U.S. patent number 3,595,383 [Application Number 04/817,070] was granted by the patent office on 1971-07-27 for mailing device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Norcross, Inc.. Invention is credited to Thomas E. Boylan.
United States Patent |
3,595,383 |
Boylan |
July 27, 1971 |
MAILING DEVICE
Abstract
An elongated sheet is divided into four panels by three score
lines with the two intermediate panels containing openings, so that
when these panels are folded about their common score line, the
openings are in face to face alignment. An article is mounted on
one of the intermediate panels so that it is visible through the
openings. The two end panels are foldable about their corresponding
fold lines to cover the openings and are fastened for mailing.
These intermediate panels have indicia and designs thereon for
mailing.
Inventors: |
Boylan; Thomas E. (Fairfield,
CT) |
Assignee: |
Norcross, Inc. (New York,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
25222287 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/817,070 |
Filed: |
April 17, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/312;
206/459.5; 229/68.1; 229/92.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
85/546 (20130101); B65D 73/0085 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
85/57 (20060101); B65D 73/00 (20060101); B65d
073/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/62P,62R,.830,46F,46R ;229/68,92.9,92.8 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Leclair; Joseph R.
Assistant Examiner: Caskie; John M.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A mailing device comprising a pair of first and second body
members folded about a fold line in superimposed relation, each of
said first and second members having an opening therein in
face-to-face alignment, a flat article positioned between said
first and second members and visible through said openings, at
least one of said first members having radial slits extending from
said opening therein for forming tongues for overlying said article
and retaining said article on said first member, a side flap
extending from the edge of each of said first and second members
diametrically opposite to the first-mentioned fold line, said flaps
being foldable back on its corresponding member to overlie said
openings therein, and means securing said flaps in said folded
position for mailing.
2. A mailing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said edges
of first and second members opposite said fold line are adapted to
fold over said openings in said first and second member, and means
for engaging the edges of said flaps for retaining said members in
folded position.
3. A mailing device in accordance with claim 1, further including a
passageway through said first and second members adjacent to said
first mentioned fold line for receiving a wall peg, and a
transparent envelope encompassing said body members and their
corresponding side flaps in coplanar relation for allowing
examination of any design and indicia on the outer surfaces of said
members and flaps, and viewing an article through the opening in
said members.
4. A mailing device comprising a pair of first and second body
members folded about a fold line in superimposed relation, each of
said first and second members having an opening therein in
face-to-face alignment, a flat, generally circular article
positioned between said first and second members and visible
through said openings, at least one of said first members having a
plurality of circumferential slits arranged about said opening for
receiving said article, the radius of said slits being smaller than
the radius of said article, a side flap extending from the edge of
each of said first and second members diametrically opposite to the
first-mentioned fold line, said flaps being foldable back on its
corresponding member to overlie said openings therein, and means
securing said flaps in said folded position for mailing.
5. A mailing device as in claim 4, wherein said article is a
phonograph record.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to improvements in mailing
devices, and it relates particularly to an improved mailing device
which removably contains an article positively held within the
mailing device and visible prior to mailing.
Heretofore mailing devices for carrying articles, such as flat
discs for coins or records, or the like, had elaborate structures
for mounting the articles to prevent inadvertent displacement or
disengagement while the article was viewed or examined. These prior
art mailing devices are usually expensive in nature and used an
involved structure for preventing disengagement of the article.
Further, these mailing devices required a separate covering for the
article, and hence were usually of a very limited application, and
otherwise left much to be desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus the principal object of the invention to provide an
improved mailing device carrying an article.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved
mailing device carrying a record and providing a message, which
allows the record and the message to be examined without
surreptitiously being removed.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved mailing device carrying a record, which is easily mounted
in assembly but cannot be removed clandestinely without effectively
destroying the mailing piece.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved
mailing device, which is easy to fabricate and assemble, pleasant
to view and easy to use.
The above and other objects of the present invention will become
apparent from the reading of the following description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a
preferred embodiment thereof.
The present invention contemplates the provision of a mailing
device comprising a first and second body member folded about a
centerfold line in superimposed relation, with each of these
members containing an opening in face to face alignment. A record
is mounted on one of the members and positioned between them when
in folded position, and is visible through the openings. A side
flap extends from each of the edges of the first and second members
diametrically opposite to the centerfold line. The flaps are
foldable back on their corresponding body members to overlie their
respective openings. Securing means secure the flaps in the folded
position for mailing. Various indicia, directions and designs are
placed on the outer surfaces of the flaps for providing a message
to the receiver .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an elongated sheet, punched, pressed,
and printed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the opposite face of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is the strip folded about its centerfold line containing a
record, and displayed for sale;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, on
an enlarged scale; and
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the piece in mailing
position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawing which illustrates a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, reference numeral 10 generally
designates a mailing device, which as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is
formed from an elongated strip of material 11, made of cardboard or
heavy paperboard or the like. Strip 11 is divided into four panels
12, 14, 16 and 18. Intermediate panels 14 and 16, are body members
and are separated by a fold line 20 which also bisects strip 11.
Panels 14 and 16 each contain an opening 22 and 24 respectively
therein, which are so positioned that when strip 11 is folded about
fold line 20, openings 22 and 24 are in face to face alignment. As
seen best in FIGS. 1 and 2, panel 14 has a plurality of
circumferential slits 26 equally spaced about opening 22.
Advantageously, panels 16 and 18 have a design or message or other
indicia, if desired. FIG. 2 shows the opposite side of strip 11
with surface 12a of flap 12 containing a place for the address to
where piece 10 will be mailed.
Positioned between body member 14 and flap 12 is a score line 28
for folding flap 12 in a direction opposite to that of fold line
20, so that surface 12a faces outwardly in folded position.
Similarly, between member 16 and flap 18 is a score line 30 which
folds in a direction opposite to fold line 20. A record 32 is
mounted on member 14, so that its peripheral edge is received
within slits 26. Hence, slits 25 have a radius which is slightly
smaller than the radius of record 32. Record 32 is slipped through
slits 26, which firmly hold record 32 in position, so there is no
danger of it becoming dislodged. Spaced equidistant from fold line
20 and axially aligned in panels 14 and 16 respectively, are pair
of openings 34 and 36 respectively, which are in face-to-face
alignment when members 14 and 16 are folded about fold line 20.
After record 32 is mounted in slits 26, strip 11 is folded about
fold line 20 so as to position record 32 between the faces 14a and
16a. Suitable adhesive or securing means is positioned on the faces
14a and 16a respectively as shown at 38, for preventing separation
of members 14 and 16. In this form, mailing device 10 is placed in
a clear plastic bag or transparent envelope (50) and affixed
through openings 34 and 36 on a wall peg 40, as seen best in FIG. 4
for display.
To use, mailing device 10 is removed from the transparent envelope
and the address or message is placed on the appropriate panels.
Flap 18 is folded about fold line 30 to abut panel 16 and overlies
opening 24, and flap 12 is folded about score line 28 to abut panel
14 and overlies opening 22. Flaps 12 and 18 are secured by means of
a sticker 42, as seen in FIG. 5, or by staples, locking tabs or
similar locking means.
While record 32 was shown held in position on panel 14 by means of
circumferential slits 26, it can also be held in position by means
of radial slots to form locking tabs. Sticker 42 is preferably
placed in the display bag so as to be available when needed.
The present device allows the record or article to be viewed and
examined while displayed, but protects the article from pilferage
and during mailing. While records were described as the article
being carried, other flat discs, such as coins, or photographs can
be used. Also, panels 12, 14, 16 and 18 are shown being of equal
sizes, however, they may vary if desired.
While there has been described and illustrated a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous
alterations, omissions and additions may be made without departing
from the spirit thereof.
* * * * *