Decoding systems for multi-part messages and related methods of decoding messages

Abstract

Multi-part message decoding systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a decoding system comprises a container having an openable orifice on a portion of the container. In addition, the system comprises a cover piece removeably coupled over the orifice, where the cover piece has a first portion of a message on an unexposed side thereof. The decoding system still further comprises a message component having a second portion of a message, where the cover piece is affixable to the message component to combine the first and second portions to complete the message.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A multi-part message decoding system, comprising: 
 a container having an openable orifice on a portion of the container;    a cover piece removeably coupled over the orifice, the cover piece having a first portion of a message on an unexposed side thereof; and    a message component having a second portion of a message, the cover piece affixable to the message component to combine the first and second portions to complete the message.    
     
     
         2 . A message decoding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is an aluminum soft-drink can and the orifice is an openable lid of the can.  
     
     
         3 . A message decoding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the message component is located on a side of the container.  
     
     
         4 . A message decoding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the message component is located on a side of a second container.  
     
     
         5 . A message decoding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover piece further comprises promotional material on an exposed side thereof.  
     
     
         6 . A message decoding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the message component is selected from the group consisting of: 
 a cinema ticket;    a leaflet;    a computer display;    a lottery ticket;    an airline ticket;    an advertising sign; and    food packaging.    
     
     
         7 . A message decoding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the message is selected from the group consisting of: 
 a universal product code barcode;    an image of a prize;    a promotional coupon;    an Internet site address;    a text message; and    instructions.    
     
     
         8 . A message decoding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover piece is opaque.  
     
     
         9 . A message decoding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover piece further comprises an edge overlapping at least one side of the container adjacent the orifice, the edge having promotional text on an exposed surface thereof.  
     
     
         10 . A message decoding system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second cover piece removeably coupled over an openable orifice on a portion of a second container, the second cover piece having a third portion of a message on an unexposed side thereof, the first and second cover pieces affixable to the message component to combine the first, second and third portions to complete the message.  
     
     
         11 . A message decoding system according to  claim 1 , wherein the message component is a first message component, and the system further comprises a second message component associated with the first message component, the second message component having a third portion of the message, the first, second and third portions combinable to complete the message.  
     
     
         12 . A message decoding system according to  claim 11 , wherein the second message component is removeably affixed to the container, and the first message component is removeably affixed to the first message component.  
     
     
         13 . A method of decoding messages, comprising: 
 providing a container having an openable orifice on a portion of the container;    removeably coupling a cover piece over the orifice, the cover piece having a first portion of a message on an unexposed side thereof;    providing a message component having a second portion of a message; and    affixing the cover piece to the message component to combine the first and second portions to complete the message.    
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein providing a container comprises providing an aluminum soft-drink can having an openable lid.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein providing a message component comprises providing a message component located on a side of the container.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein providing a message component comprises providing a message component located on a side of a second container.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein removeably coupling a cover piece comprises removeably coupling a cover piece having promotional material on an exposed side thereof.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein providing a message component comprises providing a message component selected from the group consisting of: 
 a cinema ticket;    a leaflet;    a computer display;    a lottery ticket;    an airline ticket;    an advertising sign; and    food packaging.    
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the message is selected from the group consisting of: 
 a universal product code barcode;    an image of a prize;    a promotional coupon;    an Internet site address;    a text message; and    instructions.    
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein removeably coupling a cover piece comprises removeably coupling an opaque cover piece.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein removeably coupling a cover piece comprises removeably coupling a cover piece having an edge overlapping at least one side of the container adjacent the orifice, the edge including promotional text on an exposed surface thereof.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising removeably coupling a second cover piece over an openable orifice on a portion of a second container, the second cover piece having a third portion of a message on an unexposed side thereof, and further comprising affixing the first and second cover pieces to the message component to combine the first, second and third portions to complete the message.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein providing a message component comprises providing a first message component, the method further comprising providing a second message component associated with the first message component, the second message component having a third portion of the message, and further comprising affixing the cover piece to the first message component to combine the first, second and third portions to complete the message.  
     
     
         24 . A message decoding system according to  claim 23 , wherein the second message component is removeably affixed to the container, and the first message component is removeably affixed to the first message component.