Pouch containers having advertising media and methods for their dissemination

• US 20060157370A1
• Filed: 03/11/2004
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adverpack LLC
• Original Assignee: 2004Adploy Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Thuesen, Marcus L., Brana, Lejo C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,264,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/459.500
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/00 Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/02 Labels
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/06 Arrangements on packages concerning bar-codes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/004 Information or decoration elements, e.g. level indicators, detachable tabs or coupons
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/54 Cards, coupons, or other inserts or accessories opening devices B65D75/70

Abstract

Improved methods of disseminating advertising messages to consumers are provided for. The methods comprise providing novel pouch packages for products that are constructed in accordance with the subject invention. The packaged product with the advertising message is distributed to a consumer outlet and then to consumers associated with the consumer outlet. Preferably, the product is a single-serve food product which is distributed to food service establishments. The novel pouch packages provided for by the subject invention comprise one or more flexible imprintable substrate sheets. The substrate sheets comprise collectively one or more pouch sections defining a sealed volume accommodating a product therein and a message section providing a substrate on which a message may be imprinted. The pouch sections are provided on one or more of the substrate sheets. The messages section is provided on one of the same substrate sheets or another substrate sheet. The message section is connected to at least one of the pouch sections, but is separable from the pouch sections without compromising the integrity of the sealed volume. Thus, the advertising message may be removed from the sealed volume and viewed by a consumer. The novel pouch containers also include preferred embodiments having a manufacturer coupon imprinted on the message section that is redeemable by a consumer of the packaged product and that has imprinted thereon machine readable indicia to facilitate automated processing of the coupon. Preferably the machine readable indicia are a UPC bar code utilizing the UCC/EAN-128 Article Numbering System or another bar code.

Claims

1. A method for disseminating manufacturer coupons to consumers, which method comprises:

(a) packaging a product in a pouch container having a manufacturer coupon associated therewith which may be viewed by a consumer, wherein said product is a single-serve food product and wherein said manufacturer coupon is redeemable by a consumer of said product and includes machine readable indicia associated therewith to facilitate automated processing of said coupon;

(b) distributing said packaged product with said manufacturer coupon to a consumer food service outlet; and

(c) distributing said packaged product with said manufacturer coupon to consumers associated with said consumer food service outlet, thereby disseminating said manufacturer coupon to said consumers;

(d) wherein said pouch container comprises one or more flexible imprintable substrate sheets;

wherein said substrate sheets comprise collectively;

i) one or more pouch sections defining a sealed volume accommodating a product therein, said pouch sections being provided on one or more of said substrate sheets; and

ii) a message section providing a substrate on which said manufacturer coupon is imprinted, said message section being provided on one of said substrate sheets and being connected to at least one of said pouch sections;

iii) wherein said message section is separable from said pouch sections without compromising the integrity of said sealed volume, whereby said manufacturer coupon may be removed from said sealed volume and redeemed by a consumer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said manufacturer coupon pertains to a product or service other than said packaged product.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said pouch container comprises a substrate sheet providing at least one said pouch section and said message section, wherein said message section is separable from said pouch section by cutting or tearing said substrate sheet along the boundary between said pouch and message sections.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said pouch container comprises one or more pouch substrate sheets providing said pouch sections and a message substrate sheet providing said message section, wherein said message sheet is removably affixed to the exterior surface of one of said pouch sheets.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said pouch section has a length of 1.75 inches or less and a width of 3.75 inches or less.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said pouch section and message section have a total imprintable area of at least about 19.7 in².

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said pouch section has a length of 2 inches or less and a width of 3.75 inches or less.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said pouch section and message section have a total imprintable area of at least about 22.5 in².

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said pouch section has a length of 2.5 inches or less and a width of 4 inches or less.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said pouch section and message section have a total imprintable area of at least about 30 in².

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said product is selected from the group consisting of solids, powders, granules, tablets, liquids, semi-viscous liquids, pastes, gels, and gases.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said product is selected from the group consisting of single-serve sugar, sugar substitutes, salt, salt substitutes, pepper, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, sauces, and crackers.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said product is a single-serve condiment.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said manufacturer coupon includes a bar code associated therewith.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein said manufacturer coupon includes a UPC bar code utilizing the UCC/EAN-128 Article Numbering System.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein said pouch container is produced by folding and sealing a continuous web to provide a plurality of pouch containers connected to each other by said web and by cutting the web interconnecting said pouch containers to provide individual product units containing at least one pouch container.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein said pouch container is produced by sealing two continuous webs together to provide a plurality of pouch containers connected to each other by said webs and by cutting said webs interconnecting said pouch containers to provide individual product units containing at least one pouch container.

43. The method of claim 1 wherein said manufacturer coupon is intended for a target consumer group and said packaged single-serve food products are distributed to a consumer food service outlet associated with said target consumer group.

44. The method of claim 1, wherein said consumer food service outlet is a restaurant.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

5. A method for disseminating manufacturer coupons to a target consumer group, which method comprises:

(a) packaging a product in a pouch container having associated therewith a manufacturer coupon pertaining to products or services other than said packaged product, wherein said packaged product is a single-serve food product, wherein said manufacturer coupon is redeemable by a consumer of said product and includes machine readable indicia associated therewith to facilitate automated processing of said coupon, and said manufacturer coupon is intended for a target consumer group;

(b) packaging said packaged product in a shipping carton having a machine readable indicator uniquely associated with said manufacturer coupon;

(c) reading said indicator and in response thereto shipping said carton to consumer food service outlets associated with said target consumer group, whereby said packaged single-serve food product may be distributed to consumers thereby disseminating said manufacturer coupon.

45. The method of claim 5, wherein said consumer food service outlet is a restaurant.

46. The method of claim 5, wherein said product is selected from the group consisting of single-serve sugar, sugar substitutes, salt, salt substitutes, pepper, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, sauces, and crackers.

47. The method of claim 5, wherein said product is a single-serve condiment.

48. The method of claim 5, wherein said manufacturer coupon includes a bar code associated therewith.

49. The method of claim 5, wherein said manufacturer coupon includes a UPC bar code utilizing the UCC/EAN-128 Article Numbering System.

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. A product packaged in a pouch container, said pouch container comprising one or more flexible imprintable substrate sheets;

wherein said substrate sheets comprise collectively;

(a) one or more pouch sections defining a sealed volume accommodating a product therein, said pouch sections being provided on one or more of said substrate sheets;

wherein said packaged product is a single-serve food product; and

(b) a message section providing a substrate on which a message may be imprinted, said message section being provided on one of said substrate sheets and being connected to at least one of said pouch sections;

(c) wherein said message section is separable from said pouch sections without compromising the integrity of said sealed volume, whereby said message section may be removed from said sealed volume and viewed by a consumer;

(d) wherein an advertising message is imprinted on said message section and said advertising message includes a manufacturer coupon redeemable by a consumer of said product which includes machine readable indicia associated therewith to facilitate automated processing of said coupon.

17. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

28. A method for disseminating manufacturer coupons to consumers, which method comprises:

(a) packaging a product in a pouch container having a manufacturer coupon associated therewith which may be viewed by a consumer, wherein said product is a single-serve food product and wherein said manufacturer coupon is redeemable by a consumer of said product and includes machine readable indicia associated therewith to facilitate automated processing of said coupon;

(b) distributing said packaged product with said manufacturer coupon to a consumer outlet; and

(c) distributing said packaged product with said manufacturer coupon to consumers associated with said consumer outlets, thereby disseminating said manufacturer coupon to said consumers;

(d) wherein said pouch container comprises a flexible imprintable substrate sheet;

wherein;

i) said substrate sheet comprises one or more pouch sections and at least one message section adjacent to a pouch section;

ii) wherein said substrate sheet is folded longitudinally such that the boundaries of said pouch sections overlap, the boundaries of said pouch sections being sealed together to define a sealed volume accommodating said product therein with said message section extending from a sealed boundary of said pouch section;

iii) wherein said message section provides a substrate on which said manufacturer coupon is imprinted for viewing by a consumer of said product; and

iv) wherein said message section is separable from said pouch section and the sealed volume defined by said pouch section without compromising the integrity of said sealed volume to enable a consumer to redeem said manufacturer coupon.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein:

(a) wherein said substrate sheet comprises a single, rectangular pouch section and a message section extending from a side thereof; and

(b) wherein said substrate sheet is folded in half along a line passing through said pouch section parallel to said side from which said message section extends to provide two rectangular, overlaid folds, and the boundaries of said pouch section are sealed to define a generally rectangular-shaped sealed volume with said message section extending from the side of said sealed volume opposite said fold line.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein:

(a) said substrate sheet comprises two generally rectangular pouch sections and a message section extending between said pouch sections;

(b) wherein said substrate sheet is folded along a line passing through said message section such that said two pouch sections overlay each other and said pouch sections are sealed at the boundaries thereof to define a generally rectangular-shaped sealed volume with said message section extending from the side of said sealed volume proximate to said fold line.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein:

(a) said substrate sheet comprises a generally rectangular pouch section and a message section extending from a side thereof; and

(b) wherein said substrate sheet is folded in half along a line passing through said pouch section and said message section to provide two rectangular, overlaid folds, and the boundaries of said pouch section are sealed to define a generally rectangular-shaped sealed volume with said message section extending from a side of said sealed volume adjacent to said fold line.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein:

(a) wherein said substrate sheet comprises a single, rectangular pouch section and a message section extending from a side thereof; and

(b) wherein said substrate sheet is folded along two longitudinal fold lines passing through said pouch section parallel to said side from which said message section extends to provide two rectangular folds overlaying a third rectangular fold and the boundaries of said pouch section are sealed to define a generally rectangular-shaped sealed volume with said message section extending from a face of said pouch section.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein:

(a) wherein said substrate sheet comprises a single, rectangular pouch section and a message section extending from a boundary thereof; and

(b) wherein said substrate sheet is folded along two fold lines passing through said pouch section to provide two rectangular folds overlaying a third rectangular fold and the boundaries of said pouch section are sealed to define a generally rectangular-shaped sealed volume with said message section extending from a transverse seal of said pouch section.

34. A method for disseminating advertising messages to consumers, which method comprises:

(a) packaging a product in a pouch container having a manufacturer coupon associated therewith which may be viewed by a consumer, wherein said product is a single-serve food product and wherein said manufacturer coupon is redeemable by a consumer of said product and includes machine readable indicia associated therewith to facilitate automated processing of said coupon;

(b) distributing said packaged product with said manufacturer coupon to a consumer outlet; and

(c) distributing said packaged product with said manufacturer coupon to consumers associated with said consumer outlets, thereby disseminating said manufacturer coupon to said consumers;

(d) wherein said pouch container comprises two flexible imprintable substrate sheets;

wherein;

i) said substrate sheets each comprise a pouch section and at least one of said substrate sheets comprises a message section adjacent to said pouch section thereon;

ii) wherein said pouch sections are superimposed on each other and sealed at the boundaries thereof to define a sealed volume accommodating said product therein;

iii) wherein said message section provides a substrate on which said manufacturer coupon is imprinted for viewing by a consumer of said product; and

iv) wherein said message section is separable from said pouch section and the sealed volume defined by said pouch section without compromising the integrity of said sealed volume to enable a consumer to redeem said manufacturer coupon.

35. A method for disseminating advertising messages to consumers, which method comprises:

(a) packaging a product in a pouch container having a manufacturer coupon associated therewith which may be viewed by a consumer, wherein said product is a single-serve food product and wherein said manufacturer coupon is redeemable by a consumer of said product and includes machine readable indicia associated therewith to facilitate automated processing of said coupon;

(b) distributing said packaged product with said manufacturer coupon to a consumer outlet; and

(c) distributing said packaged product with said manufacturer coupon to consumers associated with said consumer outlets, thereby disseminating said manufacturer coupon to said consumers;

(d) wherein said pouch container comprises;

i) one or two pouch sheets composed of a flexible imprintable substrate and defining a sealed volume accommodating said product; and

ii) a message sheet composed of an imprintable substrate, said message sheet being affixed to at least one of said pouch sheets on an exterior surface thereof and providing a substrate on which said manufacturer coupon is imprinted for viewing by a consumer of said product;

iii) wherein said message sheet is separable from said pouch sheets and the sealed volume defined thereby without compromising the integrity of said sealed volume to enable a consumer to redeem said manufacturer coupon.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said pouch container comprises one pouch sheet, said pouch sheet being folded such that portions thereof overlay each other and said overlaid portions are sealed at the boundaries thereof to define a sealed volume accommodating said product therein.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said pouch container comprises two pouch sheets, said pouch sheets being superimposed on each other and sealed at the boundaries thereof to define a sealed volume accommodating said product therein.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein said pouch container comprises one pouch sheet, wherein said pouch sheet is folded along two longitudinal fold lines and the boundaries of said pouch sheet are sealed to define a sealed volume accommodating said product therein.

39. A method for disseminating advertising messages to consumers, which method comprises:

(a) packaging a product in a pouch container having a manufacturer coupon associated therewith which may be viewed by a consumer, wherein said product is a single-serve food product and wherein said manufacturer coupon is redeemable by a consumer of said product and includes machine readable indicia associated therewith to facilitate automated processing of said coupon;

(b) distributing said packaged product with said manufacturer coupon to a consumer outlet; and

(c) distributing said packaged product with said manufacturer coupon to consumers associated with said consumer outlets, thereby disseminating said manufacturer coupon to said consumers;

(d) wherein said pouch container comprises;

i) one or two pouch sheets composed of a flexible imprintable substrate sheets and defining a sealed volume accommodating said product,

ii) wherein at least one of said pouch sheets is comprised by a laminate sheet comprising said pouch sheet and a message sheet, said message sheet being composed of an imprintable substrate and providing a substrate on which said manufacturer coupon is imprinted for viewing by a consumer of said product; and

iii) wherein said message sheet is separable from said laminate sheet and the sealed volume defined by said pouch sheets without compromising the integrity of said sealed volume to enable a consumer to redeem said manufacturer coupon.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said pouch container comprises:

(a) a laminate sheet comprising a pouch sheet and a message sheet;

(b) wherein said laminate sheet is folded such that the boundaries of said pouch sheet overlap and are sealed together to define a sealed volume accommodating said product within said pouch substrate sheet.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein said pouch container comprises:

(a) two pouch sheets, wherein at least one of said pouch sheets is comprised by a laminate sheet comprising said pouch sheet and said message sheet; and

(b) wherein said pouch sheets are superimposed such that the boundaries of said pouch sheets overlap and are sealed together to define a sealed volume accommodating said product with said pouch sheets.

42. A product packaged in a pouch container, said pouch container comprising one or more flexible imprintable substrate sheets;

wherein said substrate sheets comprise collectively;

(a) one or more pouch sections defining a sealed volume accommodating a product therein, said pouch sections being provided on one or more of said substrate sheets;

wherein said packaged product is a single-serve food product; and

(b) a message section providing a substrate on which a message may be imprinted, said message section being provided on one of said substrate sheets and being connected to at least one of said pouch sections;

(c) wherein said message section is separable from said pouch sections without compromising the integrity of said sealed volume, whereby said message section may be removed from said sealed volume and viewed by a consumer; and

(d) wherein an advertising message is imprinted on said message section and said advertising message includes a manufacturer coupon redeemable by a consumer of said product which includes machine readable indicia associated therewith to facilitate automated processing of said coupon, which manufacturer coupon, pertains to a product or service other than the packaged product.