Cup containers having advertising media

Abstract

Improved cup containers for products, especially single serve products, are provided for. The novel containers comprise a cup accommodating a product and lidding for the cup. The lidding comprises one or more imprintable substrate sheets which collectively provide a lid section and a message section connected to the lid section. The lid section is sealed to the cup and thereby defines a sealed volume accommodating the product therein. The message section provides a substrate on which a message may be imprinted. The lid section is provided on one of the lidding substrate sheets. The message section is provided either on the same substrate sheet as the lid section or on a separate substrate sheet. Although connected to the lid section, the message section is separable therefrom so that the message, such as an advertising message, may be removed from the container and viewed by a consumer. Preferably, the message section is separable from said lid section without compromising the integrity of the sealed volume. The novel cup containers also include preferred embodiments having a manufacturer coupon imprinted on the message section that is redeemable by a consumer of the packaged product and that has imprinted thereon machine readable indicia to facilitate automated processing of the coupon. Preferably the machine readable indicia are a UPC bar code utilizing the UCC/EAN-128 Article Numbering System or another bar code.

1 . A product packaged in a cup container, said cup container comprising:
 (a) a cup accommodating a product; and   (b) lidding comprising one or more imprintable substrate sheets; wherein said lidding further comprises:
 i) a lid section sealed to said cup and thereby defining a sealed volume accommodating said product therein, said lid section being provided on a first said substrate sheet; and 
 ii) a message section connected to said lid section and providing a substrate on which a message may be imprinted, said message section being provided on said first substrate sheet or on a second said substrate sheet; 
 iii) wherein said message section is separable from said lid section, whereby said message may be removed from said lid section and viewed by a consumer. 
   
   
   
       2 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein said messages section is separable from said lid section without compromising the integrity of said sealed volume; whereby said message section may be removed from said sealed cup and viewed by a consumer. 
   
   
       3 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein said lidding comprises a substrate sheet providing said lid section and said message section, wherein said message section is separable from said lid section by cutting or tearing said substrate sheet along the boundary between said lid and message sections. 
   
   
       4 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein said lidding comprises a first substrate sheet providing said lid section and a second substrate sheet providing said message section, wherein said second message sheet is removably affixed to the exterior surface of said first lid sheet. 
   
   
       5 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein said lidding provides a total imprintable area equal to at least three times the nominal size of the lidding. 
   
   
       6 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein said lidding provides a total imprintable area equal to at least four times the nominal size of the lidding. 
   
   
       7 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein said lidding provides a total imprintable area equal to at least six times the nominal size of the lidding. 
   
   
       8 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein the nominal size of said lidding is 4 in 2  or less and the total imprintable area provided by said lidding is at least 16 in 2 . 
   
   
       9 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein the nominal size of said lidding is 6 in 2  or less and the total imprintable area provided by said lidding is at least 24 in 2 . 
   
   
       10 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein the nominal size of said lidding is 8 in 2  or less and the total imprintable area provided by said lidding is at least 32 in 2 . 
   
   
       11 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein said product is a single-serve food product. 
   
   
       12 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein said product is selected from the group consisting of solids, powders, granules, tablets, liquids, semi-viscous liquids, pastes, gels, and gases. 
   
   
       13 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein said product is selected from the group consisting of single-serve jams, jellies, honey, syrup, coffee creamers and flavorings, butter, margarine, cream cheese, and other spreads, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, salad dressings and sauces, and other condiments. 
   
   
       14 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein said product is a single-serve condiment. 
   
   
       15 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein product information is imprinted on the exterior faces of said lid section and said message section and an advertising message is imprinted on the interior face of said message section. 
   
   
       16 . The packaged product of  claim 15 , wherein said advertising message pertains to a product or service other than the packaged product. 
   
   
       17 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein an advertising message is imprinted on said message section and said advertising message includes a manufacturer coupon redeemable by a consumer of said product which includes machine readable indicia associated therewith to facilitate automated processing of said coupon. 
   
   
       18 . The packaged product of  claim 17 , wherein said manufacturer coupon includes a bar code associated therewith. 
   
   
       19 . The packaged product of  claim 17 , wherein said manufacturer coupon includes a UPC bar code utilizing the UCC/EAN-128 Article Numbering System. 
   
   
       20 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein said lidding is formed from a continuous web. 
   
   
       21 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein said packaged product is produced by forming a web into a plurality of said cups interconnected by portions of said cup web, filling said plurality of interconnected cups with said product, sealing said plurality of interconnect cups with a web of said lidding, and cutting said plurality of sealed cups into individual product units comprising one or more of said sealed cups. 
   
   
       22 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of said lid and message sections are transparent or translucent. 
   
   
       23 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein said message section is transparent or translucent. 
   
   
       24 . The packaged product of  claim 1 , wherein said lid section is opaque and said message section is transparent or translucent. 
   
   
       25 . A product packaged in a cup container, said cup container comprising:
 (a) a cup providing a volume and having an open end through which a product is inserted into said volume and a flange extending from the periphery of said open end; and   (b) lidding, said lidding comprising:
 i) a first imprintable substrate sheet, said first substrate sheet being sealed to said cup on said flange and across said open end thereof to provide a lid for said cup and to define a sealed volume accommodating said product therein; and 
 ii) a second imprintable substrate sheet, said second substrate sheet providing a substrate on which a message may be imprinted and being removably affixed to said first substrate sheet on the exterior face thereof; 
 iii) wherein said message sheet is separable from said lid sheet, whereby said message may be removed from said lid sheet and viewed by a consumer. 
   
   
   
       26 . The packaged product of  claim 25 , wherein said lidding comprises:
 (a) a third imprintable substrate sheet, said third substrate sheet providing a substrate on which a message may be imprinted and being removably affixed to said second substrate sheet on the exterior face thereof.   
   
   
       27 . The packaged product of  claim 25 , wherein said messages sheet is separable from said lid sheet without compromising the integrity of said sealed volume, whereby said message may be removed from said sealed cup and viewed by a consumer. 
   
   
       28 . The packaged product of  claim 25 , wherein said lidding provides a total imprintable area equal to at least four times the nominal size of the lidding. 
   
   
       29 . The packaged product of  claim 25 , wherein said lidding provides a total imprintable area equal to at least six times the nominal size of the lidding. 
   
   
       30 . The packaged product of  claim 25 , wherein the nominal size of said lidding is 4 in 2  or less and the total imprintable area provided by said lidding is at least 16 in 2 . 
   
   
       31 . The packaged product of  claim 25 , wherein the nominal size of said lidding is 8 in 2  or less and the total imprintable area provided by said lidding is at least 32 in 2 . 
   
   
       32 . The packaged product of  claim 25 , wherein said product is a single-serve food product. 
   
   
       33 . The packaged product of  claim 25 , wherein said product is selected from the group consisting of single-serve jams, jellies, honey, syrup, coffee creamers and flavorings, butter, margarine, cream cheese, and other spreads, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, salad dressings and sauces, and other condiments. 
   
   
       34 . The packaged product of  claim 25 , wherein product information is imprinted on the exterior faces of said lid sheet and said message sheet and an advertising message is imprinted on the interior face of said message sheet. 
   
   
       35 . The packaged product of  claim 25 , wherein an advertising message is imprinted on said message sheet and said advertising message includes a manufacturer coupon redeemable by a consumer of said product which includes machine readable indicia associated therewith to facilitate automated processing of said coupon. 
   
   
       36 . The packaged product of  claim 25 , wherein said lidding is formed from a continuous web. 
   
   
       37 . The packaged product of  claim 25 , wherein said packaged product is produced by forming a web into a plurality of said cups interconnected by portions of said cup web, filling said plurality of interconnected cups with said product, sealing said plurality of interconnect cups with a web of said lidding, and cutting said plurality of sealed cups into individual product units comprising one or more of said sealed cups. 
   
   
       38 . The packaged product of  claim 25 , wherein said message sheet has an area adjacent to an edge thereof that is unaffixed to said lid sheet to facilitate removal of said message sheet from said lid sheet. 
   
   
       39 . The packaged product of  claim 25 , wherein said lid sheet and message sheet are removably affixed to each other by a low tack, peelable adhesive. 
   
   
       40 . The packaged product of  claim 25 , wherein said lid sheet and said message sheet are releasably laminated together. 
   
   
       41 . The packaged product of  claim 40 , wherein said message sheet is laminated to said lid sheet by a low tack, peelable adhesive. 
   
   
       42 . The packaged product of  claim 41 , wherein said message sheet has an area adjacent to an edge thereof that is unadhered to said lid sheet to facilitate removal of said message sheet from said lid sheet. 
   
   
       43 . A product packaged in a cup container, said cup container comprising:
 (a) a cup providing a volume and having an open end through which a product is inserted into said volume and a flange extending from the periphery of said open end; and   (b) lidding, said lidding comprising:
 i) a first imprintable substrate sheet, said first substrate sheet being sealed to said cup on said flange and across said open end thereof to provide a lid for said cup and to define a sealed volume accommodating said product therein; and 
 ii) a second imprintable substrate sheet, said second substrate sheet providing a substrate on which a message may be imprinted, said message sheet having a fold therein defining a first portion thereof which is removably affixed to said lid sheet on the exterior face thereof and a second portion overlaying said first portion; 
 iii) wherein said message sheet is separable from said lid sheet, whereby said message may be removed from said lid sheet and viewed by a consumer. 
   
   
   
       44 . The packaged product of  claim 43 , wherein said messages sheet is separable from said lid sheet without compromising the integrity of said sealed volume, whereby said message may be removed from said sealed cup and viewed by a consumer. 
   
   
       45 . The packaged product of  claim 43 , wherein said lidding provides a total imprintable area equal to at least six times the nominal size of the lidding. 
   
   
       46 . The packaged product of  claim 43 , wherein the nominal size of said lidding is 4 in 2  or less and the total imprintable area provided by said lidding is at least 16 in 2 . 
   
   
       47 . The packaged product of  claim 43 , wherein the nominal size of said lidding is 8 in 2  or less and the total imprintable area provided by said lidding is at least 32 in 2 . 
   
   
       48 . The packaged product of  claim 43 , wherein said product is a single-serve food product. 
   
   
       49 . The packaged product of  claim 43 , wherein said product is selected from the group consisting of single-serve jams, jellies, honey, syrup, coffee creamers and flavorings, butter, margarine, cream cheese, and other spreads, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, salad dressings and sauces, and other condiments. 
   
   
       50 . The packaged product of  claim 43 , wherein product information is imprinted on the exterior faces of said lid sheet and said message sheet and an advertising message is imprinted on at least one of the interior faces of said message sheet. 
   
   
       51 . The packaged product of  claim 43 , wherein an advertising message is imprinted on said message sheet and said advertising message includes a manufacturer coupon redeemable by a consumer of said product which includes machine readable indicia associated therewith to facilitate automated processing of said coupon. 
   
   
       52 . The packaged product of  claim 43 , wherein said lidding is formed from a continuous web. 
   
   
       53 . The packaged product of  claim 43 , wherein said packaged product is produced by forming a web into a plurality of said cups interconnected by portions of said cup web, filling said plurality of interconnected cups with said product, sealing said plurality of interconnect cups with a web of said lidding, and cutting said plurality of sealed cups into individual product units comprising one or more of said sealed cups. 
   
   
       54 . The packaged product of  claim 43 , wherein said message sheet has an area adjacent to an edge thereof that is unaffixed to said lid sheet to facilitate removal of said message sheet from said lid sheet. 
   
   
       55 . The packaged product of  claim 43 , wherein said lid sheet and message sheet are removably affixed to each other by a low tack, peelable adhesive. 
   
   
       56 . The packaged product of  claim 43 , wherein said lid sheet and said message sheet are releasably laminated together. 
   
   
       57 . The packaged product of  claim 56 , wherein said message sheet is laminated to said lid sheet by a low tack, peelable adhesive. 
   
   
       58 . The packaged product of  claim 57 , wherein said message sheet has an area adjacent to an edge thereof that is unadhered to said lid sheet to facilitate removal of said message sheet from said lid sheet. 
   
   
       59 . The packaged product of  claim 43 , wherein said second overlaid portion of said message sheet is removably affixed to the exterior face of said first portion of said message sheet by a low tack, peelable adhesive. 
   
   
       60 . The packaged product of  claim 43 , wherein said second overlaid portion of said message sheet is releasably laminated to the exterior face of said first portion of said message sheet. 
   
   
       61 . A product packaged in a cup container, said cup container comprising:
 (a) a cup providing a volume and having an open end through which a product is inserted into said volume and a flange extending from the periphery of said open end; and   (b) lidding, said lidding comprising:
 i) an imprintable substrate sheet, said substrate sheet having a lid section and a message section, said message section providing a substrate on which a message may be imprinted; 
 ii) wherein said lid section is sealed to said cup on said flange and across said open end thereof, thereby defining a sealed volume accommodating said product therein; and 
 iii) wherein said message section is separable from said lid section by cutting or tearing said substrate sheet along the boundary between said lid and message sections without compromising the integrity of said sealed volume, whereby said message may be removed from said sealed cup and viewed by a consumer. 
   
   
   
       62 . The packaged product of  claim 61 , wherein said message section is folded along the boundary between said lid section and said message section such that said message section overlays said lid section. 
   
   
       63 . The packaged product of  claim 61 , wherein said lidding provides a total imprintable area equal to at least four times the nominal size of the lidding. 
   
   
       64 . The packaged product of  claim 61 , wherein the nominal size of said lidding is 4 in 2  or less and the total imprintable area provided by said lidding is at least 16 in 2 . 
   
   
       65 . The packaged product of  claim 61 , wherein the nominal size of said lidding is 8 in 2  or less and the total imprintable area provided by said lidding is at least 32 in 2 . 
   
   
       66 . The packaged product of  claim 61 , wherein said product is a single-serve food product. 
   
   
       67 . The packaged product of  claim 61 , wherein said product is selected from the group consisting of single-serve jams, jellies, honey, syrup, coffee creamers and flavorings, butter, margarine, cream cheese, and other spreads, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, salad dressings and sauces, and other condiments. 
   
   
       68 . The packaged product of  claim 61 , wherein product information is imprinted on the exterior faces of said lid section and said message section and an advertising message is imprinted on the interior face of said message section. 
   
   
       69 . The packaged product of  claim 61 , wherein an advertising message is imprinted on said message section and said advertising message includes a manufacturer coupon redeemable by a consumer of said product which includes machine readable indicia associated therewith to facilitate automated processing of said coupon. 
   
   
       70 . The packaged product of  claim 61 , wherein said lidding is formed from a continuous web. 
   
   
       71 . The packaged product of  claim 61 , wherein said packaged product is produced by forming a web into a plurality of said cups interconnected by portions of said cup web, filling said plurality of interconnected cups with said product, sealing said plurality of interconnect cups with a web of said lidding, and cutting said plurality of sealed cups into individual product units comprising one or more of said sealed cups. 
   
   
       72 . The packaged product of  claim 61 , wherein said overlaid message section is removably affixed to the exterior face of the lid section by a low tack, peelable adhesive. 
   
   
       73 . The packaged product of  claim 61 , wherein said wherein said overlaid message section is releasably laminated to said lid section. 
   
   
       74 . The packaged product of  claim 73 , wherein said message sheet has an area adjacent to an edge thereof that is not laminated to said lid sheet to facilitate removal of said message sheet from said lid sheet. 
   
   
       75 . A method for disseminating advertising messages to consumers, which method comprises:
 (a) packaging a product in a cup container having an advertising message associated therewith which may be viewed by a consumer;   (b) distributing said packaged product with said advertising message to a consumer outlet; and   (c) distributing said packaged product with said advertising message to consumers associated with said consumer outlets, thereby disseminating said advertising message to said consumers;   (d) wherein said cup container comprises:
 i) a cup accommodating a product; and 
 ii) lidding comprising one or more imprintable substrate sheets; wherein said lidding further comprises:
 (1) a lid section sealed to said cup and thereby defining a sealed volume accommodating said product therein, said lid section being provided on a first said substrate sheet; and 
 (2) a message section connected to said lid section and providing a substrate on which a message may be imprinted, said message section being provided on said first substrate sheet or on a second said substrate sheet; 
 (3) wherein said message section is separable from said lid section, whereby said message may be removed from said lid section and viewed by a consumer. 
 
   
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein said consumer outlet is a food service establishment. 
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein said product is a single-serve food product. 
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein said advertising message pertains to a product or service other than said packaged product. 
   
   
       79 . A method for disseminating advertising messages to a target consumer group, which method comprises:
 (a) packaging a product in a cup container having associated therewith an advertising message pertaining to products or services other than said packaged product, said advertising message being intended for a target consumer group;   (b) packaging said packaged product in a shipping carton having a machine readable indicator uniquely associated with said advertising message; and   (c) reading said indicator and in response thereto shipping said carton to consumer outlets associated with said target consumer group, whereby said packaged product may be distributed to consumers thereby disseminating said advertising message.   
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein said consumer outlet is a food service establishment. 
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein said product is a single-serve food product. 
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein said product is a type or brand of product associated with said target consumers. 
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein said product is a single serve food product of a type or brand associated with said target consumers. 
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein said product is a single serve food product selected from the group consisting of jams, jellies, honey, syrup, coffee creamers and flavorings, butter, margarine, cream cheese, and other spreads, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, salad dressings and sauces, and other condiments and said consumer outlet is a food service establishment. 
   
   
       85 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein said consumer outlets are located in a particular geographic region associated with said target consumers. 
   
   
       86 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein said consumer outlets are a specific retailer or chain of retailers or a type of retail outlet associated with said target consumers.