U.S. patent number 3,718,277 [Application Number 05/174,321] was granted by the patent office on 1973-02-27 for printed folder including mailable article.
Invention is credited to John K. Volkert.
United States Patent |
3,718,277 |
Volkert |
February 27, 1973 |
PRINTED FOLDER INCLUDING MAILABLE ARTICLE
Abstract
A folder for distributing printed material and a return envelope
to a recipient is provided, the folder being formed in such a way
that the return envelope becomes readily available when a portion
of the folder, as formed, is removed, as by tearing or cutting.
Inventors: |
Volkert; John K. (Northfield,
IL) |
Family
ID: |
22635749 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/174,321 |
Filed: |
August 24, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/301; 281/18;
229/92.3; 428/43; 428/138; 229/92.1; 229/92.8; 281/15.1; 283/56;
428/124; 462/65 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
27/06 (20130101); B65D 27/34 (20130101); Y10T
428/24331 (20150115); Y10T 428/15 (20150115); Y10T
428/24215 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
27/06 (20060101); B65D 27/34 (20060101); B65D
27/00 (20060101); B65d 027/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;229/73,92.1,92.3
;281/3R ;282/25 ;283/1B,56 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Leclair; Joseph R.
Assistant Examiner: Garbe; Stephen P.
Claims
I claim:
1. A folder for distributing printed material and a return envelope
to a recipient, said folder comprising
A. a single elongated sheet of paper stock folded upon itself to
provide individual panels interconnected by fold lines disposed
along opposite edges of said folder,
1. at least one of said panels being folded and glued to define an
envelope pocket and a flap extending from said pocket and connected
to an adjacent panel along a fold line located at one of said
opposite edges of said folder,
B. at least some of the remaining panels being interconnected by
adhesive adjacent fold lines located at the other of said opposite
edges of said folder to maintain said sheet in folded
condition,
C. and a line of perforations extending through each of said panels
adjacent the fold lines located at said one edge of said
folder,
1. said line of perforations defining a tear strip separable from
the remainder of said folder to separate said folder into an
envelope and a multi-page booklet, all of the pages of which are
interconnected.
2. A folder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the portion of said
sheet which defines said envelope flap is provided with a
remoistenable adhesive.
3. A folder in accordance with claim 1, wherein said envelope
pocket is formed at one end of said sheet.
4. A folder in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fold lines
divide said sheet into a pair of end panels and a plurality of
interior panels, and portions of at least two interior panels are
secured to each other by adhesive to maintain such panels in
interconnecting relation in said booklet after said tear strip is
removed.
5. A folder in accordance with claim 4, wherein at least some of
said interior panels are unconnected to other panels after said
tear strip is removed and fall free from said booklet with said
envelope.
6. A folder in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of said panels
presented outwardly when said sheet is fully folded is cut out to
provide a window, and wherein the address of a potential recipient
of the folder is provided on the panel underlying said window in
registry therewith to render said folder suitable for mailing.
7. A folder in accordance with claim 6, wherein said address is
provided on a tape secured to said underlying panel in registry
with said window.
8. A folder in accordance with claim 4, wherein holes are provided
in said portions of at least two panels located intermediate the
ends of said sheet to allow an adhesive provided on an outer panel
of said folder to penetrate through said panels to the interior of
said folder and secure the panels to each other.
9. A method of forming a folder for distributing a booklet of
printed material and a return envelope to a recipient, said method
comprising
A. folding a portion of an elongated sheet of paper stock upon
itself and bonding same in place to form an envelope pocket and a
flap extending therefrom
B. folding the portion of the sheet other than that forming the
envelope pocket upon itself to provide a folder having a plurality
of individual interior panels enclosed by at least two exterior
panels such that adjacent panels are interconnected by fold lines
disposed along each of opposite edges of said folder and such that
said envelope flap is connected to an adjacent panel by a fold line
located along one of said opposite edges,
C. adhesively joining said interior panels to one another along the
fold lines disposed at the other side of said folder opposite said
one side,
D. adhesively joining said exterior panels to each other along fold
lines adjacent said other side of said folder to maintain said
folder in folded condition,
E. and providing a line of perforations in all of said panels along
the fold lines disposed along said one side of said folder to
define a tear strip separable from the remainder of said folder to
provide an envelope and a multi-page booklet.
10. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein said interior
panels are adhesively joined to one another by providing holes in
such panels at points where joining is desired, and placing
adhesive on an exterior panel prior to completion of said folding
in such a position that upon completion of said folding, the
adhesive will enter said holes and affect said joinder.
11. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein a strip of
remoistenable adhesive is applied to that portion of said sheet
defining said envelope flap.
Description
The present invention relates to a printed article adapted to be
sent through the mail or otherwise distributed. More particularly,
the invention relates to such articles which include a multi-page
booklet and a postal card or envelope for use by the recipient.
When advertising a product or a service with printed material
mailed or otherwise distributed in large volume to potential
customers, it is highly desirable to provide the customers at the
same time with means such as a return postal card or envelope which
will enable them to respond to the advertisement by placing an
order, requesting further information, etc. A conventional way of
accomplishing this is to distribute the advertising material plus a
self-addressed postal card or envelope together in an outer
envelope. However, this approach makes it necessary to print the
material separately and insert them in the envelopes, resulting in
a relatively costly operation.
One object of the present invention is to provide an improved
printed folder formed from a single sheet of pre-printed paper
stock folded upon itself, which folder, when opened in the manner
intended, provides a printed multi-page brochure or booklet and an
envelope which becomes automatically detached from the booklet in
the process of opening the folder.
A related object of the invention is to provide a novel method of
forming such a folder.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved printed
booklet and method of forming same from a single sheet of
pre-printed paper stock folded upon itself to provide a plurality
of return envelopes within the booklet.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
with reference to the following description and the accompanying
drawings.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank or sheet of paper stock adapted to
be formed into a folder suitable for carrying advertising or other
printed information;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the blank of FIG. 1
partially formed into a folder;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the blank of FIG. 1 fully
formed into a folder;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the folder of FIG. 3
showing the separate elements provided when it is opened by a
recipient in the manner intended;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of one side of a blank adapted to be formed
into a folder suitable for carrying advertising and other printed
information, said folder being different in form and substance,
however, from that shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the reverse side of the blank of FIG.
5;
FIGS. 7 through 10 show the blank of FIGS. 5 and 6 as it appears in
various stages of its formation into a folder;
FIG. 11 is an elevational view of one side of a folder formed from
the blank shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;
FIG. 12 is an elevational view of the reverse side of the folder of
FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the folder of FIGS. 11
and 12 showing the separate elements provided when it is opened by
the recipient in the manner intended;
FIG. 14 is an elevational view of one element of the folder as
shown in FIG. 13;
FIGS. 15 through 18 show various steps which form part of the
method of forming the folder of FIGS. 11 and 12.
FIGS. 19 through 26 illustrate certain steps in a method for
forming a booklet, such method and booklet including various
features of the present invention; and
FIG. 27 shows a booklet formed by the method shown in FIGS. 19
through 26.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is illustrated a folder 20
which, as fully formed for distribution to a recipient, is sealed
and is opened by removing or tearing therefrom an edge portion or
strip 22 to provide a three-sheet, six-page booklet 24 and a
pre-addressed postal card 26 (FIG. 4). The folder 20 is so formed
that in the process of removing or severing the edge strip 22, the
card 26 becomes detached, leaving the booklet with its three sheets
(six pages) interconnected or attached to each other.
The folder 20 is formed from an elongated blank 28 (FIG. 1)
preferably of card stock such as 70 lb. high bulk stock. When
folded along transverse lines 30, it provides an interconnected
series of panels 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40, the panels 32 and 40 being
at opposite ends of the blank and the panels 34, 36 and 38 being
interior panels located intermediate the end panels. The end panel
32 ultimately defines the postal card 26 and, as illustrated, is of
a lesser length as measured longitudinally of the blank than the
interior panels 34, 36 and 38, which are of approximately equal
size. The panel 40 is of relatively short length and constitutes,
in effect, a flap which is adhesively secured to an intermediate
panel to maintain the blank in its fully folded condition, as will
become apparent shortly. It is contemplated that the blank be
pre-printed prior to folding and that therefore the panel 32 be
pre-addressed and bear a postage paid or permit imprint to render
it acceptable by the post office without additional postage, and
that the panels 34, 36, 38 and 40 carry a printed message such as
an advertisement. line of
In folding the blank 28 to provide the folder 20 (FIG. 2), the
panel 32 is folded so as to overlie one face of the panel 34 and
the panel 36 is folded so as to overlie the opposite or reverse
face of the panel 34. The panel 38 is folded so as to overlie the
panel 32 and that portion of the panel 34 not covered by the panel
32. The panel or flap 40 is folded so as to overlie an edge area of
the panel 36. The blank is maintained in the folded condition
solely by means of four glue spots 42 (FIG. 3) which secure the
flap 40 to the panel 36. After the blank is fully folded and the
flap 40 glued to the panel 36, a line of perforations 44 is proved
adjacent that edge of the folder opposite the flap 40. The line of
perforations defines one edge of the tear strip 22, the opposite
edge being defined by the outer edge of the folder which includes
the portions of the panels 32 and 34, and 36 and 38, containing
their common fold lines. The perforations 44 extend through the
panels 32, 34, 36 and 38. Thus, the tear strip 22 constitutes an
edge portion of each of these panels, and these portions are
designated by the numerals 320, 340, 360, and 380 in FIG. 4.
It should be noted that the flap 40 is attached to the panel 38,
and that the panel 34 is attached to the panel 36, along the common
fold lines 30 of adjacent panels. The panel 36 is glued to the flap
40 and, hence, interconnects the panel 34, 36, 38 and the flap 40.
Thus, although removal of the tear strip removes that portion of
the panels 36 and 38 defining the fold line 30 common to those
panels, and removes that portion of the panels 32 and 34 defining
the fold line 30 common to those panels, the panels still remain
attached along one common edge to provide the booklet 24 having six
pages of printed message. However, removal of the tear strip
detaches the panel 32 from the panel 34. The panel 32, which is
printed to render it usable as a pre-addressed postal reply card,
is therefore freed for immediate use.
It will be appreciated, therefore, that the blank 28 is formed into
a folder 20 which is sealed in folded form for distribution to a
recipient such as a potential customer. When it is opened in the
manner intended, namely, by removal of the tear strip 22, three
elements are separated from one another, namely, a six-page
booklet, a postal card, and the tear strip which is to be
discarded.
There is depicted in FIGS. 5 through 18 a folder 46 constituting
one embodiment of the present invention, and steps in a method for
forming such folder, the folder being separable into a multi-page
booklet 48 and a return envelope 50 when a tear strip 49 along one
edge of the folder is separated therefrom.
The folder is formed from a single sheet or blank 51. Thus, all of
the printing is performed on that single sheet. The folder
automatically provides a multi-page booklet when opened without the
necessity of cutting and binding separate pages, and automatically
provides an envelope when opened, thereby eliminating the necessity
of inserting a separate booklet and return envelope into a separate
carrier envelope for distribution. The return envelope "falls free"
upon opening the folder, rendering its use convenient for the
recipient and attracting the attention of the recipient to its
presence. The manner of opening the folder is itself appealing to
the recipient and the novelty of this feature tends to increase the
likelihood that the folder will receive at least some
attention.
More specifically, there is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 opposite sides
of the blank 51 from which the folder 46 may be formed. It is
contemplated that the blank constitute a sheet of paper of other
than high bulk card stock and, in a preferred embodiment, is of a
weight of stock similar to that from which envelopes are normally
formed. Referring to FIG. 5, the blank is ultimately folded along a
plurality of transverse fold lines to provide panels 52, 54, 56,
58, 60, 62, 64 and 66. The reverse side of the blank 51 is shown in
FIG. 6, where the corresponding panels are designated by the
subscript a for convenience of reference. The fold lines do not, of
course, appear on the blank prior to its folding. The location of
these fold lines is indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6 by the numerals 68a
through 68g.
The panel 52 is folded into overlying relation to the panel 54
along the fold line 68a during formation of the folder 46 from the
blank 51 and is secured thereto by adhesive strips 69 (FIG. 6) to
form the pocket of the envelope 50. The panel 54 includes portions
74 and 76 which are separated in the drawings by a dotted line 77
for convenience of description. The portion 74 is that portion
which the panel 52 overlies and is secured to and cooperates with
the panel 52 to ultimately define the pocket of the envelope 50.
That surface of the portion 74 which faces outwardly when the
envelope is formed, as seen in FIG. 5, is preferably provided with
the name and mailing address 80 of the one who is to receive the
reply or response from the recipient of the folder. Generally, this
will be the name and address of an advertiser. The portion 74 of
the panel 56 is also provided with a pre-paid postal imprint or
permit indicia 82.
The portion 76 of the panel 54 provides a flap of the envelope 50
when the folder is opened in the manner intended so that the
envelope is detached from the remainder of the folder. The flap is
therefore adapted to be folded along line 77 to seal the envelope,
and the line 77 may therefore be embossed to facilitate such
folding. The portion 76 is preferably provided with a strip 88 of a
remoistenable adhesive, i.e., an adhesive of the type normally used
in envelopes, which is dry when received by the recipient but which
can be subsequently moistened to enable it to adhere to the panel
52. The entire portion 76 of the panel 54 does not become the flap
of the envelope since part of this portion 76 is removed as the
strip 49 when the folder is opened in the manner intended.
The panels 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 contain informational material
such as advertising and are of like size. The panels 60 and 62 are
ultimately separated by a fold line which is located at line 68e
shown on FIGS. 5 and 6 and, on each of opposite sides of this line,
a row of four holes 90 is provided, the holes being positioned so
that each hole in panel 60 will register with a hole in panel 62
when the panels are folded along line 68e. The function of these
holes will be explained shortly.
The panel 66 is preferably narrower than the panels 54 through 64
and constitutes, in effect, a flap which is folded over and secured
to the panel 62, as by spots 92 of adhesive when the blank 51 is
fully folded. The spots 92 of adhesive are located so as to
register with the holes 90 when the flap 66 overlies the panel 62
so that the adhesive will enter these holes and not only bond the
flap to the panel 62, but also bond the panels 60 and 58 to the
flap 66, as will soon become apparent.
In providing a folder 46, a blank 51 is provided by suitably
printing an elongated sheet of paper stock with the desired
information or message, including the appropriate address 80 and
postal permit imprint 82 for the return envelope 50, and preferably
including a pre-paid postal permit imprint 98 on the outer surface
of panel 64 (FIG. 12). The holes 90 are then provided in the blank
and it is fed into a suitable machine capable of applying adhesive
to the blank and folding it.
In a preferred method, the blank is fed into the machine with the
surface shown in FIG. 5 facing upwardly. The remoistenable adhesive
strip 88 is then applied to the underside of the blank, as by
passing the blank over a suitable application roller (not shown). A
first fold is accomplished in which the panels 52 and 54 are folded
into overlying relation to the panels 56 and 58 (FIG. 7) along the
fold line 68b, thus bringing the panels 52a and 54a into upwardly
facing relation.
The adhesive strips 69 of the envelope pocket are then applied to
the panel 52a, and the spots 92 of adhesive are applied to the
panel or flap 66. The panels 54 and 56 are folded along lines 68a
and 68c, which are in registry at such time, into overlying
relation to panel 52a and that portion of panel 58 not covered by
panel 52 (FIG. 8). This effects the bonding of panel 52 to panel 54
and provides the envelope pocket.
That portion of the blank then to the right of line 68e in FIGS. 5
and 6, constituting panel 60 and interfolded panels 52, 54, 56 and
58 (FIG. 8), is then folded along line 68e to bring panel 56a into
overlying face-to-face relation to panel 64, and to bring panel 60
into overlapping face-to-face relation to panel 62 (FIG. 9). At
this point, the holes 90 in panels 60 and 62 are in registry. The
panels 60 and 62 are then folded along lines 68d and 68f into
overlying relation to panel 58a, with panels 60a and 58a in
face-to-face contact (FIG. 10). At this point, the registered holes
90 of panels 60 and 62 overlie portions of panel 58a not provided
with holes.
The folding operation is completed by folding panel or flap 66 into
overlying relation to panel 62a (FIG. 11) along line 68g. This
brings the spots 92 of adhesive into registry with the holes 90 and
the adhesive enters these holes to bond together panels 66, 62, 60
and 58. The panel 64 is, of course, attached to panel 66 along fold
line 68g, the panel 56 is attached to panel 58 along fold line 68c.
Thus, panels 66, 64, 62, 60, 58 and 56 are attached to each other
by adhesive or by fold lines along one edge 93 of the folder 46,
and the folder is intact in that it is held by adhesive in the
folded condition. The panels 52 and 54 are not attached to the
aforementioned panels by adhesive but are merely foldably attached
to the panel 56 along line 68b.
The folder is then delivered to a suitable mechanism to form a line
of perforations 94 along the edge 96 of the folder opposite the
edge 93, such perforations extending through each of the panels 62,
60, 58, 54, 56 and 64. Only the panels 52 and 66 are not
perforated. This line of perforations defines the tear strip 49. If
it is desired to mail the folder, an address is imprinted on or
otherwise applied to the panel 64 by a suitable addressing
machine.
When the tear strip 49 is removed (FIG. 13), the panel 62 is no
longer attached to panel 64 along fold line 68f; panel 60 is no
longer attached to panel 58 along fold line 68d; and panel 56 is no
longer attached to panel 54 along fold line 68b. Panels 56 through
66 remain attached to one another, however, along the edge 93 of
the folder by virtue of the adhesive spots 92, as previously
mentioned, and form the booklet 48. The panels 52 and 54, forming
the envelope 50, are not attached to the remaining panels and fall
free.
Thus, by the simple act of removing the tear strip 49 along the
line of perforations 94, the folder 46 is converted to a booklet 48
and an envelope 50.
In an alternate form of folder from that provided by the method
described above, the holes 90 are not provided and the adhesive
spots 92 do not penetrate through the panels 60 and 62 to the panel
58. Thus, when the folder has been formed, the panels 56 and 58 are
not attached to the panels 60, 62, 64 and 66 along the edge 93 of
the folder and, when the tear strip 49 is removed, will fall free
along with the envelope 50. In such instance, the booklet 48 will
have six instead of 10 pages. The panels 56 and 58 can be suitably
printed as an order form or application form, in which case it is
advantageous for them to become automatically detached for
completion and mailing. It may also be desirable for such panels to
carry an advertising message and to allow such panels to fall free
to attract the recipient's attention.
In an alternate embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 15
through 18, a blank 100 is provided in which the panel 52, which
forms part of the envelope 50, is provided with a tape 102 (FIG.
17), which bears the name and address of an intended recipient of
the folder. The blank 100 is folded in such a manner that, when
fully folded, the panel 64 overlies the panel 52 and is provided
with a window 104 located so as to be in registry with the tape 102
and visibly expose the tape. Thus, the address of the recipient is
carried by the envelope 50, thereby leaving the major portion of
the panel 64 available for an advertising message, and assuring
that the advertiser will have the name and address of the recipient
when the envelope is returned.
In providing a folder from the blank 100, a strip of remoistenable
adhesive is applied to the panel 54a (FIG. 15) and strips of
permanent adhesive 78 are applied to panel 52a. Panel 52 is then
folded into overlying relation to panel 54a to form the pocket of
the envelope 50.
The blank 100 is not provided with holes 90, as was the blank 51,
to achieve adhesive bonding of the panels 56 through 66 along the
edge 93 of the folder. Rather, a strip 106 of adhesive is applied
to panel 58a adjacent line 68c, and the blank is folded along line
68d to bring interfolded panels 52 and 54 into overlying relation
to panel 64, with the tape 102 in registry with the window 104. In
such position, the panel 56 overlies the panel 62, the panel 58
overlies the panel 60, and the panel 56 is bonded to the panel 62.
The overlying panels 56 and 58 are then folded along lines 68c and
68e into overlying relation to the panel 56, and the interfolded
panels 60, 58, 56 and 62 are folded along lines 68b and 68f into
overlying relation to panel 54. The flap 66 is then folded along
line 68g into overlying relation to panel 62 and bonded thereto by
adhesive spots 92. A line of perforations 94 is provided as before
to define a tear strip 49.
All of the panels, with the exception of panels 52 and 54, are
interconnected along edge 93 of the folder by virtue of fold lines
and the adhesive strip 106. Thus, when the tear strip 49 is
removed, a booklet 48 and envelope 50 are provided.
There is illustrated in FIGS. 19 through 27 still another
embodiment of the present invention which provides a booklet 110
(FIG. 27) formed of a single pre-printed sheet or blank 112 and
which includes a plurality of self-contained detachable envelopes
114 and a plurality of coupons, detachable slips 116 in the form of
application forms, etc., includible within the envelopes. The
booklet thus finds particular advantage when a single booklet
carries the advertisements of several advertisers.
More particularly, the blank 112 as seen in FIG. 19 is adapted to
be folded transversely to provide panels 118, 120, 122, 124, and
126. Although the blank is not folded in FIG. 19, the locations of
the fold lines are shown in phantom and are designated by the
numerals 128, 130, 132 and 134. The reverse sides of the panels
shown in FIG. 19 are indicated by the numeral assigned to that
panel, followed by the suffix a.
It should be understood that the blank 112 is preprinted on both
sides prior to folding or gluing to provide any advertising message
desired and also to provide an address on the envelopes 114 as well
as a postage paid imprint (not shown). In addition, holes 136 are
provided in the panels 124 and 126 to allow for the passage of
adhesive through these panels, in a manner hereinafter described,
these holes being provided on a line 138 located centrally of all
of the panels and extending transversely of the fold lines
previously referred to.
In the preferred illustrated embodiment, the booklet 110 is formed
by first providing a strip 140 of a remoistenable envelope adhesive
on the panel 120, this strip extending transversely of the
centerline 138 adjacent to but spaced from the location of the fold
line 130 which separates the panels 120 and 122. The adhesive
facilitates the sealing of the envelopes 114 when they are detached
from the booklet. Thus, the remoistenable adhesive is allowed to
dry prior to a completion of the folding operation. Normally,
however, the drying is completed in a matter of seconds.
Alternatively, two alignable strips of adhesive which have affinity
only for each other could be provided for sealing the envelopes,
one strip being provided at the location of the strip 140, as
shown, and the other strip being provided on the surface 118a of
the panel 118.
In a second and succeeding step, a quick-setting adhesive is
applied to the panel 120 in the form of five spaced strips 142
which extend parallel to one another and to the centerline 138
(FIG. 20). These strips 142 extend from the first fold line 128,
which separates the panels 118 and 120, in the direction of the
strip 140 of remoistenable adhesive but terminate short of the
strip 140. The panel 118, which includes one edge 143 of the blank
or sheet 112, is then folded along the first fold line 128 into
face-to-face relation to the panel 120 (FIG. 21) and is secured or
bonded in such position by the strips 142. The panel 118 thus
cooperates with the panel 120 to form the pockets of four envelopes
114, although it should be apparent that the pockets of only two
envelopes would be provided if two of the strips 142, designated by
the suffix a, were eliminated. It should be noted that the panel
118 as measured along the line 138 between the edge 143 and the
fold line 128 is of lesser width than the panel 120 as measured
along the line 138 between the fold ines 128 and 130 so that the
edge 143 does not extend to the strip 140 of remoistenable
adhesive. The portion of the panel 120 above the envelope pockets
thereby defines flaps for the envelopes 114. Also, the strips 142
of adhesive are of a lesser length than the width of the panel 118
and so do not extend to the free edge of the panel when it is
folded.
The blank 110 is then folded along the fold line 132 separating the
panels 122 and 124. FIG. 22 illustrates the folding of the blank
along fold lines 128 and 132, while FIG. 23 illustrates the blank
as thus folded, but from the reverse side, with panels 124 and 126
facing outwardly. It will be appreciated that FIG. 22 is
illustrative only and that when the folding along line 132 takes
place, the folding along line 128 has already been
accomplished.
With the blank in the position shown in FIG. 23, an adhesive is
placed along the line 138 of panels 124 and 126, and a portion of
this adhesive penetrates the holes 136 so as to contact the
underlying panels 120 and 122. The blank is then folded along lines
130 and 134, which lines became superimposed during the previous
folding along line 132. FIG. 24 illustrates this folding
diagrammatically, with the folding of the panel 118 along line 128
shown as not having been completed whereas in actual practice this
folding has already been accomplished.
By virtue of the gluing and folding thus far described, panel 118
is glued to panel 120, and panels 120, 122, 124 and 126 are all
glued to each other along the centerlines 138 of each panel. In
addition, the panels are attached along essentially common fold
lines 128, 130, 132 and 134 at their edges.
The blank, as shown in FIG. 25, is then perforated along lines 144
as well as along lines 138 to provide lines of weakness located
approximately midway between the center lines 138 and each of the
free lateral edges of the blank.
It should be noted from FIG. 25 that the first fold line 128 is not
superimposed on the fold line 132 but is spaced therefrom due to
the fact that the panel 120 is of a lesser width than the interior
panels 122 and 124. This feature is significant because, in the
final steps of forming the booklet 110, the blank folded as shown
in FIG. 25 and containing the fold line 132 is cut between fold
lines 128 and 132. This removes the portion of the blank containing
fold line 132 but not the portion containing fold line 128 and,
thus, does not alter the pockets of the envelopes 114. This cut
separates panels 122 and 124 to provide separate pages. Likewise, a
small portion of the blank as seen in FIG. 25 adjacent and
including the fold lines 130 and 134 is cut away to separate the
panel 120 from the panel 122, and to separate the panel 124 from
the panel 126. However, the panels all remain attached by virtue of
the adhesive applied at the centerline 138, which adhesive
penetrated the holes 136. The blank can then be folded along lines
138 to provide the booklet 110. As an alternative, the blank could
have been folded along lines 138 prior to cutting as shown in FIG.
26.
After the folded blank has been cut, all of the pages become
separable, being attached only along the line 138. In addition, and
by virtue of the perforations, various portions of the booklet can
be detached from the remaining portions. For example, the four
envelopes 114, located at the center spread of the booklet, can be
detached along lines of perforation 144 and 138. Likewise, portions
116 of each of the remaining pages can be detached along the same
lines of perforation for insertion into the envelopes. These other
portions can be printed to provide return coupons, order forms for
merchandise, application forms for insurance, etc. The booklet may
contain the advertisements of several advertisers, with each
envelope being returnable to a different advertiser.
The booklet itself can be mailed in the form shown in FIG. 27, in
which case an outer surface might bear a postage permit imprint and
provide a space for a tape bearing the name and address of the
addressee. A suitable means such as a seal or stamp (not shown)
could be provided at the free end edges of the page to maintain
them in a closed position.
In forming the booklet, it is possible to provide slightly larger
than usual perforations along the line 138 and to thereby dispense
with additional holes 136. Also, a tear strip could be provided
along the fold lines 132, 130 and 134 which the recipient could
remove and thereby himself separate the pages, thus eliminating the
necessity of cutting the pages apart prior to delivery to the
recipient.
While certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown
and described, it should be apparent that various modifications may
be made therein without departing from the scope of the
invention.
Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the
following claims.
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