AU2004100621A4 - A device for conveying information - Google Patents

Description

J

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant: B.MOSS POPUPS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD Invention Title: A DEVICE FOR CONVEYING INFORMATION The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: A DEVICE FOR CONVEYING INFORMATION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a device for conveying information, and has particular but by no means exclusive application to conveying advertising information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When attempting to convey information to a person it is essential to capture the attention of the person.

Capturing the attention of the person is absolutely crucial if the-person is to consider and retain the information.

However, for certain types of information, for example advertisements, it can be difficult to capture the person's attention because they are constantly being bombarded with this type of information and have effectively 'switched off' to these types of information.

It is therefore desirable to have a device that, whilst being able to convey these types of information, has an inherent level of interest that will capture the person's attention. By having the inherent ability to capture the person's attention the device provides a means for exposing the person to the information (conveyed by the device) in a manner that increases the likelihood of the person considering and retaining the information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a device for conveying information, the device comprising: a body; a foldable part that is connected to the body; a plurality of panels that are attached to the foldable part and which can be used to convey the information; and a member that is attached to the foldable part and which can be moved from a first position to a second position, wherein the device is arranged such that moving the member from the first position to the second position causes the foldable part to be progressively folded, which in turn causes the display panels to be successively turned over.

An advantage of the device is that it provides a unique way of allow a person to effectively flick through (turn over) the panels. The unique manner in which the person flicks through the panels is provided by the ability of the member to be moved from the first position to the second position. This unique way of flicking through the panels has the potential to capture the attention of the person, which is highly desirable when the device is used to convey advertising information because the person is likely to pay more attention thereto.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention the body comprises a first element that can be folded over the panels and the member such that the panels and the member are not readily discernible to a person.

Using the first element is desirable because when in the folded arrangement (that is, when the first element is covering the panels and the member) it potentially raises the person's curiosity in the device. In particular, the person can be drawn into unfolding the device so that they are exposed to the information on the panels. Another advantage of the first element is that is provides additional area on which information can be placed.

In the particular embodiment of the present invention the body also comprises a second element that encloses the member, the second element further comprises a plurality of openings, a first of the openings being arranged to allow a person to readily grasp the member and move the member from the first position to the second position, a second of the openings being arranged to allow the foldable part to be drawn into the second element when being progressively folded.

The use of the second element is advantageous because it effectively provides a housing for the member and the foldable part.

In the particular embodiment of the present invention the second element comprises a guide arranged to guide the member in a direction for moving the member from the first position to the second position.

The guide has the advantage of ensuring the member is moved in a direction that is required for flicking through the panels, and minimises movement of the member in directions that do not result in the panels being turned over.

In the particular embodiment of the present invention the foldable part comprises substantially parallel fold lines for assisting with a progressive folding of the foldable part.

The parallel fold lines are desirable because they effectively control the manner in which the foldable part is folded, which in turn has an affect on the manner in which the panels are turned over.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Notwithstanding any other embodiments that may fall within the scope of the present invention, an embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: figure 1 provide a perspective view of a device in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention; figure 2 provides an illustration of the device of figure 1 being held by a person; figure 3 provides an illustration of a guide that forms part of the device shown in figure 1; and figures 4 to 7 provide side views of the device illustrated in figure i.

AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The device 1 in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention comprises a body 3, a foldable part that is connected to the body 3, a plurality of panels 7 that are attached to the foldable part 5, and a member 9 that is attached to the foldable part 5. The body 3, foldable part 5, panels 7 and the member 9 are allmade from a paper material, thereby making the device relatively cheap to produce.

The body 3 comprises a fold line 11 that effectively divides the body 3 into two elements 13 and The fold line 11 enables the elements 13 and 15 to be folded over on to each other, as shown in figure 4. It is noted that the elements 13 and 15 are such that information (for example, advertising information) can be applied thereto. One of the elements 13 comprises two overlying sheets 17 and 19 that are made of a relatively thick paper material so as to provide the element 13 with level of rigidity. The sheets 17 and 19 are attached to each other along their periphery 21. The element 13 also comprises two opening 23 and 25. A first of the openings 23 is located in an end section of the element 15 while a second of the openings 25 is located in an outer planer surface 27 of one of the sheets 17 of the element 15. Both opening 23 and extend in to an area 29 between the two sheets 17 and 19, see figures 4 to 7.

As mentioned previously, the foldable part 5 is connected to the body 3. More specifically, a section 31 of the foldable part 5 is adhered to the outer planer surface 27 of the sheet 17. To ensure that the foldable part 5 is securely fixed to the outer planer surface 27, the section 31 of the foldable part 5 has a surface area that is comparable to the surface area of each of the panels 7.

Furthermore, the section 31 of the foldable part 5 is adhered to the outer planer surface 27 at a location that is near the opening 25 in the surface 27. As discussed in the following sections of the specification, the foldable part 5 is such that it can be progressively folded. To facilitate the progressive folding, the foldable part comprises a plurality of parallel fold lines 33, see figures 4 to 7.

Each panel 7 is such that information (such as advertising information) can be placed thereon. Each panel 7 is also reasonable rigid and has an end that is adhered to a portion 35 of the foldable part 5 that is located between adjacent fold lines 33, see figures 4 to 7.

The member 9 is reasonably rigid and is positioned in the area 29 between the sheets 17 and 19 of the element 15; that is, the member 9 is enclosed by the element 15. The member 15 is such that it can be slidably moved between the sheets 17 and 19. In this regard, the member 15 is such that it can be slidably moved between a 7 first position and a second position. When in the first position, the member 9 protrudes slightly from the opening 23 in the end section of the element 15. Furthermore, when the member 9 is in the first position the panels 7 are stacked upon each other like the pages of an unopened book.

This aspect of the device 1 can be readily seen in figures 2 and 4. In order to move the member 9 from the first position to the second position, a person can grasp the device 1 as shown in figure 2 and pull the member 9 outwardly from the element 15. The effect of this is that the foldable part is progressively folded and drawn in to the opening 25 in the outer planer surface 27. Because the panels 7 are attached to the foldable part 5 in the manner previously described, the progressive folding of the foldable part 5 causes the panels 7 to be successively turned over like the pages of a book. This sequence of events is illustrated in figures 5 to 7.

Moving the member 9 from the second position to the first position effectively reverses the sequence of events that occur when the member 9 is moved from the first position to the second position.

To guide the member 9 when being moved between the first position and the second position, the device 1 also comprises a guide 37 that is made from a durable paper material. The guide 37 is secured to one of the sheets 17 and is located in the area 29 between the sheets 17 and 19, and is positioned near the opening 23 in the end section of the element 15. The guide 37 comprises a slot 39, in which the member 9 is located. The slot 39 is substantially aligned with the opening 23 in the end section of the element Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It 8 should be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (3)

1. 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body comprises a first element that can be folded over the panels and the member so as to substantially conceal the panels and the member.
2. 3. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the body comprises a second element that encloses the member, the second element further comprises a plurality of openings, a first of the openings being arranged to allow a person to readily grasp the member and move the member from the first position to the second position, a second of the openings being arranged to allow the foldable part to be drawn into the second element when being progressively folded.
3. 4. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second element comprises a guide arranged to guide the member in a direction for moving the member from the first position to the second position. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foldable part comprises substantially parallel fold lines for assisting with a progressive folding of the foldable part. Dated this 3 0 t h day of July 2004 B. MOSS POPUPS AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK