IES991021A2 - A beer mat - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic advertising mat, which is a portable, combined gaming and messaging promotional device, that allows for advertising and simple gaming to be included on items such as beer mats, coasters, menu's, mouse mats and other promotional and or printed goods. This device allows the viewer to receive animated electronic text, graphics and simple electronic games from an LCD screen module which would also incorporate membrane controls. The LCD unit can be recessed or incorporated into traditional print, laminate or other surround. By utilising low-specification LCD displays, pre-programmed via an EPROM or programmed locally for specific use, this device can be utilised as a mass consumer product for general advertising purposes, promotional events or informational purposes.

Description

The present invention relates to a construction of beer mat. Beer mats, table mats, place mats, coasters and the like, hereinafter generally referred to as beer mats, are used extensively, particularly in public places for the support of glasses, bottles, plates and the like on trays and tables. They are used extensively in restaurants, hotels, public houses, aeroplanes, trains and the like establishments where meals and beverages are served.

These beers mats are generally planar devices containing pictures or advertising messages. However, as technology develops and indeed as ways are being continually explored to advertise and promote various goods and services, the traditional construction of beer mat, which term is used collectively to encompass all the types of mats hereinbefore described become less attractive. Also advertisers and marketeers generally appreciate the opportunity that such beer mats give for promoting goods and services. *-*·χ Additionally, as has been known and observed, people constantly play with beer mats out of boredom. People like manipulating solid objects and thus it is not uncommon to see people constantly moving lifting turning and generally manipulating such beer mats. Very often such beer mats are a focus of a person's attention and thus considerable advantage could accrue to advertisers if the beer mats could be used more effectively for advertising. Further, if the beer mats could be made even more attractive to the user, in other words, such that the consumer when faced with a beer mat would wish to view it, or Indeed handle it even more than at present, this would be advantageous.

The value of providing an animated device of greeting cards and advertising promotional display literature, books and business cards have all been well appreciated in the prior art and such are described and claimed jn U.S. Patent Specification No. 4,299,041 (Wilson). In this patent specification there is described an effects generator which produces light and/or sound, and/or movement of parts, however, the device is simply for greeting cards and-thc Irke/Hndeed it is knowrrtoprovide various forms of illuminated greeting card.

INSPECTION OPEN TO iwtcl J.

UNDER SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 ! INLNn. TOOF R 40.01..... /o3s< Gog IE991021 - 2 Statements of Invention According to the invention there is provided a beer mat comprising a planar body member incorporating a display screen.

Ideally the display screen presents messages sequentially.

Preferably the beer mat includes reprogrammable memory to allow the provision of alternative messages.

Ideally the beer mat includes means to prevent the display of any message when an article is resting thereon.

In one embodiment of the invention, the beer mat incorporates control buttons which allows the user to manipulate the messages.

In another embodiment of the invention the beer mat includes games, which can be played by manipulation of the control button.

Ideally advertising material is interspersed between the games.

In another embodiment of the invention various programmable messages can be incorporated in the device.

Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a beer mat according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of a beer mat according to the invention.

IE991O21 - 3 Referring to the drawing, there is provided a beer mat indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 comprising a flat planar body member having a border area 2 incorporating advertising material and a central display screen 3. Touch, controls 4 are also provided.

Referring now to Fig. 1 the display screen 3 is an LCD screen and is connected to an EPROM 5 which in tum connects with a microprocessor 6 all powered by a battery 7.

All of this is essentially conventional. It will be appreciated that the battery could be replaced with a selenium cell, or any other means for providing the necessary power.

In use, any program of messages, advertisements, or indeed games is inputted via the EPROM 5 which is controlled by the microprocessor 6, or indeed may be inputted directly from the EPROM 5 itself. Again all of this is conventional.

In operation the controls 4 are used, for example, to display the messages, or advertisements, or indeed allow the games to be played if such is programmed into the beer mat 1.

It will be appreciated that sound as well as any animation is possible using conventional large scale integration techniques. Needless to say the display screen 3 is of conventional LCD technology and all of the various parts of the apparatus are of conventional construction.

It will be appreciated that there is no need to discuss in any detail the construction of the beer mat since conventional technology allows basically anything to be programmed. For example, various advertisements could be programmed, which advertisements could be changed after a certain date, deleted, or indeed changed as required. For example, messages containing advertisements for upcoming events would obviously need to be deleted when the time of the event has passed. The deletion of one message could trigger the display of another.

—X Further, while the beer mat could have a once off programmed message, logo, game, or advertisement, it could also have variable program and messaging ability via the IE991021 - 4 EPROM 5 such that the beer mats could be collected from time to time and reprogrammed.

It will be appreciated that the beer mat may be used to provide a means for displaying games to allow advertising or to allow program messages. One of the great advantages of the present invention would be that the beer mat could be customised for the particular advertiser’s needs. Thus, for example, an airline might have messages in relation to frequent flyer programmes, flight schedules andso on.

It will also be appreciated that for example the major drinks companies would be particularly advantaged if they could display their wares on a continuous basis in places where these are being consumed.

A further advantage of the present invention is that if games and the like are programmed onto the beer mat they can be interspersed with advertising, which advertising has to be viewed by the user during the play. The advertising may be similar to the advertising on the commercial TV channels.

It is also envisaged that the beer mats according to the present invention could be purchased by customers or given away free with products. One of the problems envisaged is that because the beer mat could become a collectable item and indeed a desirable item they may in fact tend to be removed by the consumer, therefore what the advertiser requires is that there be sufficient advertising on the beer mat to make it possible to allow it to be taken with advantage to the advertiser.

It is also envisaged if such beer mats were to become popular that they would become a collectable item.

Another advantage of the beer mat particularly pertains to airlines and travel companies where the beer mat could be used to alleviate the boredom of travellers on route.

It will be appreciated that any and all messages can be provided. For example, instead of the provision of printed menus and the like, restaurants and hotels could IE991O21 - 5 provide their menus on their table mats, such that, for example, one table mat might be a wine list, another table mat the food list and so on. The great advantage of this is when they are reprogrammable any changes in the restaurant menu offers, specials, drinks, etc. may be easily reprogrammed without the necessity of the staff to continually update printed menus.

It will be appreciated that the technical aspects of the present invention are relatively simple and will be easily appreciated by those skilled in the art and the principal advantage of the present invention is the innovative and attractive way in which marketeers can get their message over to the consumer. Effectively in many instances the marketeer has a captive audience, which captive audience will be very attracted to such beer mats.

—V In the specification the terms “comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising” or any variation thereof and the terms “include, includes, included and including” or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation and vice versa.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described, but may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (1)

1. An Electronic Advertising Map that allows for advertising, messaging and simple gaming to be included on items such as Beer Mats, Coasters, Menus, Mouse Mats and other promotional and/or printed goods. An electronic messaging promotional device as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a flat planar body member having a border area incorporating advertising material, a central display screen and touch controls. The display screen being an LCD Screen, which is connected to a EPROM 5, which connects with a microprocessor, all powered by a battery (or any other means for providing the necessary power). The electronic messaging promotional device as according to Claim 1 further comprises a re-programme able memory, to allow the provision of alternative messages by the Advertiser or other user. The electronic messaging promotional device according to Claim 1, further comprises an infra red or optical receiver in the electronics, as the means by which the data is sent to EPROM, thereby allowing the following:a. Simple and immediate changes to be made to the data stream for all the electronic devices simultaneously. b. The provision of continuous information. An electronic messaging promotional device allowing the viewer to receive animated electronic text, graphics and simple electronic games from an LCD Screen module, which incorporates membrane controls. The LCD unit being recessed or incorporated into traditional print, laminate or other surround. An electronic messaging promotional device as claimed in Claim 1, whereby the utilization of low-specification LCD displays, either pre-programmed via EPROM or programmed locally for specific use, this device can be utilized as a mass consumer product for general advertising purposes, promotional events or informational purposes. An electronic messaging promotional device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.