The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 27, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 11, 1999
Thomas P Hennessy, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Michael E Corcoran, Crawfordsville, IN (US);
Michael D Dennis, Longview, IL (US);
Michael E Albertson, Brownsburg, IN (US);
Richard A Laveault, Crawfordsville, IN (US);
Alcoa Closure Systems International, Crawfordsville, IN (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for creating a blended stream of articles, such as for use in connection with product promotions and the like. The invention contemplates that first and second streams of discrete promotional articles are blended so that the resultant stream includes articles at a predetermined ratio. The present invention facilitates creation of a blended product stream comprising all winning promotional articles with differing values, with subsequent formation of a blended article stream comprising winning and non-winning promotional articles. Precise and cost-effective introduction of the winning and non-winning promotional articles into the marketplace can thus be effected.