Two-way Envelope And Letter

Abstract

A two-way envelope and letter including an envelope portion having a message-carrying portion attached thereto, wherein the envelope portion may be used during two mailings and wherein the message-carrying portion can carry both the original sender's message in the first mailing and a reply to that message in the second mailing. The envelope portion is formed from a single sheet having foldable portions for enclosing the message-carrying portion. The message-carrying portion is attached to one of the foldable portions of the sheet and is capable of being folded and enclosed in the envelope portion during the two mailings.

Description

The present invention relates to two-way mailing devices and more particularly relates to a two-way envelope and letter device wherein the envelope and the letter are attached together and both may be used in two mailings.

In the prior art it is well known to provide one envelope which can be utilized in two mailings. Usually various parts of the envelope are folded upon one another and glued together to form an open pocket for the reception of a letter, with an additional flap being folded and glued to close the pocket with the letter therein. The additional flap usually contains two adhesive strips such that after the first mailing one portion of the flap, including one of the adhesive strips, is removed and the rest of the flap is folded over and the second adhesive strip utilized to close the pocket for the second mailing.

The prior art also discloses two-way envelopes in combination with a separate letter which can be enclosed in the envelope during the first and second mailings with the pertinent addresses printed on the letter and showing through a window in the envelope. However, these letters are completely detached from the envelope and can possibly be lost and separated from the envelope on receipt after the first mailing.

Other prior art devices disclose a two-way envelope with a letter detachably secured to the envelope. This type of prior art device utilizes the envelope twice but the letter only once since the letter is detached from the envelope after the first mailing and not used during the second mailing.

However, none of the prior art devices discloses an envelope with a message carrying device attached thereto in which both the envelope and the message carrying device may be used during two mailings. Such a combination can and would provide many beneficial features, particularly easy handling of messages being sent and reply messages being returned to the sender.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved combination in the form of a two-way letter and envelope wherein the letter is attached to the envelope and can contain both the message and the return message.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a two-way letter and envelope wherein the letter is attached to the envelope and cannot be easily separated therefrom.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a two-way letter and envelope combination which will allow the original sender to keep a copy of his message, the original addressee to keep on the same sheet a copy of the message from the original sender and a copy of his reply, and the original addressee to return his answer to the original sender in the same envelope on a message carrying portion attached to the envelope.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means which allows the correct address for the first recipient to be applied both to the envelope and the manifold carbon set in one operation.

Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an inverted bottom plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the various sheets in the manifold carbon set used in the device;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a portion of the envelope folded down in position to transmit an address placed on the carbon spot to the manifold carbon set;

FIG. 5 is a view of the device with the manifold carbon set folded into and enclosed by the folded portions of envelope wherein the device is ready for the first mailing;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the device in accordance with the present invention taken substantially along lines 6--6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the device with the cover flap of the envelope removed and the manifold set unfolded by the first recipient;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the device which has been folded by the first recipient with the letter enclosed by the envelope portions and ready for the second mailing;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 8 taken substantially along lines 9--9; and

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

The foregoing objects are attained by the combination of an envelope formed from a single sheet having various foldable portions and a manifold carbon set attached to the envelope and capable of being folded and enclosed by the foldable portions. The manifold carbon set advantageously can include three or more sheets of paper material with carbon sheets between each of them, all of the papers and sheets being detachably secured to a main support attached to the envelope. A portion of the envelope has a carbon spot thereon for transmitting an address typed on the envelope to the manifold carbon set.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, as seen in FIG. 1, the device of the present invention includes an envelope generally designated 10 and a message-carrying portion or letter generally designated 20. The envelope portion 10 is formed from one integral sheet or material, preferably paper, and includes a base or central panel 12, a bottom panel 14, a top panel 16, a cover flap 18, a right side flap 22 and a left side flap 24. The side shown in FIG. 1 is designated the front side for convenience of description. The longer side of the base shown in FIG. 1 is referred to as its length.

The base or central panel 12 is in the form of an elongated rectangle and is bordered on four sides by the top and bottom panels and the right and left flaps. The bottom panel 14 is in the shape of a rectangle and has a length substantially equal to the length of the base panel and a width slightly smaller than the width of the base panel. The bottom panel 14 is connected to the base panel along the bottom edge of the base panel and the top edge of the bottom panel. The top panel 16 is also in the shape of a rectangle and has a length equal to the length of the base panel and a width equal to slightly less than the width of the base panel. The top panel 16 is connected to the base panel along the top edge of the base panel and the bottom edge of the top panel. Each of the side flaps 22 and 24 is trapezoidal in shape and has the longer of the base edges equal to the width of the base panel plus a substantial portion of the width of the top panel. Each side flap is connected to the base and top panels along the side edges of the base and top panels and the longer of the base edges of the flap. The top and bottom panels, as well as the two side flaps, are capable of being folded to cover the front side of the base panel shown in FIG. 1 along the lines connecting them to the base panel, as will be described hereinafter. If desired, the side flaps can have round edges or or be rectangular in shape.

The cover flap 18 is integrally connected to the top edge of the top panel 16 along its bottom edge and is in the shape of an elongated rectangle having a length equal to the length of the base panel and a width equal to the width of the base panel plus the width of the top panel.

Two adhesive strips are provided on the envelope 10 with the first adhesive strip being located on the front side of the top edge of the top panel 16 adjacent the connection with the cover flap 18 and extending across the entire length of the top panel. The strip 30 has a width equal to about one-fourth the width of the top panel. The second adhesive strip 32 runs along the front side of substantially the entire top edge of the cover flap 18. The strip 32 has a width about equal to the width of the strip 30. A portion of the cover flap 18 in the upper left-hand corner, as seen in FIG. 1, is covered on the front side by a carbon spot 34, the use of which will be described hereinafter. The carbon spot 34 is in the form of a rectangle and has a length substantially equal to one half the length of the cover flap and a width substantially equal to one third of the width of the cover flap.

The name and the address of the original sender are supplied at two locations to the back-side of the envelope 10 as shown at 36 and 38 in FIG. 2. This may be done by the printer or manufacturer of the device. One address 36 is provided on the cover flap 18 and the other address 38 is provided on the top panel 16. The specific uses of these addresses and names will be described hereinafter.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 the message-carrying portion or letter 20 can advantageously be a manifold carbon set consisting of three sheets of paper connected together at their top edges with two sheets of carbon interposed respectively between those three. Alternatively, a carbonless paper set can be supplied, consisting of three specially treated sheets which eliminate the need for the two carbon sheets. Additionally, if desired, more than three sheets of paper may be used to form the letter 20.

As seen in FIG. 1 the top sheet 40 contains at the top thereof a space on the left to indicate to whom the letter or message is to be sent and to the right of that from whom the letter or message is being sent during the first mailing. Below these two areas is an area designated MESSAGE with a place for the original sender to insert his message and to sign that message. Below that there is an area designated REPLY with a place for the initial recipient to reply to the original message including a place for the signature of the person replying. Each of the remaining two sheets, namely, the middle sheet 42 and the bottom sheet 44, as seen in FIG. 3, have the same printed information as the top sheet 40. If desired, the various sheets can be of different colors with the top sheet 40 being the copy for the person addressed, the middle sheet 42 being a follow-up sheet for the original sender to detach before mailing, and the bottom sheet 44 being the copy returned to the original sender containing both the message and the reply. These sheets may also be labeled to this effect as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Between the top sheet 40 and the middle sheet 42 is a first carbon sheet 46 and between the middle sheet 42 and the bottom sheet 44 is a second carbon sheet 48. All of the sheets 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48 are detachably connected to each other by having a perforated connection to a margin or support 50.

Preferably the sheets have a length equal to the length of the base panel and a total width slightly less than its length, wherein on folding the manifold carbon set in half, the width thereof will equal the width of the base panel 12 plus that of the top panel 16. As shown in FIG. 3 the first carbon sheet 46 may have a width equal to one half the width of the other sheets. Likewise, as shown in FIG. 1, the middle sheet 42 may be slightly wider than the top sheet to display its label.

As seen in FIG. 2, the front side of the bottom panel 14 is glued or otherwise suitably secured to the back of the bottom sheet 44 along its entire surface. The top of the manifold carbon set coincides with the line between the base and bottom panels. A first fold line 60 is indicated on the back of the bottom sheet 44 and is located approximately midway along the width of the bottom sheet 44. A second fold line 62 is shown in FIG. 2 on the back of the device at the intersection of the bottom of the base panel and the top of the bottom panel.

A third fold line 64 and a fourth fold line 66 are shown on the back of the bottom sheet 44 with the fourth fold line 66 being spaced from the bottom of the bottom sheet 44 a distance equal to one third of the width of the bottom sheet. The third fold line 64 is along the bottom edge of the bottom panel 14 and is spaced from a fourth fold line a distance equal to one third of width of the bottom sheet 44. The width of the bottom panel 14, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, is also equal to one third of the width of the bottom sheet 44.

Turning again to FIG. 1, the bottom panel 14 and the message-carrying portion 20 are foldable relative to the base panel 12 along the second fold line 62. Similarly, the cover flap 18 is foldable relative to the top panel 16 along a fifth fold line 70 at the intersection of the top panel and the cover flap. When the cover flap 18 is removed, as will be described hereinafter, the top panel 16 will be folded along a sixth fold line 72 at the intersection of the top panel and the base panel. The left side flap 24 is foldable relative to the base panel and top panel along a seventh fold line 74 and the right side flap 22 is foldable relative to the base and top panels along an eighth fold line 76. These fold lines are at the intersection of the flaps with the top and base panels.

In using the device in accordance with the present invention for a first mailing, the cover flap 18 and the top panel 16 are folded together along the fold line 72 so that the carbon spot 34 covers the area on the top sheet 40 adjacent the place for the address of the person to whom the first mailing is directed. This position is shown in FIG. 4.

The address of the first recipient is then either typed or written in the area defined by the carbon spot 34. This address is transmitted from the carbon spot 34 to the top sheet 40 directly and then to the middle and bottom sheets 42 and 44 by the first and second carbon sheets 46 and 48 interposed therebetween. After the address is completed, the message may be written or typed in that area designated for the message on the top sheet 40. That message is transmitted to the middle and bottom sheets by the carbon sheets 46 and 48. When the message is completed and signed, the cover flap 18 and the top panel 16 are folded back to a position as shown in FIG. 1. The follow-up sheet 42 is removed by tearing it along its perforated connection to the support 50 and filed by the sender for his records. The first carbon sheet is now discarded. The manifold carbon set is then folded in half along the fold line 60 such that the bottom of the manifold set, as seen in FIG. 1, is adjacent the fold line 62 between the bottom panel and the base panel 12. Then the manifold set and the bottom panel 14 are folded relative to the base panel 12 such that the fold line 60 is adjacent the fold line 70 which is along the line separating the top panel 16 and the cover flap 18 as seen in FIG. 1. The side flaps 22 and 24 are next folded towards the base panel along the respective fold lines 76 and 74 so that they rest on the now-folded bottom panel and a portion of the back sheet. Finally the cover flap 18 is folded along the fold line 70 so that the cover flap 18 covers the folded side flaps and the bottom panel and a portion of the bottom sheet 44. The adhesive area 32 is moistened or otherwise activated to secure the top of the cover flap 18 to the bottom panel adjacent the fold line 62. A front view of this now completely folded and enclosed letter is shown in FIG. 5 by a front-view and in FIG. 6 in a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 6--6 in FIG. 5. The proper address of the first recipient appears in the carbon spot 34 and the return address 36 of the sender appears in the top left-hand corner of the cover flap 18.

The proper postage is applied to the envelope in the upper right-hand corner of the cover flap 18 and the envelope, with the message on the letter inside, is mailed.

On receipt of the letter and envelope, the envelope is preferably opened by cutting it along the fold line 70, which line connects the top panel 16 and the cover flap 18. The cover flap 18 is next removed and the manifold set unfolded to a position shown in FIG. 7. The removal of the cover flap may be facilitated by providing a perforated line along the edge of the strip 32 and the edges of carbon spot 34. The recipient of the letter and envelope then writes his reply to the message on the top sheet 40 and removes that sheet for his records by tearing it along the perforated connection to the support 50. Because the second carbon sheet 48 is still interposed between the top and bottom sheets that reply message is transmitted to the bottom sheet 44 which is not detached from the envelope 10. This reply constitutes the return message.

After the reply or return message is written or typed on the top sheet 40 and that sheet and the carbon sheet 48 is removed, the remaining bottom sheet is folded first along fold line 66 so that the bottom of the bottom sheet 44 is adjacent the line 64 and then is folded again along line 64 so that the fold line 66 is adjacent the fold line 62 which is between the base panel 12 and the bottom panel 14. Then the remaining bottom sheet 44 along with the bottom panel 14 are folded so that the fold line 64 is adjacent the fold line 72 on the front of the envelope, which line separates the top panel and the base panel. The side flaps 22 and 24 are next folded over the bottom panel 14. The top panel 16 is then moved from the phantom position shown in FIG. 8 by folding it along fold line 72 to the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 8. The adhesive material 30 on the top portion of the top panel 16 is moistened or otherwise activated to secure the top panel to the bottom panel. The required postage is placed in the upper right-hand corner of the top panel 16 and the envelope and letter containing the reply message are mailed. Because the name and address of the initial sender have been printed at 38 on the top panel 16 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the original sender becomes the addressee of the return mailing. FIG. 9 shows in cross-section the configuration of the returned letter and envelope described above.

On receipt of the second mailing, the original sender opens the envelope 10 by cutting it along the line 72 and unfolds the envelope and the letter. The bottom sheet 44 containing the original message and the reply message is then removed from the envelope by tearing it along its perforated connection to the support 50. The envelope is finally discarded.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 10 wherein the bottom sheet 44 and the bottom panel 14 of the previously described embodiment are integrally formed from one sheet 44'. Additionally, it may be noted that the support 50 in this embodiment is attached to the sheet 44' and carries the rest of the sheets of paper and carbon that form the message carrying portion 20 with the sheet 44' acting as the bottom sheet 44 of the message carrying portion 20 described previously. Also, sheet 44', panel 12, flaps 22 and 24, panel 16 and flap 18 can advantageously be integrally formed from one sheet of paper, or other suitable material, as seen in FIG. 10.

While various advantageous embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A two-way envelope and letter combination comprising:

an envelope portion having foldable means for enabling said envelope portion to function as both a mailing envelope and a return envelope; and

message means, attached to and enclosable in said envelope portion, for carrying messages, said message means having a first portion upon which the sender can write a message to the recipient and a second portion upon which the recipient can write a return message to the sender,

wherein said foldable means comprises a single sheet which includes

a central panel,

top and bottom panels connected respectively to the top and bottom edges of said central panel,

side flaps connected to the side edges of said central panel, and

a cover flap connected to the top edge of said top panel, and

wherein said foldable means includes adhesive means for securing said sheet into a mailing envelope, said adhesive means including a first adhesive portion on said top panel and a second adhesive portion on said cover flap, to thereby permit securing of said cover flap to said bottom panel during the first mailing and to permit securing of said top panel to said bottom panel during the second mailing.

2. A two-way envelope and letter according to claim 1, wherein the address of the original sender is imprinted on the cover flap to act as a return address during the initial mailing and is also imprinted on said top panel to act as the address for the return mailing.

3. A combination two-way envelope and letter comprising

envelope means formed by a single foldable sheet, said sheet having a front surface and a rear surface;

said sheet being divided into a central panel portion, a top panel portion and a bottom panel portion connected respectively to the top and bottom of said central panel portion, a pair of side flap portions connected respectively to the sides of said central panel portion, and a cover flap portion connected to said top flap portion;

adhesive means on said sheet front surface including a first adhesive portion on said top panel portion adjacent its juncture with said cover flap portion and a second adhesive portion at the outer edge of said cover flap portion; and

message means formed by a multiple sheet set including means for transmitting a message written on the top sheet of said set onto the remaining sheets in said set;

said message means being attached to the front surface of said bottom panel portion;

said message means including means enabling individual sheets from said set to be separated and removed from said set, while the remaining sheets in said set remain attached to said bottom panel portion.

4. A combination two-way envelope and letter according to claim 3 wherein the original sender's address is imprinted on the rear surface of said cover flap portion and on the rear surface of said top panel portion.

5. A combination two-way envelope and letter according to claim 3 wherein a carbon spot is provided on the front surface of said cover flap portion.