WO1996018984A1

WO1996018984A1 - Method of making an advertising poster and a personal use article

Info

Publication number: WO1996018984A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/015349
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lannie L. Stegall
Original assignee: Firm Stool Production, Inc.
Priority date: 1994-12-12
Filing date: 1995-11-24
Publication date: 1996-06-20
Also published as: AU4245296A

Abstract

An advertising poster (17) made of a foam block (10) having top, sides and bottom surfaces standing off the ground such that the top surface will support a person and carrying an advertising message which would otherwise be discarded littering the outdoors except for the user being inclined to retain the poster (17) for the advantages it has as a personal use article.

Description

METHOD OF MAKING AN ADVERTISING POSTER AND A PERSONAL USE ARTICLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of advertising and to an advertising medium in the form of a three dimensional poster which serves the dual function of a personal use article. The use may make use of it as a seat, stand or personal use bolster to minimize litering while displaying the ad message with each use. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Ways of advertising vary widely. Newspapers and magazines sell advertising space for commercial messages. The first printed ads were probably hand bills tacked to church doors. Advertising messages have long been displayed on sandwich boards outside of places of businesses to attract the attention of passersby. Posters are common in places of business to advertise special events, or product offerings placed at the point of sale inside the store. Window displays commonly show merchandise in an attractive setting to induce the consumer inside the store to make a purchase. Advertising is, of course, as old as trade itself. Outdoor billboards placed along highways are a popular form of outdoor advertising. Car cards appear in buses and in subway cars. These small advertising posters reach thousands of passengers at reasonable costs. The messages can be longer than those of highway bill boards because the viewer has a longer time to read the ads. The form of the advertising medium thus varies with the times, the place, and the circumstances of the viewer. A three dimensional poster can be viewed from several directions at once. There are limitations in poster advertising however because of the tendency to litter at public events. The cleanup costs of paper left after such events is a factor to be weighed by the sponsor staging such events. But there is no know form of poster advertising by itself that is suffieciently useful to incline persons to take it with them as a personal use article and in terms of reducing litter, such a self-policing poster would have greater appeal as an advertising medium at large public events. Moreover if spectators are inclined to carry the poster about with them at the event and use it as a seat or stand for better visiblitiy of the advertising message will be displayed to greater numbers of viewers than it would otherwise if it were discarded after and initial use, like a paper cup. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an advertising product fabricated of an expanded foam so as to be light enough to carry but solid enough that it can be placed upon the ground to serve as a personal stand, seat or bench inclining the use against discarding the poster while displaying a three-dimensional advertising message. More particularily a polyhedron shape having a number of exposed surfaces on a block of polystyrene foam is cut so that ad panels can appear on adjacent display surfaces of the poster block. A handle is provided for carrying the block. When it is put down, one surface will be on top, spaced a distance above the ground, to serve as a convenient rest or seat for the user. A thin, polyethelene film may be shrink-wrapped around the poster block to provide a barrier to dirt or moisure. The invention also contemplates a method of making a poster product comprising the steps of providing a three dimensional stock of stable expanded foam, hot-wire cutting repeat patterns from the stock having a display surface of the shape desired for a poster panel bearing a printed commercial message visible from a distance of a few feet, creating an advertising panel bearing a commercial message visible from a distance of a few feet and attaching it to the display surface of each pattern light enough to be carried easily and having a top surface when the pattern is resting on the ground providing support for anyone choosing to rest or stand elevated above the ground. The poster block or pattern may be of almost any shape capable of being manufactured by a hot-wire cutting table apparatus, but the invention is not limited to the manner in which the poster is manufactured and shapes which could be created by blow molding or expanding the foam in a mold where internal cavities are created in the solidified foam in a known manner fall within the intended scope of the invention. In one embodiment, the poster block is fabricated of polystyrene foam having a density of about one pound per cubic foot and having a volume of about one cubic foot creating block having sufficient space for advertising, but weighing not more than about a pound, easily carried as a personal item at sporting events, to the beach, on fishing trips for use in the manner described as a portable rest, bolster, or stool which has the additional advantage of being buoyant in water to support a swimmer or to provide a buoy marker for boats in docking. Polystyrene foam has excellent insulating qualities, and an additional feature of the invention is that the block or pattern is provided with an interior cavity in which hot or cold foods may be stored in the fashion of a cooler. In another form of the invention, empty cardboard beverage containers in which six to twelve cans are usually packed, can be reused in a different form as a poster by removing the dividers inside which separated the beverage cans and inserting a poster block restoring the original shape of the package. The advertising on the original package becomes the advertising message on the poster panels. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a new advertising medium. Another object of the invention is to provide a type of poster which is easily portable and solid enough to be used as a personal seat or stool while serving as an advertising display. Another object is to reduce the environmental impact caused by discarded waste paper at public events much of which is in the form of advertising by linking the advertising message to a personal use item which the spectator is inclined to be taken away by the user because of the item's utility rather than discarding it as waste material. These and other objects will be more appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the invention and the drawings of the preferred embodiment of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a poster block in which the top of the block has cavities formed therein to serve as receptacles for beverage cans; Figures 2 and 3 show a poster panel card with fold lines separating the individual panels at the edges of the display surfaces of the box like shape of the poster block in Figure 1 such that when assembled with the block as in Figure 3 the poster panels overly the display surfaces of the block; Figures 4, 5, 5a and 6 are a series of views similar to the poster in Figures 1-3 although showing another form of poster in which separate advertising panels may be printed and individually affixed to the display surfaces of the block which has a bench shape for accomodating two seated persons or which may be used as a picnic table; Figures 7 and 8 show another form of poster where the commercial message is pre-printed on a continuous plastic film which is unrolled from a spool, separated by tear lines such that individual sheets are of a size to wrap around the block and held on by an adhesive; and Figures 9 and 10 show still another form of the invention in which an empty beverage container is reused and becomes a three dimensional poster by inserting a block filling the void of the empty package and restoring it to the original shape. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION While a preferred embodiment of the invention will be illustrated with respect to particular hot wire cut or molded polystyrene shapes it will be appreciated that other expanded foam materials may be used that hava a high volume-to-weight ratio, and in the solid form are dimensionally stable for a seated or standing adult person's weight, or capable of supporting between about .2 to .5 PSI compressive load. Figure 1 shows a poster block (10) having five display surfaces (12). The bloke (10) can be made of any light weight material but is perferably made of expanded foam, in the case of the block (10) in Figure 1, formed in a mold in which cavities (13) have been formed in the top surface (12a) to serve as receptacles for beverage cans although It will be appreciated that the block (10) could be made by the hot wire cutting method on an apparatus (not shown) where repeat patterns in shape similar to the block (10) are repetitvely cut from a stock of polystyrene. An apparatus of this type is disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,683,791 entitled Cutting Apparatus, issued August 4, 1987. Polystyrene stock is mounted on a table and a carriage is disposed to travel relative to the table that carries electrically heated wires. A control is provide for operating a drive mechanism such that the heated wires travel in a predetermined path according to the pattern creating copies of the block (10) from a length of stock of polystyrene material having the density and other properties desired for the poster. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, poster panels (14a - 14e) are arranged on a card (17) separated by fold lines (16) enabling the card (17) to be folded into the shape of the block (10) and assembled over it as pictured in Figure 3. A bottom panel (15) of heavy paper covers the bottom of the block (10) so that when it is placed on the ground small stones or sticks do not become embedded, yet deform the block sufficiently that it will ordinarily sit flat without tipping under the weight of an individual sitting or standing on the top surface (14a). A handle (18) having perforations outlining it in the top panel (14a) can be lifted for carrying the poster (10) while when seated upon is pushed down and lies flat. In the case where it is desirable that the top surface (12a) of the block (10) is provided with cavities (13) for beverage cans, the top panel (14a) may have a Velcro fastener (19) along one edge to hold it securely with a Velcro tab (20) on a side panel (14d) such that the top panel (14a) can be unfastened and hinged up for access to the receptacles (13). The panel card (17) may be held in place by an adhesive or provided with folded tabs and slots for assembling without adhesives around the block (10) in a know manner. Referring to Figures 4, 5, 5a and 6 a different form of poster block is provided in the form of a elongated box (21) having edges (22) along the top surface contoured underneath to provide a lip (23) (Figure 5a) from which vertical side walls (24) descend defining large rectangular display panels on opposite sides of the block (21). The edges (22) of the lip (23) define the longitudinal edges of a large rectangular top surface (26) joined at opposite ends by vertical flat end surfaces (27). The plain block (21) in Figure 4 is made into a poster as shown in Figure 5 by covering the display surfaces (24, 26, 27) of the block (21) with ad panels (24a, 26a, 27a), the left side panel (24a) and one end panel (27a) shown partially assembled to the adjoining surface (24, 27), while right side panel (24a) and front end panel (27a) are shown in final position with the curvature of the lip (23) being followed by the side panel (24a) in joining the top panel (26a) that lays on top of the surface (26). After assembly a string handle (28) with a cleat (29) embedded in the end surface (27) is pulled through and opening in the end panel (27a) (Figure 6). Another variation of the invention is shown in Figures 7 and 8 where a spool (30) of polyethylene film unrolls on a shaft (32) into a continuous sheet (33) separated by tear lines (34) into individual ad panels (35) on which a commercial message is imprinted. The individual panels (35) are separated from the sheet (33) and wrapped around a foam block (37) (Figure 8) with an adhesive (39) securing the ends. In Figures 9 and 10, an empty beverage carton (40) which has had the internal beverage can dividers removed is fitted over a block (41), as indicated by the directional arrows, restoring the carton (40) to its original shape (Figure 10) and the original handle (42) of the carton serves as a means to carry the carton now as a poster or personal use article. From the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that various other modifications may be envisioned which should be considered as falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed as the invention is set forth as follows: 1. A method of making a personal use poster comprising the steps of: (i) cutting a dimensionally stable foam block having top, bottom and side surfaces, at least one of said surfaces being large enough to serve as a display area for a commercial message visible from several feet, said block being capable of supporting the weight of a person on the top surface without distorting the message; and (ϋ) affixing said message to the display area. 2. The method as set forth in Claim 1 wherein the foam block is a pattern repeatedly cut from a length of stock using electrically heated cutting wires passing through the stock tracing the pattern cutting out individual blocks with a minimum of excess material and the block has a density of about 1 lb/cubic feet. 3. The method as set forth in Claim 1 wherein the block is made of upper and lower sections, said upper section being blow-molded with cylindrical receptacles of a size to receive beverage cans when the poster is to serve also as a cooler, said upper section having a foam density higher than the lower section to maintain the surface area of the poster and minimize the weight. 4. The method as set forth in Claim 3 wherein the upper section of the block is formed in a mold by expanding the foam to fill the void in the mold having a pattern to create the beverage can receptacles in the section when removed from the mold. 5. The method as set forth in Claim 4 wherein the upper section is made of a foam having a density of from 2-3 lbs/cu. ft. and the lower section has a density of from 1 to 2 lbs./cu. ft. 6. The method as set forth in Claim 1 in which the message is placed on a card of connected poster panels which fold along fold lines coinciding with the shape of the block, and providing a thin plastic film shrink wrapped around the entire block as a moisture barrier. 7. The method as set forth in Claim 1 wherein the top surface of the block is in the form of a rectangular flat table having longitudinal edges curving underneath to provide a lip along each side. 8. The method as set forth in Claim 7 comprising: (i) preparing a poster panel of a size to cover the top, sides and ends of the block and; (ii) securing the poster panels to the respective surfaces of the block to form a poster the top surface of which provides a relatively large rectangular table area. 9. The method as set forth in Claim 1 wherein the commercial message is on an empty beverage carton and the block is sized to restore the carton to its original shape. 10. A personal use article comprising; (1) a dimensionally stable foam block having top, bottom and side surfaces; (ii) a sheet of material bearing an advertising message applied to one of the surfaces; and (iϋ) a handle attached to the block for carrying it about. 11. A personal use article as set forth in Claim 10 wherein the block is made of expanded polystyrene foam having a density of approximately one pound per cubic foot. 12. A personal use article as set forth in Claim 11 wherein the sheet of material bearing the advertising message comprises is a series of connected panels having fold lines coinciding with the edges of the block. 13. A personal use article as set forth in Claim 12 wherein the top panel folds across the top surface of the block and is secured along one edge to one of the side panels and the handle is integral with the top panel. 14. A personal use article as set forth in Claim 13 where a cavity is formed in the top surface of the block to serve as a receptacle for storing items. 15. A three dimensional poster seat comprising; (1) a block having top, side and bottom surfaces of dimensionally stable, expanded foam, of a density of about 1 lb/cu.ft. and capable of withstanding repeated use as a seat or stool bearing the weight of a person whose average footprint pressure would be from 2-5 psi; (ii) a panel bearing a commercial message viewable from a distance of several feet applied to one of the surfaces of the block; and (ϋi) a handle attached to the block for carrying it as a personal item. 16. An advertising poster as set forth in Claim 15 in which the block is made of polystyrene foam having a density of from 1-2 lbs/cu.ft. 17. An advertising poster as set forth in Claim 15 in which the panel bearing the advertising message is at least one surface of an empty beverage carton and the handle is the original one of the carton, the block being of a shape to restore the shape of the carton when inserted in place of the contents. 18. An advertising poster as set forth in Claim 17 wherein a polyethylene film is shrink wrapped around the poster to protect it. 19. A poster fabricated of expanded foam having top, sides and bottom surfaces solid enough to support a person sitting on the top surface without distorting the side surfaces, one of the side surfaces being dedictated to displaying a commercial message whereby the user is inclined to use the poster as a personal use item rather than discarding it as merely advertising. 20. A poster according to Claim 19 wherein different commercial messages are displayed on each of the surfaces, creating a multi-media, three-dimensional poster.