Disposable coupon card providing a plurality of coupon discount offers

• US 6,568,599 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2001
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dennis William Lahey, Matthew David Lahey
• Original Assignee: Dennis William Lahey, Matthew David Lahey
• Inventors: Lahey, Matthew David, Lahey, Dennis William
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US09/783,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20020011521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/487, 235/494, 235/383, 235/462.01, 235/462.13, 283/56, 283/70, 283/99, 705/14
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]

Abstract

A method is described for providing a plurality of coupon discount offers from one or more manufacturers to a consumer consisting of a disposable coupon card and a two-dimensional bar code printed on the disposable card. Reference numbers for each coupon discount offer are encoded into the two-dimensional bar code. Additionally a list consisting of product and coupon discount offer information is printed on the card. Various methods of delivering the disposable coupon card to the consumer including paper inserts placed in newspapers, paper circulars distributed by retailers, magazines, direct mail pieces, insertion in packages for consumer products, and handing the disposable coupon card directly to a consumer are also described.

Claims

1. A method for providing a plurality of coupon discount offers from one or more manufacturers to a consumer for products purchased at a retail establishment comprising:

a disposable coupon card;

a two-dimensional bar code printed on said disposable coupon card wherein said two-dimensional bar code comprises identification data that has been encoded wherein said identification data that has been encoded comprises reference numbers for a coupon discount offer contained within said plurality of coupon discount offers wherein said reference numbers consisting of identification of a manufacturer providing said coupon discount offer, a product to which said coupon discount offer applies, and an amount of discount being offered for each coupon discount offer.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said disposable coupon card is approximately the size of a credit card and manufactured from paper or plastic.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said identification data that has been encoded comprises reference numbers for each said coupon discount offer contained within said plurality of coupon discount offers.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, further including a list printed on said disposable coupon card comprising product and discount offer information.

5. A method for providing a plurality of coupon discount offers from one or more manufacturers to a consumer for products purchased at a retail establishment comprising:

a disposable coupon card;

a two-dimensional bar code comprising encoded data printed on said disposable coupon card wherein said encoded data comprises reference numbers wherein said reference numbers consisting of identification of a manufacturer, a product, and an amount of discount for each coupon discount offer contained within said plurality of coupon discount offers;

a means of delivering said disposable coupon card to said consumer.

6. The method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said means of delivering said disposable coupon card to said consumer comprises paper inserts placed in newspapers, paper circulars distributed by retailers, magazines, direct mail pieces, insertion in packages for consumer products, and handing said disposable card to a consumer in or near a retail store.

7. A method for providing a plurality of coupon discount offers from one or more manufacturers to a consumer for products purchased at a retail establishment comprising:

wherein a two-dimensional bar code comprising identification data that has been encoded is printed on a disposable coupon card;

wherein said identification data that has been encoded comprises reference numbers;

wherein said reference numbers consisting of identification of a manufacturer, a product, and an amount of discount for each coupon discount offer contained within said plurality of coupon discount offers;

wherein said disposable coupon card is delivered to said consumer by means comprising paper inserts placed in newspapers, paper circulars distributed by retailers, magazines, direct mail pieces, insertion in packages for consumer products, and handing said disposable coupon card to a consumer in or near a retail store;

wherein said disposable coupon card is taken to a retail store;

wherein said two-dimensional bar code is decoded by means of a reading device at a point of sale.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said disposable coupon card is approximately the size of a credit card and manufactured from paper or plastic.

9. The method in accordance with claim 7, further including a list printed on said disposable coupon card comprising product and discount offer information.