GB2391997A

GB2391997A - Tubular promotional aid

Info

Publication number: GB2391997A
Application number: GB0219107A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Thomas Dowler
Original assignee: MW CREATIVE Ltd
Current assignee: MW CREATIVE Ltd
Priority date: 2002-08-16
Filing date: 2002-08-16
Publication date: 2004-02-18
Also published as: EP1389585A1; GB0219107D0

Abstract

A promotional aid 1 comprising a first, generally tubular portion 2 adapted to be located over part of an article, e.g. a wine or spirits bottle, to be promoted, and a second portion 4 which extends outwardly from the first portion 2 and which bears a promotional item. The first portion 2 is preferably frustoconical in shape, to assist its location over a part of the article to be promoted. Ribs 6 may also be formed on the tubular portion 2 to increase its flexibility. The aid may be constructed from at least one blank. A blank comprises a first panel from which a pair of second panels extend outwardly to either side. The first panel is formed into the tubular portion 2 and the two second panels are secured together, so as to form the second portion 4. Two blanks may be used by joining their respective second panels together. The promotional item may be secured between a pair of secondary panels or within a cavity 8 formed in them.

Description

Promotional aid Description

s This invention relates to a promotional aid and especially, but not exclusively, to a promotional aid for use in association with an article to be purchased which is displayed at point-of-sale.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the invention provides a promotional aid comprising a first, generally tubular portion adapted to be located over part of an article to be promoted and a second IS portion which extends outwardly from the first portion and which bears a promotional item.

The first portion may be frustoconical in shape, to aid its location over a part of an 20 article, for example, the neck of a wine or spirits bottle. Also, the first portion is preferably flexible and may comprise ribs to increase this flexibility. 25 Preferably, the second portion comprises a cavity accommodating the promotional item. The cavity may be defined between two halves of the second portion or may be a recess formed in one or both halves of the second portion. Alternatively, a 30 generally flat promotional item may be sandwiched between two halves of the second portion. Preferably also, the second portion is transparent, such that

( -2 any promotional item located therein may be viewed by potential purchasers.

The promotional aid may be formed from a 5 unitary blank or from a pair of blanks. When the promotional aid is formed from a pair of blanks the blanks are preferably mirror images of one another.

A second aspect of the invention resides in a 10 blank for forming a promotional aid, the blank comprising a first panel and a pair of second panels extending outwardly and on opposed sides thereof, the first panel being formable into a generally tubular portion, preferably frustoconical, so that 15 the pair of opposed second panels can be secured together to extend outwardly from the so-formed tubular portion, preferably with a promotional item accommodated between the so-secured and outwardly extending pair of second panels.

The pair of opposed second panels can be secured together by any suitable means, for example, adhesion, binding, shrink-wrapping, welding, snap-

fit, friction fit or the like.

A third aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming a promotional aid, comprising a first panel and at least one, and preferably a pair of, second panels extending outwardly thereof, the 30 at least one second panel being securable to the corresponding second panel(s) of another blank to provide a generally tubular portion, preferably

frustoconical, formed from the two first panels of the two blanks, with the at least one pair of so-

secured second panels extending outwardly from the so-formed tubular portion, preferably with at least 5 one promotional item accommodated within the or at least one of the pair of so-secured second panels.

The at least one pair of second panels can be secured together by any suitable means, for example, lo adhesion, binding, shrink-wrapping, welding, snap-

fit, friction fit or the like The first panel of a blank in accordance with the second or third aspect of the invention may be 15 in the form of a trapezium, in order to form a generally tubular portion of frustoconical shape.

Also, the first panel may be ribbed to enhance its bendability or other formability for providing the generally tubular portion and for placing the so 20 erected promotional aid over a part of an article, such as the neck of a drinks bottle.

In order that the various aspects of the invention can be more fully understood, preferred 25 embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first 30 embodiment of a partiallyerected promotional aid in accordance with the invention;

-4 Figure 2 shows a plan view of a blank capable of being erected into the first embodiment of promotional aid as shown in Figure 1; 5 Figure 3 shows a perspective view of two blanks being erected into a second embodiment of promotional aid; Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view 10 of the second embodiment of promotional aid being positioned around the neck of a drinks bottle; and Figure 5 shows a plan view of the second embodiment of promotional aid erected and located 15 around the neck of a drinks bottle.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of promotional aid 20 1 comprising a first, tubular portion 2 and a second portion indicated generally at 4.

The tubular portion 2 is frustoconical in shape and is adapted to be located over part (not shown) 25 of an article to be promoted. The frustoconical shape allows the promotional aid to be located over, for example, the neck of a drinks bottle. The tubular portion 2 is made of any suitable flexible material, for example plastics material, and 30 preferably has ribs 6 to increase its flexibility.

The second portion 4 extends outwardly from the frustoconical portion 2 and bears a promotional item (not shown) in a cavity 8. The cavity 8 is defined between two mirror halves 10, 12 of the 5 second portion 4. The cavity 8 may be a recess formed in one or both halves 10, 12 of the second portion 4.

Alternatively, a generally flat promotional 10 item may be sandwiched between the two halves 10, 12 of the second portion 4. The second portion 4 is preferably transparent, such that a potential purchaser may view a promotional item located therein. Figure 2 a unitary blank 20 from which the promotional aid 1 shown in Figure 1 may be formed.

The blank 20 comprises a first panel 22 in the form of a trapezium and a pair of second panels 21, 23 20 extending outwardly on opposed sides of the first panel 22.

The first panel 22 is manufactured from any suitable flexible material having ribs 26 which 25 allow it to be bent into the frustoconical portion 2 shown in Figure 1.

The pair of opposed second panels 21, 23 are secured together by any suitable means, for example, 30 adhesion, binding, shrink-wrapping, welding, snap-

fit, friction fit or the like, to form the erected second portion 4 which extends outwardly from the

-6 so-formed frustoconical portion 2 shown in Figure 1.

A promotional item (not shown) is accommodated within the second portion 4 in the recess formed by cavities 28 formed in the second panels 21, 23.

s Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of promotional aid 100 being erected from two mirror blanks 30, 90.

10 Each blank 30, 40 has a first panel 32, 42 and a pair of second panels 36,38 and 46,48 extending outwardly on opposed sides thereof. The pair of second panels 36, 38 on the first blank 30 is capable of being secured to the corresponding pair 15 of second panels 46,48 on the second blank 40.

Figures 4 and 5 show that securing the blanks 30, 40 together in this manner provides a frustoconical portion formed from the two first 20 panels 32, 42 of the two blanks 30, 40. The two pairs of so-secured second panels 36, 46 and 38, 48 extend outwardly from the so-formed frustoconical portion. Preferably, a promotional item is accommodated within at least one of the pairs of so 2s secured second panels 36, 46 and 38, 48, within a recess formed by the cavities 39 and 49 in the first and second blanks 30, 40.

The promotional aid 1, 100 is preferably 30 preformed with the promotional aid located therein.

This preformed unit may then be placed upon an item to be sold at any desired time or location.

A typical example is shown in Figures 4 and 5 where the frustoconical portion formed by the first panels 32, 42 is located over the neck 200 of a 5 drinks bottle 300. The ribbed panels assist in such location. It is however conceivable that the promotional aid may be formed around the product to be sold at 10 the time of manufacturing and/or packaging.

Claims

-8- CLAIMS

1. A promotional aid comprising a first, generally tubular portion adapted to be located over part of an article to be promoted and a second portion which extends outwardly from the first portion and which bears a promotional item.

lo

2. An aid according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is frustoconical in shape, to aid its location over a part of an article.

3. An aid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the 15 first portion is flexible.

4. An aid according to claim 3, wherein the first portion comprises ribs to increase its flexibility.

20

5. An aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the second portion comprises a cavity accommodating the promotional item.

6. An aid according to claim 5, wherein the cavity S is defined between two halves of the second portion.

7. An aid according to claim 5, wherein a recess is formed in one or both halves of the second portion. ()

8. An aid according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein a generally flat promotional item is sandwiched between two halves of the second portion.

9. An aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the second portion is transparent.

10. An aid according to any preceding claim formed from a unitary blank or from a pair of blanks.

1()

11. An aid according to claim 10, wherein, when the aid is formed from a pair of blanks, the blanks are mirror images of one another.

lS

12. A promotional aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A blank for forming a promotional aid, the JO blank comprising a first panel and a pair of second panels extending outwardly and on opposed sides thereof, the first panel being formable into a generally tubular portion, preferably frustoconical, so that the pair of opposed second panels can be 95 secured together to extend outwardly from the so-

formed tubular portion.

14. A blank according to claim 13, wherein the pair of opposed second panels are secured together by 30 adhesion, bonding, shrink-wrapping, welding, snap-

fit or friction fit.

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15. A blank according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the first panel is trapezoidal.

16. A blank according to claim 13, 14 or 15, 5 wherein the first panel is ribbed.

17. A blank for forming a promotional aid, comprising a first panel and at least one, and preferably a pair of, second panels extending lit outwardly thereof, the at least one second panel being securable to the corresponding second panel(s) of another blank to provide a generally tubular portion, preferably frustoconical, formed from the two first panels of the two blanks, with the at 15 least one pair of so-secured second panels extending outwardly from the so-formed tubular portion, preferably with at least one promotional item accommodated within the or at least one of the pair of so-secured second panels.

TO

18. A blank according to claim 17, wherein the at least one pair of second panels can be secured together by adhesion, bonding, strinkwrapping, welding, snap-fit or friction fit.

19. A blank according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the first panel is in the form of a trapezium.

20. A blank according to claim 17, 18 or 19, 30 wherein the first panel is ribbed.

- 11 -

21. A blank for forming a promotional aid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.