U.S. patent application number 09/755589 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-11 for printable triple-layer mailer assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Avery Dennison Corporation. Invention is credited to Attia, Omar S., Jackson, Blaine, Saint, Andre, Ulrich, Brett.
Application Number | 20020088847 09/755589 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25039781 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020088847 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Attia, Omar S. ; et
al. |
July 11, 2002 |
PRINTABLE TRIPLE-LAYER MAILER ASSEMBLY
Abstract
An envelope sheet assembly for stand-alone use, or for securing
into a brochure or binder, includes multiple sheets overlying one
another so that the assembly is of uniform thickness to facilitate
laser, offset, flexograph printing or the like thereon. The
envelope sheet assembly is preferably 81/2 inches by 11 inches in
size, and the envelope is preferably 11 inches by 41/2 inches.
Permanent pressure sensitive adhesive is employed to hold the
sheets together and to form the envelope. The adhesive is also
applied to the sealing flap, with a removable strip protecting the
adhesive coated flap. The sheet assembly may frame the envelope at
all outside edges of the envelope or some of the outer edges of the
sheet assembly can form outer edges of the envelope.
Inventors: |
Attia, Omar S.; (Lakeview,
NY) ; Jackson, Blaine; (East Aurora, NY) ;
Saint, Andre; (Tonawanda, NY) ; Ulrich, Brett;
(South Wales, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OPPENHEIMER WOLFF & DONNELLY
38th Fl.
2029 Century Park East
Los Angeles
CA
90067
US
|
Assignee: |
Avery Dennison Corporation
|
Family ID: |
25039781 |
Appl. No.: |
09/755589 |
Filed: |
January 5, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/68.1 ;
229/80 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 27/00 20130101;
B65D 27/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/68.1 ;
229/80 |
International
Class: |
B65D 027/12 |
Claims
1. A printer feedable envelope assembly comprising: a base sheet
having a predetermined standard size such as 81/2.times.11 inches
or A-4 size paper; an intermediate sheet having substantially the
same predetermined size but die cut to form the back of an envelope
and the separate liner for a sealing flap of the envelope; a top
sheet having the same predetermined size but being die cut to form
the front and sealing flap of the envelope; pressure sensitive
adhesive on said base sheet to hold said intermediate sheet
removably onto said base sheet, with said intermediate sheet having
release material thereon to facilitate separation of said base and
intermediate sheets; adhesive holding said front and back of said
envelope together and for holding said flap down onto the back of
said envelope; a release layer on the side of said liner facing
said envelope flap.
2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a bound brochure
containing the assembly as one page thereof.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein: the adhesive on said base
sheet is releasable pressure sensitive adhesive.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein: the adhesive between said
intermediate and top layers is permanent pressure sensitive
adhesive.
5. A multi-layer envelope sheet assembly comprising: top,
intermediate and base sheets of paper of substantially the same
size and held together by adhesive; cuts passing through the top
and intermediate sheets forming an envelope having a front layer
formed from the top sheet and a back layer formed from the
intermediate sheet, the back layer having inner and outer surfaces;
an envelope flap formed from the front layer of the envelope and a
flap liner formed from the back layer of the envelope, the flap
liner removably secured by adhesive to the envelope flap; adhesive
removably securing the back layer of the envelope to the base
sheet; and wherein the envelope is sealed along the bottom and two
sides by adhesive between the front layer and inner surface of the
back layer.
6. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 5, wherein:
said base sheet and said intermediate sheet are cut to form the
flap liner from the intermediate sheet and to form a score line on
the top sheet at the base of the envelope flap.
7. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 5, wherein: the
adhesive is located on the base sheet; and further comprising:
release material provided on the outer surface of the back layer
and aligned with the adhesive on the base sheet.
8. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 7, wherein: the
release material is made of silicone or comparable release
agent.
9. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 5, wherein: the
perforations are die-cut.
10. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 5, wherein:
the adhesive removably securing the flap liner to the envelope flap
is formed on the envelope flap; and further comprising: a release
layer formed on the flap liner and aligned with the adhesive formed
on the envelope flap.
11. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 5, further
comprising: an adhesion region formed on the outer surface of the
back layer adjacent to the flap liner for permitting adhesion of
the flap to the outer surface of the back layer when sealing the
envelope and wherein the release layer formed on the outer surface
of the back layer substantially ends at the adhesion region.
12. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 11, wherein:
the adhesive layer on the surface of the base sheet substantially
ends at the region of the base sheet aligned with the adhesion
region.
13. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 5, wherein:
the envelope is framed by the envelope sheet assembly at all
outside corners and edges of the envelope.
14. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 5, wherein:
the perforations form a cut and tie pattern and the ties attach the
envelope to the envelope sheet assembly.
15. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 5, wherein:
the adhesive holding the sheets together extends from the outer
edges of each sheet and across the perforations to within the front
layer and back layer.
16. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 15, wherein:
the adhesive holding the sheets together has gaps allowing air to
pass between the inside and outside of envelope.
17. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 5, wherein:
the envelope sheet assembly is secured in a brochure, magazine or
binder at an outer edge of the envelope sheet assembly.
18. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 5, wherein:
the envelope assembly is die-cut through the base sheet towards the
top sheet, resulting in a line of perforations forming the base of
the flap liner and a score line at the base of the envelope
flap.
19. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 5, wherein:
the envelope has a length greater than 81/2 inches and a width
greater than 4 inches for conveniently receiving a sheet 81/2
inches by 11 inches, or an A-4 sheet folded three times;
20. An envelope sheet assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said
envelope is approximately 11 inches long, and is between 4 and 5
inches in height.
21. An envelope sheet assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein each
of the sheets making up said assembly is of lightweight
semi-transparent paper, and wherein the inner surfaces of said
envelope have a bold printed pattern to preclude reading material
contained in said envelope.
22. An assembly as defined in claim 5 further comprising a
brochure, magazine or binder into which the envelope sheet assembly
is mounted, said brochure or binder having additional pages having
substantially the same size as said envelope sheet assembly.
23. An envelope sheet assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said
envelope sheet assembly has dimensions of substantially 81/2 inches
by 11 inches, or A-4 paper.
24. An envelope sheet assembly as defined in claim 5 further
comprising an address printed on said envelope.
25. An envelope sheet assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said
envelope is sealed along the bottom and two sides thereof with
permanent pressure sensitive adhesive.
26. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 5, wherein:
the sheets are of substantially uniform thickness for high speed
printing on the envelope sheet assembly.
27. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 5, wherein:
the envelope has dimensions substantially less than the dimensions
of the envelope sheet assembly.
28. The multi-layer envelope sheet assembly of claim 5, further
comprising: a mailer formed in the top sheet.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to mailer envelope sheets which may
be separate from or included in a brochure, catalog, booklet,
binder or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It has previously been proposed to include return mailer
envelopes in brochures, see R. E. Katz U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,696
granted Apr. 18, 1978. However, the '696 envelope sheet has certain
drawbacks. For example, it has an envelope portion which is double
thickness, while the remainder of the sheet is a single thickness
of paper. For stacking and printing on sheets of paper, it is
important that the paper be of uniform thickness to provide regular
stacking and to avoid jamming of the copier. In addition, the '696
patent has exposed adhesive which could be activated under high
humidity or damp conditions. With exposed activated adhesive,
sheets may stick together and laser or ink jet printers may jam or
become contaminated.
[0003] Prior art return mailer envelope assemblies also fail to
adequately protect the envelope during printing, binding and
transportation. In prior art assemblies, envelope edges and corners
are exposed and can become caught in machinery and bent or torn.
Also, the envelope can take on a worn appearance after repeated
flipping-through of the article such as a catalog, booklet or
brochure into which it is bound.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present
invention to provide an envelope sheet assembly which has no
exposed adhesive, and which will readily feed through high speed
printers without jamming or contamination. It is a further object
of the present invention to provide an envelope sheet assembly in
which the outside edges and corners of the envelope are protected.
The assembly is adapted for inclusion in a brochure, magazine or
the like, but may also be used separately from such bound
articles.
[0005] In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, the
envelope sheet assembly is formed of three sheets and is of
substantially uniform thickness for high speed printing. The
envelope sheet assembly includes top, intermediate and base sheets
of paper held together by adhesive. Perforations passing through
the top and intermediate sheets form an envelope having a front
layer formed from the top sheet and a back layer formed from the
intermediate sheet. The back layer has inner and outer surfaces.
The top, intermediate and base sheets of paper are of substantially
the same size. A die-cut, with optional spaced ties, strikes
through the base sheet and intermediate layer, forming a scored
envelope sealing flap from the front layer of the envelope and a
flap liner strip from the back layer of the envelope (intermediate
assembly layer). A release coating is provided on the outer surface
of the back layer and is aligned with a pressure sensitive adhesive
layer on the surface of the base sheet so that the back layer
removably adheres to the base sheet. A coating layer is provided on
the inner surface of the back layer along the flap liner strip and
is aligned with pressure sensitive adhesive areas on the envelope
flap so that the flap liner removably adheres to the envelope flap.
An adhesion region free of release material is located on the outer
surface of the back layer adjacent to the flap liner for permitting
adhesion of the flap to the outer surface of the back layer when
sealing the envelope. The adhesion region is preferably
substantially free of the silicone release material on the outer
surface of the back layer. The adhesive layer on the surface of the
base sheet substantially ends at the region of the base sheet
aligned with the adhesion region. The envelope is permanently
sealed along the bottom and two sides by adhesive on the front
layer and inner surface of the back layer. When the envelope is to
be closed by the user, the flap liner strip formed in the
intermediate layer is stripped off and the adhesive coated flap is
folded down onto the adhesion region of the back of the
envelope.
[0006] The envelope sheet assembly preferably includes an envelope
with a length greater than 81/2 inches and a width greater than 4
inches for conveniently receiving a standard 81/2.times.11 inches
or an A-4 sheet folded three times. It is noted that these
dimensions are for standard size 81/2 inches by 11 inches, or A-4,
sheets included in brochures, and for brochures or the like having
different dimensions, the two layer envelope assembly would be
correspondingly modified in its dimensions. As noted above, the
envelope assembly can also be used stand-alone, without a brochure
or the like.
[0007] The sheet assembly may also include one or more of the
following additional features: (1) an envelope which is
approximately 11 inches long; (2) the envelopes may be
approximately 4 inches to 5 inches in height; (3) the individual
sheets making up the three layer sheet assembly may be formed of
fairly lightweight paper so that the sheets may be semi-translucent
or semi-transparent; and (4) the inside surfaces of the envelope
may be provided with a printed pattern to preclude reading
enclosures through the envelope.
[0008] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will
become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed
description and from the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a printable triple-layer mailer assembly of the
present invention with the envelope partially removed from the
assembly and the flap liner strip partially peeled off from the
flap.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows the back side of the envelope with the flap
liner strip partially peeled off from the flap.
[0011] FIG. 3 shows the remainder of the assembly after the
envelope has been removed.
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a brochure which includes the printable
triple-layer mailer assembly of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the
triple-layer mailer assembly.
[0014] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the triple-layer mailer
assembly of the present invention including a mailer along with the
envelope.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] FIG. 1 shows an envelope 110 partially removed from the
envelope assembly 112. A flap liner strip 136 is shown partially
peeled off from a sealing flap 134. The envelope sheet assembly
includes top 114, intermediate 116 and base 118 sheets of paper
held together by adhesive 120 (also see FIG. 5). The top 114,
intermediate 116 and base 118 sheets may have the same
predetermined standard size, such as 81/2.times.11 inches, A-4 or
legal size paper.
[0016] Die-cuts or perforations 122 passing through the top 114 and
intermediate 116 sheets form the envelope 110 having a front layer
124 formed from the top sheet 114 and a back layer 126 formed from
the intermediate sheet 116. The perforations 122 can be fully die
cut or alternatively can have a few widely spaced cuts and ties.
The perforations 122 passing through the top sheet 114 form the
front layer 124 of the envelope including the sealing flap 134. The
back layer of the envelope 126 has inner 128 (see FIG. 5) and outer
130 surfaces. The sealing flap 134 may have a score line 138. The
sealing flap 134 is folded along the score line 138 when folding
the sealing flap 134 to the back layer 126. The perforations 122
passing through the intermediate sheet 116 can be fully cut to form
the back layer 126 of the envelope 110 and the separate flap liner
136 for covering the sealing flap 134 of the envelope 110. The
perforations 122 passing through the intermediate sheet 116 can
alternatively consist of a cut and tie pattern die cut to form the
back layer 126 of the envelope 110 and the separate flap liner 136
for covering the sealing flap 134 of the envelope 110. Die-cut
perforations 132 strike through the base sheet 118 and back layer
116 to form the score line 138 at the bottom of the sealing flap
134 and to form the flap liner 136 from the back layer 126 of the
envelope 110.
[0017] A releasable layer 140 (see FIG. 2) is formed on the outer
surface 130 of the back layer 126 and is aligned with a pressure
sensitive adhesive layer 142 (see FIG. 3) on the surface of the
base sheet 118 so that the back layer 126 removably adheres to the
base sheet 118. The releasable layer 140 can include of a plurality
of silicone segments 144. The pressure adhesive layer 142 can
include of a plurality of adhesive segments 146 as well as areas of
the adhesive 120 on the base sheet 118 proximate the edges of the
envelope. Each of the silicone segments 144 positioned on the back
layer is positioned to overlap one of the corresponding adhesive
segments 146 positioned on the base sheet 118. With some types of
adhesive and paper, the silicone on the releasable layer 140 is
unnecessary because even without the silicone, the envelope is
securely held to the base sheet 118, yet is easily peeled away from
the adhesive layer 142.
[0018] The sealing flap 134 has an adhesive layer 150 for adhering
to the back layer 126 when the flap 134 is folded down along the
score line 138, thereby sealing the top of the envelope 110. The
flap liner 136 covers the sealing flap 134 of the envelope 110. A
silicone release layer 148, is formed on the inner surface of the
back layer 126 along the flap liner 136 and is aligned with the
pressure sensitive adhesive layer 150 on the envelope flap 134 so
that the flap liner 136 removably adheres to the envelope flap 134.
An adhesion region 152 is formed on the outer surface 130 of the
back layer 126 adjacent to the flap liner 136 for permitting
adhesion of the adhesive layer 150 of the flap 134 to the outer
surface of the back layer when sealing the envelope 110 (see also
FIG. 2). The adhesion region 152 forms a gap in the releasable
layer 140 in the region below the flap liner 136. The adhesion
region 152 need not be entirely free of the silicone segments 144
forming release layer 140, but must at least present enough
release-layer-free surface so that the adhesive layer 150 can
securely adhere to the outer surface 130 of the back layer 126.
[0019] The adhesive force between the sealing flap 134 and the flap
liner 136 should be greater than the adhesive force between the
base sheet 118 and the flap liner 136 so that when the envelope 110
is peeled away from the envelope assembly 112, the flap liner 136
remains adhering to the sealing flap 134. Also, the adhesive layer
142 should hold the envelope securely to the envelope assembly so
that the envelope will not become disengaged when being fed though
various printing devices when printing on the front layer 124 of
the envelope 110. The envelope 110 is also held securely enough so
that it will not become accidentally disengaged from the envelope
assembly 112 when handling a brochure or binder into which the
envelope assembly 112 has been bound. On the other hand, the
adhesive layer 142 allows for easy manual removal of the envelope
110 from the envelope assembly 112 without damage to the envelope
110 by peeling the envelope 112 from the base sheet 118.
[0020] FIG. 2 more clearly shows the back of the envelope 110. The
envelope 110 has been peeled off from the remainder of the envelope
assembly 112. The flap liner strip 136 is shown partially peeled
off from the flap 134. Also shown are the silicone segments 144
forming the releasable layer 140. The adhesion region 152 without
the silicone segments 144 is shown as well.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows the remainder of the envelope assembly 112
after the envelope 110 has been peeled away as shown in FIG. 2. The
adhesive layer 142 is shown formed of areas of the adhesive 120 as
well as the adhesive segments 146. The base sheet 118 has a
substantially adhesive-free region 158. The adhesive-free region
158 is aligned with the adhesion region 152, so that the adhesive
layer 142 will not stick to the unprotected adhesion region 152. In
some embodiments, when special adhesive or paper is used, it is
unnecessary to use the adhesive-free region 158 because the
envelope can be peeled from the adhesive layer 142 even with the
adhesive layer 142 adhering to the adhesion layer 152.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows the envelope assembly 112 bound in an article
160. The envelope 110 is framed and held firmly by the assembly 112
so that the envelope will not become accidentally disengaged when
binding or during mailing or use of brochure 160. The assembly 112
also protects the envelope outside corners and edges from tearing
or fraying during binding, mailing or use. The article 160 can be a
book, magazine, catalog, mailer or other articles into which the
envelope assembly 112 can be bound. Additionally, the envelope
assembly 112 and be used in a stand alone configuration without the
article 160.
[0023] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the envelope assembly 112.
The envelope assembly 112 is made from the top sheet 114, the
intermediate sheet 116 and the base sheet 118. The sheets are held
together by the adhesive 120. The outer edges of the sheets are
coated with pressure sensitive adhesive. The adhesive 120 extends
from the outer edges of each sheet and across the perforations 122
to the area within the front layer 124 and back layer 126. In this
way, the envelope 110 is sealed on three sides and the envelope
assembly 112 is secured on four sides. Vents or gaps 162 in the
adhesive 120, 150 allow air to pass between the inside and outside
of envelope 42. The gaps can be wider than {fraction (1/32)} inch,
for example. The inner surface of the top sheet 114 (not shown) may
also have adhesive 120 with vents 162 having the same spatial
arrangement as the adhesive 120 and vents 162 illustrated coating
the edges of the intermediate sheet 116. Thus, the adhesive 120 and
vents 162 on the top sheet 114 and intermediate sheet 116 match
each other to secure the two sheets together.
[0024] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the triple-layer mailer
assembly of the present invention including a mailer 164 along with
the envelope 110. The mailer 164 can be a letter, a contract or an
order form, for example. As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the
envelope 110 is formed by the perforations 122. In the present
embodiment, the mailer 164 is also formed in the top sheet 114 by
perforations 166. The mailer 164 can be one or more pages and is
held within the assembly 112 by adhesive. When the mailer 164 has
multiple pages, one page can be formed from the top sheet 114, a
second page from the intermediate sheet 116 and a third page from
the base sheet.
[0025] Inside the envelope front 124 and back 126 layers, on the
front layer inner surface and the back layer inner surface 128, can
be printed patterns. For easy printing using xerographic or ink jet
printers, it is desirable that the envelope assembly 112 be
relatively thin and flexible. As a result, the paper forming the
front and back of the envelope may be semi-translucent or
semi-transparent, so the printed pattern is useful to preclude
reading of material enclosed within the envelope. By way of
example, 20 pound paper may be used for each sheet of the two sheet
assembly. When the term "20 pound paper" is used, it means that 500
sheets of paper 17 inches by 22 inches in size, weighs 20 pounds.
Incidentally, while any pressure sensitive adhesive may be used,
rubber based, hot melt permanent pressure sensitive adhesive is
preferred.
[0026] Concerning dimensions, each of the sheets of the envelope
assembly 112 may be 81/2.times.11 inches, or A-4 size paper. The
bottom and two sides of the envelope 110 are bonded together by
permanent adhesive, which may be the same pressure sensitive
adhesive used on the sealing flap of the envelope. The envelopes
are preferably 11 inches in length and between 4 and 5 inches,
preferably about 41/2 inches, in height. Thus, a height of at least
4 inches and a length of at least 9 inches for the envelopes is
desired.
[0027] In conclusion, it is to be understood that the foregoing
detailed description and accompanying drawings are illustrative of
the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications
may be employed, for example, different sizes of paper such as
81/2.times.14 inches, or other sizes and weights of paper may be
employed, with envelope size being accordingly modified.
Additionally, more than three sheets can be used in forming the
envelope assembly. For example, four sheets of paper can be secured
together to form a three layer envelope sheet assembly.
Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the specific
embodiments described and shown in the drawings.
* * * * *