Consumer product carton having MICR encoded incentive

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a consumer product package that contains an affixed, yet removable, promotional offering that is invisible to the consumer at purchase but is one that can be processed through an established financial network once removed.

1 . A consumer product package having an affixed, removable MICR encoded incentive, comprising; 
 a consumer product package having an internal surface and an external surface, said package being sized and configured to receive a consumer product;    an incentive having MICR encoding; and    wherein said incentive with MICR encoding is removably disposed on one of said internal and external surfaces and is capable of being processed through an established financial network.    
     
     
         2 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said incentive is removably disposed on said internal surface of said package.  
     
     
         3 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said incentive is removably secured to one of said internal and external surfaces through an adhesive, dry peel release and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said adhesive is selected from a group including removable, repositionable, frangible and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said adhesive does not interfere with processing said incentive through the established financial network.  
     
     
         6 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said consumer product is a ready to eat cereal.  
     
     
         7 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said incentive is selected from a group includes a rebate, check, coupon and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said incentive is a negotiable instrument.  
     
     
         9 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 1 , wherein one of said internal and external surfaces is provided with indicia indicating said consumer product is provided with said incentive.  
     
     
         10 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said incentive is printed with indicia relating to a particular theme, event, season or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         11 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said internal and external surfaces has an upper and lower portion.  
     
     
         12 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said incentive is provided in one of said upper portions of said internal and external surfaces.  
     
     
         13 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said consumer product is selected from a group including a ready to eat meal, snack, baking mix, dough based product, beverage, dairy product or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         14 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said consumer product is selected from a group including personal care products, electronic based products, software product; textile based product and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         15 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said incentive is a negotiable instrument.  
     
     
         16 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said internal and external surfaces is provided with indicia.  
     
     
         17 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said indicia provided on said external surface is distinct from the indicia provided on said internal surface.  
     
     
         18 . A consumer product as recited in  claim 17 , wherein a substantial amount of said indicia on said external surface relates to a consumer product and a substantial amount of said indicia on said internal surface relates to a promotion, theme, event or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 . A blank forming a portion of a consumer product package, comprising; 
 a blank having first and second surfaces, each of said first and second surfaces having first and second longitudinally extending side edges and first and second transversely extending end edges;    at least one of said first and second surfaces being printed with indicia related to a consumer product contained within the consumer product package, said indicia containing additional information relating to an incentive, rebate or coupon being offered in connection with an event, theme or promotion;    a removably detachable promotional piece being encoded with MICR printing, said promotional piece being related to said event, theme or promotion; and    wherein said promotional piece is attached to one of said first and second surfaces such that upon removal from said one of said first and second surfaces, said promotional piece is capable of being processed through an established financial network.    
     
     
         20 . A blank as recited in  claim 19 , wherein each of said first and second surfaces have an upper and lower portion.  
     
     
         21 . A blank as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said promotional piece is removably secured to said upper portion of one of said first and second surfaces.  
     
     
         22 . A blank as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said promotional piece is adhesively secured to one of said first and second surfaces.  
     
     
         23 . A blank as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said promotional piece is a negotiable instrument.  
     
     
         24 . A blank as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said promotional piece is provided in closer proximity to one of said first and second longitudinally extending side edges and one of said first and second transversely extending end edges.  
     
     
         25 . A method for supplying a promotional piece to a consumer as part of a consumer product package, comprising the steps of; 
 developing a promotional theme to be offered in connection with a consumer product;    producing a plurality of promotional pieces having a pre-assigned value relating to the promotional theme;    creating a series of consumer product package blanks;    printing said blanks with at least two distinct types of indicia, at least one of which is related to the promotional theme;    affixing said promotional piece to a predetermined position on said blank;    forming the blank into a consumer product package;    filling said consumer product package with a consumer product;    distributing the consumer product package with the consumer product;    purchasing the consumer product package by a consumer;    removing said promotional piece from the consumer product package; and    submitting said promotional piece for redemption or credit.