Method and Apparatus for Marketing an Object

• US 20110041368A1
• Filed: 08/19/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
• Inventors: Lian, Yam Fei, Ng, Kar Choon, Chua, Johnson, Tan, Jeng Khim, Toh, Boon Keat Eddy
• Granted Patent: US 8,186,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/457
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/02 incorporating moving display members
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address

Abstract

There is provided a method and an apparatus for marketing an object. The apparatus includes a display with a first mode and a second mode; and a housing for containing the object adjacent to the display. The display may preferably be coupled to a controller circuit for activating transition of the display between the first mode and the second mode, with the object being viewable through the display in the second mode. The method includes carrying out activities to create an association between the apparatus and the object; using the apparatus for containment of items; and causing an increase in awareness in the object through use of the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for marketing an object, the apparatus including:

a display with a first mode and a second mode; and

a housing for containing the object adjacent to the display;

wherein the display is coupled to a controller circuit for activating transition of the display between the first mode and the second mode, with the object being viewable through the display in the second mode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transition of the display between the first mode and the second mode includes effects selected from a group comprising:

a vertical scrolling effect, a horizontal scrolling effect, and appearance of a graphic object.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display is hinged to the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller circuit is incorporated in a part of the apparatus selected from a group comprising:

a frame of the display, the housing and a supporting structure.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein activating the transition of the display between the first mode and the second mode comprises either applying a force on the display or triggering an actuator which is electrically coupled to the controller circuit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein activating the transition of the display between the first mode and the second mode includes providing an audio output selected from the group comprising:

a song, a spoken phrase, and an aural notation.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein activating the transition of the display between the first mode and the second mode includes providing illumination to the object adjacent to the display.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein displacing the display provides an audio output selected from the group comprising:

a song, a spoken phrase, and an aural notation.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further including supporting structures located within the housing, the supporting structures being for a role selected from a group comprising:

holding the object, partitioning an area within the housing, absorbing impact forces exerted onto the apparatus, and adding structural strength to the housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display is opaque in the first mode.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opaque display is either a dark surface or a reflective surface.

12. A method of marketing an object using the apparatus of claim 1, including:

carrying out activities to create an association between the apparatus and the object;

using the apparatus for containment of items; and

causing an increase in awareness in the object through use of the apparatus.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the activities are carried out via either online selling channels or brick-and-mortar selling channels.