GB2315262A

GB2315262A - Attachment device for a magazine

Info

Publication number: GB2315262A
Application number: GB9714728A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karla Sloggett
Original assignee: EMAP NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS Ltd
Current assignee: EMAP NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS Ltd
Priority date: 1996-07-16
Filing date: 1997-07-15
Publication date: 1998-01-28
Also published as: GB9614884D0; GB9714728D0

Abstract

An attachment device for a magazine comprises a receptacle, such as a carton or a box, for receiving and retaining a gift to be presented with said magazine. The attachment device is formed with a location means for receiving and securing a magazine thereto. The method of securing said magazine to the location means on the attachment device preferably comprises a peelable adhesive on an extending flap, or alternatively a tab or plurality of tabs.

Description

ATTACHMENT DEVICES FOR A MAGAZINE This invention relates to attachment devices for enabling or facilitating the mounting of articles, such as free gifts or the like to the cover of a magazine.

Articles of this kind are commonly referred to as "covermounts". However, the device is equally applicable for attaching a supplement or other leaved publication.

It is very common for magazine publishers to provide a gift with a particular issue of a magazine. Providing gifts of this type gives rise to a number of problems.

These include, securing the gift to the publication in such a way that it is very visible and yet will not become dislodged during transit from the printers to the point of sale; securing the gift to the publication in such a way that a prospective purchaser can inspect the inside of the publication without needing to detach the gift and/or any associated attachment means. Such detachment normally results in the loss of the gift and a publication advertising a gift and yet not bearing one is highly unlikely to be purchased.

A number of previous solutions have been proposed to overcome these problems. These include the use of plastic wrapping to enclose both the gift and the publication, however this suffers from the disadvantage of preventing a purchaser from inspecting the magazine prior to purchase. A need has been identified for improvements in this area.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention is to provide a means for attaching gifts and the like to magazines but which attempts to solve the problems associated therewith and/or provides improvements generally.

According to the present invention there is provided an attachment device for a magazine wherein said device comprises a receptacle such as a carton or a box for receiving and retaining a gift or the like, said device having means for facilitating attachment of said receptacle to a magazine, a corresponding method for assembling an attachment device and a magazine, and a blank for forming an attachment device.

In an embodiment apparatus for attaching gifts and the like to magazines comprises an attachment device for a magazine wherein said device comprises a receptacle such as a carton or a box for receiving and retaining a gift or the like, said device having means for facilitating attachment of said receptacle to a magazine.

The receptacle may be formed from a blank having four panels, which when the blank is folded, and the receptacle assembled, serve as the front, back and side walls of the receptacle.

The panels forming the back and side walls of the receptacles are formed with foldable flaps and closure tabs which provide closure means for the ends of the receptacle. At least one of the ends of the receptacle may be openable and closeable by means of the foldable flaps and closure tabs. This enables potential purchasers to open the receptacle and inspect the contents prior to purchase.

One side wall panel of the receptacle is provided with a foldable flap which extends along an edge of the panel. Said flap may be provided with adhesive and serves to secure the receptacle in an assembled configuration after folding.

One wall of the receptacle, preferably the back wall is of greater dimensions than the front wall panel such that when the receptacle is constructed, a portion of the back wall extends beyond the front and side wall to provide a location means adapted to receive a magazine.

The location means is in the form of a flange or lip and is disposed relative to the receptacle such that it extends along the edge thereof. The flange is provided with a suitable adhesive, preferably a peelable adhesive, which serves to retain the magazine thereto until removed therefrom by the purchaser.

When positioned on the location means, the spine of the magazine may abut the side wall of the receptacle, said wall being of a complementary shape so as to facilitate this. Alternatively, the magazine may be positioned at any suitable position with respect to the location means.

The invention is not limited to attachment of the magazine using adhesive, any suitable means can be used to secure the magazine to the carton. Other possibilities for providing means by which to secure the magazine to the attachment device include a single tab element or a plurality of tab elements, any number of variations can be envisaged providing the required structural integrity is provided.

The receptacle may be formed from cardboard, stiff card or any other suitable material and may be of any suitable shape or dimensions.

According to the invention there is also provided a method of securing a gift or the like to a magazine, the method comprising the step of providing a receptacle for receiving and retaining a gift and the step of securing said receptacle to the magazine.

A further aspect of the invention comprises a method of assembling an attachment device, formed from an appropriate blank, and magazine comprising providing a means for securing the attachment means to the magazine.

The invention further includes a magazine and attachment device interconnected as described above.

In a further embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of presenting a gift with a magazine prior to purchase comprising the steps of, forming a receptacle having a magazine location means, placing said gift within said receptacle, positioning a magazine in the region of the location means and securing same thereto by means of a suitable peelable adhesive.

A further aspect of the invention comprises a blank for the formation of an attachment device as hereinbefore described. Said blank comprises a plurality of panels, preferably four, separated by fold lines which when the blank is folded and the attachment device assembled form the front, back and side walls of the receptacle. The panels are provided with foldable flaps and closure tabs which provide means for closing the ends of the receptacle.

One panel is formed with a foldable flap which extends outwardly of the panel along an edge thereof.

A further panel, preferably that which will form the back wall of the assembled receptacle is of a greater dimension than the panel which forms the front wall such that when the blank is folded, a portion of the back wall extends beyond the front wall.

In an further embodiment of the invention the carton itself may be provided with a suitable adhesive, possibly a peelable adhesive and mounted directly on the cover of the magazine.

An attachment device of the present invention has the advantage that the carton can accommodate large gifts.

In addition, gifts can be retained within the receptacle and protected from loss and/or damage.

It also enables the magazine to be browsed at point of sale without the gift becoming damaged or dislodged. The attachment device enables the device-magazine combination to be effectively overlaid on a shelf to create a effective visual display.

Furthermore, the attachment device itself is eyecatching and creates a visual impact at point of sale.

In addition, the carton provides additional surface for the location of advertising or other printed matter.

The invention may be performed in various ways and an embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows as attachment device prior to it being secured to a magazine; Figure 2 shows the attachment device of Figure 1 together with a magazine; and Figure 3 shows a blank for an attachment device.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, attachment device 10 for attaching gifts or the like to magazines comprises a receptacle 12 in the form of a carton or box. Said receptacle is formed with a back wall 14, a front wall 16, two side walls 18 and 20, and end closures 22 (only one shown).

The device 10 is formed with a location means 24 adapted to receive a magazine 26 or like publication. Said location means is in the form of a flange or lip and is disposed relative to the receptacle such that it extends along the edge thereof, with a nip 28 being formed between the side wall 20 and the location means 24. Said location means 24 may be provided with a peelable adhesive to facilitate removal of the magazine 26 therefrom by the purchaser.

The attachment device may be formed from a blank as shown in Figure 3. The cardboard blank 30 is formed with a plurality of panels having fold lines therebetween as indicated by chain dots. The panels of the blank have the following functions. 32 forms the back wall of the receptacle, 34 forms the front wall, and panels 36, 38 form the side walls. These panels are separated by fold lines A, B, C and D. Foldable flap and closure means 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 and 50 are foldable about their respective fold lines and form the end closures 22.

As can be seen in Figure 3, panel 36 which forms the back wall 14 of the receptacle 10 is of greater dimensions than the panel 34 which forms the front wall 16. The portion 38 of the panel 32 forms the location means 24 when the receptacle is assembled. Foldable flap 52 extends from the panel 36 which forms one of the side walls of the receptacle.

The attachment device 10 is assembled by folding the panels about the fold lines A, B and C such that the panel 34 which forms the front wall 12 is in a spaced relationship with the panel 32 which forms the back wall 14. Flap 52 is folded about fold line D such that a face of the flap is brought into contact with the panel 32 and secured thereto by means of a suitable adhesive.

This serves to retain the attachment device in a folded configuration.

The width dimension of the receptacle 12 is determined by the width dimension of the panel 34 which forms the front wall 16. As this is of a lesser width dimension than the panel 32 which forms the back wall 14 once the blank 30 has been folded, a region of the panel 32 extends beyond the side wall 20, this region forms the location means 24. A nip 28 is formed in the region between the side wall 22 and the location means 24 which may serve to receive the spine of the magazine 26.

In use, the attachment means 10 is assembled by folding a suitable blank 30. A gift (not shown) is placed within the receptacle 12 and the receptacle closed by means of the end closures 22. A magazine 26 is placed on the location means whereby the spine thereof is located in the nip 26 and abuts the side wall 20. Adhesive means provided on the location means 24 retain the magazine in contact with the location means 24 until removed therefrom by the purchaser.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An attachment device for connecting a magazine and a gift provided therewith, said device comprising a receptacle for receiving and retaining said gift, said receptacle having a outwardly extending location means adapted to receive a magazine.

2. An attachment device for connecting a magazine and a gift provided therewith, said device comprising a receptacle for receiving and retaining said gift, said receptacle being adapted to facilitate connection of a magazine with said device.

3. An attachment device according to claim 1 characterised in that said receptacle is in the form of a carton or box having front and back walls, side walls and end closures.

4. An attachment device according to claim 3 characterised in that said location means is formed integrally with the back wall of the receptacle.

5. An attachment device according to claim 4 characterised in that the back wall of the receptacle is larger in width than the front wall such that a portion of the back wall extends beyond the body of the receptacle forming said location means.

6. An attachment device according to claim 5 characterised in that said location means is in the form of a flange or a lip.

7. An attachment device according to claim 5 characterised in that said location means is in the form of a tab.

8. An attachment device according to claim 5 characterised in that said location means is in the form of a plurality of tabs.

9. An attachment device according to claim 6 characterised in that said location means is disposed relative to the receptacle such that it extends along an edge thereof.

10. An attachment device according any of the preceding claims characterised in that a nip is formed between a side wall of the receptacle and the location means.

11. An attachment device according to claim 10 characterised in that said location means is provided with an adhesive element, preferably peelable.

12. An attachment device according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said device is formed from a cardboard blank.

13. An attachment device according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said receptacle is formed with a transparent or translucent region.

14. An attachment device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. An assembly of an attachment device according to any of the previous claims and a magazine.

16. An assembly of an attachment device and a magazine substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of assembling an attachment device and a magazine comprising the steps of forming the attachment device from an appropriate blank, placing said magazine in contact with the location means and securing the magazine thereto.

18. A method of attaching a gift or the like to a magazine comprising the steps of locating the gift within a suitable receptacle and securing the magazine thereto.

19. A method of securing a gift or the like to a magazine prior to purchase comprising the steps of; a) forming a receptacle having a magazine location means; b) placing said gift within said receptacle; c) locating a magazine in the region of the magazine location means and; d) securing same thereto by means of a suitable peelable adhesive.

20. A method of presenting a gift or the like with a magazine prior to purchase comprising the steps of; a) forming a receptacle having a magazine location means; b) placing said gift within said receptacle; c) locating a magazine in the region of the magazine location means and; d) securing same thereto by means of a suitable peelable adhesive.