Patent Publication Number: US-2007111186-A1

Title: System for identifying and selecting product family components

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/735,607, entitled “System for Identifying and Selecting Product Family Components,” filed on Nov. 11, 2005, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The embodiments of the invention described herein are generally directed to packaging systems.  
     BACKGROUND  
      The display and marketing of a family of items presents a unique set of problems when a user searches for compatible items. One difficulty is determining which of the items presented, among a multitude of choices, are designed for use with each other.  
      Often, a user will attempt to match arbitrary information related to the products (e.g., type and size) in an attempt to determine if the items are compatible. However, this method can be time consuming and fruitless depending upon whether there are unique aspects of each item that must be taken into consideration but are not easily identifiable. When faced with a mass of choices and variations, a consumer may become disheartened at the search or may choose an improper combination of items based on faulty logic in matching the qualities of the items.  
      Another problem is illustrated with the marking systems for identifying items. One approach is to use a chart or table including part numbers that indicate the compatibility of certain other items. However, such a system is typically placed on the back of the packaging as a chart or table on the face of a package, and is generally not considered a handsome first impression to a prospective user. Thus, the user is not provided with immediate information about whether or not a number of products are compatible. This approach requires a user to move the item and closely inspect the table to determine compatibility. Further, depending upon the format of the table, the user may expend a significant amount of time deciphering the table to determine compatibility.  
      Additionally, the written or table method may require a user to comprehend the language that the table uses. However, this method poses difficulties to the packaging designer to place a multilingual system in a confined area. When the required space is not available for such methods, the costs of the packaging may be significantly increased if separate packaging is required for each language, or set of languages.  
      In addition to the drawbacks already mentioned, the methods presented above do not teach a user how to match compatible items. They require a user to expend valuable product selection time to decipher and understand tables or listings. Further, the prior art requires a user to understand a particular printed language. Additionally, the prior art does not attract a user&#39;s attention to the matching system. Indeed, when using a table or chart system to identify components by part number, the table or chart does not lend itself to be printed on the front of a package because of space and marketing requirements.  
      Therefore, a need exists for a system for identifying and selecting product family components that teaches a user how to match items. It is further desirable that the system directs the user&#39;s attention to the matching system. It is also desirable that the matching system attract the user&#39;s attention to the packaging itself to differentiate the items from competitor&#39;s items. Thus, it is desirable to provide a system that may be located on a surface immediately viewable to the user. Additionally, it is desirable to provide a matching system that uses a minimum of packaging space to accomplish the teaching and matching goals. It is further desirable to provide a matching system that is language independent. Moreover, it is desirable that the system further reduces costs by providing a single packaging requirement.  
     SUMMARY  
      A system for teaching a user to identify a family of items is provided including a matching symbol having an identifiable family indicator and a teaching symbol indicating a matching of the family indicator to the family of items. The teaching further illustrates compatibility of the family of items with the family indicator. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The features and inventive aspects of the embodiments will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description, claims, and drawings, of which the following is a brief description:  
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a teaching system according to an embodiment;  
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of a teaching system according to an embodiment;  
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of a compact teaching system according to an embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Referring now to the drawings, illustrative embodiments are shown in detail. The embodiments described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or otherwise limit or restrict the invention to the precise form and configuration shown in the drawings and disclosed in the following detailed description.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a product packaging system teaching family indicator matching and icon recognition is shown. Teaching system  10  includes a package face  20 , a teaching text  22 , a first teaching symbol  24 , a second teaching symbol  26 , a first consumable symbol  28 , a second consumable symbol  30 , a first matching symbol  32 , a second matching symbol  34 , a first matching band  36 , and a second matching band  38 , as shown. Package face  20  is a portion of a product packaging system, typically provided on a side viewable by a prospective user. The product packaging may include configurations such as a paper-based box, a plastic covering, or an insert behind a clear plastic covering. Further, package face  20  may be printed upon a label affixed to the product packaging. The product packaging may include a reusable item (e.g., a staple gun), consumable items (e.g., staples or nails), or the packaging may include reusable items that work in conjunction with other reusable items (e.g., a light to be affixed to a staple gun).  
      First and second consumable symbols  28 ,  30  indicate a type of consumable that is compatible with a reusable item. In one embodiment, the reusable item is a staple gun and first consumable symbol  28  indicates that a “staple” may be used with the reusable item. Second consumable symbol  30 , in this embodiment configured to indicate a nail, is also affixed to package face  20  indicating that a nail consumable may also be used with the reusable item.  
      First and second matching symbols  32 ,  34  are configured differently and indicate a family indicator coding system that allows a user to understand that consumable items having a matching family indicator may be used with the reusable item. In the present embodiment, first and second matching symbols  32 ,  34  are shaped to indicate a concentric ring about a point. Such a shape indicates to users that the family indicators are the objective of their search for compatible consumable items.  
      First and second teaching symbols  24 ,  26  are placed in conjunction with consumable symbols  28 ,  30  and matching symbols  32 ,  34 . For simplicity, the teachings of first teaching symbol  24  are described but may also be applied to second teaching symbol  26 . First teaching symbol  24  is an attention attracting mechanism, in this embodiment configured as a “pointer,” that indicates to a user the reusable items in the family that are compatible with the consumable item within the package. The size, shape, and family indicator of first teaching symbol  24  are configured such that the users&#39; attention is directed to the area where the product packaging system teaches the use of matching consumable item family indicators. In this embodiment, first teaching symbol  24  is configured such that the family-indicator is bright yellow and the head of the “pointer” is touching or overlapping the center of first matching symbol  32 . However, first teaching symbol  24  may also be configured outside of, or away from, first matching symbol  32 . In both cases, the direction of the “pointer” indicates to the user to direct their attention to first matching symbol  32 . Further, first teaching symbol  24  may also be configured as a family indicator other than yellow depending upon the surrounding color of package face  20  and/or first and second matching symbols  32 ,  34 .  
      Teaching text  22  explicitly indicates to a user how the product packaging system is to be used. In the present embodiment, teaching text  22  is configured as “MATCH COLOR” to teach a user that the consumable items matching the family indicator of first matching symbol  32  and second matching symbol  34  are compatible with the reusable item within the package. The user then will look for consumable items having a similar color of family indicator and will know that these consumable items are compatible with the reusable item in the package. In the present embodiment, teaching text  22  is placed between first and second teaching symbols  24 ,  26  so that the user&#39;s attention is also directed to explicit teachings of teaching text  22 . However, teaching text  22  may also be placed at a location adjacent to the general area of the product packaging system. In an alternative embodiment, teaching text  22  may be located to the side of teaching system  10 . In yet another alternative embodiment, teaching text  22  may be located on a storage shelf or a sign located near the reusable or consumable items. In a further embodiment, teaching system  10  may be located in a retail setting at a point of purchase display.  
      First and second matching bands  36 ,  38  indicate to a user those products having compatibility. In the present embodiment, first matching band  36  further includes a third consumable symbol  40  and second matching band  38  includes a fourth consumable symbol  42 . Additionally, first and second matching bands  36 ,  38  are placed close to teaching system  10  on package face  20 . The proximity of first and second matching bands  36 ,  38  further allow a user to appreciate teaching system  10 . In this embodiment, first matching band  36  and second matching band  38  have a respective coloring the same as first matching symbol  32  and second matching symbol  34 . The family indicator colors indicate that an item having a similar family indicator color is compatible with the item in the packaging that first and second matching bands  36 ,  38  are placed upon. The family indicator color, along with the shape of third and fourth consumable symbols  40 ,  42  illustrate to a user that that an item having a matching family indicator color is compatible with the package contents.  
      Further, the concept of multiple sub-families is taught by the multiple family indicator symbols and bands on package face  20 . In this embodiment, first matching symbol  32  and second matching symbol  34  teach that the families having similar coloring are compatible with the item. Similarly, the presence of first and second matching bands  36 ,  38  teaches that both families are compatible. Additionally, first and second matching bands  36 ,  38  include third and fourth consumable symbols  40 ,  42  that indicate what type of item family is taught by the family indicator. In this embodiment, the family indicator is indicated as a color.  
      In an alternative embodiment, first matching band  36  is placed on the package of a consumable. In such an embodiment, the indication to the user is that the contents of the package are compatible with an item having a matching family indicator. That is to say, one aspect of the teaching is that items having the same family indicators (i.e., matching family indicators) are compatible with each other.  
      First matching band  36  may be printed or applied to a portion of a package or may be wrapped around the entirety of the package. Alternatively, first matching band  36  may cover a substantial portion of the packaging. Second matching band  38 , in this embodiment applied to the packaging of the reusable item, may also be applied in the same manner as first matching band  36 . Both first and second matching bands  36 ,  38  may alternatively be configured as squares, rectangles, circles, or other shapes. The bands may be a general geometric representation that allows a user to match the family indicator color with a family of products that are compatible with each other. Such a system allows the family indicator color, in at least a portion of the package represented, for example represented by a band, in order to signal the consumable is compatible with the reusable item having a similar family indication or coloration.  
      Teaching system  10  may be placed on package face  20  at the front, sides, or rear of the packaging. In a preferred embodiment, teaching system  10  is placed at a location easily viewed by the user such that various elements are unobstructed. Further, teaching system  10  may be placed on shelves where the packages are placed for user view. Additionally, teaching system  10  may be placed on posters or advertisements indicating to a user that the manufacturer has developed a system that allows a user to easily identify compatible items. Such a placement may allow a manufacturer, a distributor, a seller, or a retailer, to attract more users where the user knows the difficulties of identifying and locating the consumables are time consuming and troublesome.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 2  an alternative embodiment of a teaching system is shown. A first consumable indicator  50 , a first consumable text  52 , a second consumable indicator  54 , a second consumable text  56 , a first product type indicator  62 , a second product type indicator  57 , are provided on package face  20 . First consumable indicator  50  is similarly colored to first matching symbol  32  and second consumable indicator  54  is similarly colored to second matching symbol  34 . First consumable indicator  50  is for use in conjunction with teaching system  10  and allows a user to match the color of first consumable indicator  50  with a reusable item or a consumable item.  
      Within first consumable indicator  50 , first consumable text  52  and first consumable symbol  28  are provided. Within second consumable indicator  54 , second consumable text  56  and second consumable symbol  30  are provided. Thus, the types of consumables (e.g., a staple or a nail) are matched with a family indicator. First and second consumable texts  52 ,  56  explicitly indicate to a user what characteristic of consumables are compatible with the family indicator code, and further, which families are compatible with the reusable item. In this embodiment, the characteristic of a staple is affiliated with the family indicator code belonging to first consumable indicator  50 . A nail is affiliated with the family indicator code belonging to second consumable indicator  54 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , characteristics may include nails as well as staples. Further, the characteristics may include any meaningful indicator for the consumable item.  
      Further, as part of first consumable indicator  50 , first consumable text  52  calls for a particular staple size. Second consumable text  56  calls for a particular nail size. Not only is the size of consumable indicated, but the type of consumable (e.g., staple or nail) is indicated.  
      For more explicit instruction, first product type indicator  62  includes a first direction text  64  and a first product type text  66 . First product type indicator  62  is configured the same as first consumable indicator  50  to indicate their compatibility and shared teachings. Further, first direction text  64  teaches a user that a family of consumables is to be used with the package contents. Additionally, because the configuration (in this example coloration) of first product type indicator  62  is the same as first matching symbol  32  and first matching band  36  (see  FIG. 1 ), the user is taught that the particular family of consumables indicated is for use with the family of items indicated by the same configuration. Similarly, first product type text  66  explicitly defines a family of fasteners for use with similarly coded items.  
      Also defined explicitly, second product type indicator  57 , having the same configuration as second consumable indicator  54 , includes a second direction text  58  and a second product type text  60  that indicate a family of compatible items. Further, the compatibility of second matching symbol  34 , second matching band  38 , second consumable indicator  54 , second product type indicator  57 , and second product type text  60 , is taught.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an alternative embodiment of a teaching system including family indicator matching and symbol recognition is shown. In this embodiment, a compact teaching system  12  is configured such that a reusable symbol  80 , an indicating symbol  82 , first consumable symbol  28 , and teaching text  22 , are provided within a third teaching symbol  84 . Reusable symbol  80  is configured in this embodiment as a “staple gun.” First consumable symbol  28  is configured as a “staple.” Indicating symbol  82  is configured as a pointer that points from reusable symbol  80  to first consumable symbol  28  such that a user will understand that the two items are compatible, and are for use, with each other. In the present case, indicating symbol  82  directs the users&#39; attention to the fact that a “staple gun” is compatible with a “staple.” Thus, if a user is inspecting a staple gun, they are directed to look for the matching staples by indicating symbol  82 . Indicating symbol  82  may alternatively be embodied in the opposite direction where the staple points to a “staple gun.” Such an embodiment may be preferred when placed on a package of staples.  
      As with previous embodiments, teaching text  22  explicitly details using the family indicator of first matching symbol  32  to obtain a reusable item and a consumable item that are compatible. Third teaching symbol  84  is also configured similarly with the previous embodiments such that the family indicators (e.g., a shape and/or a color) are provided to attract a users&#39; attention and teach family indicator matching.  
      Compact teaching system  12  has an advantage of being able to be placed upon package face  20  in a small area. The smaller size allows compact teaching system  12  to be located on small boxes, such as staple boxes, while still teaching the product packaging system to the user. Such an embodiment is preferable because a retailer cannot guarantee whether a user will first happen upon a reusable item, generally having a larger package, or a consumable item, in some cases having a diminutive package. When a user first gazes upon a package with a small size, the compact teaching system  12  has the advantage of being able to teach the entire matching scheme without consuming a large portion of package face  20 . Further, in situations where the packaging is so small that placement of compact teaching system  12  is undesirable on the front of a package, compact teaching system  12  may be easily placed on the sides of the package.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , teaching systems  10 ,  12  provide a simple and robust system allowing a user to identify goods that are compatible with each other. It is important to note that the teaching systems  10 ,  12  are provided such that they may be placed on package face  20  of a consumable item or a reusable item. In the case of first and second consumable symbols  28 ,  30 , the shapes of the symbols are configured such that the user understands that a nail and a staple are to be used with the package contents (in this embodiment a staple gun). These shapes provide a visual identity of the consumable with the reusable item. Further, the presence of two family indicators for first and second matching symbols  32 ,  34  indicate to the user that goods are available for the reusable items that have a matching family indicator. A user can then seek out a consumable item having the similar family indicator. For example, a user may locate a consumable package having compact teaching system  12  of  FIG. 3 . The user then knows that the contents of the package are compatible with the contents of a package having similar family indicators.  
      In yet another aspect of the embodiments, a user is not required to know a language or alphabet in order to use the packaging system. For example, if teaching text  22  is removed from package face  20  the system is still operable and taught to the user. Teaching text  22  is preferable in some embodiments to expedite the understanding of the system. However, teaching text  22  is not necessary to understand the matching system.  
      Further, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , it is important to note that first teaching text  22 , first teaching symbol  24 , and first matching symbol  32  are located in close proximity on package face  20 . Thus, by virtue of the closeness, the user is taught that the items will work with each other (e.g., the items “go together”).  
      Also, it is important to note that first teaching symbol  24  and first matching symbol  32  overlap each other in their respective physical boundaries. Such an overlap provides the teaching, or connection, of the item to the family indicator. If, for example, the respective items were spread across package face  20  without the organization in the embodiment, there would be no teaching of the compatible family components. However, as represented by the embodiments, the configuration of the elements is such that the teaching of the system is provided to the user. For example, first teaching symbol  24  attracts the user&#39;s attention to teaching system  10  as well as teaching that an item having a similar family indication will work within the item being inspected.  
      Additionally, where each element is partially obscured by another provides the teaching that the items are to be used in conjunction with each other. That is to say, the items are overlapping, and such overlapping teaches a connection between the items. For example, first consumable symbol  28  overlaps first teaching symbol  24  that in turn overlaps first matching symbol  32 . Further, first consumable symbol  28  overlaps first matching symbol  32 . Thus, first teaching symbol  24  connects and indicates that first consumable symbol  28  is used with the family indicator of first matching symbol  32 .  
      As used throughout the application, the term family indicator preferably includes use of a color. However, the indication of a familial relationship may also be accomplished with shading, hatching, patterns, or icons. For example, in a situation where only single color printing is used, the package material may be white and the printing may be black. In this case, a series of stripes may be used to indicate the family of goods for use with each other. Alternatively, a pattern or shading may be used for indicating the families.  
      The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe exemplary embodiments of the methods and systems of the present invention. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to any precise form disclosed. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. The invention may be practiced otherwise than is specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope. The scope of the invention is limited solely by the following claims.