Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
- 1054579
BACKGROU~D OF 'l'l~E INVENTION
This invention relates to continuous business-
form assemblies, and more particularly to continuous form
envelope assemblies formed of superimposed plies and having
insert material including at least one return envelope therein.
Representative prior art includes Steidinger patent
3,104,799; then Van Malderghem patent 3,554,438 and MacDougall
patent 3,652,007.
Recent years have seen a substantial upsurge in the
use of business forms of the type that can be placed in the mail
with information placed thereon by computer-operated printers
or manually-operated tabulators. This upsurge is principally
due to the invention disclosed in the above-identified Steidinger
; patent wherein a totally sealed envelope having insert material
already therein can have information inscribed on the envelope
and can be placed in the mail without the usual need for stuffing.
The elimination of stuffing operations also eliminates the need
for correlating insert material with the envelope so that the
proper envelope bearing the proper insert material is directed
, to the correct recipient.
Moreover, as disclosed by Steidinger, the insert material
may include a return envelope so that all or part of the insert
material may be returned to the sender of the original envel~pe
in the enclosed return envelope.
Naturally, such advantages have strongly commended
the use of structures made according to the teaching of
, Steidinger. A variety of structures have evolved which include
return envelopes. Frequently, the return envelope is made
using a pressure sensitive transfer adhesive as the flap sealing
adhesive. This adhesive strip is protected by a removable
backing which must be removed by the recipient prior to sealing
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the return envelope. In other instances, the ply forming the
side of the return envelope other than that bearing the flap
is provided with a removable chip which overlies the adhesive
for ease of manufacture and which may provide a measure of
protection for the adhesive. In this case, rather than removing
a piece of tape to expose the adhesive, the chip must be removed
so as to enable the flap to be moistened and folded over for
; sealing of the return envelope.
Heretofore, such means have generally been desirable
principally in terms simplifying the manufacture of the form
and, to a lesser extent, in precluding the adhesive on the flap
of the return envelope from adhering, due to moisture conditions
in the mail or in stora~e, to the interior of the original
mailer, thereby precluding easy removability of the return
mailer. However, the desirability of providing such means
introduces an undesirability in terms of requiring the recipient
to perform an otherwise unnecessary operation in terms of re-
. moving the chip or the adhesive-protectina tape. The undesir~
- ability is enhanced in the construction wherein a chip is
employed in that, if directions are not strictly adhered to,
the recipient may inadvertently remove the flap of the return
envelope rather than the chip.
- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
` It is the principal object of the invention to provide ~
-1 a new and improved continuous form envelope assembly having -
insert material in the form of a return envelope. More
specifically, it is the object of the invention to provide such ~ -
an envelope wherein the adhesive on the flap of a return envel-
ope within the mailer is protected until such time as the
mailer is opened and does not require the recipient to perform
a positive act to remove the protection for such adhesive.
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That object is attained by the invention which contemp-
lates a continuous form envelope assembly wherein a plurality
of elongated, superimposed plies including transverse lines of
weakening define individual envelopes which may be separated
from the assembly therealong, and wherein upper and lowermost
ones of the plies define fronts and backs of envelopes with `~
intermediate plies defining insert material within each envelope
including at least a part of a return envelope. The return
envelope is defined by portions of adjacent plies including at
least one intermediate ply with one of the adjacent plies
de~ining the front of the return envelope and the other of
the adjacent plies defining the back of the return envelope.
One of the adjacent plies further includes an envelope flap
that may be folded about and secured to the other of the plies
for closing the return envelope and wherein the intermediate
plies are constructed so that the insert material is free from
the outer envelope along at least two, opposed, marginal edges
of the outer envelope. The improvement is wherein the other
adjacent ply has an attaching portion thereof secured to at
least one of the upper and lowermost plies with the attaching
portion including a covering portion in substantial abutment
with the flap. The attaching portion and the covering portion
are loosely secured to the remainder of the other adjacent ply
so that upon the opening of the outer envelope, the return
envelope may be easily separated therefrom with the attaching
portion and the covering portion remaining attached to the one
of the upper and lowermost plies.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention achieves the
foregoing object in a construction including a plurality of
superimposed plies defining a continuous business form envelope
assembly. The outermost ones of the plies define the front and
back of mailers while intermediate plies define insert material
within the mailers. Transverse lines of weakening across the plies
provide for separation of the assembly into individual envelopes
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for mailing purposes.
Two of the intermediate plies define return envelopes.
One such ply includes a flap having an adhesive of the moisten-
able type facing the other intermediate ply. The other inter-
mediate ply includes a chip aligned with the adhesive-bearing
flap which chip is loosely attached to the remainder of the ply,
the remainder defining the other side of the return envelope.
The chip is secured to the outer envelope such that, upon opening
the mailer to extract the return envelope, the chip remains with
the outer envelope, while the return envelope is easily pulled
away from the chip due to the loose connection. As a result,
when the original mailer is opened, the adhesive is automatically
exposed so as to eliminate the need for the removal of a tape or
a chip by the user.
According to the preferred embodiment, the return envelope
is a top-opening envelope and the chip is L-shaped with the base
thereof secured, as by a glue line, to the outer envelope.
Other objects of the invention will become apparent r
from the following specification taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a continuous form
envelope assembly made according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the various components
defining an individual envelope in the assembly; and
Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the relative
dimensions of the various plies comprising an individual envelope
to each other and the relationship of the glue line to the various
components.
- 30 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A continuous business form envelope assembly is illust-
- rated in Fig. 1 and is folded in a zig-zag stack, generally
designated 10, as is conventional. The assembly includes
a plurality of individual envelopes 12 which are
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defined by transverse lines of weakening 14, normally in the
form of perforations, extending across the plies defining the
assembly. Running longitudinally of the plies are removable
control punch margins 16 as is well known.
Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, an individual envelope
12 in the assembly will be described. It is to be understood
that all of the envelopes are identical, are formed of elongated
plies, and are separated by the lines of weakening 14. A first
ply is designated 18 and may serve as the so-called record ply
as is well known in the art. At its opposite longitudinal edges,
it is provided with the control punch margins 16 having a plurality
of pin-feed holes 20 the~ein.
The immediately subjacent ply 22 defines the front of
the individual envelope or mailer in the assembly. Near one
side is provided a removable stub 24 which is separable from
the remainder of the ply 22 along the line of weakening 25.
The stub 24 forms part of a tear strip by which access to the
interior of the mailer may be achieved. Finally, the ply 22
is also provided by the control punch margins 16.
The next lowermost ply 26 is optional and may be an
insert. Through the use of spot carbons or the like (not shown)
on the back side of the ply 22, information may be selectively
transmitted and imprinted on the insert 26. Means by which such
is accomplished are well known in the art and form no part of
the instant invention.
Ply 26 is die cut at margins 28, 30 and 32 so that when
in the completed envelope assembly, those three margins will be
free from attachment to the envelope. The fourth margin includes
a stub 34 which is in line with the stub 24 and which is separable
from the remainder of the insert ply 26 by a line of weakening 36.
When assembled, the stub 34 serves as an attaching portion to
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maintain the insert 26 in a predetermined location within the
envelope so as to insure proper alignment during an imprinting
process. When the envelope is opened by removal of the stub as
is well known, the insert 26 will be free from attachment to the
inner envelope and may be easily removed.
A further ply 38 defines the front of a return envelope
contained within the outer envelope. It, too, may be selectively
imprinted upon through the use of spot carbon on the back side of
ply 26. Like the ply 26, ply 38 includes die cuts on margins 40,
42 and 44 so that such margins are free from attachment to the
interior of the mailer. The ply 38 is also provided with a stub
46 separated from the retmainder of the ply 38 by a line of weak-
ening 48. The stub 46 serves as an attaching portion for the
ply 38 in the same fashion as the stub 34 serves as an attaching
portion for the ply 26.
The ply 38, adjacent its upper edge, includes a line of
weakening 50 which serves to define a flap 52 for the return
envelope. On the back side of the flap 52 is a moistenable
`~ adhesive 54 whereby the return envelope may be sealed.
If desired, angled cuts 56 may be provided at the corners
of the flap 52.
A ply 58 defines the back of the return envelope and a
covering portion for the adhesive 54. Specifically, the ply 58
includes a return envelope back-defining portion 60 which is
separated from the remainder of the ply 58 by transverse slit 62
that aligns approximately with the line of weakening 50 on the
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ply 38 and a longitudinal partial slit 64. The partial slit 64
- is not continuous as at 66 and 68 so as to define small, easily
rupturable or breakable tongues interconnecting the back-defining
portion 60 with the remainder of ths ply 58.
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The upper and lower margins 70 and 72 of the ply 58 are
die cut so as to free the ply 58 ~rom attachment to the mailer
along those margins. The margin 74 is also die cut but, as seen
in Fig. 3, extends somewhat to the right of the margins 30 and
42 on the plies 26 and 38.
As a result, it will be seen that in addition to the
return envelope back-defining portion 60, ply 58 includes a
generally L-shaped chip 76. The chip 76 in turn defines a covering
portion 80, defined by the upright of the L and an attaching
portion 81 defined by the base of the L. As can be seen, the
covering portion 80 is aligned with the adhesive 54 to cover the
same. ~ `
Finally, the ply 58 includes a stub 78 separated from
the remainder of the ply by a line of weakening 82, which stub 78
functions as an attaching portion for the ply 58.
A ply 83 defines the back of the mailer. It includes a
stub 84 at one side thereof separated from the remainder of the
ply by a line of weakening 85.
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Each envelope 12 comprises the foregoing parts and is
secured in assembled relation as by glue lines. For example,
glue lines 86 (indicated as X's in Fig. 3) secure the stubs 24,
34, 46, 78 and 84 together to define a single unitary tear-off
strip. A transverse glue line 88 on the upper and lower margins
of the ply 83 serves to assemble the outer envelope. Specifically,
the glue lines 88 secure ply 83 to the ply 22. In addition, along
one longitudinal margin, a glue line 96 is provided, which glue
line also serves to secure the plies 83 and 22 to each other to
define a completely sealed mailer.
A glue line 98 extends between the ply 83 and the base
Of the L-shaped chip 76 to secure the latter to the outer envelope.
Finally, to complete the return envelope defined by plies
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38 and 58, a glue line 100 extends about three marginal edges
of the ply 38 within the line of weakening 48.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that removal
of the tear strip defined by the stubs 24, 34, 46, 78 and 84
will substantially free the contents from the outer envelope of
the mailer. In this respect, the ply 26, if present, will be
completely free, while the plies 38 and 58 will be held only
by the tongues 66 and 68. The tongues 66 and 68 are so weak that
a gentle pull on the return envelope defined by the plies 38
and 58 will result in their severance and the free removal of
the return envelope. Due to the presence of the glue line 98,
~`~ the L-shaped chip 76 will remain within the outer envelope and
`~ may be discarded therewith. However, prior to such removal of
the return envelope, it will be appreciated that the covering
portion 80 has served to cover the adhesive 54 during storage
and mailing. Thus, a continuous form envelope assembly made
according to the invention eliminates any need for the recipient
to remove a chip or an adhesive protective tape prior to sealing
the return envelope. It therefore renders a mailer easier to
use and eliminates any possibility that the flap 52 on the return
envelope would be removed rather than the removable chip.
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