U.S. patent application number 09/972034 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-13 for printable and foldable sheet mailer construction for inserts and method of forming same.
Invention is credited to Glenn, Tracey L., McCarthy, Brian R..
Application Number | 20020070266 09/972034 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26939295 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020070266 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Glenn, Tracey L. ; et
al. |
June 13, 2002 |
Printable and foldable sheet mailer construction for inserts and
method of forming same
Abstract
An 81/2 by 11 inch paper sheet construction having a pattern of
score and perforated lines formed thereon is provided to the user.
The lines form corner tear-away strips, a central panel, left and
right side flaps, and top and bottom flaps. The user enters into
his computer the desired indicia to be printed on inside surfaces
of one or more of the central panel and top and bottom flaps and
the desired address indicia to be printed on the outside surface of
the central panel, and then has the desired indicia and address
indicia printed on the sheet construction by feeding it into his
desk top printer. He then tears off the four corner tear-away
strips. He next places the desired flat object(s) (such as
postcards) he wants to mail on the inside surface of the central
panel and folds the two side flaps in, the bottom flap up and the
top flap down. A seal is then applied to releasably secure the top
flap to the bottom flap. Postage is applied to the outside of the
addressed central panel and the mailer with flat object(s) is
mailed.
Inventors: |
Glenn, Tracey L.; (Altadena,
CA) ; McCarthy, Brian R.; (Anaheim Hills,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DOUGLAS N. LARSON, ESQ.
OPPENHEIMER WOLFF & DONNELLY LLP
2029 Century Park East, Suite 3800
Los Angeles
CA
90067
US
|
Family ID: |
26939295 |
Appl. No.: |
09/972034 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60248348 |
Nov 14, 2000 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
229/92.8 ;
206/308.1; 229/103.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B42D 15/08 20130101;
B42P 2241/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/92.8 ;
206/308.1; 229/103.3 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/57 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A sheet mailer construction, comprising: a sheet having top,
bottom, left and right side edges; the sheet having left, right,
top and bottom score lines forming a rectangle generally centrally
disposed on a first face of the sheet, the left and right score
lines being positioned parallel to one another and to the left and
right side edges, and the top and bottom score lines being parallel
to each other and to the top and bottom edges, the rectangle having
upper right and left corners and lower right and left corners; the
sheet having a first weakened line extending from the upper left
corner to the top edge and parallel to left side edge, a second
weakened line extending from the lower left corner to the bottom
edge and parallel to the left side edge, a third weakened line
extending from the upper right corner to the top edge and parallel
to the right side edge, and a fourth weakened line extending from
the lower right corner to the bottom edge and parallel to the right
side edge; the sheet having a flap weakened first line extending
from the upper left corner to the left side edge, a flap weakened
second line extending from the lower left corner to the left side
edge, that first and second lines forming a left side flap at the
left score line; the sheet having a flap weakened third line
extending from the upper right corner to the right side edge, and a
flap weakened fourth line extending from the lower right corner to
the right side edge, the third and fourth lines forming a right
side flap at the right score line; the flap weakened first line and
the first weakened line defining an upper left corner tear away
strip; the flap weakened second line and the second weakened line
defining a lower left corner tear away strip; the flap weakened
third line and the third weakened line defining an upper right
corner tear away strip; the flap weakened fourth line and the
fourth weakened line defining a lower left corner tear away strip;
the top score line, the flap weakened first line and the third
weakened line defining a top flap; the rectangle forming a central
panel; the bottom score line, the flap weakened second line and the
fourth weakened line defining a bottom flap; the top flap, the
bottom flap and the central panel all having the same width; the
top flap and the bottom flap both having heights no greater than
the height of the central panel; the sheet being adapted to be
passed through a printer and in at least one printing operation
address indicia printed on an outside surface of the central panel;
after the at least one printing operation, the upper left, lower
left, upper right and lower right corner tear away strips being
adapted to be torn off whereby the sheet defines a mailer sheet; an
inside surface of the central panel defining a floor of a pocket of
the mailer sheet for mailing at least one substantially flat
article; and with that at least one substantially flat article
being on the floor, the left and right side flaps being folded
towards the at least one substantially flat article, and one of the
top or bottom flaps being folded towards the folded left and right
side flaps and the other of the top or bottom flaps being folded
down on the one of the folded top or bottom flaps and adhered to
the other to enclose the at least one substantially flat
article.
2. The construction of claim 2 wherein in the printing operation,
indicia is printed on at least one of the inside or outside
surfaces of the top flap, the central panel and the bottom
flap.
3. The construction of claim 1 wherein the other of the top or
bottom flaps has a height less than that of the one of the top or
bottom flaps.
4. The construction of claim 1 wherein the at least one
substantially flat article comprises a postcard.
5. The construction of claim 1 wherein the at least one
substantially flat article comprises a plurality of postcards.
6. The construction of claim 1 wherein the at least one
substantially flat article comprises a compact disc.
7. The construction of claim 1 wherein the score lines each
comprise crushed score lines.
8. The construction of claim 1 wherein the score lines each
comprise cut score lines.
9. The construction of claim 1 wherein the first, second, third and
fourth weakened lines each comprise cut score lines.
10. The construction of claim 1 further comprising a sticker for
adhering the folded other of the top or bottom flaps to the folded
one of the top or bottom flaps.
11. The construction of claim 1 wherein the central panel has a
width of 61/2 inches and a height of five inches.
12. The construction of claim 1 wherein the sheet is an 81/2 by 11
inch paper sheet.
13. The construction of claim 1 wherein the printer is a desk top
ink jet printer.
14. The construction of claim 1 wherein the flap weakened first and
second lines angle towards one another, and the flap weakened third
and fourth lines angle towards one another.
15. The construction of claim 1 wherein the sheet is a paper sheet
with ink jet optimized coatings on both sides.
16. The construction of claim 1 wherein the sheet has a thickness
of 9.5 mils.
17. The construction of claim 1 wherein the top and bottom flaps
are adhered with a mailing seal.
18. A sheet mailer construction, comprising: a sheet having a
pattern of weakened lines defining a support panel and extending
out from edges of that panel top and bottom flaps and left and
right side panels; the sheet after a printing operation thereon,
including the top and bottom flaps and side panels being foldable
to enclose at least one flat object on the support panel.
19. A method of forming a mailer, comprising: (a) providing a sheet
mailer construction which includes: a sheet having top, bottom,
left and right side edges; the sheet having left, right, top and
bottom score lines forming a rectangle generally centrally disposed
on a first face of the sheet, the left and right score lines being
positioned parallel to one another and to the left and right side
edges, and the top and bottom score lines being parallel to each
other and to the top and bottom edges, the rectangle having upper
right and left corners and lower right and left corners; the sheet
having a first weakened line extending from the upper left corner
to the top edge and parallel to left side edge, a second weakened
line extending from the lower left corner to the bottom edge and
parallel to the left side edge, a third weakened line extending
from the upper right corner to the top edge and parallel to the
right side edge, and a fourth weakened line extending from the
lower right corner to the bottom edge and parallel to the right
side edge; the sheet having a flap weakened first line extending
from the upper left corner to the left side edge, a flap weakened
second line extending from the lower left corner to the left side
edge, that first and second lines forming a left side flap at the
left score line; the sheet having a flap weakened third line
extending from the upper right corner to the right side edge, and a
flap weakened fourth line extending from the lower right corner to
the right side edge, the third and fourth lines forming a right
side flap at the right score line; the flap weakened first line and
the first weakened line defining an upper left corner tear away
strip; the flap weakened second line and the second weakened line
defining a lower left corner tear away strip; the flap weakened
third line and the third weakened line defining an upper right
corner tear away strip; the flap weakened fourth line and the
fourth weakened line defining a lower left corner tear away strip;
the top score line, the flap weakened first line and the third
weakened line defining a top flap; the rectangle forming a central
panel; the bottom score line, the flap weakened second line and the
fourth weakened line defining a bottom flap; the top flap, the
bottom flap and the central panel all having the same width; the
top flap and the bottom flap both having heights no greater than
the height of the central panel; and an inside surface of the
central panel defining a floor of a pocket of the mailer sheet for
mailing at least one substantially flat article; (b) passing
through a printer and in at least one printing operation printing
address indicia on an outside surface of the central panel; (c)
after the at least one printing operation, tearing away the upper
left, lower left, upper right and lower right corner tear away
strips from the sheet whereby the sheet defines a mailer sheet; (d)
with that at least one substantially flat article positioned on the
floor, folding the left and right side flaps towards the at least
one substantially flat article; (e) folding one of the top or
bottom flaps towards the folded left and right side flaps and the
other of the top or bottom flaps down on the one of the folded top
or bottom flaps; and (f) adhering the folded other of the top or
bottom flaps to the folded one of the top or bottom flaps to
enclose the at least one substantially flat article in the
mailer.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the printing includes printing
indicia on at least one of inside surfaces of the top flap, the
central panel and the bottom flap.
21. The method of claim 19 wherein the adhering includes
positioning a mailing seal across an edge of the other of the top
or bottom flaps onto the folded one of the top or bottom flaps.
22. The method of claim 19 wherein the printing operation includes
printing on inside surfaces of all of the top flap, central panel
and bottom flap.
23. The method of claim 19 wherein the passing includes passing the
sheet through the printer one time to print indicia on the inside
surface and another time to print the address indicia on the
outside surface.
24. The method of claim 19 wherein the passing includes the printer
being a duplexing printer.
25. The method of claim 19 wherein the printer is a desktop ink jet
printer.
26. A mailer system, comprising: (a) a rectangular sheet having a
pattern of weakened lines formed thereon, the lines form four
corner tear-away strips, a central panel, left and right side flaps
extending out from sides of the central panel, and top and bottom
flaps extending out from top and bottom edges, respectively, of the
central panel; the sheet is adapted to be passed through a printer
and in a printing operation desired address indicia printed on an
outside surface of the central panel; and the sheet is adapted
after the printing operation to have the four corner tear-away
strips torn away to convert the sheet into a mailer sheet; (b) at
least one substantially flat object positionable on the inside
surface of the central panel of the mailer sheet; and the side
panels are adapted to be folded in towards the at least one
substantially flat object and the top and bottom panels folded in
to a folded position towards the folded side panels such that the
mailer sheet comprises a folded mailer sheet; and (c) a seal for
holding the folded top and bottom panels together such that the
folded mailer sheet comprises a mailer enclosing the at least one
substantially flat object for mailing.
27. The system of claim 26 wherein the sheet is an 81/2 by 11 inch
paper sheet.
28. The system of claim 26 wherein the printing operation includes
indicia being printed on at least one of inside and outside
surfaces of at least one of the top flap, central panel and bottom
flap.
29. The system of claim 26 wherein the printer is a desk top ink
jet printer.
30. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one substantially
flat article comprises a postcard.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/248,348 filed Nov. 14, 2000, whose contents are
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many businesses and individuals desire to mail to their
customers, potential customers, colleagues, friends or others flat
objects such as postcards, photographs, CDs and the like. Often
they want to send them in a mass mailing to numerous addresses.
They are typically sent in pre-printed mailers. The users often
desire to have advertisements or other messages printed on the
mailers to reduce the postage and mailing costs associated with a
separate message sheet inserted in the mailer. These are typically
custom advertisements or messages, and may be the same for all
addresses or different ones for all addresses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Thus, a suitable mailer system where the user can compose
the custom message on his personal computer and input the addresses
and have the messages and addresses printed on 81/2 by eleven inch
sheets using his desk top (ink jet) printer is desired. One
desirable mailer size would hold standard sized postcards, such as
four by six inch postcards.
[0004] Directed to remedying the problems in the prior art, a paper
sheet construction having a pattern of score and perforated lines
formed thereon is provided to the user. The lines form corner
tear-away strips, a central panel, left and right side flaps
extending out from sides of the central panel, and top and bottom
flaps extending out from top and bottom edges, respectively, of the
central panel. The user has the option to type into his computer
the desired indicia to be printed on inside surfaces of one or more
of the central panel and top and bottom flaps and the desired
address indicia to be printed on the outside surface of the central
panel. He then has the desired indicia and address indicia printed
on the paper sheet construction by feeding (once for printing
single side of the sheet, twice for printing on both sides of the
sheet or once where the printer is a duplexing printer) into his
desk top (ink jet) printer. The paper sheet construction preferably
is a standard size sheet (e.g., 81/2 by eleven inches) for easy
feeding into today's typical printer. The user then tears the four
corner tear-away strips off of the printed sheet to form a mailer
sheet.
[0005] He next places the flat object(s) (such as postcards,
photographs or business cards) he wants to mail on an inside
surface of the central panel of the mailer sheets and folds the two
side flaps in, the bottom flap up and the top flap down. A sticker
or mailing seal (or the like) is then applied to releasably secure
the top flap to the bottom flap. Postage if not already on the
mailer sheet is applied to the outside of the addressed central
panel and the mailer is then mailed. The recipient simply breaks
the seal, unfolds the mailer sheet and removes the flat object.
[0006] Another definition of the invention is a mailer sheet
(preferably of a standard size) adapted to be fed into and printed
on by printers (such as today's desk top ink jet printers) and
having a pattern of weakened fold and tear lines on one or both
surfaces thereof. The user custom prints on his printer the
addresses and messages on the sheet. The sheet is then torn and
folded up with one or more substantially flat objects therein,
sealed and mailed to the intended recipient.
[0007] A further definition is the method of forming the mailer
construction, ready for mailing.
[0008] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become more apparent to those persons having ordinary skill in the
art to which the present invention pertains from the foregoing
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a mailer sheet construction of
the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is perspective view showing a stack of the mailer
sheets of FIG. 1 in an infeed tray of a printer (or copier) and a
stack of the mailer sheet constructions in a printed condition
after having passed through the printer in an outfeed tray
thereof;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of one of the printed
mailer sheets of FIG. 2, illustrating the four corner tear-away
strips having been torn away to form a printed mailer sheet and two
postcards (or other flat object(s)) ready for placement in the
printed mailer sheet;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the printed mailer sheet
of FIG. 3 with the postcards positioned in the pocket thereof, and
the flaps being folded into a mailer position; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the folded mailer of FIG. 4
illustrating a sticker or mailing seal being applied to hold the
flaps together.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0014] A mailer sheet construction of the present invention is
illustrated generally at 100 in FIG. 1 and having top and bottom
edges and left and right side edges. The sheet is preferably an
81/2by eleven inch sheet, a standard size sheet for easy feed and
printing in today's printers or copiers. The sheet can have a
thickness of 9.5 mils and ink jet optimized coatings on both sides.
The sheet is seen to include on its inside surface four (cut) score
lines 108, 112, 116, 120 forming a centrally disposed rectangle,
four perforated lines 124, 128, 132, 136 extending vertically
outward from each of the corners of the rectangle to top or bottom
edges of the sheet, and four inwardly angling substantially
horizontal perforated lines 140, 144, 148, 152 extending out from
each of the corners towards either the right or left side edges of
the sheet. This pattern of score and perforated lines forms a top
flap 160, a central panel 164, a bottom flap 168, four tear-away
corner strips 172, 176, 180, 184, and left and right side flaps
188, 192.
[0015] The substantially horizontal perforated lines 140, 144, 148,
152 are preferably one-quarter inch of microperfs followed by an
optional one-eighth inch cut, then repeats. The vertical perforated
lines 124, 128, 132, 136 are preferably half inch of microperfs,
followed by an optional one-eighth inch cut, then repeats. An
example perforated line uses a 0.020 inch cut and a 0.007 inch tie.
Preferred dimensions as indicated by the following reference
numerals are: 196(a) (three inches), 196(b) (five inches), 196(c)
(three inches), 196(d) (6.5 inches), 196(e) (one inch) and 196(f)
(one inch).
[0016] The score lines can be cut or crushed score lines. A crushed
score line does not actually fracture or cut the plane of the
cardstock material so that when it is folded over and that edge is
exposed to the mail stream there is not the possibility of it
catching a piece of the paper and delaminating it. The crushed
score lines can be formed using a single crush die on the inside of
the sheet and a flat die on the opposite side. Other types of
weakened separation or fold lines can be used as would be apparent
to those skilled in the art. Two different die stations can be used
to form the sheet construction, wherein one die includes all of the
horizontal perforations and scores and the other has all of the
vertical ones. It typically does not make any difference which
station is first.
[0017] The user enters using appropriate software of his computer
(not shown) the indicia to be printed on the inside and/or outside
surfaces of one or more of the top flap 160, central panel 164 and
bottom flap 168. (FIGS. 2-5 show the printed indicia.) Typically,
the indicia includes the sender's and intended recipient's
addresses 200, 204 on the outside of the central panel 164, and a
message 208 (such as an advertisement) on the inside of the central
panel 164 and maybe on the inside and/or outside of the top and/or
bottom panels. The addresses can be entered into the software from
another address file in the user's computer.
[0018] The user then feeds the sheet constructions 100 individually
or automatically from a stack 212 in an infeed tray 216 of a
printer 220 into the printer. An example of a printer or copier 220
having an infeed tray and an outfeed tray 224 is shown in FIG. 2,
and a preferred printer is a desk top ink jet printer. The stack
212 of sheet constructions 100 is shown in the infeed tray 216, and
a stack of sheet constructions 228 with the desired indicia printed
thereon is shown in the outfeed tray 224.
[0019] The printed sheet 100 is removed from the outfeed tray 224
and the four corner tear off strips 172, 176, 180, 184 torn off,
which forms the left and right side flaps 188, 192. The one or more
substantially flat objects 240, 244 to be mailed are placed on the
inside surface of the central panel 164, and the left and right
side flaps 188, 192 are folded in, as shown by the arrows 250, 252
in FIG. 3. The bottom flap 168 is then folded up (or in) as shown
by the arrow 254 in FIG. 4, and the top flap 160 is folded down (or
in) as shown by the arrow 258 in FIG. 4. Thereby the left, right,
top and bottom flaps 188, 192, 160, 168 enclose the article pocket
whose floor is defined by the central panel 164. The top flap 160
is releasably secured to the bottom flap 168 by the user 262 using
an adhesive sticker or mailing seal 270 having a perforation line
as illustrated in FIG. 5. Other types of adhering means can be used
such as adhesive or gum strips. The top and bottom flap folding
orientation can be reversed, if desired.
[0020] Postage, if not already applied, can be applied to the
outside surface of the central panel in the corner above the
intended recipient's address. And the mailer 274 with its flat
contents 240, 244 mailed. Even with a postcard insert, only
standard and not extra postage is needed with a preferred
embodiment of this invention.
[0021] The postcards 240, 244 can be the 8386 INK JET
PRINT-TO-THE-EDGE POSTCARDS available in a two-up format from Avery
Dennison Corporation of Pasadena, Calif. The product can be sold
with twenty mailer sheets in a box with twenty sheets of these
postcards.
[0022] From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident
that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications
of the present invention which come within the province of those
skilled in the art. For example, different dimensions and/or
patterns of the weakened lines can be provided. The scope of the
invention includes any combination of the elements from the
different species or embodiments disclosed herein. However, it is
intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of
the invention be considered as within the scope thereof.
* * * * *