Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     The method includes a fastener to aid and enhance the distribution and functionality of advertisements. The current form of distributing advertisements door to door is inefficient and ineffective due to design flaws and cost. 
     Traditional die cut door hangers were originally designed to hang on round doorknobs and are not a very secure way to distribute to every door. Round door knobs have mostly been replaced with a modern variety of door knobs and levers in various shapes and sizes. The door hanger distributor wastes time struggling to attach the traditional die cut door hangers to knobs and handles that simply won&#39;t accept the design. Traditional die cut door hangers may become torn and messy making it look more like trash resulting in the customers disgust and final decision to just discard the piece altogether. The traditional die cut door hanger easily falls or blows off the doorknob and becomes litter in the customers&#39; lawn which irritates the customer and frustrates the advertisers. Traditional die cut door hangers use up a lot of crucial and valuable design space on both the front and back of the advertisement to allow for the hole and slit used to attach the hanger to the door knob. Between lost advertising space and not being able to securely hang the advertisement on every door, this method of door hanger distribution is neither efficient nor cost effective. 
     Another common form of distributing advertisements door to door is the use of rubber bands. Using rubber bands to distribute door hangers is cumbersome and time consuming. The design of the rubber band does not make it easy to insert the band through the hole used in the advertisement that accommodates the rubber band. The material used to make rubber bands has memory so when trying to change its circular shape, by pressing two sides of the band together to form a thin enough portion to insert through the hole, it becomes awkward and time consuming because the rubber band is fighting the attempt to change its shape. Rubber bands typically used to distribute door hangers break easily if pulled too hard to stretch around larger handles or objects; and, may tear the advertisement. If the rubber band is small enough to provide a snug fit around the door knob, it is typically too small to handle without tearing the advertisement while looping the band through the hole placed in the material to accommodate the band. Once the rubber band is attached to the advertisement there are still more issues encountered during distribution. Due to the rubber band being one continuous piece, while attempting to attach the advertisement to the door by stretching the rubber band to fit around the knob, stress is placed on the advertisement causing it to tear and not securely stay on the door. On the other hand, if the rubber bands are too large they do not provide a snug enough fit to allow the piece to securely stay on the knob. The labor and material waste are not cost effective for advertisers or door hanger distributors. Ultimately rubber bands are not an efficient way of distributing advertisements door to door due to the design flaws and nature of the method. 
     Whether the distributor is using a traditional die cut or rubber band as their method to distribute the door hangers, neither option is conducive for generating high return results, because the advertisement cannot be displayed in the consumers view on their refrigerator, file cabinet, or other surface. One method advertisers use to increase return results, is to attach magnets to advertisements. This method is typically expensive and ineffective as magnets only adhere to magnetic surfaces. Today, so many homes have refrigerators with non-magnetic surfaces, such as stainless steel and plastic or coated material, the magnets simply aren&#39;t effective. 
     SUMMARY 
     The methods for distributing advertisements door to door were never perfected and have now been negatively impacted by the modernization of door knobs. This method includes a more secure option that may be utilized during the distribution of an advertisement. This method allows the advertisement to be securely attached to virtually any doorknob, lever, door, or object, and subsequently brought inside the home by the consumer and displayed on the refrigerator, cabinet or other object making it possible for the advertisers&#39; message to stay in view and top of mind. 
     This method incorporates an advertisement with a hole to accommodate a fastener. The fastener is used to securely attach the advertisement during door to door distribution. The fastener has a unique design that has two portions, a circular portion and a T shape extension. The T shape extension makes inserting the fastener into the hole a simple process. No pinching, folding, looping or knot tying required. The circular portion of the fastener is used for attaching the advertisement to the door knob. Because of the unique design, when the circular portion is stretched for putting around door knobs it does not put any stress or tension on the advertisement. This keeps the advertisement from tearing, eliminating the trashy look which often results from using traditional die cut and rubber band methods that often become torn during distribution. The method does not require any extra looping, tying or cutting making it extremely simple, easy to use and may be distributed faster because it eliminates so many of the issues encountered while attempting to attach the advertisement using other methods. 
     This method may be applied to various types of suitable advertisements such as booklets, flyers, door hangers, or business cards. The unique design of the fastener also allows more than one advertisement to be attached to a door using only one fastener. Applying this method to an advertisement that utilizes adhesive would enhance this method even further by increasing the advertisers return on investment. The consumer may use the adhesive, after the advertisement is brought inside, to keep the advertisement in view while displayed on the refrigerator, cabinet or other object. 
     This method is easy to use, secure and more efficient then other door to door distribution methods available saving the distributor and advertiser time and money because it is economical and cost effective. Also by eliminating the space necessary to accommodate the hole and slit the traditional die cut door hanger requires, the advertiser is free to use virtually the entire piece for their ad, creating even more benefits for the advertiser. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 DrawingsReference Numerals 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                  2 
                 Hanger 
               
               
                   
                  3 
                 Die Cut Hanger 
               
               
                   
                  4 
                 First Planer Surface  
               
               
                   
                  5 
                 Second Planer Surface 
               
               
                   
                  6 
                 Second Hanger 
               
               
                   
                  7 
                 Fastener 
               
               
                   
                  8 
                 Hole 
               
               
                   
                  9 
                 Slit 
               
               
                   
                 10 
                 Coupon 
               
               
                   
                 11 
                 Advertisement 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 Rubber Band 
               
               
                   
                 13 
                 Perforations 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 Door 
               
               
                   
                 15 
                 Refrigerator 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 Door Knob 
               
               
                   
                 17 
                 Door Lever 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 Push Button Handle 
               
               
                   
                 19 
                 Other Shape 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 Booklet 
               
               
                   
                 21 
                 Liner 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 Adhesive 
               
               
                   
                 23 
                 Folded Hanger 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 T Shape Extension 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 Circular Portion 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 Blank Advertisement 
               
               
                   
                 27 
                 Delineations 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 Rip 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a 1 st  planer surface of the advertisement, incorporating a hole to accommodate a fastener. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a 1 st  planer surface of the advertisement, incorporating a coupon. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a 1 st  planer surface of the advertisement, incorporating multiple advertisements and perforations. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a 1 st  planer surface of the advertisement, incorporating an advertisement. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the fastener included in the method. 
         FIG. 5   a  is a side edge view of the article of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a further embodiment of a fastener. 
         FIG. 6   a  is a side edge view of the article of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a 1 st  planer surface of the advertisement, incorporating the fastener and a plurality of coupons and advertisements. 
         FIG. 8  is a side edge view of the article of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of an advertisement showing a rubber band being lined up to be inserted into a hole in a hanger. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of an advertisement showing a rubber band being inserted into a hole in a hanger. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of an advertisement showing a rubber band used to create a slip knot loop through a hole in a hanger. 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of an advertisement showing a rubber band completely looped through a hole in a hanger, causing damage to the advertisement. 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of a 1 st  planer surface of the advertisement, in accordance with an embodiment of the method, showing the T shape extension portion of the fastener getting ready to be inserted into the hole. 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of a 1 st  planer surface of the advertisement, in accordance with an embodiment of the method, showing the T shape extension portion of the fastener being inserted into the hole. 
         FIG. 15  is a front view of a 2 nd  planer surface of the advertisement in accordance with an embodiment of the method, showing the T shape extension portion of the fastener completely inserted through the hole. 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of  FIG. 1  showing the circular portion of the fastener being stretched and ready to apply to a door knob. 
         FIG. 17  is a front view of  FIG. 1  with the circular portion of the fastener being attached to a door knob. 
         FIG. 18  is a front view of  FIG. 1  after using the fastener to attach to a door knob. 
         FIG. 19  is a front view of  FIG. 16  showing the circular portion of the fastener being stretched and attached to a door lever. 
         FIG. 20  is a front view of  FIG. 16  after using the fastener to attach to door lever. 
         FIG. 21  is a view of a die cut hanger advertisement. 
         FIG. 22  shows a die cut hanger that has a rip or has been torn. 
         FIG. 23  is a view of die cut hanger that cannot be attached on a push button handle. 
         FIG. 24  is a view of an advertisement attached to the same push button handle in  FIG. 23  using the circular portion of the fastener. 
         FIG. 25  is an embodiment of the method using a slit instead of a hole to accommodate the fastener. 
         FIG. 26  is a view showing a rubber band being stretched over a door knob and said rubber band breaking. 
         FIG. 27  is view of the rubber band in  FIG. 12  attaching an advertisement to a lever. 
         FIG. 28  is a further embodiment of the method showing a hanger and a second hanger being attached with one fastener. 
         FIG. 29  is a side edge view of  FIG. 28 . 
         FIG. 30  is a front view of  FIG. 28  being attached to a door knob on a door using the circular portion of the fastener. 
         FIG. 31  is a side edge view of  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 32  is an embodiment of the method showing a front view of an advertisement attached to a door lever on a door using the circular portion of the fastener. 
         FIG. 33  is a side edge of  FIG. 32 . 
         FIG. 34  is an embodiment of the method showing the fastener attached to a booklet. 
         FIG. 35  is a side edge view of  FIG. 34 . 
         FIG. 36  is another embodiment of the method showing a second hanger attached to a booklet using a fastener. 
         FIG. 37  is a side edge view of  FIG. 36 . 
         FIG. 38  is an embodiment of the method showing the fastener attached to a folded hanger 
         FIG. 39  is a side edge view of  FIG. 38 . 
         FIG. 40  is another embodiment of the method showing a second hanger attached to a folded hanger using a fastener. 
         FIG. 41  is a side edge view of  FIG. 40   
         FIG. 42  is a view of an advertisement, attached to a lever using a die cut hanger, that is starting to blow off. 
         FIG. 42   a  is a view of the advertisement in  FIG. 42  no longer attached to the lever after it has blown off 
         FIG. 43  is a an embodiment of the method showing nearly all of the space on an advertisement available for use by the advertiser. 
         FIG. 43   a  is a view showing the space used up on the advertisement by the die cut hanger. 
         FIG. 44  is an embodiment of the method, showing the back view and second planar surface of an advertisement with a strip of adhesive and a liner covering the adhesive, being pulled partway back to expose said adhesive. 
         FIG. 45  is a side edge view of  FIG. 44 . 
         FIG. 46  is a view of  FIG. 44  with the liner completely removed to expose the adhesive. 
         FIG. 47  is a side edge view of  FIG. 46 . 
         FIG. 48  is an embodiment of the method showing a front view of an advertisement attached to the front of a refrigerator using the adhesive. 
         FIG. 49  is a side edge view of  FIG. 48 . 
         FIG. 50  is an embodiment of the method, showing the front view and first planar surface of an advertisement with a strip of adhesive and a liner covering the adhesive, being pulled partway back to expose said adhesive. 
         FIG. 51  is a side edge view of  FIG. 50 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The method includes a fastener  7  that provides enhancement for the distribution of an advertisement door to door.  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4  illustrate a hanger  2 , used by advertisers to communicate information, services, and special offers to the public, from here on referred to as an advertisement. The advertisement is used to distribute this information door to door so it will reach the consumer at a business or residence. The advertisement can be a sheet of flexible or rigid material, including a first planar surface  4 , and a hole  8  to accommodate a fastener  7  shown best in  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 25 , is another embodiment of the method, using a slit  9  instead of a hole  8  to accommodate the fastener  7 . In one embodiment the first planar surface  4  could have an advertisement  11 , shown in  FIG. 4 , or coupon  10 , shown in  FIG. 2 , or a plurality of advertisements  11 , shown in  FIG. 3 , or a plurality of advertisements  11  with a plurality of coupons  10  shown in  FIG. 7 . The coupons  10  could have one or multiple delineations  27  or perforations  13  to facilitate removal of said coupons  10  from the advertisement as shown in  FIG. 3 . In another embodiment, this advertisement could initially be blank  26 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , with the intention of the advertiser printing their own information on the advertisement. 
     The fastener  7 , shown in  FIG. 5 , incorporated in the method, is used to securely attach the advertisement to a door knob  16  or lever  17 , shown in  FIGS. 17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20 , during door to door distribution. The fastener  7  design has two portions, a circular portion  25  and a T shaped extension  24 . In another embodiment the fastener  7  is not limited to this T shape  24  or circular shape  25 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The T shaped extension  24  is inserted into the hole  8  in the advertisement, as shown in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 , attaching the fastener  7  and advertisement snugly to each other, shown in  FIG. 15 . The circular portion  25  of the fastener  7  may be stretched to fit around a door knob  16 , as shown in  FIG. 17 , securely attaching the advertisement to the door knob, as shown in  FIG. 18 . The circular portion of the fastener may be stretched without easily breaking and without placing any stress on the T shaped extension portion of the fastener or the advertisement, shown in  FIG. 16 . Another embodiment included in this method incorporates the fastener  7  attaching the advertisement to a variety of door knobs including a lever  17 , shown in  FIG. 32 , and a push button handle  18 , shown in  FIG. 24 . 
     In a further embodiment, the fastener  7  and a folded hanger  23  may be attached securely together, shown in  FIG. 38 , and the fastener  7  and a booklet  20  may be attached securely together, as shown in  FIG. 34 . An advertisement and a second hanger  6  may also be attached securely together using one fastener  7 , as shown in  FIG. 28  and  FIG. 30 . For example, a folded hanger  23 , and a 2 nd  hanger  6 , attached together using one fastener  7 , shown in  FIG. 40 . 
       FIG. 43   a  shows the amount of space wasted with the hole and slit used in the traditional die cut hanger compared to the small hole required for the current method shown in  FIG. 43 , leaving the advertiser more space to promote their business or advertisement with this method. 
     Applying this method to an advertisement that utilizes adhesive would enhance this method even further by increasing the advertisers return on investment.  FIG. 44  is another embodiment of the method, showing the back view and second planar surface  5  of an advertisement with a strip of adhesive  22  and a liner  21  covering the adhesive  22 . Another embodiment includes the adhesive  22  and liner  21  on the first planar surface  4  or second planar surface  5 , or first planar surface  4  and second planar surface  5 , as shown in front view in  FIG. 50  and a side edge view in  FIG. 51 . The consumer may expose said adhesive  22 , after the advertisement is brought inside, by peeling the liner  21  part way back, as shown in  FIG. 44 , or all of the way back, as shown in  FIG. 46 . The consumer may now use the exposed adhesive  22  to display the advertisement in view on any object or surface, including but not limited to plastic, hard surfaces, glass, wood, or metal; such as refrigerator  15 , cabinet, or computer, inside the residence or business, shown as a front view in  FIG. 48  and a side edge view in  FIG. 49 .

Technology Category: g