GB2321428A

GB2321428A - Collecting card receiving part-image labels removed from containers

Info

Publication number: GB2321428A
Application number: GB9702691A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jacobus Hillebrand Cast
Original assignee: ENTERTAINMENT PUBLICATIONS LIM
Current assignee: ENTERTAINMENT PUBLICATIONS LIM
Priority date: 1997-01-28
Filing date: 1997-02-10
Publication date: 1998-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2017-02-10
Also published as: GB9701646D0; GB9702691D0; GB2321428B

Abstract

Labels attached to bottles or cans of beverage for example, are collected by purchasers and affixed to a card. The labels combine together to form a representation of a photograph or literary work. The labels may have two layers of adhesive separated by a release paper so that a label attached to a container may be peeled from the release layer and attached to the card.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN MARKETING It is known to issue adhesive labels or stamps in connection with the sale of goods or provision of services. The labels may be attached to a card or book and redeemed for money or goods.

Although the existing scheme may encourage a purchaser to buy certain articles in order to amass the number of labels necessary to acquire a desired item or cash sum, the number of articles bought will generally be directly related to the number of labels needed.

To overcome this problem, we propose that each label should bear a representation of a fragment of an artistic work. The consumer may be issued with a card onto which the labels may be affixed following removal from the purchased article. The card may be surrendered for a desired item or cash award when it bears the entire set of the labels necessary to reproduce the artistic work in its entirety. As the acquisition of the desired labels involves a degree of randomness, the quantity of articles needing to be bought must exceed the number of labels making up the set. The expression "artistic work" is used in a broad sense to include at least any graphic or photographic work irrespective of size or artistic quality. Instead of making use of labels which bear fragments of an artistic work, the labels may reproduce fragments of a compilation consisting of letters, characters or symbols, for example a poem or sentence. The labels may form fragments of a compilation of an artistic work and letters, characters or symbols, in combination, such as an illustration and caption.

The labels may have two layers of adhesive separated by a release paper, namely an outer layer on the outer surface of the release paper and an inner layer concealed by the release paper. The outer layer of adhesive serves to attach the label to an article, such as a can of soft drink or beer. The label may be peeled off leaving the release paper in place on the can. The label may then be affixed to the card using the second layer of adhesive.

Alternatively, the label may bear a single layer of adhesive of such a nature as to allow the label to be peeled from the can and affixed to the card.

By way of example, a photograph is made of an item which may be claimed on surrender of the collecting card. The photograph is divided into, say, six, nine or more fragments, each square in shape, arranged two by three or three by three. Labels are printed which include a quantity of labels reproducing each fragment. Each label consists of a paper or plastics square bearing self-adhesive on its reverse face. The adhesive is overlaid by a release paper which bears a second layer of adhesive. Labels are arranged in line on a continuous strip of release paper adhered to the second layer of adhesive. The strip is fed through a suitable machine to apply an individual label to each of a number of cans of soft drinks, using the second layer of adhesive. A complete consignment of cans will include a number of cans bearing each of the fragments of the photograph. Conveniently the label is applied to the end of the can fitted with the ring pull.

Purchasers of the cans try to collect all six, nine or more labels as the case may be to make up a set showing the item, and affix the labels in the correct positions on the card. The card may then be exchanged for the item.

The expression "artistic work" is used in the claims which follow in the sense of any photograph, drawing, diagram or the like irrespective of artistic quality, and need not depict the item for which the card is to be redeemed. The term "literary work" is used in the sense of any combination of characters or symbols which lends itself to the purpose of the invention and may, for example, be a statement about the promotion or the item for which the card may be redeemed. Labels pertaining to a number of different works may be issued simultaneously, so that the purchaser must select those which relate to the same work to make up a set. A single work may be divided into substantially more than nine fragments, and the labels need not be square but could, for example, have the shape of jigsaw pieces.

The invention is particularly applicable to so called fast moving consumer goods (fmcg) capable of being dispensed from vending machines, such as packets of cigarettes, confectionery and condoms, in addition to cans of soft drinks.

The support surface referred to in the claims may be that of a card, book or other suitable carrier onto which the labels may be affixed.

Claims

1. An article of commerce, for example a can or bottle containing a beverage, a label attached to the can by adhesive, the label bearing a representation of a fragment of an artistic or literary work, the label being readily detachable from the article of commerce, and a support surface to which the label may be affixed by adhesive, whereby the said label may be juxtaposed to other similar labels, each bearing respective other fragments of the work, thereby to assemble a complete representation of the work.

2. A plurality of articles of commerce, for example cans or bottles containing beverage, each article bearing a label, each of said labels being removable from the article and affixable to a support surface, at least some of the said labels bearing representations of a number of different fragments of an artistic work, whereby a complete representation of the work may be assembled on the support surface by appropriate juxtaposition of the labels.

3. In combination, the steps of: printing a plurality of cards, books or other carriers and issuing the same to consumers, printing a multiplicity of labels, said multiplicity including a plurality of labels from each of a number of groups of labels, each label of each group of labels bearing on its surface a reproduction of a respective fragment of an artistic or literary work, each label having a double layer of adhesive, said layers being separated by a release paper, using the outermost layer of adhesive to attach a respective label to respective ones of a plurality of articles of commerce, selling the articles of commerce to consumers, whereby a consumer may remove labels from articles acquired by him and affix them to a carrier using the second layer of adhesive, so that upon acquiring labels from all of the groups of labels a complete representation of the work may be assembled on the carrier.

3. In combination, the steps of: printing a multiplicity of labels, said multiplicity including a plurality of labels from each of a number of groups of labels, each label of each group of labels bearing on its surface a reproduction of a respective fragment of an artistic or literary work, each label having a double layer of adhesive, said layers being separated by a release paper, using the outermost layer of adhesive to attach each label to a respective article of commerce, whereby the labels may be removed from said articles by a consumer and affixed to a support surface using the second layer of adhesive, so that upon acquiring labels from all of the groups of labels a complete representation of the work may be assembled on the support surface.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A plurality of articles of commerce, for example cans or bottles containing beverage, each article bearing a label, each of said labels being removable from the article and affixable to a card, book or other carrier separate from the articles, at least some of the said labels bearing representations of a number of different fragments of an artistic or literary work, whereby a complete representation of the work may be assembled on the carrier by appropriate juxtaposition of the labels.

2. In combination, the steps of: printing a plurality of cards, books or other carriers and issuing the same to consumers, printing a multiplicity of adhesive labels, said multiplicity including a plurality of labels from each of a number of groups of labels, each label of each group of labels bearing on its surface a reproduction of a respective fragment of an artistic or literary work, attaching a respective label to respective ones of a plurality of articles of commerce, selling the articles of commerce to consumers, whereby a consumer may remove labels from articles acquired by him and affix them to a carrier, so that upon acquiring labels from all of the groups of labels a complete representation of the work may be assembled on the carrier.