded view of the enhanced flying disk according to another embodiment having a lid with finger holes; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the enhanced flying disk of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a top/side view of enhanced flying disk according to another embodiment having a clear lid; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a top/side view of the enhanced flying disk of  FIG. 7 , having an opaque lid, and containing a CD or DVD instead of a round book. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]      FIG. 1  is a top/side exploded view of an example enhanced flying disk  100 . The enhanced flying disk  100  is a disk-shaped assembly and includes a flying disk  102 , a round book  104 , and a lid  106 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the round book  104  can be placed inside a compartment  114  of the flying disk  102 , and the lid  106  can enclose the book  104  within the compartment  114  of the disk  102 . The round book  104  can be a book, booklet, brochure, magazine, or pamphlet containing advertising material, and/or other information, such as printed material having amusement, entertainment, or play value, such as a children&#39;s storybook, a picture book, an instruction book, a coloring book, a cut-out book, or a secret code book, for example. The book  104  can include a spine  105  by which pages of the book are bound. 
         [0033]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , the disk  102  can be substantially clear or translucent, so that the book  104  is visible when the book  104  is placed within the disk  100  (e.g., as shown in the top-view of the enhanced flying disk  100  of  FIG. 2 ). The spine  105  also creates a slight opening within the compartment  114  so that the book  104  can be easily removed using a finger or two (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0034]    As further shown in  FIG. 1 , the disk  102  has a top surface  108 , a sidewall  110 , and an open area  112 . The top surface  108  and/or the sidewall  110  can be curved to improve the aerodynamics of the flying disk  102  (e.g., when the flying disk is thrown like a Frisbee® disk). Also, the open area  112  creates lift when the disk is thrown. A substantially circular compartment wall  116  is provided within the open area  112  and extending downwardly from an underside of the top surface  108  to form the compartment  114  within the open area  112 . The compartment  114  can contain the round book  104 . The top surface  108  can be located on a plane substantially parallel to the compartment  114 , and can be transparent so that the round book  104  is visible through the top surface  108  of the disk  102 . 
         [0035]    The lid  106  can be engaged so as to substantially close the compartment  114  and thereby securely enclose the book  104  within the compartment  114  of the disk  102 . The lid  106  includes a bottom side  118 , a receiving side  120 , and a cover flange  122  ( FIG. 1 ). The cover flange  122  is substantially circular and projects perpendicularly from the receiving side  120 . The cover flange  122  is placed in engaging relationship with the outside or the inside of the compartment wall  116 , the cover flange  122  engaging the compartment wall  116  so as to remain engaged until intentionally removed to access the contents of the compartment  114 . The lid  106  encloses and secures the book  104  within the receiving portion  120 , and within the compartment  114  of the disk  102 . 
         [0036]    For example, the compartment wall  116  can be a malleable plastic material and have a diameter slightly larger than that of the cover flange  122 . 
         [0037]    The cover flange  122  can be made of a relatively stiffer material than that of the compartment wall  116  so that when the cover flange  122  is placed over the compartment wall  116 , the cover flange  122  forces the compartment wall  116  inward, thereby causing the compartment wall  116  to bias outward and frictionally engage with the cover flange  116 . For example, an outward biasing force of the compartment wall  116  is generated when the cover flange  122  is placed around the compartment wall  116 , forcing the compartment wall  116  inward. This biasing force secures the lid  106  to the compartment wall  116  along an internal surface  117  of the compartment wall  116 , and along an external surface  121  of the cover flange  122 . 
         [0038]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , alternatively, the diameter of the cover flange  122  can be slightly larger than that of the compartment wall  116 , so that when the cover flange  122  is pressed within the compartment wall  116 , an external surface  121  of the cover flange  122  contacts an inner surface  118  of the compartment wall  116 , and forces the compartment wall  116  outward, generating an inward biasing force. This biasing force secures of the cover flange  122  to the compartment flange  114  along an inner surface  118  of the compartment wall  116  and along an external surface  121  of the cover flange  122 . 
         [0039]    Alternatively, the compartment wall  116  and cover flange  122  can be cooperatively threaded, and the cover flange  122  can be screwed on to the compartment wall  116 . The lid  106  can be made from any number of materials and manufacturing processes. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the compartment wall  116  extends substantially perpendicularly from an underside of the top surface  108 . The height of the compartment wall  116  is sufficient to accommodate at least one book  104 . The book  104  can be placed within the compartment  114 , and can be secured within the compartment  114  of the disk  102  by the lid  106 . 
         [0041]    A bottom-side view of the enhanced flying disk  100  is shown in  FIG. 4 . Since the lid  106  closes the compartment  114  of the disk  102 , the lid  106  can secure a book  104  within the compartment  114  so that it remains in place when the disk  102  is thrown. 
         [0042]    The lid  106  can have different forms than that shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, referring to  FIG. 5 , the lid  106  can include a plurality gripping sections  124 , e.g., four gripping sections  124 . The four gripping sections  124  can help a user to remove the lid  106  from the disk  102 . For example, the user can grip the lid  106  via the gripping sections  124 , and lift and/or twist the lid  106  to remove the lid  106  from the disk  102 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  is a top of view of the enhanced flying disk  100  with the lid  106  shown in  FIG. 5 . For clarity, the book  104  is not shown, and the top surface  108  is transparent to show the details of the lid  106 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the lid  106  in this embodiment does not have a receiving section  120  or a cover flange  122 . For example, the lid  106  can be a substantially flat round disk, and can include a plastic surface  126 , and an adhesive material  128 . The adhesive material  128  can cover a circumferential strip region running around the edge of the round plastic surface  126 , and can be wrapped and sealed to the top-most portion of the compartment wall  116 , thereby securing the book  104  within the compartment  114  of the disk  102 . 
         [0045]    With reference to  FIG. 8 , in some implementations, the disk  102  can store an object other than a round book  104 . For example, the disk  102  can store disk-shaped media, such as a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disc (DVD), a Blue-Ray Disc, etc. For example, the disk-shaped media  103  can be stored within the compartment  114  of the disk  102 . 
         [0046]    While particular components are shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , the enhanced flying disk  100  can include additional, fewer, or differently arranged components than shown. 
         [0047]    The disk  102  can be manufactured using Polyethylene Terephthalate plastic (PET, PETE, or PETE), and/or other clear and transparent material. The disk  102  and the cover  106  can be made using Plastic Injection or Vacuum Forming manufacturing processes. 
         [0048]    The book  104  can include advertisements, coupons, etc. A particular advertiser can pay a premium fee to have their material printed on the front or back cover of the book  104  so that the particular advertiser&#39;s printed material is immediately visible from within the disk  102 . The book  104  can be removed from the disk  102 , and the remainder of the enhanced flying disk  100  (e.g., the disk  102  with the lid  106  attached to the disk  102 , or the disk  102  without the lid  106 ) can be used for another purpose, such as a toy or a sporting object. For example, the enhanced flying disk  100  can be used as a flying disk for toss games, giving the enhanced flying disk  100  a dual use, providing a substantial advantage over other forms of advertising products and techniques. For example, a consumer can retain the book  104  so that the consumer/potential buyer can review the material in the book  104 , while gifting the remainder of the enhanced flying disk  100  to a child or a pet. Thus, the advertising material in the book  104  is retained and reviewed by the consumer, and the remainder of the enhanced flying disk  100  can be enjoyed by another individual. Conversely, when advertising material is printed directly on prior art flying disks, the advertising material on that disk is lost by the consumer and potential buyer when the disk is gifted to another individual. Also, since the enhanced flying disk  100  functions as a toy or a sporting object, advertising material is more likely to be noticed by potential buyers than when advertising material is simply delivered in an ordinary envelope, thereby making the enhanced flying disk  100  a more valuable advertising distribution tool than ordinary mailers. 
         [0049]    The enhanced flying disk  100  can function as two products in one. For example, the enhanced flying disk  100  can function as a container and/or delivery mechanism for a round book  104  (e.g., a round book of printed material, such as advertisements). In addition, the enhanced flying disk  100  can be a used as toy (e.g., a flying toss disk) even after the book  104  has been removed from the compartment  114 . As a result, information printed within the book  104  is not lost when the remainder of the enhanced flying disk  100  is used as gifted as a toy. Also, the enhanced flying disk  100  can be relatively inexpensive to produce, making the enhanced flying disk  100  an affordable device for small businesses to grow their business through advertising. 
         [0050]    Also, the compartment  114  of the enhanced flying disk  100  can contain a collection of round sheets that are stacked and unbound, such as a plurality of separate round coupons from a group of advertisers. Of course, the round coupons can also be bound together at an edge to form a round coupon book. 
         [0051]    In other embodiments, the compartment  114  can contain free promotional items and samples of products, such as candy, lotion, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, vitamins, etc. 
         [0052]    It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific sizes, shapes, or applications described. 
         [0053]    It is to be understood that the disclosure in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features, regardless of whether a combination is explicitly described. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. 
         [0054]    Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention, except as indicated in the following claims.