U.S. patent application number 10/635876 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-13 for method of making printable forms comprising stickers and articles.
This patent application is currently assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Company. Invention is credited to Ginkel, Scott T., Harelstad, R. Ellen, Rajan, Sundar J..
Application Number | 20040091658 10/635876 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32229580 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040091658 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ginkel, Scott T. ; et
al. |
May 13, 2004 |
Method of making printable forms comprising stickers and
articles
Abstract
The invention discloses form constructions such and self-seal
mailer and methods of making form constructions comprising a
substrate having a printable surface portion and a sticker. In
preferred embodiments the sticker is a face adhering validation
sticker and/or the form substrate comprises a cutout with the
viewing surface of the sticker releasably attached to the perimeter
of the cutout and exposed through the cutout.
Inventors: |
Ginkel, Scott T.;
(Stillwater, MN) ; Harelstad, R. Ellen; (Woodbury,
MN) ; Rajan, Sundar J.; (Woodbury, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
PO BOX 33427
ST. PAUL
MN
55133-3427
US
|
Assignee: |
3M Innovative Properties
Company
|
Family ID: |
32229580 |
Appl. No.: |
10/635876 |
Filed: |
August 5, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10635876 |
Aug 5, 2003 |
|
|
|
10293037 |
Nov 13, 2002 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
428/40.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 428/24777 20150115;
Y10S 283/904 20130101; Y10T 428/1486 20150115; Y10T 428/149
20150115; Y10T 428/1495 20150115; Y10T 428/24793 20150115; Y10T
428/1481 20150115; Y10T 428/14 20150115; G09F 3/10 20130101; G09F
3/0288 20130101; Y10T 428/1476 20150115; B42D 5/027 20130101; G09F
3/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/040.1 |
International
Class: |
B32B 009/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A form construction comprising a substrate having a printable
surface portion and a sticker having a viewing surface and an
opposing surface, the viewing surface comprising a pressure
sensitive adhesive covered with a release liner and the opposing
surface comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive bonded to the
substrate, wherein the sticker and the substrate have uncommon
parallel peripheral edges.
2. The form construction of claim 1 wherein the sticker is
positioned in a center portion of the substrate.
3. The form construction of claim 2 wherein the pressure sensitive
adhesive covered with the release liner of the viewing surface of
the sticker has a peripheral edge that is substantially the same as
the sticker.
4. The form construction of claim 3 wherein the sticker comprises
at least one tab comprising the release liner.
5. The form construction of claim 2 wherein the pressure sensitive
adhesive bonded to the substrate has a peripheral edge that is
substantially the same as the sticker.
6. The form construction of claim 1 wherein the sticker has an
exposed viewing surface portion.
7. The form construction of claim 6 wherein the viewing surface of
the sticker comprises a frame of the pressure sensitive adhesive
covered with the release liner.
8. The form construction of claim 1 wherein the sticker comprises a
printable surface portion.
9. The form construction of claim 1 wherein the printable surface
portion is digital printable by at least one of laser, ink-jet,
thermal mass transfer, thermal dye transfer, electrostatic, ion
deposition, electron beam imaging, solid ink-jet and dot-matrix
printing.
10. The form construction of claim 8 wherein the printable surface
portion is digital printable by at least one of laser, inkjet,
thermal mass transfer, thermal dye transfer, electrostatic, ion
deposition, electron beam imaging, solid ink-jet and dot-matrix
printing.
11. The form construction of claim 1 wherein the sticker comprises
a polymeric film.
12. The form construction of claim 1 wherein the sticker is
retroreflective.
13. The form construction of claim 1 wherein the sticker is
selected from the group comprising a vehicle registration sticker,
validation sticker, parking permit sticker, and park permit
sticker.
14. The form construction of claim 1 wherein the sticker further
comprises at least one tamper indicating feature.
15. The form construction of claim 1 wherein the substrate is a
roll-good.
16. The form construction of claim 15 wherein the substrate
comprises perforations such that the form can be separated into
individual sheets.
17. The form construction of claim 1 wherein the substrate is a
sheet.
18. The form construction of claim 1 wherein the substrate is a
self-seal mailer.
19. The form construction of claim 1 wherein the form is a
self-seal mailer.
20. A form construction comprising a porous substrate having a
printable surface portion and a sticker having a viewing surface
and an opposing surface, the viewing surface comprising a pressure
sensitive adhesive covered with a release liner and the opposing
surface comprises an adhesive bonded to the porous substrate,
wherein the porous substrate is exposed on the opposing surface of
the sticker.
23. The form construction of claim 20 wherein the substrate is a
self-seal mailer.
24. The form construction of claim 20 wherein the form is a
self-seal mailer.
25. A method of using a form construction comprising providing the
form construction of claim 1 and printing the substrate.
26. The method of claim 25 further comprising printing the
sticker.
27. A method of making a form construction comprising: providing a
substrate having a printable surface portion; providing a sticker
having a viewing surface and an opposing surface, both surfaces
having a pressure sensitive adhesive covered with a release liner;
removing the liner from the opposing surface exposing the adhesive;
and contacting the exposed adhesive to the substrate.
28. A form construction comprising: a substrate having a printable
surface portion and a cutout having a perimeter; and a sticker
having a viewing surface and an opposing surface, at least one
surface comprising an adhesive, wherein the viewing surface of the
sticker is releasably attached to the perimeter of the cutout and
exposed through the cutout.
29. The form construction of claim 28 wherein the viewing surface
comprises a removable pressure sensitive adhesive.
30. The form construction of claim 28 wherein the viewing surface
comprises a removable adhesive and the opposing surface comprises
an adhesive suitable for bonding the sticker to a target
surface.
31. The form construction of claim 28 wherein the substrate is a
self-seal mailer.
32. The form construction of claim 28 wherein the form is a
self-seal mailer.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/293037 filed Nov. 13, 2002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention discloses form constructions such as self-seal
mailers and methods of making form constructions comprising a
substrate having a printable surface portion and a sticker. In
preferred embodiments, the sticker is a face adhering validation
sticker and/or the form substrate comprises a cutout with the
viewing surface of the sticker releasably attached to the perimeter
of the cutout and exposed through the cutout.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Validation stickers are used as proof of registration of
automobiles and other motor vehicles (e.g. trucks, snowmobiles,
etc.) These retroreflective stickers generally have a printable
plastic top surface and a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) on the
bottom with a protective liner that is removed before it is adhered
to the ultimate surface such as an automobile license plate. Such
stickers usually have printed variable information. The end user
(e.g. vehicle owner) typically also gets a card with his/her name,
address, amount paid, etc., at the time the fees are paid to the
issuing agency. Issuing agencies prefer to print these stickers and
cards at the same time and on demand as needed. In order to do so,
it is common to pre-attach stickers with the liners to cards via an
additional layer of adhesive between the liner and the card surface
prior to the printing operation.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,843 (Abstract) describes a license plate
decal provided on a folded (e.g. Z-folded) business form which acts
as a carrier for the decal. A cut out is formed in a panel of the
mailer and a patch (such as a glassine patch) is adhesively secured
at a peripheral portion to the mailer panel and a release coating
is provided on at least a significant part of the central portion
of the patch. The decal adhesive engages the release coating so
that the decal and its associated pressure sensitive adhesive may
be readily removed from the patch. The patch may be secured to the
paper on either face thereof; if secured at the bottom face, the
patch and decal can flex into the cutout to provide a minimum
thickness when in a stack of mailer intermediates. Where the patch
is secured at its top face, the maximum thickness of the patch and
decal combination is preferably about 0.008 inches, which is
significantly less than the thickness at the decal in prior art
carriers.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,787 (Abstract) describes a novel form
construction comprising a form sheet having a digital printable
surface portion and a release surface portion, on which release
coating surface portion a signage with a pressure-sensitive
adhesive can be releasably adhered. A digital printable release
coating composition is also provided.
[0006] In contrast to validation stickers wherein the opposing
surface of the sticker is bonded to a target surface, e.g. license
plate, other types of vehicle registration stickers such as parking
permits and park passes employ face adhering verification ("FAV")
wherein the viewing surface of the sticker rather than the opposing
surface comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive covered with a
release liner. During use the release liner is removed and the
sticker adhered to, for example, the interior of a windshield, the
sticker intended to be viewed from outside of the vehicle.
[0007] An exemplary decal assembly and method of making a FAV
sticker is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,796 (Look et al)., As
described in the abstract of U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,796, the decal
assembly comprises a backing web, a printed label (e.g. sticker)
positioned on the backing web, an adhesive web applied over the
label and the backing web, and a releasable liner web carrying the
adhesive web and applied over the label and the backing web. The
label and the adhesive web over the label define the actual decal.
In a preferred embodiment the label is made from retroreflective
sheeting. Labels printed with fixed information are provided on a
master roll. The endmost label is printed with variable
information, separated from the master roll, and then assembled
into the decal assembly. For use, the releasable web is peeled back
to reveal the adhesive web, the label, and the backing web. The
decal (i.e. the label and the adhesive web covering the label) can
then be separated from the surrounding adhesive web and the backing
web and applied to a surface.
[0008] The form construction depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been
commercially available from 3M Company (3M), St. Paul, Minn. This
form construction was manufactured by providing an 11 inch (28 cm)
wide roll of paper and a 3.5 inch (8.9 cm) wide roll of
retroreflective sheeting 85, removing the release liner from the
non-viewing surface of the sheeting to expose the underlying
pressure sensitive adhesive, contacting the adhesive to the paper
near an edge of the roll of paper, contacting the adhesive coated
surface of a 3.5 inch (8.9 cm) wide roll of transfer tape having
window-like openings spaced apart 8.5 inches (22 cm) on center to
the viewing surface of the sheeting, die cutting from the backside
a 0.5 inch (1.3 cm) frame around the perimeter of each such
window-like opening forming a sticker, and cutting the roll into
sheets such that each sticker is positioned approximately in the
center of each sheet as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. The paper form
and the exposed center portion of the sticker are digitally printed
by an issuing agency. The end user removes the sticker 80 from the
paper 60. In doing so, the release liner 70 of the transfer tape
remains attached to the form exposing the adhesive on the viewing
surface beneath the release liner. The end user then contacts the
exposed adhesive to the inside of a motor vehicle windshield.
[0009] It has been discovered that when the retroreflective
sheeting 85 extends to the peripheral parallel edges of a paper
form construction as depicted in FIG. 1, the paper tends to curl
once the roll has been cut into an individual sheet, as depicted in
FIG. 2. The curled sheets tend to jam and/or miss-print when
printed by the issuing agency. Additional problems occur with this
construction during folding and packaging as the extra thickness of
the sheeting at the edges of the form sheet often cause the
equipment to stop since the equipment sensors mistakenly detect
multiple sheets being processed.
[0010] Accordingly, industry would find advantage in improved form
constructions comprising stickers and improved methods of making
such form construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention discloses a form construction
comprising a substrate having a printable surface portion and a
sticker having a viewing surface and an opposing surface. The
viewing surface comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive covered
with a release liner and the opposing surface comprises a pressure
sensitive adhesive bonded to the substrate. The sticker and the
substrate have uncommon parallel peripheral edges.
[0012] In another embodiment, the form construction comprises a
porous substrate bonded to the opposing surface of the sticker and
the porous substrate is exposed on the opposing surface of the
sticker.
[0013] In another embodiment, the form construction comprises a
substrate having a cutout and the viewing surface of the sticker is
temporarily adhered to the perimeter of the cutout and exposed
through the cutout. The perimeter of the cutout may optionally
comprise a release coating and/or the viewing surface of the
sticker may comprise a removable adhesive.
[0014] In another aspect, the invention discloses a method of
making a form construction comprising providing a sticker having
adhesive on both surfaces and bonding the sticker to a form
substrate.
[0015] In each of the embodied articles and methods, the sticker is
preferably positioned in a center portion of the substrate.
Further, the pressure sensitive adhesive covered with the release
liner on the viewing surface of the sticker alone or in combination
with the form substrate of the sticker has a peripheral edge that
is substantially the same as the sticker. In addition, the sticker
preferably comprises at least one tab comprising the release liner.
The sticker preferably has an exposed viewing surface portion that
is (e.g. digital) printable. The sticker preferably comprises a
polymeric film that may be retroreflective. Preferred stickers
include vehicle registration stickers, validation stickers, parking
permit stickers, and park permit stickers. Further, the sticker
preferably comprises at least one tamper-indicating feature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 depicts a plan view of a prior art form construction
comprising a sticker.
[0017] FIG. 2 depicts the curling of the form construction of FIG.
1.
[0018] FIGS. 3-6 depict form constructions comprising FAV stickers
in accordance with the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 7 depicts an embodied form construction that may
comprise a FAV sticker or a conventional sticker.
[0020] FIG. 8a and 8b depict the inside and outside respectively of
an exemplary tri-fold self-seal mailer form construction comprising
a window sticker in combination with a validation sticker.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] The present invention is directed to form construction
articles comprising a sticker and methods of making form
constructions having stickers. As used herein, "sticker" refers to
a substrate that has a length and width smaller than the form
substrate and comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive on at least
one face.
[0022] FIGS. 3-7 depict various embodiments of the present
invention comprising a form construction comprising a form
substrate 10 (e.g. paper) and a FAV sticker 20.
[0023] Referring now to FIGS. 3-4 depicting cross-sectional views
of the form construction, sticker 20 comprises a continuous or
discontinuous layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 28 on the
viewing surface covered by release liner 30. Although the "sticker
substrate" 26 may comprise materials such as paper, the sticker
substrate is preferable durable material. Preferred durable
materials include various polymeric films that may be opaque,
transparent, translucent, reflective or retroreflective. In this
preferred embodiment, the sticker is bonded to the form substrate
10 with a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) composition 24.
[0024] With reference to FIG. 4, during use sticker 20 including
the form substrate portion bonded by means of adhesive 24 is
separated from the remaining form substrate 10. Although the
sticker could be cut out from the form with scissors for example,
the sticker is typically separable from the form substrate by means
of perforations 40 along the perimeter of the sticker as depicted
in FIGS. 5 and 6. The release liner 30 is removed and pressure
sensitive adhesive 28 adhered to a target surface. In the case of
FAV stickers, the target surface to which the sticker is adhered is
positioned above, rather than beneath the sticker.
[0025] FIGS. 5 and 6 depict plan views of preferred form
constructions of the present invention. The form substrate 10
preferably comprises an imprint and/or perforations 40 such that
sticker 20 can be easily removed from the form by hand. Further,
although sticker 20 may be preprinted with variable information, it
is preferred that release liner 30 and the underlying transfer
adhesive is provided only on a portion of the sticker face such
that a portion of the sticker face is exposed. As depicted in FIG.
5, the release liner 30 having the underlying adhesive is provided
in the shape of a frame with the center of the viewing surface of
the sticker exposed. The exposed portion may then be concurrently
printed along with the form.
[0026] As depicted in FIG. 6, for ease in removing the release
liner 30 it is preferred that the release liner 30 comprises at
least one tab 50. For embodiments wherein the release liner is
scored into more than one piece, it is preferred that each release
liner piece comprises a tab. For ease in printing it is preferred
that the tab is positioned on the trailing back edge, rather than
the front edge or side edge of the sticker, to minimize the tab
causing printer interruptions. Other tab placement is also suitable
provided the tab is adhered to the paper. The tab may comprise
adhesive that remains adhered to the form upon removal of the
sticker. Alternatively, a release coating may be applied to the
form at the location of the tab, such that the tab is releasably
adhered to the form. In another aspect, a tab may be post-applied
to the release liner rather than being integral with the release
liner.
[0027] As depicted in FIG. 7, the sticker may optionally be adhered
to the non-viewing surface of the form construction, with at least
a portion of the sticker visible through a cut out window 90 in the
form substrate 10. In the case of FAV stickers, a single PSA is
preferably present on the viewing surface, such adhesive being
permanently bonded to the viewing surface of the sticker and
releasably bonded to the perimeter of the window of the form
substrate. The releasable bond may be accomplished by providing a
release coating on the non-viewing surface of the form substrate,
such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,787.
[0028] Alternatively, however, a conventional sticker may be
employed in combination with a form construction having a cut out
window wherein the viewing surface of the sticker is visible
through the cut out. In a conventional sticker, the adhesive is
present on the opposing surface of the sticker. For embodiments
wherein the conventional sticker comprises a PSA, the opposing
surface (i.e. backside) of the sticker would further comprise a
release liner as well. Alternatively, for less durable sticker
uses, the sticker may optionally comprise an adhesive composition
that is activated by moistening the adhesive coated surface. The
conventional sticker is temporarily bonded to the backside of the
form along the perimeter of the sticker face. Various known
removable adhesive compositions, also known as "tipping" adhesives
are suitable for this use.
[0029] The form construction of each of the embodiments described
herein may further include an adhesive 50 on the form such that the
form may be subsequently folded and bonded to itself forming a
self-seal mailer, as exemplified by FIGS. 8a and 8b. Various
bi-fold, tri-fold (e.g. Z-fold) self-seal mailers having a
preapplied adhesive are commercially available from various
suppliers including Moore Business Forms, Standard Register and
Relizon Corp. Such designs generally have a water activated, heat
activated or pressure activated cohesive adhesive along at least a
perimeter portion of the form. Additional adhesive may also be
provided at the perimeter portion of a fold. Although the mailer
may comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive covered by a release
liner, non-tacky adhesives are typically preferred to facilitate
automated means of sealing the mailers. As an alternative to
employing a self-seal mailer as the substrate, adhesive may be
applied after incorporating the sticker.
[0030] Although the form construction depicted in each of FIGS. 1-7
comprise a single sticker, the form construction may comprise
multiple stickers as depicts in FIGS. 8a and 8b. Form construction
embodiments comprising multiple stickers comprise at least one FAV
sticker or at least one sticker wherein the viewing surface is
releasably attached to the perimeter of a cutout in the form
substrate as described herein. A preferred form construction, as
depicted in FIGS. 8a and 8b, comprises a validation sticker such as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,787 in combination with a FAV
registration sticker.
[0031] Rather than constructing the sticker on a form substrate,
the method of the present invention entails providing a sticker and
then adhering the sticker to the form substrate. This inventive
form construction and method are advantageous in one aspect to
reduce waste of the sticker materials and thus reduce the cost of
the form. In another aspect, however, this method is advantageous
for preventing curling of the form construction as depicted in FIG.
2. Another benefit of preferred embodiments is that after the
sticker is removed, the remaining form may be recycled with paper
recycling processing in its entirety since the remaining form is
substantially free of plastic materials such as release liners.
[0032] The sticker has an adhesive on at least one surface for the
purpose of adhering the sticker to a target surface. The adhesive
is preferably a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) covered by a
release liner. During the manufacture of the sticker, prior to
bonding the sticker to the form substrate, the PSA of the sticker
is typically transfer coated to the sticker substrate (e.g. viewing
surface) by means of a release liner. The release liner typically
comprises a paper or plastic film material having a release
coating. Various release coating compositions are known such as
those described U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,787. In preferred embodiments,
only a portion of the sticker face comprises the adhesive and the
remainder of the sticker face is exposed such that the sticker may
be printed concurrently with printing the form. Alternatively,
other non-PSA adhesive compositions may be used particularly for
embodiments wherein the form substrate is porous (e.g. paper), the
form substrate being exposed on the non-viewing surface of the
sticker.
[0033] For the preferred FAV sticker construction, the sticker
comprises such pressure sensitive adhesive covered with a release
liner on the viewing surface. The pressure sensitive adhesive may
be derived from a variety of known water-based, solvent-based,
radiation curable and 100% solids hot melt adhesive compositions.
Preferred adhesive compositions are selected depending on the
intended duration of use and expected exposure conditions of the
sticker (e.g. temperature, humidity, sunlight). For example,
removable adhesive compositions may be used for temporary uses
(e.g. single day parking pass). For longer durations of intended
use, it is preferred that the adhesive composition is initially
repositionable, meaning that the sticker can be removed without
damaging the sticker and reapplied, and then subsequently forms a
permanent bond with the target surface (e.g. windshield). Although
FAV stickers typically comprise transparent adhesive compositions,
the adhesive composition may be translucent or opaque, and further
colored, particularly if the adhesive is provided solely on a
perimeter portion of the sticker. Particularly preferred adhesive
compositions for FAV stickers intended for automobile windshields
include adhesive commercially available from 3M under the trade
designation "3M High Performance Adhesive 200MP".
[0034] Suitable pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) for use in the
invention for bonding the sticker to the target surface (e.g.
windshield) and optionally bonding the sticker to the form
substrate are preferably repositionable at least temporarily or may
be aggressive such that the sticker cannot be removed without
damaging the sticker. In general, PSAs adhere to substrates without
the need for more than hand pressure, and require no activation by
water, solvent or heat. Suitable PSAs are disclosed, for example,
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,935 (Signage Articles Methods of Making the
Same), which is herein incorporated by reference.
[0035] PSAs suitable in the present invention are preferably
selected from the group consisting of alkylacrylate polymers and
copolymers; copolymers of alkylacrylates with acrylic acid;
terpolymers of alkylacrylates, acrylic acid, and vinyl-lactates;
alkyl vinyl ether polymers and copolymers; polyisoalkylenes;
polyalkyldienes; alkyldiene-styrene copolymers;
styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers; polydialkylsiloxanes;
polyalkylphenylsiloxanes; natural rubbers; synthetic rubbers;
chlorinated rubbers; latex crepe; rosin; cumarone resins; alkyd
polymers; and polyacrylate esters and mixtures thereof. Examples
include polyisobutylenes, polybutadienes, or butadiene-styrene
copolymers, and mixtures thereof (such polymers and copolymers
preferably have no reactive moieties, i.e., are not oxidized in the
presence of air); silicone-based compounds such as
polydimethylsiloxane, and polymethylphenylsiloxane combined with
other resins and/or oils.
[0036] Other suitable PSAs also include tackified thermoplastic
resins and tackified thermoplastic elastomers, wherein the
tackifier comprises one or more compounds which increases the tack
of the composition. An example of a tackified thermoplastic resin
useful as an aggressively PSA is the combination of a vinyl
acetate/ethylene copolymer known under the trade designation
VYNATHENE EY 902-30 (available from Quantum Chemicals, Cincinnati,
Ohio) with substantially equal portions of the tackifiers known
under the trade designations PICCOTEX LC (a water-white
thermoplastic resin produced by copolymerization of vinyltoluene
and alpha-methylstyrene monomers having a ring and ball softening
point of about 87.degree.-95.degree. C., available from Hercules
Incorporated, Wilmington, Del.) and WINGTACK 10 (a liquid aliphatic
C-5 petroleum hydrocarbon resin available from Goodyear Chemical)
and an organic solvent such as toluene. An example of a tackified
thermoplastic elastomer useful as an aggressively PSA is the
combination of the styrene-poly(ethylene-butylene)-styrene block
copolymer known under the trade designation KRATON G1657 (available
from of Shell Chemicals) with one or more of the low molecular
weight hydrocarbon resins known under the trade designation
REGALREZ (from Hercules) and an organic solvent such as toluene.
Both of these formulations may be coated using a knife coater and
air-dried, or air-dried followed by oven drying. Of course, the
invention is not limited to use of these specific combinations of
thermoplastic resins, thermoplastic elastomers, and tackifiers.
[0037] Some presently preferred PSAs exhibit extended shelf life
and resistance to detackifying under atmospheric conditions, and
include acrylic-based copolymer adhesives as disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. Re 24,906. One example of such an acrylic-based copolymer is a
95.5:4.5 (measured in parts by weight of each)
isooctylacrylate/acrylic acid copolymer. Another preferred adhesive
is the copolymer of a 90:10 weight ratio combination of these two
monomers. Yet other preferred adhesives are terpolymers of ethyl
acrylate, butyl acrylate, and acrylic acid; copolymers of
isooctylacrylate and acrylamide; and terpolymers of
isooctylacrylate, vinyl-acetate, and acrylic acid.
[0038] Acrylic-based PSAs can be coated out of a coatable
composition comprising an organic solvent, such as a
heptane:isopropanol solvent mixture, and the solvent subsequently
evaporated, leaving a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating. This
layer is preferably from about 0.038 centimeters (cm) to about 0.11
cm (5 to 15 mils) thick when the substrate is a retroreflective
sheeting material.
[0039] PSAs useful in the invention also may be characterized by
having "180.degree. peel adhesion" ranging from about 10 to about
1000 g/cm, more preferably at least about 50 g/cm. For aggressive
PSAs the 180.degree. peel adhesion typically ranges from about 200
g/cm to about 600 g/cm, measured using a standard test procedure.
In this procedure, the force necessary to remove (i.e. peel) a
PSA-coated substrate from a test substrate when the PSA-coated
substrate is peeled from the test substrate is termed the "peel
adhesion" value. A standard glass plate is cleaned using a solvent
(such as one wash of diacetone alcohol followed by three washes of
n-heptane). With very light tension, a sample having a PSA-backsize
coating is then applied along the center of the standard glass
plate, PSA side down. The sample is then rolled once with a 2.04 Kg
hand roller. The standard glass plate is then secured to a
horizontal platen in a standard peel adhesion tester such as that
known under the trade name "IMASS." One end of the sample is then
attached to a hook that is a part of the peel adhesion tester. The
sample is peeled from the standard glass plate at a 180.degree.
angle (i.e., one end of the sample is pulled toward the other end)
by moving the platen horizontally at a speed of 228.6 cm/min, and
the force required recorded, in g/cm of sample width, for various
dwell times.
[0040] Typically, the opposing surface (e.g. non-viewing) of the
sticker also comprises an adhesive composition for the purpose of
bonding the sticker to the form substrate. The adhesive on the
opposing surface may be the same, yet typically is different than
the adhesive present for the purpose of adhering the sticker to the
target surface. For embodiments that employ a removable adhesive
composition on the opposing surface such as a removable PSA or an
adhesive composition wherein the bond diminishes under certain
exposure conditions (e.g. when moistened), the adhesive on the
opposing sticker surface nor the form substrate portion beneath the
adhesive are necessarily present in the end-use sticker. For
preferred embodiments that employ a non-removable PSA or other
non-tacky (e.g. water-based) adhesive composition the form
substrate becomes an integral part of the end-use sticker as
depicted in FIGS. 3-6. Accordingly, the form substrate (e.g. paper)
is exposed on the non-viewing surface of the sticker. Optionally,
however, the backside of the form substrate may comprise a coating
over the form substrate.
[0041] The sticker may optionally yet preferably comprise one or
more tamper indicating features as are known in the art.
Representative adhesion failure tamper indicating features are
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,153,042 (Indrelie); 5,770,283
(Gosselin et al.); and 4,999,076 (Faykish). Suitable delaminating
film tamper indicating features are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,876,123 (Rivera et al.); 6,395,376 (Cooley) and 6,416,857
(Wright). An exemplary tamper indicating film is commercially
available from 3M under the trade designation "3M 7380 Tamper
Indicating Film".
[0042] Alternatively or in addition to the tamper indicating
feature(s), the sticker may comprise one or more security features.
Various security marking are known in the art such as (e.g.
encrypted) bar code(s), dot codes, color-shifting marks,
watermarks, holographic marks, marks visible in ultraviolet (UV) or
infrared (IR) light, marks that include specular reflection shifts,
such as metallic gold, silver or pearlescent marks, and marks of
specific colors, many of which may be visibility shifting (i.e.,
visible at certain viewing angles and invisible at other viewing
angles).
[0043] During manufacture of the form construction, the sticker may
be bonded to the form substrate such that the sticker and the form
substrate have one common peripheral edge. Further, the sticker may
be positioned in the corner of the form substrate sheet such that
the sticker and the form substrate sheet have two common
perpendicular peripheral edges. However, the sticker is
sufficiently smaller than the form such that the sticker and the
form substrate have uncommon parallel peripheral edges. Further, it
is surmised most preferred, to position the sticker in a center
portion of the form such that the peripheral edge area (i.e. within
about 3 cm from the edges) of the form is substantially free of the
sticker. By providing the sticker on the form construction in this
manner, the form construction is substantially free of edge
curling.
[0044] A preferred method of making the form construction entails
providing a form substrate, removing the release liner from the
opposing surface of a sticker exposing the underlying adhesive
(e.g. PSA), and contacting the exposed adhesive to the substrate
forming a bond. Accordingly the sticker is premanufactured prior to
bonding the sticker to the form substrate or the sticker may be
manufactured in-line. A preferred FAV sticker is premanufactured by
providing a roll of retroreflective sheeting comprising a viewing
surface and opposing surface having a PSA covered by a release
liner and then bonding the viewing surface to a transfer tape
having window-like openings spaced apart about 8.5 inches (21.6 cm)
on center to the viewing surface of the sheeting followed by die
kiss cutting through the sticker to the release liner from the
viewing surface a frame of the desired size (e.g. 0.5 cm-5 cm)
around the perimeter of each such window-like opening forming a
sticker. The release liner of the retroreflective sheeting is then
removed from each sticker and the stickers bonded to the bottom
portion of a conveyed roll or sheet of paper such that the stickers
are spaced apart 8.5 inches (21.6 cm) on center. For embodiments
wherein the form substrate is provided in a roll, the roll is cut
into sheets either before sending the form to the end-user or at
the site of printing the form, such that each sticker is positioned
approximately in the center of each sheet as depicted in FIGS. 5
and 6.
[0045] At least a portion of the form substrate and preferably the
entire form substrate is printable. Further, at least,a portion of
the sticker is preferably printable as well. "Printable" refers to
sufficient anchorage of the printing composition (e.g. toner, ink)
such that a graphic formed by the composition is readable.
Preferably at least 50% of the printing composition is adhered to
the printable surface portion. More preferably at least 70% and
most preferably at least 90% of the printing composition is adhered
to the printable surface portion. The form and/or sticker may be
printed prior to applying the sticker to the form substrate.
Preferably, however, the form is filled-in via printing and the
sticker printed simultaneously with the same printing
operation.
[0046] Although the form and/or the sticker may be printed using
screen printing, letter press, offset, laser or thermal transfer
printing technologies, the form and/or sticker are preferably
digital printable. As used herein, "digital printable" refers to
printable by a digital printing method including, laser, ink-jet,
thermal mass transfer, thermal dye transfer, electrostatic, ion
deposition, electron beam imaging, solid ink-jet and dot-matrix
printings. It is most preferred to digital print by means of a
laser printing, thermal mass transfer, or ink-jet printing. The
printing may employ black and/or colored printing media (e.g.
liquid ink, ribbon, toner powder).
[0047] The form substrate is preferably paper. However, the form
substrate may comprise other porous or non-porous materials such as
films, nonwovens, cardboard and woven fabric. For embodiments
wherein the substrate is not sufficiently printable, the substrate
may further comprise an ink-receptive coating on at least the
printable surface portion. The form substrate as well as the form
construction may be provided in a roll, typically including
individual portions separated by perforation lines that can be
separated into individual sheets. Preferably, the form substrate is
provided in a roll during manufacture of the form construction with
the finished form construction provided as individual sheets.
Further, the form substrate preferred has an impression or
perforations along the peripheral edge of the sticker such that the
sticker can easily be removed from the surrounding form
substrate.
[0048] The present invention is particularly useful for validation
sticker forms. Validation stickers are used as proof of
registration of automobiles and other motor vehicles such as
all-terrain vehicles, watercraft (e.g. boats), trucks, and
snowmobiles. Other form constructions that are not necessarily
retroreflective may also be produced such as fishing and hunting
licenses, indoor/outdoor labeling products, product authentication
articles, inventory labeling and control articles, window stickers
and inspection stickers for automobiles and other equipment,
parking permits, expiration stickers, park passes, advertisement
mailers, decorative stickers etc.
[0049] The sticker substrate 26 typically comprises retroreflective
sheeting that is often commercially available with pre-applied PSA
layer 24 covered with a release liner. The two most common types of
retroreflective sheeting suitable for use are microsphere-based
sheeting and cube corner-based sheeting. Microsphere-based
sheeting, sometimes referred to as "beaded sheeting," is well known
to the art and includes a multitude of microspheres typically at
least partially embedded in a binder layer, and associated specular
or diffuse reflecting materials (such as metallic vapor or sputter
coatings, metal flakes, or pigment particles). Illustrative
examples of microsphere-based sheeting are disclosed in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 4,025,159 (McGrath); 4,983,436 (Bailey); 5,064,272 (Bailey);
5,066,098 (Kult); 5,069,964 (Tolliver); and 5,262,225 (Wilson).
[0050] Cube corner sheeting, sometimes referred to as prismatic,
microprismatic, or triple mirror reflector sheetings, typically
includes a multitude of cube corner elements to retroreflect
incident light. Cube corner retroreflectors typically include a
sheet having a generally planar front surface and an array of cube
corner elements protruding from the back surface. Cube corner
reflecting elements include generally trihedral structures that
have three approximately mutually perpendicular lateral faces
meeting in a single corner--a cube corner. In use, the
retroreflector is arranged with the front surface disposed
generally toward the anticipated location of intended observers and
the light source. Light incident on the front surface enters the
sheet and passes through the body of the sheet to be reflected by
each of the three faces of the elements, so as to exit the front
surface in a direction substantially toward the light source. In
the case of total internal reflection, the air interface must
remain free of dirt, water and adhesive and therefore is enclosed
by a sealing film. The light rays are typically reflected at the
lateral faces due to total internal reflection, or by reflective
coatings, as previously described, on the backside of the lateral
faces. Preferred polymers for cube corner sheeting include
poly(carbonate), poly(methylmethacrylate),
poly(ethyleneterephthalate), aliphatic polyurethanes, as well as
ethylene copolymers and ionomers thereof. Cube corner sheeting may
be prepared by casting directly onto a film, such as described in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,846 (Benson). Preferred polymers for radiation
cured cube corners include cross linked acrylates such as
multifunctional acrylates or epoxies and acrylated urethanes
blended with mono-and multifunctional monomers. Further, cube
corners such as those previously described may be cast on to
plasticized polyvinyl chloride film for more flexible cast cube
corner sheeting. These polymers are preferred for one or more
reasons including thermal stability, environmental stability,
clarity, excellent release from the tooling or mold, and capability
of receiving a reflective coating.
[0051] In embodiments wherein the sheeting is likely to be exposed
to moisture, the cube corner retroreflective elements are
preferably covered with a seal film. In instances wherein cube
corner sheeting is employed as the retroreflective layer, a backing
layer may be present for the purpose of opacifying the laminate or
article, improving the scratch and gouge resistance thereof, and/or
eliminating the blocking tendencies of the seal film. Illustrative
examples of cube corner-based retroreflective sheeting are
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,138,488 (Szczech); 5,387,458
(Pavelka); 5,450,235 (Smith); 5,605,761 (Burns); 5,614,286 (Bacon)
and 5,691,846 (Benson, Jr.).
[0052] The coefficient of retroreflection of the retroreflective
stickers varies depending on the intended use. In general, however,
the unprinted area of a uncolored (i.e. white or silver)
retroreflective sticker typically has a coefficient of
retroreflection ranging from about 5 to about 1500 candelas per lux
per square meter at 0.2 degree observation angle and -4 degree
entrance angle, as measured according to ASTM E-810 test method for
coefficient retroreflection of retroreflective sheeting. The
coefficient of retroreflection is preferably at least 10, more
preferably at least 20, and even more preferably at least 50
candelas per lux per square meter. It is understood by those
skilled in the art that the coefficient of retroreflection is lower
for colored sheeting due to absorption and scattering.
[0053] Objects and advantages of the invention are further
illustrated by the following examples, but the particular materials
and amounts thereof recited in the examples, as well as other
conditions and details, should not be construed to unduly limit the
invention.
EXAMPLE 1
Preparation of a Sticker Form
[0054] A 2 inch (5 cm) wide by 4 inch (10 cm) long window (i.e.,
opening) was cut by hand using a razor blade from a 3.5 inch (9 cm)
wide by about 5 inch (13 cm) long strip of laminating adhesive
commercially available from 3M, under the trade designation "Scotch
9172MP Laminating Adhesive"(9172MP adhesive). The 9172MP adhesive
comprises a laminating adhesive sandwiched between a release liner
film and a paper release liner. The paper release liner was removed
from the windowed 9172MP adhesive and the exposed adhesive was
adhered to the viewing surface of a 4 inch (10 cm) wide, by 12 inch
(30 cm) long piece of sheeting similar in construction to that
commercially available from 3M under the trade designation "3M
Scotchlite Validation Security Sheeting Series 5330" (Scotchlite
5330 sheeting). The windowed 9172MP adhesive was laminated to the
Scotchlite 5330 sheeting using a back and forth motion twice with a
small hand roller. After the windowed 9172MP adhesive was laminated
to the Scotchlite 5330 sheeting, a 3 inch (7.6 cm) wide by 5 inch
(13 cm) long rectangle, the size of a finished window sticker, was
cut out using a scissors such that the window was in the center of
the sticker. The release liner was then removed from the Scotchlite
5330 sheeting and the exposed adhesive was applied to a 8.5 inch
(21.6) by 11 inch (28 cm) sheet of 20 lb (75 grams per meter
squared) bond paper commercially available from International
Paper, Memphis, Tenn., under the trade designation "HammerMill Copy
Plus." The exposed adhesive was laminated to the bond paper using a
back and forth motion twice with a small hand roller. The sticker
construction on the bond paper was then perforated using a small
hand perforation tool along the outer edges of the resultant
sticker on a sticker form. The sticker on the form was printed with
text using a laser printer, commercially available from Samsung
Electronics Co., LTD, Korea under the trade designation "Model No.
ML 1651 N". The form construction comprising the printed sticker is
depicted in FIG. 5. After the sticker form was printed, the sticker
was removed from the sticker form along the perforations in the
sticker form. The release liner from the 9172MP adhesive was
removed by pulling the release liner backwards using a fingernail
to expose the adhesive so that the sticker could be applied to a
window. The removal of the sticker from the form and removal of the
release liner is depicted in FIG. 4.
EXAMPLE 2
Preparation of a Sticker Form with a Tamper Indicating Film
[0055] The paper release liner was removed from 9172MP adhesive and
the exposed adhesive was adhered to the surface of a 3.5 inch (8.9
cm) wide by about 5 inch (12.5 cm) long strip of film commercially
available from 3M under the trade designation "3M 7380 Tamper
Indicating Film" (7380 film). The paper release liner from another
piece of 9172 MP adhesive was adhered to the exposed surface of the
previously adhered 7380 film. A 2 inch (5 cm) wide by 4 inch (10
cm) long window was cut by hand using a razor blade from the
construction. The release liner was then removed from the
Scotchlite 5330 sheeting and the exposed adhesive was laminated to
the 8.5 inch (21.6 cm) by 11 inch (28 cm) sheet of paper of Example
1 using a back and forth motion twice with a small hand roller. The
sticker construction on the bond paper was then perforated using a
small hand perforation tool along the outer edges of the resultant
sticker on a sticker form. The sticker on the sticker form was
printed with text using a laser printer commercially available from
Samsung Electronics Co., LTD, Korea under the trade designation
"Model No. ML 1651 N". After the sticker form Was printed, the
sticker was removed from the sticker form along the perforations in
the sticker form. The top surface release liner from the 9172 MP
adhesive was removed by pulling the release liner backwards using a
fingernail to expose the adhesive so that the sticker could be
applied to a window.
[0056] When the sticker is applied to a window and subsequent
removal attempted, the 7380 film would split and leave some
indicator, such as the word "void", on the window and on the
sticker face. This would alert officials that the sticker had been
tampered with.
EXAMPLE 3
Preparation of a Sticker Form with Printed Tamper Indicating
Feature
[0057] A sticker form was prepared as described in Example 2 with
the following changes. Instead of using the 7380 film, a release
solution commercially available from 3M under the trade designation
"Scotch Y-110 Release Solution" (Y-110 solution) was applied on the
viewing surface of the Scotchlite 5330 sheeting using a cotton tip
applicator dipped into the solution and applied in stripes or lines
by back and forth hand motion with the applicator. The release
coating was allowed to air dry for about five minutes. Then a
similar procedure, except using a flood coat application with the
hand applicator, was used to apply a primer commercially available
from 3M under the trade designation "Scotch Y-122 Primer Solution"
atop the release coating. The primer was allowed to air dry for
about 5 minutes, after which time, an ink commercially available
from 3M under the trade designation "3M Scotchlite Process Color
Ink Series 990-03 Blue" was flood coated atop the primer with the
hand applicator. The resultant construction was dried in a
120.degree. F. oven for one hour. The construction was removed from
the oven and allowed to cool to room temperature. A 1 inch (2.5 cm)
wide strip of tape commercially available from 3M under the trade
designation "No. 610" was applied by hand to the ink surface of the
construction and then securely adhered using hand pressure and the
non-sharp edge of a single-edged razor blade to assure that the
tape was securely adhered to the ink surface. The tape was then
peeled from the ink surface by pulling the tape back by hand at a
90 degree angle relative to the surface of the ink. After removal
of the No. 610 tape, the construction was visually inspected and it
was observed that the ink was removed from the regions of the
Scotchlite sheeting that had been coated with the Y-110 solution;
whereas, the ink remained on the Scotchlite 5330 sheeting in the
regions that had not been coated with the Y-110 solution. This
showed that a printed tamper-indicating feature worked as an
alternative to the 7380 film.
EXAMPLE 4 AND 5
Preparation of a Sticker Form with a Liner Removal Tab
[0058] Two sticker forms were prepared as described in Examples 1
and 2, respectively, with the following changes. A 2 inch (5 cm)
wide by 4 inch (10 cm) long window (i.e., opening) was cut by hand
using a razor blade from a 3.5 inch (8.9 cm) wide by about 5 inch
(13 cm) long strip of 9172MP adhesive. A 3 inch (7.6 cm) wide by 5
inch (13 cm) long rectangle, the size of a finished window sticker,
and a tab about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) by 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) was cut out
using a scissors such that the 2 inch (4 cm) by 4 inch (10 cm)
window was in the center of the sticker and the tab protruded from
one edge. A 3 inch (7.6 cm) wide by 5 inch (12.7 cm) long sticker
was cut from a 4 inch (10 cm) wide by 12 inch (30 cm) long piece of
Scotchlite 5330 sheeting using a scissors. The paper liner was
removed from the windowed and tabbed 9172MP adhesive; the exposed
adhesive was adhered to the viewing surface of the 3 inch (7.6 cm)
wide by 5 inch (12.7 cm) long piece of Scotchlite 5330 sheeting
with the tab extending beyond the edge of the sticker using a back
and forth motion twice with a small hand roller. An 8.5 inch (21
cm) by 11 inch (28 cm) sheet of the bond paper of Example 1 was
coated with a release coating using a cotton tip applicator to coat
an area on the surface of the paper about 3/4 inch square. A
suitable release coating is described in Example 2 of U.S. Pat. No.
6,406,787. The coating on the paper was dried at room temperature
for 15 minutes. The release liner was then removed from the
Scotchlite 5330 sheeting and the exposed adhesive was applied to
the 8.5 inch (21 cm) by 11 inch (28 cm) sheet of the paper such
that the tab on the sticker was placed directly over the release
coating on the paper. The paper form was then perforated and
printed as described in Example 1. This form construction design is
depicted by FIG. 6. The tab was used to remove the release liner by
pulling the tab backwards and exposing the adhesive. The sticker
was then ready for application to a window.
EXAMPLE 6
Preparation of Cut-Out Windowed Form with Conventional Sticker
[0059] A sticker form may be prepared by cutting a window in a
sheet of paper, the window being spaced 8.5 inches (21 cm) on
center, applying a removable adhesive to the perimeter of the paper
on the backside of the paper along the window. A conventional
sticker construction having a PSA covered by a release liner on the
non-viewing surface can be releasably bonded to the removable
adhesive of the form such that the center portion of the sticker is
exposed through the cutout window. The sticker and form can then be
printed by a digital printing process at the site of issuance. The
sticker can then be removed from the form and applied to a target
surface (e.g. license plate) via the adhesive. This form
construction design is depicted by FIG. 7.
EXAMPLE 7
Preparation of Cut-Out Windowed Form with FAV Sticker
[0060] A sticker form may be prepared by cutting a window in a
sheet of paper, the window being spaced 8.5 inches (21 cm) on
center, applying a removable adhesive to the perimeter of the
viewing surface of a sticker substrate forming a FAV sticker.
Releasably bond the removable adhesive of the sticker to the
perimeter of the cutout window such that the center portion of the
sticker is exposed through the cutout window. The sticker and form
can then be printed by a digital printing process at the site of
issuance. The sticker can then be removed from the form and applied
to a window via the face adhesive. This form construction design is
also depicted by FIG. 7.
EXAMPLE 8
Preparation of Tri-Fold Self-Seal Mailer with FAV Sticker
[0061] A form construction was prepared in the same manner as
Example 1 with the exception that the sticker was bonded to a blank
tri-fold self-seal mailer form. Such forms are commercially
available from Relizon Corp. (Dayton, Ohio). The form construction
had the same design as FIG. 5 except that the sticker was bonded to
the center portion of the lower third of the form and an adhesive
was present on the longitudinal peripheral edges as well as the
peripheral edge of the top third of the inside of the form (i.e. as
depicted in FIG. 8a). Adhesive was also present on the backside of
the mailer on the lower third of the form at the peripheral edge
along the fold line as well as on both longitudinal edges (i.e. as
depicted in FIG. 8b). To simulate a kiss die cut that would be used
in production, a razor knife was used to cut through the paper form
and the sticker from the backside except for the protective liner
covering the face adhesive. The window sticker was printed with a
laser printer commercially available from Hewlett Packard, (Palo
Alto, Calif.) under the trade designation "HP LaserJet 2200 dn".
The lower third of the form may be folded upward onto the center
portion of the form followed by folding the top third down onto the
backside of the bottom third. Pressure can be applied to the edges
of the form to activate the adhesive sealing the edges of the form
such that the form is ready for mailing.
EXAMPLE 9
Preparation of Tri-Fold Self-Seal Mailer with FAV Sticker
[0062] Example 8 was repeated except that a hand held perforating
tool was used to trace the outer periphery of the window sticker.
The perforations were visible on the backside of the self-seal
mailer. The end user would tear the window sticker along the
perforation to remove the sticker from the form followed by removal
of the protective liner to expose the face-adhesive.
EXAMPLE 10
Preparation of Tri-Fold Self-Seal Mailer with FAV Sticker
[0063] A form construction was prepared in the same manner as
Example 7 with the exception that the sticker was bonded to a blank
tri-fold self-seal mailer as described in Example 8. The form
construction had the same design as FIG. 7 except that the sticker
was bonded to the center portion of the lower third of the form and
an adhesive was present on the peripheral edge areas as depicted in
FIGS. 8a and 8b.
EXAMPLE 11
Preparation of Form Construction with Multiple Stickers
[0064] The self-seal mailer of Example 8 may also include a
validation sticker (e.g. FAV) in combination with a window sticker
as depicted in FIGS. 8a and 8b. In this exemplified form
construction, the middle third inside panel of a tri-fold mailer
was coated in the center portion with the solvent based release
coating described in Example 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,407,787 using a
single pass with a hand held coater manufactured by Pamarco Inc.
that employs a 150 line anilox roll. The release coating was dried
in an oven at 100.degree. F. for 5 minutes to evaporate the
solvent. The release liner was removed from a license plate
validation sticker commercially available from 3M under the trade
designation "3M Validation Stickers on a Roll" in order the expose
the underlying pressure sensitive adhesive. The exposed pressure
sensitive adhesive surface layer of the sticker was contacted by
hand to releasably bond the sticker to the dried release coating.
The entire form construction (i.e. inside of the mailer and the
sticker) may then be printed with a laser printer commercially
available from Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto, Calif. under the trade
designation "HP LaserJet 2200 dn". After the mailer has been
printed, the mailer form may be folded and the peripheral edges of
the mailer bonded together under pressure. The mailer may
subsequently be opened at a later time and the sticker removed from
the release coating surface without damaging the remainder of the
mailer.
* * * * *