GB2215706A

GB2215706A - Packages incorporating purchasing incentives

Info

Publication number: GB2215706A
Application number: GB8806393A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Walter Knott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-03-17
Filing date: 1988-03-17
Publication date: 1989-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-17
Also published as: GB8806393D0; GB2215706B

Abstract

A package e.g. for sweets (10) encloses one or more three-dimensional components (2,3,4) which can be fitted together with components from one or more similar packages to make a toy or model. Different packages include different components (2,3,4), or selections of them, and the components (2,3,4) possibly in conjunction with components of the package per se, may be fitted together to form a toy rocket. <IMAGE>

Description

Food Packaging This invention relates to foodstuff packaging.

The term "foodstuff" as used herein includes both edible and potatable substances.

It is known to incorporate gifts, e.g. toy figures, in foodstuff packages as a purchasing incentive.

The present invention provides foodstuff packages with a novel customer appeal feature.

According to the present invention there is provided foodstuff packaging comprising a plurality of separate packages each comprising a wrapping or container in which a quantity of a foodstuff is packaged for the market and each incorporating one or more three-dimensional components for use in making a toy or model; components of such toy or model being incorporated in different packages and being formed so that they can be fitted together to make such toy or model.

The distribution of components of a toy or model between different packages promotes sales of the packages. A purchaser who by purchasing one or more packages has already acquired one or more components forming part of a larger set of components required for making a given toy or model will have an inducement to make further purchases with a view to completing the toy or model-making set. The greater the number of different components which can be connected together to build up a toy or model and the greater the number of packages to which different such components are allocated, the more is customer appeal likely to be sustained.

In certain embodiments of the invention, each package comprises a substantially rigid container in which a quantity of foodstuff is enclosed and each container or a part or parts of each container constitute(s) one or more said three-dimensional toy- or model-making components which can be assembled with a component or components provided by (an)other of the package(s) to form at least one particular toy or model.

Preferably at least one three-dimensional toy-or model-making component is incorporated within each package, i.e. within the outer wrapping or container enclosing the quantity of foodstuff. If such interior components are present in the packages it is not necessary for the packages to comprise outer containers which also constitute toy or model components but it is nevertheless preferred for them to do so.

It is advantageous for at least one three-dimensional toy- or model-making component to be located within such package so that such component is concealed from the view of customers when the package is displayed for sale. In these circumstances, when the packages are displayed for sale the element of chance in selecting packages containing different concealed toy or model components which can be fitted together to form a toy or model or a larger part thereof adds interest to the selection of packages by customers and the sales of packages are further promoted. As individual purchasers may at any given time select from displayed packages one containing a concealed toy or model component which duplicates one which he or she already possesses, the practice of component swapping may develop between different customers.Each package can be sealed to prohibit opening of the package prior to purchase, but this is not necessary.

Each package should generally speaking be accompanied by, e.g.

should contain, advertisement of one or more toys or models which can be made by assembling (the) component(s) provided by that package together with (a) component(s) which is or are provided by one or more of the other packages of foodstuff.

Each package may incorporate a plurality of toy or model-making components which can be connected together to make part of a particular toy or model or even a complete toy or model. However even if a complete toy or model can be formed from components provided by a single package it is essential that another toy or model or a more complex toy or model can be formed by connecting those components to one or more components provided by one or more other packages.

The toy or model-making components are preferably formed so that they are connectable by inter-engagement, i.e. without the use of adhesive. Preferably the components are connectable by push-fitting one into another. For example, each container can comprise a tubular body, a base and a lid and one or more such parts can be formed with co-operating portions of interference push-fit joints by which they can be fitted together and/or to (a) toy or model-making component(s) located within the package.

The toy or model components are preferably moulded from synthetic polymeric material.

The packages preferably contain quantities of the same foodstuff or quantities of foodstuff of the same kind.

The invention is considered to be particularly suitable for application in the packaging of loose confectionery, especially sweets, because of its form and appeal to children.

For further enhancing the appeal of packages according to the invention preference is given to embodiments incorporating one or more of the features hereafter described.

Preferably there is or are within each package one or more toy or model components which is or are held located relative to the outer wrapping or container. It is in particular preferred for such component(s) to be held located in a central zone of an outer container and to be surrounded by the foodstuff held in that container. Such interior toy or model component(s) may be or include a component which is releasably connected to a portion of the outer container and defines therewith an internal compartment. By way of example, such interior component can be in the form of a tube or cone which is connected by an interference push-fit joint to the base of the container. The internal compartment can be used for holding smaller toy- or model-making components.

Three-dimensional components incorporated in the packages can be designed to permit them to be joined in one particular arrangement or in any of a plurality of arrangements, thereby to form a particular toy or model or any of a number of different toys or models. The shaping of the components depends on the nature and form of the toy(s) or model(s) to be formed. As to this, the choice open to the product designer is virtually limitless. The components may for example be connectable to form model aircraft, spacecraft, land vehicles, animal figures.

buildings or landscapes.

A particular embodiment of the invention, selected by way of example, will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. in which: Fig. 1 is a partly sectioned elevation of one of a series of packages constituting such embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the body of the container forming the outer packaging of the package shown in Fig. 1; Fig 3 is a sectional elevation of the bottom portion of such container; Fig. 4 is a plan view of such bottom portion of the container; Fig. 5 is an elevation of a model-making component incorporated in the package shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an elevation of another model-making component incorporated in such package; Fig. 7 is an elevation of another model-making component;; Figs 8 to 9 are diagrammatic representations of three different models which can be made by purchasers of the package shown in Fig. 1 and a number of other packages containing different model-making components.

The package shown in Fig. 1 comprises an outer container 1 comprising a tubular body 2, a lid 3 and a base 4. These three parts are plastics mouldings and are formed so that they are firmly connectable by interference push-fit joints. The base 4 is shaped to provide an upstanding annular rib 5 and three downwardly opening sockets 6. A moulded tube 7 (Fig. 5) is formed for push-fitting onto the annular rib 5 and is thereby held located centrally within the container 1. The package also incorporates a conical component 8 (Fig. 6) which makes a push-fit joint with the top of tube 7.

The space within the container 1, surrounding the tube 7, is filled with sweets 10. In this particular instance, the sweets have been pre-packed in a bag or bags 11 in which they can be removed from the container and continue to be retained until consumed.

If desired, the container can be sealed prior to purchase, e.g. by sealing tapes.

The container or part of it can be transparent to enable the sweets to be seen by a prospective purchaser but this is not essential. The package can include an outer wrapping. enveloping the container. An identification of the nature of the sweets in the package can appear on an attached label or on the outer wrapping. or, if there is no outer wrapping, then on the container 1.

Within the container. or on the container or a container wrapping there is information as to the toy(s) or model(s) which can be made by using components provided by this package together with components available in other packages. Such information may simply comprise a picture of the or each toy or model. As an alternative or in addition to incorporating such information on or in the package, it can be provided on advertising matter separately available at retail premises where packages of the kind in question are sold.

In this embodiment, the components of the container 1, as well as the tubular and conical components 7 and 8 enclosed in the package. are designed as model-making components. More specifically, they are designed as components for use in building spacecraft.

The container 1 can be regarded as a crude model of a space rocket, likewise the combination of the tube 7 and the conical component 8 (nose cone). More realistic models as depicted or otherwise advertised in literary or graphic matter accompanying the package or otherwise made available to the purchaser can be formed from those components together with other components which are incorporated in one or more other packages of the series. In order to make such more realistic models the purchaser must therefore purchase at least one different package in the series, containing such other component(s). In this illustrated embodiment of the invention, it is a matter of chance whether or not a package next purchased by that purchaser contains (a) component(s) which is or are "wanted".This implies of course that retail outlets will stock a multiplicity of the packages belonging to the series, that the components contained within the packages are not identifiable by inspection of the unopened packages and that packages containing different components are randomly distributed in the stock from which customers make their selection.

Fig. 7 shows a component 12 which is designed for push-fitting onto the bottom of the tube 7 (Fig. 5) and which thus forms a base of a medium-sized rocket of which the body is formed by tube 7 and the nose cone is formed by the conical component 8 (Fig. 6). The rocket base component 12 is not provided in the package 1 but in another package of the series to which package 1 belongs. The owner of package 1 must therefore acquire at least one more package in the series in order to make this three-component assembly. The complete design of the medium rocket may include other features, e.g. a medium rocket motor formed by a component or components which plug into the rocket base component 12.

Such motor component can be provided for example in the package which contains the rocket base component 12 or in some other package in the series. Alternatively, by way of modification of package 1, the medium rocket motor component could be included in that package. It would still be necessary for the owner of that package to obtain a package containing a medium rocket base component 12 in order to complete the model medium rocket.

The container body 2 is designed for push-fit jointing to other like container bodies in order to form a large rocket body of realistic proportions. In order to form a complete model of a large rocket it is necessary to acquire not only at least two container bodies 2 but also other components representing large rocket motors. Large rocket motor components are incorporated in one or more packages in the series.

Three such components are required for completing the model large rocket. Each of those motor components is formed with a central pin which plugs into one of the three sockets 6 in the container base 4 (Fig. 4).

The packages of the complete series can, inter se, provide various model-making components additional to those which have been described.

By way of example, the full range of components may include rocket-linking fins for linking different rockets in parallel. It will be noted from Figs. 2 and 3 that the container body has pairs of longitudinal ribs 13 distributed around its periphery. These ribs define dovetail grooves each of which can receive a dovetailed end of one such linking fin. The tube 7 (Fig. 5) constituting a medium rocket body, has a longitudinal rib 14 of dovetail section for insertion into a dovetail groove at the opposite end of a said linking fin.

Figs. 8 to 10 show three models which can be made from components of the forms which have been described, together with other components.

In these three figures, components which correspond in form with those which have been shown in Figs. 1 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numbers as in those earlier figures. The other components used in the models shown in Figs. 8 to 10 comprise small rocket components, namely small rocket body components 15, small rocket nose cones 16, small rocket bases 17, large rocket motors 18, medium rocket motors 19, small rocket motors 20 and rocket-linking fins 21 of the kind hereinbefore referred to whereby the three small rockets at the tail end of the model shown in Fig. 10 are linked to the medium rocket body.

Claims

1. Foodstuff packaging comprising a plurality of separate packages each comprising a wrapping or container in which a quantity of a foodstuff is packaged for the market and each incorporating one or more three-dimensional components for use in making a toy or model; components of such toy or model being incorporated in different packages and being formed so that they can be fitted together to make such toy or model.

2. Packaging according to claim 1. wherein each package is accompanied by, e.g. contains. advertisement of one or more toys or models which can be made by using the component(s) provided by in that package together with (a) component(s) which is or are provided by (an)other of the packages of foodstuff.

3. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein each package comprises a substantially rigid container in which a quantity of the foodstuff is enclosed and each container or a part or parts of each container constitute(s) one or more said three-dimensional toy- or model-making components which can be assembled with (a) component(s) provided by (an)other of the package(s) to form at least one particular toy or model.

4. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one three-dimensional toy- or model-making component is incorporated within each package.

5. Packaging according to claim 4, wherein within each package there is at least one said component which is located so that it is concealed from view from the exterior of the package.

6. Packaging according to any preceding claim. wherein each package incorporates a plurality of toy or model-making components which can be connected together to make at least part of a particular toy or model and which can also be connected to one or more components provided by (an)other of the packages to make a complete model or another complete model.

7. Packaging according to any preceding claim. wherein the toy-or model-making components are formed so that they are connectable by inter-engagement, i.e. without the use of adhesive.

8. Packaging according to claim 7, wherein the components are connectable by push-fitting one into another.

9. Packaging according to any preceding claim. wherein the packages contain quantities of the same foodstuff or quantities of foodstuff of the same kind.

10. Packaging according to any preceding claim. wherein the packages contain confectionery.

11. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein within each package there is(are) one or more interior toy or model components which is (are) held located relative to the outer wrapping or container.

12. Packaging according to claim 11, wherein within each package there is (are) one or more said interior toy or model components which is (are) held located in a central zone of an outer container and is (are) surrounded by the foodstuff held in that container.

13. Packaging according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said interior component(s) is or include a component which is releasably connected to a portion of an outer container and defines therewith an internal compartment.

14. Packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein three-dimensional components incorporated in the packages are designed to permit them to be joined in any of a plurality of arrangements, thereby to form a number of different toys or models.