Receptacles – Compartmented container – Compartment in closure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-21
2001-11-06
Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Compartmented container
Compartment in closure
C215S228000, C215S253000, C220S212000, C220S257200, C220S271000, C220S266000, C220S713000, C220S254800, C220S359200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311860
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a closure for a container. More specifically, the present invention relates to a closure for a beverage container which includes a removably-covered, recessed, well adapted to contain a game piece or prize.
2. Description of Related Art
Retailers often use promotional activities to increase the sales of their products. For instance, in the quick-service restaurant industry, restaurants often employ promotional games in which the customer can receive instant prizes and/or collect game pieces in an effort to earn prizes. Such games commonly use game pieces which consumers either immediately return or collect and return for prizes (e.g, free beverages or food).
Quick-service restaurants have previously delivered such game pieces to their customers in one of two ways. In connection with some prior promotions, restaurants have handed the games pieces to the patron upon completing the sale. Food and beverage containers have also been used to convey game pieces.
In one existing form, a game piece consists of a flexible paper tab which is adhered to the side of a container (e.g., a cup). The game piece thus readily conforms to and smoothly lies over either a planar or non-planar surface of the container. The game pieces are designed to be peeled off the surface to reveal the prize won by the patron or to convey other information to the patron.
Inflexible game pieces and prizes do not conform to the surfaces of food and beverage containers. Restaurants thus have previously distributed such game pieces apart from the containers. Quick-service restaurants, however, generally disfavor separate distribution because they cannot ensure that every customer receives a game piece with his or her purchase. Decoupling the game piece from the container also presents the risk that game pieces will be distributed without a product purchase.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A need therefore exists for a way to couple a rigid, noncomformable game piece with a product container in order to deliver together the game piece and the purchased product to a consumer.
The present invention involves the recognition that, in the context of at least the quick-service restaurant industry, placement of the game piece on the bottom side of the container increases the risk of spilling the food or beverage within the container. Some customers cannot wait until the container is empty, and may accidently tip the container when removing the game piece from the container's bottom side. In addition, the possibility exists that the consumer will not recognize the presence of the game piece on the underside of the container, and will unintentionally discard the game piece with the spent container. The game piece therefore is desirably integrated into the product packaging in a manner that allows removal of the game piece without increasing the risk of spillage, and in a manner that heightens the consumer's awareness of the game piece.
One aspect of the present invention thus involves a closure (e.g., lid) for a container. The closure comprises a hidden game piece, an upper surface and a side skirt that depends downward from the upper surface. The side skirt has at least one engaging member which cooperates with corresponding structure on the container to releasably secure the closure over an opening in the container. A recessed well is formed in the upper surface and has at least one side wall. The recessed well's side wall supports a bottom surface of the well below the upper surface. The game piece is located within the well and is covered by a sealing member. The sealing member is positioned on the upper surface with an outer perimeter of the sealing member being located between the side skirt and the side wall of the recessed well.
Another aspect of the present invention involves a closure for a container. The closure comprises an upper surface and a recessed well formed in the upper surface. The recessed well has at least one side wall. The recessed well's side wall supports a floor of the well below the upper surface. A game piece is located within the well and is covered by a sealing member. The sealing member is positioned to contact and lie atop of the upper surface such that a game piece is removably enclosed within the well.
A further aspect of the present invention involves a closure for a container which includes a hidden game piece. The closure generally comprises an upper surface having a recessed well. The well has a floor and contains a game piece. A shield is located between the game piece and the well floor. The well is covered with a sealing member which is affixed to the closure.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 226063 (1973-01-01), Warnberg
patent: 844114 (1907-02-01), Foster
patent: 1545028 (1925-07-01), Armstrong
patent: 1885757 (1932-11-01), Orlopp
patent: 2120403 (1938-06-01), Godfrey
patent: 2276678 (1942-08-01), Wheeler
patent: 2766796 (1956-10-01), Tupper
patent: 2965496 (1960-12-01), Serdar
patent: 3048317 (1962-08-01), Cochrane et al.
patent: 3067867 (1962-12-01), Bonham et al.
patent: 3147879 (1964-09-01), Scholtz
patent: 3163311 (1964-12-01), Stolk
patent: 3179275 (1965-04-01), Roskam
patent: 3367484 (1968-02-01), Nelson
patent: 3391847 (1968-07-01), Christine et al.
patent: 3433378 (1969-03-01), Ross
patent: 3459324 (1969-08-01), Miller
patent: 3485353 (1969-12-01), Reiter
patent: 3514029 (1970-05-01), Powell
patent: 3524566 (1970-08-01), Parks
patent: 3685679 (1972-08-01), Heffran
patent: 3734276 (1973-05-01), Bank
patent: 3779372 (1973-12-01), De Lloret
patent: 3822030 (1974-07-01), Tanzer
patent: 3850361 (1974-11-01), Day et al.
patent: 3874554 (1975-04-01), Chang
patent: 3963140 (1976-06-01), Harding
patent: 4000839 (1977-01-01), Tecco et al.
patent: 4018355 (1977-04-01), Ando
patent: 4036392 (1977-07-01), Martin
patent: 4074827 (1978-02-01), Labe, III
patent: 4079857 (1978-03-01), Crisci
patent: 4186842 (1980-02-01), Albert
patent: 4256233 (1981-03-01), Harding
patent: 4279351 (1981-07-01), Vertes
patent: 4340138 (1982-07-01), Bemhardt
patent: 4348421 (1982-09-01), Sakakibara et al.
patent: 4398491 (1983-08-01), Fridl et al.
patent: 4402421 (1983-09-01), Reumer, Jr.
patent: 4432153 (1984-02-01), Bachman et al.
patent: 4438865 (1984-03-01), Scattaregi
patent: 4475654 (1984-10-01), Fruchter
patent: 4478346 (1984-10-01), Spong
patent: 4634011 (1987-01-01), Polyblank
patent: 4653661 (1987-03-01), Buchner et al.
patent: 4708257 (1987-11-01), Deline
patent: 4795056 (1989-01-01), Meyers
patent: 4911320 (1990-03-01), Howes
patent: 4927048 (1990-05-01), Howard
patent: 5056659 (1991-10-01), Howes et al.
patent: 5056681 (1991-10-01), Howes
patent: 5064073 (1991-11-01), Folland
patent: 5076433 (1991-12-01), Howes
patent: 5076613 (1991-12-01), Kovacs
patent: 5099232 (1992-03-01), Howes
patent: 5117995 (1992-06-01), Kau
patent: 5283567 (1994-02-01), Howes
patent: 5290574 (1994-03-01), Jamieson et al.
patent: 5375828 (1994-12-01), Shikami
patent: 5397023 (1995-03-01), Toczek et al.
patent: 5422129 (1995-06-01), Draddy
patent: 5439103 (1995-08-01), Howes
patent: 5462278 (1995-10-01), Valyi
patent: 5482158 (1996-01-01), Plester
patent: 5524788 (1996-06-01), Plester
patent: 5529179 (1996-06-01), Hanson
patent: 5592766 (1997-01-01), Mygatt
patent: 5692616 (1997-12-01), Baker
patent: 5746312 (1998-05-01), Johnson
patent: 5769263 (1998-06-01), Willingham et al.
patent: 5893477 (1999-04-01), Kaneko et al.
patent: 5904266 (1999-05-01), Tedeschi, Jr.
patent: 5971195 (1999-10-01), Reidinger et al.
patent: 5992629 (1999-11-01), Gullord et al.
patent: 6056144 (2000-05-01), Strange et al.
patent: 6070752 (2000-06-01), Nava et al.
patent: 566898 (1958-12-01), None
patent: O 621 206 A1 (1989-09-01), None
patent: 449676 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 2 190 893 A (1987-12-01), None
patent: WO 96/04181 (1996-02-01), None
patent: WO 97/11892 (1997-04-01), None
Bedini Cathy M.
Garza Tari
Heller Lauren
Kahre Donna
Marchi David J.
Hylton Robin A.
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Shoap Allan N.
Taco Bell Corp.
LandOfFree
Container closure containing game piece does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Container closure containing game piece, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Container closure containing game piece will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2602283