Social media t-shirts and promotional items

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

00011. Technical Field

0002The present invention relates to promotional materials for companies indicating social media presence. More specifically, the present invention relates to promotional garments.

00032. Background Art

0004Many companies rely on the Internet for advertising and promoting their brand. Many companies have an Internet address where users can find information about that company. Companies also promote themselves over social media. Social media or social networking allows companies to share various types of media and information with others through the Internet. Social media can include blogs, business networks, enterprise social networks, forums, microblogs, photosharing sites, product/service review sites, social bookmarking, social gaming, social networks, video sharing, and virtual worlds. Social media can be used to share photos, videos, text, links to websites, and other information. For example, FACEBOOK® allows companies to share many types of information, including photos, videos, news articles, websites, or updates with designated groups of people, such as the public, friends, or other defined groups of people, such as those who have “liked” the company. TWITTER® allows companies to send short texts to followers of that company.

0005Many companies use more than one form of social media and Internet presence. On various websites, these companies give notice to users that they have a presence on other social media forms. For example, on a company's webpage, they may include an icon that links to their FACEBOOK® account, an icon that links to their TWITTER® account, and an icon that links to their YOUTUBE® account.

0006It would be advantageous for a company to provide promotional materials to customers that clearly set forth all of the company's Internet presence.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0007The present invention provides for a promotional item including a promotional panel on an outer surface of the promotional item, wherein the promotional panel promotes a company and directs individuals to finding more information about the company through websites and social media sites.

0008The present invention provides for a method of making the promotional item, by printing a promotional panel on an outer surface of the promotional item, wherein the promotional panel promotes a company and directs individuals to finding more information about the company through websites and social media sites.

0009The present invention also provides for a method of advertising by providing a promotional item including a promotional panel associated with a company on an outer surface of the promotional item, and promoting the company.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0010Other advantages of the present invention are readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

0011<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1A-1P</figref> are illustrations of promotional items including a promotional panel having social media and company information, wherein <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1A</figref> shows a backpack, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1B</figref> shows a sweatshirt/hoodie, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1C</figref> shows a mug, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1D</figref> shows a long-sleeved t-shirt, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1E</figref> shows a short-sleeve t-shirt, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1F</figref> shows a USB or flash drive, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1G</figref> shows a water bottle, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1H</figref> shows an umbrella, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1I</figref> shows a poster, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1J</figref> shows a hat, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1K</figref> shows sweatpants, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1L</figref> shows a tank top, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1M</figref> shows a pen, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1N</figref> shows a mousepad, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> shows a potholder, and <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1P</figref> shows a notebook;

0012<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is an illustration of an example of a promotional panel having social media and company information for the Detroit Pistons;

0013<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is an illustration of the promotional panel of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> on promotional t-shirts;

0014<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is an illustration of an example of a promotional panel having social media and company information for the Cleveland Cavaliers;

0015<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is an illustration of the promotional panel of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> on promotional t-shirts;

0016<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is an illustration of an example of a promotional panel having social media and company information; and

0017<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is an illustration of the promotional panel of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> on a promotional t-shirt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

0018The present invention provides for a promotional item, generally shown at <b>10</b> in the FIGURES, that can be used by a company in a method of advertising for their business. The promotional item <b>10</b> includes a promotional panel <b>12</b> on an outer surface <b>14</b> of the promotional item <b>10</b> that generally promotes a company and directs individuals to finding more information about the company through websites and social media sites. The promotional panel <b>12</b> can include any suitable identifying information about a company as described further below. The promotional panel <b>12</b> can direct individuals to be interactive with the company through websites and social media.

0019The promotional item <b>10</b> can take many different forms, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1A-1P</figref>, such as, but not limited to, a backpack (<b>1</b>A), a sweatshirt/hoodie (<b>1</b>B), a mug (<b>1</b>C), a long-sleeved t-shirt (<b>1</b>D), a short-sleeve t-shirt (<b>1</b>E), a USB or flash drive (<b>1</b>F), a water bottle (<b>1</b>G), an umbrella (<b>1</b>H), a poster (<b>1</b>I), a hat (<b>1</b>J), sweatpants (<b>1</b>K), a tank top (<b>1</b>L), a pen (<b>1</b>M), a mousepad (<b>1</b>N), a potholder (<b>1</b>O), and a notebook (<b>1</b>P). The promotional item <b>10</b> can also be any type of garment, any type of paper (such as, but not limited to, postcards, leaflets, signs, magazine pages, newspaper pages, or business cards), or any other type of promotional product (such as, but not limited to, pencils, flags, beach towels, folders, phone covers, banners, billboards, tablecloths, displays, or signage).

0020The promotional panel <b>12</b> can be affixed to the outer surface <b>14</b> by any suitable method, and most preferably by printing. The printing can be with ink such as for paper products, or screen-printing methods for garments. Other methods of printing or affixation include, but are not limited to, embroidery, pad-printing, laser etching, pvc, digital printing, dye sublimation, applique, applying a patch, applying 3D foam, applying chenille, applying sequins, applying rhinestones, applying transfers, embossing, debossing, infusion, woven-in, prospangle, applying decals, applying labels, or applying badges.

0021The promotional panel <b>12</b> is shown in detail in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2, 4, and 6</figref>, using the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball teams as examples in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2 and 4</figref>. The promotional panel <b>12</b> includes at least one social media icon <b>16</b> and a company social media page <b>18</b> (i.e. a website) associated with the social media icon <b>16</b>, as well as a company name <b>20</b>. The promotional panel <b>12</b> can also include at least one company slogan <b>22</b>, at least one company logo <b>24</b>, a company website <b>26</b>, and at least one company-associated metadata tag <b>28</b> along with a hashtag icon <b>30</b>, or combinations of any of the above information. The promotional panel <b>12</b> can be printed in any colors and preferably those colors associated with the company. The items within the promotional panel <b>12</b> can also be arranged in any suitable way and include additional borders <b>13</b> to separate items. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3, 5, and 7</figref> show the promotional panels <b>12</b> arranged on the surface <b>14</b> on promotional items <b>10</b> (t-shirts).

0022The social media icon <b>16</b> can be, but is not limited to, an icon associated with FACEBOOK® (<b>32</b>), TWITTER® (<b>34</b>), PINTEREST® (<b>36</b>), FOURSQUARE® (<b>38</b>), YOUTUBE® (<b>40</b>), GOOGLE+® (<b>42</b>), LINKEDIN® (<b>44</b>), INSTAGRAM® (<b>46</b>), SNAPCHAT® (not shown), or combinations thereof. The social media icon <b>16</b> can be from any existing social media company or from any that become popular in the future or are created in the future, i.e. the social media icon <b>16</b> is not limited to those listed above. The company name <b>20</b> can be alone or incorporated in the company logo <b>24</b>, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>.

0023The promotional panel <b>12</b> can also include at least one QR code <b>50</b>, shown in a promotional panel <b>12</b> in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, that can be scanned and read by a QR reader on a mobile device (such as a tablet or smartphone). Each QR code <b>50</b> can be unique and direct a user to a specific page designated by the company, such as a company home page (webpage) or a specific social media page shown in the promotional panel <b>12</b>. The QR code <b>50</b> can also direct a user to a single company page that includes links to each social media page <b>18</b> shown in the promotional panel <b>12</b>. Multiple QR codes <b>50</b> can also be included for each social media page <b>18</b>. The QR code <b>50</b> can always direct the user to the same page, or the user can be directed to a variable location based on the desire of the company. For example, a company can decide to direct the QR code <b>50</b> to a promotional page, a sweepstakes page, or a home page. In other words, the company can easily redirect the link associated with the QR code <b>50</b> on demand.

0024The present invention provides for a method of making the promotional item <b>10</b>, by printing a promotional panel <b>12</b> on an outer surface <b>14</b> of the promotional item <b>10</b>. As described above, the printing can be accomplished by ink printing methods or by screen-printing methods. The promotional item <b>10</b> can be any of those described above. Preferably, the promotional panel <b>12</b> includes the items described above, of at least one social media icon <b>16</b> and a company social media page <b>18</b> associated with the social media icon <b>16</b>, as well as a company name <b>20</b>. The promotional panel <b>12</b> can also include at least one company slogan <b>22</b>, at least one company logo <b>24</b>, a company website <b>26</b>, and at least one company-associated metadata tag <b>28</b> along with a hashtag icon <b>30</b>.

0025The present invention also provides for a method of advertising by providing a promotional item <b>10</b> including a promotional panel <b>12</b> associated with a company on an outer surface <b>14</b> of the promotional item <b>10</b>, and promoting the company. The promotional item <b>10</b> can be any of those described above. Preferably, the promotional panel <b>12</b> includes the items described above, of at least one social media icon <b>16</b> and a company social media page <b>18</b> associated with the social media icon <b>16</b>, as well as a company name <b>20</b>. The promotional panel <b>12</b> can also include at least one company slogan <b>22</b>, at least one company logo <b>24</b>, a company website <b>26</b>, and at least one company-associated metadata tag <b>28</b> along with a hashtag icon <b>30</b>. The step of promoting the company can include selling the promotional item <b>10</b> to an individual, distributing the promotional item <b>10</b> to an individual, and offering the promotional item <b>10</b> at special events or contests to an individual. Once the individual has the promotional item <b>10</b>, they are now aware of the company's online and social media presence and can follow the company on their various social media outlets. The promotional panel <b>12</b> can also include at least one QR code <b>50</b> and the method can include an individual interacting with the QR code <b>50</b> by scanning the QR code <b>50</b> with a QR reader on a mobile device and being directed to at least one company social media page <b>18</b> or other company designated page as described above. In this manner, the company can gain followers on each of their social media outlets.

0026Throughout this application, various publications, including United States patents, are referenced by author and year and patents by number. Full citations for the publications are listed below. The disclosures of these publications and patents in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains.

0027The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

0028Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.