Sales promotion system and method for attracting consumer attention to each individual article being sold

• US 5,243,504 A
• Filed: 07/29/1992
• Issued: 09/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel A. Sejzer
• Original Assignee: Daniel A. Sejzer
• Inventors: Sejzer, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Carroll B.
• Application Number:
  US07/921,216
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 362/125, 362/154, 362/104, 362/190, 362/191, 362/800, 40/544
• US Class Current: 362/154
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 15/0015 Illuminated or sound-producing jewellery
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/02 by a carrier person or animal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A sales promotion system and method is provided for attracting consumer attention to each individual article of a plurality of articles being sold and which are typically arranged on a store shelf. Each of the items to be sold has its own blinking light circuit arranged at a display surface of the product. Preferably, the display surface is a front surface or side surface of a box or package containing the item being sold. A light such as an LED driven by the blinking circuit protrudes through an aperture in the display surface. The blinking circuit blinks for a period of time sufficiently long to permit the items to be sold from the store shelf. Thereafter, the purchaser of the item, after opening the package, may remove the blinking circuit and wear the blinking circuit as a promotional button or the like. Preferably all of the plurality of items on the store shelf have their respective display surfaces positioned toward potential consumers so that a group of blinking lights, each blinking at a different time, attracts the consumer. With the invention, the blinking lights are placed inside the box at the display surface when the item is originally being packaged within the box. A thin plastic film may then seal the box over the blinking LEDs prior to shipment. The blinking lights are activated prior to shipment.

Claims

1. A sales promotion system, comprising:

a plurality of items to be sold and arranged on a store shelf;

each of the items to be sold having its own blinking light circuit with a blinking light arranged at a display surface for the item;

the display surface of each of the products being positioned on the shelf to face toward potential consumers;

all of the plurality of items being substantially identical and being packaged in substantially identical boxes; and

the blinking light circuit comprising a circuit wafer connected to a display button, and means being provided for permitting the display button to be removed from the item being promoted to the consumer, and said button having pin means for enabling the consumer to wear the button on his clothing.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein the blinking light circuit has outer dimensions no greater than 2 inches and an overall thickness including the battery of not greater than 1/2 inch.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the blinking light circuit has at least two blinking lights thereon arranged at the display surface for the item in spaced apart fashion.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein at least two blinking light circuits are provided each having at least one blinking light arranged at said display surface, said two blinking light circuits being mounted in spaced apart fashion.

2. A sales promotion system, comprising:

a plurality of items to be sold and arranged on a store shelf;

each of the items to be sold having its own blinking light circuit with a blinking light arranged at a display surface for the item;

the display surface of each of the products being positioned on the shelf to face toward potential consumers; and

the blinking light circuit having an LED, the circuit being mounted at an inner surface of the display surface of a package containing a product to be promoted, and an aperture provided in the display surface of the package with the circuit being positioned so that the LED protrudes through the aperture allowing it to be visible by the consumers.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein a plastic film surrounds the package and overlaps the blinking LED.

4. A system according to claim 2 wherein the LED circuit has means for permitting the LED to blink continuously without battery replacement for at least one month.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein a blink rate of the LED is at least once every 30 seconds.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the blink rate is between 3 and 6 seconds.

7. A system according to claim 2 wherein the blinking light circuit blinks the LED for at least four months with a battery built into the circuit and without replacement of the battery.

11. A method for promoting a group of products, comprising the steps of:

providing a blinking circuit having a light and a self-contained battery within the blinking circuit, and the blinking circuit having capability to blink for at least one month continuously without replacement of the battery;

providing a plurality of products to be promoted and a respective box for containing each of the products;

prior to packaging the products in the respective boxes, placing in each of the boxes at an inner surface thereof the blinking circuit and attaching it there such that the light on the circuit protrudes through an aperture in a display surface of the box;

enabling the circuits so that the respective lights begin to blink;

after the products have been placed in the respective boxes, closing the boxes;

shipping the boxes to a sales destination; and

placing the boxes side-by-side on a store shelf with all of the lights blinking and with the respective display surfaces positioned to face potential purchasers.

12. A method according to claim 11 including the step of placing a clear sealing film around the boxes and over the blinking lights after closing the boxes and prior to shipment.

13. A method according to claim 11 including the step of providing the blinking circuit as a circuit wafer adhered to a back of a promotional button and fixing the promotional button to the inner surface of the box in a removable manner;

and a consumer, after purchasing the box, removing the button and wearing the same when it is blinking.

14. A method according to claim 11 wherein all of the boxes are substantially identical for selling a same product contained in each of the boxes.

15. A method according to claim 11 wherein all of the lights of the boxes are blinking at different times.

16. A sales promotion system, comprising:

a plurality of boxes containing items to be sold and arranged on a store shelf as a group and in close proximity to one another;

each of the boxes having its own blinking light circuit with a blinking light arranged at a display surface on the box, with the display surfaces of the boxes all facing towards potential consumers;

the blinking light circuit each having means for permitting blinking of the light without battery replacement for at least one month continuously; and

the blinking light circuits each being mounted at an inner surface of said display surfaces within the boxes, the blinking light being positioned for viewing by the potential consumers through an aperture in said display surfaces.

17. A method for promoting a group formed of a plurality of boxes having the same products therein, comprising the steps of:

providing a blinking circuit with a light in each box, said blinking circuit being attached so that the light of the blinking circuit is visible through an aperture in a display surface of the box which is to be faced towards consumers on a store shelf;

activating the blinking lights and placing the products into the boxes;

closing the boxes;

shipping all of the boxes to the store; and

placing all of the boxes on the store shelf side-by-side in a group so that all of the blinking lights are facing towards potential consumers.

18. A sales promotion system, comprising:

a plurality of items to be sold and arranged on a store shelf;

each of the items to be sold being contained in a respective box and each of the boxes having its own light circuit means for repeatedly blinking a light arranged at a display surface of the box containing the item being sold; and

the display surface of each of the boxes being positioned on the shelf to face toward potential consumers.

19. A method for promoting a group of substantially similar products comprising of a plurality of boxes having the products therein, comprising the steps of:

providing a blinking circuit with a light on each box, said blinking circuit being attached to the box so that the light of the blinking circuit is visible at a display surface of the box which is to be faced towards consumers on a storage shelf;

first activating the blinking lights and thereafter wrapping the boxes for shipment to a store for display on said store shelf;

shipping the boxes to the store; and

at the store unwrapping the boxes with the blinking lights still blinking and placing the boxes on the store shelf side-by-side in a group so that the blinking lights are facing towards potential consumers.

20. A method for promoting a group of substantially similar products comprising a plurality of boxes having the products therein, comprising the steps of:

providing a blinking circuit with a light on each box, said blinking circuit being attached to the box so that the light of a blinking circuit is visible at a display circuit of the box which is to be faced towards consumers on the store shelf;

providing the blinking light circuit so that the light will blink continuously for at least one month without battery replacement;

first activating the blinking lights and thereafter wrapping the boxes for shipment to a store for display on said store shelf;

shipping the boxes to the store; and

at the store unwrapping the boxes with the blinking lights still blinking and placing the boxes on the store shelf side-by-side in a group so that the blinking lights are facing towards potential consumers.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein after activation, the blinking lights remain blinking for at least a month.