WO1996002881A1

WO1996002881A1 - Advertising medium

Info

Publication number: WO1996002881A1
Application number: PCT/AU1995/000442
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kenneth Mandeno Sowden
Original assignee: Kenneth Mandeno Sowden
Priority date: 1994-07-20
Filing date: 1995-07-20
Publication date: 1996-02-01
Also published as: AUPM694594A0

Abstract

An advertising medium consisting of a sheet of thin flexible or stiff material having thereon a plurality of areas each displaying an advertisement (11, 12), or designation of particular goods or information services (14, 15), programmable electronic circuit means incorporated in said sheet, visual electronic display means (16) on said sheet, a plurality of electric switch means (13, 19) associated with said electronic circuit means and each related to one at least of said areas, wherein, in accordance with a programmable in said programmable electronic circuit means, in operation of said switch means related to any one of said areas there is displayed on the visual electronic display means information relating to the advertisement or goods or services in said area.

Description

ADVERTISING MEDIUM The present invention relates to an advertising medium for display in houses or offices intended to provide users with a wide variety of information about businesses and the availability of goods and information services and community information in the area in which they live or work.

The invention in a first aspect consists in an advertising medium consisting of a sheet of thin flexible or stiff material having thereon a plurality of areas each displaying an advertisement, or designation of particular goods or information services, programmable electronic circuit means incorporated in said sheet, visual electronic display means on said sheet, a plurality of electric switch means associated with said electronic circuit means and each related to one at least of said areas, wherein, in accordance with a programme in said programmable electronic circuit means, on operation of said switch means related to any one of said areas there is displayed on the visual electronic display means information relating to the advertisement or goods or services in said area.

In a second aspect, the invention consists in an advertising medium consisting of a sheet of thin flexible or stiff material having thereon a plurality of areas each displaying an advertisement, or designation of particular goods or information services programmable electronic circuit means incorporated in said sheet, visual electronic display means on said sheet, electric switch means associated with some at least of said areas, connections between said electric switch means, said programmable electronic circuit display wherein, in accordance with a programme in said programmable electronics circuit means, on operation of switch means in any of said areas there is displayed on the visual electronic display means information relating to the advertisement or goods or services in said area.

In a further aspect the invention consists in an advertising medium consisting of a panel or sheet of thin flexible stiff material having thereon a plurality of areas each displaying an advertisement and/or designation of the name of the supplier of particular goods or information services, programmable electronic circuit means incorporated in said panel or sheet, visual electronics display means on said panel or sheet, a plurality of electric switch means associated with said electronic circuit means related to some at least of said areas, an individual replaceable memory storage device being located in a position adjacent each of said areas, an electrical connection between each of said storage devices and the programmable electronic circuit means, wherein, in accordance with a programme in said programmable electronic circuit means, on operation of said switch means related to any one of said areas there is displayed on the visual electronic display means information relating to the advertisement for the supplier of said goods or services in said area made available from the adjacent memory storage device.

It is preferred that the memory storage devices are in the form of discs accommodated in slots in the panel or sheet and accessible from the face thereof.

It is further preferred that in addition to the said areas there are a plurality of other areas providing an indication of goods, services or a supplier of goods or services there being a numerical indication associated with each area, information in relation to the contents of each said area being displayed on said visual electronic display means on inputting a signal to said programmable electronic circuit means utilising the numerical indication of said area whereby information relating to that area is displayed on said visual electronic display means from information contained in a memory in said programmable electronic circuit means.

It is further preferred that the panel or sheet should be arranged for affixing directly to a wall or other vertical surface.

It is preferred that the invention be a panel formed by moulding from plastic material and providing accommodation on the rear thereof for said electrical connections. It is further preferred that said electronic circuit means is constructed and arranged to receive a "smart card" containing the programme.

A preferred form of the invention, in addition to displaying advertising material, provides a year calendar diary.

In order that the nature of the invention may be better understood, a preferred embodiment thereof is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device according to the invention; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged isometric view of a corner of the panel shown in Figure 1 illustrating the manner in which memory storage devices are accommodated in the panel. The embodiment of the invention as illustrated is given by way of example and is merely illustrative of one manner in which the invention may be presented.

In a preferred form of the invention the advertising medium consists of a panel moulded plastic material which is thin and which may be flexible or rigid and which is preferably of a thickness enabling a small calculating device and electrical wiring to be incorporated in the panel.

In practice, the central part 10 or the sheet is occupied by an annual calendar diary displaying spaces for each day of the year. It is contemplated that the advertising medium will be displayed on some convenient vertical surface so that entries can be made in the diary portion.

On either side of the upper parts 11 and 12 of the calendar diary portion are five advertising spaces containing particulars of advertisers in respect of each of which is a small rectangle 13 containing a related sign (not shown) which is preferably a numeral. In the example shown there are two sorts of advertising space, those referred to above at 11 and 12 giving particulars of a service or goods together with detailed particulars of an advertiser and the areas 14 and 15 shown on either side of the lower part of the calendar diary portion 10 merely giving particulars of a service or goods. In the case of each of these signs are related to numbers, (not shown), displayed in a conventional manner on the face of a calculator incorporated within the structure of the sheet.

The keyboard of the calculator is on the right hand side, at the bottom of the sheet, and on the left hand side is a liquid crystal screen 16 connector to the calculator. Above the keyboard is the letter C and if this is depressed the calculator can be used as a conventional calculator. If this is not pressed, the calculator is set up to display particulars of any of the advertisers or services listed on either side of the screen. In this condition depressing any one of the keys of the calculator, or a suitable combination of such keys will cause information relating to the particular service or advertisement related to the keys pressed to be displayed in the liquid crystal display area in accordance with a programme governing the operation of the computer of the calculator.

In a preferred form of the invention it is intended that the ten advertising spaces in the parts 11 and 12 shall be in relation to 10 major accounts of national significance in respect of each of which a substantial amount of information is stored in memory. For this purpose there is in respect of each customer a memory button 17. Each memory button 17 is a "chip" enclosed in a stainless steel can. Such chips can be constructed to contain in excess of 32K bits of memory. This amount of memory is capable of filling the screen 16 many times over and screens of information are accessed merely by repetitive pressing of the appropriate keys of the calculator. As illustrated in Figure 2 the memory buttons 17 are readily removable and replaceable in slots 18 formed in the panel which is moulded to provide in whether the panel channels for the accommodation of contacts for the chips 17 and wiring connecting them with the internal memory of the calculator 15. Such memory chips from some advertisers may require annual replacement.

In each of the areas 14 and 15 are twenty five small rectangles against each of which is the name of a service such as "Accountant" or "Courier". Each rectangle 19 contains a number, (not shown), and when the keys relating to this number on the calculator are pressed information from an internal memory in the calculator will be displayed on the screen 16. Memory chips within the calculator are provided to store information relating to the services concerned. Opposite some of the rectangles 19, in place of the name of a service there may be provided references such as "Wine List" or "Recipes" and on pressing keys relating to these appropriate information appears on the screen.

Preferably, the computer is programmed by means of a "smart card" the calculator being provided with means whereby the "smart card" may be inserted or removed from the calculator. The card may be programmed to provide any desired information about an advertiser or in connection with a service when the appropriate switch is operated. The advantage of programming the computer or the calculator by means of a "smart card" so that the programming may be readily changed from time to time as businesses wishing to advertise by means of the advertising medium change.

An embodiment of the invention according to its second aspect, is constructed substantially as described above with the difference that the small rectangles containing signs are replaced by switches that are connected directly through conductors passing within the interior of the sheet to the computer of the calculator replacing the keyboard of the calculator. The construction is otherwise the same as that described above.

The calculator may include a small radio tuned exclusively to a local station. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modification may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly claimed. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An advertising medium consisting of a sheet of thin flexible or stiff material having thereon a plurality of areas each displaying an advertisement, or designation of particular goods or information services, programmable electronic circuit means incorporated in said sheet, visual electronic display means on said sheet, a plurality of electric switch means associated with said electronic circuit means and each related to one at least of said areas, wherein, in accordance with a programme in said programmable electronic circuit means, on operation of said switch means related to any one of said areas there is displayed on the visual electronic display means information relating to the advertisement or goods or services in said area.

2. An advertising medium consisting of a sheet of thin flexible or stiff material having thereon a plurality of areas each displaying an advertisement, or designation of particular goods or information services programmable electronic circuit means incorporated in said sheet, visual electronic display means on said sheet, electric switch means associated with some at least of said areas, connections between said electric switch means, said programmable electronic circuit display wherein, in accordance with a programme in said programmable electronics circuit means, on operation of switch means in any of said areas there is displayed on the visual electronic display means information relating to the advertisement or goods or services in said area.

3. An advertising medium consisting of a panel or sheet of thin flexible stiff material having thereon a plurality of areas each displaying an advertisement and/or designation of the name of the supplier of particular goods or information services, programmable electronic circuit means incorporated in said panel or sheet, visual electronics display means on said panel or sheet, a plurality of electric switch means associated with said electronic circuit means related to some at least of said areas, an individual replaceable memory storage device being located in a position adjacent each of said areas, an electrical connection between each of said storage devices and the programmable electronic circuit means, wherein, in accordance with a programme in said programmable electronic circuit means, on operation of said switch means related to any one of said areas there is displayed on the visual electronic display means information relating to the advertisement for the supplier of said goods or services in said area made available from the adjacent memory storage device.

4. An advertising medium as claimed in claim 3 wherein the memory storage devices are in the form of discs accommodated in slots in the panel or sheet and accessible from the face thereof.

5. An advertising medium as claimed in claim 4 wherein the addition to the said areas there are a plurality of other areas providing an indication of goods, services or a supplier of goods or services there being a numerical indication associated with each area, information in relation to the contents of each said area being displayed on said visual electronic display means on inputting a signal to said programmable electronic circuit means utilising the numerical indication of said area whereby information relating to that area is displayed on said visual electronic display means from information container in a memory in said programmable electronic circuit means .

6. An advertising medium as claimed in claim 4 wherein the panel or sheet should be arranged for affixing directly to a wall or other vertical surface.

7. An advertising medium as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 made as a panel formed by moulding from plastic material and providing accommodation on the rear thereof for said electrical connections.

8. An advertising medium as claimed in claim 4 wherein said electronic circuit means is constructed and arranged to receive a "smart card" containing the programme.

9. An advertising medium as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the medium addition to displaying advertising material, provides a year calendar diary.