AU2014100317A4

AU2014100317A4 - Table cover

Info

Publication number: AU2014100317A4
Application number: AU2014100317A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lip Yee Tang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-04-01
Filing date: 2014-04-01
Publication date: 2014-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 2022-04-01
Also published as: AU2014101477A4

Abstract

The present invention provides a table cover comprising a body portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and a peripheral edge, at least one display portion provided on the upper surface for displaying at least one advertisement and at least one perforated portion adjacent the peripheral edge which can be separated from a remainder of the body portion of the table cover. Fig 3

Description

1 TITLE TABLE COVER FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to table coverings for eateries. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a disposable table cover for eateries which enables advertisers to showcase their products to diners. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention has broader application and is not limited to that particular use. 10 BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Advertising has always been presented in the traditional ways in the form of print ads, billboard, radio and TV ads. However, in our ever 15 evolving digital age, most have opted for advertising via the Internet. Successes of Internet advertisement can be witnessed in Google and Facebook. Digital advertising is a good example of a new media with the introductory of Internet. Advertisers constantly strive for innovation and creative advertising through seeking new form of media to effectively 20 position the client's products/services. With a twist of innovation, the table cover of the present invention will not only serve its basic purpose of hygiene and protection, but it will also provide a platform for advertisement. With the advancement of technology, specifically smart phone and 25 tablets, diners have developed the habit of occupying themselves with their devices especially while waiting for their order to arrive. Considering 2 the placement of the advertisement, the present invention is sure to capture the diners' attention. Most eateries provide a diner with a single napkin as part of the standard place setting. However, often a diner will often require additional 5 napkins or tissues to clean their hands or mouth, or wipe a spill. Considering disposable tablecloths are thrown away after each use, it would be desirable to develop a solution that also enables the table cloth to solve the above problem and reduce further waste. In this specification, the terms "comprises", "comprising" or similar 10 terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a table cover that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely, but may well include other elements not listed. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 15 It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide a table cover that addresses or at least ameliorates one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art. It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide a disposable table cover which provides a promotional and entertainment 20 platform in addition to a protective and hygienic table covering. It is a further preferred object of the present to provide a table cover that can also be used as a napkin or tissue.

3 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally, embodiments of the present invention relate a disposable table cover which provides a promotional and entertainment platform in addition to a protective and hygienic table covering and can be 5 used to provide additional napery item(s). According to one aspect, although not necessarily the broadest aspect, the present invention resides in a table cover comprising: a body portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and a peripheral edge; 10 at least one display portion provided on the upper surface for displaying at least one advertisement; and at least one perforated portion adjacent the peripheral edge which can be separated from a remainder of the body portion of the table cover. Preferably, the at least one display portion for receiving the at least 15 one advertisement can be categorised into at least one category including, but not limited to, beverages, online news, online shopping, government portal, real estate or motor vehicles and miscellaneous. Preferably, a central display portion will be dedicated towards promoting a charity or sponsorship. 20 Preferably, the table cover comprises at least one QR code. Preferably, the at least one perforated portion is separated from the table cover by tearing the at least one perforated portion along at least one line of perforation, for use by a diner as a napkin and/or a tissue.

4 Further features and forms of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 5 In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to identical elements. The drawings are provided by way of example only, wherein: 10 Fig 1 shows a top plan view of a table cover laid out flat illustrating at least one display portion according to embodiments of the present invention; Fig 2 shows a top plan view of a display portion of the table cover of Fig 1 according to embodiments of the present invention; 15 Fig 3 shows a side perspective view of the table cover of Fig 1 laid over a table top according to embodiments of the present invention. Skilled addressees will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the relative dimensions of some of the 20 elements in the drawings may be distorted to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to a disposable table cover which provides a promotional and entertainment platform in addition to a protective and hygienic table 5 covering. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a table cover that can be used as a napkin or tissue. The disposable table cover of the present invention serves dual purposes: firstly, it provides an item of linen which can be used as a table cover and napkin, and as an interactive platform that delivers advertising content to diners. Advertisers will be able 10 to focus on targeting a specific demographic group such as people who dine out. For convenience sake, the disposable table cover will be described herein as a covering for use in eateries such as restaurants and cafes. However, it should be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can be modified to suit any suitable dine-in or take-away eatery. 15 It will be appreciated that variations may need to be made as required. Referring to Fig 1, the table cover 100 is provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. According to a preferred embodiment, the table cover is a disposable table cover. The table cover 100 is made of suitable material which enables the table cover to be 20 cheaply manufactured so that it can be provided as a disposable table cover. The table cover 100 is made of any suitable material including, but not limited to, fabric, paper, plastic or a composite material. It will be acknowledged that the material can also be a recyclable material. The material is preferably one which can be used to absorb and clean spills 6 and/or as a napkin or tissue. The table cover 100 is made of a single layer of material. However, in an alternative embodiment, it is envisaged that the table cover 100 could be made of two or more layers. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the table cover 100 is square in shape and has the default 5 four seat table cover measurement of approximately 91cm x 91cm. However, it will be acknowledged that style, shape and dimensions of the table cover 100 may be altered to suit other tables or benchtops as required. The table cover 100 comprises a body portion 101 having an upper 10 surface 102 and a lower surface 103 and a peripheral edge 104. The table cover 100 comprises at least one display portion 110 on the upper surface 102 of the table cover 100 for displaying at least one advertisement 120. It will be acknowledged that the number of display portions 110 can be varied as desired. As shown in Fig 1, the style, shape and dimensions of 15 the display portions 110 can be varied as desired. It will be acknowledged that the number, style, shape and dimension of the advertisements within each display portion can be varied as desired. For example, Fig 2 illustrates a display portion 110 having six rectangular advertisements 120 displayed thereon. The display portions 110 are ideally positioned in front 20 of the seating positions at the table so that the advertisement(s) 120 within the display portions 110 can be directed towards a diner and their position at the table. It is envisaged that the at least one advertisement 120 can be the same advertisement or different advertisements. The present invention is designed to deliver advertising content to 7 diners in an interactive and innovative way. Accordingly, it is envisaged that the display portions 110 for receiving the at least one advertisement 120 can be categorised into at least one category including, but not limited to, beverages, online news, online shopping, government portal, real 5 estate or motor vehicles and miscellaneous. A beverage advertisement can be in a strong position to remind a diner to order their product thus, triggering more sales to the advertiser and to the eatery. Referring to Fig 1, the table cover 100 comprises at least one QR code 130. As illustrated in Fig 1, the QR code 130 is preferably provided 10 within the at least one display portion 110. However, in an alternative embodiment it is envisaged that the at least one QR code could be provided elsewhere on the body portion 101 of the table cover 100. While the advertising space may be limited within the table cover itself 100, it can, however, act as a portal that focuses on content deliveries by 15 inputting a QR code. With the additional attributes of a QR code, customers can explore the product or services via their smart phone. It is envisaged that the associated content provided by the QR code will be reviewed and scrutinized to determine whether it has violated any policies or guidelines that could affect the business of eatery or aggravate diners. 20 The use or provision of a QR code 130 for advertiser is highly recommended as it can link a smart device to a website, Youtube video, add an entry to the calendar, install an app, visit a Facebook profile or call a number. Online business related websites like online news, online shopping, real estate and motor vehicles, which require constant updating, 8 would render a plain print advertisement inadequate. Using a QR code can direct customer to the advertiser's website to receive their latest content. In an alternative embodiment, it is envisaged that the QR code 130 could also be utilsed by the eatery to promote and implement a 5 customer loyalty program. The customer loyalty program can be implemented such that awards points can be collected each time a diner visits the eatery and scans the QR code 130. When they reach a certain point mileage, they can redeem a voucher to be used at the participating eatery, which is another way to promote the eatery's business. In yet 10 another alternative embodiment, it is envisaged that the QR code can be scanned by a diner to login and play a game/quiz to be eligible for prizes that will be offered periodically such as daily, weekly or monthly prizes or the like. It is envisaged that the type of prize offered may be varied as desired. 15 In a further embodiment, it is envisaged that one or more of the display portions 110 will be dedicated towards promoting a charity for a Non-Profit Organization (NPO). This will encourage advertisers and the respective eatery to play a role in sponsoring and supporting a NPO by using the table cover 100. Preferably, a central display portion 111 will be 20 dedicated towards promoting a charity. It envisaged that that central display portion 111 can also be dedicated to sponsorship provided for and/or by the eatery. In an alternative embodiment, the body portion 101 of the table cover 100 can be used to display another item of interest including, but not limited to, a trivia quiz, interesting facts, a link to a 9 survey or poll. Referring to Fig 3, the table cover 100 comprises at least one perforated portion 140 adjacent the peripheral edge 104 which can be separated from a remainder of the body portion 101 of the table cover 5 100. The at least one perforated portion 140 is separated from the table cover 100 by tearing the perforated portion along the respective line(s) of perforation 141, for use by a diner as a napkin and/or a tissue. Alternatively, it could also be used as an additional placemat or coaster or replacement for any other suitable napery item should the need arise. 10 Hence, the table cover provides a solution to the aforementioned problems of the prior art by providing a promotional and entertainment platform in addition to a protective and hygienic table covering. It also provides a table cover that can also be used as a napkin or tissue or the like to provide additional napery items for the diner and reduce further 15 wastage. From the customer's perspective, it is a fresh and interesting product to capture their attention. While having a meal, they will be benefited from promotion, bargains and the latest information that presents in front of them. It creates table talk among diners. For the 20 advertiser and creative agency, they are welcoming a newly discovered media that allows a new range of creative ideas to be explored. Advertising is meant to deliver message, and most importantly to reach the intended target. With tens of thousands of eateries, and millions visitors each month, this invention can evidently reach out to people who 10 do not have time for TV, radio or magazine, as it is unavoidable that one will dine or even walk pass an eatery. From the eatery's point of view, which includes restaurants, cafes, bistros and the like, the benefit of using a table cover basically serves as a protection for the table. Using a 5 disposable one saves cleaning time, thus increase their productivity and performance while reducing customer waiting time. In a public eatery, it is more hygienic and presentable to have a table cover. With printed advertisement, the table cover can be viewed as a decorative, where the advertisement creates table talk making the environment livelier. It can 10 potentially create more sales to the eatery based on the advertisement, e.g. a beverage advertisement. The reference to any prior art in this specification is and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form or suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any country. 15 Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features. Persons skilled in the relevant art may realize variations from the specific embodiments that will nonetheless fall within the scope of the invention. 20

Claims

1. A table cover comprising: a body portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and a peripheral edge; 5 at least one display portion provided on the upper surface for displaying at least one advertisement; and at least one perforated portion adjacent the peripheral edge which can be separated from a remainder of the body portion of the table cover.

2. The table cover of claim 1, wherein the at least one display portion 10 for receiving the at least one advertisement can be categorised into at least one category including, but not limited to, beverages, online news, online shopping, government portal, real estate or motor vehicles and miscellaneous.

3. The table cover of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a central display 15 portion will be dedicated towards promoting a charity or sponsorship.

4. The table cover of any preceding claim, wherein the table cover further comprises at least one QR code.

5. The table cover of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one perforated portion is separated from the table cover by tearing the at least 20 one perforated portion along at least one line of perforation, for use by a diner as a napkin and/or a tissue.