Electronic display materials associated with products

• US 20020106624A1
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thinking Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Thinking Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Chan, Albert Wai Tai
• Granted Patent: US 6,749,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/393
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/50 Frames, stands, or wheels for dolls or toy animals
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/12 Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4204 Inspection openings or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4291 Containers provided with an acoustic device, e.g. for indicating opening of the package

Abstract

Innovative and improved display materials associated with products provide enhanced information to potential or actual purchasers of such products. In an aspect of the invention, electronic product packaging for demonstrative use in association with a product comprises demonstration means adapted to demonstrate visually or audibly the use or capabilities of the product under the control of integrated circuit means.

Claims

1. Product packaging for demonstrative use of a packaged product comprising:

(a) packaging adapted to hold a product;

(b) a source of electrical power;

(c) an integrated circuit chip comprising pre-programmed sound segments relevant to the product;

(d) sound reproduction means to reproduce sound under the control of the integrated circuit chip;

(e) switch means located on the packaging to control the flow of electrical power to the integrated circuit chip;

such that when a user activates the switch means, pre-programmed sound segments suitable to demonstrate the use or capabilities of he product are generated.

2. The product packaging of claim 1, wherein the product is a toy.

3. The product packaging of claim 1, wherein the source of electrical power comprises an electrical storage battery.

4. The product packaging of claim 3, wherein the battery is associated with the packaging.

5. The product packaging of claim 3, wherein the battery is associated with the product.

6. The product packaging of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit chip is associated with the packaging.

7. The product packaging of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit chip is associated with the product.

8. The product packaging of claim 1, wherein the pre-programmed sound segments comprise human speech.

9. The product packaging of claim 1, wherein the pre-programmed sound segments comprise sound effects.

10. The product packaging of claim 1, wherein the means to reproduce sound comprises an audio speaker.

11. The product packaging of claim 10, wherein the audio speaker is associated with the packaging.

12. The product packaging of claim 10, wherein the audio speaker is associated with the product.

13. The product packaging of claim 1, wherein the means to reproduce sound comprises multiple audio speakers.

14. The product packaging of claim 13, wherein at least one audio speaker is associated with the packaging, and at least one other audio speaker is associated with the product.

15. The product packaging of claim 1, wherein the switch means is adapted to be activated by a user'"'"'s touch.

16. The product packaging of claim 15, wherein the switch means is associated with a graphic representation of a use or capability of the product.

17. The product packaging of claim 16, further comprising illumination means to illuminate the graphic representation when the switch means is activated.

18. The product packaging of claim 1, wherein the switch means comprises multiple switches corresponding to multiple features of the product'"'"'s use or capabilities.

19. The product packaging of claim 18, further comprising multiple graphic representations of uses or capabilities of the product associated with the multiple switches.

20. The product packaging of claim 1, further comprising illumination means wherein the switch means is further adapted to initiate illumination of multiple graphic representations of uses or capabilities of the product, by said illumination means.

21. Packaging for a toy comprising:

(a) means to hold and display the toy;

(b) an electrical storage battery;

(c) an integrated circuit chip comprising pre-programmed sound segments relevant to the toy;

(d) an audio speaker to reproduce said sound segments under the control of the integrated circuit chip;

(e) switch means located on the packaging to initiate the flow of electrical power to the integrated circuit chip;

such that when a user activates the switch means, the sound segments are audibly reproduced.

22. The packaging of claim 21, wherein the switch means is associated with a graphic representation of a use or capability of the toy.

23. The packaging of claim 21, wherein the switch means is associated with multiple graphic representations of uses or capabilities of the toy.

24. The packaging of claim 21, wherein the switch means comprises multiple switches, each switch associated with a graphic representation of a use or capability of the toy.

25. The packaging of claim 22, further comprising illumination means, wherein the switch means is further adapted to initiate illumination of the graphic representation, by said illumination means.

26. The packaging of claim 23, further comprising illumination means, wherein the switch means is further adapted to initiate serial illumination of the multiple graphic representations, by said illumination means.

27. The packaging of claim 24, further comprising illumination means, wherein each switch is further adapted to initiate illumination of its associated graphic representation by said illumination means.

29. The packaging and toy combination of claim 28, wherein the switch means is associated with a graphic representation of a use or capability of the toy.

30. The packaging and toy combination of claim 29, further comprising illumination means, wherein the switch means is further adapted to initiate illumination of the graphic representation, by said illumination means.

31. The packaging and toy combination of claim 28, wherein the switch means comprises multiple switches, each switch associated with a graphic representation of a use or capability of the toy.

32. The packaging and toy combination of claim 31, further comprising illumination means, wherein each switch is further adapted to initiate illumination of its associated graphic representation, by said illumination means.

33. The packaging and toy combination of claim 28, wherein the switch means is associated with multiple graphic representations of uses or capabilities of the toy.

34. The packaging and toy combination of claim 33, further comprising illumination means, wherein the switch means is further adapted to initiate serial illumination of the multiple graphic representations, by said illumination means.

39. The packaging and product combination of claim 38, wherein the product comprises the integrated circuit means and the switch means, and further comprises communication means to carry signals from the integrated circuit means to the packaging.

40. The packaging combination of claim 39, wherein the communication means comprises a physical electrical connection.

41. The packaging and product combination of claim 39, wherein the communication means comprises a wireless electromagnetic transmitter, and wherein the packaging further comprises receiver means to receive signals from said transmitter.

28. A packaging and toy combination comprising:

(a) means associated with the packaging to hold and display the toy;

(b) electrical power means to provide electrical power to the toy and the packaging;

(c) integrated circuit means comprising pre-programmed sound segments;

(d) sound reproduction means associated with each of the packaging and the toy under the control of the integrated circuit means;

(e) switch means located on the packaging to initiate the flow of electrical power to the integrated circuit chip means;

such that when a user activates the switch means, the sound segments are reproduced sequentially by the sound reproduction means of each of the packaging and the toy.

35. Product packaging for demonstrative use of a product comprising:

(a) demonstration means adapted to demonstrate the use or capabilities of the product;

(b) means to receive electrical power;

(c) means to receive signals from integrated circuit means programmed to control the demonstration means;

such that when electrical power and integrated circuit means signals are received, the demonstration means is activated.

36. Product packaging for demonstrative use of a product comprising:

(a) a source of electrical power;

(b) integrated circuit means comprising programmed demonstration information;

(c) demonstration means associated with the packaging adapted to demonstrate the use or capabilities of the product;

(d) switch means adapted to initiate activity of the integrated circuit means;

such that when the switch means is activated, signals from the integrated circuit means activate and control the demonstration means.

37. Product packaging for demonstrative use of a product comprising:

(a) a source of electrical power;

(b) integrated circuit means comprising pre-programmed sound segments relevant to the product;

(c) sound reproduction means to reproduce sound under the control of the integrated circuit means;

(d) switch means to initiate activity of the integrated circuit means;

such that when the switch means is activated, pre-programmed sound segments suitable to demonstrate the use or capabilities of a product are generated.

38. A packaging and product combination comprising:

(a) electrical power means to provide electrical power to the product and the packaging;

(b) integrated circuit means programmed to control a visual display associated with the packaging;

(c) switch means adapted to trigger the integrated circuit means to perform visual display commands to create the visual display associated with the packaging.

42. A packaging and product combination comprising:

(a) electrical power means to provide electrical power to the product and the packaging;

(b) integrated circuit means associated with the packaging programmed to control a visual display associated with the packaging;

(c) switch means to adapted to trigger the integrated circuit means to perform visual display commands to create the visual display associated with the packaging.

43. Point of purchase or point of sale display material for demonstrative use in association with a product comprising:

(a) a source of electrical power;

(b) integrated circuit means comprising pre-programmed sound segments relevant to the product;

(c) sound reproduction means to reproduce sound under the control of the integrated circuit means;

(d) switch means to initiate activity of the integrated circuit means;

such that when the switch means is activated, pre-programmed sound segments suitable to demonstrate the use or capabilities of the product are generated.

44. A two-component toy comprising:

(a) a first part comprising a doll, character figure, or action figure;

(b) a second part comprising a play set to be used in association with said first part;

(c) said second part comprising;

(i) a source of electrical power;

(ii) integrated circuit means comprising pre-programmed sound segments relevant to the products;

(iii) sound reproduction means to reproduce sound under the control of the integrated circuit means;

(iv) switch means to initiate activity of the integrated circuit means;

such that when the switch means is activated, pre-programmed sound segments suitable to demonstrate the use or capabilities of the first part in conjunction with the second part are generated.

45. A two-component product comprising:

(a) a first part comprising a useful article;

(b) a second part comprising display means adapted to demonstrate uses or capabilities of the first part, and intended to remain generally associated with said first part;

(c) said second part comprising;

(i) a source of electrical power;

(ii) integrated circuit means comprising programmed sequences of audible or visual information relevant to said first part;

(iii) demonstration means adapted to manifest the audible or visual information under the control of the integrated circuit means;

(iv) switch means to initiate activity of the integrated circuit means.