Promotional system

Abstract

The invention concerns a carrier of information that is releasably affixed to a container, such as a beverage can. The carrier of information may be a small diameter compact disk (CD), or a token, for example. The CD may contain music, video images, games or competitions, or the token may carry printed images, competitions and the like. A consumer may select the promotional system, such as a can of soft drink with a small CD fixed to it, allowing the drink within the container to be enjoyed, along with the CD once it is removed from the can. The system may also include an adaptor to hold the CD, and allow it to be placed into a standard CD player. A method of promotion of a product utilizing this promotional system is also disclosed.

1 . A promotional system comprising a container having a carrier of promotional material releasably affixed thereto.  
     
     
         2 . The promotional system of  claim 1 , wherein said container is a beverage can.  
     
     
         3 . The promotional system of  claim 2 , wherein said container is a beverage can of a generally cylindrical shape having a top surface bearing a manually releasable closure means, a base and generally cylindrical sides.  
     
     
         4 . The promotional system of  claim 3 , wherein said carrier of promotional material is releasably affixed to the top surface of said container.  
     
     
         5 . The promotional system of  claim 3 , wherein said carrier of promotional material is releasably affixed to the base of said container.  
     
     
         6 . The promotional system of  claim 3 , wherein said carrier of promotional material is releasably affixed to the sides of said container.  
     
     
         7 . The promotional system of any one of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein said carrier of promotional material is a compact disk having pre-recorded data on at least one side thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The promotional system of  claim 7 , wherein said compact disk has an outer diameter of about 54 mm.  
     
     
         9 . The promotional system of  claim 7 , wherein said compact disk contains pre-recorded music.  
     
     
         10 . The promotional system of  claim 7 , wherein said compact disk contains pre-recorded video or images.  
     
     
         11 . The promotional system of  claim 7 , wherein said compact disk contains pre-recorded data able to be read using a computer.  
     
     
         12 . The promotional system of  claim 7 , wherein said compact disk contains pre-recorded data able to interact on the internet.  
     
     
         13 . The promotional system of  claim 7 , wherein said compact disk contains a pre-recorded game able to be read using an electronic games console.  
     
     
         14 . The promotional system of any one of  claims 7  to  13 , which additionally contains an adaptor, able to retain said compact disk and of a size and shape to be inserted into a compact disk player that is of the tray type, and allow said compact disk to be playable in said player.  
     
     
         15 . The promotional system of  claim 14 , wherein said adaptor has a central aperture of a diameter that matches the outer diameter of said compact disk, and has means to retain said compact disk concentrically within said aperture, and said adaptor is otherwise of the same general shape and size of a standard compact disk.  
     
     
         16 . The promotional system of any one of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein said carrier of promotional material is a token having data of a promotional nature on at least one side thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The promotional system of  claim 16 , wherein said token is a disk that has an outer diameter of about 54 mm.  
     
     
         18 . The promotional system of any one of  claims 7  to  17 , wherein said carrier of promotional material has approximately the same size as the side of said container to which it is releasable affixed.  
     
     
         19 . The promotional system of any one of  claims 1  to  18 , wherein said carrier of promotional material is releasably affixed to said container by means of an adhesive.  
     
     
         20 . The promotional system of any one of  claims 1  to  18 , wherein said carrier of promotional material is releasably affixed to said container by means of a break-away coating or wrapping.  
     
     
         21 . The promotional system of any one of  claims 1  to  18 , wherein said carrier of promotional material is releasably affixed to said container by means of releasable latching means integral with and on either or both of said container and said carrier.  
     
     
         22 . The promotional system of any one of  claims 1  to  18 , wherein said carrier of promotional material is releasably affixed to said container by latching means that releasably retains said carrier, and releasably latches to said container.  
     
     
         23 . The promotional system of  claim 22 , wherein said latching means is separate from said container and said carrier.  
     
     
         24 . The promotional system of claims  22  or  23 , wherein said means is a cap that releasably retains said carrier within, and that releasably latches to a projecting rim around the top of said container.  
     
     
         25 . The promotional system of  claim 24 , wherein the sides of said cap are adapted to break-away from the top of said cap.  
     
     
         26 . The promotional system of  claim 24  or  claim 25 , wherein the top of said cap is an adaptor able to retain said carrier within a recess in said adaptor.  
     
     
         27 . The promotional system of  claim 26 , wherein said carrier is a compact disk and said adaptor is configurable to a size and shape to be inserted into a compact disk player that is of the tray type, and allow said compact disk to be playable in said player.  
     
     
         28 . The promotional system of  claim 27 , wherein said adaptor is substantially, planer and comprises a plurality of petal portions, said petal portions linked by a plurality of hinged strut members, wherein said petals portions can be oriented between a closed position and an opened position by adjustment of said strut members, wherein in said closed position said adaptor has a circumference generally equivalent to that of said compact disk, and in said opened position, said adaptor is able to retain said compact disk and to be inserted into a compact disk player that is of the tray type.  
     
     
         29 . The promotional system of  claim 28 , which has 4 or 5 petal portions.  
     
     
         30 . The promotional system of any one of  claims 1  to  18 , wherein said carrier of promotional material is releasably affixed to said container by means of manually releasable closure means on said container interlinking with said carrier.  
     
     
         31 . The promotional system of any one of  claims 1  to  18 , wherein said carrier of promotional material is releasably affixed to said container by other bonding means.  
     
     
         32 . The promotional system of any one of  claims 18  to  31 , wherein said carrier of promotional material is releasably affixed to said container in a tamper-proof manner.  
     
     
         33 . The promotional system of any one of  claims 1  to  32 , wherein said carrier is retained at least partly within a recess in said container.  
     
     
         34 . The promotional system of any one of  claims 1  to  33 , wherein said carrier is retained against a surface of said container.  
     
     
         35 . The promotional system of  claim 34 , where said carrier is releasably affixed to said container by means of a break-away coating or wrapping, and where said container is retained at least partly within a recess in said coating or wrapping.  
     
     
         36 . A method of promotion of a product, which comprises: allowing a consumer to select a promotional system, said promotional system comprising a container having a carrier of promotional material releasably affixed thereto, said product being contained within said container, and said promotional information appealing to said consumer; whereby said consumer purchases said promotional system, obtains said product, and releases said carrier from said container and obtains said promotional information.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said promotional system is as defined in any one of  claims 2  to  35 .