Method and apparatus for incorporating advertising into trays

Abstract

A tray for displaying advertising material on a surface thereof includes a tray that defines at least one generally exposed surface and a transparent or translucent cover releasably coupled to the tray with at least a portion of the cover extending over at least a portion of the exposed surface. The advertising material is coupled to the exposed surface of the tray or printed directly on the tray. A method for providing advertising trays to a facility includes providing a plurality of trays, each defining at least one generally exposed surface and having a cover releasably coupled thereto. The specific advertising material to be used with the plurality of trays is determined and the advertising material is positioned between the exposed surface of each of the trays and the cover. The trays having the advertising material positioned therein are delivered to a facility for use therein.

1 . A tray for displaying advertising material on a surface thereof, comprising: 
 a tray defining at least one generally exposed surface;    a cover releasably coupled to said tray, at least a portion of said cover extending over at least a portion of said exposed surface; and wherein    said cover is one of at least partially transparent and at least partially translucent to allow desired portions of advertising material positioned between said exposed surface and said cover to be viewed by a person looking at said tray.    
   
   
       2 . The tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame that attaches said advertising material and said cover to said tray.  
   
   
       3 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein said generally exposed surface is a bottom inner surface of said tray.  
   
   
       4 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein said generally exposed surface is a wall that extends substantially perpendicularly from a bottom surface of said tray.  
   
   
       5 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein said advertising material is mounted on said generally exposed surface using a mechanical fastener, a magnet, an adhesive, hook-and-loop material, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein said cover is mounted via the engagement of tabs projecting from the edges of said cover with slots in said tray.  
   
   
       7 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein said cover is mounted via the engagement of a channel attached to said tray.  
   
   
       8 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein said advertising material is inserted in a pocket mounted on said generally exposed surface.  
   
   
       9 . The tray of  claim 8 , wherein said cover forms a front wall of said pocket.  
   
   
       10 . An advertising material device for article holders at security checkpoints, comprising: 
 a tray having at least one substantially planar surface; and    advertising material adhesively mounted on a generally exposed surface of said substantially planar surface.    
   
   
       11 . The advertising material device of  claim 10 , wherein said generally exposed surface of said substantially planar surface is a bottom inner surface of said tray.  
   
   
       12 . The advertising material device of  claim 10 , wherein said generally exposed surface of said substantially planar surface is a wall that extends substantially perpendicularly from a bottom surface of said tray.  
   
   
       13 . An advertising material device for a disposable article holder at a security checkpoint, comprising: 
 a tray having at least one substantially planar surface; and    advertising material attached to a generally exposed surface of said substantially planar surface.    
   
   
       14 . The advertising material device of  claim 13 , wherein said advertising material is printed on said substantially planar surface.  
   
   
       15 . The advertising material device of  claim 13 , wherein said advertising material is adhesively attached to said substantially planar surface.  
   
   
       16 . A tray for displaying advertising material, comprising: 
 a tray defining at least one generally exposed surface; and    a cover couplable to said generally exposed surface, said cover having advertising material printed on a surface thereof such that said advertising material can be viewed by a person looking at said tray.    
   
   
       17 . The tray of  claim 16 , wherein said cover is couplable to said generally exposed surface using snaps.  
   
   
       18 . The tray of  claim 16 , wherein said cover is couplable to said generally exposed surface by said cover being mounted in a channel attached to said generally exposed surface.  
   
   
       19 . The tray of  claim 16 , wherein said advertising material is printed on opposing sides of said cover.  
   
   
       20 . The tray of  claim 16 , wherein said cover is couplable to said generally exposed surface via the engagement of a connector on said cover with an anchor mounted on said tray.  
   
   
       21 . The tray of  claim 20 , wherein said tray on which said anchor is mounted is a conventional non-advertising tray.  
   
   
       22 . A method for providing trays to a facility, said trays having advertising material displayed thereon, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of trays, each defining at least one generally exposed surface, each tray having a cover releasably coupled thereto, at least a portion of said cover extending over at least a portion of said exposed surface, wherein said cover is one of at least partially transparent and at least partially translucent to allow desired portions of advertising material, when such is positioned between said exposed surface and said cover, to be viewed by a person looking at said tray;    determining advertising material to be used with said plurality of trays and positioning said advertising material between said exposed surface of each of said trays and a corresponding cover;    supplying at least a portion of said plurality of trays having said advertising material positioned therein to a particular facility for use therein; and    periodically performing one of replacing said advertising in said plurality of trays and collecting said plurality of trays from said facility and replacing them with a plurality of different trays having different advertising mounted thereto.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said step of determining advertising material to be used comprises physically receiving said advertising material from a product/service provider.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said step of determining advertising material to be used comprises receiving authorization from a product/service provider to reproduce said advertising material.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said step of replacing said advertising material comprises, 
 removing said trays from said facility,    transporting said removed trays to a location where said advertising material can be replaced with different advertising material,    replacing said advertising material, and    returning said trays to said facility.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising targeting said advertising material to a specific consumer group.