Abstract:
A method allows candy to be sold in customized bottles to form gifts and keepsakes. The bottle and candy can be form a “pill” motif. Candy selected by the customer is placed in a bottle. The bottle appears like a pill bottle. The customer selects a label from a plurality of labels to reflect a given event, mood, or message. The message in the label can have a pill or medicine related theme. The overall product becomes a customized gift or keepsake by virtue of adding the customized label.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/358,692, filed Jun. 25, 2010. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    The invention relates to methods for selling and packaging candy. 
         [0007]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0008]    In prior-art “penny” candy stores, candy is sold. The candy is kept in bins. Each type of candy is kept in a separate bin. A purchaser or shopkeeper scoops candy from the bin and places the scooped candy into a bag. The candy is purchased where the price is set by the weight of the candy. Alternatively, the candy is prepackaged and sold by the package. 
         [0009]    Candy has been sold in bottles. The bottles have labels about the contents of the bottle. The candy and the label are placed on the bottle at the factory before delivery to the retailer. The labels on the prepackaged bottle describe the particular candy filled in the bottle by the factory. 
         [0010]    Packaging for candy that is made by the candy manufacturer and filled at the factory usually has a label about the candy and it manufacturer. However, the packaging does not have a customized message from the purchaser. 
         [0011]    Usually, candy is packaged in expensive and disposable packages. Even when the factory uses packaging that is a keepsake, the keepsake is designed by the manufacturer and is meant to capture sentiments chosen by the manufacturer. 
         [0012]    Penny candy is typically scooped into plain paper bags. The lightweight bags are lightweight and make tarring a scale simpler. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method for packaging and selling candy that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type. 
         [0014]    With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method by which candy is sold in a customizable bottle. The bottle is customized by the customer to reflect an event, message, or mood. The packaging and candy become more than mere candy, the customized label turns the candy and bottle into a customized gift or keepsake. 
         [0015]    The overall concept is to provide a candy store that is based on a pill theme. The candy can be in pill-shaped form. The candy can be placed in bottles that resemble pill or vitamin bottles. Stickers can be added to the bottles that include messages and jokes that are inspired by a pill or medicine theme. 
         [0016]    Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0017]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method of packaging candy, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
         [0018]    The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0019]      FIGS. 1A-1H  are front side views of embodiments of a bottle according to the invention. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 2A-2G  are rear side views of embodiments of bottles according to the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a packaging holding a bottle according to the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the packaging shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is perspective view of a pillbox according to the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a front side view of a sticker sheet according to the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart depicting the method according to the invention. 
           [0026]      FIGS. 8A-8K  are diagrammatic front side views of front labels according to the invention. 
           [0027]      FIGS. 9A-9B  are diagrammatic front side views of rear labels according to the invention. 
           [0028]      FIGS. 10A-10L  are diagrammatic front side views of labels according to the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a photograph of a vitamin bottle. 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is an illustration of a pill bottle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to  FIG. 7  thereof, there is seen a flowchart depicting the steps of a method of packaging candy for providing a user-customized gift or keepsake. 
         [0032]    Before describing the method, the preferred embodiments of the physical devices and locations are described. 
         [0033]    The preferred embodiment of a store for conducting the method is a retail shop. Other embodiments of the store include a department or counter within a store that sells additional goods or services. The method can be performed at a kiosk. The method can be performed through an online store (i.e. a website) and fulfilled at a remote location, then shipped to the recipient. 
         [0034]    The store sells empty bottles  30 . Bins of candy (which are not shown) are included within the store. Labels  40  and  50  are sold in the store. The labels  40  and  50  are not yet attached to the bottles  30 . 
         [0035]      FIGS. 1-2  show preferred embodiments of the bottle  30 . The bottle  30  has a mouth  35 . The bottle is preferably made of a clear polymer material. The bottle has a lower groove  31 , lower flange  32 , upper groove  33 , and upper flange  34 . A lid assembly  20  is placed on the bottle  30 . The lid assembly  20  includes a lid  21 , a frangible seal  22 , a collar  23  that seats in the upper grove  33 , a collar  23  that seats in the lower groove  31  and a connector  24  that connects the collar  23  to the lid  21 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 11  show a vitamin bottle  30  that is an embodiment of bottle that could be used.  FIG. 12  shows a pill bottle  30  that is another embodiment of bottle that could be used. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 8A-8K  show embodiments of labels  40 . The labels  40  have adhesive backings. Preferred embodiments of the front of the labels  40  include branding information  41 , a logo  42 , and a message  43 . The branding information  41  can be the name or logo (i.e. trademark) of the retailer or manufacturer. Likewise the logo  42  can provide an alternate or additional trademark. The message  43  is a message for the person receiving the bottle (i.e. the purchaser or gift recipient). Different messages  43  can be presented. The purchaser selects a desired message  43 . In one preferred embodiment, the message  43  can involve a joke about medicine or pills. In another embodiment, the customer can provide his or her own message and have that message printed onto the label  40 . 
         [0038]    By providing a custom message on the label  40 , the customer can produce a container  10  that is customized for them. The customized product adds value to the product in the customer&#39;s opinion beyond the value of the candy. Plus, the act of selecting and creating the container (visa vie the label  40 ) is an enjoyable process to most customers. 
         [0039]    In an embodiment that is not shown, the label  40  can include an additional page that can peel from the adhesive backing. In this way, the page can be opened like a gift card. Additional messages can be printed or written within the booklet. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 9A-9B  show embodiments of labels  50 . The labels  50  have adhesive backings. Preferred embodiments of the exterior of the labels  50  include a message  51 . The message  51  is a message for the person receiving the bottle (i.e. the purchaser or gift recipient). Different messages  51  can be presented. The purchaser selects a desire message  51 . In one preferred embodiment, the message  51  can involve a joke about medicine or pills. 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  shows the steps of the method. In step  401 , a store is provided. In step  402 , the store makes a variety of candy available for purchase. In step  403 , the store offers different size and shape bottles for sale. In step  404 , the store offers a variety of labels  40  and  50 , which are not adhered yet to the bottles  30 . In step  405 , the purchaser selects the candy and fills the bottle. A single type or variety of candy can be placed in the bottle  30 . In step  406 , a label  40  is selected. The label  40  is selected by the purchaser to reflect a message, mood, or event. The customer also selects a rear label  50  from a group of available labels  50 . The process of providing various labels for selection is similar to greeting cards; the customer selects labels  40 ,  50  to match a particular mood, message, or occasion. In step  407 , the label or labels  40  and  50  are placed on the bottle  30  by removing a backing and then placing the adhesive side of the label on the bottle  30 . In step  408 , the customer pays for the candy based on the size of the bottle  30 . The cost of the labels  40  and  50  can be included in a flat rate or sold ala carte. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 3-4  show an embodiment of a package  100  that can be sold with pre-labeled bottles of candy. The package  100  includes a transparent box  110 . A platform  120  is placed in the bottom of the package  100 . A label  130  is placed on the front of the platform  120 . The label  130  includes a logo  131 . The label  130  includes a message  140 . The message  140  is inspiration or humorous text that makes the product a valuable gift or keepsake. In its preferred form, the message  140  is a humorous message related to pills or medicine. A container  10 , as previously described, is placed within the box  110  on the platform  120 . 
         [0043]    The package  100  can be sold as a preconfigured unit within the store or assembly by the customer. 
         [0044]      FIG. 5  shows a container  200  in a pill case configuration. The pill case configuration is an array of small sub-containers. Each sub-container is a hopper that can be filled with candy. A lid  201  is opened by opening latches  202 . When the lid is opened, candy can be inserted or removed in the sub-containers. Stickers  203  are placed on the lid  201  over each sub-container. The stickers  203  include a day  204 , a logo  205 , and a message  206 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 6  shows a sticker sheet  300 . The sticker sheet  300  includes a plurality of stickers  301  on a single backing. The stickers  301  are removed and can be placed on containers  10  or  200 . The stickers are selected by the user to customer the look and message on the container.  FIGS. 10A-10L  show embodiments of stickers  301  that have been broken into individual stickers for sale as individual units.