JPH0434490A - Retail coupon system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent the illegal use of a coupon and to let a consumer smoothly exchange the coupon by providing 1st and 2nd coupons having the indication of coupons on their inner faces and a means for tearing up a 1st section along 1st and 2nd lines at the 1st section. CONSTITUTION: 1st and 2nd sections 10 and 12 are mutually fitted along a side edge 10b and the inner face of the 1st section 10 is not observed. At the 1st section 10, there are 1st and 2nd coupons 14 and 16 on its inner face and means 26 and 28 for tearing up the 1st section 10 along the 1st and 2nd lines. The 1st line is extended along the 1st coupon 14 and separated from the 2nd coupon 12, and the 2nd line is extended along the 2nd coupon 16 and separated from the 1st coupon 14. In this case, when one coupon is selected, the other coupon is surely abandoned and made invalid. Thus, the illegal use of the coupon can be prevented, and the consumer can smoothly exchange the coupon as well.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION The present invention relates to - retail coupons, and in particular to high value-added coupons of the so-called "select" or "self-destructive" type.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Consumer packaged goods companies are always seeking effective ways to increase the market share of their products. "choice"
Type or "self-destructing" retail coupons are one method. Making consumers want more products and separating them from competing products. A "choice" or "self-destructive" retail coupon consists of multiple parts, the corresponding value of which is hidden until the consumer makes a selection. Once a selection has been made, the selected portion is collected intact at the store, while the unselected portion is discarded and becomes invalid.

In this way, duplicate redemption of unselected coupons is prevented. Coupons are void for lack of validity period and conditions, including consumer redemption terms and retailer refund notices. The number of coupons redeemed or not redeemed is determined by the type "selection" or "
Provide useful information to sponsors of "self-destruction" type coupons.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Various forms of "selection" or "self-destruction" type coupons have been proposed or actually implemented. in general,
They are not sufficient to achieve the objective. These coupons are used to engage consumers where the information is deployed.
If its application is not clearly understood by consumers, it will fail. If the coupon is not peeled off correctly, the result is confusion for the consumer, and even more confusion at the in-store checkout counter where the consumer redeems the coupon.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In the coupon system of the present invention, the first section and the second section are attached to each other along their side edges so that the inner surface of the first section is not visible. The first section has on its inner surface a lever and a second coupon and means for tearing the first section along the first and second lines. a first line extends along the first coupon and is separated from the second coupon;
A second line extends along the second coupon and is separated from the first coupon.

(Example) The invention will now be described with reference to examples.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the coupon system of the present invention has a first section 10 and a second section 12, each having a side edge 10a thereof.
and 12a, 10b and 12b, 10c and 12c, 10d and 12d.

The bonding of each of sections 10 and 12 is achieved by bonding the mutually facing inner surfaces of each of sections 10 and 12 to
The display of either e or 12e is hidden from view.

Section 10 has a first coupon 14 and a second coupon 16, respectively, and inner surface 10e of section 10.
A coupon is displayed above. Figure 1, Figure 2,
3, coupons 14 and 16 each extend along one side edge of section 10. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. In particular, section IO is shown as being surrounded by a straight line with a coupon 14 extending along side edge 10c, and a coupon 15 oriented perpendicular to coupon 14 connecting side edge 10c. It extends along the side edge 10d. With this configuration, coupons 14 and 16 have a common portion at the corner of the adhesive side edge that contains the required refund indication.

Section 12 is section 1
2. It is removably attached to section 10 so that it can be separated from section 2. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. It is glued by pieces 20, 22, and 24. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a fourth adhesive strip 25 is used in place of the tear line 18, so that sections 10 and 12 are provided with an adhesive strip that extends along the entire periphery. removably attached.

The coupon system of the present invention also has a first line and a second line.
means for tearing the section IO along lines, a first line extending along the coupon 14 and separated from the coupon 16 and a second line extending along the coupon 16 and separated from the coupon 14; .

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the tearing means includes the first tension zipper 26.
and a second tension zipper 28, which are arranged perpendicularly to each other and extend between the central portions of opposite sides of section IO. Pull zipper 26
and 28 are perforation line parts that can be separated from the paper main body along the perforation dotted line 18. Pull zipper 26
and 28 are the pull zipper-knob end 26, respectively.
a and 28a, and zipper lines 26b and 28b. Pulling on the respective tab ends separates the pull zippers 26 and 28 from the section 10 along the zipper line. To facilitate tearing,
The tear lines defining pull zippers 26 and 28 are cut to the desired length to their intersection. Additionally, the tear lines 18 to which sections 10 and 12 are attached are cut between the tear lines defining the zipper lines to facilitate complete separation of the pull zipper 28 when pulled. There is.

The coupon system of the present invention is intended to allow the consumer to select one of the coupons 14 and 16 which are formed in sections and are not visible to the consumer prior to selection.

- Once a selection is made, the selected coupons remain intact and can be redeemed, whereas the unselected coupons are torn and rendered invalid. In this way, double redemptions are prevented. Thus, during the selection process using the coupon system of the present invention, it is possible to tear off selected coupons as well as unselected coupons and make them invalid.

Coupon selection is accomplished by pulling on either pull zipper 26 or 28.

The pull zipper is used against coupons 14 and 16. Pulling the pull zipper 26 tears the coupon 14 and makes it invalid, but leaves the coupon 16 intact, and pulling the pull zipper 28 removes the coupon 16. The coupon 14 is arranged so that it is torn and becomes invalid, leaving the coupon 14 intact. Pulling either of the pull zippers exposes and allows the user to view the inner surface 12e of section 12, which indicates to the user how to remove the selected coupon. This is done by gently pulling the selected coupon out of section 12. A display showing the user how to remove the selected coupon is shown in section 1.
2 need not be shown on the inner surface of section 10, but may be shown on the exposed outer surface of section 10, consistent with the teaching of which pull zipper is associated with each coupon.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.
is selected, the adhesive bonds along side edges 10b and 12b and along side edges 10c and 12c are broken, the tear line 18 is torn by half its length, and the coupon 16 is selected. The adhesive bond along the side edges 10a and 12c is then broken and the tear line 18 is torn along its entire length. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the selected coupon is cut away from the section 12, the adhesive bond along the piece used in place of the tear line 18 is broken along adhesive bonds.

The characteristics of the adhesive selected for the coupon system are such that it acts as an adhesive that bonds sections 10 and 12 together and resists the tendency to separate sections 10 and 12 when one of the pull zippers is pulled. This means that the adhesive bond is easily broken during careful peeling of selected portions of section 10 from section 12. All types of temporary adhesives can be used as adhesives in the present invention.

Although squares are shown in the preferred embodiment of the invention, other shapes may also be used, such as rectangles.

While the preferred embodiments of this invention have been described above, various adaptations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

(Effects of the Invention) In this way, the retail coupon system of the present invention ensures that when one coupon is selected, the other coupon is reliably discarded and invalidated. Therefore, there is no risk that the coupon will be used fraudulently, and the consumer can smoothly redeem the coupon.

4°. Figure 1 shows the product before it is formed into a product that will actually be used.
1 is a plan view of a first preferred embodiment of a coupon system constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIG.

Figure 2 shows the process before it is formed into a product that will actually be used.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a coupon system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the coupon system of FIG. 2 from the opposite direction;

IO...first section, 12...second section, 14...first coupon, 16...second coupon,
18...Tear line, 26...Measure 1 pull zipper
28...Second pull zipper-0 or more

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first section and a second section are attached so as to be separable from each other, and are attached to each other along their side edges so that the markings on the inner surface of the first section are not visible. a coupon system comprising: the first section tearing first and second coupons having coupon indicia on an interior surface of the first section; and tearing the first section along first and second lines. the first line extending along the first coupon and being separated from the second coupon, and the second line extending along the second coupon and being separated from the first coupon. A retail coupon system characterized by: 2. Each of the first and second coupons is
extending along a side edge of the section, the first line extending along a side edge of the section;
2. The retail coupon system of claim 1, wherein the coupon extends to a side edge of the first section along which the second line extends, and the second line extends to a side edge of the first section along which the second coupon extends. 3. the first and second coupons extend perpendicularly to each other;
2. The first and second lines extend perpendicularly to each other.
retail coupon system as described in . 4. the first and second sections are surrounded by a straight line;
The retail coupon system of claim 2. 5. (a) said first and second sections are of the same square shape; (b) said first and second coupons extend perpendicularly to each other along connecting side edges of said first section; 5. The retail coupon system of claim 4, wherein: c) the first and second lines extend perpendicularly to each other between the center portions of opposite sides of the first section. 6. The retail coupon system of claim 5, wherein the tearing means includes a first tension zipper extending along the first line and a second tension zipper extending along the second line. 7. The retail coupon system of claim 6, wherein the tear lines defining the first and second tension zippers are cut to the desired length at their intersection. 8. said first and second sections are adhered to each other by a tear line along which one of said coupons extends and an adhesive strip extending along the remaining three side edges of each of said first and second sections; 7. The retail coupon system of claim 6. 9. The tear line bonding the first and second sections is cut between the tear lines defining a tension zipper extending to the tear line bonding the first and second sections. Retail coupon system as described. 10. The retail coupon system of claim 6, wherein the first and second sections are adhered to each other by adhesive strips extending along four side edges of each of the first and second sections. 11. The second section has the indicia on an inner surface opposite the inner surface of the first section that is exposed and visible by a user when any of the pull zippers is pulled. The retail coupon system described in 8. 12. The second section has the indicia on an inner surface opposite the inner surface of the first section that is exposed and visible by a user when either of the pull zippers is pulled. 10. The retail coupon system described in 10. 13, (a) first and second coupons; (b) first and second tension zippers extending along the first and second coupons, respectively; (ii) disabling the first coupon by tearing and destroying it when pulled along the first coupon and leaving the second coupon intact; (ii) attaching the second tension zipper to the second coupon; a first section that overlaps the first section and is positioned so that when pulled along the second coupon, the second coupon is torn and destroyed thereby rendering it invalid and keeping the first coupon intact; covering the first and second coupons and removably attached to the first section, and after pulling the first and second tension zippers along their associated coupons, portions of the first section are pulled apart. A retail coupon system having: 14, each of the first and second coupons extending along a side edge of the first section;
14. The retail coupon system of claim 13, wherein each pull zipper extends to a side edge of the first section along which the associated coupon extends. 15. The retail coupon system of claim 13, wherein the first and second coupons extend perpendicularly to each other and wherein the first and second tension zippers extend perpendicularly to each other. 16. The retail coupon system of claim 14, wherein the first and second sections are surrounded by a straight line. 17, (a) said first and second sections are of the same square shape, (b) said first and second coupons extend perpendicular to each other along connecting side edges of said first section, and (c) 16. The retail coupon system of claim 15, wherein the first and second tension zippers extend perpendicularly to each other between the centers of opposite sides of the first section. 18. The retail coupon system of claim 17, wherein the tear lines defining the first and second tension zippers are cut to a desired length at their intersection. 19. said second section is adhered to said first section by a tear line along which one of said coupons extends and an adhesive strip extending along each of the remaining three side edges of said first and second sections; 19. The retail coupon system of claim 18. 20. A tear line to which the first and second sections are attached is cut between the tear lines extending to the tear line to which the first and second sections are attached to define a tension zipper. 18. The retail coupon system described in 18. 21. The retail coupon system of claim 18, wherein the first and second sections are adhered to each other by adhesive strips extending along four side edges of each of the first and second sections. 22. The retail coupon system of claim 19, wherein the second section has an indicia that is exposed and visible to the user upon pulling any of the zipper tabs. 23. The retail coupon system of claim 21, wherein the second section has an indicia that is exposed and visible by the user upon pulling of either of the pull zippers.