EP1406822B1 - Sales unit comprising a base element and a decorative element - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sales unit for a non-food household article which is provided in the form a manipulable and useable object (3), embodied as a toy. Said object is formed by a base element (1), which is for sale, comprising a covering surface (4) and a closing lid (6), and a decorative element (2) which gives the whole object (3) a toy-like appearance. The aim of the invention is to provide a sales unit which allows the base element to be sufficiently recognized while making the product displayed on the sales shelf appealing to the consumer. To achieve this, the decorative element (2) only partially surrounds the covering surface (4) of the base element (1) along a section of the covering periphery. This means that the base element (1) forms an essentially visible part of the whole object (3).

Description

The invention is directed to a sales unit according to the preambles of independent claims 1 and 2. Such a progress unit is known from EP 0 568 152 A1.

In the field of food, it is known to provide in particular enjoyment such as chocolate with a seasonal packaging. The sales basic element, in this case a chocolate bar, is provided, for example, with an outer packaging in the form of an Easter bunny. It is also known to sell plastic toys with a chocolate filling. In the so-called "surprise eggs" it is known to provide them with a seasonally appropriate partial packaging, for example, with a glued decoration element in the form of a rabbit head with long rabbit ears.

In the field of non-food household items decorative elements in the form of paper banderoles o. The like. Known. In the field of stationery, it is known to provide pencils at the top with an attached toy-like decoration element, such as a toy figure. The character can be removed from the base element and used as a toy.

Another sales unit is known from US 6,237,787 B1. There, a bottle-shaped container is completely or with the exception of the closure and / or bottom area surrounded by a decorative element. For example, the decorative element has the shape and appearance of a bear. In this prior art, the decorative element completely covers the sales base element, so that this is no longer visible to the user or consumer. Often, however, it is desirable that the sales primitive for the buyer or user is still recognizable, so that product identification or product identification is given.

Furthermore, from US 4,749,104 a wall-mounted liquid dispenser is known, which can be rebuilt following its use after emptying into a toy in the form of a rocket. Only then will be on the liquid dispenser or container wings or wings attached performing components. There is thus no sales unit which, at the time of sale, consists of a sales basic element with toy-like decorative elements attached thereto.

Furthermore, DE 8 612 862 U1 discloses a toothpaste dispenser which consists of two container parts rotatable relative to one another by means of a screw thread, wherein the upper of the two container parts is designed as a decorative animal figure. The case forming a decorative element upper container part is not detachable from the lower part.

Furthermore, the BE 54 28 39 and DE 7 537615 U1 again disclose sales units in which the base element is completely enveloped by the decorative element.

The teaching is based on the problem, at a sales base element and releasably attached decorative element sales unit to ensure the purchase incentive in the presentation of goods in the store shelf, sufficient visibility of the sales base element to ensure.

In a sales unit of the type described, this object is achieved by the characterizing features of claims 1 or 2.

This ensures that when a presentation of the sales unit on the shelf the potential buyer the essential product - namely the sales base element with the content therein - immediately, despite the decorative accessories, is visible and recognizable. For example, referring to a specific manufacturer, special packaging forms of the sales base element are not lost and can continue to be used to promote sales.

But it is also important that while still consisting of the basic element and the associated decorative element sales unit as a whole manages as such and usable total object, in particular a total of a toy. It is essential that the sales unit as such can be handled as a complete object, in particular as a toy. The two parts of the sales unit, so the basic element and the decorative element, thus have, when they are put together, a Zweitnutzen, namely that of the entire object, in particular the use as a toy.

It is also interesting in the inventive solution, moreover, that even a primitive whose content has been consumed, can be rejoined with the decorative element. It is thus possible to use the used basic element in conjunction with the decoration element as a complete object in its secondary function, in particular as a toy. Also you can individually, without decorating elements purchased basic elements combine with the existing decoration element

Preferred embodiments and developments of the above teaching are the subject of the dependent claims.

Of particular importance is an embodiment of the sales unit according to the invention, in which the basic element is a rod-like glue stick, the decorative element consists of plastic material and has the shape of a space slider and is plugged or clipped from the side onto the lateral surface of the glue pin.

Of particular importance is also another variant of the sales unit, in which the basic element is a stick-like glue stick, the decorative element consists of plastic material and the shape of an astronaut helmet, preferably with rocket backpack, and in which the decoration element is made in two parts, the parts of the rod-like Adhesive stick are joined together from above, in particular put together or clipped together between them.

Fig. 1

ein Verkaufs-Grundelement einer erfindungsgemäßen Verkaufseinheit in einer Seitenansicht am Beispielfall eines stabartigen Klebestifts,

Fig. 2

ein spielzeugähnliches Dekorationselement für eine Verkaufseinheit in einer Frontansicht,

Fig. 3

das Grundelement aus Fig. 1 mit dem Dekorationselement aus Fig. 2 aufgesteckt in einer Frontansicht,

Fig. 4

den Gegenstand aus Fig. 3 in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 5

den Gegenstand aus Fig. 3 in einer Ansicht von oben,

Fig. 6

den Gegenstand aus Fig. 3 aus einer Ansicht von unten,

Fig. 7

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Verkaufseinheit mit dem Grundelement aus Fig. 1 und einem anderen Dekorationselement,

Fig. 8

den Gegenstand aus Fig. 7 in einer Seitenansicht.

Preferred embodiments and further developments are otherwise determined by way of explanation of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. In the drawing shows

Fig. 1

a sales basic element of a sales unit according to the invention in a side view on the example of a rod-like glue stick,

Fig. 2

a toy-like decorative element for a sales unit in a front view,

Fig. 3

1 with the decorative element of FIG. 2 plugged in a front view,

Fig. 4

the article of Fig. 3 in a side view,

Fig. 5

the article of Fig. 3 in a view from above,

Fig. 6

the article of Fig. 3 from a bottom view,

Fig. 7

A second embodiment of a sales unit according to the invention with the basic element of FIG. 1 and another decorative element,

Fig. 8

the article of FIG. 7 in a side view.

The invention relates to a sales unit of a sales base element 1 and a releasably attached to the base element 1, preferably toy-like decoration element 2, wherein the base element 1 is a non-food household items.

Fig. 1 shows such a basic element 1 using the example of a rod-like glue stick for the gluing of paper. Such pens are distributed millions of times. Other basic elements 1 can be used, examples will be explained later in the description.

Fig. 2 shows a toy-like decoration element 2 and Fig. 3 makes it clear how now the sales unit of the base element 1 and the decorative element 2 associated therewith forms a total of a handleable and usable total object 3 as a whole. The handling of the entire article 3 is readily apparent from the presentation. The usability of the Overall object 3 is in the present embodiment is that this forms a toy, in the present embodiment, a spacecraft. A child can play with such a toy altogether.

The prior art has already been explained in the general part of the description that there sales units of basic element 1 and decorative element 2 are known in which the decorative element 2 practically forms the complete packaging for the base element 1.

It is interesting for the sales unit shown here that the decorative element 2 encloses the lateral surface 4 of the base member 1 only partially along a circumferential shell portion or surrounds, so that the base member 1 forms an optically essential part of the overall object 3. The basic element 1, that is the non-food household article, is thus a design and construction element of the overall article 3, here in the form of the toy.

The sales unit according to the invention is realized with a rod-like basic element 1, which preferably has a circular-cylindrical basic shape. The glue stick shown here represents such, particularly suitable base element 1. The illustrated and preferred embodiment shows the base element 1 in the particularly preferred embodiment as a glue stick with lateral surface 4, screw 5 at the lower end and cap 6 at the upper end.

In the prior art, decoration elements 2 are also known in the non-food sector as paper sleeves or paper loops, etc. The usefulness of the overall article 3, in particular the usability as a toy is strongly promoted by the fact that the decorative element 2 consists of plastic material. This creates a high attractiveness and a high play value for the entire object 3.

The embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6 shows that the decorative element 2 on the base element 1, on the lateral surface, plugged or clipped. Fig. 6 can be particularly well seen that the decorative element 2, the circular cylindrical basic element 1 transverse to the mounting direction covered by more than 180 °. The lateral wings 7 of the decorative element 2 thus comprise the circular cylindrical base element 1 on both sides resiliently using the inherent elasticity of the plastic material.

7 and 8 show a modification of the decoration element 2 in connection with the same basic element 1, which has already been shown in FIG. Here it is provided that the decoration element 2 is made in two parts and the parts 2 a, 2 b, the base member 1 are joined together receiving between them, in particular, put together or clipped together. It is indicated that the two parts 2 a, 2 b of the decorative element 2 are connected captively to one another via a plastic film hinge 8.

While in the first embodiment of Fig. 1 to 6, the decoration element 2 is laterally clipped onto the rod-like base member 1, in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the initially opened decoration element 2 is placed over the head of the base element 1, then the parts 2a and 2b of the decorative element 2 brought together and, the basic element 2 receiving between them, put together, clipped together in the illustrated embodiment.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is further characterized in that the decorative element 2 on the inside ribs 9 which are in engagement with ribs 10 on the base member 1 with attached decorative element 2. Within the parts 2 a and 2 b of the decorative element 2 so the discussed ribs 9 are applied, which hold the decorative element 2 in the position shown on the cap 6 of the glue stick, namely there with existing ribs 10 are engaged. In this way, the once folded over the cap 6 of the glue stick decoration element 2 can not be easily pulled up from the base element 1. Rather, the decorative element 2 must be "opened" again to then use the primitive 1 can.

Of course, the basic element 1 is not limited to the shape of a glue stick, even if a glue stick is a particularly interesting basic element 1 for the sales unit according to the invention. However, a large number of alternatives to the basic element 1 in the form of a glue stick are available. For example, it can be provided that the basic element 1 is a writing aid, for example, a plastic bottle for a font covering means. Also, an adhesive tube, in particular a Klebstoffstandtube comes as a basic element 1 in question. In a completely different area of application, a basic element 1 is, for example, a toothpaste tube. It can be imagined that the decoration element 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 corresponds very interestingly also to a toothpaste stand tube.

The embodiment of a sales unit shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 now shows that the decoration element 2 has the shape of a space shuttle (shuttle). The body of the here preferred basic element 1, namely a glue stick, corresponds particularly well with the outer design of the decoration element 2 as the outer skin of a space glider. Here is particularly attractive added that in the illustrated embodiment, as shown particularly clearly in Fig. 3, the decoration element 2 ends just above the screw portion 5 of the primitive 1 forming glue stick. This screw section 5 has, as the illustrated embodiment, a ribbing in the longitudinal direction. The overall impression in the illustration in FIG. 3 is that the screw section 5 effectively forms the "engine" of the space glider, represented by the decoration element 2.

Fig. 3 in conjunction with Fig. 4 shows a further feature of the invention, which consists in that executed as a glue stick base element 1 at the upper end a cap 6, wherein the decorative element 2 in height of the cap 6 of the base 1 a window-like opening 12 has. This can be seen in FIG. 4 at the ribs 10 which are laterally visible in the opening 12.

In the embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8, the window-like opening 12 is right in Fig. 8. In this embodiment, the decoration element 2 has the shape of an astronaut helmet with rocket backpack 11. The window-like opening 12 is the viewing window for the astronaut.

Interesting variants for the decorative element 2, for example, a knight's helmet or other headgear. Other air, land and water vehicles can be used as a decorative element. Particularly interesting is a variant in which the decorative element 2 is a racing boat. Especially in this case, you can also use the empty glue stick - primitive 1 - continue beneficial. One screws namely by means of the screw section 5, the inner transport part back and closes the glue stick by means of the cap 6. Then he practically represents a floating body of the racing boat whose outer skin is formed by the decoration element 2.

Claims (7)

1. A sales unit of a non-food household article in the form of a object (3) which is designed to be handled and used as a toy and which consists of a base element (1) with a surface (4) and closure cap (6) that is intended for sale and, detachably arranged thereon, a decorative element (2) which creates the impression of the entire object (3) as a toy, the decorative element (2) only partly surrounding the surface (4) of the base element (1) over a circumferential section, so that the base element (1) forms a visually important part of the object (3) as a whole, characterized in that the base element (1) is rod-shaped, in that the decorative element (2) is attached or clipped to the surface (4) of the rod-like, preferably cylindrical base element (1), the decorative element (2) surrounding the cylindrical base element (1) by more than 180° transversely of the direction of attachment, and in that the decorative element (2) has a window-like opening (12) at the level of the closure cap (6) of the base element (1).
2. A sales unit of a non-food household article in the form of a object (3) which is designed to be handled and used as a toy and which consists of a base element (1) with a surface (4) and closure cap (6) that is intended for sale and, detachably arranged thereon, a decorative element (2) which creates the impression of the entire object (3) as a toy, the decorative element (2) only partly surrounding the surface (4) of the base element (1) over a circumferential section, so that the base element (1) forms a visually important part of the object (3) as a whole, characterized in that the base element (1) is rod-shaped, in that the decorative element (2) is attached or clipped to the surface (4) of the rod-like, preferably cylindrical base element (1), the decorative element (2) being in two parts and the parts (2a, 2b) being fitted - more particularly pushed or clipped - together so that the base element (1) is held between them, and in that the decorative element (2) has a window-like opening (12) at the level of the closure cap (6) of the base element (1).
3. A sales unit as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the two parts (2a, 2b) of the decorative element (2) are joined permanently together by a plastic film hinge (8).
4. A sales unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the decorative element (2) is made of plastic.
5. A sales unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, on its inside, the decorative element (2) has ribs (9) which engage with ribs (10) on the base element (1) when the decorative element (2) is in place.
6. A sales unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rod-like base element (1) is an adhesive stick.
7. A sales unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims, the base element (1) in the form of an adhesive stick having a preferably longitudinally ribbed screwthreaded section (5) at its lower end, characterized in that the decorative element (2) ends just above the screwthreaded section (5).

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