Patent Publication Number: US-2004055920-A1

Title: Container in form of a 3-D figure, and kits for the construction of and methods relating to the same

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to containers formed as three-dimensional figure, kits for making the same and methods relating thereto.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Traditionally, containers for certain kinds of beverages and other products have utilized fanciful and attractive packaging to attract consumers and users of the product. For example, some cans of soda pop have imprinted on their outer surfaces fanciful colouring and patterns designed to attract the consumer.  
       [0003] Also, the containers themselves have been formed in fanciful and attractive shapes to attract consumers and users.  
       [0004] In today&#39;s consumer environment, there are lots of products being marketed to consumers, including children and young adults. For at least some parents, it has become quite important that their children be attracted to, and want to consume products that they regard favorably. However, it is well known that children often do not like products, which parents consider are for example “good for them”.  
       [0005] Therefore, it is clearly desirable to make some containers more attractive to certain consumers and users, particular children.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an augmented container configured as a 3-D figure, for holding a product comprising: a product holder having an opening for accessing an interior cavity adapted for holding a product; a closure member covering said opening and adapted to permit access to said product in said interior cavity of said product holder; a supporting base member attached to a base portion of said product holder; and at least one appendage member attached to said product holder.  
       [0007] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit for making a 3-D figure container comprising: product holder having an opening for accessing an interior cavity holding a product; a closure member covering said opening and adapted to permit access to said product in said interior cavity of said product holder; a supporting base member attachable to said product holder; and at least one appendage member attachable to said product holder; said supporting base member and said at least one appendage member being attachable to said product holder in positions such that when attached a combination is formed that resembles the form of a figure.  
       [0008] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of encouraging a person to use or consume a product comprising: providing a product holder having an opening for accessing an interior cavity holding a product to a person, said opening being covered by a closure; providing a supporting base member that can be attached to and/or detached from said holder; and providing at least one appendage member that can be attached to and/or detached from said holder.  
       [0009] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided A method of assembling an augmented container, comprising: releasably attaching at least one toy foot member to a base of said container; releasably attaching at least one toy arm member to a side of said container.  
       [0010] Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a front top perspective view of a container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is a rear bottom perspective view of the container of FIG. 1;  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a front view of the container of FIG. 1;  
     [0014]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the container of FIG. 1;  
     [0015]FIG. 5 is a right side elevation view of the container of FIG. 1;  
     [0016]FIG. 6 is a left side elevation view of the container of FIG. 1;  
     [0017]FIG. 7 is a top view of the container of FIG. 1;  
     [0018]FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the container of FIG. 1;  
     [0019]FIG. 9 is an unassembled view of a kit used to make the container of FIG. 1;  
     [0020]FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a product holder comprising part of the kit of FIG. 9;  
     [0021]FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the product holder of FIG. 10;  
     [0022]FIG. 12 is a front view of the product holder of FIG. 10;  
     [0023]FIG. 13 is a rear view of the product holder of FIG. 10;  
     [0024]FIG. 14 is a right side elevation view of the product holder of FIG. 10;  
     [0025]FIG. 15 is a left side elevation view of the product holder of FIG. 10;  
     [0026]FIG. 16 is a top view of the holder of FIG. 10;  
     [0027]FIG. 16 a  is a bottom view of the holder of FIG. 10;  
     [0028]FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of a supporting base comprising another part of the kit of FIG. 9;  
     [0029]FIG. 18 is a bottom perspective view of the supporting base of FIG. 17;  
     [0030]FIG. 19 is a front view of the supporting base of FIG. 17;  
     [0031]FIG. 20 is a rear view of the supporting base of FIG. 17;  
     [0032]FIG. 21 is a right side elevation view of the supporting base of FIG. 17;  
     [0033]FIG. 22 is a left side elevation view of the supporting base of FIG. 17;  
     [0034]FIG. 23 is a top view of the supporting base of FIG. 17;  
     [0035]FIG. 24 is a bottom view of the supporting base of FIG. 17;  
     [0036]FIG. 25 is a top perspective view of a head piece member comprising a hat and being another part of the kit of FIG. 9;  
     [0037]FIG. 26 is a lower perspective view of the hat of FIG. 25;  
     [0038]FIG. 27 is a front view of the hat of FIG. 25;  
     [0039]FIG. 28 is a rear view of the hat of FIG. 25;  
     [0040]FIG. 29 is a right side elevation view of the hat of FIG. 25;  
     [0041]FIG. 30 is a left side elevation view of the hat of FIG. 25;  
     [0042]FIG. 31 is a top view of the hat of FIG. 25;  
     [0043]FIG. 32 is a bottom view of the hat of FIG. 25;  
     [0044] FIGS.  33 - 40  are various different perspective views of a left arm member comprising part of the kit of FIG. 9;  
     [0045] FIGS.  41 - 48  are various perspective view of a right arm member comprising another part of the kit of FIG. 9;  
     [0046]FIG. 49 is a collection of accessory parts for the kit of FIG. 9;  
     [0047]FIG. 50 illustrates three other container figures in accordance with other embodiments of the invention;  
     [0048]FIG. 51 illustrates alternates to the part of figures l 0  to  16 ;  
     [0049]FIG. 52 illustrates part like the parts of FIG. 51 employing alternate head piece parts.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0050] With reference to FIGS.  1  to  8 , a container generally designated  10  is formed in the shape of a three-dimensional figure. Figure container  10  is comprised of a product holder  12 , a supporting base  14 , a left arm member  16  and a right arm member  18  and a hat member  20 . With reference to FIGS.  10  to  17 , product holder  12  of figure container  10  comprises a bottle configured fancifully and loosely resembling a torso for the container figure. Holder  12  can be made of any conventional material such as plastic or glass suitable for holding the product. Product holder  12  has an interior cavity and in this embodiment is particularly adapted to hold a quantity of a desirable fluid such as a healthy beverage, including but not limited to water, spring water, purified water, fruit juices, energy drinks, or other known beverages. Product holder  12  has a base portion  32  and an upper throat portion  26 . An opening  22  that leads to the interior cavity of holder  12  is covered by a conventional closure such as a screw cap  24 , which engages threads on the outside upper throat portion  26  of product holder  12 . Other conventional closures can be employed.  
     [0051] Product holder  12  also has arm member engaging elements  28  on opposite side surfaces of the holder  12 . Additionally, on the outer, downward facing surface of base  32 , and centrally positioned thereon, is a supporting base member-engaging element  30 .  
     [0052] With reference to FIG. 17 to  24 , the supporting base  14  is shown which is in this case formed with the appearance of a pair of feet-in-shoe members  38 . The shoe members  38  are joined together and configured to provide a stable platform for container  10 . On the upward facing surface  34  of base  14  is a product holder engaging element  36 .  
     [0053] As illustrated in FIG. 9, engaging element  36  of supporting base  14  is adapted to connect to engaging element  30  of product holder  12 . In this way supporting base  14  can be attached to product holder  12  by the interconnection of elements  30  and  36 . Preferably supporting base  14  can be repeatedly attached and detached. To provide an appropriate inter-connection of elements  30  and  36 , various known securement means can be provided. For example, in one preferred embodiment each of elements  36  and  30  are double sided adhesive strips such that upward facing surface of element  36  will attaches to element  30  and the lower surface of element  36  engages the surface  34  of supporting base  14 . Likewise, the downward facing surface  30  of a double-sided adhesive strip can engage element  36  and the upward facing surface engages the bottom surface  32  of product holder  12 . Other possible alternate means of securing the engaging elements  30  and  36  include by way of example only using VELCRO (trademark) engaging strips or the like, as well as peg-in-hole type connections, and suction cups on one or both of the member to be attached to holder  12  or the holder  12 . Preferably the connections are releasable.  
     [0054] With reference to FIGS.  33  to  48 , arm members  16  and  18  are illustrated. Each arm member  16 ,  18  has a body-engaging element  48  which is adapted to engage elements  28  on holder  12 . Elements  48  can inter-connect to elements  28  in any one of the ways referenced above in connection with elements  30  and  36 .  
     [0055] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and  9  in particular, a head piece member comprising a hat member  20  is configured with a lower cavity  50  that can receive cap  24  is sliding engagement. It is not necessary to provide a separate attachment device like those referenced above, although such additional attachment devices could be provided.  
     [0056] As mentioned above, product holder  12  is made of a material that is suitable for retaining the selected product. Also, preferably it is made of a material that is suitable for use with children. Supporting base  14 , arm members  16  and  18  and hat  20  , are preferably also made of one or more materials that are suitable for use by the particular customer or user (eg. children). Such materials include but are not restricted to hard plastics, PVC, foam, rubber or the like.  
     [0057] Although in preferred embodiments the product is a suitable beverage, the holder can be used to hold other products including but not limited to food products, cosmetics, shampoos, personal hygiene products.  
     [0058] The components of figure container  10  can be provided as a kit, wherein each of the parts are initially provided in a detached configuration, as shown in FIG. 9. The components of the kit could be supplied to the consumer in an outer container such as a box or bag or other package.  
     [0059] The kit can then be provided to the consumer or user, such as a child. The child can then construct the 3-D figure shown in FIGS.  1 - 8  by attaching the components together. The child can also be encouraged to consume or otherwise use the product contained in holder  12 . Written materials can be provided with the kit encouraging the child to use the product and encourage the child and illustrate or describe to the child how to make the 3-D figure.  
     [0060] As container  10  can be made into a figure, this makes the container  10  more attractive and interesting to a person, particularly a child. This will make the child more likely to wish to consume and/or use the product held in the product holder.  
     [0061] With reference to FIG. 50, three alternate embodiments for figure container  10  are illustrated. With reference to FIG. 49, a collection of additional and/or alternate accessory members are shown, one of more of which can be included in the kit.  
     [0062] With-reference to FIG. 51, some alternate configurations for a generally cylindrical holder are shown. Holders  112  have character designs imprinted on outer surfaces and have cap members  124  attached thereto to provide an overall uniform body configuration. Hat members can be place over the cap members as shown in FIG. 50.  
     [0063] With reference to FIG. 52, holders like holders  112  are shown with alternate hat members positioned on holders and their associated cap members.  
     [0064] It will be further understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein which are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible to modification of form, arrangement of parts, steps, details and order of operation. The invention, rather, is intended to encompass all such modification within its scope, as defined by the claims.