Abstract:
A display panel for associating a promotional item with a product is provided. The display panel includes wells to retain the promotional item in a fixed location. The display panel also includes side attachment means for adhering the panel to the associated product.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates in general to the packaging of novelty items to be included with products. The novelty items include promotional materials such as gaming cards, t-shirts, hats, frisbees, etc. and the packing comprises a clear PVC tray that can be adhered to a box.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to display packaging. It has become increasingly popular for manufacturers to use promotional items to enhance sales of their product. Manufacturers of product with direct competition commonly apply a “Value Add” or “Incentive” with purchase to induce the customer to buy their product versus the competitors. For example, logo&#39;d t-shirts and baseball caps are often used to promote products such as beer, soft drinks and other products, even tractors! These items are often distributed by salespeople at their discretion and it requires them to ensure that the promotional items are easily accessible in spaces where storage may be a minimum. This also requires having appropriate stock of the promotional item for the amount of stock of the product. Furthermore, these “Value Add” products typically do not have a uniform shape and thus do not allow for stackability of the cases yet cases of product are typically stacked high for shipping and retail purposes. An example would be, if the manufacturer applies a flash light as an incentive to the top of a case of beer, the manufacturer would not be able to stack another case on the top because of it&#39;s smaller rounded size. For this reason, “value adds” have typically been dropped inside the case. However, then the consumer cannot see the item and may not be enticed to buy the product.  
         [0003]     Thus, there remained a need for better ways to ensure that the promotional item is properly distributed along with the product. The present invention addresses this need by providing a novel type of packaging assembly that ensures each piece of merchandise has a promotional item associated with it in a manner that does not interfere with normal storage or stacking of product. In addition, with the packaging system of the present invention, the consumer is visually stimulated by the value-added item which is displayed on the topside or side of the case which still allows the manufacturer to stack items on the top of the cases.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention provides a novel way of displaying promotional items along with a product by adding on a display package. The promotional item is displayed on the product packaging in a clear PVC display panel that includes well(s) to retain the position of the item(s). The display panel is attached to the product packing along at least two sides of the panel.  
         [0005]     In one aspect of the invention, the display panel for attaching a promotional item to a box comprises a clear support surface and at least two side attachment means. The support surface comprises at least one well for supporting and retaining a promotional item. Within the display panel a well may be upwardly opening or downwardly opening. The well may be a snap-fit type of well. Alternatively, the promotional item may be retained within the well by the surface of the box or by a sheet covering. The sheet covering could be a clear panel over an upwardly open well or it could be a cardboard backing under a downwardly open well. In a preferred embodiment, the cardboard backing would be printed with promotional matter. The combination of the support surface and the sheet covering may provide a reusable case for the promotional items.  
         [0006]     In one preferred embodiment, the display panel includes wells adapted to receive the paraphernalia associated with poker. It includes a well adapted to retain playing cards and several wells adapted to retain poker chips. It may also include a well to retain a “Dealer” button.  
         [0007]     The display panel may include wells of different sizes and shapes adapted to retain all types of promotional items. For example, without limiting the scope of the invention the wells may be adapted to retain a T-shirt, calendar, Frisbee, sunglasses, darts, cap, toque, scarf, CD, DVD, keychain, bottle opener and the like as well as combinations of different items. The display panel is preferably attached to a box containing a product using side attachment means that typically comprise a strip of PVC disposed along one side of the display panel. The strip of PVC includes an adhesive strip. The attachment means is wrapped around the side of the box and when it adheres the display panel is held in position on top of the box.  
         [0008]     While the following description with regard to the figures focuses on adhering the display panel to the top of a box, it is clearly apparent to one skilled in the art that the display panel could also be adhered to the side of a box using the same mechanisms. It is also clearly apparent that while the description has focused on a generally rectangular panel for attachment to a rectangular box, the display panel can be provided in different shapes. Furthermore the display panel could, under certain circumstance be applied directly to a product that is not boxed. For example, the display panel could be directly attached to a product having a flat surface by adhering the attachment means to the surface. The display panel can even be configured to attach to surfaces that are not flat (i.e. rounded).  
         [0009]     In another aspect of the invention, a novel method of attaching a promotional item to a product is provided. The method comprises: obtaining a display panel as described above, inserting the promotional item into a well adapted to retain it, placing the display panel on top of a box, and adhering the attachment means to at least two sides of the box.  
         [0010]     This summary of the invention does not necessarily describe all features of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a packaging tray according to one embodiment of the invention mounted on a box;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a display tray according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the display tray of the invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a side view of that embodiment; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a side elevation of one embodiment before it is applied to a box; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     The present invention provides a novel packaging system for the containment and display of promotional items. The packaging system of the present invention comprises a clear plastic display panel which includes wrap around sides that can be adhered to the sides of a box. The display panel comprises wells into which the promotional items are fitted. The wells may be formed on the outer or user-facing surface of the display panel or they may be formed on the inner or box-facing side of the display panel. In other words, the wells can be upwardly or downwardly open.  
         [0022]     The display tray of the present invention provides a novel way to display promotional items. Manufacturers of consumer products such as beer, shoes, toys, etc. often provide promotional items along with their product. For example, beer producers may also include a beer bottle opener with each case of beer that is sold. Likewise, manufacturers of toys often provide as a promotional item, playing cards depicting the characters of the toys. The display panel of the present invention provides a novel way of combining promotional items with a product. The display case includes wrap around sides that fit over the side edges of a box. These side edges may comprise hard surfaces that fit snuggly over the edges of the box or they may include flexible strips that fold over the side of the box and that can be adhered to the side of the box. The display panel includes at least two side panels that interact with the box. In some embodiments, the display panel may include four overlapping side panels that interact with the box. The display panels can be configured to fit various sizes and shapes of boxes. For example, it may be sized to fit over a beer case. Alternatively it could be sized to fit over a shoe box a picnic basket, or any other shaped box. The display panel comprises at least one well that is configured to receive and hold in position a promotional item. While the display has been shown in the accompanying drawings fitted over the top of a box, it is clearly apparent that in other situations the display panels can be adapted to fit over the side of a box and adhere along those sides. The well(s) of the display case can be sized to fit any variety of promotional item. The display panel of the present invention may optionally include a cardboard backing. The cardboard backing may be printed with advertising that can be seen through the clear top of the display case.  
         [0023]     Referring now to the Figures,  FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a display tray according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the display tray  10  comprises a generally rectangular well  12  and five circular wells  14  disposed in a support surface  16 . The rectangular well  12  is configured to hold a deck of playing cards. The circular wells  14  are sized and shaped to hold poker chips. The display tray may optionally include another circular well  18  which is sized to receive a dealer button. In this embodiment the display tray  10  is sized to fit over the top of a beer case  20 . At least two sides of the display tray include means for attaching the tray to the box.  FIG. 2  is a side view of the display tray mounted on a box whereby adhesive sides are shown attached adhered to the sides of the box. In the illustrated embodiment, the items are snap fitted into the wells and held in place by internal lips. Finger holes are provided to help the consumer remove the promotional items from the tray.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of the display tray  10  of the present invention. In this embodiment, the tray comprises one large well  40  that is adapted to fit a calendar  42 . The calendar can be viewed through the clear plastic top of the display case.  FIG. 4  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . The large central well can be seen here accommodating a calendar.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates yet another embodiment of the display tray according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the display tray  10  is adapted to hold a T-shirt  44 . The different display trays may be applicable to different advertising opportunities. For example, a maker of athletic footwear may wish to include a t-shirt on top of a box of their shoes. In this embodiment, the display case comprises a well  46  that has been adapted in size and shape to receive a t-shirt.  FIG. 6  is a side view of this embodiment showing the t-shirt folded within the well of the display tray. Once again, you can see that the display tray is adhered to the top of the box.  
         [0026]     In  FIG. 7 , another embodiment of the invention is illustrated. This embodiment demonstrates that the display device may include a variety of different shaped wells adapted to receive specifically shaped promotional items. In the illustrated embodiment, the tray has been adapted to include a well  50  for a frisbee and a pair of sunglasses. A side view of this embodiment is shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  illustrates the display panel before it is attached to a box. Along at least two sides  24 ,  26  of the support surface  16  attachment means are provided. In this embodiment, the attachment means comprise strips  28  of clear PVC that have an adhesive coating  30  on the underside. In use these strips are wrapped around the side of the box and adhered as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0028]     The present invention has been described with regard to one or more embodiments. However, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made Without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.