GB2312399A

GB2312399A - Story book for children packaged with an article of clothing

Info

Publication number: GB2312399A
Application number: GB9708180A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Theresa Beddows
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-04-24
Filing date: 1997-04-23
Publication date: 1997-10-29
Also published as: GB9608570D0; GB9708180D0

Abstract

The book is packaged with an article of clothing or garment eg socks 14, which is referred to in the story. The article may be retained in a recess 12 of the rear cover 10. Alternatively the book 24 may be packaged with the article 26 in a carton 20.

Description

Story and Associated Artide Package The invention which is the subject of this application relates to a package which comprises a story in a book form and an article which is the subject of or is at least mentioned in, the said story thereby linking the article to the story and allowing the article or articles to be available during the reading of the story. This provides improved enjoyment of the story.

The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, related to stories for children and again typically, but not exclusively, related to stories for children which may relate to articles of clothing of the type worn by young children such as, for example, socks, coats, jackets, hats etc. The stories relate to particular articles of clothing and the package includes the said article or articles with the story thereby allowing the child to handle and look at the article while reading or having the story read to them and, at the end of the story, they are then able to wear the article as appropriate. Thus, the enjoyment of the story is increased to the child and, importantly, the child becomes more involved with the story and therefore their concentration increases and, even when the story is finished, they can still be involved in and think about the story by wearing the article.

At the present time, children's books typically comprise a story which is provided with illustrations. It is known to provide articles with magazines and literature where the same are attached to the magazine and typically these articles can be any of folders for holding a number of the magazines, videos, or audio tapes to further illustrate the subject of the magazine. However, in each case, if an article is provided it is provided as an additional feature and not as an integral feature or subject of the written material. For example, if the magazine, is for children, there may be provided an audio tape of nursery rhymes but the nursery rhymes are not linked to the written material but simply that both the written material and the audio tape are directed towards children.

The same is the case when folders are provided with magazines wherein the only link is that the folder is for subsequent use to collect a number of said magazines and thus it will be readily seen that at present, while articles can be provided in conjunction with written material, they are only provided to increase the attractiveness of the written work and typically are given away as a free article. This is a quite clearly different concept to that of the current invention wherein the aim of the present invention is to provide a package for purchase which comprises written material in the form of a story and an article and the said article is at least mentioned in the said story or preferably is the subject of said story thereby enhancing the interest of the written material.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a package, said package comprising written material in the form of a story, and at least one article, wherein said article or articles are referred to in the story and linked therewith.

Typically the written material of the package is provided in a book form and is a story for children.

In one form, the package comprises a book having or rear, a relatively thicker leaf therein, said portion including means for retaining an article therein so that the same is provided as an integral part of the bootkN;htch rs formed as the package. Preferably the relatively thicker leaf is provided as a front or rear cover of the book In an altemative form, the package is provided as a carton and contains therein a book and an article. In a yet further embodiment, the article is attached to the written material which is provided in the form of a book In one preferred embodiment, the article is an item of clothing which can subsequently be wom by the reader of the book, or the person to whom the book is read, which typically is a child and the story of the written material relates to the said article of clothing.

It is envisaged that a range of sizes and/or colours of the associated article can be selectively placed in the package as required. In one embodiment, the written material is included with the garment and the garment, with book included, are enclosed within a carton or wrapping material.

It is also envisaged that in one embodiment the book may also include audio means, such as a tape, to link the tape to the written material and the article.

Thus, there is provided a package which includes an article which is referred to in written material which is also included in a package such that the article can be referred to while the written material which can be in the form of a story for children is read and, furthermore, the article can then be worn by the person who has read the book or by the recipient of the book.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 illustrates the perspective view of the package of the invention in the first embodiment; Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the package according to the invention in perspective; Figure 3 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention in a closed condition; Figure 4 illustrates the embodiment of Figure 3 in an open condition; and Figure 5 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is illustrated a package 2 according to the invention according to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the package is provided with a bound edge 4 in the form of a spine to which are attached a front cover 6, pages 8 and a rear cover 10 and thus it will be seen that this package is in the form of a book However, the leaf which forms the back cover 10 of the package is substantially thicker than the front cover 6 and includes therein a recessed portion 12 which is shaped to allow the retention therein of the article or articles 14 which are provided as part of the package. In the embodiment shown, the articles 14 are socks and are held in the recessed portion 12 by the shaping of the walls. Preferably, the thickness of the back cover 10 is sufficient to allow the article 14 to lie substantially flat with the inner face of the back cover 10. The pages 8 include the written material in the form of the story printed thereon and can be read in a normal manner and the article 14 is the subject of the written material such that, in this embodiment, the story which is printed on the pages 8 relates to a pair of socks 14 and thus it will be readily seen that by removing the socks 14 from the recessed portion 12 upon purchase of the package 2, the story on the pages 8 can be read in conjunction with the articles 14 and this is of particular advantage and interest to children's stories so that the child can relate the story to the articles in question The front cover 6 is provided in a similar manner to any conventional package and/or book to allow identification of the written material and also to allow advertising of the inclusion of the article in the package thereon.

Figure 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the package according to the invention wherein the package comprises a carton 20 with an aperture 22 and through said aperture are viewable a book 24 and articles 26 which once more are in the form of socks. In this embodiment, the book 24 is held in a retained position in the carton 20 as are the articles 26 and thus, are held in a secure condition. Once purchased, the carton 20 can be opened and the book and articles removed to allow the same to be referred to as the story of the book 24 is read and again the same advantages as of the package in Figure 1 can be obtained.

Referring now to the preferred embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 the pack is provided in a folder type format comprising a front cover 40 and rear cover 42 interconnected at one edge by a spine 44. The package is also included with hook portions 46 to allow the package to be suspended from a rod for display.

When in an open condition as shown in Figure 4 the book or written portion 48 is displayed on the rear cover 42 and the article 50 such as socks are displayed on the inside of the front cover 40. It is envisaged that in one embodiment a plastic cover, preferably rigid and moulded would be placed and attached to the inner surfaces of the front and rear covers.

Figure 5 illustrates a yet further embodiment of the invention wherein the package comprises a base portion 60 having an interior for the location therein of the book incorporating the story 62 and the article or articles 64 relating to the story so that the same can be held in a viewable position. Typically the base portion is closed by a cover portion 66 which, in order to enhance the appearance of the package is made from a clear material thereby allowing the story book and the articles to be viewed prior to purchase.

In a further feature of the invention and although not shown a further article may be provided to further enhance the attractiveness of the package such as, for example, a tape or video related to the subject matter of the package.

In all of the embodiments shown it is of advantage that the article or articles which are to provided in conjunction with the written material are held in a secured position therewith in order that the full advantages and impact of the invention can be obtained by ensuring that the article which is provided with the story is that which is referred to in the story. The packaging as shown prevents the articles from being mislaid or lost from the associated written material.

Claims

1. A package for children, said package comprising written material in the form of a story, and at least one article, wherein said article or articles are referred to in the story and linked therewith.

2. A package according to claim 1 wherein the written material of the package is provided in a book form and is a story for children.

3. A package according to claim 2 wherein the book has a relatively thicker leaf portion, said portion including means for retaining an article therein so that the same is provided as an integral part of the book which is formed as the package.

4. A package according to claim 3 wherein the relatively thicker leaf portion is provided as a front or rear cover of the boot

5. A package according to claim 1 wherein the package includes a carton and contains therein a book and an article.

6. A package according to any preceding claim wherein the article is attached to the written material which is provided in the form of a booli

7. A package according to any of the preceding claims wherein the article is a garment which can subsequently be wom by the reader of the written material, or the person to whom the written material is read.

8. A package according to claim 7, wherein the article is wrapped with the garment and the same are then enclosed in a carton or wrapped in packaging material to form the package.

9. A package according to any of the preceding claims wherein a range of sizes and/or colours of the associated article can be selectively placed in the package to provide a range of said packages for retail.

10. A package according to any preceding claim wherein the package further includes an audio storage means which includes media relating to the written material.

11 An entertainment pack for children including an article which is referred to in written material which is also included in the pack so that the article can be referred to while the written material is read and the article is a garment which can be worn by the person who has read the written material or to whom the written material is read.