Abstract:
A periodical is provided, having an advertising insert placed within its pages. The advertising insert comprises a sheet of flexible media, the sheet of flexible media being divisible into a plurality of removable segments, each of the removable segments being bisected by a plurality of spaced tear lines so as to form removable strips. Each of the removable segments includes at least one advertisement printed thereon.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of advertisements. More specifically, the present invention relates to an advertising insert adapted to be placed within a periodical. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an advertising insert for a periodical, the advertising insert comprising: 
         [0003]    a sheet of flexible media, the sheet of flexible media being divisible into a plurality of removable segments, each of the removable segments being bisected by a plurality of spaced tear lines so as to form removable strips, and wherein each of the removable segments includes at least one advertisement printed thereon. 
         [0004]    According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a periodical, having an advertising insert placed within its pages, the advertising insert comprising: 
         [0005]    a sheet of flexible media, the sheet of flexible media being divisible into a plurality of removable segments, each of the removable segments being bisected by a plurality of spaced tear lines so as to form removable strips, and wherein each of the removable segments includes at least one advertisement printed thereon. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tear-away advertising insert adapted for insertion into a periodical, the tear-away advertising insert being folded into recto and verso panels. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a removable segment removed from the tear-away advertising insert shown in  FIG. 1 , the removable segment having been folded into storage panels. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a removable segment removed from the tear-away advertising insert shown in  FIG. 1 , the removable segment having been folded into storage panels and flattened for storage in a pack of cigarette rolling paper holders. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a tear-away strip detached from the removable segment shown in  FIG. 2 , shaped into a roll configuration and ready for insert into a cylindrical structure like a straw or a hand rolled cigarette. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a tear-away strip detached from the removable segment shown in  FIG. 2 , shaped into a folded or accordion-like configuration and ready for insert into a cylindrical structure like a straw or a hand rolled cigarette. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a physical periodical is shown generally at  10 . The periodical is typically a magazine of conventional size (approximately 8½″ by 11″/216 mm by 279.4 mm). However, the periodical type and size is not particularly limited. For example, periodical  10  could be a broadsheet newspaper flyer, or a smaller booklet, or other format as may occur to those of skill in the art. 
         [0013]    Inserted within the periodical  10  is an advertising insert  12 . The approximate size of advertising insert  12  is 11″ by 17″/279.4 mm by 431.8 mm but is not particularly limited in size to those skilled in the art. The advertising insert  12  may be simply placed between the pages of periodical  10 , or bound to periodical  10  by saddle-stitch or staple binding or pressure sensitive adhesive glue, or simply associated with the periodical  10  by placing both within a fitted plastic bag or protective wrapping. The advertising insert  12  is comprised of a sheet of flexible material such as cardboard or paper, having a front and back facings. In the presently-illustrated embodiment, the advertising insert is made of a grade of paper or cardstock. While advertising insert  12  is being described as being made of a flexible material, it should preferably be sufficiently stiff so as to retain its current shape when folded. For many implementations (such as a smoking insert system), the flexible material (and optional varnish-like finishing coat) should be non-toxic. The following grades and weights of material have been contemplated:
       Book, being uncoated or coated on one or both sides with grams per square meter being 44, 59, 67, 74, 89, 104, 118, 133, 148 and 178;   Bond, being uncoated or coated on one or both sides with grams per square meter being 49, 61, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135 and 158;   Cover, being uncoated or coated on one or both sides with grams per square meter being 135, 163, 176, 216, 243 and 271;   Bristol, being uncoated or coated on one or both sides with grams per square meter being 148, 178, 219, 261, 306 and 351;   Index, being uncoated or coated on one or both sides with grams per square meter being 163, 203, 252 and 328; or   Tag, being uncoated or coated on one or both sides with grams per square meter being 163, 203, 244, 284, 326 and 407.
 
The grades and weights of material are not particularly limited, and those of skill in the art may identify other materials, grades and weights.
       
 
         [0020]    In the embodiment show in in  FIG. 1 , the advertising insert is folded in half so as to form opposing recto panel  14 A and verso panel  14 B. Each of recto panel  14 A and verso panel  14 B are subdivided into a plurality of removable segments  16  by tear lines  18 . Tear lines  18  are typically formed from perforations, creases or scoring, as is known to those of skill in the art. Typically the plurality of removable segments  16  is organized by tear lines  18  into columns  10 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , each of opposing recto panel  14 A and verso panel  14 B are subdivided into three columns  20  of removable segments  16  (three removable segments  16  in total on each panel). The length  22  and width  24  of each removable segment  16  can vary (subject to the maximum dimensions of advertising insert  12 ). In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the length  22  of removable segment  16  is 11″ (279.4 mm), and the width  24  is 2.625″ (66.675 mm). In an alternate (not depicted), the length  22  of removable segment  16  is 5.5″ (139.7 mm), and the width  24  is 2.625″ (66.675 mm). Generally speaking, the width  24  of each removable segment  16  is sized to fit various cigarette rolling paper holder types and designs such as Single Width, 1¼ Size, 1½ Size, King Size and Double Width Size. 
         [0021]    Each of the removable segments  16  is bisected by a plurality of spaced tear lines  26  so as to form removable strips  28  ( FIGS. 4-5 ). Tear lines  26  are typically formed from perforations, creases or scoring, as is known to those of skill in the art As illustrated, each of removable strips  28  is defined by tear lines  18  and  26 . The distance between each row of tear lines  26  can vary to fit the needs of the end user. As illustrated the distance between each row of tear lines  26  will be about ¼ (6.35 mm) apart, thereby allowing the end user to tear-away individual removable strips  28  that are 2.625″ (66.675 mm) long and ¼″ (6.35 mm) wide. Multiple removable strips  28  can be torn off in conjunction to create an effectively larger removable strip. 
         [0022]    It is further contemplated that In the present embodiment, tear lines  18  are formed to be more easily torn than spaced tear lines  26  so that each of the removable segments  16  breaks away from an adjacent removable segment  16  more easily than each of the removable strips  18  breaks away from an adjacent removable strips  28 . The removable strips  28  can then be used as consumable items such as paper blow darts, syringe plug inserts or cigarette filter tips. Removable strips  28  are sized as to be conveniently rolled ( FIG. 4 ) or folded ( FIG. 5 ), and then inserted into the end of a rolled cigarette  40 , or other hollow cylindrical structure such as a straw or syringe (not depicted). Other uses for removable strips  28 , such as blow darts, syringe plugs, information strips containing contact information (phone numbers, email, etc.) and shopping lists are also contemplated. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each removable segment  16  transforms into rectangular storage panels  30  by folding the lower end up using a front face to back face folding order on every 4 th  tear line  26  (or other number of tear lines  26 ) forming multiple rectangular storage panels  30  that each have a plurality of removable strips  28 . The folded rectangular storage panels  30  allow the removable segment  16  to conveniently collapse for storage in a cigarette rolling paper holder  42  ( FIG. 3 ). Other sizes of cigarette rolling paper holders  42  or other storage containers (e.g., a generic box, package of cigarettes, a pocket, purse or a wallet) will occur to those of skill in the art. 
         [0024]    Printed on the surface of each advertising insert  12  is a plurality of advertisements  32 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , an advertisement  32  is placed within each storage panel  30 . The subject matter of advertisement  32  is not particularly limited, and can include text and/or graphics. In addition, the placement of advertisements  32  is not particularly limited. For example, an advertisement  32  can be straddled across multiple storage panels  30 , or placed individually along each removable strip  28 . In one embodiment, identical copies of advertisement  32  are symmetrically placed on corresponding storage panels  30  on recto panel  14 A and  14 B. Thus, as removable strips  28  are removed from the top recto panel  14 A or  14 B, the image of advertisement  32 , which has been partially removed with the torn removable strips  28 , remain substantially intact as the missing portions appear in panel  14  below. 
         [0025]    Therefore, the drawings and descriptions previously presented are for purposes of illustrating the principles of the present invention. In addition, because many changes and alterations will occur to those skilled in the art so as to meet the needs of the ever changing marketplace, the purpose of the descriptions and drawings is not to limit the invention to exact size, materials, construction, and operation but to note that suitable alterations and equivalents are to be considered as falling within the scope of the invention.