Simulated product container with video message delivery system

• US 20120307024A1
• Filed: 06/02/2011
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James P. Howes
• Original Assignee: James P. Howes
• Inventors: Howes, James P.
• Application Number:
  US13/134,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20120307024A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/61
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2517/0052 Prizes, tokens, badges or other information carrying devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A simulated product container, which is used as a prize award container, has a container shell and a video message delivery system. The video message delivery system has a lid that can be an actual lid of an actual product container. The video message delivery system has a body for insertion into an open end of the container shell, a tab and a tab opening mechanism to allow a consumer to open the simulated product container. When the simulated product container is opened, the tab is pushed into the interior of the body to reveal an opening in the lid. When light enters into the interior of the body, a light sensor activates a circuit so as to display a video image on a video display. A tab deflection mechanism deflects the tab so as to allow an unobstructed view of the video display through the opening.

Claims

1. A video message delivery system, comprising:

a body dimensioned for insertion into an open end of a container shell;

a lid disposed on the body, the lid configured to have

an opening,

a tab having a first tab position to conceal the opening and operable to reveal said opening and thereby to allow light to enter into an interior of the body through the opening, and

a tab opening mechanism configured to cause the tab to move from the first tab position into the interior of the body so as to reveal said opening;

a video display disposed in the interior of the body;

a circuit configured for receipt of electrical power and configured to display a video message on the video display; and

a light sensor configured to sense light entering the interior of the body and to cause the circuit to display a video message on the video display in response to light entering the interior of the body.

2. The video message delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising a tab deflection mechanism having a mechanical arm pivotably mounted in the interior of the body, the mechanical arm configured to deflect the tab to a second tab position by contacting the tab when the tab is in the interior of the body so as to provide for a substantially unobstructed view of the video message on the video display through said opening.

3. The video message delivery system according to claim 2, wherein the tab deflection mechanism further comprises a spring disposed in relationship to the mechanical arm, the spring configured to provide a force to the mechanical arm so as to deflect the tab to the second tab position and maintain the tab in said second position.

4. The video message delivery system according to claim 3, wherein the mechanical arm is operable in a first arm position and a second arm position to deflect the tab to the second tab position, said tab deflection mechanism further comprising:

a mechanical stop configured to keep the mechanical arm in the first arm position when the tab is in the first tab position, wherein the tab opening mechanism is configured to cause the mechanical arm to disengage from the mechanical stop so as to allow the mechanical arm to move from the first arm position to the second arm position when the tab opening mechanism causes the tab to move from the first tab position into the interior of the body.

5. The video message delivery system according to claim 4, wherein the tab deflection mechanism further comprises:

a mounting plate mounted to the lid, said mounting plate configured to pivotably mount the mechanical arm and to mount the spring.

6. The video message delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the video message comprises a plurality of video images.

7. The video message delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising a sound producing device and wherein the circuit is configured to announce an audio message via the sound producing device when the video message is displayed.

8. The video message delivery system according to claim 7, wherein the sound producing device is at least one speaker.

9. The video message delivery system according to claim 7, wherein the circuit is configured to repeat the display of the video message and the announcement of the audio message.

10. The video message delivery system according to claim 9, wherein the circuit is configured to stop the display of the video message and the announcement of the audio message when the light sensor does not sense light entering the interior of the body.

11. The video message delivery system according to claim 1,

wherein the circuit comprises a memory and a processor, wherein the memory comprises a program and the processor is configured to cause the video display to display the video message based on the program.

12. The video message delivery system according to claim 11, further comprising a battery configured to provide said electrical power.

13. The video message delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises an enclosed surface, and at least part of the enclosed surface is dimensioned to be spaced from an inner surface of the container shell for providing a space between the container shell and the body, said space dimensioned to be filled with a liquid.

14. The video message delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the tab is a stay-on tab and the tab opening mechanism is a stay-on tab opening mechanism.

15. The video message delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to repeat the display of said video message.

16. The video message delivery system according to claim 15, wherein the circuit is configured to stop the display of the video message when the light sensor does not sense light entering the interior of the body.

17. The video message delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the light sensor is a light sensor switch.

18. The video message delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the lid is the same as a lid of a product container that contains product.

19. The video message delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising a prize holder configured to store a prize award, the prize holder configured to release the prize award when the tab opening mechanism causes the opening to be revealed.

20. A simulated product container comprising:

a container shell having an outer surface substantially identical in appearance to a product bearing shell of a product container normally employed for a product, and having an interior surface configured for providing the simulated product container with a sound, weight and feel of the product normally contained therein;

a video message delivery system comprising;

a body dimensioned for insertion into an open end of the container shell;

a lid disposed on the body, the lid configured to have

an opening,

a tab having a first tab position to conceal the opening and operable to reveal said opening and thereby to allow light to enter into an interior of the body through the opening, and

a tab opening mechanism configured to cause the tab to move from the first tab position into the interior of the body so as to reveal said opening;

a video display disposed in the interior of the body,

a circuit configured to receive of electrical power and configured to display a video message on the video display, and

a light sensor configured to sense light entering the interior of the body and to cause the circuit to display a video message on the video display in response to light entering the interior of the body; and

means positioned in a space between an interior surface of the container shell and an outer surface of the body for providing the simulated product container with the sound, weight and feel of a product normally contained therein.

21. The simulated product container according to claim 20, further comprising a tab deflection mechanism having a mechanical arm pivotably mounted in the interior of the body, the mechanical arm configured to deflect the tab to a second tab position by contacting the tab when the tab is in the interior of the body so as to provide for a substantially unobstructed view of the video message on the video display through said opening.

22. The simulated product container according to claim 21, wherein the tab deflection mechanism further comprises a spring disposed in relationship to the mechanical arm, the spring configured to provide a force to the mechanical arm so as to deflect the tab to the second tab position and maintain the tab in said second position.

23. The simulated product container according to claim 22, wherein the mechanical arm is operable in a first arm position and a second arm position to deflect the tab to the second tab position, said tab deflection mechanism further comprising:

a mechanical stop configured to keep the mechanical arm in the first arm position when the tab is in the first tab position, wherein the tab opening mechanism is configured to cause the mechanical arm to disengage from the mechanical stop so as to allow the mechanical arm to move from the first arm position to the second arm position when the tab opening mechanism causes the tab to move from the first tab position into the interior of the body.

24. The simulated product container according to claim 23, wherein the tab deflection mechanism further comprises:

a mounting plate mounted to the lid, said mounting plate configured to pivotably mount the mechanical arm and to mount the spring.

25. The simulated product container according to claim 20, wherein the video message comprises a plurality of video images.

26. The simulated product container according to claim 20, further comprising a sound producing device and wherein the circuit is configured to announce an audio message via the sound producing device when the video message is displayed.

27. The simulated product container according to claim 26, wherein the sound producing device is at least one speaker.

28. The simulated product container according to claim 26, wherein the circuit is configured to repeat the display of the video message and the announcement of the audio message.

29. The simulated product container according to claim 28, wherein the circuit is configured to stop the display of the video message and of the announcement of the audio message when the light sensor does not sense light entering the interior of the body.

30. The simulated product container according to claim 20,

wherein the circuit comprises a memory and a processor, wherein the memory comprises a program and the processor is configured to cause the video display to display the video message based on the program.

31. The simulated product container according to claim 30, further comprising a battery configured to provide said electrical power.

32. The simulated product container according to claim 20, wherein the body comprises an enclosed surface, and at least part of the enclosed surface is dimensioned to be spaced from an inner surface of the container shell for providing a space between the container shell and the body, said space dimensioned to be filled with a liquid.

33. The simulated product container according to claim 20, wherein the tab is a stay-on tab and the tab opening mechanism is a stay-on tab opening mechanism.

34. The simulated product container according to claim 20, wherein the circuit is configured to repeat the display of said video message.

35. The simulated product container according to claim 34, wherein the circuit is configured to stop the display when the light sensor does not sense light entering the interior of the body.

36. The simulated product container according to claim 20, wherein the light sensor is a light sensor switch.

37. The simulated product container according to claim 20, wherein the lid is the same as a lid of a product container that contains product.

38. The simulated product container according to claim 37, wherein the container shell is the same as a container shell of a product container that contains product.

39. The simulated product container according to claim 20, wherein the container shell is the same as a container shell of a product container that contains product.

40. The simulated product container according to claim 20, further comprising a prize holder configured to store a prize award, the prize holder configured to release the prize award when the tab opening mechanism causes the opening to be revealed.

41. A method for displaying a video message inside a simulated product container comprising:

moving a tab formed in a lid of the simulated product container so as to reveal an opening in the lid;

sensing light entering the interior of the simulated product container and in response thereto, generating a video message for viewing through the opening formed in the lid.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the moving of the tab so as to reveal the opening in the lid causes the tab to enter into an interior of the simulated product container, the method further comprising deflecting the tab after the tab has entered into the interior of the simulated product container so as to maintain the tab in a tab position so as to allow for unobstructed viewing of the video message on the video display through the opening.