This invention relates to a kit for promoting social interaction. More particularly, this invention relates to a kit for use in stimulating conversation. This invention also relates to an associated method.
Mealtimes have always been central in promoting social cohesiveness among a broad spectrum of different cultures. In modern societies, however, the exchange of ideas and conversation during family meal time has been in decline. Distractions have multiplied, reducing the time that people spend with one another at the table. This is especially frustrating for those who prepare the meals and would like to see more time spent over the fruits of their labors.
Increasing demands of work, as well as the proliferation of entertainment activities, have detracted from people's ability and willingness to participate in social intercourse.
The present invention aims to provide a product that would facilitate or enhance social interaction and, more specifically, that could be used to stimulate conversation. The product is ideally easy and enjoyable to use.
A kit for promoting social interaction comprises, in accordance with the present invention, a holder and a plurality of containers held by the holder, where each of the containers encloses a message designed for stimulating conversation and where each of the containers includes an instruction that the container is to be used for purposes of stimulating conversation. The present invention is also directed in part to an individual container that bears a message designed for stimulating conversation, the individual container including an instruction that the container is to be used for purposes of stimulating conversation.
The messages may be disposed on separate substrates inside respective ones of the containers. The substrates may be made of an at least partially resilient material so that the substrates are impelled out of the respective containers upon an opening thereof. The instruction may be carried on the substrate together with the message. Alternatively or additionally, the instruction may be printed on the outside of the individual containers. For example, where the containers are boxes, the instruction may be disposed on an outer surface of the boxes, for example, on lids of the boxes.
It is contemplated that the containers are made of an inedible material such as paper.
Pursuant to another feature of the present invention, the containers are provided with ornamental elements on outer surfaces thereof. The ornamental elements on the different containers may be coordinated from container to container to present a unified or singular appearance. This feature of the invention enables different collections of containers, i.e., different kits, to be distinguished from one another. For example, where different kits have different themes or have messages directed to different kinds of subject matter, a difference in appearance may communicate and differentiate content among the different kits. Different kits, for instance, might have messages directed to politics, entertainment, sports, travel, social issues, religion, investments and finance, foreign affairs, art, science, etc.
The ornamental elements may include graphics of different colors and shapes. The graphics may include corporate logos and other identifying marks. This potential identification technique is especially useful where restaurants, coffee and dessert shops, etc., use the kits. A coffee shop may, for instance, provide a few message-holding containers to customers who purchase coffee or other coffee-shop products for consumption by more than one individual.
The holder may itself take the form of a vessel such as a bag or box provided with decorative graphical patterns corresponding to the graphics on the containers.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the message includes an instruction to express an opinion. More particularly, the opinion is preferably about a subject about which reasonable people could have different views.
Where the instruction is provided inside the respective containers, the various containers in the kit may be additionally provided with a direction on an outer surface to open the respective container for purposes of stimulating conversation.
A game-type method for promoting social interaction comprises, in accordance with the present invention, providing to a group of people at least one container enclosing a message designed to stimulate conversation, instructing at least one of the people to open the container and read the message enclosed therein, and indicating to the group of people that each of them is to participate in a conversation on subject matter set forth in the message.
The providing of the container preferentially includes providing a plurality of containers each enclosing a respective different message designed to stimulate conversation, the one container being selected from among the plurality of containers.
The providing of the container, the instructing of the one of the people, and the indicating to the group may be performed during a meal, prior to or immediately after a termination thereof.
Where the container is provided at a food retail establishment, it may be given to a purchaser of food products for consumption by more than one person at the same time.
The indicating to the group that each of them is to participate in a conversation may include providing a written instruction as part of the tendered container. The container may hold a separate substrate carrying the message.
It is generally contemplated that the messages are disposable. Thus, after use, the messages are discarded so that new messages may be used to stimulate future conversation. Where the messages are on separate substrates, the substrates are discarded, while the containers may be recycled, i.e., provided with new message substrates. Where the message-bearing container is made of paper, it is contemplated that the entire container is discarded.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the conversation-stimulating container is an electronic device. Messages are stored in a digital memory and are either communicated aurally or visually in response to an activation of a request sensor by a user.
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Containers 14 are made of an inedible material such as paper, fabric, or plastic.
Containers 14 are provided with ornamental elements 16 on outer surfaces 18 thereof. The ornamental elements 16 may differ from container to container 14 but may share visual characteristics such as style and color so that the ornamentation is coordinated among the containers 14 of a given kit to present a unified or singular appearance.
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Each container 14 of the kit shown in
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Preferably, the messages or queries 26, 32, 50 disposed inside containers 14 are drawn to subjects about which people could reasonably have different views. In other words, the topics of conversation as embodied in the messages or queries 26, 32, 50 have no right and wrong answers.
Ornamental elements 16 on outside surfaces 18 of containers 14, and optionally on the outside surface of holder or vessel 12, enable different kits to be distinguished from one another. For example, where different kits have different themes or have messages or conversation topics directed to different kinds of subject matter, a difference in appearance may communicate and differentiate content among the different kits. Different kits, for instance, might have messages directed to politics, entertainment, sports, travel, social issues, religion, investments and finance, foreign affairs, the arts, science, etc.
The conversation-stimulating kit as described hereinabove is useful in a game-type method for promoting social interaction. The entire kit, or perhaps an arbitrary subset of containers 14, is provided to a group of people who are engaged in a social circumstance. Typically, but not necessarily, one person of the group selects one container 14 from the kit or the provided subset of containers and opens the container to reveal the message pertaining to a topic of conversation. This activity may be undertaken in response to a direction from a host or a chairperson or may happen spontaneously where the kit or subset of containers 14 is placed in plain view. The one person might then read the message to the group. Subsequently, each person in the group presents, generally in succession, his or her opinion or view in response to the message. Of course, conversation may be expected to continue on the selected topic after everyone has had a chance to speak. When the conversation slows down or reaches an impasse, another container may be selected by the same or a different individual of the group to initiate another round of people expressing their opinions. The instruction that each person is to respond to the conversation-starting message may be communicated at the beginning of the discussion or when one or more parties fail to participate.
This game-type method for promoting social interaction may be carried out during a meal, prior to or immediately after a termination thereof. Accordingly, the method may be carried out in homes, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, etc., or in other social circumstances such as at parties. As discussed above, where one or more containers 14 are provided at a food retail establishment, it may be given to a customer who is purchasing food products for consumption by more than one person at the same time. (There is a reduced benefit in providing conversation starters to individuals in isolation.)
Examples of messages 26, 32, 50 disposed inside containers 14 are as follows:
Examples of content messages or conversation topics 26, 32, 50 for a kit directed to the specialized arena of the arts are as follows:
Examples of content messages or conversation topics 26, 32, 50 for a kit directed to the specialized arena of religion are as follows:
Examples of instructions disposed inside containers, proximately to the content message either on a separate substrate inside the container or on an inside surface of the container:
The topics for conversation starter messages 26, 32, 50 are developed initially through research using multiple sources of information (such as interactions with others, reference books, new media, Internet sites, and any other reference material relevant to the goals). The raw material is studied, analyzed, edited and developed into unique, interesting and thought provoking topics of discussion or conversation that are then organized into a number of predetermined categories. Conversation starter messages 26, 32, 50 may take the form of questions or statements, written in sentences or paragraphs. The resulting product then becomes part of a database, which in turn, is used to feed the “delivery process.
The delivery process consists of the following steps: topics are delivered (electronically transmitted) to a printer who prints the sentences/paragraphs on large sheets of card stock (which have been designed and selected by category) in pre-determined patterns. Once printed, the sheets are dye-cut into performs such as blank 42, folded and assembled into cubic containers 14 measuring one inch by one inch by one inch. The resulting containers or boxes 14 have a colorful category-driven exterior (ornamental elements 16), with the actual topic or message 26, 32, 50 printed on the inside.
Once containers or boxes 14 have been produced, they are packaged in holders or vessels 12. Holders or vessels 12 may come in a variety of ways and quantities: paper or fabric bags, cardboard boxes, glass or ceramic bowls, and any other “receptacle” that would allow for the transportation and display of containers or boxes 14.
The above-described development and manufacturing processes are conducted in a continuous manner so that the topics are always fresh and the delivery mechanisms evolve to meet users' expectations.
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Sensor 60 is connected to memory 58 for inducing the memory to select a message for aural communication via a speech-synthesis module 62, an amplifier 64, and an electro-acoustic transducer 66. Alternatively or additionally, memory may be connected to a display 68 via an image generation module 68 for providing a message in readable form. Sensor 60 may include multiple energy-sensing capability, for example, in the form of the different buttons of a keypad or a voice-recognition unit for detecting different verbal instructions, to provide users with some ability to select the general content of a message to be accessed (e.g., politics, entertainment, the arts, science, religion, etc.) or the form of the message (visual, aural, combination).
Messages stored in memory 60 are accessed or read out in a random or partially random manner. In a case of partially random accessing, messages may be stored in groups according to general content, as indicated above. The accessing of messages within such a group is random. The randomness may be accomplished by simply storing the messages in memory 58 in a random order.
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Again, the outer surface (not separately designated) of container 72 may be provided with suitable ornamentation and designs.
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Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/630,486 filed Nov. 23, 2004.
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60630486 | Nov 2004 | US |