MARKETING COASTER

SOUS-VERRE PROMOTIONNEL

English Abstract

A coaster has an insert retained between a cover and a bottom member. The
insert is
released from between the cover and the bottom member when at least one of the
edges of the
cover is detached from the bottom member. The insert is released and may be
unfolded to
reveal a number of displaying surfaces which can contain a variety of
advertising or
promotional materials.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A coaster comprising:
a bottom member having at least an edge; and,
a cover for overlying the bottom member, said cover secured at an edge to the
corresponding edge of the bottom member, said cover for hinged movement about
the
edge, said cover and bottom member having displaying surfaces.
2. A coaster as in claim 1 further comprising an insert for inserting between
the cover
and the bottom member, said insert having a plurality of displaying surfaces.
3. A coaster as in claim 2 wherein a first edge of the insert is secured to
the bottom
member.
4. A coaster as in claim 2 wherein a first edge of the insert is secured to
the cover.
5. A coaster as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the coaster is rectangularly shaped.
6. A coaster as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the coaster is shaped in a circle.
7. A coaster as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the bottom member and the cover are
laminated.
8. A coaster as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the bottom member and the cover are
plastic.
9. A coaster as in claim 1 or 2 wherein the bottom member and the cover are
cardboard.
10. A coaster as in claim 1 or 2 wherein a second edge of the cover is a
perforated edge
for allowing the second edge to be detached.
11. A coaster as in claim 2 wherein the insert is for displaying advertising,
marketing,
coupons, pictures and games.
4

12. A coaster as in claim 2 wherein the insert has at least two displaying
surfaces.
13. A coaster comprising:
a bottom member having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom
surface for engaging a table surface, said bottom member having at least first
and
second edge portions;
a cover of same dimension as and for overlying the bottom member, said cover
secured at a first edge portion to the corresponding first edge portion of the
top surface
of the bottom member and detachably secured at a second edge portion to the
corresponding second edge portion of the top surface of the bottom member,
said
cover for hinged movement about the first edge upon detaching the second edge
from
the bottom member.
14. A coaster as in claim 13 further comprising an insert having at least one
fold, for
inserting between the cover and the bottom member, said insert having a
plurality of
displaying surfaces, said insert being unfolded upon detaching the second edge
of the
cover from the bottom member.
15. A coaster as in claim 13 or 14 wherein a first edge of the insert is
secured to the
bottom portion.
16. A coaster as in claim 13 or 14 wherein a first edge of the insert is
secured to the
cover.
17. A coaster as in claim 13 or 14 wherein the coaster is rectangularly
shaped.
18. A coaster as in claim 13 or 14 wherein the coaster is shaped in a circle.
19. A coaster as in claim 13 or 14 wherein the bottom member and the cover are
laminated.
5

20. A coaster as in claim 13 or 14 wherein the bottom member and the cover are
plastic.
21. A coaster as in claim 13 or 14 wherein the bottom member and the cover are
cardboard.
22. A coaster as in claim 13 or 14 wherein the second edge of the cover is a
perforated
edge allowing the second edge to be detached.
23. A coaster as in claim 14 wherein the insert is for displaying advertising,
marketing,
coupons, pictures and games.
24. A coaster as in claim 14 wherein the insert has at least two displaying
surfaces.
6

Description

CA 02272531 1999-OS-19
MARKETING COASTER
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a coaster, and more particularly
to a coaster
with increased marketing and advertising area.
Back ound of the Invention
Bars and restaurants often provide their patrons with coasters, which are not
only used
to protect the counter tops and tables, but to advertise some of the products
being sold by that
establishment. The potential advertising space is however limited to the
boundaries of the
coaster itself and usually only contains advertising for a single product on
one or both sides of
the coaster. However, because of the efficient manner in which the coaster is
distributed to a
customer, improved means for displaying more information on the coaster would
have
significant impact for advertisers.
Therefore, a coaster with additional space onto which advertising or other
informational data can be displayed is desired.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coaster for distribution in a bar or
restaurant on
which additional space is provided for displaying advertising or other
information.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
coaster
comprising: a bottom member having at least an edge; and, a cover for
overlying the bottom
member, said cover secured at an edge to the corresponding edge of the bottom
member, said
cover for hinged movement about the edge, said cover and bottom member having
displaying
surfaces.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings
which show a preferred embodiment thereof and wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates in a top view, a coaster for containing an insert for
providing
additional displaying surfaces;
Figure 2 illustrates in a sectional view, the coaster shown in Figure 1 as
seen through

CA 02272531 1999-OS-19
line 2-2; and,
Figure 3 illustrates in the view of Figure 2, greatly enlarged in the top-to-
bottom
dimensions;
Figure 4 illustrates in a perspective view, the coaster shown in Figure 1 with
a second
S edge detached therefrom and the insert being released.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated a coaster 10 for containing
an insert
16 for providing additional advertising or other publication displaying
surfaces in addition to
those ordinarily found on a coaster. In a preferred embodiment, the coaster 10
comprises a
bottom member 12, a cover 14 and the insert 16. It will be understood,
however, that the
coaster will be effective without an insert as the inside surface of the cover
and the bottom
surface could act as displaying surfaces.
Referring to Figure 3, the coaster 10 has a top surface 18 and a bottom
surface 20.
Bottom surface 20 is for engaging a table or counter top surface (not shown).
Top surface 18
has a first edge 22 and a second edge 24. First and second edges 22 and 24 are
preferably
diametrically opposed, and may be portions of a continuous perimeter edge, if
for instance the
coaster is circular. The coaster also has a cover 14, preferably of the same
dimension and size
as the bottom member 12, overlying the top surface 18. Cover 14 is secured at
a first edge 26
(or, as noted above, edge portion) to the corresponding first edge 22 of the
bottom member
12. Cover 14 is also detachably secured at a second edge 28 (or edge portion)
to the
corresponding second edge 24 of the bottom member. The cover therefore hinges
about the
first edge 26 when the second edge 28 is detached from the bottom member 12.
In the
preferred embodiment, second edge 28 is detachably secured to the bottom
member through a
perforated edge 40. It is clear to anyone skilled in the art that any suitable
type of securing
means could be used to detachably secure the second edge to the bottom member
and the
invention is not limited to the means suggested in the preferred embodiment.
The coaster in a preferred embodiment comprises an insert 16 having a fold 30,
for
inserting between the cover 14 and the bottom member 12, the insert having a
plurality of
displaying surfaces 32, 34, 36 and 38. Alternatively, insert 16 could be
without fold 30 and
simply have two displaying surfaces. When second edge 28 of the cover is
detached from the
2

CA 02272531 1999-OS-19
bottom member, insert 16 is released and unfolded to reveal displaying
surfaces 32, 34, 36
and 38.
Referring to Figure 4, it can be seen that the insert 16 is released and the
displaying
surfaces 32, 34, 36 and 38 are revealed. These surfaces can contain
advertising or
S promotional material for a product or for the establishment which uses them.
It is clear that
the surfaces may be used to display coupons, jokes, pictures, games or any
other desired
printed material. It also clear that a greater number of folds and therefore
surfaces could be
contained within the coaster. In the preferred embodiment, the insert 16 is
secured to the
second edges 28 of the cover and when the insert is released, it remains
attached to the cover,
opening up like a pamphlet. It is clear to anyone skilled in the art that the
insert may be also
attached to the bottom member or not attached to either the cover and the
bottom member. It
would also be possible to have both the second edge 28 and the first edge 26
of the cover
being detachable and thus removable from the bottom member 12. The cover 14
and the
bottom member 12 may be made of plastic, laminated paper, cardboard or any
other suitable
1 S material. The insert 16 may be made of cardboard, laminated or non-
laminated paper or any
other suitable material, as long as it is foldable when more than two
displaying surfaces are
desired.
The above-described embodiments of the present invention are meant to be
illustrative
of preferred embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the
present invention.
Various modifications, which would be readily apparent to one skilled in the
art, are intended
to be within the scope of the present invention. The only limitations to the
scope of the
present invention are set forth in the following claims appended hereto.
3

Representative Drawing