Patent Application
20080266583
This invention relates to the field of customized promotional literature, and more specifically to creating and tracking customized, assembled three-dimensional promotional literature with variable printed surfaces (VPS).
a shows a top perspective view of one embodiment of a foldable insert for assembled three-dimensional promotional literature in the closed position.
b shows a top perspective view of one embodiment of a foldable insert for assembled three-dimensional promotional literature in an open position.
c shows a top perspective view of one embodiment of a foldable insert for assembled three-dimensional promotional literature in a partially open position attached to an outer promotional literature component.
With respect to the promotional and educational literature, it is desirable to use formats and layouts which have the highest level of visual impact and which may facilitate branding and product differentiation. The desire for visual impact has led to the success of processes such as Lenticular printing which creates a holographic or three-dimensional effect on printed surfaces.
Actual three-dimensional pieces requiring separate assembly can be costly to produce because they require specialized printing techniques and design layouts and substantial labor to complete the folding process, as well as coordination of all phases of printing and assembly.
Generally, three-dimensional promotional literature requires an outer promotional literature component and an inner foldable insert component which “pops out” or folds out to provide a three-dimensional effect. The foldable inserts are folded and affixed completely or partially by human labor. The outer promotional literature component requires a layout and design separate from that of the foldable insert. If information presented in these pieces changes, a new layout and project design is required and the correct outer promotional literature component must be coordinated with the corresponding foldable insert.
Customization of promotional literature and educational pieces is important to consumers for a variety of reasons. For example, products or services may be offered seasonally, may be offered by different persons within a company or group, or may be varied based on a program of targeting specific products to specific customers. Promotional literature may be targeted to a certain event, such as a tradeshow or exhibition, and it is desirable to include changeable information such as exhibitors, attendees and locations of booths, amenities, attractions and other resources. Additionally, the promotional literature may serve multiple purposes, such as a souvenir or greeting, a map, a novelty item, a demonstration or instructional piece or other purpose. While inserts which are not permanently affixed to an item of promotional literature offer flexibility because they can be inserted and removed to customize information distributed with promotional literature, these detached inserts don't have the impact of an affixed, three-dimensional foldable insert which is more difficult to detach from the outer promotional literature component.
It is desirable to have a method and system for economically customizing promotional and informational literature to reflect information to particular employees, products, services, initiatives and informational topics, and to create a system for tracking variable templates, design and data elements using a computer medium in order to potentially spread design and production costs associated with a single project over several projects.
It is further desirable to incorporate advances in printing, communications and shipping technology to create a method and system for producing three-dimensional fixed-insert literature at a manufacturing cost which allows businesses, organizations and institutions to produce customized, high-impact promotional pieces.
With respect to the present invention, the following terms are used to, describe exemplary embodiments of the invention:
As used herein, the term “promotional literature” refers to an item which is purchased, mailed or otherwise distributed by an individual, school, group (such as a political or issue awareness group), a recreational company, a product or service oriented company or other entity which has the purpose of promoting or disseminating any product, service, informative cause, activity, position or agenda. As used herein, an item need not be offered for the purpose of advertising to be considered promotional literature. For example, a souvenir, map, complementary informational literature, greeting, tool for visually presenting or facilitating learning of factual information or other communication may be considered promotional literature.
As used herein, the term “three dimensional” means any item designed to be viewed in more than two dimensions or has the appearance of being viewed in more than two dimensions.
As used herein, the term “foldable” or “foldable insert” means any item made of a material capable of being shaped or formed by any method of folding, including machining or by hand using locally or globally sourced labor. Generally, such insert will include a plurality of folds but may or may not include perforations, and is generally affixed to an outer promotional literature component. A foldable insert may be attached by adhesive, stapling, heat, cutting or machining, or may be a separate piece of promotional literature rather than a component. Fixed foldable inserts have the advantage over loose insert pages, cards or coupons because affixation ensures that the insert is not disassociated from the message and content of the brochure, (Traditionally, affixation of inserts has made customization of information contained within brochures and promotional materials difficult, and this is addressed by the present invention.)
As used herein, the term “outer promotional literature component” means a component or part of promotional literature that is affixed to one or more foldable inserts, and which may serve the same function as a cover to a brochure or pamphlet.
As used herein, the term “variable outer promotional literature component” means a promotional literature component which has at least one (but may have two, four, six or ten) printable surfaces, panels, sections or areas which may be separately designed, tracked via a computer medium and laid out in various combinations to create a variable and customized promotional item. Creation of a variable outer promotional literature component may involve variable data printing, variable input printing or any technology which allows variation in print and design layouts during, between and subsequent to production runs.
As used herein, the term “customization” means the act of changing, revising or recombining one or more components of promotional literature to target or more closely meet a particular need.
As used herein, the term “variable data printing” means a form of printing in which elements such as text, graphics and images may be changed from one printed piece to the next without stopping or slowing down the printing process, using information from a searchable database or external file. For example, a set of personalized letters, each with the same basic layout, can be printed with a different name and address on each letter.
As used herein, the term “computer medium” means any electronic file stored in a computer, and may include hardware or software data storage, including a data file.
As used herein, the term ‘variable printed surface” or “VPS” means any surface on which data, text or graphical elements may be printed and which may be varied by a variable data printing or equivalent process. Generally, an outer promotional literature component will be folded to have multiple variable printed surfaces, and each variable printed surface may contain one or more variable data elements in one or more separate data files stored on a computer medium, and each such file may be separately modified for customization. Each variable printed surface may further contain additional variable data elements, also stored in separate data files on a computer medium, and these files may be alternatively used to vary the content of the printed piece.
As used herein, the term ‘variable data element” or “VDE” means data elements, also stored in separate data files on a computer medium, and these files may be alternatively used to vary the content of the printed piece within a single, variable printed surface.
As used herein, the term “scoring” means marking fold lines on a foldable insert or outer promotional literature component to make them visible to the human eye or by calculating their location using numerical calculation by a computer apparatus.
As used herein, the term “project layout” means the visual effect created by one or more VPS or VDE elements.
As used herein, the term “versioning” means retrieving data files containing different versions of a VPS, VDE or print layout to create customized versions of a promotional literature component.
As used herein, the term “unique naming convention” means a system of naming VPS and VDE data files, and revisions and successive versions thereof, for systematic retrieval in a searchable database (e.g., computer data base, spreadsheet or manual record.)
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the present invention, references will be made in the text hereof to embodiments of a method for creating customized three dimensional promotional literature. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that modifications do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention, some of which are mentioned in the following description.
With particular reference to the figures, the reader should also know that like numerals in different figures refer to the same elements of the embodiments. Moreover, it should be noted that each embodiment of the method for creating customized, assembled three-dimensional promotional literature utilizes at least one variable printed surfaces (VPS) with at least one variable data element (VDE) included within. In addition, additional and/or equivalent steps can be included without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Referring now to the figures,
Also shown in
Also shown in
a shows a side view of one embodiment of foldable insert 170 in the closed position. In the embodiment shown, a process of scoring (marking) is used to identify the location desired for fold lines. Scoring may create visible lines, or lines identified by computer measurement and numerical calculation. In the embodiment shown, mechanical scoring is used to mark fold lines or expedite human labor. Folding may be accomplished by human labor, by a mechanical process or by a series of mechanical processes using one or more folding machines or apparatuses.
b shows a side view of one embodiment of foldable insert 170 in the open position, including lines 170a-e which have been scored (i.e., calculated and made visible or otherwise detectible by the human eye or mechanical process) and folded accordingly. In other embodiments, foldable insert 170 may have any number or configuration of score lines.
c shows a top perspective view of one embodiment of foldable insert 170 for assembled three-dimensional promotional literature in a partially open position attached to outer promotional literature component 175.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/915,109 filed Apr. 30, 2007.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60915109 | Apr 2007 | US |
